Latest news with #EastRegion
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Alabama basketball guard cleared by NCAA to return for 2025-26 season
Alabama basketball guard cleared by NCAA to return for 2025-26 season Alabama basketball guard Houston Mallette is officially cleared to return to the Crimson Tide for the 2025-26 season. Mallette, who transferred to Tuscaloosa from Pepperdine following the 2023-24 season, needed the NCAA's approval on a medical redshirt and received the go-ahead on Wednesday, according to Yea Alabama, the Crimson Tide's official NIL entity. Mallette appeared in six games last season. The bulk of his playing time came in Alabama's 97-90 win over North Dakota on Dec. 18. He scored 19 points and averaged 7.8 minutes per game in 2024-25. The 6-foot-5, 200-pound guard from Alameda, California dealt with knee injuries and was shut down for the season. In his last game, he played nine minutes in the Tide's 94-79 win over North Carolina in Chapel Hill on Dec. 4. Mallette averaged 3.2 points and 2.2 rebounds per game on 5-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc. Mallette came to Alabama as one of the top scorers in the West Coast Conference. In 2023-24, he averaged 14.7 points -- good for fifth in the conference -- on 43 percent shooting in 31.5 minutes per game for Pepperdine. Alabama coach Nate Oats said of Mallette last November: "Houston came to us with some knee issues, and he didn't practice all summer. He's an unbelievable kid. I'm super happy he's in our program. We talk about high-character kids and he's at the top of that list, but we want to do what's right by him and give him a full offseason in our program." The Crimson Tide went 28-9 overall last season and 13-5 in SEC play, earning a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Crimson Tide advanced to the Sweet 16 for the fourth consecutive season and fell to East Region champion Duke, 85-65, in the Elite Eight.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Duke's Jon Scheyer Gets Major Recruiting News on Four-Star Recruit
Duke enters the offseason fresh off a 35‑4 (19‑1 ACC) 2024‑25 campaign that culminated in a Final Four appearance under four‑year head coach Jon Scheyer. While none of their starters from last season are returning, they are adding one of the nation's top 2025 recruiting classes, keeping them in contention for 2025-26. Advertisement Four‑star 2026 power forward Sebastian Wilkins of Brewster Academy, ranked No. 17 in ESPN's Top 100, will take his official visit to Duke on Monday, per 247Sports' Sam Kayser. This comes after stops at Maryland and Texas A&M, joining a list of suitors that includes Alabama, Florida State, Iowa, and Boston College, among others. In 34 games for Brewster Academy's national team in 2023‑24, he averaged 10.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.1 apg, 0.9 spg, and 0.4 bpg in 22.5 mpg, per MaxPreps. Wilkins, 6-foot-8, 210 pounds, also earned MVP honors in Brewster's win over Oak Hill Academy in January, with a 22‑point, 8‑rebound performance. Advertisement He is the No. 1 overall recruit in the state of New Hampshire and No. 7 overall power forward in the nation, per 247Sports. Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer.© Ken Ruinard-Imagn Images On the flip side, you have Duke, which last season took home the ACC regular season and tournament crown. As a No. 1 seed in the East Region of the NCAA Tournament, they advanced to the Final Four, defeating Mount St. Mary's, Baylor, Arizona, and Alabama before falling to Houston. With several key departures to the NBA Draft, including standout freshmen Cooper Flagg, Khaman Maluach, and Kon Knueppel, Wilkins' visit on Monday will be a critical step in Duke's pursuit of another national title run. Advertisement Related: No. 4 College Basketball Recruit Turns Heads After New Post on Wednesday Related: Top Transfer Portal Player Makes Decision After Unexpected Decommitment
North Wales Chronicle
28-04-2025
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Buick yet to decide on his 2000 Guineas mount
Although on the face of it an enviable problem to have, Buick is well aware whichever three-year-old he discounts has the potential to go and win the Classic. Buick said: 'I haven't made a decision yet as to what I will ride in the 2000 Guineas. 'Obviously both Shadow Of Light and Ruling Court are in the race. Shadow Of Light is a champion two-year-old and Dewhurst winner so it's an obvious race for him to go for. Ruling Court is a horse we don't know as much about, but he won the Guineas in Dubai on Super Saturday when he couldn't have done any more. 'Charlie and I feel they both deserve to be in the 2000 Guineas. It is a hugely important race and going to be hugely competitive. There are horses in there that have run in and won trials but most of them we haven't seen yet this year and that is always the thing with both of the Guineas races – you just never really know.' Buick, speaking in his role as ambassador for The Jockey Club's East Region, added: 'I have ridden both Shadow Of Light and Ruling Court this year and you would have to be pleased with both of them. They are two very straightforward and high-class horses. I don't know if I will get to sit on either of them before declarations time on Thursday – that will be Charlie's call.' Shadow of Light has done his winning over trips shorter than a mile and there was even a question mark about a seventh furlong in the Dewhurst. But Buick think it is worth a try. He said: 'If you go back to his Dewhurst win, that was on pretty soft ground. Obviously, his class told that day but equally he had to stay with the way the race unfolded and while you never know until you try, you would have to be pretty hopeful a straight mile on good ground should not be a problem for him.' Buick's mount in the Betfred 1000 Guineas is set in stone in the shape of the odds-on favourite Desert Flower. 'Desert Flower was excellent last year and just kept on improving all season right the way through to the Fillies' Mile, where she probably posted her most impressive win of the year,' he said. 'She has done nothing wrong and obviously having won on the track as a two-year-old is a help. 'She looks great and I think Charlie and the team have been very happy with her throughout the winter. 'She had a nice spin on the track at the Craven meeting. She wasn't asked any serious questions but she felt very comfortable doing what she did. To ride her, she is a very straightforward filly and can do whatever really. 'She is super genuine and gives you everything.'
