Michigan's Juwan Howard Swings at Wisconsin Assistant Coach During Postgame Fight
Feb 20, 2022
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - FEBRUARY 12: Head coach Juwan Howard of the Michigan Wolverines looks on against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the second half at Crisler Arena on February 12, 2022 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
Michigan head coach Juwan Howard might have earned himself a lengthy suspension after swinging his right hand at Wisconsin assistant Joe Krabbenhoft.
During the customary handshakes following the Badgers' 77-63 win over the Wolverines, Howard exchanged words with Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard. Things escalated from there when Howard struck Krabbenhoft in the head with an open palm:
A fight broke out between Michigan and Wisconsin during the postgame handshake line. pic.twitter.com/AiWIwyzj8w
Here's a closer look at the altercation(warning: video contains profanity):
Here's really good raw video of the aftermath of #Michigan and #Wisconsin. You can clearly hear Juwan Howard say "I'll remember that" to Greg Gard prior to the altercation.
Gard said on CBS he thought Howard took exception to a timeout he called with 15 seconds left. He had called the timeout because he was concerned about a 10-second violation with his backups on the floor:
"Apparently, he didn't like that I called a timeout."
Wisconsin coach Greg Gard explains what led to the postgame fight with Juwan Howard and the Michigan team. pic.twitter.com/tjgRpGsCQB
Howard told reporters the timeout didn't sit well with him and he also didn't like how Gard stopped him in the handshake line:
Here's Juwan Howard's side to the story.
Added later that he felt he needed to protect himself, because Greg Gard touched him unnecessarily in the handshake line after he had gotten upset.#Badgerspic.twitter.com/hFWrEtBv1v
Juwan Howard's said he didn't appreciate the #Badgers calling a late timeout even though he was pressing with his starters against UW's bench. pic.twitter.com/mz2gUL7qO8
Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh told reporters that "there is no room for that in our competition" and confirmed he has reached out to Big Ten officials.
"It's unfortunate what transpired," McIntosh said. "I expect the league will act swiftly. It's difficult for me to compose myself."
Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel also issued a statement saying that "there is no excuse" for a Michigan coach or student to get involved in a physical altercation:
It looked as though Howard, while visibly agitated, was prepared to continue walking down the sideline before Gard grabbed his right arm. Without that, the entire scuffle might have been avoided.
But that's unlikely to earn Howard much of a reprieve when the Big Ten weighs any potential punishments for those involved.
The conference said in a statement that it would issue "swift and appropriate disciplinary action" after completing a review of the matter:
This isn't the first time the 49-year-old got heated on the sideline. He was ejected from a Big Ten tournament game against Maryland last March after arguing with Terrapins head coach Mark Turgeon. He needed to be restrained as he walked toward the Maryland bench.
Juwan Howard was ejected after exchanging some words with Maryland HC Mark Turgeon 😳
Maryland alleged to the Big Ten that Howard had threatened Turgeon, while Howard said he was initially animated about an out-of-bounds call. He also claimed Turgeon "charged at me" as they were arguing, which led him to respond in kind.
Michigan, which fell to 14-11 overall and 8-7 in the Big Ten with Sunday's loss, has five games left in the regular season.
ESPN's Joe Lunardi projected the Wolverines to be one of the last four teams in the NCAA tournament and thus qualify for the play-in games. Assuming a suspension is on the table, Michigan might have to seal a berth in the Big Dance without its head coach.
Report: NBC Expected to Pursue Big Ten Media Rights; Contract Could Be Worth $1.1B
Feb 17, 2022
UNIVERSITY PARK, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 08: The Big Ten logo on the floor before a college basketball game between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Purdue Boilermakers on at Bryce Jordan Center on January 8, 2022 in University Park, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
NBC is reportedly planning to pursue Big Ten media rights when the conference's contract with Fox and ESPN expires in 2023.
“If I’m ESPN or Fox, I’m looking over my shoulder because NBC is going to go hard after the Big Ten,” a source told FOS.
ESPN and Fox currently share Big Ten rights. John Ourand of the Sports Business Journal reported the conference is expected to court offers from other networks before considering re-signing with its current partners in hopes of landing what could be the richest media contract in college sports history.
