Friday’s Pregame Shootaround: Wiggins, Warren, and possible Bluejay upset alert

By Matt GilesMar 14, 2014, 10:31 AM EDT

GAME OF THE NIGHT: No. 10 Kansas (24-8) vs. No. 16 Iowa State (24-7), 7 PM, ESPNU

Kansas’ Andrew Wiggins is going HAM. He’ll never admit that — his seeming modesty preclude the Jayhawk freshman from hyping his accomplishments — but the forward is an offensive juggernaut the past several games, scoring 41 in a loss to West Virginia and then 30 against Oklahoma State in KU’s Big 12 quarterfinal contest. His dominating streak, of course, began against the Cyclones, so it is only fitting the two teams again meet in the conference semis. In late January, the player we all thought would revolutionize the college game (note the hyperbole) dropped 29 on Fred Hoiberg’s club, the final time the two squads met during the regular season. Wiggins was option 1, 1A, and 1B in ISU’s conference tournament scouting report, and while Hoiberg undoubtedly has a game plan for the freshman, it likely will not matter: Wiggins’s play has clearly elevated to another realm. Iowa State’s Melvin Ejim may have been awarded the conference’s player of the year honor, but the Cyclone worth attention is Georges Niang. The undersized forward will likely be labeled as a breakout candidate next season, so study his game now and proclaim yourself an early follower: Niang has an old man game, predicated on deception, jump hooks, and skillfully using his lower body to dislodge defenders. Niang leads the Cyclones in percentage of shots taken, and his efficiency within the field hasn’t significantly dropped (55 percent from within the arc) despite an increased offensive role.

THE OTHER GAME OF THE NIGHT: North Carolina State (20-12) vs. No 11. Syracuse (27-4), 7 PM, ESPN

Unless Mark Gottfried’s team makes April’s first weekend, the topic that will come to define the 2014 Wolf Pack is: should TJ Warren been awarded a continuation foul in State’s close loss to the Cuse? In only their second meeting this season, Warren has a chance to again propel the squad past Syracuse, and luckily for Gottfried and his staff, the ACC player of the year is currently peaking: a streak consecutive 40-plus point games was disrupted by a mundane 24 points last night in a win over Miami, and as Dylan Burkhardt recently posted out on his fantastic Shot Analytics’ site, Warren has elevated his game by his consistent, and effective, use of the floater. The Orange forced ten turnovers in the inaugural match-up, so the recent enhanced play of NC State frosh Cat Barber will be crucial: during the past three games, Barber has handed out 15 assists and no turnovers.

WHO’S GETTING UPSET? No. 14 Creighton (25-6) vs. Xavier (21-11), 9:30, Fox Sports 1

Even through realignment caused the stronger teams (Louisville, Connecticut, Cincinnati, et al) to flee the Big East, the new-look conference tournament has not disappointed. Seton Hall shocked Villanova, and there could be another upset when Xavier, which outlasted fellow bubble compatriot Marquette, takes on Creighton. The win propelled the Musketeers into the tournament field, and Chris Mack’s program is perfectly suited to counter-balance the Bluejays. Regardless that XU already defeated CU once this season (and their first match-up likely should have been won by Xavier), Xavier is skilled at crashing the defensive glass, diminishing Creighton’s ability to begin their break, and there is some evidence that teams which are very physical with Creighton fare well. All of Omaha had traveled to Madison Square Garden to watch the Bluejays beat down on DePaul, but the Musketeers have a very strong chance of surviving, and outlasting, Creighton’s three-point outbursts.

Get to know all of the NCAA Tournament’s automatic bids here.

