NEW YORK — All offseason, the participant who was labeled as the breakout man for 2023-24: UConn sophomore middle Donovan Clingan. It landed him preseason All-America accolades. Possibly that winds up being the case, however for now, Clingan is coping with a toe harm and hasn’t absolutely seemed like himself but after a preseason foot ailment.
Nice groups overcome. UConn once more seems nice. Clingan’s standing hasn’t slowed the No. 5 Huskies, who beat ninth-ranked North Carolina 87-76 within the marquee matchup Tuesday evening at Madison Sq. Backyard within the Jimmy V Traditional.
9 video games into Connecticut’s season, it is clear who the massive identify and most necessary participant on this roster is: graduate level guard Tristen Newton. As I wrote not too long ago, after a unique drubbing at MSG, there’s so much to be impressed by with UConn and its nationwide championship potential. The 6-foot-5 Newton is The Man. If this crew performs its approach to a Huge East title or one other Closing 4, Newton would be the core of the trouble.
“He’s what makes them go and he units up all these different guys, in order that’s been enormous,” one assistant who confronted UConn advised me.
His progress over the previous two seasons cannot be merely casually acknowledged. After transferring from East Carolina, the place he put up good numbers on a foul crew within the backside of the American Athletic Convention, Newton was initially a stopgap to exchange RJ Cole, who left after the 2021-22 season.
Final season, he was a assist beam on a star-laden UConn crew that received the nationwide title. With three triple-doubles in 49 profession UConn video games, he is already this system report holder in that class.
“Simply would have anticipated extra buzz going into the 12 months,” UConn coach Dan Hurley advised me, citing Newton’s efficiency in Closing 4 and title recreation. “He is ready now the place he is acquired the inexperienced gentle, we’re operating the issues for him … and we’re that includes him like he is probably the greatest guards within the nation.”
That is exactly how he is enjoying.
This season, Newton is the one participant averaging at the least 17 factors, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. He is sixth in KenPom.com’s participant of the 12 months algorithm and the highest-ranked guard.
Credit score UConn affiliate head coach Kimani Younger, who was the man who recognized Newton within the switch portal in 2022 and noticed one thing. The employees advised Newton then what they believed: He was the lacking piece to constructing a Closing 4 crew.
“That was actually the pitch for him, and I wish to joke and say he had greater plans and turned out to be the lacking piece after we received the nationwide championship,” Younger advised me Tuesday.
Generally these items discover footing shortly. Different occasions, they want some nurturing, which was the case with Newton.
The trail there wasn’t straight.
Newton is wired otherwise than Hurley and the remainder of UConn’s employees — and even most of UConn’s roster. A man from El Paso, Texas, with out an enormous ego, who can maintain to himself and is motivated by quiet willpower. Younger mentioned no participant has been coached tougher by the employees since they began five-plus years in the past.
“Whenever you recruit a child out of the switch portal, you are getting their good and their unhealthy,” Younger mentioned. “A portal participant, one-, two-, three-year participant, you are seeing all this expertise on movie, however beneath which can be a number of years of habits that come from one thing apart from what we do. I believe that was the transition interval we needed to undergo with Tristen, simply the best way we go about practising, the best way we go about competing, how necessary that is, how a lot power and enthusiasm and competitiveness, all these items our program is about do not essentially come pure to Tristen.”
He tailored with out having to alter who he was at his core. With out Newton on the roster, the Huskies most likely get kicked out of the bracket earlier than reaching the 2023 title recreation. Younger and Hurley advised me Newton has nice poise and his physique language belies his motivations and feelings.
“You are watching him play and also you would possibly suppose he isn’t doing something and on the finish of the evening he is acquired a triple-double and you are like what the hell simply occurred?” Younger mentioned.
After the nationwide title recreation, Hurley sat down with Newton and had a blunt, candid dialog about what they had been going to ask of him. He is handed each check since, even in UConn’s lone loss, towards Kansas “he went into survival mode,” Younger mentioned. “I simply suppose his scoring instincts and his expertise kicked in.”
Newton was the one who saved UConn in that recreation. Newton went for 14/5/5 towards UNC. It was an off-the-cuff evening for him. Larger ones await. He is probably the greatest rebounding guards within the nation, probably the greatest distributors, shot-takers and opponents.
Everybody in that locker is aware of he’s the centerpiece for a run to a repeat. He is All-American-level proper now.
Illinois is mannequin of consistency beneath Underwood
The lid-lifter Tuesday evening on the Backyard was a top-20 affair (not an every-year factor) with No. 20 Illinois scooting away from No. 11 FAU 98-89. It was the uncommon recreation to characteristic two gamers on the identical crew going for career-highs and dropping 30-plus in doing so. Terrence Shannon Jr. and SIU switch Marcus Domask (the place did THAT come from?) every put up a personal-best 33 factors.
