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Archives for February 2022

HoopHall Names Cousy Award Finalists

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SPRINGFIELD – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today the five finalists for the 2022 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award. Named after Class of 1971 Hall of Famer andformer Boston Celtic and Holy Cross guard Bob Cousy, the annual honor now in its 19th year recognizes the toppoint guards in Division I men’s college basketball.

The five finalists for the 2022 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award are James Akinjo (Baylor), Andrew Nembhard (Gonzaga), Sahvir Wheeler (Kentucky), Tyger Campbell (UCLA) and Collin Gillsepie (Villanova).

“The five point guards who have been selected as finalists for this prestigious award have proven themselves as the most premier floor generals in the country,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “They have continually demonstrated the playmaking and leadership skills that Bob Cousy was famous for, which will help them and their teams as they finish out the season in search of a national title.”

A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates in November, which was narrowed to 10 in late January, and now to the five finalists. This month, the finalists will be presented to Mr. Cousy and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee. The winner of the 2022 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award will be determined by a combination of fan votes and input from the Basketball Hall of Fame’s selection committee.

“It has brought me great joy to watch many young men develop from collegiate athletes to professionals, with some of the very best having received an award that humbly bears my name,” said Bob Cousy, Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 1971. “There is certainly a unique brotherhood between recipients and it’s always a privilege to work with the committee to determine our annual winner.”

The winner of the 2022 Bob Cousy Award will be presented on a to be determined date, along with the other four members of the Men’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Jerry West Shooting Guard Award, the Julius Erving Small Forward Award, the Karl Malone Power Forward Award and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center Award, in addition to the Women’s Starting Five. Additional information about the award presentation, including date and time, will be released in the coming weeks.

Previous winners of the Bob Cousy Award include Ayo Dosunmu, Illinois (2021), Payton Pritchard, Oregon (2020), Ja Morant, Murray State (2019), Jalen Brunson, Villanova (2018), Frank Mason III, Kansas (2017), Tyler Ulis, Kentucky (2016), Delon Wright, Utah (2015), Shabazz Napier, Connecticut (2014), Trey Burke, Michigan (2013), Kendall Marshall, North Carolina (2012), Kemba Walker, Connecticut (2011), Greivis Vasquez, Maryland (2010), Ty Lawson, North Carolina (2009), DJ Augustin, Texas (2008), Acie Law, Texas A & M (2007), Dee Brown, Illinois(2006), Raymond Felton, North Carolina (2005) and Jameer Nelson, St.Joseph’s (2004).

Basketball Hall of Fame to London

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LONDON – (Staff Report from Official News release) – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame updated the teams for the Basketball Hall of Fame London Showcase, a college basketball double-header that will be held at London’s O2 Arena on Sunday, December 4, 2022. The event will mark the first college basketball game ever played at THE O2. Originally scheduled for December 6, 2020 but postponed for concerns for the COVID-19 pandemic, the revamped event will be headlined by the University of Kentucky vs. University of Michigan at 6:00pm London time/1:00pm (ET), with Marist College vs. University of Maine leading the festivities off at 3:30pm London time/10:30am (ET).

“The Basketball Hall of Fame is proud to celebrate the game on a global scale and we couldn’t be more excited to host four Division I men’s teams in London this December,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “We were disappointed to postpone our event in 2020, but could not be more excited to get the inaugural games underway soon. The O2 is a beautiful, world-class venue and we expect many U.S.-based fans will make the trip to enjoy its amenities and support their teams abroad. We’re also looking forward to showcasing collegiate hoops to the local fans and growing the appreciation for basketball at all levels worldwide.”

“We are honoured to be hosting the Basketball Hall of Fame London Showcase at The O2 this December,” Gael Caselli, VP of Sports, AEG Europe commented. “Fans from around the world will come to celebrate basketball and enjoy the excitement and experience of college basketball in our world class venue for the very first time, as we look forward to welcoming teams from Kentucky, Michigan, Marist and Maine as part of this inaugural event.” AEG is the parent company of The O2.

The Basketball Hall of Fame London Showcase is one event in the Hall of Fame’s series of collegiate events, which continues to grow in an effort to celebrate the game outside the museum walls. Tickets for the Basketball Hall of Fame London Showcase will go on-sale to the general public on Friday, March 4, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. London time/4:00 a.m. Eastern Time via AXS.com and The O2 arena box office.

TL’s Sunday Sports Notebook | Feb 27

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By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – What did you think about this week when you first heard the news that Russian troops had invaded the Ukraine?

The first land war since 1945? The people? The bombs and tanks? The casualties to come?

