News Bits
"Cal State East Bay stays undefeated, advances to Elite Eight"
Game report Game report box score Great defense again.
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#7 St. Mary's faced off with #10 Texas A&M in Oklahoma City as a First Round Big Dance pairing and it was too much Rashaun Agee for the Gaels. Try 22 points, nine boards and three assists for the 6-foot-7, 230 forward. Actually. it was Agee and the speedy, quick-handed Aggies defenders plus a devoted share-the-ball unselfishness. Add in a defensive focus that allowed very few good looks, forced Coach Randy Bennett's guys into 38% overall shooting and the Moraga crew went down 63-50. TAM shot 44%. Jeremy Dent led St. Mary's with 18 points, alongside four rebounds and four assists but committed five turnovers. Liam Campbell totaled 15 points for the Gaels. Playing ill, forward Paulius Marauskas was on the court for 23 minutes and tallied just four points. St. Mary's completes the season at 27-6, 16-2 game report
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The word 'almost' gets a bad rap sometimes and that applies here as #10-seed Santa Clara just missed garnering a boatload of national attention by coming very close but eventually falling to #7-seed Kentucky in St. Louis 89-84 in overtime.
"Otega Oweh rescued Kentucky with a buzzer-beater from just inside half court to force overtime, then hit the tiebreaking free throws in the extra period as the seventh-seeded Wildcats beat No. 10 seed Santa Clara 89-84 on Friday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
In an electrifying finish to regulation that defines the words “March Madness,” Santa Clara's Allen Graves drained a 3 from the right wing with 2.4 seconds left to put the Broncos ahead 73-70. Oweh received the inbound pass, pushed the ball up the court and pulled up to the left of the midcourt logo to launch his desperation heave. The ball was midair when the buzzer sounded, and it banked in for the tie."
He didn't call 'bank.'
There was controversy near the end: "Charles Barkley: Santa Clara got 'jobbed' by refs in crushing March Madness loss"
The Broncos were out-shot 51% to 41% (30-73, 12-33, 12-13) as senior Elijah (West Valley College) Mahi led with 20 points, freshman Allen Graves provided 17 points plus seven rebounds, freshman Sash Gavalyugov was big with 16 points, six boards and five assists and junior Jake Ensminger contributed 14 points plus a team high eight caroms. Santa Clara finishes the season at 26-9, 15-3 in the West Coast Conference. game report
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As part of the NIT, California hosted and roasted UIC 91-73 as Chris Bell provided an extremely efficient 31 points on 10-12, 7-8, 4-4 shooting and teammate Justin Pippen contributed 18 points, six assists, four rebounds plus four steals. Bear freshman guard Semetri (Redwood High) Carr was credited with a team-leading seven assists in just 23 minutes. Chicago posted a high temperature of 53 degrees on this game day so at least UIC encountered much better weather coming out to the Bay. Small consolation. game report
Then California attempted to do did likewise at Haas Pavilion against St. Joseph's, that is, proving to be an equal opportunity post-season victory denier not just limited to the state of Illinois. The plan was working as the Bears owned a 41-33 halftime lead. The point advantage carried into the first 12 minutes of the second half (70-56) but then all hell started breaking loose with the devil sporting a St. Joe's jersey (as opposed to Prada). After a series of successful three-point jumpers, as the clock showed 1:50 left in the game, the visitors went ahead 76-75, Cal missed its last three shots and that's how the matchup concluded. Chris Bell again led with 23 points and Dai Dai Ames was next in line with 16 points. Cal finishes the season at 22-12, 17-5. game report
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6-foot-7 junior Andrej (Jesuit High/Stanford/California) Stojakovic scored 21 points in 26 minutes as Illinois took care of North Carolina-killer VCU 76-55.
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"Sources: Legendary Saint Mary's coach Randy Bennett weighing move to Arizona State"
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"Kenyon DeMuynck Is Making History — and Just Getting Started"
Excellent feature from Jocelyn Wong.
