INSIDER
Garland scores 25 points, Cavaliers improve to 6-0 with 120-109 win over Banchero-less Magic
Read full article: Garland scores 25 points, Cavaliers improve to 6-0 with 120-109 win over Banchero-less MagicDarius Garland scored 25 points, Donovan Mitchell added 22 and the Cleveland Cavaliers improved to 6-0 with a 120-109 victory over the Orlando Magic, who played their first game without injured star Paolo Banchero.
Paolo Banchero scores 27 points, Magic overcome Mitchell's 50 to beat Cavs 103-96 and force Game 7
Read full article: Paolo Banchero scores 27 points, Magic overcome Mitchell's 50 to beat Cavs 103-96 and force Game 7Paolo Banchero scored 10 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter, helping the Orlando Magic hold off the Cleveland Cavaliers 103-96 and force a decisive Game 7 in the their first-round NBA playoff series.
Atlanta's Bogdanovic plays through grief after death of countryman Dejan Milojević
Read full article: Atlanta's Bogdanovic plays through grief after death of countryman Dejan MilojevićBogdan Bogdanovic did not remember much about the game, even though the Atlanta Hawks won a thriller with a basket at the buzzer.
The AP Top 25 remains a college basketball mainstay after 75 years of evolution
Read full article: The AP Top 25 remains a college basketball mainstay after 75 years of evolutionThe AP Top 25 men's college basketball poll has been a mainstay for 75 years, but much like the game itself, it has evolved with the times.
Young scores 41, Murray hits go-ahead 3 as the Hawks beat the Magic 120-119 in Mexico City
Read full article: Young scores 41, Murray hits go-ahead 3 as the Hawks beat the Magic 120-119 in Mexico CityTrae Young scored 41 points, then fed Dejounte Murray for a go-ahead 3-pointer with 31 seconds left to give the Atlanta Hawks a 120-119 victory over the Orlando Magic on Thursday night in a regular-season game in Mexico City.
Bamba, Rivers, Suggs all suspended after Magic-Wolves dustup
Read full article: Bamba, Rivers, Suggs all suspended after Magic-Wolves dustupThe NBA has suspended Orlando’s Mo Bamba for four games and Minnesota’s Austin Rivers for three games for their roles in an on-court altercation on Friday night.
Newcomers shine in debut, help Pistons overcome 15-point deficit against Orlando in season opener
Read full article: Newcomers shine in debut, help Pistons overcome 15-point deficit against Orlando in season openerThe Detroit Pistons took down the Orlando Magic 113-109 in the season opener thanks to an influx of talent, including newcomers Bojan Bogdanovic, Jalen Duren, and NBA Rookie of the year candidate Jaden Ivey.
Warriors fall to Magic 94-90; Suns clinch 1st in Pacific
Read full article: Warriors fall to Magic 94-90; Suns clinch 1st in PacificFranz Wagner made three free throws with 12.2 seconds remaining and dunked on an inbounds play for the final points, leading the Orlando Magic to a 94-90 win over the Golden State Warriors.
A stunner: Miami wins 2nd straight, tops Ravens 22-10
Read full article: A stunner: Miami wins 2nd straight, tops Ravens 22-10Xavien Howard forced a fumble and returned it 49 yards for a touchdown, Tua Tagovailoa came off the bench and capped his night with a 1-yard sneak for a score with 2:19 left and the Miami Dolphins stunned the Baltimore Ravens 22-10 on Thursday night.
Tre Jones lifts Spurs with go-ahead layup and steal
Read full article: Tre Jones lifts Spurs with go-ahead layup and stealTre Jones made a layup with less than a second remaining to give San Antonio the lead, then had a steal to prevent Charlotte from taking a final shot in the Spurs’ 106-105 victory over the Hornets on Thursday night in the NBA Summer League.
What To Watch: Remaining Final Four spots up for grabs
Read full article: What To Watch: Remaining Final Four spots up for grabs… Gonzaga is seeking to become the first team to make it to the Final Four unbeaten since Kentucky in 2015. 11 seed UCLA (21-9), East Region final, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis. … UCLA is back in a regional final for the first time since earning three straight Final Four berths from 2006-08. 6 seed Texas (21-9), Hemisfair Region final, Alamodome, San Antonio. … Texas is in a regional final for the first time since 2016 and seeking its first Final Four appearance since 2003.
Unbeaten Zags keep rolling with 83-65 rout of Creighton
Read full article: Unbeaten Zags keep rolling with 83-65 rout of CreightonNembhard had 17 points and eight assists, both season highs, to keep the NCAA Tournament's top overall seed rolling Sunday with a 83-65 rout of fifth-seeded Creighton in the West Region semifinals. Defensively, the Zags held Creighton to 40 points over the final 30 minutes as they methodically turned a 27-25 game into a blowout. “They just play so fast, so efficient with everything they do," said Marcus Zegarowski, who led Creighton with 19 points. That just about finished off Creighton as the Zags moved within three wins of becoming the first undefeated national champion since Indiana in 1976. Gonzaga: The Zags have won their first three tournament games by a combined 77 points.
