SATURDAY DECEMBER 22ND 2012 TOP NCAA MEN'S GAMES:
(3) Syracuse(10-0, 1-0 away)Temple(8-2, 5-1 home)Video PreviewAlertsCoverage: ESPN2/WatchESPN12:00 PM ET, December 22, 2012
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY Points Rebounds Assists SYR Southe... 15.9 Fair 6.8 Carter... 10.7 TEM Wyatt 14.5 Randall 7.5 Wyatt 3.9
(9) Kansas 2012 NCAA FINAL FOUR SEMI-FINALS---------Ohio State Buckeyes 62, Kansas Jayhawks 64 (9-1, 0-0 away)(7) Ohio St(9-1, 7-0 home)Video PreviewTicketsAlertsCoverage: CBS 4:00 PM ET, December 22, 2012
Value City Arena, Columbus, OHPoints Rebounds Assists KU McLemore 15.9 Withey 8.1 Johnson 5.3 OSU Thomas 20.4 Thomas 6.9 Craft 4.8
(12) Missouri(9-1, 0-0 away)(10) Illinois(12-0, 7-0 home)Video PreviewTicketsAlertsCoverage: ESPN2/WatchESPN6:00 PM ET, December 22, 2012
Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MOPoints Rebounds Assists MIZZ Bowers 16.3 Oriakhi 8.6 Pressey 5.8 ILL Paul 18.8 Paul 5.1 Paul 3.5
McNeese St(6-3, 1-3 away)(23) North Carolina(8-3, 5-0 home)AlertsCoverage: ESPNU12:00 PM ET, December 22, 2012
Dean E. Smith Center, Chapel Hill, NCPoints Rebounds Assists MCNS McFerrin 16.0 Guidry 9.3 Cannon 4.3 UNC McAdoo 15.3 McAdoo 8.4 Strick... 4.6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2012 DIAMOND HEAD CLASSIC - HONOLULU, HAWAII
(18) San Diego St-------------------------rematch Arizona vs San Diego State possible in champ game)(9-1, 2-0 away)San Francisco(5-4, 4-1 home)Video PreviewTicketsAlertsCoverage: ESPNU6:00 PM ET, December 22, 2012
Stan Sheriff Center, Honolulu, HIPoints Rebounds Assists SDSU Franklin 18.6 Franklin 9.7 Franklin 3.1 SF Parker 15.4 Dickerson 13.1 Doolin 6.3
10:30 PM ET(4) Arizona(9-0, 2-0 away)East Tennessee State (beat Arizona 87-80 in 1992 NCAA Tournament upset)(2-7, 1-2 home)TicketsAlertsCoverage: ESPNU10:30 PM ET, December 22, 2012
Stan Sheriff Center, Honolulu, HIPoints Rebounds Assists ARIZ Lyons 13.9 Ashley 6.0 Johnson 3.6 ETSU Wilson 17.9 Harris 6.9 McClain 3.6
2012 Diamondhead Classic - Honolulu, Hawaii - Semi finals
Indiana St(6-3, 2-2 away)(18) San Diego St(10-1, 6-0 home)AlertsCoverage: ESPNU5:00 PM ET, December 23, 2012
Stan Sheriff Center, Honolulu, HI Points Rebounds Assists INST Odum 15.6 Arop 6.8 Odum 4.7 SDSU Franklin 17.8 Franklin 9.4 Franklin 3.3
(4) Arizona(10-0, 2-0 away)Miami (FL)(8-1, 5-0 home)TicketsAlertsCoverage: ESPN2/WatchESPN11:30 PM ET, December 23, 2012
Stan Sheriff Center, Honolulu, HI Points Rebounds Assists ARIZ Lyons 13.3 Ashley 6.4 Johnson 3.4 MIA Scott 16.3 Johnson 10.1 Larkin 3.8
(17) San Diego St(11-1, 2-0 away)(3) Arizona(11-0, 7-0 home)TicketsAlertsCoverage: ESPN2/WatchESPN9:30 PM ET, December 25, 2012
Stan Sheriff Center, Honolulu, HIPoints Rebounds Assists SDSU Franklin 17.9 Franklin 9.9 Franklin 3.3 ARIZ Lyons 13.8 Ashley 6.5 2 with 3.2
San Diego St.-Arizona PreviewSan Diego State's 11-game win streak over teams currently in the Pac-12 could receive its biggest test Tuesday.
