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College Basketball Capsules - Men: Texas ends losing skid by beating Iowa State
AUSTIN (AP) — Off to its worst Big 12 start in 14 years, Texas was desperate for a win.
The Longhorns finally got one, even if they let what could have been a rout turn into a nervous finish in the final minute.
Myck Kabongo scored 13 points, Julien Lewis had 12 and Texas ended a three-game losing streak with a 62-55 victory over Iowa State on Tuesday night.
"It feels great," said Kabongo, a freshman point guard whose struggles running the offense have been highlighted in some of Texas' losses. "We pushed each other. A win, coming at home, is a great feeling."
Texas (13-7, 3-4 Big 12) got the victory despite a bad night by leading scorer J'Covan Brown, who scored 12 on 3-of-16 shooting and compounded that with five turnovers.
"Myck stepped up and hit two or three big shots down the stretch," Brown said. "You want to see that when I'm struggling."
Brown and Kabongo made key late baskets that held off an Iowa State rally. The Cyclones trimmed an 18-point second-half deficit to 58-55 after 3-pointers by Chris Allen and Chris Babb in the final minute.
Brown made two free throws with 21 seconds left, and Kabongo's steal from Allen and fast-break layup 9 seconds later ended it.
"It's hard to fight back when you're down 18, especially when you're on the road," said Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg. "Tonight we just did not have it."
Iowa State beat Texas in the conference opener, but the Big 12's top 3-point-shooting team struggled badly from long range in the rematch. The Cyclones average nine 3-pointers but were just 5 of 21 on Tuesday night.
Royce White led Iowa State (14-6, 4-3) with 15 points, 15 rebounds and five assists but scored just four in the second half and was just 1 of 7 shooting free throws.
Brown, who averaged 26 points in consecutive losses to Missouri, Kansas State and Kansas, was 0 for 9 shooting and managed just a single free throw in the first half. Texas still put together a 15-2 run to take the lead and went up 28-22 with 1 second left when Clint Chapman put back a miss by Brown on the final play of the half.
Brown briefly found his shooting touch early in the second when his consecutive 3-pointers put Texas up 36-24.
The baskets finally roused a home crowd that had been quiet, and Kabongo followed with another 3-pointer as Texas built the lead to 42-26.
White's scoring all but disappeared in the second half. He missed the rim on a free throw, was called for a violation when he began his shooting motion on another but stopped before letting it go, and then launched an air ball on a 3-pointer.
The game was on the verge of turning into a blooper reel for Iowa State when Melvin Ejim missed a dunk on a 3-on-1 fast break in which he didn't even get the ball over the rim.
But Texas, unfamiliar with having a big lead late, couldn't hold it. Sloppy play with turnovers and missed shots led to a 7-minute scoreless stretch, and Iowa State slowly trimmed the deficit.
Tyrus McGee pulled Iowa State within 48-42 with three free throws with 4:22 to play. Texas responded with a long jumper by Sheldon McClellan and another by Kabongo, and the lead seemed safe until the final minute.
"We had some big breakdowns at the end," Texas coach Rick Barnes said. "When we got the lead, we got careless. Overall, I think we made progress."
Simply ending the losing streak was a big step for a young Texas team that is typically an annual title contender in the Big 12. The confidence boost was sorely needed for a team set to face No. 6 Baylor and No. 2 Missouri in the next six days.
"This win is huge," Chapman said. "Dropping three in a row is something that this program does not like to see. ... It will be nice to carry it with us to (Baylor) on Saturday."
No. 6 Baylor ends brief skid, beats Oklahoma
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — After Baylor followed two perfect months with two straight losses, coach Scott Drew was glad to see his star player back on his game.
Perry Jones III had 21 points and tied his season-high with 12 rebounds, leading the sixth-ranked Bears to a 77-65 win over Oklahoma on Tuesday night.
It was Jones' highest scoring output in 11 games, helping Baylor (18-2, 5-2 Big 12) bounce back after consecutive losses to conference leaders Kansas and Missouri, both also Top 10 teams.
"Welcome back, Perry Jones," Drew said. "After he tweaked that ankle in Kansas, for a game-and-a-half I think that affected him. He had two good practices and mentally got right and physically has gotten better.
"He's back to playing how he's capable of playing."
Pierre Jackson added 16 points and seven assists, Quincy Acy had 13 points and three blocks for the Bears, who shot 54 percent — their fourth time in the last five games to hit at least half of their shots.
They also went 9 for 18 from behind the arc, after coming in as the Big 12's best 3-point shooting team at 41 percent.
Steven Pledger led Oklahoma (12-7, 2-5) with 17 points, and Romero Osby had 16 points and 11 rebounds.
The Bears led throughout but needed a strong finish to put away the Sooners, who were within 62-60 in the final 5 minutes.
"We got a little sloppy on defense and started letting them get a couple easy, open looks. We got a couple offensive rebounds and easy putbacks and really tied down on defense and started defending and rebounding," Acy said.
"That's going to be the key for us to win."
It was only the second win in 18 tries for the Bears at the Lloyd Noble Center in a series that was heavily lopsided in the Sooners' favor until recent years.
Oklahoma had won 30 straight games in the series from 1978 to 2009 before Baylor won three in a row. The Sooners then won at home and knocked the Bears out of the Big 12 tournament last season to regain the upper hand.
Jones helped his team pull ahead down the stretch in this one, putting back Jackson's miss after Oklahoma had gotten within two points. Jackson's three-point play on the next possession made it 67-60 with 3:28 to play.
