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BC to be Tested at Mizzou

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COLUMBIA – No. 6 Missouri reached rarified air this week. The Tigers, after all, haven’t been ranked this high in the Associated Press poll since 2013.

And the Tigers (2-0) will have a chance to validate that standing when they host No. 24 Boston College (2-0) on Saturday in Missouri.

Meanwhile, the Eagles upset then-No. 10 Florida State 28-13 on the road in head coach Bill O’Brien’s Boston College debut. Then they handled Duquesne 56-0 at home, which vaulted them into the AP Top 25 for the first time since the 2018 season.

“I think it’s great for BC, but really that’s not our focus at all,” O’Brien said. “It’s really about one day at time, really trying to get better.”

Missouri has rolled up 1,007 yards in its blowout victories while emptying the bench in both games.

Quarterback Brady Cook is 48-of-67 passing for 456 yards and a touchdown, and he has rushed for 84 yards and three touchdowns. Missouri alternates running backs Nate Noel (121 yards, two touchdowns on 23 carries) and Marcus Carroll (97 yards, one touchdown, 18 carries).

Preseason all-America wide receiver Luther Burden III has been quiet, catching seven passes for 64 yards and a touchdown and rushing for 21 yards and a TD in two games. He was limited by illness against Buffalo.

Wide receiver Theo Wease Jr. became Cook’s main target while catching 13 passes for 149 yards against the Bulls.

“Quarterback Brady Cook — very, very good player, can throw and run, two really good running backs and very, very good at wide receiver,” O’Brien said of the upcoming opponent. “At least three or four of them can play in the NFL. So we have a big challenge ahead of us, big, big challenge.”

While Missouri was unable to connect on deep passes during the first two weeks, coach Eli Drinkwitz wasn’t concerned.

“You’d rather be on ‘SportsCenter’ for that rather than for three yards and a cloud of dust or five-yard hitches,” he said. “But the reality of what we’re figuring out is that teams don’t really want to give up explosive plays versus our wide receiver corps. So, we have to be willing to make them defend us in a different manner.”

The Tigers could once again be without tight end Brett Norfleet, who suffered a shoulder injury in the opener and sat out Week 2. Guard Cam’Ron Johnson could return after sitting out the Buffalo game following an injury in practice.

Drinkwitz also wants to see his offense cut down on the offensive penalties. The Tigers had 17 in two games.

“Alignment penalties are embarrassing and that’s on me as head coach,” Drinkwitz said. “The holding penalties. We’ve got to learn to let go. When the ball is out-leveraged, just when a defender is broken away, we cannot continue to engage with the jersey of the defender. There were three of those that were clear calls, easy calls that are something that we have to correct.”

Boston College’s dual-threat quarterback Thomas Castellanos has completed 19 of his 26 pass attempts for 340 yards and six touchdowns. He has run for 81 yards and a TD.

The Eagles have rushed for 569 yards and five touchdowns in two games, led by Treshaun Ward (132 yards on 20 carries), Kyle Robichaux (112 yards, 25 carries) and Turbo Richard (102 yards on 19 carries).

Offensive tackle Logan Taylor returned to action after missing the first game and helped the unit dominate against Duquesne.

“Great to have him back,” O’Brien said. “Tough guy, big guy, athletic guy, very important to have him back. He’s my type of guy.”

–Field Level Media

Week 1: Top 25 College Football

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Northern Illinois Upsets No. 5 Irish

SOUTH BEND – Northern Illinois’ Kanon Woodill drilled a 35-yard field goal with 31 seconds remaining, and the Huskies blocked a field goal as time expired to stun No. 5 Notre Dame with a 16-14 victory on Saturday at Notre Dame’s Indiana home field.

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Antario Brown finished with 225 yards (99 rushing, 126 receiving) and a touchdown for Northern Illinois (2-0), which was a 28.5-point underdog. Huskies players poured off the sidelines and onto the field as time expired to celebrate the biggest upset in school history.

Riley Leonard completed 20 of 32 passes for 163 yards and two interceptions, including a costly pick in the fourth quarter, for Notre Dame. Jeremiyah Love rushed for 79 yards and a touchdown for the Fighting Irish (1-1).

Before Saturday, Northern Illinois had never defeated a top-10 opponent. The highest-ranked team the Huskies previously beat was No. 15 Maryland in 2003.

No. 1 Georgia 48, Tennessee Tech 3

Carson Beck completed 18 of 25 passes for 242 yards and five touchdowns, helping lead the Bulldogs to a rout of the visiting Golden Eagles.

Trevor Etienne, making his Bulldog debut, ran the ball five times for 78 yards, as Georgia (2-0) won its 41st straight regular season game, and extended its home winning streak to 26. Arian Smith, who led the Bulldogs with 73 receiving yards, was one of five Georgia receivers to catch a touchdown.

After last week’s 34-3 win over then-No.14 Clemson, the Georgia defense has yet to allow a touchdown through two games. Tennessee Tech (0-2) mustered just 134 total yards, as quarterback Jordyn Potts was 5 of 8 for 18 passing yards and Aidan Littles led the Golden Eagles with 45 rushing yards.

No. 2 Ohio State 56, Western Michigan 0

Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson rushed for two touchdowns apiece as the Buckeyes rolled to a shutout victory over the Broncos in Columbus, Ohio.

