Quantcast
Coll. Basketball | dailypost.org
Home » Coll. Basketball Coll. Basketball

UConn looks to avenge Final Four loss to Irish

UConn looks to avenge Final Four loss to Irish

    HARTFORD, Conn. (AP and Staff) — There is a bit of a role reversal in this year’s matchup between Big East rivals Connecticut and Notre Dame. The No. 3 Irish (14-1, 2-0 Big East), perennial underdogs to the No. 2 Huskies (12-1, 2-0), are this season’s coaches’ pick to win the conference. Despite winning 12 of the last 13 meetings between the two schools, UConn believes it is the team with something to prove after losing to Notre Dame in last season’s national semifinal. “Of course, it’s still in the back of our mind,” said UConn forward Kelly Faris. “But, if you want to sit there and go into a game thinking, ‘OK, we’re going to pay you back for last year,’ you’re going to lose. If that’s all you have in your mindset, you’re not thinking about the right things.” The right things include how to stop a Notre Dame team that returns four starters who played in last year’s national championship game and barely lost to Texas A&M. The Irish are on an 11-game winning streak, and looking to win the program’s first conference regular-season title since 2001, the year they won the NCAA title. This team is led by Skylar Diggins, the Big East preseason player of the year, who is averaging more than 16 points. Natalie Novosel (15.6), Deveraux Peters (10.5), and Brittany Mallory, also are back from the team that went 31-8. The Irish average more than 85 points and have scored over 90 seven times, including a 128-42 rout of Mercer on Dec. 30. Meanwhile, UConn is leading the nation in defense by holding opponents to under 43 points a game. “We’ve played them, it feels like 1,000 times, so they know us, we know them,” Faris said. “It’s going to come down to effort, heart and who is going to be more aggressive.” Connecticut may look a bit different to the Irish without Maya Moore, who graduated after scoring 36 points in UConn’s 72-63 loss last April. The Huskies have spread out the offensive load this season, with three players averaging more than 14 points a game. They often run a four-guard offense. “It’s kind of an equal opportunity offense and you’ve really got to worry about everybody on the team,” said Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw said. “You can’t just worry about one person.” Both teams also feature a player [...]

Read More » | Comment »

Calhoun putting NCAA sanctions behind him

Calhoun putting NCAA sanctions behind him

    HARTFORD, Conn. (AP and Staff) — Connecticut basketball coach Jim Calhoun says he decided not to retire after last year’s national championship in large part because he wanted to see through the NCAA sanctions leveled on him and his program for recruiting violations. The 69-year-old Hall of Fame coach returns to the sidelines Saturday after serving a three-game suspension as No. 8 UConn (12-2, 2-1 Big East) visits Rutgers (8-7, 0-2). The NCAA required Calhoun to sit out wins over South Florida and St. John’s and a loss to Seton Hall for violations that included a finding that the coach had failed to maintain “an atmosphere of compliance” in the program. In a conference call with reporters Friday, Calhoun said the idea of bringing closure to that issue was a “major, major factor” in his decision to come back this season. “When I was contemplating, over the spring and summer, about what I was going to do… I always felt there was something hanging out there, and we needed some finality on that,” he said. “We were penalized and I wanted to make sure that I was the guy that sat out. I was the guy that finalized it.” Calhoun said he watched all three UConn games on television while under suspension, but didn’t get anything positive out of his time away from the team. He said he doesn’t buy the argument that he’ll come back more refreshed because of the time off. “I suppose you could argue that — sitting back for 120 minutes and watching it and not feeling attached,” he said. “A: I felt attached. B: I felt the same feelings in my stomach. C: When I yelled, the television did nothing, unfortunately. That was the only problem. It didn’t react. I didn’t get a (technical foul) from it. I got nothing.” Calhoun said he’ll be making a few changes based on what he saw on television. He said the team needs to do a better job of getting the ball into the post on offense and defending the 3-point shot on defense. Niels Giffey will get his first start of the season at small forward. Calhoun said he is still deciding whether to start Alex Oriakhi or Tyler Olander at the other forward position. Calhoun comes into the game with a career record of 865-368, putting him sixth on the all-time wins list, just [...]

Read More » | Comment »

Wyatt sparks Temple to 78-73 win over No. 5 Duke

Wyatt sparks Temple to 78-73 win over No. 5 Duke

PHILADELPHIA (AP & Staff) — When Temple is playing like a top-five program — sinking game-changing shots, hustling to loose balls, and contesting opposing players inside and out — even Duke is susceptible to being upset. In this Big 5 vs. Top 5 matchup, the Owls put on a show for the home fans — and all of Philly seemed to hit the court for a wild celebration. Khalif Wyatt made two lead-stretching 3s and scored 22 points, and Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson added 17 points to help the Owls knock off No. 5 Duke 78-73 Wednesday night. “Every time we needed a stop, it seemed like we got one,” Wyatt said. “We kept getting big stops and big rebounds and we just played really tough today.” Long a regular in the NCAA tournament, the Owls (10-3) proved again how formidable they are against basketball’s elite. Under coach Fran Dunphy, the Owls have made a habit out of upsetting some of the better programs. They beat No. 8 Tennessee in 2008, No. 3 Villanova in 2009, No. 9 Georgetown last season, and, now, Coach K and the Blue Devils. This one felt better than all of them. “Whenever you play Duke, you want to beat those guys,” Owls forward Ramone Moore said. Moore, Wyatt and Hollis-Jefferson all played a role in the win. So did Anthony Lee and Aaron Brown. Even star guard Juan Fernandez made up for an off-night from the field with a team-high six assists. Dunphy said he needed a total team effort to beat Duke and that’s what he received on the home court of the NBA’s 76ers. The Owls shot 56 percent from the field (31 for 55), outrebounded Duke 32-29, and scored 21 points off turnovers. “We’re thrilled to be standing here as winners tonight,” Dunphy said. Duke wasn’t sure what hit them. The Blue Devils looked little like the team that stormed off to one of the best starts under coach Mike Krzyzewski. Asked if he could see this type of performance coming, Krzyzewski held out his hands as if he were staring into a crystal ball. Their future looked cloudy. “If I saw it coming, I would have faked an illness, instead of getting ill during the game,” Krzyzewski said. Using tough man-to-man defense that limited Duke’s long-range shots, the Owls grabbed the lead midway through the first half and never let it go. [...]