Jones added another basket from the right block and then two free throws in the final minute.
"We're a step away," Pledger said. "I feel like we've just got to do something one more. We've just got to make that one more extra step, get that one extra rebound, box out that one time harder. We're just one more step away from everything".
The Bears eased out to a 24-14 lead after Anthony Jones' left-hander inside with 10:20 left in the first half.
Oklahoma managed to chip away, cutting the deficit in half before intermission and then getting the crowd standing when Cameron Clark and Pledger connected on consecutive jumpers to pull the Sooners within 37-36 in the first 2 minutes of the second half.
Osby fought through Anthony Jones for a two-handed slam to get the Sooners back within one again following a jumper by Perry Jones, but then the Bears began to distance themselves.
Brady Heslip hit two 3-pointers and Jackson added another during a 15-3 run, and Acy's right-handed dunk on a fast break put Baylor up 54-41.
Another dunk by Osby sparked a string of eight straight Sooners points, with Carl Blair's fast-break layup trimming the deficit to 56-52 at the midway point of the second half. Sam Grooms hit consecutive jumpers before Clark hit from the right side to get the lead down to 62-60 in the final 5 minutes.
"We've got to figure out ways to get some stops, especially in the second half there," said Sooners coach Lon Kruger, whose team has allowed opponents to shoot at least 50 percent in four of five conference losses. "With all due respect, Baylor's very, very good but we still have to figure out a way to get some stops and get into bodies a little bit more (to stop) a couple big offensive rebounds there at critical times.
"I know our guys will keep working. They're not happy with coming close and they're not happy with not getting it all the way done."
-- Jeff Latzke
Texas-Arlington defeats Houston Baptist
HOUSTON (AP) — Bo Ingram had 23 points and seven rebounds and LaMarcus Reed added 18 points as Texas Arlington won a school-record 10th straight game with a 79-74 victory against Houston Baptist on Tuesday night.
Jordan Reves had 13 points and eight rebounds for the Mavericks (14-5). Terry Bembry scored 19 points and Marcus Davis 15 for the Huskies (6-13).
Houston Baptist stayed close for much of the second half and was within 76-74 with seven seconds remaining. Ingram was fouled and went 1 of 2 from the line, and his missed second shot was rebounded by Davis.
However, after Davis turned and began to head upcourt for a potential game-tying shot, Cameron Catlett stole the ball. Reed was fouled and made the two clinching free throws with a second left.
Big 12
Kansas State relies on deep bench
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Some would argue Kansas State coach Frank Martin substitutes so readily because the Wildcats are deep. Others would say the Wildcats are so deep because he substitutes so liberally.
They might all be correct. While teams like Kansas get by on five starters and a couple of go-to reserves off the bench, No. 22 Kansas State is the only team in the Big 12 with 10 players averaging at least 10 minutes per game.
"If I was a football coach, I'd drive you guys crazy," Martin said with a sly grin. "I'd sub the quarterback — I'd sub everybody. If guys don't do their jobs, why should they play? I don't care what they did last year or last week, last game. You've got to do your job every day."
That's why it's not uncommon to see full line changes during games. Or star guard Rodney McGruder heading to the bench in the opening minutes. Or dependable forward Jamar Samuels taking a seat next to Martin in crunch time.
"How would your backup ever be ready to play if he never got in?" Martin asked.
That level of depth is why any player who commits a sloppy turnover, takes an ill-advised shot or misses a defensive assignment likely will be on the bench within about 30 seconds. And why the guys coming off the bench have played enough important minutes to understand what the Wildcats need in any given situation.
Junior guard Martavious Irving is fast and strong, a good perimeter defender who can get to the rim and the foul line. Sophomore guard Shane Southwell gives the lineup more height, transfer Jeremy Jones can get off a shot as quickly as anybody, and freshman Adrian Diaz has instincts that allow him to always find the ball. Senior Victor Ojeleye epitomizes work ethic and leadership.
All of that depth has already come in handy.
Six-foot-11 junior Jordan Henriquez was recently suspended for conduct detrimental to the team, removing one of the team's most assertive big men from the starting lineup. He was reinstated on Tuesday and is available for Wednesday night's game at Texas Tech.
Redshirt freshman Nino Williams, who scored 12 points in his first significant playing time against Oklahoma, is trying to recover from a grade-two sprain of the MCL in his knee.
Martin's constant changing of players keeps the Wildcats on their toes, both in practice and in games. A player must earn his time through practicing well, but just because he earns a certain spot does not mean he'll keep it for the duration of the game.
It's certainly a different philosophy than elsewhere around the league.
When the Wildcats hosted Texas on Jan. 18, McGruder and fellow guard Will Spradling were the only Kansas State players on the floor for more than 30 minutes. Three others played about 20 minutes each, and another trio got off the bench for least a quarter of the game. Three more provided just shy of 10 minutes, and the result was enough energy down the stretch that the Wildcats hung on for an 84-80 victory.
By comparison, when the Jayhawks faced the Longhorns on Jan. 21, their five starters each played at least 30 minutes.
All that depth may come in handy late in the season. Now that there are only 10 teams in the league, the conference schedule has expanded to 18 games, with each team playing everybody else twice. Next up for the Wildcats (14-4, 3-3) is the Red Raiders as they continue the opening slate of games against Big 12 opponents.
While a seven- or eight-man system might work for other teams, it's not the way Martin operates. He believes in giving players what he calls "line" based on how responsible they are — the line representing an ability to make mistakes and remain in the game.
