Men’s college basketball 2023-24

[InThe313]

College basketball is officially back!  We’ve got a new school in Division I (welcome to the party, Le Moyne) but there is net loss (Hartford went down to Division III while St. Francis Brooklyn sadly closed its athletic department completely).  Fortunately, there is a banner ceremony for the reigning champs and a wide variety of games.  Now, as the season starts this morning in Indianapolis, please remember to to be respectful.  Feel free to leave your news and notes here throughout the season.  Here’s your Opening Day schedule. 

Spalding Golden Eagles at IUPUI Jaguars this morning at 11 a.m.
St. Joseph’s-Long Island Golden Eagles at Hofstra Pride this morning at 11:30 a.m.
Fort Lauderdale Eagles at Troy Trojans today at 12 p.m.
North American Stallions at Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks today at 12:30 p.m.
Kansas Christian Falcons at Prairie View A&M Panthers today at 1 p.m.
Georgia Bulldogs at Oregon Ducks today at 4:30 p.m.
Linfield Wildcats at Oregon State Beavers today at 5:30 p.m.
John Jay Bloodhounds at Penn Quakers tonight at 6 p.m.
Rivier Raiders at UMass Lowell River Hawks tonight at 6 p.m.
Samford Bulldogs at Purdue Boilermakers tonight at 6:30 p.m.
Northern Arizona Lumberjacks at UConn Huskies tonight at 6:30 p.m.
Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles at Tennessee Volunteers tonight at 6:30 p.m.
NJIT Highlanders at Miami (Fla.) Hurricanes tonight at 7 p.m.
Radford Highlanders at North Carolina Tar Herls tonight at 7 p.m.
Voorhees Tigers at South Carolina State Bulldogs tonight at 7 p.m.
Erskine Flying Fleet at Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs tonight at 7 p.m.
Piedmont Lions at Coastal Carolina Chanticleers tonight at 7 p.m.
Champion Christian Tigers at UT Martin Skyhawks tonight at 7 p.m.
King Tornado at East Tennessee State Buccaneers tonight at 7 p.m.
Mount Olive Trojans at UNC Wilmington Skyhawks tonight at 7 p.m.
Delaware State Hornets at Penn State Nittany Lions tonight at 7 p.m.
Trinity Baptist Eagles at Stetson Hatters tonight at 7 p.m.
Johnson Suns at Jacksonville Dolphins tonight at 7 p.m.
North Greenville Crusaders at Furnan Paladins tonight at 7 p.m.
Clark Atlanta Panthers at Mercer Bears tonight at 7 p.m.
Malone Pioneers at Kent State Golden Flashes tonight at 7 p.m.
St. Andrews Knights at High Point Panthers tonight at 7 p.m.
Toccoa Falls Eagles at Charleston Southern Buccaneers tonight at 7 p.m.
Washington and Lee Generals at Davidson Wildcats tonight at 7 p.m.
Delta State Statesmen at Southeastern Louisiana Lions tonight at 7 p.m.
Brevard Tornadoes at Wofford Terriers tonight at 7 p.m.
Covenant Scots at Chattanooga Mocs tonight at 7 p.m.
Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens at Bucknell Bison tonight at 7 p.m.
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Pomeroys at Indiana State Sycamores tonight at 7 p.m.
Penn State-Wilkes-Barre Nittany Lions at Norfolk State Spartans tonight at 7 p.m.
Holy Cross Crusaders at Siena Saints tonight at 7 p.m.
Immaculata Mighty Macs at Rider Broncs tonight at 7 p.m.
Cleveland State Vikings at Duquesne Dukes tonight at 7 p.m.
