Morning Wrap: E.Kentucky Destroys #18 Miami in Hoops

((ht: espn.com))

Geez...what happened here? Eastern Kentucky...to quote the Rock "Laid the Smackdown" on the University of Miami basketball team Friday night beating the 'Canes 72-44.

Yes, the Colonels from the Ohio Valley Conference beat the Hurricanes from the mighty ACC by 28. And it wasn't that close.

Ok..it was. Eastern had a 2-point lead at the half. But a 22-2 run coming out of the blocks in the 2nd half did the trick.

And created one of the early seasons bigger surprises. Not that Miami would have been an ACC title contender, but they are supposedly pretty good. However on Friday night Eastern Kentucky handed them their worst home loss since 1997.

Corey Walden led the Colonels with 18 points on the night.

Your highlights from ESPN.com:

Jabari Parker Is Going To NBA, Will Enter NBA Draft

Is anyone surprised Jabari Parker would enter the 2014 NBA draft?

After the year Parker had for Duke he was ready to go.

Duke University has announced that Parker will forgo his college eligibility and entire the NBA Draft.

Here's Parker explaining his decision.  Thanks SI.com



Parker won the 2014 ACC Freshman of the Year award averaging 19.7 points per game, second in the ACC in scoring.  He averaged 8.7 rebounds per game.

"Jabari could not have been better. He is the epitome of what you would want a basketball player to be – outstanding everyday on the practice court and in the classroom and a very humble young man,” Krzyzewski said in a statement. “He had a fantastic freshman year and is so deserving of the opportunity to play in the NBA and follow his dream."

While it was a tough decision for Parker he's ready to make this step.  

Wake Forest Hires Danny Manning As Head Coach

It's all over Twitter and OSG sources have confirmed that Danny Manning will be announced as the
new head coach at Wake Forest.

WF has hired Danny Manning. Announcement from WF later this morning.
— David Glenn Show (@DavidGlennShow) April 4, 2014

Wake Forest has hired Tulsa coach Danny Manning, sources told ESPN. Story coming.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) April 4, 2014

Report: Wake Forest hires Danny Manning http://t.co/e6jHhP3XWJ
— WRALSportsFan (@WRALSportsFan) April 4, 2014

Danny Manning

Manning returns to his North Carolina roots.  He was raised in Greensboro, North Carolina and played high school basketball at Page High School before moving to Lawrence, Kansas for his senior year after his father joined Larry Brown's staff at Kansas.

Their seems to be mixed reactions among the Wake Forest fan base.  Around college basketball circles Manning has earned a reputation as one of it not the best with coaching bigs.

Manning has been mentored by Bill Self and when he had a opportunity to become a head coach enjoyed some success at Tulsa.

There's no doubt that name recognition alone makes this hire front page news however the Wake Forest fan base has had to endured some really tough times and Manning will have some healing to do.

This is a great hire for Wake Forest.  Manning was around ACC basketball as a youth and has an idea what it takes to win in that league.

Manning played for Larry Brown, a Carolina alum.  He won a national championship as a player in 1988and was on Bill Self's KU staff when the Jayhawks won the NCAA title in 2008.

Boston College To Hire Jim Christian As Head Coach

Jim Christian

Jim Christian will become the new head coach of Boston College.

Jeff Goodman of ESPN tweeted this out:

Boston College has agreed in principle to a deal with Ohio University's Jim Christian, multiple sources told ESPN.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) April 3, 2014

Jason Arkley the Ohio U. beat writer for the Athens (Oh) Messenger was on top of it.

BREAKING: Jim Christian has accepted head coaching offer from Boston College, according to several sources
— Jason Arkley (@JasonAmessenger) April 3, 2014

OSG sources have also confirmed that.

Christian coached the last two years at Ohio U. and compiled a 49-21 record including a pair of post-season tournaments.  This season the Bobcats played in the CollegeInsider.com tournament  losing in the first round to VMI.

Before Ohio U. Christian was the head coach at TCU were the Horned Frogs mediocre at best.  Christian had one winning season in Ft. Worth and compiled a record of 56-73 during his four years at TCU.