"If you make some mistakes consistently, and your behavior doesn't change, and you go out in the game and you make the same mistake that you make over and over, then that line is real short," Martin said. "When you go out there and you're a guy that continues to grow, when you make a mistake, that line's a little longer."
For many players, that constant cycle of evaluation and consequence takes some getting used to.
"It's definitely new to me because I was always playing a lot in high school — I barely got off the floor in high school," Diaz said. "And now that he subs me out like every second, it's like, 'OK, I've got to find a way to get back on the court.'"
The Wildcats have seen the merit in their coach's method.
Irving started four conference games before Martin replaced him with Rodriguez. And since coming off the bench, the veteran guard has been playing better than ever.
"If you have somebody coming off the bench giving you great energy, you don't really lose nothing from the starting five," Irving said, "and then the starting five players, they can also get a break, get a rest, come back with the same energy. So as far as Big 12, I think it helps us a lot and creates problems for a lot of teams."
Oklahoma St. to host No. 2 Missouri in Big 12 game
STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma State will try to even its record when the Cowboys play host to No. 2 Missouri. Tipoff for the game, which will be televised on ESPN2, is set for 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday's game will be the second-straight match against a ranked opponent for Oklahoma State, which fell to 9-10 overall and 2-4 in Big 12 Conference play after a loss on Saturday to then-No. 25th Kansas State.
The Tigers (18-1, 5-1 Big 12) jumped to second in The Associated Press men's basketball poll after squeaking past then-No. 3 Baylor 89-88 last weekend. The Cowboys are 45-70 all-time against Missouri, including a 28-21 mark at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater. Oklahoma State is 7-1 against the Tigers at home since the Big 12 Conference formed in 1997.
Kansas State's Henriquez reinstated to team
LUBBOCK (AP) — Kansas State coach Frank Martin says forward Jordan Henriquez has been reinstated and is available for Wednesday night's game at Texas Tech.
Martin announced last Thursday that Henriquez had been suspended indefinitely for conduct detrimental to the team. Henriquez returned to practice on Tuesday and traveled with the 22nd-ranked Wildcats (14-4, 3-3 Big 12) to Lubbock. Martin says Henriquez "just lost his focus and needed time to understand his priorities."
The 6-foot-11 junior has played in 17 games this season, starting six, and is averaging 7.1 points and 5.1 rebounds in 18.9 minutes. Martin says he has not decided if Henriquez will play against the Red Raiders (7-11, 0-6).
Top 25
Capsules: Reserve Miller carries Kentucky
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Darius Miller came off the bench to score 19 points and Kentucky cruised in its first game since returning to No. 1 in the rankings, beating Georgia 57-44 on Tuesday night.
Miller, who had started eight of the previous nine games for the Wildcats (20-1, 6-0 Southeastern Conference), returned to the sixth-man role he had played earlier in the season. The senior made 7 of 8 shots, including all four from 3-point range.
Kentucky used spurts of 10-0 and 10-1 to build a 38-26 halftime lead. The Bulldogs (10-10, 1-5) never threatened in the second half, even though the Wildcats cooled off considerably. They went more than 5 minutes without scoring and made just 7 of 23 shots over the final 20 minutes.
Kentucky, which had been No. 1 in The Associated Press rankings for two weeks early in the season, returned to the top spot after Syracuse lost last weekend.
Dustin Ware led Georgia with 12 points.
NO. 13 SAN DIEGO ST. 52, WYOMING 42
LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) — Jamaal Franklin had 12 points and 11 rebounds and San Diego State extended its winning streak to 11 games.
Chase Tapley added 12 points for the Aztecs (18-2, 4-0 Mountain West).
The victory was the 250th at San Diego State for coach Steve Fisher, who is in his 13th season with the Aztecs.
Leonard Washington had 12 points and eight rebounds and Luke Martinez added 11 points for Wyoming (16-4, 2-2).
The Cowboys trailing only 25-22 at halftime but San Diego State opened the second half with a 16-4 run, keyed by seven points from James Rahon, to open a 41-26 lead with 12:15 to go.
NO. 17 MARQUETTE 67, SOUTH FLORIDA 47
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Darius Johnson-Odom scored 17 points to lead Marquette.
Davante Gardner and Jae Crowder added 15 points each for the Golden Eagles (17-4, 6-2 Big East), who have won five straight.
Toarlyn Fitzpatrick had 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Bulls (12-9, 5-3), who had won three straight.
It was the 100th career victory for Marquette coach Buzz Williams.
Marquette went on a 7-0 run at the end of the first half to take a 33-21 lead.
The Golden Eagles put together another surge coming out of halftime, and Johnson-Odom's 3-pointer gave Marquette a 39-22 lead with 18:49 left in the game.
The Golden Eagles forced 22 turnovers while committing only five. Marquette outscored South Florida 20-3 off turnovers.
NO. 20 MICHIGAN 66, PURDUE 64
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 19 points and Jordan Morgan had 12 points and seven rebounds for Michigan.
Stu Douglass scored 12 points and Evan Smotrycz added 10 points for the Wolverines (16-5, 6-2), who entered the game in a tie for first place in the Big Ten.
Michigan shot 54 percent from the field and outrebounded the Boilermakers 30-23.
Lewis Jackson scored 17 points and Robbie Hummel added 16 for the Boilermakers (14-7, 4-4). Hummel missed a 3-pointer that could have given the Boilermakers the lead in the final seconds.
