December 2011 | Page 19 of 28 | Zagsblog
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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Saturday / November 23.

NEW YORK — The Big 12 conference tournament is not played at Madison Square Garden, and that’s a good thing for LeBryan Nash and his Oklahoma State teammates.

The Cowboys are 6-3 on the season, with all three losses coming in the World’s Most Famous Arena — to Stanford, Virginia Tech and then No. 15 Pittsburgh on Saturday.

Yet the 6-foot-7 Nash, a McDonald’s All-American and Oklahoma State’s prized freshman swingman, did not leave New York discouraged about the team’s prospects this season.

Tyshawn Taylor had successful surgery Sunday to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee and could be out up to three weeks.

The Kansas guard from St. Anthony High School hurt the knee early last week but played through the injury in the 13th-ranked Jayhawks’ 78-67 victory over No. 2 Ohio State on Saturday. After the game, coach Bill Self disclosed the torn meniscus and said Taylor also had a sprained MCL in the same knee.

“I spoke with the doctors and it went as well as expected,” Self said Sunday. “He will be up and around tomorrow morning and will be back in the shortest time possible. The time for recovery depends on swelling and how he reacts to rehab.”

NEW YORK — Ashton Gibbs played 39 minutes at point guard for No. 15 Pitt in its 74-68 win over Oklahoma State Saturday at Madison Square Garden.

And head coach Jamie Dixon knows he can’t have Gibbs sustain that pace for a long period of time.

“Ashton looked comfortable, fatigue doesn’t seem to be a big thing,” Dixon said. “It’s not a good thing. Him doing 40 minutes against the press is not a good thing…

“We need Travon back, there’s no question about it.”

It wasn’t a true Bobby Gonzalez Invitational — or ‘Gonzo Invite’ — but it’s the closest thing we can hope for right now.

Marshall beat Iona, 82-63, Sunday afternoon in a game that featured three players who once committed to Gonzalez at Seton Hall.

Iona’s Mike Glover led his team with 20 points and 6 rebounds, while Marshall’s DeAndre Kane had 19 points and 5 assists. Jamir Hanner went scoreless for Marshall.

Mike Bibby had a bit of an edge with reporters Sunday, but he says he’s ready to play whatever role the Knicks need in order to win.

“I’m going to come in and fill the role that needs to be filled, and then go from there,” said Bibby, who agreed to a one-year deal at the veteran’s minimum of $1.4 million. “If that stands for me standing on the sidelines cheering, that’s what I’ve got to do. I’m here to win and play the role that they want me to play — whatever it is.”

Bibby could back up Toney Douglas or another point guard should the Knicks land a J.J. Barea or a Baron Davis. He could also tutor Georgia Tech rookie Iman Shumpert.

“I always wanted to play for Mike D’Antoni and here’s my chance,” Bibby said.

Cincinnati and Xavier announced the suspensions of a combined eight players for their participation in Saturday’s bloody brawl at the conclusion of their men’s basketball game.

Cincinnati’s Yancy GatesOctavius Ellis and Cheikh Mbodj will each be suspended for a total of six games — meaning they are out until the Jan. 4 Big East game against Notre Dame — and Ge’Lawn Guyn for one game.

The suspensions will take effect immediately and will be concurrent with the NCAA-standard one-game mandated suspensions that would be applied to Gates and Mbodj for ejections from the game for fighting.

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