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**StarDust Bum** · 01-21-2017, 02:46 AM

Preview: Orange (11-8) at Fighting Irish (16-3)
Date: January 21, 2017 12:00 PM EDT

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- After a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference road swing that included five charter flights and nearly 4,000 air miles over nine days, No. 15 Notre Dame returns home Saturday for the first time in two weeks.

That's the good news. The bad? The matinee opponent waiting at sold-out Purcell Pavilion is Syracuse.

Since joining the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2013, the Irish have had zero answers for the Orange. The series slipped to one-sided back when both schools were members of the Big East.

Notre Dame seniors V.J. Beachem and Steve Vasturia have seen and done a lot in their collegiate careers. They've yet to beat Syracuse and are 0-3 against the Orange, who have won seven of the last eight in the series.

"Yeah, it's kind of weird," Beachem said.

Weird would describe the way Notre Dame (16-3, 5-1 ACC) has played against Syracuse (11-8, 3-3) the last three seasons. The three games have been decided by an average of 8.6 points, but none were really that close. A year ago in central New York, Syracuse led by as many as 24.

Notre Dame is averaging 81.1 points per game, but hasn't hit for at least 80 against Syracuse since getting 87 in a seven-point loss way back in 2008.

Thoughts of the Gerry McNamaras and Hakim Warricks and Orange zones of seasons past still haunt the Irish. Working against the zone often left Notre Dame in a zone where everything -- cutting, passing, shooting, scoring, playing -- is decidedly difficult.

"We've just got to put ourselves in good position against the zone; that's what they do and they're very good at it," Vasturia said. "They do a good job of being long and making it difficult for us."

This has not been the traditionally tough Syracuse zone where crazy athleticism and length frustrate opponents for 40 minutes. The zone was so ineffective at times earlier this season that coach Jim Boeheim scrapped it in favor of man-to-man.

It's as if the college basketball world threatened to spin off its axis.

Syracuse is 0-3 on the road in ACC play but historically has played well in Purcell Pavilion. McNamara tormented the Irish during his career. So did Trevor Cooney.

If there's one place the Orange can get right and notch a win, it's in South Bend, even coming off Monday's loss at No. 9 North Carolina.

"We did a lot of things well," Boeheim said. "We played the best we've played all year on the road. It was probably our best road game. I think we're getting better."

Tyler Lydon can be a matchup problem. Averaging 13.7 points, Lydon is coming off a game-high 26 points at North Carolina.

"He's a tremendous player," Boeheim said.

Boeheim also likes how freshman guard Tyus Battle has improved in recent weeks. Battle had 13 points and a career-high four steals earlier in the week.

"He's getting confident," Boeheim said. "He's been very steady, very solid."

On Wednesday, Notre Dame had its seven-game overall win streak, and five in a row in league play, snapped at No. 10 Florida State. The Irish trailed by as many as eight, but still put themselves in position to win in the closing minutes before losing by three.

"We're right there as far as being one of the best teams in the country," Beachem said. "I love where we're at, but we still have so much more to do."

Like beating Syracuse.

**StarDust Bum** · 01-21-2017, 02:48 AM

Preview: Nittany Lions (11-8) at Boilermakers (15-4)
Date: January 21, 2017 12:00 PM EDT

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Given their current positions, it's a game Penn State and No. 21 Purdue each need to win.

Only one will be happy after the Nittany Lions (11-8, 3-3) and Boilermakers (15-4, 4-2) play at noon Saturday in Mackey Arena.

Led by junior guard Shep Garner (12.6 points) and freshmen Lamar Stevens (12.0) and Tony Carr (11.7), Penn State is coming off Wednesday's 78-75 heartbreaking loss to Indiana, which won on James Blackmon, Jr.'s 3-pointer at the buzzer in the Bryce Jordan Center.

After playing at Purdue on Saturday, the Nittany Lions play at No. 17 Wisconsin on Tuesday. It's certainly possible the young team could be 11-10 after facing the Boilermakers and Badgers.

But Purdue coach Matt Painter said Friday afternoon that it will not be an easy victory. Penn State beat Minnesota, which defeated Purdue in West Lafayette.

"I see just how hard they play," Painter said of the Nittany Lions. "They are a good defensive group that makes it difficult for you to get the ball inside. Pat (Chambers) has done a really good job of plugging in a lot of young guys and still getting them to play good defense. That is a difficult thing to do when you blend in so many young guys."

Painter also is impressed that Penn State does not force its offense.

"They are patient on offense," Painter said. "They push the basketball, but in the Big Ten, they have been more patient. They are young, so it's about your personnel understanding what they do. We know what their older guys are capable of, just from playing against them in the past.

"It's no different than being in an exempt tournament and then seeing a team on the second night of that tournament. You try to know their tendencies, but you just try to stick to your rules defensively."

Purdue leading scorer Caleb Swanigan said the team's recent offensive proficiency has enhanced its defense. The Boilermakers crushed Illinois 91-68 on Tuesday.

"When our offense is clicking, we have to go into a set defense every time," Swanigan said. "It makes it harder, and we knock teams out of a lot of their stuff. We stay disciplined."

Purdue's Big Ten schedule certainly gets more difficult after the Penn State game. Of the Boilermakers' final 11 league games, seven are on the road, beginning Tuesday night at Michigan State.

Penn State is 2-1 in true road games, losing only at Michigan. Chambers is confident the Nittany Lions will play well in Mackey Arena.