Purdue, which was coming off an 83-58 loss to No. 10 Michigan State, has lost two of its past three at home after a 26-game home winning streak.
Buckeyes seem to be on a roll, but are they?
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The numbers support the fact that No. 4 Ohio State is playing well.
The Buckeyes (17-3, 5-2 Big Ten) lead the nation in scoring margin, winning by an average of 22 points a game. They've won 11 times by 29 or more points, 14 games by at least 20 and have only two victories where the margins were single digits.
On top of all of that, they've won two in a row and four of five heading into Wednesday night's home game with Penn State. Ohio State comes into the week tied with Michigan and Michigan State for first place in the conference.
Yet coach Thad Matta isn't so sure that winning the last game or two or three means much the next time a team takes the court. So, can a team build momentum game by game?
"Quite honestly, that is something that every coach in the world in any sport is trying to figure out," Matta said Tuesday. "Obviously, I've learned over time that this is a game of momentum, it's a game of runs. But you've also got to have the toughness to stop the other team's runs, that sort of a thing. There is such a fine line of wanting your guys to feel good about what they've accomplished (while at the same time) you've got to bring them back to reality."
In other words, Matta lives in fear that his players will, instead of feeling good about winning, start to become overconfident and entitled.
It's difficult for a coach to get the mix right: building up the players, while at the same time preventing them from getting too full of themselves.
"Trying to ride the wave is something," he said, shaking his head.
His players echo that philosophy. They are secure in knowing that they can win any time they step on the court, while also being aware that if they don't put out their best effort, any momentum they've built will evaporate.
"Sometimes it's easy for teams to come in and think just because they won their last game that they're just going to show up and win," starting guard Lenzelle Smith Jr. said. "It doesn't work like that. You have to take each opponent for what it's worth and give them your best shot just like you played the last team."
Now is a good time to build up some steam. The Buckeyes battered then-No. 7 Indiana by 17 points on Jan. 15 and then rolled over Nebraska by 34 on the road on Saturday. After playing the Nittany Lions (10-11, 2-6), they take on the heart of the schedule.
Six of their final 10 games are against teams currently in The Associated Press Top 25, including two meetings with No. 10 Michigan State, two with No. 20 Michigan and two with No. 25 Wisconsin.
Matta doesn't quote the great philosophers. He leans more toward former Army, Indiana and Texas Tech coach Bob Knight, who once said, "If what you did today is important to you, then you haven't done (expletive)."
(When Matta recites that quote, he hesitates and replaces the expletive with the word "anything" — and smiles.)
The Buckeyes appear to have learned that lesson well.
Substitute swingman Sam Thompson, whose role has grown in recent games, says what the team does in recent practices is far more important than what it's done in games.
"No matter what we do in one game, the next game can be completely different," he said. "We have to have good days in practice leading up to that game and we have to have the same mindset coming into that game as we did the previous game. And that is to play harder and execute better than the other team."
-- Rusty Miller
News & Notes
SEC coaches question fairness of league schedule
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — When the Southeastern Conference signed a 15-year contract with ESPN, basketball coaches applauded the deal because it provided more coverage, more exposure and more money. Nearly four years later, several of the league's most tenured coaches have found a problem.
Florida's Billy Donovan, Vanderbilt's Kevin Stallings and others are questioning the league's unbalanced schedule involving Thursday-Saturday games.
The league added the short turnarounds under the new contract, giving it another night to showcase its teams. Coaches figured those games would be divvied equally between everyone. Instead, it appears top-ranked Kentucky is getting a favorable draw.
The Wildcats don't have a Thursday-Saturday setup this season, but they play four Saturday games against teams coming off Thursday night tips.
"Whether it's a coincidence or not, there needs to a level of balance with what everybody else is doing," Donovan said. "Right now, if our league is trying to create an opportunity to get as many teams in the NCAA tournament as possible, don't put teams in a competitive disadvantage and not take care of your own."
Kentucky has played twice on one day's rest since the SEC's schedule tweaks began in January 2009. Florida and Mississippi, meanwhile, lead the league with seven such turnarounds. Alabama, Auburn, Mississippi State and Vanderbilt have five apiece. Tennessee has four. Georgia, South Carolina and Arkansas have three.
No one is blaming the Wildcats, though.
The league caters to the television networks, and ESPN's "Super Tuesday" lineup typically draws better than Thursday. And since Kentucky is clearly the SEC's star attraction, it's obvious why ESPN would want to feature the Wildcats in the network's most coveted spot as often as possible.
"It's not Kentucky's fault," Stallings said. "They're going to do what we're doing; they're going to play their games when they're scheduled. So it's not a Kentucky issue. It's an issue with the league office, and I understand that television dictates certain things, and that's fine.
"The conference office is responsible to make sure that, beyond that, things are equitable, and I think they need to take a look and see whether the way things are falling whether things are equitable or not."
Coaches argue that the tight turnaround between Thursday and Saturday games can be a disadvantage. Four years ago, they had little issue with it, saying it puts teams in situations similar to those in the NCAA tournament.
"I heard the argument, 'Well, it's like that in the NCAA tournament. You've got to play Thursday-Saturday or Friday-Sunday,'" Donovan said. "Great, but so does the other team you're playing against, you know? That's where we've got to try to figure out a better way to make it work."
Although coaches probably exaggerate the impact of the short rest, results indicate it hasn't had a huge negative impact. Mississippi State is 5-0 in Saturday games that followed Thursday night affairs, although all of those were played at home. The Gators are 4-1. The rest of the league is a combined 13-18.
