Marquette’s Shaka Smart voted men’s AP coach of the year
April 1, 2023 GMTShaka Smart has packed an entire career's worth of experiences into 14 years as a college head coach. He led VCU to an improbable Final Four as a 30-something wunderkind in 2011, guided mighty Texas to a Big 12 Tournament title during six otherwise tepid years in Austin, and now has turned Marquette into a Big East beast.
Texas has Terry coaching among March Madness heavyweights
March 23, 2023 GMTKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Of the four coaches who led their teams to the semifinals of the Midwest Region at the NCAA Tournament, the most unlikely of them might feel the most at home when he walks into T-Mobile Center on Friday night.
Soundtrack of this year’s March Madness begins with ‘CLANK!’
March 23, 2023 GMTKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Folks across the country watching the first-round of the NCAA Tournament last week thought it rightfully funny when they saw a couple of stadium workers scurry up a ladder and place a construction level across the rim.
Super seniors lead the way into March Madness Sweet 16
March 22, 2023 GMTJerome Tang took his time finding the right players to fit into the program he wanted to build at Kansas State.
They meshed just right, taking Tang and the Wildcats to the Sweet 16 in a season that started with them being picked to finish last in the Big 12.
Nowell’s huge 2nd half leads Kansas State past Kentucky
March 20, 2023 GMTGREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Markquis Nowell scored 23 of his 27 points after halftime, and Kansas State overcame a horrid start from outside by hitting a couple of clutch 3-pointers and topping Kentucky 75-69 in Sunday’s second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Miller has No. 3 seed Xavier back in March Madness spotlight
March 16, 2023 GMTGREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — When coach Sean Miller returned to Xavier, he made one thing clear to his players: He didn’t have any patience for losing.
Rebuilding never entered his vocabulary.
In just his second season back at the helm, Miller has restored Xavier’s status as a national power heading into the NCAA Tournament.
Alabama, Houston top final AP Top 25 ahead of March Madness
March 13, 2023 GMTThe overall No. 1 seed for March Madness is No. 1 in the final AP Top 25, too.
No. 6 Marquette routs Xavier 65-51 to win 1st Big East title
March 12, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — The final night of the Big East Tournament never sounded like this before.
Tyler Kolek and No. 6 Marquette raced out to a hefty lead and didn't look back, beating No. 15 Xavier 65-51 on Saturday to win its first Big East championship after 18 seasons in the conference.
DePaul edges Seton Hall in wild finish 66-65
March 9, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Umoja Gibson made three free throws with 3.9 seconds left and Nick Ongenda blocked a layup at the buzzer to give DePaul a 66-65 win over Seton Hall on Wednesday in the first round of the Big East Tournament.
With Marquette on top, Big East brings different look to MSG
March 7, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — This Big East Tournament has a distinctly different look.
No. 6 Marquette is the top seed heading into the four-day frenzy at Madison Square Garden for the first time since the Golden Eagles joined the conference in 2005.
Marquette’s Kolek, Smart collect AP’s top honors in Big East
March 7, 2023 GMTMarquette's Tyler Kolek is the Associated Press Big East player of the year and Shaka Smart is the unanimous pick for coach of the year after the two led the Golden Eagles' surprising run to their first regular-season championship in 10 years.
Tempers flare at finish as No. 16 Xavier routs Seton Hall
February 25, 2023 GMTNEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Souley Boum and Colby Jones gave No. 16 Xavier a much-needed victory in a game that ended ugly.
Boum scored 23 points, Jones had 19 and the two combined on a decisive run early in the second half in leading the Musketeers to an 82-60 win over Seton Hall on Friday night.
Nunge, No. 16 Xavier bounce back from 2 losses, beat DePaul
February 19, 2023 GMTCINCINNATI (AP) — Jack Nunge had 18 points and 10 rebounds as No. 16 Xavier bounced back from a pair of narrow losses to beat DePaul 82-68 on Saturday.
Xavier fell earlier in the week by a combined three points to Butler and No.
No. 10 Tennessee beats newly crowned No. 1 Alabama
February 16, 2023 GMTKNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Zakai Zeigler and Santiago Vescovi each scored 15 points and No. 10 Tennessee took down newly minted No. 1 Alabama 68-59 on Wednesday night.