MID-MAJOR GAME OF THE DAY: Southern Miss (27-5) vs. Louisiana Tech (26-6), 6:30, CBS Sports Network

Both coaches in this match-up — Donnie Tyndall and Michael White — have been early candidates floated by the national media for the Auburn opening, but that sort of attention shouldn’t diminish what will be a classic contrast: Conference USA’s best offense (USM, 1.12 PPP) versus its best defense (LaTech, .90 OPPP). The deciding factor could be determined at the free throw line: nearly 30 percent of the Golden Eagles’ points come from free throws, a nationally ranked rate that also leads the conference, and the squad is preternaturally skilled at drawing fouls at a rapid clip. And while Louisiana Tech does have a stingy defense, they are graduates of the Frank Martin school of defense, committing a foul on more than 40 percent of their defensive possessions. Senior forward Daveon Boardingham, who leads the team in fouls drawn per 40 minutes and free throw attempts, should have a fruitful day at the stripe.

(MORE: Browse through all of our conference tournament previews)

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

1) Kethan Savage returns to the George Washington (23-7) lineup in their quarterfinal match-up with Massachusetts (24-7). Mike Lonergan told me that the Colonials haven’t been able to really practice this season due to injury concerns — they don’t have enough bodies to compensate for another injury — and Savage, who missed twelve games recovering from a foot fracture, was sorely missed when the team faced UMass in mid-February. Massachusetts outlasted Rhode Island in what was a physical, and at time ugly, game, and while people are currently holding on to the sides of the Minuteman bandwagon, the team can be erratic — consistency has been Derek Kellogg’s bugbear this year.

2) Northern Colorado (18-12) was somehow able to outlast a furious Northern Arizona rally in their opening round game, and the Bears are primed to derail the Big Sky tournament title hopes of Weber State (17-11). At one point in the second half, UNC led by 20 points, and though the LUmberjacks cut the margin to two, UNC, which showed the broad spectrum of their skills (an unreal ability to score points) and deficiencies (little to no attention paid on the defensive side of the ball), prevailed. It is worth noting, as Weber State’s Twitter account pointed out last night, that UNC, along with the other two semifinalists (Portland State and North Dakota), are 1-32 when playing the Wildcats in Ogden.

3) Shabazz Napier has been very busy recently. Not only did the Connecticut (25-7) senior guard have a solid stat-line in a win over Memphis (11 points, seven boards, three assists), but he also clarified his recent AAC player of the year comments about Cincinnati’s Sean Kilpatrick, words that will surely be motivation for Cincinnati (27-5) in today’s AAC semifinal. Napier had earlier said that Kilpatrick had played well this season but had help from his senior ‘mate Justin Jackson, and following last night’s UConn win, he added, “I’m not into individual accolades. I don’t want to play Cincinnati just to play Kilpatrick. I’m here for my team, and I’m trying to play against Cincinnati. That’s it.” Even though he may disagree, sounds like someone is happy with the AAC coaches awarding him the POY award.

4) Chris Collins has done a phenomenal job in his first season at Northwestern (14-18), a sentiment further cemented when the Wildcats beat Iowa in the opening round of the Big Ten tournament. Can NU keep the momentum? The squad faces a Michigan State (23-8_ team riddled with question marks, and if NU wants another upset, Tre Demps and Dave Sobolewski will have to continue their torrid attack of the basket. The duo scored a combined 30 points — Sobo added ten, the most points he has scored since the beginning of the season — and their ability to deflect defensive attention from Drew Crawford significantly boosts Northwestern’s offense.

5) There are two Pac-12 games tonight, and both feature teams desperate to escape the NCAA bubble. Colorado (23-1), which faces Arizona (29-3) in the semifinals, lost three of their last four entering the conference tournament, but has used stout defense — .91 OPPP against USC and California — to propel the Buffaloes. Stanford (21-11) is matched with UCLA (24-8), and while the Cardinal continuously seem to beguile, and underachieve, under Johnny Dawkins, a win would provide a huge boost.