"We have played pretty good on the road," Chambers said. "Hopefully, we have that mentality to go out and compete against Purdue. These young guys get the utmost confidence. They are unwavering. We have plenty of games left. It's up. It's down. We have to believe in the process."

**StarDust Bum** · 01-21-2017, 02:49 AM

Preview: Commodores (8-10) at Gators (14-4)
Date: January 21, 2017 12:00 PM EDT

In every Florida game over a 25-year span, at least one 3-pointer slid through the net.

Regardless of the atmosphere, the quality of the opponent or the importance of the contest, you could count on the Gators hoisting a long-range shot and seeing the scoreboard add three points to the Florida total.

That streak of 850 consecutive games with at least one 3-pointer began after a 1992 loss to Kentucky. It was halted in Tuesday's setback against South Carolina, and now the No. 19 Gators attempt to begin a new streak when they host Vanderbilt on Saturday in SEC play.

The contest against the Commodores presents Florida (14-4, 5-1) with the opportunity to rinse away that unsettling shooting performance. The Gators misfired on all 17 3-point attempts in the 57-53 defeat.

"We just rushed our shots, not taking our time like we usually do," junior forward Devin Robinson said. "We just rushed them, came up short."

The poor shooting was a big factor in why the Gators' seven-game winning streak came to an end. It also dropped Florida into third place in the SEC behind Kentucky and South Carolina.

The subpar shooting seemed out of place for a team that made nine or more 3-pointers on six occasions this season, including a high of 16 against Little Rock.

"We just couldn't get it going ... and it's not exactly HORSE shots against those guys, either," Gators coach Mike White said. "A lot of times you're shooting when you're tired, with guys flying by you, but we've got to be able -- as we've talked about all year -- to defend and rebound and complement that with some shot-making."

Vanderbilt (8-10, 2-4) dropped its last four games, its longest skid since losing seven straight during the 2014-15 season.

Junior guard Matthew Fisher-Davis, the team's leading scorer at 16.3 points, finds himself in the doghouse of first-year coach Bryce Drew for the second time this season.

Fisher-Davis drew a technical foul during a loss to Tennessee on Jan. 14, threw his gum in the direction of the bench and was benched for eight minutes before returning. He didn't start for the first time all season in Tuesday's 76-68 loss to Georgia and struggled to nine points on 4-of-13 shooting.

"There were certain actions -- some things that were caught on video -- that we showed him and talked about," Drew told reporters. "We are all growing in this process. Part of growth is learning and moving on, and that's what we're doing now."

Drew said Fisher-Davis might not start against the Gators.

"It is what it is," Fisher-Davis said. "It's coach's decision, and we're done with it now."

Three other Commodores are averaging in double digits. Senior center Luke Kornet is at 13.6 points, junior forward Jeff Roberson is averaging 10.4 points and a team-leading 7.3 rebounds and junior guard Riley LaChance is contributing 10.3 points and a team-leading 4.1 assists.

Vanderbilt is short on depth as it has used just nine players this season and two of them average fewer than 10 minutes per game.

That could cause matchup issues against the Gators, a deep squad that recently had ninth-leading scorer Keith Stone (5.3) average 15.5 points over a two-game span.

Sophomore guard KeVaughn Allen averages a team-best 13.2 points but is in a deep slump that has seen him average just 5.3 points on 5-of-18 shooting over the past three games. He had one point in 18 minutes against South Carolina and appeared deeply frustrated.

"I haven't seen him with quite that body language," White said of Allen. "I don't know whether he is putting pressure on himself or what."

Backup senior guard Canyon Barry (12.8) and Robinson (11.2) also average in double digits for the Gators.

**StarDust Bum** · 01-21-2017, 02:50 AM

Preview: Friars (13-7) at Wildcats (18-1)
Date: January 21, 2017 12:00 PM EDT

VILLANOVA, Pa. -- After some much-needed rest, top-ranked Villanova returns to Big East action against visiting Providence on Saturday at noon ET at the Wells Fargo Center.

Villanova (18-1, 6-1 Big East) blitzed Seton Hall 76-46 on Monday for the 47th straight win at its 6,500-seat on-campus arena on the Main Line.

This matchup against the Friars will be the second of four games at the Wells Fargo Center, home of the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers and NHL's Flyers. Villanova defeated Marquette 93-81 here on Jan. 7.

The Wildcats were a bit sluggish and rallied to defeat St. John's 70-57 at Madison Square Garden before rolling past the Pirates.

No matter the opponent, Villanova relies on its senior leaders -- Josh Hart, Kris Jenkins and Darryl Reynolds -- to set the early defensive tone. It hasn't always happened.

"We are really fortunate to have three guys that are experienced and have been successful, but they are really humble," Wildcats coach Jay Wright said. "We look at the film and we tell and show them that St. John's played harder than us and they take care of it. We didn't practice (Sunday) because we felt that we were beat up a little bit. I thought we had good fresh legs tonight, but I also think the seniors set the tone."

Five players scored in double figures in the win over Seton Hall, led by Jenkins (16 points) and guard Jalen Brunson (13). Yet scoring hasn't been an issue all season.

"Our effort defensively and on the glass is not consistent every night," Wright said. "We have had some games where we have not played well defensively and Kris has hit six threes or and we have found a way to win. Against Butler, we didn't play well defensively and we lost. Donte (DiVincenzo) bailed us out against St. John's. We are trying to be consistent and play like we played (Monday), every night."

