Latest blog entries about College Basketball
Dan Lanning Media Availability Michigan gametime announced Volleyball Remains at No. 12 WBB opens season up with a blowout win against Hawaii MBB takes care of Montana for season opening win Highlight of the Day: Jamari catches the fade in the back of the end-zone
UCLA shocked top‑five Arizona with an 84-75 win in season opener, and head coach Mick Cronin used the post‑game press conference to jab at the NCAA's eligibility rules. He quipped, “Where should I sit? NCAA tells me where to sit and what to drink,” before praising his roster’s athleticism, citing Nikola Kusturica, Joe Philon, Eric Dailey Jr., and Trent Perry. The Bruins led 43-29 at halftime, out‑rebounding Arizona 45-44 and forcing 11 turnovers versus seven. Cronin highlighted the team's hustle on the little‑stat sheet details. UCLA next hosts North Florida on Friday.
In Michael Malone's debut as North Carolina head coach, the Tar Heels scrape an 80-72 win over Western Carolina. Despite a shaky start—shooting just 30% from three and battling rebounding—the team pulls ahead in the final minutes. Malone, the first UNC coach since 1952 without a Tar Heel playing or assistant background, jokes about a "roller coaster" and urges patience as he integrates 11 newcomers. He emphasizes trust and chemistry, noting each night may feel different. UNC next faces Wofford on Friday.
Nebraska basketball scored a big win, who were the individual winners?
Boston College men’s basketball returns under first‑year head coach Luke Murray, with a completely overhauled roster debuting on Nov. 3. Roundtable participants highlight the excitement of a fresh slate, emphasizing Murray’s coaching, a structured offense, and deep shooting as key strengths. They pinpoint guard Money Williams and forward Brandon Benjamin as players to watch, while noting concerns about the front‑court depth and NIL funding. Expectations range from a 15‑16 overall record and .500 ACC play to a possible 19‑13 finish, but most panelists agree an NCAA tournament berth is unlikely in Murray’s inaugural season.
Indiana opened the 2026-27 season with a dominant 91-57 victory over Eastern Illinois, snapping a close 21-19 first‑half gap to finish on a 23-4 run. Guards Markus Burton and Bryce Lindsay sparked the offense, shooting 6‑of‑8 from three and drawing 23 of the team’s 32 free‑throw attempts. The Hoosiers forced 14 first‑half turnovers and limited the Panthers to just three made threes (21.4%). Samet Yigitoglu contributed five offensive boards in 18 minutes, while defensive lapses early gave way to a stronger second‑half effort. Indiana (1-0) now turns its focus to a home game against Bellarmine on Thursday.
Duquesne vs. Stonehill, 12 p.m. ET
Rob Wright scored 33 points as BYU defeated Ohio State 94–83. His performance could signal a major breakthrough for the Cougars.
Oklahoma men's basketball coach Porter Moser apologized to the 4,600 fans who watched his team open the 2026-27 season with a historic Monday night upset loss to East Texas A&M.
Oklahoma entered Monday’s game as a 28.5‑point favorite but fell 68‑64 to East Texas A&M, marking one of the biggest upsets in the past 30 years of Division I play. Coach Porter Moser issued a public apology, citing 15 turnovers, 15 missed free throws, a 25% three‑point shooting night and a lack of rhythm. The loss snapped the Sooners’ streak of winning 22 of 23 season openers and leaves them 0‑1 heading into a matchup with Mississippi Valley State. Moser, who steered Loyola Chicago to the 2018 Final Four, acknowledges the defeat as a career low.
The SB Nation blog announces that the new SB Nation app, now available for iOS and Android in North America, lets college basketball fans follow the 2026-27 Virginia Cavaliers season with real‑time game chat, faster comment loading, and integrated Feed posts. Highlights include record‑setting single‑day comment activity, a streamlined front‑page view, and features like ad‑light reading and seamless community navigation. The post urges fans to download the app to react to every crossover, alley‑oop and block during games.
Iowa State women’s basketball lands its tallest ever Cyclone, 6‑7 center Xiao “Smyle” Zhang, a former Beijing Normal University star who averaged 12.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.5 blocks. Tied with Anna Prins for height in program history, Zhang impressed in an exhibition versus Upper Iowa with nine points and a 71% free‑throw rate. Coach Bill Fennelly plans to exploit her size in the post and on pick‑and‑rolls with guards Sienna Harvey and Ashleigh Connor, while her mobility could challenge opponents’ defenses all season. Expect Zhang in the starting lineup alongside Tjaša Turnšek.
NBA legend LeBron James' youngest son, Bryce James, made his college basketball debut Monday night for the fifth-ranked Arizona Wildcats.
Illinois opens the 2026-27 season with a record‑shattering 120-45 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson, the biggest margin in program history (75 points) and a school‑record 19 three‑pointers. Andrej Stojakovic returns, dropping 20 points in 20 minutes, while starters Brown, Coleman and Ivisic also score in double figures. The Illini dominate in rebounding (65‑21) and fast‑break points, and bench players Zens and Vaaks add 12 and 20 points respectively. The win sets the tone as Illinois aims to repeat its Final Four run.
