ACC Basketball

Paolo Banchero scored 21 points Saturday night to pace No. 5 Duke in an 84-81 victory over No. 1 Gonzaga in the 2021 Continental Tire Challenge at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Wendell Moore Jr. added 20 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals for the Blue Devils, who improved to 7-0 on the 2021-22 season. Mark Williams chipped in 17 points and nine boards.

"This was a really big-time game," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski told reporters. "What a great crowd."

Julian Strawther (20 points), Drew Timme (17), Chet Holmgren (16) and Rasir Bolton (15) all scored in double figures for the Zags, but it wasn't enough to prevent their first loss of the campaign as they fell to 6-1.

Saturday's early-season clash of national championship contenders lived up to the hype with a back-and-forth battle that went right down to the wire.

The key sequence came when a Jeremy Roach layup gave Duke a three-point lead with 42 seconds remaining and Gonzaga failed to score on the ensuing possession. A subsequent pair of Moore free throws extended the advantage to five for the Blue Devils, who held on for the minor upset.

"It felt like a Final Four-type game," Timme told reporters. "The atmosphere was great, and it was two Goliaths going at it."

Gonzaga head coach Mark Few gave credit to Duke not only for Saturday's win but also for Krzyzewski's work creating a program that's one of the nation's gold standards. Coach K is set to retire at season's end.

"We've always asked over the years before we've had to make decisions on anything—how we travel, how we operate, how we schedule, facility-wise—the first question always is, 'What's Duke doing?'" Few said. "I don't think I can pay any higher respect than that."

The Bulldogs finished the game with more fouls (24-15), which helped Duke hold an eight-point edge from the free-throw line, and more than double the turnovers (17-8). Those two categories were key in a game that wasn't decided until the final minute.

It's the second top-10 win of the campaign for the Blue Devils, who opened the season with a triumph over No. 10 Kentucky on Nov. 9. They don't have another game against a currently ranked opponent on their schedule as part of what's shaping up as a down year for the ACC.

Next up for Duke is a visit to Value City Arena on Tuesday to face off with Ohio State (4-2) as part of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

Meanwhile, Gonzaga probably won't lose its status as the title favorite despite the loss, as it already had wins over No. 5 Texas and No. 2 UCLA under its belt.

The Zags return home to the McCarthey Athletic Center to face off with Tarleton State (1-5) on Monday.

Duke freshman forward Paolo Banchero said the team has "moved on" from an incident involving himself and teammate Michael Savarino, who was arrested and charged with driving while impaired and driving after consuming under the age of 21 on Nov. 14.

Banchero, who faces a charge of aiding and abetting impaired driving, said he didn't address the team because "they all know what happened" and want to shift the focus back to the 2021-22 season.

"We all learned from it," Banchero told reporters after scoring 28 points in Monday's 107-81 win over The Citadel. "I can't really say much about it. We learned from it and we handled it as a team. We've moved on, though. We want to get on with our season."

Savarino, the grandson of Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski, remains suspended from team activities following the arrest.

Steve Wiseman of the Raleigh News & Observer reported Nov. 16 that Savarino, 20, was pulled over by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol following a stop-sign violation when the officer noticed signs of impairment, including a "strong odor of alcohol" and "red glassy eyes."

The police report stated the junior guard performed poorly on a field sobriety test and confirmed to police he'd consumed alcohol. It also noted the Jeep SUV being driven by Savarino was registered under Banchero's name. Banchero, 19, was a passenger in the car and released from custody at the scene.

Banchero is due back in court Dec. 8, while Savarino has a Dec. 9 court date, per Wiseman.

Savarino is a former walk-on who was elevated to scholarship status ahead of the current season. No timetable has been provided on his return from suspension.

Banchero, the potential first overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft, has continued to play since the incident.

"It's two entirely different situations," Krzyzewski said after last Tuesday's win over Gardner-Webb. "Headlines make it look like it's the same, but it's not. The decisions we made are in conjunction with our authorities and my superiors. We're taking action and we'll continue to take action."

Banchero has averaged 17.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals while shooting 54.9 percent from the field across his first six college games.