Providence (13-7, 3-4) has won two in a row over Seton Hall and Georgetown. The Friars defeated the Hoyas 74-56 on Monday night at the Verizon Center.

"I thought that was one of our more complete games that we've played all season, offensively and defensively," coach Ed Cooley told the Providence Journal. "We made timely shots and defensively we were pretty tough. It was one of the more spirited efforts that we've had."

Junior forward Rodney Bullock leads the way for the Friars, averaging 17.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. Emmitt Holt (13.1 ppg), Jalen Lindsey (10.2) and Kyron Cartwright (10.1) are all averaging in double figures in this balanced lineup.

Providence is 2-13 all-time against the top-ranked team in the country. The two wins came against Michigan (82-81 in double overtime) on Dec. 29, 1976, and 81-73 over Pittsburgh on Feb. 24, 2009.

"I've talked to the team about staying spirited, having fun and try to enjoy each other," Cooley told the Providence Journal. "We need to defend like there's no tomorrow and get out in transition. You can't be uptight. We need to be as loose as possible. Enjoy the game."

The last time Providence played a top-ranked team on the road came on Nov. 30, 2014, when it lost 58-38 to Kentucky at Rupp Arena.

**StarDust Bum** · 01-21-2017, 02:54 AM

Preview: Tar Heels (17-3) at Eagles (9-10)
Date: January 21, 2017 12:00 PM EDT

BOSTON -- With his first 800 victories out of the way, Roy Williams goes for No. 801 when his No. 9 North Carolina Tar Heels visit Boston College on Saturday.

And the next win, whether it comes Saturday or not, will also be the next one without his friend, Barack Obama, in the White House.

In an interview just published in GQ, Williams, talking about the now-former president's basketball talents, said, "He has (some) sneaky little lefty, old-school moves. One of my players, Jack Wooten, tried to block his shot and I yelled at him. I said, 'Jack, this guy could be the President of the United States. What're you trying to do that for?!' And President Obama just picked up on it so quickly. He said, 'You see that secret service guy over there?'"

He added, "Pardon the phrase because we're talking about the President of the United States, "but my man doesn't have the greatest basketball body. Let's just be honest about this.

"One time I told him, I said, 'President Obama, you've got a job like a bad basketball coaching job. You got there in situations that were really difficult, and you got it changed and turned around.' The economy, the unemployment was like 10 percent and it's down to 4 percent. But I said, "You're probably never going to get credit for doing it." And he just laughed."

Williams, who still has his job, has the Tar Heels coming north with five straight wins, seven in the last eight games.

Monday night, the tar Heels presented Williams with win No. 800, making him the eighth coach to reach that milestone, and former UNC star Michael Jordan presented the coach with a pair of Air Jordans, tweeting: "One of a kind."

"For me the best news is I'm not dying," Williams, the second-fastest ever to 800, said in a ceremony after the win over Syracuse. "We're going to coach a few more.

"It was never a dream of mine to win 800 games. But it was a dream of mine to coach guys like this."

Saturday, UNC (17-3, 5-1 ACC) faces a Boston College team that has two conference wins, two more than it had last season. But the Eagles (9-10, 2-4) have lost two straight, at Syracuse and at home against No. 16 Virginia, and dropped four of their last five.

BC coach Jim Christian didn't think his team came out with enough intensity to have any chance of beating a ranked team.

"I didn't think that we came out to play Virginia, a ranked team, with the energy and emotion that you need to play them," Christian said.

BC sophomore Jerome Robinson, who teams with freshman Ky Bowman to form a strong 1-2 punch, has had two straight nine-point games as his scoring average has dropped under 20 a game (19.7). His 13 20-point games are the most of any player in a Power 5 conference but he is 7-for-25 from the floor, 1-for-8 from 3-point range, the past two games.

"He'll come out of it. He's a good player," Christian said.

UNC, which has defeated BC nine straight times to take a 15-5 series lead, is led by Justin Jackson, averaging 18.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. Joel Berry II is at 15.8 points and 4.2 assists and Kennedy Meeks 12.7 points and 9.7 rebounds per game.

**StarDust Bum** · 01-21-2017, 02:55 AM

Preview: Cardinals (16-3) at Seminoles (17-2)
Date: January 21, 2017 2:00 PM EDT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- No. 10 Florida State wraps up a streak of six consecutive games against Associated Press Top 25 teams with a home matchup against No. 12 Louisville on Saturday.

Home-court advantage will be in full force as the Seminoles has already announced the game as a sellout -- much to the delight of head coach Leonard Hamilton.

"Get some hot tea and lemon, settle your throat down," the 15-year head coach told the fans after Florida State's 83-80 win Wednesday against No. 15 Notre Dame. "Then come out Saturday and let's blow the roof off this place."

Louisville (16-3 overall, 4-2 ACC) is making a quick turnaround, playing less than 48 hours after its victory against Clemson late Thursday night.

"It's really going to show the effects because we're playing a 9 p.m. game, have to go to Florida State, who does not allow you to run one single play," Louisville coach Rick Pitino said. "They deny the high post, they deny the wings. ... This is what happens in the ACC sometimes. Sometimes you catch bad breaks like this having to play a 9 p.m. game, then a 2 p.m. game (on Saturday)."