Illinois is 7-1, its lone loss towards top-10 Marquette. Tuesday’s conquest was the newest in a constant line of victories over a ranked crew for seventh-year Illini coach Brad Underwood. Tuesday was the thirtieth time his crew performed in a ranked-on-ranked matchup since 2019; he is a good 16-14 in these video games.
So, yeah: Illinois is a high quality crew once more, shall be close to the highest of the Huge Ten and will comfortably slot into the NCAA Event as a single-digit seed for the fourth straight 12 months.
Can we take a second to acknowledge this success story?
In 2017, Illinois swung huge on Underwood however had no assurances this may work.
“I do not ever lose sight of what … we’re right here within the Jimmy V. We begged to get into this stage after we first acquired right here,” Underwood advised me Tuesday evening. “I’ve at all times mentioned that is the place this program needs to be. However I do not ever need to lose sight of the place it was.”
He was a nice 89-14 with three straight match runs at Stephen F. Austin, then acquired Oklahoma State to the Huge Dance in his lone season there. OSU brass took too lengthy to carry a brand new contract provide to Underwood, so he could not go on the guarantees laid earlier than him at Illinois because it hurriedly courted him.
What’s transpired? This can be a top-20 program on secure floor. Underwood has pulled this off in a high-pressure place with a wide range of kinds and redesigns. This season, Illinois ranks No. 2 in eFG% protection and Underwood has his greatest rebounding crew but. The Illini have received extra Huge Ten video games (56) than some other crew up to now four-plus seasons; that doubles as a program report for many wins in that span. Amid this, Illinois has earned a convention title and No. 1 NCAA seed in 2021, a regular-season title in 2022, had an NCAA Event-level crew 4 years operating — and 2023-24 will nearly actually be the fifth.
If Illinois had chased another person in 2017, wouldn’t it be this related 12 months over 12 months? In all probability not.
Underwood mentioned he is gotten superb administrative assist, and that tells an enormous a part of the story. A $40 million observe facility, a $170 million renovation to the State Farm Middle proper when he was taking up. It is helped him construct out Illinois the best way he needed.
“I’ve acquired one of the best energy coach within the enterprise. Nice employees. I am only a piece of it,” Underwood mentioned. “My largest concern once I acquired there was we’re within the Huge Ten. All people’s acquired stuff and all people’s acquired gamers. How on the earth are we going to go these individuals? And I imply, no person enables you to — you have to go them.”
The previous few seasons, Illinois has Mario Kart’d a lot of the league, as Illinois is working as a top-three store within the Huge Ten. Expectations are at a healthy-but-not-unreasonable stage. The crew has been ranked for the reason that preseason, the fourth straight 12 months this system was ranked heading into November. That had by no means occurred earlier than.
Toss within the All-People and all-league gamers in latest historical past and it is a portrait of a proud program on the precipice of one other breakthrough. Underwood nonetheless wants to search out March success. Illinois is but to make a Candy 16 beneath him. This roster feels just like the drought might lastly finish. A drought that dates all the best way again to 2005. Yep: The 12 months Illinois made the nationwide championship recreation.
“I believe I am a builder and a trainer at coronary heart,” Underwood mentioned.
On a regular basis guys. Gamers who need to work. We must always have fun it lengthy earlier than the crunch of March modifications the dialogue. The Illini matter, and once they do, faculty basketball feels a bit of stronger.
USATSI
UNC undoubtedly upgraded, however nonetheless not upper-tier
I began with Jimmy V’s two successful groups, now let us take a look at the opposite finish. The Tar Heels ran into the highest 10 of this week’s AP Prime 25, however I am not on board with that but. Prime 25? Sure, UNC is that good and has that ceiling, clearly.
It is not in Connecticut’s class proper now, although, and its incapability to maintain tempo with UConn on Tuesday was one thing price noting for the lengthy haul. Hubert Davis’ crew is definitely higher than final 12 months and goes to select off notable victories over the following three months, however can it sustain with the highest of the game? Jury continues to be out on that.
“Clearly upset that we did not win, but additionally inspired not nearly how far more we are able to develop, however what we have completed in 9 video games,” Tar Heels coach Hubert Davis advised me. “It is an awesome alternative for us, the following 10 days to clearly take exams, however to work on us and we’re simply persevering with to enhance step-by-step, on daily basis, simply making an attempt to get higher.”
If you would like some purpose to imagine UNC shall be extra dependable this season, past the wins it is already accrued vs. Arkansas and Tennessee, have a look at how Davis and his employees have modified up their priorities with numerous roster turnover. The Tar Heels historically thrive on tempo. Final season, they didn’t. This 12 months, they’re again and rating within the high 30 in offensive tempo. (Final season: 111th.) Each recreation has been 70 possessions or extra. You are seeing them look extra opportunistic on misses, operating the secondary break and having freshman Elliot Cadeau step into an enormous position instantly. Search for Cadeau to be enjoying like a sophomore by February. I believe he is important.
