LATE NIGHT SNACKS: Maryland struggles, Georgetown rolls

By Rob DausterNov 20, 2015, 9:08 PM EST

AP Photo

GAME OF THE DAY: Tulsa 90, Ohio 88

Call it the Wichita State hangover? The Golden Hurricane, fresh off of a win over No. 10 Wichita State back in Oklahoma, looked like they had spent too much time in the sun in their opener in the Paradise Jam, falling behind Ohio 54-37 at the half. They were down by 19 points with 11 minutes left, but Shaq Harrison sparked a comeback. He finished with 31 points, nine boards, five assists and five steals (!!!) to lead five players in double-figures. Jaaron Simmons had 30 points and eight assists for the Bobcats, but he also committed seven of Ohio’s 23 turnovers.

IMPORTANT OUTCOMES

Georgetown 71, Wisconsin 61: The Hoyas knocked off the Badgers at Madison Square Garden despite the fact that D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera struggled again. That’s a good thing, though. Read why here.

No. 3 Maryland 65, Rider 58: Maryland overcame a 14-point second half deficit (seriously) to beat Rider, using a 36-15 run to close the game. Robert Carter led five players in double-figures with 13 points. Maryland was down at the half and let Rider use a 12-0 run to open the second half. Was this just a hangover fro the excitement of the win over Georgetown, or was this a sign of deeper issues for the Terps?

Miami 90, No. 16 Utah 66:Sheldon McClellan led all scorers with 27 and Tonye Jekiri added 20 and 12 boards as Jim Larrañaga’s Hurricanes rolled in the Puerto Rico Tipoff semifinals. Read more here.

Xavier 86, No. 24 Michigan 70: Chris Mack’s Musketeers went on the road and won in impressive fashion, taking a nine-point lead into the half and knocking off the Wolverines in Ann Arbor. Remy Abell, Trevon Bluiett and Jalen Reynolds scored 15 points apiece to lead the way for Xavier, which dominated the boards by posting an offensive rebounding percentage of 45 percent. Caris LeVert led all scorers with 29 points.

STARRED

Shevon Thompson, George Mason: The Patriots picked up a win over Oklahoma State on Friday afternoon to advance to the Charleston Classic a day after they beat Ole Miss in the quarterfinals. Thompson had 20 points and 17 boards on Friday, following up a 19-points, 16-board performance on Thursday.

Stefan Moody, Ole Miss: One of the nation’s most dynamic scorers, Moody popped off for 30 points and six assists as the Rebels knocked off Towson.

Kenny Gaines, Georgia: Gaines went off in the Bulldogs’ 63-52 win over Murray State, scoring 35 points on 10-for-18 shooting from the field. No other Georgia player scored more than eight points.

Grayson Allen, Duke: Allen bounced back from a poor outing in the Blue Devils’ loss to Kentucky earlier this week, scoring 30 to lead the Blue Devils to a 79-71 win over VCU.

STRUGGLED

Florida State: The Seminoles, a team many picked as a sleeper in the ACC this season, lost their opener in the Paradise Jam to Hofstra. Xavier Rathan-Mayes and Dwayne Bacon combined to shoot 7-for-23 from the floor and 1-for-9 from three.

Michigan’s front court: While the guards produce most of the offense for the Wolverines, the big men are needed as defenders and rebounders. They struggled against Xavier, with starter Mark Donnal and reserves Moritz Wagner, D.J. Wilson and Ricky Doyle combining to grab four rebounds in their 86-70 loss. Xavier finished with an offensive rebounding percentage of 45 percent.

Wisconsin’s starting backcourt: Guards Bronson Koenig and Zak Showalter struggled against Georgetown, shooting a combined 5-for-19 from the field and scoring 16 points in the ten-point loss.

THE REST OF THE TOP 25

Tyler Lewis and Kellen Dunham both went for 16 points as No. 22 Butler knocked off Temple to advance to the finals of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. Jaylen Bond added 13 points and 13 boards for Temple.
Grayson Allen scored 30 points to lead No. 5 Duke to a 79-71 win over VCU in New York.
No. 2 Kentucky moved to 4-0 on the season with a 78-62 win over Wright State in Lexington. Tyler Ulis led five Wildcats in double figures with 21 points while also dishing out five assists.
No. 6 Virginia advanced to the title game of the Charleston Classic with an 87-52 win over Long Beach State. Next up for the Cavaliers is a George Mason team that’s surprised many by reaching the final.
No. 8 Oklahoma remained undefeated with a comfortable 85-56 win over McNeese State, with Buddy Hield scoring 24 points and Isaiah Cousins and Rashard Odomes 15 apiece.
No. 11 Villanova beat East Tennessee State 86-51, with Kris Jenkins leading five double-digit scorers with 17 points. Daniel Ochefu grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds in the win.
No. 13 Michigan State wasted little time taking care of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, racing out to a 19-4 lead in a game they went on to win 92-46.
Leading by just five at the half No. 20 Baylor got things going and pulled away from Jackson State, winning 77-60 in Waco. Al Freeman led the way offensively for the Bears with 20 points.
No. 25 Oregon established a comfortable lead against Savannah State in the first half, leading by 18 at the break and going on to win 77-59. Chris Boucher led the way with 17 points, seven rebounds and two blocks.
No. 15 California held off East Carolina 70-62 despite shooting 3-for-23 from beyond the arc. ECU played zone against the Golden Bears, with the home team settling for a few too many jump shots. Tyrone Wallace led the winners with 20 points, and freshmen Jaylen Brown (16 points, ten rebounds) and Ivan Rabb (14 and 13) posted double-doubles.