The most impressive portion of Christian's coaching resume is his tenure at Kent State.  In six seasons Christian led the Golden Flashes to four MAC East division titles and 2 MAC Championships.  He also led Kent State to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances losing in the first round each.

On the surface it's a hire that won't create a lot of buzz and this is about as good as Boston College can get. Christian will have quite of an adjustment though coaching in the ACC.

Christian's first order of business at B-C should be convincing Olivier Hanlan and Ryan Anderson to stay.

We Told You Last Week: Multiple Reports Bzdelik out at Wake Forest

So....

If any of you are faithful readers of OSG Sports, you'll remember the report we had last week that Wake Forest basketball coach Jeff Bzdelik would not be back with the team.

We don't always like to brag, but we reported this first on March 13th.

Read that story RIGHT HERE

Today (Thursday) at 5 p.m, it will become official when the school holds a press conference.

Bzdelik was not a popular choice among the Demon Deacon faithful when he replaced Dino Gaudio in 2010. He had little success at Colorado before taking the job. Wake hasn't gotten past the 6 conference wins threshold since Bzdelik's arrival.

The list of prospective replacements is long and it will be interesting to see who the Deac's target. Because they play in the ACC, the list will no doubt contain some big names, but don't expect many of those names to be serious. Wake isn't the job it thinks it is as the ACC no longer is the conference it believes itself to be either.

How Far Do You Have NC State In Your Office Pool Bracket?

If you have NC State as a one and done, or in this case a two and done, you might want to reconsider.

The Wolfpack had a nice run in the ACC Tournament to earned on of the last spots in the NCAA Tournament.

Tueaday night in their First Four NC State looked like a team that may have a significant run in the tournament. The Wolfpack took care of business defeating Xavier 74-59 led by T.J. Warren with 25 points.

Thanks CBS Sports

“That’s what you want as a coach; you want your team to keep getting better and I think we are getting better still,” NC State head coach Mark Gottfried said.

The Wolfpack have gotten better as the season has progressed and now looks like that team in the NCAA Tournament you dread in your bracket.

The one requirement you must have if you going to wear Cinderella's slipper is a great player playing his best basketball in March.  You can check that column for NC State.

T.J. Warren is one of the best players in the country.  Warren has scored 20 or more points in 19 consecutive games including the 25 points against the Musketeers.

'I just wanted to come out and be aggressive,'' Warren said. ''My shots wouldn't fall in the first half, but my teammates did a great job of finding me.''

Another element is a supporting cast for that great player and NC State seems to have that going for them too.

The guard combination of Tyler Lewis and "Cat" Barber has been outstanding.  Lewis had eight assists Tuesday night.

'T.J.'s a terrific player,'' Lewis said. ''We know that sometimes it's not going to be his best game. We need everybody to step up and make plays. I thought in the second half, T.J. did a tremendous job of hitting some shots.''

When Warren is struggling putting the ball in the net Ralston Turner has taken some of that slack.  Turner had 17 points against Xavier.

“We’ve had a crazy 48 hours." Turner said.

Yes the Wolfpack have.  NC State has gone from not knowing the post-season future to a strong performance that has a few basketball fans wishing they can change their office pool bracket.

Saint Louis is next for NC State Thursday in Orlando, Florida and the Wolfpack might be catching the Billikens at the right time.  SLU has host 4 of their last 5.

That's where the element of luck comes into play.

How long until we here another version of the "Cardiac Pack?"

Thanks Fox Sports

Boston College Fires Steve Donahue As Head Basketball Coach

Boston College will be looking for another men's basketball head coach.  Steve Donahue was fired by the school after four years.

After careful deliberation, I have decided to make a change in our men's basketball program. Grateful for Coach Donahue's contributions.
— Brad Bates (@BCBradBates) March 18, 2014

Donahue's record at Boston College was 54-76 overall, 22-44 in the ACC 

This move is not a surprise.  Boston College was picked ninth in the ACC pre season poll and many thought this program was on the rise.  

