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New York Times
30-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
How Duke's defense shut down Alabama's offense in Elite Eight to reach Final Four
NEWARK, N.J. — The Duke lead had been cut to seven with just a touch more than eight minutes left in the second half of the East Regional final. On the Alabama sideline, coach Nate Oats clapped his hands and bent over, hands on knees like an infielder, watching his team. Behind him, many of the fans in the Crimson Tide section rose to their feet. Advertisement This was Alabama's chance, but the top-seeded Blue Devils didn't let the Tide score another point for the next 5:15 of game time. With long arms, quick feet and a tenacious commitment to making every dribble and pass difficult for Alabama, Duke drained the life out of the nation's fastest-moving and highest-scoring offense Saturday night. The Blue Devils beat the Tide 85-65 in the NCAA Tournament to earn the program's 18th trip to the Final Four. 'To hold them to 65 points is incredible,' third-year Duke coach Jon Scheyer said. Alabama entered the Elite Eight averaging 91 points per game. Two days after Oats' high-powered offense dropped 113 points and a tournament-record 25 3-pointers on BYU, the Tide shot 35.4 percent from the field, 25 percent from 3-point range (8-for-32) and topped their lowest-scoring game of the season by just one point. 'They did a good job of taking away our 3-ball,' said Tide guard Mark Sears, who went 2-for-15 from the field after scoring 34 points and making 10 3s against BYU. Nobody expected a repeat of Thursday night's performance by Alabama against Duke, which entered the game with the fourth-best Kenpom defensive efficiency rating in the country. But considering how well Arizona handled the Blue Devils' defense in Thursday's region semifinal (93 points on 45 percent shooting), everybody was gearing up for a race to 90 against the Tide. BetMGM set the total at 174.5. 'We just got back to what we do,' said Kon Knueppel, Duke's other star freshman. What Duke does better than any team in the country is combine size and quickness. The Blue Devils are huge, with every player in the rotation at least 6-foot-5 and 7-2 center Khaman Maluach often the last line of defense with a reach that measures a few inches short of 10 feet when he raises his arms. Advertisement 'At the rim, we shot 48 percent; we only made 12 shots at the rim tonight. We were 12 of 25. You know, he made that tough,' Oats said. Alabama had 10 offensive rebounds but turned them into eight second-chance points. Oats tried to lure Maluach away from the basket in the first half, inserting Aiden Sherrell, a 6-10 stretch forward who knocked down a couple of 3s when Maluach dropped into the paint. Scheyer's counter was to use a smaller lineup, but there is no such thing as a small ball with Duke. Superstar freshman Cooper Flagg is 6-9. Knueppel is 6-7, and Duke guards Tyrese Proctor and Sion James are both 6-6. Guard Caleb Foster was the most-used reserve against Alabama. He's 6-5. And backing up Maluach is 6-11 freshman Patrick Ngongba. One of Duke's best and most versatile defenders, 6-9 Maliq Brown, has been nursing a left shoulder injury and played three minutes on Saturday. Eventually, Duke started switching on ball screens, at times leaving Flagg or even Maluach on small Alabama guards such as Sears, Chris Youngblood and Aden Holloway. Those three combined to make 21 3s against BYU. They were 3-for-16 from long range against Duke. 'We were switching a lot, especially in the second half, so Khaman was on Sears just as much as me or Tyrese was,' James said. 'The big thing for him was showing them bodies, making sure whoever was guarding the ball knew they weren't on an island by themselves and making sure Sears knew that he wasn't on an island with our big or whoever else. And I think we did a good job for the most part of keeping him off the foul line, where he gets a lot of his points from.' Foster added: 'Khaman, Malik, Pat, they can slide their feet, man. It just elevates the level of our defense. It makes us different. I mean, you don't really find bigs like that anywhere.' Advertisement Alabama's smaller offensive players were unable to blow by Duke's big defenders without being swallowed up by help. 'They switched, and we kind of went to iso ball. That's not how we play,' Oats said. Scheyer credited his players for not getting 'spooked' by Alabama's 3-point barrage against BYU. 