Rothstein: The Breakfast Buffet — March Madness Edition
“College Hoops Today has learned that if the Red Storm prioritize him, they’ll likely have a leg up for his services.”
https://collegehoopstoday.com/index...he-breakfast-buffet-march-madness-edition-32/
Rothstein: BRACKET BREAKDOWN: MARCH 11TH
https://www.fanduel.com/theduel/posts/bracket-breakdown-march-11th-01gv8d6v9rtd
Alabama
Tuscaloosa News: Alabama basketball is being painted as new, ugly face of win-at-all-costs
https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/stor...rius-miles-capital-murder-charge/69968019007/
Alabama.com: SEC commissioner Greg Sankey addresses Darius Miles’ situation for 1st time
“When Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey addressed Missouri athletes last September he knew he’d sound like a parent. Sankey handed out little cards stressing the importance of individual “decision-making” as he usually does when speaking to groups. He reiterated that point during a press conference during the SEC men’s basketball tournament.
Sankey spoke on the potential of adding educational courses to member schools in light of the recent legal issues facing former Alabama basketball player Darius Miles and former Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter. Without mentioning any specific individual, Sankey stressed the importance of “decision-making.”
“The key to life is decision-making,” Sankey said. “If can figure out how to make better decisions in life, you’re going to have a better life. ... There’s not a lot of good in life that happens between midnight and 5 a.m. unless you’re working at a hospital as a doctor or a nurse because you’re helping people. You have to make decisions in advance about how you’re gonna live and often times decisions in certain areas are the best decisions you make. Where I’m gonna be? Who I’m gonna be around? I’m confident because I’ve asked the question that that type of training, education, counseling and communication is included within our athletic programs. ... We’ll have candid opportunities, just like we did back in 2015 after the football team took a stand at Missouri. We had to learn from the summer of 2020. After the shooting in Charleston, I was asked about certain position statements. I’ve been very intentional about some key things. ... But recent events will broaden that dialogue.”
https://www.al.com/alabamabasketbal...sses-darius-miles-situation-for-1st-time.html
The Tennessean: Alabama's Brandon Miller returns home a villain, a star and still just a kid
https://www.tennessean.com/story/sp...all-shooting-sec-tournament-2023/69941125007/
Rodak Alabama.com: “With less than 36 hours until the NCAA selection show, Alabama remains the No. 2 overall seed in Joe Lunardi’s bracketology, with the continued expectation it will play in Birmingham then in the south regional in Louisville.”
Arizona State
AZ Central: Arizona surges past Arizona State in Pac-12 semifinal, now Sun Devils wait and hope
https://www.azcentral.com/story/spo...nal-now-sun-devils-wait-and-hope/69996059007/
Auburn
Alabama.com: What’s next for Auburn basketball?
https://www.al.com/auburnbasketball/2023/03/whats-next-for-auburn-basketball.html?outputType=amp
Clemson
Clemson Kickoff: “Sunday is going to be a long day but Lunardi is right. If Clemson doesn't get in, it's all about the nonconference schedule. That's something you can control. It's probably best to not schedule The Citadel, USC Upstate, Towson, Bellermine, Loyola, MD. Play more P6 teams.”
Duke
Fayetteville Observer: 'He's battled': Duke basketball’s Dariq Whitehead gaining confidence at ACC Tournament
https://www.fayobserver.com/story/s...nament-march-madness-jon-scheyer/69978964007/
Biancardi: “Duke’s offense during their current eight-game winning streak, has been impressive.
They are averaging 77.4 points on shooting 49.9 % FG, 36.9 % from three, and 79.2% at the free throw line.
Lively, Whitehead and Proctor have developed to help. Practice & patience are vital.”
East Tennessee State
Johnson City Press: Oliver out as ETSU basketball coach
https://www.johnsoncitypress.com/sp...cle_bd42c50e-bf64-11ed-983c-b7f00c5e55ef.html
Georgia Tech
ESPN: Georgia Tech fires men's basketball coach Josh Pastner
“Anthony Wilkins, who has been on Georgia Tech's staff since 2018, will serve as the interim coach while the school conducts a search for Pastner's successor. Tech's search will lean toward a coach who can capture Atlanta's rich recruiting resources, sources told ESPN.