Read More » | Comment »

AP women’s poll: Baylor still unanimous No. 1

AP women’s poll: Baylor still unanimous No. 1

    Baylor remains the unanimous No. 1 choice in The Associated Press women’s college basketball poll. The Lady Bears received all the first-place votes Monday for the fifth straight week after blowing out Mississippi Valley State in their only game. The first five teams in the Top 25 remain unchanged. Connecticut is No. 2, followed by Notre Dame, Stanford and Maryland. After a light holiday schedule, all five teams dive into conference play this week. Tennessee, Duke, Ohio State, Texas A&M and Rutgers round out the top 10. Kentucky fell five spots to No. 11 after losing to Middle Tennessee and then beating Florida. Nebraska moved up four places to 19th with a victory over then-No. 16 Penn State in its Big Ten opener. The Nittany Lions had the biggest drop, falling to 22nd.

Read More » | Comment »

No. 13 Indiana rallies past No. 2 Ohio St. 74-70

No. 13 Indiana rallies past No. 2 Ohio St. 74-70

    BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP and Staff) — Indiana did it again. Three weeks after upsetting No. 1 Kentucky, the Hoosiers took down No. 2 Ohio State. Victor Oladipo scored the go-ahead basket with 36 seconds left Saturday and Jordan Hulls finished with 17 points, giving the No. 13 Hoosiers a 74-70 victory — the school’s first-ever sweep of the nation’s top two teams. “They’ve been punking us the past couple years and we realized that,” Oladipo said. “This year we had to go toe-to-toe with them.” The Hoosiers (13-1, 1-1 Big Ten) didn’t back down. Indiana became the ninth team since 1996-97 to beat No. 1 and No. 2 in the same season and joined Kansas in 2007-08 and Louisville in 2003-04 as the only teams over that span to achieve the feat in the same month. Against Kentucky, the Hoosiers needed a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Christian Watford to win it. On Saturday, the Hoosiers needed Oladipo’s layup, three free throws from Hulls and Watford, a rebound from Watford and a steal from Oladipo in the final 36 seconds to seal it. Ohio State (13-2, 1-1) was led by Aaron Craft with 16 points and Jared Sullinger with 15 points and nine rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to extend their five-game winning streak or the school record six-game winning streak against the Hoosiers. The Buckeyes spent most of the day buried in foul trouble, and never could quite dig themselves out. They squandered an early 19-9 lead, watching the Hoosiers close the half by converting back-to-back turnovers into easy baskets. That gave Indiana a 33-32 lead. It was the same story in the second half. Ohio State looked as if it might pull away after taking a 44-41 lead with 15:33 left, but the continual foul problems allowed Indiana to hang around. The Buckeyes took a 68-67 lead when Sullinger made the basket, drew the fifth foul on Cody Zeller and then capped it with a free throw. Jones answered with a layup to make it 69-68 and then Ohio State’s Deshaun Thomas made a 15-foot jumper to give the Buckeyes a one-point lead with 1:51 to go. That’s how it stayed until Hulls forced a turnover with a deflection, and Jones tossed the ball up the court to Oladipo for a layup and a 71-70 lead with 36 seconds left. Ohio State called its final timeout to set [...]

Read More » | Comment »

Mississippi St. tops Wake 23-17 in Music City Bowl

Mississippi St. tops Wake 23-17 in Music City Bowl

    NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP and Staff) — Vick Ballard ran for a career-high 180 yards and two touchdowns to lead Mississippi State over Wake Forest 23-17 Friday night in the Music City Bowl — the Bulldogs’ fifth straight bowl victory and second consecutive under coach Dan Mullen. The Bulldogs (7-6) capped a season that started with high expectations by winning consecutive bowls for only the second time in school history and first since 1999-2000. Ballard’s TDs were the longest in the Bulldogs’ 14 bowl games. Mississippi State overcame four turnovers thanks to six sacks — its highest total since piling up seven in a win over Florida in 2000. Wake Forest (6-7) snapped a two-game bowl winning streak. The Demon Deacons of the Atlantic Coast Conference now have lost both bowls against the SEC and finish the season having lost five of their last six games.

Read More » | Comment »

Carter scores 31 as Rutgers stuns No. 10 Florida

Carter scores 31 as Rutgers stuns No. 10 Florida

    PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Freshman Eli Carter scored a career-high 31 points and hit the go-ahead basket in the second overtime as Rutgers rallied to stun No. 10 Florida 85-83 on Thursday night. The Scarlet Knights (8-5) came back from a seven-point deficit late in regulation and Carter hit a late 3-pointer in the first overtime to put the Scarlet Knights in position for their biggest win since knocking off No. 9 Villanova at home last season. Erving Walker had a chance to tie the game for the Gators (11-2) in the final seconds, but his off-balance attempt from the foul line hit off the rim. Scarlet Knights fans stormed the court to celebrate in a game billed as the return of former Rutgers star and current Gator Mike Rosario to Piscataway. Dane Miller added 16 points, Myles Mack had 14 and Jerome Seagears 13 for Rutgers, which won its fourth straight game and snapped the Gators’ five-game winning streak. Kenny Boynton matched his season high with 26 points for Florida. Bradley Beal added 15 and Erik Murphy had 14 points and eight rebounds for Florida, which was playing its first game at the loud and intimidating Rutgers Athletic Center. Carter, whose previous high was 21 points, put the Scarlet Knights ahead for good at 80-78 with a shot in the lane. He was fouled on the play but missed the free throw. After Beal missed a drive on the left side and Boynton missed a 3-point attempt, Carter scored inside again for an 82-78 edge. Beal cut the Gators’ deficit to a point on a 3-pointer with 1:18 to go, but Mack came right back with a 3-pointer with 55 seconds left for an 85-81 lead. A floater by Walker with 44.8 seconds left cut the margin to a basket and Florida got a final shot when Rutgers was called for a shot clock violation with 8.7 seconds left. Rutgers knocked the ball out of bounds in the backcourt with 4.3 seconds left and Walker could not connect after taking the inbound pass and driving to the foul line for his final shot. Rutgers forced the first overtime by rallying from a 7-point deficit in the final 2:48 of regulation and the came from three points down in the first overtime with Carter tying the game at 76 with a 3-pointer with 18.2 seconds to play. Florida [...]

