AAC Basketball

The NCAA denied Memphis forward DeAndre Williams' request for an extra year of college eligibility for a second time.

Memphis announced Friday that Williams, 27, had been denied 2023-24 eligibility on appeal.

The NCAA initially denied Williams' waiver request on October 1 before Memphis resubmitted the claim with additional documents, per BVM Sports.

"We are extremely disappointed a waiver for an additional year of eligibility for DeAndre Williams was denied, which came following a request for reconsideration of the initial denial and then an appeal," Memphis said in a statement.

The school added that it had provided the NCAA with "evidence of academic misadvisement prior to his initial collegiate enrollment." Williams' lawyer had previously alleged his client was misadvised to push back his first year of college to 2018, according to the Daily Memphian's Parth Upadhyaya.

Williams was seeking a fourth season in Memphis, where he started all 35 games last season as an All-American Athletic Conference player.

During his 2022-23 campaign as the oldest active men's player in college basketball, Williams averaged a career-high 17.7 points and 8.2 rebounds per game as he helped lead the Tigers to their second NCAA Tournament appearance in as many seasons.

Before transferring to Memphis, Williams played the 2019-20 season at Evansville.

He first enrolled there in 2018, but was not able to play during the 2018-19 due to academic reasons. The NCAA still counted that "year-in-residence" season against his eligibility.

That meant that Williams had to use his fifth and final year of eligibility granted by COVID-19 rules in order to play for the Tigers in 2022-23.

Williams' waiver centered around the claim that had he not been misadvised, he would not have used up one year of eligibility on the 2018-19 season he did not play.

The forward initially announced his intention to seek a waiver on May 31, beginning a process Memphis described as "multiple months of back-and-forth."

Williams' Tigers career will end with 1,153 points, 558 rebounds, 219 assists and 22 double-doubles in 82 games played.

Without Williams, only Jayden Hardaway and Malcolm Dandridge are expected to return from last year's Tigers team for Monday's season-opening tipoff against Jackson State.

Memphis Tigers freshman guard Mikey Williams will remain away from the team amid the ongoing legal process regarding his April arrest, the university announced Wednesday.

Per ESPN's Jeff Borzello, Williams is enrolled in online classes at the school and is listed on the team's roster. He will not have access to team activities or facilities "until his pending legal process is complete," the school said, adding, "The process to assess and determine his status with the team will be initiated at that time."

A 4-star recruit and the No. 10 combo guard in the nation, according to 247Sports' composite rankings, Williams was arrested on multiple felony charges stemming from a shooting at his home in San Diego. Borzello noted that he "faces five charges of assault with a weapon and one count of firing into an occupied vehicle."

Police said Williams allegedly fired a gun at a carful of people who left his home. He pleaded not guilty to the charges at a hearing in April, and his preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 10 after being postponed three times.

Williams was forced to miss the Tigers' summer trip to the Dominican Republic, and he wasn't in attendance at the team's first official practice this week. Borzello noted that he's a popular player who "garnered national attention for his dunking exploits and YouTube mixtapes" and had millions of followers on social media before deleting his accounts.

Memphis will open the 2023-24 season on Nov. 6 against Jackson State.

Former Houston basketball player Reggie Chaney died at the age of 23, according to a statement released by the school Monday night.

"The news has left us with sad and heavy hearts," Houston president Renu Khator said in a statement.

Chaney, who began his college basketball career at Arkansas, transferred to Houston for the final three seasons of his eligibility and emerged as a critical contributor off the bench. He averaged 3.0 points and 2.7 rebounds per game while adding stellar defense last season on his way to earning AAC Sixth Man of the Year honors.

During Chaney's three seasons at Houston, the Cougars won two regular-season AAC championships and reached the 2021 Final Four.

"I've always said, 'Reggie, you're my security blanket,'" Cougars coach Kelvin Sampson told reporters in March. "Some days when it's hot, I may not need you, but if there's a little bit of a chill in the air, it's good to know I've got that blanket there."

