NCAA

Knicks: How Quentin Grimes became a quintessential Thibs guy

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quentim grimes, tom thibodeau, kelvin sampson

More than his outstanding three-point shooting, the biggest pull for the New York Knicks to gravitate towards Quentin Grimes in the first round of the NBA Draft was his impact on winning.

“That’s what we mostly talked about in my conversations with the Knicks and their scouts,” Kelvin Sampson, the University of Houston Cougars head coach, told Empire Sports Media on the phone.

“That’s the thing that they thought they liked most about Quentin as it relates to Thibs’ (Tom Thibodeau’s) culture. There’s a lot of similarities to the Knicks culture as far as what Thibs believes in and what we believe in here. That had a lot to do in them drafting Quentin.”

Grimes already knew he would become a Knick after the team executed a pair of trades during an eventful NBA Draft Night. Before NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced Grimes’ name, his camp was already excited in anticipation of the announcement.

As the Knicks Draft night plan unfolded, Sampson was on the phone with the team’s general manager Scott Perry, his long-time friend.

“I just remember Scott was asking me questions and telling me what their plan was. That was prior to the 25th pick. And they were really hoping he would be there at 25. They were worried that somebody was gonna take him before them. I think a lot of those moves (trades) were built around drafting Quentin at 25,” Sampson revealed.

“Scott Perry is a professional organizational guy. He knows what he’s doing. They had a plan going in. And they executed it flawlessly.”

The Knicks kicked the can further down the road when they traded their 19th pick to Charlotte for a future first-rounder. With the belief that Grimes would still be on board in the mid-20s, they swapped picks with the Los Angeles Clippers (21st for 25th) to net an additional future second-round selection and save some salary cap space.

So after his hometown team, Houston Rockets, selected Josh Christopher with the 24th pick, the mood at Grimes’ Draft party lit up and was ready to explode.

“When their (Knicks) pick came up, we knew that he was gonna be the pick,” Sampson said, recalling that memorable night. “But you know, you want to hear your name called. You don’t want to react prior to. Quentin just broke down. He was emotional. Because of all the hard work he and his family put into that moment. You just sit back, and I was just so happy for Quentin and his family because he earned that.”

Grimes strongly believed it was his destiny to become a Knick. His perspective changed over the last two years after his initial goal of becoming a lottery pick didn’t pan out. His Houston homecoming had a lot to do with it after a disappointing freshman season with the Kansas Jayhawks.

“I feel like I was picked in the perfect spot. I feel like some people might say I was picked too low or picked too high, something like that. But that’s why I got picked in the right situation,” Grimes said during his introductory press conference. “That’s why going to New York is going to be a match made in heaven.”

Thibodeau and the Knicks front office, led by team president Leon Rose, have created an environment in New York that made players fall in love with the process of getting better by making them accountable.

Grimes went through the same process in his two-year stint with the Cougars that rejuvenated his once flailing basketball career.

“I didn’t think Quentin had hit rock bottom yet when he arrived in our program,” Sampson said.

Grimes, the no. 8 recruit in his class, was a projected lottery pick before he went to Kansas. But things didn’t go according to plan, and his stock plummeted.

During his college debut, Grimes had a spectacular shooting display with 21 points on 6-of-10 three-pointers against Michigan State. But what followed next was a season of disappointment. His offense became erratic. He could only put up single-digit scoring in 17 of his next 35 games and missed 23 of his next 28 three-point attempts. He wound up with an 8.4-point average on a 38/34/60 shooting split that dimmed his prospect of getting drafted in the first round.

“Sometimes you had to fall even further before you can go back up,” Sampson said.

When Grimes couldn’t get a first-round guarantee, he decided to return to college, but he found out that his spot at Kansas was already filled up.

That’s when Sampson scooped him up as the Cougars were looking to replace Armoni Brooks, their best three-point shooter, who decided to go pro.

Marshall Grimes, Quentin’s father, reached out to Alvin Brooks, the Cougars associate head coach at that time.

“[Quentin] is a Houston kid. He was looking for a fresh start somewhere else. We didn’t recruit him out of high school as he narrowed his list down (to the blue blood schools) very early in the process,” Sampson said. “But this time around, his family, the familiarity of Houston and the success our program was having and also the reputation of our staff has in developing guards helped us.”

In a lot of ways, Sampson is very similar to Thibodeau. Both are hard-nosed coaches. Their teams love to defend. But the most striking similarity is both coaches benefited from a coaching sabbatical that allowed them to take a step back and see the current trends that made them better coaches upon their return.

Thibodeau visited many NBA teams in between his coaching stops from Chicago to Minnesota and New York. He learned how things are being done differently.

Sampson also had the same reckoning when he was forced out of his coaching post at Indiana University in 2008 due to recruitment violations.

Sampson revitalized his coaching career during his five-year show-cause penalty with an advisory role to his friend Gregg Popovich. At San Antonio, he saw firsthand how Tony Parker enjoyed freedom in running the Spurs’ offense. He also learned various offensive schemes as an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks and Houston Rockets.

When he was eligible to return to NCAA, the Cougars hired him to rehabilitate their program.

Sampson returned to NCAA a changed man. His tough defensive philosophies were still there, but his deliberate style of offense — a trademark over three decades of coaching with Montana Tech, Washington State, Oklahoma, and Indiana — was replaced by the pace and space schemes and gave freedom to his guards as much as the NBA coaches do.

Sampson led the Cougars to the first round of the NIT twice during his first three seasons, followed by a Round of 32 appearance that snapped a seven-year NCAA drought. The next year, the Kentucky Wildcats needed a late Tyler Herro three-pointer to fend off the Cougars in the Sweet 16.

Sampson resurrected Houston’s basketball program that hasn’t been relevant since the Slamma Jamma era.

Their recent success under Sampson factored heavily in Grimes’ decision. As a sweetener, the veteran coach got a ringing endorsement from former NBA MVP James Harden who played with Grimes in a pickup game in Arizona during the pre-Draft process. 

