Nebraska

Thursday First Round Predictions: ACC, Big Ten, SEC

Greg Mengelt — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 08:02:51 -0800

Our g ame prediction guru Greg Mengelt has been on fire this year. He'll be picking (just about) every conference tournament game over the next week, including tonight's three key championship games. Games listed in order with later rounds on top and earlier rounds at the bottom. Read more about Championship Week at CollegeHoops.net.

ACC FIRST ROUND: AT ATLANTA

(8) Maryland (16-14, 6-10) vs. (9) Wake Forest (13-17, 4-12)

Tipoff: Noon. TV: ESPNU. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 11 – Maryland 70-64. RPI: Maryland 111, Wake Forest 169. Analysis: The ACC Tourney starts with an upset. Line: Maryland -3½. Pick: Wake Forest 60, Maryland 55.

(5) North Carolina State (20-11, 9-7) vs. (12) Boston College (9-21, 4-12)

Tipoff: 2 p.m. TV: ESPNU. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 19 – N.C. State 76-62; Feb. 1 – N.C. State 56-51. RPI: N.C. State 52, BC 236. Analysis: The Wolfpack will pull away early for an easy win. Line: N.C. State -12. Pick: North Carolina State 73, Boston College 52.

(7) Clemson (16-14, 8-8) vs. (10) Virginia Tech (15-16, 4-12)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. TV: ESPNU. Regular-season meetings: Feb. 4 – Virginia Tech 67-65; March 1 – Clemson 58-56. RPI: Clemson 138, Virginia Tech 119. Analysis: Remember when being .500 in the ACC meant a lock for the NCAA Tourney? Line: Clemson -2½. Pick: Clemson 64, Virginia Tech 62.

(6) Miami (18-11, 9-7) vs. (11) Georgia Tech (11-19, 4-12)

Tipoff: 9 p.m. TV: ESPNU. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 24 – Miami 64-49*. RPI: Miami 50, Georgia Tech 183. Analysis: Strange line. Makes me think Vegas knows something the rest of us don’t. Oh, well. The Hurricanes are significantly better. Line: Miami -4. Pick: Miami 67, Georgia Tech 57.

BIG TEN FIRST ROUND: AT INDIANAPOLIS

(8) Iowa (16-15, 8-10) vs. (9) Illinois (17-14, 6-12)

Tipoff: 11:30 a.m. TV: Big Ten Network. Regular-season meetings: Feb. 26 – Illinois 65-54. RPI: Iowa 131, Illinois 77. Analysis: Not sure the Illinois players are interested in playing another game. Line: Illinois -2½. Pick: Iowa 60, Illinois 55.

(5) Indiana (24-7, 11-7) vs. (12) Penn State (12-19, 4-14)

Tipoff: 2 p.m. TV: Big Ten Network. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 8 – Indiana 88-82*; Jan. 22 – Indiana 73-54. RPI: Indiana 11, Penn State 156. Analysis: The Hoosiers are playing as well as anyone in the Big Ten – if not the nation. Line: Indiana -11½. Pick: Indiana 81, Penn State 67.

(7) Northwestern (18-12, 8-10) vs. (10) Minnesota (18-13, 6-12)

Tipoff: 5:30 p.m. TV: ESPN2. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 22 – Minnesota 75-52; Feb. 18 – Northwestern 64-53. RPI: Northwestern 41, Minnesota 89. Analysis: John Shurna and Drew Crawford will not let the Wildcats lose this game. Line: Northwestern -2½. Pick: Northwestern 68, Minnesota 62.

(6) Purdue (20-11, 10-8) vs. (11) Nebraska (12-17, 4-14)

Tipoff: 8 p.m. TV: ESPN2. Regular-season meetings: Feb. 22 – Purdue 83-65. RPI: Purdue 41, Nebraska 140. Analysis: Purdue has won 3-of-4 and even in the loss at Indiana, the Boilermakers played pretty well for most of the game. Line: Purdue -8. Pick: Purdue 79, Nebraska 64.

SEC FIRST ROUND: AT NEW ORLEANS

(8) LSU (17-13, 7-9) vs. (9) Arkansas (18-13, 6-10)

Tipoff: 1 p.m. TV: SEC Network. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 14 – Arkansas 69-60; Feb. 4 – LSU 71-65. RPI: LSU 84, Arkansas 92. Analysis: A strange season comes to an Arkansas. Things should start to improve next season under Mike Anderson. Line: LSU -1. Pick: LSU 73, Arkansas 68.

(5) Alabama (20-10, 9-7) vs. (12) South Carolina (10-20, 2-14)

Tipoff: 3:30 p.m. TV: SEC Network. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 25 – South Carolina 56-54. RPI: Alabama 32, USC 185. Analysis: This game could just go a lot of different ways, depending on how interested the Tide are, but eight points is too big of a line for what should be a low-scoring game. Line: Alabama -8. Pick: Alabama 58, South Carolina 52.

(7) Mississippi (18-12, 8-8) vs. (10) Auburn (15-15, 5-11)

Tipoff: 7:30 p.m. TV: SEC Network. Regular-season meetings: Jan. 14 – Auburn 69-68 (2OT); Feb. 11 – Ole Miss 61-54. RPI: Ole Miss 51, Auburn 136. Analysis: The Rebels are back on the bubble after three straight wins, but Auburn will end the dream. Line: Ole Miss -2½. Pick: Auburn 66, Mississippi 63.

(6) Mississippi State (21-10, 8-8) vs. (11) Georgia (14-16, 5-11)

Tipoff: 10 p.m. TV: SEC Network. Regular-season meetings: Feb. 11 – Georgia 70-68 (OT)*. RPI: MSU 64, Georgia 107. Analysis: Both teams are so unpredictable that it’s hard to tell how this one’s going to go. The Bulldogs are physically superior, though. Line: MSU -5. Pick: Mississippi State 71, Georgia 65.

*Road win

Greg Against the Spread This Season: 143-108-3

Wednesday Recap: Kilpatrick Lifts Cincinnati Past UConn

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 01:31:30 -0800

Following Shabazz Napier's game-tying three-pointer most coaches would choose to call a timeout to draw up a play, risking the chance of the defense aligning and taking away the primary scoring option. But with the man he wanted to take the final shot already in possession of the basketball, Cincinnati head coach Mick Cronin decided against calling a timeout and as a result his Bearcats are now 5-1 in the Big East. Sean Kilpatrick, who led five Cincinnati players in double figures with 16 points, knocked down a three with 2.7 seconds remaining to give the Bearcats the 70-67 victory.

"I was watching just to make sure he or Dion [Dixon] had the ball," said Cronin of their final offensive sequence. "It's to the point with both of those guys with their ability to score off the dribble, and make shots. If he would have hesitated, I would have called a timeout."

Napier led all scorers with 27 points and Jeremy Lamb added 14 to go along with eight rebounds and five assists despite Jim Calhoun not thinking much of his performance, but UConn was done in by the fact that they didn't receive much from their frontcourt despite playing a team that's made its living of late by playing small. Starting forwards Andre Drummond and Alex Oriakhi combined for just six points and twelve rebounds, while reserves Roscoe Smith and Tyler Olander added a combined eight points and seven rebounds off the bench. UConn grabbed 44% of their missed shots but due to the lack of production inside the Huskies were unable to take advantage of the edge they had on paper entering the contest.

"When you start the game with a 6-10, 280 pound guy, and another guy 6-9, 245 pounds, and they can't rebound, or you can't throw them the ball, or they're getting backed down into the post, you've got a problem," said Calhoun of his starting big men. "That was our game plan. And that didn't work out very well for us."

Cincinnati's undergone quite the transformation in winning ten of eleven games since the blowout loss and brawl at Xavier, and not just in regards to their style of play. While guards such as Kilpatrick, Dixon and Cashmere Wright have more leeway to make plays offensively, the Bearcats are a more unified team as well. Yancy Gates (13 points, 12 rebounds) has accepted his new role and has been productive in it, and that's one more reason why Cincinnati is currently the answer to the trendy "who's the second-best team in the Big East" question.

Of course with games against West Virginia and Syracuse next on the schedule the Bearcats stand the chance of losing, but that shouldn't nullify the potential shown at Gampel Pavilion. Cincinnati believes is Coach Cronin's plan, and just as importantly they believe in each other. And that's an attitude that wasn't always on display on the court, making the Bearcats all the more dangerous throughout the remainder of the regular season and even into the postseason.

