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.
Syracuse freshman forward Chris McCullough of The Bronx will make his return to New York beginning tonight when No. 23 Syracuse plays in the 2K Classic at Madison Square Garden.
The 6-foot-10 McCullough is averaging 14.5 points and 7.5 rebounds for the Orange (2-0), who meet Cal (2-0) in the second game of tonight’s doubleheader. Iowa takes on No. 10 Texas in the first game, with the winners set to meet in Friday’s championship.
“It’s like a homecoming,” McCullough told the New York Post, who told the paper he expects to have 40 family and friends at tonight’s game. “It’s going to be exciting, my first time playing here.”
A few days being unable to buy a basket against George Washington, Rutgers guard Bishop Daniels spearheaded a balanced and efficient offensive attack as the Scarlet Knights beat Fairleigh Dickinson Wednesday at the Rutgers Athletic Center, 61-44.
Daniels scored a career-high 18 points, and Junior Etou had an equally impressive double-double, with 11 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks. It was the first double-double of Etou’s career. Myles Mack and D.J. Foreman chipped in with nine and seven points, respectively.
T.J. Leaf, a 6-foot-10, 217-pound 2016 face-up forward from El Cajon (CA) Foothills Christian, committed to Arizona on Wednesday, he announced on Twitter.
The No. 3 power forward in the Class of 2016 according to 247Sports composite rankings, Leaf also considered UCLA, Duke, Michigan, Florida and San Diego.
“It was a lot of reasons,” Leaf told ESPN.com. “For one, I have a great relationship with all the coaches there, including coach [Sean] Miller. That’s a big plus. Their style of play, how they use their 4s, interchangeable with their 3s, that’s what I want. And I have the opportunity to come in and make an impact as a freshman.”
At least one ex-Kentucky star, Los Angeles Clippers guard Eric Bledsoe, is on board with the notion.
“I’m definitely taking Kentucky,” Bledsoe told Brian Geltzeiler and Malik Rose Wednesday morning on SiriusXM Radio when asked who would in a 7-game series. “I think Philly would get probably, maybe one game. I know they’re (Sixers fans) gonna be mad, but I love my Wildcats. ”
INDIANAPOLIS — After a 32-point loss at the hands of No. 1 Kentucky in the Champions Classic, Bill Self grabbed for a bottle of water at the post-game press conference and joked, “I was hoping that was vodka, but no it’s just water.”
And really, who could blame the Kansas coach if he needed a good stiff drink after that result?
Kentucky entered as a 6 1/2 point favorite and ended up winning, 72-40. Kentucky outscored Kansas 34-12 in the second half.
The domination of the No. 5 team in the nation was so thorough, so complete, that Kentucky coach John Calipari played his walk-ons in the final minutes.
“We’re not that good, next question,” Calipari said when he entered the media room, seemingly not needing a drink of vodka to feel good.
INDIANAPOLIS — We were just a couple minutes into Duke’s 81-71 victory over Michigan State in the Champions Classic, and it wasn’t hard to see why Jahlil Okafor is the projected No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft.
Sure, there were 11 projected first-round picks according to DraftExpress.com on the docket that also featured Kansas-Kentucky, including Duke freshman wing Justise Winslow (15 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists) and Duke freshman point guard Tyus Jones (17 points, 4 assists), who both played extremely well.
Within the first few minutes, the 6-foot-11 Duke big man had outscored Sparty, 8-6, utilizing three hook shots on spin moves to the rim.
Michigan State’s Matt Costello and Gavin Schilling, both 6-9, were no match for Okafor, who finished with 17 points on 8-for-10 shooting, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 steals and 1 assist despite foul trouble in front of a crowd that included Paul George, Kemba Walker, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Worldwide Wes.