THE REST OF THE TOP 25:

No. 6 Virginia vs. Florida State, noon
No. 8 Michigan vs. Illinois, noon
No. 18 Saint Louis vs. St. Bonaventure, noon
No.1 Florida vs. Missouri 1 PM
No. 24 Ohio State vs. Nebraska, 2 PM
No. 15 North Carolina vs. Pittsburgh, 2 PM
No. 23 VCU vs. Richmond, 6:30 PM
No. 12 Wisconsin vs. Minnesota, 6:30 PM
No. 5 Louisville vs. Houston 7 PM
No. 7 Duke vs. Clemson, 9 PM
No. 8 San Diego State vs. UNLV, 9 PM
No. 20 New Mexico vs. Boise State, 11:30

NOTABLES:

Saint Joseph’s vs. Dayton, 2:30 PM
LSU vs. Kentucky, 7 PM

Follow @hudsongiles

Charlotte head coach Ron Sanchez resigns after winning CBI title

Associated PressJun 7, 2023, 1:39 PM EDT

Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Ron Sanchez resigned as head coach of the Charlotte 49ers.

Sanchez took over the 49ers on March 19, 2018, inheriting a team coming off a 6-23 campaign. In five years Charlotte went 72-78 under Sanchez, highlighted by winning the College Basketball Invitational championship this past season, the Niners’ first post-season tournament title in school history.

The 22 wins this past season are the most for Charlotte since 2001.

“Ron took over a proud but struggling program and carefully rebuilt it into a 22-game winner. He has led with class, dignity and devotion to our young men,” Charlotte director of athletics Mike Hill said. “His decision to step down from Charlotte was a difficult one for him and everyone associated with our program. We wish him and his family every happiness.”

Hill said the team has already begun a national search for a replacement.

“This is a bittersweet day for me and my family as I step down to pursue other opportunities,” said Sanchez, who came the 49ers after working as an assistant coach at Virginia under Tony Bennett. “It has been a tremendous privilege to lead the 49ers basketball program over the past five years and I want to thank Niner Nation for its support. I will be forever grateful to my staff, players and the university.”

Marquette extends Shaka Smart’s contract through 2029-30 season

Associated PressJun 6, 2023, 9:55 PM EDT

Adam Cairns/USA TODAY NETWORK

MILWAUKEE — Marquette coach Shaka Smart has received a contract extension after leading the Golden Eagles to their first outright regular-season championship and tournament title in the Big East.

Smart’s contract now runs through the 2029-30 season. This is the first extension Smart has received since signing a six-year deal when he took over as Marquette’s coach in 2021.

Marquette didn’t release financial terms of Smart’s deal.

“In a very short period of time, Shaka and his staff have done a tremendous job of establishing a winning culture, both on and off the court,” athletic director Bill Scholl said in a statement. “Shaka’s vision for the program is focused on extended, sustainable success. The individuals who interact with the team on a daily basis are able to observe frequent examples of growth and the excitement around the program is contagious.”

Marquette has gone 48-20 in Smart’s two seasons and reached the NCAA Tournament each of those years.

The Golden Eagles went 29-7 and won the Big East’s regular-season and tournament championships last season after the league’s coaches had picked them to finish ninth out of 11 teams. Marquette’s season ended with a 69-60 loss to Michigan State in the NCAA Tournament’s round of 32.

Purdue’s Edey returning to school at NBA draft deadline; Kentucky’s Tshiebwe stays in

Associated PressJun 1, 2023, 11:17 AM EDT

David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Purdue’s Zach Edey decided it was the right call to go back to school instead of staying in the NBA draft. His predecessor as national player of the year, Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe, is sticking with his pro pursuit.

And Connecticut’s reign as NCAA champion will begin with multiple starters having left for the NBA draft and one returning after flirting with doing the same.

The 7-foot-4 Edey and UConn guard Tristen Newton were among the notable names to announce that they were withdrawing from the draft, the NCAA’s deadline for players who declared as early entrants to pull out and retain their college eligibility.

Edey’s decision came in social media posts from both the center and the Boilermakers program that earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament behind Edey, The Associated Press men’s national player of the year.

But Tshiebwe announced late in the afternoon that he would remain in the draft after a college career that included being named the AP national player of the year in 2022.

For the current champions, Newton (10.1 points, 4.7 assists, 4.5 rebounds) is returning after being one of four Huskies to declare for the draft after a run to UConn’s fifth national championship in early April. He scored a game-high 19 points to go with 10 rebounds in the victory over San Diego State in the title game.