USC Upstate Spartans at South Carolina Gamecocks tonight at 7 p.m.
Hampton Pirates at Howard Bison tonight at 7 p.m.
Chicago State Cougars at Bowling Green Falcons tonight at 7 p.m.
Vassar Brewers at Yale Bulldogs tonight at 7 p.m.
Princeton Tigers at Rutgers Scarlet Knights tonight at 7 p.m.
Central Connecticut Blue Devils at Rhode Island Rams tonight at 7 p.m.
Carroll Fighting Saints at Utah Valley Wolverines tonight at 7 p.m.
MACU Mustangs at Liberty Flames tonight at 7 p.m.
Coastal Georgia Mariners at North Florida Ospreys tonight at 7 p.m.
Winthrop Eagles at Clemson Tigers tonight at 7 p.m.
Monmouth Hawks at George Mason Patriots tonight at 7 p.m.
Ferrum Panthers at East Carolina Pirates tonight at 7 p.m.
The Citadel Bulldogs at NC State Wolfpack tonight at 7 p.m.
UMBC Retrievers at Louisville Cardinals tonight at 7 p.m.
Niagara Purple Eagles at Notre Dame Fighting Irish tonight at 7 p.m.
Virginia Wesleyan Marlins at Old Dominion Monarchs tonight at 7 p.m.
Queens Royals at Marshall Thundering Herd tonight at 7 p.m.
North Dakota State Bison at Western Michigan Broncos tonight at 7 p.m.
UMass Boston Beacons at Harvard Crimson tonight at 7 p.m.
Columbia Lions at Providence Friars tonight at 7 p.m.
Sarah Lawrence Gryphons at Sacred Heart Pioneers tonight at 7 p.m.
Detroit Mercy Titans at Toledo Rockets tonight at 7 p.m.
Brown Bears at Colgate Raiders tonight at 7 p.m.
Iona Gaels at Charleston Cougars tonight at 7 p.m.
Oakland Golden Grizzlies at Ohio State Buckeyes tonight at 7 p.m.
Maine Black Bears at Charlotte 49ers tonight at 7 p.m.
North Carolina A&T Aggies at Pittsburgh Panthers tonight at 7 p.m.
Lafayette Leopards at Saint Joseph’s Hawks tonight at 7 p.m.
SIU Edwardsville Cougars at Dayton Flyers tonight at 7 p.m.
McNeese Cowboys at VCU Rams tonight at 7 p.m.
Missouri State Bears at West Virginia Mountaineers tonight at 7 p.m.
Tarleton State Texans at Virginia Cavaliers tonight at 7 p.m.
Longwood Lancers at St. Bonaventure Bonnies tonight at 7 p.m.
VMI Keydets at Richmond Spiders tonight at 7 p.m.
New Hampshire Wildcats at Syracuse Orange tonight at 7 p.m.
American Eagles at Villanova Wildcats tonight at 7:30 p.m.
Southwest Adventist Knights at UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros tonight at 7:30 p.m.
Dallas Christian Crusaders at Northwestern State Demons tonight at 7:30 p.m.
Manhattan Jaspers at Bryant Bears tonight at 7:30 p.m.
Cornell Big Red at Lehigh Mountain Hawks tonight at 7:30 p.m.
Georgia Southern Eagles at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets tonight at 7:30 p.m.
Regent Royals at William & Mary Tribe tonight at 7:30 p.m.
Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks at Temple Owls tonight at 7:30 p.m.
Fairleigh Dickinson Knights at Buffalo Bulls tonight at 7:30 p.m.
Towson Tigers at Colorado Buffaloes tonight at 7:30 p.m.
Saint Peter’s Peacocks at Seton Hall Pirates tonight at 7:30 p.m.
Wagner Seahawks at Fordham Rams tonight at 7:30 p.m.
Merrimack Warriors at Vermont Catamounts tonight at 7:30 p.m.
Millsaps Majors at New Orleans Privateers tonight at 7:30 p.m.
Coast Guard Bears at Quinnipiac Bobcats tonight at 7:30 p.m.