Eric Musselman, who coached Chaney at Arkansas, released a statement on his death:

The Razorback men’s basketball family is devastated to hear of the loss of Reggie Chaney. He was a relentless worker and loved by his teammates. His family is in our thoughts and prayers. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/p3E33QhFBC

— Eric Musselman (@EricPMusselman) August 22, 2023

Details surrounding the cause of Chaney's death have not been released. He had been planning to continue his basketball career with AE Psychiko, a professional team based in Greece.

Derrick Rose is fully embracing nostalgia.

The three-time All-Star signed with the Memphis Grizzlies during free agency, which means that he will call the city of Memphis home for the first time since his college days. In addition to simply playing in his college town, Rose is also reverting back to his collegiate number, 23, for the first time in his professional career.

D-Rose will wear No. 23 in Memphis again 👀🔥

(via alainataughtyou/IG) pic.twitter.com/EFvSW2NM0n

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 3, 2023

Rose played one collegiate season at Memphis, but it was a memorable one. He averaged 14.9 points, 4.7 assists and 4.5 rebounds in 40 games and led the Tigers to a 38-2 overall record. They made the National Championship, losing out to Kansas 75-68 in overtime for the title.

He earned Third-Team All-American honors and would be a finalist for the Bob Cousy and John Wooden Awards. He would go on to be the No. 1 pick of his hometown Chicago Bulls in the 2008 NBA Draft.

Rose wore No. 25 in high school, but switched to No. 23 with the Tigers because the school had retired No. 25 for Penny Hardaway. He would revert to No. 1 with the Bulls before finally getting No. 25 when he joined the New York Knicks in 2017. He would also add No. 4 to his jersey collection, but now finally wears his college number.

Memphis basketball commit Mikey Williams pleaded not guilty Thursday to five charges of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of firing a deadly weapon at an occupied vehicle, according to CBS 8 in San Diego.

The 18-year-old, who was arrested April 13, was involved in a shooting at his home in the San Diego area on March 27 just after midnight following an argument with guests in the house being asked to leave.

Williams allegedly shot at a vehicle as it drove away from his home. Five people, including three minors, were inside the vehicle at the time of the shooting, though no one inside was injured.

"This situation is stressful for him," said defense attorney Troy Owens. "He's trying as an 18-year-old to process this. And he's doing ok under the current situation."

The shooting was reported on March 28 and a warrant was issued for Williams' arrest on April 13. He was released on $50,000 bail and faces a maximum of 28 years in prison if convicted.

"We are aware of the situation and are gathering more information," the University of Memphis said in a statement to CBS 8.

Williams committed to Memphis in Nov. 2022 after also receiving offers from Kansas, USC, LSU, Tennessee, Arizona State and San Diego State, among others. The combo guard is ranked as the 31st-best prospect in the 2023 class and seventh-best prospect out of California, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

Tigers head coach Penny Hardaway told reporters this week that Williams is still going to be with the team, adding that he can't speak on the case "out of respect for the ongoing process of what's happening."

Adama Sanogo had a superb March, leading UConn to a national championship with Monday's 76-59 win over San Diego State.

So it was hardly a surprise when he was named the men's NCAA tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

Sanogo put up 17 points and 10 boards in the title game, his fourth double-double of the tourney. In total he averaged 19.6 points and 9.8 rebounds across six tournament games in UConn's run to its fifth national championship, all since 1999.

SANOGO SAYS NO ❌ @UConnMBB pic.twitter.com/XL8WDdp7J3

— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) April 4, 2023

Sanogo with the tough putback 😤 @UConnMBB pic.twitter.com/MmKSgZQhcg

— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) April 4, 2023

For the fifth time in 25 seasons, UConn has won the national championship.

The Huskies won EVERY game against non-con foes this season by double digits and by an average of 24+ points. INSANE.