Playing its first game as the top-ranked team since the 2002-03 season, the Crimson Tide (22-4, 12-1 SEC) led just once in the early going and committed 19 turnovers.
No. 11 Marquette rallies late to edge No. 16 Xavier 69-68
February 16, 2023 GMTMILWAUKEE (AP) — Marquette moved a step closer to earning its first conference title in a decade by turning a weakness into a strength.
Rebounding.
Olivier-Maxence Prosper converted a putback with 1.6 seconds left and No.
Castaneda’s 24 lead Akron past Kent State 67-55
February 4, 2023 GMTAKRON, Ohio (AP) — Xavier Castaneda scored 24 points as Akron beat Kent State 67-55 on Friday.
Castaneda shot 6 for 14 (5 for 9 from 3-point range) and 7 of 9 from the free throw line for the Zips (17-6, 9-1 Mid-American Conference).
Castleton leads Florida’s rally past No. 2 Tennessee
February 2, 2023 GMTGAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Colin Castleton had 20 points and nine rebounds, Kyle Lofton added 14 points and Florida used a 13-0 run late in the second half to upend No. 2 Tennessee 67-54 on Wednesday night.
No. 15 TCU without Miles in 76-72 win over West Virginia
February 1, 2023 GMTFORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Damion Baugh had 16 points and 10 assists, big man Eddie Lampkin Jr. made an unexpected return from injury and 15th-ranked TCU overcame the absence of top scorer Mike Miles Jr.
Castaneda scores 32 to lead Akron to 81-64 win over Buffalo
February 1, 2023 GMTBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Xavier Castaneda scored 32 points to lead Akron over Buffalo 81-64 on Tuesday night.
Castaneda made 10 of 12 shots, including 7 for 8 from distance, and went 5 for 6 from the free-throw line for the Zips (16-6, 8-1 Mid-American Conference), who upped their win streak to seven.
Joplin makes 8 3s, No. 16 Marquette beats DePaul 89-69
January 28, 2023 GMTCHICAGO (AP) — David Joplin made eight 3-pointers and scored a career-high 28 points, helping No. 16 Marquette beat DePaul 89-69 on Saturday.
Joplin went 8 for 11 from deep and also had five rebounds in Marquette's third straight win.
Freeman scores 32 to help Akron fend off Ohio 83-77
January 28, 2023 GMTAKRON, Ohio (AP) — Enrique Freeman finished with 32 points and 15 rebounds to power Akron to an 83-77 victory over Ohio on Saturday.
Xavier Castaneda made 10 of 11 free throws and scored 16 for the Zips (15-6, 7-1 Mid-American Conference), who extended their win streak to six.
Bledson scores 20, Indiana State tops Northern Iowa 79-71
January 28, 2023 GMTTERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) — Xavier Bledson's 20 points off of the bench helped lead Indiana State to a 79-71 victory against Northern Iowa on Saturday.
Bledson shot 7 for 10 (3 for 6 from 3-point range) and 3 of 3 from the free throw line for the Sycamores (14-9, 7-5 Missouri Valley Conference).
Efficient offense has No. 16 Marquette chasing league title
January 26, 2023 GMTMILWAUKEE (AP) — As they walk along the hallway leading up to the men’s basketball office each day, Marquette’s players can stare at the walls and see photographs celebrating the greatest teams in program history.
Locke’s career-high 29 lifts No. 22 Friars past DePaul 75-64
January 21, 2023 GMTPROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Providence coach Ed Cooley predicted his team would learn from a 0-2 trip that brought an end to its season-best nine-game win streak.
He was right.
Noah Locke had a career-high 29 points, including seven 3-pointers, to help the 22nd-ranked Friars find their footing at home in a 75-64 win over the DePaul Blue Demons on Saturday.
Seton Hall rallies from 17 down, beats No. 15 UConn 67-66
January 19, 2023 GMTNEWARK, N.J. (AP) — KC Ndefo grabbed a rebound and made a follow-up layup with 1.6 seconds remaining to give Seton Hall a 67-66 come-from-behind win over No. 15 UConn on Wednesday night.
Ndefo grabbed his eighth rebound of the game and scored the decisive points as he was fouled on the play.
