USC's JuJu Watkins Named to AP Preseason All-America Team
Watkins enters this season as one of only three players in history to earn first-team honors as both a freshman and sophomore.
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Watkins enters this season as one of only three players in history to earn first-team honors as both a freshman and sophomore.
The men’s HBCU basketball player who was detained by ICE in early October has been released. The men’s HBCU basketball player who was detained by ICE in late September has been released. Mississippi Valley State basketball player Qingfang Pang was released on a $12,000 bail on Tuesday, according to a report by TJ Quinn of […] The post HBCU men’s basketball player detained by ICE finally released appeared first on ClutchPoints .
Indiana Hoosiers wrap up exhibition play with a 4 p.m. ET showdown against Western Kentucky at Evansville’s Ford Center on Sunday, October 22, 2026. The game streams exclusively on B1G+, and the article outlines three key storylines to watch: the Hoosiers’ preseason form, matchup tactics against the Hilltoppers, and standout performers. Readers get live‑watch details and a preview of what to expect from the final exhibition.
Members of the women's college basketball media are expecting a return to form from USC star JuJu Watkins.
No one is proving themselves worthy of being a champion more than Angel Reese right now.
Northwestern women’s basketball welcomes four key transfers for coach Carla Berube’s inaugural season. Sophomore guard Camdyn Nelson and forward Jasmyn Cooper‑Derba arrive from Syracuse, hoping for more playing time after modest freshman stats. Junior guard Lily Carmody joins from Boston College after leading the Eagles with 12.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and top steals per game despite a 5‑26 season. Junior guard Lexi Blue comes from Kentucky’s Sweet Sixteen squad, bringing experience from the SEC though limited scoring numbers. The article breaks down each player’s background, college performance and potential impact as the Wildcats aim to reshape their identity.
In his NBA debut, 24‑year‑old rookie Yaxel Lendeborg—Michigan’s 2026 championship star and No. 11 pick of the Golden State Warriors—sparks a heated exchange with Dallas’ trash‑talk king Luka Doncíč during a lopsided loss to the Los Angeles Lakers (127‑105). The article traces Lendeborg’s unlikely rise from a video‑game‑obsessed Dominican youth to a Summer League MVP, explains why the Warriors chose the seasoned power forward over a younger prospect, and highlights the team's early struggles with injuries to Jimmy Butler and Kristaps Porziņģis. The showdown between Lendeborg and Doncic adds drama to the Warriors’ rocky start.
Junior Sarah Strong, the 2026 consensus National Player of the Year, earns a spot on the AP Preseason All‑American team after receiving 30 of 31 votes. The UConn star posted 18.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.4 steals and 1.6 blocks last season, snagging Big East Player and Defensive Player of the Year honors and every major national player award. With Azzi Fudd heading to the WNBA, Strong steps up, already averaging 21 points in two preseason games. UConn enters the season ranked No. 2, with its next preseason contest versus Army before opening against Cornell on Nov. 2.
The Cavaliers will be able to follow Saliou Niang’s development much closer to home this season. Niang has received NCAA clearance to play for LSU, according to Sportando, with Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress confirming the news through the player’s representatives, Sead Galijasevic and Andrea Grossi. Cleveland selected Niang with the No. 58 pick in the […] The post Cavs prospect Saliou Niang cleared to play at LSU appeared first on Hoops Wire .
Illinois used its exhibition win over Cincinnati to showcase a dramatically faster, transition‑heavy offense, spearheaded by Ayo Dosunmu and Terrence Shannon. Coach Brad Underwood swapped many ball screens for off‑ball cuts, while bench players like Stefan Vaaks sparked immediate production. Freshman Quentin Coleman, filling Keaton Wagler’s void, posted 14 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, proving his decision‑making is already elite. The lineup still juggles Andrej Stojaković and Vaaks, with starter Ethan Brown handling point duties. With nearly the entire Final Four roster returning, the Illini look poised for a high‑scoring, entertaining season, though early growing pains may test their new leadership hierarchy.
By KACE KIESCHNICK, Tiger Rag Staff Reporter Kim Mulkey’s 2027 recruiting class remains at just one commit after five-star post player Zaniya Johnson announced her commitment to South Carolina on Wednesday. The Biloxi, Mississippi, native [...] The post LSU Women’s Basketball Loses Five-Star Recruiting Target To South Carolina appeared first on TigerRag.com .
Long before he became one of the richest athletes in the world, Shaquille O’Neal learned an expensive lesson in a hotel room in Orlando. In 1992, the LSU star was the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft and soon signed a seven-year, $40 million deal with the Orlando Magic, the largest contract in professional […] The post Shaquille O’Neal Blew Nearly Half a Million Dollars on a Hotel After Signing Record Rookie Deal appeared first on EssentiallySports .
Highlights: U of L highlights: Full game replay: Pat Kelsey postgame: Locker room celly:
By KACE KIESCHNICK, Tiger Rag Staff Reporter The Bayou Barbie had another historic night in the WNBA Finals on Wednesday, becoming the youngest player to record three straight double-doubles in Finals history. Former LSU star [...] The post Kim Mulkey Watches Angel Reese Lead Dream To 2-1 WNBA Finals Lead appeared first on TigerRag.com .