'I'm sure we'll look back, and we're fortunate that they missed some open ones, as well. But really I think the versatility for our guys is a big thing for us,' Scheyer said. During the decisive stretch when Alabama couldn't manage a point, the Tide missed seven straight shots, including five layups. To compound the damage, Duke played patiently on offense, Scheyer often holding up the stop sign like a third-base coach as his team took the ball up the court. The Blue Devils drained the clock even if the possession didn't result in points, and they didn't allow Alabama to get anything easy in transition. The Tide managed just eight fast-break points. By the time the Tide snapped the drought with a free throw by Sears, Duke led 78-59 with 2:47 left. For Alabama fans, the slow suffocation must have felt oddly familiar. In the early years of Nick Saban's football dynasty, the Tide would grind teams down with defense and play low-risk, methodical offense. It was the type of physical domination that left opponents feeling helpless even as the scoreboard suggested — almost mockingly — the game was still in reach. That was Duke on Saturday night. The Blue Devils never trailed, and for most of the game, the lead hung between eight and 11 points. And just when it looked as if Alabama might provide some late-game drama, Duke instead squeezed even harder and pulled away. 'We want to use our length and size, and these guys did an incredible job,' Scheyer said of his defense. 'Couldn't be more proud.' (Top photo of Sion James (14) and Mark Sears: Patrick Smith / Getty Images)
USA Today
28-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
March Madness: Ole Miss vs. Michigan State odds, picks and predictions
The No. 6 seed Ole Miss Rebels (24-11) face the No. 2 seed Michigan State Spartans (29-6) in the NCAA Tournament South Region Friday for a chance at an Elite Eight berth. Tip from State Farm Arena in Atlanta is set for 7:09 p.m. ET (CBS). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Ole Miss vs. Michigan State odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions. The Rebels opened their NCAA Tournament play with a 71-64 win over the No. 11 seed North Carolina Tar Heels, closing as a 1.5-point underdog. They then took down the No. 3 seed Iowa State Cyclones 91-78 on March 23, covering as a 5-point underdog. Ole Miss has covered in 3 straight games, all as an underdog. It is 18-16-1 against the spread (ATS) on the season. The Rebels are strong on both sides of the court, sitting 23rd in offensive and 21st in Kenpom's defensive rating. The Spartans have only played double-digit seeds so far, taking down the No. 15 seed Bryant Bulldogs 87-62 on March 21 and then the No. 10 seed New Mexico Lobos 71-63 two days later, respectively covering as a 17-point and 6.5-point favorite. Michigan State has covered 10 of its last 11 games and is 24-10-1 ATS. The Spartans strength is on the defensive end of the court, ranking fourth in defensive rating. – Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Men's Basketball Coaches Poll Stream select live college basketball games and full replays: Get ESPN+ Ole Miss vs. Michigan State odds Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:36 p.m. ET. Moneyline (ML) : Ole Miss +145 (bet $100 to win $145) | Michigan State -175 (bet $175 to win $100) : Ole Miss +145 (bet $100 to win $145) | Michigan State -175 (bet $175 to win $100) Against the spread (ATS) : Ole Miss +3.5 (-110) | Michigan State -3.5 (-110) : Ole Miss +3.5 (-110) | Michigan State -3.5 (-110) Over/Under (O/U): 144.5 (O: -110 | U: -110) Ole Miss vs. Michigan State picks and predictions Prediction Michigan State 75, Ole Miss 68 PASS. The Spartans (-175) are just a little too expensive to consider here while the Rebels (+145) aren't worth a play either as they aren't predicted to pull off the Sweet 16 upset. BET MICHIGAN STATE -3.5 (-110). As a favorite, the Spartans have been on a roll. They have gone 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games as a favorite and 19-9 ATS on the season in that position. Michigan State has a similar offense and a far better defense which should help propel it to cover as well. The Rebels are playing well too, but they lost 4 of their last 6 games to close out the regular season, including a 10-point home loss to the Mississippi State Bulldogs. They have gone just 4-6 ATS in their last 10 games. Ole Miss also drew an Iowa State side without its second-best scoring option, so it'll have a much more difficult challenge Friday evening. Take the red-hot Spartans and back MICHIGAN STATE -3.5 (-110). BET UNDER 144.5 (-110). The stakes are high, and the defense should be intense. The Rebels have allowed 64 or fewer points in 2 of their last 3 games, including giving up just 62 points in the SEC Tournament to the Auburn Tigers, the NCAA Tournament's top overall seed. Michigan State, which is 11-24 O/U on the season, has allowed just 64 or fewer points in 4 of its last 5 contests. It ranks 171st in adjusted tempo as well, so the Tom Izzo-led team doesn't push the pace often. Considering those trends, back UNDER 144.5 (-110). Play our free daily Pick'em Challenge and win! Play now! For more sports betting picks and tips, check out and BetFTW. Follow @nathanbeighle_ on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook. College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group: Alabama / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Duke / Florida / Florida State / Georgia / Iowa / Kentucky / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / UCLA / USC / Washington / Wisconsin / College Sports Wire / High School / Recruiting
