Overtime with Owens: November 2017

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Mixlr Six Rankings - Edition #4

As we come up on Conference Championship Weekend, it’s down to crunch time. The Final Rankings are Sunday (you can hear coverage of Selection Sunday at 12pm EST on the Ultimate Sports Radio Network on Mixlr.com) and that’s when we’ll find out who will compete in the College Football Playoff. After a week where #1 and #2 lost (for the first time in the same week since 2012), what does the new Mixlr Six Rankings look like? Here’s your answer.

1. Oklahoma

· Record: 11-1 (5-1 Big 12)

· Last Game: 59-31 win vs. West Virginia

· AP Ranking: #2

· Carter Floyd: #1

· Pierre Moss: #2

· Dan Vasta: #2

· Seth Eaves: #1

· Matthew Owens: #1

· Next Game: Big 12 Championship vs. TCU Saturday (12pm, FOX)

2. Clemson

· Record: 11-1 (7-1 ACC)

· Last Game: 34-10 win vs. South Carolina

· AP Ranking: #1

· Carter Floyd: #2

· Pierre Moss: #1

· Dan Vasta: #1

· Seth Eaves: #2

· Matthew Owens: #2

· Next Game: ACC Championship vs. Miami Saturday (8pm, USRN)

3. Auburn

· Record: 10-2 (7-2 SEC)

· Last Game: 26-14 win vs. Alabama

· AP Ranking: #4

· Carter Floyd: #4

· Pierre Moss: #4

· Dan Vasta: #3

· Seth Eaves: #3

· Matthew Owens: 3

· Next Game: SEC Championship vs. Georgia Saturday (4pm, USRN)

4. Wisconsin

· Record: 12-0 (9-0 Big Ten)

· Last Game: 31-0 win @ Minnesota

· AP Ranking: #3

· Carter Floyd: #3

· Pierre Moss: #3

· Dan Vasta: #4

· Seth Eaves: #4

· Matthew Owens: #4

· Next Game: Big Ten Championship vs. Ohio State Saturday (8pm, FOX)

5. Alabama

· Record: 11-1 (7-1 SEC)

· Last Game: 14-26 loss @ Auburn

· AP Ranking: #5

· Carter Floyd: #5

· Pierre Moss: #5

· Dan Vasta: #5

· Seth Eaves: #5

· Matthew Owens: #5

· Next Game: Idle

6. Georgia

· Record: 11-1 (7-1 SEC)

· Last Game: 38-7 win @ Georgia Tech

· AP Ranking: #6

· Carter Floyd: #6

· Pierre Moss: #6

· Dan Vasta: #6

· Seth Eaves: N/A

· Matthew Owens: #6

· Next Game: SEC Championship vs. Auburn Saturday (4pm, USRN)

Carter Floyd:

1. Oklahoma

2. Clemson

3. Wisconsin

4. Auburn

5. Alabama

6. Georgia

Pierre Moss:

1. Clemson

2. Oklahoma

3. Wisconsin

4. Auburn

5. Alabama

6. Georgia

Dan Vasta:

1. Clemson

2. Oklahoma

3. Auburn

4. Wisconsin

5. Alabama

6. Georgia

Seth Eaves:

1. Oklahoma

2. Clemson

3. Auburn

4. Wisconsin

5. Alabama

6. Central Florida

Matthew Owens:

1. Oklahoma

2. Clemson

3. Auburn

4. Wisconsin

5. Alabama

6. Georgia

Friday, November 24, 2017

Top 25 roundup: Arizona falls again in Bahamas

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas -- Southern Methodist senior guard Ben Emelogu II scored a team-high 20 points to help the Mustangs upset No. 2 Arizona 66-60 on Thursday night at the Battle 4 Atlantis.

It was the second consecutive upset defeat in the Bahamas for the No. 2 Wildcats (3-2). Arizona fell 90-84 to North Carolina State on Wednesday.

The Mustangs (5-1) caused 20 turnovers that resulted in 19 points. SMU's Shake Milton had 14 points and freshman Ethan Chargois added 12.

Allonzo Trier led Arizona with 22 points. Deandre Ayton had 17 points and 15 rebounds for his fifth consecutive double-double. The two combined for Arizona's final 20 points, but it was hardly enough.