Fox is a co-owner of the Big Ten Network, but that is not expected to hamper any negotiations.
NBC already has a media rights deal with Notre Dame and regularly broadcasts Fighting Irish games and views the Big Ten as a perfect complement.
CBS, which is set to lose its longstanding relationship with the SEC, could also look to break the bank in bringing in the Big Ten. CBS is in significant danger of losing its strong ties to college football if the network is unable to bring in a major partner to replace the SEC, which had been a Saturday staple since 1996.
Nebraska Changes Cartoon Mascot to Eliminate Ties to White Supremacist Hand Gesture
Jan 29, 2022
CHAMPAIGN, IL - SEPTEMBER 21: The Nebraska Cornhuskers mascot is seen before the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium on September 21, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is making a change to its cartoon mascot, Herbie Husker, to eliminate confusion about the meaning of a hand gesture he does that has been connected to white supremacy, according to the Associated Press (h/t ESPN).
Originally, the mascot made an "OK" sign with his left hand. The mascot's index finger and thumb formed a closed circle, which some hate groups have used as a sign for white power in recent years.
The mascot now makes a "We're No. 1" gesture with his index finger raised, per the Associated Press.
"The concern about the hand gesture was brought to our attention by our apparel provider and others, and we decided to move forward with a revised Herbie Husker logo," Nebraska Athletics said in a statement to The Associated Press. "The process of changing the logo began in 2020, and we updated our brand guidelines in July of 2021. The revised logo is now the only Herbie Husker mark available to licensees."
According to Jordan Pascale of the Lincoln Journal-Star, the original gesture's meaning was brought to the attention of the Lonna Henrichs, the athletic department’s licensing and branding director, weeks after George Floyd was murdered by then-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin.
Floyd's murder and several other similar cases prompted protests around the United States, including some where white supremacy groups flashed the "OK" hand gesture, Pascale noted.
Henrichs said, per Pascale:
That hand gesture could, in some circles, represent something that does not represent what Nebraska athletics is about. We just didn't even want to be associated with portraying anything that somebody might think, you know, that it means white power.
We made that change as quick as we could.
The Anti-Defamation League added the "OK" hand gesture to its Hate Symbols Database two years ago, noting “particular caution must be used when evaluating this symbol.”
Nebraska is one of several schools to make changes to its mascot for such reasons. One such example saw the University of Illinois drop the Chief Illiniwek logo in 2007, though they are still called the Illini, because it was considered offensive to Native Americans.
Several professional sports teams have also undergone name changes for sensitivity reasons, such as the Washington Football Team and Cleveland Guardians.
No. 15 Ohio State vs. No. 21 Kentucky Canceled Due to Buckeyes' COVID-19 Outbreak
Dec 16, 2021
Ohio State forward Zed Key is seen during an NCAA college basketball game against Wisconsin in Columbus, Ohio, Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021. Ohio State won 73-55. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)
Ohio State University announced Thursday that its scheduled men's basketball game against Kentucky on Saturday has been canceled because of positive COVID-19 tests within the Buckeyes program.
The clash between No. 15 Ohio State and No. 21 Kentucky would have been part of the CBS Sports Classic at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
No. 4 UCLA and North Carolina are currently scheduled to play Saturday in the other CBS Sports Classic game. However, the Bruins' game against Alabama State on Wednesday was canceled due to COVID-19 protocols, as head coach Mick Cronin had been previously ruled out for the contest because of protocols.
Stadium's Jeff Goodman and Fox 56's Nicole Hutchison reported the Wildcats and Tar Heels may wind up facing off:
Everything trending to Kentucky playing North Carolina Saturday in Las Vegas, sources told @Stadium.
Regarding the COVID-19 outbreak within the program, Ohio State said the following in a statement:
"The safety and well-being of the student-athletes, coaches, staff and Ohio State community is the highest priority. All team related activities have been suspended and the players and staff will continue to be tested according to Ohio State protocols in consultation with the Big Ten Conference."
Ohio State also noted the "status of future games is to be determined."
The Buckeyes are off to an 8-2 start this season and have a 2-0 mark in Big Ten play, tying them with Michigan State and Illinois atop the conference.
