N/A
University of Pittsburgh coach Jeff Capel called out North Carolina fans for disrespecting his brother, Jason Capel, who played for the Tar Heels from 1998 to 2002, during the Panthers' 65-64 win Wednesday night.
"My brother loves the school," Jeff Capel told reporters. "He dreamt of coming here as a player when we were little, when he was little. He wore that [North Carolina] jersey with a lot of pride, and since he's left here, there has been a lot of disrespect toward him. And one thing happened today, and I don't think it's coming from within the basketball program, and I don't know who controls their social media ... . I get social media, you try to be funny or whatever, but I thought it was them trolling him.
"It's a complicated relationship with him and North Carolina. He loves [them], but I think at times, he doesn't feel that back."
Jason Capel currently serves as an assistant coach under his brother at Pitt. Myron Medcalf of ESPN reviewed video of Jason Capel in an intense back-and-forth with fans after the game saying, "All I did for this program and y'all disrespect me? You got a broom? That's a sweep."
The Capels apparently found a social media post for Wednesday's game featuring Creighton Lebo, who wears the same No. 25 Capel did at North Carolina, disrespectful. North Carolina's athletics department said there was no disrespect intended by the post.
"The person who made the graphic didn't even know what number Jason wore when he played here 21 years ago when the designer was three years old. We put all of our players on game-day graphics, and it just happened to be [Lebo's] turn," a spokesperson said.
Jason Capel was a four-year starter at North Carolina, averaging 12.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists. The Tar Heels reached the 2000 Final Four with Capel contributing on both ends of the floor in a surprisingly deep run.
Howard University big man Makur Maker has withdrawn his name for consideration for the 2021 NBA draft, per ESPN's Olgun Uluc.
The 20-year-old averaged 11.5 points, 6.0 rebounds in 24.0 minutes over two games for Howard. The Bison's season was limited to just five games because of health and safety concerns related to COVID-19.
The 6'11", 235-pound big man was ranked 16th in ESPN's Top 100 list of the class of 2020 boys' high school basketball prospects. He was given a 94 grade on a 100-point scale and had offers from Kentucky, Kansas and others.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski also gave a picture of a long and winding road that Maker needed to take to get to the draft:
"He was born in Kenya to South Sudanese parents, emigrated to Perth, Australia, in 2001 and moved to California in 2015. He joined his cousins (Detroit Pistons forward) Thon and Matur Maker in Ontario, and was home-schooled from 2016 to 2018 while attending showcases in the United States. He first started to receive NBA attention at the Pangos All-American Camp and Adidas Nations in the summer of 2017.
"Makur Maker's recruiting profile increased with his play on the summer AAU circuit with Dream Vision, averaging 14.7 points, 7.9 rebounds and one block in 26 minutes per game. He shot 73 percent from two-point range, 30 percent from three and 61 percent from the free-throw line."
Tom Westerholm of MassLive.com broke down what makes Maker stand out:
"At nearly 7-feet tall, Maker is intriguing due to his mobility and fluidity. He's a good athlete with an uncommon skill set for his size—a solid handle, a competent three-point shot and a good ability to get out in transition quickly. Defensively, his mobility is promising, since modern bigs are expected to move quickly laterally and help contain opponents on the perimeter."
Although he won't be entering the draft next year, he can raise his profile with a full year at Howard for his sophomore campaign. The talent and potential are there for Maker, who can eventually emerge as a first-round draft prospect given his athleticism and versatility on both ends.
Makur Maker is reportedly going to turn pro after playing one college season at Howard University.
Per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Maker is declaring for the 2021 NBA draft. The 20-year-old won't sign with an agent, though, giving him the ability to return to school.
Per ESPN's Jeff Borzello, Maker became the first 5-star prospect to commit to a historically Black college or university since the network's recruiting database began in 2007.
247Sports' composite rankings had Maker ranked as the No. 4 center and No. 18 overall player in the 2020 class.
B/R's Jonathan Wasserman doesn't have Maker among the top 50 players in the 2021 draft class on his most recent big board.
