Cnotes college basketball 2019-2020 news/trends/best bets thru ncaa championship

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Michigan State opens No. 1 in AP Top 25
October 21, 2019
By The Associated Press

There isn't much Michigan State has yet to accomplish under Hall of Fame coach Tom Izzo, from Big Ten titles and Final Four trips to winning a national championship.

The Spartans can now add another milestone to the list: They are No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 men's college basketball preseason poll for the first time in program history.

The Spartans were the overwhelming choice with their veteran returnees led by star Cassius Winston. They topped 60 of 65 ballots in voting results released Monday, easily outdistancing No. 2 Kentucky and No. 3 Kansas as the only other teams to receive first-place votes.

Duke was fourth, followed by Louisville, Florida, Maryland, Gonzaga, North Carolina and Villanova to round out the top 10.

Michigan State had been ranked No. 1 for 12 weeks in the AP poll before Monday. But none had come in the preseason poll, with the Spartans starting at No. 2 four times in the past decade.

''It's almost bizarre to me because I would've thought Magic's team was No. 1,'' Izzo said in an interview with the AP.

Nope, the Magic Johnson-led bunch that beat Larry Bird and Indiana State in the 1979 NCAA title game started at No. 7.

The Spartans won 32 games last year and reached Izzo's eighth Final Four before falling to Texas Tech. They return Winston with fellow starters Xavier Tillman and Aaron Henry from that run, and they get back another starter in Joshua Langford after he missed much of last year with a foot injury.

That nucleus is good enough that only one voter picked the Spartans as low as third, with four others picking them second and the rest at No. 1. They will be tested right away, too: the Spartans open the season against Kentucky in a 1-vs-2 matchup Nov. 5 in New York.

''This is a program deal and it's the players in the program, and I'm really proud of them for that,'' Izzo said. ''Unfortunately, what you are at the beginning of the year doesn't help you at the end of the year, but I think it does say something about the program and what we've done over these years.''

THE TOP TIER

Roughly half of the voters (33 of 65) chose Michigan State, Kentucky and Kansas in some order atop their ballot. Kentucky received two first-place votes, while Kansas received the other three.

It marks the ninth straight year that John Calipari's Wildcats have been a top-five preseason pick and seventh in a row for Bill Self's Jayhawks, who open the season with the program facing NCAA charges tied to a federal corruption investigation into the sport.

Kansas and Duke open their seasons against each other on the same bill with Michigan State-Kentucky.

CHAMPS AT 11

Virginia has gone from facing questions about how it would respond to an unprecedented tournament loss against UMBC to how it will build on its run to its first NCAA title. Tony Bennett's Cavaliers are 11th after losing De'Andre Hunter, Ty Jerome and Final Four most outstanding player Kyle Guy to the NBA draft. It is the lowest preseason ranking for a champion since Connecticut was 17th to start the 2014-15 season.

CONFERENCE WATCH

The Atlantic Coast, Big Ten and Southeastern conferences each had four ranked teams to lead all leagues.

The ACC ended last season with four top-10 teams, then picked back up with four teams all ranked in the top 11.

No. 18 Ohio State and No. 23 Purdue joined Michigan State and Maryland for the Big Ten's quartet, while the SEC had No. 22 LSU and No. 24 Auburn - fresh off its Final Four run - joining Kentucky and Florida.

The Big 12 (three), Big East (three), Pac-12 (two) and West Coast Conference (two) also had multiple ranked teams.

THE WATCH LIST

The Pac-12 could quickly add to its total with Washington and Colorado as the top vote-getters among unranked teams. Washington twice appeared in last season's poll at No. 25. But it's been a much longer wait for the Buffaloes, who haven't cracked the poll since January 2014 but have five starters back and are picked to finish second in the Pac-12 behind No. 15 Oregon.

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Duke-Kansas, tourney highlight MSG slate
October 18, 2019
By The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) This season's college basketball schedule at Madison Square Garden tips off next month with a marquee doubleheader featuring four powerhouse programs: Duke, Kansas, Kentucky and Michigan State.

The NCAA Tournament also comes to ''The World's Most Famous Arena'' again with the East Regional semifinals March 27 and final March 29. It will be the third appearance at MSG for the sport's showcase event since returning in 2014 for the first time in decades.

The annual Champions Classic on Nov. 5 will begin with Duke taking on Kansas, followed by Kentucky against Michigan State. The event was first played at The Garden in 2011, and those schools have combined for 18 national championships.

MSG will also host the annual 2K Empire Classic, Jimmy V Classic, MSG Holiday Festival, Big Ten Super Saturday, Big East Tournament and the postseason NIT.

Duke will be back Nov. 21-22 along with California, Georgetown and Texas for the 2K Empire Classic Benefiting Wounded Warrior Project, played at The Garden since 1998.

St. John's and West Virginia will participate in the long-running MSG Holiday Festival on Dec. 7. And the Jimmy V Classic for cancer research, returning to Madison Square Garden for the 17th straight year on Dec. 10, features a doubleheader of Louisville against 2019 NCAA runner-up Texas Tech, and Indiana vs. UConn.

The Big East Tournament runs from March 11-14, its 37th consecutive season at the arena.

St. John's will play six Big East home games at MSG, and the 83rd annual NIT wraps up the 2019-20 schedule with the semifinal doubleheader March 31 and then the championship game April 2.

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Juwan Howard talks up Michigan
October 17, 2019
By The Associated Press

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) When asked if anything about his new job has surprised him, Michigan coach Juwan Howard mentioned recruiting.

''I knew you have to recruit, but all the work that comes behind the recruiting. Like I haven't talked on the phone in years. What we all do now is just text, right? Or email,'' Howard said. ''I've been on the phone sometimes with recruits for like 30 minutes. ... You've got to do a really good job with your text game, too. A lot of kids like to text.''

Michigan held its men's basketball media day Thursday, another first for Howard as he prepares for his initial season at the helm. The former Fab Five star returned to his school after coach John Beilein left for the NBA this offseason.