Read More » | Comment »

Top-ranked Syracuse beats Seton Hall 75-49

Top-ranked Syracuse beats Seton Hall 75-49

    SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP and Staff) — A year ago as a raw freshman with little stamina, Fab Melo watched most of Seton Hall’s stunning triumph over then-No. 9 Syracuse from the bench. On Wednesday night, that was a distant memory. Melo had a career-high 12 points and school-record 10 blocks and top-ranked Syracuse stifled Seton Hall at every turn in a 75-49 victory in the Big East opener for both teams. “I wasn’t surprised,” said the 7-foot Brazilian, who is 30 pounds lighter than when he arrived on campus and in the best shape of his life. “I’ve put a lot of work in. I’m still working hard to get better and I’m sure you’ll see better things from me. You’re going to be more surprised.” Melo, who had his first career double-double, pulled in seven rebounds. A year ago against the Pirates, he had two points, two rebounds and no blocks in 4 minutes of a 90-68 loss. Syracuse (14-0, 1-0) gained control in this one with a staunch defensive performance in the opening half, limiting Seton Hall to 5-of-27 shooting (18.5 percent) in building a 34-15 lead. The Orange finished with 17 steals and 15 blocks, forced 23 turnovers, and limited the Pirates to only one steal — by Fuquan Edwin, the national leader entering the game with 3.3 per game. “I thought our defense was as good as it’s been all year,” Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said. “It was an incredible defensive effort.” Dion Waiters had 15 points and Brandon Triche added 11 for Syracuse, which won easily despite a subpar performance from leading scorer Kris Joseph, who missed all six of his shots and did not score. “That’s a great team right there, man,” said Joseph, who had four steals and four assists. “If I can go scoreless and we still win by these many points, it’s a great sign.” The victory was the 870th of Boeheim’s career, putting him within six of fourth-place Adolph Rupp of Kentucky and nine of third-place North Carolina’s Dean Smith on the Division I list. Jordan Theodore had 14 points but only two assists for Seton Hall (11-2, 0-1), which had an eight-game winning streak snapped. Herb Pope, fourth in the nation in scoring at 20.3 points per game, had just four points and nine rebounds, and Edwin finished with three points — all on free throws — [...]

Read More » | Comment »

No. 2 Ohio State beats Northwestern 87-54

No. 2 Ohio State beats Northwestern 87-54

    COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP and Staff) — William Buford had career-highs of 28 points and five 3-pointers as No. 2 Ohio State showed off its perimeter shooting in an 87-54 victory over Northwestern on Wednesday night in the Big Ten opener for both teams. Jared Sullinger added 17 points and 14 rebounds for the Buckeyes (13-1, 1-0), who dominated the boards 49-30. Deshaun Thomas had 16 points for Ohio State, which broke the game open with a 13-0 first-half run fueled by 3-pointers. Jordan Sibert added 12 points, all on 3s. The conference’s top two scorers, John Shurna and Drew Crawford, had miserable games. They were held to 11 and 13 points, respectively, on a combined 9-for-30 shooting. The loss was the 31st straight for the Wildcats (10-3, 0-1) in Columbus, dating to 1977. Ohio State came in 11th in the Big Ten in 3-pointers per game at 4.8. They had hit more than six in only one game, when they made 8 of 14 in a stunningly easy 85-63 rout of then-No. 3 Duke on Nov. 29. Yet they were 7 of 14 behind the arc in the first half alone Wednesday to build a lead they never lost. The Buckeyes finished 10 of 20 on 3-pointers. Freshman point guard Dave Sobolewski had 10 points and five assists for the Wildcats, who were beginning a seven-game span in which they play five ranked teams. Northwestern, down by as many as 19 points in the first half, took advantage of foul trouble for Sullinger and point guard Aaron Craft which forced them to the bench early in the second half. The Wildcats kept the deficit in the 12- to 15-point range. But the Wildcats started picking up fouls as well and Ohio State hit free throws to stretch the lead. Buford hit four foul shots in a 10-3 run — all the points coming at the line — to push the lead to 59-39 with 11:55 left. By then, a refreshed Sullinger and Craft were back on the court and the game was well in hand for Ohio State. With Shurna and Crawford struggling — shadowed wherever they went, taking bad shots when they did get a chance — the Buckeyes took a 41-26 halftime lead. The pace favored the Wildcats in the early going. They pulled to a tie at 13 on Davide Curletti’s 3 at the 12:16 [...]

Read More » | Comment »

Syracuse on top of AP hoops poll for 3rd week

Syracuse on top of AP hoops poll for 3rd week

    With Syracuse No. 1 for a third straight week, the top seven teams remain the same in The Associated Press’ Top 25. The Orange received 54 first-place votes from the 65-member national media poll on Monday. Ohio State, Kentucky, Louisville, North Carolina, Baylor and Duke held their places from last week. Ohio State received five No. 1 votes, Kentucky had four and Louisville two. Missouri, Connecticut and Florida round out the top 10. Harvard moved into the rankings for the first time three weeks ago, then dropped out after one week. The Crimson are back at No. 24. San Diego State moved into the poll for the first time this season at No. 25. Xavier, which lost three straight games after several players were suspended for fighting, dropped out from No. 14.