This will be the second significant hire for Batt, who also promoted assistant Brent Key to head coach in football after the 2022 season. Batt, who came from Alabama, has a background in fundraising and plans to be aggressive with NIL (name, image and likeness). He watched Crimson Tide basketball coach Nate Oats arrive in Tuscaloosa and quickly build that program into a national title contender, and he hopes to use a similar blueprint at Tech.”
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-b...re-basketball-coach-josh-pastner?platform=amp
The Athletic: Georgia Tech fires basketball coach Josh Pastner after 7 seasons: Why now and what’s next
https://theathletic.com/4296119/2023/03/10/josh-pastner-fired-georgia-tech/?amp=1
Grambling
Heat Check College Basketball: “Grambling advanced to Saturday's SWAC championship game and is now 40 minutes away from its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.
Ten years ago, Grambling State went 0-28.”
Grand Canyon
AZ Central: Grand Canyon one win away from reaching NCAA Tournament after knocking off top seed in WAC
“It was the local kid from Phoenix, Noah Baumann, in his final college season, nailing the biggest basket of the year, a deep 3 that gave GCU a 76-73 lead with 51 seconds to play. He ended up with 17 points and made 4 of 7 3s.”
https://www.azcentral.com/story/spo...-punching-ncaa-tournament-ticket/69996614007/
Indiana
Indianapolis Star: “Most nights, IU has the two best players on the court in superstar Trayce Jackson-Davis and emerging star Jalen Hood-Schifino. That's handy in March, starting with this Big Ten tourney opener against Maryland:”
“For better or worse, Indiana's formula is simple now, at a point in the calendar when simple tends to work.
A tight rotation, dug-in defense and feeding the big dogs -- it can play in March, as Friday night proved.”
Kentucky
Schwab Yahoo Sports: Kentucky's season gets worse, as Wildcats get ousted by Vanderbilt in SEC tournament
https://sports.yahoo.com/kentuckys-...y-vanderbilt-in-sec-tournament-045123153.html
Calipari: "We've shown who we are. We're capable of beating anybody. Hate to tell you, but we're capable of getting beat by anybody."
John Clay: “Since 2019, Kentucky is 2-4 in the SEC Tournament”
Marquette
The Athletic: Marquette will play for Big East title Saturday. The reason why starts with Shaka Smart
theathletic.com
Memphis
Commercial Appeal: Memphis basketball outlasts UCF thanks to performances from Kendric Davis, DeAndre Williams
https://www.commercialappeal.com/st...ndre-williams-lead-tigers-to-win/69971217007/
Munz Commercial Appeal: “Kendric Davis (33) and DeAndre Williams (35) are the 1st Memphis teammates with 30+ points in the same game since Larry Finch (34) and Don Holcomb (31) on 1/8/71 in a win over Bradley.”
Michigan State
Detroit Free Press: Michigan State basketball stunned in Big Ten tournament by Ohio State, 68-58
https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state/spartans/2023/03/10/michigan-state-basketball-game-recap-ohio-state-buckeyes-big-tentournament/69994548007/
Missouri
St. Louis Post Dispatch: Mizzou extends basketball coach Dennis Gates' contract, pushes salary to $4 million
https://www.stltoday.com/sports/col...cle_c1651a70-c5c9-5a44-a99f-c03f6aecbd83.html
St. Louis Post Dispatch: Snubbed by SEC awards, D’Moi Hodge does it all for Mizzou in SEC tournament victory over Tennessee
https://www.stltoday.com/sports/col...cle_d7bed901-e0f5-5469-be8d-7eca5d86452c.html
North Carolina
SB Nation: Grappling with the end of a disappointing season for UNC Basketball
https://www.tarheelblog.com/platfor...is-love-bacot-nance-black-ncaa-acc-tournament
Ohio State
Rothstein: “Ohio State's Brice Sensabaugh (knee) is OUT for the remainder of the season, per release. Averages 16.3 PPG. Buckeyes play Purdue today in the Big Ten Tournament.”
Cleveland Plain Dealer: Ohio State basketball is 2 wins away from accomplishing a rare feat
https://www.cleveland.com/osu/2023/...accomplishing-a-rare-feat.html?outputType=amp
The Athletic: Ohio State basketball’s future is beginning at the Big Ten tournament
Young is not the way to go in college basketball — not the successful route, at least. The transfer portal has allowed everyone to put their rosters in a near time machine, aging young teams with a few phone calls. Going young with intent is not merely going retro; it’s going rogue.