Hours after his media day news conference, Howard had a recruiting victory when Isaiah Todd of Word of God Christian Academy in North Carolina chose Michigan in an announcement streamed on WRAL.com. Todd is ranked 12th overall among 2020 recruits at 247sports.com.

Howard has big shoes to fill after Beilein led Michigan to two Final Fours and returned the school to relevance both in the Big Ten and nationally.

''I don't expect my players to trust me. I want to earn their trust,'' Howard said. ''I want them to know that I'm in their corner 110%, and that has to be proven by my actions, not just my words.''

The Wolverines have to replace some key players from last season's Sweet 16 team. Iggy Brazdeikis, Jordan Poole and Charles Matthews all left early for the NBA draft.

Returning are point guard and defensive standout Zavier Simpson, 7-foot-1 Jon Teske and forward Isaiah Livers. Howard says the team is healthy at the moment.

Howard also welcomes freshman Franz Wagner of Berlin, the brother of former Michigan star Moe Wagner.

As Howard noted, recruiting is a big part of his job - and it will likely play a significant role in his success or failure. Under Beilein, Michigan wasn't necessarily beating out Kentucky and Duke for the top-ranked high school prospects, but the coaching staff excelled at identifying talent and developing players.

It remains to be seen how Howard and his staff will do in those regards, but landing Todd was a sign that the program's brand is strong - and that the new coach is plenty capable of selling it.

Although there are rules governing what coaches can and can't say about their recruiting efforts with specific players, Howard was asked at media day to explain how he pitches Michigan to young prospects.

''Michigan - this block `M' right here - it's a beautiful university, one of the best institutions in the world,'' Howard said. ''I went to watch Franz play ... in Greece, and it wasn't, like, Athens, Greece. We were like, in the mountains. ... There was a Michigan block `M' shirt - that right there speaks for itself.''

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Michigan's Franz Wagner out 4-6 weeks
October 21, 2019
By The Associated Press

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) Michigan freshman Franz Wagner is expected to miss four to six weeks with a fractured right wrist.

The school said Monday a full recovery is anticipated. The 6-foot-8 Wagner is the younger brother of former Michigan standout Moe Wagner. He's expected to be a key newcomer in the basketball team's first season under new coach Juwan Howard.

The Wolverines open Nov. 5 against Appalachian State. They face Creighton on Nov. 12 and Louisville on Dec. 3, and play in a tournament in the Bahamas in late November. Those are all games Wagner could conceivably miss if he ends up on the long end of his recovery timeline.

Michigan opens Big Ten play Dec. 6 against Iowa.

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Clemson looks to new faces to in ACC play
October 23, 2019
By The Associated Press

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) Clemson forward Aamir Simms didn't enjoy what he saw during the summer with the Tigers.

Simms, a 6-foot-8 junior, was accustomed to seeing older teammates like Donte Grantham, Elijah Thomas, Marcquise Reed and Shelton Mitchell make crisp passes, dig in on defense and finish plays strongly. Instead, Clemson's roster was filled with newcomers who weren't quite getting it in Simms' eyes.

Simms stayed patient and helped lead the young Tigers to a 6-0 run at the World University Games in Italy in July, when Clemson represented the United States.

''I see now, as an older player, how easily you can get frustrated watching a younger guy kind of mess up continuously,'' Simms said. ''It's like something I've learned since I've been here is to have composure and be poised in certain situation.''

That will be essential this season for Simms, Clemson's lone returning starter following the departures of Thomas, Reed, Mitchell and David Skara, all seniors who helped the Tigers make the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 and two NIT appearances the past three seasons.

It's up to Simms now to step forward and lead as Clemson's most experienced player.

''You have to approach situations differently with each kind of guy on the team, especially with young guys because we have a really good mix of young to old,'' Simms said.

Clemson has little choice but to get all the newcomers up to speed in a hurry. The nine new players include four freshman and four transfers, including former Texas and Alabama forward Tevin Mack.

The 6-6 Mack was recruited by Clemson coach Brad Brownell as a Columbia, South Carolina, prospect who played for Shaka Smart with the Longhorns before spending last year with Avery Johnson, who agreed to leave the Crimson Tide after last season. Mack joins Clemson as a graduate transfer.

Also eligible to play immediately is grad transfer guard Curran Scott, whose 41 3-pointers led Tulsa last season.

''I like this team,'' Brownell said. ''I think there's a difference sometimes when half your roster in new. The new guys come in with this youthful exuberance and enthusiasm.''

Clemson was picked 11th in the ACC's annual preseason poll.

MISSING PIECES

The Tigers were hit with significant injuries to a pair of veterans they expected to play big roles in 2019-20. Jonathan Baehre, a 6-10 transfer from UNC Asheville, and 6-4 junior guard Clyde Trapp both suffered torn ACLs in the spring and there's no timetable for their return, although Brownell says both are ahead of schedule in their recoveries and could see action this season.

NCAA WAIT

Clemson is also waiting to hear from the NCAA if two undergraduate transfers - Khavon Moore of Texas Tech and Nick Honor of Fordham - will get the OK to play immediately. The school has applied for waivers for both players. Moore played just two minutes for the Red Raiders due to injury. Honor led the Rams with 15.3 points a game.

WORLD CHAMPS

Brownell was as surprised as anyone that his team full of new faces came together so quickly to capture gold at the World University Games. ''Everybody played and everybody played unselfishly,'' he said. ''They've been really fun to coach because they're excited to be coached every day.''

NEW ASSISTANT

Clemson added assistant Anthony Goins this offseason after not renewing the contract of longtime staffer Steve Smith, who was heard on a federal wiretap at the college basketball corruption trial last spring. Smith was due to have his contract renewed before his name came up in the trial for discussing Clemson's national championship football program. Smith was not charged by federal prosecutors.

SCHEDULE

Clemson, like most of the ACC, begins league play with its opener on Nov. 5 against Virginia Tech, which advanced to the NCAA's Sweet 16 last season. The Tigers' most difficult stretch comes when they play at North Carolina on Jan. 11 trying to break their 0-59 mark in Chapel Hill. Three days later, Clemson returns home to play Duke.