Read More » | Comment »

Peterson could return for start of 2012 season

Peterson could return for start of 2012 season

    EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP and Staff) — Adrian Peterson has two torn ligaments in his left knee, and the Minnesota Vikings expect the star running back to be ready for the start of the 2012 season. Peterson not only tore his ACL, but also his MCL when hit in the side of the left knee by Redskins safety DeJon Gomes in the third quarter of Saturday’s 33-26 win over Washington. An MRI on Saturday revealed the ligament tears and meniscus damage and Peterson will have surgery within seven to 10 days, Vikings head trainer Eric Sugarman said Monday. Sugarman outlined an eight- to nine-month recovery for Peterson, who signed a seven-year, $100 million contract extension before the season started.

Read More » | Comment »

Baylor still No. 1 in AP women’s basketball poll

Baylor still No. 1 in AP women’s basketball poll

    Baylor is still the unanimous choice as the No. 1 team in The Associated Press women’s college basketball poll as the first five teams remained unchanged. The Lady Bears received all 40 first-place votes Monday for the fourth straight week after blowing out McNeese State in its only game. UConn remains second, with Notre Dame, Stanford and Maryland following. Kentucky, Tennessee, Duke, Ohio State and Texas A&M round out the Top 10. There was little movement in the poll as most teams had a light schedule for the holidays. Miami had the biggest fall, dropping five places to No. 12 after a 25-point loss at then-No. 17 Georgetown on Wednesday. The Hoyas moved up two spots to 15th.

Read More » | Comment »

No. 14 Xavier tops So. Illinois 87-77 in Hawaii

No. 14 Xavier tops So. Illinois 87-77 in Hawaii

    HONOLULU (AP and Staff) — Tu Holloway was feeling the Christmas spirit. Sporting green and white shoes with red laces, Holloway poured in 21 points to lead No. 14 Xavier to a 87-77 victory over Southern Illinois on Sunday in the seventh-place game of the Diamond Head Classic. Before a sparse, morning crowd on Christmas Day, the Musketeers snapped a three-game skid, winning for the first time since Dec. 10, when they beat Cincinnati in a game cut short in the closing seconds by brawling and mayhem on the court. “That was as good a game as we played offensively all year,” Xavier coach Chris Mack said. “On the defense end, we need to get back to being a team that keeps teams to a low field-goal percentage.” It was the first three-game losing streak for Xavier under Mack and first since the 2007-08 season. Mark Lyons had 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Musketeers (9-3). Andre Walker and Travis Taylor added 13 apiece for Xavier, which made 36 of 48 free throws. Walker also had 10 rebounds. The Salukis (3-8), losers of three in a row, were led by Dantiel Daniels with 22 points. “We really needed this one,” Lyons said. “We got the W. That’s what matters.” Southern Illinois drew to 68-64 at 8:45 after a 3-point play by Daniels, but an 8-1 run gave the Musketeers a comfortable cushion. Holloway’s two free throws with a minute to go gave the Musketeers their largest lead, 83-69. Holloway finished 14 of 15 from the line. He took just six shots from the field, making three, including 1 of 2 3-pointers. He also had seven assists. “I try to do that every game,” Holloway said. “Today my teammates were finishing a lot. I’m the point guard of the team, so that’s where it starts for us, passing the ball and sharing the ball.” The senior point guard, third-team AP All-American last season, said he was waiting for the perfect occasion to unveil the festive shoes. “Since I’ve been in college this is the first time playing on Christmas Day,” Holloway said. “I had a pair of Nikes that match the Christmas colors, green and white. I wanted to wear them on Christmas Day and dedicate (the game) to everybody back home for Christmas.” SIU coach Chris Lowery had high praise for Holloway. “Tu Holloway is an NBA [...]

Read More » | Comment »

Wagner stuns No. 15 Pittsburgh 59-54

Wagner stuns No. 15 Pittsburgh 59-54

PITTSBURGH (AP & Staff) — When Danny Hurley took over at Wagner a year ago, he pledged to turn the woeful Seahawks around with a mixture of toughness and grit, qualities that are synonymous with the family name. Consider his rebuilding project well ahead of schedule. Latif Rivers scored all 18 of his points in the second half — including six free throws in the final minute — to lead the Seahawks to a stunning 59-54 victory over No. 15 Pittsburgh on Friday night. “We’ve got good players, we practice really hard and I think our guys feel like they deserve wins like this and moments like this,” Hurley said. Wagner, which went 5-26 the season before Hurley arrived, certainly played like it. Controlling the tempo and making Pitt work hard at both ends of the court, the Seahawks (8-3) beat a ranked opponent for the first time since knocking off then-No. 15 Alabama on Nov. 24, 1978. Pitt (11-2) saw its nine-game winning streak snapped in emphatic fashion. Ashton Gibbs scored 14 points for the Panthers, but Pitt shot 40 percent from the field and turned it over 18 times while losing to a Northeastern Conference opponent for the first time ever. “It’s very big for us,” Wagner guard Kenneth Ortiz said. “You know the Big East is one of the biggest conferences. Us being a mid-major, this is something big. Everyone wants to be top-ranked. We wanted to get it, we got our chance and we made the best of it.” The Panthers came in 70-0 all-time against NEC foes, but never led over the game’s final 33 minutes. “It’s definitely not the way we want to play,” Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said. “We definitely took a step backwards.” Pitt has been nearly unbeatable in nonconference games since the Petersen Events Center opened in 2002. The Panthers had lost just one non-Big East game in the arena’s first nine seasons. Now they have dropped two in the span of five weeks. Long Beach State raced past Pitt 86-76 on Nov. 16, blistering the Panthers with a dizzying uptempo attack. Wagner went the opposite way, working the shot clock and spreading the floor while trying to wear down Pitt’s depleted backcourt. The Panthers are playing without starting point guard Travon Woodall, who is nursing groin and abdominal injuries. Gibbs has taken over the majority of the ballhandling duties, and [...]