“It was difficult, really difficult,” Holtmann said. “Maybe the most difficult year of my career. But Gene told me he wanted me to build a foundation. He didn’t want me to take a lot of transfers. I just said, ‘Are you sure?’”
“I was,” Smith told The Athletic. “I knew we might take some lumps and there would be some heat. But this is the right way to go. If you have young guys and you’re not giving them playing time, why would they stay? We want to build something, and to do that you need talented people who are going to be with us for a while.”
https://theathletic.com/4297090/2023/03/10/ohio-state-big-ten-tournament-holtmann/?amp=1
Oregon
Oregon Live: Jermaine Couisnard, Nate Bittle returning to Oregon men’s basketball in 2023-24
https://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/20...ens-basketball-in-2023-24.html?outputType=amp
Penn State
State College.com: Penn State Men’s Basketball Headed to Big Ten Tournament Semifinals with Overtime Win Against Northwestern
https://www.statecollege.com/articl...inals-with-overtime-win-against-northwestern/
Purdue
Journal & Courier: Big Ten Tournament: Veteran guards step up for Purdue basketball in win over Rutgers
https://www.jconline.com/story/spor...e-basketball-in-win-over-rutgers/69995397007/
St. John’s
NYP: St. John’s now sets sights on Rick Pitino to turn program around
https://nypost.com/2023/03/11/st-johns-now-sets-sights-on-rick-pitino-to-turn-program-around/
St. Louis
St. Louis Post Dispatch: SLU basketball reaches critical moment with investment in local talent
https://www.stltoday.com/sports/col...cle_2514831d-0ba6-5cf7-8c63-e2950f981691.html
South Carolina
The State: Under construction: Gamecocks have pieces in place, but Lamont Paris is still building
“Point guard Meechie Johnson, an Ohio State transfer, thrilled fans with his deep 3-point shooting and established himself as a team leader. He said after Wednesday’s loss that he “100%” planned to return next season and that he trusted Paris’ vision. Fellow starters Josh Gray and Jacobi Wright indicated they plan to return, as well.
Outside of the 24-year-old Citadel transfer Hayden Brown and Johnson, the Gamecocks roster leaned heavily on underclassmen. GG Jackson, of course, was the biggest and brightest name. His commitment to South Carolina was viewed as a massive coup for Paris before the season. And though the 18-year-old led the Gamecocks in scoring (15.4 ppg), his immature moments proved to be a liability for the Gamecocks at times. But Jackson finished his season on a strong note in Nashville. Though it’s very possible Jackson declares for the NBA Draft this offseason, it says something about Paris’ coaching ability that he was able to navigate Jackson’s infamous Instagram video rant and occasional poor body language and coax the best out of him on the SEC tournament stage. Other players took leaps, like Gray’s evolution as a top-10 rebounder in the SEC, Wright’s growth as a scorer and freshman Zachary Davis’ emergence as a tenacious defender in the team’s 1-3-1 zone scheme. But there’s no question Paris and his staff need to add more pieces. Many more. The Gamecocks are especially thin in the post, with their big men struggling to impact games for much of the season — Gray excluded.”
Southern Utah
Rothstein: “The Dark Side of March is real.
Utah Valley led Southern Utah by 23.
Then by 3 with seconds to play.
A four-point play followed and a one-point loss.
Gates of Hell level brutality.”
Stanford
SF Chronicle: Jerod Haase to return as Stanford men’s basketball coach
https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/...return-stanford-men-s-basketball-17832315.php
Syracuse
Syracuse.com: Syracuse basketball’s new era kicks off as part celebration, part make-up call
https://www.syracuse.com/orangebask...bration-part-make-up-call.html?outputType=amp
Texas
Wolken USA Today: Texas coaching situation will get incredibly awkward if interim coach leads team to Final Four
https://www.usatoday.com/story/spor...m-coach-rodney-terry-chris-beard/11446297002/
Texas Tech
Lubbock Avalanche Journal: Tech appoints basketball coaching search committee, hires firm
https://www.lubbockonline.com/story...hing-search-committee-hires-firm/69995468007/
Vanderbilt
The Tennessean: Vanderbilt basketball defeats Kentucky in SEC Tournament following cylinder violation foul
https://www.tennessean.com/story/sp...ec-tournament-cylinder-violation/69996646007/
Rocco Miller: “Jerry Stackhouse on SEC Network interview talked about building a Saint Peter's-like mentality, looking to string 10 or 11 wins in a row. Later, he gave the SECN crew onsite a hard time because they never pick Vandy to win in the pregame shows.