The Seminoles (17-2, 5-1) came out 5-1 following the first six games of their grueling stretch which began with a home victory over Wake Forest. With wins over top-15 opponents Virginia and Duke, Florida State has shown it is unafraid of college basketball's top-tier teams.

"I think it solidifies that we're a good team," Florida State freshman forward Jonathan Isaac said. "It raises our expectation level. This team is not a team that is going to underachieve. Each and every day we're going to get better and continue to grow as a team throughout the season."

Louisville also has found success against the ranked teams this season, defeating four Top 25 teams -- including Kentucky, Indiana and Duke.

Part of that success stems from guard Donovan Mitchell, who leads the team with 18 points in the Cardinals' 92-60 win against Clemson. On the season, Mitchell is averaging a team-high 13.8 points per game to go along with 5.1 rebounds.

Isaac isn't Florida State's leading scorer -- that honor belongs to guard Dwayne Bacon at 17.4 points per contest -- but the young 6-foot-10 phenom is coming off a huge game against the Fighting Irish. The Naples, Fla., native did it all, recording a double-double, scoring a career-high 23 points and grabbing 10 rebounds to go with his seven blocked shots.

"Each and every day I'm getting more and more comfortable, getting more confident every game," Isaac said.

Bacon looks to extend his streak of 29 consecutive games with at least 10 points on Saturday afternoon.

Historically, Florida State has not had much success when playing Louisville. The Cardinals have won both matchups since joining the ACC in 2014 and lead the all-time series 32-9.

Florida State, which has incredible depth with almost 10 players averaging double-figure minutes, could be slightly short-handed for the first time in ACC play Saturday without reserve guard Braian Angola-Rodas. The JUCO transfer missed the second half of the Notre Dame game after getting tangled up with Isaac. The school had no update on his status as of Friday evening.

Louisville also has injury problems of its own.

The Cardinals will be without star guard Quentin Snider (hip) and his 12.1 points per game. The junior is expected to miss another two-to-three weeks. The Cardinals may also be missing center Matz Stockman, who is questionable with a concussion.

Louisville will once again play on short rest following the game against Florida State on Saturday, making a quick turnaround by traveling to Pittsburgh on Tuesday night.

The Seminoles, after playing two true road contests through their first 19 tilts on the season, will begin a three-game road trip starting with Georgia Tech on Wednesday.

**StarDust Bum** · 01-21-2017, 02:59 AM

Preview: Longhorns (7-11) at Jayhawks (17-1)
Date: January 21, 2017 2:00 PM EDT

LAWRENCE, Kan. -- The grade Bill Self would issue his Kansas basketball team at this point would be incomplete.

Oh, the second-ranked Jayhawks are off to a 6-0 start as the expected Big 12 leader and are 17-1 overall as a winner of 17 straight entering a home game Saturday against Texas (7-11, 1-5 Big 12).

Yet Kansas has not exactly applied a stranglehold on conference rivals. Not when four of their conference wins in the balanced Big 12 have come by margins of seven points or less.

"So far in league play, we haven't played poorly, but we haven't played great either," Self said. "We were just good enough to get past (some teams). It's hard for me to know how well we're playing because I don't think we've played terrific yet."

High standards, the kind that have led to 12 consecutive Big 12 titles, factor into the appraisal.

In addition, Self has essentially restricted his rotation to seven players, which prevents his regulars from always selling out on the defensive end. The Jayhawks, however, make up for any shortcomings with an offense that can deliver lethal blows in spurts, thanks to 50.4 percent shooting, including 41.2 percent from 3-point range.

"I would say the ability to pressure the way you play 35 (minutes), it's probably not as good as what it would be if you're playing 28 and subbing more," Self acknowledged. "So I do think the minutes have taken away some of the pressure."

In particular, the two small guards at the top of the Jayhawks' defense, senior Frank Mason and junior Devonte' Graham, average the most minutes of any Big 12 players.

Mason, who averages 35.1 minutes, leads the conference with a 20.3-point average while shooting better than 50 percent from both two- and 3-point range. Graham averages 13.2 points and 33.8 minutes.

Some unknowns still exist, even with the slim rotation.

Sophomore forward Carlton Bragg has been the biggest enigma.

He started the first five games, was withheld from one game after his arrest and subsequent release for misdemeanor battery. He has just begun to pile on more minutes.

His 10-point performance in a victory Monday at Iowa State was the first time Bragg cracked double figures since a Nov. 18 win over Siena.

"Once I get going," Bragg predicted, "there ain't no stopping me."

Texas is a team that has yet to get going. Several promising newcomers gave the Longhorns the look of an improved team in Shaka Smart's second season as coach, but their only conference win to date was against Oklahoma State, which is winless in Big 12 play.

Since that win on Jan. 4, Texas has lost four straight. Stringing together a complete effort has been a problem, evidenced again in a 74-64 loss at No. 6 Baylor on Tuesday.

"In the first half, we're up two, up four, tied, we're down a few, it's anybody's game, keep playing," Smart said. "I think that requires a level of connectivity as a team and the ability to move on from the last play. That, I thought our guys started the game with, but we obviously did not sustain."

Freshman forward Jarrett Allen averaged 18 points and 8.7 rebounds in the last three games while shooting 67.7 percent from the field. He has netted double figures in eight of the last nine games. He grabbed at least six rebounds in each game and leads the Longhorns with a 7.8 average.

Sophomore wing Tevin Mack paces Texas with a 14.8-point average.