A groin injury limited Maker to just two games during the 2020-21 season. Howard announced in February it was canceling the remainder of its season because of ongoing COVID-19 issues within the program.
The 6'11" center averaged 11.5 points and 6.0 rebounds in his two appearances.
Makur Maker made history in committing to Howard, becoming the highest-touted basketball prospect to commit to a historically Black college or university.
Maker made it clear, however, he'll probably only be at Howard for one season.
"We'll see how the future goes, but if you're a one-and-done talent, why not leave, that's how I look at it," Maker said Thursday on ESPN's First Take. "My ultimate goal is to play in the NBA, and if that's gonna take me a year, I'm definitely all for it. If it's gonna take me two years, I'm definitely all for it. I know I'm an NBA lottery talent, and when I go in there, I'm gonna work and see how things play out from there, but if I'm good in a year, I'm definitely out."
Maker is the No. 17 overall prospect in the 2020 recruiting class, per 247Sports. While he's a talented, fluid big man who flashes guard skills, Maker is a polarizing pro prospect. He originally declared for the 2020 NBA draft in April, and ESPN's Jonathan Givony ranked him as the No. 75 prospect in a generally weak class.
A dominant year at Howard, a Division I program in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, could be the thing the 6'11", 235-pound Kenya native needs to solidify himself as a first-round pick, but there is no guarantee of a 2020-21 men's basketball season. Several universities around the country have been forced to stop their voluntary workouts on campuses because of COVID-19 outbreaks.
The Ivy League announced Wednesday it will not hold fall sports in 2020 because of the pandemic. Additionally, the NCAA has said it will only hold sports this year if it is deemed safe for students to return to campuses.
It's possible that Maker's Howard debut does not come until 2021-22 if the pandemic is not under control by the basketball season.
Makur Maker announced Friday he's committed to play college basketball at Howard in an effort to spark a movement of more top recruits choosing historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
Maker, a 5-star prospect and the No. 17 overall player in the 2020 class in 247Sports' composite rankings, selected the Bison amid offers from Kentucky, Oregon, UCLA and USC.
Mikey Williams, a promising combo guard in the 2023 class, hinted Thursday he's also leaning toward selecting an HBCU:
Maker's choice of Howard and Williams' comments come as 10-time NBA All-Star Chris Paul prepares to shine a spotlight on HBCU basketball programs with a docuseries filmed during the 2020-21 season.
Dade Hayes of Deadline reported the series, produced by Paul's Ohh Dip!!! Productions in coordination with Roadside Entertainment, will take an "intimate look at the challenges HBCU schools face in competing with bigger programs to attract top basketball recruits."
Paul told Hayes he's "started to pay more attention" to the situation as he's gotten older after growing up near Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina.
"There was an HBCU right in my backyard. For some reason, I just didn't really think of it," the Wake Forest product said. "Today, kids' mindsets have changed. We hope that this show will keep that conversation going."
In April, Maker declared for the 2020 NBA draft but confirmed he was keeping his options open since the coronavirus pandemic had altered the predraft process.
"I was planning on getting some workouts with some teams; I still do not know how that is going to go," Maker told 247Sports' Evan Daniels. "But with corona, everything has changed everyone's plans."
He added: "The NBA G League reached out and approached my coach, but if it's not the NBA then I'm going to go to college because I'm young and still want to learn more."
Maker is a modern post player with a versatile offensive game that stretches to the three-point line. He's also flashed a major impact at the defensive end thanks to his 6'11" frame and athleticism, though he'll have to bulk up from his current 235 pounds as he moves through college and eventually the NBA.
The Hillcrest Prep product joins a Howard program that struggled during the 2019-20 campaign. The Bison posted a 4-29 record, including a 1-15 mark in MEAC play, and finished 350th out of 353 Division I programs in the KenPom rankings.
Landing a commitment from Maker is a major step as Kenny Blakeney, a former Duke player who took over the Bison in 2019, tries to turn things around at the Washington, D.C., school.
A South Carolina State men's basketball player was given CPR and stretchered off the court after he collapsed on the sideline during Saturday's game against NC State at PNC Arena in Raleigh.