Read More » | Comment »

Wiltjer has 24, No. 3 Kentucky tops Loyola (Md.)

Wiltjer has 24, No. 3 Kentucky tops Loyola (Md.)

    LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP and Staff) — Kyle Wiltjer is finally figuring out the tougher play at this level because he’s learning all about it in practice. Wiltjer scored a personal-best 24 points and a trio of freshmen sparked No. 3 Kentucky’s 17-2 second-half run to beat Loyola (Md.) 87-63 on Thursday for the Wildcats’ 42nd straight win at home. “It’s a lot more physical in college. It’s a lot quicker, a lot quicker guys,” Wiltjer said. “Fortunately, we have such a good team to go against such good players every day in practice, once you get to a game, it’s not so bad.” It’s been a shocking learning experience for Wiltjer and one that Kentucky coach John Calipari said they need to continue to work on with the 6-foot-9 forward. “I think the kid has a toughness at heart, but we’re just going to have to help him,” the coach said. “I’ve got to get him to take more charges, not going to block shots, charge, block out more and then when he’s in the post we’ve got to do some things.” Wiltjer and fellow freshmen Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist all had afternoons to remember as Kentucky (11-1) heads into a break before the schedule begins to ramp up. Meanwhile, Kidd-Gilchrist’s mother, Cindy Richardson, has been hospitalized according to a school spokesman who had no details of her ailment or its severity. “We were trying to figure out whether we should send him home this morning early,” Calipari said. “It wasn’t so immediate that there was going to be things done today. It’s in the early process, and like I said, I hope that what we find out is all good.” Baltimore-based Loyola (8-3) stayed close throughout the first half and pestered Kentucky, which was missing preseason All-America Terrence Jones for the second straight game after he dislocated the pinky finger on his left, shooting hand on Saturday. “I wanted to make the most of my minutes with Terrence being out,” Wiltjer said. “Cal just wants me to be a more aggressive player.” Erik Etherly scored 14 points, Dylon Cormier 13 and Justin Drummond had 10 points for the Greyhounds. “It was good for us. It shows we can play with them,” Cormier said. “If we can play with them, then at the mid-major level we should be something to be reckoned with.” Davis contributed 15 points, [...]

Read More » | Comment »

No. 1 Syracuse beats Tulane 80-61 to move to 13-0

No. 1 Syracuse beats Tulane 80-61 to move to 13-0

    SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP and Staff) — James Southerland and Brandon Triche each hit a pair of 3-pointers to key a 19-point first-half surge, and top-ranked Syracuse beat Tulane 80-61 on Thursday night to remain unbeaten. It’s the third straight season Syracuse has won its first 13 games. The Orange have won three straight since reaching the top spot in the rankings 10 days ago, including victories over North Carolina State and Bucknell. Tulane (11-2) had faced the No. 1 team in the nation twice before, losing to Cincinnati (72-59) in January 2000 and Memphis (97-71) in February 2008. The Green Wave has never defeated a top-five team and hasn’t beaten a top-10 since a 49-47 victory over No. 9 Memphis in February 1983. Dion Waiters had 15 points, Kris Joseph added 13, and Southerland 10 for the Orange. Kendall Timmons led Tulane with 16 points, Ricky Tarrant had 15, and Jordan Callahan 10. Josh Davis, a transfer from North Carolina State who was averaging 12.1 points and 10.2 rebounds, missed all nine shots he took and finished with three points and six rebounds. Tulane stayed tough in the opening minutes despite finding little room inside, playing the Orange to a standstill as they worked the clock in deliberate fashion. A short jumper by Kevin Thomas knotted the score at 14-all midway through the first half, and Timmons’ 3-pointer at the shot-clock buzzer moved the Green Wave within 22-19 with 6:57 left. That was it for Tulane as the Orange’s long-range attack shifted into high gear. The Green Wave missed four straight shots and were called for two shot-clock violations in the closing minutes, while Syracuse hit five straight 3-pointers to gain a 41-19 halftime lead. The Orange finished 10 of 21 from beyond the arc. It all started after a miss by Triche. Fab Melo tapped the rebound out to Joseph, and he hit a 3 from the left wing. Joseph then sent Scoop Jardine off on fast-break layup and Triche hit a 3 from the right corner after quick passes around the perimeter by Jardine and Joseph. After Melo blocked a dunk attempt by Tre Drye, it was Southerland’s turn to shine. He hit another 3 from the right wing, drove the lane and fed Baye Keita for a resounding dunk, then hit a 3 from the top of the key. Jardine ended the spurt by feeding [...]

Read More » | Comment »

Griner, No. 1 Baylor women beat No. 2 UConn 66-61

Griner, No. 1 Baylor women beat No. 2 UConn 66-61

WACO, Texas (AP & Staff) — Brittney Griner scored 12 of her 25 points during the closing run that pushed top-ranked Baylor past No. 2 Connecticut 66-61 on Sunday night. The Lady Bears (11-0) overcame an 11-point deficit in the second half and won their second No. 1 vs. No. 2 game this season. Baylor also avenged a one-point loss at Connecticut early last season when the rankings were reversed. Griner also had nine rebounds and nine blocked shots. She made all seven of her free throws, six of them coming in a game-ending 27-11 run as Baylor overcome its biggest deficit of the season. The 6-foot-8 Griner missed eight free throws in last year’s game against the Huskies, including some key misses down the stretch. Odyssey Sims had 23 points for the Lady Bears, whose 29-game home winning streak includes a 94-81 win over then-No. 2 Notre Dame in November. Bria Hartley led Connecticut (9-1) with 25 points, while Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis had 15. It was the most anticipated home game ever for the Lady Bears, the first time a men’s or women’s game sold out in advance at the Ferrell Center. The record crowd of 10,627 included Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III, who flashed the pose and got a huge ovation when he was shown on the screen. Griner, who previously played on the U.S. national women’s basketball team coached by Connecticut’s Geno Auriemma, and Sims came through big for the Lady Bears. Connecticut, whose average margin of victory this season was nearly 42 points, was 13-2 in games matching 1 vs. 2, including eight wins in a row. Their last was the 65-64 victory over Baylor last season. The Huskies had a 50-39 lead with just over 15 minutes left after hitting three consecutive 3-pointers in a 2-minute stretch. Mosqueda-Lewis hit two of those, starting and ending a string that also included Tiffany Hayes’ 3. Right after that, Griner got her fifth block of the game to break the Big 12 career record, and made some key free throws as well. She broke Courtney Paris’ Big 12 career record of 446, and has 451 now. Griner then swatted away a shot by Hayes and followed with two free throws. Sims had a steal and drove for a bank shot to wrap up 10 consecutive points by the Lady Bears to cut the gap to 50-49. Hartley broke [...]