Lipscomb Bisons at Wichita State Shockers tonight at 7:30 p.m.
Georgia State Panthers at Belmont Bruins tonight at 7:30 p.m.
North Carolina Central Eagles at Kansas Jayhawks tonight at 8 p.m.
Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks at Houston Cougars tonight at 8 p.m.
Alcorn State Braves at Arkansas Razorbacks tonight at 8 p.m.
Texas A&M-Commerce Lions at Texas A&M Aggies tonight at 8 p.m.
New Mexico State Aggies at Kentucky Wildcats tonight at 8 p.m.
Incarnate Word Cardinals at Texas Longhorns tonight at 8 p.m.
Morehead State Eagles at Alabama Crimson Tide tonight at 8 p.m.
Eastern Illinois Panthers at Illinois Fighting Illini tonight at 8 p.m.
UNT Dallas Trailblazers at Grambling State Tigers tonight at 8 p.m.
Mobile Rams at South Alabama Jaguars tonight at 8 p.m.
Wisconsin-Stout Blue Devils at Milwaukee Panthers tonight at 8 p.m.
Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles at Saint Louis Billikens tonight at 8 p.m.
Texas State Bobcats at Little Rock Trojans tonight at 8 p.m.
William Carey Crusaders at Southern Miss Golden Eagles tonight at 8 p.m.
Kentucky State Thorobreds at Southern Illinois Salukis tonight at 8 p.m.
Navy Midshipmen at Campbell Fighting Camels tonight at 8 p.m.
Oral Roberts Golden Eagles at UT Arlington Mavericks tonight at 8 p.m.
Alabama State Hornets at Ole Miss Rebels tonight at 8 p.m.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions at Missouri Tigers tonight at 8 p.m.
Trinity Christian Trolls at Valparaiso Beacons tonight at 8 p.m.
Midway Eagles at Murray State Racers tonight at 8 p.m.
Boston University Terriers at Northeastern Huskies tonight at 8 p.m.
Warner Pacific Knights at Idaho State Bengals tonight at 8 p.m.
Western Illinois Leathernecks at UTSA Roadrunners tonight at 8 p.m.
Miami (Ohio) RedHawks at Evansville Purple Aces tonight at 8 p.m.
Bradley Braves at UAB Blazers tonight at 8 p.m.
Arkansas State Red Wolves at Wisconsin Badgers tonight at 8 p.m.
Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils at LSU Tigers tonight at 8 p.m.
Marist Red Foxes at Army Black Knights tonight at 8 p.m.
Central Michigan Chippewas at Oklahoma Sooners tonight at 8 p.m.
Coppin State Eagles at Virginia Tech Hokies tonight at 8 p.m.
Jackson State Tigers at Memphis Tigers tonight at 8 p.m.
Avila Eagles at Kansas City Roos tonight at 8 p.m.
Jarvis Christian Bulldogs at Lamar Cardinals tonight at 8 p.m.
Eastern Michigan Eagles at Butler Bulldogs tonight at 8 p.m.
Elon Phoenix at Wake Forest Demon Deacons tonight at 8 p.m.
Stonehill Skyhawks at George Washington Revolutionaries tonight at 8 p.m.
Lourdes Gray Wolves at Illinois State Redbirds tonight at 8 p.m.
Robert Morris Colonials at Xavier Musketeers tonight at 8 p.m.
Fairfield Stags at Boston College Eagles tonight at 8 p.m.
Loyola (Md.) Greyhounds at Florida Gators tonight at 8 p.m.
FIU Panthers at UCF Knights tonight at 8 p.m.
Green Bay Phoenix at Iowa State Cyclones tonight at 8 p.m.
Lindenwood Lions at Nebraska Cornhuskers tonight at 8 p.m.
Bethune-Cookman Wildcats at Minnesota Golden Gophers tonight at 8 p.m.
Binghamton Bearcats at Northwestern Wildcats tonight at 8 p.m.
Central Arkansas Bears at Tulsa Golden Hurricane tonight at 8 p.m.