The player was guard Tyvoris Solomon, per ESPN.com's Jeff Goodman. Gary Parrish of CBS Sports reported the redshirt senior was revived.
The official Twitter account for NC State men's basketball announced the game was delayed by a medical emergency.
According to Pack Pride, Solomon was lying on the ground and unresponsive. After receiving CPR, he was loaded onto a stretcher, and the teams left the court, per Pack Pride.
South Carolina State head coach Murray Garvin traveled with Solomon to the hospital and said Solomon was "awake and responding," per Goodman. "Garvin also said that Solomon's heart stopped and he was resuscitated by South Carolina State's athletic trainer."
The Wolfpacker tweeted a photo of players praying while Solomon was being tended to:
While medical personnel were working on Solomon, his mother could reportedly be heard screaming, according to Pack Pride:
Soon after Solomon was carried off, it was announced the game would resume following a 10-minute warm-up, per The Wolfpacker.
Pack Pride reported the decision came after South Carolina State's players voted in favor of returning to the court.
When the Bulldogs returned to the court, the crowd offered a standing ovation:
Solomon is from Johns Island, South Carolina. He's averaged 2.6 points, 3.1 assists, 2.0 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 23.0 minutes per game this season.
The Manhattan Jaspers and Hampton Pirates will square off in the opener of the First Four Tuesday as a pair of No. 16 seeds in Dayton, with the winner facing the unenviable task of meeting the top-seeded Kentucky Wildcats in the second round of the NCAA tournament Thursday.
Manhattan knocked off the top-seeded Iona Gaels 79-69 to win the MAAC tournament as a four-point underdog, while Hampton was a 1.5-point dog against the Delaware State Hornets but beat them 82-61 to win the MEAC tournament.
Opening spread
The Jaspers opened as 7.5-point favorites (Compare Lines and Consensus on the Odds Shark matchup report).
Why pick Hampton to cover the spread
The Pirates were a perfect 6-0 ATS in lined games this season and are back in the NCAA tournament for the first time since getting crushed by the top-seeded Duke Blue Devils 87-45 as 24.5-point underdogs in 2011.
Hampton was a No. 16 seed that year and remains most famous for pulling off one of seven biggest upsets of all-time as a No. 15 seed when the team stunned the second-seeded Iowa State Cyclones 58-57 as a 17.5-point underdog in 2001.
The Pirates also covered the spread as a 12.5-point dog against the UConn Huskies in 2002 when they were a No. 15 seed. Since suffering their last loss to the Norfolk State Spartans on March 5, they have won four in a row straight-up and ATS. Hampton had a difficult schedule early on, as the team got off to a 1-5 start with four of the losses coming away from home.
Why pick Manhattan to cover the spread
The Jaspers enter the NCAA tournament riding a four-game winning streak and covered the spread in each of their three matchups in the MAAC tourney. They have also won nine straight games when favored to go along with a 7-2 mark against the spread.
Last year as a No. 13 seed Manhattan played the fourth-seeded Louisville Cardinals tough in the NCAA tournament but ultimately fell short in a 71-64 loss, although the team still managed to easily cover as a 16-point underdog.
While the Jaspers are not as good as last year’s squad that won 25 games they still finished 13-7 in conference play and were able to keep Iona out of the Big Dance for the second year in a row by winning the MAAC tourney. This despite a 2-7 start to the season that saw them lose five on the road.
Smart betting pick
The Jaspers are the biggest favorite in the First Four, and with good reason. They were a higher seed last year and, despite losing to Louisville, gained confidence in that game by holding the lead with less than four minutes left.
That experience should help them if they are to face Kentucky in the next round, and they have also proven themselves in the favorite role with a nine-game winning streak under that scenario.
While the Pirates might look like a nice story as the only team in the 68-team field with a losing record, there is a big difference between winning the MAAC tourney and playing much better competition in the Big Dance. Look for Manhattan to get the job done and beat Hampton by double digits to cover the spread here.