NBC News
18-03-2025
- Sport
- NBC News
The best NBA prospects to watch in the NCAA tournament (besides Cooper Flagg)
For some hoops fans, the NCAA men's basketball tournament is about school spirit, shocking upsets, Cinderella runs, the office bracket contest, mid-majors with funny mascots or a myriad of other happenstances that make March Madness popular. And for some others, the NCAA men's basketball tournament is basically their only chance to familiarize themselves with players who will soon be performing in the NBA. This is a tournament preview for the latter group. If you're more curious about lottery odds than Kenpom rankings, then let's talk about what to watch for over the next few weeks. Team to watch: Duke Blue Devils First game: Friday at 2:50 p.m. ET, opponent TBD Whether your favorite NBA team blatantly tanked (the Washington Wizards) or hilariously fell apart and slid into the lottery despite lofty preseason expectations (the Philadelphia 76ers), the most important team to keep an eye on in the tourney are the Blue Devils. If you can put aside your disgust of Duke for a moment, the Blue Devils are projected by many draft experts to have three players selected in the top-10 of the upcoming NBA draft. By now, you probably know about Cooper Flagg, the forward who is the presumptive No. 1 pick this June. Flagg was the No. 1 recruit in the high school class of 2024, and last summer he earned an invite to practice against the U.S. men's Olympic squad as part of the Select Team. He averaged 18.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists a contest as a freshman. The other names to know are forward Kon Knueppel, a shot-making forward whose 3-point prowess makes him attractive to pretty much any team, and Khaman Maluach, a center who can offer teams a potential defensive anchor and rim runner at the next level. Team you wish you could watch: Rutgers Scarlet Knights No team epitomizes the dichotomy of the college and NBA games better than the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers is expected to have two players — guard Dylan Harper and forward Ace Bailey — selected in the lottery. Both the NBA's and ESPN's mock drafts have Harper going second and Bailey going third, respectively. The only problem? The Scarlet Knights missed the tournament and also declined an invitation to the NIT. Another team with potentially multiple first-round picks: Illinois Fighting Illini First game: Friday at 9:45 p.m. ET, opponent TBD Guard Kasparas Jakucionis and forward Will Riley are both possible first-round selections. Jakucionis has a chance to go in the top 10, while Riley is most often projected as going final third of the first. Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman describes Jakucionis as a Chauncey Billups-type guard who can thrive off the ball. Meanwhile, ESPN bills Riley as a player whose size on the wing could be an asset, though he still has room for improvement as a shooter. Player who could shoot his way into your heart: Tre Johnson First game: Wednesday at 9:10 p.m. ET vs. Xavier Texas Longhorns guard Tre Johnson is an unapologetic scorer who seems to have emerged as the fifth-best player in the upcoming draft class. Nearly every mock has a consensus top four in Flagg, Harper, Bailey and the Baylor Bears' V.J. Edgecombe. Johnson is the player who most often pops up after them. Johnson is a gunner who is not afraid to let it fly. He can create for himself on the perimeter and seems to have NBA-ready scoring talent. The Longhorns are no guarantee to make a tournament run, however. Texas will play in the First Four for an opportunity to make the 64-team field. A big night from Johnson could give him a March bump. Enjoy them while you can: Florida Gators, Auburn Tigers First game for Florida: Friday at 6:50 p.m. ET vs. No. 16 seed Norfolk State First game for Auburn: Thursday at 2:50 p.m. ET, opponent TBD Both the Gators and Tigers earned No. 1 seeds in the upcoming tournament. And both squads feature players (Walter Clayton Jr. at Florida, Johni Broome at Auburn) who were semifinalists for the Naismith Trophy. But neither the Gators or Tigers have players who most mockers expect to appear in the lottery. In fact, while Clayton Jr. and Broome both have a chance to be drafted, don't expect to hear their names called until much later in the first round or even the second. Both Auburn and Florida have had great seasons. If you love watching the two teams play, appreciate what their stars do now, because they may not get a chance to shine as bright in the NBA.