No. 20 Marquette holds off No. 22 Providence, 83-75
January 19, 2023 GMTMILWAUKEE (AP) — Kam Jones had 21 points and Tyler Kolek scored 19 as No. 20 Marquette defeated No. 22 Providence 83-75 on Wednesday night.
With members of Marquette’s 2003 Final Four team, including former NBA great Dwyane Wade, cheering them on from the stands, the surging Golden Eagles won for the sixth time in seven games.
Gibson scores 22 as DePaul surprises No. 8 Xavier 73-72
January 19, 2023 GMTCHICAGO (AP) — Wins like this are just what DePaul coach Tony Stubblefield envisioned when he was hired two years ago to restore a once-proud program. He promised more are coming.
Umoja Gibson scored 22 points, Javan Johnson added 16 and DePaul surprised No.
Houston, KU stay atop Top 25 while FAU enters for 1st time
January 16, 2023 GMTHouston and Kansas remained firmly atop The Associated Press men's college basketball poll Monday after a record weekend of Top 25 losses, while Florida Atlantic took advantage of the chaos to crack the ranking for the first time in school history.
St. John’s gives No. 6 UConn its 4th loss in 5 games
January 15, 2023 GMTHARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Joel Soriano scored 19 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in St. John’s win over No. 6 UConn 85-74 on Sunday — its first victory in Hartford since 1988.
The double-double was the 16th of the season for Soriano.
Chappell helps Sac State hold off Northern Arizona 59-56
January 15, 2023 GMTSACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Zach Chappell scored 16 points and Sacramento State turned back Northern Arizona 59-56 on Saturday.
Chappell sank 6 of 13 shots with two 3-pointers for the Hornets (11-7, 4-1 Big Sky Conference).
Sasser, Shead get hot in 2nd half as No. 1 Houston beats USF
January 12, 2023 GMTHOUSTON (AP) — Marcus Sasser scored a career-high 31 points, Jamal Shead added 20 points and six rebounds, and No. 1 Houston used a huge second half to beat South Florida 83-77 on Wednesday night.
Sasser scored 25 points and Shead had 13 as the backcourt mates combined to score 38 of Houston’s 46 second-half points.
UConn easily beats Xavier 73-37 without ailing Auriemma
January 6, 2023 GMTCINCINNATI (AP) — Aubrey Griffin scored 19 points and injury-riddled UConn, playing without coach Geno Auriemma due to illness, beat Xavier 73-37 on Thursday night for its sixth straight victory.
Dorka Juhasz added 18 points for the fifth-ranked Huskies (13-2, 6-0 Big East), who finished the game with only seven available players when forward Aaliyah Edwards sustained a foot injury in the first half and did not return after halftime.
No. 22 Xavier breaks No. 2 UConn’s undefeated start
January 1, 2023 GMTCINCINNATI (AP) — Zach Freemantle scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and Colby Jones also scored 16, helping No. 22 Xavier hand No. 2 UConn its first loss of the season, 83-73, on Saturday.
Jack Nunge started the game for Xavier (12-3, 4-0 Big East) despite an illness that limited him during warmups, and sat out some of the second half.
No. 22 Xavier hands No. 2 UConn its 1st loss, 83-73
December 31, 2022 GMTCINCINNATI (AP) — Zach Freemantle scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and Colby Jones also scored 16, helping No. 22 Xavier hand No. 2 UConn its first loss of the season, 83-73, on Saturday.
Jack Nunge started for Xavier despite an illness that limited him during warmups.
Boum, Nunge lead Xavier’s rally past West Virginia 84-74
December 4, 2022 GMTCINCINNATI (AP) — Souley Boum scored 23 points, Jack Nunge added 17 points and 14 rebounds, and Xavier defeated West Virginia 84-74 in the Big East-Big 12 Battle on Saturday night.
Boum, coming off an all-tournament performance at the Phil Knight Legacy, added seven assists and four rebounds.
Jones’ 16 lead Xavier past SE Louisiana 95-63
December 1, 2022 GMTCINCINNATI (AP) — Colby Jones' 16 points helped Xavier defeat SE Louisiana 95-63 on Wednesday night.
Jones also added seven assists for the Musketeers (5-3). Zach Freemantle added 15 points while shooting 5 of 7 from the field and 5 for 8 from the line, and he also had 12 rebounds and five assists.