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Joe Tipton: "Cal Poly guard Cayden (St. Mary's High-Stockton) Ward plans to enter the Transfer Portal, per his agency US Mgmt. The 6-6 sophomore averaged 14.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game this season. Scored 21 points on UCLA earlier this season. Was All-Big West Honorable Mention."
Might he want to head back to Stockton (Pacific)?
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Malachi Johnson: "Blessed to receive an offer from Manhattan University. Thank you to the coaching staff for believing in me."
and
Malachi Johnson: "Blessed to receive an offer from IU Indy. Thank you to the coaching staff for believing in me."
Out of Stanislaus State, the 6-foot-10, 205 freshman is generating multiple offers as Idaho State, Rider and UC Riverside have also offered.
and
The Portal Report: "Stanislaus State F Malachi Johnson has received interest from the following programs:
| UCR | Rider |
| Idaho State | Sacramento State |
| Montana | USC Upstate |
| IU Indy | CBU |
| Rice | South Alabama |
| Georgia Southern | Northwestern State |
| UC Davis | Southern Miss |
| Chattanooga" |
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Alex Osterloh: "I am extremely excited and proud to announce my commitment to Claremont McKenna College pending admissions. I would like to thank my parents and my brothers for the support they have provided me. I would also like to thank Coach Scal and Coach Wells for this opportunity."
Osterloh is a 6-foot-3 point attending state champion Sacred Heart Prep.
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Verbal Commits D2: Dominican (CA) G Austin Johnson has entered the transfer portal."
He's a 6-foot-4 guard out of Salesian Prep who posted the following: "6’4 CG transfer from Dominican University, 44-35-86 shooting splits, 8 ppg 2 rpg in 13 mins/game, 1/2 years of eligibility"
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Modesto Junior College Men's Basketball: "We’re excited to announce the addition of Guy Tenfingers to the Modesto Junior College Men’s Basketball coaching staff. A graduate of Downey High School, Guy is considered one of the all-time great players to come through Modesto Junior College."
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Randal Bessolo: Help spread the word and support our Seniors. Great way to celebrate them and bring W CAL, AAA and BCL together for Last Dance. Players please RSVP to Coach Randy 415 418 4568"
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Verbal Commits D2: "Colorado Colorado Springs G Mario Williams, Jr. has received an offer from Stanislaus State."
Williams is a 6-foot-5 guard attending Colorado-Colorado Springs and out of Venture Academy in Stockton.
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"March Madness coach scorches Cal, says facility issue caused player injury"
SMU Coach Enfield takes a shot at Cal hoops without offering any evidence.
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"Bay Area college suddenly shuts down its athletics department"
College of Alameda no longer offers a men's basketball program. Or any sports program.
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"Jeff Goodman reported that South Florida head coach Bryan Hodgson has turned down the Syracuse job."
I understand that length of contract, salary, assistant coach salaries, sense of how it will be to work with the AD, size of NIL fund, etc. can all play into deciding to accept or turn down a contract from a college pursuing you but South Florida over Syracuse? Was it the weather? Granted, Syracuse today isn't Pearl Washington's Syracuse but...
Then Hodgson accepts the head coaching job at Providence.
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"Jamaree Bouyea's chances of staying with Suns crushed for reason nobody saw coming"
Just when he (and we) thought he had earned a roster spot in Phoenix due to his new contract...
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"John Arnaudon Named General Manager of Saint Mary’s Men’s Basketball"
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Zander Jimenez: "📚 All-Academic Team @ Swarthmore College 🏀 Honorable Mention
Sophomore Conf #s Season high Pts: 28, 25, 22, 20 | 15.2 ppg | 44.9% fg | 34.4% 3fg | 83.7% ft | 4.5 rpg"
Jimenez is a 6-foot-2 sophomore out of Salesian Prep.
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Diego Martinez: "I have officially entered the transfer portal.
- DIEGO MARTINEZ (SF STATE) (out of Valley Christian, SanJose)
- 6’7 235 lb Forward
- 12 PPG, 3 RBG in Conference (CCAA), 45% FG, 37% 3PT, 70% FT, 2 years of eligibility remaining
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Verbal Commits D2: "San Francisco State F Brandon Lucas has entered the transfer portal."
