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Monday, March 15, 2021

PUBLIC LEAGUE RED WEST-NORTH

Orr at Lincoln Park, 5:00

Young at Clark, PPD/CNL

PUBLIC LEAGUE WHITE-CENTRAL

Catalyst-Maria at Kennedy, 5:00

Dunbar at Solorio, 5:00

Kennedy at Hubbard, 5:00

Urban Prep-Englewood at Lindblom, 5:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE WHITE-NORTH

Lake View at Sullivan, 5:00

Prosser at Senn, 5:00

Senn at Mather, 6:30

Von Steuben at Uplift, 5:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE WHITE-SOUTH

Vocational at Julian, 5:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE BLUE-CENTRAL

Back of the Yards at Kelly, 5:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE BLUE-NORTH

Marine at Chicago Academy, 5:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE BLUE-WEST

Douglass at Little Village, 5:00

NON CONFERENCE

Bowen at Fenger, 5:00

Clemente at Curie, 5:00

Jones at Schurz, 7:00

King at Amundsen, 7:00

Ogden at Steinmetz, 5:00

Perspectives-MSA at Englewood-STEM, 6:00

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

PUBLIC LEAGUE RED SOUTH-CENTRAL

Brooks at Simeon, 5:00

Corliss at Curie, 5:00

Hyde Park at Bogan, 5:00

Phillips at Morgan Park, 5:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE WHITE-CENTRAL

Catalyst-Maria at Tilden, 5:00

Kennedy at Dunbar, 6:30

King at Richards (Chgo), 5:00

Lindblom at Hubbard, 5:00

Solorio at Urban Prep-Englewood, 5:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE WHITE-SOUTH

Agricultural Science at Dyett, 5:00

Carver at Perspectives-Lead, 5:00

South Shore at Vocational, 5:00

Urban Prep-Bronzeville at Fenger, 5:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE WHITE-WEST

Perspectives-MSA at Jones, 6:30

PUBLIC LEAGUE BLUE-CENTRAL

Acero-Soto at Arcero-Garcia, 5:00

Englewood STEM at Back of the Yards, 5:00

Harper at Hancock, 5:00

Horizon-Southwest at Kelly, 5:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE BLUE-SOUTH

Bowen at Washington, 5:00

Goode at Julian, 5:00

NON CONFERENCE

Lincoln Park at Kenwod, 5:00

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

PUBLIC LEAGUE RED WEST-NORTH

Clark at Lincoln Park, 5:00

Farragut at Westinghouse, 5:00

Lane at Young, 7:00

Marshall at Orr, 5:00

North Lawndale at Schurz, 5:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE WHITE-NORTH

Prosser at Sullivan, 5:00

Senn at Lake View, 5:00

Taft at Foreman, 7:00

Uplift at Northside, 5:00

Von Steuben at Mather, 6:30

PUBLIC LEAGUE WHITE-WEST

Crane at Clemente, 5:00

Jones at Raby, 5:00

Perspectives-MSA at Collins, 7:00

Wells at Payton, 7:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE BLUE-NORTH

Amundsen at DuSable, 5:00

Rickover at Chicago Academy, 5:00

Steinmetz at North Grand, 5:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE BLUE-WEST

Chicago Tech at Little Village, 5:00

NON CONFERENCE

Comer at Catalyst-Maria, 5:00

Perspectives-Lead at Bowen, 5:00

Thursday, March 18, 2021

PUBLIC LEAGUE RED SOUTH-CENTRAL

Bogan at Morgan Park, 5:00

Curie at Brooks, 7:00

Kenwood at Corliss, 5:00

Simeon at Phillips, 5:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE WHITE-CENTRAL

Dunbar at Catalyst-Maria, 5:00

King at Urban Prep-Englewood, 5:00

Lindblom at Solorio, 5:00

Richards (Chgo) at Kennedy, 6:30

Tilden at Hubbard, 5:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE WHITE-SOUTH

Carver at South Shore, 5:00

Dyett at Harlan, 5:00

Fenger at Urban Prep-Bronzeville, 5:00

Perspectives-Lead at Agricultural Science, 7:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE BLUE-CENTRAL

Hancock at Kelly, 5:00

Horizon-Southwest at Harper, 5:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE BLUE-SOUTH

Chicago Military at Goode, 5:00

Julian at Washington, 7:00

NON CONFERENCE

Hyde Park at Bowen, 5:30

Friday, March 19, 2021

PUBLIC LEAGUE RED WEST-NORTH

Lincoln Park at Schurz, 5:00

North Lawndale at Lane, 7:00

Orr at Farragut, 5:00

Westinghouse at Clark, 5:00

Young at Marshall, 7:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE WHITE-CENTRAL

Urban Prep-Englewood at Tilden, 5:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE WHITE-NORTH

Foreman at Sullivan, 5:00

Lake View at Taft, 7:00

Mather at Uplift, 6:30

Northside at Senn, 5:00

Prosser at Von Steuben, 5:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE WHITE-SOUTH

Vocational at Carver, 5:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE WHITE-WEST

Clemente at Wells, 5:00

Collins at Crane, 7:00

Payton at Raby, 7:00

Perspectives-MSA at Austin, 5:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE BLUE-NORTH

Amundsen at Steinmetz, 5:00

Chicago Academy at North Grand, 5:00

Marine at DuSable, 5:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE BLUE-WEST

