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USA Today
30-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN's preseason bracketology places Auburn basketball in South Regional
Is Auburn in a position to repeat last season's success in the NCAA Tournament? A heat wave is currently occupying Auburn, leaving fans wishing for cooler days and action on the hardwood. The Tigers are about three months away from tipping off the 2025-26 season, but preseason projections are scratching the itch of fans everywhere. ESPN's Joe Lunardi has contributed to the preseason chatter by releasing his early "Bracketology" following a wild offseason that featured strong transfer portal movement, recruiting efforts, and stars entering the NBA draft. Early on, at least, Lunardi does not project Auburn to repeat last season's success where they grabbed the No. 1 overall seed. However, the NCAA Tournament guru expects Auburn to have a great season in which they take the No. 4 seed in the South Region, the same region in which the Tigers began their postseason run last season. The early projection places Auburn in a bracket that features plenty of teams they will see during the season. Auburn will face Purdue, the South's projected No. 1 seed, in Indianapolis this season. The Tigers will also see Arizona (No. 3) and Oregon (No. 7) in non-conference play, while battling No. 8 Missouri and No. 10 Vanderbilt in SEC action. Auburn will also face Memphis in an exhibition game in October. The Memphis Tigers are the No. 11 seed in the early forecast from ESPN's Lunardi. Projections of any kind this early are almost destined to be wrong by season's end. However, the field that Lunardi projects for Auburn will be a great litmus test to determine just how strong the team will be this season. Auburn will enter the season with low expectations following the departures of key players such as Johni Broome, Denver Jones, Miles Kelly, and Dylan Cardwell to graduation, and the transfer of Chad Baker-Mazara to USC. Tahaad Pettiford will get the chance to take over the Tigers' starting point guard role, and will have a great supporting cast that features Mississippi State transfer Keshawn Murphy, UCF transfer Keyshawn Murphy, JUCO talent Abdul Bashir, and International player Filip Jovic. While the potential is there for Auburn to keep its momentum from last season's Final Four run, there is plenty of uncertainty surrounding the team and they will need to play at a high level early to solidify their status as a high-seed caliber squad. Lunardi projects the other Final Four teams from last season, Florida, Houston, and Duke, to occupy the No. 1 seeds of the three remaining regionals. Other teams of note include Alabama (No. 5 seed in the Midwest Region), Tennessee (No. 3 in the Midwest Regional), and Arkansas (No. 4 in the East Regional). The SEC is slated to produce 14 NCAA Tournament teams in Lunardi's preseason projection, which is the most among all conferences. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__
New York Post
26-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Nets take Egor Demin with crucial No. 8 pick of 2025 NBA Draft
The Nets went into the draft with a plethora of picks, and despite speculation that they would try to move up, they selected BYU guard Egor Demin with the No. 8 pick. Speculation had swirled that the Nets would use their draft capital to try and move into position to take Rutgers star Ace Bailey, but that never happened. Egor Demin stands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the eighth pick by the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Brad Penner-Imagn Images Advertisement Demin had been projected to be a first-round pick, though expected to go later, with The Post slotting him to be taken by Brooklyn with the 19th overall pick. Brigham Young Cougars guard Egor Demin (3) drives to the basket against Alabama Crimson Tide guard Mark Sears (1) during the second half during an East Regional semifinal of the 2025 NCAA tournament at Prudential Center. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect He averaged 10.6 points per game and 5.5 assists while shooting 41.2 percent from the field.