The 17th-ranked Aztecs and unbeaten No. 3 Arizona have each won 11 straight overall heading into the championship game of the Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu.
San Diego State (11-1) hasn't lost to a team from the Pac-12 since a 55-52 defeat at Arizona State on Dec. 19, 2009. The run includes five wins over Utah while the Utes were still in the Mountain West, but it also features a 61-57 victory over then-No. 23 Arizona last season that snapped the Wildcats' 22-game home win streak.
While the Aztecs still have their top four scorers from that team, the Wildcats seem to be improved despite losing two of their top three leaders in points from 2011-12.
That's partially because Arizona (11-0) has added Xavier transfer Mark Lyons, averaging a team-high 13.8 points. An impressive recruiting class brought in freshmen starters Kaleb Tarczewski and Brandon Ashley, a high school teammate of struggling Aztecs freshman Winston Shepard.
Arizona has an opportunity to equal the school's best start in the last 80 years. The 1987-88 team began 12-0 en route to reaching the Final Four, and that remains the best beginning since the 1931-32 squad opened 16-0.
The Wildcats have cruised to two wins in this tournament, beating East Tennessee State 73-53 on Saturday and Miami 69-50 on Sunday after building double-digit halftime leads both times.
"We can always get better. Nobody is perfect," Lyons insisted. "We're jelling real well together."
Ashley was the only Wildcat to reach double figures in points Saturday with 16 and 10 rebounds before Lyons' 19 points led three Arizona players with at least 10 one night later.
The Wildcats have committed 34 turnovers in the two games, and that's an area in which they are seeking improvement.
"We're trying to be a team that can do some special things and I think that we want to be hard on ourselves," said coach Sean Miller, who recorded his 200th career win Sunday. "There's always things that we can do better."
Arizona has outrebounded nine of its last 10 opponents -- eight by at least 10 boards with an average rebound margin of plus-22.5 in this tournament.
The Aztecs' three-guard lineup, meanwhile, has paid dividends in this event, with all three scoring in double digits in both games.
Senior Chase Tapley scored a career-high 33 points in Saturday's 80-58 rout of San Francisco. Jamaal Franklin had 19 points and 15 boards the next day in a 62-55 win over Indiana State.
Sunday's win marked only the third time the Aztecs have prevailed by fewer than 10 points all season.
"We need games like that for later on," Tapley said. "It gives us good experience."
San Diego State has not lost since a season-opening 62-49 defeat to No. 9 Syracuse. The Aztecs can record their first 12-game win streak since starting 20-0 two seasons ago.
Tapley scored a game-high 17 points and James Rahon added 13 in last season's win over Arizona, which shot a season-low 33.3 percent in that contest. Solomon Hill scored a team-high 14 points for the Wildcats, who never recovered after falling into a 21-4 hole.
Arizona Wildcats win a nailbiter over San Diego State 68-67 in their best start since 1987-1988 in Hawaii
(17) San Diego St 67(11-2, 2-0 away)(3) Arizona 68(12-0, 7-0 home)
TV Coverage: ESPN2/WatchESPN10:15 PM ET, December 25, 2012 (Tuesday night)
Stan Sheriff Center, Honolulu, HI (6,514 attendance)1 2 T #17 SDSU 27 40- 67 #3 ARIZ 29 39- 68
Top Performers:San Diego State: C. Tapley 19 Pts, 3 Reb, 2 Ast, 1 Stl, 2 BlkArizona: K. Parrom 17 Pts, 5 Reb, 2 Ast, 1 Stl
New Mexico Lobos 55(13-1, 3-0 away)@ (8) Cincinnati Bobcats 54(12-1, 8-1 home)
TV Coverage: ESPN2/WatchESPN9:00 PM ET, December 27, 2012Fifth Third Arena, Cincinnati, OH
Team 1 2 - TUNM 22 33 -55#8 CIN 26 28 -54
Top Performers:New Mexico: A. Kirk 15 Pts, 7 Reb, 1 Stl, 3 BlkCincinnati: C. Wright 12 Pts, 3 Reb, 4 Ast, 1 Stl
I missed that game but some people I know are still talking about it!You'd think we never won a basketball game before........wait......!
