Boynton Pours in 28, #12 Gators Roll Past Rider, 90-69

College Hoops Player of the Day for Friday, December 9, 2011

After an early season schedule that saw the Florida Gators play Ohio State, Syracuse and Arizona, coach Billy Donovan and his players got a bit of a break in the schedule, topping Metro Atlantic's Rider Broncs, 90-69, on a neutral court in Jacksonville.

Fewer than 3500 fans were in attendance to see junior guard Kenny Boynton put on an offensive display with a season high 26 points on 9 of 13 shooting, including five 3-pointers on nine attempts.

Despite two losses, the 7-2 Gators are ranked #12 in the country, basically because their defeats came at the hands of two powerhouse programs, Ohio State and Syracuse, currently the #2 and #3 teams in the country, respectively, according to AP voters.

Boynton added five rebounds and three assists, and has scored in double figures in all but one of Florida's games this season.

The Gators look to be one of the top teams in the SEC this season, along with Kentucky, Alabama and Mississippi State. Last season, they lost in the SEC championship to the John Calipari's Wildcats, currently the top team in the polls, and reached the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament, falling to eventual runner-up Butler, 74-71.

Even though Florida and Rider each shot 49% from the field and 42% from 3-point range, the difference in the game was possessions and three-point shots. Florida only turned to ball over six times, while Rider committed 12 turnovers. The Gators also squeezed off 14 more shots than the Broncs, and hit 14 treys to Riders eight.

The Gators will be off for a week, their next game not until December 17, when they host #25, Texas A&M.

Kevin Jones Drops 30 on K-State in Double OT Win

College Hoops Player of the Day for Thursday, December 8, 2011

Kevin Jones scored 30 points, including a tying 3-pointer in the waning seconds of regulation that sent the game into its first overtime as West Virginia dealt the Kansas State wildcats their first loss of the season, in double OT, 85-80.

The nationally-televised (ESPN) basketball treat was one of the most closely-contested games of the season, with Bob Huggins' Mountaineers facing the Wildcats, coached by Frank Martin, a former assistant under Huggins at both Cincinnati and Kansas State.

Played at a suspect "neutral" court in Wichita, fan support was largely in favor of Kansas State. The two teams batted through 17 ties, nine lead changes and an extra ten minutes of play in the two overtime periods.

Jones, a 6'8" senior forward and the Wildcats' leading scorer at 21.8 points per game, popped a career high with his 30, breaking the mark he set just three weeks ago when he pumped in 29 points in a 97-62 win over Alcorn State. Getting 30 - even in 49 minutes of floor time - against an unbeaten opponent in unfriendly territory, was a defining achievement.

Hitting 12 of 17 shots, including two of three 3-pointers, Jones led all scorers and recorded his fifth double double of the season with 12 rebounds.

Darryl (Truck) Bryant, a senior guard from Brooklyn, knocked down 24 points for the Mountaineers. Rodney McGruder led the Kansas State scoring with 20 points.

The loss dropped Kansas State to 5-1. 5-2 West Virginia previously suffered losses against Kent State and Mississippi State.

Jeffery Taylor Pops in 30 as Vanderbilt Halts Two-Game Skid

College Hoops Player of the Day for Wednesday, December 7, 2011

The Commodores of Vanderbilt improved to 6-3 on the year with a tight, 87-83, road win over the Davidson Wildcats.

The victory was keyed by a career high 30 points from senior forward Jeffery Taylor and 22 points from junior guard John Jenkins, who leads the Commodores in scoring at 21.3 points per game.

Taylor hit 12 of 17 shots from the field, including three of four from 3-point range, leading Vanderbilt back from two straight losses - to Xavier and Louisville.

While the Commodores field a competitive team night in and night out, their three losses so far this season stem from a lack of depth. On Wednesday, Taylor and Jenkins accounted for 60% of the scoring. Add in Festus Ezeli's 15 points, playing in his first game of the season, and that's 77% of the scoring from just three players, not exactly what one might call balance.

If Vanderbilt can develop some players who can contribute off the bench, they should do very well in the SEC. Even with the scoring set-up as it is currently configured, Vanderbilt will be a competitive team in the conference, as there are only three or four teams with comparable ability.

Thomas Robinson Leads Jayhawks Past Long Beach with Career High 26 Points

College Hoops Player of the Day for DAY, Month, 2011

It hasn't been the best of starts for 6-2 Kansas, having already suffered a couple of tough losses - to Kentucky and Duke - but the 13th-ranked Jayhawks are surely a prime contender in the Big 12, as usual.

Led by Thomas Robinson's career high 26 points, the Jayhawks took down Long Beach State on Tuesday, 88-80, in advance of another tough outing on December 10, when they host #2 Ohio State, unbeaten through eight games.

Robinson, a 6'9" junior forward from the Washington, DC area, spent most of his first two seasons at Kansas riding the bench, but has emerged as a major force in the paint on both ends of the court. Averaging a double-double this season with 17.4 points and 12.0 rebounds per game, Robinson snatched 11 rebounds to complement his scoring, his seventh double-double of the season.

Last season, Kansas had one of the best seasons in its long and storied basketball history, finishing 35-3, fallling just short of reaching the Final Four when they fell to VCU, 71-61, in the fourth round of the NCAA tournament.

They hope to repeat as Big 12 champions this year, though there is tough opposition in the conference from teams such as Baylor, Texas A&M and Missouri.

Providence Tops Brown as Vincent Council Misses Triple-Double by One Rebound

College Hoops Player of the Day for Monday, December 5, 2011

There are few constants in the wide-open world of college hoops, but one dogmatic dictum is that Ivy League colleges are generally no match for teams from the Big East (with a tip of the hat to Harvard and their first ever Top 25 ranking, this week).

This condition has been thoroughly tested in the past, but Ivy League coaches and ADs still like to schedule the games just to use as a measuring stick in evaluating their squads, such as Brown did Monday night when they took on cross-town rival, Providence at the Dunkin' Donuts Center, and dunkin' was part of the Friars' agenda as they whipped the Bears handily, 80-49 before a sparse crowd of just over 5,000.

With the result never in question, Providence took an early lead, expanded their advantage to 15 points at the half and cruised to an easy victory as three starters played more than 35 minutes. One of those starters was Providence's assist and scoring leader, junior point guard, Vincent Council, who did some stat-padding by coming within a whisker of his first triple-double in 37 minutes of court time.

Council tossed in a game high 21 points on 9-for-16 shooting with a pari of treys, dished out 11 assists and ripped down nine rebounds as the 7-2 Friars geared up for Big East play which begins - for them - on December 27 at St. John's.

A three-year starter, Council has improved with each season, bettering his scoring average (10.3, 13.7, 19.1) and assist totals (4.5, 5.9, 6.3) every year.

The Friars, one of the few Big East teams with losing records over the past two seasons - 12-19 in 09-10 and 15-17 in 10-11 - are off to a solid start and hoping to play at least .500 ball through the conference schedule. With Council directing the attack, they appear poised for an improved season in basketball's most competitive conference.

Wichita State Sends UNLV to First Loss, 89-70, as Joe Ragland Bags 31

College Hoops Player of the Day for Sunday, December 4, 2011

Just over a week ago, #18 UNLV handed the North Carolina Tar Heels its first loss of the season, employing a combination of tenacious defense and hot shooting to overwhelm the visitors in the finals of the Las Vegas Invitational.

On Sunday, they ran into a team more than matching their intensity when they stepped onto the floor of Charles Koch Arena, in Wichita, Kansas. There, the hometown Shockers took it to them with great interior play the dagger-like 3-point shooting of senior Joe Ragland for an 89-70 stunner.

Ragland, a six-foot guard who redshirted his first two seasons, pumped in a career high 31 points, including 8 of 9 from 3-point range, as the Shockers took charge midway through the first half with a 9-0 run and never looked back.

Wichita State led 47-32 at the half and kept the Runnin' Rebels mired in a double digit deficit, never allowing them closer than 14 points from tying the game.

Ragland's open threes were a complement to sturdy inside play from teammates Carl Hall and Garrett Stutz, who chipped in 17 and 13 points, respectively. Ragland also added five rebounds and three assists as the Shockers handed the Rebels their first loss of the season.