Although this column is not intended to delve into politics and war, when the all-out war and invasion broke out on Thursday, February 24, this columnist thought of an old friend, 57-year old Alexander “Sasha’ Volkov, a former member of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks. Although Volkov was born in the vast region of Siberia – prior to the fall of the U.S.S.R. – he made his way to the Ukraine and eventually played for the Soviet National basketball team, a club who upset the United States and won the gold Medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.
Alexander Volkov

Volkov was drafted into the NBA as a sixth-round choice, 134th overall, in the 1986 NBA Draft. Prior to his stint as an Olympian, he and the Soviet team trained against the upper echelon of NCAA blue blood schools, including Bobby Knight’s Indiana Hoosiers, Dean Smith’s North Carolina Tar Heels and – in the summer of ‘86 – against the Atlanta Hawks in the Atlanta/Cobb County Summer League and the LA Summer Pro League.

In the Summer of 1988, together with a contingent from Turner Sports, CNN and the coach Mike Fratello-led Atlanta Hawks, this reporter – then Director of Media Relations for the NBA and soon-to-be Veep, International Communications – went on a three-city tour of the then-Soviet Union. Sasha Volkov and Sarunas Marciulionis were among the young Soviet National Team players the Hawks faced in the summertime exhibitions. From Moscow to Tbilisi (in Soviet Georgia) to Sukhumi (near Sochi and the Black Sea) to Vilnius (in Lithuania) and back to Moscow, the trip was legendary. In some cases, it was so bad, it was great.

After his NBA playing career, Volkov returned to the Ukraine and was named as head of the Ukrainian Basketball Federation and served on the State Committee for Sports. The decorated Olympian eventually turned to politics and was elected to Parliament where he served until 2014.

Volkov and his wife, Alla, are currently in Kyiv. An outbound e-mail remained unanswered as of this posting.

UKRAINIANS IN THE NBA: Sacramento Kings center Alex Len and Toronto Raptors forward Svi Mykhailiuk, the two Ukrainian players in the NBA, condemned Russia’s invasion of their native country in a joint statement released on Thursday.

“A great tragedy befell our dear homeland Ukraine. We categorically condemn the war,” Len and Mykhailiuk wrote. “Ukraine is a peaceful, sovereign state inhabited by people who want to decide their own destiny. We pray for our families, friends, relatives and all the people who are in the territory of Ukraine.

“We hope for an end to this terrible war as soon as possible. Dear fellow Ukrainians, hold on! Our strength is in unity. We are with you!”

If you’d like to read more … Subscribe at While We’re Young (Ideas) on Substack. There’s even a March Madness Special.

Berger Leads the Pack at Honda

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PALM BEACH GARDENS – Daniel Berger tied largest 54-hole lead in Honda Classic tournament history and holds largest 54-hole lead on Tour since Jon Rahm at the 2021 Memorial Tournament. Berger is seeking his fifth career PGA Tour win and his third consecutive season with a win on Tour.

Shane Lowry posted low round of the day, at 3-under (67) and is five strokes off the lead.

There are two non-PGA Tour members in the top 20 on the leaderboard, with Monday Open Qualifier Martin Contini (T-7) and sponsor exemption Andrew Kozan (T-19). A Top-10 finish by a non-member can earn a berth into next week’s Puerto Rico Open.

With a cumulative average of +1.666 through three rounds, PGA National is playing as the hardest non-major course on Tour since the 2020 BMW Championship (Olympia Fields Country Club/North).

The Honda Classic | Leaderboard After 54 Holes

Daniel Berger 65-65-69—199 (-11)

Shane Lowry 70-67-67—204 (-6)

Sepp Straka 71-64-69—204 (-6)

Kurt Kitayama 64-69-71—204 (-6)

Chris Kirk 65-68-71—204 (-6)

Friars Clinch Big East Season Title

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NEW YORK – (Staff Report from Official News release) – Providence defeated Creighton 72-51 Saturday to capture its first BIG EAST regular-season championship.  The Friars (24-3, 14-2 BIG EAST) held a comfortable lead throughout most of the game and cruised to the finish line. A.J. Reeves made 7-of-10 from 3-point range and finished with a game-high 23 points. The Bluejays (19-9, 11-6 BE) had their six-game winning streak come to an end. Ryan Kalkbrenner had 13 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots.

Marquette solidified its fifth-place standing with a 64-56 win over visiting Butler at a sold-out Fiserv Forum. The Golden Eagles (18-10, 10-7 BE) trailed most of the game, but overcame the Bulldogs (13-17, 6-13 BE) in the final five minutes. Darryl Morsell led Marquette with 16 points. Justin Lewis scored all 12 of his points in the second half. Butler’s Bryce Nze notched his second straight double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Seton Hall is 6-2 in February after winning 82-66 at Xavier. Jared Rhoden poured in a career-high 30 points and grabbed six rebounds. Tray Jackson was 6-of-6 from the floor, including 5-of-5 from 3-point range, for 17 points. The Pirates (18-9, 9-8 BE) had 17 points off turnovers to only four for the Musketeers (17-11, 7-10 BE). Xavier’s Colby Jones shined with 20 points, 10 boards and four assists.

