Basketball Archives

Jaylen Blakes hits short jumper with 1.5 seconds left, Stanford tops North Carolina 72-71

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Duke graduate transfer Jaylen Blakes hit a short jumper with 1.5 seconds left to lift Stanford to a 72-71 win over North Carolina on Saturday, the first meeting as Atlantic Coast Conference rivals and the first Cardinal win over the Tar Heels in 15 meetings. Blakes took the inbounds pass in the backcourt after Seth Trimble hit two free throws for North Carolina with 7.7 seconds to play and worked his way up the left side. He bumped a defender on the left side of the lane, stepped back and swished the winner. The game had 12 ties and 14 lead changes with the biggest lead seven points. Maxime Raynaud had 24 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks for the Cardinal and Blakes had 20 points with seven assists. RJ Davis scored 19 to lead the Tar Heels.… Continue Reading

From Maui to the Caribbean, college hoops’ Thanksgiving tournaments a beloved part of the sport

College basketball is ready for its Thanksgiving Week closeup. The schedule is full of early season tournaments that could create buzzworthy marquee matchups. And many of those come in warm-weather locations. The Maui Invitational in Hawaii turns 40 years old this year. It opens Monday with a field that includes two-time reigning national champion and second ranked UConn. The Battle 4 Atlantis men’s tournament in the Bahamas opens Wednesday. It has a field topped by No. 3 Gonzaga. There are also multiple women’s events in the Bahamas featuring ranked teams, including the fourth Atlantis women’s tournament.… Continue Reading

COVID-19 led to extra college eligibility. Those 5th-year players are set for their last runs

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — The COVID-19 pandemic led to college athletes being granted an additional year of eligibility. Now the majority of those players impacted by that move are preparing for their final seasons in college basketball. The rule impacted the 2020-21 season as players competed in empty arenas and amid constant testing. Now, many are in their fifth years. The list includes five preseason Associated Press All-Americans. One is North Carolina guard RJ Davis as the lone returning AP first-team All-American from last season. Others include big man Hunter Dickinson of No. 1 Kansas and guard Mark Sears for No. 2 Alabama.… Continue Reading

LeBron and Bronny James make history as the NBA’s first father-son duo to play together

LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James and Bronny James became the first father and son to play in the NBA together when they checked into the game together in the second quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers’ season opener. LeBron James is the 39-year-old top scorer in NBA history, while his 20-year-old namesake son was a second-round pick by the Lakers last summer. They are the first father and son to play in the world’s top basketball league at the same time, let alone on the same team. Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. were in attendance at the Lakers’ downtown arena to witness the same history they made in baseball.… Continue Reading

The ACC believes it should earn more NCAA Tournament berths. It’s time to make that happen

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Atlantic Coast Conference is trying to bolster its chances of getting more bids to the NCAA Tournament. League coaches and officials have spent months trying to change perception of the ACC’s strength. That comes after the ACC has managed just five bids in each of past three men’s tournaments. Yet the league continues to outperform every other league. That includes having four different teams reach the Final Four in the past three seasons. Some of the work includes having teams bolster their nonconference schedules to strengthen their NCAA resumes.… Continue Reading

UNC relocates intrasquad scrimmage from Cherokee after Hurricane Helene’s impact to region

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina has relocated its planned intrasquad scrimmage in western North Carolina due to damage from Hurricane Helene in that region and will instead hold it at home. The school had scheduled its Blue-White scrimmage for Oct. 13 at the Harrah’s Resort in Cherokee, located in the western-most county in the state. The team was then set to travel to Memphis to play an exhibition game two days later as part of a doubleheader benefitting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The scrimmage will now take place Oct. 12 at the campus Smith Center.… Continue Reading