5-2 Wichita State dropped a pair of back-to-back games to Alabama and Temple, but have since regrouped to win three in a row. The Shockers had a solid, 29-8, season last year and look ahead to Missouri Valley conference play which begins December 28 at Bradley.

Noah Hartsock Scores 23 with 12 Boards as BYU Downs Oregon, Goes 6-2

College Hoops Player of the Day for Saturday, December 3, 2011

After their prolific scorer, Jimmer Fredette, graduated, fans of the BYU Cougars wondered just who would pick up the scoring and how well the Cougars would do in 2011-12 season.

After getting to 6-2 with a 79-65 win over Oregon, some of the answers are emerging.

Nobody is going to score at the pace of Fredette, though Noah Hartsock is leading the team with 16.9 points per game, but the team is more front court oriented as seniors Hartsock and Charles Abouo do most of the damage inside and on the boards.

Hartsock had his best game of the season against Oregon, scoring a career high 23 points on 8-for-14 shooting while pulling down 12 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. Improving his scoring average each of his four years as a Cougar, Hartsock, a 6'8" forward, is hitting at 57.8 from the field.

Last season, the Cougars were 32-5, losing in the third round of the NCAA tournament to Florida to finish their season.

Hartsock and the Cougars will get a quality check come December 17 when they host the Baylor Bears. The team opens West Coast conference play on December 29, at St. Mary's.

NOTABLE: The early season showdown between North Carolina and #1 Kentucky did not disappoint. Anthony Davis blocked John Henson's potential game winner with less than four seconds on the clock to seal the Wildcats' 73-72 victory. Freshman Michael Kidd-Gilchrist with his first collegiate double-double, leading all scorers with 17 points and hauling down 11 boards. It was the second loss for the Tar Heels, while Kentucky improved to 8-0.

The Big East won two of the four games on Saturday, with UConn downing Arkansas, 75-62 and Pitt taking down Tennessee, 61-56 to capture the Big East - SEC Challenge, eight games to four. Winners for the SEC on Saturday were LSU, with a 55-50 win over Rutgers, and Mississipi State, which topped West Virginia, 75-62.

Mizzou Win 8th Straight as Marcus Denmon Pours in 31

College Hoops Player of the Day for Friday, December 2, 2011

The Big 12 regular season is still about a month away, but the Missouri Tigers are already in mid-season form, winning their 8th straight to start the 2011-12 campaign with a 90-56 victory over Northwestern State Friday night.

Setting career highs for both points and 3-pointers was Marcus Denmon, the 6'3" senior guard leading all scorers with 31 points on 11-for-16 shooting, including making 7 of 10 from outside the arc. Denmon also added six rebounds and two assists as the Tigers romped home again with another blowout win.

Missouri has won every game by at least 17 points, their largest margin of victory actually coming in their only road game, a 39-point, 92-53 win at Cal.

Denman, a four-year player, has improved his shooting percentage and scoring each season, now hitting at a 53.3% rate from the floor and scoring 20.3 points per game on a Mizzou squad chock full of scoring threats.

The Tigers were 23-11 for the second straight season, ousted in the opening round of the NCAA tournament last year, losing to Cincinnati, 78-63.

Next up for the Mizzou is a visit to Philadelphia on December 6, to play the struggling, 4-2, Villanova Wildcats.

NOTABLE: After splitting four games Thursday night, the Big East took all four of their Friday games in the Big East-SEC Challenge as Syracuse, Cincinnati, Louisville and Seton Hall each notched wins over their SEC rivals. The series concludes with four more games on Saturday. The only SEC winners thus far have been Kentucky - an 81-59 winner over St. John's - and Mississippi, which held off a furious second half rally to win 70-68 over DePaul.

7-0 Wildcats Rip Red Storm Behind 26 from Terrence Jones and 15-15 from Anthony Davis

College Hoops Player of the Day for Thursday, December 2, 2011

It's still early in the season, but the Kentucky Wildcats, ranked #1 in the country this week after North Carolina's loss to UNLV, look like a good bet to make it to the Final Four come March.

As usual, coach John Calipari has done a great recruiting job and has assembled a team loaded with hungry, talented underclassmen, two of which - sophomore Terrence Jones and freshman Anthony Davis - led the Wildcats to their seventh win without a loss, dropping St. John's, 81-59, on Kentucky's home court at Rupp Arena.

Jones pumped in a game-high 26 points on seven of 12 shooting, adding 11 points from the foul line, on 16 free throw attempts. A 6'9" forward, Jones also snagged nine rebounds, blocked four shots and ripped off four steals.

His performance wasn't enough to overshadow his front court running mate. 6'10" Davis had a double-double with 15 points and 15 boards. He also blocked eight shots and picked off a couple of steals.

The Wildcats were not only impressive on the offensive end, but their stifling interior defense held the Red Storm to just 32% and out-rebounded the Johnnies, 48-43.

Kentucky will have a great opportunity to prove just how good they are on Saturday, when the North Carolina Tar Heels come calling for a nationally-televised game at high noon in Rupp Arena.

Mike Moser Gets Career High 34 as UNLV Goes to 8-0; Orlando Johnson Scores 36 in Defeat

College Hoops Player of the Day for Wednesday, November 30, Month, 2011

Fresh off their upset win over then-#1 North Carolina, the UNLV Runnin' Rebels ran smack into a determined foe when they took on UC_Santa Barbara Wednesday night.

The Gauchos came into the game 4-1, having lost their previous game in overtime to San Diego State, 76-75, and took UNLV to double overtime before finally falling, 94-88, as Mike Moser, the NCAA leader in rebounds (13.3 per game), exploded for a career high 34 points, adding 10 boards as the 18th-ranked Rebels improved their record to 8-0.

As versatile a forward as there is in the country, the 6'6" Moser, who sat out last season after transferring from UCLA, hit on 12 of 18 shots from the field, including 6 of 9 3-pointers, but he was not the high scorer for the game, that honor falling to the Gauchos' Orlando Johnson, a 6'5" senior, who had 36 points and also hauled in 10 rebounds. After six games, Johnson is third nationally in scoring, with a 23.8 per game average.

The game was tight throughout, with Santa Barbara taking a 28-27 lead into the half and UNLV's Chace Stanback extended the game into a second overtime with a clutch 3-pointer with 1.7 seconds left in the first extra period.

UNLV, which finished the 2010-11 season with a 24-9 record, was 11-5 in the Mountain West conference, finishing third behind San Diego State and BYU. Their next game is Sunday, December 4, at Wichita State.

Buckeyes Hammer Blue Devils; Sullinger, Craft, Buford, Thomas Shine

College Hoops Player of the Day for DAY, Month, 2011

An individual player having a monster game is always a good thing, but, in the long run, basketball is a team game, and teams which don't have to rely on one or two star players are usually the better for it.

Take Ohio State, for instance, a team which demonstrated a wealth of talent among their starters as they bombed the Duke Blue Devils in the now-annual ritual of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, smashing Duke's perfect season with an 83-65 blowout victory.

The Buckeyes led wire-to-wire, beginning the game with an 11-0 run that set the stage for the monumental win.

Jared Sullinger led all scorers with 21 points, adding eight rebounds. The sophomore forward from Columbus, Ohio was 8-for-14 from the field.

Three of Sullinger's teammates weren't far behind in the scoring category. Senior guard, William Buford, closing in on the all-time Buckeye scoring leaders, pumped in 20 on 8-for-15 shooting, including two of three from beyond the arc. Highly-touted sophomore, Deshaun Thomas was 8-for-12 with a pair of threes, for 18 points, his high point total for the season.

Point guard Aaron Craft may have had the best game of all, scoring a season-high 17 points on 7-for-11 shooting, including 3 of 4 from 3-point range. Craft also dished out eight assists, for his third straight game.

Ohio State, which was moved up to #2 in Monday's rankings, improved to 7-0, dropping #3 Duke to 7-1. The win also gave the Big Ten a 4-2 edge in the challenge series, which continues on Wednesday.

NOTABLE: Winners for the Big Ten, along with the Buckeyes, included Northwestern, a 76-60 winner over Georgia Tech, Purdue, 76-65 over Miami, and Illinois, which topped Maryland, 71-62.

For the ACC, Clemson beat Iowa, 71-55, and Virginia topped Michigan, 70-58.