"Coming into Gampel and getting a win is huge. Obviously, they have a great team and arguably the best coach in college basketball," said Cronin. "It's a big win for us but you've got to win these kinds of games if you're going to compete for the Big East championship."

Other Notable Happenings

1. Indiana takes their foot off the gas and ends up losing their third straight game.
With 7:06 remaining Tom Crean's Hoosiers led Nebraska 60-49 and looked to be well on their way to leaving Lincoln with a win to snap their two-game losing streak. But Indiana played the game as if it were over from that point forward, and they paid dearly as Nebraska scored 21 of the game's final 30 points to win 70-69. Jorge Brian Diaz's two free throws with 11 seconds remaining gave Nebraska their first lead of the game at just the right time, completing a rally that happened despite shooting just 34.4% from the field in the second half. Nebraska scored 16 points off of 15 Indiana turnovers while also limiting the Hoosiers to just two second-chance points on the night.

And the Huskers also did a good job of keeping Christian Watford (eight points, ten rebounds) and Victor Oladipo (five points, four assists) quiet. Watford's play is one example of what's plagued the Hoosiers during this current stretch, as they haven't played consistently at the level that made wins over Kentucky and Ohio State possible. That's the next step Indiana needs to take in their climb back, and they've found out the last three games that the return to prominence is just as much about the "routine" victories as it is the headline-grabbing results.

2. San Diego State remains composed and ends up winning at New Mexico as a result.
Down 10-0 in one of the nation's toughest environments would be a convenient reason for many teams to simply lie down and take their beating. That wasn't the case for Steve Fisher's Aztecs, who got back into the game by going on a 12-2 run and eventually beat New Mexico 75-70 in front of a stunned crowd at The Pit. Xavier Thames led the way with 22 points and four assists for SDSU, who is tied for first place in the Mountain West with Colorado State as a result of the win, and the limited the Lobos to 39.1% shooting on the night. How'd SDSU do it defensively? They kept New Mexico off the foul line (3-7 FT), and while scoring 55.7% of your points from beyond the arc would be good for most teams that wasn't necessarily the case for the home team.

Phillip McDonald scored 20 points (6-9 3PT), Kendall Williams 16 and Drew Gordon 15 to lead New Mexico, but their inability to get inside of the three-point line resulted many times in them having to fire away from deep. And while they entered the game having scored 32% of their points from deep, New Mexico also scored 22% of their points from the foul line. San Diego State was the team that stayed with their game plan and as a result they're the ones who remained atop the Mountain West at the end of the night.

3. Creighton and Wichita State both win, giving the MVC race even more clarity.
Entering Wednesday's action the Bluejays and Shockers were tied atop the Missouri Valley standings with 6-1 records, holding a two-game lead on Missouri State and Drake. Thanks to wins by both (Creighton over Missouri State and Wichita State over Northern Iowa) there's even more clarity with regards to the MVC race, with Drake being the lone team within two games of first place. In Wichita State's 71-68 win at UNI Toure Murry scored a game-high 24 points and Garrett Stutz once again came up big on the road with 17 and nine rebounds (Stutz entered the game averaging 16.4 points and 9.0 rebounds in five road games). Another reason why the Shockers won was the foul line, where they made 20 of 24 attempts.

As for Creighton life on the road was difficult but just like Wichita State it was rewarding as well, as two Missouri State misses in the final ten seconds locked up the 66-65 victory. Gregory Echenique bounced back from a poor performance in the first meeting to score 16 points and grab seven rebounds while Doug McDermott added 15 and six, and Grant Gibbs and Antoine Young scored nine points apiece. Creighton turned the ball over 14 times to just three for Missouri State, but the Bluejays made up for that by limiting the Bears to 39.1% shooting. Kyle Weems finished with 13 points and seven rebounds, making just five of sixteen shots against a team he lit up for 31 and seven in the first meeting. To ensure multiple NCAA bids come March the Valley likely needs a team or two to separate from the pack, and that's a step both Creighton and Wichita State have taken.

Quick Hitters

1. While their win over Duquesne on Saturday was a sign that Xavier was regaining their flow, the Musketeers likely needed to do that against an Atlantic 10 contender to show the rest of the league they remained the top dog. It's safe to say that Chris Mack's team did so in a 68-55 win over Saint Joseph's, limiting the Hawks to 16 second-half points. Tu Holloway scored just six points but dished out 12 assists and Mark Lyons led four Musketeers in double figures with 17 points.

2. Despite 16 turnovers Villanova picked up their second Big East victory as they beat Seton Hall 84-76 at The Pavilion. The Wildcats were a plus-9 (45-36) on the boards and JayVaughn Pinkston put together the best game of his young career with 23 points and 11 rebounds. If Jay Wright's team is to make a run towards the middle of the Big East they need another consistent option to go along with Maalik Wayns (25 points, seven assists).

3. Zach Filzen led four players in double figures with 21 points as Buffalo handed Akron their first MAC loss by the final score of 82-70. Buffalo assisted on 23 of their 29 field goals and the Zips turned the ball over 18 times in defeat. The Bulls' win pulls Akron (3-1) closer to the pack, with the five teams below them in the MAC East all with 2-2 league records.

4. UCF made history and to a certain extent the Knights have the official who felt that NBA-style continuation was a part of college basketball to thank for it. Keith Clanton's three-point play gave UCF the 68-67 win over Memphis, their first-ever win over the Tigers. Clanton scored 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds and Marcus Jordan added 20, while Will Barton led Memphis with 24 and eight boards.

5. Scott Christopherson's banked-in three as time expired gave Iowa State a 71-68 win over Oklahoma State in a game the Cyclones trailed by three with 15 seconds remaining. In addition to Christopherson, Royce White and Tyrus McGee scored 17 points apiece as Fred Hoiberg's team stayed on track for an NCAA Tournament appearance.

6. California announced on Wednesday afternoon that sophomore forward Richard Solomon would be academically ineligible for the remainder of the season. Solomon averaged 6.0 points and 6.2 rebounds per game for the Golden Bears, who visit the Washington schools this weekend and are tied atop the Pac-12 standings with Stanford. David Kravish stands to see an increase in minutes as a result, and the Bears also need to hope that starting forward Harper Kamp remains healthy.

7. Murray State had their hands full with bitter rival Morehead State for much of the night but Isaiah Canaan and company did enough to win 66-60 and move to 19-0 on the season. Canaan and Donte Poole combined to score 35 points for the Racers, who moved to 7-0 in the OVC and remain a game ahead of Southeast Missouri State in the loss column. Those two meet for the first time this season on February 2nd in Murray.

8. After playing to a 30-30 tie at the half the difference between West Virginia and Marshall was more than apparent in the second half as the Mountaineers pulled away to win 78-62. Kevin Jones (25 points, seven rebounds) and Truck Bryant (22 points) led the way for WVU, who avenged last season's loss to the Thundering Herd. WVU made 17 of 22 free throws while Marshall finished the night 3-for-6.

9. Also in the Atlantic 10, Temple made up for 15 turnovers by shooting 51.9% from the field in their 75-70 win over La Salle. Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson led the way with 19 points and seven rebounds, taking advantage of the Owls' size advantage inside against the smaller Explorers.

Three Notable Performances

1. G/F Colt Ryan (Evansville)
39 points (8-14 3PT), nine rebounds and three assists in the Purple Aces' 90-67 win over Bradley.

2. G Rodney McGruder (Kansas State)
33 points (11-16 FG) and eight rebounds in the Wildcats' 84-80 win over Texas.

3. G Anthony Marshall (UNLV)
27 points, nine assists, five rebounds and three blocks in the Runnin' Rebels' 101-78 win over TCU.

Tuesday Recap: Pittsburgh Has Some Issues to Address

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 06:31:36 -0800

Outside of Xavier it's difficult to think of many two-game losing streaks this season that have sparked as much concern nationally as the one Pittsburgh is currently going through. A team that looked preoccupied with their Christmas break plans on Friday in a 59-54 home loss to Wagner dropped another game on Tuesday, 72-59 at Notre Dame. The second half was a serious departure from what the Panthers do on both ends of the court, with Notre Dame being able to accomplish just about whatever they wanted to offensively. Mike Brey's team shot a staggering 72% in the second half and scored 42 points, and Alex Dragicevic scored a career-high 22 points to lead the way.

