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Digital Sports Desk

Providence Rises in Rankings

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PROVIDENCE – In Monday’s release of the Associated Press and USA Today Polls, Providence moved up to ninth/eighth place, respectively. Villanova is 11th in both polls, while UConn moved up to No. 18/19. Marquette is receiving votes in both polls. Creighton and Seton Hall have votes in USA Today.

On Sunday, UConn held its third-place standing with an 86-77 road win over Georgetown. The Huskies (21-7, 12-5 BE) shot 11-of-20 from beyond the arc and were led by R.J. Cole’s 18 point-effort. Dante Harris scored a game-high 23 points for Georgetown (6-22, 0-17 BE).

In Sunday’s night game, DePaul outlasted St. John’s in an offensive battle, 99-94. Javon Freeman-Liberty (39 points) and David Jones (24 points and 10 rebounds) combined for 63 points, 18 rebounds, nine steals and seven assists in the victory for DePaul (14-14, 5-13 BE). Julian Champagnie led St. John’s (15-13, 7-10 BE) with 26 points, while Aaron Wheeler added 20.

The final week of the regular season begins Tuesday night at the Finneran Pavilion, when Villanova (21-7, 14-4 BE) hosts Providence (24-3, 14-2 BE) in a top-15 showdown at 6:30 p.m. ET on FS1. On Saturday, Providence topped Creighton to secure its first BIG EAST regular season title and the overall No. 1 seed in the BIG EAST Tournament. Villanova returns to the court for the first time in a week, while looking to claim the regular season series over Providence, previously beating the Friars 89-84 on Feb. 15.

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.

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.

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).

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.

Sakiewicz Steps Down from NLL Post

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PHILADELPHIA – The National Lacrosse League announced that Commissioner Nick Sakiewicz has decided to leave his position to pursue other interests but will continue to advise the league until June 30, 2022. The league has also announced that Deputy Commissioner Jessica Berman will assume the Commissioner duties. The league will announce the selection process for a new Commissioner in the near future.

The NLL has enjoyed unprecedented growth, new media partnerships, and expansion during Sakiewicz’s term as league Commissioner. His tenure began began January 1, 2016.

“The National Lacrosse League has seen transformative change and is poised for both future growth and success, thanks to Nick’s leadership during the past six years,” said Matt Hutchings, COO and EVP at Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, franchise owner of the Colorado Mammoth, speaking as Chairman of the NLL Board of Governors. “On behalf of the NLL Board of Governors, we thank him and the league staff, for all they have done to put the NLL in this position and look forward to seeing what he does next.”

Hutchings continued, “We understood the importance of having a strong team to carry on when the organization’s success provides opportunities for its leaders. Therefore, several years ago, we very intentionally empowered Nick to strengthen our management team with the Deputy Commissioner position. Jessica Berman has done a wonderful job in her short time in this role, and the league is in great hands with her and our experienced management team supporting her efforts.”

“I have enjoyed my time leading the NLL, and want to thank the lacrosse community, NLL’s amazing fans, players, our board, owners, partners, and, league staff for the support that has led us to the point where we are now, poised for greatness in the years ahead,” Sakiewicz said. “Through thoughtful and strategic business planning the league expanded with the right investors, embracing the digitally native fan and expanding our media reach now with both ESPN and TSN for the first time in league history, the NLL and the sport of lacrosse on every level, is in a much better place with a brighter future than ever before.”

“My decision to leave now is a personal one,” he added. “The goals I had set out when I came to the NLL from soccer have been met, and it is time for me to pursue a new, exciting and different global opportunity as my next challenge.”

Under Sakiewicz’s watch, the NLL has experienced unprecedented growth, expanding from nine to 15 teams. Under his leadership, the League also secured the two largest media rights deals in the history of the league, first partnering with B/R Live, Turner’s live streaming service, for all games to be streamed on the platform starting with the 2018–2019 season. The NLL also signed a broadcasting rights deal with ESPN.

Bruins Trade for Callahan

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – Boston Bruins acquired the rights to defenseman Michael Callahan from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for Boston’s seventh round pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound defenseman has skated in 134 games for the Providence Friars (NCAA) for four seasons from 2018-22, tallying 13 goals and 53 assists with a plus-23 rating.

The 22-year-old blue liner was born in Franklin, MA and was drafted by Arizona in the fifth round (142nd overall) of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.