Will Howard threw for 292 yards and a touchdown and Jeremiah Smith had another big receiving game for the Buckeyes (2-0). Ohio State led 35-0 at the half with the help of a pair of 23-yard touchdown runs by Judkins while Howard contributed two scores — one passing, one running.

Broncos quarterback Hayden Wolff completed 8 of 15 passes for 71 yards and was sacked three times.

No. 3 Texas 31, No. 10 Michigan 12

Quinn Ewers threw three touchdown passes and the Longhorns snapped the Wolverines’ nation-best, 16-game winning streak at Ann Arbor, Mich.

Ewers completed 24 of 36 passes for 246 yards. Gunnar Helm caught seven passes for 98 yards and a touchdown for the Longhorns (2-0). Matthew Golden had six receptions for 41 yards and a score.

The defending national champions also saw their 29-game regular-season winning streak and 23-game home winning streak end. Michigan (1-1) was held to 284 total yards in its first regular-season loss since October 2021.

No. 4 Alabama 42, South Florida 16

Jalen Milroe passed for two touchdowns and rushed for two to help the Crimson Tide slide past the Bulls in nonconference play at Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Jam Miller rushed for 140 yards and one score, Justice Haynes added a rushing touchdown and Kobe Prentice and Ryan Williams each caught touchdown passes for the Crimson Tide (2-0). Milroe completed 17 of 27 passes for 199 yards for Alabama, which scored 28 points in the fourth quarter to break open a close affair.

Byrum Brown completed 15 of 35 passes for 103 yards and rushed for 108 yards on 23 carries for South Florida (1-1). Ta’Ron Keith rushed for a touchdown for the Bulls, who were outgained 393-309.

No. 6 Ole Miss 52, Middle Tennessee 3

Henry Parrish Jr. ran for four touchdowns, Jaxson Dart set a school record for consecutive completions, and the Rebels roared past the Blue Raiders in Oxford, Miss.

In his second stint at Ole Miss (2-0), Parrish toted the ball 14 times for 165 yards but left briefly after getting shaken up early in the second half following a 42-yard dash.

In first-year coach Derek Mason’s return against an SEC opponent after a coaching sabbatical, the Blue Raiders (1-1), a 42 1/2-point underdog, saw quarterback Nicholas Vattiato go 21 of 33 for 209 yards and an interception.

No. 7 Oregon 37, Boise State 34

On Atticus Sappington’s 25-yard field goal with no time left on the clock, the Ducks survived the Broncos’ upset bid in Eugene, Ore.

In a wild, back-and-forth game that saw Oregon (2-0) score twice on long returns on special teams and Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty run the ball 25 times for 192 yards with three touchdowns, the Ducks had the ball at the end of the game and quarterback Dillon Gabriel engineered the winning drive.

Gabriel was 18-for-21 passing for 243 yards and two touchdown passes and running back Jordan James rushed for 102 yards on 17 carries. Boise State (1-1) outgained Oregon 369 to 352. The Broncos ran 16 more offensive plays and forced two turnovers, but the Ducks extended the nation’s longest active nonconference home win streak to 34 games.

No. 8 Penn State 34, Bowling Green 27

Drew Allar threw for two touchdowns and ran for another as the Nittany Lions rallied in the second half to beat the Falcons in State College, Pa.

Allar completed 13 of 20 passes for 204 yards with an interception. He gave the Nittany Lions (2-0) a 27-24 lead with 6:13 left in the third quarter on a 14-yard scoring strike to Nicholas Singleton. Singleton added the clinching touchdown with 4:09 left in the fourth quarter on a 41-yard touchdown run, the highlight of his 119-yard effort in 13 carries.

Connor Bazelak completed 25 of 39 passes for 254 yards with two scores and two interceptions for the Falcons (1-1). Jackson Kleather nailed a 42-yard field goal with 47 seconds remaining in the game to draw Bowling Green within seven points. But Penn State recovered an onside kick and ran out the clock.

No. 9 Missouri 38, Buffalo 0

Brady Cook rushed for two touchdowns and Theo Wease Jr. had a career night as the Tigers cruised to a victory over the Bulls in nonconference play at Columbia, Mo.

Luther Burden III, Nate Noel and Jamal Roberts added rushing scores while Wease established career highs of 13 receptions and 149 yards for the Tigers (2-0). Cook completed 28 of 36 passes for 228 yards and one interception and added 62 yards on five rushes.

C.J. Ogbonna was just 6-of-20 passing for 55 yards and one interception for Buffalo (1-1), while Jacqez Barksdale rushed for 67 yards on 15 rushes. Shaun Dolac racked up a career-best 16 tackles and Charles McCartherens had an interception.

No. 11 Utah 23, Baylor 12

Cam Rising threw two touchdown passes in the first quarter before exiting early in the Utes’ win over the Bears in Salt Lake City.

Rising’s two early scores helped the Utes (2-0) build a 23-0 lead in the second quarter, but Rising later left the game after crashing into the sidelines on a run out of bounds. The seventh-year quarterback was holding his right hand when he stood back up. Without Rising, Utah’s offense struggled and was shut out in the second half.

The Bears (1-1) didn’t get much offense going until their final drive of the first half, but they made a game of it in the second half after another Hankins field goal and a 47-yard TD pass from Dequan Finn to Josh Cameron cut the deficit to 23-12 in the third quarter. But the Bears’ final two drives ended with a three-and-out and an advance to the Utes’ 40 before losing the ball on downs.