The Baylor Bears, already ranked #7, got a big boost from sophomore Perry Jones III, who crammed in 27 points in Baylor's 90-54 win over Prairie View A&M. The 6'11" forward hit 10 of 14 shots and grabbed six boards.

Jones was playing his first game of the season due to a six-game suspension for accepting disallowed benefits which included Baylor's final game in the Big 12 tournament last season. Baylor is 6-0.

Syracuse played their first game since assistant coach Larry Fine was fired for alleged sexual misconduct, but the Orange didn't miss a beat, knocking off Eastern Michigan, 84-48, before a packed house at the Carrier Dome, Super sub, James Southerland, scored 19 points in 19 minutes. The crowd gave head coach Jim Boeheim, himself under fire in the scandal, a raucous standing ovation as he made his way onto the floor. Boeheim addressed the issues in the post-game press conference, but said there was nothing he would do or say until the investigation into the matter was concluded. Syracuse officials are staunchly behind Boeheim remaining as head coach of the Orange, a position he's held since 1976.

Gaels Pound Weber St. as Three Players Record Double-Doubles

College Hoops Player of the Day for Monday, November 28, 2011

There's a storm rising in the West, and it's coming in the form of the St. Mary's Gaels, runners-up in the West Coast conference last year to Gonzaga, but tuning up - at 4-1 - for a run at the title this season.

In Monday's 87-70 runaway win over Weber State, the Gaels proved unstoppable from the field, shooting 56% (27-48) and having three different players post double-doubles.

Point guard Matthew Dellavedova scored a team-high 25 points and also delivered 11 assists, both career highs for the 6'4" junior from Australia.

While Weber State's Damian Lillard poured in a game-high 36 points, he was just one of two players in double figures for the Wildcats, no match for Dellavedova, senior forward Rob Jones - 24 points and 14 rebounds - and another senior, Creighton transfer Kenton Walker II, who popped for 14 points and 11 boards.

The Gaels were 25-9 in 2010-11 and look to make some noise come March. A measuring stick comes December 22nd, when St. Mary's travels to Texas to take on top-10 Baylor. The West Coast regular season opens for the the Gaels on December 31, when they play at Pepperdine.

Missouri Romps to 6-0 Behind Career High 29 Points from Kim English

College Hoops Player of the Day for Sunday, November 27, 2011

The Missouri Tigers improved to 6-0 on the season and should move up - from their position of 21 - in the national rankings Monday afternoon when the latest polls are released after an 88-59 victory over Binghamton.

The Tigers put four players in double figures as they routed the winless Bearcats, including 6'6" forward Kim English, who registered a career high 29 points on 11-for-15 shooting, including 7 of 10 three-pointers.

Though the win over a weak opponent wasn't exactly a major accomplishment, the Tigers have been impressive thus far in the season, posting lopsided wins over Notre Dame (87-58) and California (92-53), as the Tigers took the CBE Classic title last week in Kansas City.

English, a senior, has scored in double figures in each of the Mizzou's first six outings. The Tigers have scored at least 81 points in each of their games this season.

THOUGHT AND CONSIDERATION

Guest post from: Steve Delaney

That time of year is rolling around again. It is the time of year that usually causes me a lot of stress because I hate shopping at the mall. Part of the reason I hate shopping at the mall are the crowds, but also because I never know what I am going to get my family and friends for Christmas. Of course, I could think of a ton of things that I would like for myself ( which sounds totally selfish), but when it comes to buying for some of my family members I am totally at a blank. I know that I would like Direct TV Cyber Monday Deals and upgrade our television package. I think that I may skip the Black Friday shopping and opt for shopping for my friends and family on-line during the Cyber Monday deals. I just hate getting out in all of those crowds and aimlessly wandering, buying things impulsively that I am not sure that my family is going to like. I think that I probably have a 75% gift return rate. Hopefully, with some thought and consideration, I can lower that rate this year!

It's Cyber-Week, So Get Shopping!

It's definitely holiday shopping season, but the majority of people still have to take care of everyday chores and shop for items not necessarily on a Christmas wish list, so it pays to shop around for items like trash bags, tackle boxes and utility box covers, because saving a little on ordinary items might lead to better holiday gifts all around.

The shopping site, Become.com is a favorite destination for hundreds of thousands of goods, with 14 main categories, from Automotive to Electronics, Health & Beauty, Sports and Outdoors, and of course, Toys and Games.

The site is searchable by keyword from the home page or within categories, making finding items like an
acrylic basketball backboard a snap with hundreds of models available, from the basic, under $100 types to deluxe models costing well into the hundreds of dollars for those who take their hoops practices and backyard games seriously.

And, if you're going to be throwing up 3-pointers from just off your deck or driveway or doing other types of exercise, you'll definitely want to hook yourself up with a nice pair of adidas adiprene running shoes which come in a variety of colors and styles, though the Sharp Blue/Electricity/Black color scheme is both eye-catching and a safety feature for night runners.

Priced in a range any serious runner or athlete would find reasonable, the high-tech footwear from Adidas is world-class, even if your game is primarily a local one. They come in all sizes for kids, men and women, and make the perfect athletic holiday gift or a special stocking stuffer for yourself.

Hide the Children! UNLV Upsets #1 North Carolina, 90-80

College Hoops Player of the Day for Saturday, November 26, 2011

Top-ranked North Carolina took their 5-0 record out to the Las Vegas Invitational to meet the unranked UNLV Runnin' Rebels Saturday night.

What they discovered upon their arrival was that being #1 is like having targets on your jerseys. The Rebels aimed and fired a 90-80 win, improving to 7-0 and ensuring that there would be a change atop the national rankings come Monday when the latest poll is released.

After a hotly-contested first half, won by the Tar Heels, 42-38, the Runnin' Rebels took command with a 14-0 spurt to open the second half and held North Carolina at bay, never allowing them closer than five points. In the city known for sins, secrets and slots, North Carolina came up dead to start the second half, missing their first ten shots from the field.

Senior swingman Chase Stanback led all scorers with a career high 28 points. The 6'4" guard/forward added 10 boards for his first double-double of the season.

Stanback was 10-for-19 from the field and splashed in four treys. The Rebels had 13 3-pointers on the night, compared to just four for the Tar Heels. They outplayed North Carolina in almost all aspects of the game, hitting 15 of 18 free throws and had a 48-39 rebounding edge. The Rebels also had 22 assists to North Carolina's 14.

Point guard Oscar Bellfield, another of the seniors, chipped in 16 points, including four 3-pointers, adding nine assists. Sophomore Mike Moser pumped in 16 points and had 18 rebounds.

UNLV went 24-9 in 09-10, and 25-9 in 10-11, losing their opening game of the NCAA tournament both times. This year may be different come March as the Rebels sport four seniors and a sophomore as their starting five.

Marcus Jordan, UCF Stops UConn Win Streak at 16 with 68-63 Victory

College Hoops Player of the Day for Friday, November 25, 2011

Just as UConn had been rolling along, ranked #4 in the nation with a national championship and a 16-game win streak, along came the UCF Knights and Marcus Jordan, son of basketball's greatest player - Michael - to upend the Huskies and take some of the shine off their smiles.

The Knights dumped Connecticut 68-63 in the semifinals of the Battle 4 Atlantis, as Jordan and Keith Clanton each scored 20 points for the 4-1 Knights, taking the lead late in the second half on a pair of Jordan free throws. Mike's kid was 6-for-6 from the line with seven rebounds and seven assists. He was 6-for-16 from the field with a pair of 3-pointers.

The Knights shot just 40%, but only turned the ball over seven times to UConn's 11. The Huskies outrebounded UCF, 37-30, but were dead from beyond the arc, hitting just 2 of 18 3-point attempts.

Jordan, a 6'3" junior swingman, is averaging 17.3 points per game after putting up 15.2 as a sophomore and 8.0 as a freshman. He's scored in double figures in each of the four games he's played this season.

The Knights will face another upset winner on Saturday. Harvard topped Florida State, 46-41, in the other semifinal. The Crimson are undefeated (5-0) and haven't allowed more than 67 points in any of their games, holding three opponents to under 50.

Backcourt Duo Shabazz Napier and Jeremy Lamb Lead Huskies to 16th Straight Win; Upsets Rule Holiday Tourneys

College Hoops Player of the Day for Thursday, November 24, 2011

As reigning national champions, the Connecticut Huskies get their share of perks, like a Thanksgiving trip to the Bahamas to compete in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament at the Atlantis Resort in Nassau.