"My teammates had my back, so it wasn't too hard for me," he said Monday. "I'm not going to say it wasn't on my mind the past two games. It was. I feel like today was a bounce-back game for me, and I felt good out there."

Duke (6-0), the fifth-ranked team in the country, continues its season Friday with a high-profile clash against No. 1 Gonzaga (5-0) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Duke men's basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski told reporters why he started Paolo Banchero against Gardner-Webb on Tuesday after the freshman was charged with aiding and abetting DWI two days earlier.

"Two different situations. Two entirely different situations. Headlines might make it look the same—it's not," Krzyzewski said.

"The decisions we made are in conjunction with our authorities—my seniors. We took action and will continue to take action."

Banchero finished with 10 points and eight rebounds in 26 minutes as Duke beat Gardner-Webb 92-52.

The 19-year-old Banchero and Michael Savarino, who is Krzyzewski's grandson, were arrested by the North Carolina Highway Patrol on Sunday morning, per the News & Observer's Steve Wiseman.

The 20-year-old Savarino, who was initially pulled over after failing to yield at a stop sign, was arrested for driving while impaired.

As noted by ESPN's Jeff Borzello, Savarino's license has been revoked for 30 days.

In addition, Savarino was driving a 2017 Jeep registered to Banchero, who was sitting in the backseat. Both players are due in court next month.

Banchero is averaging 17.0 points and 8.5 rebounds per game thus far for the No. 7 Blue Devils, who have started 4-0.

An Indiana judge granted a motion by state prosecutors to drop the remaining charges against former Notre Dame assistant basketball coach Ryan Ayers, according to Marek Mazurek of the South Bend Tribune.

In January, Ayers was charged with three counts of voyeurism and one count of domestic violence. Two women alleged he had "recorded them naked or while having sex without their consent," and one of the women said he had struck her in the face during an argument.

The prosecution encountered difficulty pursuing the case because one of the women declined to testify because she felt "disrespected, demeaned, and degraded" by St. Joseph Superior Judge Jeffrey Sanford.

Mazurek reported in October the woman wanted a new judge to oversee the case and state attorneys requested Sandford recuse himself after he "allegedly laughed while making a comment about not wanting to look at photographs of a pornographic nature." Sandford denied the motion.

Two voyeurism charges against Ayers had already been dropped prior to this week due to the statute of limitations and one of the women involved in the case declining to testify.

Notre Dame announced last September that Ayers was no longer on the coaching staff and "pursuing other opportunities." He played for the Fighting Irish for four years, graduating in 2009. He returned as an assistant coach in June 2016.

Duke forward Paolo Banchero and guard Michael Savarino are facing potential legal charges following an arrest by North Carolina Highway Patrol on Sunday morning.

According to the News & Observer's Steve Wiseman, Savarino was taken into custody for driving while impaired, while Banchero was charged with aiding and abetting DWI.

Wiseman provided a comment from Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski: "We are reviewing a legal matter involving two members of the men's basketball team. Any further actions as a result of this situation will ultimately be determined by the Vice President/Director of Athletics and University officials."

Highway Patrol spokesperson Sgt. Christopher Knox told Wiseman that police pulled Savarino over for a stop sign violation. The 6'0" junior had a blood alcohol content of 0.08 after performing a Breathalyzer test.

Banchero arrived at Duke to great fanfare since he was the No. 2 overall player in 247Sports' composite rankings for the 2021 class. The 6'10" forward dropped 22 points and seven rebounds in Duke's 79-71 win over No. 10 Kentucky to open the season.

Savarino is the grandson of Krzyzewski, and his mother, Debbie, is an assistant athletic director for the Blue Devils. He originally walked onto the team before earning a scholarship ahead of this season.

Duke (3-0) returns to action Tuesday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium against Gardner-Webb. Banchero will be available for the game, according to The Fayetteville Observer's David Thompson.

According to Wiseman, Banchero is scheduled to appear in court Dec. 8 and Savarino on Dec. 9. 

The Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball team reportedly suspended guard Ithiel Horton one day before Tuesday's season opener against The Citadel.