No. 12 Miami 56, Florida A&M 9

Cam Ward threw for 304 yards and three touchdown passes and ran for another score to lead the host Hurricanes to a comfortable victory over the Rattlers in Miami Gardens, Fla.

Ward completed 20 of 26 passes for the No. 12 Hurricanes (2-0), who beat the Rattlers (2-1) for the 11th consecutive time since losing the first meeting between the two schools in 1979. Miami followed up its convincing win over Florida last week by scoring touchdowns on its first three drives and a field goal on its fourth series.

Damien Martinez ran for 90 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, and Mark Fletcher Jr. and Jordan Lyle each scored touchdowns and combined for 82 rushing yards. Xavier Restrepo caught four passes for 104 yards and a touchdown to lead all Miami receivers.

No. 13 USC 48, Utah State 0

Miller Moss passed for 229 yards and one touchdown as the Trojans notched their first shutout in nearly 13 years while rolling to a shutout victory over the Aggies in nonconference play at Los Angeles.

Woody Marks rushed for 103 yards and one touchdown on 13 carries and Quinten Joyner added 84 yards and two scores on 10 rushes for the Trojans (2-0). Moss completed 21 of 30 passes, including a scoring toss to Makai Lemon. The shutout was the first for USC since a 50-0 trouncing of UCLA on Nov. 26, 2011.

Backup quarterback Jayden Maiava scored his first career touchdown for the Trojans, who had advantages of 544-190 in total yards of offense and 28-10 in first downs. Bryson Barnes was 18-of-27 passing for 103 yards and one interception for the Aggies (1-1). Ike Larsen and Jordan Vincent had 11 tackles apiece for Utah State.

No. 14 Tennessee 51, No. 24 NC State 10

Dylan Sampson ran for two touchdowns and 132 yards and Will Brooks returned an interception for a touchdown as the Volunteers trounced the Wolfpack at Charlotte, N.C.

Nico Iamaleava added 211 passing yards with two touchdown tosses despite two interceptions. He ran for a touchdown as part of his 65 rushing yards as the Volunteers (2-0) racked up 249 yards on the ground.

NC State (1-1) was held to 143 yards of total offense and 10 first downs. Grayson McCall threw for 104 yards and an interception in his first college game in his hometown. He also lost two fumbles.

No. 15 Oklahoma 16, Houston 12

Gracen Halton brought down Stacy Sneed in the end zone for a safety in the final two minutes to help the Sooners eke out a win over the Cougars in Norman, Okla.

The Cougars got the ball back with 1:46 remaining at their own 5 with a chance to drive for the win. But on first down, Halton cut right through the Houston offensive line and brought down Sneed for the safety. The play was the last in a string of big defensive stops by the Sooners (2-0). Jackson Arnold threw for 174 yards and two touchdowns for the Sooners, who ran for just 75 yards.

Houston (0-2) outgained the Sooners 318-249. The Cougars’ Donovan Smith was 24-of-28 passing for 260 yards and a touchdown.

No. 16 Oklahoma State 39, Arkansas 31 (2OT)

Ollie Gordon scored on a 15-yard run in double overtime as the Cowboys rallied from a 14-point second-half deficit to earn a victory over the Razorbacks in Stillwater, Okla.

After both teams missed field goals on their opening overtime possessions, Gordon ran for a score and caught a 2-point conversion pass from Alan Bowman for an eight-point lead. The Cowboys sealed the victory when Arkansas’ Rodney Hill was stopped on a fourth-down run from the 6-yard line. The Cowboys won despite being outgained 648-385.

Bowman was 27-of-48 passing for 326 yards and a touchdown for Oklahoma State, while Brennan Pressley had nine catches for 91 yards, with a 3-yard TD run. Taylen Green was 26-of-45 passing for 416 yards and a touchdown for Arkansas, while Ja’Quinden Jackson had 24 carries for 149 yards and three first half TDs.

No. 17 Kansas State 34, Tulane 27

Avery Johnson threw two touchdown passes and Jack Fabris’ 60-yard fumble return produced the winning touchdown as the Wildcats rallied past the Green Wave in New Orleans.

Johnson completed 15 of 23 passes for 181 yards, with one of his scoring passes going to DJ Giddens, who added 114 rushing yards on 19 carries for the Wildcats (2-0). Fabris’ return broke a tie midway through the fourth quarter.

Tulane’s Darian Mensah was 19-of-29 passing for 342 yards and two touchdowns, but his fumble led to the decisive score. Mekhi Hughes rushed for 128 yards and a touchdown and Mario Williams had 128 receiving yards for the Green Wave (1-1).

No. 18 LSU 44, Nicholls 21

Garrett Nussmeier threw six touchdown passes, three of which went to Kyren Lacy, and the Tigers shook off the Colonels for a big victory in Baton Rouge, La.

Nussmeier completed 27 of 37 passes for 302 yards and Lacy finished with five catches for 65 yards as the Tigers (1-1) rebounded from a season-opening loss to USC in Las Vegas six days earlier.

Collin Guggenheim rushed 25 times for 145 yards and two touchdowns to lead the FCS Colonels (0-2).

Illinois 23, No. 19 Kansas 17

Kaden Feagin plunged for the go-ahead touchdown with 9:34 left and the Illini forced four turnovers to earn a victory over the Jayhawks in front of a sellout crowd in Champaign, Ill.

