January 2017 | Page 23 of 30 | Zagsblog
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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Sunday / December 22.
  • By DAVE CAMPBELL

    MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Big Ten opener for Minnesota two weeks ago felt as familiar as it was frustrating.

    That 15-point lead the Gophers held late in the first half at home against Michigan State vanished in what became a one-point loss, following failed final-shot possessions to win the game in both regulation and overtime. Though these Spartans weren’t as formidable as many editions past, they’re still a challenging opponent that makes for a statement victory.

    “Everybody, and I get it, is going, ‘Here we go again,'” coach Richard Pitino said.

    Except they didn’t.

    By MIKE McCURRY

    NEW YORK — Though Markquis Nowell is listed at just 5-foot-8, 160 pounds, all it takes is one electrifying pass or smooth pull-up three-pointer from Bishop Loughlin’s (NY) point guard to alleviate concerns over his pint-sized frame.

    Many high-majors share those same sentiments. Nowell, a Class of 2018 four-star recruit, is hearing mostly from Michigan, California, Seton Hall, Minnesota, Georgetown, and VCU of late.

    “All of them have been most recent,” said Nowell, following a 24-point performance in Sunday’s 94-77 win over Jefferson in the Apparel Challenge at Christ the King. “They text me daily.”

    The Harlem native utilized his speed, burst, and handles to excel in the open court on Sunday.

    St. John’s signee Zach Brown is in trouble again.

    The 7-foot-1, 260-pound center from Miami was arrested early Sunday morning after robbing a Walgreen’s on Taft Street in Hollywood, FL, according to the police report obtained by ZAGSBLOG.

    The new was first reported by Andy Slater of 940-AM WINZ in Miami.

    According to the report, Zach Brown and his brother Clayton were standing in line at Walgreen’s “when they reached into the cash register and grabbed an unknown amount of paper currency.”

    Slater posted video of the incident which you can see below.

    After they fled the scene in a car with a broken window, police found a total of $165 on the brothers. The report said both brothers were transported to jail for “further processing.”

    The police report also says Zach Brown’s drivers license was suspended twice for failure to pay traffic tickets and that the tag attached to his vehicle expired in June.

    Zach Brown was also arrested in Miami in May on multiple robbery charges; two of the charges were eventually dropped while a third remains pending. His lawyer in that case, Michael T. Davis, said Monday there will be a Jan. 23 hearing on the pending charge.

    Davis was unable to comment on the latest arrest.

    St. John’s issued the following statement:

    “The department of athletics thoroughly reviews allegations of misconduct for both current and prospective student-athletes. Per university policy and as required by law, publically commenting on particular student cases is prohibited. “

    Brown committed to St. John’s in July after initially pledging to UConn. He then signed a Letter of Intent in November.

    “We are excited to welcome Zach to our basketball family,” St. John’s head coach Chris Mullin said then. “He can have an immediate impact on our team as he gives us another big target in the post and elite rim protector. We are supportive of Zach as he works toward his goals on and off the court, and believe that our basketball program and university can provide him with the resources to be successful.”

    By JIM O’CONNELL

    Baylor is No. 1 in The Associated Press men’s basketball poll for the first time.

    The Bears (15-0) have made a meteoric rise in the poll, going from a team that didn’t receive a vote in the preseason poll to one that received 55 first-place votes from the 65-member national media panel on Monday.

    Baylor is the 59th school to be ranked No. 1 since the poll started in the 1948-49 season. The Bears will be tested on top right away, playing at West Virginia on Tuesday and at Kansas State on Saturday.

    Villanova, which received one first-place vote, had been No. 1 for the last five weeks, but the Wildcats (15-1) dropped to third after losing at Butler last week.

    Kansas (14-1), which was No. 1 on eight ballots, moved up from third to second, giving the Big 12 the top two teams in the poll.

    UCLA (16-1), which got the other first-place vote, stayed fourth.

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