Today’s schedule has two games. Connecticut plays at Georgetown at noon ET on CBS. The Huskies beat the Hoyas 96-73 on Jan. 25. They are 11-5 in the league standings and alone in third place after Creighton’s loss. Also, St. John’s plays at DePaul at 5 p.m. on FS1. The Johnnies won the first meeting 89-84 on Jan. 5. They are 7-9 in league play and in seventh place, a half-game ahead of Xavier. The Blue Demons are coming off a 68-65 victory at Georgetown.

Berger Leads at Hometown Honda

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The Honda Classic | Third Round Preview

PALM BEACH GARDENS – Jupiter, Florida resident Daniel Berger opened a PGA Tour event with consecutive scores of (65) or better for just the second time (2015 BMW Championship/2nd) in his career.

Chris Kirk extended his streak of sub-par scores on Tour this season to eight in bid for fifth career Tour title and first since 2015.

As the last player to get into the field, Chase Seiffert now sits inside the top five on the leaderboard at 5-under (135).

En route to a 5-under (65), Adam Svensson became just the second player to hit all 18 greens in regulation in a round at The Honda Classic since the event moved to PGA National in 2007 (Cody Gribble/R1/2017).

First-year Tour member Kurt Kitayama (T2/-7) followed a career-low 6-under 64 in round one with a 69 in Friday’s second round; in only previous Honda Classic start, finished T47 as a sponsor exemption in 2020; best TOUR finish in 25 starts is T17/2017 Puerto Rico Open.

Following his win at last week’s Genesis Invitational, Joaquin Niemannmissed the cut with scores of 70-73—(143/+3) while defending champion Matt Jones missed the cut (73-74—(147/+7).

The 2-over (142) cut marks the just the second over-par cut of the season (Houston Open).

The Honda Classic | Leaderboard After 36 Holes

Daniel Berger 65-65—130 (-10)

Chris Kirk 65-68—133 (-7)

Kurt Kitayama 64-69—133 (-7)

Mark Hubbard 70-64—134 (-6)

Adam Svensson 69-65—134 (-6)

Kitayama Surprise Leader at Honda

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PALM BEACH GARDENS – First-year PGA Tour member Kurt Kitayama carded a career-low (64) and holds his first lead/co-lead after any round on Tour. He leads by one stroke as Rory Sabbatini, Daniel Berger and Chris Kirk each shot (65) in the first-round of The Honda Classic.

Kitayama opened with three consecutive birdies (Nos. 10-12) and made a career-high four in a row, playing (Nos. 3-6). His previous career-best Tour result was a T-17 at the 2017 Puerto Rico Open. Kitayama competed at the 2020 Honda Classic on a sponsor exemption and finished T-47.

Berger played his third bogey-free round at the event, tied for second-most since it moved to PGA National in 2007. The most? Luke Donald with four.

Chris Kirk is T-2 at (-5), leads the field in Strokes Gained: Putting (3.620) but entered the week T-100th on Tour in that category (0.030 per round) while 2011 Honda Classic winner Rory Sabbatini is T-2 (-5). He opened with a bogey-free (65), his first bogey-free score in 37 rounds at PGA National.

The Honda Classic | Leaderboard After Round 1 (partial)

Kirt Kitayama 64 (-6)

Rory Sabbatini 65 (-5)

Daniel Berger 65 (-5)

Chris Kirk 65 (-5)

Providence Defeats Xavier in Triple-OT

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PROVIDENCE – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – it’s been a wild week in the BIG EAST and it’s only Friday morning.

On Wednesday, Providence and Xavier played three overtimes before the Friars prevailed 99-92 at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.

With the win, the Friars (23-3, 13-2 BIG EAST) are one victory away from clinching their first BIG EAST regular-season title. PC was led by Jared Bynum’s 27 points. A.J. Reeves added 16. The Friars held a 14-5 edge in 3-point baskets. Adam Kunkel had a team-high 20 points for Xavier (17-10, 7-9 BE). Paul Scruggs scored 13 of his 19 points in the overtimes.

Creighton has a six-game winning streak after an 81-78 victory at St. John’s. Ryan Hawkins led the charge with 25 points and 12 rebounds for the Bluejays (19-8, 11-5 BE), but the team lost freshman guard Ryan Nembhard, who suffered a broken wrist in the game. The team has announced that he will miss the remainder of the season. Montez Mathis was the top scorer for St. John’s (15-12, 7-9 BE) with 15 points.

Seton Hall used a 20-2 run in the second half to surge to a 56-40 lead against Butler. The Bulldogs responded with a 20-2 rally before the Pirates (17-9, 8-8) prevailed in a 66-60 victory. Jared Rhoden led a balanced Seton Hall scoring effort with 17 points. Tyrese Samuel added 15. Bo Hodges had a game-high 25 points and seven rebounds for Butler (13-16, 6-12 BE).