USA Today
15-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Alabama vs Purdue basketball date set: Here's what we know about marquee rematch
Alabama vs Purdue basketball date set: Here's what we know about marquee rematch Nate Oats' Alabama Crimson Tide will face Purdue basketball for the third straight year when the two teams meet in the 2025 nonconference schedule. A date for the Boilermakers' trip to Tuscaloosa as part of a home-and-home series was confirmed by the school Tuesday. Alabama and Purdue will meet Thursday, Nov. 13 at Coleman Coliseum. Since the game is in Tuscaloosa and both teams finished the 2024-25 season ranked in the top 15 in the major polls, it's hard to imagine Alabama-Purdue won't make it to one of ESPN, ESPN2 or SEC Network. Purdue finished 24-12 overall and went 13-7 in regular-season Big Ten play last season, including an 87-78 win over Alabama in the fourth game of the season on Nov. 15 at Mackey Arena. The Boilermakers earned a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament and fell 62-60 to the No. 1 seed Houston Cougars in the Sweet 16 of the Midwest Region in Indianapolis. Alabama finished 28-9 (13-5 SEC) and made it to the East Region finals (Elite Eight) of the tournament before falling 85-65 to No. 1 seed Duke. The Crimson Tide were ranked No. 6 in the final USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll this year. Purdue was ranked No. 12 in the Coaches Poll and No. 14 in the AP poll. The Tide and Boilermakers have met 10 times dating back to 1976. Purdue leads the all-time series, 7-3. This year's matchup will mark the third straight year the schools have met in the nonconference schedule. Alabama fell 92-86 to Purdue in December 2023 in Toronto. Alabama is also scheduled to face the Arizona Wildcats as part of its 2025 nonconference schedule. The Tide and Wildcats will meet on Dec. 13 at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, it was announced last week. Per Oats' custom, Alabama will have one of the toughest schedules in the nation. The Tide are scheduled to face Illinois in Chicago in nonconference play and make another trip to Las Vegas for the Players Era Festival. Another marquee opponent from the ACC will await Alabama in the annual SEC/ACC Challenge, which pitted the Crimson Tide against North Carolina last season. Keep up with Alabama's busy offseason by visiting Roll Tide Wire's 2025-26 roster and transfer portal tracker. Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.
USA Today
08-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Alabama basketball's final USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll ranking for 2024-25 revealed
Alabama basketball's final USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll ranking for 2024-25 revealed Nate Oats and the Alabama Crimson Tide came into the 2024-25 college basketball season hoping to be the ones cutting down the nets in San Antonio instead of an SEC foe. They'll have to settle for another top 10 finish in the polls. A day after the Florida Gators defeated the Houston Cougars, 65-63, in a thrilling national championship game at the Alamodome Monday night, Tuesday saw the release of the final men's basketball USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll for the 2024-25 season. Alabama (28-9 overall, 13-5 SEC) placed No. 6 in the Coaches Poll -- four spots lower than their preseason No. 2 ranking. With coach Todd Golden's Gators (36-4 overall) the unanimous No. 1 with 31 first-place votes and Houston (35-5) the runner-up, No. 3 Duke (35-4), No. 4 Auburn (32-6) and No. 5 Tennessee (30-8) rounded out the top five. The Crimson Tide were ranked one spot above No. 7 Michigan State in the final poll. Alabama was eliminated by East Region champion Duke, 85-65, in the Elite Eight on March 29 in Newark, N.J. It's the third consecutive season -- and the fourth time in five years -- that Alabama basketball has placed in the top 10 of the final Coaches Poll under Oats, who just completed his sixth season in Tuscaloosa. A year ago, Alabama finished at No. 4 in the Coaches Poll after reaching the first Final Four in program history. Alabama also finished No. 4 in the 2022-23 poll, a disappointing result for a team that came into the NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 overall seed for the first time in school history. The Crimson Tide were upset in the Sweet 16 by San Diego State that season. Alabama finished No. 5 in the final Coaches Poll of 2021. The Crimson Tide are the only SEC program to place in the Top 10 of the final Coaches Poll in four of the past five seasons. That includes Kentucky and other SEC basketball powers. With his track record of consistency, no one has proven himself more capable of leading Alabama basketball moving forward than Oats. ON THE MOVE: Keep up with Alabama's busy offseason by visiting Roll Tide Wire's transfer portal tracker. Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.