**StarDust Bum** · 01-21-2017, 03:02 AM

Preview: Yellow Jackets (11-7) at Cavaliers (14-3)
Date: January 21, 2017 2:00 PM EDT

After Georgia Tech's bid for a third straight ACC win came up short Wednesday night against Virginia Tech, the Yellow Jackets' road to their third league win in America's toughest conference may have to wait for a bit.

Beginning with their trip to Charlottesville, Va., on Saturday to take on No. 16 Virginia (2 p.m. ET, ACC Network), Georgia Tech faces three consecutive teams ranked in the Top 25. The Cavaliers are looking to win their fourth in a row against the Yellow Jackets.

Virginia (14-3, 4-2 ACC) knocked off Boston College 71-54 on Wednesday in one of their best passing performances of the season. The Cavaliers recorded 22 assists on 27 made field goals and seem to be peaking at the right time.

"That's playing for each other," Virginia head coach Tony Bennett said after the win. "That's sharing the ball. That's not worrying about getting your own or getting numbers. That's efficient basketball, and again our offense has to be part of our defense. If we're moving the ball, that can wear (opponents) down, and when we're getting good shots that's demoralizing at times."

This will be the lone meeting between the two teams this season after Georgia Tech (11-7, 3-3) upset Virginia 68-64 last January.

Virginia enters the game boasting five players averaging at least seven points per game, but only senior point guard London Perrantes averages more than 10 points. Georgia Tech puts four players in double figures, led by center Ben Lammers, who has been a breakout star for the Yellow Jackets.

Lammers will be a tough cover for Virginia's frontcourt -- the 6-foot-10 junior averages nearly 15 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks per game. He will be needed inside for a Georgia Tech squad which has struggled to shoot the ball from the outside this season. That doesn't bode well against a Virginia team which leads the ACC in field goal percentage defense.

"We have to continue to improve in the areas that we can control," Georgia Tech head coach Josh Pastner said. "I'm really proud of our guys and how hard they've played and how much we've improved since the beginning of the season."

Georgia Tech averages just under 68 points per game and will be hard pressed to reach that mark against Virginia's stifling defense. The Cavaliers, despite some struggles on defense earlier in ACC play, are still allowing only 53 points per game, which leads the country.

The Yellow Jackets should have the edge on the glass and second-chance points could be a key for Georgia Tech's hope for an upset.

Virginia has won five road games this season compared to just seven at home. The Cavaliers dropped a home ACC game to Florida State earlier this season, but are now back on track and look to defend their home court against the Yellow Jackets.

**StarDust Bum** · 01-21-2017, 03:03 AM

Preview: Bulldogs (16-3) at Blue Demons (8-11)
Date: January 21, 2017 2:00 PM EDT

Butler might be tempted to take a breather after a bruising schedule to start the new year.

But coach Chris Holtmann knows better than to look overlook host DePaul -- or anyone else for that matter -- as the Bulldogs play the first of three games against teams in the lower reaches of the Big East.

The No. 13 Bulldogs (16-3, 5-2) visit Allstate Arena in suburban Chicago on Saturday to face the Blue Demons (8-11, 1-5) in the 13th meeting between the teams.

The series is tied 6-6, but Butler has won five straight.

"Every road game is a challenge in league play," Holtmann said during a recent conference call. "Bottom line is that everybody's typically a lot better at home."

Butler should know. It is 11-0 at home in Hinkle Fieldhouse but just 5-3 away.

The Bulldogs are among four conference teams in this week's Top 25. They recently completed a 2-1 stretch against their ranked conference mates this month, beating No. 1 Villanova and No. 22 Xavier while falling to No. 7 Creighton.

All four teams have been fixtures in or near the Top 25 all season.

Holtmann said it's important to concentrate on the task at hand.

"(But) it's hard to do because losses certainly can stay with you longer than the wins can," he said recently. "But the reality is you're trying to keep a long-term approach as much as possible. And if you've been part of a good league or a power league, in most cases every team is going to get beat up a number of times. The question is how we'll respond."

Butler responded just fine after a 75-64 loss at Creighton on Jan. 11.

The Bulldogs have won two straight, including an 88-80 come-from-behind victory over Marquette on Monday at Hinkle Fieldhouse that included a 63-point second half, four points off the Big East record.

Freshman guard Kamar Baldwin landed on this week's Big East Honor Roll after averaging 15.0 points and 6.5 rebounds in two games. He scored 21 points -- all in the second half -- in an 83-78 victory over Xavier.

Junior Kelan Martin (16.9 points) ranks seventh in Big East scoring and junior Tyler Wideman was second in field goal percentage (61 of 92, .663) entering Saturday.

DePaul has lost seven of its last eight, including Monday's 78-68 decision at St. John's. The Blue Demons field a young group but also possess a savvy veteran in senior Billy Garrett Jr.

"We're new, we're young and we're building and we're growing," Blue Demons coach Dave Leitao said. "(Garrett) is a guy that doesn't ever gets too high or doesn't ever get too low. And you like that from a team standpoint."

Garrett is averaging 14.9 points and sophomore Eli Cain tops the team with a 16.3-point average.

Butler resumes Big East play on Wednesday at Seton Hall. DePaul is idle until next Sunday when it travels to Creighton.

