Latest news with #EliteEight
Boston Globe
a day ago
- 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
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Jase Richardson listed as top 20 prospect in ESPN's latest NBA Draft 'Big Board'
Jase Richardson listed as top 20 prospect in ESPN's latest NBA Draft 'Big Board' Jase Richardson is officially off to the NBA with the draft withdraw date passing earlier this week -- so how does he stack up compared to the rest of the NBA Draft class? ESPN NBA Draft expert Jonathan Givony has an answer for that with the draft only a few weeks away. Givony released an updated NBA Draft "Big Board" of the top 100 prospects, with Richardson landing near the top of the list. Givony ranks Richardson as the No. 20 overall prospect in the NBA Draft, which aligns with where he's been typically landing in mock drafts. Here's what Givony had to say about Richardson: "Size and outlier physical tools typically rise in the predraft process, which might push Richardson down the board after measuring under 6-2 in shoes, 178 pounds with a 6-6 wingspan at the NBA predraft camp. Richardson would be somewhat undersized for an NBA point guard, but played more of a combo guard role for Michigan State, even if his performance the past two months of the season showed his potential when thrust into a more significant shot-creation role. His pace, skill level, feel for the game and shot-making prowess give him an outstanding framework to build on, especially with the defensive intensity and selfless style he brings. With several guards expected to come off the board in the second half of the first round, and perhaps a limited appetite among teams to absorb all of them, there will be considerable jockeying in this part of the draft as prospects look to position themselves through private team workouts." Richardson starred for the Spartans in his lone season in college, averaging 12.1 points per game and shooting better than 40% from 3-point range. The first half of the season he primarily came off the bench as a key reserve, but he was inserted into the starting lineup for the final two months and quickly became the Spartans' top player en route to a Big Ten championship and Elite Eight run in the NCAA Tournament. The NBA Draft will be held on June 25-26, with the first round on the first day and the second round on the second day. The NBA Draft will be televised on ABC and ESPN. 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.
New York Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Tennessee sharpshooter Chaz Lanier makes his Nets NBA draft pitch
Shooting is the single most coveted skill in the NBA, and the Nets on Thursday worked out the top shooter in the upcoming draft. At least, that's how the confident Chaz Lanier views himself. Advertisement 'I believe I'm the best shooter in the draft,' Lanier told The Post. 'But [also] a competitor, a winner, somebody who wants to win and is going to bring the best effort to the team. 'I feel like I have a proven track record, and I bring maturity and experience onto any team who drafts me. I've shown that I can adapt and continue to develop. And I feel like I'm a more mature and experienced guy who can contribute the right way, and immediately.' Lanier being the draft's top marksman might not be hyperbole. The 6-foot-4 Tennessee off-guard averaged 18 points on 39.5 percent shooting from 3-point territory this season. Advertisement His middling defense and age (23) have him 34th on Tankathon's Big Board and 42nd on ESPN's, putting him in range of the Nets with the No. 36 pick. The Nets also have picks No. 26 and 27, and there are indications some teams view him as a potential first-round target. But Lanier spun that age as experience, as a strong suit. Advertisement 3 Tennessee guard Chaz Lanier, working out at the NFL Combine earlier in the month, worked out with the Nets on May 29, 2025. NBAE via Getty Images 'Some people look at age as a bad thing, and some look at it as a good thing, so I try and put it out there as a good thing,' Lanier said. 'I'm a more mature and experienced player who can bring shooting immediately. A lot of guys are going back to school nowadays with NIL, so the draft is leaning more towards a little bit older guys now … so there's a lot of positives to it.' Lanier worked out with five other prospects Thursday at HSS Training Center, including Volunteers teammate Jahmai Mashack and Colorado State guard Nique Clifford, tabbed to go in the middle of the first round. 3 Chaz Lanier drives to the basket during the NBA Draft Combine on May 13, 2025. NBAE via Getty Images Advertisement Lanier met several Nets players and personnel. 'I pretty much got to meet everybody, from the head coach Jordi Fernández to the assistant GM, the GM,' Lanier said. 'The whole front office was there and the coaching staff, so it was great. It was a great opportunity.' In Lanier's last season at North Florida before transferring, he led the country in offensive efficiency, and his 44 percent from deep also led the nation (among players averaging seven-plus attempts). 3 Volunteers guard Chaz Lanier goes up for a layup during Tennessee's Elite Eight loss to Houston. AP He won the Jerry West Award this season at Tennessee as the nation's top shooting guard, was fourth in the country in 3s (123) and in the 99th percentile in win shares (5.2). A strong draft combine showing also raised Lanier's stock. He led all prospects in spot-up shooting and free-throw shooting. He finished third in standing vertical leap, fifth in lane agility and second in aggregate shooting, trailing only Alabama's Mark Sears. Follow all the basketball buzz in Brooklyn Sign up for Inside the Nets by Brian Lewis, exclusively on Sports+. Thank you Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Check out more newsletters Advertisement His skill set could come in handy for a Nets team that wants to take 3s (top 10 in attempts last season) but can't hit them (bottom 10 in percentage). Considering they're in a rebuild, there is a runway toward playing time. 'Definitely a golden opportunity. I feel like everything needs shooting, especially in today's league and the way most teams play,' Lanier said. 'And in Brooklyn, they play an unselfish brand of basketball. You're out there on the court having a great time with your teammates and playing defense, most importantly. 'I really admire the way coach Jordi Fernández really runs the organization. The culture is amazing. Being able to meet with everybody and all the staff, getting to meet some of the players you can tell everybody's bought into the culture. It's not about 'me,' it's about 'we.' And I really admire that about what coach is building.'
