Andy Katz predicts which regular-season champions will also win their conference tournaments while calling the SEC field a “wide-open” race to the crown.
Oregon men’s basketball is riding a seven-game win streak into the Big Ten conference tournament, and peaking at the right time. The Ducks are the No. 8 seed in the tournament and could be a sleeper pick to win the auto bid, according to Andy Katz.
Andy Katz breaks down new AP No. 1 Duke ahead of the ACC tournament, and how the Blue Devils match up against top conference contenders Clemson and Louisville.The New Orleans Pelicans have signed center Mo Bamba to a 10-day contract. New Orleans’ roster now stands at 18 players, including three two-way players.
Bamba, 7-0, 231, has appeared in 360 career games across seven seasons with the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers and LA Clippers, recording averages of 6.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 16.8 minutes per contest.
Bamba appeared in 28 games (two starts) with the Clippers this season, averaging 4.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.0 block in 12.6 minutes per contest. Bamba has also appeared in four games (all starts) this season with the Pelicans’ G League affiliate, the Birmingham Squadron, averaging 21.0 points, 14.5 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 30.8 minutes per contest.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has traded his three-point attempts for more midrange jumpers this season. Antetokounmpo is averaging less than one three-point attempt per game, which is his lowest output since 14-15. Antetokounmpo has made 102 midrange shots, which is fourth in the NBA.
“I’ve worked on it,” Antetokounmpo told ESPN. “Guys are giving it to me. I got to shoot it because it’s less toll on my body. I got to shoot it, man.”
Antetokounmpo worked on his jumper with skills coach Drew Hanlen this past offseason to give himself another offensive weapon and avoid excess contact on his body.
“I’m in my thirties, obviously, [and] I believe that I have four [to] six years, still, of good basketball to give, but I got to be smarter,” Antetokounmpo said. “I got to be smarter in the way I play.”
Antetokounmpo is averaging more than 30 points while attempting less than one three-pointer per game, which hasn’t been done since Karl Malone in 89-90.
“Me shooting a bunch of 3s — which I would love; trust me, I love shooting the ball — but right now, that’s not what my team needs from me,” Antetokounmpo said. “I know I’m going to make big 3s, big shots. But that’s not my main focus. My main focus is to attack, facilitate, get the 15-footers all day long. If I have 20 of them, I’m going to take all 20 of them.”
Nova Southeastern took care of business and is the unquestioned No. 1. Everyone else? There are a lot of questions for DII men’s basketball.Stephen Curry has been hired as assistant general manager for Davidson’s basketball programs. Curry becomes the first active player to take an administrative job with an NCAA team.
Curry will provide guidance to the men’s and women’s teams based on his college and professional experience. Curry work with general manager Austin Buntz, a former Under Armour global sports marketing team member. Curry first signed with Under Armour in 2013 and launched his own Curry Brand as a standalone venture with the company in 2020.
“The Davidson experience is top notch,” Curry said in a statement released by the school. “My journey from when I got to Davidson in 2006 to now demonstrated that I had the opportunity to play basketball at the highest level, got a great education, an amazing network through the Davidson alumni and continue to wave the Davidson flag. I want very talented, high character student athletes to have that same experience.”
