Latest news with #NCAATournamentWestRegionalPractice
Reuters
05-04-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Maryland hero Derik Queen enters NBA draft
Mar 26, 2025; San Francisco, CA, USA; Maryland Terrapins center Derik Queen (25) shoots the basketball during NCAA Tournament West Regional Practice at Chase Center. Eakin Howard-Imagn Images/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab April 5 - Maryland big man Derik Queen is saying good-bye to the school after one season and declaring for the NBA draft. The 6-foot-10 Queen made his announcement on ESPN, saying "I'm entering the 2025 NBA Draft." The star freshman from Baltimore averaged 16.5 points and 9.0 rebounds in 36 games for the Terrapins. The first-team All-Big Ten selection is projected to be a lottery pick and could move into the top 10. Queen's ability to handle pressure was on display in the second round of the NCAA Tournament when he made the decisive game-ending bank shot in a 72-71 victory over Colorado State that vaulted the Terrapins into the Sweet 16. Queen finished his season with 27 points in an 87-71 loss to Florida. Asked for his top memories at Maryland, just one exploit was mentioned. "Of course, the Colorado State shot," Queen said. "Then me and my teammates being around each other all the time, those are my guys and I'm going to miss those moments." --Field Level Media Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'They forgot the nails': John Calipari zinger turns into Arkansas basketball mantra during March Madness
SAN FRANCISCO — Arkansas basketball coach John Calipari first said the phrase after the Hogs' win over Mississippi State in the regular-season finale. He doubled-down with a similar version of the quote when speaking with a CBS sideline reporter after the Razorbacks beat St. John's in the second round of the men's NCAA Tournament. "They threw us in a coffin. They just forgot the nails," he said. The mantra has been a source of inspiration for the Arkansas fans and a fitting mentality for Calipari's first season in Fayetteville. There appeared to be little hope for a March Madness run after starting 1-6 in the SEC. Adou Thiero said he remembers one website saying the Hogs had a 5% chance of making the NCAA Tournament. Advertisement But any scheduled funeral for this year's Arkansas squad is still on delay. The Razorbacks face Texas Tech Thursday night in the Sweet 16, coming off thrilling upsets over Kansas and St. John's in the first two rounds. Speaking to the media Wednesday, Calipari said the line was 'off the cuff' when he first said it, but the line comes from his long history working alongside other leaders. However, he did highlight one specific CBS announcer who might have been a direct source of the quote's inspiration. More: 'We need him': Why Zvonimir Ivisic is an x-factor for Arkansas basketball in March Madness Sweet 16 Advertisement More: From 1-6 to Sweet 16: Arkansas overcomes adversity in March Madness win over St. John's "Bill Raftery talked about it with Seton Hall," Calipari said. "May have come out of a casket. I refuse to do that. That's not good luck. But he came out of the casket on his TV show and said, 'We ain't dead yet!' But he's crazy. I'm not that crazy." Calipari's players have identified with the ethos. D.J. Wagner said Calipari's been going to the quote since the start of SEC play, and the Razorbacks have rallied around the mindset of proving there's still a lot of life left in this season. Mar 26, 2025; San Francisco, CA, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach John Calipari (right) talks to guard Johnell Davis (1) during NCAA Tournament West Regional Practice at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images "That's something (Calipari's) been standing on," Wagner said. "Just don't give up. People can say what they want to say and stuff like that, but don't feed into that. Just stay together as a team and stay together as one." Advertisement And the players can feel the fans' connection. Arkansas was the butt of multiple punch lines during the early-season struggles. Calipari brought the media microscope with him from Kentucky, and the Razorbacks are relishing their chance to prove the doubters wrong with all of Northwest Arkansas behind them. "They're there with us through the whole season," Zvonimir Ivisic said. "After every game, people are texting us and letting us know they support us no matter what. Even in the beginning with the 0-5 start, so it makes this even more fun." Jackson Fuller covers Arkansas football, basketball and baseball for the Southwest Times Record, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at jfuller@ or follow him @jacksonfuller16 on X, formerly known as Twitter. This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: 'They forgot the nails': John Calipari zinger defines Arkansas' March Madness run