NO. 1 DUKE 99, PORTLAND STATE 81

PORTLAND, Ore. -- After receiving a wake-up call in the first half, the Blue Devils began the Phil Knight 80 Invitational with a first-round victory over the Vikings.

Duke (5-0) went into the half trailing 49-45 but after a short discussion with coach Mike Krzyzewski at the half came out much more disciplined to slow the game down. Marvin Bagley III led Duke with 18 points and 15 rebounds. Trevon Duval added 22 points.

Deontae North scored 24 points for Portland State (4-1).

NO. 4 MIVHIGAN 73, DePAUL 51

PORTLAND, Ore. -- With star guard Miles Bridges sidelined due to a sprained ankle, the Spartans got 20 points from Matt McQuaid in a victory over the Blue Demons in the Phil Knight Invitational's Victory Bracket.

Jaren Jackson Jr. finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Joshua Langford added 10 points for Michigan State (3-1). Cassius Winston was solid all around with 10 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.

Eli Cain and Max Strus led DePaul (1-3) with 12 points apiece. Michigan State faces Connecticut on Friday, while DePaul plays Oregon.

NO. 5 VILLANOVA 85, TENNESSEE 76

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas -- Jalen Brunson scored 18 of his 25 points in the second half, helping the Wildcats overcome a 12-point halftime deficit to post an victory over the Volunteers in a semifinal game of the Battle 4 Atlantis.

Villanova (5-0) will play in the championship game on Friday against Northern Iowa, a 64-60 winner over North Carolina State. Tennessee (3-1) will play the Wolfpack in the third-place game.

Villanova was also led by 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting by Bridges, and 13 points each by Eric Paschall and Donte DiVincenzo. Tennessee's Grant Williams scored 20 points before he fouled out.

NO. 7 FLORIDA 108, STANFORD 87

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Egor Koulechov led all scorers with 26 points in the Gators' rout of the Cardinal in an opening-round Motion Bracket game of the PK80 Invitational.

Jalen Hudson had 17 points for Florida (4-0). Mike Okauru had 15 points, Chris Chiozza contributed 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Deaundrae Ballard scored 13 points. The Gators next play Friday against No. 17 Gonzaga.

Stanford (3-3) was led by Reid Travis' 23 points. Robert Cartwright had 17 points and Michael Humphrey 10.

NO. 9 NORTH CAROLINA 102, PORTLAND 78

PORTLAND, Ore.-- The Tar Heels needed a full half to put away the Pilots as Luke Maye led North Carolina to a victory in the first round of the Phil Knight 80 Invitational.

Maye finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds while Joel Berry II added 18 points for North Carolina (4-0). Theo Pinson did a bit of everything, finishing with 11 points, a game-high seven assists and nine rebounds.

Portland (2-2) got a team-high 19 points from Franklin Porter. Leading scorer Josh McSwiggan, who entered the game averaging 14.3 points, was held in check by the Tar Heels' length and finished with six points.

NO. 15 XAVIER 83, GEORGE WASHINGTON 64

LAS VEGAS -- Trevon Bluiett had a game-high 20 points with seven rebounds to lead the Musketeers to a victory over the Colonials in a semifinal game of the Las Vegas Invitational.

Xavier (5-0) will play Arizona State on Friday in the championship game. George Washington (2-3) will play Kansas State in the third-place game.

The Musketeers also got 16 points from Quentin Goodin. Terry Nolan Jr. led the Colonials with 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting, while Jair Bolden and Yuta Watanabe each had 16 points.

NO. 17 GONZAGA 86, OHIO STATE 59

PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Bulldogs held the Buckeyes scoreless and forced six turnovers over the final 7:48 of the first half and pulled away for a win in the opening round of the PK80 tournament.

Both teams shot better than 60 percent from the floor during the game's first 10 minutes. The Buckeyes started the game 5 of 7 from 3-point range.

Johnathan Williams scored 21 points on 8-for-10 shooting for Gonzaga, and Josh Perkins finished with 20 points. Jae'Sean Tate and C.J. Jackson scored 12 points each to lead Ohio State, and Kaleb Wesson added 10 points.

WESTERN KENTUCKY 77, NO. 18 PURDUE 73

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas -- Justin Johnson scored 17 points, and Jake Ohmer and Taveion Hollingsworth each scored 15 to lead the Hilltoppers to an upset of the Boilermakers in the Battle 4 Atlantis consolation bracket.