Ogden at Chicago Tech, 5:00

NON CONFERENCE

Englewood STEM at Brooks, 5:00

Saturday, March 20, 2021

PUBLIC LEAGUE RED SOUTH-CENTRAL

Simeon at Corliss, 4:30

PUBLIC LEAGUE RED WEST-NORTH

Young at North Lawndale, 7:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE WHITE-SOUTH

Carver at Agricultural Science, 1:00

NON CONFERENCE

Goode at Catalyst-Maria, 12:30

Hyde Park at South Shore, 2:30

King at Schurz, 12:00

Northside at Payton, 1:00

Ogden at Lake View, 11:30

Perspectives-MSA at Pespectives-Lead, 5:00

This week’s high school basketball scheduleon March 15, 2021 at 2:52 pm Read More »

Chicago theater veteran Paul Raci nominated for Oscaron March 15, 2021 at 12:29 pm

Paul Raci, a journeyman actor who got his start in Chicago theater, won an Academy Award nomination on Monday for his breakout role in “Sound of Metal.”

The local native, who grew up in the 2300 block of West Potomac Avenue in Humboldt Park, is a best supporting actor nominee for his performance as Joe, the owner of a substance abuse treatment facility for the deaf.

Joe advises a punk-metal drummer, played by Riz Ahmed, who abruptly loses his hearing while on tour. Ahmed is a best actor nominee, and the film is nominated for best picture.

At the April 25 Oscars, Raci will be up against the two stars of “Judas and the Black Messiah”, Daniel Kaluuya and LaKeith Stanfield, as well as Leslie Odom Jr. of “One Night in Miami” and Sacha Baron Cohen of “The Trial of the Chicago 7.”

Another former Chicagoan in the running is Steven Yeun, nominated in the best actor category for his work as a would-be farmer who transplants his family to Arkansas in “Minari.” The South Korean native, best known for “The Walking Dead,” used to perform improv in Chicago with Stir-Friday Night and The Second City.

For Raci, the nomination follows decades of unsung character work for Raci, 72.

Making “Sound of Metal,” he told the Sun-Times last month, was “the opportunity of a lifetime — it was great. I loved the writing. I love the character. Having deaf parents shaped my whole life because back in the day there was no technology that could help them.”

Chicago theater veteran Paul Raci nominated for Oscaron March 15, 2021 at 12:29 pm Read More »

Chicago Bulls: 3 takeaways from new starters versus Toronto Raptorson March 15, 2021 at 12:49 pm

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Chicago Bulls (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The Chicago Bulls‘ new starting lineup showed new energy as they grabbed their first win of the second half of the season over the Toronto Raptors 118-95.

Before the game, head coach Billy Donovan mentioned that he would be deciding to bench starters Coby White and Wendell Carter Jr. for veterans Tomas Satoransky and Thaddeus Young. The new starting lineup paid great dividends for the Bulls squad to get a much-needed win after two straight losses off the all-star break.

New additions to the starting lineup, Thaddeus Young and Tomas Satoransky, combined for 20 points, 13 rebounds,14 of the team’s 35 assist night, and shot a combined 50 percent from the field. Both of these two got the offense energized and moved the ball extremely well.

Patrick Williams had himself a career night, scoring 23 points, six rebounds, and four assists off of 9/14 shooting from the field. Williams put down a few emphatic slams during the game and played aggressively in the paint.

The star power duo of Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen didn’t show out as much as usual, which is a good thing considering the Bulls won by 23 points. LaVine recorded 15 points, six rebounds, and three assists off of 40 percent shooting. Markkanen put up 13 points, seven rebounds, and one assist on 25 percent shooting from the field.

The Bulls looked like a fresh team with their new starting lineup. The offense moved better than usual and the defense was aggressive. Here’s why the Bulls were so dominant by changing up the rotations.

Next: New Bench Mob

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Chicago Bulls: 3 takeaways from new starters versus Toronto Raptorson March 15, 2021 at 12:49 pm Read More »

NCAA Tournament West Region capsulesThe Associated Presson March 15, 2021 at 4:42 am

Top overall seed Gonzaga is the team to beat; Iowa, Kansas and Virginia are seeds 2-4.

Gonzaga

Spokane, Wash. 26-0.

Nickname: Bulldogs. Coach: Mark Few.

Conference: West Coast. Bid: Automatic.

Region: West. Seed: No. 1

Tournament History: 34-22, 1 Final Four in 22 appearances.

Last appearance: 2019, lost to Texas Tech in the Elite Eight.

Season Stats

Scoring: 92.1 points per game; 55.1 fg pct; 36.5 3-pt pct; 72.7 ft pct.

Top Scorers: Corey Kispert 19.2; Drew Timme 18.7; Jalen Suggs 14.3.

Rebounds: Timme 7.1; Joel Ayayi 7.0; Avg team margin (plus-7.3).

Assist/Turnover Ratio (1.51): Suggs (4.5/2.8), 108 assists.

Last 10 Games: 10-0.

Best Win: 99-88 vs. Iowa on Dec. 19.

Worst Loss: N/A.

The Skinny: Will this be the year the Zags finally win their first national championship? To do so they’ll have to be perfect, or at least their record will be as they go to Indianapolis with a 26-0 mark after qualifying for their 22nd consecutive NCAA Tournament (including last year’s canceled event). They have the personnel to pull it off with three Wooden Award finalists in Jalen Suggs, Corey Kispert and Drew Timme. The Zags, with the nation’s top scoring offense, notched a slew of wins over traditional powers before laying waste to the West Coast Conference.