The Huskies wasted little time establishing their dominance in their opening game vs. NC Asheville, taking a 39-28 leas at the half and cruising to their 16th straight win with a 73-63 victory.

Led by their backcourt tandem of Shabazz Napier and Jeremy Lamb, each of whom has 23 points, the Huskies improved their current season record to 5-0, maintaining their spot at #4 in the AP poll, behind the top three of North Carolina, Kentucky and Ohio State.

Napier had seven assists and three steal to go with his 7-for-14 shooting, with four 3-pointers, He was a perfect 5-for-5 from the foul line.

Lamb pitched in eight of 13 shots from the field with three 3-pointers. He was also flawless at the line, making 4 of 4, to go with six rebounds.

The Huskies will face the University of Central Florida in the semi-finals of the tourney on Friday. UCF dispatched the College of Charleston, 74-63.

NOTABLE: The other half of the draw at the Battle 4 Atlantis saw Harvard blow out Utah, 75-47, in a day full of surprises and upsets.

At the Old Spice Classic in Kissimmee, Florida, Indiana State downed Texas Tech, 60-49, the Dayton Flyers downed Wake Forest, 80-76, and Fairfield dominated Wake Forest, 54-45.

In the only game of the Old Spice Classic that went somewhat according to plan, Minnesota knocked off DePaul, 80-79.

Rounding out the Thanksgiving Day upsets, St. Louis put down Boston College, 62-51 at the 76 Classic at Anahiem, California.

Scott Machado and Michael Glover Each Record Career Highs in 104-99 Double OT Win over St. Joseph's

College Hoops Player of the Day for Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Teams from the Metr Atlantic hardly ever get much respect, normally sending just one team to the NCAA tournament, but this season, seniors Scott Machado and Michael Glover are making folks stand up and pay attention.

Machado, a 6'1" guard scored nine of his career high 33 points in the second overtime to lead Iona past Saint Joseph’s 104-99. Glover, a 6'7" forward from the Bronx, also set a career mark with 34 points as the game high scorer, making 15 of 26 shots and pulling down 15 rebounds, nine on the offensive end.

Machado hit on 10 of 18 shots, including 4 of 6 from 3-point range and was 9-for-10 from the foul line. The Queens native also dished 10 assists, the 4th straight game in which he recorded double figures in both scoring and assists.

High-flying Carl Jones led St. Joseph's with 25 points. Jones is tied for fifth nationally in scoring, at 23.8 points per game.

Last season, the 25-12 Gaels missed out on both the NCAA and NIT tournaments, opting to play in the third annual CollegeInsider.com tournament (CIT), despite winning eight games in a row to reach the Metro Atlantic conference finals where they lost to St. Peter's, 62-57, but won three straight before falling in the CIT final to Santa Clara, 76-69.

Memphis Whips Tennessee in Double-OT Maui Classic; Jerome Maymon Scores 32 for Vols with 20 Boards

College Hoops Player of the Day for Tuesday, November 22, 2011

The Maui Invitational is always an entertaining, early-season event, attracting some of the best college teams, but this year's field may be one of the best ever, with Tennessee, Duke, Michigan and Memphis among the power teams at the event.

Fans got their money's worth in the second-round, double-overtime, 99-97, victory by Memphis over Tennessee. The two teams hoisted up 144 shots, 30 from 3-point range, and saw Memphis squander a ten point half time lead only to come back and win it at the end of two extra five minute periods.

Will Barton scored 25 points and had 11 rebounds, but he was not the star of the game. That honor belonged to Tennessee's little-known junior forward, Jeronne Maymon, who poured in 32 points and grabbed 20 rebounds. Maymon, who began his college hoops career at Marquette before transferring to the Vols last season, set career high makrs in scoring and rebounding, recording his third straight double-double for the 2-2 Volunteers.

Maymon has a nice touch for a 6'7", 265-pound power forward. He made 16 of 17 free throws and was eight of 15 from the field. Of his 20 boards, nine were on the offensive end.

Tennessee, which lost both of their games on the tropical island, will play host school Chaminade in a consolation game Wednesday afternoon. The Vols dropped their opening game to Duke, 77-67.

NOTABLE: The Louisville Cardinals improved to 4-0 Tuesday night, but coach Rick Pitino isn't doing any victory laps over their latest win, a horribly-played, 54-27 win over the Arkansas State Red Wolves.

While Pitino's kids shot just 37% for the game and turned the ball over 16 times, the Red Wolves were worse by orders of magnitude, hitting just 10 of 41 shots (24%), including just one of 10 three pointers. They also hit just six of 18 free throws and committed 23 turnovers. It was the lowest point total for Arkansas State since the institution of the shot clock in 1986 and Louisville's best defensive game since 1947.

Jared Sullinger Hoists in 27, Grabs 13 Boards as Ohio State Routs North Florida, 85-50

College Hoops Player of the Day for Monday, November 21, 2011

With the holiday shopping season nearly upon them, the Ohio State Buckeyes went to Jared... Jared Sullinger, that is, the 6'9" sophomore forward who helped power the Buckeyes to a 34-3 record and a trip to the sweet sixteen in the NCAA tournament last season.

This season, Sullinger has the Buckeyes at 4-0, after their blowout, 85-50, win over North Florida, in which Sullinger produced season highs in scoring and rebounding, with 27 and 13. Shooting 9-for-16 from the field and 9 of 10 from the line, Sullinger was deadly in the paint while his teammates were ball-hawking away from it, forcing 23 turnovers by the overmatched Ospreys.

Sullinger's 13 boards included five n the offensive end. It was his second double-double in a row after going for 20 points and 11 rebounds against Jackson State this past Friday.

The Buckeyes have won 26 straight home games and will be put to the test on November 29, when the Duke Blue Devils come to visit. Prior to that, Ohio State hosts VMI and Valparaiso on the 23rd and 25th, respectively.

Northwestern 80 Seton Hall 72; Herb Pope Scores Career High 32; Tourney MVP Drew Crawford Has 27

College Hoops Player of the Day for Sunday, November 20, 2011

Having to play a tough Big East schedule, the Seton Hall Pirates may not be the equal of teams like Syracuse, UConn or Louisville, but they do have a potential player of the year candidate in senior forward Herb Pope.

At 6'8", 236 pounds, Pope can be an unstoppable force at times, as he was against Northwestern Sunday, though the Pirates came up short in an 80-73 loss, their first of the year after winning three straight, in the Charleston Classic tournament final.

Pope came up with 32 points - a career high - on 14-for-17 shooting, including a pair of 3-pointers, but, even though he shot 82% from the field, his teammates were only 15-for-42 (37%) and the Pirates went to the foul line only six times (making five), compared to the 17-for-19 tally at the line for the Wildcats.

Seton Hall fell behind early and trailed 40-30 at the break, but Pope led a Seton Hall comeback to take a brief lead with under nine minutes to play.

Northwestern's Drew Crawford and John Shurna brought home the win with clutch shooting in the latter stages of the game. Crawford, a junior swingman, had 27 points, hitting 11 of 15 from the field including 4 of 8 from 3-point range. Senior John Shurna pitched in 19 points for the Wildcats.

Crawford scored 28 against Tulsa in Northwestern's 69-65 win over Tulsa on Friday and was named the Charleston Classic MVP, scoring 72 points with 18 rebounds in Northwestern’s three tournament games. The Wildcats are 4-0 and appear to have a team capable of competing in the Big Ten.

As for the Pirates, they hope to survive the Big East schedule and improve upon last season's 13-18 record.

Jared Cunningham Scores 37 as Oregon State Dumps Texas in OT, 100-95

College Hoops Player of the Day for Saturday, November 19, 2011

There may be a new powerhouse in the PAC-12.

Oregon State improved to 4-0 on the year as they dumped Texas in overtime, 100-95, in the semifinals of the TicketCity Legends Classic, handing the Longhorns their first defeat of the season.

Jared Cunningham poured in a career high 37 points, just three days after the 6'4" junior guard pumped in 35 in the Beavers' win over Hofsta.

