SUNDAY’S SNACKS: No. 5 Michigan State rolls, No. 16 Louisville falls

By Raphielle JohnsonJan 10, 2016, 7:02 PM EST

Associated Press

GAME OF THE DAY: No. 11 Villanova 60, No. 18 Butler 55

Villanova moved to 4-0 in the Big East with a hard-fought win at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Josh Hart was the best player on the floor, shooting 10-for-15 from the field and finishing with 22 points and 11 rebounds on the night. Roosevelt Jones scored 20 points to lead the way for Butler, but the versatile senior didn’t have a single assist. Defense and the continued growth of Hart are two reasons why Villanova remains the class of the Big East.

IMPORTANT OUTCOMES

Clemson 66, No. 16 Louisville 62: Clemson moved to 3-1 in the ACC with a four-point win over the Cardinals in Greenville (Littlejohn Coliseum’s undergoing major renovations this season). Jaron Blossomgame led the Tigers with 17 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots. Besides Clemson’s efforts why did Louisville, which escaped close calls against Wake Forest and NC State, suffer their first conference loss? Our Rob Dauster has more on that here.

No. 5 Michigan State 92, Penn State 65: Whipping Penn State isn’t a huge deal for Michigan State. But the return of Denzel Valentine is. The senior guard played 23 minutes, scoring ten points while also grabbing four rebounds and dishing out four assists. The star for the Spartans was Bryn Forbes, who scored at least 20 points in a game for the fourth straight game.

Illinois 84, No. 20 Purdue 70: Malcolm Hill scored 30 points and Kendrick Nunn 22 as the Fighting Illini knocked off the Boilermakers in Champaign. Illinois shot 54 percent from the field, so defense was Purdue’s biggest issue right? Not exactly.

STARRED

Valparaiso’s Alec Peters: Peters was nearly unstoppable in the Crusaders’ win at Detroit, as he scored 39 points and grabbed 14 rebounds.

Richmond’s ShawnDre’ Jones: Jones shot 9-for-12 from the field and 12-for-13 from the foul line, scoring 35 points in a win at Fordham.

Saint Joseph’s DeAndre Bembry: 22 points, seven rebounds and five assists in a 72-67 win over Rhode Island.

Illinois’ Malcolm Hill and Kendrick Nunn: They combined to score 52 points on 17-for-27 shooting in their win over No. 20 Purdue.

STRUGGLED

Ohio State’s Jae’Sean Tate and Trevor Thompson: Tate and Thompson combined to score three points on 1-for-10 shooting from the field in the Buckeyes’ blowout loss at Indiana.

Saint Louis’ ball control: The Billikens made 14 field goals and committed 21 turnovers in their 72-56 loss to VCU.

Purdue’s Rapheal Davis: Davis played 21 minutes in a loss at Illinois, fouling out and failing to score.

THE REST OF THE TOP 25

No. 15 SMU moved to 15-0 on the season with an 88-73 win over UCF in Dallas. Ben Moore scored 23 points on 11-for-17 shooting while also grabbing six rebounds and dishing out three assists for the Mustangs, who played the second half without head coach Larry Brown.

OTHER NOTABLE RESULTS

Troy Caupain scored 14 points as Cincinnati held off USF 54-51 in Tampa. Cincinnati shot just 30.9 percent on the day, but 18 USF turnovers helped the visitors make up for that.
Indiana blew open its game with Ohio State during the latter stages of the first half, winning 85-60. Troy Williams led four Hoosiers in double figures with 23 points, and Thomas Bryant added 18 and 13 for Indiana (4-0 in the Big Ten).
In a matchup of teams undefeated in Horizon League play, Valparaiso took care of Detroit 92-74. Bryce Drew’s team scored 50 first half points, and Alec Peters racked up 39 points and 14 boards.
DeAndre Bembry and Aaron Brown combined to score 41 points to lead Saint Joseph’s to a 72-67 win over Rhode Island.
Marshall Wood sparked Richmond’s first half rally by scoring 17 straight points, finishing with 29, and ShawnDre’ Jones scored a career-high 35 to lead the Spiders to a 93-82 win at Fordham. Trey Davis finished with 11 assists and no turnovers for the Spiders.
Oakland rebounded from its loss to Valparaiso with an 86-61 win over UIC. Kay Felder tallied 26 points, four assists, three steals and two blocks for the Golden Grizzlies.
Pat Birt (27 points) and James Woodard (21) combined to shoot 12-for-16 from three as Tulsa won 81-67 at Tulane. As a team the Golden Hurricane shot 58.5 percent from the field and 13-for-20 from three.
Mo-Alie Cox scored 16 points and Melvin Johnson 15 as VCU won at Saint Louis. The Rams committed 17 turnovers but shot 47.8 percent from the field and 10-for-24 from three.
Wake Forest moved to 8-0 this season in games decided by six points or less with a 77-74 win over NC State in Winston-Salem. Devin Thomas scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and Bryant Crawford added 17 and six assists for the winners.
Oregon completed their first home sweep of the Bay Area schools since the 2007-08 season with a 71-58 win over Stanford. Dillon Brooks led the way with 15 points, ten rebounds and seven assists, and Dwayne Benjamin and Tyler Dorsey added 12 apiece.

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.