Cole Anthony is out indefinitely with a right knee injury. Treatment plans will be evaluated over the next few days. Leaky Black is game-to-game with a sprained right foot.
Obviously both bad news, but the Anthony injury especially is worrisome.
Anthony has posted 19.1 points on 36.8 percent shooting (35.5 percent from three-point range), 3.4 assists and 6.3 rebounds for the 6-3 Tar Heels.
Ranked fourth in 247Sports' composite rankings for the class of 2019, Anthony led a loaded group to Chapel Hill that also features 5-star center Armando Bacot.
That crew faced a tall task heading into the season, as UNC's top five scorers from 2018-19 all exhausted their NCAA eligibility or went to the NBA.
Anthony figures to be one-and-done himself, as the superstar guard ranked No. 2 on Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report's 2020 NBA draft big board in August.
He'll likely be lighting up professional scoreboards this time next year, but as for now, Anthony must rehabilitate his knee and potentially work his way back on the floor for the Tar Heels.
UNC could use Anthony's versatile scoring attack en route to its run to the NCAA tournament, but until he returns, the Tar Heels should rely on junior forward Garrison Brooks, senior guard Brandon Robinson and Bacot to provide more offensive production.
Texas Tech Upsets Jordan Nwora, No. 1 Louisville 70-57 at Jimmy V Classic
Dec 10, 2019
The unranked Texas Tech Red Raiders men's basketball team stunned undefeated No. 1 Louisville 70-57 on Tuesday at the Jimmy V Classic in New York's Madison Square Garden.
Chris Clarke stuffed the stat sheet for Texas Tech with seven points, 12 rebounds and six assists. Davide Moretti led the Red Raiders (and all scorers) with 18 points.
Texas Tech won despite missing leading scorer Jahmi'us Ramsey, who averages 17.3 points per game. The guard sat with a hamstring injury.
Louisville shot just 34 percent from the field and 3-of-17 from three-point range. Jordan Nwora led the Cardinals with 14 points but shot just 4-of-16 overall (1-of-7 from deep). He added nine boards and a pair of steals.
A three-pointer by Nwora put Louisville up 11-5 early in the first half, but the Cardinals then went nearly 10 minutes without a basket from the field. A Steven Enoch jumper ended the dry spell, but the drought had helped Texas Tech enter halftime with a 31-28 lead.
The Red Raiders kept their distance thanks in part to an early 10-1 second-half run capped by two Moretti three-pointers. The buckets put them up 47-36 with 11:41 left.
Louisville didn't go away quietly, but Texas Tech never led by fewer than four points for the remainder of the second half.
The Red Raiders are 6-3 after ending their three-game losing streak.
The 9-1 Cardinals became the third No. 1 team to lose to an unranked opponent this season, with Kentucky and Duke being defeated by Evansville and Stephen F. Austin, respectively.
PerRedRaiderSports.com, the win marked the first time Texas Tech has beaten a No. 1 team in the AP poll.
Head coach Chris Beard, who led the Red Raiders to the national title game last season, received deserved praise from Gary Parrish of CBS Sports and Jeff Goodman of Stadium:
FINAL: Texas Tech 70, No. 1 Louisville 57.
So Chris Beard has now A) won 30 games at Little Rock, B) taken Texas Tech to its first and second Elite Eights, first Final Four and first title game, and C) beaten the nation’s top-ranked team while his leading scorer is sidelined.
In Chris Beard We Trust. The dude can flat-out coach. Texas Tech just knocked off No. 1 Louisville without the Red Raiders leading scorer and with walk-on Avery Benson getting extended minutes.
Walk-on sophomore guard Avery Benson had 10 points, four rebounds and a pair of blocks in 22 minutes.
Texas Tech will return home to play Southern Miss on Monday at 7 p.m. ET. Louisville will host Eastern Kentucky on Saturday at noon.
Cole Anthony, No. 7 UNC's Struggles Continue in 56-47 Loss vs. No. 5 Virginia
Dec 8, 2019
Virginia head coach Tony Bennett directs his team during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against North Carolina in Richmond, Va., Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
No. 5 Virginia got back on track with a 56-47 men's basketball win over No. 7 North Carolina.
Both teams were coming off blowout losses in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge, providing little time to regroup before a Top 10 conference matchup. The offenses—which have been a problem all season—remained quiet for each side Sunday at John Paul Jones Arena.