The Longhorn defense couldn't cope with Cunningham's moves, sending him to the foul line 23 times. Cunningham made 20 from the stripe, to go with 8-for-18 shooting, including one 3-pointer, nine rebounds and three assists.

Averaging 26 points per game this season, Cunningham moved into a tie for third place among national scoring leaders, right behind the Longhorns' J'Covan Brown, who had 25 on the night and is second, with 29.3. Jamal Wilson of Rhode Island leads the nation at 31 points per game but has only played twice.

The Beavers will face #18 Vanderbilt, 86-79 winners over NC State, for the championship Monday night at the Izod Center. The Commodores got 28 points from John Jenkins (tied for 11th nationally at 23.0 points per game) in their win, setting up a Jenkins-Cunningham shoot-out in the final at the IZOD Center, in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

St. Joseph's Carl Jones Lights Up Seton Hall for 38 in 78-70 Loss

College Hoops Player of the Day for DAY, Month, 2011

St. Joseph's lost their first game of the season, 78-70, to Seton Hall, but, losing to a mid-level Big East team isn't exactly an embarrassment, and it's surely not going to stop Carl Jones from putting up big points night in and night out.

Jones, a 5'11" junior guard out of Garfield Heights, Ohio, scored 38 points for the Hawks in Friday's contest, hitting 12 of 17 shots from the field, including 4 of 6 3-pointers. Jones also added a 10-for-11 effort from the free throw line, including his first miss of the season (he's 26-for-27 from the charity stripe).

Easily his career high, Jones' 38 point tally moved him into a tie for 8th in the overall NCAA scoring race at an even 25 points per game. He's also the second highest scorer in the country - behind Albany's Gerardo Suero at 25.7 per game - with three games already in the books.

The 2-1 start is an improvement for St. Joseph's, which had an uncharacteristically second poor season in a row in 2010-11, winning just 11 while dropping 22 games after going 11-20 in 2009-10. They lost their first two games last season, but already have wins against Western Kentucky and Georgia Tech to their credit, a notable improvement.

With Carl Jones bombing away, the Hawks may be a team to watch in the Atlantic-10.

Shurna Scores 37 in Northwestern Win over LSU

College Hoops Player of the Day for Thursday, November 17, 2011

Last season, the Northwestern Wildcats finished their regular season 18-13, were snubbed by the NCAA tournament committee, went to the NIT, won two games and were ousted in the quarter-finals by Washington State, 69-66.

This season, with 6'9" senior forward and leading scorer, John Shurna, back for his final year, they're reaching for more, and their 88-82 win over LSU Thursday night was another step in the right direction.

Shurna scored a career high 37 points against the Tigers, playing all 40 minutes in a game that was tight until the final seconds.

LSU had built an 11-point half time lead and expanded it to 14 in the second half, but Shurna, who scored 21 points in the second half, led a comeback by the Wildcats, capped by Dave Sobelewski's 3-pointer in the final minute, sealing the victory.

Hitting 13 of 14 free throws, Shurna made 10 of 21 shots from the field including four 3-pointers to pace all scorers and put his name in sixth place in the Division 1 scoring leaders. He also had seven rebounds and four assists. Shurna played 31 minutes and scored 15 points in Northwestern's season-opening win over Texas.

The Wildcats won't have much time to celebrate their win. They play 3-0 Tulsa Friday afternoon at 3:30 pm ET.

Casper Ware, Long Beach State Dump 9th-Ranked Pitt, 86-76

College Hoops Player of the Day for Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Coming out of the Big West conference to play at Pitt, Long Beach State took the lead early, expanded it to nine points at the half and became the first non-Big East team to beat the Panthers at the Petersen Events Center since Bucknell in 2005, delivering a shocking, 86-76, win over the 9th-ranked Panthers Wednesday night.

Casper Ware, a four-year senior who has improved his scoring each season, pumped in a career-high 28 points on 10-for-18 shooting, including four 3-pointers.

Ware, a 5'10 guard, added six assists and a pair of rebounds, as the 49ers outplayed Pitt in nearly every aspect, shooting 59% compared to Pitt's 47%. Long Beach players dished out 24 assists and outrebounded Pitt, 29-26.

Ware scored 9.1 points per game as a freshman in the 2008-09 season, improved to 11.9 the next year and tallied 17.2 per game last season. He is averaging 24 points this year.

Long Beach State improved to 2-0 and earned the respect of Pitt coach Jamie Dixon and his players, and probably much of the college basketball universe, as well.

Th 49ers went 22-12 last season, losing their conference tournament final to UC Santa Barbara. They were knocked out of the NCAA tourney in the opening round by Washington State, 85-74.

Coach K Gets 903rd Win, Most All-Time; Brown Scores 35 in Longhorn Victory, UCLA Now 0-2

College Hoops Player of the Day for DAY, Month, 2011

The atmosphere was electric at historic Madison Square Garden as Duke topped Michigan State, 74-69, earning win number 903 for coach Mike Krzyzewski to push him past his mentor, Bobby Knight, setting the record for most career wins by a head coach in college basketball history.

Andre Dawkins led all scorers with 26 points, on 8-of-15 shooting, including six 3-pointers. Duke opened a double-digit lead on the Spartans after forging a closely-played 34-33 first half lead and held off a spirited rally by Michigan State as time wound down.

Coach K is in his 32nd year of coaching the Blue Devils. His coaching career began at Indiana as an assistant under Knight in 1974. In 1975 he became head coach at Army, where he had played from 1965-1969. His record as coach at West Point was 73-59, and in 1980 was named head coach at Duke University, where he's compiled a stellar record of 830–225 (.787).

Coach Krzyzewski's lifetime college coaching record is 903–284 (.761). He has won four national championships, all with the Blue Devils.

The Texas Longhorns improved to 2-0 with a 100-90 win over Rhode Island. Leading the scoring parade for Texas was junior guard J'Covan Brown, who poured in 35 points to lead all scorers, hitting 10 of 22 field goals, including five three points. Brown was also 10-for-12 from the free throw line, with six assists and six boards.

Brown is fourth in the country in scoring, with a 31.5 average after scoring 28 points in Texas' season opening, 82-46 victory over Boston University on Sunday.

NOTABLE: After losing their season opener to Loyola Marymount, 69-58, Friday, the UCLA Bruins hit another, even lower point, losing to Middle Tennessee State on Tuesday night, 86-66. The Bruins shot just 37% against the Blue Raiders and hit just four of 20 3-pointers. The 0-2 start marks the first time the Bruins have lost the first two games of the season since 2002. It just could be that UCLA doesn't play defense. The Blue Raiders shot a blazing 71% from the field (35-for-49) and canned 11 of 12 from beyond the arc.

Pangos Hoists 33, Ties 3-Point Record for Gonzaga in Bulldog Victory over Washington State

College Hoops Player of the Day for Monday, November 14, 2011

Kevin Pangos missed all three shots he took from inside the 3-point arc in Gonzaga's 89-81 win over Washington State. Fortunately for the Bulldogs, he hit nine of 13 from outside the arc, tallying a career-high 33 points tying Dan Dickau's school record for made threes in a game to help the Zags move to 2-0 on the season.

Pangos, a 6'1" freshman guard, lit up the scoreboard for Gonzaga after scoring only 11 points in their season opening, 77-69, win over Eastern Washington on Friday.

In his 37 minutes, Pangos also dished six assists and grabbed a pair of rebounds. He was also 6-for-6 from the line, including two clutch free throws with time winding down. Center Robert Sacre, saddled with foul trouble much of the game, made six straight foul shots as the Bulldogs failed to score a field goal in the final five minutes, but held off a late rally by the Cougars. Sacre played only 23 minutes, but contributed from the charity stripe, making all 13 of his free throws.

The Bulldogs are expected to remain a force in the West Coast conference after being knocked out in the second round of last season's NCAA tournament by Jimmer Fredette and the BYU Cougars.

Brown Sparks Longhorns to Big, 82-46, Win over Boston U.

College Hoops Player of the Day for Sunday, November 13, 2011

Texas bombed Boston University, 82-46, outscoring the Terriers, 51-25 in the second half after taking a 31-21 lead into the break.

J'Covan Brown led all scorers with 28 points off 10-for-19 shooting, including making three of nine 3-pointers. Brown wasn't shy with his shot, nor with passing off to teammates, as he also led all players with eight assists.

