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Miami Herald
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
2025 NBA Draft makes single-file line behind No. 1 Cooper Flagg
A whirlwind four months for the Dallas Mavericks begins anew Wednesday with the launch of the Cooper Flagg era. The draft lottery in May turned into an unexpected gift for the Mavericks when they jumped the line of teams with the NBA's worst records. Against the odds, they went from the playoff play-in tournament to the top of the 2025 draft. Embattled Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison, and a fan base miffed by the decision to trade Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers midseason, found immediate optimism. Not only was there a direct path to land Flagg, his arrival would make him a team centerpiece along with center Anthony Davis, who was acquired from the Lakers in the Doncic deal. Point guard and former Duke product Kyrie Irving is on the mend from a torn ACL, giving Dallas three No. 1 overall selections at the core of its roster. Flagg, a 6-foot-9 forward with franchise-altering skill and qualities, is only 18 but often looked like a man among boys in guiding Duke to the Final Four. A combo-forward with ball skills, positional size and boundless versatility, Flagg slots in to a menacing frontline next to Davis and Dereck Lively II, another Duke product. Flagg was the Wooden Player of the Year in his only college season, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game for the Blue Devils. "Cooper has the kind of talent that can elevate a franchise," Duke coach Jon Scheyer said of Flagg's NBA potential. Flagg left Davis and other U.S. Olympic team members with a strong impression during scrimmages with the team last summer. One of the players raving about Flagg was LeBron James, who said this week on the "Mind the Game" podcast that Flagg couldn't have picked a better situation to start his NBA career. "A guy that can do so many different things out on the floor. Can play with the ball, can play without the ball. His jump shot is going to continue to get better. Super athletic, quick second jump," James said. "And also, he has the benefit, unlike myself, he gets to join a team that's established with Hall of Fame guys -- Klay Thompson, Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving -- right off the bat. Hall of Fame coach, Jason Kidd. "You know, these guys ... can give him the whole blueprint while he continues to learn what his blueprint will be. And I think that will be an incredible thing to have that type of presence, that type of leadership, that type of just basketball IQ and knowledge around him every single day from those pieces. So, I think he's going to be amazing." San Antonio had only a 6.3 percent chance of a top two selection when the draft lottery took place but the Spurs also beat the odds. San Antonio has lived in the draft lottery for several years and have hit more often than they've missed with Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and Jeremy Sochan selected in the top 10 since 2022. Rutgers guard Dylan Harper is a favorite to wind up as the next piece of the puzzle in the San Antonio rebuild over in-state option V.J. Edgecombe, who starred in his only season at Baylor and appears destined to play for the Philadelphia 76ers. "His length is crazy, and I don't think you can undervalue how important length and athleticism are in the NBA. He's strong, really has a great court sense," ESPN analyst Jay Bilas said of Harper. "In my view, he's the second-best prospect in this draft. He's a clear choice after Cooper Flagg for the Spurs." Either team could be prepared to pull a surprise and commit to another Rutgers product in Ace Bailey, who has raised criticism and concern by refusing to work out in traditional pre-draft sessions. 76ers forward Paul George said this week Bailey is putting his future on the line and taking a senseless risk in trying to dictate his landing spot in the draft. "You're not in a position to be making those commands. Make it to the league first," George said of Bailey's decision not to work out for teams. Flagg's college teammates and fellow freshmen at Duke, sharpshooter Kon Knueppel and 7-footer Khaman Maluach, are likely to find homes in the lottery with two freshman point guards and Texas wildcard Tre Johnson figuring prominently in the top-10 conversation. Illinois' Kasparas Jakucionis and Oklahoma's Jeremiah Fears are natural scorers with playmaking skills attractive to the Charlotte Hornets, Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards, who select Nos. 4, 5 and 6, respectively . New Orleans has the seventh pick with the Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors and Phoenix Suns rounding out the top 10. Portland (11th), the Chicago Bulls, Atlanta Hawks and a second pick for the Spurs complete the lottery (non-playoff) picks. --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2023 - All Rights Reserved
Fox Sports
24-03-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Who are the 10 all-time leading scorers in NCAA Women's Tournament history?
