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Popular NCAAB Matchups by comments - Wednesday, Dec 12th
NCAAB Live News sorted by date
ESPN.com: How big stars ended up at smaller schools
College basketball programs cast a wide net when it comes to recruiting. Live periods, scouting services, high school showcases -- they all allow coaches to watch hundreds if not thousands of potential recruits every year.
While high-major programs have an inherent advantage for recruiting the best players, they don't get everyone. Sometimes there's an injury, sometimes a kid doesn't have the right amount of exposure, and sometimes they just miss.
So let's take a look at one of the most productive players in recent memory; a projected lottery pick; the star player on the most likely March Cinderella; the nation's leading scorer; and one of college basketball's all-time best shooters.
- ESPN.com: Full Article
ESPN.com: Coach K, Duke focused on the bigger picture
DURHAM, N.C. -- Mike Krzyzewski is trying to find the right words to describe where his star-studded Duke team is still lacking, the little things that continue to be a problem 10 games into the season. Krzyzewski stammers and gesticulates wildly with his hands in one direction, then does the same in the other.
"They go a little bit ..." he offers, in a sentence that lacks an ending. Finally, he smiles and blames the nebulous critique on his low verbal score on the SAT.
Instead, the reality is more likely a product of Krzyzewski's immeasurably high understanding of basketball, and what it takes to not just win, but to blossom into something historically good, something special.
- ESPN.com: Full Article
ESPN.com: Wild Saturday offers upsets, surprises and close calls
Brad Davison, Wisconsin's charge-drawing specialist, punctuated a wild Saturday in college basketball with a game-altering groin punch in a loss to rival Marquette.
Oh, college basketball, you've outdone yourself again.
Davison was the main character on a day that pit the sport against a slate of high-profile events: the Heisman Trophy ceremony, the Army-Navy football game, UFC 231 and the MLS Cup. It's a battle college basketball usually loses. After beginning with a breathtaking pace in November, the sport tends to slow down in December, as teams prepare for the January transition to conference action.
- ESPN.com: Full Article
SI.com: Mike Krzyzewski Has Turned Duke Recruiting Into a Special Kind of Inevitability
The news stories say that high school basketball star Vernon Carey Jr. picked Duke this week, but it may be more accurate to say Duke picked him. From the moment Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski made Carey a priority, everybody else was angling to be the runner-up, even if it didn't always feel that way to them. Recruiting against Coach K is like trying to escape an enormous door-less, window-less room. No matter how high you climb or how far you go, eventually you will hit your head against a wall.
In the six years prior to this, Duke had the No.
- SI.com: Full Article
SI.com: When Will College Basketball's Remaining Undefeateds Lose Their First Game?
Out of 353 Division I teams, there are only 11 remaining undefeateds in college basketball--and that number is guaranteed to be whittled down to 10 (at most) by the end of Friday night, when Nevada and Arizona State put their perfect records on the line in Los Angeles. When other teams will lose, however, is less clear. The group of 11 ranges from Gonzaga to Furman to St. John's, yet some have much harder roads ahead than others. Will any run the table? We predicted when the first loss will come for each:
The Bulldogs are a hot 9-0 with a win over Duke after surviving a tough test from Washington on Wednesday night.
- SI.com: Full Article
ESPN.com: Michigan thriving by making opponents feel blue
Dating back to last Feb. 7, Michigan has lost exactly one basketball game: the national championship against Villanova. The Wolverines have won 23 of their past 24 games, with 17 of those wins coming by double figures. In fact, only two games -- the Jordan Poole buzzer-beater against Houston and Tuesday's win over Northwestern -- were one-possession contests.
The biggest reason for the winning run? The Wolverines' defense.
Michigan has the No. 1 defense in the country, according to a variety of metrics -- scoring defense and KenPom.com's adjusted efficiency chief among them. During the aforementioned 24-game stretch, Michigan's adjusted defensive efficiency (83.
- ESPN.com: Full Article
SI.com: Watch: R.J. Barrett, Zion Williamson Connect for Vicious Alley-Oop in Duke Win vs. Hartford
Star-laden No. 3 Duke continued its exciting start to the season during a 84-54 win over Hartford on Wednesday night.
The highlight of the Blue Devils' evening was the connection that occurred late in the second half, when freshmen Zion Williamson and R.J. Barrett connected for a jaw-dropping alley-oop.
Williamson stole a pass, starting a 2-on-1 fastbreak between him and Barrett. Williamson lobbed the ball up off a backboard, as Barrett soared above the rim to catch the ball and slam it home, igniting the Cameroon Indoor faithful.
Barrett was outstanding in the victory, leading the game with 27 points (10-for-14 shooting) and 15 rebounds.
- SI.com: Full Article
ESPN.com: Attorneys want federal charges in NCAA hoops scandal dropped
Attorneys representing the five men accused of bribery, fraud and conspiracy charges in a federal criminal trial involving alleged college basketball corruption have asked a U.S. District Court Judge in New York to dismiss the charges.