Brown's 28 points tied his career best, set back in 2010 in an 80-68 loss to Kansas, the same team that beat the Longhorns in the Big 12 finals last season. Texas was ousted by Arizona in the second round of the NCAA tourney last Spring, 70-69, but there's plenty of optimism in the Lone Star State after opening the regular season with a lopsided win.

Brown, a 6'1" junior guard, is an 87% career free throw shooter. He canned five of six from the line on Sunday.

Arnett Moultrie Scores 28 as Bulldogs Roll; Coach K Ties Bobby Knight with Career Win 902

College Hoops Player of the Day for Saturday, November 12, 2011

Mississippi State's Arnett Moultrie was nearly unstoppable in the paint - and in front of it - hitting 9 of 16 shots from the field and 9 of 10 free throw attempts as the Bulldogs improved to 2-1 with an 80-65 win over the South Alabama Jaguars.

Mississippi opened a 44-29 half time lead and just stayed even with the Jaguars for the double digit win.

Moultrie, a 6'11" junior who sat out all of last season after transferring from UTEP, where he played two seasons, also ripped down 13 boards, seven of them on the offensive end, and also nailed one of two 3-pointers.

NOTABLE: After slipping narrowly by upset-minded Belmont, 77-76, on Friday, the Duke Blue Devils got coach Mike Krzyzewski win number 902 as they trounced Presbyterian, 96-55, tying him with Bobby Knight for the most career wins by a head coach. Coach K can claim the all-time record when the Blue Devils face Michigan State Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.

Mike Krzyzewski is in his 37th year of coaching. He began his career at Army before taking the head coaching job at Duke in 1980. He has a combined record of 902–283 (.786).

Jeremy Lamb Scores 30 as Defending Champion Huskies Open Season with Win

College Hoops Player of the Day for Friday, November 11, 2011

As a freshman, Jeremy Lamb played a key role down the stretch as the Connecticut Huskies rolled through the NCAA tourney field to capture the national championship.

Now a sophomore, Lamb, elevated to a starting role by coach Jim Calhoun, is set to lead the Huskies' campaign through the Big East.

In Connecticut's 70-57 win over Columbia Lamb topped all scorers with 30 points on 11-for-17 shooting, including 5 of 8 from 3-point range. The 6'5" sophomore played 38 minutes, torching the overmatched Lions from everywhere on the court. For good measure, he added a couple of assists, four steals, a block and three boards as the Huskies extended their win streak to 12 games, currently the longest in the nation, after steamrolling through the Big East and NCAA tournaments to the national championship.

Shabazz Napier, another sophomore, added 21 points, six rebounds and eight assists.

Barring any major mishaps, the Huskies should run their winning streak to at least 20 games, as they have eight home games ahead before Big East play begins on December 28 when the Huskies visit South Florida.

NOTABLE: One team that has to start a winning streak of their own would be the UCLA Bruins, who opened their season with a 69-58 home loss to Loyola Marymount.

The loss could be traced to poor shooting overall by the Bruins, especially starting guard Lazeric Jones, who was 1-for-11 (9.1%), including 0-for-3 from beyond the arc. UCLA shot 41% from the field (24-59) and were just 2-for-15 from 3-point range. Loyola Marymount took a 34-33 lead into intermission, but broke the game open in the second half, hitting 10-of-15 3-pointers for the game.

Steve Lavin Returns, St. John's Rallies for Win

College Hoops Player of the Day for Wednesday, November 9, 2011

The Red Storm of St. John's ran its record to 2-0 with a 78-73 victory over feisty Lehigh in the second round of of the 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer at Carneseca Arena.

Leading all scorers was God'sgift Achiuwa (yes, that's his real name), a 6'8" junior forward from Nigeria who spent his underclassman years at Erie Community College in upstate New York.

Achiuwa scored on every shot he took, going 6-for-6 from the field and canning all nine of his free throws for 21 points. He also hauled in eight rebounds and contributed a steal, a block and an assist.

St. John's trailed Lehigh for most of the game. Taking a 43-33 lead into half time, the Mountain Hawks held sway until the final few minutes, when St. John's used defensive pressure to gather up a few easy baskets, take the lead and hold on for the win.

The game was significant for St. John's in that it marked the return of head coach Steve Lavin, who had been away from the team for a cancer operation. Lavin's return was expected, though not quite this soon. He was originally scheduled to return to his team on Sunday, when the Red Storm faces Maryland-Baltimore County.

Following Sunday's game, St. John's heads to the familiarity of Madison Square Garden on November 17, when they tackle the Arizona Wildcats in the semifinal round of the K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer.

Regular Season Opens; Dee Bost Leads Miss. St. to 76-66 Victory

College Hoops Player of the Day for Monday, November 7, 2011

College basketball's regular season officially began Monday, and Dee Bost picked up where he left off last season, leading the Bulldogs to an opening night win over Eastern Kentucky, 76-66, with 23 points, leading all scorers.

Bost hit on 7 of 15 shots from the floor, including 4-for-8 from 3-point range. The senior point guard with dazzling speed and quickness added six rebounds, six assists and a pair of steals, though he exhibited some of the same casualness with the ball that cost Mississippi State some games last season, turning the ball over five times.

The Bulldogs ended last season on a sour note, losing in the quarterfinals of the SEC to Vanderbilt, 87-81, ending their season without an invite to either the NCAA or NIT tournament.

Bost, who missed the front end of last season, returned to the team in January, but could only help the Bulldogs to a 9-8 record, exclusively against SEC opponents. He managed to lead the team in assists per game, averaging 6.2, but also committed an average of 3.5 turnovers per outing.

The game was part of the opening round of the 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer, which is being played at various venues across the country.

UTEP transfer Arnett Moultrie added 13 points and 10 boards for a double-double in his first game as a Bulldog, sitting out last season according to NCAA rules. Freshman Rodney Hood added 12 points on 5-for-9 shooting including a pair of 3-pointers.

UConn Men Stand Taller, Capture 3rd Championship Under Calhoun

Connecticut 53 Butler 41

In a season in which the most recently dominant team - the UConn women's team - was ousted from their final game, the UConn men picked up the banner and carried it proudly to the men's national championship, the third for coach Jim Calhoun since 1999.

Connecticut took control midway through the second half, mostly due to the effort of freshman Jeremey Lamb whose steal and dunk with 13:38 to play, gave the Huskies a 5-point lead.

Lamb scored again and his alley-oop bucket from Shabazz Napier put the Huskies up 37-28 at the 11:00 minute mark. It was all UConn thereafter, expanding their lead to 14 points when Alex Oriaki completed a three-point play with 5:48 remaining. The game was essentially over at that point.

Shelvin Mack hit two straight 3-pointers with just under two minutes to play, but Kemba Walker ended the game with four straight free throws and the 53-41 final score, the lowest point total by a champion since 1949.

The Husky defense can also take pride in holding Butler to 18.8 shooting, an NCAA finals record.

At the end of a contentious half of basketball, Shelvin Mack's 3-pointer at the buzzer game the Bulldogs a 22-19 lead. Due to the defensive intensity neither team was distinguished shooting from the field.

The Huskies led with 24% (9-37) shooting. Butler shot just 21% from the field in the first half (6-28) UConn held a 20-17 rebounding edge, but Butler had seven offensive boards to Connecticut's five.

Butler hit 5 of 15 3-pointers; UConn was 0-7 in the first half from beyond the stripe.

Kemba Walker and Shelvin Mack each had 7 first half points to lead their teams.

Player of the game was Alex Oriakhi, with 11 points, 10 rebounds, 4 blocked shots and stellar defense inside. Butler scored their only points in the paint for the entire game with 6:05 left to play when Andrew Smith got loose for a layup.

The Huskies tied an NCAA championship game record with 10 blocked shots. Kemba Walker led all scorers with 16 points. Lamb had 12, all in the second half.

For Butler, Mack was the high scorer, with 13 points. For senior Matt Howard, his final game as a Bulldog will leave permanent bad memories. Howard was 1-for-13, scoring seven points, his lowest output since a 6-point effort against Marian, in Butler's first game of the season, on November 13, 2010.

At 68, coach Calhoun set another record. He became the oldest coach to win a national championship. He joins Mike Krzyzewski, Adolph Rupp, John Wooden and Bobby Knight as the only coaches to ever win three or more national titles.