Commodores have an edge to them.”
Borzello: “Vanderbilt is making things awfully interesting on the bubble. With Clemson losing, the Commodores are only team left that can play themselves from out of the field to in the field. If Arizona State & Utah State win tonight, who’s most at risk from Vandy’s surge? Pitt? NC State?”
Rothstein: “Vanderbilt continues to surge. And it's happening without Liam Robbins. Dores beat Kentucky for the second time in a month to advance to the SEC semis.
There's not many coaches in America doing a better job than Jerry Stackhouse right now.”
Hardwire Sports: “Vanderbilt entered today ranked 82nd in the NET and 77.0 across the three quality metrics. Expect all to rise.
The Commodores were already top 45 in resume ranks, ahead of Iowa, Miss St, Nevada, Oklahoma State, UNC, ASU, Rutgers, Clemson, Wisconsin, Pitt, and Providence.
I’m not saying Vanderbilt will make the field but you’d be hard-pressed to find that many teams playing better.
The Commodores have made a legit push; they have to keep it going AND hope the committee is still paying attention (see 2022 TAMU).
Virginia
Biancardi: “Virginia over Clemson 76-56. UVAMensHoops now moves on to the the ACC championship game tonight against Duke. Under head coach Tony Bennett, Virginia is 157-11 when scoring at least 70 points.”
Washington
Seattle Times: Will Keion Brooks Jr. return for another season with Husky men’s basketball team?
https://www.seattletimes.com/sports...ther-season-with-husky-mens-basketball/?amp=1
“College Hoops Today has learned that if the Red Storm prioritize him, they’ll likely have a leg up for his services.”
https://collegehoopstoday.com/index...he-breakfast-buffet-march-madness-edition-32/
Rothstein: BRACKET BREAKDOWN: MARCH 11TH
https://www.fanduel.com/theduel/posts/bracket-breakdown-march-11th-01gv8d6v9rtd
Alabama
Tuscaloosa News: Alabama basketball is being painted as new, ugly face of win-at-all-costs
https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/stor...rius-miles-capital-murder-charge/69968019007/
Alabama.com: SEC commissioner Greg Sankey addresses Darius Miles’ situation for 1st time
“When Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey addressed Missouri athletes last September he knew he’d sound like a parent. Sankey handed out little cards stressing the importance of individual “decision-making” as he usually does when speaking to groups. He reiterated that point during a press conference during the SEC men’s basketball tournament.
Sankey spoke on the potential of adding educational courses to member schools in light of the recent legal issues facing former Alabama basketball player Darius Miles and former Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter. Without mentioning any specific individual, Sankey stressed the importance of “decision-making.”
“The key to life is decision-making,” Sankey said. “If can figure out how to make better decisions in life, you’re going to have a better life. ... There’s not a lot of good in life that happens between midnight and 5 a.m. unless you’re working at a hospital as a doctor or a nurse because you’re helping people. You have to make decisions in advance about how you’re gonna live and often times decisions in certain areas are the best decisions you make. Where I’m gonna be? Who I’m gonna be around? I’m confident because I’ve asked the question that that type of training, education, counseling and communication is included within our athletic programs. ... We’ll have candid opportunities, just like we did back in 2015 after the football team took a stand at Missouri. We had to learn from the summer of 2020. After the shooting in Charleston, I was asked about certain position statements. I’ve been very intentional about some key things. ... But recent events will broaden that dialogue.”
https://www.al.com/alabamabasketbal...sses-darius-miles-situation-for-1st-time.html
The Tennessean: Alabama's Brandon Miller returns home a villain, a star and still just a kid
https://www.tennessean.com/story/sp...all-shooting-sec-tournament-2023/69941125007/
Rodak Alabama.com: “With less than 36 hours until the NCAA selection show, Alabama remains the No. 2 overall seed in Joe Lunardi’s bracketology, with the continued expectation it will play in Birmingham then in the south regional in Louisville.”