Life Running Eagles at Austin Peay Governors tonight 8 p.m.
James Madison Dukes at Michigan State Spartans tonight at 8:30 p.m.
Northern Illinois Huskies at Marquette Golden Eagles tonight at 8:30 p.m.
Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers tonight at 8:30 p.m.
Fisk Bulldogs at Tennessee State Tigers tonight at 8:30 p.m.
Southwestern Assemblies of God Lions at SMU Mustangs tonight at 8:30 p.m.
Northern Kentucky Norse at Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders tonight at 8:30 p.m.
Youngstown State Penguins at Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns tonight at 8:30 p.m.
Doane Tigers at Omaha Mavericks tonight at 8:30 p.m.
Blue Mountain Toppers at North Alabama Lions tonight at 8:45 p.m.
Dartmouth Big Green at Duke Blue Devils tonight at 9 p.m.
Jessup Warriors at UC Davis Aggies tonight at 9 p.m.
McMurry War Hawks at UTEP Miners tonight at 9 p.m.
Abilene Christian Wildcats at Oklahoma State Cowboys tonight at 9 p.m.
Mount Marty Lancers at South Dakota Coyotes tonight at 9 p.m.
Houston Christian Huskies at BYU Cougars tonight at 9 p.m.
Southeast Missouri State Redhawks at Grand Canyon Antelopes tonight at 9 p.m.
Nicholls Colonels at Tulane Green Wave tonight at 9 p.m.
St. Thomas (Minnesota) Tommies at California Golden Bears tonight at 9 p.m.
Northwest Indian Eagles at Montana State Bobcats tonight at 9 p.m.
Southern Jaguars at TCU Horned Frogs tonight at 9 p.m.
UIC Flames at Cincinnati Bearcats tonight at 9 p.m.
Akron Zips at South Dakota State Jackrabbits tonight at 9:15 p.m.
Morgan State Bears at Arizona Wildcats tonight at 9:30 p.m.
South Dakota Mines Hardrockers at Utah State Aggies tonight at 9:30 p.m.
Portland State Vikings at Air Force Falcons tonight at 9:30 p.m.
Colorado College Tigers at Northern Colorado Bears tonight at 9:30 p.m.
Eastern Washington Eagles at Utah Utes tonight at 9:30 p.m.
Texas Southern Tigers at New Mexico Lobos tonight at 9:30 p.m.
USC Trojans at Kansas State Wildcats tonight at 10 p.m.
Stanislaus State Warriors at Saint Mary’s Gaels tonight at 10 p.m.
La Verne Leopards at Cal Poly Mustangs tonight at 10 p.m.
Southern Utah Thunderbirds at Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners tonight at 10 p.m.
Bethesda Flames at San Francisco Dons tonight at 10 p.m.
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Colorado State Rams tonight at 10 p.m.
San Francisco State Gators at California Baptist Lancers tonight at 10 p.m.
Concordia Golden Eagles at Pepperdine Waves tonight at 10 p.m.
Sam Houston Bearkats at Pacific Tigers tonight at 10 p.m.
Cal State Fullerton Titans at San Diego State Aztecs tonight at 10:30 p.m.
Fresno Pacific Sunbirds at Fresno State Bulldogs tonight at 10:30 p.m.
Denver Pioneers at UC San Diego Tritons tonight at 10:30 p.m.
Long Beach State Beach at Portland Pilots tonight at 10:30 p.m.
Sonoma State Seawolves at San Diego Toreros tonight at 11 p.m.
Cal State Northridge Matadors at Stanford Cardinal tonight at 11 p.m.
Idaho Vandals at Washington State Cougars tonight at 11 p.m.
Bellarmine Knights at Washington Huskies tonight at 11:30 p.m.
Saint Francis Red Flash at UCLA Bruins tonight at 11:30 p.m.