Read More » | Comment »

2 men sue Syracuse, Boeheim for defamation

2 men sue Syracuse, Boeheim for defamation

NEW YORK (AP & Staff) — Jim Boeheim initially insisted two former Syracuse ball boys were lying when they accused his longtime assistant of molesting them. Now they’re suing the Orange men’s basketball coach and the university for defamation, saying he was the one making false statements. Stepbrothers Bobby Davis and Mike Lang have alleged they were molested by Bernie Fine, who has since been fired and has denied the allegations. A third man also has accused the 65-year-old Fine, who had been Boeheim’s top assistant since 1976. Boeheim “has seriously hurt my reputation but I want people to know the truth,” Davis said, reading from a statement at a news conference after the lawsuit was filed in New York State Supreme Court on Tuesday. When the allegations surfaced Nov. 17, Boeheim staunchly supported Fine, saying the accusations were lies to capitalize on the Penn State child sex abuse case. “The Penn State thing came out, and the kid behind this is trying to get money,” Boeheim told the Syracuse Post-Standard. “If he gets this, he’s going to sue the university and Bernie. What do you think is going to happen at Penn State? You know how much money is going to be involved in civil suits? I’d say about $50 million. That’s what this is about. Money.” And in an interview with ESPN, which broke the story, Boeheim said: “It is a bunch of a thousand lies that (Davis) has told. You don’t think it is a little funny that his cousin is coming forward?” Lang said that when Boeheim suggested “my little brother and I were lying,” he “felt sick to my stomach.” University spokesman Kevin Quinn declined to comment. The U.S. attorney’s office is investigating for potential criminal charges. “Boeheim’s statements were even worse given his 35 years of opportunity to observe Fine at close quarters, and at least seven years of opportunity to see Fine with Bobby Davis on trips, at practices, in Manley Field House and at games,” the suit says. Victim advocates reacted angrily to Boeheim’s initial comments and called for him to resign or be fired. He later said he was wrong to question the motives of the accusers. That’s not enough, said the two men’s attorney, Gloria Allred, whose recent clients include a woman who accused presidential candidate Herman Cain of making unwelcome sexual advances. “Although Boeheim eventually acknowledged that he ‘misspoke,’ [...]

Read More » | Comment »

Accuser raises questions about Sandusky’s wife

Accuser raises questions about Sandusky’s wife

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP & Staff) — Grand jury reports alleging child sex abuse by former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky are also raising questions about whether his wife knew about his alleged pattern of preying on boys — or how she couldn’t have known. One accuser told the grand jury that Dottie Sandusky was home when he screamed for help while her husband sexually assaulted him in a basement bedroom. But Dottie Sandusky broke more than a month of silence Thursday, calling the accusations against her husband false and declaring that she continues to believe that he is innocent. Lawyers not involved in the case say that evidence made public so far does not prove Dottie Sandusky did anything wrong — for instance, there’s no proof she heard the alleged screams — although prosecutors almost certainly are interested in talking to her. “Certainly if the activities are alleged to have occurred in the home, yeah, the prosecutors are going to figure, ‘Jeez, you were in the house at the time this was going on? You must have known something,’” said Bruce Antkowiak, a former federal prosecutor in Pittsburgh and a law professor at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa. “I would certainly think there would be interest in talking to her.” Jerry Sandusky, 67, faces criminal accusations from 10 young men who claim he molested them when they were boys in his home, on Penn State property and elsewhere. The scandal has provoked strong criticism that Penn State officials didn’t do enough to stop the alleged assaults and prompted the ouster of Hall of Fame football coach Joe Paterno and the school’s longtime president, Graham Spanier. The Sanduskys, who raised six adopted children together, have maintained that they would never do anything to hurt a child. Jerry Sandusky has vowed to fight the case and, in interviews with NBC and The New York Times, he said he showered and horsed around with boys but never sexually abused them. It is rare that a family member testifies against another in court, Antkowiak and others say. And while many states protect spouses from having to testify against each other, that provision is not in force in Pennsylvania in cases of violence or sex abuse against children. Prosecutors could ask a court to compel Dottie Sandusky to testify against her husband. But lawyers say that it’s unlikely that they would [...]

Read More » | Comment »