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Michigan team has to replace scoring
October 23, 2019
By The Associated Press

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) Juwan Howard will have an immediate chance to put his stamp on the Michigan program.

This is no rebuilding project - not with the Wolverines coming off their third straight Sweet 16 appearance - but there has been enough turnover in Ann Arbor that it is hard to know what to expect this coming season. Michigan didn't just lose coach John Beilein, who went to the NBA and was replaced by Howard. The Wolverines also lost Iggy Brazdeikis, Jordan Poole and Charles Matthews, their top three scorers from 2018-19.

With so many ties to Beilein's successful tenure already gone, this very much feels like Howard's program now.

''It's been fun. It's been great for me, as my first time as a head coach, with all the ideas bouncing around in my head, with all the information that I've gathered, tucked away in my file, to now bring it to life,'' Howard said. ''It's also made me lose a lot of sleep too, because my brain is always working.''

If Michigan were returning more starters, perhaps the transition from Beilein to Howard would be a more gradual change, but the start of the season is full of unknowns. The Wolverines played a distinctive style under Beilein, shooting a lot of 3-pointers, spacing the floor well and keeping turnovers to a minimum. Howard takes over a clean slate of sorts, with so many key players to replace.

The staff of assistants is new as well and includes former Saint Joseph's coach Phil Martelli.

''They're all hands on deck,'' forward Isaiah Livers said. ''They just want players to be good. They just want them to be just better than the previous year, getting that mindset of just growing each year. I can say honestly that every player has grown from last year.''

TOP RETURNERS

Michigan will be able to lean on a couple seniors who were important members of last season's team. Point guard Zavier Simpson and center Jon Teske are both back. Simpson in particular has been a driving force behind the defensive resurgence that led the Wolverines to the Final Four in 2018 and to more success last season. The 7-foot-1 Teske averaged 9.5 points last season and blocked 75 shots. He also made 23 3-pointers.

HIGH HOPES

Freshman Franz Wagner arrives amid a good deal of fanfare. He's the younger brother of former Michigan standout Moe Wagner. Franz, however, will have to wait to begin his college career. He's expected to be out at least until the latter half of November with a fractured wrist.

BACKCOURT OPTIONS

Howard mentioned David DeJulius, Eli Brooks and Adrien Nunez when asked about the competition at the other guard spot alongside Simpson. Brooks averaged 12.9 minutes a game last season, and DeJulius played more sparingly. Howard said Nunez is one of the best shooters on the team.

''I have a team that loves to get in the gym,'' Howard said. ''That's what it's about.''

BIGGER ROLE?

Livers started 22 games as a freshman but mostly came off the bench last season as a sophomore. His 3-point percentage improved from 36 to 43, and he can expect plenty of opportunities in 2019-20, given how much scoring Michigan lost. Teske is the team's top returning scorer, followed by Simpson (8.8 ppg) and Livers (7.9).

SCHEDULE

The Wolverines open the season Nov. 5 against Appalachian State. Their nonconference schedule also includes Creighton on Nov. 12. They play at an event in the Bahamas in late November that includes a matchup with Iowa State and a possible meeting with No. 9 North Carolina. Michigan plays at No. 5 Louisville on Dec. 3 and starts conference play three days later against Iowa.

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Michigan State will find out how good it is
October 23, 2019
By The Associated Press

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) Michigan State's basketball team is ranked No. 1 in the preseason for the first time and is looking forward to validating the votes.

''Now you have to go out and prove why you're ranked No. 1,'' All-America guard Cassius Winston said.

The Spartans will find out soon if they're that good because Hall of Fame coach Tom Izzo has put together one of his toughest schedules - even for him. Izzo regularly tests his teams during the nonconference schedule, hoping it prepares them to win Big Ten championships and contend for national titles.

If Izzo can cut down the nets after winning a second NCAA championship, he may look back on a grueling gauntlet of games fondly.

The top-ranked Spartans open the season against No. 2 Kentucky on Nov. 5 in New York and return to the area the following week to play No. 12 Seton Hall. At the Maui Invitational, Michigan State could match up with No. 3 Kansas. And less a month after the opener, Michigan State plays No. 4 Duke in one of the most highly anticipated games in Breslin Center history.

''With the brutal schedule we play early, especially in the first 26 days, I think it will be important to maintain a perspective regardless of wins and losses and what we're really trying to accomplish,'' Izzo said. ''We're trying to accomplish get better every day. We're trying to accomplish get better by the end of the season. And, that's what we're going to keep our eyes on.''

STAR WATCH

Winston could have entered the NBA draft last summer as an All-America guard and Big Ten player of the year. Winston briefly looked into his options with the league and was told he would likely be a second-round pick. He returned for his senior season in the hopes of capping his career with the school's third national championship.

''You dream of going to the NBA, that's the ultimate goal, and it's hard to turn down,'' he said. ''But the NBA is going to be there.''

Winston is the only consensus selection on The Associated Press preseason All-America team.

To be considered one of the best at the end of the year, Winston relentlessly worked on improving his 6-foot-1, 185-body over the offseason after being told to rest for six weeks. Winston said he reduced his body fat by 6% after lifting weights five days a week.

''He is the straw that stirs the drink and I think deserves all the attention he's been getting because he is a special player,'' Izzo said.

INJURY REPORT

Michigan State will be without senior Joshua Langford, the projected starter at shooting guard, until at least January. He had a setback with a foot injury that led to him playing just 13 games last season and needing surgery after averaging 15 points per game.

''He's handled everything a lot better than I would have handled it,'' Izzo said. ''And, now my job is to support him in every way I can.''

Senior Kyle Ahrens is out for about a week with an ankle injury after missing last season's run to the Final Four because of an ankle injury. Highly touted freshman guard Rockets Watts was limited in a scrimmage against Gonzaga because of a strained Achilles tendon injury, but he was able to practice this week.