"He was 2-for-6 in the first half. Then in the second half the three-pointers and the some lay-ups got him going," said Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon of Dragicevic. "That's where it really got started and then their three-pointers broke it open. Give them credit they were patient we had some breakdowns that were pretty hard to recover from."

Point guard Tray Woodall returned to the rotation for Pittsburgh after being out since the Duquesne game with groin and abdominal injuries, and it's safe to say that the redshirt junior wasn't 100% on Tuesday. Woodall played 18 minutes and did not score, tallying two assists and two turnovers off the bench. Talib Zanna led the way for the Panthers with 13 points and 12 rebounds off the bench, but that wasn't enough to make up for Pitt making just one of fourteen shots from beyond the arc and being outscored 21-3 on three-pointers. But the biggest concern for Pittsburgh going forward has to be the defensive breakdows, as the Fighting Irish were able to find a number of open looks in the second half as they ran away with the game.

"Second half the defense just let down for us," said Dixon. "They executed - converted lay-ups that they turned into open jump shots and they started making those. We need to play better, we will play better and that's what we have to work on."

In addition to Dragicevich, Eric Atkins and Jerian Grant scored 15 points apiece for Notre Dame, who has now beaten the Panthers in each of their last four meetings. The Irish scored 1.24 points per possession and finished with an efficiency of 124.1, the highest number Pitt has allowed since their loss to Long Beach State in the third game of the season. Challenging cutters and playing tough defense has been one of the trademarks of the Pitt program going back to the Ben Howland years, but that wasn't on display Tuesday night. With talented players such as Woodall, Ashton Gibbs and Nasir Robinson the potential to turn things around is defintely there. Whether or not the Panthers act on that potential is entirely up to them.

Other Notable Happenings

1. After a quick start, Nebraska gets a rude introduction to Big Ten basketball from Wisconsin.
While there's no doubt that Nebraska was coming from a very tough basketball conference in the Big 12, their first taste of Big Ten basketball was going to be an interesting experience for Doc Sadler's program. Things were going very well for the Huskers to begin their game against Wisconsin as they jumped out to a 7-0 lead. But the Badgers stayed the course and did what they do: execute on both ends of the floor at their tempo. What resulted was a thorough beating of Nebraska in Lincoln, with Wisconsin holding the home team to 14 second-half points in the 64-40 win.

Ryan Evans scored a game-high 22 points and grabbed six rebounds and Wisconsin made 11 of 21 shots from beyond the arc on the night. Jordan Taylor finished with 15 points, five assists, three rebounds and three steals with just one turnover, and the Badgers picked apart the Nebraska defense to shoot 51% from the field while holding the Huskers to 31% shooting. Nebraska will encounter different styles of play in their first run through the Big Ten, but they found out that playing Bo Ryan's team is an experience unlike any other.

2. Moe Harkless puts up a performance for the ages in a St. John's blowout of Providence.
The question for St. John's was a simple one entering Big East play: even with the arrival of Amir Garrett would the Red Storm have enough depth to navigate the conference slate? Hard to glean a concrete conclusion from one game, but to say the least the Big East opener for the Johnnies. Moe Harkless put up a performance for the ages with 32 points and 13 rebounds while D'Angelo Harrison added 25 points and seven rebounds in the 91-67 win over Providence. This was a stunning outcome considering the Friars' 11-2 start under first-year head coach Ed Cooley, not to mention the struggles of the home team. And that "performance for the ages" line isn't hyperbole, it's fact.

Harkless' point total replaced the 30 points scored by Troy Murphy and Allen Iverson in their Big East debuts as the highest point total in conference history. Think about all the great freshmen who have played in the Big East through the years, and that makes Harkless' achievement all the more noteworthy. St. John's shot 56.5% from the field and forced 20 Providence turnovers, converting those miscues into 34 points. For the talk of Providence feeling a bit disrespected due to the game being played at Carnesecca Arena instead of MSG they sure didn't look like a team that deserved that stage on Tuesday, and that's a credit to how well St. John's played.

3. Illinois needs double overtime to beat Minnesota in Champaign.
The end of game execution for both teams left much to be desired with Illinois becoming stagnant offensively and Minnesota not fouling when down six with less than a minute in double overtime, but that shouldn't take away from how entertaining the Big Ten opener was. Brandon Paul led the Fighting Illini to the 81-72 win with 21 points, seven rebounds and six assists while Meyers Leonard added 20 points, 11 rebounds and five blocked shots. Illinois turned the ball over 21 times but ended up winning by limiting the Golden Gophers to 37.7% shooting, and Minnesota could only manage 16 points off of those turnovers.

By comparison Illinois scored 19 points off of 14 Minnesota turnovers, as a result helping to minimize the impact of their mistakes. Ralph Sampson III led Minnesota with 22 points and nine rebound but the Gophers had just two players score in double figures while Illinois finished with five, and that's not going to get it done for Tubby Smith's team down the line if they want to be an NCAA Tournament team. Illinois will need to cut down on their turnovers but it should be seen as an encouraging sign that Bruce Weber's team was able to make up for the discrepancy in other areas to pull out the win.

Quick Hitters

1. Georgia needed overtime to beat Winthrop at home 82-76, but the question is whether or not the game should have gone to overtime to begin with. With the Eagles leading 76-74 in the final seconds, Georgia's Gerald Robinson junior got away with a blatant travel and scored the game-tying basket.

2. Rhode Island head coach Jim Baron made the decision on Tuesday to dismiss leading scorer Jamal Wilson (16.4 ppg) for a violation of team rules. To say the least this is the last thing the Rams, who are 1-11 on the season. Mid-year transfers Andre Malone and Billy Baron should have every opportunity to take over as the primary scoring options as a result of this move.

3. Also on Tuesday, Illinois guard Crandall Head announced his decision to leave the school. Head, whose older brother is Illinois great Luther Head, averaged just 6.4 minutes per game this season.

Three Notable Performances

1. F Moe Harkless and G D'Angelo Harrison (St. John's)
Harkless finished with 32 points, 13 rebounds and four assists while Harrison added 25, seven assists and three steals in the Red Storm's 91-67 win over Providence.

2. G Andre Jones (Winthrop)
33 points (10-15 FG) and three rebounds in the Eagles' 82-76 overtime loss at Georgia.

3. F Ryan Evans (Wisconsin)
22 points (9-11 FG), six rebounds and two assists in the Badgers' 64-40 win over Nebraska.

Tuesday Preview: Minnesota at Illinois

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 21:47:44 -0800

After a day off college basketball is back with a small albeit important slate to keep an eye on. Why? The start of conference play in both the Big East and Big Ten, with more leagues due to join in on the fun later in the week. Tuesday's game of interest matches #24 Illinois (11-2), who is undefeated at home and looking to bounce back from their loss to rival Missouri, and a Minnesota (12-1) team that's managed to win six straight games. Many thought that the roof would cave in on Tubby Smith's team after losing Trevor Mbakwe for the year with a torn ACL, but guys have stepped up in his absence.

Before a five-point outing against North Dakota State on Thursday, guard Julian Welch (9.9 ppg, 2.5 apg) had reached double figures in eight straight games. He's shooting 48.8% from the field and 44.4% from beyond the arc, both which are improvements on his numbers as a freshman at UC Davis during the 2009-10 season. Andre Hollins (6.1 ppg), Austin Hollins (8.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg) and Chip Armelin (6.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg) are all players the Golden Gophers call on for production on the perimeter, and without a marquee scoring option they've adjusted their tempo some (267th in adjusted tempo per Ken Pomeroy).

Illinois will counter on the perimeter with D.J. Richardson (14.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg), Brandon Paul (11.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg) and Sam Maniscalco (10.6 ppg, 2.9 apg), and freshman Joseph Bertrand stepped up with 19 points in the loss to Missouri. But the one issue with the three starters has been shot-making, with Richardson's 43.1% being the highest number. Paul's only making 36.7% of his shots from the field, and that's a number that will have to improve in Big Ten play if the Illini are to contend. The real key for Illinois will be to make sure they get their big man quality touches inside.