Instead the season ending knee injury sustained by center Dennis Clifford handicapped the Eagles and they struggled to a 8-24 record and 4-14 in the ACC and a next to last finish.

If Boston College athletic director Brad Bates had B.C. alum Bruce Pearl in mind he can forget about that.  Pearl has accepted the Auburn head coaching position.

Harvard head coach Tommy Amaker seems to be the leading candidate for the head coaching position.  Amaker has an ACC pedigree playing for Mike Krzyzewski at Duke.

“There’s no rush to make the hire,” Boston College athletic director Brad Bates said. “It’s a long-term decision. We need to move as quickly as possible but be deliberate in terms of the timing of the process.”

Virginia Tech Fires James Johnson As Head Coach

James Johnson, Former VT Head Coach

Whit Babcock has been Virginia Tech's athletic director for only a month and a half and has already made a big coaching move with the Hokies.

James Johnson was fired after two years as the Hokies head basketball coach.

“I want to thank Coach Johnson for his dedication and hard work for our university and our 
basketball program over the past seven years,” Babcock said. “A change of this significance affects many people and is never taken lightly, but I felt a change and a new direction was necessary for the long term, best interest of our department.”

Johnson became head coach after then Virginia Tech athletic director Jim Weaver fired Seth Greenberg. Johnson was on Greenberg's staff for five years.  It was a highly questionable decision by Weaver two years ago.

This year the Hokies finished one of its' worst season's in program history going 9-22 overall and 2-16 in the ACC.
VCU head coach Shaka Smart might be on Babcock's crosshairs or at least Hokie fans hope that is the case.  

Cincinnati's Mack Cronin may be another possible candidate regarding his ties to Babcock,  The two worked together when Babcock was athletic director at Cincinnati.

Bruce Pearl's name I'm sure will come up but that's as far as that goes.

One name that might build traction is Danny Manning at Tulsa.  If the Golden Hurricane win a few games in the NCAA Tournament Manning might be a hot commodity.  Would this be the ACC opening that Manning might be interested in?

Let the coaching carosel spin.

Pitt Blows Wake Out of ACC Tourney: Is This the End for Bzdelik?

The University of Pittsburgh quickly ended Wake Forest's ACC Tourney run with a 84-55 blowout win Thursday afternoon.

And no sooner than the end of the game, the speculation on the future of Wake head coach Jeff Bdzelik hit overdrive.

Sources tied to the Demon Deacons tell OSG Sports Bdzelik is likely to step down from the job within the next couple of days.

After going 17-16 this year, the Deacon fan base and alumni have grown quite impatient. Mind you, they ran off Dino Gaudio after going 61-31 with 2 NCAA Tourney bids in three years.

Bzdelik hasn't been even close to that.

While Wake showed some spark beating Notre Dame Wednesday in their ACC opener, they were down 14 to Pitt by halftime and never got any closer.

Already, there is speculation Wake will run at Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall, though our question is at this point is Wake a better job?

Others who may be in:

Dr. Brett Reed – Lehigh:  This could be a great fit.  Reed has led the Mountain Hawks to two NCAA tournament appearances including the upset of Duke in the first round in 2012.  Lehigh has a similar academic makeup as Wake Forest.

Mike Lonergan – George Washington:  Another solid candidate who has had some success at Vermont and has rebuilt the program at G.W.  Lonergan won’t wow the fan base but he appears to be a good fit as well.

Shaka Smart – Virginia Commonwealth:  Is this the right program to get Smart out of the mid-majors to the ACC?   Smart has $1.5 million guaranteed annually from VCU and his contract runs through 2028.  Looks like Smart might be content in Richmond.

Tommy Amaker – Harvard:  He’s a Mike Krzyzewski protégé who’s rehabbed his coaching career at Harvard after a mediocre tenure at Michigan.  Would Amaker be willing to go up against his mentor each year?  