Harden and Sampson forged a good relationship during their time with the Rockets. The former Rockets star texted Sampson right after the pickup game with a glowing review of Grimes.

“He told me he thought Quentin was a really good player, which we already knew. We were already recruiting him. I think James endorsed me heavily to him [as a players’ coach]. I’m sure Quentin appreciated what James said,” Sampson said.

Sampson knew he had a rough diamond in Grimes. So he worked on rounding up the edges. In his mind, Grimes’ case was psychological more than anything else.

“Quentin had to do certain things. Coming out of high school, his whole game revolved around offense,” Sampson said.

They started to work on his rebounding. There was a rebounding drill specifically made for Grimes. Sampson would put a cover on the ring, and Grimes was the only one allowed to get the rebound. So every time his teammates shoot the ball, Grimes had to fight the whole team to grab the rebound.

Under Sampson, Grimes learned to be tough and competitive. Defense became a priority. The offense came only second. But the freedom on offense allowed Grimes to flourish and become a consistent shooter.

“Once he learned how to do those things, that’s when I thought his game had started coming around. Psychologically, the challenge there was getting his confidence up. Getting him to believe in things,” Sampson said.

“I think we do a great job in our program of creating adversity, whether it is through hard work or through my ability to get kids to places where they will push themselves. I think Quentin had to learn those.”

Grimes regained his confidence through hard work and preparation. An ethos that Thibodeau also preaches to his teams.

It was not by accident that Grimes’ numbers began to shoot up. His playing time from Kansas remained the same in his first year in Houston, but he put up better numbers across the board.

The Cougars were bound for another NCAA tournament with Grimes on board until the pandemic scratched the tournament.

“We could really see progress during his sophomore year,” Sampson said. “I think Quentin was excited about that. It’s why he didn’t put his name in the [NBA] draft after his sophomore year because he realized he still had more work to do. And good for Quentin. A lot of kids would hurry to get into the pros, and they’re not ready. Quentin wasn’t ready.”

Sampson thought another year with them would be better than Grimes ending up as a late second-round selection and getting relegated to the G League.

“Psychologically, he still had to be a better rebounder, a better on-ball defender and learn how to win and impact winning. Those are all things that are part of the culture we have. Quentin bought into our culture.” Sampson said.

Grimes continued his upward trajectory in his junior year, posting career-best numbers — 17.8 points and 5.8 rebounds while shooting 40 percent from deep on 5.9 attempts — leading the Cougars to the NCAA Final Four for the first time since 1984.

He also posted his best defensive rating per 100 possessions at 90.1, a 15-point jump from his freshman year.

Grimes made it personal to defend the opposing team’s best player. He was a big part of why the Cougars were the second-best defensive team in the NCAA last season, allowing only 58.2 points per game behind Loyola Chicago’s 56.1-point average.

“He really bought in (to our culture). He’s such a great kid. I thoroughly enjoyed coaching him. To see his progress — almost every game we played this year, he was the best player on the floor — and his confidence took off. His belief in winning grew each game,” Sampson said.

Grimes became the first Cougar to be drafted in the first round since Cadillac Anderson went 23rd in 1987.

In Grimes, the Knicks got a ready-made rookie who can contribute from day one but still has so much room for growth. His appetite for learning is insatiable.

The rookie swingman started his Knicks career poorly, just like the way he did in college. After drilling his first shot — a three-pointer — in the NBA Summer League, he would only hit four of his next 21 attempts from long distance.

But even if his shots were not falling, Grimes didn’t stop playing.

He rebounded the ball, made plays for his teammates, and played resolute defense. 

Sampson was not worried, but still, he sent a text of encouragement to his former star.

“He started out like a rookie,” Sampson said. “I’m sure there were some anxiety and nerves. He was playing with a shoot-first point guard, whereas he played with a pass-first point guard in college. So he’s gonna have to be able to adjust with different styles and players, knowing that he’s not gonna be the first option. It took him a game or two to adjust, but once he did, you saw how good he is.”

Grimes finished the Summer League on a bright note. His final numbers were solid: 15.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists with nearly a steal and a block per game.

Grimes shrugged off his poor shooting start and ended up with a staggering 41-percent clip on nine three-point attempts.

In a loaded Knicks team, it will be hard to replicate those numbers in the regular season. Minutes would be hard to come by for rookies. But Sampson believes Grimes can earn his way into the rotation.

“He’s a smart kid,” Sampson said. “He knew that he’s not gonna be the first option. But even if you already know that, it will take some time to adjust.”

“He’s gonna be filling in a role. If you think about the NBA, everybody is a role player. For the best guys on that team, that’s their role. For the guys who take the most shots, that’s their role. So Quentin will settle into a role. Once he does, he has to accept it. Be the best that he can be at it. Each year, try to get better. That’s the key,” Sampson added.

Grimes’ initial role could be a 3-and-D spark off the bench when the veterans ahead of him, such as Alec Burks, Evan Fournier, and RJ Barrett, go down with an injury or having off nights. But during his introductory presser, Grimes was adamant that he’s more than just a 3-and-D guy.

Sampson agrees. 

“If you watch [Quentin] play with the Knicks this summer and with us and also at the [Draft] Combine in Chicago, he showed that he could make plays. He is an outstanding defender and a three-point shooter. But he also can put the ball on the floor and create,” Sampson said.

“But as a rookie, he’s just gonna go get in and sacrifice and figure out what coach Thibs wants him to do and do that. If he wants him to be a and 3-and-D guy, then be that guy. If they give you the freedom to do some other things, then make sure you’re ready to do that.”

Sampson, like Thibodeau, has built a reputation as a winner everywhere he goes. Grimes has been wired like a Thibs’ guy. So there’s no doubt in Sampson’s mind that Thibodeau will be able to find a role for Grimes.

“The Knicks organization knows how to win,” Sampson said. “Thibs has been doing that longer than anybody that has been commenting or writing or talking. He knows what he’s doing. He’ll put Quentin in the best position, and more importantly, their team to succeed.”