The others were Final Four Most Outstanding Player Adama Sanogo, wing Jordan Hawkins and versatile guard Andre Jackson Jr. Sanogo (17.8 points) and Hawkins (16.3) have made it clear they have closed the door on their college careers, while team spokesman Phil Chardis said that Jackson (6.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists) would remain in the draft.

The Huskies have 247sports’ No. 3-ranked recruiting class for next year to restock the roster, led by McDonald’s All-American point guard Stephon Castle.

The NBA’s withdrawal deadline is June 12, but is moot when it comes to college players returning to school due to the NCAA’s earlier timeline to retain playing eligibility.

STAYING IN SCHOOL

TREY ALEXANDER: Creighton gets back a 6-4 guard who averaged 13.6 points and shot 41% from 3-point range in his first full season as a starter.

ADEM BONA: The 6-foot-10 forward and Pac-12 freshman of the year is returning to UCLA after starting 32 games as a rookie and averaging 7.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks – with coach Mick Cronin praising his toughness for “competing through multiple injuries for as long as he could” in a statement Wednesday.

EDEY: He averaged 22.3 points, 12.9 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 1.5 assists while shooting 60.7% from the field. His presence alone helps Purdue be a factor in the Big Ten race.

JOSIAH-JORDAN JAMES: The 6-6 guard went through the NBA G League Combine and had workouts with multiple teams before opting to return to Tennessee for a fifth season alongside teammate Santiago Vescovi.

JUDAH MINTZ: The 6-3 freshman averaged 16.3 points and 4.6 assists for Syracuse, ranking third among Division I freshmen in scoring behind only Alabama’s Brandon Miller and Lamar’s Nate Calmese.

OWLS’ RETURNEES: Florida Atlantic got good news after its surprise Final Four run with the return leading scorers Johnell Davis (13.8) and Alijah Martin (13.4). ESPN first reported their decisions, while Martin later posted a social media statement.

TERRENCE SHANNON JR.: Illinois got a big boost with Shannon announcing his night in a social media post. The 6-6 guard is returning for a fifth college season after averaging 17.2 points.

SPARTANS’ RETURNEES: Michigan State announced that guards Jaden Akins and A.J. Hoggard have withdrawn from the NBA draft. Standout guard Tyson Walker had previously withdrawn in April, setting up Tom Izzo to have five of his top scorers back.

GOING PRO

KOBE BROWN: Missouri’s 6-8 swingman opted against returning for a fifth college season after being an AP first-team all-Southeastern Conference pick averaging 15.8 points last season.

JAYLEN CLARK: The third-year UCLA guard averaged 13.0 points and 6.0 rebounds while leading the Pac-12 with 2.6 steals en route to being named Naismith national defensive player of the year. Cronin called him a winner with strong intangibles who made UCLA “a better program because he chose to be a Bruin.”

BRICE SENSABAUGH: The Ohio State freshman averaged 16.3 points and 5.4 rebounds in 31 games before missing his final two in the Big Ten Tournament due to a knee injury. He’s a potential first-round prospect.

TSHIEBWE: The 6-9, 260-pound forward is a tough interior presence who led the country in rebounds for two straight seasons (15.1 in 2022, 13.7 in 2023) while racking up 48 double-doubles. But he faces an uncertain next stop and is projected at best as a second-round prospect.

North Carolina transfer Caleb Love commits to Arizona

Associated PressMay 31, 2023, 10:59 AM EDT

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Caleb Love is now headed to Arizona.

The North Carolina transfer tweeted, less than a month after decommitting from Michigan, that he will play next season with the Wildcats.

“Caleb is a tremendously talented guard who has significant experience playing college basketball at a high level,” Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said in a statement. “We look forward to helping Caleb grow his game at Arizona. And as we near the completion of the roster for the upcoming season, we feel great about how everything has come together. Now it’s time for the real work to start.”

A 6-foot-4 guard, Love averaged 14.6 points and 3.3 assists in three seasons at North Carolina. He averaged 17.6 points in seven NCAA Tournament games, helping lead the Tar Heels to the 2022 national championship game.