Oklahoma can't hang with Timme, Gonzaga; top seed advances
Read full article: Oklahoma can't hang with Timme, Gonzaga; top seed advancesGonzaga forward Drew Timme (2) celebrates with teammate Corey Kispert (24) after defeating Oklahoma in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Monday, March 22, 2021. Drew Timme scored a career-high 30 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, and the top-seeded Bulldogs beat No. “Thought we got a little better feel for the pace of things in the second half,” Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger said. SECOND WEEKENDThe last time Gonzaga was eliminated before the tournament's second weekend was in 2015, when the Bulldogs were a No. Oklahoma failed to reach the second week for the third straight tournament appearance since reaching the Final Four in 2016.
Gonzaga, Baylor dominate AP All-America teams
Read full article: Gonzaga, Baylor dominate AP All-America teams(AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)Gonzaga and Baylor spent almost the entire season holding down the top two spots in the Top 25. Makes sense they'd hold down a bunch of spots on The Associated Press All-America teams. The Bulldogs' Corey Kispert and the Bears' Jared Butler led the way with first-team nods Tuesday from the national panel of 63 media members that vote each week in the AP Top 25 poll. Just like the first- and second-team All-Americans, their teams also will be playing in the NCAA Tournament this week. ___AP Basketball Writer John Marshall and AP Sports Writers Michael Marot and Stephen Hawkins contributed to this report.
No. 1 Gonzaga rallies to beat BYU 88-78 in WCC title game
Read full article: No. 1 Gonzaga rallies to beat BYU 88-78 in WCC title gameThe Zags won their eighth WCC title in nine years and 17th under coach Mark Few. The Cougars were the last team to beat Gonzaga, 91-78 on Feb. 22, 2020. The Cougars did just that to start the game, hitting 10 of their first 16 shots to take a 26-19 lead. Expect the Cougars to be a tough out in the NCAA Tournament. UP NEXTBYU should be a lock to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015.
Perfect Zags: No. 1 Gonzaga stays unbeaten, tops LMU 86-69
Read full article: Perfect Zags: No. 1 Gonzaga stays unbeaten, tops LMU 86-691 Gonzaga remained the only unbeaten in the country with a 86-69 win over Loyola Marymount on Saturday night. The Bulldogs (24-0, 15-0 WCC) won their 51st straight home game to set a school record and finished off a perfect regular season. Gonzaga has won 28 straight games dating to last season and is the first team to finish the regular season unbeaten since Kentucky in 2014-15. Eli Scott had 20 points and 11 rebounds to lead Loyola Marymount (12-8, 7-5), and Mattias Markusson added 19 points and 10 rebounds. AdGonzaga: The Bulldogs won their 21st straight game by double-digits as the No.
The Latest: NHL down to a season-low 8 players on COVID list
Read full article: The Latest: NHL down to a season-low 8 players on COVID list(AP Photo/Tony Avelar)The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___The NHL is down to a season-low eight players on the COVID-19 list after play on Tuesday night, five of them on the Philadelphia Flyers. That’s a marked improvement in the 11 days since the league had a season-high 59 players on the list. The Flyers have moved into third among NHL teams, with players spending a combined total of 98 days on the list, one more than Buffalo. He joined Nellie Fox (1959), Dick Allen (1972) and Frank Thomas (1993, 1994) as the team's only MVP winners. ___The West Coast Conference men’s and women’s basketball tournaments will be held without fans due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Duke falls out of AP Top 25; Gonzaga, Baylor remain 1-2
Read full article: Duke falls out of AP Top 25; Gonzaga, Baylor remain 1-2(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)Gonzaga and Baylor maintained their grip on the top two spots in The Associated Press men's basketball poll Monday. “Everyone has dealt with this,” said Wright, whose team finally gets back on the court Tuesday night against Seton Hall. The Golden Gophers were followed by Auburn, one of this week's poll newcomers, Missouri and Clemson. “We’re still finding out about our team,” said coach Mike Krzyzewski, whose team nearly rallied from an 18-point deficit against Virginia Tech. IN AND OUTThe Bruins were the other newcomer to this week's poll after improving to 11-2 and 7-0 in the Pac-12 with consecutive wins over Washington State and Washington.