The women's college basketball tournament is entrenched with plenty of history. Stars and Hall of Famers turned UConn into one of the greatest powerhouses in recent sports history. Stars at other schools have helped propel their respective programs to title runs, putting in memorable performances over the years. Caitlin Clark was the most recent example of the latter. She memorably led Iowa to consecutive appearances in the national championship game, putting up video game numbers in several outings. As this March marks the first tournament without Clark since 2019, did she do enough in her college career to become the all-time tournament-leading scorer? Let's take a look. 10 all-time leading scorers in NCAA Women's Tournament history T-10. Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, UConn (374 points) Mosqueda-Lewis was a key contributor to UConn's three-peat as NCAA champions in 2013, 2014 and 2015. She led the NCAA in 3-point percentage in her sophomore and senior seasons. Her sharp shooting opened the floor for her Huskies' teammates, such as Breanna Stewart and Stefanie Dolson, to feast inside. Across four seasons, three as a starter, Mosqueda-Lewis averaged 15.3 points and 5.3 rebounds, while shooting 44.7% from deep. She was drafted third overall in 2015 by the Seattle Storm and played there for five seasons, winning a championship in 2018 before playing her final season with the Connecticut Sun in 2020. T-10. Seimone Augustus, LSU (374 points) Augustus was a two-time Wooden Player of the Year at LSU (2005-06). She led the nation with 22.7 points per game in her senior season as the Tigers made a Final Four run. Augustus, who went on to be the first overall pick in 2006 by the Minnesota Lynx, played 14 seasons and won four WNBA championships before finishing her career with a one-year stint with the Los Angeles Sparks in 2020. 9. Bridgette Gordon, Tennessee (388 points) Gordon won two national championships, in her sophomore and senior seasons, with the Volunteers. She finished her career with a premier performance, dropping 27 points in the 1989 title game. She averaged 18.0 PPG and 6.7 rebounds per game over her four seasons at Tennessee. 8. Brittney Griner, Baylor (403 points) Griner's collegiate stats are off the charts in some categories. For example, she averaged 5.1 blocks per game across her four seasons at Baylor, leading the NCAA in her freshman and junior seasons. She won the national title as a junior, and she had a 26-point, 13-rebound performance in the championship game. Griner was drafted first overall by the Phoenix Mercury and played there for 11 seasons before signing with the Atlanta Dream in this past free-agency period. 7. Arike Ogunbowale, Notre Dame (414 points) Ogunbowale won a national title with the Irish in 2018 and led the team in scoring (20.8 PPG) that season. She scored 18 points in the final vs. Mississippi State and dropped 27 in a two-point overtime victory over UConn in the Final Four. Ogunbowale, who was selected fifth overall in 2019, remains one of the WNBA's best scorers for the Dallas Wings. 6. Diana Taurasi, UConn (428 points) Taurasi won consecutive national championships in 2003 and 2004 with UConn and won Naismith Player of the Year honors in both of those seasons. She has one of the greatest careers — collegiate, professionally, in the Olympics, etc. — of any women's basketball player. She announced her retirement after her 20th season in the WNBA, all of which came with the Mercury. While she fell short of a WNBA championship, she won Most Valuable Player honors in 2009, was an 11-time All-star and won six Olympic gold medals, including her latest one at the 2024 Paris Olympics. 5. Nneka Ogwumike, Stanford (444 points) Reaching the Final Four in all four of her seasons at Stanford, Ogwumike had some big tournament performances over the years. She put up 38 points to help her team reach the title game in 2010. She scored 31 points in a one-point loss in the Final Four of the 2011 tournament and scored a career-tournament-high 39 points in the Elite Eight in 2012, helping Stanford get back to the Final Four again. 4. Breanna Stewart, UConn (446 points) Stewart's performances in the NCAA Tournament over her college career are a big reason why she's considered one of the best women's college basketball players of all time. She helped UConn win a title in all four of her seasons with the program, leading the team in postseason scoring each year. She didn't have any major scoring outbursts in her 24 NCAA Tournament games, only scoring more than 30 points once, but Stewart was consistent and delivered, scoring 20-plus points in several of her tournament games. 3. Maya Moore, UConn (476 points) Moore made the Final Four in all four of her seasons in Storrs, and she was a key contributor right away for coach Geno Auriemma. Moore averaged 20.7 PPG in the 2009 NCAA Tournament, which ended with her and the Huskies celebrating a championship title. A year later, Moore scored 34 points in UConn's Final Four win and averaged 24.0 PPG to help the Huskies go back-to-back. UConn didn't complete the three-peat with Moore, but she put up 36 points in the Huskies' Final Four loss in 2011. 2. Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee (479 points) Holsclaw was one of the key players in Tennessee's run to three straight titles in the mid-to-late 1990s. As she won Player of the Year in the 1997-98 season, Holdsclaw averaged 26.3 PPG in the NCAA Tournament that season. She put up 29 points in Tennessee's six-point Elite Eight win vs. North Carolina that year before putting up 25 points a couple of games later to help the Vols win the title. Holdsclaw averaged 30.3 points in the first three games of the tournament in her senior season, but she only put up eight points in the Elite Eight, causing Tennessee to lose to Duke. 1. Caitlin Clark, Iowa (492 points) When a 30-point-per-game scorer makes it to the championship game in two consecutive seasons, it'd be tough for anyone other than that player to hold the tournament scoring record. That's the case for Clark, who scored 31.8 PPG for Iowa in the 2023 NCAA Tournament before averaging 30.0 PPG in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Her best scoring performances seemed to come in the biggest games, putting up a 41-point triple-double to help Iowa beat Louisville in the Elite Eight in 2023 and scoring 41 to upset South Carolina in the following game. She scored 41 points to help Iowa take down LSU in the Elite Eight in 2024, getting revenge for the title game loss a year prior. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily . FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience Women's College Basketball recommended Get more from Women's College Basketball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Fox Sports
17-03-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
2025 NCAA Men's Tournament injury updates: Cooper Flagg, J'Wan Roberts, more
The bracket is set. Now it's time for the madness. The favorites are clear. Auburn, Duke, Houston and Florida claimed the No. 1 seeds in the 2025 NCAA Men's College Basketball Tournament, while Tennessee, Alabama, Michigan State and St. John's are the No. 2 seeds. At the same time, there are injuries to some of the biggest stars in the tournament, which could play a role in how the bracket shakes out. [MORE: 2025 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament bracket here] Here are injuries to keep tabs on — plus the latest on those players' tournament availability. Cooper Flagg, Duke Injury: Sprained ankle Latest update: Expected to be available 2024-25 stats: 18.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks per game What it means: Flagg is the favorite for the Wooden Player of the Year award. He's an offensive hub and defensive stalwart for Duke. The Blue Devils, though, were still able to win the ACC Tournament after Flagg went down in their quarterfinal game against Georgia Tech. They hope to, and expect to, have their freshman phenom back for an NCAA Tournament run, but he may miss their opening game. Maliq Brown, Duke Injury: Dislocated shoulder Latest update: Out indefinitely 2024-25 stats: 2.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game What it means: Brown also got hurt during Duke's quarterfinal-round game, re-injuring his shoulder in Thursday's victory. He didn't return to the game after going through some tests and going to the hospital. Brown, the anchor of the Blue Devils' defense, has been stellar in the 23 games he has appeared in this year prior to his injury. Keshon Gilbert, Iowa State Injury: Muscle strain Latest update: Out for the tournament 2024-25 stats: 13.4 points, 4.1 assists and 1.7 steals per game What it means: The Cyclones will be without the heartbeat of their team and their leader in assists per game for the entirety of the NCAA Tournament. It's a tough blow for Iowa State, who was looking to improve on a Sweet 16 appearance in 2024, and even more heartbreaking for the senior Gilbert, who won't have another chance at redemption. Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State Injury: Groin Latest update: Questionable for first round 2024-25 stats: 10.8 points, 2.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game What it means: Lipsey's injury situation isn't as dire as Gilbert's, but the Cyclones can't afford to lose another ball-handler. Lipsey is one of the best perimeter defenders in the country, and with Gilbert done for the season, his health is paramount for Iowa State. Grant Nelson, Alabama Injury: Left leg Latest update: First-round availability TBD 2024-25 stats: 11.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game What it means: While the severity of Nelson's leg injury is unknown, if he misses any time it would hinder the Crimson Tide. They're a worse team without him, and that was on display when Florida dominated them in the SEC Tournament semifinals after Nelson went out. The senior forward was also an integral part of their 2024 Final Four run as he averaged 11.4 points and 7.2 rebounds across five NCAA Tournament games. Tyrese Hunter, Memphis Injury: Left foot Latest update: TBD 2024-25 stats: 13.7 points, 3.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game What it means: Memphis' offense will take a hit if Hunter misses significant time. He is the team's Energizer Bunny, a crucial member for Memphis throughout this season and for its postseason hopes. The Tigers missed the NCAA Tournament in 2024, and Hunter, a Texas transfer, was one of the main additions to help them make a run. Lamont Butler, Kentucky Injury: Shoulder Latest update: Will be available for the tournament 2024-25 stats: 11.5 points, 4.