More College Basketball News

College Basketball NewsFlash

By Adam Stanco

basketballwriter@cs.com

January 12th

College Basketball NewsFlash

Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, CHN bringsyou the latest news and commentary from the world of college basketball.  Each NewsFlash will feature three important news stories, and sharp commentary on the relevancy of the story.  Check out old articles in the NewsFlash Archive.

Story: Sumpter Out Three to Six Weeks

Curtis Sumpter, Villanova’s leading scorer (17.4 ppg) and rebounder (8.8 rpg), will miss three to six weeks of action due to a sprained knee suffered in practice. The Wildcats were 8-1 with him in the lineup and have gone 1-1 without him, including a loss at Notre Dame.

My Take:

When rumors flew regarding the state of center Jason Fraser’s preseason injuries, Nova fans were scared. Upon finding out Sumpter is out for an extended period of time, they should be terrified. Sumpter is one of the nation’s most underrated collegiate stars and the glue that held together the collage of talent in Villanova. Allen Ray might be the team’s most talented player, but Sumpter is the most valuable. The loss is especially detrimental considering the overall depth of the Big East this season.

Story: Oklahoma Wins Frontline Battle

In a highly anticipated match-up of powerful post play, Oklahoma defeated UConn 77-65 during ESPN’s Big Monday. Sooners’ big men Taj Gray (23 points, 10 rebounds) and Kevin Bookout (11 points, 7 rebounds) outplayed a Husky frontline widely considered the best in the country.

My Take:

Gray, a former JuCo player of the year, and Bookout, a star in the shot put, repeatedly battled, bruised, and boxed out an endless forest of UConn post players, including Josh Boone, Hilton Armstrong, Charlie Villanueva, Ed Nelson, and fantastic freshman Rudy Gay. The Sooners grabbed a crucial non-conference win and the distinction of having the toughest frontcourt in college basketball.

Story: Heel Hysteria

North Carolina is earning nationally acclaim after an incredibly impressive 109-75 drubbing of Maryland on Saturday. The Tar Heels are currently 13-1 and ranked # 4 in the AP poll.

My Take:

Raymond Felton is the engine behind the UNC speed machine. He is to the Tar Heels what Nicole Eggert was to “Charles in Charge”… a boost of energy. The former high school Naismith award winner has a 2 to 1 assist to turnover ratio and is shooting over 54% from behind the 3-point line. Carolina dropped their season opener to Santa Clara without Felton, but since his return they have won 13 in a row. UNC’s closest game during the stretch was a seven-point victory at Indiana and they have hit the triple-digit mark in each of their last three games.