The Dallas Mavericks sign former Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. to a two‑way deal after his turbulent rookie year with Utah and Memphis. Clayton, the 2025 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player who led the Gators to the title with clutch performances against UConn, Texas Tech and Houston, was taken 18th overall by the Jazz. In Memphis he posted nearly six assists per game and shot 50% from three in April, but struggled overall, hitting just 31% from deep and 47% on two‑pointers across 24 games. At 6‑2, 60% rim‑scoring in college and 40% spot‑up three‑point shooting, his fearlessness and improved playmaking could make him a versatile spark plug for Dallas.
Ohio State’s new junior forward Andrija Jelavic arrives from Kentucky, where he started the last 20 games and posted 5.5 points, 4.0 rebounds in 32 appearances, including two NCAA Tournament outings. The 6‑11, 240‑lb Croatian previously averaged 11 points and 7.4 rebounds for Mega Superbet in the Adriatic League and logged double‑double numbers at the 2022 U18 Euro Championships. Coach Chris Holt will decide whether Jelavic fills a forward or center role; early minutes are projected at 7‑12 per game behind Amare Bynum and Anthony Thompson, with his performance dictating future playing time as the rotation tightens.
The Tar Heel Blog breaks down the ACC’s most promising freshmen for the 2026 men’s basketball season, highlighting a standout from each program. Notables include Boston College’s Slovenian swing‑forward Zak Smrekar, who posted 11.6 points per game in Europe, California’s Lithuanian power forward Dominykas Daubaris, a four‑star recruit with EuroLeague youth experience, Clemson’s versatile forward Will Stevens, and Duke’s highly‑touted PF Cameron Williams, the 2025‑26 Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year. Florida State’s seven‑foot center Marcus Ponder and Georgia Tech’s guard Kayden Allen round out the list, illustrating the mix of international talent and domestic four‑star prospects shaping the conference’s fresh influx. The article previews how these newcomers could impact their teams as the ACC season kicks off in 11 days.
Kansas Basketball is preparing for its 2026-27 campaign with some exhibition matches at Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks have a different look to the roster this year, as former Kansas standout Flory Bidunga transferred to Louisville. On Wednesday night, Bidunga was back in Allen Fieldhouse, this time as a member of the visiting team as Louisville […] The post Bill Self calls out Kansas fans for ‘F**k you, Flory’ chants appeared first on ClutchPoints .
In an 87‑55 exhibition win over Ball State, Purdue shows it can thrive without Zach Edey and the Braden Smith guard trio. Coach Matt Painter pivots to a faster, pressure‑heavy style, relying on guards C.J. Cox, Omer Mayer and Gicarri Harris and frontcourt anchors Daniel Jacobsen and transfer Caden Pierce. Freshman guard Luke Ertel and Antione West Jr. add depth, while Pierce is touted as the veteran X‑factor. Despite losing three 14‑point scorers, the Boilermakers’ defensive intensity and roster versatility position them for a solid NCAA bid and a top‑four Big Ten finish in 2026‑27.
Ranking the head coaches in the CAA as part of our larger project ranking all 365 D1 head coaches this season
Marquette’s redshirt junior forward Caedin Hamilton #18 faces a tough 2026‑27 season after tearing his calf in early October, sidelining him for 8‑12 weeks. The preview notes his defensive contributions last year but highlights a 43% two‑point shooting rate that hurt the offense, leading coach Shaka Smart to limit his minutes. With center Sananda Fru now starting, Hamilton’s role is uncertain; the best‑case return is a November 22 debut against Chicago State, while a worst case sees him miss all non‑conference games and possibly early Big East play. Even if cleared by January, he must fight to re‑enter a rotation that has already solidified without him.
Indiana’s offseason focus on rebounding is already paying off. The Hoosiers out‑rebounded Butler 53‑33 and then demolished North Carolina 76‑58 with a 53‑31 board advantage, tallying 42 second‑chance points in two games. Coach Darian DeVries cites size as the missing piece from last season’s 14 losses, where IU was out‑rebounded by 121 total boards. The roster now features 7‑foot‑2 Samet Yigitoglu—the tallest player in program history—and 6‑foot‑9 Aiden Sherrell, who together average 9.5 and 8.0 rebounds per game. Bench contributor Sam Alexis adds 11.8 rebounds per 40 minutes, while wing Jaiden Mustaf contributes 6.5 rebounds. DeVries says the glass will be Indiana’s identity moving forward.
Villanova will be exiting the Big 5 Classic following the 2026-27 season, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer's Jeff Neiburg.
Villanova will be exiting the Big 5 Classic following the 2026-27 season.
Wow we’ve got some breaking news hitting the wire on a Thursday morning! Villanova is OUT of the Big 5, sort of, with a format change coming not this season, but next season. I’ll drop in the release from the St. Joe’s website, a release that all of the non-Nova schools are sharing: Five institutions […] The post Big 5 Might be Dead After Villanova Declines Future Participation appeared first on Crossing Broad .