It's one of the most dominant title sprints in history.

A Connecticut coronation.

— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) April 4, 2023

Think UConn built basically a perfect modern college basketball team. Enormous across the board. Great floor-spacing. Fast on defense. Elite rim protection. Elite rebounding. Then the coaching staff built a perfect scheme with multiple ways to beat you on both ends.

— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) April 4, 2023

Suffice to say, his dominance didn't go unnoticed:

Adama Sanogo 📈 pic.twitter.com/Uuxu4071FN

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 4, 2023

I thought LeDee was strong until I saw him run into that wall of a human being in Sanogo #NationalChampionship

— KJ (@PointForwardPro) April 4, 2023

https://twitter.com/AdiJoseph/status/1643093401162612740

Adama Sanogo is so awesome. I really hope he gets a chance to shine at the next level.

— Nick Mercadante (@NMercad) April 4, 2023

UConn 6-9 Adama Sanogo has 17 and 10, has influenced this game more than anyone with his play at both ends. he' s NBA ready.

— Dick Weiss (@HoopsWeiss) April 4, 2023

Adama Sanogo with 17/10 in the title game. Center on a UConn team that shut down San Diego State's offense. Got his mini-Emeka Okafor on

— Law Murray 🤔 (@LawMurrayTheNU) April 4, 2023

And Sanogo, a practicing Muslim, did all of it while fasting from dawn to dusk for Ramadan. But maybe it shouldn't be a surprise that a player who didn't come to the United States until 2017 to pursue a potential basketball career would thrive even while fasting.

"For a guy that's only been playing basketball for six years, he's a sponge," UConn coach Dan Hurley told reporters over the weekend. "His work ethic is off the charts. He watches tons of film. He's learned a lot of basketball concepts."

Sanogo, who grew up in Mali, had originally wanted to play soccer. He nearly chose to go to France for college. Basketball proved to be the right choice.

"I never thought I would become a college basketball player," he admitted, per the New York Post's Zach Braziller. "I was only thinking about studying in France because all of my friends were there."

"I'll be in my room thinking, 'Damn, what if I went to France, what if I didn't come to the United States,'" he added. "That showed me, don't just say no to everything. I can't believe it. I almost didn't want to come here. I'm playing on a big stage like this, it's something I'll appreciate for the rest of my life."

And now he'll forever be immortalized in the history of college basketball as the 2023 Most Outstanding Player.

The UConn Huskies are once again on top of the college basketball world, claiming their fifth national championship in program history by defeating San Diego State 76-59 in the NCAA men's basketball tournament final.

The fourth-seeded Huskies didn't face much resistance from the fifth-seeded Aztecs, leading by as many as 16 in the game and taking a 12-point lead into halftime. San Diego State cut the lead to as low as five in the second half but couldn't get closer.

Monday's victory continued a blistering run for UConn, as the team has now won all six of its NCAA tournament games by a margin of at least 13 points. The last team to win every game by double figures was Villanova in 2018.

Tristan Newton led the Huskies with 19 points and 10 rebounds in the victory, while Adama Sanogo added 17 points and 10 rebounds and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.

UConn earned the adulation of fans far and wide, with many taking to social media to offer their praise:

For the fifth time in 25 seasons, UConn has won the national championship.

The Huskies won EVERY game against non-con foes this season by double digits and by an average of 24+ points. INSANE.

It's one of the most dominant title sprints in history.

A Connecticut coronation.

— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) April 4, 2023

Biggest point differential in tournament by an NCAA champion:
1996 Kentucky, 129 points
2016 Villanova, 124 points
2009 North Carolina, 121 points
2023 UConn, 120 points

— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) April 4, 2023

UConn won its six NCAA tournament games by an average of 20.0 points, fourth-largest average since the tournament expanded in '85.

UConn is the fifth team since 85 to win all six games by double-digits.