However, Mamadi Diakite was able to make a difference for the Tar Heels, scoring 12 points to help the visitors escape with a tough win to remain undefeated in two ACC games. The smothering defense also held UNC under 50 points for the second game in a row, keying as much as a 17-point lead.
Virginia is 8-1 despite playing with a relatively inexperienced rotation.
North Carolina (6-3) suffered its third loss in four games as star freshman Cole Anthony was held to 12 points.
Notable Stats
Cole Anthony, G, UNC: 12 points, four rebounds, two steals
Armando Bacot, F, UNC: 11 points, two blocks
Mamadi Diakite, F, UVA: 12 points, three rebounds
Tomas Woldetensae, G, UVA: 11 points, two steals
Virginia Wins Its Way
Anyone who has seen a Virginia game over the past few years knows this team likes to win ugly, and it certainly wasn't a pretty sight in the first half.
The Cavaliers led 24-18 at halftime in a game that didn't look like it included two Top 10 teams.
However, things were going just fine for the home team as it built a lead and remained ahead on the scoreboard.
The second half also saw Virginia round into form on the offensive end.
The Hoos earned easy trips to the free-throw line and converted from there, also knocking down the outside shots when left open. The team finished 6-of-17from three-point range while outscoring Carolina 18-12 from the charity stripe.
It was an efficient way to get on the board, eventually keying the 10-0second-half run that decided the game.
The defending national champions won't always win beauty contests but the squad knows how to win games.
Cole Anthony Can't Carry UNC Offense
As has been the case for much of the season, Cole Anthony represented most of the offense for North Carolina.
The guard finished with 12 points, making the team's only three-pointer. The problem is that the freshman got in trouble trying to carry the offense when no one else stepped up.
#UVa and #UNC each with more turnovers than field goals in first half. #notgood
He finished 4-of-15 shooting while turning it over six times in a game where he had zero assists.
This type of inefficiency won't help North Carolina this season, regardless of his talent.
Of course, he didn't get a whole lot of help from his teammates as the squad shot just 37 percent from the field and 1-of-14 from three-point range. The first half was especially disappointing with just 18 points.
I mean, there is literally no offense at all for #UNC. Can't hit shots, no rhythm at all. Just completely out of sync.
The second half wasn't much better as the team went over seven minutes between field goals.
Armando Bacot came alive down the stretch, scoring eight of his 11 points after halftime.
After injuring his ankle last game, the forward got a surprise start and was a key part of the Tar Heels attack against Virginia. Consistent play inside from the freshman would be a huge boost to Roy Williams' squad going forward.
In the meantime, it wasn't enough in this one as Williams must go back to the drawing board to fix the problems with this offense.
What's Next?
Both teams will now return to the nonconference portion of the schedule after a tough stretch of games. Virginia will host Stony Brook on Dec. 18, while North Carolina gets a week off before a home game against Wofford next Sunday.
Coach K Dealt with Health Issue Prior to Stephen F. Austin's Upset of Duke
Nov 30, 2019
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 22: Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski talks to Tre Jones #3 during the second half of their game against the Georgetown Hoyas at Madison Square Garden on November 22, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Duke men's basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski told reporters that he experienced an undisclosed health issue on Tuesday, when Stephen F. Austin shocked the No. 1 Blue Devils 85-83 in overtime at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
"Part of it, we had some other issues with our program with some health issues," Coach K said Friday, per Shawn Krest of Sports Illustrated.
"I had a little health issue for the last game that I was not myself. I had some...anyway I'm good, but that day and that night, I was not good. So, part of that is we're human beings. We're not going to be perfect even though lot of people expect us to be."
Krzyzewski has missed games because of health concerns in the past. Per Krest, the five-time NCAA champion missed one contest in 2017-18 with a virus, nearly a month in 2016-17 after back surgery and one more game in 2015-16 with an illness.
Coach K also missed most of the 1994-95 season because of complications following back surgery as well as exhaustion, per Luke DeCock of the News & Observer.
Krzyzewski, 72, is in his 40th season as Duke's head coach. He's a three-time Naismith College Coach of the year who's posted a 1,139-345 record during his tenure, which also includes five seasons at Army. Duke has gone to the Final Four 12 times under Krzyzewski.
As for this year, Duke will assuredly fall out of the No. 1 spot in the Associated Press poll after the loss to unranked Stephen F. Austin. The Blue Devils did bounce back with a 83-70 win over Winthrop at home on Friday, although the game was back and forth for much of the first half. Duke eventually pulled away down the stretch.