Norfolk State

Norfolk, Va. 16-7.

Nickname: Spartans. Coach: Robert Jones.

Conference: Mid-Eastern Athletic. Bid: Automatic.

Region: West. Seed: No. 16.

Tournament History: 1-1 in 1 appearance.

Last appearance: 2012, lost to Florida in the Second Round.

Season Stats

Scoring: 75.2 points per game; 43.6 fg pct; 36.8 3-pt pct; 70.6 ft pct.

Top Scorers: Devante Carter 15.5; Joe Bryant Jr. 11.6; Jalen Hawkins 9.4.

Rebounds: Carter 5.3; J.J. Matthews 4.8; Avg team margin (minus-0.8).

Assist/Turnover Ratio (0.94): Carter (4.0/2.4), 93 assists.

Last 10 Games: 8-2.

Best Win: 68-65 at George Mason on Dec. 26.

Worst Loss: 64-74 at home to Coppin St. on Feb. 8.

The Skinny: The Spartans return to the tournament for the first time in nine years after beating Morgan State 71-563 in the MEAC Tournament title game. In 2012, the Spartans beat No. 2 seed Missouri in their NCAA opener before losing to seventh-seeded Florida. The Spartans’ tallest starter is 6-foot-9 but they’ve done a good job clogging the paint, leading the MEAC in field-goal percentage defense and second in scoring defense.

Appalachian State

Boone, N.C. 17-11.

Nickname: Mountaineers. Coach: Dustin Kerns.

Conference: Sun Belt. Bid: Automatic.

Region: West. Seed: No. 16.

Tournament History: 0-2 in 2 appearances.

Last appearance: 2000, lost to Ohio St. in the First Round.

Season Stats

Scoring: 70.9 points per game; 41.5 fg pct; 32.4 3-pt pct; 73.7 ft pct.

Top Scorers: Adrian Delph 13.2; Justin Forrest 10.0; Michael Almonacy 12.9.

Rebounds: Donovan Gregory 6.0; James Lewis Jr. 5.1; Avg team margin (plus-0.8).

Assist/Turnover Ratio (1.01): Almonacy (2.9/1.6), 82 assists.

Last 10 Games: 5-5.

Best Win: 80-73 vs. Georgia St. on Mar. 8.

Worst Loss: 56-69 at home to Troy on Jan. 1.

The Skinny: The Mountaineers took four victories in the Sun Belt Tournament to get back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2000, when it won the Southern Conference championship. Tournament MVP Michael Almonacy scored 32 points in the title win over Georgia State. A guard-heavy lineup made 10 3s in that game and finished with a tournament-record 44 during the four-day run.

———

Oklahoma

Norman, Okla. 15-10.

Nickname: Sooners. Coach: Lon Kruger.

Conference: Big 12. Bid: At-Large.

Region: West. Seed: No. 8.

Tournament History: 42-32, 5 Final Fours in 32 appearances.

Last appearance: 2019, lost to Virginia in the Second Round.

Season Stats

Team Scoring: 74.8 points per game; 44.2 fg pct; 33.8 3-pt pct; 74.4 ft pct.

Top Scorers: Austin Reaves 17.7; De’Vion Harmon 12.9; Brady Manek 10.8.

Rebounds: Reaves 5.7; Manek 5.1; Avg team margin (0.0).

Assist/Turnover Ratio (1.21): Reaves (4.7/2.9), 108 assists.

Last 10 Games: 4-6.

Best Win: 66-61 at home to Alabama on 66-61.

Worst Loss: 57-62 at Kansas St. on Feb. 23.

The Skinny: The Sooners finished the regular season in sixth place in the league, and snapped a four-game Big 12 Tournament losing streak with a win over Iowa State in an opener. It was Oklahoma’s first tournament win since 2016. Earlier this season, Oklahoma became just the third team in NCAA history to beat top-10 teams in back-to-back-to-back games by defeating No. 9 Kansas, No. 5 Texas and No. 9 Alabama,

Missouri

Columbia, Mo. 16-9.

Nickname: Tigers. Coach: Cuonzo Martin.

Conference: Southeastern. Bid: At-Large.

Region: West. Seed: No. 9.

Tournament History: 19-26 in 26 appearances.

Last appearance: 2018, lost to Florida St. in the First Round.

Season Stats

Team Scoring: 73.6 points per game; 44.9 fg pct; 32.0 3-pt pct; 69.8 ft pct.

Top Scorers: Xavier Pinson 14.1; Dru Smith 14.1; Jeremiah Tilmon 12.3.

Rebounds: Tilmon 7.0; Kobe Brown 6.3; Avg team margin (plus-0.3).

Assist/Turnover Ratio (0.98): Smith (3.9/2.4), 97 assists.

Last 10 Games: 4-6.

Best Win: 81-78 at home to Illinois on Dec. 12.

Worst Loss: 70-80 at Georgia on Feb. 16.

The Skinny: The Tigers are looking to regroup with new energy for the NCAA Tournament. Missouri peaked on Feb. 8 when it was ranked 10th following a 68-65 win over then-No. 10 Alabama and went 2-5 to finish the regular season, 1-1 in the SEC Tournament. Dru Smith and Xavier Pinson anchor the backcourt but Mizzou’s wild card is forward Jeremiah Tilmon. At times in his career, the senior has been one of the best big men in the SEC but has struggled of late. His return to form could bring a huge boost that propels the Tigers beyond expectations.

