NCAA basketball

basketball newscollege basketballNCAANCAA basketball

 Jerian Grant Notre Dame

USBWA NAMES 2014-15 ALL-AMERICANS
ST. LOUIS (USBWA) – The 2014-15 USBWA Men’s All-America Team features a true five-man lineup of first-teamers, led by two seniors who pushed their teams to conference tournament championships: Wisconsin forwardFrank Kaminsky and Notre Dame guard Jerian Grant. Joining Kaminsky in the front court is junior forward Willie Cauley-Stein of unbeaten and top-ranked Kentucky and Duke freshman center Jahlil Okafor. Grant’s backcourt mate is another freshman, Ohio State’s D’Angelo Russell.

Based on regular-season performance, the entire USBWA membership of nearly 1,000 selects the nation’s top five players on each of two teams regardless of position.

Overall, the Atlantic Coast Conference leads all selections with three, including Virginia’s Malcolm Brogdon, who was named to the second team. The Big Ten and SEC each boast two All-America selections. Joining Brodgon on that second team are Bobby Portis from Arkansas, Seth Tuttle from Northern Iowa, Kyle Wiltjer from Gonzaga andDelon Wright from Utah. Portis, Tuttle, Wiltjer and Wright are all USBWA District Players of the Year.

Cauley-Stein, a 7-0 junior from Olathe, Kan., contributes to Kentucky’s potent and balanced attack with 9.3 points per game to go with 6.4 rebounds. He is the USBWA’s District IV Player of the Year and was a first-team All-SEC selection in leading the Wildcats to the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Grant, a 6-5 senior from Bowie, Md., leads the Fighting Irish with 16.8 points per game and 6.6 assists while shooting 48.8 percent from the field. Grant was a first-team All-ACC selection and leads the conference in assists and assist-to-turnover ratio.

Kaminsky’s 18.2 points per game leads the Badgers, champions of the Big Ten. The 7-0 senior from Lisle, Ill., is shooting 39 percent from three-point range and pulls down 8.1 rebounds per game. The Big Ten and USBWA District V Player of the Year leads his team in points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals.

Okafor, the ACC Player of the Year and USBWA District III Player of the Year, leads the Blue Devils and ranks among the top five in the ACC in scoring (17.7), rebounds (9.0) and field goal percentage (.669). The 6-11 freshman from Chicago, Ill., is attempting to become the first freshman to lead Duke in all three categories.

Russell, a 6-5 freshman from Louisville, Ky., is the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and an All-Big Ten first-team selection. He is the leading freshman scorer in the country and second-leading scorer in the Big Ten (19.3) and also leads the Buckeyes with 5.6 rebounds per game and is second on the team with 5.1 assists per game.

Each of the 10 All-America selections is among the Oscar Robertson Trophy finalists. The USBWA’s National Player of the Year Award will be announced on Friday, April 3, in Indianapolis, in conjunction with the NCAA Final Four. The Oscar Robertson Player of the Year Trophy will be formally presented on Tuesday, April 14, at the Devon Energy College Basketball Awards Gala in Oklahoma City.

Following is the complete 2014-15 USBWA All-America team:

2014-15 USBWA MEN’S ALL-AMERICA TEAM
Pos. First Team Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown
F Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky 7-0 240 Jr. Olathe, Kan.
Sixth All-American from Kentucky since 2009
G Jerian Grant, Notre Dame 6-5 204 Sr. Bowie, Md.
First Notre Dame first team selection since 2000-01 (Troy Murphy)
F Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin 7-0 242 Sr. Lisle, Ill.
Third all-time All-America selection from Wisconsin (Devin Harris 2004,  Alondo Tucker 2007)
C Jahlil Okafor, Duke 6-11 270 Fr. Chicago, Ill.
13th Duke All-America selection since 2000
G D’Angelo Russell, Ohio State 6-5 180 Fr. Louisville, Ky.
Third Ohio State freshman to earn All-America honors (Greg Oden 2007, Jared Sullinger 2011)
Pos. Second Team Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown
G Malcolm Brogdon, Virginia 6-5 215 Jr. Atlanta, Ga.
First Virginia All-America selection since 1983 (Ralph Sampson)
F Bobby Portis, Arkansas 6-11 242 So. Little Rock, Ark.
Fourth Arkansas All-America selection (First since Corliss Williamson in 1995)
F Seth Tuttle, Northern Iowa 6-8 240 Sr. Sheffield, Iowa
First All-America selection from Northern Iowa
F Kyle Wiltjer, Gonzaga 6-10 240 Jr. Portland, Ore.
Fifth all-time Gonzaga All-American (All since 2002)
G Delon Wright, Utah 6-5 190 Sr. Los Angeles, Calif.
Eighth Utah player to earn All-America honors (First since Andrew Bogut 2005)