The Huskies ended their regular season by losing four of their last five, finishing up with a 9-9 record in the Big East and 21-9 record overall. In tournament play, however, UConn had no equal. They won the Maui Invitational in December with three straight wins, then won the Big East tournament with five wins in five days. Their six straight in the NCAA tourney, stretched their winning streak to 11 games. They went the entire season without losing to any team outside the Big East, at 32-9.

2011 Final Four Semi-Final Recaps: Butler and Connecticut Prevail

The Butler Bulldogs and Connecticut Huskies advanced to the NCAA men's basketball national championship game with wins in semi-final matches on Saturday.

Butler 70 VCU 62 - Shelvin Mack scored 24 points and Butler's defense clamped down on the VCU Rams late in the contest, sending the Butler Bulldogs to their second consecutive national championship game appearance.

Mack was 8-for-11 from the field and canned 5 of 6 three-point attempts. Matt Howard, who was saddled with four fouls for the last nine minutes of the game, added 17 points, getting 11 of them from the charity stripe.

VCU battled gamely and stayed close until the final few minutes, when Butler exerted their dominance, thwarting VCU on their offensive trips while tacking on points as time wore down.

Jamie Skeen led all scorers with 27 points, but did not have enough support from his teammates. Bradford Burgess, who contributed 15, was the only other Ram to score more than 4 points.

Butler lost to Duke, 61-59 in last season's national championship game. 28-9 Butler has won 14 straight, the longest current streak in the nation.


Connecticut 56 Kentucky 55 - Shabazz Napier was only 1-for-7 from the field, but his two free throws with 2 seconds left gave UConn a 4-point lead and a trip to the national championship game against Butler, Monday night.

Brandon Knight hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer, but it was material only to the margin of victory.

The Huskies established a 10-point lead at the half, but the Wildcats came out of intermission on a mission and quickly tied the game and battled through long stretches with the Huskies, neither team able to gain an upper hand.

Player of the year runner-up, Kemba Walker, scored just 18 points, but still was the game's high scorer. Walker added six rebounds and seven assists. Jeremy Lamb added 12 points and eight rebounds.

The 31-9 Huskies, the #3 seed from the West region, will play the 28-9 Butler Bulldogs, the #8 seed from the Southeast region for the national championship on Monday night at 9:21 pm ET. The game will be televised live from Houston's Reliant Stadium, exclusively by CBS.

Bracket Breakdown: 2011 Final Four Semi-finals

The Final Four has gathered in Houston for a pair of Saturday semi-final games at Relaint Stadium that will determine the participants in Monday's National Championship game.

Here's a brief breakdown of the contestants and analysis of both games.


(11) VCU (28-11) vs. (8) Butler (27-9), 6:09 pm ET - Judging by the prevailing wisdom of both the bracket analyzers and the tournament committee itself, neither of these teams was supposed to make it this far. It's rare to get any team in with a higher seed than 6, much less get two in the same year.

The basketball gods have bestowed an additional gift by having them play each other, though both have proven their mettle against some of the best teams in the tournament.

VCU is by far the more athletic and energetic of the two teams. They will look to speed up the pace of the game and take advantage of any and all Butler mistakes, though the Bulldogs are a fairly disciplined bunch. VCU will probably opt to contest more than a few inbounds passes, a weakness of Butler's exposed against Wisconsin.

Additionally, VCU's inside presence may be more than Butler's Matt Howard and Andrew Smith can handle. VCU's Jamie Skeen, Juvonte Reddic and Toby Veal go 6'9", 6'9" and 6'8", respectively. While Howard will handle his end of the deal, Smith, though 6'11", is only a sophomore and doesn't possess the experience of the VCU forwards though freshman Khyle Marshall has given valuable minutes inside.

Both teams play solid man-to-man and zone defenses. VCU has been making a living at the 3-point line, with Bradford Burgess and Brandon Rozzell doing most of the damage. Butler's Shelvin Mack will have to be in top form to counter the VCU attack, especially speedy Joey Rodriguez.

Take nothing away from Butler. They are well-coached and know how to win close games. They currently possess the nation's longest active winning streak, at 13 games. VCU is a 2 1/2-point favorite and has more depth than the Bulldogs.


(4) Kentucky (29-8) vs. (3) Connecticut (30-9), 8:49 pm ET - Kentucky head coach John Calipari has - for the second year in a row - taken a group of talented freshmen and molded them into a cohesive unit capable of taking on any team in the country. Brandon Knight, Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb are all freshman and also are the team's three leading scorers. Juniors Darius Miller and DeAndre Liggins compose the remainder of the starting five, all of whom score in double figures besides Liggins, who checks in at 8.8 ppg.

The interior is the domain of Josh Harrleson, who has been magnificent on defense in the post and has contributed well to Kentucky's flow offense. Of all the teams in America, Kentucky probably has the most number of players who can make individual plays, a fact not lost on the Connecticut Huskies.

For UConn, the ball started rolling in Maui, when the Huskies unveiled Kemba Walker and won the Maui Classic, with wins over Wichita State, Michigan State and Kentucky, the final of the tourney going in an 84-67 rout, to Connecticut. The team the Huskies beat in Maui bears resemblance only in the most superficial way. Kentucky's players have matured considerably since that December date and are much more of a team than a bunch of individual future stars, as was the case back then.

UConn's game comes down to Walker, almost unavoidably and the Huskies seem to thrive on the tournament environment, having run through the Big East with five straight wins and four more in the NCCAs. Kentucky, however, also won the SEC tournament and is riding a 10-game streak.

Everybody on Kentucky will have a chance to guard Kemba Walker, as slick and elusive as he is. Walker has proven to be unguardable by a single player and his presence and quickness puts extra pressure on opposing defenses. He's been aided by the emergence of freshman Jeremy Lamb, the team's second leading scorer, who has come of age through the rigors of the tournament. He's a future star in his own right and will match up well against the Wildcats.

The Huskies will also have plenty to say on drives to the hoop and in the rebounding department with solid Alex Oriakhi and Charles Okwandu responsible for clogging the lane. The inside game will be very physical and not much of an advantage for either team.

The oddsmakers have Kentucky a 2 1/2-point favorite, hinged upon the Wildcats' ability to hold Walker in check and UConn's defense, which must contend every shot. Team depth favors the Huskies who will go nine deep into their bench, while Kentucky prefers to go with a six or seven man rotation.

Skeen's 26 in Win over Kansas Worth the Wait

College Hoops Player of the Day for Sunday, March 27, 2011

Virginia Commonwealth University? Not supposed to be in the Final Four, right?

Tell that to Jamie Skeen, VCU's 6'9" senior forward who took on the monstrous Morris twins of Kansas and sent them back to farm.

Skeen sat out a year (2008-09) when he transferred out of Wake Forest to VCU for an opportunity to play under the tutelage of head coach Shaka Smart. After scoring 26 points in the Rams' 71-61 victory over Kansas, his patience has been richly rewarded with a trip to the Final Four.

Skeen's 26 led all scorers and even though the Jayhawks outrebounded VCU, 45-35, Skeen battled in the lane all afternoon, hauling in 10 boards while helping get both Marcus and Markeif Morris in second half foul trouble.

Next up for the Rams is a trip to Houston, where they will take on the Butler Bulldogs, another small conference team with its sights set on winning the national championship. Tip time for the Saturday tilt is 6:09 pm EDT, followed by the other semi-final game, pitting Connecticut against Kentucky at 8:49 pm EDT.

Final Four Field Set: Rams and Wildcats Advance

The final two pieces of the Final Four puzzle fell into place Sunday as the VCU Rams pulled off a stunning upset of Kansas, eliminating the last of the #1 seeds and Kentucky vanquished North Carolina, sending the Wildcats to their first Final Four since 1998.

VCU 71 Kansas 61 - Criticized by many as being unworthy of inclusion into the NCAA field, the VCU Rams pounded the Kansas Jayhawks from the opening tip to the final buzzer, sending the last of the #1 seeds packing.

Seeded #11 after defeating USC in a play-in game, the Rams, representing the Colonial Athletic Conference, won their 5th straight tournament game, completing a sweep of five of the six "power" conferences. Virginia Commonwealth has beaten a team from the PAC-10 (USC), Big East (Georgetown), Big Ten (Purdue), SEC (Florida) and now, the Big 12 (Kansas). The only conference unscathed by the horn of the Rams is the ACC, and they were eliminated in the West regional when Kentucky knocked out North Carolina.