COMING AND GOING

Michigan State opens the season with Xavier Tillman and Aaron Henry returning as starters along with Winston and four other players coming back with some level of experience from last season. The Spartans may miss the low-post scoring presence of Nick Ward, who skipped his senior year to play professionally. They also will need new players to step in to fill the outside shooting, defensive and leadership roles previously filled by Matt McQuaid and Kenny Goins.

FAMILIAR NAME

Izzo's son, Steven, is a walk-on freshman after growing up going to games as a fan in the stands. The 5-8, 150-pound guard played for Lansing Catholic High School last season, playing without his father in attendance 16 times.

''I just want to make sure everybody knows nobody's taking a scholarship from anybody or really a spot from anybody,'' Izzo said.

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NC State aims to return to NCAAs in 2020
October 23, 2019
By The Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) The motivation for North Carolina State is clear this season: don't be on the wrong side of the bubble come NCAA Tournament time.

The drive to return there for the second time in three seasons under Kevin Keatts will lean on a deep perimeter led by preseason all-Atlantic Coast Conference pick Markell Johnson. That group offers versatility and the potential to play more of Keatts' pressure style than at the start of his tenure, which could help them claim some marquee wins lacking from a resume that landed them in the NIT last year.

''That was one big thing we heard a lot this summer,'' junior guard Braxton Beverly said of the tournament snub.

North Carolina State (24-12) went on to win two NIT games, allowing the Wolfpack to match the program's best single-season win total since the Jim Valvano's ''Cardiac Pack'' won 26 games and an unexpected NCAA championship in 1983.

The Wolfpack lost leading scorer and rebounder Torin Dorn (14 points, 7.2 rebounds), but the next six scorers return to a team picked to finish sixth in the 15-team ACC.

It starts with Johnson, a 6-foot-1 senior point guard and preseason all-ACC second-team pick who averaged 12.6 points and 4.2 assists. He's shown the ability to take over games for stretches, though Keatts has also had to work to extract a start-to-finish edge from him, too.

There's plenty of complementary help for Johnson on the wing in C.J. Bryce (11.6 points), Beverly (9.4) and Devon Daniels (9.3).

''Not a lot of teams have a 24-win season and not make the tournament,'' said Pat Andree, a graduate transfer from Lehigh. ''Yeah, it was definitely a point of conversation with the guys coming in. Everybody's pretty hungry to make it this year.''

EXPERIENCED HELP

North Carolina State added experienced help with graduate transfers Andree and Danny Dixon.

The 6-8 Andree averaged 12.9 points and 6.2 rebounds while shooting 41.9% from behind the arc at Lehigh last year. The 6-10, 230-pound Danny Dixon provides bulk in the paint after averaging 7.5 points and 3.6 rebounds at UMKC.

UNCERTAINTY UP FRONT

There is uncertainty about N.C. State's front line.

Top returning big man D.J. Funderburk (8.8 points, 4.2 rebounds) is suspended indefinitely for a violation of team policy, and Keatts has said there is no timetable for his return. N.C. State will have 6-11 redshirt freshman Manny Bates to help protect the rim, though he missed last season following shoulder surgery.

BEVERLY'S SHOT

North Carolina State needs Beverly's outside shot to be more on target.

Beverly has proven he can hit big 3s, most notably with his buzzer-beater against Clemson in January. But Beverly's 3-point percentage dipped from his freshman to sophomore years (38.5% to 34.7%), including struggles in losses to Virginia Tech (0 for 9), Georgia Tech (0 for 7) and eventual national champion Virginia (0 for 5) in the ACC Tournament.

TROUBLE LURKING?

North Carolina State will start the season with the program facing four serious NCAA charges amid the federal corruption investigation into college basketball. The NCAA has suspended filing deadlines in the case and it's unclear when it could reach resolution.

No one from the current staff or roster are accused of wrongdoing, and Keatts is keeping the team's focus on the court.

''Our guys, they're worried about what we're doing in practice and then after practice, they're worried about what they're going to do tonight - and that's it,'' Keatts said. ''But nobody says anything about it, we don't concern ourselves with it.''

GAMES TO WATCH

North Carolina State was criticized for a soft nonconference schedule that did it no favors on Selection Sunday. There are at least some better games to help the Wolfpack this time around along with the ACC's move to a 20-game league slate, starting with the Nov. 5 opener against Georgia Tech at home.

The Wolfpack plays No. 14 Memphis and its touted freshmen in Brooklyn (Nov. 28), hosts Wisconsin in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge (Dec. 4), visits a UNC Greensboro team that won 29 games last year (Dec. 15) and then travels to No. 24 Auburn (Dec. 19) in a rematch of the game won by the Wolfpack last year against a team that wound up in the Final Four.

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Iowa going with youth, waiting on Bohannon
October 23, 2019
By The Associated Press

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) Iowa has a leadership void to fill after forward Tyler Cook left for the NBA, point guard Jordan Bohannon had hip surgery and guard Isaiah Moss bolted for Kansas. All three were lined up to play their senior years for the Hawkeyes this winter.

Iowa is left with an interesting blend of potential and experience, and the Hawkeyes could find themselves back in the NCAA Tournament if their revamped roster can jell.

Iowa (23-12 in 2019-20) figured Cook might make the jump to the pros after he averaged 14.5 points and 7.6 rebounds last season. But Moss unexpectedly elected to go the graduate transfer route, and Bohannon finally had surgery in late May after playing through pain last season. Bohannon's timeline for a return is 6-9 months, and his status is the team's biggest question mark.

Still, returning starters Joe Wieskamp and Luka Garza headline a roster that is deep at every position.

''What you'll see is a team that plays like a veteran team, that's not a turnover team, that's not a mistake team,'' Iowa coach Fran McCaffery said. ''We're going to push the ball. We're going to get good shot opportunities. We're going to defend.''