It is also clear to see how willingly UNC is sharing the ball this season. Harrison Ingram and Cormac Ryan have shortly tailored and made UNC a much less predictable scout due to their activeness on offense. North Carolina is tallying extra assists on common and that will not be reverting, I would not suppose.
The third a part of that is having extra taking pictures. Final season, Davis needed to dwell with Pete Nance and Leaky Black being inconsistent scorers. These guys introduced numerous optimistic attributes, however they could not fill it up the best way Ingram and Ryan have to date. I might argue these gamers have not even hit their groove but, however UNC continues to be 7-2. Good indicators.
Its subsequent recreation is towards one other blue blood: Kentucky awaits on Dec. 16 in Atlanta on the CBS Sports activities Traditional.
FAU scheduling robust, needs to be anticipated to bop once more
The Owls ran out of steam towards Illinois at MSG, however a reminder that this was simply the sixth loss in FAU’s final 48 video games. I assure you each coach within the nation would take 42-6 for those who provided it to them.
I commend Dusty Could for leaning into such a difficult schedule. Illinois was one among nearly 10 difficult video games Could placed on the ledger within the non-con. It could have been simple for him to go lighter, however that is not what Could did. After making the Closing 4, FAU discovered itself to be fairly fashionable amongst energy brokers who had been placing on neutral-site occasions.
A pair weeks after the tip of the season, Could took a name. ESPN needed his crew to play within the Jimmy V Traditional. He instantly mentioned sure. He did the identical for the ESPN Occasions Invitational in Orlando (FAU went 3-0 there). The Owls opened the season in Chicago towards Loyola Chicago, agreed to host two harmful mid-majors in Liberty and Charleston (received each), plus have neutral-site occasions awaiting towards St. Bonaventure (a top-100 KenPom crew) and title-contender Arizona. Much more: the final recreation on its non-league slate would be the thankless job of enjoying Florida Gulf Coast on the street.
Scheduling has been a 180 from what life was like for Could early on. Do you know: He is now 1-1 vs. Illinois. The second huge win of his head teaching profession got here 5 years in the past, in his first season at FAU. The Owls went as much as Illinois and beat the Illini 73-71 in extra time. FAU was paid $85,000 for that recreation. It was very easy to get it on the schedule.
No extra buy-games for FAU lately, although Should has to lift $100,000 yearly in scheduling agreements. He pulled it off with the non-con neutral-site occasions. (Additionally: not a single high-major was paying FAU to come back in and play this season.)
“To be right here with Florida Atlantic is one thing that you just most likely by no means might have imagined,” Could advised me of getting invited to the Jimmy V. “We additionally perceive that we’re not right here simply to be right here. This can be a nice alternative for us as soon as once more, an opportunity to place our gamers within the largest highlight and faculty basketball. So we’re honored that we’re excited and notice that we’re not simply making an attempt to be right here. I am making an attempt to make a press release.”
This crew will get again to the NCAA Event if it stays wholesome and stays true to its core. Could has nice inner management, guys who maintain themselves accountable with out egos messing up the locker room. Tuesday’s recreation was nearer than the 98-89 rating signifies.
“They’re one of the best passing crew in faculty basketball,” Underwood mentioned, later including, “They will rating 100 fairly simple.”
“A part of our mission is to be pleasant to observe,” Could advised me.
They’re THAT. They only must keep away from the unhealthy losses, just like the vexing residence defeat vs. Bryant. That one goes to weigh the résumé down, but when FAU can get out of non-league play with simply three losses — undoubtedly doable — then it’s going to be in command of attending to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments for the primary time in program historical past. If and when that occurs, will probably be due to the video games organized in November and December.
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The Court docket Report’s weekly mailbag. Hit me on X/Twitter and drop a query anytime. I will reply a couple of each week right here.
I resist the no-great-teams speaking level, although it will get parroted fairly a bit nearly yearly … when it is solely true possibly 20% of the time? A season in the past, the “no nice groups!” line acquired tiresome, after which UConn went out and had arguably essentially the most dominant NCAA Event dash we have ever seen. UConn was an awesome crew final season — it may be an awesome crew this season. Manner too early to suppose we will not have two or three that get to that stage.
My Huge East learn proper now: 4 groups dancing is the ground, however working a approach to six is a steep climb. UConn, Creighton and Marquette are all on their approach to excessive seeds. Villanova is an enigma. Windfall is feasible, although Tuesday evening’s loss at Oklahoma was a physique blow. St. John’s has a lot to show, Xavier might be going to be Staff Chaos. DePaul and Georgetown will not be within the combine. Can Seton Corridor stand up? Possibly Butler pokes by. I will persist with 5 get in, one goes to Dayton.