The 7-1 Blue Devils are off until Tuesday, when they face the No. 3 Michigan State Spartans on the road. Tipoff is 9:30 p.m. ET.
Duke's Cassius Stanley to Have MRI on Knee Injury; Could Be 'Out a While'
Nov 29, 2019
Duke guard Cassius Stanley (2) dribbbles during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Stephen F. Austin in Durham, N.C., Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Duke announced Friday that freshman guard Cassius Stanley would not return to the Blue Devils' 83-70 win over Winthrop after suffering a left knee injury, according to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.
However, after the game, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski told reporters he believes it's a hamstring muscle injury while adding that Stanley will undergo a MRI on Saturday. Krzyzewski also said he believes Stanley could be out until after Christmas.
Stanley exited early in the second half when he landed awkwardly and fell to the ground after a layup. The star guard had to be helped off the floor by teammates.
Prior to leaving the game, Stanley was 2-of-7 from the floor for four points with three assists, one rebound and two turnovers.
The 6'6" Los Angeles native has been a big-time producer for the No. 1 Blue Devils this season. Entering Friday's game, he was averaging 14.1 points, 5.3 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 52.4 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from beyond the arc.
Stanley is third on the team in scoring this season behind center Vernon Carey Jr. and guard Tre Jones, and he's second in rebounding behind only Carey.
Additionally, Stanley is averaging the second-most minutes at 28.4 per game, and since he is such an efficient player, replacing his production will be a challenge for head coach Mike Krzyzewski if the freshman is forced to miss additional time.
Much of the burden would fall on the shoulders of Carey and Jones, but the Blue Devils would depend on Matthew Hurt, Wendell Moore Jr., Alex O'Connell and Joey Baker as well.
After Stanley went out Friday, Baker played big minutes off the bench and produced on the offensive end (16 points), which means he may be in for a far bigger role.
Duke's next game is a big one. It is set to face the No. 3 Michigan State Spartans on the road Tuesday, and Stanley's absence would be a huge blow to the Blue Devils' chances of leaving East Lansing's Breslin Center with a victory.
Armando Bacot, Cole Anthony Lead No. 6 North Carolina Past No. 11 Oregon
Nov 29, 2019
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 15: Cole Anthony #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game against the Gardner-Webb Runnin Bulldogs at the Dean Smith Center on November 15, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 77-61. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
The No. 6 North Carolina Tar Heels scored a 78-74 victory Friday over the No. 11 Oregon Ducks in the 2019 Battle 4 Atlantis tournament third-place game at Imperial Arena in Nassau, Bahamas.
It marked a terrific bounce-back opportunity after both teams suffered their first losses of the 2019-20 college basketball season in Thursday's semifinals. UNC came up short against the Michigan Wolverines, while Oregon fell to the Gonzaga Bulldogs in an overtime thriller.
Although the Tar Heels came out on top in the consolation clash, each side has shown during the first quarter of the campaign that a deep NCAA tournament run is realistic.
North Carolina features one of the nation's most dynamic starting lineups, led by freshman sensation Cole Anthony and upperclassmen Garrison Brooks and Brandon Robinson. Freshman post player Armando Bacot has also started to emerge as a high-impact player, a trend that continued Friday.
What the Tar Heels have lacked is a reliable weapon off the bench.
The three most-used reserves against the Ducks—Christian Keeling, Justin Pierce and Andrew Platek—combined to make just five of their 25 attempts from the field (20.0 percent).
It's been a consistent issue in the season's opening weeks. Keeling (35.0 field-goal percentage entering Friday), Pierce (36.8 percent) and Platek (43.3) have all struggled with their shooting efficiency. Having a series of volume scorers come off the bench can make for a volatile offense.
That's especially true when you consider Anthony (38.5 percent) is still working on his shot selection at the collegiate level. It's made for a streaky UNC offense so far.
The Tar Heels were able to overcome those issues during the season's early stages, but it's an area in need of improvement as the schedule gets tougher moving forward.
Rebounding Remains Most Pressing Concern for Oregon
The Ducks don't feature a true post presence in a rotation that includes ample athleticism but a lack of size, and it's led to problems cleaning up the defensive glass.
Oregon entered the game 277th in the country in opposing offensive rebound percentage (31.8), per KenPom. Almost one of every three rebounds while it's playing defense is recovered by the other team.
That issue was on display over the past two days: Gonzaga grabbed 13 offensive boards in the semifinals, and UNC added 19 more Friday.