The No. 5 seed Hoosiers are set to face off against the No. 4 seed Scarlet Knights on Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 11 a.m. in Columbus, Ohio in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.
In just two seasons as a power‑conference head coach, Ryan Odom has turned Virginia into a top‑10 contender. After famously upset No. 1 seed Virginia with UMBC in 2018, Odom now leads the Cavaliers, guiding them to a 30‑6 record and a No. 3 seed in his first year. Entering 2026‑27, Virginia sits at No. 9 in the preseason AP poll—the ACC’s second‑highest rank—thanks to the return of its top six scorers, including ACC Preseason Player of the Year Thijs De Ridder and dominant center Johann Grunloh. Guard Sam Lewis returns as a three‑point threat, while freshman Chance Mallory eyes a breakout season. Odom also bolstered the backcourt with transfers Jan Vide, Christian Harmon and Jurian Dixon, setting the stage for a deep March run.
Former NFL star and ESPN analyst Marcus Spears juggles his Monday Night Countdown duties in Seattle with the pride of watching his son, Marcus Spears Jr., make his college debut for the Texas Longhorns. The network surprised him with a live cut to his son’s arena walk, prompting an emotional on‑air reaction. Spears Jr. logged 20 minutes off the bench, tallying 11 points, five rebounds and a team‑leading four blocks. The dad admits he considered skipping the broadcast to be there in person, but ultimately stayed, sharing how proud he is of his son’s hard‑earned moment.
Arizona Wildcats women’s basketball opened the season with an impressive 84-69 victory over Stanford at the Naismith Hall of Fame Series in Las Vegas. Freshman forward Breanna Williams stole the spotlight, posting a career‑high 23 points, nine rebounds (four offensive) and efficient shooting (9‑of‑13 FG, 5‑of‑6 FT) in 24 minutes. The Wildcats out‑rebounded Stanford 37‑35, pulling down 18 offensive boards that produced a 22‑13 edge in second‑chance points. Coach Becky Burke relied on deep rotation, with ten players seeing double‑digit minutes and five scoring in double figures, highlighting strong scoring depth. Early signs of offensive rebounding and bench productivity suggest Arizona could sustain high‑scoring outputs against Power‑4 competition.
Indiana opens its 2026-27 men’s basketball season with a dominant 91-57 victory over Eastern Illinois at Assembly Hall. Guard Prince‑Alexander Moody sits out with a knee injury, while center Samet Yigitoglu (21) and guard Jaeden Mustaf (3) celebrate key plays. The win features a surge of points off turnovers and strong performances highlighted by Darian DeVries’ post‑game remarks. The article compiles highlights, analysis, and three key stats, plus reactions from the Indianapolis Star and Daily Hoosier.
Nebraska football head coach Matt Rhule reveals a fan shouted “F‑U and F your dad” at his 13‑year‑old daughter after the Huskers’ recent loss to Washington, sparking outrage over fan behavior. While Rhule makes minor adjustments after the third straight defeat, the post also highlights Nebraska’s recent accolades—setter Reilly named Big Ten Setter of the Week, senior Pryce Sandfort on the Naismith Trophy watch list, and punter Archie Wilson earning a second Ray Guy Award honor. The article questions the “nicest fans” reputation amid a string of on‑field setbacks.
Syracuse men’s basketball opens the season with a 74-58 win over New Haven, giving first‑year head coach Gerry McNamara a 1-0 start just two days after his father’s death. The Orange jump out to an 18-0 lead and hold it, highlighted by Sadiq White’s breakout two‑way performance (14 points, 10 rebounds, blocks) and Gavin Doty’s hustle (14 points, 13 rebounds, double‑double). Kiyan Anthony finally shakes off a scoring slump, pouring in 17 points on 5‑12 shooting and a hot 5‑6 free‑throw line. The game features a balanced minute distribution, with Doty logging the most at 34 minutes, and sets a promising tone for Syracuse’s upcoming schedule.
UNC opens Michael Malone’s tenure with an 80-72 win over Western Carolina, but the victory reveals three key takeaways. First, the Terrence Brown‑Matt Able duo finally clicks, combining for 32 points and showing promising guard chemistry. Second, depth proves crucial as the starters struggle; bench players like Maxi Adams (10 points) step up defensively, though the overall bench may still disappoint fans. Third, rebounding remains a major issue—Western Carolina out‑rebounded the Heels 41‑32, highlighting the need for Cameron Fens to return for interior help. The game underscores early-season strengths and glaring weaknesses for the Tar Heels.
Indiana opened the 2026-27 season with a dominant 91-57 victory over Eastern Illinois at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. The win highlighted five key takeaways: a commanding rebounding performance, offensive efficiency, defensive pressure, depth contributions, and a strong bench impact—elements coach Darian DeVries hopes to sustain all season. The clear margin and balanced scoring suggest a promising start for the Hoosiers.
Sophomore guard Kiyan Anthony struggled in Syracuse basketball's exhibitions. However, he was terrific in SU's season opener.
Robert Morris vs. New Haven, 12 p.m. ET