The Knicks identified what Thibodeau wanted and needed to succeed. Their thorough scouting and sleuthing led them to Grimes, an underrated talent and a high-character guy who will put in the work and put winning above all else.

“Good players, at some point, have to embrace winning over statistics. If all you care about is statistics, then you’re not about winning. Winning is far more important than putting up stats,” Sampson said. “Coaches want to see how much you impact winning, not how many points you can score.”

That is what the Knicks saw in Grimes. The former five-star prospect overcame adversity and repaired his shattered confidence once he embraced the Cougars’ culture and learned to impact winning. Sampson unlocked his true gifts and, in the process, molded him to become a quintessential Thibs guy.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

Should the New York Yankees bid for Trevor Bauer’s services?

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New York Yankees, Trevor Bauer

Despite the acquisition of Gerrit Cole, the New York Yankees still have issues relating to their starting pitching depth. Masahiro Tanaka, J.A. Happ, and James Paxton are impending free agents. Not to mention Luis Severino is still recovering from Tommy John Surgery. That leaves Cole, Jordan Montgomery, and the young Deivi Garcia as possible rotation options in 2021.

The Yankees do have internal options in Clarke Schmidt, Michael King, and Nick Nelson. They also have Domingo German, who recently completed his 81-game domestic violence suspension. However, they need a more experienced arm if they want to become a true contender. One impending free agent comes to mind, an old college teammate of Gerrit Cole’s.

Trevor Bauer:

2020 Stats (CIN):

5-4, 1.73 ERA, 11 Starts, 100 SO, 73.0 IP, .795 WHIP, 2.7 WAR

Perhaps one of the top impending free agents, Trevor Bauer’s stock has been on the rise in recent years. The shortened 2020 season was no different, as he led the N.L. in ERA (1.73), ERA+ (276), and WHIP (.795). He also led all of baseball with minuscule 5.1 Hits per 9 Innings (H9). He also pitched brilliantly in Game one of the N.L. against Atlanta, allowing only two hits and striking out 12 in 7.2 shutout innings. With a potential NL Cy Young Award possibly heading for his home, Bauer’s value couldn’t be any higher as he enters the free-agent market.

The Baseball Mercenary

However, negotiations with the 29-year-old right-hander will be quite interesting. He has made it known that he wants one-year deals, essentially making him a baseball mercenary. The short contract length could potentially draw more suitors, but one question remains: How much money does Bauer want?

Given the great season he had in his walk year, Bauer could command an Average Annual Value (AAV) in at least the mid-upper $20 Million range. Should he truly want a one-year deal, it might take even more. With large financial commitments to Cole and Giancarlo Stanton, then the price tag may make GM Brian Cashman hesitant to bite.

That’s not before mentioning what Bauer brings besides his right arm. Bauer has not been afraid to speak his mind the past few seasons, especially on Twitter, and his personality can be an acquired taste for some fans and players. One potential issue about bringing Bauer to the Bronx is his relationship with our current ace.

Could Cole be the deal-breaker?

The two were teammates at UCLA but had a rocky relationship despite being one of the one-two combinations in college baseball history. In an article posted by MLB.com in May 2018, Bauer opened up about the issues prior to a matchup between Bauer’s Indians and Cole’s Astros.

“We had a rocky relationship in college because he told me that I had no future in baseball, and he insulted my work ethic as a freshman,” Bauer said in the article. “I don’t take kindly to those couple of things, so we had our issues.”

Their issues didn’t take away from the Bruins’ 2011 season, winning the NCAA championship. The two followed up with high placements in the 2011 draft, with Cole going first overall to the Pirates. Bauer was selected by the Diamondbacks just two picks later, at third overall.

In the MLB.com article, Bauer said his negative feelings for Cole have “long since faded.” His agent, Rachel Luba, recently tweeted similar sentiment in late September. That’s one step in the right direction. What we need to know now is, “what does Cole think of Bauer?”

Conclusion:

Hopefully, if Bauer does sign with the Yankees, Cole can put his previous issues with him aside and focus on the big picture. Both are entering their 30s, in the prime of their careers, and hungry for World Series championships. It’s wishful thinking, but hopefully, they can put aside their differences to help the Yankees return to dominance.

Wherever he signs, Bauer’s antics will be ignored as long as he produces near what he did in 2020. It’s ultimately results that matter.

Contract Prediction (Regardless of Team):

1-Year, $25-$30 Million with an option for a second year.

Dr. Fauci suggests a summer return for sports

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In an interview with Peter Hanby of Snapchat, the nation’s top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci suggested a summer return for major sports. But, the return would have some restrictions.

“Nobody comes to the stadium. Put [the players] in big hotels, wherever you want to play, keep them very well surveilled,” said Fauci. “Have them tested every single week and make sure they don’t wind up infecting each other or their family and just let them play the season out.”

There have been similar proposals, such as the MLB’s to play in Florida and Arizona, as well as the NBA’s proposal to play the remainder of the season and the postseason in Las Vegas. From what Fauci said, it seems as if players would get some access to their families as long as players stay relatively isolated.

Right now, the PGA Tour is the first sport to have a return set. They will return to the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 11th. Racing events such as NASCAR may end up returning around the same time.

President Donald Trump has set up a committee focused on reopening the economy when safe. Most league commissioners will be giving input, as well as Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

“I’m absolutely looking forward to trying to help,” said Cuban, also seen on ABC’s ‘Shark Tank’.

The committee is rumored to begin preliminary meetings on Wednesday and will continue to have frequent meetings until further notice.

It’s great that sports are nearing a safe return, and that Dr. Fauci is in agreement.

“I’m living in Washington, we have the world champion Washington Nationals,” said Fauci. “I want to see them play again.”

 

Survey shows that fans are unlikely to attend events until COVID-19 vaccine

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Recently, Seton Hall University conducted a poll about how fans felt about attending sporting events after the COVID-19 outbreak.

The survey showed that 72% of fans would not attend games until after a vaccine is developed for coronavirus. 12% of those surveyed said that they would feel safe attending events with proper social distancing, and 13% said that they would feel just as safe as before the outbreak.