Lucas is 6-foot-4, 210 and out of Montgomery High and College of the Redwoods.
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Verbal Commits: "UC Riverside F De'Undrae Perteete, Jr. is entering the transfer portal."
This is interesting because the 6-foot-5 Perteete Jr. was a starter and played 28 minutes a game. He was at D2 Westmont last season after coming out of Salesian Prep.
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Recruits Zone "Blake Smith): "INFO: Lubbock Christian (D2) transfer Antonio (Archbishop Riordan/CCSF) Pusateri has heard from the following schools since entering the portal, he tells madehoops:
| Fullerton | New Mexico State |
| Liberty | South Dakota State |
| Western Kentucky | Wyoming |
| Sam Houston | Marshall |
| Kent State | Chattanooga |
| Southern Miss | Stephen F Austin |
| Hawaii | Georgia Southern |
| East Tennessee State | Northeastern |
| Portland | Bowling Green |
| Portland State | UC Riverside |
| UTRGV | Southern Utah |
| and a few more |
Averaged 16.7 PPG, 11 RPG, 2 APG, 1.1 BPG, & 60% FG this season."
Hawai'i would be jumping out at me. Maybe UCR is he wishes to get back to Cali.
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The Portal Report: "Huntington (NAIA) F/C Kaden Johnson has received interest from the following programs, he tells TPR:
| Pacific | Memphis |
| Oral Roberts | Youngstown St. |
| Missouri St. | Evansville |
| UTEP | App. St. |
| Cleveland St. | Ohio |
| Bowling Green | Kent St. |
| Eastern Michigan | Valpo" |
He'a 6-foot-11, 200 and averaged in double figures in scoring and rebounding.
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The Portal Report: "Lee (D2) G Ben Ritger has now heard from over 60 schools including:
| Sacramento State | Cal Poly |
| Illinois | Vermont |
| Robert Morris | Indiana State |
| LMU | Lehigh |
| Stetson | Illinois State |
| Ohio | UC Riverside |
| Hawaii | Wyoming |
| UAB | Western Kentucky |
| Rice | Northeastern |
| Hofstra | Chattanooga |
| Montana | UTEP |
| Western Michigan | Canisius |
| Iona | Cal St. Fullerton |
| Eastern Kentucky | Marist |
| Rider | Weber St. |
| Cal Poly | Colgate |
| Holy Cross | and more" |
He's a 6-foot-7, 220 guard with two years of eligibility remaining.
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Verbal Commits D2: "Central Washington G Bradley Swillie has received an offer from Chico State."
Swillie is a 6-foot-3 shooting guard who averaged 14.6 points this past season, shooting 44%, 32% and 82%, plus 3.6 rebounds. He posted a 115/77 assist-to-turnover ratio alongside 33 steals. Swillie earned all conference honorable mention status.
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Verbal Commits: "Pacific G Kajus Kublickas is entering the transfer portal."
He's a 6-foot-2, 170 junior.
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Sacred Heart Prep Athletics: "Congratulations to former Gator Sam Norris on being named NCAADIII Elite Scholar Athlete Award winner.
📚 3.97 💵 Economics."
The 6-foot-7 Norris is a sophomore at Trinity College in Hartford, CT.
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6-foot-4 redshirt sophomore Jaden Alexander is transferring out of Cal State Bakersfield.
In 20 minutes per game, he averaged 9.4 points and 3.4 rebounds while shooting 42%, 35% and 83%. Alexander graduated from St. Patrick-St. Vincent High.
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Dushawn London: "Wallace State guard Trey (Moreau Catholic High) Knight is in the transfer portal, per his agents Aaron Silver and Cole McKeel of GoEmpire Group. Knight finished 24th in NJCAA in assists per game (5.4), and averaged 13.3 points and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 38.6% from 3. He’s hearing from schools in the SWAC, Southland, and Sun Belt + a ton of D2 schools."
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