The USBWA will continue to unveil its 2014-15 men’s award winners throughout the remainder of the season. Here is the remaining schedule of releases:

• Tues., March 17: Wayman Tisdale Freshman of the Year and Freshman All-America Team announced
• Mon., March 23: Henry Iba Coach of the Year announced
• Mon., March 30: Women’s All-America team announced
• Fri., April 3: Oscar Robertson Player of the Year announced (Indianapolis)
• Tues., April 14: Presentation of the Integris Wayman Tisdale Freshman of the Year Award, the Henry Iba Coach of the Year Award and the Oscar Robertson Player of the Year Trophy at the Devon Energy College Basketball Awards Gala in Oklahoma City

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. Today, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. It has selected an All-America team since the 1956-57 season. For more information on the USBWA and its All-America team, contact executive directorJoe Mitch at 314-795-6821.

Related links:
• 2014-15 USBWA All-District teams
• All-time USBWA All-America teams
basketball recruitcollege basketballNCAANCAA basketball

Harrison Twins Kentucky Basketball 2015

ESPN’s extensive multiplatform coverage of Selection Sunday, March 15, included instant and in-depth analysis across studio shows on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU. Rece Davis hosted live coverage of up-to-the-minute tournament selection updates on ESPN’s 6 p.m. ET SportsCenter with analysts Jay Bilas, Seth Greenberg and Jay Williams. Dan Dakich and Jim Calhoun was also in-studio to provide analysis. Following SportsCenter, ESPN aired a two-hour Bracketology Presented by Staples at 7 p.m. with Davis, Bilas, Greenberg, Vitale and Williams. The coverage included analysis, discussion on the field, upset predictions, final four picks and more.

 

Jay Bilas on the job by the selection committee:

  • “The end of the line, I didn’t think there was a whole lot to complain about. The ones left out – Temple, Miami can complain about UCLA and Boise State. Outside of that I think the committee got everything right.”

 

On two-seed Gonzaga:

  • Bilas: “I think Gonzaga will end up playing [three-seed] Iowa State and we very well could see Gonzaga in the Final Four.”
  • Dick Vitale: “Gonzaga has all the parts. I really love that basketball team. I think this is the year that Mark Few’s club – they’re going to be my pick – to go to the Final Four.”

 

Seth Greenberg on Michigan State:

  • “Michigan State finds a way to advance in March, and I have them as an Elite Eight team.”

 

Jay Williams on Virginia being a two-seed:

  • “I would’ve had UVA on the first line. Even though they weren’t playing that great without Justin Anderson, I felt their wins were better than the wins Villanova had.”

 

Williams on NC State and LSU against Villanova:

  • “I think both of those teams have the personnel that they could beat Villanova. I would pick Villanova, right now, as my first one-seed to go out.”

 

Bilas on Virginia’s prospects of advancing:

  • “I still favor Virginia to get to the Regional Final and play Villanova. If Justin Anderson can get toward healthy, to where he gets that brace off his hand and he can actually handle the ball with his left hand, I think Virginia goes to the Final Four.”

 

Dan Dakich observation of the Midwest Region:

  • “Doesn’t matter, Kentucky’s going to win the Regional. They could’ve put anybody in there.”

 

Vitale on Kentucky:

  • “They have all the components, they can block shots, they can defend, they have depth, they have fresh legs at the end of the game… they got into foul trouble, and they just bring in another guy. They have all the parts.”

 

On UCLA in the field, but not Miami and Temple:

  • Bilas: “I think Miami might be looking at UCLA in the field and saying, ‘what, excuse me?’”
  • Greenberg: “I’m shocked about UCLA. I know they have a Utah win and an Oregon win, but I’m shocked about UCLA. If I’m Temple, and I understand I lost in my conference tournament, but you have a quality win against Kansas. More importantly, your record with Jesse Morgan who got eligible mid-year, is a NCAA tournament type of record.”

 

If Bilas is surprised Texas and Indiana is in the field:

  • “I’m not because of the quality of wins that they had. They suffered some losses – and significant amount of losses – but both of them played good schedules. The one thing with Indiana, they had a couple of what you would call bad losses, but they had more quality wins than some of the other teams at the end of the line.”

 

Dakich on Notre Dame:

  • “To me, Notre Dame is a real possibility to beat Kentucky. I don’t think there are many teams.”

 

 

On No. 5 Utah vs. No. 12 Stephen F. Austin:

  • Greenberg: “I like Utah, but Stephen F. Austin – they flat, get after you. Last year, they beat VCU.”
  • Bilas: “I don’t think Utah scores as efficiently against really good defensive teams. I don’t think Stephen F. Austin is a great defensive team, but I think they got an edge to them. [Stephen F. Austin coach] Brad Underwood coached with Frank Martin at Kansas State. They are a tough group. Thomas Walkup is a good player. They are undersized but they fight. They’re going to fight Utah and I think they can beat them.”

