College Basketball

Michigan State basketball vs. Monmouth tipoff: Matchup analysis and a prediction

Xavier Booker (34) and Szymon Zapala (10) each started both exhibition games for MSU. • What: Michigan State vs. Monmouth • When: 7 p.m. Monday • Where: Breslin Center • TV/Radio: Streaming on Big Ten Network-Plus/Spartan Sports Network radio, including WJIM 1240-AM and WMMQ 94.9-FM; Sirius/XM Ch. 197 • Records/Rankings: This is the season opener for both teams, neither of which …

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Couch: Analyzing Michigan State basketball’s 2024-25 roster, player by player

Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr. signals to teammates during the second half in the game against Ferris State on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in East Lansing. Michigan State opens its men’s basketball season Monday night at home against Monmouth. Lansing State Journal columnist Graham Couch breaks down the Spartans’ roster. PROJECTED OPENING NIGHT STARTERS PG Jeremy Fears, 6-2, redshirt freshman …

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Season glance: The women’s games 28-29

Just two games for this one. After 27 games, I’ve got the Tigers at 15-12 overall and 4-8 in SEC play. So let’s take a quick look at Missouri’s matchups with Kentucky and Ole Miss. With the Tigers three games over .500 with four games to go in my predictions, they only need one win to lock in a winning …

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20 years, 20 McCarthey memories: As Gonzaga women’s basketball wins mounted, crowds grew and legends were made

Nov. 1—McCarthey Athletic Center has been home to 262 victories for the Gonzaga women’s basketball team since its opening in 2004-05. The Spokesman-Review takes a look at the top 20 memories/moments since the first dribbles and baskets in the 6,000-seat arena. First win Gonzaga christened its new arena with an 87-41 win over Utah Valley before 1,644 on Nov. 20, …

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Dave Boling: You heard it here first (for like the seventh time) — this will be Gonzaga’s breakthrough year

Nov. 1—If you’re going on past performance, you may be inclined to dismiss the following commentary. I’ve written half a dozen columns over the years predicting that the impending college basketball season would climax with Gonzaga players parading with nets around their necks, proudly passing the NCAA Tournament championship trophy among them. Those weren’t exactly out-on-a-limb opinions. The Zags men …

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Battle tested, proven scorer: Numbers add up for Gonzaga transfer Khalif Battle

Nov. 1—Some numbers to put new Gonzaga guard Khalif Battle’s scoring prowess, mindset, dedication and motivation — all closely related — into perspective. Let’s begin with the uniform numbers the Arkansas transfer has worn in his four-school, six-year career: 4, 0 and 99. “I’ve done covered every region,” Battle said of his college odyssey. The New Jersey native couldn’t snag …

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2024 NCAAB: How to watch every college basketball game this season

The Connecticut Huskies are hoping for yet another NCAA championship in men’s basketball this year: here’s how to watch the 2024-2025 season. (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) The 2024-25 college basketball season is approaching, and while it may be hard to top last year’s riveting men’s season, which saw the Connecticut Huskies come out of March Madness on top for the second …

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Previewing UNC basketball’s season opener against Elon

Mar 28, 2024; Los Angeles, CA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard RJ Davis (4) controls the ball in the second half against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the semifinals of the West Regional of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Fans are ready for the season to get underway in men’s college …

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Iowa State basketball: Three things to watch when Cyclones play Mississippi Valley State

Iowa State basketball is ready to begin its 2024-25 campaign, with its season-opener against visiting Mississippi Valley State on Monday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. from Hilton Coliseum. The game will also be available on ESPN+. Here are three things to watch for Monday night’s game: More: Iowa State to honor gold medalist Tyrese Haliburton during Cyclones men’s …

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Oregon men’s basketball brings in two transfer players with ties to the Pac-12

Mar 14, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Stanford Cardinal forward Brandon Angel (23) dribbles against the Washington State Cougars during the second half at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports It wasn’t only Dana Altman who knew what he was getting when Oregon went into the transfer portal and signed men’s basketball players TJ Bamba and Brandon …

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Southern Illinois hosts Charleston (SC) to tip off season

Charleston (SC) Cougars vs. Southern Illinois Salukis Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Monday, 12 p.m. EST BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Cougars -3; over/under is 146 BOTTOM LINE: Southern Illinois hosts Charleston (SC) for the season opener. Southern Illinois finished 19-13 overall with an 8-3 record in non-conference games during the 2023-24 season. The Salukis averaged 14.3 assists per game on 24.7 made …

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Kansas basketball’s Bill Self thinks Hunter Dickinson, Shakeel Moore will play vs Howard

LAWRENCE — Kansas basketball’s regular season opener awaits Monday, and it appears as if the Jayhawks will finally be at full strength. When Kansas played an exhibition game in October on the road against Arkansas, the Jayhawks were without graduate center Hunter Dickinson, graduate guard Shakeel Moore and junior guard Rylan Griffen due to injury. Kansas’ next exhibition game last …

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Q&A: Baylor reporter provides early glimpse of new-look Bears ahead of top-10 matchup with Gonzaga at Spokane Arena

Nov. 2—Sixth-ranked Gonzaga returns one of the most experienced rosters in college basketball, bringing back four of its five starters from a team that advanced to the Sweet 16. What would the inverse of that look like? Meet eighth-ranked Baylor, the team traveling to the Arena on Monday for the first top-10 matchup of the 2024-25 college basketball season. The …

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Villanova opens season at home against Lafayette

Lafayette Leopards at Villanova Wildcats Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania; Monday, 8 p.m. EST BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Wildcats -20.5; over/under is 130.5 BOTTOM LINE: Villanova hosts Lafayette for the season opener. Villanova finished 18-16 overall a season ago while going 10-6 at home. The Wildcats gave up 65.6 points per game while committing 15.5 fouls last season. Lafayette finished 11-21 overall a …

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