Tubby Smith – Texas Tech:  He has ties to North Carolina.  Smith played at High Point University and was a high school coach in the Tar Heel State.  Smith is 62 years old and has a great resume but he just finishing his first year at Texas Tech so the timing may not be right.  Smith would be worth pursuing though.

Mike White – Louisiana Tech: Has won conference championships the last two years ( 2013 WAC, 2014 C-USA) and is considered a hot commodity within the coaching circles.   White coaches a fast tempo offensive game and a tight man to man defense.  I’m willing to bet White is on top of the list.

And finally--

Bobby Hurley – Buffalo: In his first year as head coach Hurley has led the Bulls to the MAC Eastern Division title.  Hurley has a legacy in the ACC.  It would be a high risk/high reward type of move but one Wake Forest might need to make. 

Ben Howland – Former UCLA head coach:  To old, too much baggage.

Bobby Lutz – NC State assistant coach:  Lutz can coach and got the max out of his players during his tenure as the head coach at Charlotte.  Would hiring Lutz excite the fan base?

Stay tuned, the College Basketball Carousel has only just begun...

Highlights from today's Pitt win over Wake come from our partners at the ACC Digital Network:

FSU With The Game Winning Dunk vs Maryland

Nothing like a dunk to win a game.

That's what happened Thursday afternoon as Boris Bojanovsky of Florida State flushed home the game winner leading the Seminoles to a 67-65 win over Maryland in their ACC Tournament opener.

The Terrapins had tied the game after trailing by as many as 11 with 2 minutes to go, but the entire defense collapsed around FSU's Okaro White as he drove the lane in the waning seconds.

White dumped the ball to Bojanovsky and the rest makes Maryland's term in the ACC a part of its history.

Your highlights from ESPN.com:

BUZZER BEATER: UNC Beats NC State Again

((HT: ACCDN))

Wasn't it just a little bit ago that we were all throwing dirt on North Carolina and head coach Roy Williams...???

Now, after last night, they've won ten in a row and are causing some serious trouble in the ACC...

Last night, Marcus Paige was responsible for the 16th win in the last 17 efforts against the Wolfpack


We'll leave the Roy Williams silent sit-in to Brother Wilkie...

Boeheim Goes Nuts as Duke Edges Syracuse

Well, so far Duke and Syracuse have faced off twice in ACC basketball games. And both games have been pretty darn good.

We're guessing though, most basketball fans will remember the second game, played Saturday night.

It was memorable because it was played well. A back and forth struggle at an extra loud Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Blue Devils were led by freshman Jabari Parker who had 19 points and the Orange led by Jerami Grant who had 17.

But a play by Duke's Rodney Hood with 10 seconds to go is what everyone will remember. Hood drew a very questionable charge call on C.J Fair and Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim responded by leaping up and running across the floor to argue the call with referee Tony Greene.

And it appears that most everyone, from commentators to non-Duke fans watching the game agreed with the call.

But Boeheim's going beserk drew a double technical foul, got him tossed from the game and gave Duke the chance to pull away and get the 66-60 win.

ESPN.com has your highlights and our partners at the ACC Network have sound from Coach Boeheim:

Look Out Here Comes Carolina. Tar Heels Take Round One 74-66 Over Duke

After starting ACC play 0-3 North Carolina may have righted the ship right on time.

Thursday night the Tar Heels won their eighth in a row defeating rival Duke 74-66 in round one of the Battle of the Blues.

Here's the highlights, Thanks GoHeelsTV



Marcus Paige scored all of his 13 points in the second half to lead the Carolina comeback.

This game morphed into a heavyweight slugfest you would expect from the rivalry.

"For a few minutes there both teams were fighting so hard it wasn't very pretty."  North Carolina head coach Roy Williams said.  "It's really two teams that fought awfully hard and understand where they stand in this 
rivalry."

"I think it's an emotional game."  Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski said.  "No matter what you talk about until you're in it, you don't know. They're kids, kids, men-it can affect you. The atmosphere was sensational, but we should want that and we do. That's a great atmosphere to play in, but sometimes it can hurt your communication patterns. You can start to think of what you're doing instead of what we're doing. That can have an impact, no question."

On Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, North Carolina it was party time.

Thanks WTVD Raleigh, NC

Syracuse's 2-Tone Uniform Will Be Locked Up Permanently, Boston College Upsets #1 Orange

Syracuse broke out their throwback jerseys Thursday night against Boston College and instead was thrown down by the Eagles in overtime 62-59.

The Eagles came into the game 2-10 in the ACC, 6-19 overall.  Loss number 20 for Boston College wasn't happening in the Carrier Dome.

Here's the highlights with FOSG Matt Park on the call. Thanks Syracuse Orange


Here's Eagles head coach Steve Donahue after the game.

Donahue is referring to Boston College men's basketball sports information director and FOSG Dick Kelley who passed away last Thursday after a three year battle fighting ALS.

Syracuse's shooting was just awful.  The Orange only shot 32 percent from the field and 16 percent from the 3 point line.

“We’re not putting the ball in the basket." Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim said. "We’re not going to win games shooting 32 percent, 16 percent from the three. It’s pretty simple, it’s not complicated. We need to be better on offense, it’s that simple.”

Boston College did shoot much better going 42 percent from the field and 50 percent from the three point line.

Eagle sophomore guard Olivier Hanlan led all scorers with 20 points.

It doesn't net easier for Syracuse and the Orange have #5 Duke on the docket for Saturday night.  It will mark the first time a Syracuse team has put their sneakers on the floor of Cameron Indoor Stadium.

"Right now we need to think about having two good days of preparation and Duke is one of the toughest places to play in the last five years and I’m sure they have one of the best home records of any team in the last five years."  Boeheim said.  "And they’re playing really well and they attacked us really well here. It’ll be a great challenge for us and that’s something we need for us to regroup. We have plenty of time to reflect back on the season when the season is over.”

BUZZER BEATER: MGH For Three And The Win

((HT: ACCDN))

The meteorological shenanigans here in the southeast pushed the Georgia tech-Boston College game back a day- almost...

A 5:00 tip the next day gave BC the chance, at least, to get home a little sooner than otherwise because of all the re-freezing that turned streets into sheets of ice overnight...

And for Georgia Tech, it has been a long few years... struggling in the bottom half of the ACC in hoops...

But the shot by Marcus Georges-Hunt made the folks on the Flats feel a little better as the Jackets got the win...
And every win these days is huge...

GT's Marcus Georges-Hunt Sinks Huge 3-Pointer... by ACCDigitalNetwork

Good to hear Wes Durham's voice, too...

Tyler Ennis Saves Syracuse At The Buzzer. Jim Boeheim Had No Doubt The Shot Was In

((HT: ESPN/ACCDN))

A lot of people thought that, if Syracuse was going to lose a game in the near future, it was going to be this game in Pittsburgh against the Panthers...

But someone forgot to tell Tyler Ennis


They beat Pitt 58-56 and Ennis finished with 13 and Syracuse stays unbeaten.

Luck may have had been in the cards when Ennis put up the jumper but Jim Boeheim's interpretation his freshman guard captured the moment.

"You have to do it." Boeheim said.  "You have to make the play. The ball goes in. That’s not luck. He took the shot and he made the shot. He didn’t throw it from half-court or three-quarters court. That’s not lucky. He dribbled it up, he had a purpose, he got up in the air and he took a good shot, and it went in. It happens sometimes, but he was poised to do it."

Boeheim had no doubt Ennis' shot was good with the ball left his hand.

"When he shot it, I saw his release, and when I saw the ball, I thought it was going in."  Boeheim said. "Honestly, I said, 'That’s going in.' It could’ve rimmed out very easily, but when he shot it I thought, 'Yeah, that’s going to go in.”

The Orange is now 24-0 and looking like a special team come March

Prelude To Duke-UNC: Manager Fight At Dean Dome

((HT: cshulme/Lost Lettermen))

Tuesday at the Dean Dome, the student managers for UNC and Duke played in advance of the actual ACC game tonight...