UConn went 17-0 vs. non-Big East teams -- winning all 17 by double-digits.

— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) April 4, 2023

UConn has its fifth national title since 1999.

Dominant stuff from Dan Hurley’s group all tournament. The celebration is on in Houston.

March Madness forever. pic.twitter.com/crj6YzanHr

— Dean Straka (@DWStraka49) April 4, 2023

UConn is so freaking good. Special basketball team.

— Jared Stillman (@JaredStillman) April 4, 2023

The curious case of Connecticut as a New Blue Blood.

Last 25 years, failed to reach second weekend 15 times. But won FIVE titles.

In that same span, traditional powers Duke and North Carolina have won three titles apiece, Kansas two, Kentucky one, UCLA zero.

— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) April 4, 2023

UConn just steamrolled through this tournament. Not even a mild scare. Impressive.

— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) April 4, 2023

Death. Taxes. UConn closing in on yet another national championship captured on Texas soil. #MarchMadness

— Dean Straka (@DWStraka49) April 4, 2023

UCONN was just a buzz saw all tournament. SDSU got within 5 and put the Huskies under pressure…and they responded with a 9-0 run to basically seal it. What a dominant title run

— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) April 4, 2023

Dan Hurley was the PERFECT hire 5 years ago for UConn.

Complete rebuild and just lead the Huskies to their 5th national title.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) April 4, 2023

UConn God Mode: Activated.

— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) April 4, 2023

It’s not really fair that UConn built a college team of guys who can actually shoot..

— Jace frederick (@JaceFrederick) April 4, 2023

Too bad about the rout, but UConn is something to watch, man.

— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) April 4, 2023

Saw UCONN play in Vegas against Arkansas - Huskies are so impressive. Lopsided score aside, everything they did was elite. Size, ball movement, defense, length on the wings, shot-making, and Hurley at the controls. It will take a Herculean effort from SDSU to mount a comeback.

— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) April 4, 2023

Someone needs to write a good explainer for how UConn became the best and/or easiest job in the country. Danny Hurley is 20 minutes away from being the third different UConn coach to win a national championship in the last 13 years.

— David Wilson (@DBWilson2) April 4, 2023

UCONN played 8 players in the 1st half. All 8 have scored.
The balanced bite of the Huskies has been their secret sauce all year.

— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) April 4, 2023

UConn is 28-3 when leading at the half.
The Huskies, up by 12 right now, have trailed for a total of 55 seconds in the second half in the entire NCAA Tournament.

LOL.

— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) April 4, 2023

UConn vs Big East: 14-8

UConn vs Not Big East: 16-0

— ᗩᑎT ᗯᖇIGᕼT (@itsAntWright) April 4, 2023

Drake watching the first half with his $100K bet on UCONN by 11+ pic.twitter.com/R1CxsXneFn

— br_betting (@br_betting) April 4, 2023

UConn in every NCAA Tournament game pic.twitter.com/XYUYRgvZlH

— DraftKings Sportsbook (@DKSportsbook) April 4, 2023

UConn. Blueblood.

— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) April 4, 2023

The best team won the tournament. UConn was so dominant the whole way through. In a tournament full of inconsistencies, UConn was rock solid every game.

— Bobby Belt (@BobbyBeltTX) April 4, 2023

UConn basketball in the 13 years:

- Six missed tournaments
- Three Sweet 16s... but they won the national championship all three times.

There's nothing like them.

— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) April 4, 2023

UConn entered the year unranked in the preseason AP Poll and rose all the way to a national title. The last time that occurred was in 2011 when the Huskies took home their third championship.

But this year's group was special as head coach Dan Hurley had his team peaking at the right time and playing its best basketball when it mattered most, punctuating its incredible run through the bracket with a title.

Ahead of Monday night's NCAA men's basketball tournament national championship game between fourth-seeded UConn and fifth-seeded San Diego State, the Huskies received a massive vote of confidence from one of music's biggest stars.

