Archives: Previews

By reaching the Final Four in April, Florida Atlantic became the latest Cinderella story in college basketball. By winning a double-overtime game with No. 4 Arizona last Saturday in Las Vegas, the Owls might have proved they can shed the Cinderella label for another one: a national championship contender. The 96-95 victory over the Wildcats might be the biggest regular-season win in FAU history and powered it into the top 10 at No. 7. The

Houston coach Kelvin Sampson had a dual approach to the holiday break that enabled his team a welcome rest in advance of the final non-conference game on the schedule. The third-ranked Cougars (12-0) rolled to a 72-37 home victory over Texas State on Dec. 21, and the time between that triumph and their non-conference finale against Penn on Saturday allowed for some healing, particularly for forward J’Wan Roberts. Roberts leads the Cougars in rebounding at

No. 20 James Madison was ready for some time off after winning four games — including three on the road — in a span of 13 days to protect its perfect record and first ranking in program history. “This is difficult, more than people think of what we’re going through, the mental part, the physical exhaustion, the pressure,” Dukes coach Mark Byington said after an 89-75 win at Morgan State on Dec. 22. “We need

Duke secured a key result prior to Christmas, and that might make the next stretch of games a tad less stressful for the No. 16 Blue Devils. They will play their nonconference finale against Queens on Saturday afternoon at Durham, N.C. In its most recent game, Duke beat then-No. 10 Baylor 78-70 on Dec. 20 in New York, a soothing result for the Blue Devils. “(It was big) for us to be in some big-time

At 70.4 possessions per game, Indiana ranks in the top third of Division I schools when it comes to fastest tempos, per kenpom.com. But the Hoosiers are plodders when compared to their Friday night opponent, Kennesaw State. The defending Atlantic Sun Conference tournament champs average 77.1 possessions, more than anyone in Division I. And if recent history is any guide, the Owls could give Indiana a tough test, even in Bloomington, Ind. Their different style

Minnesota will go for its fifth win in a row when it hosts Maine in a nonconference matchup Friday night in Minneapolis. The Golden Gophers (9-3) are coming off an extended break. They pulled away for an 80-63 win at home Dec. 21 over Ball State in their most recent game. Mike Mitchell Jr. scored 20 points on 8-for-11 shooting from the field in the victory. Pharrel Payne contributed 13 points, and Joshua Ola-Joseph and

Before heading into the thick of its Big Ten schedule, Michigan will face another tricky matchup when McNeese State visits for a nonconference game Friday night in Ann Arbor, Mich. McNeese, of the Southland Conference, comes in with a 10-2 record that includes wins over Virginia Commonwealth and UAB. The Cowboys are coming off a 74-72 victory over Louisiana on Dec. 17 and have won five games in a row. Michigan (6-6) has played a

With one nonconference challenge remaining before the team dives exclusively into Big Ten play, Penn State knows the time is now to iron out the kinks. The Nittany Lions (6-6) will host Rider (3-9) on Friday in University Park, Pa., before heavy league play hits next week with contests against Michigan State and Michigan. Penn State hasn’t played in over a week, most recently posting a 72-55 victory over Le Moyne on Dec. 21. Kanye

UCF has a mammoth home matchup looming early in 2024, but the Knights still have one bit of business left in 2023. In their final non-conference contest, the Knights (8-3) will host Bethune-Cookman (5-6) in Orlando, Fla., on Friday night ahead of the aforementioned bout on their home court. That big date is Jan. 10, when No. 2 Kansas visits Orlando in the Knights’ second-ever Big 12 game. The Knights’ conference opener will be Jan.

No. 11 Illinois suspended senior guard Terrence Shannon Jr. on Thursday and tries to focus on a home encounter with Fairleigh Dickinson on Friday. Shannon is suspended indefinitely from all team activities. A warrant for his arrest was issued Wednesday. He is facing a rape charge in Lawrence, Kan., and the alleged incident took place during Shannon’s visit to the Illinois-Kansas football game on Sept. 8, the school said in a release. Shannon traveled to