Strawther scores 23 as No. 6 Gonzaga beats Xavier 88-84
November 28, 2022 GMTPORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Julian Strawther scored 23 points, including 10 in the final 4:07, and No. 6 Gonzaga beat Xavier 88-84 on Sunday in the third-place game of the Phil Knight Legacy men’s tournament.
No. 8 Duke locks down late, holds off Xavier 71-64
November 25, 2022 GMTPORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — After a shaky offensive performance in the opening round of the Phil Knight Legacy tournament, Duke coach Jon Scheyer wanted to see Jeremy Roach get back to playing more instinctively, especially at the offensive end of the floor.
Jones, Boum each score 22, Xavier beats Florida in Portland
November 25, 2022 GMTPORTLAND (AP) — Colby Jones and Souley Boum each scored 22 points and Xavier beat Florida 90-83 on Thursday in opening-round play of the Phil Knight Legacy.
Xavier was ahead by as many as 11 points in the second half, but its lead was cut to one possession three times down the stretch, the last with 3:14 to play.
Jackson-Davis scores 30, No. 12 Indiana beats Xavier 81-79
November 19, 2022 GMTCINCINNATI (AP) — Trayce Jackson-Davis scored 30 points, Xavier Johnson had 23, and No. 12 Indiana endured a late rally to beat Xavier 81-79 on Friday night.
The Hoosiers (3-0) led 78-70 with 2:25 left, but Xavier rallied within a point in the final minute.
Nunge scores 23 in Xavier’s 78-65 win against Fairfield
November 16, 2022 GMTCINCINNATI (AP) — Jack Nunge's 23 points helped Xavier defeat Fairfield 78-65 on Tuesday night.
Nunge added seven rebounds and three blocks for the Musketeers (3-0). Adam Kunkel scored 21 points while shooting 8 for 13, including 4 for 8 from beyond the arc.
Xavier wins 86-64 over Montana
November 12, 2022 GMTCINCINNATI (AP) — Zach Freemantle's 18 points helped Xavier defeat Montana 86-64 on Friday night.
Freemantle also contributed four steals for the Musketeers (2-0). Jack Nunge shot 5 for 8 (2 for 3 from 3-point range) and 3 of 4 from the free throw line to add 15 points.
Boum scores 23, Xavier routs Morgan State 96-73 in opener
November 8, 2022 GMTCINCINNATI (AP) — Souley Boum’s 23 points helped Xavier defeat Morgan State 96-73 in a season opener on Monday night.
Boum also contributed five steals for the Musketeers. Jack Nunge scored 16 points and added eight rebounds and three blocks.
Focused Xavier Johnson could be X-factor for No. 13 Hoosiers
October 28, 2022 GMTBLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Xavier Johnson faced the stark reality his basketball days could be over when an April police chase ended in his arrest in a Bloomington parking lot.
Indiana Hoosiers coach Mike Woodson was willing to forgive his starting point guard if he agreed to some conditions.
Creighton picked to win Big East for 1st time; Xavier 2nd
October 18, 2022 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — For the first time since joining the Big East in 2013, Creighton is the preseason choice to win the conference.
The ninth-ranked Bluejays received eight first-place votes from the league's coaches Tuesday.
Georgia State hires former Xavier interim coach Jonas Hayes
April 6, 2022 GMTATLANTA (AP) — Jonas Hayes, who as interim coach led Xavier to its first NIT championship in 64 years, was hired as Georgia State's coach on Wednesday.
Hayes, an Atlanta native and University of Georgia alumnus, replaces Rob Lanier, who left Georgia State to head SMU's program.
Xavier edges Texas A&M 73-72 for 1st NIT title since 1958
April 1, 2022 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — If this was the last NIT championship game at Madison Square Garden, it certainly was a thriller.
Especially for Xavier.
Jack Nunge made the go-ahead basket with 3.1 seconds left and the Musketeers won their first NIT crown in 64 years Thursday night, rallying for a 73-72 victory over Texas A&M.
Xavier outlasts St. Bonaventure 84-77 in NIT semifinals
March 30, 2022 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Jack Nunge, Adam Kunkel and Zach Freemantle each scored 18 points, and Xavier outlasted St. Bonaventure 84-77 in the NIT semifinals Tuesday night.
