LAWRENCE — Kansas basketball will open the regular season Monday at home against Howard. The No. 1 Jayhawks split a pair of preseason exhibition matchups heading into this game. Led by head coach Bill Self, they have the potential to earn both Big 12 Conference and national success this season. Fans have had the opportunity in October to enjoy Late …
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Key matchup: Bigs Graham Ike, Norchad Omier take center stage in season opener
Nov. 3—In showdowns between top 10 teams, there’s often multiple choices for the key matchup. That’s certainly the case for No. 6 Gonzaga and No. 8 Baylor in Monday’s season opener. One could go with the dynamic point guards — GU’s Ryan Nembhard and Baylor’s Jeremy Roach, a transfer from Duke. Or zero in on Baylor’s 6-foot-5 freshman guard VJ …
Read More »The Jazz are bad. Who are college basketball draft prospects to watch, starting this week?
Duke’s Cooper Flagg (2) handles the ball during NCAA college basketball exhibition game against Lincoln in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown) | Ben McKeown The Utah Jazz are bad. At 0-6, the Jazz are the only winless team left in the NBA this season, and they’ve lost their first six games by an average of nearly …
Read More »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 …
Read More »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 …
Read More »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 …
Read More »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, …
Read More »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 …
Read More »Purdue basketball: What you need to know about Boilermakers ahead of 2024-25 season
Purdue basketball has the monkey off its back. Fresh off a trip to the national championship game, the Boilermakers are the favorites once again to win the Big Ten, marking just the third outright three-peat in conference history. Their season tips off Monday night against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at Mackey Arena. Here’s what you need to know ahead of the …
Read More »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 …
Read More »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 …
Read More »Kansas State basketball bold predictions: Can the Wildcats get back to the Big Dance?
MANHATTAN — Kansas State’s basketball team learned the hard way last year that there is no such thing as too much depth. The same lesson could have applied the year before as well in Jerome Tang’s first season as the Wildcats’ coach, only it didn’t jump up to bite them. In 2022-23, led by All-Americans Markquis Nowell and Keyontae Johnson, …
Read More »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 …
Read More »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 …
Read More »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 …
Read More »No stars, just talent? UCLA basketball hopes an ensemble cast can put it back on top
UCLA coach Mick Cronin gives instructions to freshman guard Trent Perry during an exhibition game agasint Cal State L.A. on Thursday. Perry is one of six newcomers to the Bruins this season. (Brian Rothmuller / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) One of the lead architects of four NBA championship teams wanted to see the modern blueprint for building a winner …
Read More »Texas basketball: Meet the 7 new Longhorns including 6 transfers and a star freshman
Texas basketball brought in seven new players who are expected to factor into the rotation this season, including six transfers and one highly touted freshman. The Longhorns finished 21-13 and 9-9 in the Big 12 last year and won the conference tournament. This year, they are making their debut in the SEC, which had eight tournament teams in 2023-24. Texas …
Read More »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 …
Read More »Texas Tech basketball roster, coaching staff, schedule, tip times for 2024-25 season
In Grant McCasland’s first year as head coach, the Red Raiders went 23-11 overall, 11-7 in Big 12 Conference play, tied for third in the conference standings and made an appearance in the 2024 NCAA Tournament before falling to eventual Final Four team NC State in the first round. As the Red Raiders look for another trip to March Madness, …
Read More »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 …
Read More »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 …
Read More »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 …
Read More »Kickoff time, TV info announced for Clemson football vs. Virginia Tech
Sep 7, 2015; Blacksburg, VA, USA; An over all as he Virginia Tech Hokies take the field before the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports Late Saturday night, the ACC announced kickoff times for Week 11 conference games, including the Clemson Tigers’ matchup against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Lane Stadium …
Read More »Jimmies men’s hoops lose 72-66 to Briar Cliff in season opener
Nov. 2—JAMESTOWN — The University of Jamestown’s shooting struggles sunk them in a 72-66 loss to Briar Cliff University on Saturday, Nov. 2, at Harold Newman Arena. Both teams started this one slowly before the Jimmies picked it up midway through the first half to take a 21-16 lead. From there though the Chargers fought back to take a 26-24 …
Read More »What happened on Tennessee football’s final play before halftime vs Kentucky
The first half of Tennessee’s game against Kentucky ended oddly with both coaches protesting in the final moments. Kentucky led 10-7. Tennessee drove into Kentucky territory to try to set up a long field goal or Hail Mary pass, but it didn’t have a timeout remaining. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava scrambled for a 4-yard gain and a Tennessee first down. He …
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