COLLEGE BASKETBALL
A look at the stats, facts and story lines from the past week as we begin to think ahead to Selection Sunday (March 15) and the first games of the NCAA tournament (March 17):
Sunday
Purdue routs No. 8-ranked Michigan State, 71-42. Says Spartans coach Tom Izzo: “Probably the worst beating I’ve taken as a coach.” True enough, ESPN Stats & Info reports that no Michigan State team had ever lost by more than 22 points while ranked in the top 10.
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Not a bad weekend for the Arizona State women. Two days after knocking off No. 2 Oregon, the Sun Devils defeat No. 3 Oregon State, 55-47. It’s the first time a team has beaten two AP top-five teams back-to-back in the regular season since 2010.
Monday
Virginia Tech’s Landers Nolley wins ACC freshman of the week honors for a fifth time this season. Nolley averaged 21 points, 6 rebounds and 2.5 assists, including 29 points in a 72-58 win vs. N.C. State.
Tuesday
Twenty-one points and 13 rebounds is a pretty good night. Just two points makes it posterworthy for Virginia Tech’s Tyrece Radford. A 6-foot-1 freshman, he drives and throws down a thunderous dunk over Wake Forest’s 7-foot C Olivier Sarr.
Wednesday
South Carolina freshman Jermaine Couisnard has a memorable first start. He not only scores 26 points against the bluest of basketball blue bloods in Kentucky, but hits a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to beat the Wildcats, 81-78.
Thursday
Joel Ayayi scores 19 points as No. 1 Gonzaga rolls over Santa Clara. The Zags lead Division I in scoring. The top five:
Friday
Since they’re scoreboard watching on The Bluff for the first time since the Nelson twins were running the court at Duquesne, we’re compelled to mention that No. 13 Dayton is pushed to the brink before beating Saint Louis, 78-76, but only thanks to a 3-pointer at the buzzer by Jalen Crutcher. Dayton (5-0), Duquesne (5-0) and St. Bonaventure (4-0) remain tied atop the A-10 standings.
With four assists in a 67-55 win vs. Wisconsin, Michigan State’s Cassius Winson passes Mateen Cleaves (816) for most assists in Big Ten history.
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There are no more unbeatens in Division I women’s basketball as No. 7 UCLA loses to rival USC in double overtime, 70-68. Aliyah Jeune has 27 points and 13 rebounds for USC.
Looking ahead
Iconic women’s programs Tennessee and Connecticut renew a long-dormant rivalry when they meet 7 p.m. Thursday (ESPN). The teams that have combined to win 19 NCAA titles have not played since 2007.
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