LATE NIGHT SNACKS: No. 13 Indiana falls to Wake Forest; Kris Dunn, Ben Simmons have big nights

By Scott PhillipsNov 23, 2015, 7:19 PM EST

GAME OF THE DAY: Wake Forest 82, No. 13 Indiana 78

Bryant Crawford made a driving layup with 3.2 seconds left to give the Demon Deacons a first-round upset win at the Maui Invitational. Indiana’s defense was porous throughout the contest and Wake Forest finished the contest on a 19-6 run. Devin Thomas paced the Demon Deacons with 21 points while Dinos Mitoglou had 18 points and Crawford and Mitchell Wilbekin added 13 points apiece.

IMPORTANT OUTCOMES

Marquette 81, No. 22 LSU 80: The Golden Eagles pulled off a big win on a neutral court as Henry Ellenson had 16 points and 11 rebounds. In a loss, LSU freshman sensation Ben Simmons went for 21 points, 20 rebounds and seven assists. CBT’s Rob Dauster has more on this one.

No. 19 Vanderbilt 92, St. John’s 55: Vanderbilt led this one by 30 at the break and looked very good in thrashing an inferior St. John’s team. Junior center Luke Kornet paced the Commodores with 13 points and seven rebounds.

UT-Arlington 68, Memphis 64: UT-Arlington kept its unbelievable road swing going as the Mavericks won at Memphis after winning at Ohio State a few days ago. Kevin Hervey had 22 points to lead UT-Arlington. Memphis shot 29 percent from the field (16-for-54) and 19 percent from 3-point range (4-for-21) in the loss.

South Carolina 83, Tulsa 75: In a clash of 4-0 teams at the Paradise Jam, the Gamecocks remained unbeaten as five players finished in double-figures. Laimonas Chatkevicius had 17 points to pace South Carolina while Sindarius Thornwell and Michael Carrera had 16 points each.

STARRED

Kris Dunn, Providence: While the nation was focused on Ben Simmons, the junior Player of the Year candidate went for 22 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists, seven steals and one turnover in a win over NJIT.

Kale Abrahamson, Drake: The junior forward put up 41 points and seven rebounds as the Bulldogs outlasted Western Kentucky in overtime. Abrahamson knocked down four 3-pointers and was 11-for-11 from the free-throw line.

Evan Bradds, Belmont: Belmont picked up a win over South Alabama as the junior forward scored 30 points and went 14-for-15 from the field.

Dwayne Bacon and Malik Beasley, Florida State: The high-scoring freshmen duo had another strong game against Ohio. Bacon finished with 25 points and seven rebounds while Beasley finished with 22 points on 8-for-10 shooting.

Stacy Davis, Pepperdine: The senior forward went for 21 points and 15 rebounds in a win over Duquesne in the Gulf Coast Showcase.

James Daniel, Howard: The Bison were able to beat Texas Southern as the junior guard went for 30 points and was 16-for-19 from the free-throw line.

Jordan Price, La Salle: A 33-point night from Price helped the Explorers defeat Lafayette. Price was 6-for-8 from the 3-point line for the night.

Jalen Coleman-Lands, Illinois: The freshman guard hit perhaps the biggest shot of the night with a buzzer-beater to beat Chicago State. Coleman-Lands finished with nine points on the night.

STRUGGLED

James Blackmon Jr., Indiana: The sophomore guard really struggled in the loss to Wake Forest as he was 1-for-8 from the field and 1-for-6 from 3-point range.

Missouri’s offense: Playing in the CBE Classic in Kansas City, the Tigers lost to Kansas State as they shot 30 percent (17-for-55) from the floor, 22 percent (4-for-18) from 3-point range and 40 percent (4-for-10) from the free-throw line.

Dedric Lawson: Plenty of players struggled for Memphis, but Lawson turned the ball over six times and went 4-for-10 from the free-throw line in a loss to UT-Arlington. The freshman finished with eight points and 10 rebounds.

OTHER TOP 25 RESULTS

No. 3 Michigan State earned an easy win over Eastern Michigan as senior Denzel Valentine had 12 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Freshman Deyonta Davis led the Spartans with 16 points and collected five rebounds and five blocks.
No. 4 Iowa State knocked off Chattanooga as Nazareth Mitrou-Long had 24 points and Georges Niang had 19 points. Senior center Jameel McKay had eight points and 17 rebounds as well for the Cyclones while Montre Morris had 14 points and 10 assists.
Winning big in their Maui Invitational opener was No. 5 Kansas, who ran away from Chaminade with a 123-72 victory. Wayne Selden bounced back nicely with 18 points, seven assists and five rebounds.
It was a bounceback win for No. 9 North Carolina as they used a good second-half effort to pull away from Northwestern, 80-69. Sophomore Justin Jackson had another strong effort with 21 points, 13 rebounds and four assists.

NOTABLES

DePaul defeated Norfolk State as Billy Garrett Jr. had 22 points, seven assists and zero turnovers and buried a key 3-pointer in the final minutes.
Youngstown State topped North Dakota as Penguins head coach Jerry Slocum picked up career win No. 700. Cameron Morse paced Youngstown State with 14 points.
West Virginia had seven players in double-figures as they easily dispatched Bethune-Cookman.
Playing without star point guard Jack Gibbs, who sat out with a sprained ankle, Davidson took down Mercer as Peyton Aldridge had 23 points.
Southern Mississippi lost to NAIA William Carey as Leo Garrett led the victors with 22 points.
UMass had 25-point efforts from Trey Davis and Donte Clark as the Minutemen went to 4-0 with a win over Clemson.
Trevon Bluiett had 14 points and 16 rebounds as Xavier took down Northern Kentucky.
Taurean Waller-Prince had an outstanding night as he finished with 20 points, nine assists and seven rebounds in a Baylor win over Savannah State.
USC had 20 points and six assists from Jordan McLaughlin as the Trojans easily defeated Cal-State Northridge.

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

Associated PressJun 8, 2023, 9:14 PM EDT

Jordan Prather/USA TODAY Sports

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

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.