J-BO UPDATE

Bohannon, the school's all-time leader with 264 3s, could try and play a few games in November and see how his hip responds without burning a medical redshirt. Bohannon's numbers were down last season, as he shot 38.3% on 3s after hitting 43% of them as a sophomore. He averaged just 11.6 points a game after scoring 13.5 points two years ago. Though Bohannon said he's itching to play, expect him to be smart about this season.

''It's hard for me to gauge when my body will be ready,'' Bohannon said. ''I'm trying to take it day by day because it was such a long process.''

WIESKAMP

Iowa hopes of returning to the NCAA Tournament, where it came within a few possessions of the program's first Sweet 16 in 20 years in March, might hinge on how much Wieskamp improves as a sophomore. The two-time Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year was one of the biggest recruits in school history, and he responded with 11.1 points and 4.9 rebounds a game. Wieskamp was often used as a spot-up shooter a year ago, but the soft-spoken star will be asked to expand his game for a team in desperate need of a perimeter threat who can also attack the rim.

''He's always led by example with his work ethic and his productivity, but he has to understand that he has a voice that in the locker room, at crunch time, people are going to listen,'' McCaffery said.

THE BACKCOURT

With Wieskamp locked in at shooting guard and Bohannon's status unknown, Iowa will look to graduate transfer Bakari Evelyn, sophomore Connor McCaffery and freshman Joe Toussaint to emerge at the point. Evelyn provides a veteran presence and versatility, and McCaffery is a leader who knows his father's system inside and out. Toussaint, the rare New Yorker to play for the Hawkeyes, might just have the speed and quickness Iowa is looking for to head up its up-tempo attack though.

THE FRONTCOURT

The 6-foot-11 Garza (13.1 points, 4.5 rebounds in 2018-19) is a throwback big who can bury open 3s. Fellow post player Jack Nunge, a Mr. Basketball finalist in Indiana in 2017, is back after a redshirt season and could start the season at power forward. Veterans Ryan Kriener and Cordell Pemsl should provide toughness off the bench - but watch out for McCaffery's other son, Patrick. He's spindly at 6-foot-9 and just 190 pounds, but he is a strong outside shooter with the versatility to beat opponents off the dribble and the length to harass smaller guys defensively 20 feet from the basket.

THE SCHEDULE

Iowa opens its 10th season under McCaffery on Nov. 8 against SIUE. Iowa has quite an up-and-down non-conference slate. The Hawkeyes play Texas Tech, Syracuse, Iowa State, DePaul and Cincinnati, but they've also got a fair share of cupcakes like Cal Poly, Oral Roberts and Kennesaw State. Iowa will need to beat a few high majors before the start of the year - or the selection committee could ding the Hawks for putting too many guaranteed wins on the schedule.

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Florida State reloads for next run to NCAA
October 23, 2019
By The Associated Press

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) A nucleus of veterans helped fuel Florida State's run to the Elite Eight in 2018 and the Sweet 16 last season.

Now the Seminoles have reloaded after losing first-round NBA draft pick Mfiondu Kabengele and second-round pick Terance Mann as well as starters Phil Cofer and P.J. Savoy. The expectations remain high, however, because of the return of senior point guard Trent Forrest as well as five-star forward Patrick Williams, graduate transfer center Dominik Olejniczak and Rice transfer forward Malik Osborne.

''We've developed some consistency over the years,'' said coach Leonard Hamilton, who is beginning his 18th season at Florida State. ''I think we've developed a culture that our players have bought into. We've been able to recruit to who we are. Early on, I thought we adjusted our system to the talent that we have available.''

Florida State is a desirable destination for top basketball players because of the successful foundation built by the 71-year-old Hamilton. The Seminoles have made three straight trips to the NCAA Tournament, while the coach and his staff have helped construct a pipeline to the NBA with draft picks like Malik Beasley, Dwayne Bacon, Jonathan Isaac, Kabengele and Mann in the last four years.

Forrest and Williams may be the next ones. The 6-foot-4 Forrest averaged 9.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists - and that was while playing for more than four months with a broken toe. He is a well-rounded guard who is quick to dribble through traffic, has exceptional vision in the open court and is a strong defender.

Williams is the latest five-star player to land on campus. A 6-8 forward who has the potential to be a one-and-done, Williams flies to the rim and already has become a favorite of Forrest's as they make eye contact and connect on alley oops.

''He is a freak, really, just how fast he gets off the floor,'' Forrest said. ''You can really just throw it anywhere and basically know he is going to come get it.''

The Seminoles are deep, featuring guards like M.J. Walker (7.5 points, 44 3-pointers) and Devin Vassell (4.5 points, 26 3-pointers) as well as forward RaiQuan Gray (3.9 points, 2.3 rebounds). Hamilton also has added Olejniczak, a 7-foot, 260-pound center who transferred after graduating from Mississippi, to bring a post presence. Osborne sat out last year after transferring from Rice but is among the team's top rebounders.

If the pieces fit - the returning players as well as the transfers and freshmen - FSU could again challenge Virginia, Duke and North Carolina and has a shot at claiming its first Atlantic Coast Conference title since 2012.

LOFTY PURSUITS

After taking over a rebuilding job in 2002, the Seminoles are now among the ACC's best year in and year out. And Hamilton is not reluctant to share an ultimate goal for the program.

''We are still driven by the fact that we have not won a championship, which I'm not real sure very many people feel like that should be a goal of our ours,'' Hamilton said. ''But we've been knocking on the door the last several years.

''The fact that we haven't made it to the Final Four or had an opportunity to compete for a national title, I think our guys are extremely motivated.''

HOME SWEET HOME

The Seminoles are tough to beat on their home floor. Florida State went 15-1 at home in 2018-19.

IMPRESSIVE COMPANY

Florida State is one of only six teams in the nation that have played in the Sweet 16 in each of the last two seasons. The others are Purdue, Texas Tech, Michigan, Kentucky and Duke.

GAMES TO WATCH

The Seminoles open on the road against Pittsburgh on Nov. 6 as the ACC moves to a 20-game conference schedule. Florida State will play at No. 6 Florida on Nov. 10. The Seminoles will play Tennessee at a neutral site as well as Indiana in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Florida State will also play No. 4 Duke, No. 5 Louisville (twice), No. 9 North Carolina and No. 11 Virginia (twice).