Finding a solution won't be simple because the roster doesn't feature a dominant rebounder. All five players must buy into crashing the defensive glass on missed shots to limit second chances for opponents.
Most of the other underlying numbers are strong, so Oregon could emerge as a major threat both in the Pac-12 and on a national level if head coach Dana Altman can fix the defensive rebounding woes.
What's Next?
One of the toughest stretches of North Carolina's schedule continues Wednesday night when it returns home to the Dean E. Smith Center to face off with the undefeated No. 10 Ohio State Buckeyes.
Oregon is also heading back home to Matthew Knight Arena to battle the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors on Dec. 7.
Coach K Says Stephen F. Austin 'Outplayed' Duke in Upset Win
Nov 27, 2019
Stephen F. Austin forward Nathan Bain (23) drives for a game winning basket over Duke forward Jack White (41) during overtime in an NCAA college basketball game in Durham, N.C., Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2019. Stephen F. Austin won 85-83. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Stephen F. Austin pulled off one of the most memorable upsets in recent college basketball history Tuesday by defeating the No. 1 Duke Blue Devils 85-83 in overtime thanks to a Nathan Bain layup with no time left:
"We played young," Coach K added. "You gotta get old. You get old by experience, and I can't teach them to be 22. They're 18, a lot of them."
The Lumberjacks were 85-1 moneyline underdogs. Duke was also favored by 27.5 points, and ESPN Stats & Info noted that made Stephen F. Austin's win the largest upset per point spread in the last 15 seasons.
Duke's 150-game win streak against nonconference opponents at home, which had stretched since 2000, also came to an end.
Stephen F. Austin is no stranger to pulling off big upsets, and Duke isn't the only No. 1 team to lose to a heavy underdog this season.
The Lumberjacks have won two NCAA tournament games, as a No. 12 seed in 2014 and as a No. 14 seed in 2016. The latter victory was most impressive, as Stephen F. Austin took down No. 3 West Virginia 70-56. That team almost made the Sweet 16 but fell to No. 6 Notre Dame 76-75 in the next round.
As for the Blue Devils, they now join Kentucky as two teams to lose at home to unranked opponents this year. The No. 1 Wildcats did the same against Evansville on Nov. 12 by a 67-64 score.
Stephen F. Austin and Duke took center stage Tuesday, though, and that's largely because the Lumberjacks caused 22 turnovers. That defensive effort helped the Lumberjacks overcome a 2-of-10 night from the three-point line, although Kevon Harris did an excellent job pacing Stephen F. Austin's offense with 26 points.
The Lumberjacks have a ton of experience, with their top eight court-time leaders on Tuesday all juniors or seniors. On the other end, the young Blue Devils started four freshmen and a sophomore, and the experience differential may have been a factor.
Stephen F. Austin will now visit Arkansas State on Saturday at 5 p.m. ET. Duke will host Winthrop on Friday at 7 p.m.
UNC's Roy Williams Shoots Down Idea of 'Load Management Crap' with Cole Anthony
Nov 6, 2019
North Carolina's head coach Roy Williams speaks with Cole Anthony (2) during the second half of an NCAA exhibition college basketball game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Friday, Nov. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
After North Carolina freshman Cole Anthony played in 37 of a possible 40 minutes in a 76-65 victory over Notre Dame on Wednesday night, Tar Heels coach Roy Williams made it clear that he doesn't buy into the concept of load management.
"I don't believe in this load management crap in the NBA," Williams said, per The Athletic's Jared Weiss. "You pay me $25 million a year and my load is going to be pretty light."
The phrase "load management" has become more prevalent in the NBA in recent seasons, as star players have taken games off more frequently in an attempt to make sure their bodies can make it through an 82-game season as well as potential playoff games. Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard is the most noteworthy example.
College basketball is different from the NBA in that it's a shorter season and also does not typically feature games on back-to-back days, other than for tournaments.
And while Williams does not believe in load management, he does not plan on overworking Anthony or any of his players:
Roy said this in the context that his guys — namely Cole — can handle the heavy minutes workload, but also acknowledges it is a long season and he is cognizant about not overworking them. https://t.co/IQTAJf4Suu
Junior forward Garrison Brooks logged 39 minutes against Notre Dame.
Williams has historically been able to rely on a rotation thanks to a deep bench. However, this UNC squad may not have as much depth as Williams' previous teams, as it lost Coby White, Cameron Johnson, Nassir Little and Luke Maye after last season.
North Carolina is also missing junior forward Sterling Manley, who is dealing with an injury.