Led by Jamie Skeen's game high 26 points and 10 rebounds, the Rams opened up a double-digit lead early on the Jayhawks and never looked back. Kansas drew to within four points in the second half, but were turned away repeatedly by VCU's deadeye shooting and tenacious defense. VCU hit 12 of 25 3-pointers, holding Kansas to just 2-for-21 beyond the arc and 36% (22 of 62) overall.

It is VCU's first-ever Final Four appearance, and fittingly, they get to play another small conference team, the Butler Bulldogs, who emerged as the #8 seed from the Southwest region.

Kentucky 76 North Carolina 69 - The Wildcats led nearly the entire game and at one point in the second half were up by 11 points, but a resolute North Carolina squad brought the game to a tie in the closing minutes.

Brandon Knight made a three-pointer and hit three clutch free throws to ice the game. Sandwiched in between Knight's scores was another trey by DeAndre Liggins. North Carolina could not get the ball in the bucket in the final minute, sending the Wildcats on to face the Connecticut Huskies on Saturday, April 2nd in a semi-final match-up.

Knight was the game's high scorer with 22 points, one better than Carolina's Tyler Zeller. Knight also handled six rebounds and four assists, and was 5-for-11 from 3-point range. The Wildcats hit 12 of 22 three-point jacks, while the Tar Heels were only able to can 3 of 18 from beyond the arc. All five Kentucky starters finished in double figures.

Shelvin Mack Shines as Bulldogs Advance

College Hoops Player of the Day for Saturday, March 26, 2011

Over the past two seasons, the Butler Bulldogs have gone 9-1 in NCAA tournament games, the only loss coming by two points to Duke, in last year's finals.

Last season, the Bulldogs were led by Gordon Hayward, since gone to the NBA, so this year players - particularly seniors Matt Howard and Shelvin Mack - have had to step up their games. Butler plays extremely solid defense, but scoring usually falls to their leaders, but it is Mack who has the pure stroke to know down threes and open jumpers.

In Saturday's 74-71 overtime win against Florida, Mack provided a hefty share of offense, scoring a game-high 27 points, making four three-pointers, including a couple of key ones when Butler was making it's comeback late in the contest.

Mack has been money in Butler's four tourney wins. He scored 15 against Old Dominion, 30 against Pittsburgh and 13 in the Bulldogs' win over Wisconsin.

Elite Eight: Butler Serves Notice; Huskies Mush Toward Houston

Half of the Final Four was determined on Saturday as Butler and Connecticut advanced through to the gathering in Houston.

Butler 74 Florida 71, OT - Rallying from a nine-point deficit late in the game, the Bulldogs tied the Gators in regulation and completed their upset win in overtime, advancing to the Final Four out of the Southeast region.
Butler, the Cinderella of the 2010 tournament, lost in the final to Duke, and is repeating the historic run a year later. The Bulldogs, seeded eighth in their region, has won three games in nail-biting fashion, beating Old Dominion, 60-58 in the opening round, then knocking off #1 seed Pitt, 71-70, before topping Wisconsin, 61-54. The win on Saturday was their 13th straight, currently the longest winning streak in the country.

Shelvin Mack came p big for Butler, scoring 27 points to lead all scorers. The Bulldogs will face the winner of Sunday's VCU-Kansas match-up on Saturday in Houston.

Connecticut 65 Arizona 63 - Once again, the superlative Kemba Walker nailed a jumper that proved to be the winning score, lifting the Huskies in a hard-fought battle over Arizona.

Walker knocked down a 12-foot jump shot to give Connecticut a two point lead with 20 seconds left. The Wildcats had two chances at the win, opting for three-point shots, but missed both and ran out of time.

Walker finished with 20 points, seven assists and four rebounds. Freshman Jeremy Lamb contributed with a productive game, scoring 19 points, with four rebounds. Lamb also had a key steal late in the game that put UConn up by five points momentarily, late in the action.

This marks the third time Connecticut has reached the Final Four as a representative of the West region. The two previous times, they won the national championship.

Tyler Zeller Is North Carolina's Front Man

College Hoops Player of the Day for Friday, March 25, 2011

In North Carolina's 81-63 elimination of Marquette from the remaining tournament field, Tyler Zeller was just plain scary, dominating the paint on both ends of the floor, glowering and scowling his way to a game high 27 points.

Zeller, a junior on a team full of underclassmen, may be the elder statesman on the team, but his playing time at North Carolina isn't much more than that of many of his younger teammates, since he spent much of his freshman and sophomore years on the bench with injuries.

Now fully healthy, the lanky 7-footer has brought the Tar Heels to the brink of history. He had 32 points in North Carolina's tourney opener over LIU, then scored 23 in the nail-biter over Washington in the second round. In Friday's outing, Zeller tied teammate John Henson for top rebounding honors, with 12, grabbing 7 on the offensive end.

With his front court running mate Henson checking in 6'10", but with the reach of a man 7'3", the Tar Heels are as imposing and threatening up front as any team in the tournament.

Sweet 16 Results and Recaps - Friday Games

East

North Carolina 81 Marquette 63 - The Tar Heels used a swarming, oppressive defense to disrupt Marquette early and score frequently inside, racing to a 40-15 half time lead. Marquette held their own in the second half, but it was much to late to keep North Carolina from advancing. Tyler Zeller had another enormous game, notching 27 points to go with 17 rebounds, none of them on the offensive end.

Kentucky 62 Ohio State 60 - Brandon Knight's 15-foot jumper with 5.4 left broke a 60-all tie and Will Buford's 3-point heave at the buzzer fell short as the Wildcats pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the tournament. A hotly contested game throughout, neither team led by more than seven, and there was no margin of more than four points in the entire second half.

Ohio State's Jared Sullinger had his usual monster game with 21 points and 17 rebounds, but Kentucky's Josh Harrellson battled well inside, scoring 17 points and ripping down 10 boards on his own. DeAndre Liggins was lightning in a bottle in the latter stages of the second half, finishing with 15 points and 6 rebounds. He and Harrellson were the only Wildcats in double figures.

Kentucky's win left Kansas as the sole remaining #1 seed in the tournament.

North Carolina will play Kentucky on Sunday, for the right to play in the Final Four.

Southwest

Kansas 77 Richmond 57 - Simply too big, too fast and too talented for the Richmond Spiders to handle, Kansas quickly established a lead and expanded it over the first 20 minutes, leading 41-22 by half time. This was pretty much a team effort blowout, led by Brady Morningstar's 18 points. Nine different Jayhawks showed up on the scorer's sheet, evidence they are probably the deepest team remaining in the tournament.

VCU 72 Florida State 71 - In what had to be the most physical game of the tournament, the Seminoles and Rams found themselves stalemated at 65 through the first 40 minutes and forced into overtime to settle their differences.

The game boiled down to the inability of Florida State, the best defense in the nation, to defend an inbound pass under their own basket. With 7 seconds left, Joey Rodriguez triggered the ball into Bradford Burgess, who laid it in to give the Rams a one-point lead. Florida State players raced down court, but could not get off another shot.

Bradford, who had five of VCU's seven points in overtime, finished with a game-high 26 points on 9-for-16 shooting, including six of seven from 3-point range.

Kansas and VCU square off Sunday, the winner advancing to the Final Four in Houston.

Derrick Williams Leads Wildcats Past Duke, Into Elite 8

College Hoops Player of the Day for Thursday, March 24, 2011

On a night in which the three leading candidates for NCAA player of the year were all in action, Arizona's Derrick Williams outdid Kemba Walker, Nolan Smith and Jimmer Fredette.

Williams, only a sophomore, but possessive of enormous talent, led his youthful Wildcats to a stunning 93-77 rout of reigning national champion, Duke.

Hitting on 11 of 17 shots from the field, Williams showed both his inside and outside game, making 5 of 6 three-pointers en route to a game-high 32 points, also his career high. Duke had no answers for him on the boards, either, as Williams hauled in 13 rebounds, six of them on the offensive end.

The Wildcats, winners of the PAC-10 regular season and carrying a 30-7 record overall, advanced to the West region final on Saturday against the Connecticut Huskies.