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big 12 hoops

Arizona Comes Back to Win at Colorado

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

Boulder, CO – In their last home game of the season before the Big 12 Conference Tournament next week Colorado hosted the Arizona Wildcats, who already had the first seed in Big 12 locked. Tad Boyle’s team was missing one of their main players, Sebastian Rancik, who has been on a concussion protocol. Rancik, a 6-11 forward, ranks second on the team in rebounding, steals and blocks and third in scoring and assists. His absence was easily felt against the No. 5 team in the country in points in the paint per game.

Arizona started the game slow, being eleven points down, which turned out to be the biggest lead for Colorado in the game. 6’8 Koa Peat, a projected first rounder in the upcoming NBA Draft, was  carried the Wildcats in the first half, dominating in the paint thanks to his advantageous athleticism and physicality which couldn’t be matched by Colorado’s frontcourt players. Peat had 19 points in the half, shooting 9-of-12 from the field to eventually finish the game with 25 points, three assists and four dimes. His shooting capabilities raise questions (a 60-percent shooter from the charity line) but a few mid-range shots in the game give some hope that with time and reps he could improve that aspect of his game. That might be crucial for how successful his NBA career would be.

Colorado’s backcourt duo of Isaiah Johnson and Barrington Hargress had a very efficient game which was the key to Colorado’s good performance in the first half. They took care of the ball, shot the ball very well (combined for 6-of-12 from the field), attacked the rim fearlessly, getting to the free throw line often (4-of-4 each). Hargress, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound junior guard showed his craftiness finishing in the paint using a good combination of understanding how to use his solid and tough upper body and a two-foot stop. Hargress is among the better playmakers in the NCAA, rarely turning the ball over, finishing the regular season with 4.4/1.2 assist to turnover ratio. On top of that he shoots the ball extremely well being close to 50% for the season.

Isaiah Johnson, the scoring leader for Colorado, had an impressive showing, finishing with 28 points and five assists, shooting 7-of-14 from the field. The 6-foot-1 speedy freshman displayed very good change of speeds and directions with tight handles as Arizona’s guards couldn’t stay in front of him. He was able to get to the charity stripe at ease (10-of-11 FT). Shooting wise, Johnson shows a pretty quick lefty release from outside, being able to hit threes off the dribble, on spot-ups and movement.


After a 36-36 first half in which Arizona couldn’t hit a three pointer (0-of-6), the Wildcats shot 4-of-5 in the second half and kept dominating in the paint. Arizona’s second-half comeback 89-79 win didn’t come easy though. It was led by Brayden Burries, a potential lottery draft pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. The 6-foot-4 freshman guard picked his game in the second half scoring 22 of his career-high 31 points. Burries, a talented and confident scoring guard with promising two-way potential has good positional size and an athletic body to go along with a good ability to get to the lane with crafty finishes around the rim. A confident 3-point shooter (2-of-5 in the game) Burries’ shooting form from outside looks pretty good with nice rotation and spin.

Arizona destroyed Colorado in the paint, outscoring them 54 to 26. The combination of Peat, Motiejus Krivas (10 points and 7 rebounds) and Tobe Awaka (10 points and 7 rebounds) was too much to handle for a Buffaloes’ frontcourt without Rancik.

Next week Colorado is are heading to Kansas City to face Oklahoma State on March 10 in the Big 12 Tournament, while Arizona  will start in the quarterfinals on March 12.

This article was written by Simeon Marinov, Director of European Scouting for NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter.

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Iowa State, St. John’s Cruise to Wins at Players Era Championship 

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

Las Vegas, NV. – The Iowa State Cyclones and Creighton Bluejays tipped off Day two of the  Players Era Championship at Mandalay Bay. Playing without their star point guard Tamin Lipsey, who was out with a lower body injury, Iowa State was impressive and took care of Creighton 78-60. The Cyclones led 40-26 at the half and Creighton never made a serious run in the second half.