Western Kentucky (4-2) built an 11-point halftime lead and held on. It was the Hilltoppers' first victory over a power-conference opponent in eight years.

Purdue (4-2) got a game-best 22 points from center Isaac Haas and 19 from point guard P.J. Thompson but could never pull even or take the lead in the second half.

RHODE ISLAND 75, NO. 20 SETON HALL 74

NEW YORK -- Jared Terrell scored a career-high 32 points and made the winning basket with five seconds to play, leading the Rams past the Pirates in an NIT Season Tip-Off semifinal in Brooklyn.

With the Rams down by one, Terrell dribbled down the clock before driving to his right and lofting a tough, running shot that kissed off the backboard and in for the winning bucket in a tight, back-and-forth tilt. Stanford Robinson finished with 15 points for Rhode Island (3-1).

Seton Hall (4-1) couldn't get off a shot off in the final seconds. Myles Powell finished with 21 points, and senior Angel Delgado finished with 18 points and 14 rebounds for the Pirates.

NO. 21 SAINT MARY'S 89, HARVARD 71

FULLERTON, Calif. -- Jock Landale had 26 points and seven rebounds and the Gaels remained unbeaten by cruising past the Crimson in a first-round game of the Wooden Legacy.

Saint Mary's (5-0) used runs of 9-0 and 11-0 early in the first half en route to a 26-point halftime advantage. Cullen Neal added 15 points and Jordan Ford had 12 points and nine rebounds for Saint Mary's.

Bryce Aiken finished with 22 points to lead Ivy League favorite Harvard (2-3). Chris Lewis chipped in with 18 points.

NO. 23 WEST VIRGINIA 84, MARIST 78

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Mountaineers blew a 15-point, second-half lead and narrowly averted a major upset, edging the Red Foxes in the first round of the AdvoCare Invitational.

Jevon Carter led West Virginia (4-1) with a game-high 20 points, snapping a 67-67 tie with 5:22 left by canning a 3-pointer. Sagaba Konate added a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double, while Daxter Miles Jr. stuffed the stat sheet with 12 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

David Knudsen paced the winless Red Foxes (0-4) with 19 points, converting 5 of 9 3-point attempts. Brian Parker chipped in 14, and Isaiah Lamb came off the bench to score 10 points.

Thursday, November 23, 2017

Top 25 roundup: N.C. State topples No. 2 Arizona

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas -- Senior Allerik Freeman scored 24 points and freshman Braxton Beverly added 20 to help unranked North Carolina State upset No. 2 Arizona 90-84 in the quarterfinals of the Battle 4 Atlantis on Thursday.

North Carolina State (5-0) went on a 15-3 run in the final minutes of the game to secure the win. It held its biggest lead of the game at 87-77 with 1:48 left.

Arizona (3-1) made it close -- 88-82 -- on Allonzo Trier's two free throws with 15.1 seconds left, but that is as close as it could get. A big difference was the bench. North Carolina State had 39 bench points to Arizona's six.

Trier, the leading scorer in the country after three games at 30 points per game, finished with 27 points. Teammate Deandre Ayton had 27 points and 14 rebounds.

NO. 13 NOTRE DAME 67, NO. 6 WICHITA 66

LAHAINA, Hawaii -- Martinas Geben made two free throws with 2.3 seconds to play, capping a second-half comeback and lifting the Fighting Irish to a thrilling win over the Shockers in the championship game of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational.

Notre Dame (6-0) trailed by as many as 16 points but found its shooting touch in the second half to get back in the game. The Fighting Irish took its first lead since early in the game on Geben's free throws.

Bonzie Colson had 25 points and 11 rebounds, and Matt Farrell added 15 points and came up with a huge steal for the Irish in the final minute. Zach Brown led Wichita State (4-1) with 14 points.

NO. 5 VILLANOVA 66, WESTERN KENTUCKY 58

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas -- Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges combined for 35 points on 14-of-24 shooting to lift the Wildcats to a win over the Hilltoppers in a first-round game of the Battle 4 Atlantis.

The Wildcats (4-0) face Tennessee in a semifinal game Thursday. The Hilltoppers (2-2) will face Purdue in a consolation-bracket game.

