UCLA suspends Cody Riley, Jalen Hill for season

UCLA announced on Friday night that Cody Riley and Jalen Hill, the two players that shoplifted in China alongside Liangelo Ball, have been suspended for the rest of the season.

They will not be allowed to dress for home games or travel for road games, but they will be allowed to participate in team activities – practices, meetings, etc. – beginning on the day after Christmas.

“Cody and Jalen are a part of our basketball and university families, and we will continue to support them as they serve their suspensions,” Steve Alford said. “Since returning from China, they have done everything asked of them and continued to work hard in the classroom and in their own personal workouts. I’ve told our players all along that actions have consequences, and the season-long suspension shows how seriously we take their misconduct. Though they will not suit up for games or travel with the team, I look forward to their return after the Christmas holiday. I am confident that they will make significant contributions to the university moving forward.”

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — The University of Oregon committed infractions in four athletic programs, including the men’s and women’s basketball teams, the NCAA has alleged.

Men’s coach Dana Altman and women’s coach Kelly Graves are accused of exceeding the NCAA limit of four coaches by allowing other staff members to participate in team activities during practice. Meanwhile, a professor allegedly changed a failing grade so a woman could stay on the track team.

The NCAA has labeled the violations the second-highest on its scale of four levels, The Register-Guard reported.

The university acknowledged mistakes Thursday, but said it plans to contest the severity of the infractions.

Athletic Director Rob Mullens said Oregon self-reported the violations and its coaches are committed to compliance with NCAA bylaws. He said the school has addressed the matters with the responsible employees and increased training.

Oregon received notice of the allegations Monday and has 90 days to respond. Athletic department officials are expected to later meet with the infractions committee and any penalties will be announced after that meeting.

Altman, who led the Ducks to the Final Four last season, released a statement in which he acknowledged that “some members of our staff made mistakes when it comes to refereeing practice games and working out some players.”

The allegations against the women’s program are similar, stating that an assistant strength and conditioning coach participated in individual workouts and practices. Like Altman, Graves is declared responsible for the violations by the NCAA.

“I regret that some members of my staff made errors of judgment, and I have taken actions to ensure that it doesn’t happen again,” Graves said in a statement.

In addition to basketball and track, the football team was named in the allegations.

The NCAA said the infraction was a recruiting violation that occurred in 2016 when the school “created an electronic presentation that included each prospective student-athlete’s name, physical attributes and high school highlight video and displayed it on a video board located in the football performance center.”

Oregon reported that it would not contest that charge.

SATURDAY’S SHOWDOWNS

OHIO STATE vs. No. 5 NORTH CAROLINA (-6), Sat. 1:30 p.m. (New Orleans)

I went into this week thinking that I needed to change how I viewed North Carolina. All season long, I had thought that they were somewhat overrated. Luke Maye would, eventually, come back to earth. Kenny Williams wasn’t going to shoot 55 percent from three all season long. Their freshmen front line would let them down at some point. But the Tar Heels were 10-1 after winning at North Carolina, and Maye was, at worst, a second-team all-american.

I changed my mind.

Then UNC went out and lost at home to Wofford.

Granted, Wofford is better than you think, and there are a lot of teams that are going to struggle in their last home game before Christmas, but every single one of the concerns that I’ve had for this group all season long showed up on Wednesday night. I’m not convinced that Ohio State is all that good, but they do have some solid pieces on their roster – Jae’Sean Tate, Keita Bates-Diop – and a terrific coach in Chris Holtmann, and usually that is enough to make a game interesting.

PREDICTION: I think Ohio State finds a way to keep this one close, and I think that the line ends up moving towards North Carolina so you can get another point or two. Buckeyes (+6)

No. 7 KENTUCKY (-7) vs. UCLA, Sat. 4:00 p.m. (New Orleans)

Kentucky is a team that continues their steady improvement towards being the team that they want to be this season. Credit to John Calipari: the way he scheduled this year was very smart. He has an incredibly young team, so his schedule was front loaded with teams that his group could beat simply by showing up. And now, seven weeks into the season, they are starting to show flashes of being a team with Final Four potential.

I don’t think they’re there yet, and I don’t think they’re a top ten team in the country yet, but they’re getting closer every game.