76% of fans surveyed said that they would watch games on television with no fans in the stands, and would still be interested. Unfortunately for NFL fans, 70% of those surveyed believe that the season should not start as planned.

76% of fans also think that leagues shut down at the right time, and 84% thought that the IOC made the right decision about this year’s Olympics in Japan.

This survey was completed by 762 Americans and has a margin of error of +/-3.6 percent.

While a lot of results are disappointing, they aren’t unexpected. With a disease so contagious, it’s hard to see how stadiums and arenas could be packed with thousands of fans, shoulder-to-shoulder. I believe that once coronavirus peaks, we can start to consider leagues restarting again but with restrictions. If it’s safe enough, I think that you could end up seeing a limited attendance. If it’s not quite as safe as we hope, we likely see no attendance.

But, I do think it will eventually be safe enough to play games again this year. Vaccines and therapy methods are being worked on, and people are continuing to social distance. It’s just a matter of whether we can attend or not.

2020 Big East Men’s Basketball Tournament Preview

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New York Knicks, Myles Powell, Big East, Seton Hall Pirates

As the Big East Men’s Basketball Tournament descends upon Manhattan again, several upstart squads battle nationally-ranked groups.

The Big East is dead. Long live the Big East.

Left for dead after conference realignment took some major players, the Big East men’s basketball conference has gone on to provide stellar entertainment. The 2019-20 season proved to be no exception, as the conference routinely saw its top squads ranked, led by recent mainstays Villanova and Seton Hall.

Here’s what you need to know heading into the tournament’s proceedings as it gets underway on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.

1. Creighton Bluejays (24-7, 13-5)

Head Coach: Greg McDermott (10th season, 231-116)
Key Players: G Ty-Shon Alexander (16.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 2.3 APG), G Mitch Ballock (11.9 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 3.1 APG), F Damien Jefferson (9.4 PPG, 5.5 RPG)
Last Big East Tournament Title: None (Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2018)

The Bluejays surged into the top seed with a dominant finale over Seton Hall but will have to through their Manhattan trip without breakout sophomore Marcus Zegarowski, who was lost to a knee injury in the big final win.

2. Villanova Wildcats (24-7, 13-5)

Head Coach: Jay Wright (19th season, 471-182)
Key Players: F Saddiq Bey (16.1 PPG, 4.7 RPG), G Collin Gillespie (15.1 PPG, 4.5 APG), F Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (10.5 PPG, 9.4 RPG)
Last Big East Tournament Title: 2019

Already armed with two of the last three national titles, the Wildcats enter this tournament defending unprecedented ground, having won the last three Big East get-togethers in New York.

3. Seton Hall Pirates (21-9, 13-5)

Head Coach: Kevin Willard (10th season, 191-134)
Key Players: G Myles Powell (21.0 PPG, 4.3 RPG), F Sandro Mamukelashvili (11.9 PPG, 6.0 RPG), G Quincy McKnight (11.9 PPG, 5.4 APG)
Last Big East Tournament Title: 2016

Resiliency has been key for the Pirates, who managed a stellar season despite injuries to stars Powell and Mamukelashvili, as they enter having suffered consecutive losses to Creighton and Villanova that cost them the top seed.

4. Providence Friars (19-12, 12-6)

Head Coach: Ed Cooley (9th season, 181-122)
Key Players: G Alpha Diallo (14.1 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 1.5 SPG), G David Duke (12.0 PPG, 4.2 RPG), G Luwane Pipkins (10.9 PPG, 2.9 RPG)
Last Big East Tournament Title: 2014

Providence quickly became the one team no one wants to face on the Garden hardwood, having won each of their last six games (featuring wins over Seton Hall, Marquette, and Villanova) and building a stellar NCAA tournament case.

5. Butler Bulldogs (22-9, 10-8)

Head Coach: LaVall Jordan (3rd season, 59-40)
Key Players: G Kamar Baldwin (16.2 PPG, 4.6 RPG), F Sean McDermott (11.7 PPG, 6.3 RPG), F Bryce Nze (9.2 PPG, 6.6 RPG)
Last Big East Tournament Title: None (Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2018)

The Bulldogs never truly lived up to the potential of a 15-1 start, but are plenty dangerous thanks to the offensive prowess of the senior Baldwin (three games of at 30 points, including 36 in a finale win over Xavier).

6. Marquette Golden Eagles (18-12, 8-1)

Head Coach: Steve Wojciechowski (6th season, 115-81)
Key Players: G Markus Howard (27.8 PPG, 3.5 RPG), G Sacar Amin (13.1 PPG, 4.1 RPG)
Last Big East Tournament Title: None (Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2019)

The Markus Howard era, one that featured more points than any other player in Big East history, is set to end with a thud after the Eagles lost six of their final seven (all but one by single digits) entering the conference tournament.

7. Xavier Musketeers (19-12, 8-10)

Head Coach: Travis Steele (2nd season, 38-28)
Key Players: F Naji Marshall (16.9 PPG, 6.2 RPG), F Tyrique Jones (13.7 PPG, 11.2 APG)
Last Big East Tournament Title: None (Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2018)

The Musketeers’ situation, forced to play in Wednesday night’s first-round action, is more of an indication of just how powerful the conference was this year, as each of their last five losses came by a single digit.

8. Georgetown Hoyas (15-16, 5-13)

Head Coach: Patrick Ewing (3rd season, 49-45)
Key Players: G Jahvon Blair (10.9 PPG, 3.0 RPG), F Jamorko Pickett (10.PPG, 6.2 RPG)
Last Big East Tournament Title: 2007

After losing each of his top three scorers to injuries (Omer Yurtseven, Mac McClung, and James Akinjo), getting 15 wins (including one over top-seed Creighton) might’ve been enough of a win for Ewing and company.

9. St. John’s Red Storm (16-15, 5-13)

Head Coach: Mike Anderson (1st season)
Key Players: G LJ Figueroa (14.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG), G Mustapha Heron (13.8 PPG, 2.4 RPG)
Last Big East Tournament Title: 2000

The future certainly has a chance bright for Anderson in Queens, whose young team also boasts the services of conference All-Freshman nominee Julian Champagnie.