Ohio State would have entered the game against Kentucky on a four-game winning streak, including victories over then-No. 1 Duke and then-No. 22 Wisconsin.
The Buckeyes are led by 2020-21 First Team All-Big Ten coaches selection E.J. Liddell, who is averaging 20.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and 2.7 assists per game.
Kentucky has also been playing well with a 7-2 record, although it lost its most recent game 66-62 to Notre Dame on the heels of a seven-game winning streak.
After head coach John Calipari's team disappointed with a 9-16 record and missed the NCAA tournament last season, it is looking the part of a tourney team.
Junior Oscar Tshiebwe has been the star for the Wildcats with 16.3 points, 14.4 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per contest.
Ohio State's next scheduled game is home against UT Martin on Dec. 21, while Kentucky is slated to play next on Dec. 22 against Louisville at home.
Big Ten ACC Challenge 2021: Scores, Highlights and Reaction from Wednesday
Dec 2, 2021
RALEIGH, NC - DECEMBER 01: North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Dereon Seabron (1) goes up for a shot between Nebraska Cornhuskers forward Derrick Walker (13) and Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Bryce McGowens (5) during the game between the North Carolina State Wolfpack and the Nebraska Cornhuskers at PNC Arena on December 1, 2021 in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by William Howard/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The ACC/Big Ten Challenge concluded Wednesday after three days of men's college hoops action featuring 14 total games.
Once again, the Big Ten has won this series after defeating the ACC 8-6. This year marks their third straight victory in the matchup.
The ACC historically leads the series, which has existed since 1999, with a 12-8-3 mark.
The Big Ten was the heavy favorite heading into Wednesday after taking a 6-2 lead. Iowa and Illinois led the tournament off with wins on Monday before four of six Big Ten teams reigned victorious on Tuesday.
Therefore, the Big Ten entered Wednesday needing just two wins to clinch this year's challenge. Michigan State and Wisconsin came through with those victories, although the ACC ended the night winning four of six contests.
Here's a look at Wednesday's results followed by brief recaps and highlights.
Wednesday's Results
No. 22 Michigan State 73, Louisville 64
Virginia Tech 62, Maryland 58
NC State 104, Nebraska 100 (4 OT)
North Carolina 72, No. 24 Michigan 51
No. 23 Wisconsin 70, Georgia Tech 66
Miami 63, Penn State 58
Louisville at No. 22 Michigan State
Malik Hall scored 15 points off the bench to lead No. 22 Michigan State to a 73-64 home win over Louisville.
— Michigan State Men's Basketball (@MSU_Basketball) December 2, 2021
Michigan State shot 10-of-18 from the three-point line, with Hall knocking down all three of his tries from beyond the arc. He scored the final five points in a 13-2 second-half run that gave MSU a 52-39 lead.
Marcus Bingham Jr. did work down low with 12 rebounds, three blocks and two steals to go along with his nine points. Tyson Walker added 10 assists.
Louisville guard El Ellis led all scorers with 22 points, and he got there in just 19 minutes off the bench.
Virginia Tech at Maryland
Virginia Tech overcame a seven-point second-half deficit to defeat Maryland 62-58, with Keve Aluma's 17-point, 12-rebound double-double leading the way.
Justyn Mutts scored 11 of his 16 points in the first half to give Virginia Tech a 31-29 halftime lead. Qudus Wahab scored 18 for Maryland to lead all scorers.
Virginia Tech trailed 43-36 with under 11 minutes remaining, but the Hokies responded with a 23-9 run to take a 59-52 lead following a Hunter Cattoor three-pointer.
Maryland scored six straight in response, but Mutts' two-pointer with 20 seconds left gave the Hokies a 61-58 lead with 20 seconds left. Maryland's Hakim Hart then missed a three-pointer, and Mutts then closed the scoring with a free throw and four-point lead.
Nebraska at NC State
A four-overtime marathon ended in North Carolina State's favor as the Wolfpack won 104-100 behind 39 points from Dereon Seabron.
The sophomore shot 11-of-22 from the field and 17-of-20 from the free-throw line. He also added 18 rebounds. Three other Wolfpack players scored in double digits, led by 15 from Jericole Hellems.