Power rankings
Hampton Pirates: No. 55
Manhattan Jaspers: No. 27 (per Odds Shark power ranks)
March Madness betting trends
Hampton went 8-3 SU in final 11 games
Manhattan finished on 11-3 SU and 10-4 ATS run
Manhattan has won nine straight as a favorite, going 7-2 ATS
Note: All spread and betting line data powered by Odds Shark - download the free Lines and Bet Tracker app in the Apple Store and on Google Play.
Head Coach: Horace Broadnax—Eighth year at Savannah State: 86-123; 128-212 overall
Previous Season: 21-12; 14-2 MEAC (1st); Lost in NIT to Tennessee 65-51
Departures: F Keith Edwards
Additions: G Robert Burger, G Khiry White, G Deven Williams
In the 2010-11 season, the Savannah State Tigers finished their last year as an independent with a 12-18 record. Senior Jovonni Shuler led the team in scoring with an 18.1 average.
Even with Rashad Hassan and Arnold Louis returning to the floor after redshirting the previous year, the Tigers entered 2011-12 with low expectations. Savannah State was supposed to struggle mightily in its first season in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
The Tigers started the year 2-5 with wins coming against Jacksonville and Gardner-Webb. There were no early signs of the special season that Savannah State was going to have as the Tigers split their first two conference games.
After Savannah State lost its first game of 2012 to Arkansas 83-66, the Tigers went on an incredible run. After winning three of its next four contests, Savannah State finished the regular season with 13 victories in a row.
Savannah State won the regular season MEAC title with a 14-2 record. Unfortunately, the inexperienced Tigers did not react well to the pressure of being a No. 1 seed in the conference tournament.
The eight-seeded Hampton Pirates sent Savannah State home early by defeating the Tigers 59-46. The Tigers didn't fair any better in the Postseason National Invitational Tournament, losing to the Tennessee Volunteers in the first round.
Projected Starting Lineup
PG Preston Blackman, 6'0", 170 lbs, Sr. (9.0 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 5.0 APG, 36 3PT%, 39 FG%, 71 FT%)
Blackman was one of best point guards in the MEAC last season. Along with being the floor general, he was the best playmaker for the Tigers.
With a quick first step, Blackman has little difficulty driving to the basket. He kept defenses honest by making 44 three-point shots last season.
Blackman's 15.5 points per game average in two exhibition games is an early indication that he may become a more reliable scorer this season.
Blackman needs to improve on converting more of his drives to the basket into points. The Tigers will be more efficient offensively this season if Blackman can cut down on his 89 turnovers from 2011-12.
G Deric Rudolph, 5'11", 175 lbs, Sr. (10.7 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 1.6 APG, 34 FG%, 77 FT%)
Coach Broadnax will look for Rudolph to be a more consistent shooter this year. At times, Rudolph lacked confidence in his offensive abilities.
Despite his up-and-down performances, Rudolph was selected second-team All-MEAC last season. Rudolph could improve on that accomplishment if his shot selection improves.
G Cedric Smith, 6'3", 190 lbs, Sr. (4.8 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.2 SPG, 46 FG%, 43 FT%)
Smith's major contribution to the Tigers' success last year was on the defensive end. He finished second on the team in steals with 39.
Offensively, Smith gets most of his points driving to the basket. He only attempted one three-point shot, a miss, last season despite playing a total of 850 minutes.
A guard should not be missing more free throws than he makes, so this is an obvious area that Smith needs to improve on.
F Rashad Hassan, 6'7", 215 lbs, Sr. (13.0 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 0.8 APG, 57 FG%, 54 FT%)
Hassan is clearly the best player on the Tigers. He enters this campaign as the favorite to be voted as the best player in the MEAC this season.
Hassan mainly plays inside, but he can also step outside the paint and make jump shots. Hassan's scoring average will increase if he can improve his efficiency on the free-throw line. Hassan made it to the charity stripe last season more than any Tiger last year.
F Jyles Smith, 6'8", 200 lbs, Jr. (4.1, PPG, 4.6 RPG, 0.4 APG, 1.9 BPG, 52 FG%, 54 FT%)
Although Smith continued to develop as a shot-blocker, his points and rebounds were down from his 2010-11 season. Smith stats will improve this year if he shows more consistent energy and desire on the court.