Sophomore Meyers Leonard has improved a great deal since last season, and he's second on the team in scoring (13.4 ppg) while leading the way in both rebounding (8.2 ppg) and blocked shots (2.4 bpg). One thing that's seemed to be an issue for the Illinois backcourt has been the art of the entry pass, and with Minnesota ranking in the Top 10 nationally in steal percentage (14.3%) Bruce Weber's team will need to be sound with the basketball. Minnesota will counter with Ralph Sampson III (8.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.1 apg) and the high-flying Rodney Williams (9.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.5 apg), and it's become even more important that they stay out of foul trouble with Mbakwe's injury.

However it's Illinois that's taken better care of the basketball to this point in the season, and Welch and Andre Collins both have personal turnover rates approaching 28%. Sound decision-making will be key for the Golden Gophers on the road, and even though school's not in session Champaign is a tough place to play. Minnesota's done a good job of getting to the foul line, as their lack of an outstanding perimeter shooter means that they've got to attack the basket more than most teams. Whichever team continues to attack the basket while limiting their opponent's opportunities will likely win, meaning that Illinois can't afford to fall in love with the jump shot.

Also in the Big Ten, Nebraska gets their first taste of league play as they host #14 Wisconsin. The individual matchup between Jordan Taylor and Bo Spencer will be fun to watch, and the Huskers are going to need a big night from Jorge Brian Diaz as well. In the Big East, surprising Providence visits St. John's in a game both teams need as the schedules get much more difficult in their next games (Providence visits Georgetown, St. John's visits UConn). And Pittsburgh looks to rebound from their loss to Wagner at Notre Dame, and it's a game-time decision as to whether or not Tray Woodall will be able to go. But if the Panthers don't step up their perimeter defense with (or without) Woodall they could be in trouble against Notre Dame's Eric Atkins.

Top 25 Games
7:00 PM (13) Pittsburgh at Notre Dame (ESPN2)
9:00 PM (14) Wisconsin at Nebraska (ESPN2)
7:00 PM Maryland-Eastern Shore at (24) Virginia

NCAA Division I Games
7:00 PM Winthrop at Georgia (ESPN3)
7:00 PM Providence at St. John's (ESPN3)
7:30 PM Minnesota at Illinois (BTN)
8:00 PM Texas Southern at Saint Louis
8:00 PM New Orleans at North Texas
8:00 PM Belhaven at Southern Miss
8:00 PM Cal State Bakersfield at Texas Tech (ESPN3)
8:30 PM Eureka at Western Illinois
9:00 PM Cal State San Marcos at BYU (BYU TV)
9:00 PM Vanguard at Loyola Marymount

College Hoops Sunday: Your Commentary

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 08:26:55 -0800

Frank Martin's Kansas State (4-0) may be undefeated on the young season, but it can definitely be argued that this group hasn't been tested. That all changes this evening as the Wildcats play their first true road game of the season, visiting Virginia Tech (5-2) in a game that could have long-term effects on both teams when looking ahead to Selection Sunday. The Hokies lost a tough one on Wednesday night, falling to a Minnesota team playing without its best player (Trevor Mbakwe) in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, and Seth Greenberg will need two of his key cogs to bounce back from their off nights in order to defend Cassell Coliseum.

Senior Dorenzo Hudson (12.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg) went scoreless while freshman Dorian Finney-Smith (7.3 ppg, 9.7 rpg) could muster just three points in the 58-55 loss to the Golden Gophers, and if Jarell Eddie is included three Hokie starters combined to shoot 2-for-14 from the field. That's not going to get it done in games of that magnitude, either out of conference or once they hit ACC play, so these key figures need to remain consistent in their level of production. Point guard Erick Green (16.5 ppg, 2.7 apg) has been banged up for much of the season, first dealing with Achilles issues and then falling off of the raised court at The Barn in the final seconds only to return and nearly send the game into overtime. Simply put, Green is tough as nails and his 25 points were a big reason why the Hokies remained in that contest throughout.

Kansas State will counter at the point with sophomore Will Spradling, who has become more than just a facilitator in the aftermath of Jacob Pullen's departure. Spradling's averaging 12.8 points per game, an increase of more than six points per game compared to his average of a season ago. In fact, three players are averaging right around thirteen points per game, which underlines the Wildcats' need for balance without the services of such a dominant offensive figure. Guards Rodney McGruder (12.5 ppg) and Martavious Irving (8.0 ppg) also start while Shane Southwell is usually the first option off the bench, and forwards Thomas Gipson (12.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg) and Jamar Samuels (11.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg) handle the bulk of the scoring in the frontcourt.

Kansas State's allowed opponents to shoot just 32.9% from the field to date, but once again this is only through four games and the level of competition that they've played doesn't really compare to Virginia Tech. That field goal percentage defense, along with the Wildcats forcing 18 turnovers per game, will be something to keep track of tonight. Will Kansas State's play transfer to Blacksburg, or will the tested Hokies remain undefeated at home? We shall see, but Kansas State can greatly improve their chances of winning by taking care of the basketball (14.5 turnovers/game) and limiting Hudson's quality looks.

In other action today there are some big games involving the Mountain West, with UNLV visiting Wichita State and San Diego State hosting California. The Rebels already have a win over North Carolina under their belts, but an argument can be made that a win in Wichita would be just as impressive given the Shockers' success of late. Gregg Marshall's team is expected to contend for the MVC title, and with players such as Toure' Murry (13.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg) and David Kyles (10.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.0 apg) just to name two this experienced group has all the pieces needed to do so.

The key for the Rebels, who are coming off of a thrilling double-overtime win at UCSB, will be the three-point line. Wichita State hasn't been great at knocking the shot down (34%) but they're the best in the nation at defending it as opponents are shooting just 24% on the year. Anthony Marshall, Chace Stanback and the rest of the Rebels will need to find good shots from deep if they're to win, and another big game from the early pick for national transfer of the year (Mike Moser) wouldn't hurt either.

San Diego State owns one of the tougher home environments to deal with, and for the Golden Bears that task became even tougher with the suspension of sophomore forward Richard Solomon. That development likely adds more to the plate of freshman David Kravish, who has played some good basketball to start his career in Berkeley. But the key for Allen Crabbe, Jorge Gutierrez and the rest of the Bears is a simple one: remain aggressive on offense. This is a group that can fall in love with the jump shot, thus limiting their trips to the foul line. That can't happen against the Aztecs if they're to pick up a much-needed win for both themselves and the mailgned Pac-12. Cal will also need to keep SDSU off the offensive boards, and guards Chase Tapley, Jamaal Franklin and Xavier Thames have been a handful for opponents as well.

Baylor hits the road for the first time this season, and their matchup with Northwestern will be an interesting one to watch when considering junior point guard Pierre Jackson. Can he (and by extension his teammates), navigate the Wildcats' changing defenses? If so, the scoring opportunities for the likes of Qunicy Acy, Anthony Jones, Perry Jones III and Quincy Miller up front should be plentiful. But in John Shurna and Drew Crawford the Wildcats counter with one of the top scoring tandems in the country, and Bill Carmody's offensive system makes it tough on opposing defenses.

Also worth checking out is Notre Dame playing Maryland in the BB&T Classic, with both teams still looking for identities either because of youth (Maryland) or a major injury (Notre Dame). And Creighton hosts Nebraska in a game that matches the Huskers' Bo Spencer with Creighton's deep backcourt, and the Bluejays' Doug McDermott isn't too bad of a player either.

Top 25 Games
4:00 PM (8) Baylor at Northwestern (BTN)
4:00 PM (20) UNLV at Wichita State
5:05 PM Nebraska at (22) Creighton (ESPN3)
5:00 PM (23) California at San Diego State (The Mtn.)