On Wednesday night, North Carolina used nine players, with seven receiving significant minutes. Neither Walker Miller nor Brandon Huffman registered more than one minute of action during their time on the court.
Anthony and Brooks each proved in the season opener that they could sustain a high level of play while receiving very little rest. Anthony, rated by 247Sports as a 5-star prospect and the No. 4 overall recruit in the class of 2019, set a program record with 34 points in his Tar Heels debut, adding 11 rebounds, five assists and one steal. Brooks added 10 points, nine rebounds and three blocks.
Of course, it's unlikely Anthony and Brooks will continue to see 37-plus minutes early on this season, as the Tar Heels will be heavily favored in many of their nonconference games.
Cole Anthony Drops 34 in Debut as No. 9 UNC Tops Notre Dame 76-65
Nov 6, 2019
North Carolina's head coach Roy Williams speaks with Cole Anthony (2) during the second half of an NCAA exhibition college basketball game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Friday, Nov. 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
North Carolina freshman Cole Anthony went off for 34 points in his collegiate debut while leading the Tar Heels to a 76-65victory over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Dean E. Smith Center on Wednesday night.
Anthony finished the game 12-of-24 from the field, including 6-of-11from the three-point line. His 34 points are a program record for a freshman debut. Rashad McCants previously held the record, scoring 28 against Penn State in 2002.
Rated by247Sportsas a 5-star prospect and the No. 4 overall recruit in the class of 2019, Anthony was named to thepreseason Wooden Award watch list. And he wasted little time in showing that the hype is real.
Anthony needed less than a minute to tally his first points in a North Carolina uniform:
Anthony recorded 11 points in the first half, helping the Tar Heels overcome some sloppy play late in the first half to enter the break down just one.
With UNC trailing 44-41 six minutes into the second half, the star frosh took over. Anthony scored seven consecutive points for the Tar Heels during an 80-second stretch to turn a three-point deficit into a two-point lead. And that proved to be the spark Roy Williams' squad needed.
That led to a 17-6 North Carolina run, and from that point on, the Tar Heels never looked back.
A goggle-less Anthony wound up with 23 points, with the help of four triples, in the second half alone while helping UNC pull away. He did more than score, though. He also notched 11 rebounds, five assists and one steal on the night.
Needless to say, his performance caught everyone's attention:
Expected Cole Anthony to put up monster numbers this season at Carolina — but didn’t expect 26-9-4 with nine minutes left in his debut. He’s been ridiculous, taking over the second half.
Early take is that @UNC_Basketball’s @The_ColeAnthony gets the “must watch TV” from our network next 4 months the way Trae Young & Zion got it last two years. I have no problem with that if he’s good enough. He is. 👍🏻🏀
North Carolina has the daunting task of attempting to replace Coby White, Cameron Johnson, Nassir Little and Luke Maye. Even though he's just a freshman, it will be up to Anthony to lead the way.
It was just one game, but Wednesday night's performance suggests Anthony has what it takes to put the Tar Heels on his back.
5-Star 2021 SF Prospect AJ Griffin Verbally Commits to 'Dream School' Duke
Nov 4, 2019
Duke's dominance of the college basketball recruiting landscape does not appear to be ending anytime soon.
Forward AJ Griffin, who is currently ranked eighth in 247Sports rankings for the 2021 class, announced his intention to join the Blue Devils on Monday.
“I picked Duke because when I went on the visit and just before that when they came to visit me on the first day they showed me that I’m their number one priority and I meant a lot to them,” Griffin said, per Evan Daniels of 247Sports. “I felt like we had a connection from the start and I belonged at that place. I think they can help me get to the next level. I feel like they can help my game improve.”
Griffin called Duke his "dream school" in an interview with ESPN's Paul Biancardi.
The son of former NBA player Adrian Griffin, AJ stars at White Plains (New York) Archbishop Stepinac and is the third-ranked small forward in his class. He stands out with his combination of advanced shooting ability and athleticism at 6'7" and should be able to defend three positions at the collegiate level.
Duke had competition from the likes of Villanova, Kentucky and Michigan but was considered a heavy favorite. The Blue Devils have had the nation's top-ranked recruiting class in three of the last four years and are currently thetop-ranked teamin 2020.
Few top-tier members of the 2021 class have committed; Griffin and Kentucky commit Devin Askew are the only top-10 players in the class to give their verbals. Classes should begin to fill out as the basketball season progresses, and if history is any indication, Griffin will be flanked with at least two or three more 5-star athletes.
