CBB

Florida tweaks schedule again, now opening with UMass LowellGAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) Florida is shuffling its basketball schedule again.Having already been forced to replace their home-opening opponent, the Gators will now face a different team to start the season.Florida said Thursday it will open against UMass Lowell instead of...

UCLA picked to win Pac-12 in preseason pollSAN FRANCISCO (AP) UCLA is the preseason pick to win the Pac-12 for the first time since 2011-12.The Bruins, ranked No. 20 in The Associated Press preseason poll, received nine first-place votes and 251 points Thursday from a panel of 23...

AP Basketball WriterBaylor, Kansas lead stacked Big 12 into college hoops seasonBy DAVE SKRETTAKansas was the heavy favorite to land the overall No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament when word began to filter through conference tournaments that COVID-19 was going to shut down the remainder of the season.Now,...

AP Sports WriterNo. 19 Texas has mix of experience and elite young talentBy JIM VERTUNOAUSTIN, Texas (AP) Shaka Smart should have everything he needs this season with a Texas roster full of experience and brawny, young talent.Can he finally deliver the results the Longhorns have been expecting after...

AP Sports WriterExperience gives No. 7 Wisconsin plenty of confidenceBy STEVE MEGARGEEWisconsin begins this pandemic-delayed season with most of the same players who created so many memorable moments during a stirring stretch drive last year.The seventh-ranked Badgers return nearly the entire nucleus that led them on an eight-game winning...

AP Sports WriterPitino, Gophers again have new look with trio of transfersBy DAVE CAMPBELLMINNEAPOLIS (AP) Richard Pitino has returned for a pivotal eighth year at Minnesota, coming off another lower-half conference finish that was overshadowed by the coronavirus-prompted shutdown of the sport.Though the pandemic limited their offseason development,...

AP Sports WriterHoward touts experience for his second Michigan teamBy NOAH TRISTERANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) Juwan Howard has an experienced roster for his second season as Michigan's coach.There may still be an adjustment period.The Wolverines enter the 2020-21 season with plenty of talented upperclassmen. Included in that group...

Associated PressNo. 8 Illini return with high expectations behind star duoBy TERRY TOWERYCHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) They're back.The return of stars Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn has brought a sense of optimism and high expectations to an Illinois program that saw a magical season abruptly halted by the pandemic...

AP Sports WriterLacking star power, Maryland counting on depth and backcourtBy DAVID GINSBURGThe last time Maryland performed on the basketball court, the players and coach Mark Turgeon were cutting down the nets and passing around the trophy awarded to the Big Ten regular season champions.Many in the sellout crowd...

AP Sports WriterWilliams likely to play bigger role for young BoilermakersBy MICHAEL MAROTPurdue forward Trevion Williams is sturdy and experienced enough to handle a hefty workload.The 6-foot-9, 265-pound junior embraced the role last season and thrived. Now, surrounded by a younger roster, coach Matt Painter is asking Williams to...

AP Sports WriterSDSU gets rare visit from No. 22 UCLA for season openerBy BERNIE WILSONSAN DIEGO (AP) San Diego State will open the season with a rare home game against No. 22 UCLA on Nov. 25 as part of a four-team event at Viejas Arena.With scheduling in flux...

AP Sports WriterHoosiers hope deeper backcourt opens up floor, possibilitiesBy MICHAEL MAROTIndiana coach Archie Miller tried everything the last two seasons to cobble together consistent perimeter scoring. He tinkered with lineups, mixed rotations and challenged players to become better shooters.Miller may finally have the solution this season with a...