The five men, including three former assistant coaches, are scheduled for trial on April 22.
In a motion filed Monday night, the attorneys argued that while their clients might have violated NCAA rules by accepting money from a former runner, they didn't commit federal crimes.
"In this case, the Government has singled out certain alleged NCAA rules violations as 'corrupt' and decided to prosecute them as federal crimes," the attorneys wrote.
- ESPN.com: Full Article
ESPN.com: Kansas center Udoka Azubuike out indefinitely with high ankle sprain
Kansas center Udoka Azubuike has a high ankle sprain and is out indefinitely, coach Bill Self said at halftime of the Jayhawks' game with Wofford on Tuesday night.
Azubuike landed awkwardly after attempting to block a floater by Wofford's Nathan Hoover midway through the first half. He went down on the court, grabbing his right ankle in pain.
- ESPN.com: Full Article
SI.com: Radford stuns No. 17 Texas with 62-59 Upset Win
AUSTIN, Texas -- Big school schedulers are probably second-guessing themselves for calling tiny Radford for a game.
If the head coaches weren't such good friends, Texas would probably rather never see the Highlanders ever again.
Carlik Jones made a spinning, scoop layup, then followed it with a free throw with 24.5 seconds left, sending Radford to a 62-59 upset of the No. 17 Longhorns on Friday night, earning the Highlanders the program's first ever win over a ranked opponent.
Radford already beat Notre Dame this season and with road games and Clemson and Maryland still on the schedule in December, it's a sure bet those schools will be scouting the Highlanders from the Big South Conference harder than they ever thought they'd have to.
- SI.com: Full Article
SI.com: Watch: Gritty Sinks Half-Court Shot in Surprise Appearance at Rutgers Game
Flyers mascot Gritty made a surprise appearance at Rutgers Athletic Center on Friday night for Mascot night as the Scarlet Knights took on the No. 9 Michigan State Spartans.
During halftime at the game, Gritty sunk a monster half-court shot during a contest with the other mascots in attendance.
Gritty finished the flashy shot off with a nice split before leaving the court.
- SI.com: Full Article
SI.com: Picks: Michigan-Purdue Highlights Weekend Slate as Big Ten Play Kicks Off
The weekend after Thanksgiving can often be a letdown in the college basketball world, but with the Big Ten kicking off conference play this weekend, that won't be the case this season. The conference gives us a couple of top-25 meetings, one that was expected and another that perhaps wasn't at the start of the season. The Big Ten dominates our look at this weekend's best games, but there are a few that don't involve the conference, including one with the country's newly anointed No. 1 team.
Friday, 6 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network
This game is included not because it's expected to be a battle--the Spartans are heavy favorites--but rather because Michigan State is already in need of a bounce-back game after losing to unranked Louisville earlier this week.
- SI.com: Full Article
ESPN.com: Power, control and legacy: Bob Knight's last days at IU
Editor's note: "The Last Days of Knight," from ESPN's 30 for 30 documentary series, can be seen Thursday, Nov. 29 at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
It looked like a janitor's closet.
The inconspicuous gray door on the court level of Indiana University's Assembly Hall easily concealed the office where the titan of college basketball watched game film and did some of his deepest thinking.
On Sept. 7, 2000, it was Bob Knight's sanctuary. That was the day the legendary Hoosiers men's basketball coach was accused of grabbing freshman student Kent Harvey by the arm and breaking the zero-tolerance policy enacted by university president Myles Brand.
- ESPN.com: Full Article
SI.com: UNC Facing Questions Plus Seven More Takeaways From the ACC-Big Ten Challenge
Through the first three weeks of this college basketball season, the general consensus was that the Big Ten is a much-improved league. Coming off a dreadful 2017-18 season in which it sent only four teams to the NCAA tournament, the conference roared to a strong start, exhibiting both strength at the top and surprising depth. Michigan crushed Villanova on the road, Iowa won the 2K Classic, Michigan State won the Las Vegas Invitational--when Cyber Monday rolled around, there were seven Big Ten teams in the AP top 25 and three more receiving votes.
It couldn't hold on to the victory (blame Purdue for that), but the league's collective performance in tying the ACC-Big Ten Challenge 7-7 this week did nothing to dispel the notion that it has returned to its place as one of the two or three best conferences in the country.
- SI.com: Full Article
ESPN.com: Roy Williams irate after ugly loss to Michigan, says 'my coaching sucks'
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Roy Williams said he has never been more frustrated with a team or with his own coaching performance than he's felt through the first eight games of the Tar Heels' season.
Williams vented Wednesday night in the wake of an 84-67 loss at No. 7 Michigan, a game in which the Wolverines smothered North Carolina in the paint and beat Williams' players to loose ball on both ends of the court.
"Right now we stink," Williams said. "...I've coached for 31 years. Right now my coaching sucks."
