College Basketball

Monmouth men’s basketball head coach King Rice says losing in last season’s Coastal Athletic Association Tournament championship game – and thus the automatic bid to March Madness – still bothers him. But he’s done something about it and he’s back with a team assembled to potentially make another run. Late additions of Jack Collins and Madison Durr, two players entering …

FAYETTEVILLE – Jordan Smith Jr. said he was too passive against Gonzaga in Arkansas’ first exhibition. That was far from the case on Wednesday against Memphis, as Smith, who shot 0-9 from the floor against the ‘Zags, had 17 points on 7-11 shooting. Thirteen of those points came in the second half, when Smith had no qualms about taking the …

The transfer portal for men’s college basketball is essential to the game and each team’s success. In four of the past five seasons, the national champion had added at least one player ranked from the top-20 transfers list from the prior offseason, and the St. John’s Red Storm is looking to replicate that. ESPN takes into account the transfer talent …

Arizona Wildcats forward RJ Godfrey is no longer suing the NCAA for an additional year of college basketball eligibility after he, and 15 other plaintiffs, withdrew their name from the Godfrey vs. NCAA lawsuit on Wednesday. The lawsuit, filed by Godfrey in the state of Georgia where he played for Clemson the past four seasons, is currently stayed at the …

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Razorbacks wrapped up exhibition play with a 93-81 victory over the visiting Memphis Tigers on Wednesday night. It was far from a pretty showing despite the 93 point output from the Hogs, but there’s still time to press out the wrinkles before opening the 2026-27 season next Tuesday, Nov. 3 against UA-Pine Bluff inside Bud …

Wednesday night Louisville hosted their only exhibition game of the 2026-2027 season in the KFC Yum! Center with the Mercyhurst Lakers from the Northeast Conference invading. Mercyhurst made the jump to the conference and Division 1 in 2024. Just prior to tipoff it was announced that Louisville center Gabe Dynes underwent shoulder surgery and would be out for four months. …

Mark Few and the Gonzaga Bulldogs are ready for the 2026-27 college basketball season to begin, taking care of business on Wednesday in a 91-60 exhibition win over Lewis-Clark State. It was the final exhibition game before the season began, and the first appearance for star sophomore Davis Fogle, who finished with eight points after sitting out against Arkansas on …

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – At first glance, Illinois’ 101-66 slaughtering of UIC at the State Farm Center on Wednesday may seem as though it won’t tell us much about the upcoming campaign – a sentiment we actually agree with in some ways – but there were a few valuable takeaways. Here is what jumped out at us: Key takeaways from Illinois …

It took overtime, but Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats were able to take down the UCF Knights in Rupp Arena to finish their exhibition games 3-0. It took a big shot from Alex Wilkins as time expired in regulation for the Wildcats to make it to overtime, but once they got there, Pope’s team blew the doors off UCF, …

The West Virginia Mountaineers capped its preseason schedule with a resounding 98-55 win over the Wheeling Cardinals Wednesday night. Here some of my initial takeaways from the Mountaineers third and final exhibition of the season. Advertisement Rebounding While West Virginia dominated the boards 43-21, allowing a mere four offensive rebounds on the night. However, there is still a lot of …

Sometimes life’s unfortunate circumstances are much bigger than basketball. This charity exhibition with NAIA’s Lewis-Clark State Warriors from Lewiston, Idaho, came together through the help of the Innovia Foundation and Spokane Region Long Term Recovery Group to help Spokane wildfire victims. For Gonzaga Bulldogs coach Mark Few, along with the help of the Lewis-Clark State coaching staff, to put this …

One year ago, there was not much nationwide optimism for a Xavier basketball program starting from scratch amidst a coaching change. Xavier was picked to finish eighth in the Big East. Xavier found some momentum during non-conference play, going 8-3 with a win over Cincinnati in the Crosstown Shootout. Big East competition was a different story as Xavier went just …