———

Creighton

Omaha, Neb. 20-8.

Nickname: Bluejays. Coach: Greg McDermott.

Conference: Big East. Bid: At-Large.

Region: West. Seed: No. 5.

Tournament History: 12-22 in 21 appearances.

Last appearance: 2018, lost to Kansas St. in the First Round.

Season Stats

Scoring: 77.0 points per game; 47.6 fg pct; 36.7 3-pt pct; 64.2 ft pct.

Top Scorers: Marcus Zegarowski 15.5; Denzel Mahoney 12.5; Damien Jefferson 12.1.

Rebounds: Bishop 5.9; Jefferson 5.5; Avg team margin (minus-0.4).

Assist/Turnover Ratio (1.42): Zegarowski (4.3/2.0), 113 assists.

Last 10 Games: 7-3.

Best Win: 86-70 at home to Villanova on Feb. 13.

Worst Loss: 66-70 at Butler on Jan. 16.

The Skinny: Creighton was stunned by Patrick Ewing’s Georgetown squad in the Big East Tournament game, giving the Hoyas their first NCAA appearance since 2015. Georgetown won with a dominant performance inside Madison Square Garden, reminiscent of Ewing’s playing days at the school. Creighton is now 0-3 in Big East title games since joining the conference for the 2013-14 season. The Bluejays, the most accurate shooting team in the Big East, scored a season-low 48 points and shot 29% from the field. It’s been a little more than a week since Creighton coach Greg McDermott was suspended by the school for making racially insensitive remarks to his team. McDermott missed the regular-season finale before being reinstated for the tournament.

UC Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, Calif. 22-4.

Nickname: Gauchos. Coach: Joe Pasternack.

Conference: Big West. Bid: Automatic.

Region: West. Seed: No. 12.

Tournament History: 1-5 in 5 appearances.

Last appearance: 2011, lost to Florida in the First Round.

Season Stats

Team Scoring: 76.5 points per game; 48.5 fg pct; 35.1 3-pt pct; 75.0 ft pct.

Top Scorers: JaQuori McLaughlin 16.2; Amadou Sow 13.7; Ajare Sanni 11.2.

Rebounds: Sow 7.6; Miles Norris 4.5; Avg team margin (plus-5.5).

Assist/Turnover Ratio (1.48): McLaughlin (5.2/2.0), 129 assists.

Last 10 Games: 9-1.

Best Win: 69-58 at home to Loyola Marymount on Dec. 7.

Worst Loss: 52-68 at UC Riverside on Feb. 27.

The Skinny: The Gauchos lost back-to-back games on Dec. 27 and 28 to two-time defending conference champion UC Irvine to open their conference slate and fall to 4-3 overall. They have since won 18 of 19, including a 79-63 win over the Anteaters in the Big West title game, behind senior guard JaQuori McLaughlin, the conference player of the year, and 6-foot-9 junior Amadou Sow, a first-team all-Big West selection. UCSB plays complimentary basketball, limiting opponents to just 62.8 points per game (No. 19 nationally) while shooting 48.5% (No. 20) from the field and ranking second in the Big West in scoring (76.5).

———

Virginia

Charlottesville, Va. 18-6.

Nickname: Cavaliers. Coach: Tony Bennett.

Conference: Atlantic Coast. Bid: At-Large.

Region: West. Seed: No. 4.

Tournament History: 35-22, 3 Final Fours, and 1 National Championship in 23 appearances.

Last appearance: 2019, beat Texas Tech in the National Championship.

Season Stats

Scoring: 68.6 points per game; 48.0 fg pct; 38.1 3-pt pct; 81.7 ft pct.

Top Scorers: Sam Hauser 16.0; Jay Huff 13.1; Trey Murphy III 11.3.

Rebounds: Huff 7.1; Hauser 6.7; Avg team margin (plus-2.6).

Assist/Turnover Ratio (1.48): Kihei Clark (4.6/2.2), 110 assists.

Last 10 Games: 7-3.

Best Win: 60-48 at home to North Carolina on Feb. 13.

Worst Loss: 60-61 vs. San Francisco on Nov. 27.

The Skinny: The Cavaliers were the champions in 2019 and there was some concern that COVID-19 issues might keep them out of the NCAAs after they had to withdraw from the ACC Tournament. “We went from an exhilarating game-winning shot to beat Syracuse to a gut punch regarding the positive COVID-19 test within our program,” coach Tony Bennett said. Virginia will look to build upon the positive momentum freshman Reece Beekman gave them with the buzzer-beating 3 against the Orange.

Ohio

Athens, Ohio. 16-7.

Nickname: Bobcats. Coach: Jeff Boals.

Conference: Mid-American. Bid: Automatic.

Region: West. Seed: No. 13

Tournament History: 7-14 in 13 appearances.

Last appearance: 2012, lost to North Carolina in the Sweet Sixteen.

Season Stats

Team Scoring: 80.9 points per game; 48.9 fg pct; 36.1 3-pt pct; 70.1 ft pct.

Top Scorers: Jason Preston 16.6; Dwight Wilson III 14.9; Ben Vander Plas 12.8.

Rebounds: Wilson III 7.5; Preston 6.8; Avg team margin (plus-1.3).