No. 1 Gonzaga overcomes slow start, beats Saint Mary's 73-59
Read full article: No. 1 Gonzaga overcomes slow start, beats Saint Mary's 73-59Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs (1) shoots against Saint Mary's forward Dan Fotu (42) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Moraga, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021. Saint Mary's pulled to 56-48 on Dan Fotu's layup with 9:01 to play before another decisive Gonzaga burst, this time 8-0. “Not a pretty game for us, and Saint Mary’s deserves a lot of credit for that,” Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. “You have to generate some points against those guys because they’re going to score,” Saint Mary's coach Randy Bennett said. Saint Mary’s: At Loyola Marymount on Thursday.
Gonzaga, Big Ten continue to dominate Top 25; Wisconsin 6th
Read full article: Gonzaga, Big Ten continue to dominate Top 25; Wisconsin 6th(AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)It's hard to decide who has been more dominant in men's college basketball this season: Gonzaga or the Big Ten Conference. The sixth-ranked Badgers began a run of Top 25 teams from the league, jumping three spots after wins over Nebraska and then-No. 12 Michigan State. The Hawkeyes dropped from fourth to 10th while surprising Rutgers began a run of four more Big Ten teams at No. Minnesota, whose lone loss came to Illinois and which was last ranked on Dec. 4, 2017, plays its next six against Top 25 teams: Michigan State, at Wisconsin, Ohio State, at Michigan, at Iowa and the Wolverines at home.
Gonzaga strengthens grip on No. 1 spot in AP poll
Read full article: Gonzaga strengthens grip on No. 1 spot in AP poll1 spot in The Associated Press men's college basketball poll after beating Iowa. The Zags received 61 of 64 first-place votes from a media panel in the poll released on Monday. 2 Baylor got the remaining three first-place votes and No. Gonzaga had 54 first-place votes last week. ___More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
Suggs leads top-ranked Gonzaga over No. 3 Iowa 99-88
Read full article: Suggs leads top-ranked Gonzaga over No. 3 Iowa 99-88Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs (1) shoot a 3-pointer during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Iowa, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020 in SIoux Falls, S.D. Suggs entered the game against Iowa averaging 13.3 points per game. We got into the double bonus relatively early in the second half, but then we miss 12 free throws, which is also very uncharacteristic of our team.”Iowa seemed to have one last gasp midway through the second half. Entering the game, Gonzaga was just 16 for 55 from beyond the arc in its first three games. Iowa: The 99 points scored by Gonzaga is the most Iowa has given up this season.
No. 1 Gonzaga rallies to beat No. 11 West Virginia 87-82
Read full article: No. 1 Gonzaga rallies to beat No. 11 West Virginia 87-8211 West Virginia 87-82. Gonzaga (3-0) has won seven straight, dating to the end of last season, and already has two wins over top 15 opponents — Kansas and West Virginia (3-1). When Suggs returned in the second half, Gonzaga charged back. The Bulldogs have opened this season with wins over two top 15 foes — Kansas and West Virginia — as well as Auburn, all on neutral courts. West Virginia guard Sean McNeil also left during the first half after taking an elbow to the forehead.
Top freshmen forge their own paths in picking schools
Read full article: Top freshmen forge their own paths in picking schools(AP Photo/Gregory Payan, File)Many of the nation’s brightest prospects in the most recent recruiting class didn’t necessarily select the most obvious schools. In the meantime, four of the top seven players chose Oklahoma State, Southern California, Stanford and Florida State. Jerry Meyer, the director of basketball scouting at 247Sports, says he noticed this trend starting in 2015. Barnes is ranked seventh in the 247Sports Composite and played high school basketball at Montverde (Florida) Academy. He was named the California male athlete of the year and the California basketball player of the year by USA Today.
No. 1 Zags: Gonzaga begins season atop Top 25 for first time
Read full article: No. 1 Zags: Gonzaga begins season atop Top 25 for first timeFILE - Gonzaga players celebrate after defeating Saint Mary's in an NCAA college basketball game in the final of the West Coast Conference men's tournament in Las Vegas, in this Tuesday, March 10, 2020, file photo. Gonzaga will begin the college basketball season No. 1 for the first time after coach Mark Few's bunch earned 28 first-place votes in the preseason AP Top 25 poll released Monday, Nov. 9, 2020. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)
No. 1 Zags: Gonzaga begins season atop Top 25 for first time
Read full article: No. 1 Zags: Gonzaga begins season atop Top 25 for first timeIowa was picked fifth behind national player of the year front-runner Luka Garza, its highest preseason ranking in school history. The Bears, who also have their highest preseason ranking, spent five weeks at No. THE REST OF THE POLLCreighton lost Ty-Shon Alexander to the NBA and Davion Mintz to Kentucky but still landed the highest preseason ranking in school history at No. 17, its highest preseason ranking since the final Phi Slama Jama team of Hakeem Olajuwon began the 1983-84 season at No. 6 in the final poll last season but losing Mountain West player of the year Malachi Flynn and two other elite producers.