I also don’t think they’ll have all that much trouble dispatching a UCLA team that seems distracted and has looked no where near as good as the talent on their roster indicates that they should be. Kentucky has something to prove in this game. I’m not sure UCLA does, or at the least cares that they do.

PREDICTION: It’s simple, really: I just don’t think that UCLA is all that good this season, particularly when they have to travel halfway across the country for a game that is being played two days before Christmas. Kentucky (-7)

WHAT ELSE IS WORTH WATCHING?

NORTHWESTERN at No. 17 OKLAHOMA (-8), Fri. 7:00 p.m.: I think the Sooners should steamroll Northwestern. But this is something of a trap game. Christmas is coming up in three days. Oklahoma starts Big 12 play immediately after Christmas. They are coming off of a mammoth win at Wichita State and a ridiculous performance from Trae Young where he tied the Division I record in assists. Northwestern? They have to win this game if they want to feel really good about their NCAA tournament chances heading into Big Ten play. I would not be surprised to see Northwestern show up and play well tonight. PICK: Northwestern (+8)
DIAMOND HEAD CLASSIC: Another tournament out in Hawaii during the holidays. Davidson, Middle Tennessee State and New Mexico State will all have chances to add big wins, but this thing really only becomes must-see TV if USC and Miami meet in the finals.
No. 9 XAVIER (-5) at NORTHERN IOWA, Fri. 9:00 p.m.: This depends somewhat on who is healthy for Xavier, but regardless, I do think UNI and their defense can keep this thing close and low-scoring. I like Xavier, but the best bet in this game? The under.
TEXAS vs. ALABAMA (-1), Fri. 9:00 p.m.: If you can get Alabama (-1) in this game with Andrew Jones out, bet the mortgage. PICK: Alabama (-1)
No. 21 TENNESSEE (-1) at WAKE FOREST, Sat. 12:30 p.m.: Tennessee is looking for a bounce-back win, and they’ll have a chance to do that at Wake Forest, who has not been as good as I thought they would be this season. PICK: Tennessee (-1)
UCONN at AUBURN (-10), Sat. 2:30 p.m.: Never bet on UConn, especially in a road game but especially in a road game where they played another road game on the other side of the country 36 hours earlier. PICK: Auburn (-1)

In the spirit of the season, how about a quick peek inside our Bracket Stocking?

The first team we find is Villanova – the No. 1 overall seed in today’s update. They are followed by Michigan State, Duke, and Arizona State. If you’re looking for Christmas surprises, how about the Sun Devils? Early wins over San Diego State, Xavier, and Kansas headline an impressive resume.

Early brackets can be quirky because we’re still waiting for teams like Miami-FL to be tested. We also have early conference starts for teams like Boston College and Duke, along with a pair of games each for those in the Big Ten. BC benefits from their upset of the Blue Devils, grabbing a slot as the “auto-bid” champ from the ACC.

Conference play begins in earnest the next two weeks. Enjoy the Holiday season!

BRACKET UPDATE: December 22, 2017

FIRST FOUR PAIRINGS – Dayton (First Round)

St. John’s vs. Virginia Tech | South Region
Butler vs. Washington | South Region
NAVY vs. MORGAN STATE | East Region
UC-SANTA BARBARA vs. TX-SOUTHERN | Midwest Region

BRACKET PROJECTION …

EAST – Boston		MIDWEST – Omaha
Pittsburgh		Detroit
1) VILLANOVA		1) MICHIGAN STATE
16) MORGAN ST / NAVY		16) UCSB / TX-SOUTHERN
8) Florida		8) Louisville
9) SMU		9) Missouri

Boise		San Diego
5) Texas Tech		5) Arizona
12) UT-ARLINGTON		12) S.F. AUSTIN
4) Virginia		4) Seton Hall
13) CENTRAL MICHIGAN		13) NEW MEXICO ST

Nashville		Charlotte
6) Tennessee		6) Cincinnati
11) MID TENNESSEE		11) Michigan
3) Miami-FL		3) North Carolina
14) ALBANY		14) MURRAY STATE

Pittsburgh		Wichita
7) NEVADA		7) Arkansas
10) Maryland		10) NORTHERN IOWA
2) WEST VIRGINIA		2) Kansas
15) UNC-ASHEVILLE		15) PRINCETON