10. DePaul Blue Demons (15-16, 3-15)

Head Coach: Dave Leitao (8th season, 120-135)
Key Players: G Charlie Moore (15.5 PPG, 6.0 APG), F Jaylen Butz (10.1 PPG, 5.3 RPG)
Last Big East Tournament Title: None (Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 2004)

A brilliant start for the perennial doormat Blue Demons (12-1, including a win over defending national finalist Texas Tech) went by the wayside once conference play began.

Schedule

Wednesday, March 11
#8 Georgetown vs. #9 St. John’s (7:00 p.m. ET, FS1)
#7 Xavier vs. #10 DePaul (9:30 p.m. ET, FS1)

Thursday, March 12
#1 Creighton vs. Georgetown/St. John’s (12:00 p.m. ET, FS1)
#4 Providence vs. #5 Butler (2:30 p.m., FS1)
#2 Villanova vs. Xavier/DePaul (7:00 p.m., FS1)
#3 Seton Hall vs. #6 Marquette (9:30 p.m., FS1)

Friday, March 13
Semifinal #1 (6:30 p.m. ET, FS1)
Semifinal #2 (9:00 p.m. ET, FS1)

Saturday, March 14
Championship (6:30 p.m. ET, Fox)

Prediction

St John’s over Georgetown
Xavier over DePaul

Creighton over St. John’s
Providence over Butler
Villanova over Xavier
Seton Hall over Marquette

Providence over Creighton
Seton Hall over Villanova

Seton Hall over Providence

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

Michigan State Wins Against Top 10, rival Michigan

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Before we dive into this game, let’s explain how Big Ten basketball is going to work on this site for the rest of the season. Longer write-ups of the best games will be posted, not short blurbs for each game. Come the conference tournament, we will break down each game, as well as every NCAA Tournament game with a Big Ten team. Empire Sports Media is lacking a lot of Big Ten coverage, and especially on the basketball side. If you are interested in writing for the site, click here.

On Sunday, Michigan State went on the road to face cross-state rival Michigan and got it done in hostile territory, 77-70. Michigan State moved up to 23-5 (14-3 B1G), and Michigan dropped down to 24-4 (13-4 B1G).

The game may of proved to be a big swing in the projected NCAA Tournament bracket, Michigan possibly dropping to a three seed while Michigan State may of moved up to a two seed.

Cassius Winston had a monster night for the Spartans, scoring 27 points and dropping eight dimes. Big fella Kenny Goins had a nice 16 point, 11 rebound double-double and Xavier Tillman added 14 points and five rebounds. Senior captain Matt McQuaid added 13 points and five rebounds.

Michigan State had a seven point lead at one point in the first half that quickly diminished from three-pointers from Zavier Simpson and Ignas Brazdeikis, as well as a Jordan Poole layup.

Simpson played all 40 minutes and led Michigan with 19 points. Brazdeikis had 16 points and nine rebounds, and Poole added 15 points. Jon teske also had a 10 point, 11 rebound double-double, along with a block.

Overall, the first half stayed pretty close, and Michigan State went into the intermission with a 39-37 lead.

it remained close in the first 10 minutes of the second half, too. But then Michigan seemed to run out of steam. Cassius Winston and Kenny Goins each hit jumpers, Tillman hit a layup, Aaron Henry had two free-throws, Cassius Winston had another two, and Tillman threw one down. In that five or so minute span, Michigan only had four points and Michigan State had a seven point lead.

Michigan couldn’t really recover, and had trouble denting into the lead late, but Jordan Poole did hit a three with 33 second left to make it a four point game. But that didn’t matter, Cassius Winston was in the midst of seven straight free-throws, and hit four of them in the last 33 seconds. Kenny Goins also went 1-of-2 from the line, and Zavier Simpson hit a meaningless layup for Michigan with eight seconds left.

Michigan State shot 50 percent on the night, compared to just 40 percent for Michigan. But, Michigan had four more offensive rebounds than Michigan State, leading to second chance points.

Michigan had more fouls and turnovers than Michigan State, as well as outrebounded by two.

New York Knicks: Potential Late-Round/Undrafted Picks That Could Provide Value

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In the 2018-2019 season, the New York Knicks offense has been a liability, 26th in the league in PPG, and dead last in field goal percentage. With that being said, the Knicks need offense and only have one first round pick, and need to find ways to get young offense without giving up that much, or anything. Today we look at five mid-major seniors that have proven to be great scorers that the Knicks could get in the second round, or sign as an undrafted free-agent.

Chris Clemons (Campbell)

Chris Clemons is one of the most prolific scorers in college basketball history, currently eighth all-time with over 3,000 career points. In his senior season, he leads college basketball at 29.8 PPG and shoots the three ball at 38 percent, and is an 86 percent free-throw shooter. His only drawback is his defense. At only 5’9, he can throw it down and gets over a steal a game, but will likely have trouble defending high level guards like James Harden, who stands at 6’5. He does rebound very well for his size, with over five a game. He could be an off-the-bench option to come in against the second string and get a few buckets and come right back out. Clemons will likely go undrafted.

Mike Daum (South Dakota State)

Mike Daum is the best forward in college basketball that nobody talks about. He averages well over a double-double a game at 25.4 PPG and 11.6 RPG. At 6’9, he shoots well and his field goal percentage is over 50 percent. He is having a down year from three at 36 percent, but shot it 43 percent just a year ago. His weakness is defense, as he averages less than a block and a steal per game, numbers that should be higher for his size. Daum could be a role player that boosts the Knicks offense and rebounding numbers. Daum will likely be a mid to late second rounder.

Justin Wright-Foreman (Hofstra)

Justin Wright-Foreman is one of the best players in the country, and is third in the NCAA at 26.3 PPG He doesn’t take a lot of shots either, with his field goal percentage at 51 percent and his three-point percentage at almost 43 percent. He is very efficient and only turns the ball over about twice per game. His free-throw shooting also makes him a guy you don’t want to foul, at almost 88 percent. Wright-Foreman could be good enough to be a sixth man, but his defense is below average, with less than a block and a steal per game. Wright-Foreman will likely be an early to mid second rounder.