The Wildcats are 0-2, including a Sunday loss that followed a rare Friday night game.
"I learned a long time ago not to worry about anything you can't control," Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury said. "I just think it needs to be balanced for everybody. There's some advantages and disadvantages, now. You all research where Kentucky's at. What they got. Who they got. When and where they're playing those types of games. You just need to make it balanced for everyone. ... None of us like it. You ask me if I like it? No, it's tough.
"As long as it's balanced for everybody, you live with it."
SEC spokesman Craig Pinkerton said the league is aware of some of the inequities in its basketball schedule. He pointed to guidelines established to prevent competitive disadvantages: Teams play a maximum of four Thursday night games a season, and at least one of the two Thursday-Saturday games has to be at home.
"We make our best effort to balance out the Thursday-Saturday tandem among all of the teams," Pinkerton said, adding that the league moved a few Thursday night games to Tuesday to alleviate issues with quick turnarounds.
Kentucky is one of three teams without a Thursday-Saturday setup this season. Auburn and LSU also were left out. Mississippi, meanwhile, plays three of them in the next four weeks.
Random? Maybe, but several coaches feel the league office should have had more oversight.
Kentucky coach John Calipari made it clear he would welcome any schedule the league handed down.
"The option is don't go on TV and play when you want to play," Calipari said. "That's the option here. We signed a TV contract, and we've got to go with what they say. If they wanted us on Thursday, believe me, we'd play every Thursday, and I wouldn't say anything. It's just how it is. It's TV. ...
"Whatever our schedule is, we play. Everybody knows my history. We'll play any team, any place, anytime. We'll play on I-95, shut it down. We'll play on the Bluegrass Parkway, shut it down. That's the schedule. That's where they threw it at us, and that's what we're taking on."
Donovan believes the league will work to find amicable solutions in the future, possibly adding rules about teams not having to play Thursday night and early Saturday or limiting the number of times one team can play opponents coming off short turnarounds.
"We're all under the understanding that there's going to be some level of sacrifice that we all have to make inside of our schedule to do that, but I think it needs to be really, really leveled out across the board and fair for everyone," Donovan said. "There are probably some things that are going on right now inside of our league with this whole contract being somewhat new that I think our league will figure out as time goes on. I've got confidence they will."
-- Mark Long
Arkansas off to fast start under Anderson
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Mike Anderson has talked repeatedly about the slow and steady process of building up Arkansas and developing its players. Don't look now, but Anderson just might be in the process of fast-tracking the Razorbacks back to national relevance.
Arkansas (14-5, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) beat Michigan on Saturday for its second win over a ranked team, improving to 14-0 in Bud Walton Arena this season. The big victory came in front of a season-high crowd of 19,050 — one of the key points in the school's firing of former coach John Pelphrey in March.
"They're young, but that is the quickest team we'll probably see all year long," Michigan coach John Beilein said. "They have a lot of talent on that team, a lot of talent."
Anderson was hired just 10 days after Pelphrey's dismissal, promising to return the Razorbacks to the pressing, helter-skelter style of play made famous at the school under former coach Nolan Richardson. Anderson was Richardson's right-hand man during their 17-season run at Arkansas, and he's delivered on that promise so far — with the Razorbacks leading the SEC by forcing 17.6 turnovers per game.
"I think these guys have listened and they've tried," Anderson said. "They've given themselves a chance. The key is that they're competing. I think, more than anything else, they're competing now.
"That's part of the growing process — to learn to compete, to play hard."
Arkansas' early success has come despite the loss of leading scorer Marshawn Powell to a knee injury after two games. The junior was averaging 19.5 points and appeared in shape and recommitted to basketball under Anderson after battling injures last season.
Powell's injury combined with the offseason transfers of several players — most notably last season's leading scorer Rotnei Clarke to Butler — left the Razorbacks with nine scholarship players. That included four highly touted but untested freshmen (BJ Young, Hunter Mickelson, Ky Madden and Devonta Abron).
Much like the team as a whole, the freshmen have progressed faster than even they could have expected. Young, a reserve, is averaging 14.7 points, and entering Wednesday night's game against Auburn (12-7, 2-3), the four have combined to score 32.6 points per contest.
"We always thought we would probably be somewhere around this point or better," Young said. "We never really had low expectations for our team. We're trying to keep working and keep getting better every day."
Mickelson is surprised by the early turnaround for a program that hasn't reached the NCAA tournament the last three seasons.
"Any time you can go undefeated at home, it's great," said Mickelson, who has blocked a shot in every game this season and is third in the SEC with 2.6 per game. "Coming in with all the freshmen and not really knowing what was going to happen, it's a good surprise."
Of course, all the positive vibes following the win over the Wolverines would be for naught should Arkansas return to SEC play with a loss to the Tigers. Mardracus Wade, who has stepped into Clarke's 3-point role and leads the SEC in 3-point percentage (50 percent), said he isn't concerned about a letdown following the emotional win over Michigan.
"We've just got to come in and do what we do best," Wade said. "We've got to play hard, play together and play to win."
The one negative for the Razorbacks so far under Anderson has been their inability to win away from home. They are 0-5 away from Bud Walton Arena this season, including losses at Connecticut and Kentucky.
Anderson expects that to change as his youthful group matures. For now, he's enjoying the early returns in his return to the Razorbacks.
"We've got to just continue to work hard and learn how to win," Anderson said. "Not only here, but maybe away from here as well. So, we're going in the right direction."