But not without a little controversy...

This is what happens when elbows swing east-west
Here's the scrum off the rebound...


Ah... rivalry...

BUZZER BEATER: Brogdon's 3 Silences Pitt's Oakland Zoo, Big Win For Virginia

Sometimes things that don't work in practice some how do in a game.

Virginia head coach Tony Bennett installed a new play for end of game situations and wasn't that thrilled with it.

The Cavaliers tried it at the end of the game against Pittsburgh Sunday afternoon.  Malcolm Brogdon took the shot and hit it at the buzzer.

(Thanks ESPN) Note: Brogdon's game winner occurs at :54.

"We actually didn’t run the play right." Brogdon said.  "It wasn’t a triple-pop; we ran a quadruple-pop. We ran four screens instead of three. It’s basically a play for me to come up and shoot the three. We executed it really well. I haven’t hit it one time in practice all year. We’ve been practicing it all the time and I hit it today.”

"It’s funny we run it a lot in practice, but we never make it in practice." Virginia head coach Tony Bennett said. "I would rather make it the game than in practice."

"The kid hit a tough shot," Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said. "He was going sideways and hit it from 25 feet. He made the play."

"(Malcolm Brogdon) hit a good shot." Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon said.  "It was a deep shot, it was a deep three.  We could have guarded it better, but we didn’t.  And we give him credit."

Brogdon led the Cavaliers with 16 points. 

5 AM Practice This Morning For North Carolina, Texas Upsets #14 UNC 86-83

That's how pissed off North Carolina head coach Roy Williams was when the Tar Heels lost at home to Texas Wednesday night 86-83.

It wasn't a classic rant like Barry Hinson but it was Roy Williams going off.

(Note the Barry Hinson reference)

Thanks WRAL-TV Raleigh, NC


Here's the highlights with FOSG Jones Angel on the call.

Thanks GoHeelsTV


The Tar Heels only shot 39 percent from the field and a much worse 51 percent from the free throw line which has been North Carolina's problem.

"I know we miss a lot of them, and it hurts when you're trying to make runs." North Carolina guard Marcus Paige said.  "We shouldn't have been in a position where free throws determined this game in the first place. Our first half was probably the worst first half of basketball we could have possibly played. I mean, it doesn't help when...if you miss two free throws it's basically like turning the ball over or giving the ball right back to them. It's frustrating to not take advantage of those opportunities."

I'm sure the 5:00 am practice was hell on the floor.  If you are a Tar Heel can you can only hope this is a wake up call to the team.

Andrew Wiggins One-Ups Jabari Parker, Kansas Defeats Duke 94-83

It's hard for a college basketball game to grab attention while college football is in the stretch run but Tuesday nights Duke - Kansas was sexy enough to do just that.

Two of college basketball's name brands and a match-up of two of the best freshman in the country that came in with lots of hype, Kansas' Andrew Wiggins and Duke's Jabari Parker.

Parker didn't disappoint with 27 points, nine rebounds before fouling out late in the game.

Here's Jabari Parker after the game.  (Thanks Blue Devil Network)




Wiggins wasn't to shabby either with 22 points, 16 of those 22 points came in the second half. Wiggins also added eight rebounds and a couple of key baskets down the stretch that put Kansas over the top.



Wiggins had a luxury Jabari Parker didn't have, another 20 plus point scorer.  Perry Ellis led Kansas with 24 points, nine rebounds in KU's 94-83 win over Duke.

"Big players make big plays," said Wiggins, "I think our whole team, whoever was on the court, every possession we made a big play. That's why we came out on top."

"We didn't play a bad game tonight, we played well," Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "We didn't play well on the defensive end in the second half and in big moments, we weren't able to get a stop. Part of that is they're good. They're really good."

Andrew Wiggins may have one upped Jabari Parker in this head to head meeting but both a special basketball players.  

I'm hoping these two match-up again one more time, like at the Final Four.

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2013/11/12/4617623/no-5-kansas-trails-no-4-duke-42.html#storylink=cpy