Zags’ Duo Tops Naismith Semifinalists; Calipari, Bennett, Wright Among Coaching Semifinalists
The 10 national semifinalists for the men's
The 10 national semifinalists for the men's
Teams announced by the NCAA Men’s Basketball Committee as the “first four teams out” of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship field will be the top-seeded teams in the 2015 NIT Championship, the NIT announced.
After the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship bracket is announced, the NIT Committee will place teams identified as the top remaining programs as the four highest seeds in its field. Since the 2012 championship, the NCAA has released its overall seed list, which includes every tournament team ranked 1 through 68, as well as the first four teams closest to receiving an at-large invitation but ultimately not selected.
“We think this is a natural progression to make, given that these are the last four teams under consideration for the NCAA tournament,” said Dan Gavitt, NCAA vice president of men’s basketball championships. “They have earned the opportunity to be a number one seed in the NIT and play home games in their quest to make it to Madison Square Garden for the NIT championship. We believe this is an appropriate way to connect these two postseason tournaments.”
Following Kentucky’s win over Georgia on Tuesday night, assistant coach Barry “Slice” Rohrssen tripped North of the border on Wednesday to see 7-footer Thon Maker of Orangeville Prep.
Maker went for 16 points and 9 rebounds as Orangeville Prep crushed Central Toronto, 106-54.
Head coach Larry Blunt confirmed the visit after Evan Daniels of Scout first reported it.
Maker recently postponed a visit to Kansas and said he planned to visit Indiana at some point. Ed Smith, Maker’s guardian, recently told SNY.tv that Kentucky and Kansas would likely get visits if Maker reclassed.
After initially Tweeting he would announce his college decision “in a week,” Marcus LoVett is now planning on waiting until after his season ends.
“Marcus, his dad and I talked it over and decided to postpone it until after the season,” Morgan Park coach Nick Irvin told the Chicago Sun-Times. “That way he can concentrate on the playoffs and then get a chance to take some visits.”
The Sun-Times reported that LoVett has yet to take the ACT, but quoted Irvin as saying that LoVett won’t have to spend a year at prep school.
Here are the latest odds on winning the NCAA championship from Bovada.
Will Kentucky go undefeated in the 2014-15 Season?
Yes +175 (7/4)
No -250 (2/5)
Will Kentucky Win the 2015 NCAA Championship?
Yes EVEN (1/1)
No -140 (5/7)
Odds to win the 2014-15 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship
Kentucky 1/1
Duke 17/2
Wisconsin 9/1
The Big East Conference will present its postseason awards in the next week or so, but in advance of that we present the ZAGSBLOG All-Big East selections.
2014-15 BIG EAST Player of the Year
Darrun Hilliard, Villanova
–Best player on the best team will edge out Providence’s Kris Dunn, who’s having a terrific year for the Friars. For more, read this story.
2014-15 BIG EAST Rookie of the Year
Angel Delgado, Seton Hall
–Delgado has won three Big East Player of the Week honors, is averaging a near-double-double at 9.3 ppg and 9.9 rpg and leads the Big East with nine double-doubles overall and six in Big East play.
Top-ranked Kentucky remained undefeated and improved to 30-0 after fending off a gritty Georgia team Tuesday night.
The Wildcats prevailed 72-64 before a hostile crowd at Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, Georgia.
Freshman Karl-Anthony Towns scored 17 of his season-high-tying 19 points in the second half and added seven rebounds. Aaron Harrison scored 16 points and Andrew Harrison had 12.
According to ESPN, Kentucky became the 13th team in Division I history to win its first 30 games in a season, and the third since 1990 (1990-91 UNLV, 2013-14 Wichita St).
“I like the fact that Aaron attacked, Andrew made plays, all of them, they did a good job,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said on ESPN. “Karl, we just kept going to him and he kept scoring. It was a good finish to a good game. Georgia’s good by the way, really good.”
Nemanja Jurisic went for 18 points and five rebounds for Georgia, while Marcus Thornton had 14 and seven.
“Their fours and fives had 28 of their 32 points at halftime, and that’s not on my kids, that’s on me,” Calipari said.
Kentucky trailed 56-47 at the 9:12 mark but used a 23-6 run to go ahead 70-62.