Arizona State
AZ Central: Arizona surges past Arizona State in Pac-12 semifinal, now Sun Devils wait and hope
https://www.azcentral.com/story/spo...nal-now-sun-devils-wait-and-hope/69996059007/
Auburn
Alabama.com: What’s next for Auburn basketball?
https://www.al.com/auburnbasketball/2023/03/whats-next-for-auburn-basketball.html?outputType=amp
Clemson
Clemson Kickoff: “Sunday is going to be a long day but Lunardi is right. If Clemson doesn't get in, it's all about the nonconference schedule. That's something you can control. It's probably best to not schedule The Citadel, USC Upstate, Towson, Bellermine, Loyola, MD. Play more P6 teams.”
Duke
Fayetteville Observer: 'He's battled': Duke basketball’s Dariq Whitehead gaining confidence at ACC Tournament
https://www.fayobserver.com/story/s...nament-march-madness-jon-scheyer/69978964007/
Biancardi: “Duke’s offense during their current eight-game winning streak, has been impressive.
They are averaging 77.4 points on shooting 49.9 % FG, 36.9 % from three, and 79.2% at the free throw line.
Lively, Whitehead and Proctor have developed to help. Practice & patience are vital.”
East Tennessee State
Johnson City Press: Oliver out as ETSU basketball coach
https://www.johnsoncitypress.com/sp...cle_bd42c50e-bf64-11ed-983c-b7f00c5e55ef.html
Georgia Tech
ESPN: Georgia Tech fires men's basketball coach Josh Pastner
“Anthony Wilkins, who has been on Georgia Tech's staff since 2018, will serve as the interim coach while the school conducts a search for Pastner's successor. Tech's search will lean toward a coach who can capture Atlanta's rich recruiting resources, sources told ESPN.
This will be the second significant hire for Batt, who also promoted assistant Brent Key to head coach in football after the 2022 season. Batt, who came from Alabama, has a background in fundraising and plans to be aggressive with NIL (name, image and likeness). He watched Crimson Tide basketball coach Nate Oats arrive in Tuscaloosa and quickly build that program into a national title contender, and he hopes to use a similar blueprint at Tech.”
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-b...re-basketball-coach-josh-pastner?platform=amp
The Athletic: Georgia Tech fires basketball coach Josh Pastner after 7 seasons: Why now and what’s next
https://theathletic.com/4296119/2023/03/10/josh-pastner-fired-georgia-tech/?amp=1
Grambling
Heat Check College Basketball: “Grambling advanced to Saturday's SWAC championship game and is now 40 minutes away from its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.
Ten years ago, Grambling State went 0-28.”
Grand Canyon
AZ Central: Grand Canyon one win away from reaching NCAA Tournament after knocking off top seed in WAC
“It was the local kid from Phoenix, Noah Baumann, in his final college season, nailing the biggest basket of the year, a deep 3 that gave GCU a 76-73 lead with 51 seconds to play. He ended up with 17 points and made 4 of 7 3s.”
https://www.azcentral.com/story/spo...-punching-ncaa-tournament-ticket/69996614007/
Indiana
Indianapolis Star: “Most nights, IU has the two best players on the court in superstar Trayce Jackson-Davis and emerging star Jalen Hood-Schifino. That's handy in March, starting with this Big Ten tourney opener against Maryland:”
“For better or worse, Indiana's formula is simple now, at a point in the calendar when simple tends to work.
A tight rotation, dug-in defense and feeding the big dogs -- it can play in March, as Friday night proved.”
Kentucky
Schwab Yahoo Sports: Kentucky's season gets worse, as Wildcats get ousted by Vanderbilt in SEC tournament
https://sports.yahoo.com/kentuckys-...y-vanderbilt-in-sec-tournament-045123153.html
Calipari: "We've shown who we are. We're capable of beating anybody. Hate to tell you, but we're capable of getting beat by anybody."