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Jase Richardson remains in NBA Draft, officially ends possibility of returning to MSU
Jase Richardson remains in NBA Draft, officially ends possibility of returning to MSU Jase Richardson's career at Michigan State is officially over. The deadline to withdraw for the NBA Draft and retain college eligibility officially passed on Wednesday night, and to no surprise there was no news surrounding Richardson. This would suggest he has remained in the NBA Draft and can no longer return to Michigan State for another season of college hoops. Richardson starred for the Spartans in his lone season in college, averaging 12.1 points per game and shooting better than 40% from 3-point range. The first half of the season he primarily came off the bench as a key reserve, but he was inserted into the starting lineup for the final two months and quickly became the Spartans' top player en route to a Big Ten championship and Elite Eight run in the NCAA Tournament. Richardson's strong play as a true freshman has resulted in many projecting him to be selected in this year's first round of the NBA Draft. The mock drafts vary in where he'll be selected but it seems quite clear he'll go anywhere from the late lottery to late first round. The possibility of Richardson returning gave some (including myself) the opportunity to dream of an elite-level Spartans' squad for next season. But even with Richardson officially gone, Michigan State is projected to contend again for a Big Ten title and enter next year as a top 15-20 team nationally. The NBA Draft will be held on June 25-26, with the first round on the first day and the second round on the second day. The NBA Draft will be televised on ABC and ESPN so plan on tuning in on the first night to see Richardson be the latest Spartan selected to play at the highest level of basketball. 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.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
NBA Draft: Underclassmen are returning to college in record numbers
Eleven days after squandering a late nine-point lead in an agonizing Elite Eight loss to Florida, Texas Tech received a much-needed morale boost. JT Toppin, a second-team All-American and the reigning Big 12 player of the year, announced earlier this month that he intends to return to the Red Raiders for his junior season. Projected as a potential second-round pick by NBA scouts and draft analysts, Toppin is exactly the sort of prospect who might have turned pro in the pre-NIL era but now can benefit financially from remaining in college. The 6-foot-9 forward is expected to make about $4 million in NIL earnings at Texas Tech next season, according to Matt Norlander, a sum that exceeds the 2025-26 rookie salary scale for all but the NBA's top 15 draft picks. The skyrocketing NIL market for proven talent across college basketball has made decisions like Toppin's more and more common this draft cycle. Underclassmen who are fringe NBA prospects are returning to college in record numbers rather than chasing NBA two-way contracts or paydays overseas. Only 106 players entered the 2025 NBA Draft as early entry candidates, the league announced on Tuesday morning. That's the lowest number of early entrants since 2015, down from a peak of 353 in 2021. Braden Smith, a first-team All-American and the nation's best point guard, revealed earlier this month that he's 'running it back one last time' at Purdue, potentially cementing himself as the preseason Wooden Award favorite. Thomas Haugh, one of the pillars of Florida's national title run, recently said that he's returning to the reigning champs despite wowing NBA scouts during a breakout NCAA tournament. Alex Karaban, the last remaining stalwart from UConn's back-to-back title teams, announced on Tuesday that he's coming back for his senior season in hopes of solidifying himself as a 2026 NBA Draft pick while chasing a third championship. Isaiah Evans is returning to Duke. Flory Bidunga is doing the same at Kansas. So is Trey Kaufman-Renn at Purdue, Richie Saunders at BYU and Jackson Shelstad at Oregon. You'll also see Big East player of the year RJ Luis, Mountain West player of the year Donovan Dent and Missouri Valley player of the year Bennett Stirtz, albeit all playing for different college teams than they did this past season. The glut of returning talent to college basketball reflects the money that deep-pocketed, top-tier programs are spending to try to build the best possible rosters. The Field of 68's Jeff Goodman reported earlier this month that as many as 15 teams will have $10 million rosters next season. Those in the NIL space who have spoken to Yahoo Sports say that it will take up to $6-8 million just to be competitive in a power conference. That's a big leap from even a year ago when only the most coveted transfers and prized freshmen could expect to earn seven figures. It's an even more enormous jump from a few years ago when college basketball's biggest brands helped arrange six- or low-seven-figure NIL deals to tempt back-to-the-basket centers Armando Bacot, Hunter Dickinson, Drew Timme and Oscar Tshiebwe back to college. 'There's not that big of a market in the NBA for a certain type of big man,' Bacot told Yahoo Sports in 2022, 'so being able to come back to college and make money is a really good option.' Is this salary structure sustainable? Will fringe pro prospects continue to earn more as college stars than they can yoyo-ing between the G League and the end of an NBA bench? We'll see. But for now, this current setup is a coup for players who are finally able to earn market value and for the sport of college basketball as a whole. Talented underclassmen are returning to college basketball at the highest rate in a decade plus. That can only drive interest in the sport.