Assist/Turnover Ratio (1.49): Preston (7.2/2.9), 130 assists.

Last 10 Games: 9-1.

Best Win: 87-80 vs. Toledo on Mar. 12.

Worst Loss: 75-83 at home to Bowling Green on Dec. 30.

The Skinny:Ohio dominated from the start of the championship game to win its first Mid-American Conference Tournament since 2012, denying Buffalo’s attempt at a record third straight title. In its last appearance in the NCAA Tournament, Ohio shocked Michigan on its way to the Sweet 16. This season, second-year coach Jeff Boals and the Bobcats had just three games over a 36-day period after several postponements or cancellations due to the pandemic. Tournament MVP Jason Preston led the Bobcats with 22 points in the title game.

———

USC

Los Angeles. 22-7.

Nickname: Trojans. Coach: Andy Enfield.

Conference: Pacific 12. Bid: At-Large.

Region: West. Seed: No. 6.

Tournament History: 14-19, 2 Final Fours in 17 appearances.

Last appearance: 2017, lost to Baylor in the Second Round.

Season Stats

Team Scoring: 74.8 points per game; 46.7 fg pct; 34.8 3-pt pct; 64.7 ft pct.

Top Scorers: Evan Mobley 16.8; Tahj Eaddy 13.7; Drew Peterson 9.9.

Rebounds: Mobley 8.6; Isaiah Mobley 7.4; Avg team margin (plus-7.2).

Assist/Turnover Ratio (1.10): Ethan Anderson (3.0/1.6), 63 assists.

Last 10 Games: 6-4.

Best Win: 79-53 vs. BYU on Dec. 1.

Worst Loss: 56-58 at Oregon St. on Jan 19.

The Skinny: Evan Mobley and USC needed two overtimes to outlast No. 7 seed Utah in the quarterfinals before falling to Colorado. The 7-foot freshman became the first player to win the Pac-12’s player of the year, defensive player of the year and freshman of the year awards in the same season. Mobley was a dominant force, averaging 16.1 points per game while leading the Pac-12 with 8.4 rebounds and 2.8 blocked shots. Mosley is surrounded by seasoned grad transfer Tahl Eaddy (Santa Clara), Drew Peterson (Rice), Chevez Goodwin (Wofford) and Isaiah White (Utah Valley), along with his sophomore brother Isaiah.

Wichita State

Wichita, Kan. 16-5.

Nickname: Shockers. Coach: Isaac Brown.

Conference: American Athletic. Bid: At-Large.

Region: West. Seed: No. 11.

Tournament History: 18-16, 2 Final Fours in 15 appearances.

Last appearance: 2018, lost to Marshall in the First Round.

Season Stats

Team Scoring: 72.4 points per game; 40.8 fg pct; 34.2 3-pt pct; 68.9 ft pct.

Top Scorers: Tyson Etienne 17.0; Alterique Gilbert 10.3; Morris Udeze 9.8.

Rebounds: Trey Wade 5.6; Udeze 4.7; Avg team margin (minus-1.5).

Assist/Turnover Ratio (1.17): Gilbert (4.1/2.2), 87 assists.

Last 10 Games: 8-2.

Best Win: 68-63 at home to Houston on Feb. 18.

Worst Loss: 59-60 vs. Cincinnati on Mar. 3.

The Skinny: Top-seeded Wichita State fell to short-handed Cincinnati in the semifinals of the American Athletic Conference Tournament as the Bearcats advanced to their fourth straight title game. Wichita State had won eight games in a row since a loss at Memphis on Jan. 21. Tyson Etienne, the conference’s co-player of the year, had 13 points, but the Shockers missed seven of their last eight field-goal attempts, the only make in the final 4:17 being Gilbert’s layup with 19 seconds left 60-59. It was Wichita State’s first loss in a game decided by five or fewer points since Dec. 12.

Drake

Des Moines. 25-4.

Nickname: Bulldogs. Coach: Darian DeVries.

Conference: Missouri Valley. Bid: At-Large.

Region: West. Seed: No. 11.

Tournament History: 5-4, 1 Final Four in 4 appearances.

Last appearance: 2008, lost to W. Kentucky in the First Round.

Season Stats

Scoring: 77.4 points per game; 49.4 fg pct; 37.0 3-pt pct; 71.3 ft pct.

Top Scorers: ShanQuan Hemphill 14.1; Joseph Yesufu 12.1; Roman Penn 11.2.

Rebounds: Darnell Brodie 7.2; Hemphill 6.3; Avg team margin (plus-5.0).

Assist/Turnover Ratio (1.33): Penn (5.5/2.3), 131 assists.

Last 10 Games: 7-3.

Best Win: 51-50 at home to Loyola-Chicago on Feb. 14.

Worst Loss: 57-74 at Valparaiso on Feb. 7.

The Skinny: Say what you will about a perceived competition deficiency in the Missouri Valley Conference but starting a season with 18-straight wins in and out of six postponements due to COVID-19 protocols (five in consecutive fashion) is all the more impressive for Bulldogs and their gawdy 25-4 record. Shaquan Hemphill leads five scorers in double-digit scoring. Scouting the Bulldogs could be problematic as they’ve had eight different players lead them in the scoring column.

———

Kansas

Lawrence, Kan. 20-8.

Nickname: Jayhawks. Coach: Bill Self.