[StarDust Bum]

Big 12 open after KU stranglehold ended
October 23, 2019
By The Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Kansas State coach Bruce Weber shrugged off the early predications that the Wildcats, who just a few months ago were still reveling in the glow a shared Big 12 championship, would be scratching and clawing just to stay out of the cellar.

''Obviously it's not great for your fans and selling tickets,'' Weber said, ''but at the same time, for us, it doesn't matter. Every year here's somebody that's picked eighth or ninth, seventh that ends up being in the top of the league - that ends up like Texas Tech, playing for a national title.''

Yet it's been a while since the league appeared this wide open.

As coaches and players convened Wednesday at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, where the conference will crown a tournament champion in March, just about all of them had hopes of a title. A big part of it was the talent pool, but another reason is that the impenetrable wall that Kansas had built around the gleaming crystal trophy was finally cracked by the Wildcats and Red Raiders last season.

Their regular-season triumphs ended the Jayhawks' unprecedented run of 14 consecutive Big 12 titles, and gave fresh hope to everyone else that it could be done.

''You have to validate what you're doing,'' Texas Tech coach Chris Beard said. ''Along our journey, it's going to be important to find some success. We look for that success in practice. We look for that success in daily workouts and certainly in games. Any coach and player would agree on that, as you build something, you got to have some success to validate what you're doing.''

Yet it will be hard for the Red Raiders to follow their incredible postseason run with another; they have 10 new players, including seven freshmen. And it will be just as hard for the Wildcats to climb into the upper echelon of the Big 12 after the foundational trio of Barry Brown, Kamau Stokes and Dean Wade were lost to graduation.

TCU coach Jamie Dixon certainly knows the challenge facing him. The Horned Frogs return Desmond Bane and Kevin Samuel and that's about it, leaving them to be picked near the bottom as well.

''We're excited about the new guys - nine new players - which is a lot even in today's game,'' Dixon said. ''But at the same time the league is wide open. So many teams are bringing in about the same amount of players. It's just the way of college basketball.''

That includes Kansas, which is picked to return to the top of the league. Gone are the Lawson brothers, Dedric and K.J., and guards Quentin Grimes and Lagerald Vick. In their place are freshmen Jalen Wilson, Tristan Enaruna and Christian Braun along with Iowa transfer Isaiah Moss.

Yes, the Jayhawks have more coming back than most teams in the league, but even they will likely rely on a couple of those newcomers if they want to start another Big 12 title streak.

''There's still a lot of unknowns,'' Jayhawks coach Bill Self said, ''but I like our guys. I think we got big bodies. I think we got a little bit of depth. We got some speed on the perimeter. A big question will be, `Can we defending the perimeter and can we shoot consistently beyond the arc?'

''If we're able to do those things,'' he said, ''I think it could be a pretty fun season for us.''

MUM'S THE WORD

Self mostly deflected questions related to the school's alleged NCAA violations, though he did say that many of those answers will come ''at the appropriate time.'' But he did say the violations, and the charge of lack of institutional control, could provide ammunition for opposing fans.

''To be honest, we deal with hostile environments everywhere we go,'' Self said. ''I will tell you this: Our guys have always enjoyed playing in the toughest atmospheres. Usually that bonds us together, unites us. Hopefully we will put a better performance out because of that.''

HUDY DUTY

One of the intriguing moves of the offseason was longtime Kansas strength coach Andrea Hudy's departure for Texas. The Jayhawks have reorganized their strength and training programs, and Longhorns coach Shaka Smart made Hudy an offer financially that made it hard for her to say no.

''She has a very, very different philosophy in terms of strength training and performance than our former strength coach,'' Smart said. ''There's a lot of ways to skin a cat, but obviously she has had phenomenal success over the past 25 years as a strength coach. We're really excited to have her.''

LOOK OUT, BIG BOYS

West Virginia coach Bob Huggins is on the NCAA rules committee, and he had some input on the plan to clean up post play. But he scoffed at any notion that the game will return to a bygone era in which guys in the paint were rarely touched and often got easy layups.

''How are you going to clean up post play when you're have 6-foot-10, 270-pound guys leaning on each other? There's going to be contact,'' he said. ''This thing that we're going to have a no-contact sport, those people have never played our game. There's going to be some contact.''

[StarDust Bum]

Hoosiers hoping to make noise behind voice
October 23, 2019
By The Associated Press

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) Rob Phinisee understands the secret to being an effective point guard, how he must find the proper balance between being an aggressive scorer and a creative distributor.

This season, Indiana coach Archie Miller asked his sophomore ball-handler to focus on another critical skill: developing a strong enough voice to help the Hoosiers make some noise in the Big Ten race.

''The younger guys who have gotten a year under their belt have changed,'' Miller said. ''Robert has done a really nice job in our workouts. He's made a concerted effort to communicate better, talk better, not be quiet.''

If last season demonstrated anything it was how much of an impact Phinisee can have on the Hoosiers' success.

The 6-foot-1 prep star arrived on campus as one of the feature attractions in a highly-touted recruiting class led by the state's then reigning Mr. Basketball Award winner, Romeo Langford. Both quickly won starting jobs. Both played key roles in a promising start that included Phinisee's decisive buzzer-beating 3-pointer in a 71-68 victory over Butler in mid-December.

Then in the next game, Phinisee took a knee to the head, was diagnosed with a concussion and struggled to regain his early-season form. Over the next 15 games, Phinisee made more than two baskets only once as Indiana went 3-12.

But when Phinisee played well over the final month, so did the Hoosiers, who turned things around and played their back way into the NCAA Tournament discussion. The Hoosiers finished 19-16, falling one win short of the NIT semifinals.

Now, with Langford off to the NBA, Miller needs the naturally soft-spoken Phinisee to become a more assertive leader on the court and an equally vocal leader in the locker room. Phinisee has embraced the challenge.