NOTABLES

Joey King’s 18 points led Minnesota to a 74-69 win over Missouri State.
UT-Arlington, picked to finish eighth in the Southland Conference preseason poll, went on the road and beat Ohio State by five in Columbus. The Buckeyes shot 13-for-27 from the foul line.
West Virginia rolled to a 103-62 win over Stetson, forcing 19 turnovers and limiting the Hatters to 30.6 percent shooting from the field.
Josh Fortune racked up 17 points, 14 rebounds and six assists as Colorado beat Portland 85-63 in Boulder. Tre’Shaun Fletcher also scored 17, and George King continued his solid play with a team-high 18.

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.

Marquette’s Prosper says he will stay in draft rather than returning to school

Associated PressMay 26, 2023, 7:08 PM EDT

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

MILWAUKEE — Olivier-Maxence Prosper announced he is keeping his name under NBA draft consideration rather than returning to Marquette.

The 6-foot-8 forward announced his decision.

“Thank you Marquette nation, my coaches, my teammates and support staff for embracing me from day one,” Prosper said in an Instagram post. “My time at Marquette has been incredible. With that being said, I will remain in the 2023 NBA Draft. I’m excited for what comes next. On to the next chapter…”

Prosper had announced last month he was entering the draft. He still could have returned to school and maintained his college eligibility by withdrawing from the draft by May 31. Prosper’s announcement indicates he instead is going ahead with his plans to turn pro.

Prosper averaged 12.5 points and 4.7 rebounds last season while helping Marquette go 29-7 and win the Big East’s regular-season and tournament titles. Marquette’s season ended with a 69-60 loss to Michigan State in the NCAA Tournament’s round of 32.

He played two seasons at Marquette after transferring from Clemson, where he spent one season.

Kansas’ Kevin McCullar Jr. returning for last season of eligibility

Associated PressMay 25, 2023, 9:18 PM EDT

Jeffrey Becker/USA TODAY Sports

Kevin McCullar Jr. said that he will return to Kansas for his final year of eligibility, likely rounding out a roster that could make the Jayhawks the preseason No. 1 next season.

McCullar transferred from Texas Tech to Kansas for last season, when he started 33 of 34 games and averaged 10.7 points and 7.0 rebounds. He was also among the nation’s leaders in steals, and along with being selected to the Big 12’s all-defensive team, the 6-foot-6 forward was a semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award.

“To be able to play in front of the best fans in the country; to play for the best coach in the nation, I truly believe we have the pieces to hang another banner in the Phog,” McCullar said in announcing his return.

Along with McCullar, the Jayhawks return starters Dajuan Harris Jr. and K.J. Adams from a team that went 28–8, won the Big 12 regular-season title and was a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, where it lost to Arkansas in the second round.

Perhaps more importantly, the Jayhawks landed Michigan transfer Hunter Dickinson, widely considered the best player in the portal, to anchor a lineup that was missing a true big man. They also grabbed former five-star prospect Arterio Morris, who left Texas, and Towson’s Nick Timberlake, who emerged last season as one of the best 3-point shooters in the country.

The Jayhawks also have an elite recruiting class arriving that is headlined by five-star recruit Elmarko Jackson.

McCullar declared for the draft but, after getting feedback from scouts, decided to return. He was a redshirt senior last season, but he has another year of eligibility because part of his career was played during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is a big day for Kansas basketball,” Jayhawks coach Bill Self said. “Kevin is not only a terrific player but a terrific teammate. He fit in so well in year one and we’re excited about what he’ll do with our program from a leadership standpoint.”

Clemson leading scorer Hall withdraws from NBA draft, returns to Tigers

Associated PressMay 25, 2023, 9:15 PM EDT

Bob Donnan/USA TODAY Sports

CLEMSON, S.C. — Clemson leading scorer PJ Hall is returning to college after withdrawing from the NBA draft on Thursday.

The 6-foot-10 forward took part in the NBA combine and posted his decision to put off the pros on social media.

Hall led the Tigers with 15.3 points per game this past season. He also led the Tigers with 37 blocks, along with 5.7 rebounds. Hall helped Clemson finish third in the Atlantic Coast Conference while posting a program-record 14 league wins.

Clemson coach Brad Brownell said Hall gained experience from going through the NBA’s combine that will help the team next season. “I’m counting on him and others to help lead a very talented group,” he said.

Hall was named to the all-ACC third team last season as the Tigers went 23-10.

George Washington adopts new name ‘Revolutionaries’ to replace ‘Colonials’

Associated PressMay 24, 2023, 7:12 PM EDT

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WASHINGTON — George Washington University’s sports teams will now be known as the Revolutionaries, the school announced.

Revolutionaries replaces Colonials, which had been GW’s name since 1926. Officials made the decision last year to drop the old name after determining it no longer unified the community.

GW said 8,000 different names were suggested and 47,000 points of feedback made during the 12-month process. Revolutionaries won out over the other final choices of Ambassadors, Blue Fog and Sentinels.

“I am very grateful for the active engagement of our community throughout the development of the new moniker,” president Mark S. Wrighton said. “This process was truly driven by our students, faculty, staff and alumni, and the result is a moniker that broadly reflects our community – and our distinguished and distinguishable GW spirit.”

George the mascot will stay and a new logo developed soon for the Revolutionaries name that takes effect for the 2023-24 school year. The university is part of the Atlantic 10 Conference.