Xavier Scott picked off two passes from Jalon Daniels — and returned one for a touchdown — while Luke Altmyer threw for 192 yards and Zakhari Franklin caught nine passes for 99 yards for Illinois (2-0).

Daniels completed 18 of 32 passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns but also threw a career-high three interceptions. Devin Neal rushed for 101 yards for the Jayhawks (1-1), who limited the Illini to 149 yards during the first three quarters before surrendering 122 yards and 10 points in the fourth.

No. 20 Arizona 22, Northern Arizona 10

Kedrick Reescano scored on a 56-yard run to give the Wildcats some breathing room in the fourth quarter as they rallied in the second half to top the Lumberjacks in Tucson, Ariz.

Arizona (2-0) outscored the Lumberjacks (1-1) 16-0 in the second half, extending the nation’s longest winning streak to nine games. The defense, coming up with a safety and a fumble recovery in the fourth quarter, made up for an off night for the offense.

Wildcats quarterback Noah Fifita completed 18 of 26 passes for 173 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Quali Conley rushed for 112 yards on 17 carries. Tetairoa McMillan, who caught 10 passes for 304 yards and four TDs last week against New Mexico, was limited to two catches for 11 yards against NAU.

Iowa State 20, No. 21 Iowa 19

Kyle Konrardy converted a 54-yard field goal with six seconds left, capping an the Cyclones’ comeback from a 13-point halftime deficit to beat the Hawkeyes in Iowa City.

Iowa State (2-0) drove 42 yards in five plays after taking possession at its 22 with 34 seconds left. The big play was Rocco Becht’s 30-yard completion to Jaylin Noel that got Iowa State to the Hawkeyes’ 38. Two plays later, Konrardy hit the game-winner.

Kaleb Johnson starred in defeat for the Hawkeyes (1-1), rushing for 187 yards and both of Iowa’s touchdowns on 25 carries. Quarterback Cade McNamara hit just 13 of 29 passes for 99 yards and tossed two interceptions.

No. 22 Louisville 49, Jacksonville State 14

Five different players rushed for a touchdown and Tyler Shough threw for 349 yards and two touchdowns as the Cardinals cruised past the visiting Gamecocks.

Maurice Turner, Donald Chaney Jr., Keyjuan Brown, Duke Watson and Duane Martin all scored rushing touchdowns for Louisville (2-0).

Jacksonville State (0-2) was led by quarterback Tyler Huff, who ran 18 times for 101 yards and one TD and completed 17 of 27 passes for 160 yards and one TD.

Syracuse 31, No. 23 Georgia Tech 28

Kyle McCord threw for 381 yards and four touchdowns as the host Orange defeated the No. 23 Yellow Jackets in Atlantic Coast Conference action.

McCord, a highly regarded transfer from Ohio State, finished 32 of 46 without a turnover, while finding Oronde Gadsden II and Trebor Pena for two scores apiece. Gadsden racked up six catches for 93 yards for the Orange (2-0, 1-0 ACC), while Pena finished with six receptions for 88 yards.

Playing as a ranked team for the first time since 2015, the Yellow Jackets (2-1, 1-1) were led by dynamic quarterback Haynes King, who threw for 259 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 67 yards and two scores.

No. 25 Clemson 66, Appalachian State 20

Cade Klubnik accounted for seven touchdowns in just one half to lead the Tigers to a convincing victory over the visiting Mountaineers in nonconference play.

Klubnik completed 24 of 26 passes for 378 yards and a career-best five touchdowns and tacked on two rushing scores for the Tigers (1-1), who scored the game’s first 42 points and led 56-13 at halftime. The 56 points are a school record for first-half points.Phil Mafah rushed for 118 yards and one score on 10 carries for Clemson.

Jake Briningstool caught seven passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns for the Tigers. Bryant Wesco Jr. (130 receiving yards), Antonio Williams and T.J. Moore also had scoring receptions for Clemson. Joey Aguilar completed 18 of 41 passes for 214 yards and one touchdown for Appalachian State (1-1).

–Field Level Media

Heck of a Statement, But Just One Win

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TALLAHASSEE – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Boston College QB Thomas Castellanos threw for only 106 yards but connected on two of his three total touchdowns as the visiting Boston College Eagles earned a 28-13, season-opening win over No. 10 Florida State in an Atlantic Coast Conference game Monday night in Florida.

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The Eagles (1-0, 1-0 ACC) possessed the ball for 39:09, rushed for 263 of its 369 total yards, and scored in four red zone trips en route to their first season-opening victory over a ranked opponent since 1976.

Boston’s Kye Robichaux rushed for a touchdown and caught another from Castellanos, who was 10-for-16 passing and also added 73 rush yards as Boston College built a 14-0 lead and never looked back.

Florida State transfer Treshaun Ward led the Eagles with 61 receiving yards and a touchdown while rushing for 77 more.

Florida State (0-2, 0-2) quarterback DJ Uiagalelei was 21-for-42 for 272 yards and a touchdown, but threw an interception and was sacked three times.

Kentron Poitier had three catches for 79 yards and a score in the loss.

The Seminoles are the fourth Preseason AP Top 10 team to start 0-2 in the past 10 seasons, earning that dubious distinction for the second time in that span (2017).

In the first quarter, Boston College orchestrated a 14-play, 71-yard scoring drive while limiting the hosts to just 51 seconds of possession. Three third-down conversions fueled a red-zone march that culminated with Castellanos diving in for a 4-yard touchdown four seconds into the second quarter.