-- Kurt Voigt
Big men give Rebels a chance in SEC play
OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi isn't very good at shooting 3-pointers and even worse at the free-throw line, serious flaws that have made scoring points a struggle during stretches this season. But the Rebels do have some muscle — and they like to flex it.
That's been enough to keep Ole Miss (13-6, 3-2) in the top half of the Southeastern Conference going into Thursday's home game with No. 14 Florida (15-4, 4-1).
Reginald Buckner, Murphy Holloway and Terrance Henry form a tenacious, veteran trio. They grab rebounds, play defense and specialize in winning ugly, making up for whatever they lack in talent with sheer hustle.
"It's what we need. It's who we are," Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy said. "The reality is our most veteran group is our frontcourt."
And they've also been the Rebels' most productive group. Ole Miss is second in the SEC in rebounding margin, behind only top-ranked Kentucky. Holloway and Buckner rank third and fourth, respectively, in the league in rebounds per game.
"Right now, we're going against maybe the best rebounding team in the league, if not one of the best in the country," Florida coach Billy Donovan said. "Any time you can rebound the basketball like they do, it eliminates second chances. Across the front line, they've got length, size and athleticism."
Buckner, a 6-foot-9, 225-pound junior, is already the school's career leader in blocked with 203 through two and a half seasons. His defensive ability has never been questioned, but his offensive game lags behind because of an awkward shooting touch and robotic moves in the post. He's averaging 6.7 points and 8.8 rebounds per game.
Plus, there have been occasional issues with attitude. Kennedy suspended Buckner for a game earlier this season for a "violation of team rules" and the sixth-year coach has occasionally been critical of his demeanor during games.
One reason Kennedy gets frustrated is because Buckner's potential is enormous. He flashed it briefly last week, with a dominant 19-point, 15-rebound performance that led the Rebels to a 75-68 victory over No. 18 Mississippi State.
"He came out with his head right," Ole Miss sophomore Demarco Cox said. "When it was time for the shootaround before the game, he was ready to get a win. When he's pumped up, we know we've got something good going."
Buckner's best moment in the win was a vicious dunk off a missed 3-pointer. The ball bounced high off the rim, but Buckner leapt over the entire Mississippi State defense, plucking the ball more than a foot above the basket before slamming it through the hoop.
The crowd roared in approval. So did his teammates and coaches, but they weren't exactly surprised.
"Reggie will be as good as he wants to be," Kennedy said before the season. "He has an athleticism that few can match. He can get 'man' rebounds in the paint and truly changes what the opponent can do at the rim because he's such a presence. He's still developing offensively, but the tools are there. Now we just need him to be more consistent."
Holloway has no such trouble with consistent effort. The generously listed 6-7 junior forward is probably closer to 6-5, but averages 10.4 points and 9.6 rebounds thanks to an unyielding energy and 240-pound body that always seems to be around the basketball.
Holloway's importance was painfully evident earlier this season when he missed three games because of a sprained ankle. Ole Miss lost two of those three.
"Having Murphy back, it's a very big deal," Henry said. "He opens up a lot of things. Just his presence out there, he takes on two or three defenders, trying to box them out."
The 6-9 Henry is the only senior who receives significant playing time. He also is the leading scorer at 11.5 points per game. Though his 210-pound frame is much more wiry than Holloway or Buckner, he shares their love for contact in the paint and isn't afraid to take the ball to the basket and draw contact. He had 24 points and 10 rebounds in a 66-63 road win over Georgia on Saturday, earning the SEC's player of the week.
The experienced frontcourt helps Ole Miss offset relatively weak guard play. The Rebels have the league's worst assist-turnover ratio and rank last in 3-point shooting, making just 27.2 percent of their attempts from long range.
-- David Brandt
Injured Mbakwe hopes for sixth season of eligibility
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — When Trevor Mbakwe's right knee buckled beneath him in a crowd around the basket during a game two months ago, the Minnesota standout's college career appeared to be over.
He's done for the season, that's for sure. But as Mbakwe celebrated his 23rd birthday Tuesday, he confirmed he will petition the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility. His 6-foot-8 muscular frame and tough, aggressive game in the lane clearly make him a pro prospect, but he said he's enjoyed playing for the Gophers and appreciated the school's support enough that he would put off his NBA dream for another year.
"It's going to be a tough call, but it's something that I'm interested in," Mbakwe said.
The team's leading scorer and rebounder tore his anterior cruciate ligament on Nov. 27 and needed reconstructive surgery. Speaking to reporters for the first time since the injury, he said that night was "probably one of the hardest moments" of his life.
Mbakwe has been told he won't be able to play full-speed, five-on-five basketball until June, which would complicate his availability for the draft. The application process probably won't officially take place until after the season — he said he's begun to gather paperwork with the athletic compliance department — and approval is no sure thing. Purdue's Robbie Hummel got a sixth year after a pair of ACL surgeries, and in the Gophers football program, safety Kim Royston recently completed his sixth college season.
But Mbakwe's case is unique, since one of his redshirt years was not for medical reasons. He transferred to Minnesota as a junior but was forced to sit out the 2009-10 season while an assault case against him played out in court. He maintained his innocence and entered a pretrial program to avoid the charge and made his Gophers debut in 2010-11. There's certainly no guarantee the NCAA would give him a pass for that, even though his absence from the court that year was the school's decision.
He's not getting any younger, either, and he has a son to support.