Love entered the transfer portal after leading North Carolina with 73 3-pointers as a junior and initially committed to Michigan. He decommitted from the Wolverines earlier this month, reportedly due to an admissions issue involving academic credits.

Love narrowed his transfer targets to three schools before choosing to play at Arizona over Gonzaga and Texas.

Love will likely start on a team that will have dynamic perimeter players, including Pelle Larsson, Kylan Boswell and Alabama transfer Jaden Bradley.

Biden celebrates LSU women’s and UConn men’s basketball teams at separate White House events

Associated PressMay 26, 2023, 11:56 PM EDT

Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK

WASHINGTON – All of the past drama and sore feelings associated with Louisiana State’s invitation to the White House were seemingly forgotten or set aside Friday as President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden welcomed the championship women’s basketball team to the mansion with smiles, hugs and lavish praise all around.

The visit had once appeared in jeopardy after Jill Biden suggested that the losing Iowa team be invited, too. But none of that was mentioned as both Bidens heralded the players for their performance and the way they have helped advance women’s sports.

“Folks, we witnessed history,” the president said. “In this team, we saw hope, we saw pride and we saw purpose. It matters.”

The ceremony was halted for about 10 minutes after forward Sa’Myah Smith appeared to collapse as she and her teammates stood behind Biden. A wheelchair was brought in and coach Kim Mulkey assured the audience that Smith was fine.

LSU said in a statement that Smith felt overheated, nauseous and thought she might faint. She was evaluated by LSU and White House medical staff and was later able to rejoin the team. “She is feeling well, in good spirits, and will undergo further evaluation once back in Baton Rouge,” the LSU statement said.

Since the passage of Title IX in 1972, Biden said, more than half of all college students are women, and there are now 10 times more female athletes in college and high school. He said most sports stories are still about men, and that that needs to change.

Title IX prohibits discrimination based on sex in federally funded education programs and activities.

“Folks, we need to support women sports, not just during the championship run but during the entire year,” President Biden said.

After the Tigers beat Iowa for the NCAA title in April in a game the first lady attended, she caused an uproar by suggesting that the Hawkeyes also come to the White House.

LSU star Angel Reese called the idea “A JOKE” and said she would prefer to visit with former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, instead. The LSU team largely is Black, while Iowa’s top player, Caitlin Clark, is white, as are most of her teammates.

Nothing came of Jill Biden’s idea and the White House only invited the Tigers. Reese ultimately said she would not skip the White House visit. She and co-captain Emily Ward presented team jerseys bearing the number “46” to Biden and the first lady. Hugs were exchanged.

Jill Biden also lavished praise on the team, saying the players showed “what it means to be a champion.”

“In this room, I see the absolute best of the best,” she said, adding that watching them play was “pure magic.”

“Every basket was pure joy and I kept thinking about how far women’s sports have come,” the first lady added, noting that she grew up before Title IX was passed. “We’ve made so much progress and we still have so much more work to do.”

The president added that “the way in which women’s sports has come along is just incredible. It’s really neat to see, since I’ve got four granddaughters.”

After Smith was helped to a wheelchair, Mulkey told the audience the player was OK.

“As you can see, we leave our mark where we go,” Mulkey joked. “Sa’Myah is fine. She’s kind of, right now, embarrassed.”

A few members of Congress and Biden aides past and present with Louisiana roots dropped what they were doing to attend the East Room event, including White House budget director Shalanda Young. Young is in the thick of negotiations with House Republicans to reach a deal by the middle of next week to stave off what would be a globally calamitous U.S. financial default if the U.S. can no longer borrow the money it needs to pay its bills.

The president, who wore a necktie in the shade of LSU’s purple, said Young, who grew up in Baton Rouge, told him, “I’m leaving the talks to be here.” Rep. Garret Graves, one of the House GOP negotiators, also attended.

Biden closed sports Friday by changing to a blue tie and welcoming the UConn’s men’s championship team for its own celebration. The Huskies won their fifth national title by defeating San Diego State, 76-59, in April.

“Congratulations to the whole UConn nation,” he said.