''I want to be better than I was last season,'' he said. ''Just being a leader really, being a leader with my teammates and I feel like that will take us a long way.''

Miller knows it. And so does everyone else around the program as the Nov. 5 season opener against Western Illinois nears.

''He's traditionally a pretty safe guy,'' Miller said, describing Phinisee's playing style. ''He has had a lot of experience under his belt. He's been through a lot in his one year. He's more prepared to handle the communication part of it, and he knows that's a big part of his job.''

GOING BIG

The most obvious difference between last season's team and this one - size. Adding 6-7 freshman Trayce Jackson-Davis and 6-11 redshirt junior Joey Brunk, a transfer from Butler, gives the Hoosiers a roster with seven players listed at 6-7 or taller. Miller acknowledges going big will have an impact on how Indiana plays this season.

''We have to utilize our versatility with the guys that can play multiple positions,'' Miller said. ''And we are going to have to move that ball. To do that, you're going to have a lot of concepts and action to the way you play. I'm excited to coach this team in that regard.''

FRESH FACES

Miller won two more key in-state recruiting battles last fall by convincing guard Armaan Franklin and Jackson-Davis to play in Bloomington.

The Hoosiers believe Franklin can provide scoring punch after he averaged 23.0 points last season at Indianapolis Cathedral. Fans expect Jackson-Davis, the son of former Indiana Pacers forward Dale Davis and a McDonald's All-American, to make the most immediate impact.

But for now, Jackson-Davis is taking things slowly.

''I'm really just focused on getting our team, getting the chemistry down, trying to fit in,'' he said.

THE OTHER VOICE

Brunk spent the previous three seasons at Butler, logging his most productive statistics last season when he averaged 7.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and shot 61.7% from the field.

He'll play an important role on the floor, but with five freshmen or sophomores in Miller's projected rotation, Brunk may be more valuable as the voice of experience.

''Because we do have a group of guys that naturally are kind of quiet natured. I think that's where Joey has been a great boost,'' Miller said. ''His personality has really helped our workouts, our locker room.''

[StarDust Bum]

Purdue hoping to add new chapter in story
October 23, 2019
By The Associated Press

Purdue coach Matt Painter turned the page on the Carsen Edwards era long ago.

Now he expects everyone else to do the same.

Seven months after Edwards nearly led Purdue to the Final Four and four months after he was drafted by the NBA, Painter finds himself contemplating how the next chapter in the Boilermakers' recurring replacement story could go.

''I think trying not to be like that team is going to be really important,'' he said. ''No one is going to take over Carsen's role for us. We didn't have a Carsen Edwards before, and let's not have one afterward. I think that's important in basketball, because I think a lot of times people say you're going to come in and you're going to play the same role as this guy, when in reality you're just going to be the best version of yourself.''

Painter's consistent messages have played out just fine over the years.

After saying goodbye to four seniors and three 1,000-point scorers following a Big Ten runner-up finish in 2017-18, Painter gave Edwards the green light and surrounded him with enough 3-point shooters to keep defenses honest. The result: Purdue captured a share of the regular-season crown and made its deepest tourney run in nearly two decades.

How will Painter adapt this time? It sounds as if he'll play a more traditional style.

''Each team is different, even if you have a lot of experience,'' he said. ''I think that's important for us to kind of learn - we played a lot different than we did the previous year - and I look at us doing a lot of the same things (this season) but in a different way.''

The Boilermakers could revert to their big lineup with 7-foot-3 center Matt Haarms, 270-pound power forward Trevon Williams, 6-9 small forward Aaron Wheeler and 6-7 guard Nojel Eastern.

They could opt to stretch the floor with 3-point shooters such as Wheeler and Sasha Stefanovic, freshmen Isaiah Thompson and Brandon Newman or perhaps Eastern, who's been working on his shooting touch.

They can still rely on depth. But amid all the changes, Painter intends to make sure there are two constants when the Boilermakers open the season Nov. 6 against Green Bay: A staunch defense and few turnovers.

''The people around Carsen Edwards took care of the basketball, they made good decisions,'' Painter said.

GRAD TRANSFER

Senior Jahaad Proctor became the second grad transfer on the roster when he decided to leave High Point. The 6-foot-3 guard joins forward Evan Boudreaux, who arrived from Dartmouth last season. Proctor has scored more than 1,000 points in two seasons with High Point and one at Iona and he finished last season with 16 consecutive double-figure games. He was a second team all-Big South selection and was the conference's scholar-athlete of the year.

NEW LINE

Extending the 3-point line from 20 feet, 9 inches to the new distance of 22-1} could impact college games all around the country this season. Painter doesn't expect it to create any significant changes, though.

''I think the guys that can make 3s, it's probably not going to bother much,'' he said. ''The guys that are trying to be 3-point shooters, it's really going to bother.''

THE REMATCH

Purdue seemed headed for the Final Four after taking a three-point lead with only six seconds left in the South Regional championship.

But Virginia made one free throw, got a lucky bounce and tossed in a buzzer-beater to force overtime - before winning the national championship. That's not the kind of ending anybody around the program will soon forget especially with the rematch set for Dec. 4 in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge at Purdue.

''It'll be very difficult for us,'' Painter said. ''They lost a lot, we lost a lot. But whenever you play them, it's very difficult to go against them. They're very stingy on defense, very efficient on the offensive end.''

[StarDust Bum]

Under new coach Mark Fox, Cal strives to rebuild from losing
October 24, 2019
By The Associated Press

BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) First-year California coach Mark Fox tells his team time and again about the importance of investing and attacking.

''That's our motto as a team,'' senior point guard Paris Austin said. ''So every day we're putting in that extra work before practice and after practice, and just being ready to go.''

Cal can't fall much further as the Golden Bears try to bounce back from the worst two-year stretch in school history: Back-to-back eight-win seasons and a 16-47 record.

The university hired Fox to replace the fired Wyking Jones, whose team endured a 15-game losing streak last season before winning three of its final four regular-season Pac-12 contests.