Boston Globe
30-05-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
AJ Dybantsa and BYU to face UConn at TD Garden this fall
It'll be a matchup between teams projected to be among the preseason top 10, as well as between two of the top New England players in college basketball. Advertisement Dybantsa will face a UConn team led by Southborough native Alex Karaban, a two-time national champion who averaged 14.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game last season. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'The game against UConn in Boston is going to be a great test for our team and allow Cougar fans all over the East Coast to see us play in one of the premier venues in the NBA,' BYU coach Kevin Young said in a statement. The game will be the Huskies' first in Boston since the 2024 East Regional, when UConn blew past San Diego State in the Sweet 16 and Illinois in the Elite Eight en route to becoming repeat national champion. It will be UConn's second appearance in the Hall of Fame Series after the Huskies beat Gonzaga at Madison Square Garden in December. Advertisement 'The Hall of Fame Series has been great to us in the past, so it was a no-brainer to jump at an opportunity to play an elite opponent in 'Storrs North,' ' UConn coach Dan Hurley said in a statement. 'We know it will be a quality event with a great crowd and a stiff test to see where we are as a team.' One week after the game at TD Garden, the Naismith Hall of Fame also will put on a showcase featuring Boston University, Harvard, Providence, and Penn State at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. Additionally, UConn men's and women's basketball teams will take part in an exhibition doubleheader against Boston College at Mohegan Sun Arena on Oct. 13. It'll be the teams' first meeting on the women's side since 2005, and first on the men's side since 2013. Emma Healy can be reached at
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nets 2025 NBA draft big board 2.0: Best fits at pick No. 8
The Brooklyn Nets came away from the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery with the eighth overall pick, something that the franchise was hoping wouldn't happen heading into the event. However, Brooklyn went into the Lottery knowing that they could have come away from the Lottery with a less-than-ideal pick and now, they have to move forward with different plans for who to use that pick on. The Nets had ideas of getting lucky enough to get the first overall pick, giving them the ability to select Duke forward Cooper Flagg, but that outcome did not come to fruition. Be that as it may, the 2025 class still has some players after Flagg that have the potential to become impact players at the next level and Brooklyn has to make sure that it does its homework. Advertisement This will be the first time since 2023 that the Nets will have multiple first-round picks in the same draft so they have a chance of adding multiple players that can fit into the framework of the team's current rebuild. Here are five players that would be a good fit for Brooklyn at the eighth overall pick, assuming that they are not trying to trade the pick in an effort to move up: Derik Queen, C, Maryland Mar 23, 2025; Seattle, WA, USA; Maryland Terrapins center Derik Queen (25) passes the ball against the Colorado State Rams in the first half at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images Queen, listed at 6-foot-10 and 246 pounds, showed plenty of promise towards the end of the NCAA regular season and boosted his stock significantly with what he did during conference tournament time and the NCAA Tournament. What would make a selection of Queen interesting is how the Nets foresee him fitting alongside starting center Nic Claxton, who will be entering the second year of his four-year, $97 million contract next season. Advertisement If the Nets are looking for a big man to add to the rotation for next season, the decision for Brooklyn at this spot would be between Queen and possibly Duke center Khaman Maluach, if he remains on the board. Queen's appeal at this point in the predraft process is what his offensive game could look like at the next level, even though any team that drafts him would have to be willing to build around his defensive limitations if he is going to play center full-time at the next level. "I don't think that Derik Queen is the best big in the draft. That's basically the argument, he is also going to be 21 during his rookie season. He's a grown man out there. Yeah, he's the safe pick –polished, strong in the post, but doesn't have a ton of upside," a scout told HoopsHype on Queen, per Cyro Asseo de Choch. Khaman Maluach, C, Duke Mar 29, 2025; Newark, NJ, USA; Duke Blue Devils center Khaman Maluach (9) dunks the ball against Alabama Crimson Tide forward Grant Nelson (4) during the second half in the East Regional final of the 2025 NCAA tournament at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images Maluach, listed at 7-foot-2 and 250 pounds, had a promising freshman season that rightfully made many around the NBA excited about what he could do at the next level thanks to his size and shot-blocking ability. Maluach averaged 8.