Mich. team opens with tribute to dead player, win

Mich. team opens with tribute to dead player, win

FENNVILLE, Mich. (AP & Staff) — It was an emotion-packed home opener Tuesday night as a Michigan high school basketball team returned to the court where nine months earlier a star player collapsed and died after nailing a game-winning shot. While Fennville’s boys team opened this season with a 51-43 victory over Lawton, the contest itself was largely upstaged by the pregame tribute to Wes Leonard. His shot in the Blackhawks’ last game at the gym on March 3 clinched a 20-0 regular season. “As soon as I stepped on the court, I knew he was there,” said Fennville senior Xavier Grigg, one of Leonard’s teammates on the team. “I used it as motivation, knowing he was there with us. We had another guy helping us and watching out for us.” Following last year’s game, Leonard collapsed on the court and was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A medical examiner determined he had sudden cardiac arrest due to an enlarged heart. The death drew national attention and stunned many in Fennville, a town of about 1,000 not far from Lake Michigan, about 150 miles west of Detroit. Before tipoff Tuesday, Fennville coach Ryan Klingler gave a brief but emotional tribute. “We carry on with Wes in our hearts,” Klingler said, his voice quivering with emotion while holding back tears. “As Wes himself said, ‘keep working, You can only get better and never get down on yourself.’” Leonard’s 14-year-old brother, Mitchell, is a freshman guard on the varsity and came off the bench throughout the game. He had three fouls and three rebounds but did not score. “We talked about before the game that it’s a basketball game,” Klingler said. “We just wanted these guys to play hard. It definitely wasn’t the prettiest time. For the first game back since an emotional beginning, I wanted the guys to enjoy the game and try to get better as we’re playing.’” Leonard’s mother, Jocelyn and father Gary were at the game but did not speak during the pregame program. Mitchell Leonard and his parents declined to talk with reporters after the game. “We play knowing Wes is with us and watching us,” said Klingler, whose players were encircled arm-in-arm during his speech. Grigg’s mother, Maria Flores, wore a large button with a picture of Leonard and the words ‘Just One More Game.’ “It just feels empty,” Flores said. “It [...]

Read More » | Comment »

Davis’ block lifts No. 1 Kentucky over No. 5 UNC

Davis’ block lifts No. 1 Kentucky over No. 5 UNC

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP & Staff) — Pushed and pressured all day, Anthony Davis finally went somewhere else no one could on the floor. Up. The freshman soared to block John Henson’s shot in the final seconds and No. 1 Kentucky held on to beat No. 5 North Carolina 73-72 on Saturday to extend the Wildcats’ home winning streak to 39 games. “I just jumped as high as I could with my arm up,” said Davis, who had seven points and nine rebounds. “I thought I probably would (block it). I have long hands.” Freshman Michael Kidd-Gilchrist scored 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Kentucky (8-0) and Doron Lamb added 12 of his 14 points after halftime in the heavily hyped matchup. “I didn’t realize, because I hadn’t been watching much TV, that this game was being played up like the end alls of end alls,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said. Davis sure ended it, all right. Reggie Bullock hit a 3-pointer for North Carolina (6-2) to cut the Wildcats’ lead to 73-72 with 48 seconds left. After freshman Marquis Teague missed the front end of a one-and-one, Davis blocked Henson’s shot, grabbed the rebound and the Wildcats ran out the clock. “If he doesn’t block the shot, we lose,” Calipari said. “Both teams gutted it out, just gutted it out. This is supposed to be March, not now. I’m exhausted.” Tyler Zeller and Harrison Barnes scored 14 points apiece for the Tar Heels, who led by as many as nine in the first half and held a six-point lead in the second before Kentucky rallied. The Wildcats haven’t lost at Rupp Arena since Calipari took over, a span of 38 games that includes winning their final one at home under Billy Gillispie. Lamb converted a three-point play as part of a 7-0 run that gave Kentucky a 63-60 lead. After Zeller hit a jumper to cut it to one, Lamb hit a pair of 3s, the second in the corner that gave the Wildcats a 69-64 lead with 3:47 left. “He had a couple of layups, a couple of threes and they were big shots, they were big shots. That one in the corner was a huge shot and he knocked it down,” Calipari said. “I’ve got good players. We’re young, we’re inexperienced, but I have really good players.” After a 3-pointer by Barnes, North Carolina’s 11th of the [...]

Read More » | Comment »

Sullinger scores 21 as No. 2 OSU routs No. 3 Duke

Sullinger scores 21 as No. 2 OSU routs No. 3 Duke

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP & Staff) — Jared Sullinger scored 21 points and three teammates were close behind as No. 2 Ohio State roared out to an 11-0 lead and never looked back in beating third-ranked Duke 85-63 on Tuesday night in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Buckeyes fans chanted “Overrated” at the Blue Devils in the final minute. The Buckeyes (7-0) never trailed, weathering a Duke rally later in the first half and then leading by 20 for most of the second half. “Sometimes you just get your butt kicked,” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. Austin Rivers had 22 points and Mason Plumlee 16 for the Blue Devils (7-1), coming off wins over ranked opponents Michigan and Kansas in their previous two games. William Buford scored 20, Deshaun Thomas 18 and Aaron Craft 17 for the Buckeyes, who gave the Big Ten a 4-2 edge in the conference matchups. Few would have expected such a lopsided result. Duke came in with a record of 11-1 in ACC/Big Ten games and had beaten its last five Big Ten opponents — including conference bullies Michigan State and Michigan already this season. The Blue Devils had also won their last four games in which both teams were ranked in the top five. Craft also had eight assists and five rebounds for the Buckeyes, who built a double-digit lead in the first half and were never really threatened the rest of the way. They led by 24 with 15 minutes left after Craft banked in a 3 — he laughed after it clanked in. The Blue Devils responded with a 7-0 run to get as close as 58-41 but Ohio State continued to control the paint. Sullinger was fouled and hit two foul shots, then powered up a shot off the backboard for a 66-43 lead shortly before clock trouble allowed both teams to take a breather with 8:42 remaining. On consecutive possessions, Ohio State got a dunk by Sullinger and a 3 by Craft thanks to around-the-horn passing that found an open player. It was a festive, capacity crowd of 18,809 at Value City Arena. One female student held up a sign meant for Sullinger that said, “Jared, will you marry me?” When Rivers — the son of Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers — had a turnover, the Ohio State student section chanted, “Daddy’s boy! Daddy’s boy!” The half was a shocker, with Ohio [...]