Ward was the top target on the Eagles’ second touchdown drive, taking a 13-yard catch-and-score to the front corner of the end zone at the 9:58 mark. Four plays earlier, he also had a key 42-yard reception and burst up the sideline.

 

Georgia’s On Everyone’s Mind

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INDIANAPOLIS – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Georgia received all but nine first-place votes and is ranked No. 1 in the 2024 preseason USA Today Coaches Poll.

No. 2 Ohio State received seven of the remaining nine first-place votes with Oregon at No. 3 following by three consecutive SEC teams — Texas, Alabama and Ole Miss. The Rebels were last ranked this high in the coaches poll in 1970.

The SEC has nine teams in the poll, with No. 16 Oklahoma joining the conference newcomer Longhorns, who received one first-place vote.

Notre Dame is seventh and the only team outside the Power 4 in the poll. Defending national champion Michigan, also receiving one vote for first place, is No. 8 ahead of Penn State and Florida State.

The Crimson Tide are entering the first season under head coach Kalen DeBoer. He replaced Nick Saban, who retired at the end of the season. The No. 5 preseason ranking for Alabama is its lowest starting position in the Coaches Poll since 2009.

DeBoer’s former club, Washington, was national runner-up in January but didn’t make the preseason Top 25.

–Field Level Media

12-Team CFP to Begin Dec.20th

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ATLANTA – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The first 12-team edition of the College Football Playoff will begin on Dec. 20 and end exactly one month later, with the national championship game set to be played in Atlanta, it was announced Wednesday.

The expanded playoff format will start with four first-round games played at campus sites on Dec. 20 and Dec. 21. Two of those games will be broadcast on TNT, which has a sublicense with ESPN.

The quarterfinals begin on New Year’s Eve with the Fiesta Bowl at 7:30 p.m. ET, followed by a trio of games on New Year’s Day. The Peach Bowl will begin at 1 p.m., the Rose Bowl at 5 p.m. and the Sugar Bowl at 8:45 p.m.

Both semifinals will start at 7:30 p.m. The first, the Orange Bowl, will be played on Jan. 9, and the second, the Cotton Bowl, will take place on Jan. 10.

The championship game is set for 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Frozen Four: BC vs Denver for Title

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SAINT PAUL – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – A pair of storied programs, Boston College and Denver, face off for the NCAA men’s hockey championship Saturday evening in Minnesota. Boston College (34-5-1) is the top overall seed and is seeking its first title since 2012. Denver (31-9-3) is going for its second title in three years and its record 10th title overall.

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The stakes could not be higher, and players on both sides could not be more determined.

“Anytime someone commits to Boston College, it’s to win championships,” Eagles forward Cutter Gauthier said. “And we have an opportunity for that on Saturday.”

The same is true for Denver, which has won three straight games by a single goal.

“We’re just extremely confident,” Pioneers goaltender Matt Davis said, “and feel battle-tested.”

Boston College is coming off a dominant 4-0 win over Michigan in the NCAA Frozen Four on Thursday night. Will Smith scored two goals, Gauthier added another goal and Gabe Perreault finished the scoring to send the Eagles to the title game.

Gauthier leads the nation with 38 goals, which also is tied for the most in a single season in Boston College history. David Emma (1989-90) and Scott Harlow (1985-86) also enjoyed 38-goal seasons for the Eagles, and Gauthier has a chance to break the record Saturday.

Smith has 25 goals after his two-goal performance Thursday. The Massachusetts native watched the Eagles’ 2012 title run as a child and now has a chance to bring another championship trophy to Chestnut Hill, Mass.

“(If you had) told me as a kid, this would be kind of crazy,” Smith said. “I remember the days I was watching Johnny Gaudreau in the same Frozen Four. So it’s a dream come true. It would be unbelievable to get that trophy just like he did.”

Denver is coming off three consecutive 2-1 victories, two of which required overtime. The Pioneers outlasted Boston University for a 2-1 overtime win on Thursday in the first Frozen Four matchup.

Davis turned aside 33 of 34 shots for Denver, and Tristan Broz provided the winning goal with 8:51 remaining in the extra session.

Broz said he and his teammates never lost their cool in high-pressure situations.

“Just like Coach (David) Carle said, these 2-1 games can go either way,” Broz said. “There’s bounces that happen throughout the game, and you just have to stick with it and keep playing because those bounces happen. But you’re still in a tight hockey game.”

Both teams enter the final matchup on a hot streak.

Boston College is riding a 15-game winning streak. Its last loss took place Feb. 5 against Boston University in the city’s famous “Beanpot” tournament.

Meanwhile, Denver is 13-1-1 in its past 15 games.

The teams met Oct. 21, when Denver notched a 4-3 road win over Boston College. Carter King scored a power-play goal in the third period to lift the Pioneers.

“That was a long time ago,” Boston College coach Greg Brown said. “We’ve improved a lot. But that was a really fun hockey game.

“It was back and forth. It was two good teams both making a lot of plays.”

–Field Level Media

RELENTLESS UConn REPEATS

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GLENDALE – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Tristen Newton scored 20 points and dished out seven assists as UConn won its second straight national championship, beating Purdue 75-60 on Monday night.

Stephon Castle added 15 points and Cam Spencer and Donovan Clingan contributed 11 apiece for the top-seeded Huskies (37-3), who found a way to limit the Boilermakers on offense outside of center Zach Edey.