North Carolina State won despite shooting just 6-of-34 from three-point range and 37.1 percent from the field. The Wolfpack got to the line early and often (32-of-42) compared to Nebraska (11-of-15) and also out-rebounded the Cornhuskers 66-51.
Alonzo Verge Jr. scored 25 for Nebraska, and Bryce McGowens added 24. The latter player was on the court for a game-high 58 minutes.
No. 24 Michigan at North Carolina
North Carolina outscored Michigan 43-24 in the second half to defeat the Wolverines 72-51.
Caleb Love scored 22 points for UNC to lead all scorers. He also added three steals.
Armando Bacot added an 11-point, 14-rebound double-double. UNC played a very clean game overall, committing just six turnovers while Michigan had 13.
Moussa Diabate scored 13 points to lead Michigan, which shot just 35.1 percent from the field and 5-of-16 from three-point range. Eli Brooks added 11 points. No other Wolverine had more than two made field goals.
No. 23 Wisconsin at Georgia Tech
A scoring duel between Wisconsin's Brad Davison and Georgia Tech's Michael Devoe highlighted this game.
While Devoe bested Davison 33-27 in the points department, Wisconsin ended up getting the win, 70-66.
Both players hit five three-pointers, with Devoe hitting all of his in the first half.
🖐️ triples in the first half and had his man on skates here 🛼 @mdevoe0 is a walking bucket.
Devoe ended up playing all 40 minutes, shooting 11-of-20 and adding six rebounds.
Johnny Davis' 15 points complemented Davison's scoring efforts, and he also had six rebounds and five dimes. No other player on either team had more than nine points. Deivon Smith added 11 rebounds off the bench for Georgia Tech.
Miami at Penn State
Sam Waardenburg led four Miami players in double digits with 14 points as Miami outlasted Penn State in a defensive slugfest, 63-58.
Isaiah Wong, Charlie Moore and Kameron McGusty each scored 12 for the Hurricanes, who committed just eight turnovers to PSU's 14. McGusty scored all of his points in the second half.
Penn State's John Harrar led all players with 16 points and 12 rebounds. He shot 6-of-6 from the field. Seth Lundy contributed 14 points for the Nittany Lions.
The Nittany Lions led 45-40 with 12:16 left in the second half after a Jalanni White layup despite withstanding a Miami three-point barrage:
Charlie, Sam and Jordan each hit back-to-back-to-back threes and Miami leads Penn State 38-34.
However, McGusty then went on a personal 7-0 run to give the Hurricanes a two-point edge.
Those points provided half the output for a 14-3 run that include a pair of Moore layups and a Wong three-point play for a 54-48 lead. McGusty later hit a three-point dagger in the final minute for the 63-58 edge.
Duke's Mike Krzyzewski Says Ohio State 'Wore Us Out' in Upset Loss
Dec 1, 2021
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 22: Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils watches his team play against the Citadel Bulldogs during their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on November 22, 2021 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski
credited Ohio State for a relentless effort that allowed the Buckeyes
to overcome a 13-point halftime deficit to upset the top-ranked Blue
Devils on Tuesday night.
"I thought they wore us out," Coach
K told reporters after the 71-66 loss in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. "We were
really worn out at the end. ... They're well-coached. They're
well-balanced."
The loss dropped Duke to 7-1 while OSU
improved to 5-2 on the 2021-22 season.
It was a tale of two halves for
Krzyzewski's group offensively. They made 18 of their 34 field-goal
attempts before halftime (52.9 percent), but just seven of their 31
shots in the second half (22.6 percent) to leave the door open for
the Ohio State comeback.
The Buckeyes took advantage, knocking
down five threes as part of a rally that improved their home record
to 4-0.
"I thought our ability to stay with
it was really important," OSU head coach Chris Holtmann told
reporters. "Players win games, and we had a number of guys make
plays down the stretch."
Zed Key led the offensive charge for
Ohio State with 20 points in 27 minutes. E.J. Liddell added 14
points, 14 rebounds and six assists, while Cedric Russell chipped in
12 points off the bench.