NCAA Division I Games
2:00 PM Dayton at Murray State (ESPN3)
2:00 PM Seattle at Harvard
2:00 PM Nebraska-Omaha at Michigan State (ESPN3)
2:00 PM La Sierra University vs. Columbia*
2:00 PM Maine at Rhode Island (Cox HD)
2:00 PM Iona at Niagara
2:00 PM St. Peter's at Manhattan
2:00 PM Rider at Marist
2:00 PM Akron at Middle Tennessee
2:00 PM USC Upstate at UNC Asheville
2:00 PM New Mexico State at Southern Miss
2:15 PM VCU vs. George Washington* (MASN/Versus)
3:00 PM Bowling Green at Western Kentucky (FCS)
3:00 PM Southern Methodist at Arkansas-Little Rock
3:30 PM South Carolina at Clemson (ESPNU)
4:00 PM North Carolina State at Stanford (FSN)
4:00 PM Mid-Continent College at Morehead State
4:30 PM Stetson at Indiana (BTN.com)
4:30 PM North Texas at Loyola Marymount
4:45 PM Notre Dame at Maryland (MASN/Versus)
5:00 PM Fairfield at Canisius
5:00 PM Pacific Union at San Francisco
5:30 PM Kansas State at Virginia Tech (ESPNU)
6:00 PM Hampton vs. Howard*
6:00 PM Langston at Oklahoma State
6:00 PM Ole Miss at Penn State (BTN)
8:00 PM Saint Joseph's at American (TCN)
8:00 PM Montana at Oregon State (Root NW)

Who Will Win the 2011-12 Big Ten Title?

Shawn Siegel — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 08:53:18 -0800

Jon Teitel's "Coaching Greats" Series: Nebraska's Danny Nee

Jon Teitel — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 09:14:24 -0700

In the latest installment in his "Coaching Greats" interview series CHN writer spent some time with former Nebraska head coach Danny Nee. During his time in Lincoln, Nee led the Cornhuskers to five NCAA Tournament berths and an NIT title in 1996. Nee is now the head coach at the United States Merchant Marine Academy.

Jon Teitel: One of your teammates at Power Memorial HS was Lew Alcindor, who said that you were "a tough guy ("he thought he was the reincarnation of Jack Dempsey"). What was it like to play with Alcindor, and what made you so tough?

Danny Nee: You do not realize at age 15 that you are playing with such a great player, but you could see him growing and his coordination improving. Playing tough for me is the same as playing hard, so I would do the dirty work like set screens and dive after loose balls.

JT: You were a member of Al McGuire's first recruiting class at Marquette. Why did you choose to go there, and what made McGuire such a great coach?

DN: Frankly I did not even know where Marquette was. I wanted to go to an East Coast school (like Seton Hall, Providence or St. John's). I came back from a game one night and McGuire and his mother were sitting in my family's tiny kitchen hanging out with my parents! He was a tall, charming, good-looking guy, so my father could immediately relate to him, and his mother was a nice Irish lady just like mine. My dad told me, "You are going with this Irishman". Al and I became really good friends when I was an assistant at Notre Dame. One of his best attributes was his personality. He could fit in at the local bar with a bartender or in a boardroom with the CEO of IBM.

JT: You served a two-year tour of duty with the Marines and received an honorable discharge in 1968 after serving in Vietnam. How did you end up in Vietnam, and how did the experience change your life?

DN: I was not doing great in the classroom so I decided to join the Marines. After getting discharged I almost became a football coach at a tiny school in Kansas, but later got my masters degree and got back into basketball.

JT: In 1976 you became an assistant coach at Notre Dame for Digger Phelps. What was it like to work with Digger, and what made him such a great coach?

DN: The people in New Jersey thought I had lost my mind, as I was only making $3,000 after moving to South Bend. I did everything there but wash the dishes, and had an office out in the foyer! Digger was flamboyant but an excellent motivator who was driven to win. If you gave him three days to break down a game plan, he was the best tactician in the game. He realized that ND had no geographic boundaries because everyone around the country knew about the Irish.

1978 NCAA Tournament (assistant at Notre Dame)

JT: Bill Laimbeer scored a career-high 20 points and had nine rebounds in 21 minutes in a win over Houston. Could you tell at the time that Laimbeer was going to become a star?

DN: Laimbeer was a unique player. He was huge but could also step out to the top of the key and make jump shots. I remember him being cerebral and strong.

JT: Kelly Tripucka scored 20 points in a win over Utah on St. Patricks's Day after Digger had the team wear green socks. What did you think of the socks, and was there any way ND was losing with green socks on St. Patricks's Day?

DN: I loved the socks, and thought it was one of the most innovative things I had ever seen!

JT: Tripucka scored 18 points and had 11 rebounds in a win over DePaul and their Hall-of-Fame coach Ray Meyer after a one-point overtime loss to them at home only a few weeks earlier. What was it like to face Meyer (a former basketball team co-captain and assistant coach for the Irish), and did your team go into that game with a sense of revenge after the previous loss to DePaul?

DN: Tripucka was great because he did everything and never played like a freshman. He might have been the most confident player I had ever seen. We did not see it as revenge, but there was a big rivalry.

JT: You lost to Duke by four as they made 32-of-37 FT (Mike Gminski had 29 points on 13-17 FG). How close did you come to winning the game, and do you think that free throw shooting made the difference?

DN: In hindsight, I think we were the better team and should have won. The referees must have thought we were fouling them because they kept calling fouls. Every Final Four team back then knocked the crap out of each other and every team had great coaches.

JT: You lost the consolation game to Arkansas after Ron Brewer made a turnaround jumper at the buzzer to win it. How frustrating was that loss, and where does Brewer's shot rank among the most clutch shots you have ever seen?

DN: We were all disappointed, but it was a little embarrassing to lose both of our Final Four games. Brewer was a great player and I remember my heart going into my stomach when he made that shot.

1983 NCAA Tournament (head coach at Ohio)

JT: You beat Illinois State by two thanks to a leaner by freshman Robert Tatum at the buzzer. How satisfying was it to finally have a buzzer-beater go your way, and how did a freshman have the guts to take/make that shot?

DN: That was one of the greatest shots I have ever seen. I think if we played them 10 times they might have beaten us 9 out of 10. We ran a Hubie Brown play similar to Christian Laettner's famous shot to beat Kentucky in 1992. John Devereaux caught it and tapped it over to Tatum, and he was able to make it while leaning back.

JT: You lost to Kentucky in the second round (Mel Turpin had 14 points and nine rebounds). Did your team run out of gas after the first round win or was Kentucky just a more talented team?

DN: We came from the MAC and Kentucky came from the SEC. They had a bunch of great players and great coaches and their size was just too much for us.

JT: You became coach at Nebraska in 1986 and led your team to 5 NCAA Tournament appearances in the 1990s. Why did you make the switch from Ohio, and how were you able to be so successful?

DN: I followed a great coach named Moe Iba who taught great defense, and we made it to the NIT semifinals in our very first year. Our band played "New York, New York" when we beat Washington to make it to the semis!

1996 NIT (head coach at Nebraska)

JT: After your fifth straight loss midway through the season, your players staged a walkout before having a team meeting and deciding to return. What caused the walkout, and how were you able to restore order?

DN: I was getting on the team pretty hard, and after some of guys got fed up we had to cancel one practice. Some of the guys lost their scholarships but they were resilient and turned a negative situation into a positive.

JT: Erick Strickland scored 19 points as your team scored a postseason-school-record 91 points (10-17 3PM) in an eight-point win over Colorado State. How were you able to score so many points, and was your team just "in the zone" from behind the arc?

DN: I remember it distinctly: our only goal at the NIT was to win it all. Colorado State just could not do anything right that night, and we played very well both mentally and physically.

JT: Strickland scored 17 points in a win over Fresno State and its coach Jerry Tarkanian. How important was Strickland to your team's success, and what was it like to coach against Tarkanian?

DN: We manhandled them and it was over after the first five minutes. It was awesome to coach against Tarkanian because I greatly admired him. We had a great team with a few guys who ended up in the NBA.

JT: You went to the free throw line a postseason-school-record 45 times in a win over Tulane. Was it an especially physical game or did your team just keep getting fouled in the paint over and over?

DN: Strickland was magnificent, and we just kept getting fouled.

JT: Tournament MVP Strickland scored 13 points in a four-point win over St. Joe's for the first basketball title in school history. What did it mean to you to win the title, and what was the reaction like when you got back to campus?

DN: I think they just ran out of gas. It was euphoria. I am from Brooklyn so I had a ton of friends at the game that I had not seen in ages. It was really exciting and served as redemption.

JT: You left the college ranks in 2006 to work as a scout for the Utah Jazz. How did you like the scouting gig, and which NBA team received the most favorable scouting report?

DN: Utah GM Kevin O'Connor was nice to me and threw me a life raft. I was just calling around and he gave me the scouting position. However, I had no interaction with players so after a couple of years I was looking for something else.

Nee is also on Jon's list of the best coaches in Big Ten history.