Edey, the two-time National Player of the Year, scored 37 points on 15-of-25 shooting, but much of his scoring in the second half came with Purdue (34-5), another No. 1 seed, facing a sizable deficit.

UConn was quicker, more efficient from the field and tougher on defense compared to the Boilermakers, who stayed close until early in the second half, when the game started to get away from them.

The Huskies are the first team to secure back-to-back NCAA Tournament titles since Florida did so in 2006-07.

Edey missed his first three shots of the second half, and UConn went ahead by nine when Castle converted a putback for a 43-34 lead with 16:08 to play. A lob from Newton to Samson Johnson for a dunk gave the Huskies a 47-34 advantage.

Newton drove the lane and flipped a two-handed layup over the 7-foot-4 Edey, whom the Huskies successfully doubled-teamed in the paint in the second half. That basket gave UConn a 51-38 cushion with 12:06 to go.

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The Huskies took control for good on an Alex Karaban 3-pointer with 9:53 remaining, and Hassan Diarra followed with a layup for a 56-40 lead. Purdue couldn’t recover, trailing by at least 13 the rest of the way.

Outside of Edey, the Boilermakers went 9-for-29 from the floor for the game. Braden Smith scored 12 points and added eight assists for Purdue. Edey also hauled in 10 boards.

Edey energized Purdue for long stretches of the first half, making 7 of 12 shots in the period. In one sequence, he emphatically rejected two UConn attempts near the rim.

Edey was a force down low, even while going up against Clingan, who, despite being 7-foot-2, could only keep the 300-pound Edey from scoring when he was able to force the Boilermakers’ big man out of the interior.

But UConn made everyone else on Purdue miss their shots.

Smith hit a 3-pointer just before the shot clock expired with 2:18 to play in the first half, cutting the Huskies’ lead to 32-30. UConn scored the last four points of the half for a 36-30 lead.

The Huskies connected on 48.4 percent of their field-goal attempts for the game.

–Field Level Media

Hoophall To Enshrine 13 for 2024

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GLENDALE – (Staff report from Official News Release) – The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the 13 inductees in the Class of 2024 to be celebrated during this year’s Enshrinement festivities to be held on August 16-17. The Class Announcement was made at a press conference conducted at the site of the 2024 NCAA Men’s Final Four,

Without a shadow of doubt, the accomplishments of the 2024 class stand as a testament to unparalleled excellence,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. “From showcasing unrivaled prowess on the courts and sidelines, spanning the high school, collegiate and professional ranks, to steering the course of basketball across an entire continent and to orchestrating a pair of dynasties, we are honored to pay tribute to these remarkable individuals alongside our esteemed award recipients.”

The Class of 2024 will be enshrined during festivities in Springfield, Massachusetts, the Birthplace of Basketball, as well as the Mohegan Sun Resort/Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut, on August 16-17.

North American Committee Inductees:

CHAUNCEY BILLUPS [Player] – Nicknamed “Mr. Big Shot” for his ability to deliver crucial plays in pivotal moments, Billups was a five-time NBA All-Star and the 2004 Finals MVP after leading the Detroit Pistons to their third NBA championship. During his 17-year career, Billups’ averaged 15.2 points and 5.4 assists per game, while his  89.4  free throw percentage is sixth best in NBA/ABA history. Billups was drafted third overall in 1997 by the Boston Celtics after earning Second Team All-American honors at Colorado. He is the current head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers.

VINCE CARTER [Player] – Renowned for his high-flying dunks, the former North Carolina standout was an eight-time All-Star in his 22 NBA seasons (1998-2020). Carter, who won the 2000 Slam Dunk Contest, was named the 1998-99 Rookie of the Year and is the only player in NBA history to play in four different decades. Carter averaged 16.7 points per game (21.3 as a starter) and also played a pivotal role in the success of the 2000 Sydney Olympics, clinching a gold medal with the U.S. Men’s Basketball Team. He currently holds the single-season franchise scoring record for the New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets and Toronto Raptors.

MICHAEL COOPER [Player] – Cooper was named to eight NBA All-Defensive Teams, taking home First-Team accolades five times and winning Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1987. The former third-round draft pick (60th overall) out of the University of New Mexico spent his entire 12-year NBA career (1978-90) with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning five championships while routinely matching up with the opponent’s top shooter. Following his playing career, Cooper entered the coaching ranks and earned WNBA Coach of the Year accolades in 2000 with the Los Angeles Sparks before winning back-to-back WNBA titles in 2001-02.

WALTER DAVIS [Player] – The all-time leading scorer in Phoenix Suns’ history was a six-time All-Star (1978-81, ‘84, ‘87) during his 15-year NBA career with the Suns (1977-88), Denver Nuggets (1988-92) and Portland Trail Blazers (1991). Before Phoenix chose Davis with the fifth pick in the 1977 draft, the standout player from North Carolina won a gold medal in the 1976 Summer Olympics. He then averaged 24.2 points per game in his first NBA season and was named the 1978 Rookie of the Year. The late Davis had his No. 6 retired by the Suns, and in 2004, he was enshrined in the team’s Ring of Honor.