"I have a family to take care of. It's not easy being a college student with all the finances and stuff," Mbakwe said, adding: "I'd never turn down making money doing something I love."
The timing of his recovery will play a part in his decision. If his knee isn't healthy enough in the weeks before the draft, it'll be tough to show team scouts he's ready for action.
"As long as I'm able to show that my knee is better than it was before, I think that's going to be the biggest question," he said.
For now, he's relegated to leg raises, using crutches to get around and cheering on his team from the bench during home games. He's glad the Gophers have rebounded from four straight losses to start the Big Ten season and remind the conference and the country they're still capable of winning without his presence on the court and in the locker room. They've won three in a row to improve to 15-5 overall and stay in the NCAA tournament conversation.
"They've been able to show people that they're a good team, that they didn't really need me as much as people might have thought. I'm just happy the season's going well and that we're still in the race," Mbakwe said.
They could use him on Wednesday, when they play at Michigan State. Coach Tubby Smith is 1-9 against the Spartans since he came to Minnesota five years ago, and the Gophers haven't won on the road against them since 1997, a season that doesn't count anymore because of the academic fraud scandal revealed two years after that.
Center Ralph Sampson III, the only other senior on the roster, said he's tried to warn his young teammates about how tough and physical of a night it will be.
"This is going to be a man's game," Sampson said.
Mbakwe would sure be proud of them if they can pull out a victory.
"I'm being impatient. I want to rush it. I want to get back on the court, but I know that's not what's best for me. I still have a long career ahead of me," he said.
-- Dave Campbell
Villanova battling growing pains in the Big East
VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) — The gym that Jay Wright built into one of the toughest in the land for the opposition was absolutely the place to be last February. Erin Andrews and the ESPN "GameDay" crew brought the party to campus. Former Villanova great Randy Foye, who played a crucial role in aiding Wright with the heavy lifting, had his No. 2 jersey raised to the rafters. In the main event, the ninth-ranked Wildcats were set to play No. 4 Pittsburgh.
It was one of the toughest tickets in town, though Phillies slugger Ryan Howard snared a front-row seat. On the surface, the day at the Pavilion was a celebration of all that Wright had accomplished in 10 seasons at Villanova. The 2009 Final Four. The annual NCAA tournament trips. The top-10 national rankings and All-America selections.
The Wildcats were worthy of their place as one of the Big East's elite and the king of Philly hoops. One year later, though, the Wildcats sit at .500 and are positioned near the bottom of the conference. Things weren't much better out of conference. In fact, there were losses to Santa Clara and Saint Joseph's.
Through it all, Wright has praised his team after games for not quitting, and when that attribute is the sole positive, the cracks must run deep.
Villanova (10-10, 3-5) enters Wednesday's game at Louisville on a two-game winning streak, its first since mid-November. The Wildcats would have to win six or seven in a row to even think about extending their NCAA tournament streak to eight seasons.
"I knew we could struggle. I didn't think we'd start 1-5," Wright said. "I thought maybe, 2-4, 3-3, at worst. Then I thought maybe we could click. But you know it's possible in this league."
The signs of struggles ahead were clear last season. The Panthers stormed into Villanova and spoiled that celebratory night, doing what no team had done since Jan. 6, 2007 — beat the Wildcats in their on-campus home. They lost their last four regular-season games, their opener in the Big East tournament, and then blew a late lead in a loss to George Mason in the NCAA tournament.
Before last season, the Wildcats hadn't lost more than eight games in either 2008-09 or 2009-10. The Wildcats even started last season 16-1 before collapsing down the stretch.
Wright admits, he's stuck this season. He has no seniors on his roster. Of three junior starters, Maalik Wayns is the only on three junior starters making a significant contribution. Wright had built his program around stars — notably guards like Foye, Scottie Reynolds, Allan Ray, Kyle Lowry — and left it to dirty-work players like Dante Cunningham and Will Sheridan to fill in the gaps.
"It's like the NBA, you've got to have star power," Wright said. "When you have those star guys, it makes it easier for all the other guys. When you don't have those star players, it's more pressure on the glue guys. They don't look as good."
With the glue guys forced into go-to roles, the Wildcats have had their worst season under Wright since they went 18-17 in 2003-04. Only Wayns, the speedy scorer, would qualify as the type of player who would find a starting spot among those 2005-2009 Wildcats.
Wayns has averaged 30.7 points in his last three games, and is the Big East scoring leader in conference play at 20.6.
Forward JayVaughn Pinkston, a highly touted recruit who was forced to sit out last season when the university suspended him after he was charged with assault, has bounced back to become a double-double threat. But it hasn't been enough.
Wayns said the young Wildcats are getting better and, unlike last season, should be playing their best basketball at the end of the season.
"We've seen it coming," Wayns said. "We've been getting better. We've come to practice and kept a positive attitude and kept getting better. We have the same mindset we had at the beginning of the year."
It could be too late come March.
Dominic Cheek was expected to carry more of the load. He played for Hall of Fame coach Bob Hurley at St. Anthony's in Jersey City, N.J., and was a McDonald's All-American. He underachieved his first two seasons with the Wildcats, and has mixed in as many mediocre games as solid ones this season.
"I knew at the end of last year, when we had a good sit-down talk and he said he wanted to be part of this, I knew he'd be fine," Wright said. "I knew we were starting his junior year from way behind. That's why I knew there was this possibility we wouldn't be as good this year. If he would have been a big-time player in his freshman, sophomore year, now we're going into his junior year, we'd be fine. He's just now starting to feel comfortable in his role now.