[InThe313]

I love watching this.  Jim Valvano’s iconic 1993 ESPYs speech is on right now.  Remember, don’t give up.  Never give up.

[InThe313]

Welcome back to the court, kid!  Bronny James channeled his dad, Lakers small forward LeBron James, on a massive chase-down swat in his USC debut less than five months after suffering cardiac arrest.  The Trojans lost to Long Beach State, 84-79, in overtime.

[InThe313]

Thanks to what’s happening in football, the repercussions will trickle down to basketball.  Florida State is going to sue the ACC over the grant of rights and $130 million withdrawal fee.  Updates to come.

Florida State beat Winthrop, 67-61.

[InThe313]

There is no excuse for this.  New Mexico State’s Robert Carpenter was instantly ejected from the game after hitting a Liberty player in the face with a right hook.  The Aggies beat the Flames, 79-73, in overtime.

[InThe313]

This is a HUGE day for college basketball fans.  No. 4 Houston is playing No. 8 Kansas right now.  No. 7 Duke will play No. 3 North Carolina at 6:30 p.m.  No. 5 Tennessee will play No. 10 Kentucky at 8:30 p.m.  Updates to come.

Kansas upset Houston, 78-65.
North Carolina beat Duke, 93-84.
Tennessee beat Kentucky, 103-92.

[InThe313]

Considering everything this man been through in his career, you have to be really bad to get him this upset.  Hall of Fame head coach Rick Pitino erupted and ripped St. John’s’ players after Sunday’s loss, calling this season the most “unenjoyable” of his coaching career.

[InThe313]

You hate to see this happen after such an exciting game.  Punches were thrown in the handshake line as a postgame melee erupted after a thriller between Texas A&M-Commerce and Incarnate Word that the Lions won, 76-72, in overtime.

[InThe313]

I know this is fun, but it could soon be a tradition left in the past if this keeps up.  Wake Forest fans stormed the court and made contact with No. 8 Duke star Kyle Filipowski, who limped off following an 83-79 upset loss.

[InThe313]

College basketball cannot continue to have such ugly incidents week after week.  Mayhem ensued in Lubbock when Texas’ Brock Cunningham hip checked Texas Tech’s Darrion Williams out of bounds, leading to an ejection and fans throwing objects on the floor.  The Longhorns beat the Red Raiders, 81-69.

[InThe313]

As much as it pains me to say it, change was needed.  Michigan head coach Juwan Howard will not return next season.  The Wolverines went 8-24 this season.

[InThe313]

Poor Joe Lunardi must be going crazy.  It’s Selection Sunday and the chaos has been going on all week.  Who’s in and who’s out?  Updates to come.

UPDATE:  Start filling out your brackets!  The men’s NCAA tournament bracket is being revealed right now.

UPDATE 2:  Will one of these teams be the one to cut down the nets in Arizona?  The men’s No. 1 seeds are 27-7 North Carolina in the West Region, 31-3 UConn in the East Region, 30-4 Houston in the South Region and 29-4 Purdue in the Midwest region.  The Tar Heels will play on Thursday in Charlotte, N.C., against the Wagner vs. Howard winner from Tuesday in Dayton, Ohio.  The Huskies will play Stetson on Friday in New York.  Houston will play Longwood on Friday in Memphis, Tenn.  The Boilermakers will play on Friday in Indianapolis against the Grambling State vs. Montana State winner from Wednesday in Dayton, Ohio.