Conference Power Rankings: Pac-12
December, 28, 2012
The Pac-12 is far from the best league in college basketball, but it will certainly be one of the most competitive. The difference in teams ranked between No. 2 and No. 12 isn’t all that huge, which should definitely make for some entertaining games over the next few months. Here’s a look at the Pac-12 power rankings entering conference play.
1. Arizona. The Wildcats are one of the country’s most talented teams, and also one of the toughest. Ten days after coming from behind to defeat Florida in the waning seconds, Sean Miller’s squad won a 68-67 thriller over No. 17 San Diego State that wasn’t decided until the game’s final shot. Arizona opens Pac-12 play against Colorado on Jan. 3 in Tucson.
2. Colorado. The Buffaloes host Hartford on Saturday before hitting the road to face Arizona and Arizona State next week. Andre Roberson ranks fourth in the country in rebounds with 11.9 points per game. Freshmen Josh Scott and Xavier Johnson have played well but need to continue to do so to improve.
3. Oregon. The well-balanced Ducks have six players averaging between nine and 12 points. That includes senior forward Tony Woods, whose scoring average (10.8) is the highest of his career. Oregon hosts Nevada on New Year’s Eve.
4. UCLA. The Bruins have won four in a row and now have a chance to make a huge statement against No. 7 Missouri on Friday night in Westwood. UCLA is 9-3, but its best victory is against Texas. Shabazz Muhammad is averaging 24.3 points in his past three games.
5. Oregon State. The Beavers will finish 7-0 in December if they defeat Towson (Saturday) and Texas-Pan American (Monday). Even though they haven’t been against top-tier opponents, the wins should give Craig Robinson’s squad tons of confidence as it enters Pac-12 play.
6. Cal. Allen Crabbe (20.4) and Justin Cobbs (16.5) are averaging more than half of the Golden Bears’ 72.4 points per game. Cal failed to pick up a quality win against nonconference competition and will likely be an NCAA tournament bubble team if it finishes in the top four or five in Pac-12 play.
7. Stanford. Even though it didn’t come against an NCAA tournament-caliber team, Stanford’s victory at Northwestern last week could help the Cardinal down the road. Johnny Dawkins’ squad needs to capitalize on that momentum in winnable Pac-12 road games at USC (Thursday) and UCLA (Jan. 5).
8. Arizona State. Freshman Jahii Carson is blossoming into one of the top point guards in the country, regardless of age. He’s averaging a team-high 17.9 points and 5.3 assists for a team that has a legitimate chance to finish in the upper half of the Pac-12 standings.
9. Washington. The Huskies have won four in a row and six of their past seven, but nothing would create momentum like a victory at Connecticut on Saturday. The contest will mark the beginning of a four-game road swing for Lorenzo Romar’s squad, which opens Pac-12 play at Washington State, Cal and Stanford.
10. Washington State. Three of the Cougars’ four losses have come by a combined five points. They’d be on a seven-game win streak if not for a two-point setback at Gonzaga. Brock Motum averages 19.9 points.
11. Utah. The Utes enter Friday’s game against Idaho toting losses in two of their past three contests. Things will only get tougher in the Pac-12, as Utah’s first two games (against Arizona and Arizona State) are on the road.
12. USC. The Trojans are in a world of hurt. One of the nation’s most difficult nonconference schedules has squelched USC’s energy and put coach Kevin O’Neill squarely on the hot seat. Talent-wise, this is the fourth- or fifth-best team in the league. There’s no excuse for the Trojans to be this bad.
