Late Night Snacks: The Jimmy V Classic, another Michigan home loss highlight Tuesday

By Dec 9, 2014, 11:30 PM EST
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GAME OF THE NIGHT: Evansville 65, Belmont 62

In a matchup of really strong mid-major teams, the Purple Aces mounted a second-half comeback after trailing by eight at halftime to land a big road win. D.J. Balentine scored 25 points had five rebounds and added four assists in the win for Evansville, who is looking to be a third NCAA Tournament title in the Missouri Valley behind No. 11 Wichita State and unbeaten No. 23 Northern Iowa. As one of the tougher games in the non-conference slate, this is a nice win for the Purple Aces.

UPSET OF THE NIGHT: Eastern Michigan 45, Michigan 42

The Wolverines had a shocking home loss to N.J.I.T. on Saturday and followed that up with another home loss to Eastern Michigan on Tuesday. Zak Irvin, Caris LeVert and Derrick Walton all struggled to find their shots and Eastern Michigan won despite shooting 32 percent from the field and 31 percent from the three-point line.

IMPORTANT OUTCOMES 

1. No. 7 Villanova 73, Illinois 59

This one was tied midway in the second half before the Wildcats once again showed why they are a top-flight team at this point in the season. It was once again a balanced effort for Villanova as Dylan Ennis led with 18 points and Darrun Hilliard II and Daniel Ochefu each had 12 points.

2. No. 11 Wichita State 77, Seton Hall 68

The Shockers don’t get many chances to host power conference opponents, so they made the most of it in an easy win. Ron Baker finished with 22 points while Fred VanVleet added 18 points and Darius Carter finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Isaiah Whitehead did everything he can to keep the Pirates in the game, but the lost their first game of the season, as the McDonald’s All-American finished with 23 points.

3. No. 4 Louisville 94, Indiana 74

The Cardinals withstood a hot-shooting first half from Indiana and ran away with ease as Terry Rozier (26 points), Chris Jones (24 points) and Montrezl Harrell (21 points) all finished with 20-plus points in Madison Square Garden. Louisville now owns three Big Ten wins during the early part of the season.

STARRED

1. Notre Dame trio of Auguste, Grant and Vasturia

The No. 25 Fighting Irish cruised to a 93-67 win over Mount St. Mary’s as Zach Auguste, Jerian Grant and Steve Vasturia each had 19 points to carry Notre Dame.

2. Xavier’s depth

It wasn’t the prettiest night for Xavier in terms of scoring the ball, but the Musketeers had points from 12 different players in a 66-43 win over IUPUI. Only two players, Trevon Blueitt and Remy Abell scored in double figures.

STRUGGLED

1. Army’s perimeter shooting

The Black Knights shot only 4-for-17 from three-point range as Army (6-2) lost at home to a Bryant (2-5) team that was struggling to find wins.

2. Maine’s second-half defense

The halftime lead attained by the Black Bears went to waste when they allowed 53 second-half points and gave LIU Brooklyn its first win of the season in an 83-70 home loss. The Blackbirds were also 10-for-17 from the field in the win.

3. Texas A&M’s rebounding

The Aggies were crushed on the glass 36-17 against Baylor as they allowed 15 offensive rebounds. Baylor ran past Texas A&M 77-63 in the first time these two former rivals played since the Aggies left for the SEC.

NOTABLES

  • No. 14 Iowa State cruised to a 73-56 win over UMKC as Bryce Dejean-Jones led the way with 22 points.
  • Mark Nwakamma had 29 points on 14-for-18 shooting as Hartford beat Holy Cross, 79-61.
  • Saint Joseph’s grabbed a win over Loyola (MD) as DeAndre Bembry had 21 points and seven rebounds.
  • Myles Mack had 20 points as Rutgers got past New Hampshire 60-56.
  • Dayton only shot 1-for-15 from three-point range, but battled back in the second half to top Bowling Green. Devon Scott led the Flyers with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
  • Navy ran past VMI as Tilman Dunbar had 26 points.
  • N.J.I.T. picked up another win on Tuesday night as Damon Lynn had a game-high 22 points in a win over St. Francis (NY)
  • TCU remained one of the nation’s unbeatens as the Horned Frogs won 80-69 over Furman. Stephen Croone had 23 points to lead the way.
  • South Dakota State earned a solid road win at Saint Louis as Reed Tellinghuisen had 15 points.
  • UL Monroe had double-doubles from Tylor Ongwae (19 points, 10 rebounds) and DeMondre Harvey (12 points, 10 rebounds) in a win over Northwestern State.
  • Nino Williams had 14 points and 12 rebounds to lead Kansas State to a 50-47 home win over Bradley.
  • Iowa bounced Alcorn State for an easy home win as Aaron White had 15 points.
  • Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had 12 points and 10 rebounds to lead No. 3 Arizona past Utah Valley.
  • Creighton needed 24 points and eight assists from Austin Chatman to last two overtimes for a win over South Dakota.

NCAA tweaks rules on block/charge calls in men’s basketball

Associated PressJun 8, 2023, 9:14 PM EDT
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Jordan Prather/USA TODAY Sports
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INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA is tweaking how block/charge calls are made in men’s basketball.

The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved rule changes on Thursday that require a defender to be in position to draw a charge at the time the offensive player plants a foot to go airborne for a shot. If the defender arrives after the player has planted a foot, officials have been instructed to call a block when there’s contact.

Defenders had to be in position to draw a charge before the offensive player went airborne under previous rules.

NCAA Men’s Basketball Rules Committee members made the proposal after NCAA members complained that too many charges were being called on those types of plays.

The panel also approved reviews of basket interference calls during the next media timeout – if the official called it on the floor – a shot clock reset to 20 seconds on an offensive rebound that hits the rim, and players being allowed to wear any number between 0 and 99.

A timeout also will be granted to an airborne player with possession of the ball, and non-student bench personnel will be allowed to serve as peacekeepers on the floor if an altercation occurs.

Charlotte head coach Ron Sanchez resigns after winning CBI title

Associated PressJun 7, 2023, 1:39 PM EDT
Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports
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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
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Adam Cairns/USA TODAY NETWORK
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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
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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
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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.