CBB

AP Basketball WriterRui Hachimura's popularity continuing to rise at GonzagaBy JOHN MARSHALLSALT LAKE CITY (AP) Rui Hachimura leaned against a wall inside Las Vegas' Orleans Arena, towering above the boom microphones and cameras being held by the reporters below.The Gonzaga big man patiently answered questions in Japanese for...

AP Sports WriterNew Alabama coach Nate Oats says, 'We can make a Final Four'By JOHN ZENORTUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) Nate Oats was a high school coach and math teacher making a five-figure salary six years ago.Then he made a rapid ascent as a Buffalo assistant and head coach and...

AP Sports WriterRick Pitino out at Louisville as expected amid federal probeBy GARY B. GRAVESLOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) Rick Pitino has been able to roam the sidelines as Louisville's iconic men's basketball coach, even defiantly at times, holding onto his job amid a series of highly embarrassing missteps off...

Arkansas guard Mason Jones declares for NBA draftFAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) Arkansas guard Mason Jones has declared for the NBA draft.Jones made the announcement on social media Friday, and the University of Arkansas confirmed the decision with a congratulatory statement.Jones, a 6-foot-5 junior, was The Associated Press' co-SEC Player...

AP Sports WriterDuke rises to No. 1 in AP poll again, Kansas drops to 5thBy JOHN MARSHALLDuke moved to No. 1 after blowing out Kentucky in its season opener, only to lose the top spot two weeks later with a loss to Gonzaga in Maui.Well, the Blue Devils are...

Cameron paces Morgan St. in 78-68 win over Mt. St. Mary'sEMMITSBURG, Md. (AP) Martez Cameron scored 15 points, Tyler Streeter scored 14 and Morgan State kept Mt. St. Mary's winless with a 78-68 win on Sunday.After a 35-all first-half tie, Jordan Little's jump shot nine seconds in put...

Villanova students gear up to welcome home NCAA champsVILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) Students at Villanova University are gearing up to welcome home their men's basketball team, which is returning with its second NCAA championship in three years.The team is set to arrive at Philadelphia's airport around 4:45 p.m. Tuesday,...

Harris scores 23 to carry Nevada over Wyoming 73-68LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) Jalen Harris had 23 points as Nevada edged past Wyoming 73-68 on Tuesday night.Jazz Johnson had 13 points for Nevada (19-10, 12-5 Mountain West Conference), which earned its sixth consecutive victory. Lindsey Drew added seven rebounds. Robby...

The Latest: Gamecocks' Martin says he has shed 35 poundsNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The Latest from SEC men's basketball media day on Wednesday (all times local):12:25 p.m.South Carolina coach Frank Martin says he has dropped 35 pounds during the offseason to make up for the weight gain that had...

Vanderbilt announces it has signed guard Scotty Pippen Jr.NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Former NBA All-Star Jerry Stackhouse's first signee as Vanderbilt's head coach is the son of a Hall of Famer.Vanderbilt announced Thursday that Scotty Pippen Jr, the son of six-time NBA champion Scottie Pippen, has signed a letter...

LaVar Ball: Withdrawing suspended son to prepare for NBALOS ANGELES (AP) The father of UCLA guard LiAngelo Ball says he's withdrawing his son from school so he can prepare to play in the NBA. LaVar Ball says in a TV interview his ''grand plan'' is for all three...

AP Basketball WriterGroup: NCAA reforms should go further amid FBI hoops probeBy AARON BEARDThe Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics supports recent reform proposals to the NCAA amid a federal corruption investigation into college basketball - but wants the NCAA to do more.The commission suggests changing the NCAA's governance structure...