(7) Missouri Tigers(10-1, 0-0 away)UCLA Bruins(9-3, 7-1 home)
TV Coverage: ESPN2/WatchESPN10:00 PM ET/7:00 PM PT, December 28, 2012 (Friday night)
Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA (13,800 Seating capacity) Points Rebounds Assists MIZZ Bowers 16.9 Oriakhi 9.1 Pressey 6.3 UCLA Muhammad 18.8 Anderson 8.7 Drew II 8.5
UCLA seems to be finding its footing behind its trio of star freshmen.
The Tigers seek a seventh straight victory Friday night in their first visit to Pauley Pavilion in 37 years.
Senior Laurence Bowers and junior Phil Pressey are two of the catalysts behind Missouri's 10-1 start, with Bowers averaging a team-high 16.9 points and Pressey adding 12.3 per game to go with 6.3 assists.
They each posted double-doubles while helping lead the Tigers to an 82-73 win over then-No. 10 Illinois on Saturday. Bowers finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds while Pressey overcame a 3-for-19 shooting performance to score 12 points and add a season-best 11 assists.
Missouri has won six straight since falling 84-61 to then-No. 2 Louisville in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament on Nov. 23.
"It was a good test for us," Pressey said after the Tigers handed the Illini their first loss. "But we've got to put this behind us and go on to UCLA."
The Bruins (9-3) have been ranked as high as No. 11, in large part due to Ben Howland's stellar recruiting class that included Shabazz Muhammad, Jordan Adams and Kyle Anderson.
They've battled through early struggles -- including an embarrassing 70-68 home loss to Cal Poly on Nov. 25 that dropped them out of the Top 25 -- but have won four in a row after beating Fresno State 91-78 on Saturday.
Muhammad (27), Adams (25) and Anderson (20) became the first freshman trio in UCLA history to record 20 points or more in a single game. Muhammad is averaging 24.3 points while shooting 55.3 percent over his last three, and Adams has shot 18 for 25 from the field with 49 points over his last two.
"We're really doing a good job on the offensive end," Muhammad said. "We've been playing really well and we're going to continue to play really well."
Point guard Larry Drew II, in his first season with the Bruins after transferring from North Carolina, has been the main facilitator for the freshmen. He's averaging 8.5 assists, tied for second in the nation behind only Syracuse's Michael Carter-Williams (10.3).
"Larry Drew II was phenomenal offensively in distributing the ball and taking care of the ball," Howland told the school's official website after Saturday's win. "Kyle Anderson's numbers were great. He was just three assists shy of a triple-double. Jordan and Shabazz both had good games for us, especially in the second half."
Missouri, which lost its previous two trips to UCLA in 1970 and 1975, has won 25 straight games in December and has held opponents to an SEC-best 35.6 percent shooting this season.
The Tigers hope to get another solid performance from Oregon transfer Jabari Brown, who scored 18 points in his second game with the team while replacing Pepperdine transfer Keion Bell in the starting lineup.
"As we move forward, guys begin to understand their role," coach Frank Haith said. "Guys have to understand that when your number's called, you've got to be ready to play."
Missouri beat UCLA 82-73 in the regional semifinals of the 2002 NCAA tournament in the most recent meeting.
Gameday Matchup MIZZ UCLA W-L 10-1 9-3 Avg Points 78.2 79.6 Avg Points Allowed 61.7 67.5 Home Record 7-0 7-1 Road Record 0-0 0-0 Current Streak W6 W4
School Info MIZZ UCLA Conference SEC Pac-12 Nickname Tigers Bruins Type Public Public
2012-13 SeasonDATE GAME LINKS Dec 28, 2012 MIZZ @ UCLA 10:00 PM ET
Team Stat Leaders MIZZ UCLA Points L. Bowers 16.9 S. Muhammad 18.8 Rebounds A. Oriakhi 9.1 K. Anderson 8.7 Assists P. Pressey 6.3 L. Drew II 8.5 Steals P. Pressey 1.8 T. Lamb 2.0 Blocks A. Oriakhi 1.3 T. Wear 1.4
We HAVE to beat Holy Cross....please!