Brunson finished with 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting. Bridges had 17 points on 7-of-15 shooting, and he produced eight rebounds and five steals. Western Kentucky was led by former Kansas player Dwight Coleby, who finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

NO. 8 KENTUCKY 86, FORT WAYNE 67

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Freshman Nick Richards had 25 points and 15 rebounds as the Wildcats concluded their run of three games in six days before the Thanksgiving break with a victory over the Mastodons.

Three other players scored in double figures for Kentucky (5-1) -- freshmen Quade Green, Kevin Knox and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, each with 11 points.

Fort Wayne (3-2) got 19 points from John Konchar, while Bryson Scott added 18 and Kason Harrell had 12.

NO. 10 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 88, LEHIGH 63

LOS ANGELES -- Jonah Mathews made four 3-pointers, pacing the Trojans to a rout of the Mountain Hawks.

Mathews scored 18 points, while Bennie Boatwright topped USC with 19 points. Boatwright also grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds, and Chimezie Metu had 15 points and nine boards for the Trojans (4-0).

Lehigh (3-2) got a game-high 24 points from Kahron Ross, while Lance Tejada added 19 points.

NO. 11 MIAMI 57, LA SALLE 46

READING, Pa. -- Dewan Huell scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead the Hurricanes to a nonconference win over the cold-shooting Explorers.

The game was played on a neutral court about an hour away from La Salle's campus in Philadelphia as Miami coach Jim Larranaga followed through on a promise to recruit Lonnie Walker. He was able to recruit Walker with the promise he would play a game in his hometown -- and the building was full of Walker's family and friends.

Walker scored just five points, grabbed two rebounds and dished out two assists for the Hurricanes (4-0). Pookie Powell led La Salle (3-3) with 17 points, and B.J. Johnson posted 16 points and 16 rebounds in the loss.

NO. 12 CINCINNATI 78, WYOMING 53

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands -- Gary Clark scored 17 points and Kyle Washington added 16 points and 11 rebounds in the Bearcats' victory over Wyoming in the championship game of the Cayman Islands Classic.

Cincinnati (6-0) made 50 percent of its shots from the field, including 7 of 14 from 3-point range compared to 31.3 percent from the field for Wyoming (4-1).

Hayden Dalton had 15 points and five rebounds for the Cowboys, while Alan Herndon and Louis Adams each had 12 points.

TENNESSEE 78, NO. 18 PURDUE 75 (OT)

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas -- Grant Williams scored with 14.5 seconds remaining in overtime, and James Daniel sank two free throws with two seconds to go as the Volunteers upset the Boilermakers in the opening round of the Battle 4 Atlantis.

Williams scored all 22 of his points after halftime, and Lamonte Turner added 17 for the Volunteers (3-0), who outscored Purdue 8-2 in the final 1:31. Turner forced overtime with a tying 3-pointer with 5.1 seconds remaining in regulation.

Purdue (4-1) got 21 points from Carsen Edwards, 15 from Dakota Mathias, 13 from Isaac Haas, and 11 each from Vince Edwards and P.J. Thompson.

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

No. 12 Cincinnati braces for Wyoming in Cayman final

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Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin is concerned that the focus and drive his No. 12 Bearcats showed against Richmond on Tuesday, especially on defense, will not be as forceful against Wyoming in the championship game of the Cayman Islands Classic on Wednesday.

He was similarly anxious Monday during a first-round game against Buffalo at the 2,000-seat John Gray Gymnasium in George Town, Cayman Islands. The Bearcats (5-0) held on to beat Buffalo 73-67 in that game despite leading by 13 points at halftime.

"You can't let this game make you soft," Cronin said after his team routed Richmond 75-48 in a semifinal contest. "Success and accolades, they soften you up. I told our veterans to make sure our team doesn't soak in softness because it kills you."

Wyoming (4-0) advanced to face Cincinnati with a 70-61 victory over Louisiana in the other semifinal.

The Cowboys held Louisiana to 33.3 percent shooting, including only 14.8 percent from 3-point range. The Ragin' Cajuns averaged 96 points in their four previous games.

Wyoming's depth was significant Tuesday with reserves Alexander Aka Gorski (team-high 16 points) and Lou Adams (14) leading in scoring. Nyaires Redding (13 points) and Alan Herndon (10 points, seven rebounds) were also in double figures.