**StarDust Bum** · 01-21-2017, 03:05 AM

Preview: Golden Eagles (12-6) at Bluejays (18-1)
Date: January 21, 2017 2:30 PM EDT

OMAHA, Neb. -- Marquette coaches had video of 19 Creighton games from which to choose as they prepared for Saturday's Big East basketball showdown with the No. 7-ranked Bluejays.

Precious few minutes of those recordings will be of use, though, after senior guard Maurice Watson's collegiate career abruptly ended in Monday's 72-67 victory at No. 22 Xavier.

Watson, a senior from Philadelphia who led the nation with 162 assists - and 8.5 assists per game, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

That ends his on-court responsibilities for the Bluejays (18-1, 5-1), who begin the post-Watson era against the Golden Eagles (12-6, 3-3).

At a press conference earlier this week to address Watson's injury, Bluejays coach Greg McDermott said it will be a challenge to change gears both on offense and defense with their point guard sidelined.

"He's responsible for 35 points a game between his assists and his scoring," McDermott said. "That's only part of his value. There's maybe not one player that's as important to a team anywhere in the country as Maurice was to us.

"But that doesn't mean still can't win games. Having said that, every scouting report against us started and ended with how you're going to defend him."

Players like Marcus Foster, Justin Patton, Khyri Thomas and others will be counted on to help pick up more of the on-court leadership role that Watson shouldered beginning with the game against the Golden Eagles.

Whether Creighton will try to slow things down on offense or keep the same blistering pace that has them averaging 86.7 points per game this season remains to be seen. McDermott certainly wasn't tipping his hand earlier this week.

"We're going to experiment with a lot of things here the next few days," McDermott said. "We can throw some different looks out there. To see what we're going to do, you're going to have to show up Saturday at 1:30."

Marquette also likes to get out and run on offense. The Golden Eagles have five players averaging double figures in scoring, led by freshman Markus Howard's 12.9 points per game. Howard also leads the Big East in 3-point shooting percentage (51.9).

The Golden Eagles can keep up with Creighton if it is a run-and-shoot affair; Marquette averages 83.7 points per game.

With Watson sidelined, Creighton now has three players averaging in double figures -- Foster (18.1), Patton (13.8) and Thomas (12.9).

McDermott was proud of the way the Bluejays responded after Watson left the Xavier game. He said no one hit the panic button when plans needed to change in the second half when the Bluejays were sans Watson.

"We had to maybe retool some of the things we did in that particular game but we found a way," McDermott said. "That's going to be critical the rest of the way."

The injury caused the players and coaching staff to delay its preparations for Marquette for at least a day. McDermott admitted Wednesday that it's been a tougher than usual week.

"To be honest I haven't thought much about Marquette," McDermott said. "The last 24 hours have been about Maurice. We have to (now) turn the page and get ready for Saturday. We have a responsibility to do that. No one knows that more than (him). He'll be here for us.

"We'll get after Marquette and we'll put together a plan that we think gives us the best chance to be successful."

**StarDust Bum** · 01-21-2017, 03:06 AM

Preview: Bearcats (16-2) at Green Wave (4-14)
Date: January 21, 2017 4:00 PM EDT

NEW ORLEANS -- For once, the polling experts were accurate.

In November, the coaches of the American Athletic Conference predicted Cincinnati would win the conference while Tulane would bring up the rear.

That's exactly the case as the No. 20 Bearcats (16-2, 6-0 AAC) seek their 10th consecutive victory Saturday against Tulane (4-14, 1-5), which has lost seven of its last eight games.

But Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin is warning his players against overconfidence in the game at Tulane's Devlin Fieldhouse.

"Every game is unique and, if Saturday is the day that Tulane makes shots, you better come to play because every other facet of the game, they play extremely hard, they stay positive," Cronin said. "I'm not going to win the game Saturday. I might lose the game as a coach, but I think with our team, you have to give the kids credit and continue to have guys step up and put the ball in the basket. That's the key."

The Bearcats have spread the wealth in winning 16 of their 18 contests, with four players in averaging double figures in points per game. Forward Jacob Evans is Cincinnati's leading scorer at 14.1, followed by forward Kyle Washington (13.9), point guard Troy Caupain (10.7) and forward Gary Clark (10.1).

Kevin Johnson, a senior shooting guard, is averaging just under double digits at 8.6 per game.

"Coach holds us at a high standard, and he's been proud of us the whole season because we're an unselfish bunch," Washington said. "I'm just as excited when I score as when anybody scores. I'm just proud of all my guys, because we're trying to take this thing to Phoenix (host of the 2017 NCAA Final Four).

In addition to averaging 16.8 assists per game, Cincinnati also has been very effective on the defensive end. The Bearcats are third in the country in defensive efficiency, allowing 89.7 points per 100 offensive possessions.

Cincinnati routed Tulane 92-56 at home on Jan. 1. The Bearcats' Jarron Cumberland led all scorers with a career-high 19 points on 6-of-8 shooting with a trio of 3-pointers.

"I will say this about the Tulane game, they play really hard and I am extremely impressed with how hard they played here," Cronin said. "We made every shot and they missed every shot, and they missed three dunks. So, I don't look at the result as much as I watch the game of what actually went on."

The Green Wave, under first-year head coach Mike Dunleavy, lost 89-82 Wednesday at Tulsa. Four Tulane players scored in double figures led by guard Cameron Reynolds, who posted a double-double with 20 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

Tulane is led by Reynolds (15.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, team-high 41 3-pointers); guard Kain Harris (12.5 points, 32 3-pointers); and guard Melvin Frazier (10.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, .421 field goal percentage).