Illinois: Lou Henson (1975-1996) 423-224, 12 NCAA tourneys, 1 conference title, 1-time conference COY
Indiana: Bobby Knight (1971-2000) 661-240, 24 NCAA tourneys, 11 conference titles, 3 NCAA titles, 1 NIT title, 4-time national COY, 5-time conference COY
Iowa: Tom Davis (1986-1999) 270-139, 9 NCAA tourneys, 1-time national COY, 1-time conference COY
Michigan: Johnny Orr (1968-1980) 209-113, 4 NCAA tourneys, 2 conference titles, 1-time national COY, 2-time conference COY
Michigan State: Tom Izzo (1995-present) 355-152, 13 NCAA tourneys, 5 conference titles, 1 NCAA title, 4-time national COY, 2-time conference COY
Minnesota: Louis "Doc" Cooke (1897-1924) 254-142-3, 5 conference titles, 3 national titles
Nebraska: Danny Nee (1986-2000) 254-190, 5 conference titles, 1 NIT title
Northwestern: Arthur "Dutch" Lonborg (1927-1950) 236-203, 2 conference titles, 1 Helms title
Ohio State: Fred Taylor (1958-1976) 297-158, 5 NCAA tourneys, 7 conference titles, 1 NCAA title, 2-time national COY
Penn State: Bruce Parkhill (1985-1995) 181-169, 1 NCAA tourney, 1 conference title, 1-time conference COY
Purdue: Ward "Piggy" Lambert (1916-1946) 371-152, 11 conference titles, 1 Helms title
Wisconsin: Walter "Doc" Meanwell (1911-1917, 1920-1934) 246-99, 8 conference titles, 3 Helms titles

College Hoops Wednesday Recap: Officials Steal Spotlight at MSG

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 01:19:42 -0800

While the regular season battle between Rutgers and St. John's was a tight affair that wasn't decided until the final seconds, it paled in comparison to what happened at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday afternoon. Rutgers came out on the short end of the stick in numerous situations late in the game with regards to the officiating. From Mike Coburn not getting a foul call despite having to deal with contact on a shot attempt to Jonathan Mitchell having a player go over his back on a missed free throw the breaks all seemed to go to the Red Storm. But it was the final sequence that garnered the most attention, with St. John's breaking up a pass intended for Gil Biruta and Justin Brownlee grabbing the ball.

From there the senior committed two violations, neither of which were called by any of the three officials calling the game. First he stepped out of bounds, then traveled before tossing the ball into the air thinking that the game was over. And much to the chagrin of Rutgers head coach Mike Rice and anyone associated with the program Brownlee was correct, with St. John's winning 65-63 to advance to Thursday's quarterfinals. In a statement released shortly after the controversial finish the Big East noted not just the errors but also the fact that neither of the calls could be reviewed. That's correct because when no call is made there's nothing to fix. But much to his credit Coach Rice took it all in stride, refusing to criticize the officials publicly.

"It's something three great officials, I've had 'em all throughout the year, impeccable reputation, it's unfortunate, my heart -- believe me, there is going to be blood coming through my tongue right now but it's what it is, we're going to control how we respond," said Rice.

Regardless of what people want to happen to the officials (who probably shouldn't work the rest of the week in New York) the question that needs to be answered is what's next for St. John's and that is Syracuse. The Orange controlled the game when the two met in the regular season as their zone forced the Red Storm to settle for challenged perimeter shots. Dwight Hardy made just five of seventeen shots on the afternoon against Rutgers, and he'll have to be much better against the Orange if St. John's is to win. Steve Lavin's team is going to see more zone defenses in the NCAA Tournament given the difficulty in handling the defense throughout the season, making Thursday a good reference point for the team.

And they also need to keep the Orange off the glass, with a performance like Wednesday's (18 of Rutgers' 36 rebounds were offensive) more than likely to result in a blowout. But back to the Scarlet Knights, who saw their season end in tough fashion. Sadly Coburn, James Beatty and Jonathan Mitchell don't get another shot at the Big East, but a number of the young players who saw time this season have a chance to improve their skills in the offseason. Add in a highly touted recruiting class and there's no doubt that Coach Rice has the program headed in the right direction.

Other Notable Happenings

1. Northern Colorado earns their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth by winning the Big Sky.
Conference tournaments provide some of the memorable images for many programs, especially those that punch their ticket for the first time ever. That's the case for the Northern Colorado Bears, who won their 14th home game of the season (no losses) by the final score of 65-60 win over Montana. Big Sky MVP Devon Beitzel was also named tournament MVP due to his 27-point performance, and he's the kind of player who will give opponents fits next week. But the Bears needed others to step up, something that didn't happen in their loss at Montana earlier in the season. Neal Kingman, who was scoreless in that loss, scored 10 points on Wednesday and all eight players to see time scored. A program that became an official Division I member in 2007 is now headed to the tournament, and they've got Beitzel to thank for that.

2. Once and for all it's time to stop including Baylor and Nebraska in the bubble chatter.
Baylor's day didn't get off to a good start, with the NCAA ruling freshman forward Perry Jones III ineligible due to his mother accepting three small loans while Jones was still in high school. But unlike Auburn quarterback Cam Newton, who didn't know about his father asking for money and thus far allowed to play without missing a game, Jones had to sit. But it wasn't just his absence that did in the Bears, who did not show up ready to play against Oklahoma. The Sooners led by as many as 23 points before winning by 84-67, and despite turning the ball over just nine times Baylor watched LaceDarius Dunn shoot 3-for-14 from the field and as a team the Bears made 4 of 19 from deep.

Nebraska got off to a slow start as well, trailing by as many as 14 in the first half before fighting back to eventually take the lead in the second half. But after an Oklahoma State missed free throw the Huskers had a chance to win, only to see point guard Lance Jeter fall in the lane in the final seconds to seal a 53-52 loss. Jeter scored 17 points to lead Nebraska in their final Big 12 Tournament game but they couldn't make that one final play. And as a result Doc Sadler's team likely slips down the pecking order, with Baylor suffering the same fate. But outside of a couple solid wins neither team had done enough to warrant such attention in most seasons. The fact that Baylor and Nebraska could remain on such lists underlines just how bad the bubble is this year. But enough's enough. Neither should be on the bubble after Wednesday.

3. Long Island dethrones Robert Morris in overtime to win the NEC title.
With First Team All-NEC forward Julian Boyd on the bench due to foul trouble head coach Jim Ferry needed one of his other big men to step up. Enter Jamal Olasewere, who scored 31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the Blackbirds' 85-82 overtime victory. Kenny Onyechi and Jason Brickman combined to score 28 points off the bench, and C.J. Garner scored 15 himself in the 85-82 overtime win over Robert Morris. LIU has depth in both the backcourt and front court, and they do a very good job of getting to the foul line (their percentage does need to improve), meaning that whoever draws the Blackbirds had better be careful with thought that they can coast through such a contest. It's been a long time since Charles Jones and company clinched the Blackbirds' spot in the field in 1998.

Top Three Games

1. Texas-San Antonio 97, Northwestern State 96
Jeromie Hill's dunk with two seconds left in the game proved to be the difference as the Roadrunners knocked the Demons out of the Southland Conference Tournament. Devin Gibson posted a triple-double for UTSA with 28 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists (three steals as well) and Hill added 25. Will Pratt led Northwestern State with 26 points.

2. St. John's 65, Rutgers 63

3. Long Island 85, Robert Morris 82 (OT)

Three Notable Performances

1. G Devin Gibson (Texas-San Antonio)
28 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and three steals in the Roadrunners' 97-96 win over Northwestern State.

2. G Alec Burks (Colorado) 29 points, 15 rebounds and six assists in the Buffaloes' 77-75 win over Iowa State.

3. F Jamal Olasewere (Long Island) 31 points, 11 rebounds and four steals in the Blackbirds' 85-82 overtime win over Robert Morris.

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College Hoops Saturday Recap: Lucas Leads Spartans to Important Win

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 09:19:25 -0800

Saturday night's matchup between Illinois and Michigan State didn't set up to be the marquee meeting expected when the season began, but it definitely didn't lack for importance with both teams needing wins to ensure an NCAA Tournament appearance. And in a battle of seniors who needed to step up it was Kalin Lucas who came through, scoring 25 points in Michigan State's 71-67 win over the Illini. The win moved the Spartans to 7-7 in Big Ten play with four games remaining, and given their strength of schedule a 2-2 finish going into the Big Ten Tournament could be enough for them to punch their ticket.