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 71.2% from the field and 76.6% from the free-throw line, but he had the worst game of his first season at Duke at the worst time. Advertisement In the National Semi-finals against the Houston Cougars, Maluach showed all of the weaknesses of his profile as he put up just six points and one block in 21 minutes played. Maluach disappeared against a physical, veteran Houston team and while Maluach showed plenty of promise that will not take him out of the top-10, the hope is that he wouldn't have lows like that in the NBA. "Maluach is raw but huge and super athletic. Hands aren't great, though. One guy I know called him a lankier DeAndre Jordan. But maybe Rudy Gobert's hands? Yeah, and not the same instincts as Gobert. DJ was also underrated in terms of feel. And Maluach isn't some elite rim protector. I see the appeal, but he has a ways to go. Starting center? Probably. Star? I'm not sold," a scout told HoopsHype, per Asseo de Choch. Kasparas Jakucionis, G, Illinois Feb 11, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Kasparas Jakucionis (32) shoots the ball over UCLA Bruins guard Skyy Clark (55) during the first half at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images Jakucionis, listed at 6-foot-6 and 200 pounds, could be attractive to the Nets on the basis of being a bigger guard that is able to handle the ball and make things happen for himself and his teammates. During his freshman season at Illinois, Jakucionis displayed his ability to play through contact and use his size to his advantage, especially in terms of scoring and passing. Advertisement Jakucionis' positional size is intriguing given that most teams would love to have a point guard that can see over any defender while forcing opposing teams to employ different defensive strategies to counter what bigger point guards tend to offer. Jakucionis carried a heavy load for Illinois, but it's fair to wonder if he can do the same thing at the next level with some of his physical attributes being around average. "Kasparas has the vision, but the assist-to-turnover ratio's rough. Secondary creator at best – not a franchise PG. I don't love that comp to Tyrese Haliburton. Tyrese's assist-to-turnover ratio was elite. Jakucionis has issues there. He's more of a secondary creator. Tyrese was 9.3 assists to 1.6 TOs after his first 25 games that rookie year. Jakucionis is nowhere near that," a scout told HoopsHype, per Asseo de Choch. Collin Murray-Boyles, F, South Carolina Mar 1, 2025; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks forward Collin Murray-Boyles (30) celebrates a play against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the second half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images Murray-Boyles, listed at 6-foot-7 and 245 pounds, is one of the more interesting prospects in the Draft given that his position in the NBA will most likely have to be as an undersized power forward that has some issues shooting the ball from deep. What Murray-Boyles brings to the table on Day 1 is his ability to get into the paint and score at the rim through contact thanks to his frame and strength. Advertisement Murray-Boyles has caught the eyes of many thanks to his physical style of play that looks like it would translate easily to the next level as people envision him getting to the basket and in the paint at will. However, Murray-Boyles' size suggest that he would be a big small forward or a small power forward and if he can't shoot better than 26.5% from three-point land, it will be tough to see him on an NBA floor as anything other than a micro-ball center. "I don't like his game at all. The fact that people even think he's going to be a lottery pick is crazy. He can't even play the three – he moves slowly. And sure, he's a great defender, but honestly, Grant Williams had more offensive talent coming out of college than this guy," a scout told HoopsHype, per Asseo de Choch. Jase Richardson, G, Michigan State Mar 23, 2025; Cleveland, OH, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Jase Richardson (11) dribbles defended by New Mexico Lobos forward Atiki Ally Atiki (6) in the second half during the NCAA Tournament Second Round at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images Richardson, listed at 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds, made his way up the draft boards with the way that he played once he entered the starting lineup for Tom Izzo's Spartans. Once February came around, Richardson averaged 14.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game while shooting 48.6% from the field and 35.6% from three-point land while playing 28.2 minutes per contest. Advertisement Richardson's physical profile suggests that his best position would be at point guard, but it's clear that his game leans more into that of a scorer than a facilitator so his fit in the NBA will determine how his game translates. For a team like the Nets, Richardson would be able to find his role at the next level while also providing the team with another guard who can get his own shot anytime he wants, similar to restricted free-agent Cam Thomas. "Because of his dad he is a coach's kid who plays with that veteran savvy. Not the biggest or most athletic but always in the right spot defensively. Developing into a reliable catch-and-shoot threat. Floor is high as a rotation piece – think a smaller Donte DiVincenzo with better playmaking," an assistant coach told HoopsHype, per Asseo de Choch. This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets 2025 NBA draft big board 2.0: Best fits at pick No. 8
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nets 2025 NBA draft big board 1.0: Best fits at pick No. 8
The Brooklyn Nets came away from Monday's 2025 NBA Draft Lottery with the eighth overall pick, something that the franchise was hoping wouldn't happen heading into the event. However, Brooklyn went into the Lottery knowing that they could have come away from the Lottery with a less-than-ideal pick and now, they have to move forward with different plans for who to use that pick on. The Nets had ideas of getting lucky enough to get the first overall pick, giving them the ability to select Duke forward Cooper Flagg, but that outcome did not come to fruition. Be that as it may, the 2025 class still has some players after Flagg that have the potential to become impact players at the next level and Brooklyn has to make sure that it does its homework. Advertisement This will be the first time since 2023 that the Nets will have multiple first-round picks in the same Draft so they have a chance of adding multiple players that can fit into the framework of the team's current rebuild. Here are five players that would be a good fit for Brooklyn at the eighth