After watching Duke up shut and speaking with Jon Scheyer final week, I believe the Blue Devils have some jelling to do. Scheyer’s street report (4-8) is notable, and that sample cannot proceed if that is going to be a crew on the checklist of Closing 4 contenders. WIth all that expertise, it looks like some gamers are nonetheless adapting to completely different roles. Kyle Filipowski cannot be requested to hold this crew for 25-plus video games. I believe they miss Dereck Vigorous II. The loss at Arkansas was comprehensible. The loss to Georgia Tech was purpose for pause. This is not one of many 25 greatest groups within the sport in the present day, even when the AP rankings declare in any other case.
Saint Mary’s (4-5) and Michigan State (4-4) are dueling for largest letdown at this stage. It should not should be this fashion, Gaels. I have not talked to Randy Bennett about it, however I can nearly assure you he hasn’t had a great evening’s sleep in weeks. There is no room left for error by way of having an at-large résumé.
Princeton has one of the best probability per KenPom, however I’m now siding with Gary Parrish, who tabbed Houston within the preseason and doubtless solely has Texas A&M (Dec. 16) standing in its means in getting there. Simply one other 12 months of Kelvin Sampson’s crew kicking everybody’s behind and working like a powerhouse. Does all people now absolutely perceive the Cougars do not fiddle?
At one level in October once I was shuffling round groups earlier than finalizing the checklist for my preseason high 101, I believe I had Colorado State as excessive as 65. Then I bumped it all the way down to 73. Both means, toooo low. That is a top-50 crew, clearly, and Isaiah Stevens is a First Staff All-American proper now. If CSU is a top-two crew within the Mountain West, he’ll have an awesome shot at being acknowledged as an A-A in March.
A two-parter! On Tuesday evening the Tigers received once more, attending to 9-0 for the primary time in 104 years. That is flat-out nuts. I believe Princeton goes to have the higher seed come Choice Sunday. Mark me down for the Tigers getting a ten with three losses. As to the band Q, if we’re going with one I deliberate to see and missed out: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. One to see that I’ve nonetheless by no means caught however must: Radiohead, Radiohead, Radiohead.
Norlander’s information + nuggets
• There was numerous ink spilled Tuesday over NCAA president Charlie Baker’s new laws about implementing trusts to future Division I athletes at among the richest high-major faculties. The proposed laws was within the works for months, but it surely stops in need of permitting room for faculty athletes to be workers. In the end, this would possibly show to be a half measure. In chatting with individuals round faculty athletics, the optimism round this initiative is combined.
• Fortunately, the four-team CFP is in its final 12 months. In the event you’re curious how subsequent 12 months will evaluate to basketball, there are 133 FBS faculties and 12 will make the sphere for the Faculty Soccer Playoff — that is 9.02%. In the event you introduced the identical ratio to varsity basketball, 9.02% of 362 applications equals a 33-team NCAA tourney subject.
• We’ve got one other teaching change: Cliff Ellis, who at 78 years previous and with 883 wins led faculty basketball in each these classes, is resigning and making room for Benny Moss. My favourite Ellis reality is he was as soon as a bassist in a music group and will’ve simply taken a a lot completely different profession path.
• 7-0 South Carolina performs at 7-0 Clemson on Wednesday evening in a Palmetto State showdown like by no means earlier than. It is uncommon for both of these groups to win their first seven video games on the ledge; this recreation marks the primary time they’ve ever met this deep right into a season as undefeated groups.
• Maryland has little room to lose at this level, but combo guard Jahmir Younger‘s availability for Wednesday’s recreation vs. Penn State is in flux. It is a residence tilt for the Nitts and a loss could be disastrous.
• Extra harm information: Justin Moore left Villanova’s OT loss (what a crusher for VU that was; what a morale-boosting win for Ok-State) with a knee sprain. The Wildcats are wobbly and may’t navigate top-50 competitors with out Moore.
• I talked Tuesday evening with NCAA vp of basketball Dan Gavitt as he took within the doubleheader at MSG. Within the offseason, the NCAA introduced the choice committee had formal discussions across the execs and cons of contemplating eventual growth. Gavitt mentioned these examinations are nonetheless ongoing and nothing is imminent.
• Additionally at MSG Tuesday evening: Jay Wright. He was doing prep work for Illinois. That is clearly no shock, however Wright is as ready and diligent in his new job as he was at his previous one. He shall be on the mic this Saturday for CBS’ Illinois-Tennessee recreation in Knoxville, Tennessee. Must be an actual tussle.