John Clay: “Since 2019, Kentucky is 2-4 in the SEC Tournament”
Marquette
The Athletic: Marquette will play for Big East title Saturday. The reason why starts with Shaka Smart
Who owns the Garden? Right now it's Shaka Smart's Marquette
The Golden Eagles won the regular season title. Now they're a game away from cutting down the nets at Madison Square Garden.
theathletic.com
Memphis
Commercial Appeal: Memphis basketball outlasts UCF thanks to performances from Kendric Davis, DeAndre Williams
https://www.commercialappeal.com/st...ndre-williams-lead-tigers-to-win/69971217007/
Munz Commercial Appeal: “Kendric Davis (33) and DeAndre Williams (35) are the 1st Memphis teammates with 30+ points in the same game since Larry Finch (34) and Don Holcomb (31) on 1/8/71 in a win over Bradley.”
Michigan State
Detroit Free Press: Michigan State basketball stunned in Big Ten tournament by Ohio State, 68-58
https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state/spartans/2023/03/10/michigan-state-basketball-game-recap-ohio-state-buckeyes-big-tentournament/69994548007/
Missouri
St. Louis Post Dispatch: Mizzou extends basketball coach Dennis Gates' contract, pushes salary to $4 million
https://www.stltoday.com/sports/col...cle_c1651a70-c5c9-5a44-a99f-c03f6aecbd83.html
St. Louis Post Dispatch: Snubbed by SEC awards, D’Moi Hodge does it all for Mizzou in SEC tournament victory over Tennessee
https://www.stltoday.com/sports/col...cle_d7bed901-e0f5-5469-be8d-7eca5d86452c.html
North Carolina
SB Nation: Grappling with the end of a disappointing season for UNC Basketball
https://www.tarheelblog.com/platfor...is-love-bacot-nance-black-ncaa-acc-tournament
Ohio State
Rothstein: “Ohio State's Brice Sensabaugh (knee) is OUT for the remainder of the season, per release. Averages 16.3 PPG. Buckeyes play Purdue today in the Big Ten Tournament.”
Cleveland Plain Dealer: Ohio State basketball is 2 wins away from accomplishing a rare feat
https://www.cleveland.com/osu/2023/...accomplishing-a-rare-feat.html?outputType=amp
The Athletic: Ohio State basketball’s future is beginning at the Big Ten tournament
Young is not the way to go in college basketball — not the successful route, at least. The transfer portal has allowed everyone to put their rosters in a near time machine, aging young teams with a few phone calls. Going young with intent is not merely going retro; it’s going rogue.
“It was difficult, really difficult,” Holtmann said. “Maybe the most difficult year of my career. But Gene told me he wanted me to build a foundation. He didn’t want me to take a lot of transfers. I just said, ‘Are you sure?’”
“I was,” Smith told The Athletic. “I knew we might take some lumps and there would be some heat. But this is the right way to go. If you have young guys and you’re not giving them playing time, why would they stay? We want to build something, and to do that you need talented people who are going to be with us for a while.”
https://theathletic.com/4297090/2023/03/10/ohio-state-big-ten-tournament-holtmann/?amp=1
Oregon
Oregon Live: Jermaine Couisnard, Nate Bittle returning to Oregon men’s basketball in 2023-24
https://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/20...ens-basketball-in-2023-24.html?outputType=amp
Penn State
State College.com: Penn State Men’s Basketball Headed to Big Ten Tournament Semifinals with Overtime Win Against Northwestern
https://www.statecollege.com/articl...inals-with-overtime-win-against-northwestern/
Purdue
Journal & Courier: Big Ten Tournament: Veteran guards step up for Purdue basketball in win over Rutgers
https://www.jconline.com/story/spor...e-basketball-in-win-over-rutgers/69995397007/
St. John’s
NYP: St. John’s now sets sights on Rick Pitino to turn program around
https://nypost.com/2023/03/11/st-johns-now-sets-sights-on-rick-pitino-to-turn-program-around/
St. Louis
St. Louis Post Dispatch: SLU basketball reaches critical moment with investment in local talent
https://www.stltoday.com/sports/col...cle_2514831d-0ba6-5cf7-8c63-e2950f981691.html
South Carolina
The State: Under construction: Gamecocks have pieces in place, but Lamont Paris is still building
“Point guard Meechie Johnson, an Ohio State transfer, thrilled fans with his deep 3-point shooting and established himself as a team leader. He said after Wednesday’s loss that he “100%” planned to return next season and that he trusted Paris’ vision. Fellow starters Josh Gray and Jacobi Wright indicated they plan to return, as well.