Matt Morgan (Cornell)

Matt Morgan is one of the best the historic Ivy League has ever seen. He is currently at 10th in the nation in PPG at 23.6. His field goal percentage is around 52 percent and shoots the three at over 45 percent. Statistically, he is the best shooter on this list. Morgan is one of the most efficient players in the NCAA, and leads the country in POS/G (Per Synergy Basketball). He gets almost three assists and five rebounds at 6’2, putting him just under the average NBA guard height. His defense is improved and could be a three-point specialist in the NBA. Morgan would be a late second rounder to undrafted.

Jordan Davis (Northern Colorado)

Jordan Davis is 11th in the country in scoring at 23.5 PPG, but his game does have a few drawbacks. He is one of the best all-around mid major players, averaging five assists and five rebounds a game. His defense is average, providing over a steal a game. But his shooting percentages are worrisome, but improving. He shoots 47 percent from the field, but just 37 percent from three. This season is the first season that he shot over 30 percent from three, and his free-throw percentage is at 81 percent. Before this season, his highest was at 70 percent. Davis is improving, but not quite NBA ready. He may benefit from a year or two in the G-League. He will likely go undrafted.

Penn State upsets Michigan, Illinois continues strong play: Big Ten Week in Review (2/12-2/17)

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This week in Big Ten basketball, Penn State finally pieced it altogether and pulled off a major upset at home over Michigan, and Illinois has now won five of their last six, including wins over two ranked opponents. Joe Wisekamp also hit a huge buzzer-beater to lift Iowa over Rutgers. Let’s get into the games!

Game Scores & Mini-recaps:

6 Michigan vs. Penn State: Penn State 75, Michigan 69

Penn State built a 13 point halftime lead and fought off a late rally in an upset win over Michigan. Michigan shot 5 percent better than Penn State from the field, but Penn State drew 21 total fouls. Lamar Stevens led Penn State with 26 points and 12 rebounds. Charles Matthews had 24 for the Wolverines.

11 Michigan State vs. 20 Wisconsin: Michigan State 67, Wisconsin 59

Michigan State shot 41 percent from three and picked up another solid conference win over Wisconsin. Cassius Winston had 23 points, six rebounds, and six assists. Kenny Goins and Nick Ward were also in double-figures, and Ethan Happ led Wisconsin with 20 points and 12 rebounds.

12 Purdue vs. 24 Maryland: Maryland 70, Purdue 56

Maryland held the number 12 team in the nation to just 56 points as they picked up another big win. Purdue got 24 points from Carsen Edwards in the loss, but shot a poor 8-of-27. Five Terrapins were in double figures, including Bruno Fernando who had a 12 point, 12 rebound double-double.

Rutgers vs. Northwestern: Rutgers 59, Northwestern 56

Geo Baker and Montez Mathis each had 12 points to lead Rutgers to a home win over Northwestern. Eugene Omoruyi added 11 points and seven rebounds. Vic Law had 17 points, and A.J. Turner had 11 points for Northwestern.

Minnesota vs. Nebraska: Nebraska 62, Minnesota 61

James Palmer Jr. hit two free-throws with a second left as Nebraska survived at home against Minnesota. Palmer Jr. had 24 points on the night, and Glynn Watson Jr. had 19 points. Jordan Murphy led Minnesota with 19 points and 13 rebounds, and Daniel Oturu had 16.

Illinois vs. Ohio State: Illinois 63, Ohio State 56

Ohio State was held to just 36 percent shooting at home as Illinois came into town to stun the Buckeyes and continue their strong play. Trent Frazier and Ayo Dosunmu each had 15 points, and Giorgi Bezhanishvilli had 13 points and seven rebounds. C.J. Jackson had 17 points for Ohio State, and the Wessons combined for 21 points and 10 rebounds.

24 Maryland vs. 6 Michigan: Michigan 65, Maryland 52

Despite Cassius Winston being out, Michigan still played well and got a win over a ranked Maryland team at home. Ignas Brazdeikas, Charles Matthews, and Zavier Simpson all were in double-figures for the Wolverines. Aaron Wiggins led Maryland with 15 points and six boards off of the bench.

Penn State vs. 12 Purdue: Purdue 76, Penn State 64

Purdue bounced back from their poor shooting night last game to shoot 52 percent and get a win over Penn State. Carsen Edwards had 21 points to pace Purdue, and Matt Haarms had 18 points and six rebounds. Lamar Stevens had 18 points and Rasir Bolton had 17 points for the Nittany Lions.

21 Iowa vs. Rutgers: Iowa 71, Rutgers 69

Joe Wisekamp hit an improbable baseline three-pointer off of the glass at the buzzer as Iowa stunned Rutgers in New Jersey. Jordan Bohannon led Iowa with 18 points and five assists, Isaiah Moss had 17, and Tyler Cook had 12 points and seven rebounds. Ron Harper Jr. had 16 for Rutgers, and Eugene Omoruyi had 10 points and 11 boards.

Indiana vs. Minnesota: Minnesota 84, Indiana 63

Jordan Murphy had a huge 23 point, 11 rebound double-double as Minnesota blew out Indiana at home. Gabe Kalscheur also had 20 points, While Aaron Coffey had 18 points, seven assists, and six rebounds. Juwan Morgan led Indiana with 14 points and eight rebounds.

Northwestern vs. Nebraska: Nebraska 59, Northwestern 50

Isaiah Roby had 19 points and 16 rebounds, along with five blocks to pace Nebraska in a win over Nebraska. James Palmer Jr. and Glynn Watson Jr. were also in double figures for the winners. Vic Law had 15 points and Derek Pardon had 13 points and 12 rebounds.