Read More » | Comment »

No. 6 Virginia Tech shuts down No. 24 UVa, 38-0

No. 6 Virginia Tech shuts down No. 24 UVa, 38-0

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP & Staff) — All week long, the chatter about Virginia being on the rise left out an important fact in the mind of Virginia Tech’s players: They were still the best in the commonwealth until proven otherwise. The No. 6 Hokies showed they were tops Saturday night, blanking the No. 24 Cavaliers 38-0, their first shutout loss at home in 172 games — since a 55-0 defeat to Clemson on Sept. 8, 1984. “The guys definitely took it as a slap in the face. It’s kind of been our way, the rivalry, for the past couple years and nobody was talking about us,” Hokies quarterback Logan Thomas said after throwing for two touchdowns and running for another. “They were all talking about Virginia and how good Virginia was going to play against us and how they were going to do.” David Wilson added two second-half touchdown runs for the Hokies, who led 14-0 at the break and drove 79 yards with the opening series of the third quarter, and then let their defense do the rest. Virginia, which came in averaging better than 177 rushing yards, finished with 30 on 26 carries. They had just 241 yards overall, and quarterback Michael Rocco was sacked four times and intercepted twice. “I felt like we didn’t receive any respect in our home state after all we’ve done, and we went out there and made a statement,” defensive end James Gayle said after registering two of the sacks. “We weren’t getting respect, so we went out there and took it.” And the Hokies (11-1, 7-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) earned the league’s Coastal Division title and a rematch with No. 18 Clemson in next weekend’s ACC championship game in Charlotte. They suffered their only loss, 23-3 against the Tigers on Oct. 1, and were eager for a rematch. “Everybody wants it,” Thomas said. “We know that we didn’t play our best ball that day.” Nope, they saved that for their state rivals, and beat them for the eighth time in a row and 12th time in the last 13 meetings. They will be seeking their fourth league championship in five years. Virginia defensive coordinator Jim Reid likes their chances. He prepared all week to try and stop Thomas and Wilson in the running game, and said film didn’t do them justice. “When you see those two characters up front, let me [...]

Read More » | Comment »

No. 5 Syracuse beats Stanford 69-63

No. 5 Syracuse beats Stanford 69-63

NEW YORK (AP & Staff) — Kris Joseph had 18 points and eight rebounds and No. 5 Syracuse closed the game on a 15-3 run in a 69-63 victory over Stanford on Friday night to win the NIT Season Tip-Off at Madison Square Garden. The Orange (6-0) were never able to make a run against Stanford until the game’s final 4 minutes, when they made all five of their shots from the field and five of seven free throws. They were able to force the Cardinal (5-1) into turnovers all game, with three of their 24 coming in the closing stretch. Joseph had 38 points and 19 rebounds in the two games and was selected the MVP. Aaron Bright had 13 points for Stanford, which led 60-54 with 4:27 to go on two free throws by Chasson Randle. Brandon Triche, who finished with 11 points, started the Orange’s big run with a drive. C.J. Fair followed with a three-point play after a turnover and Joseph gave Syracuse the lead for good, 61-60, with a banked jumper with 2:54 to go. Scoop Jardine added 14 points for the Orange, and Fair and Dion Waiters, the two reserves who led the semifinal win over Virginia Tech, both had 10 points. Syracuse shot 46.7 percent for the game from the field (28 of 60), including 17 of 28 (60.7 percent) in the second half. Randle had 12 points for the Cardinal, who beat Oklahoma State in the semifinals, while John Gage added a career-high 10, six more than he scored all season. Stanford struggled against Syracuse’s 2-3 zone, but it was controlling the ball rather than making shots that did in the Cardinal. They shot 42.9 percent from the field (24 of 56), but their 24 turnovers were converted into 25 points by Syracuse. The Cardinal outrebounded the Orange 36-34 and that led to a 16-11 advantage in second-chance points. The crowd of 8,477 seemed to be waiting for Syracuse’s run that would keep Stanford at bay but it didn’t happen until the final minutes when the Orange’s speed and size suddenly became a problem for the Cardinal.

Read More » | Comment »

Duke beats Kansas 68-61 for 5th Maui title

Duke beats Kansas 68-61 for 5th Maui title

LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP & Staff) — Ryan Kelly scores 17 points to lead the Duke Blue Devils to a 68-61 win over the Kansas Jayhawks in the finals of the Maui Gravitational Thursday. The lead was two, shot clock winding down. Seemingly every Kansas player in his face, Tyler Thornton let a 3-pointer fly. Barely able to see the rim through the sea of arms in front of him, Thornton knocked it down, keeping Duke on the throne as the kings of Maui. Thornton capped a thrilling game between basketball behemoths, hitting an off-balance 3-pointer with 20 seconds left to give the sixth-ranked Blue Devils enough cushion to finish off a 68-61 win over No. 14 Kansas for its fifth Maui Invitational title. “It’s a dream shot,” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “People will say it’s a lucky shot, but I’ll say I’m lucky to have him on my team. Sometimes you’re on a bus with a guy who deserves and for that moment we were on his bus. Thank goodness he knew how to drive it.” Thornton hit one 3-pointer with 1:10 left and put the Blue Devils ahead for good with his second, sending the crowd into a frenzy and Duke (7-0) to another title. A player who had taken nine shots all season hit the two biggest to keep the Blue Devils undefeated in Maui Invitational at 15-0. “I saw the rim, but it was a tough shot,” said Thornton, who had just one other point. The Blue Devils and Jayhawks went toe-to-toe from the start, electrifying the crowd with the kind of compelling counterpunching you’d expect from blue blood programs. Unleashing an array of alley-oops, 3-pointers and teeth-jarring picks, they never let the other get too far ahead, with 16 lead changes and 12 ties. Ryan Kelly hurt Kansas with his inside-outside game, scoring 17 points to earn MVP honors. Mason Plumlee gave the Jayhawks fits inside with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Kansas was led by Thomas Robinson, who had 16 points and 15 rebounds. Jeff Withey provided an unexpected lift with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Tyshawn Taylor had a solid first half on his way 17 points, but tired down the stretch to finish with 11 of Kansas’ 17 turnovers. Fittingly, it came down to a thrilling finish. Eljiah Johnson hit a 3-pointer with 1:33 left to put Kansas (3-2) up 61-60. Thornton answered 23 [...]

Read More » | Comment »

Share