PGA Tour Swings to Florida

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PALM BEACH GARDENS – Beginning with today’s Honda Classic, the PGA Tour will stage the next four tournaments in Florida: 1). The Honda Classic; 2). Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard (same week as the Puerto Rico Open); 3). THE PLAYERS Championship and 4). Valspar Championship.

Louis Oosthuizen – No. 122 FedEx Cup Standings and No. 13 in the Official World Golf Ranking, Oosthuizen is the highest-ranked player in the field this week. He’s recorded 13 under-par scores in his 13 rounds on Tour this season but his last Top-10 was the 2021 3M Open (T-2).

With a T-2 at last week’s Genesis Invitational, Tour rookie Cameron Youngmoved from No. 113 to No. 53 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Matt Jones is the tournament’s defending champion. Last year he shot 61 70 69 68 (268) (-12) to win by five strokes over Brandon Hagy.

Last week’s Genesis Invitational winner Joaquin Niemann met with media at The Honda Classic. The native of Chile, who lives in the Palm Beach area, was asked how long it takes him to get home from PGA National;

“Depends on the car,” he quipped.

The Honda Classic

COURSE: PGA National, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida (Champion Course)

ARCHITECT: Tom Fazio

YARDS/PAR: 7,125 yards/Par 70

PRIZE Money/First Place Winnings: $8,000,000/$1.440,000

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Matt Jones

PAST RESULTS: (link)

PAST CHAMPIONS: (link)

FEDEx CUP Points to Winner: 500

SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @TheHondaClassic

TV COVERAGE: First two rounds (today and Feb 25) are scheduled for coverage from 2:00pm to 6:00pm (ET) on Golf Channel. Then, Saturday and Sunday, coverage is set for 1:00pm to 3:00pm (ET) on Golf Channel and 3:00 to 6:00pm (ET) on NBC.

PGA TOUR LIVE STREAMING on ESPN+: Streaming coverage will be featured on ESPN-Plus today and Friday with Main Feed, Featured Hole and Featured Groups from 6:45am to 6:00pm (ET). Weekend times TBA, depending on tee times.

PGA TOUR RADIO COVERAGE: SiriusXM Radio will have live radio coverage of The Honda Classic with today’s and Friday’s broadcasts from 12:00pm to 6:00pm (ET). Saturday coverage on Sirius XM Radio runs from 1:00pm to 6:00pm and Sunday from 1:00 to 6:00pm (ET). PGA Tour Radio is available on Sirius 208/XM 92 or online via PGATourCom.

Big East: UConn Big Win Over ‘Nova

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HARTFORD – (Staff report from official News Release) – In a back-and-forth Top-25 showdown, No. 21 Connecticut and R.J. Cole came up clutch on both ends of the court, first knocking down a contested layup with 5.9 ticks left to give the Huskies a 70-69 advantage over eighth-ranked Villanova. Defensively, Cole forced a turnover with 1.1 seconds left to seal the 71-69 home win.

Early in the contest, UConn took a 33-32 lead on a layup by Adama Sonogo to close out the opening half. Just 2:38 into the second frame, the Huskies took the largest lead of the game, 43-36, on a pair of Isaiah Whaley free throws. After Villanova clawed back to take a four-point lead with 46 seconds remaining in regulation, UConn tallied the final six points of the contest to secure the top-10 win in front of a sold-out XL Center.

Sanogo led the Huskies (20-7, 11-5 BIG EAST) with 20 points and two blocks, while Whaley (13 points) and Cole (12 points) also reached double figures. Collin Gillespie led the Wildcats (21-7, 14-4 BE) with 17 points, while Brandon Slater added 15.

Tonight’s schedule includes three games. At 6:30 p.m. ET, Creighton and St. John’s put their multiple game winning streaks to the test, when the Red Storm host the Bluejays at Carnesecca Arena on FS1. Entering the game with five straight wins, Creighton sits a half-game back on the Huskies in fourth at 10-5. Meanwhile, St. John’s sits in a three-way tie for sixth place with Xavier and Seton Hall at 7-8 in league play.

At 7 p.m. on CBSSN, BIG EAST leader Providence welcomes the Musketeers to the Dunkin Donuts Center. Ranked 11th in Monday’s AP Poll, the Friars enter the game with a 12-2 conference mark and 14-1 record at home. Xavier will look to bounce back from back-to-back losses against St. John’s and UConn and return to .500 in league play.

Rounding out the night, Seton Hall faces Butler at the Prudential Center at 8:30 p.m. on FS1. The Pirates enter the contest with a 16-9 (7-8 BE) overall record, while boasting a 10-2 mark at the Prudential Center this season. The Bulldogs enter the game with a 13-15 (6-11 BE) record.