Ohio State vs. 11 Michigan State: Michigan State 62, Ohio State 54

Ohio State was held to just 32 percent shooting on the road as they were blown out by Michigan State. Matt McQuaid had 14 points, and Cassius Winston had 13 points and eight assists for the Spartans. Kaleb Wesson led the Buckeyes with 12 points and nine rebounds.

Standings & Rankings:

7 Michigan, 23-3 (12-3)

10 Michigan State, 21-5 (12-3)

15 Purdue, 18-7 (11-3)

24 Maryland, 19-7 (10-5)

21 Iowa, 20-5 (9-5)

22 Wisconsin, 17-8 (9-5)

Minnesota, 17-9 (7-8)

Ohio State, 16-9 (6-8)

Illinois, 10-15 (6-8)

Nebraska, 15-11 (5-10)

Rutgers, 12-13 (5-10)

Indiana, 13-12 (4-10)

Northwestern, 12-13 (3-11)

Penn State, 9-16 (2-12)

 

 

 

 

Illinois upsets Michigan State: Big Ten week in review (2/4-2/10)

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Illinois pulled off a crazy upset over Michigan St. this week, and Iowa’s Jordan Bohannon hit a crazy buzzer-beater in a win over Northwestern to lead the story-lines of the week. Let’s get into the games!

Scores & Mini-recaps

Penn State vs. Northwestern: Penn State 59, Northwestern 52

Penn State’s 18 points from Lamar Stevens and 14 points from Rasir Bolton off the bench was enough for Penn State to pick up their first conference win. Penn State shot just 38 percent, but limited Northwestern to just 32 percent. Derek Pardon had 18 points and 10 rebounds and Vic Law had 10 points and 10 rebounds for Northwestern.

7 Michigan vs. Rutgers: Michigan 77, Rutgers 65

Ignas Brazdeikis led Michigan with 23 points as the Wolverines were able to pick up a road win at Rutgers. Jon Teske and Jordan Poole combined for 22 points but shot a poor 8-for-23 together. Eugene Omoruyi had 21 points and Montez Mathis had 12 points for Rutgers.

9 Michigan St. vs. Illinois: Illinois 79, Michigan St. 74

Illinois pulled the upset of the week with a big home win over Michigan State. Ayo Dosunmu had 24 points, Giorgi Bezhanishvilli had 16, and Trent Frazier had 15 for the winners. Cassius Winston had another big night for Michigan St., finishing with 21 points and nine assists.

19 Wisconsin vs. Minnesota: Wisconsin 56, Minnesota 51

Ethan Happ had a 15 point, 13 rebound double-double to lead Wisconsin to a road victory over Minnesota. Brad Davidson added 10 points, and Nate Reuvers had nine rebounds and seven blocks for Wisconsin. Jordan Murphy had a huge 16 point, 19 rebound performance for the losers.

24 Maryland vs. Nebraska: Maryland 60, Nebraska 45

Jalen Smith and Bruno Fernando both had double-doubles to power Maryland past Nebraska. Maryland shot the ball 38 percent, but held Nebraska to an extremely poor 21 percent, including 0-for-10 shooting from Glynn Watson Jr. for Nebraska. Isaiah Roby 20 points and 1 rebounds to lead the Cornhuskers.

20 Iowa vs. Indiana: Iowa 77, Indiana 72

Jordan Bohannon and Tyler Cook combined for 46 points for Iowa in their win over Indiana. Iowa made 10 threes and 13 free-throws on the night. Romeo Langford had 22 points and five rebounds for Indiana, and Juwan Morgan added 17.

Penn State vs. Ohio State: Ohio State 74, Penn State 70

Ohio State’s 50 percent shooting helped power them to a win over the feisty Penn State Nittany Lions. Luther Muhammad had 20 points, and Andre Wesson had 15 points and 10 boards for the Buckeyes. Lamar Stevens and Josh Reaves each had 20 for Penn State,.

19 Wisconsin vs. 7 Michigan: Michigan 61, Wisconsin 52

Charles Matthews had 18 points, and Jon Teske had 17 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Wolverines over the Badgers. Michigan shot 45 percent while limiting themselves to just five turnovers.  Ethan Happ had 18 points and 11 rebounds to pace Wisconsin.

Minnesota vs. 9 Michigan State: Michigan St. 79, Minnesota 55

Michigan State finally broke out of their three game losing streak with a blowout win over the sliding Minnesota Golden Gophers. nick Ward had 22 points and nine rebounds and Cassius Winston had 11 points and nine assists. Matt McQuaid added 18 points, and eight more assists, as Michigan State thrives off the catch-and-shoot. Gabe Kalscheur had 17 points for Minnesota.

Nebraska vs. 15 Purdue: Purdue 81, Nebraska 62

Carsen Edwards dropped 27 points as Purdue blew out Nebraska at home. Grady Eifert had 16 points, and Nojel Eastern had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Thomas Allen led Nebraska with 18 points off the bench, and Nebraska shot just 38 percent on the night.

Rutgers vs. Illinois: Illinois 99, Rutgers 94 (OT)

Giorgi Bezhanishvilli exploded for 35 points, as Illinois took down Rutgers at home in overtime. Four total players would reach double figures for Illinois, who shot the ball 50 percent. Caleb McConnell had a big night for Rutgers with 25 points and nine rebounds off the bench.

Northwestern vs. 20 Iowa: Iowa 80, Northwestern 79

Iowa was down 15 points with 4:30 left, but Iowa fought back and won the game thanks to a Jordan Bohannon buzzer-beater. He had 15 points, but Joe Wieskamp led with 21 points while Tyler cook had 19 points and 11 rebounds. Vic Law led Northwestern with 24 points and 10 boards.

Ohio State vs. Indiana: Ohio State 55, Indiana 52

Indiana couldn’t convert in the final seconds to send the game into overtime, as Ohio State snuck away from Bloomington with a 55-52 win. The Wesson brothers combined for 25 of Ohio State’s 55 points, as the team shot 44 percent. Romeo Langford had 15 points for Indiana, while Juwan Morgan was held in-check with just three points, but still managed to haul-in 14 boards.