WEST – Los Angeles		SOUTH – Atlanta
San Diego		Charlotte
1) ARIZONA STATE		1) Duke
16) RIDER		16) WAGNER
8) Notre Dame		8) RHODE ISLAND
9) Minnesota		9) Alabama

Boise		Dallas
5) TCU		5) WICHITA STATE
12) BOSTON COLLEGE		12) Butler / Washington
4) GONZAGA		4) Oklahoma
13) PORTLAND STATE		13) TOWSON

Wichita		Nashville
6) Creighton		6) Baylor
11) Syracuse		11) Virginia Tech / St. John’s
3) Purdue		3) Kentucky
14) SO DAKOTA ST		14) FURMAN

Dallas		Detroit
7) Clemson		7) Florida State
10) UNLV		10) Texas
2) TEXAS AM		2) Xavier
15) LIPSCOMB		15) OAKLAND

NOTES on the BRACKET: Villanova is the No. 1 overall seed – followed by Michigan State, Duke, and Arizona State.

Last Four Byes (at large): UNLV, Maryland, Syracuse, Michigan

Last Four IN (at large): Virginia Tech, St. John’s, Butler, Washington

First Four OUT (at large): Houston, Oklahoma State, Iowa State, Temple

Next four teams OUT (at large): Ohio State, Auburn, Kansas State, UCLA

Breakdown by Conference …

ACC (10): BOSTON COLLEGE, Duke, Miami-FL, North Carolina, Virginia, Florida State, Louisville, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Syracuse

SEC (7): TEXAS AM, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Florida, Alabama, Missouri

BIG 12 (7): WEST VIRGINIA, Kansas, Oklahoma, TCU, Texas Tech, Baylor, Texas

Big East (6): VILLANOVA, Xavier, Seton Hall, Creighton, St. John’s, Butler

Big 10 (5): MICHIGAN STATE, Purdue, Minnesota, Maryland, Michigan

Pac 12 (3): ARIZONA STATE, Arizona, Washington

American (2): WICHITA STATE, Cincinnati

Mountain West (2): NEVADA, UNLV

Atlantic 10 (1): RHODE ISLAND

West Coast (1): GONZAGA

ONE BID LEAGUES: Northern Iowa (MVC) Rider (MAAC), Middle Tennessee (C-USA), UT-Arlington (SBELT), Princeton (IVY), Portland State (BSKY), Oakland (HORIZON), Stephen F. Austin (SLND), Furman (STHN), UC-Santa Barbara (BWEST), Central Michigan (MAC), Lipscomb (ASUN), Murray State (OVC), Towson (CAA), UNC-Asheville (BSO), Morgan State (MEAC), South Dakota State (SUM), New Mexico State (WAC), Albany (AEAST), Navy (PAT), Wagner (NEC), Texas-Southern (SWAC)

Bracketing principles: read them for yourself at http://www.ncaa.com.

Matt Mitchell went for 15 points while Jalen McDaniels added 15 points and 10 boards off the bench as San Diego State landed their first marquee win of the season, knocking off No. 12 Gonzaga in Viejas Arena, 72-70.

SDSU led the entire way. They jumped out to an 11-0 lead before the Zags even woke up and held onto that lead until the final buzzer. The Zags never even tied the game.

It was the first time all season that Brian Dutcher’s team looked like a group that is capable of winning the Mountain West and earning a trip to the NCAA tournament, but there may be something to that. The Aztecs were at full strength on Thursday night for the first time in nearly a month.

That matters because there are a couple of ugly losses on SDSU’s résumé. They got dropped by Washington State in the title game of the Wooden Legacy. They got beaten at home by a Cal team that already lost to UC Riverside, Chaminade and Central Arkansas by 27 points before digging themselves a 20-point halftime hole (at the tight of this posting) against Portland State at home.

But those losses came when SDSU was dealing with some injuries. The spin is this: they dropped those games because they weren’t at full strength, and when they are at full strength, they can do things like beat Gonzaga. I’m not sure I totally buy it, but that’s the pitch they’re going to have to make if they want an at-large bid, particularly given the fact that there are only eight more games on their schedule against top 100 teams, according to KenPom. The only top 50 team in the Mountain West is Nevada. For comparison’s sake, while SDSU sullies their profile with games against San Jose State, Air Force, New Mexico and Colorado State, bubble teams in the Big 12 won’t play a single league game against a program outside KenPom’s top 75; Iowa State is the only team in the league outside the top 50.