The Cyclones extended their lead in the second half helped by the play of 6’9 Joshua Jefferson. The senior finished the game with 18 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. He made a nice pass to Killyan Toure for a layup that extended the lead to 18 points. Toure, a 6’3 freshman from France by way of Brewster Academy, was active throughout and highlighted his athleticism as he led Iowa State with 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting and added four rebounds. 6’8 shooter Milan Moncilovic battled foul trouble but finished with ten points on 2-of-4 from deep. Josh Dix tried to keep Creighton in the game, connecting on three second half 3’s as he scored 15 points and added six assists.

In the second game St. John’s got off to a hot start in their game against Baylor thanks to Oziyah Sellers.  The 6’5 Stanford transfer scored 13 early points as the Red Storm raced off to a 21-6 lead. The Bears reduced their deficit for five points on several instances helped from 6’5 Cameron Carr’s 14 points. Carr continued his excellent play at the event, hitting all three of his 3’s and converting 5-of-6 shots overall. The Red Storm’s Bryce Hopkins was active throughout the half. He scored 11 points, hitting his only three-point attempt and making 4-of-6 from the field.  Baylor’s Tounde Yessoufou had problems converting, especially inside, making only 1-of-9 shots in scoring three points. Baylor had a 25-14 rebounding advantage, including 17-3 on the offensive bords but didn’t really take advantage of that, with only a 12-7 edge in second chance points.

St. John’s came out strong and scored the first eight points of the second half, expanding their lead to 17 points. Yessoufou (15 points, 5-17 FG) tried to get the Bears going with two driving layups and a three-pointer but it was too little, too late. The Red Storm maintained a double-digit lead and cruised to a 96-81 win. Carr led the Bears with 25 points on 5-of-7 from deep.

Bryce Hopkins has been injured much of the past few seasons and seems to be hitting his stride. He finished with 26 points, hitting 3-of-6 3’s and added five rebounds and five assists. Sellers had 22 points on 5-of-7 from deep while Dillon Mitchell added 18 points, shooting 8-of-10 along with a team-high six assists. The Red Storm had an extremely efficient offensive game, shooting 57.4% from the field including 11-of-22 on three-pointers.

This article was written by Carl Berman, Managing Partner of NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter.

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Duke Outlasts Kansas at Champions Classic

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

New York, NY — The opening minutes of the Duke – Kansas game at the Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden delivered the intensity expected from two blue-blood teams on the national stage. Both teams emerged competing on every possession, hustling for loose balls, pressuring the rim, and exchanging tough interior plays. The shooting numbers mirrored the early defensive tone for both sides, with Duke shooting 28% from three and Kansas averaging 30%, while still being efficient from the inside, with Duke hitting 41% overall and Kansas converting 52% of its field goals.

Kansas started the game in control despite star freshman Darryn Peterson’s absence due to a hamstring injury. Tre White anchored with physical drives and confident midrange scoring and pushed the Jayhawks to a 15–10 lead at the opening media timeout. Duke survived that opening stretch via the consistent scoring of sophomore Isaiah Evans, who demonstrated comfort in creating off movement and attacking gaps. Kansas gained a 24–18 advantage midway through the half, with Flory Bidunga’s hustle putting them up eight early rebounds and putting Duke on a lurch from the inside.

In the minutes before halftime, the game turned. Duke brought its defense into sharper focus, forced Kansas into tougher looks, and began to control the tempo. Evans buried a buzzer-beating three at the horn to complete a 21–7 Duke run that left the team leading with a 41–33 lead entering the break. Evans had 11 at the half; White 15 at the break, the highest of all scorers.

Kansas also answered with grit in the second half. The Jayhawks consistently attacked the paint on a night when perimeter shots wouldn’t fall, eventually cutting a double-digit deficit to 62–57 following a Bryson Tiller left-handed finish with 7:47 remaining. Both frontcourts fought foul trouble — Bidunga and Tiller with four for Kansas and Patrick Ngongba with four for Duke — and added pressure to every possession.

Evans held his own on a strong night, earning 16 points, four rebounds, and three assists, including 3-of-7 from deep. At 6-7, his length and versatility lets him score from multiple levels and also helps establish key passes on pick-and-roll. His poise was crucial whenever Kansas put together a run.

With a standout display — 22 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and two steals — White kept Kansas in reach using his strength and balance to generate offense inside the arc. Kansas also looked to   who, after halftime netted nine of his 12, and to the hard work of Tiller and Bidunga. Still, the lack of Peterson and a 4-of-21 (19%) team performance from three limited Kansas’ firepower.