Colby Jones added 16 points and Nate Johnson had 10 for the Musketeers (22-13), who will face Texas A&M for the tournament championship Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.
Xavier beats Vanderbilt 75-73 in NIT quarterfinals
March 23, 2022 GMTCINCINNATI (AP) — Adam Kunkel made a layup with 57.1 seconds left to give Xavier the lead en route to a 75-73 win over Vanderbilt in the NIT quarterfinals on Tuesday night.
Johnson, Nunge lift Xavier over Florida 72-56 in NIT
March 20, 2022 GMTCINCINNATI (AP) — Nate Johnson had 16 points to lead five Xavier players in double figures as the Musketeers defeated Florida 72-56 in the NIT second round on Sunday.
Jack Nunge added 12 points for the Musketeers (20-13).
Former Arizona coach Sean Miller returning to Xavier
March 20, 2022 GMTCINCINNATI (AP) — Former Arizona basketball coach Sean Miller returned to Xavier on Saturday, less than a year after the Wildcats fired him amid an ongoing NCAA investigation that's stretched nearly five years.
Xavier beats Cleveland State 72-68 in NIT
March 16, 2022 GMTCINCINNATI (AP) — Adam Kunkel scored 14 points to lead five Xavier players in double figures as the Musketeers narrowly defeated Cleveland State 72-68 in the first round of the NIT on Tuesday night.
Akron upsets top-seeded Toledo 70-62 in MAC semifinals
March 12, 2022 GMTCLEVELAND (AP) — Xavier Castaneda scored 26 points and Ali Ali added 13, leading fourth-seeded Akron to a 70-62 upset of top-seeded Toledo in the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference tournament on Friday night.
Bishop leads Montana St. past Sac St. 83-61 in Big Sky
March 10, 2022 GMTBOISE, Idaho (AP) — Xavier Bishop had 14 points to lead five Montana State players in double figures as the league-champion Bobcats romped past eighthseeded Sacramento State 83-61 in the Big Sky Conference tournament quarterfinals on Thursday.
Indiana closes on 31-9 run, rallies past Michigan 74-69
March 10, 2022 GMTINDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Trayce Jackson-Davis scored 19 of his 24 points in the second half, Xavier Johnson had 17 points, eight rebounds and seven assists and No. 9 seed Indiana closed on a 31-9 run to rally past eighth-seeded Michigan 74-69 on Thursday in the second round of the Big Ten Conference tournament.
Butler holds on for 89-82 win over Xavier in OT in Big East
March 10, 2022 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Simas Lukosius hit a jumper on the first possession in overtime to give ninth-seeded Butler a lead it would not relinquish en route to an 89-82 win over eighth-seeded Xavier in the first round of the Big East Conference tournament on Wednesday.
BUBBLE WATCH: Demon Deacons aim to add another win in ACCs
March 9, 2022 GMTA look at Wednesday for bubble teams chasing NCAA Tournament bids:
GAME OF THE DAY
Wake Forest meets Boston College in Wednesday’s second round of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament in New York, and the Demon Deacons (23-8) are playing more to avoid damaging their NCAA resume than to bolster it.
Johnson scores 25 to lead Xavier over Georgetown 97-75
March 6, 2022 GMTCINCINNATI (AP) — Nate Johnson had 25 points as Xavier romped past Georgetown 97-75 on Saturday night.
Jack Nunge had 16 points and nine rebounds for Xavier (18-12, 8-11 Big East Conference), which broke its five-game losing streak.
Castaneda, Tribble lift Akron over Central Michigan 57-56
March 5, 2022 GMTAKRON, Ohio (AP) — Xavier Castaneda had 17 points and seven rebounds as Akron narrowly beat Central Michigan 57-56 on Friday night.
Greg Tribble made two free throws for the go-ahead points with 32 seconds left and the Zips held on for the win.
Coburn scores 20 to lead St. John’s past Xavier 81-66
March 3, 2022 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Tareq Coburn had a season-high 20 points as St. John's defeated Xavier 81-66 on Wednesday night.
Coburn shot 5 for 7 from behind the arc and added three blocks.
Julian Champagnie had 19 points and eight rebounds for St.