2 SF Bay area attractions:
Santa Clara Broncos (West Coast Conference)(11-2, 3-0 away)@ (1) Duke Blue Devils (Atlantic Coast Conference)(11-0, 6-0 home)
TV Coverage: ESPN2/WatchESPN12:00 PM ET/9:00 AM PT, December 29, 2012 (Saturday)Cameron Indoor Stadium, Durham, NC (9,314 seating capacity)
Points Rebounds Assists
SCU Foster 18.2 Trasolini 7.8 Roquemore 6.5DUKE Plumlee 19.3 Plumlee 11.5 Cook 6.0
WOMEN'S NCAA BASKETBALL4:00 PM ET/1:00 PM PTESPNU/WatchESPN (Maples Pavilion in Palo Alto, California)
#2 Connecticut(10-0, 2-0 away)@#1 Stanford(11-0, 3-0 home)
(20) UNLV(11-1, 3-0 away)North Carolina(9-3, 6-0 home)Video PreviewAlertsCoverage: ESPN2/WatchESPN2:00 PM ET, December 29, 2012
Dean E. Smith Center, Chapel Hill, NC (21,750 seating capacity)Points Rebounds Assists UNLV Bennett 19.5 Bennett 8.5 Marshall 5.3 UNC McAdoo 15.0 McAdoo 8.3 Strick... 4.8 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Kentucky(8-3, 0-1 away)(4) Louisville(11-1, 6-0 home)Video PreviewTicketsAlertsCoverage: CBS 4:00 PM ET, December 29, 2012
KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, KY (22,500 seating capacity)Points Rebounds Assists UK Goodwin 16.0 Noel 9.1 Goodwin 4.2 LOU Smith 19.7 Dieng 8.0 Siva 6.3
(2) Michigan(13-0, 1-0 away)Northwestern(9-4, 6-4 home)TV Coverage: ESPN2/WatchESPN7:00 PM ET, January 3, 2013 Thursday night
Welsh-Ryan Arena, Evanston, ILPoints Rebounds Assists MICH Burke 17.8 Robins... 5.9 Burke 7.4 NW Hearn 14.5 Swopshire 6.0 Sobole... 4.3 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Colorado Buffalos(10-2, 1-2 away)(3) Arizona Wildcats(12-0, 7-0 home)TV Coverage: ESPNU8:00 PM ET, January 3, 2013 (Thursday night)
McKale Center, Tucson, AZ (14,545 seating capacity)Points Rebounds Assists COLO Booker 14.8 Roberson 12.1 Dinwiddie 2.8 ARIZ Lyons 13.4 Ashley 6.5 Lyons 3.2
California (8-4) at UCLA (10-3) 11pm EST/8:00pm PTStanford (9-4) at USC (5-8) 10pm EST/7pm PTWed 1.2.2012 - @ Arizona State 55 Utah 54 (overtime)
PAC 12 STANDINGS before start of conference play:
1. Arizona State 12-2 (1-0 conf)2. Arizona 12-03. Oregon 11-24. Colorado 10-25. Oregon State 10-36. UCLA 10-37. Stanford 9-48. Washington State 9-49. California 8-410. Washington 8-511. USC 5-812. Utah 8-5 (0-1 conf)
8) Ohio St 6(11-2, 1-0 Big Ten)(11) Illinois 11(13-2, 0-1 Big Ten)Assembly Hall, Champaign, Illinois
Utah(8-5, 0-1 Pac-12)(3) Arizona(13-0, 1-0 Pac-12)AlertsCoverage: PACN5:00 PM ET, January 5, 2013 Saturday
McKale Center, Tucson, AZ (14,545 seating capacity)Points Rebounds Assists UTAH DuBois 13.3 Loveridge 7.8 DuBois 3.9 ARIZ Lyons 14.2 Ashley 6.2 Lyons 3.1
Stanford (9-5,0-1) at UCLA (11-2,1-0) Noon PT/3pm ET (Pauly Pavilion 13,800)California (8-5, 0-1) at USC (6-8, 1-0) 8pm PT/11pm ET (Galen Center (12,000)#22 Oklahoma State (10-2) at #25 Kansas State (11-2) Saturday#23 NC State (11-2) at Boston College 4pm EST Saturday
Final: #1 Duke 80 Wake Forest 62