News Category: NCAAB

Jared McCain, Duke aim to derail top-seeded Houston

Duke’s Jared McCain is hotter than lava, and Houston boasts the nation’s top defensive unit. Something has to give when McCain and the fourth-seeded Blue Devils (26-8) face top-seeded Houston (32-4) in the Sweet 16 on Friday night in the South Region in Dallas. McCain set a Duke NCAA Tournament record with eight 3-pointers in Sunday’s 93-55 trouncing of 12th-seeded James Madison in the second round. Quinn Cook held the old mark of seven, set

Terrence Shannon Jr., Illinois take on Iowa State’s D in Sweet 16

BOSTON — If Iowa State wants to reach the Elite Eight for the first time since 2000, it will have to find a way to get through Terrence Shannon Jr. Shannon is a perfect 6-0 against the Cyclones, and he will have a chance to improve that record on Thursday when Illinois and Iowa State meet in a battle of East Region teams in the Sweet 16. All six of Shannon’s previous victories vs. the

San Diego State out to avenge title game loss to UConn

BOSTON — San Diego State didn’t have to wait long for another shot at UConn in the NCAA Tournament. Less than a year after falling to the Huskies in the national championship game, the Aztecs will have a chance to redeem themselves on Thursday when the East Region teams collide in the Sweet 16. Fifth-seeded San Diego State (26-10) seemed eager to set up a rematch with the defending national champions, putting together an 85-57

Unsung heroes help Clemson, Arizona compete in Sweet 16

LOS ANGELES — In reaching Thursday’s NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 matchup in the West Region, No. 2 seed Arizona and No. 6 Clemson both showed there is more to their success than stars Caleb Love and PJ Hall. “It’s so crazy on this team. It can be one guy’s night, then the next guy’s night, doesn’t really matter,” Arizona guard Kylan Boswell said following the Wildcats’ 78-68 win Saturday against Dayton. Boswell buoyed Arizona (27-8)

Seton Hall looking to extend NIT run against UNLV

While the Big East Conference got a mere three teams into the NCAA Tournament (and all three advanced to the Sweet 16), the conference’s fourth-best squad has started 2-0 in the NIT. Seton Hall, an NCAA snub and a No. 1 seed in the NIT, will host UNLV in the quarterfinals on Wednesday in South Orange, N.J. The winner heads to Indianapolis next week for the tournament’s semifinals and championship game. Coach Shaheen Holloway was

No. 1 Indiana State duels No. 2 Cincinnati for NIT semifinal berth

Two teams with rich basketball history meet Tuesday night when Indiana State hosts Cincinnati in the NIT quarterfinals in Terre Haute, Ind. The winner advances to the NIT semifinals April 2 at Hinkle Fieldhouse on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis. Indiana State is a current member of the Missouri Valley Conference; Cincinnati won its two national championships in 1961 and ’62 while in that conference. The Sycamores (30-6), the top seed in the

No. 4 Georgia aims for another NIT road surprise at Ohio State

The NIT is a second chance for programs that, for whatever reason, didn’t make the NCAA Tournament. In the case of the Georgia Bulldogs (19-16), they lost four of their final five regular-season games followed by one win in the SEC tournament before being eliminated. But the No. 4 seed Bulldogs’ 72-66 road win Sunday against top seed Wake Forest puts them a game away from reaching the NIT semifinals if they can defeat host

UNLV, Boston College meet for first time in NIT

After a cross-country trip and a local rivalry renewed produced road victories earlier this week, UNLV hosts Boston College as the teams meet for the first time ever in the NIT’s second round on Sunday night. UNLV (20-12) earned the home game following Wednesday’s 84-77 upset at second-seeded Princeton, which was the program’s first postseason win in 16 years and this club’s 11th win in its last 14 games. The Runnin’ Rebels trailed by two

Iowa, Utah battle for spot in NIT quarterfinals

It isn’t the NCAA Tournament, but that didn’t take any satisfaction away from Utah or Iowa after they won their first NIT games earlier this week. The Utes (20-14) earned their first 20-win season in five years with an 84-75 win over UC Irvine on Tuesday night. The Hawkeyes (19-14) were also happy to advance after defeating Kansas State 91-82 that same night. The teams will meet Sunday night when No. 2 seed Utah hosts

No. 13 Yale eyes another shocker vs. San Diego State

Fifth-seeded San Diego State is aiming for a Sweet 16 appearance to piggyback on last year’s run to the NCAA title game. But Yale has a bigger milestone to shoot for when the teams meet in Sunday’s East Region second-round clash at Spokane, Wash. The 13th-seeded Bulldogs (23-9) notched a 78-76 upset of No. 4 Auburn on Friday for the program’s second-ever NCAA Tournament victory. Now Yale has a chance to join last season’s Princeton