Paul Earns WNBA Advocacy Award

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CLEVELAND – Phoenix Suns 12-time All-Star guard Chris Paul was named the inaugural recipient of the Kobe & Gigi Bryant WNBA Advocacy Award for Paul’s significant contributions to the advancement of girls’ and women’s basketball, and advocacy for the WNBA. The WNBA and Vanessa Bryant will present Paul the award at NBA All-Star 2022 in Cleveland during Sunday’s game.

The annual award honors the late Kobe Bryant, a devoted supporter of the WNBA and women’s basketball, and his daughter Gianna (also known as Gigi). Gigi, a happy, loving and competitive young lady, wanted to pursue her dreams of one day playing in the WNBA and continuing her father’s legacy while elevating women in sports. Gigi loved the game of basketball and aspired to reach the pinnacle of the sport like her father. Kobe Bryant contributed to the growth of the women’s game at every level through forging relationships, mentoring and training high school, college, NBA and WNBA players, coaching Gigi’s youth basketball team, and launching the Mamba Sports Academy. He also was involved with empowering girls through Her Time to Play, an initiative created by the WNBA and NBA dedicated to championing participation in athletics on behalf of girls and women.

The Kobe and Gigi Bryant WNBA Advocacy award aims to honor advocates and influencers who use their time, talent, and platform to raise awareness for the WNBA, and women’s and girls’ basketball in various ways, like Kobe was so committed to doing. Bryant, his daughter and seven others we3re killed in a horrific helicopter crash on January 26, 2020.

“I have seen first-hand Chris’ appreciation of the WNBA and the game at every level for women and girls, especially in Phoenix and North Carolina, and his ardent support of our game strongly reflects the legacy of Kobe and Gigi,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “The league is proud to name Chris as the inaugural recipient of the Kobe & Gigi Bryant WNBA Advocacy Award, as he serves as a leader and role model for other professional athletes around growing the future of the game for young girls and all fans.”

A devoted fan of the WNBA and the Phoenix Mercury, Paul has consistently demonstrated a unique level of support, attending games throughout the regular season and playoffs while also using his public platforms to highlight the on-court successes and stories of WNBA players as well as their leadership in the community through their fight for social justice. During WNBA tentpole events such as WNBA Draft and All-Star, he can be found showing his support for rookies entering the league and WNBA veterans. He also supports the youth girls’ game through camps and the CP3 Basketball Academy, with a mission of using basketball to enhance young athletes’ aspirations, disciplines and life skills. Prior to the start of the WNBA’s historic 25th season, Paul was among several NBA stars that donned a WNBA player’s jersey to amplify the historic significance of the moment. Additionally, Paul teamed up with Suns center Deandre Ayton to support the Mercury’s recent WNBA Finals playoff run.

Big East Standings Tighten-Up

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NEWARK – A three-game Saturday resulted in a three-way tie for sixth place with Villanova and Connecticut inching up in the standings.

UConn moved into sole possession of third place with a 72-61 victory over Xavier. The No. 24 Huskies (19-7, 10-5 BIG EAST) built a 44-27 halftime edge before holding off a rally by the Musketeers (17-9, 7-8 BE). R.J. Cole, Tyler Polley and Adama Sanogo combined for 47 points for UConn. Sanogo also grabbed nine rebounds. Adam Kunkel came off the bench to score a team-high 15 points.

Seton Hall put together a 30-21 halftime lead against DePaul but had to come back to win 66-64. The Pirates (16-9, 7-8 BE) fell behind 57-52 after the Blue Demons (12-14, 3-13 BE) rallied with a 9-0 run. In the last 4:49, neither team led by more than two points. Jared Rhoden carried Seton Hall with 18 points and 18 rebounds. The rebound total matches the highest by a league player this season. DePaul’s Javon Freeman-Liberty scored 20 of his game-high 22 points in the second half. His twisting shot in the lane spilled out as the buzzer sounded.

Xavier, St. John’s and Seton Hall are all 7-8 in league play and tied for sixth place.

Villanova led 32-22 at the break against Georgetown but could not get comfortable in the second half of its 74-66 victory. Justin Moore scored 15 of his team-high 19 points in the second half for the Wildcats (21-6, 14-3 BE) who moved closer to first-place Providence (11-2 BE). Donald Carey helped the Hoyas (6-20, 0-15 BE) with a game-high 24 points, which included five 3-pointers. Dante Harris added 16 points.

FS1 will telecast two key games on Sunday’s schedule. Providence at Butler at 1 p.m. (ET0 followed by Marquette at Creighton at 3 p.m. (ET).