UPDATE 3:  I’m so happy to mention my alma mater (Fight, fight, fight for Oakland, fight the whole game long!) and here’s the entire schedule for the NCAA Tournament.  Colorado State will play Virginia on Tuesday in Dayton, Ohio, with the winner playing Texas on Thursday in Charlotte, N.C.  Colorado will play Boise State on Wednesday in Dayton, Ohio, with the winner playing Florida on Friday in Indianapolis.  Michigan State will play Mississippi State on Thursday in Charlotte, N.C.  Duquesne will play BYU on Thursday in Omaha, Neb.  Akron will play Creighton on Thursday in Pittsburgh.  Long Beach State will play Arizona on Thursday in Salt Lake City.  Morehead State will play Illinois on Thursday in Omaha, Neb.  Oregon will play South Carolina on Thursday in Pittsburgh.  Nevada will play Dayton on Thursday in Salt Lake City.  Oakland will play Kentucky on Thursday in Pittsburgh.  McNeese will play Gonzaga on Thursday in Salt Lake City.  South Dakota State will play Iowa State on Thursday in Omaha, Neb.  Saint Peter’s will play Tennessee on Thursday in Charlotte, N.C.  NC State will play Texas Tech on Thursday in Pittsburgh.  Samford will play Kansas on Thursday in Salt Lake City.  Drake will play Washington State on Thursday in Omaha, Neb.  Northwestern will play Florida Atlantic on Friday in New York.  Colgate will play Baylor on Friday in Memphis, Tenn.  UAB will play San Diego State on Friday in Spokane, Wash.  Western Kentucky will play Marquette on Friday in Indianapolis.  New Mexico will play Clemson on Friday in Memphis, Tenn.  Yale will play Auburn on Friday in Spokane, Wash.  Texas A&M will play Nebraska on Friday in Memphis, Tenn.  Vermont will play Duke on Friday in New York.  Charleston will play Alabama on Friday in Spokane, Wash.  James Madison will play Wisconsin on Friday in New York.  TCU will play Utah State on Friday in Indianapolis.  Grand Canyon will play Saint Mary’s on Friday in Spokane, Wash.

[InThe313]

Let the Madness start!  The NCAA Tournament is underway.  I’ll keep you abreast as the day goes along.  Updates to come.

UPDATE:  I am so proud of my alma mater!  Jack Gohlke hit 10 three-pointers to power No. 14 Oakland’s 80-76 upset of No. 3 Kentucky in the men’s NCAA Tournament first round.  The Golden Grizzlies will play No. 11 NC State, who upset No. 6 Texas Tech, 80-67, on Saturday in Pittsburgh.

No. 9 Michigan State upset No. 8 Mississippi State, 69-51, to advance to play No. 1 North Carolina, a 90-62 winner over No. 16 Wagner, on Saturday in Charlotte, N.C.
No. 11 Duquesne upset No. 6 BYU, 71-67, to advance to play No. 3 Illinois, an 85-69 winner over No. 14 Morehead State, on Saturday in Omaha, Neb.
No. 3 Creighton beat No. 14 Akron, 77-60, to advance to play No. 11 Oregon, who posted an 87-73 upset over No. 6 South Carolina on Saturday in Pittsburgh.
No. 2 Arizona beat No. 15 Long Beach State, 85-65, to advance to play No. 7 Dayton, a 63-60 winner over No. 10 Nevada, on Saturday in Salt Lake City.
No. 7 Texas beat No. 10 Colorado State, 56-44, to advance to play No. 2 Tennessee, an 83-49 winner over No. 15 Saint Peter’s, on Saturday in Charlotte, N.C.
No. 5 Gonzaga beat No. 12 McNeese, 86-65, to advance to play No. 4 Kansas, a 93-89 winner over No. 13 Samford, on Saturday in Salt Lake City.
No. 2 Iowa State beat No. 15 South Dakota State, 82-65, to advance to play No. 7 Washington State, a 65-61 winner over No. 7 Drake, on Saturday in Omaha, Neb.

[InThe313]

This is our first instance of a top seed being in trouble.  No. 9 Texas A&M and No. 1 Houston are tied at 86 entering overtime in the men’s NCAA tourney as the Aggies’ Andersson Garcia drained the game-tying three to beat the buzzer at the end of regulation.  Updates to come.

Houston beat Texas A&M, 100-95, to advance to play Duke on Friday in Dallas.

[InThe313]

Down goes a giant.  Grant Nelson scored 24 points as No. 4 Alabama upset No. 1 North Carolina, 89-87.  The Crimson Tide will make their first Elite Eight appearance since 2004 against Clemson on Saturday in Los Angeles.