So yes.

This win mattered for SDSU.

But … do we really know if Gonzaga is all that good?

They’ve now lost to Villanova (handily), Florida (who isn’t that good in a double-overtime thriller) and SDSU (a game they never led). They’ve beaten Creighton (at home) and Texas (who may not be any good, either). And like SDSU, Gonzaga is gearing up for league play in a conference where quality wins are at even more of a premium; BYU and Saint Mary’s are the only other top 100 teams in the WCC.

That isn’t the only issue for SDSU.

This group of players has never proven themselves to be consistent, and trusting them to build a résumé in league play requires consistency.

One thing to note, however, is that Jalen McDaniels has now scored double-figures in three games this season, and all three games were SDSU wins over top 100 opponents.

Maybe that right there is the key to this team.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — No. 16 Purdue had Tennessee State right where it wanted the moment the Tigers set foot inside Mackey Arena.

The Boilermakers haven’t left the state of Indiana since Dec. 1, meanwhile Tennessee State was playing its fourth road game in 10 days.

Carsen Edwards scored 26 points, P.J. Thompson finished with 17 and Purdue cruised to its eighth straight win with a 97-48 victory.

Credit the lopsided victory to Purdue coach Matt Painter, who drawing from his own experience had a hunch the Tigers would be entering Thursday night’s game vulnerable and exhausted. Not only had the Tigers been traveling since Dec. 12, but they arrived in West Lafayette just three days after taking Texas to the wire in Austin, losing 47-46.

“This was the end of their road trip. They’ve been on a long road trip and I think it caught up with them,” Painter said. “I think anytime you play the way they did the other day at Texas and (almost) win that game, that opens the eyes of our players. Anytime you play a game like that where the game could have went either way on the road against somebody as talented as Texas, it’s going to open the eyes of your next opponent and I think it surely did (for us).”

Tennessee State was hanging around early, trailing 16-11, when it was ambushed by Purdue (12-2). The Boilermakers outscored the Tigers 32-5 during the final 14 minutes of the first half, overwhelming a seemingly exhausted team with a balanced offensive attack.

Purdue outscored Tennessee State 20-0 in the paint and shot the basketball well from beyond the arc, making 6 of 15 3-point attempts in the first half. The Boilermakers shot 58 percent from beyond the 3-point line for the game (15 of 26).

“I thought we did a good job of trying to get the ball inside and just moving the basketball. I think we just have a good balance as a team,” Painter said. “We had a good balance offensively. We did a good job of being efficient on the offensive end.”

Purdue led by as many as 34 points during the first half, where Tennessee State shot 25 percent (6 of 24) which included a nearly 7-minute span where the Tigers (5-6) didn’t make a field goal.

Delano Spencer led the Tigers with 13 points. Christian Mekowulu finished with 10 points for Tennessee State.

The Boilermakers continued their rout in the second half, leading by as many as 49 points.

Purdue finished the game shooting 59 percent (34 of 58) from the field with 25 of those field goals coming by way of an assist. The Boilermakers scored 36 points off 17 Tennessee State turnovers.

VERY OFFENSIVE

Purdue has had no problem scoring this season. Squared off against a mixture of Power 5 and mid-major opponents during their first 13 games, the Boilermakers have made offense look easy. Purdue’s lowest point total came in a 66-57 win over Louisville. Even in the Boilermakers’ two losses, they still scored 73 and 75 points. With Thursday night’s win, Purdue has scored 80 or more points in five of its last six games.

BIG PICTURE

The Boilermakers face just one more non-conference opponent before Big Ten Conference play resumes on Jan. 3 against Rutgers. The Boilermakers will end non-conference play with wins against Arizona, Louisville and Butler. Purdue’s non-conference resume is an impressive one. According to KenPom.com, the Boilermakers’ six wins against top 60 teams is the best in the nation.

UP NEXT

Tennessee State visits UT Martin on Dec. 28.

Purdue hosts Lipscomb on Dec. 30.

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