overall pick, assuming that they are not trying to trade the pick in an effort to move up: Derik Queen, C, Maryland Maryland Terrapins center Derik Queen (25) handles the ball during the second half against the Northwestern Wildcats at Xfinity Center in College Park, Maryland on March 8, 2025. Queen, listed at 6-foot-10 and 246 pounds, showed plenty of promise towards the end of the NCAA regular season and boosted his stock significantly with what he did during conference tournament time and the NCAA Tournament. What would make a selection of Queen interesting is how the Nets foresee him fitting alongside starting center Nic Claxton, who will be entering the second year of his four-year, $97 million contract next season. Advertisement Queen is compared to Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun by Wasserman and it's easy to see why with the way that Queen moves on the offensive end of the floor with some sneaky athleticism to boot. "Queen's skill level, scoring versatility and passing IQ have been strong enough indicators of offensive success that certain teams will be willing to look past his defensive limitations," Wasserman writes in his latest mock draft. Kon Knueppel, G/F, Duke Mar 29, 2025; Newark, NJ, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Kon Knueppel (7) drives to the basket against Alabama Crimson Tide guard Mark Sears (1) during the second half in the East Regional final of the 2025 NCAA tournament at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images Knueppel, listed at 6-foot-6 and 217 pounds, projects to be the kind of player that will be a floor-spacer for whatever team he goes to given his ability to shoot the basketball during his freshman season at Duke. While Knueppel doesn't seem like the kind of player that will be able to create shots for himself and others, his shooting ability is vital for any team looking for more shooting. Advertisement Knueppel, whom Wasserman compares to Nets forward Cam Johnson, could be the kind of guy that allows Brooklyn to build around whoever comes to the roster that will have the ball in their hands, especially if Johnson ends up getting traded somewhere else this summer or during next season. "Knueppel should look like the ultimate plug-and-play wing for teams that miss out on some of the higher-level creators," Wasserman writes. Asa Newell, F/C, Georgia Jan 28, 2025; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs forward Asa Newell (14) shoots against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Stegeman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images Newell, listed at 6-foot-11 and 220 pounds, profiles to be the type of big man that can play some power forward and play some center depending on the personnel around him. Newell did a little bit of everything for Georgia as while he was their best scorer around the basket and in the dunker spot, he also showed off his ability to shoot the ball from the perimeter and make some plays for his teammates. Advertisement Newell, whom Wasserman compares to Memphis Grizzles forward Brandon Clarke, will probably be best hanging in the dunker spot on offense and operating in the pick-and-roll while defending the rim and switching on the defensive end of the floor. "Newell ultimately gives off safe-pick vibes with his 6'11" size and movement, consistent production, defensive tools and reliable touch whenever he gets it in the paint," Wasserman writes. Kasparas Jakucionis, G, Illinois Mar 21, 2025; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Xavier guard Dailyn Swain (3) guards Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis (32) during the second half of their first round NCAA men' s basketball tournament game at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jovanny Hernandez/USA Today Network via Imagn Images Jakucionis, listed at 6-foot-6 and 200 pounds, could be attractive to the Nets on the basis of being a bigger guard that is able to handle the ball and make things happen for himself and his teammates. During his freshman season at Illinois, Jakucionis displayed his ability to play through contact and use his size to his advantage, especially in terms of scoring and passing. Advertisement Wasserman compares Jakucionis to Chicago Bulls guard Coby White and the comparison makes sense when you consider that White had some of the similar questions coming into the league when it came to whether he could overcome his inability to create space on a consistent basis. "While Jakucionis struggled from the field down the stretch, he mostly showed enough effective change of speed, creative shotmaking and high-IQ passing for scouts to believe he can compensate for limited athletic traits," Wasserman writes. Collin Murray-Boyles, F, South Carolina Mar 1, 2025; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks forward Collin Murray-Boyles (30) celebrates a play against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the second half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images Murray-Boyles, listed at 6-foot-7 and 245 pounds, is one of the more interesting prospects in the Draft given that his position in the NBA will most likely have to be as an undersized power forward that has some issues shooting the ball from deep. What Murray-Boyles brings to the table on Day 1 is his ability to get into the paint and score at the rim through contact thanks to his frame and strength. Advertisement Murray-Boyles, who Wasserman compares to Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle, has a chance to be a really good NBA player if he is able to improve on his three-point shooting stroke enough to ensure that he can play next to a center that isn't a shooter. "Teams will be most interested in Murray-Boyles measurements and jumper during predraft, given his unique frame for a power forward who hasn't shown much shooting," Wasserman writes. This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets 2025 NBA draft big board 1.0: Best fits at pick No. 8