Cincinnati's current nine-game win streak is its longest since a 15-game run during the 2013-14 season (Dec. 17 through Feb. 6) and the fourth longest under Cronin. The Bearcats are off to their best start in league play at 6-0 since winning their first 11 AAC games during the 2013-14 season.

**StarDust Bum** · 01-21-2017, 03:07 AM

Preview: Wildcats (17-2) at Bruins (19-1)
Date: January 21, 2017 4:00 PM EDT

LOS ANGELES -- UCLA and Arizona, the preeminent Pac-12 programs since the league was formed almost 40 years ago, will look to stake the first claim toward 2017 supremacy on Saturday afternoon.

No. 3 UCLA (19-1, 6-1) and No. 14 Arizona (17-2, 6-0), each led by precocious and possibly one-and-done freshmen, will meet at Pauley Pavilion with first place in the league at stake. No. 11 Oregon (17-2, 6-0) is also right there.

With impetus from freshmen Lonzo Ball and T.J. Leaf, the Bruins won their first 13 games, including a five-point victory at Kentucky, before losing to Oregon in the Pac-12 opener.

Finnish freshman forward Lauri Markkanen and the Wildcats have won 11 in a row, the fourth-longest winning streak in the nation. Arizona posted a 73-66 victory over USC in the first leg of the L.A. trip Thursday.

As Arizona did in previous victories against Texas A&M, Colorado and Arizona State this season, it squandered a big second-half lead before holding on. USC trimmed a 23-point deficit to three with 1:03 remaining before Markkanen banked in a 3-pointer with 41 seconds remaining as the shot clock ran down to secure the win.

"We're 17-2 overall and 6-0 in the Pac-12, I get it," Sean Miller said. "But I can only go on what I just saw. It's a pattern that we have to break. It's my job to break it. If we have to take a loss because guys have to learn we just can't pick and choose how hard we want to play, then we'll do that.

"UCLA may be a team that really teaches us a lesson of how important it is to be in the game for 40 minutes, because they are so good on offense."

UCLA leads the Pac-12 in scoring offense and Arizona is No. 1 in defense.

With point guard Ball directing the offense, the Bruins are averaging 93.3 points a game and have six players averaging in double figures -- including Bryce Alford (17.4), Leaf (16.9), Isaac Hamilton (15.0) and Ball (14.4). Leaf is averaging nine rebounds a game and Ball is averaging 8.2 assists.

The Bruins have made 222 3-pointers while shooting 44.1 percent from distance. Alford made nine 3-pointerss and had a career-high 37 points in a 104-89 victory over Colorado on Jan.12. Hamilton had nine 3-pointers and 33 points in a 102-80 victory over Arizona State on Thursday.

"I love when teams try to run with us because I think we are the best transition team in the country and the best running team in the country," Leaf said.

Markkanen is averaging 17.0 points and 7.4 rebounds a game, leading five Wildcats in double-figure scoring. Rawls Alkins is averaging 12 points a game, and Dusan Ristic is averaging 11.9 points and 6.4 rebounds.

"It's a big game," UCLA coach Steve Alford said. "They've done a lot of really good things away from home. You have a chance to play them twice, so it's about taking care of home."

Both Ball and Markkanen are projected to be among the top dozen players taken in the 2017 NBA draft if they leave school, and some project either Ball or Washington freshman guard Markelle Fultz to be the first player taken. Neither Ball nor Markkanen has announced his intention.

The Bruins had 30 assists against Arizona for the time in 22 years, and are off to their best start since going 21-1 to begin the 1991-92 season, when Tracey Murray and Don MacLean each averaged 21 points a game.

Arizona has won at least 11 straight games five times in Miller's seven-plus seasons. The Wildcats' last 12-gamer was in 2014-15. UCLA has won seven of the last 10 games in the series played at Pauley.

**StarDust Bum** · 01-21-2017, 03:08 AM

Preview: Badgers (15-3) at Golden Gophers (15-4)
Date: January 21, 2017 4:30 PM EDT

MINNEAPOLIS -- Sitting among the top teams in the Big Ten and being ranked nationally is nothing new for the Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team.

Typically, a veteran-laden team, this year is no different with four seniors starting and Wisconsin ranked No. 17 in the country. This season is very different for Saturday's opponent, the Minnesota Gophers.

Coming off an eight-win season, Minnesota worked its way back. The Gophers started the season 12-1. They were 15-2 in earning a No. 24 ranking before a pair of losses last week.

Saturday's game in Minnesota offers intrigue beyond just a matchup of rivals. Gophers coach Richard Pitino wants his team to enjoy the fact they've "earned people's respect."

"I want them to be proud of the fact that people want to see them again," Pitino said Friday. "Getting ranked was a little bit of a step in the right direction. Getting people's respect back is another step in the right direction. I want them to be proud of that, but we still know, obviously, that we've got a lot of games left and we've got a really good program in front of us coming to our building."

The Badgers (15-3, 4-1 Big Ten) have garnered their respect for years, even as coach Greg Gard took over for Bo Ryan. Gard is 30-11 since taking over for Ryan a year ago.

This year, Wisconsin has sophomore Ethan Happ complementing standout seniors Bronson Koenig and Nigel Hayes. Happ is averaging 12.8 points per game and 9.1 rebounds per game while shooting 60.5 percent.

