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USA Today
4 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
MSU basketball drops in updated 'Bracketology' from ESPN's Joe Lunardi
We are months away from tipping off the next college basketball season, but, hey, it's never too early for bracketology, right? ESPN's Joe Lunardi has released an updated batch of bracketology for the 2026 NCAA Tournament and to no surprise Michigan State is safely in the field of 68. But the Spartans did slip since the last time Lunardi released a bracket projection earlier this offseason. Lunardi currently has Michigan State as the No. 5 seed in the East Region with a first round matchup against Missouri Valley Conference champion Illinois State in Buffalo. In this projected bracket, Michigan State would face the winner of No. 4 seed Arkansas and No. 13 seed Miami (OH) should they knock off Illinois State in the first round. Michigan State is looking to continue the hot play from last year's Big Ten championship season and Elite Eight finish next season. The Spartans have widely been projected as a top 25 team in the preseason polls for next year so Lunardi's projection of a No. 5 seed is aligned with the national media. Click on the post below to read the complete NCAA Tournament bracket projection from Lunardi: Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Sport
- Forbes
With Saniyah Hall Commitment, USC Continues Recruiting Prowess
SPOKANE, WASHINGTON - MARCH 31: Head coach Lindsay Gottlieb of the USC Trojans giving a high five to ... More Kayleigh Heckel #9 before their game against the UConn Huskies during the Elite Eight round of the 2025 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament held at Spokane Arena on March 31, 2025 in Spokane, Washington. (Photo by Tyler Schank/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) In May 2021, Lindsay Gottlieb stepped down as a Cleveland Cavaliers assistant to become the head women's basketball coach at the University of Southern California. For the Trojans, it was a coup luring one of the sport's best coaches back to the college game. And for Gottlieb, it was a chance to return to the state where she had made a mark as Cal's head women's coach, leading the Bears to seven NCAA tournament appearances in eight seasons. So far, the partnership has worked out well for both sides, and it seems likely to continue to thrive in the coming years. On Friday, high school senior Saniyah Hall, a 6-foot-1 guard and ESPN's No. 1 recruit, committed to USC during an appearance on ESPN's 'NBA Today' show. She said that she felt at 'home' at the school and 'loved' her future teammates. She also praised the coaching staff, including Gottlieb. 'She's definitely there just to support me,' Hall said. 'I've built a relationship with her. She's a great coach. Hall, who led the U.S. to the FIBA U19 Women's World Cup title this month, is the latest high school star to commit to USC. JuJu Watkins, the No. 1 recruit in the high school Class of 2023, signed with USC and became an instant sensation. Watkins was a first team All-American as a freshman and the national player of the year last season as a sophomore. Watkins, a 6-foot-2 guard who grew up near USC's campus, is averaging 25.5 points per game in her career. No player in women's basketball history has scored more points (1,709) than Watkins did in her first two seasons. Watkins sustained a serious knee injury during the NCAA tournament in March, and it is unknown when she will return. But if she is able to get back on the court sometime this season, she will be joining another potential star in Jazzy Davidson, an incoming freshman and the No. 1 recruit in the high school class of 2025. Davidson, a 6-foot-1 guard, played at Clackamas High School in Oregon, about 10 miles from Portland. She was a four-time Gatorade state player of the year and excelled on the national and international stage, including winning gold with Team USA in the 2024 FIBA U18 AmeriCup and the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup, where she averaged 14.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3 steals per game and made second-team all-tournament. At the U19 World Cup, Davidson started alongside Hall, who was named the Most Valuable Player after averaging 19.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.9 steals per game and helping the U.S. win each of its seven games. Hall, who played last season at Montverde Academy in Florida, recently transferred to SPIRE Academy in her home state of Ohio. Hall's other college finalists were UCLA, North Carolina and South Carolina. When Hall arrives at USC in the fall of 2026, the Trojans could have three overall No. 1 recruits on their roster. Watkins is not eligible to enter the WNBA draft until 2027, so if the rules remain in place she will spend one season playing with Davidson and Hall. If healthy, that trio should be among the best in the nation and keep USC back in the mix for an NCAA championship, which was unheard of in the 30 years before Gottlieb arrived. USC did win back-to-back national titles in 1983 and 1984, the second and third years that the NCAA hosted a women's basketball tournament. The Trojans also lost in the 1986 national title game and advanced to the Elite 8 in 1992 and 1994. But when Gottlieb arrived in 2021, USC had not made the tournament since 2014 and had won only two tournament games in the previous 27 years. After USC went 12-16 in Gottlieb's first season, the Trojans have made the NCAAs in each of the past three seasons, including as No. 1 seeds in 2024 and 2025 when they lost in the Elite 8 both times. This past season, the Trojans experienced a disappointing blow when Watkins sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the second round. With Watkins out, it was too much for the Trojans, who lost to eventual national champion UConn. While Watkins recovers from her injury, the Trojans will be under the radar a bit entering the season. Still, they do have some talented players with Davidson as well as sophomore guard Kennedy Smith (9.5 points per game last season) and transfer guards Kara Dunn (Georgia Tech) and Londynn Jones (UCLA). If Watkins can return close to or at full strength, USC should be back among the best in the country entering the NCAAs. And with the way Gottlieb is recruiting and coaching, the Trojans should remain an elite program just as the women's game continues to see more interest from fans and sponsors alike.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
USC women's basketball lands top recruit Saniyah Hall. Why she picked Trojans