SAN DIEGO – San Diego State’s full squad made the most of their final ‘practice test’ opportunity, running away in the second half with a 92-67 exhibition win over Long Beach State on Wednesday night at Viejas Arena. The Aztecs had six players in double-figures with the starters leading the way behiund 14 points from junior guard Latrell Davis and …

After a pair of exhibitions in the Bahamas, one on a tennis court and two dress rehearsals at Fifth Third Arena, the University of Cincinnati Bearcats men’s basketball team is ready to drop the curtain on the 2026-27 season. For new coach Jerrod Calhoun, who guided Utah State to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, the ultimate goal is to return his …

Kansas may be counting on Trey Kaufman-Renn before he’s ready to play originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Kansas has added one of the most accomplished big men available, but Trey Kaufman-Renn’s arrival comes with a question Bill Self can’t yet answer publicly: Will he be ready when the …

Purdue men’s basketball coach Matt Painter agreed to a contract extension with Purdue, extending his tenure through the 2030-31 season, the school announced on Tuesday. His previous deal earned him $5.2 million. He reportedly received a raise of $1.8 million, making it $7 million under the new contract. The deal also reportedly includes a $50,000 yearly raise. Painter is now …

If there is one thing that drives me absolutely crazy when watching a basketball game, it is missed free throws. You have to make the easy ones, especially when you are struggling from the floor like Kentucky Basketball was against UCF. A major reason the Wildcats let a double-digit lead slip away is that the Cats couldn’t put the ball …

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois didn’t need a comeback effort against UIC Wednesday night. The Illini picked up a 101-61 bounce-back win over the Flames to finish out its exhibition slate. The shorthanded Illini were without Andrej Stojakovic and Zvonimir Ivisic, who were injured in the game against Baylor. Despite two top-scoring threats on the bench, Illinois didn’t miss a beat, …

The Florida Gators didn’t keep Olivier Rioux around after his second college season. Despite Rioux being 7-foot-9, he redshirted and didn’t play a second for the national champions two seasons ago, then got just garbage time minutes last year. He chose to transfer and seek a better opportunity. Advertisement Rioux had to go just a bit down the college basketball …

Everyone knew Milan Momcilovic would be the star of this Kentucky Basketball team, and Malachi Moreno would be a huge piece. Three exhibition games later, that remains true. However, the best starting lineup Kentucky can put on the floor has definitely changed. Advertisement After three games, Kentucky clearly has a lineup that will be the best group to have on …

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas basketball finished off an unbeaten preseason in style. The No. 13 Razorbacks led from start-to-finish in a 93-81 exhibition victory over Memphis on Wednesday, Oct. 28. The Tigers could not cut the deficit to single digits in the second half, and John Calipari got to rest his five starters across the final 6:02 of the game. Advertisement …

For a moment, it looked like Kentucky basketball would lose their final exhibition game to UCF. They trailed by two with just seconds remaining, but Alex Wilkins hit a beautiful floater with less than a second remaining to send it to overtime. There, the Wildcats dominated, and earned a 90-76 victory. Kentucky got big games from Malachi Moreno and Mason …

No. 23 Kentucky Basketball had to battle through adversity in its third and final exhibition game Wednesday night, eventually pulling away from UCF for a 90-76 overtime win inside Rupp Arena. With the regular-season opener against Manhattan set for Tuesday, Nov. 3, the Wildcats have one final opportunity to address their weaknesses before the games begin to count. Although Kentucky …

It wasn’t always smooth-sailing Wednesday night, but it was sure an exciting game. In a game where Kentucky Basketball led by as many as 13 points early on, the Wildcats and Central Florida Knights found themselves engaged in a back-and-forth grind-it-out battle inside Rupp Arena, where 40 minutes wasn’t enough. In overtime, Kentucky showed efficiency and shot-making on offense to …

UConn may have found its next breakout star in freshman Colben Landrew originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. UConn’s final exhibition came with a useful reminder for the rest of college basketball: Braylon Mullins is back, but the Huskies may have another young player ready to grab attention. Advertisement …