VILLANOVA TAKES BIG EAST CROWN
Justin Moore scored 24 points to help No. 10 Villanova capture the Big East title with a 72-60 win over a No. 14 Creighton team playing with coach Greg McDermott under fire for using language evocative of slavery.
No. 10 No. 14 Villanova 72, Creighton 60
McDermott, who had apologized for urging his players to “stay on the plantation” in a postgame locker room talk following a loss over the weekend, said on Creighton’s pregame radio show that he offered to resign. McDermott said had a long meeting with players on Sunday night and said he saw “pain in their face (s)” and hoped “one mistake doesn’t define you.”
McDermott said he wanted to make sure the Blue Jays wanted him to remain as coach and apologized for the “distraction that I brought to this team for the choice that I made.”
McDermott said the visiting Blue Jays — whose players wear “equality” on the back of their jerseys — did not ask for him to resign.
“Our guys wanted me to coach, and that’s my job,” McDermott said.
McDermott has been Creighton’s coach since 2010. McDermott, who is White, acknowledged saying: “Guys, we got to stick together. We need both feet in. I need everybody to stay on the plantation. I can’t have anybody leave the plantation.”
Creighton assistant coach Terrence Rencher, who is Black, tweeted that he was “deeply hurt” by McDermott’s words.
The school said any disciplinary action would remain confidential.
McDermott’s racially insensitive remarks overshadowed what was expected to be fantastic showdown between the top two teams in the Big East.
The Wildcats lost Collin Gillespie, their star senior guard averaging 14.4 points, to a left knee injury in the first half. He writhed in pain on the court and immediately needed help to the locker room.
“It’s serious. We don’t know exactly what it is, but it’s serious,” Wright said.
Mitch Ballock led Creighton with 14 points.
No. 11 Florida State 93, Boston College 64: MJ Walker scored 18 points, hitting six 3-pointers, and RaiQuan Gray added 16 points to help Florida State (15-4, 11-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) beat Boston College (4-14, 2-10) for its 25th straight ACC home win.
West
Oregon State 75, Utah 70: Gianni Hunt had a career-high-tying 17 points, Jarod Lucas scored 13 of his 16 in the second half, and Oregon State (14-11, 10-9 Pac-12) beat host Utah (1012, 7-11).
Oregon 82, UCLA 74: Chris Duarte scored 23 points as host Oregon (18-5, 13-4 Pac-12) held off UCLA (17-7, 13-5).