Standings & Rankings

6 Michigan, 22-2 (11-2)

12 Purdue, 17-6 (10-2)

11 Michigan St., 19-5 (10-3)

20 Wisconsin, 17-7 (9-4)

24 Maryland, 18-6 (9-4)

21 Iowa, 19-5 (8-5)

Ohio State, 16-7 (6-6)

Minnesota, 16-8 (6-7)

Illinois, 9-15 (5-8)

Indiana, 13-11 (4-9)

Rutgers, 11-12 (4-9)

Northwestern, 12-11 (3-9)

Nebraska, 13-11 (3-10)

Penn State, 8-15 (1-11)

 

Iowa and Indiana pull major upsets: Big Ten basketball week in review (1/29-2/3)

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Another fun week of Big Ten hoops is led by Iowa dominating Michigan, Indiana upsetting Michigan St., and Wisconsin with two big wins. Six teams hit the Top 25 this week! There were 12 games, so let’s dive into it!

Results & Mini-Recaps

Ohio St. vs. 5 Michigan: Michigan 65, Ohio State 49

Zavier Simpson’s triple-double with 11 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds helped Michigan cruise past Ohio State. Four different Michigan players got into double-figures, including 12 points off the bench for sophomore Isaiah Livers. Kaleb Wesson led Ohio State with 12 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks.

Northwestern vs. 21 Maryland: Maryland 70, Northwestern 52

Bruno Fernando’s 22 points and 10 rebounds helped lead Maryland to a convincing win over Northwestern. Maryland held Northwestern to just 31 percent from the field. Jalen Smith had 14 points and nine rebounds to support Fernando. Anthony Gaines had 18 points and seven rebounds to lead Northwestern.

24 Wisconsin vs. Nebraska: Wisconsin 62, Nebraska 51

Wisconsin held Nebraska to just 28 percent from the field to beat Nebraska, despite being out-rebounded. Three Wisconsin Badgers were in double figures, including Ethan Happ who also had nine rebounds. Isaiah Roby had 18 points and nine rebounds to lead Nebraska.

Indiana vs. Rutgers: Rutgers 66, Indiana 58

Rutgers strong effort on the boards helped them beat the struggling Indiana Hoosiers. Three Scarlet Knights were in double-figures, and they held Indiana to just 35 percent shooting. Romeo Langford led Indiana with 20 points and six rebounds in the loss.

Illinois vs. Minnesota: Minnesota 86, Illinois 75

Five Minnesota players were in double-figures as they beat Illinois by 11. Minnesota shot a strong 50 percent in the win, compared to 45 percent from Illinois. Trent Frazier had a huge 30 point performance for Illinois in the loss, and two Fighting Illini were in double-figures off of the bench.

17 Purdue vs. Penn St.: Purdue 99, Penn St. 90 (OT)

Purdue shot the lights out at 55 percent, and survived the last-place Penn State in overtime. Conference scoring leader Carsen Edwards exploded for 38 points, and teammate Ryan Cline added 20. Lamar Stevens had 24 points for Penn State, and the Nittany Lions hit 30 free-throws to counter their poor 39 percent shooting.

5 Michigan vs. Iowa: Iowa 74, Michigan 59

Iowa jumped out to a 13 point halftime lead on their home floor and used that to knock off the number five team in the country. Luke Garza and Joe Wieskamp had 19 and 16 points, respectively for the winners. Iowa held Michigan to just 32 percent from the field. Three Wolverines made it into double-figures.

21 Maryland vs. 24 Wisconsin: Wisconsin 69, Maryland 61

Wisconsin used a dominating second half after trailing at halftime to beat Maryland at home. Brad Davidson had 21 points for Wisconsin, and Ethan Happ had an 18 point, 11 rebound double-double as well. Bruno Fernando had a double-double to lead the Terrapins.

Indiana vs. 6 Michigan St.: Indiana 79. Michigan St. 75 (OT)

Despite losing Juwan Morgan in the first half to a shoulder injury, Indiana ended their skid with a huge road upset over Michigan St. Romeo Langford led the winners with 19 points, and Justin Smith had 13 points and 10 rebounds with the game-sealing block. Cassius Winston had a huge night for the Spartans with 26 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists.

Rutgers vs. Ohio State: Ohio State 76, Rutgers 62

Ohio State shot the ball 53 percent to lead to a victory over Rutgers. Kaleb Wesson had 27 points and five assists, and C.J. Jackson had 20 points and seven rebounds. Despite the win, they trailed -11 in the rebound margin.  Eugene Omoruyi had 19 points, eight rebounds, and six rebounds for Rutgers in the loss.

Nebraska vs. Illinois: Illinois 71, Nebraska 64

Illinois balanced scoring and strong defense led them to a win over Nebraska. Kipper Nichols had 18 points off the bench, while Illinois held Nebraska to just 36 percent from the field. James Palmer Jr. had 22 points and eight rebounds for Nebraska, and Tanner Borchardt had 12 points and 18 rebounds.

Minnesota vs. 17 Purdue: Purdue 73, Minnesota 63

Purdue had five players in double-figures and shot the ball 48 percent in a win over Minnesota. Carsen Edwards led Purdue with 17 points, five rebounds, and five assists, and Nojel Eastern had 11 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two steals in an all-around effort. Amir Coffey had 22 points for Minnesota, and Daniel Oturu had 19 points and nine rebounds off of the bench.

Standings & Rankings

7 Michigan, 20-2 (9-2 )

9 Michigan St., 18-4 (9-2)

15 Purdue, 16-6 (9-2)

19 Wisconsin, 16-6 (8-3)

24 Maryland, 17-6 (8-4)

20 Iowa, 17-5 (6-5)

Minnesota, 16-6 (6-5)

Ohio State, 14-7 (4-6)

Rutgers, 11-10 (4-7)

Indiana, 13-9 (4-7)

Northwestern, 12-9 (3-7)

Nebraska, 13-9 (3-8)

Illinois, 7-15 (3-8)

Penn St., 7-14 (0-10)