Duke’s depth ultimately separated the teams. Much of the anticipation going into the night centered on freshman Cam Boozer (18 points, 9 rebounds), but his twin brother Cayden provided a timely spark with seven consecutive points in an important second-half stretch. He had four rebounds and three assists and stabilized Duke when Kansas threatened to close inside by shooting.

Ngongba scored 13 points and seven rebounds on perfect 4-of-4 shooting, thriving as a roller, lob finisher, and short-roll passer. His inside presence made Kansas rotate hard, leaving some pockets open for Duke’s wings to strike in. He has since collected multiple assists in each of Duke’s first five games, becoming a more playmaking big.

The defining moment came when Duke was on top 69–64 and only two seconds left on the shot clock from an inbounds situation. Evans curled off a Ngongba screen into the left corner, Cayden Boozer threw an accurate pass, and Evans rose over Kohl Rosario to drill a dagger three just before the shot-clock buzzer. Converting the lead eight points was an important piece of the game. Thereafter, it was sealed for good.

Kansas fought to the finish, cutting the deficit to three with less than four minutes on the clock, but Duke’s poise, as well as depth and execution, sent them home. The Blue Devils’ defensive rotations kept a tight grip, late-clock play-calling lit up all game, and their scorers made sure things went on as planned.

The final tally showed the difference: Kansas 19% from three, Duke’s balanced scoring, and a 78–66 win that proved Duke’s maturity and also that Kansas was capable even without its star guard.

Leaving the Garden, the contrast was clear: Duke played the way that their identity has been established. Kansas fought but still must find answers without Peterson.

This article was written by Courtney Chappelle, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter.

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Houston Edges Auburn in Birmingham

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

Birmingham, AL – The Houston vs. Auburn basketball matchup was a high-energy contest that lived up to expectations, showcasing elite athleticism, defensive intensity, and clutch shot-making from both sides. Houston’s trademark toughness and defensive discipline were on full display.  Auburn showed resilience and offensive firepower, keeping the game competitive throughout.  Auburn’s young core showed flashes of brilliance that bode well for their season ahead. Overall, Houston’s defensive execution and balanced scoring proved to be the difference in their 73-72 victory.

For the Cougars, Kingston Flemings set the tone early, controlling the tempo and attacking the rim with confidence. His ability to penetrate and finish through contact gave Houston a steady offensive rhythm when the game tightened. Fleming’s leadership and poise were crucial in key stretches. Flemings, a 6’4 freshman scored 22 points and added five rebounds and seven assists.

Chris Cenac Jr., a 6’11 freshman, was a force in the paint, using his length and athleticism to dominate the boards and protect the rim. He altered shots, ran the floor well, and provided second-chance opportunities that kept Houston in control. His energy on both ends made a noticeable impact. Cenac finished with 18 points and nine rebounds, shooting 2-of-3 from deep.

Emanuel Sharp delivered the scoring punch Houston needed from the perimeter. His shooting touch from deep stretched Auburn’s defense, and he hit timely shots that swung momentum back in Houston’s favor. Sharp’s confidence and ability to create his own shot were major factors in the Cougars’ offensive success. He was a bit off on his shooting tonight, ending the game with 13 points on 5-of-15 from the floor.

For the Auburn Tigers, Tahaad Pettiford was electric, using his quickness to break down defenders and create scoring chances. His ability to push the pace and finish in transition gave Auburn a spark whenever they needed a run. Pettiford finished with15 points on 5-of-14 shooting including 3-of-8 on threes.

Keyshawn Hall brought toughness and versatility, contributing on both ends of the court. He attacked the glass, defended multiple positions, and hit a few key mid-range jumpers that kept Auburn within striking distance. His hustle plays stood out even when the offense stalled. The 6’7, 240-pounder led the Tigers with 20 points and 11 rebounds.

Kevin Overton provided steady scoring from the wing, knocking down shots from beyond the arc and showing composure under pressure. His perimeter shooting helped space the floor and opened driving lanes for Pettiford and Hall. The 6’5 Overton had 13 points and five rebounds.

This article was written by Andrew Keeling, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter.

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