 

Rece Davis on Georgia making the field:

  • “Have you ever heard of politics, sometimes the candidate who gets elected is the least objectionable. That’s what Georgia’s resume is.”

 

Bilas on Ohio State:

  • “Marc Loving would have to play at highest level and Amir Williams has to be completely engaged. I think Ohio State is a good bet to get into the second round past VCU because they have guards that can handle pressure.”

 

Bracketology included interviews with Kentucky coach John Calipari and NCAA Championship Chairman Scott Barnes:

 

Calipari on the opponents in the field: 

  • “They have to play the way they play and then play really well and then see if that is enough to beat us.”

 

Barnes on UCLA:

  • “We saw earlier in the year, and then later in the year, it really became the eye test. Their strength of schedule certainly helped us make final decision.”

 

Barnes on eye test:

  • “The eye test really comes into play when looking at small margins. We have always used the eye test in some regards, more times than others, depending on circumstances.”

 

Barnes on Indiana: 

  • “They had four top 50 wins and played in strong conference. I keep going back to the eye test, but they were good enough, again not top of list, good enough given body of work throughout the year and top 50 wins.”

 

Bracketology Picks

 

  • Jay Bilas: Kentucky Wildcats (Champion)

Jay Bilas NCAA Picks 2015

  • Rece Davis: Kentucky Wildcats (Champion)

 Rece Davis NCAA Picks 2015

  • Seth Greenberg: Kentucky Wildcats (Champion)

 

 Seth Greenburg NCAA Picks 2015

  • Dick Vitale: Kentucky Wildcats (Champions)

 
Dick Vitale NCAA Picks 2015
 

  • Jay Williams: Arizona Wildcats (Champion)

 Jay Williams NCAA Picks 2015

basketball newscollege basketballNCAANCAA basketball

Otto The Orange Syracuse Basketball

The bad news doesn’t stop at Jim Boeheim for the penalties levied by the NCAA last week. More fallout as now the self-imposed postseason ban has even included Otto the Orange, the team mascot:

The Atlantic Coast Conference held its annual mascot basketball game at halftime of the North Carolina-Louisville quarterfinal Thursday. Fourteen of the ACC’s 15 mascots played — from Mr. Wuf of NC State to Rameses of North Carolina to Sebastian the Ibis of Miami.

But no Otto.

basketball newscollege basketballcollege basketball recruitingcollegebasketballrecrutingmain newsfeedNCAA basketball

Tom Izzo

A new rant has lowered a bomb on the college basketball world, stating that Tom Izzo, the head coach at Michigan State, because he wouldn’t cheat:

Fran Fraschilla, an ESPN analyst and a head coach in 1992-2002 at Manhattan, St. John’s and New Mexico, was co-hosting “College Sports Today” on SiriusXM radio Monday when a caller suggested that Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim is being treated unfairly by the NCAA. Boeheim will be suspended for nine games next season, and Syracuse has to vacate 108 wins, based on recent NCAA findings of academic misconduct, improper benefits and other violations dating to 2001.

As a scout, I am aware that colleges do cheat to get players. Every year there is some noise or rumor – a credible rumor at that – about a specific player. What Franchilla is referring to, most likely, is Cliff Alexander, a player who ultimately ended up at Kansas, and is now linked to a financial firm that loans money to potential pro players. Although that is speculation, that surreptitiously points a finger at the Jayhawks. This is all spilling out after the penalties lowered on Syracuse by the NCAA.

basketball gamescollege basketballNCAANCAA basketball

Jordan Parks (North Carolina Central) basketball

Photo: STEPHEN M. KATZ/AP

By James Blackburn

Game Scouted: NC Central vs Delaware State

Box Score 

Jordan Parks (F, 6’7″, SR)

Stats

28 min, 2-5 FG, 9 rebounds, 1 block, 4 TP

Strengths

Good frame with excellent length- has a frame that should be able to add more muscle weight easily. Can put the ball on the floor in straight line drives.

Stays active on the offensive boards and gets a lot of his offense from putbacks.

Big time athlete who can really excite the crowd with above the rim plays.

Solid defensive player who can switch ball screens or hard hedge. Quick enough laterally to guard on the perimeter. Excellent rebounder overall who has had multiple double-digit rebounding games this season. Is active on the defensive end.

Is a highlight maker on both ends. Efficient player who can finish in the paint and doesnt need the basketball to impact the game in a positive manner. Good toughness.

Weaknesses

Is a bit limited offensively. Struggles to change directions off the bounce and must continue to improve jump shot. FT shooting needs to get more consistent.

Tweener player- not skilled enough to be a true 3 but still lacks the strength to battle stronger back to the basket 4’s.