"I don't know if he's the best player; he's one of the best players in the league," Pitino said. "But he is the toughest cover, in my opinion, in the league; very, very challenging."

Koenig leads the team with a 14.5 points-per-game average and Hayes is averaging 13.6 points per game. Seniors Zak Showalter and Vitto Brown round out the starting lineup for the Badgers, but the Wisconsin State Journal reported Brown is questionable for Saturday's game with a knee injury.

For Minnesota, an infusion of new players has sparked the change from a year ago. Junior guard Nate Mason leads the team at point guard and Jordan Murphy and Dupree McBrayer are starters in their sophomore seasons. Freshmen Amir Coffey and Eric Curry along with transfers Reggie Lynch and Akeem Springs have altered the look.

"It's a completely different (Minnesota) team now -- night and day," Wisconsin assistant coach Joe Krabbenhoft told the school's website. Krabbenhoft was an assistant coach last season with South Dakota State, which beat the Gophers.

"The roster is different in a lot of ways and the identity of the team has focused on the defensive end," Krabbenhoft told UWBadgers.com. "The guys they did have returning from last year learned from what they went through and decided that was not the way they wanted it to go and they're playing like a team that clearly has their eyes on the NCAA tournament. We know that."

The defensive focus has helped Minnesota (15-4, 3-3), but Pitino is worried about the offense that fell flat in losses to Michigan State and Penn State last week. The Gophers scored a total of 97 points in the two road games. They had a week off to address the issues.

"I think we needed some time to get our offensive confidence back," Pitino said. "We really lost it in the Penn State game. I just thought Michigan State kicked our butt, where Penn State, we really lost confidence offensively during that game. We got back to work and looked good this week."

The Badgers have won back-to-back games at home against Ohio State and Michigan. They beat Michigan 68-64 on Tuesday. Koenig led four players in double-figures scoring with 16 points.

"We knew it was going to be a tough game and it was actually tougher in some aspects than we thought, but that's what we expect in the Big Ten," Hayes said after the game. "Unfortunately, grind-it-out is a term used in football games sometimes, but it's still good and we just got to make sure we take care of our end."

Wisconsin has won 11 of its past 12 games, outscoring teams by 19.6 points during the stretch. Hayes has averaged 15 points per game during that time and the Badgers have the Big Ten's top scoring defense in giving up just 60.4 points per game to opponents.

**StarDust Bum** · 01-21-2017, 03:09 AM

Preview: Mountainers (15-3) at Wildcats (14-4)
Date: January 21, 2017 6:00 PM EDT

Kansas State is fresh off a rare conference road win, while No. 7 West Virginia is coming off an equally rare conference home loss. That means an angry Mountaineers squad will come to Manhattan Saturday, and will likely turn up the defensive pressure.

Kansas State defeated Oklahoma State 96-88 Wednesday night to capture the second victory in the Wildcats' last 19 Big 12 road games. West Virginia fell 89-87 at home to Oklahoma in overtime.

West Virginia, known to its fans as "Press Virginia," leads the Big 12 Conference -- and the entire nation -- in turnovers forced with 23.6 per game. The Mountaineers also lead the conference and the nation in turnover margin at plus-12.5, more than double the next closest (Fordham, 5.9).

In Wednesday's loss against Oklahoma, West Virginia forced only 12 miscues, and the Mountaineers lost for the first time in the last 13 conference home games.

Worse yet, West Virginia yielded up the game-winning basket on an end-to-end drive by Jordan Woodard.

"We're supposed to be the best pressing team in America," Mountaineers coach Bob Huggins said after the game. "How do you let a guy drive right down the floor and shoot a layup? Five seconds. In five seconds, he drove it the length of the floor and shot a layup to win the game.

"The guy at the other end of the bench (Lon Kruger) is a heck of a coach. Jordan Woodard is a heck of a player. (But) it's been like pulling teeth to get these guys to work as hard as they were working before in practice and it shows. "

Handling the press is always the top priority for West Virginia's opponents, and the matter got a little tougher for Kansas State during the Wildcats' 96-88 victory at Oklahoma State Wednesday night. Kansas State's point guard Kamau Stokes twisted his left ankle late in the game and did not return to the game.

But the injury did not appear to be nearly as serious as last year's knee injury that ended his season in late January. He hobbled off the court, but limped back to the bench before the end of the game. With Barry Brown, Carlbe Ervin and even forward Wesley Iwundu able to handle the ball, Stokes won't be quite as essential in handling West Virginia's press.

Kansas State (14-4, 3-3 Big 12) is in the middle of the pack in the Big 12 at 12.9 turnovers per game. The Wildcats committed 12 turnovers during their defeat of the Cowboys, which marked just the second time in the last 17 tries that they left Stillwater with a victory.

"I talked about us having to have emotion today and that's probably the most important aspect of tonight's win," Kansas State coach Bruce Weber said after the triumph. "We had to do it together and we all did that. You have five guys in double figures and the bench guys did a nice job of coming in and making sure we finished the game. (Wesley Iwundu's) line (15 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists) is what I have been dreaming of all season. He was really good tonight. Barry (Brown), of course, was really, really good and to have a career-high (22 points).

"A lot of guys played well. It was just a good team win and great road win. We've been so close (on the road) and something good finally happened. If you have a good attitude, good things will come."

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The Bum's Top 25 College Basketball Previews For 01/21/17 !

The Bum's Top 25 College Basketball Previews For 01/21/17 !

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