"We really dug in on the defensive
side of things," Russell said. "It just felt good to come out on
top, especially at home."
Wendell Moore Jr. (17 points) and Paolo
Banchero (14), the potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA
draft, paced Duke in the loss.
The Blue Devils were coming off their
biggest win of the season to date, an upset of then-No. 1 Gonzaga on
Friday. They also beat No. 10 Kentucky during their 7-0 start to the
campaign.
Duke has a couple weeks off following
the loss before returning to action Dec. 14 when it hosts South
Carolina State at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Ohio State is back in action Sunday
when it visits the Bryce Jordan Center to open Big Ten play against
Penn State.
No. 6 Baylor Uses Strong 2nd Half to Beat Michigan St., Win Battle 4 Atlantis Title
Nov 26, 2021
In this photo provided by Bahamas Visual Services, Baylor guard James Akinjo (11) and Michigan State guard Tyson Walker (2) battle for the ball during an NCAA college basketball game at Paradise Island, Bahamas, Friday, Nov. 26, 2021. (Tim Aylen/Bahamas Visual Services via AP)
No. 6 Baylor pulled away from Michigan
State in the second half to capture the 2021 Battle 4 Atlantis men's
championship with a 75-58 win at Imperial Arena in the Bahamas.
The Bears carried a slim two-point
advantage into halftime following a back-and-forth opening 20
minutes that saw neither team lead by more than six. They used an 8-0
run early in the second half to increase their lead to 13 and then
cruised to the finish line to remain undefeated (7-0).
It's the second Battle 4 Atlantis title
for Baylor, which won the event in 2016. The Spartans
dropped to 5-2, with the other loss coming against then-No. 3 Kansas
in their season opener.
Notable Stats
G James Akinjo (BAY): 15 points, 5 assists, 3 steals
G Adam Flagler (BAY): 11 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds
G Matthew Mayer (BAY): 8 points, 7 rebounds
F Gabe Brown (MSU): 13 points, 5 rebounds
G Jaden Akins (MSU): 12 points
Baylor Bench Continues to Provide Major
Boost
Baylor has one of the deepest rosters
in the nation, and that was on full display throughout its run to the
Battle 4 Atlantis championship.
LJ Cryer, the Bears' leading scorer,
tallied 15 points off the bench in Wednesday's win over Arizona State, and Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua recorded 13 points and eight rebounds
in Thursday's triumph over VCU in the semifinals.
Tchamwa Tchatchoua, Cryer and Jeremy
Sochan all played pivotal roles in Friday's victory. The reserve
trio combined for more than a third of BU's scoring (26 of 75 points)
while knocking down 10 of their 18 shots (55.6
percent).
Having an offensive game-changer like
Cryer as a sixth man is one thing, but featuring three different
players who can provide high-end contributions off the bench gives
the Bears depth that will be hard for opponents to match
all season long.
In addition, the size of Tchamwa
Tchatchoua (6'8", 245 pounds) and Sochan (6'9", 230) gives head
coach Scott Drew the ability to mix and match his lineups. It helps
alleviate concerns that teams with multiple talented bigs can give Baylor trouble.
While it's early in the campaign,
the depth is a major reason Baylor is in position to defend its March Madness title.
MSU's Stock on the Rise Despite Loss
Michigan State didn't generate much attention coming into the season. It was ranked outside the Top 25
and couldn't keep pace with the Jayhawks in a 13-point loss in
the opener.
The Spartans have played well
since that loss, though. They won their next three games by an
average of 29.7 points and then scored hard-fought victories over
Loyola of Chicago and No. 22 UConn to punch their ticket to the Battle 4
Atlantis final.
They went shot-for-shot with Baylor in
the first half and appeared to have a chance for the upset before the
Bears caught fire early in the second half. They still made a strong showing in the Bahamas.
Brown, Marcus Bingham Jr. and Malik
Hall represent a matchup advantage over most teams on
the interior. How far the Spartans go this season will depend
on how much shooting they generate around those post players.
MSU entered the day shooting 32.7
percent from beyond the arc, and it made only four of 15
three-point attempts against the Bears. A few more makes and it's a
competitive game down to the wire.