The Associated Press reported Horton was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, resisting arrest disorderly conduct and public drunkenness. The criminal complaint states he was not happy his car was being towed Saturday morning, attempted to run away as he was being handcuffed and hit a police officer with his cell phone.

Craig Meyer of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Pittsburgh said the indefinite suspension will last "until the legal process has been completed to the satisfaction of the university."

Horton was released on bail.

Meyer noted the Panthers are now shorthanded in the backcourt since Nike Sibande suffered a torn ACL and Jamarius Burton is working his way back from a knee procedure he underwent on Oct. 8 that was expected to keep him out for up to six weeks.

Horton started his collegiate career with Delaware but transferred to Pittsburgh after earning CAA All-Rookie Team honors as a freshman. 

He averaged 8.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 0.5 steals per game while shooting 38.1 percent from the field and 40.9 percent from three-point range last season. The Panthers went 10-12 and missed the NCAA tournament, which they have not made since the 2015-16 campaign.

Pittsburgh plays notable nonconference games against West Virginia, Vanderbilt and Minnesota this season before starting ACC play. The Panthers open the season Tuesday, hosting The Citadel at home.      

Duke men's basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski's final season patrolling the Blue Devils sidelines started getting underway Friday with the 12th annual Countdown to Craziness event from Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina.

The Blue Devils played a pair of 12-minute intrasquad scrimmages split between "Duke Blue" and "Duke White."

Here's how those matchups went down as Duke gears up for its regular-season opener against Kentucky at the State Farm Champions Classic in New York on Nov. 9.

Game 1: Duke Blue 22, Duke White 22

The rosters for the first game were as follows, with the Blue team on top, per Brendan Marks of The Athletic:

Trevor Keels and Joey Baker each led the Blue team with seven points, and Jeremy Roach added six assists. Keels' four rebounds guided his squad.

Wendell Moore Jr.'s seven points proved to be the top White team mark. Mark Williams added four points and six boards, and Paolo Banchero had six points.

Here's a look at some of Banchero's efforts:

Neither team ever ran away with this one before settling for the 22-all result. Blue led by as many as four, and White had a five-point edge, but neither was able to lead by more than two possessions.

The lead changed hands four times, and the score was tied on six occasions. In the end, a tie was how this one ended.

Game 2: Duke White 34, Duke Blue 14

The second game ended with a far different result, and these were the rosters, with the blue team on top:

Marks also noted that he believed the White team's five would "probably" be the Blue Devils' starting lineup.

This time around, the White team cruised to a 34-14 win led by 12 points from Keels and 11 more via Mark Williams. Those two combined to shoot 9-of-12.

Keels also added three assists and two steals. Williams and Banchero co-led the White team with four boards, with the latter player also getting three dimes.

Moore Jr. (six points) and Banchero (five) rounded out the scoring for a White team that never trailed, shot 13-of-21 and scored 12 points off turnovers.

Theo John's seven points on 3-of-4 shooting led the Blue team. The rest of the squad had just seven points on 3-of-16 shooting. The Blue team also made just 1-of-10 three-pointers.

Overall, it was a fine showing from many Blue Devils. Brian McLawhorn of Bull City Hoops provided his takes:

Coach K also praised Keels, who led all players with 19 total points:

Marks also praised Moore after the games:

Before the UK matchup, Duke will play an exhibition contest against Winston-Salem State at home Saturday, October 30.

Simeon Wilcher, a class of 2023 combo guard out of Roselle Catholic (New Jersey), has committed to play for North Carolina.

Joe Tipton of On3 broke the news:

"The environment, the fans, the coaching staff, the players on the team, the GA's...the entire environment made it feel like a second home," Wilcher told Tipton regarding why he selected UNC.

"There was no need to mess around or beat around the bush because this opportunity doesn’t come for everybody. I wanted to lock it in so now I can be stress-free and go out there and play my game and hoop without any worries about this college stuff anymore."

The 247Sports composite list ranks Wilcher 14th overall on the class of 2023 boys basketball rankings. The 5-star prospect is also third among combo guards and third in New Jersey.

The 6'4", 185-pound guard had 14 offers, including ones from Ohio State, Oregon and Kansas. However, UNC won out over the rest of those programs, giving head coach Hubert Davis a key signing as he begins his tenure leading the Tar Heels' sideline.