Smith ranked 51st in blocked shots in Division I last year despite playing slightly fewer than 20 minutes on the floor per game. Smith could receive more playing time this season if he can reduce his turnovers.
Other Contributors
G Robert Burger, 6'0", 180 lbs, Jr.
Burger is a transfer from Monroe Community College. As a freshman for the Tribunes, Burger averaged 10.5 points and 4.6 assists per game.
Burger comes to Savannah with the reputation of being a strong free-throw shooter.
G Richard Conner, 6'4", 205 lbs, Sr. (1.4 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 1.0 APG, 30 FG%, 57 FT%)
Conner appeared in 28 games and averaged 11.1 minutes per game last season. With the arrival of three guards and his inability to make three-pointers, Conner may find it difficult to get minutes this year.
G Angelo Davis, 6'1", 165 lbs, Jr. (0.4 PPG, 0.3 RPG, 20 FG%, 50 FT%)
Davis will probably only see playing time at the end of blowout games. He has appeared in 17 games in his career at Savannah State.
G Patrick Hendley, 6'8", 230 lbs., Sr. (1.7 PPG, 0.6 RPG, 0.4 APG, 33 FG%, 39 3PT%, 73 FT%)
Hendley participated in 28 games last season and averaged 7.1 minutes per game. His role of the bench is mainly to provide defense. Henley had 10 steals in just 200 minutes of action last year.
G Marcus Hutchins , 6'4", 180 lbs, Sr.
Hutchins did not appear in any games last season. He won't find it easy to get on the floor this season either.
F Arnold Louis, 6'7", 205 lbs., Sr. (9.5 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 45 FG%, 54 FT%)
Last season, Louis started nine games for the Tigers. He provides size and scoring punch off the bench. Louis will probably again split time with Jyles Smith this season.
Louis mainly plays inside, but he did attempt 21 shots from beyond the arc last year.
F Joshua Montgomery, 6'4", 195 lbs, Sr. (5.0 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 0.4 APG, 36 FG%, 27 3PT%, 72 FT%)
Montgomery saw his impact on the team greatly reduced last season. In 2010-11, he finished third on the team in scoring with a 10.3 points per game.
Montgomery's played less than half the minutes last year than he did as a sophomore. He may get some of that time back if he improves his shooting percentage from beyond the arc.
G Keirre Richards, 6'1", 180 lbs, Jr. (1.8 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 0.5 APG, 26 FG%, 67 FT%)
Richards played in all 33 games last year for the Tigers and averaged 11.9 minutes per game. He will be competing with Stephen Wilson and Khiry White for playing time as a reserve point guard.
It would not be surprising if Richards was redshirted because of the crowded backcourt.
F Christopher Spears, 6'7", 220 lbs, Jr. (0.7 PPG, 0.8 RPG, 40 FG%, 67 FT%)
Out of all the players on the team, Spears is the most likely to make the biggest improvement from last season. Because of his size, Spears will see more time on the court than he did last season.
Spears is an athletic player who can provide needed scoring and rebounding off the bench. He tends to play too aggressively on defense, picking up personal fouls rather quickly.
G Khiry White, 6'3", 180 lbs, Jr.
White comes to Savannah State from South Georgia Tech College in Americus. He is a combination guard expected to provide the Tigers with needed shooting and ball-handling depth.
Last season, White averaged 14.7 points and 4.5 assists per game. Because of his stellar performance, White was named to the Georgia College Athletic Association's All-Conference second team.
G Deven Williams, 6'0", 205 lbs, Jr.
Williams is a transfer from Olive-Harvey College in Chicago. He is expected to provide Savannah State will scoring and three-point shooting off the bench.
As a sophomore, Williams averaged 25.9 points per game while making 81 baskets from long distance.
G Stephen Wilson, 6'1", 160 lbs., Jr.. (2.2 PPG, 0.8 RPG, 0.5 APG, 26 FG%, 25 3PT%, 69 FT%)
Wilson represents another option at what is now a crowded backcourt at Savannah State. Although he received more playing time last season, Wilson's shooting percentages declined from his freshman season.
