Freshman Blake Griffin, lauded as Oklahoma's best basketball recruit in more than two decades, had 18 points and 13 rebounds Thursday night in the Sooners' 71-55 victory over San Francisco in the first round of the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic. Oklahoma (1-0) advanced to face Denver, which held off Division II East Central 76-75 in overtime, in the second round on Friday. The winner of the Norman regional will play No. 3 Memphis on Nov. 15 in the tournament semifinals.

Sports, Basketball, NCAA | No Comments »

A.J. Price had a career-high 24 points Thursday as Connecticut routed Buffalo 82-57 in the second round of the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic. Stanley Robinson added 10 points, 13 rebounds and six blocked shots. Jeff Adrien had 11 points and eight rebounds. Connecticut (2-0), trailed by five early, but scored 17 consecutive points, part of a 24-6 run to close out the first half of what had been a back-and-forth game.

Sports, Basketball, NCAA | No Comments »

Ben Howland's worst fears are coming true before UCLA plays its season opener. With only 10 scholarship players available, the coach of the second-ranked Bruins was worried about injuries decimating his lineup. He had a right to be concerned since various players were sidelined throughout preseason practices. "You don't control those things as a coach and that's tough," Howland said.

Sports, Basketball, NCAA | No Comments »

Florida State gave basketball coach Leonard Hamilton a two-year contract extension Thursday through 2012. Hamilton begins his sixth season with the Seminoles, who won more than 20 games in each of the past two seasons. He is 87-71 overall at Florida State. University President T.K. Wetherell believes the program is headed in the right direction, despite not reaching the NCAA tournament since 1998.

Sports, Basketball, NCAA | No Comments »

Scoring leader Avery Smith was tossed off Wisconsin-Milwaukee's basketball team Wednesday, a day after his suspension. Panthers coach Rob Jeter suspended Smith for an unspecified violation of team rules a half hour before Milwaukee opened its season by beating Wisconsin-Parkside in an exhibition game Thursday night. The school said Smith would remain on scholarship. "It has become clear we need to move forward as a team and a program without Avery," Jeter said in a statement.

Sports, Basketball, NCAA | No Comments »

Goran Suton scored 15 points to help Michigan State avoid another embarrassing exhibition loss with a 61-55 victory over Division II Michigan Tech on Wednesday night. The Spartans had lost to Division II Grand Valley State in double overtime on Friday. Suton hit a rare 3-pointer and another quick basket when the Spartans led 52-49 with 2 minutes left. Tim Strom scored 12 of his 17 points in the second half to lead the Huskies.

Sports, Basketball, NCAA | No Comments »