Demetri McCamey led Illinois with 15 points but fellow starters D.J. Richardson and Jereme Richmond struggled, with Richmond scoring seven points (3-9 FG) and Richardson being shut out on a night where all available contributors were needed. No other Michigan State players reached double figures but they survived thanks to Lucas, who recently has played as if he fully understands what time it is.

"He's got a great mid-range game where earlier in the year you saw him getting in there and getting shots blocked, you hardly see any of that now," said head coach Tom Izzo of his senior point guard. "His mid-range game in the last three games has been unbelievable. It's good to see the swagger back and it's good to see the speed back you saw on that one drive." (quote courtesy of Michigan State Athletics)

But despite the lack of scoring there were other key contributors to the Spartan victory, including forward Delvon Roe. Roe's been dealing with knee troubles of late, and moving into the starting lineup for the ill Draymond Green the junior finished with eight points, seven rebounds and four assists in 22 minutes of action. And Mike Kebler got the start for the struggling Durrell Summers, who they need to get going if they're to make a run once tournament play starts. Saturday night's effort sums up what Michigan State will need down the stretch: toughness. And for a program that's built itself based on that attribute it's time for this group to show they have what it takes. The win over Illinois was a step in the right direction for Michigan State.

Other Notable Happenings

1. If you haven't added Derrick Williams to the National Player of the Year race it's time to do so.
And frankly if it's taken you this long to do so the question has to be why. Williams has been the focal point of the revival at Arizona all season long, but while his resume featured a number of big plays on both ends of the floor his defense at the end of Arizona's 87-86 win over Washington may have turned the Pac-10 into a two-team race. Williams' emphatic block of a Matthew Bryan-Amaning shoot with two tenths of a second remaining preserved the win for the Wildcats, who remain a game ahead of UCLA atop the conference standings. Williams finished with 26 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals to lead the way. MoMo Jones added 15 as they hung on to win a game that was allowed to play with a level of physicality that would lead some to believe that the players were better off calling their own fouls.

Matthew Bryan-Amaning and C.J. Wilcox were outstanding for Washington and Isaiah Thomas did a good job of distributing the basketball with 10 assists to just three turnovers in addition to his 12 points, but it wasn't enough to prevent a fifth league loss. But back to Williams, who hasn't been mentioned much in the Player of the Year race due to the hype surrounding other players. His full skill set, which has "lottery pick" stamped all over it, was on full display in front of a national television audience. It's time to stop overlooking the sophomore, who will also be on a number of All-America teams come March. Don't be surprised if he ends up being one of the stars of the NCAA Tournament.

2. Nebraska survives bad fouls late to knock off Texas in Lincoln.
One foul on a three-point attempt is bad, but how about two with both coming in late-game situations? Somehow Nebraska pulled off said dubious feat and managed to survive, knocking off #2 Texas by the final score of 70-67. The reasons why: the Huskers shot 47% from the field, and the Longhorns failed to take full advantage of the mistakes due to poor free throw shooting. Brandon Richardson led Nebraska with 15 points, and the win on Saturday may set them up with regards to making a late charge at an NCAA Tournament bid.

Jordan Hamilton scored 18 points to lead Texas but shot 3-for-16 from the field as Nebraska succeeded in making him work for everything he got, and Tristan Thompson took just four shots and finished with five points and three rebounds in 33 minutes of action. Should there be serious concern over Texas because of Saturday's loss? Outside of foul shooting, and they actually shot above their team average in Lincoln (67.9% to an average of 64.5%), no. They've defended well leading up to the loss and should get back to fundamentals, and despite having their lead in the Big 12 cut to one game the win over Kansas looms large in that regard. Saturday was more about Nebraska, who may have given themselves a new lease on their tournament lives with the win.

3. Utah State picks up a crucial road win at Saint Mary's.
Saturday night was a good time for a multiple-TV setup in your home with Blake Griffin jumping over a car (personally I can't do it so why nitpick on what part of the car he jumped over?) and Michigan State's important win over Illinois. But the most important result would have to be Utah State winning at Saint Mary's 75-65, going on a 19-2 run in the second half with a Brady Jardine dunk sucking the air out of McKeon Pavilion. Tai Wesley navigated a poor first half and a whack on the nose (he'd ditched the mask worn to protect it after having the nose broken) to finish with 22 points and 11 rebounds, and the same went for guard Brockeith Pane who also finished with 22.

The most important development for Stew Morrill's team with regards to what they can do in March may have been Pane, who attempted just seven shots (making five) but his ability to get to the foul line resulted in 11 points from the charity stripe (14 attempts). Pane also posted four assists and four steals, making up for six turnovers with all six coming in the first half. If Pane can build on this performance chances are Utah State won't have to rely on the selection committee to join the field of 68, and to get that first RPI Top 50 win (losses to BYU and Georgetown on the road preceded Saturday night) is a boost that their resume needed.

4. The bad loss club welcomes Baylor, Memphis and Washington State.
Two of the three losses came on the road, with Memphis falling at Rice and Washington State capping an 0-2 week in the desert with a loss at Arizona State. Baylor on the other hand dropped a 78-69 decision to Texas Tech at home, casting serious doubt on their NCAA Tournament chances. LaceDarius Dunn scored 21 points to lead the Bears but once again they were loose with the basketball, turning it over 16 times while also shooting 4-for-18 from beyond the arc. Point guard play has been the biggest difference for the Bears this season compared to their Elite 8 campaign of a season ago, with A.J. Walton already with more turnovers than Tweety Carter finished with all season. And there's not much excuse for Perry Jones III, who's been their best offensive player outside of Dunn this season, to take just four shots.

But Baylor still has opportunities for solid wins on their schedule, including another shot at Texas. The other two aren't as fortunate due to the strength of their respective leagues, and it may be time to write Washington State's epitaph right now. Klay Thompson came off the bench to score a game-high 28 points but it wasn't enough to avoid losing to a team that had dropped 11 straight conference games and was without both Ty Abbott and Rihards Kuksiks due to injury. As for Memphis they were soundly whipped in a game they really didn't show up for. Tamir Jackson led the Owls with 20 points as they beat the Tigers for the first time in school history 67-52. Memphis' starters for all intents and purposes didn't show up in Houston and it cost them dearly, quite possibly resulting in them needing to win the conference tournament in order to dance. It's that time of the year again, when teams have every opportunity to make their case. Unfortunately for these three this latest piece of evidence doesn't work in their favor.

5. St. John's knocks off another ranked team at Madison Square Garden.
One thing is certain at this point: Madison Square Garden will be even more of a madhouse for the Big East Tournament, thanks to the resurgence of the St. John's basketball program. Steve Lavin's team has now beaten five teams ranked in the top 13 at MSG, most recently beating #4 Pittsburgh 60-59 on a tough Dwight Hardy layup with 1.2 seconds remaining. Hardy finished with 19 points to lead the Red Storm and Justin Burrell's 15 points and eight rebounds were also crucial to the effort as they moved into a tie for third place.

Ashton Gibbs made his return off the bench for the Panthers and showed no signs of rust, scoring a game-high 26 points in 34 minutes of action. The foul line, which victimized St. John's in a loss at UCLA, had an impact as well with the Red Storm outscoring Pitt by 13 (23-10) on the afternoon. Ten seniors, who'd taken their fair share of lumps in the three seasons prior, will more than likely receive the reward of a Top 25 ranking come Monday and become one of the "hunted" as a result. But with a standout like Hardy and all players accepting of their roles, this is a group that could be dangerous in March.

Top Five Games

1. (13) Arizona 87, Washington 86

2. (14) Villanova 77, DePaul 75 (OT) A Corey Fisher three-pointer in the final seconds of regulation sent the game into overtime, and Villanova ultimately escaped Chicago with the win. Fisher scored a game-high 34 points while the Blue Demons were led by Jeremiah Kelly's 25.

3. St. John's 60, (4) Pittsburgh 59

4. Utah 62, New Mexico 60 Despite a career performance from Drew Gordon the Lobos dropped a game they could ill-afford to lose as Chris Hines banked in a three-pointer as time expired at The Pit. Gordon finished with 17 points and a Mountain West record 23 rebounds, and HInes led the Utes with 15.