Wilson appears to come into this season as an improved ball-handler and decision maker. While filling in for Rudolph in the starting lineup for the two exhibition games, Wilson tallied six assists while committing no turnovers.
Key Games
Nov. 13 Middle Tennessee: Quality teams don't visit Savannah State very often, so the Tigers need to take advantage of the opportunity.
Nov. 16 @ Alabama State: This is the best chance for the Tigers to pick up a rare non-conference road win.
Nov. 26 Robert Morris: The Tigers get another chance to play a good team at home.
Dec. 1 Norfolk State: Savannah State starts conference play against the school that represented the MEAC in the NCAA tournament.
Dec. 19 @ Marshall: The Tigers will be able to gauge their progress against a solid opponent.
Season Outlook
Savannah State's football team has been the butt of many jokes because of its 1-8 record, including losses to Oklahoma State and Florida State by a combined score of 139-0. However, there is nothing to laugh at concerning the Savannah State men's basketball team.
The Tigers return all five starters from a team that had the best conference record in the MEAC during the regular season. Coach Broadnax brought in two highly regarded transfers to make Savannah State even stronger.
The Tigers only gave up 59.1 points per game last season to lead the MEAC. Savannah State also topped the MEAC in rebounding margin while finishing second in scoring margin.
Savannah State will look for Hassan and Rudolph to improve upon their success from last year. An increase in scoring production from Blackman would make the Tigers stronger as well.
The Tigers are not very tall, and the height they do have doesn't have a lot of bulk attached to it. Savannah State also needs to improve its free-throw shooting.
The Tigers will be tested plenty early in the season with non-conference games against Central Florida, Florida, Ohio State, St. Louis and Marquette. Savannah State's main competition in the MEAC should come from Delaware State and Bethune-Cookman. Oddly enough, the Tigers do not play the Delaware State Hornets in conference play.
With an experienced team, the Tigers should repeat as regular season champions of the MEAC. Savannah State is hoping that last season's disappointment in the MEAC Tournament will provide enough motivation for the Tigers to capture the automatic bid into the NCAA tournament this time around.
Norfolk State pulled off one of the memorable upsets in NCAA Tournament history when they defeated Missouri 86-84 on Friday. That's the last memorable moment they will produce from the 2012 NCAA Tournament, however.
Norfolk State's run will end against Florida in the Round of 32 on Sunday. Here's why:
It's Already a Successful Tournament for Norfolk State
Norfolk State's star player Kyle O'Quinn even admitted that beating Missouri was "overtime" after he told his coaches he would deliver a championship in conference.
He also admitted that this upset of No. 2 was highly unlikely. He's just speaking the truth but he's right—he was working overtime.
It seems like no matter what happens against Florida, the Spartans already had a successful tournament.
Florida, meanwhile, is out to win a championship.
Shooting Percentage
Norfolk State was an awful offensive team in 2011-12. They were 149th in points per game with 69 per game and 132nd in field goal percentage at 44.3 percent. They scored 86 points on 54.2 percent and 52.6 percent from beyond the arc.
There is a high probability that the Spartans come down to earth.
We Know about the Spartans Now
Maybe two percent of brackets across the world picked Norfolk State to upset Missouri. Few knew that they had players capable of pulling it off. Now everybody knows, especially Florida.
Florida understands what they're going up against on Sunday. They will be ready.
Florida is More Well-Rounded than Missouri
Missouri might have defeated Florida in the third round had that been the matchup, but I would have given the Seminoles a great shot of pulling off the upset.
Florida scores 76.3 points per game and holds teams to 65.4 points per game. Defensively is where the Spartans will see the biggest difference. Florida is the second-best defensive team in the SEC in terms of points allowed.
Kenny Boynton, Erving Walker, Bradley Beal, Patric Young and others have enough talent to overcome their size mismatches.
You Can Trust Billy Donovan
Frank Haith is a great coach, but he's no Billy Donovan. Haith was in his first year as head coach of Missouri, and he's only made one previous NCAA Tournament.
Donovan has won two national championships, made three Final Fours and has won more than 400 games as a coach.
He'll have something prepared to throw Norfolk State off their rhythm.