Hip hop sensation Drake revealed on his Instagram that he placed two bets worth a total of $350,000 in favor of the Huskies to get past the Aztecs. The total payout would exceed $1.3 million.

UConn is going for its fifth national championship in program history, while San Diego State is seeking its first.

The Huskies have been on an absolute tear lately, winning each of their tournament games by over 10 points. The Aztecs, on the other hand, won by a single-digit margin in four of their five matchups.

If UConn is able to sustain its momentum against a stout San Diego State defense, Drake will surely be happy with his decision.

Increasing the number of teams invited to March Madness is not the way to fix the NCAA tournament's flaws, according to University of Connecticut men's basketball head coach Dan Hurley on Sunday.

NCAA President Charlie Baker said Saturday the NCAA's Division I Transformation Committee could officially recommend tournament expansion as soon as this summer.

Ahead of the Huskies' championship game against the San Diego State Aztecs on Monday, Hurley told ESPN's Myron Medcalf that expanding the NCAA tournament field risks "devaluing the regular season."

"For me, I think it's great the way it is," said Hurley. "I feel like devaluing the regular season, I think, potentially hurts the regular season and what it means... I don't think expanding it is a good idea. And we only got five teams in the Big East, so it's not like we got nine."

The Huskies head coach added, "I think it's a privilege to play in this tournament, not a right."

Dan Hurley, Jordan Hawkins and Andre Jackson are speaking now. pic.twitter.com/O9SSqYTw7H

— UCTV Sports (@UCTVSports) April 2, 2023

Although Hurley said he likes the current format for putting teams under pressure to win games, and rewarding them even for nonconference wins, he said it also favors teams from major conferences.

Before taking over in Connecticut in 2018, Hurley coached the Atlantic 10 Conference's Rhode Island Rams for six seasons. He told reporters the NCAA should ensure mid-majors are not forced out of the tournament field by brand-name schools that "game the numbers."

Dan Hurley on advancing to the national championship game: pic.twitter.com/cMc8MjNYAS

— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) April 2, 2023

"There's probably mid-major programs a lot of times that are more deserving of like a 10th-place team in a power conference that has figured out how to kind of just game the numbers," Hurley said. "I'll say that. I see that on Selection Sunday sometimes, and I cringe at that."

The men's tournament last changed size in 2011, when the field expanded from 64 to 68 teams. The women's tournament expanded to the same number in 2022.

The recommendation proposed by the Transformation Committee encouraged the NCAA to include "25 percent of active Division I members in good standing," which would increase both fields to approximately 90 teams.

Baker, who took the helm of the NCAA on March 1, said he will leave it up to the committee to decide what to recommend.

Jordan Hawkins isn't expecting to encounter any issues as it relates to UConn's national title matchup with San Diego State.

"I will be 100 percent on Monday," he told reporters.

The sophomore guard suffered from an illness leading up to the Huskies' 72-59 Final Four win over Miami. He started that game and finished with 13 points and three rebounds in 26 minutes.

Hawkins said he thought he was suffering from food poisoning because of bad calamari he ate.

"I love calamari, too," he said. "I don't think I'm gonna ever eat it again. Yeah… yeah, never again."

Hawkins is averaging 16.2 points and shooting 38.6 percent from three-point territory this season. He has been excellent throughout the NCAA tournament, putting together 20-point scoring efforts against Arkansas in the Sweet 16 and then again in the Elite Eight against Gonzaga.

While Hawkins suited up against Miami, he was probably still dealing with some of the effects from his illness. He came in below both his average minutes (29.4) and shot attempts (12.1) per game.

Having a full day off plus the hours before Monday's 9:20 p.m. ET tip should help him feel more like his usual self.

UConn will certainly need Hawkins at 100 percent in the title game. San Diego State is 24th in scoring defense (63.1 points per game) and ranks fourth in KenPom.com's adjusted defense.