Conference: Big 12. Bid: At-Large.

Region: West. Seed: No. 3.

Tournament History: 107-49, 15 Final Fours, and 3 National Championships in 48 appearances.

Last appearance: 2019, lost to Auburn in the Second Round.

Season Stats

Scoring: 73.1 points per game; 44.0 fg pct; 34.4 3-pt pct; 71.2 ft pct.

Top Scorers: Ochai Agbaji 14.2; David McCormack 13.4; Jalen Wilson 12.1.

Rebounds: Wilson 8.2; McCormack 6.1; Avg team margin (plus-3.6).

Assist/Turnover Ratio (1.11): Marcus Garrett (3.7/2.0), 99 assists.

Last 10 Games: 8-2.

Best Win: 71-58 at home to Baylor on Feb. 27.

Worst Loss: 68-75 at Oklahoma on Jan 23.

The Skinny: Kansas, with 32 NCAA appearances, seven Final Fours and five national championships, is among the most high-profile of programs to survive a post-season brush with the coronavirus. The Jayhawks withdrew from the Big 12 Tournament after a 69-62 quarterfinal victory over Oklahoma. Already absent players David McCormack and Tristan Enaruna, additional COVID-19 positive tests postgame prompted the semifinal forfeit. The big questions are who can the Jayhawks send onto the court in the NCAA opener and how deep is the bench? McCormack is second on the team in both scoring (13.4 ppg) and rebounding (6.1 rpg). Kansas is basically five deep from Ochai Agbaji (14.2 ppg) to Christian Braun (9.8).

Eastern Washington

Cheney, Wash. 16-7.

Nickname: Eagles. Coach: Shantay Legans.

Conference: Big Sky. Bid: Automatic.

Region: West. Seed: No. 14.

Tournament History: 0-2 in 2 appearances.

Last appearance: 2015, lost to Georgetown in the First Round.

Season Stats

Team Scoring: 78.0 points per game; 46.7 fg pct; 35.4 3-pt pct; 78.7 ft pct.

Top Scorers: Tanner Groves 16.4; Kim Aiken Jr. 11.7; Tyler Robertson 11.3.

Rebounds: Aiken Jr. 8.5; Groves 8.1; Avg team margin (plus-1.1).

Assist/Turnover Ratio (1.31): Robertson (3.0/1.4), 67 assists.

Last 10 Games: 9-1.

Best Win: 75-63 at home to Southern Utah on Jan. 14.

Worst Loss: 63-68 at home to Idaho St. on Mar. 3.

The Skinny: In coach Shantay Legans’ fourth year with the Eagles, Eastern Washington advanced to its third straight Big Sky championship game, winning for the first time and bringing the Eagles back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015. Conference MVP Tanner Groves leads the way, flanked by the Defensive Player of the Year Kim Aiken Jr., Top Reserve Tyler Robertson, and brother Jacob Groves. Eastern Washington won 13 of their last 14 games including the conference tournament.

———

Oregon

Eugene, Ore. 20-6.

Nickname: Ducks. Coach: Dana Altman.

Conference: Pac-12. Bid: At-Large.

Region: West. Seed: No. 7.

Tournament History: 25-15, 2 Final Fours, and 1 National Championship in 16 appearances.

Last appearance: 2019, lost to Virginia in the Sweet Sixteen.

Season Stats

Team Scoring: 74.4 points per game; 47.2 fg pct; 37.9 3-pt pct; 70.4 ft pct.

Top Scorers: Chris Duarte 16.7; Eugene Omoruyi 16.7; LJ Figueroa 12.3.

Rebounds: Figueroa 6.1; Eric Williams Jr. 6.1; Avg team margin (plus-1.0).

Assist/Turnover Ratio (1.18): Will Richardson (3.6/2.5), 51 assists.

Last 10 Games: 8-2.

Best Win: 60-56 at home to Colorado on Feb. 18.

Worst Loss: 71-74 at home to Washington St. on Feb. 4.

The Skinny: The Ducks won their last five regular-season games to claim their second consecutive Pac-12 title and then beat Arizona State in the conference tournament to secure the program’s 11th consecutive 20-win season before falling to Oregon State in the semifinals, 75-64. Coach Dana Altman’s team, when healthy, is one of the most experienced in college basketball this season. Oregon’s starters are all upperclassmen: junior Will Richardson, redshirt junior Eric Williams Jr., seniors LJ Figueroa and Chris Duarte (the Pac-12 player of the year), and redshirt senior Eugene Omoruyi all of whom average at least 10 points per game.

VCU

Richmond, Va. 19-7.

Nickname: Rams. Coach: Mike Rhoades.

Conference: Atlantic 10. Bid: At-Large.

Region: West. Seed: No. 10.

Tournament History: 13-17, 1 Final Four in 17 appearances.

Last appearance: 2019, lost to UCF in the First Round.

Season Stats

Team Scoring: 72.0 points per game; 45.3 fg pct; 32.9 3-pt pct; 76.1 ft pct.

Top Scorers: Nah’Shon Hyland 19.4; Vince Williams Jr. 10.6; Jamir Watkins 7.4.

Rebounds: Hason Ward 5.2; Williams Jr. 5.1; Avg team margin (minus-0.2).

Assist/Turnover Ratio (0.91): Adrian Baldwin Jr. (4.4/2.4), 111 assists.

Last 10 Games: 7-3.