Southern California women's basketball team has landed another top recruit. Saniyah Hall, the top female high school basketball recruit in the class of 2026, according to ESPN's rankings, has committed to play for USC after receiving offers from nearly 30 schools, including UConn, UCLA, South Carolina, North Carolina and LSU. The 16-year-old made the announcement on ESPN's "NBA Today" on Friday, saying, USC "felt like home." "It's such a blessing to be in this position, but I think I truly found my home, and I'm ready to tell the world where I'm going," she said before revealing a Trojans shirt underneath her jacket. "I am headed to the University of Southern California. Go Trojans! Fight on." Hall's announcement comes on the heels of her gold medal win with Team USA at the FIBA Under-19 World Cup. She was named MVP after averaging 19.9 points and 6.4 rebounds, shooting 52.6% from the field and 39.3% on 3-pointers. She scored 25 points vs. Australia in the gold-medal game. Her 19.9 points per game may have set a USA U19 record, but Hall said she's proudest of her defense: "I had a lot of steals that game and a lot of blocks." She'll join a Trojans squad that is assembling elite talent under coach Lindsay Gottlieb. McDonald's All-American Jazzy Davidson, the third overall recruit in the 2025 class, who competed alongside Hall on the USA U19 team, also committed to play for USC. The Trojans were 31-4 last season and lost to UConn in an Elite Eight game after superstar Juju Watkins went down with an ACL injury during the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Hall said Gottlieb and her teammates led to her choice to commit to USC. On Friday, she said, "I love all my teammates. The girls there are so fun to be around definitely Lindsay (Gottlieb)... she's definitely there to support me and I've built a relationship with her. She's a great coach." The Ohio native will finish her senior season of high school basketball at SPIRE Academy in Geneva, Ohio. Last season, she played for Montverde (Florida) Academy and averaged 20.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.8 steals and 1.4 blocks. Hall signed an NIL deal with Jordan brand earlier this month. During her announcement, Hall said, "I don't have anything to prove. I just go out, play basketball. I let my game do the talking. Actions speak for themselves." The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
USA Today
23-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Clemson head coach Brad Brownell details why the Indiana job 'didn't feel right' for him
Clemson WR coach Tyler Grisham says the Tigers have a 'room full of starters' in 2025 Brad Brownell admits the Indiana head coaching job has always held a special place in his heart. A native of Evansville, Indiana, and lifelong Hoosiers fan, Brownell spoke with IU during its latest search. But in the end, he stayed where he felt most at home — Clemson. 'The Indiana job was 'the job,'' Brownell said Tuesday. 'I spoke with them, but I was never 'the guy.' It didn't feel right at that time.' Now entering his 16th season with the Tigers, Brownell is fresh off agreeing to a new six-year deal worth $27.5 million. The contract, signed in April, also includes a clause allowing him to step into a special assistant role to the athletic director if he ever steps away from coaching — a unique offering that further cemented his decision to stay. 'It's something we talked about when the Indiana thing was going on,' he said. 'That was something that I knew Clemson could offer me that another school could not.' Despite the allure of IU, Brownell and his family have embraced life in Clemson. The warm weather, lake living, and community connection all factored in — as did his growing legacy with the program. He's Clemson's all-time winningest coach with 292 victories, and he's led the Tigers to five NCAA Tournaments, including the 2024 Elite Eight and 2018 Sweet 16. 'There's a million reasons to stay here,' Brownell said with a grin. 'The warm weather and the lake, those aren't bad.' Clemson is riding a wave of historic success under Brownell, winning a school-record 27 games in 2024-25, finishing 18-2 in the ACC, and posting four wins over Top 25 opponents, including Kentucky and Duke. The Tigers also went 9-1 on the road in league play — the best mark in school history. Over the last three seasons, Clemson has amassed 74 wins, more than any other stretch in program history, and posted a .717 winning percentage in ACC play. Since 2017-18, the Tigers rank fourth in the conference in total wins and league victories. Brownell emphasized that the timing of the Indiana discussions came during a critical point in the Tigers' season. While he was honored by the interest, he ultimately trusted his instincts. 'You talk about it with your family — where do you see yourself, what do you want to do?' he said. 'And we just felt really at home here.' With a long-term plan now in place and his roots firmly planted, Brownell remains focused on building Clemson into a consistent national contender. 'I've poured my heart and soul into this place for 15 years,' he said. 'Tremendous highs, difficult lows, but unbelievable experiences. And we're not done yet.' Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Auburn basketball's Tahaad Pettiford arrested, charged with DUI
This story has been updated to include new information. AUBURN — Tahaad Pettiford, the lone returnee from Auburn basketball's latest Final Four squad, has been arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, according to the Lee County Sherriff's Office. Pettiford, 19, was booked at midnight Saturday and has been released on a $1,000 bond, according to the sherriff's office arrest database. According to Alabama state law, persons under the age of 21 with a blood alcohol concentration of .02% or higher can be charged with DUI. 'We are aware of the situation, and we will handle internally with Tahaad and his family," Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl said in a statement Saturday morning. "We take these matters seriously and will learn and grow from it moving forward.' A rising sophomore, Pettiford shined in his first season on the Plains as the Tigers' third-leading scorer, averaging 11.6 points and 3.0 assists per game. During Auburn's run to the Final Four, he was vital, averaging 17.3 points between the Round of 64 and Elite Eight. He scored 23 and 20 points, respectively, in Auburn's NCAA Tournament wins over Creighton and Michigan. This offseason, Pettiford entered the NBA Draft process, but ultimately withdrew his name May 28, despite an NBA Combine invitation and a handful of first-round projections. Adam Cole is the Auburn athletics beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at acole@ or on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @colereporter. To support Adam's work, please subscribe to the Montgomery Advertiser. This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn basketball's Tahaad Pettiford arrested, charged with DUI