Fox had a 286-176 record in 14 seasons as coach at Nevada and Georgia. He made the NCAA Tournament five times but never advanced to the Sweet 16. Fox was fired at Georgia last year after failing to reach the tournament in each of his final three seasons with the Bulldogs.

He hired longtime college head coach Trent Johnson as a special assistant on his staff to lead player development efforts and considers him a valuable addition with his knowledge of the Pac-12.

Even Fox realizes it's fair Cal was picked at the bottom.

''We've been trying to change it from day one, and hopefully we can prove everybody wrong,'' he said.

THE FOX WAY

Everything is new for his players, and Fox knows this transition will take time as Cal tries to return to respectability.

''Right now it's about making a daily investment to get better, and to this point, which is still very, very early in the season and obviously in my tenure, I've been pleased with the investment that these kids are making,'' Fox said.

Fox refers to a monthly roadmap to chart his group's progress then take the next step forward.

His approach has resonated with players.

''I haven't really met a man like him to be honest, especially from a coaching standpoint,'' sophomore guard Matt Bradley said. ''His No. 1 thing is the team . he puts the team in front of everything, and he expects the same from us. He's a players' coach, a really good guy.''

UPHILL CLIMB

The Bears have been picked to finish last in the conference by media who cover the league.

They hope to prove some people wrong and pull off surprising results along the way despite the challenges of recent years.

''I think our motivation comes from within each individual. Being underdogs, we all have something we want to prove, we all want to show that we've been working hard just like other teams,'' Austin said. ''We want to show that it's going to pay off.''

EXPERIENCE

Austin is the Bears' top returning scorer having averaged 11.6 points while also dishing out 4.3 assists.

He knows he is the veteran on the team, feeling a little like the old guy.

''I'm looking forward to being a better leader on the floor, making better decisions,'' Austin said.

BRADLEY'S OVERHAUL

Bradley has trimmed 10 pounds from his 6-foot-4 frame and he is counting on his improved fitness contributing to stronger defense and more production on the offensive end.

He established a Cal freshman record by shooting 47.2% from 3-point range, (50-for-106).

Now in his second year, the adjustments should be fewer. Bradley wants to step in and take a charge when needed, make the hustle play, even speak up if his teammates need him to be vocal.

''As a freshman, I was just learning,'' he said. ''And I'm not saying I have all the answers now, but I definitely know a lot more. I'm really excited for this upcoming season because a lot of the stuff I do now is going to be based on experience.''

BOOSTING THE NUMBERS

Getting back to basics - a focus on fundamentals - will be important for the Bears.

For Fox, that means 17 new players learning a system.

Cal managed only 23.8 field goals per game, averaging 68.4 points and got outrebounded 36.1 to 29.1.

The Bears shot 42.6% and managed just 10.9 assists.

''What we tried to do was spend the summer workouts installing our defense and getting that terminology as in place as we could, so when official practice started we were only working on the other half of the terminology and on our offense, and so that has made it a little bit smoother,'' Fox said. ''But when you have 17 new players - and new coaches - we've got to be very detailed in our plans, so everyone can be on the same page.''

[StarDust Bum]

Young, undermanned Stanford team looks to make strides
October 24, 2019
By The Associated Press

STANFORD, Calif. (AP) Stanford coach Jerod Haase didn't even name a captain last season because he could not find someone he thought deserved it.

This season, he is counting on someone to step up and lead the young Cardinal as they look to make strides in the deep Pac-12 Conference.

Even if they are down players because of season-ending injuries, meaning walk-ons are being counted upon to help get the Cardinal through practices.

''The numbers are down, certainly,'' Haase said. ''It's more challenging to have a longer practice. I like the group.''

Haase has one potential candidate to take charge on the floor.

He will look to junior point guard Daejon Davis to lead the way after he ranked fourth in the Pac-12 for assists averaging 4.6 and also was seventh with 1.6 steals per game.

The Cardinal have been below 20 wins for each of the last four seasons and three of those since Haase took over.

UNDERMANNED

Stanford is thin because of injuries.

Redshirt junior Kodye Pugh, a 6-foot-8 forward who has played in 38 games his first two years on The Farm, is recovering from knee surgery after getting hurt playing during Stanford's foreign tour in Europe over the summer. He hopes to return for his senior season.

Pugh was injured Aug. 25 in Switzerland.

In addition, senior Trevor Stanback's college career is over because of medical reasons but he will remain part of the program as a student assistant coach.

''The most important part for our team this year it's probably going to be health. Trevor Stanback is in a medical hardship and he'll be done, and he's helped out with the team but he won't be playing,'' Haase said. ''... From a numbers standpoint we're down, and we don't have a full complement of players necessarily. But having said that, the guys that we have, we're really excited about, but that goes back to the number one factor being injury prevention. If we can keep guys on the floor, I like what we have but we've got to make sure we keep them out there.''

DAVIS' GROWTH

As Davis gains maturity and familiarity in the program, Haase knows he will find more consistency on both ends.

He averaged 11.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists last season as a sophomore.

''I think his game is going to flourish as he has the stability on the court mentally, not getting too high or too low. He's as dynamic of a person as I've ever been around, and when things are good, he can take an entire team with him to really good spots, and when he gets frustrated or struggles, he really takes the team with him some. And I think so far, he's really off to a great start with that stability part, and I think his game as he gets more and more consistent with handling adversity, I think his game is going to absolutely flourish.''

HE'S GONE

Forward KZ Okpala departed after his sophomore season and was selected 32nd overall by the Miami Heat in the NBA draft, becoming Stanford's youngest player ever drafted.

Stanford will have to try to find scoring options with Okpala gone. He led the Cardinal at 16.8 points per game and averaged 5.7 rebounds. He was fifth in the Pac-12 in scoring, too.

Also gone is Josh Sharma, whose .673 field-goal percentage for a season was best in program history.

YOUTH MOVEMENT

Last season, 11 of Stanford's 15 players were freshmen or sophomores - one of the youngest rosters nationally.

More experience for that group should be a positive.