Michigan State has work to
do if it wants to contend with the nation's elite by season's end,
but it looks like a Top 20 team with upside.
What's Next?
Michigan State returns home to the Breslin Center to host Louisville on Wednesday as part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
Baylor is off until Dec. 4 when it welcomes Arkansas-Pine Bluff to the Ferrell Center.
Johnny Davis, Wisconsin Beat Saint Mary's to Win 2021 Maui Invitational
Nov 24, 2021
Wisconsin guard Johnny Davis drives on St. Mary's guard Logan Johnson (0) in the first half during an NCAA college basketball game at the Maui Invitational in Las Vegas, Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Wisconsin handed Saint Mary's its first loss of the season with a 61-55 victory in the final of the Maui Invitational in Las Vegas. Johnny Davis had 20 points and Tyler Wahl added 18 points to lead the Badgers as they improved to 5-1.
The win concludes a strong run for Wisconsin in the early-season tournament. The Badgers edged No. 12 Houston on Tuesday to reach the final.
The Gaels fell to 6-1 with the loss. Alex Ducas had a team-high 13 points.
Notable Player Stats
G Johnny Davis, Wisconsin: 20 points, 7 rebounds
F Tyler Wahl, Wisconsin: 18 points, 4 blocks
G Alex Ducas, Saint Mary's: 13 points
F Dan Fotu, Saint Mary's: 11 points
Davis, Wahl Take Over in Second Half to Spark Badgers
Wisconsin struggled to gain momentum throughout the game, but the team had an ace up its sleeve in Johnny Davis.
The sophomore combo guard scored 11 of his 20 points in the second half to secure the win. Davis' three-pointer with 4:54 to go gave the Badgers their first lead since early in the first half, and they never looked back.
Heeeeere's Johnny.
A stone cold triple by Johnny Davis gives the #Badgers their first lead since it was 8-6.
But Davis wasn't alone. Tyler Wahl had 12 of his 18 points after halftime. He did a great job on defense as well, providing some much-needed rim protection and making the Gaels think twice about their drives to the basket. Wahl finished the game with four blocks.
Tyler Wahl with the block.
Junior forward has been huge here in Vegas.#Badgers
Davis came into the game averaging 20.3 points. He will need his teammates to produce consistently if the Badgers hope to be successful this season. Wahl came in averaging 7.6 points and proved that he's capable of more with Wednesday's performance.
Wisconsin has a chance to make some noise in the Big Ten this year. Davis will continue to lead the team but he can't do it all, so the contributions from his teammates will be key to its success.
Gaels Pound The Ball Inside Early, Fall Apart Late
Both teams are known for playing physical games, but it was the Gaels who outmuscled the Badgers inside to start the game.
Saint Mary's made it a point to get to the rim early and often. Whether it was post-ups by the big men or strong drives by the perimeter players, the Gaels made their living close to the basket. Saint Mary's motion offense also made for some easy looks after hard cuts to the rim.
The Gaels had 20 of their 31 first-half points in the paint and shot 13-of-25 (52 percent) from the field. It was a sound strategy for Saint Mary's that carried them throughout the tournament.
But Wisconsin's defense picked up in the second half and limited the easy opportunities for the Gaels. The fouls started picking up, and Saint Mary's couldn't hold onto its lead. The team's 16 turnovers didn't help as the Badgers stormed back.
Saint Mary's finished the game with 34 points in the paint, surpassing their total against Notre Dame (28) and matching their performance against Oregon (34).
The Gaels should look to continue to outmuscle and overpower teams inside consistently instead of getting away from that strategy, as they did in the second half on Wednesday.
What's Next?
Wisconsin will have a week off and will return to action on Wednesday, Dec. 1, in a road matchup vs. Georgia Tech. Saint Mary's will look to bounce back on Monday at home against UC Riverside.
No. 4 Michigan Upset by Unranked Arizona as Christian Koloko Drops 22 Points
Nov 22, 2021
Las Vegas, NV - NOVEMBER 21: Arizona Wildcats guard Dalen Terry (4) saves the ball from going out of bounds against Michigan Wolverines forward Moussa Diabate (14) during the championship game of the Roman Main Event at T-Mobile Arena on November 21st, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Arizona Wildcats upset the No. 4 Michigan Wolverines 80-62 on Sunday to move to 5-0 on the season. Arizona's win marked its first victory against a top-five team since Dec. 30, 2017.