Would like to see him be more aggressive on the offensive end.

Overview

Not the best performance for Parks tonight who didnt look 100% after taking a charge early on. To his credit he battled through the pain and was still able to grab 9 rebounds and also get the crowd excited after a big alley-oop finish. Is currently averaging 14 ppg, 7 rpg, and over a steal and block a game. He is an efficient player who doesnt need the ball to impact the game. Parks is a true team player who is a winner. He will be a player that European teams will like with his combination of athleticism, length, and rebounding abilities.

 

James Blackburn has scouted all levels of basketball, including high school, college and the pros, as well as international competitions such as the FIBA World Cup. Want more scouting notes from James? Follow him on Twitter @jamesjunior21, right now!

basketball newscollege basketballNCAANCAA basketball

ESPN basketball coaches Jay Bilas

College Basketball Analyst Jay Bilas Leads Conversation

ESPNU will televise The Experts: Coaching Legends on Thursday, Oct. 30, at 7:30 p.m. ET featuring Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim, Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski, Louisville’s Rick Pitino and North Carolina’s Roy Williams. Hosted by ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas, the four Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coaches will participate in candid discussion about college basketball in a half-hour special.

Among the topics expected to be discussed:

  • Their first job in college basketball
  • How the sport has changed over the years and how those changes have impacted their profession and the play on the court
  • Power conferences and autonomy
  • Compensating players

The Experts: Coaching Legends is part of ESPNU’s extensive ACC media day coverage. Today, ESPN’s dedicated college network will televise a three-hour ESPNU College Basketball Media Day Special (1 p.m.), and two editions of The Experts: ACC Coaches Roundtable (7 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.), which features conversations amongst the conference’s other 11 head coaches.  ESPNU College Basketball Media Day Special will also feature reports from Tim Welsh at the American media day in New York City

basketball newsbasketball recruitbasketball recruitingNCAANCAA basketball

Frank Howard basketball

Syracuse had a big day shuffling players yesterday after Jerami Grant declared for the NBA draft and Frank Howard committed to the Orange:

Howard, a high school junior, made a verbal commitment to the Orange during a television appearance on Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic Monday night. He picked SU from a final list that included Maryland, Georgetown, Virginia, N.C. State and Ohio State.

—

Keep up with the latest basketball insight! Follow Basketball Elite on Twitter, right now.

basketball newsNBANBA basketballNCAANCAA basketballsports business

Adam Silver NBA basketball

One thing is for certain; the debate over whether college athletes at high-revenue college programs should be paid is not going away. This, despite the NCAA’s best efforts to frame the conversation with rhetoric about ‘student-athletes’, a term they coined decades ago to justify not paying the players in their employ.

Now the NBA has decides to wade into the fray a bit more, with newly minted commissioner Adam Silver mulling over what they might be able to do for those athletes:

“Rather than focusing on a salary and thinking of them as employees, I would go to their basic necessities,” Silver said. “I think if [Connecticut Huskies guard] Shabazz Napier is saying he is going hungry, my God, it seems hard to believe, but there should be ample food for the players.”

To be clear, the NBA isn’t talking about outright payment of salaries to players but rather a subsidization of any gaps in college attendance. On one hand, it’s good the NBA is paying attention…while on the other, it’s hard to see these comments and wonder why the NBA owners were claiming massive losses during the recent labor agreements if they can offer possible subsidies for thousands of college players. The truth has to lie somewhere in the middle; either the NBA is talking about a limited program, or it’s just more rhetoric designed to give lip service to the issue.

—

Want more basketball insight? Follow Basketball Elite on Twitter, right now!

basketball news

Shabazz Napier Championship NCAA

The NCAA has reached a deal with the NCAA to extend their current sponsorship through 2020. The deal involves both Turner and CBS Sports.

Under the agreement, which was signed on the eve of Connecticut’s 60-54 victory over Kentucky in the NCAA’s National Championship basketball game, Northwestern Mutual retains the marketing and promotional rights in the life insurance, wealth management and retirement planning services categories and will have exclusivity in the mutual fund category from 2015.

When an agreement like this is reached, it allows the sponsor to use official logos, names, teams, and similar items. Northwestern began the relationship with the NCAA in 2012.

It’s ironic that this deal was put together on the same day that UConn guard Shabazz Napier made waves nationally with comments about the disparity between the profits that the NCAA rakes in and the lack of pay for players. Napier, always outspoken, may have unintentionally created more revenue for the NCAA by increasing ratings for future deals.

—

Want more basketball insights? You can follow Basketball Elite on Twitter, right now.

basketball newsNCAA basketball

New feature! A snapshot from social media of the trends and fan reactions surrounding certain events in the world of basketball. As Kentucky and UConn advanced to the national NCAA title game with wins in the Final Four, fans weighed in around the world with their thoughts. So here goes!