Best Win: 67-64 at home to St. Bonaventure on Feb. 12.

Worst Loss: 76-79 OT at home to George Mason on Feb. 20.

The Skinny: The Rams picked up a chip on their shoulders when the Atlantic 10 preseason poll picked them to finish ninth and they rode it to a 19-win season and the A-10 tournament championship game against St. Bonaventure. But conference player of the year Nah’Shon Hyland picked up three fouls in the first seven minutes and VCU was unable to rally for the win despite his 21 second-half points. Hyland’s ability to be on the court and playing at a high level will be essential for the Rams to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament.

———

Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa. 21-8.

Nickname: Hawkeyes. Coach: Fran McCaffery.

Conference: Big Ten. Bid: At-Large.

Region: West. Seed: No. 2.

Tournament History: 30-28, 3 Final Fours in 26 appearances.

Last appearance: 2019, lost to Tennessee in the Second Round.

Season Stats

Team Scoring: 83.8 points per game; 46.9 fg pct; 38.6 3-pt pct; 71.3 ft pct.

Top Scorers: Luka Garza 23.7; Joe Wieskamp 14.7; Jordan Bohannon 10.9.

Rebounds: Garza 8.8; Wieskamp 6.6; Avg team margin (plus-3.1).

Assist/Turnover Ratio (2.01): Bohannon (4.5/1.4), 130 assists.

Last 10 Games: 8-2.

Best Win: 73-57 at Ohio St. on Feb. 28.

Worst Loss: 95-102 OT at Minnesota on Dec. 25.

The Skinny: Iowa, with a No. 2 seed, has its highest NCAA Tournament seed since 1987 and in the same region as top-ranked Gonzaga, which beat the Hawkeyes 99-88 on Dec. 21. Iowa has the Big Ten player of the year in Luka Garza, the Hawkeyes’ all-time leading scorer. He ranks third nationally in scoring this season. The Hawkeyes lost in the Big Ten Tournament semis to eventual champion Illinois.

Grand Canyon

Phoenix. 17-6.

Nickname: Antelopes. Coach: Bryce Drew.

Conference: Western Athletic. Bid: Automatic.

Region: West. Seed: No. 15.

Tournament History: N/A.

Last appearance: N/A.

Season Stats

Scoring: 75.6 points per game; 49.2 fg pct; 33.2 3-pt pct; 68.6 ft pct.

Top Scorers: Asbjorn Midtgaard 14.0; Alessandro Lever 13.3; Jovan Blacksher Jr. 11.9.

Rebounds: Midtgaard 9.7; Lever 5.3; Avg team margin (plus-9.9).

Assist/Turnover Ratio (1.23): Blacksher Jr. (5.2/2.3), 120 assists.

Last 10 Games: 7-3.

Best Win: 87-77 at home to Nevada on Dec. 11.

Worst Loss: 62-65 at home to California Baptist on Feb. 20.

The Skinny: The Antelopes make their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament and it took a victory over New Mexico State, which dominated not only Grand Canyon but the entire Western Athletic Conference in the eight years since the Antelopes began the transition to Division I. The Aggies won seven of the previous eight championship games, including wins over Grand Canyon in 2018 and 2019. Coach Bryce Drew, who is in his ninth season as a head coach and his first at Grand Canyon, is taking his third team to the NCAA Tournament (Valparaiso and Vanderbilt). The Lopes make other teams work for their baskets, ranking second in the nation in field-goal percentage defense at 37.6%.

NCAA Tournament West Region capsulesThe Associated Presson March 15, 2021 at 4:42 am Read More »

9 teams out of Big Ten impressive tournament featMike Berardinoon March 15, 2021 at 4:08 am

Illinois hoist the trophy after defeating Ohio State 91-88 in overtime in a NCAA college basketball championship game at the Big Ten Conference tournament, Sunday, March 14, 2021, in Indianapolis. | Michael Conroy/AP

No other conference received more than seven bids to the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

Now that Illinois has completed its impressive run through the Big Ten Tournament, coach Brad Underwood knows his packing skills are about to be tested during what projects as an extended stay in Indianapolis.

“I just hope I have enough socks, underwear and that there’s a damn good dry cleaner in Indianapolis,” he said recently. “I hope we’re there for a long time.”

Seeded first in the Midwest Region of the NCAA Tournament bubble, Illinois (23-6) was one of nine Big Ten teams to get good news on Selection Sunday. No other conference received more than seven bids.

Winners of 14 of their last 15 games since suffering back-to-back home losses in mid-January, the Illini haven’t been seeded this high since 2005, when they fell to North Carolina in the championship game. A dangerous potential second-round matchup looms with eighth-seeded Loyola or ACC Tournament champion Georgia Tech.

“Being a [No.] 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament is a big deal,” Underwood said recently. “It doesn’t mean you’re exempt from losing and going home. You’ve got to go do your job. But I think our résumé speaks for itself. It’s a pretty impressive résumé.”

Michigan, which faces uncertainty over the status of forward Isaiah Livers (stress injury in his right foot), is the top seed in the East. The Wolverines (20-4) must contend with No. 2 seed Alabama, the SEC Tournament champion; No. 3 seed Texas, the Big 12 Tournament champion; and No. 4 seed Florida State, which lost in the ACC Tournament final.

With a stacked bracket and Livers’ availability in question, the Wolverines appear to be the most vulnerable of the No. 1 seeds.