The Wolverines dropped to 3-2 with the loss.
It was an incredible night for Arizona's Christian Koloko, who notched 22 points, seven rebounds, two assists and four blocked shots in the win. Bennedict Mathurin was also impressive, finishing with 16 points, five rebounds, one assist and one steal.
The Wildcats were impressive defensively throughout the night, but once things were tied at 21 with seven minutes remaining in the first half, Arizona took control and pulled away in the second half.
Arizona began the second half by making its first nine shots to push the lead to 62-45.
The Wildcats shot 4-of-21 from deep (19 percent), but went 33-of-66 from the field (50 percent). Michigan, meanwhile, was awful from deep on Sunday, with Brandon Johns Jr. making the team's only three pointer on 14 attempts.
Eli Brooks was the Wolverines best player Sunday, notching 14 points, five rebounds, two assists and one steal. Hunter Dickinson, meanwhile, finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and two steals.
Outside of Brooks and Dickinson, Michigan failed to get much production from anyone else. The Wolverines also had an unacceptable 10 turnovers in the first half and 15 overall.
If Michigan has Final Four dreams, it's going to have to get better following a loss to an unranked opponent. Head coach Juwan Howard, who is in his third season, has quite a bit of work to do. Arizona, meanwhile, is looking impressive and could find themselves with Michigan among the nation's top 25 teams next week.
The Wolverines will next face the Tarleton Texans on Wednesday, while the Wildcats won't face their next opponent, the Sacramento State Hornets, until Saturday.
No. 3 Kansas Downs MSU Behind Ochai Agbaji's 29 Points at Champions Classic
Nov 10, 2021
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 09: Ochai Agbaji #30 of the Kansas Jayhawks dunks the ball against Malik Hall #25 of the Michigan State Spartans during the State Farm Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden on November 09, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
No. 3 Kansas kicked off its 2021-22 season with an 87-74 win over Michigan State in the Champions Classic on Tuesday.
Ochai Agbaji led the way for the Jayhawks with a career-high 29 points in the neutral-court game at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
The game was close in the early going until a late Kansas spurt gave the team a 39-32 lead at halftime. The Big 12 squad took control of the game in the second half while finding a lot of success on fast breaks.
Michigan State was within three points with about 16 minutes remaining in the second half, but the margin quickly ballooned to 15 thanks to a 21-9 run.
The Spartans couldn't keep up despite four players reaching double digits, led by 17 points from A.J. Hoggard.
Kansas has won five of the last six years in the Champions Classic.
Really impressed with Ochai Agbaji and the improvement in his ability to put the ball on the floor. Has made a couple of big-time plays tonight exploding to the basket.
The efficiency was especially impressive as the guard finished 9-of-17 on the floor and 8-of-8 from the free-throw line.
Agbaji withdrew from the NBA draft last July, and it looks like he has made the right decision through the first game.
Of course, this is a deep roster with a lot of experience entering the year.
David McCormack, Mitch Lightfoot, Remy Martin, Jalen Coleman-Lands and Agbaji are all seniors in the rotation and will be relied upon heavily this season.
McCormack showcased his skill set on the defensive end with two blocks:
This Kansas team showing its depth without Jalen Wilson. Bill Self not afraid to go with his freshmen tonight, and Zach Clemence and Bobby Pettiford giving KU quality minutes.
Hoggard averaged just 2.5 points per game last year but looks like an impact player to start 2021-22.
Max Christie could be another weapon in the backcourt as a 5-star recruit with high expectations. He showcased some upside Tuesday on his way to nine points.
The team also got limited production from Tyson Walker (two points), who transferred in after averaging 18.8 points per game at Northeastern last year.
There is enough talent to improve as the season progresses, but the level of play was nowhere near good enough to match up with the No. 3 team in the country.
What's Next?
Both teams will now prepare for their home opener Friday. Michigan State will host Western Michigan, while Kansas will take on Tarleton.