Per Tipton, UNC is also looking at class of 2023 recruits Robert Dillingham, Mackenzie Mgbako and GG Jackson among others. All three are in the top 10 of 247Sports' composite rankings.

Let the new era of North Carolina Tar Heels basketball begin.

The Tar Heels held their Midnight Madness event Friday at the Dean E. Smith Center and welcomed the start of the 2021-22 basketball season by introducing fans to the members of the men's and women's teams.

There was also a scrimmage for the men's team, and Armando Bacot and Caleb Love spearheaded a 60-45 victory for the Blue Team over the White Team.

The biggest storyline surrounding North Carolina this season is the start of the Hubert Davis era for the men's side after legendary head coach Roy Williams retired in April. Williams led the Tar Heels for 18 seasons after coaching the Kansas Jayhawks for 15 and built one of the best resumes in college basketball history.

All he did at UNC was win three national championships, reach five Final Fours, capture nine ACC regular-season titles and win three ACC tournaments.

Those are big shoes for Davis to fill, and fans got to meet his new team Friday. They also had the chance to return to the famous Dean E. Smith Center without many of the attendance restrictions that were in place last season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The support system we have is something unmatched—it's like our fans are a whole second family," Malu Tshitenge, who is a forward on the women's team, said, per the athletic department's official website. "I'm so excited to have the fans back in the stands."

Big man Armando Bacot echoed that sentiment:

For me it's gonna be like a blast from the past. But for a lot of the newer guys who have not gotten a chance to play in the Smith Center with fans, I told them this will be the most people you have ever gotten to play in front of in your whole life, so soak it in. I'm glad to have gotten a feeling of it earlier versus getting thrown out there in games and playing in front of all those people. It's going to be fun.

Here is some of what those fans saw Friday:

There was some competitiveness on the floor as well, and RJ Davis caught fire during the three-point contest and drained 19 triples from the top of the key in 45 seconds.

Davis also did his best to lead the White Team in the scrimmage with 14 points, but his side was overmatched in the loss to the Blue Team. Bacot and Love each scored 18 for the victors.

It isn't particularly surprising Bacot and Love led the way considering they were the Tar Heels' top two scorers last season.

Bacot averaged 12.3 points and 7.8 boards per night, while Love averaged 10.5 points and 3.6 assists per game.

They will both be critical if North Carolina is going to bounce back from last season's disappointment when it lost by 23 points in the first round of the NCAA men's tournament in a showdown with No. 9-seeded Wisconsin.

The men's team starts the new season Nov. 9 against Loyola (Md.), while the women's team opens the campaign on the same day against North Carolina A&T.

Power forward AJ Casey is off the board, as the Chicago native has reportedly committed to play basketball for the Miami Hurricanes.

Travis Branham of 247Sports reported he chose Miami over Gonzaga, Michigan, Memphis, Ohio State, DePaul and others. 

Casey is among the top recruits in the 2022 class. He's rated as a 4-star prospect, the 12th-best power forward and the No. 68 overall player in the nation, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

In October 2019, NBC Sports Chicago noted that Casey came into his own as a high school sophomore when he transferred from Simeon to Tinley Park:

"More limited to an interior role with Simeon during his freshman season on a veteran team that didn't need to run consistent offense through him, Casey flourished in the open floor of the camp setting with the ball in his hands. Handling the ball and scoring, Casey looked comfortable in the post or facing up. Casey's overall versatility at forward shined through as his development on the perimeter will be fascinating to watch this season."

Casey transferred again before his junior season to Whitney Young.

"We have actually been looking to move and have been looking for a house in the city for a while," he told Joe Henricksen of the Chicago Sun-Times in September. "We found a house and started thinking about schools and what would be best for me."

Regardless of where Casey has been playing basketball in high school, the 6'8" star has put himself on the map by being a versatile scorer who continues to develop range with his shooting touch.

The Hurricanes will be more than happy to have Casey's skill set on their roster for the 2022-23 season. He's capable of being a dynamic offensive player for head coach Jim Larranaga.