Fox Sports
12-03-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Gonzaga gets payback vs. Saint Mary's to win West Coast Conference Tournament title
Braden Huff scored 18 points and Gonzaga avenged two regular-season losses to Saint Mary's, beating the 19th-ranked Gaels 58-51 in the West Coast Conference Tournament championship Tuesday night. The Bulldogs (25-8) secured the WCC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, though both teams were safely in the field regardless of the outcome. They got some measure of revenge for losing to the Gaels in last year's title game, which ended Gonzaga's run of four conference championships and 10 of 11. Gonzaga also extended its national record to 18 consecutive 25-win seasons. Saint Mary's (28-5) had its seven-game winning streak stopped. The Gaels also had won 17 of 18 games. Khalif Battle scored 14 points for the Zags, Graham Ike added 11 and Ryan Nembhard had 10. Mitchell Saxen led Saint Mary's with 20 points but scored only six after halftime. Two-time WCC Player of the Year Augustas Marciulionis finished with 12 points. Saint Mary's was attempting to become the first team since San Diego in 1996-97 to beat Gonzaga three times in a season. But Gonzaga entered the game with the higher Kenpom rating, ninth to 22nd for the Gaels, and was a 3.5-point favorite at BetMGM Sportsbook. [Related: Mike DeCourcy latest bracket NCAA Tournament projections] Takeaways Gonzaga: The Bulldogs committed just four turnovers while forcing 18 that included two shot-clock violations in the closing minutes. Saint Mary's: Dominating the boards is a key reason the Gaels won the regular-season title, and their 43-28 advantage kept them competitive. Key moment Marciulionis' layup with 15:09 left brought Saint Mary's within a point, but the Gaels went the next 7:36 without a field goal as Gonzaga built a 48-42 lead. Key stats The teams combined to shoot 1-of-31 on 3-pointers, with Saint Mary's going 0-for-16. Up next Both teams will find out their NCAA Tournament seeds and destinations on Sunday. Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from College Basketball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Gonzaga beats No. 19 Saint Mary's 58-51 to capture West Coast Conference Tournament title
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Braden Huff scored 18 points and Gonzaga avenged two regular-season losses to Saint Mary's, beating the 19th-ranked Gaels 58-51 in the West Coast Conference Tournament championship Tuesday night. The Bulldogs (25-8) secured the WCC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, though both teams were safely in the field regardless of the outcome. They got some measure of revenge for losing to the Gaels in last year's title game, which ended Gonzaga's run of four conference championships and 10 of 11. Gonzaga also extended its national record to 18 consecutive 25-win seasons. Saint Mary's (28-5) had its seven-game winning streak stopped. The Gaels also had won 17 of 18 games. Khalif Battle scored 14 points for the Zags, Graham Ike added 11 and Ryan Nembhard had 10. Mitchell Saxen led Saint Mary's with 20 points but scored only six after halftime. Two-time WCC Player of the Year Augustas Marciulionis finished with 12 points. Saint Mary's was attempting to become the first team since San Diego in 1996-97 to beat Gonzaga three times in a season. But Gonzaga entered the game with the higher Kenpom rating, ninth to 22nd for the Gaels, and was a 3 1/2-point favorite at BetMGM Sportsbook. Takeaways Gonzaga: The Bulldogs committed just four turnovers while forcing 18 that included two shot-clock violations in the closing minutes. Saint Mary's: Dominating the boards is a key reason the Gaels won the regular-season title, and their 43-28 advantage kept them competitive. Key moment Marciulionis' layup with 15:09 left brought Saint Mary's within a point, but the Gaels went the next 7:36 without a field goal as Gonzaga built a 48-42 lead. Key stats The teams combined to shoot 1 of 31 on 3-pointers, with Saint Mary's going 0 for 16. Up next Both teams will find out their NCAA Tournament seeds and destinations on Sunday. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 all season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: and