Outside of the 24-year-old Citadel transfer Hayden Brown and Johnson, the Gamecocks roster leaned heavily on underclassmen. GG Jackson, of course, was the biggest and brightest name. His commitment to South Carolina was viewed as a massive coup for Paris before the season. And though the 18-year-old led the Gamecocks in scoring (15.4 ppg), his immature moments proved to be a liability for the Gamecocks at times. But Jackson finished his season on a strong note in Nashville. Though it’s very possible Jackson declares for the NBA Draft this offseason, it says something about Paris’ coaching ability that he was able to navigate Jackson’s infamous Instagram video rant and occasional poor body language and coax the best out of him on the SEC tournament stage. Other players took leaps, like Gray’s evolution as a top-10 rebounder in the SEC, Wright’s growth as a scorer and freshman Zachary Davis’ emergence as a tenacious defender in the team’s 1-3-1 zone scheme. But there’s no question Paris and his staff need to add more pieces. Many more. The Gamecocks are especially thin in the post, with their big men struggling to impact games for much of the season — Gray excluded.”
Southern Utah
Rothstein: “The Dark Side of March is real.
Utah Valley led Southern Utah by 23.
Then by 3 with seconds to play.
A four-point play followed and a one-point loss.
Gates of Hell level brutality.”
Stanford
SF Chronicle: Jerod Haase to return as Stanford men’s basketball coach
https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/...return-stanford-men-s-basketball-17832315.php
Syracuse
Syracuse.com: Syracuse basketball’s new era kicks off as part celebration, part make-up call
https://www.syracuse.com/orangebask...bration-part-make-up-call.html?outputType=amp
Texas
Wolken USA Today: Texas coaching situation will get incredibly awkward if interim coach leads team to Final Four
https://www.usatoday.com/story/spor...m-coach-rodney-terry-chris-beard/11446297002/
Texas Tech
Lubbock Avalanche Journal: Tech appoints basketball coaching search committee, hires firm
https://www.lubbockonline.com/story...hing-search-committee-hires-firm/69995468007/
Vanderbilt
The Tennessean: Vanderbilt basketball defeats Kentucky in SEC Tournament following cylinder violation foul
https://www.tennessean.com/story/sp...ec-tournament-cylinder-violation/69996646007/
Rocco Miller: “Jerry Stackhouse on SEC Network interview talked about building a Saint Peter's-like mentality, looking to string 10 or 11 wins in a row. Later, he gave the SECN crew onsite a hard time because they never pick Vandy to win in the pregame shows.
Commodores have an edge to them.”
Borzello: “Vanderbilt is making things awfully interesting on the bubble. With Clemson losing, the Commodores are only team left that can play themselves from out of the field to in the field. If Arizona State & Utah State win tonight, who’s most at risk from Vandy’s surge? Pitt? NC State?”
Rothstein: “Vanderbilt continues to surge. And it's happening without Liam Robbins. Dores beat Kentucky for the second time in a month to advance to the SEC semis.
There's not many coaches in America doing a better job than Jerry Stackhouse right now.”
Hardwire Sports: “Vanderbilt entered today ranked 82nd in the NET and 77.0 across the three quality metrics. Expect all to rise.
The Commodores were already top 45 in resume ranks, ahead of Iowa, Miss St, Nevada, Oklahoma State, UNC, ASU, Rutgers, Clemson, Wisconsin, Pitt, and Providence.
I’m not saying Vanderbilt will make the field but you’d be hard-pressed to find that many teams playing better.
The Commodores have made a legit push; they have to keep it going AND hope the committee is still paying attention (see 2022 TAMU).
Virginia
Biancardi: “Virginia over Clemson 76-56. UVAMensHoops now moves on to the the ACC championship game tonight against Duke. Under head coach Tony Bennett, Virginia is 157-11 when scoring at least 70 points.”
Washington
Seattle Times: Will Keion Brooks Jr. return for another season with Husky men’s basketball team?
https://www.seattletimes.com/sports...ther-season-with-husky-mens-basketball/?amp=1
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