"He was never a problem, he was just kind of like doing his thing. Now he's talking to everybody, he knows the scouting report, he's talking on the floor. He's got the confidence of his teammates, his coaching staff. But it's midway through his junior year. That's OK for him. He can still have a great career. But it's why we're struggling."
Mouphtaou Yarou, a 6-foot-10 forward, also has been plagued by inconsistency.
"Mouph and Cheek," Wright said, "are not where we thought they'd be."
The Wildcats are shooting only 42 percent from the floor and 31 percent from 3-point range. Wayns and Cheek are both under 30 percent from behind the arc, making it a true long shot the Wildcats can rally from second-half deficits by relying on the long ball.
Wright blamed inexperience for the funk, and believes that a team with five talented freshman means this down season won't be more than a one-year blip in the long-term success of the program.
"I like this group," Wright said. "I do think we're getting better. It's slow, but we've got to find a way to enjoy this process. It might not be fun to watch guys, sorry, but we've got to go through it."
-- Dan Gelston
Tickets not required for many Final Four events
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Organizers of the 2012 Final Four gathered in New Orleans on Tuesday to discuss the slate of activities planned for the weekend that will decide the men's college basketball championship, and to remind fans and families throughout the region that they don't need tickets to the big games to take part in many of the related events.
Jeff Hathaway, who chairs the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee, stressed that several events are free.
Those include admission to the Superdome for all four team's practices and a college all-star game on March 30. There is also a Big Dance concert series at Woldenberg Park on the city's river front on March 30 and April 1.
"You don't need a ticket," Hathaway said. "We want all off you in this area and across the nation to come out and be part of this."
Hathaway said the names of the musical acts in the Big Dance series will be released at a later date.
Division I Men's Basketball Championship director Jacqie Carpenter said there will be community service initiatives including educational programs and free basketball clinics for up to 800 youth, with instruction provided by coaches from around the nation who will be in town for the National Association of Basketball Coaches convention. The clinics will be held at Tulane University and the Alario Center in suburban Westwego.
Another event will feature 3,000 children dribbling 3,000 basketballs as they walk with families and friends from the Superdome to the city's convention center, where the children will be given free admission to Bracket Town, a fan festival which will feature interactive games, autograph sessions and courts set up for three-on-three tournaments. General admission for Bracket Town will run from $6-$10.
The national semifinal games are on March 31 and the championship game is April 2, both in the 70,000-seat Superdome. Those games are sold out.
Most related events will be held in the week leading up to the championship game.
Carpenter said the NCAA is working with area middle schools to involve as many as 10,000 students in activities that will promote the importance of reading, math, sciences, healthy eating and fitness.
In addition, the NCAA and NABC will be making charitable donations of 2,012 pairs of shoes and 2,012 boxes of food to families in the area who need them.
It's Suits and Sneakers weekend in college hoops
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — It's the annual weekend where college basketball coaches go casual to raise awareness about cancer.
The National Association of Basketball Coaches and the American Society are holding their annual Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers awareness weekend on Saturday and Sunday.
Participating coaches will wear sneakers instead of dress shoes with their suits during weekend games to demonstrate their support for the American Cancer Society.
Fans may support the cause by texting COACH to 20222 from any wireless phone to make a $5 donation toward Coaches vs. Cancer.
Coaches vs. Cancer participants have raised more than $70 million since 1993 to help fund research and provide information and education.
UNC Asheville allowed to host Big South title game
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Big South Conference presidents have reached an agreement that would allow the UNC Asheville men's basketball team to host the conference tournament championship game.
The highest seed hosts the title game and UNC Asheville currently has the best record in the Big South at 9-1. The game would be played on March 3 at noon.
There had been a potential scheduling conflict with the Southern Conference, which will play its women's postseason tournament at Kimmel Arena — the Bulldogs' homecourt. UNC Ashville was not going to be allowed to host the game, but appealed to the Big South.
The SoCon has agreed to move one of its women's quarterfinal games to the nearby Justice Center and allow the Bulldogs to play at home if they get the opportunity.
Boise State loses guard to thumb injury
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Boise State men's basketball coach Leon Rice says starting guard Jeff Elorriaga is expected to miss the rest of the season after fracturing his thumb late in Saturday's 54-52 loss to TCU.
Rice says Elorriaga has been the team's best leader. The sophomore walk-on from Portland, Ore., was playing more than 37 minutes per game and averaging 9.3 points per game in the team's three Mountain West Conference games.
Another Bronco guard, Igor Hadziomerovic, has missed eight games with a broken foot and is expected to be out at least a few more weeks. Boise State (10-8, 0-3 MW) hosts No. 12 UNLV (18-3, 2-1) on Wednesday night.
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GAC honors Ark.-Monticello, SW Oklahoma players
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas-Monticello's LA Farmer and Southwestern Oklahoma's Darcie Dick have been named the Great American Conference men's and women's basketball players of the week for leading their respective teams to league victories.
The conference said Tuesday the honor is Farmer's second men's basketball player of the week award of the season and the second in a row for Dick, a guard.
Farmer averaged 27.5 points per game in conference wins over Southwestern Oklahoma (86-82) and East Central (75-69). The senior guard had a season-high 33 points in the Southwestern Oklahoma game and picked up 22 points and six rebounds in the East Central match.
Dick led the Bulldogs in victories over Arkansas-Monticello (88-82, OT) and Southern Arkansas (80-73). She averaged 22.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game throughout the week.