The loss at Michigan drops No.
- ESPN.com: Full Article
NCAAB Bettor Insights sorted by time
My pick on the OVER in the Orlando-Dallas game was a stinker last night but going back at it tonight. I like the UNDER 140 in this one, Georgia Southern has been lighting up the scoreboard but has only averaged 74 PPG last 3 games. I think they run into a buzz saw tonight with UCF's #10 ranked defense.
My Pick: Under 144.5
- Comment
- 14 Agree
Won 60% of the Last 10 Picks.
Trying to find some value in this game. Both teams 8-2 and Villanova has played the tougher schedule, but the key takeaway in this matchup for me is the fact that both teams recently played Lasalle. Penn beat Lasalle 83-65 (23 points) and Villanova beat Lasalle 85-78 (7 points). Most Vegas gamblers will be laying the points with the better know Villanova team, but I think Penn matches up well and based on the Lasalle game should be able to keep this one close (if not win out right).
My Pick: Penn +7
- Comment
- 10 Agree
Colorado is 7-1 on the season and has established itself as one of the more balanced teams in the country that's outscoring teams by 16.2 points. The New Mexico Lobos have had issues with consistency, mainly on the defensive end where they give up way too many points and a high shooting percentage. Love the Buffs -5 in this one today, let's get heavy.
My Pick: Colorado -5
- Comment
- 21 Agree
Won 60% of the Last 10 Picks.
Going With The Tigers -6.5
My Pick: Pacific -6.5
- @BradTownsendThe common denominator here is the Fresno Game. Pacific lost to Fresno by 3 and Long Beach got blown out by 21. All things equal you have to like Pacific to win by double digits...@LilPoppyI'll join@1309417946Im in. Hundo
Won 50% of the Last 10 Picks.
Pacific had a difficult time in its last outing beating a Division II school and the Tigers have covered just 2 of the last 7 at home. Long Beach State has lost 5 of their last 6 games and although theyve had a tough schedule, they come into this game ranked just 255th in scoring offense and 311th in scoring defense. Pacific has been decent at home however, it has to be concerning a bit that the Tigers rank just 292nd in scoring defense and almost just lost to a D-II team in their last outing. Long Beach State has been competitive against some decent teams this season (Oregon State, UCLA, San Diego) and although theyve struggled on both sides of the ball, I think theyll do enough with the points to get the cover.
My Pick: Long Beach St. +6
- @NatdogMoney is coming in on Pacific...
Won 50% of the Last 10 Picks.
Marshall hasn't looked very good on either end of the floor in their last 3 games but made valiant effort to beat Toledo after overcoming a halftime deficit of 18 points. As bad as Marshall has been, I still think they are the play here tonight as Morehead St. has been getting blown out by lesser competition.
My Pick: Marshall -13.5
- Comment
- 42 Agree
The Slipper Still Fits: Tennessee guts out win over Gonzaga, 76-73
Gonzaga and Tennessee treated the rest of the nation to a premier college basketball game, trading baskets and blows like two top 10 teams do for the better part of 40 minutes.
Senior Tennessee guard picked a good night for his career-high, scoring 30 points and hitting the go-ahead three on a blown Gonzaga defensive coverage with 20 seconds left. Zach Norvell missed the three on the other end, and Tennessee came away with the win.
Things were looking shaky from the very beginning. Gonzaga had an uneven first half. Tennessee jumped out to an early lead, and the Zags looked a bit unsure on defensive rotations.
- The Slipper Still Fits: Full Article
Hammer and Rails: Game Recap: Texas 72, Purdue 68
Purdue is in the middle of a grueling five-game stretch, losing back to back road games at Florida St. and at Michigan in their first road tests of the year before bouncing back for a tough home win against Maryland on Thursday.
Texas is in the middle of a six-game home stand that hasn't started out the way coach Shaka Smart would like. They've lost three in a row, a neutral-court loss to Michigan State and back to back upsets by Radford and VCU at home.
Carsen Edwards was the star of the show, scoring 40 points in his return to the state of Texas, but it was the Longhorns that ended their slide with a tough fought victory, 72-68.
- Hammer and Rails: Full Article
I'm afraid the Horns are in a big tailspin losing three straight, while Purdue is coming off a big win over Maryland. The Longhorns have failed to cover 6 of the last 7 at home and I think they will struggle on the boards agains the size of Purdue in the paint.
- Comment
- 41 Agree
Rocky Top Talk: Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. Tennessee Volunteers Preview
For those in search of relief from another Tennessee football coaching search, they need to look no further than their own backyard. The Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball team currently sits at seventh in the country and are 7-1 on the season.
But their eighth contest of the season will be the toughest one yet and they've already played the nation's second-ranked team in the Kansas Jayhawks.
Their next opponent, the Gonzaga Bulldogs, are not only the top ranked team in the country, but they possess arguably the best offense in the NCAA.
- Rocky Top Talk: Full Article
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