"We wanted our energy to go to another level, but at the same time, we wanted to hang our hat on the defensive end of the floor, feeling like our offense would be a little bit better than it was the first night out," Wyoming coach Allen Edwards said.

Wyoming beat South Dakota State 77-65 in the first round despite making only 8 of 30 shots from 3-point range.

Gorski, Adams and Redding were a combined 5 of 9 from beyond the arc against Louisiana.

"They have good guard play and they can shoot the ball," Cronin said of Wyoming. "They will try to spread us out. They are going to test our being able to defend the (3-point) line and not get beat off the dribble because they do spread you and they have guys who can take care of the ball and they have guys who can make shots.

"I think we have the advantage with strength and rebounding and physicality in this game."

The Bearcats dominated Richmond 35-22 in rebounding.

Cincinnati forward Gary Clark, who is 6-foot-8, 225 pounds, finished with eight points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Reserve guard Cane Broome (13 points) and starting guard Jacob Evans (12) were the only Bearcats to score in double figures.

"The script went pretty well today because I didn't want to play anybody too much (with three games in three days)," Cronin said. "Once we got to halftime (leading 40-14), I was thinking about tomorrow, to be honest with you.

"If there was no game tomorrow, I could have left Clark in to get a triple-double, but I wanted to save him for the next game."

Wyoming was not at full strength against Louisiana. Preseason all-conference guard Justin James did not play much of the game after his nose was bloodied going for a rebound.

The Cowboys' leading scorer, Hayden Dalton (23.3 points per game entering Tuesday), was limited to two points in 23 minutes. He did not appear to be injured.

"I thought the troops rallied with each other and willed their way and found a way to continue to stay the course and come out of here with another win," Edwards said.

Wichita State, Notre Dame meet in Maui final

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Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall has achieved an undefeated regular season and a Final Four appearance but has never led the Shockers to the championship of a marquee, eight-team, in-season tournament.

He has that opportunity Wednesday when No. 6 Wichita State (4-0) will play No. 13 Notre Dame (5-0) in the title game of the Maui Invitational in Lahaina, Hawaii.

Wichita State defeated Marquette 80-66 in one semifinal Tuesday, and Notre Dame routed LSU 92-53 in the other.

It will be the Shockers' first eight-team championship game since 1963, when they won the All-College Tournament in Oklahoma City.

Wichita State senior reserve guard Rashard Kelly, when asked what a Maui Invitational title would mean to him, turned to Marshall on the interview podium and asked: "You have a championship here yet?"

"I've never had a championship here, Rashard," Marshall said in a loud tone.

"All right, then it would mean the world to us," Kelly said with a laugh.

Wichita State's Landry Shamet scored 19 points against Marquette, including 10 in the final four minutes to seal the win. Conner Frankamp (13 points), Shaquille Morris (11), and Austin Reaves (10) also scored in double figures.

Kelly was brought to the interview room because of his six points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and three blocks off the bench. His play exemplifies the kind of depth Marshall possesses.

"I just have to play and bring the same mindset I do every day and contribute and be that glue guy," Kelly said about being a reserve instead of a starter. "We have great scorers on our team and we have great guys that can shoot the ball. I just have to find a different way to contribute."

Important to Marshall was Wichita State rebounding almost 85 percent of Marquette's misses. The Shockers finished with a 42-25 advantage on the glass.

"The ideal situation for us is to force a tough, contested shot, then everybody checks out and the ball hits the floor and the guards can swoop in and get it," Marshall said.

Notre Dame's backcourt duo of T.J. Gibbs and Matt Farrell dominated LSU. Gibbs finished with 26 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field, including 6-of-10 from 3-point range. Farrell had 17 points and seven assists.

Irish forward Bonzie Colson posted a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, and he also had five steals. Reserve John Mooney contributed nine points and six assists.

"We're sharing the ball and playing as well as we can right now as a team," said Gibbs, whose team had 18 assists and only six turnovers against the Tigers.

The Wichita State-Notre Dame matchup is a rematch of a 2015 Sweet 16 game won by the Fighting Irish 81-70.

When Gibbs was told the Shockers might be motivated by that outcome, he said, "We definitely know winning this thing is important. Since we were coming here, we've been on a mission. It's about coming together and playing strong. We're ready."