5. Bethune-Cookman 78, Hampton 76 (2OT) C.J. Reed knocked down a jumper as time expired to give the Wildcats the win at Hampton, moving them into sole possession of first place in the MEAC. Reed scored a game-high 31 points and Darrion Pellum led the Pirates with 22

Five Notable Performances

1. G Tu Holloway (Xavier) 26 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in the Musketeers' 79-72 win over Fordham.

2. F Drew Gordon (New Mexico) 17 points and 23 rebounds in the Lobos' 62-60 loss to Utah. The rebounds are a new Mountain West record.

3. G Corey Fisher (Villanova) Fisher bailed out the Wildcats with 34 points (11-18 FG), five rebounds and three assists in a 77-75 overtime win at DePaul.

4. F Derrick Williams (Arizona) and F Matthew Bryan-Amaning (Washington) Williams got the crucial block and the win in the final seconds but both were outstanding. Williams finished with 26 points and 11 rebounds while Bryan-Amaning tallied 24 points, eight rebounds, seven blocks, four assists and four steals.

5. F/C Kenneth Faried (Morehead State) Compared to some of the other performances 17 points and 12 rebounds may not be all that impressive. But when you become the NCAA's all-time leading rebounder in the process you deserve mention. Faried passed Tim Duncan in the Eagles' 71-65 win at Indiana State.

College Hoops Tuesday Recap: Alabama Hangs On to Beat Kentucky

Raphielle Johnson — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 09:23:15 -0800

Up by as many as 18 points in the second half, Anthony Grant's Alabama Crimson Tide looked to be in good shape after an Andrew Steele gave them a 59-43 lead with 11:31 remaining at Coleman Coliseum. But from that point the Crimson Tide struggled mightily in the face of mounting Kentucky defensive pressure as John Calipari's team finally answered his halftime challenge to "man up". Kentucky held Alabama without a field goal for more than eight minutes before a JaMychal Green tip-in made the score 64-61 with 3:04 remaining. From there Alabama made four of six free throws while the Wildcats turned the ball over on consecutive possessions in what goes down as a 68-66 victory. Green led all scorers with 18 points (and 11 rebounds) while Terrence Jones led four Wildcats in double figures with 17 off the bench.

"You have to give Alabama credit," remarked Coach Calipari. "They came out of the gate, they stretched the game out, and they made the shots they had to make. They were muscling us around the goal and they hung on. They made the free throws they had to make down the stretch."

Similar to North Carolina in their loss at Georgia Tech on Sunday toughness was an issue for the young Wildcats as they fell even further behind after the half. But Brandon Knight and company executed better on offense, made easier by 16 points off of 11 Alabama turnovers. After doing just about everything right in building an impressive lead the Crimson Tide sputtered offensively, failing to recognize mismatches as Kentucky would switch screens on occasion and end up with a guard defending a big man. And as good of a player as JaMychal Green is there's no excuse for him barely touching the basketball offensively as the visitors made their charge. Tony Mitchell added 15 and seven boards for Alabama, who moves to 10-0 at home this season, having won 11 straight at Coleman Coliseum dating back to last year.

Does this win mean that Alabama is a legitimate threat in the SEC West? Yes but more so because no one's really asserted themselves thus far, making that division all the more unpredictable. A win over Kentucky shouldn't automatically erase the fact that cost the Tide also boast losses to the likes of Saint Peter's and Iowa, and offensively there's still work to be done in regards to valuing the basketball and finding the right shots within their system. As for Kentucky this was simply a reminder that despite their talent they can't just show up and expect to win. Once the Wildcats become consistent in their effort they'll take care of business on the road, where they drop to 0-2 in SEC play. The sense of urgency eventually showed up in Tuscaloosa, but the timing proved to be too late for Coach Calipari's squad.

"We didn't come out with the intensity that we needed to and they came out fighting, ready to play, going after loose balls, coming up with 50-50 balls," said Knight. "They were able to get a lead and came out with more intensity than we did. They wanted it more than we did." (quotes courtesy of Alabama Athletics)

Other Notable Happenings

1. Last-second shot gives Tennessee the win in Athens.
Last night's game between Tennessee and Georgia was tight throughout, with neither team leading by more than seven at any point in the game. So it was fitting that it took an effort play from Brian Williams to get the Volunteers a second consecutive victory. Williams' offensive rebound and shot while falling away from the hoop went in as time expired, giving the Vols a 59-57 victory in somewhat controversial fashion. Could a foul for being over the back been called? Depending on which fan base you ask the answer will vary, but all that matters on Thursday morning is that Tennessee is 2-2 in SEC play with a trip to Connecticut on the horizon. Tobias Harris and Scotty Hopson scored 15 points apiece for the Vols while Williams added 10 off the bench to make up for a scoreless night from Cameron Tatum, and the UT reserves outscored Georgia's 20-10. Travis Leslie and Gerald Robinson Jr. led the Bulldogs with 14 points apiece in defeat. Can the Vols win at Connecticut on Saturday? Given wins over Villanova and Pittsburgh they most certainly can, but the bigger question will be whether or not they can play with consistent fire the remainder of the season. If they can this is a talented squad that will be tough to handle, but that's been said all season long.

2. Jereme Richmond returns and helps lead Illinois to a much-needed win over Michigan State.
Few people knew what was going on with Jereme Richmond, with a leave of absence sparking rumors of the freshman being unhappy and looking to transfer. Whatever the issue was either they've been solved or the versatile forward does a good job of focusing on the task at hand, scoring 14 points to go along with five rebounds and three assists in the Illini's 71-62 win over Michigan State. Brandon Paul led the way with 20 points, combining with Richmond to give Illinois 34 points off the bench. After road losses to Penn State and Wisconsin Bruce Weber's team looked much better offensively, assisting on 17 of their 25 field goals (Demetri McCamey had 11 assists) and turning the ball over just nine times. Defensively they limited the Spartans to 37.5% shooting, including 7-for-26 from three-point range. Next up for Illinois is Ohio State in Champaign, and they've got the talent to knock off the Buckeyes. How they do in defending Jared Sullinger will depend on all of their frontcourt players, not just Mike Davis and Mike Tisdale. But they needed Tuesday's win to remain in the Big Ten title discussion, and thanks to Paul and Richmond they were able to get the job done.

3. Nebraska hands Colorado their first Big 12 loss and moves to 14-4 on the year.
Colorado's trip to Nebraska was a game to watch for the simple fact that the Buffaloes were off to their best start in the Big 12 since the inaugural season of the conference. But in a matchup of programs leaving the league this summer another fact emerged: Doc Sadler's team is pretty good. The Huskers followed up a tough, hard-fought loss at #2 Kansas with a 79-67 victory with Toney McCray leading four players in double figures with 18 points. Compare that to the scoring distribution of Colorado who had just two players reach double figures: Alec Burks (22) and Levi Knutson (17). Cory Higgins made just three of eight field goals and finished with eight points, and Colorado's dependence on the perimeter shot resulted in just nine free throw attempts. Nebraska attempted twice as many free throws and shot 56.3% from the field, and in Lance Jeter they've got a point guard who fits the role in regards to distribution while taking advantage of a powerful frame. Nebraska saw Christian Stanhardinger leave the program, and they've gone to a starting lineup that features four guards. Thanks to the lessons learned early in the season at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off Coach Sadler's team has gotten progressively better, and while it may be early to project an NCAA berth Nebraska merits some consideration right now.

Top Three Games

1. Tennessee 59, Georgia 57

2. Alabama 68, (12) Kentucky 66

3. (23) Georgetown 80, Seton Hall 75 Austin Freeman's 28 led the way for the Hoyas, who survived a furious Pirate rally to pick up their second consecutive conference win. Jeff Robinson led the Pirates with 21 points.

Three Notable Performances

1. G Austin Freeman (Georgetown) 28 points (10-13 FG), five rebounds and three assists in the Hoyas' win at Seton Hall.

2. Forwards Jae Crowder and Jimmy Butler (Marquette) Combined for 39 points, 17 rebounds and seven assists (six for Crowder) in the Golden Eagles' 94-64 over DePaul.

3. G Cade Davis (Oklahoma) 25 points and seven rebounds in the Sooners' 83-74 win over Texas Tech, ending OU's 12-game Big 12 losing streak.

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