BO RYAN [Coach] – Ryan went 747-233 (.762) in 32 seasons as a collegiate head coach with the University of Wisconsin-Platteville (1984-89), University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (1999-2001) and University of Wisconsin (2001-15), including a 364-130 (.737) ledger in 14-plus seasons in Madison. Ryan, honored four times as the Big Ten Coach of the Year, led Wisconsin to unprecedented success, clinching four Big Ten regular-season titles, winning three Big Ten tournament championships, and making back-to-back Final Four appearances (2014-15). The four-time Division III champion (1991, ‘95, ‘98-99) was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017.

CHARLES SMITH [Coach] – Smith is Louisiana’s all-time winningest high school head coach, surpassing the previous mark of 1,071 in 2020. With nine state championships to his name, Smith’s coaching tenure at Peabody Magnet High School began in 1985 after starting as a math teacher in 1975. He guided the Warhorses to a pair of perfect seasons, going 41-0 in 2004 and 2010 and earning national top-five rankings. Smith, ESPN’s National Coach of the Year in 2010, was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2019 and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2021. In addition, Smith served as head coach at the McDonald’s All-American game in 2020.

Women’s Committee Inductee:

SEIMONE AUGUSTUS [Player] – Augustus, who was selected first overall in the 2006 WNBA Draft, was a four-time champion and eight-time All-Star during her 15-year WNBA career (2006-20). The cornerstone player for the Minnesota Lynx, where she spent 14 of her 15 seasons, averaged 15.4 points per game and was named the 2006 Rookie of the Year and 2011 Finals MVP. At LSU, Augustus led the Tigers to three straight Final Four appearances and won the Naismith College Player of the Year and Wooden Awards in back-to-back campaigns (2005-06).

Men’s Veteran Committee Inductee:

DICK BARNETT [Player] – Barnett first gained prominence at Tennessee A&I University, where he led the Tigers to three straight NAIA national championships (1957-59), the first historically black school to claim a men’s basketball title. The “Skull” played 14 NBA seasons with the Syracuse Nationals (1959-61), Los Angeles Lakers (1962-65) and New York Knicks (1965-73), winning a pair of titles in the Big Apple (1970, ‘73) and making his lone All-Star team in 1968. The Knicks retired his No. 12, and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame honored his 1957–59 Tigers squad in 2019.

Women’s Veteran Committee Inductee:

HARLEY REDIN [Coach] – Redin went 431-66 in 18 seasons leading Wayland Baptist’s women’s basketball program and captured six AAU National Championships. He coached the Flying Queens to two undefeated women’s seasons (1956, ‘57), 17 top-five finishes, and went 110-2 during his first four campaigns at Wayland Baptist. The late Redin also coached the Women’s U.S. National Team in 1959, the 1971 Pan-American Games, and the 1963 World Championship tournament in Peru. He was the recipient of the Jostens-Berenson Service Award by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association for his lifetime of service to women’s basketball in 1992, inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999, and honored with the Naismith Award for Outstanding Contribution to the game of women’s basketball in 2000.

International Committee Inductee:

MICHELE TIMMS [Player] – A trailblazer in Australian women’s basketball, Timms became one of the best point guards in the world, representing the Australian national team throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Timms won a pair of Olympic medals with the Opals, winning bronze in 1996 and silver in 2000, and was the first Australian, male or female, to play professional basketball internationally when she suited up for Lotus München in Germany. In addition, Timms spent five seasons with the Phoenix Mercury, guiding the team to a berth in the 1998 WNBA Finals and earning an All-Star selection in 1999. The Sport Australia Hall of Fame inducted her in 2003, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008, and the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2016. The Mercury retired her No. 7 jersey in 2002.

Contributor Committee Inductees:

DOUG COLLINS – Collins’ versatile career in basketball is marked by significant achievements in roles ranging from player to coach to broadcaster, underscoring his wide-ranging impact on the sport. Following an NBA career where he was a four-time All-Star with the Philadelphia 76ers, he transitioned into coaching and accumulated over 400 wins with the Chicago Bulls (1986-89), Detroit Pistons (1995-98), Washington Wizards (2001-03) and 76ers (2010-13). Collins, who coached Hall of Famer Michael Jordan in both Chicago and Washington, also served as an analyst for various NBA-related broadcasts for CBS, NBC, TNT, TBS, and ABC/ESPN, along with working for NBC Sports at the Summer Olympics.

HERB SIMON – Simon, the longest-tenured governor in the history of the NBA, purchased the Indiana Pacers, along with his late brother Mel, back in 1983. Under Simon’s stewardship, the Pacers won numerous Central Division titles and made the franchise’s first NBA Finals in 2000. Throughout his ownership period, the Pacers have been home to legendary players like Jermaine O’Neal, Rik Smits, and Reggie Miller (Class of 2012). Beyond ownership, Simon’s influence extends deeply into the heart of the Pacers’ organization, shaping its identity and impact both on and off the court through his philanthropic endeavors and civic engagement.

JERRY WEST – Previously enshrined as a player and as a member of the 1960 U.S. Olympic Team, West also established himself off the court as one of the most successful executives in pro basketball history. West played a pivotal role as the architect of a pair of Los Angeles Lakers’ dynasties during the 1980s and 2000s, drafting key players like Magic Johnson and James Worthy, acquiring Kobe Bryant, signing free agent Shaquille O’Neal, and hiring head coach Phil Jackson. He totaled eight NBA championships in Los Angeles (1980, ‘82, ‘85, ‘87-88, 2000-02) and was named Executive of the Year twice (1995, 2004). Following his time in the Lakers’ front office (1979-2000), West served as GM of the Memphis Grizzlies from 2002-07 before earning two additional NBA championships as an executive with the Golden State Warriors (2015, ‘17). West is the first member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame to be inducted as both a player and a contributor.