Ohio State and Iowa earned No. 2 seeds. The Buckeyes, who rallied from a 17-point first-half hole in Sunday’s Big Ten final before losing 91-88, are in the same South Region as top-seeded Baylor. The Bears, who dropped two of their last seven games after a three-week COVID-19 pause, haven’t reached the Final Four since 1950.

Iowa was placed in the West Region with top overall seed Gonzaga, which is trying to become the first unbeaten national champion since Indiana in 1976. The Hawkeyes fell 99-88 to Gonzaga on Dec. 19 in South Dakota despite 30 points from center Luka Garza, the two-time Big Ten Player of the Year.

Other Big Ten teams to make the field of 68 were Wisconsin (No. 9 seed in the South), Rutgers (No. 10 in the Midwest), Maryland (No. 10 in the East) and Michigan State. The Spartans must face UCLA in a play-in game for the 11th seed in the East.

Expectations are high that the Big Ten will dominate the NCAA bubble during the next three weeks.

“The toughest conference in all of college basketball,” CBS analyst Grant Hill said on-air from the Big Ten Tournament, “I think it’s safe to say at least one will be here [at the Final Four].”

The Big Ten has sent multiple teams to the Final Four eight times in the modern era of the NCAA Tournament. It first happened in 1976, when Indiana beat Michigan in the championship game.

It also happened in 1980 (Purdue over Iowa in the third-place game), 1989 (Michigan over Illinois in the semifinals), 1992 (Michigan and Indiana), 1999 (Michigan State and Ohio State), 2000 (Michigan State over Wisconsin in the semifinals), 2005 (Michigan State and Illinois) and 2015 (Michigan State and Wisconsin).

Since the Spartans’ title in 2000, the Big Ten has gone 0-7 in national championship games, with losses by Indiana (2002), Illinois (2005), Ohio State (2007), Michigan State (2009), Michigan (2013), Wisconsin (2015) and Michigan (2018).

Going back to Michigan’s 1989 championship run, the Big Ten is 1-9 in its last 10 trips to the national title game.

The Illini, behind versatile guard Ayo Dosunmu (Morgan Park High School), could be the team to reverse that trend.

9 teams out of Big Ten impressive tournament featMike Berardinoon March 15, 2021 at 4:08 am Read More »

Horoscope for Monday, March 15, 2021Georgia Nicolson March 15, 2021 at 5:01 am

Moon Alert

There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions until 10 p.m. Chicago time. The moon is in Aries.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

The moon is in your sign dancing with lucky Jupiter, which means this is a positive, upbeat day, and a great way to begin your week! Late in the day, you might have a power struggle with someone. (Remember that your ruler Mars makes you verbally assertive for the next month.)

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Although this is a popular time for you, you might begin this week in a low-key way, especially if you’re seeking answers or doing research looking for solutions to old problems. Your research could be money-related because you are keen to boost your earnings this month.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

This week starts on a positive note because not only do you look good to others — especially bosses, parents, VIPs (and the police) — you will also relate well to groups, clubs, organizations, or perhaps a personal friend. Yes, everything is going your way. Lucky you!

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Personal details about your private life might be public for some reason. People notice you today and some of them are talking about you. (What’s with that?) Meanwhile, you yearn to travel or have a chance to learn something new or experience adventure! “Fresh horses and more whiskey for my men!”

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

This is a positive day because the moon is in your fellow Fire sign, which turns your crank! You’re eager to begin the week. (You might be a tad aggressive with friends and groups, especially about shared property, inheritances and insurance.) No moss on you!

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Surely you have noticed that you are more ambitious than usual? This ambitious energy will stay with you for the next month. (Look out world!) Today, discussions about shared property, inheritances, taxes, debt and insurance matters will favor you. Ka-ching!

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

The way this week starts is that you have to go more than halfway when dealing with others. That’s because the moon is in the sign that is opposite your sign. You’ll have no trouble doing this because you’re charming and diplomatic when you want to be.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Basically, this month, you’re in a playful mood. You feel prankish, flirtatious and up for fun times with children and sports and social diversions. However, today you are actually in work mode. You want to get better organized. You might also want to address health issues.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Although home and family are your primary focus right now with plans to entertain or redecorate or do DIY projects; nevertheless, today you’re in a playful mood. Set aside some time to schmooze online or do something that pleases you. Have fun!

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

This will be a fast-paced, busy week with errands, appointments and increased reading, writing and studying. However, today you need to catch your breath. This is why you might want to cocoon at home or have a heart-to-heart talk with a female family member.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Money is definitely on your mind. In fact, you might have money-making ideas or need to prepare for financial discussions with someone. Fortunately, you can attract money to yourself now, which, in part, is why you’re spending it on pretty things. Trust your hunches today.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

This is a powerful time because the sun, Mercury, Venus and Neptune are all in Pisces. This is why you feel a strong urge to communicate to others. You have something to say!

If Your Birthday Is Today

U.S. Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933-2020) shares your birthday. You are happiest when you live in a loving, balanced world. You are creative, especially in the expressive arts. You pick up on the subtleties of human behavior. Exciting changes and opportunities await you this year. Count on new adventures! If you can, explore opportunities to travel. Do whatever you can to expand your world through learning. Welcome change! Your personal freedom is your goal this year.

Horoscope for Monday, March 15, 2021Georgia Nicolson March 15, 2021 at 5:01 am Read More »