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game What it means: The Wildcats are clearly a better team when Butler is healthy; they've gone 18-6 in the games he has played in. His health, though, has been a question all season, specifically with his left shoulder, which he aggravated in Kentucky's SEC Tournament game against Oklahoma. Jaxson Robinson, Kentucky Injury: Right wrist Latest update: Out for the season 2024-25 stats: 13 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game What it means: Robinson had an up-and-down season in his first year at Kentucky, but his ability to score in a hurry will be missed. Guard play is especially important in March Madness and now the Wildcats will be without Robinson, while Butler might not be feeling 100 percent. J'Wan Roberts, Houston Injury: Sprained right ankle Latest update: Tournament availability TBD 2024-25 stats: 10.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game What it means: Roberts is the foundation that keeps the Cougars' stout defense intact. They lack depth at center with Joseph Tugler proving inconsistent at times. With Gonzaga potentially looming, Houston will hope Roberts can return to defend a Bulldogs team loaded with big men. Fedor Zugic, Creighton Injury: Ankle Latest update: Probable for first round 2024-25 stats: 4.3 points and 1.7 rebounds per game What it means: Zugac has teetered between a reserve and a role player for the Bluejays this season. He was vital, however, to their run to the Big East Tournament title game. He rolled his ankle in that game and did not return. Dillon Hunter, Clemson Injury: Broken right hand Latest update: Out indefinitely 2024-25 stats: 5.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game What it means: Hunter suffered a season-ending hand injury in Thursday's ACC Tournament victory over SMU just when he had carved out an expanded role down the final stretch of the regular season. Hunter, who started nine of the Tigers' previous 12 games, played just eight minutes against the Mustangs before breaking his hand. Chance McMillian, Texas Tech Injury: Upper body Latest update: Expected to be available 2024-25 stats: 14.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game What it means: The Red Raiders' starting guard played in only the first half of Thursday's game against Baylor before sitting out the second half with an upper-body injury. He didn't score a point against Baylor, going 0-for-3 from the floor. He also missed Friday's semifinal matchup against Arizona. Darrion Williams, Texas Tech Injury: Foot Latest update: Expected to be available 2024-25 stats: 14.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game What it means: Losing both McMillian and Williams hurt the Red Raiders in the Big 12 Tournament, where they fell to Arizona in the semifinals. The time off from not having to play again on Saturday, though, was important, as it seems like two of their key scorers are good to go for the Big Dance. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience College Basketball recommended Get more from College Basketball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Fox Sports
05-03-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Auburn stumbles in race for top seed in NCAA Tournament after 83-72 loss to Texas A&M
Auburn had a firm hold on the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, but it might have opened the door on that after suffering its third loss of the season on Tuesday night. Texas A&M handed an 83-72 defeat to the Tigers, keeping them at arm's length the whole game as the Aggies took the lead on their first possession and never conceded it. The loss means No. 1 Auburn (27-3 overall, 15-2 SEC) and No. 2 Duke (27-3, 18-1 ACC), who were the top two seeds in that order in Fox Sports' Mike DeCourcy's bracket projection, are now tied on overall record. The Blue Devils hold the head-to-head advantage since they beat the Tigers 84-78 on Dec. 4. Auburn still has the stronger resume with a 16-2 record in Quad 1 games to Duke's 6-3 record. Johni Broome was held to eight points three days after scoring just nine points against Kentucky. Broome is the odds-on favorite (-240) to win the Wooden Player of the Year award, per Bet MGM. These two down performances may give way to Duke freshman Cooper Flagg to regain traction in the race for this award. The Tigers had traversed the gauntlet that is the SEC schedule with ease until Tuesday's game in College Station. Zhuric Phelps scored 19 points off the bench and No. 22 Texas A&M earned its first-ever win over a team ranked No. 1 in the AP Top 25 poll. The Aggies ended a six-game winning streak for the Tigers, who clinched the Southeastern Conference title with a win over Kentucky on Saturday. Texas A&M (21-9, 10-7 SEC) denied Auburn an undefeated conference road record after the Tigers entered the game 9-0 in SEC road games this season. The Aggies, who snapped a season-long four-game skid, led by double digits for most of the night and were up 12 with about two minutes to go before Tahaad Pettiford made a 3-pointer to get Auburn within 79-70. But Phelps made two free throws to extend the lead. Pettiford made three 3-pointers in less than two minutes early in the second half to power a run that got the Tigers within six, but Wade Taylor IV had a three-point play that started a 5-0 run which pushed A&M's advantage to 62-51. Pettiford led Auburn with 19 points, including six 3-pointers. The Associated Press contributed to this report Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, 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