NCAA March Madness: Sweet 16

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LOS ANGELES – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Grant Nelson scored fourth-seeded Alabama’s final five points, including a three-point play with 38 seconds left that put the Crimson Tide ahead for good in a 89-87 win over top-seeded North Carolina on Thursday in an NCAA Tournament West Region semifinal in LA.

Alabama (24-11) rallied from an eight-point halftime deficit, holding North Carolina to seven points through the first 10 minutes of the second half. The Crimson Tide’s defensive effort to open the second half produced a back-and-forth final stretch in a contest that featured 13 ties and 12 lead changes.

Nelson put up a game-high 24 points for the Crimson Tide, who advance to face sixth-seeded Clemson on Saturday in the regional final. Aaron Estrada and Rylan Griffen each scored 19 points.

Armando Bacot led North Carolina (29-8) with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Cormac Ryan scored 17 points, and RJ Davis had 16 points and seven assists.

West Region

No. 6 Clemson 77, No. 2 Arizona 72

Chase Hunter’s and-one play with 25.7 seconds remaining capped his game-high-matching 18-point performance, and the Tigers held off the Wildcats to earn their first trip to the Elite Eight since 1980 in Los Angeles.

Clemson (24-11) led nearly wire-to-wire behind the play of Hunter — who also had seven rebounds and five assists — and PJ Hall, who scored 17 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Ian Schieffelin added 14 points, including some pivotal baskets in the second half, and snared seven rebounds.

Caleb Love, who scored 13 points, went 0-of-9 from beyond the arc for Arizona (27-9). He shot 5-of-18 from the floor overall. Oumar Ballo finished with 15 points and 15 rebounds but was just 1-of-7 at the foul line. Keshad Johnson grabbed 11 rebounds to go with six points.

East Region

No. 1 UConn 82, No. 5 San Diego State 52

Cam Spencer scored a team-high 18 points and the Huskies dominated the offensive glass to beat the Aztecs in a meeting of East Region teams in the Sweet 16.

Spencer added five rebounds for the Huskies (34-3), who grabbed 21 offensive boards that led to 12 second-chance points. Tristen Newton chipped in 17 points and seven rebounds, and Stephon Castle supplied 16 and 11, respectively, as UConn became the first defending champion to reach the Elite Eight since Florida in 2007.

The Huskies downed the Aztecs 76-59 in last year’s national championship game. Jaedon LeDee paced San Diego State (26-11) with 18 points and eight rebounds. Micah Parrish had 10 points as the Aztecs’ only other scorer in double figures. San Diego State was outshot 46.2 percent to 36.2 percent from the field.

No. 3 Illinois 72, No. 2 Iowa State 69

Terrence Shannon Jr. poured in 29 points and the Illini held off a second-half rally to earn a victory over the Cyclones.

The Fighting Illini will face No. 1 seed UConn in the Elite Eight on Saturday. Coleman Hawkins chipped in 12 points and six rebounds for the Fighting Illini (29-8), who outshot Iowa State 42.1 percent to 39.7 percent.

Curtis Jones paced Iowa State (29-8) with 26 points. Keshon Gilbert supplied 14, and Tre King had 12 to go along with seven boards.

–Field Level Media

UConn, Spencer Rip San Diego State

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BOSTON – (Staff and wire Service Report) -Connecticut’s Cam Spencer scored a team-high 18 points and No. 1 UConn dominated the offensive glass to beat fifth-seeded San Diego State 82-52 on Thursday night in a meeting of East Region teams in the Sweet 16.

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Spencer added five rebounds, three assists and three steals for the Huskies (34-3), who grabbed 21 offensive boards that led to 12 second-chance points.

Tristen Newton chipped in 17 points and seven rebounds, and Stephon Castle supplied 16 and 11, respectively, as UConn became the first defending champion to reach the Elite Eight since Florida did so in 2007.

The Huskies downed the Aztecs 76-59 in last year’s national championship game.

Jaedon LeDee paced San Diego State (26-11) with 18 points and eight rebounds. Micah Parrish had 10 points as the Aztecs’ only other scorer in double figures.

San Diego State was outshot 46.2 percent to 36.2 percent from the field.

Lamont Butler trimmed the Aztecs’ deficit to 42-33 with 18:48 left in the game, but that was the last time San Diego State would ever be within single digits.

Newton then dropped in a 3-pointer to spark a 9-2 burst, a rally that was capped with four points from Castle for a 51-35 cushion.

The Aztecs twice made it a 14-point game, but San Diego State’s season effectively came to an end when Castle sank two free throws with 4:30 remaining to widen the margin to 28 at 73-45.

Neither team could create any separation until Spencer took over. He accounted for nine points during a 14-4 run, lifting the Huskies to a 27-16 advantage with 10:55 left in the first half.

Elijah Saunders stopped the bleeding with a three-point play and Miles Byrd added a jumper to pull San Diego State within six.

After UConn pushed its lead back to double digits at 33-23, Parrish canned a 3-pointer and a jumper during an 8-2 Aztecs surge that made it 35-31 with 2:09 to go.

However, Spencer knocked down a trey with 21 seconds remaining, sending the Huskies into the break leading 40-31.

–Nick Galle, Field Level Media