Team LeBron Rallies in NBA All-Star Game
The NBA All-Star Game joined the trend of changing up the format of the contest this season, and even though it featured a little more defense, it was the same old high-scoring affair in Los Angeles on Sunday night. LeBron James had 29 points and 10 rebounds to help his team rally past Team Stephen Curry, 148-145, in the first year of the team captain format. James ended up winning his third career All-Star Game MVP, and first since 2008, as his team did not turn the ball over, while forcing 17 to go in their favor. The game featured the likes of James and Kyrie Irving teaming up for some nice plays, along with Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant laughing, despite all the alleged drama around them. James's team was able to shut down Curry's team's shot of tying the game at the buzzer, as their tight defense prevented them from getting a shot off. It seemed as if it was Curry who wanted to get off a shot, but he was forced to give off the ball as time expired. Klay Thompson and DeMar DeRozan had 21 points apiece to lead Team Steph, who shot just 26 percent from beyond the arc. It seems as if they may have found a format to stick in future All-Star Games, but maybe next year, we'll actually be able to see the Team Captains choose their players.
Cincinnati Falls for Second Straight Game
The fifth-ranked Cincinnati Bearcats was rolling in conference play heading in to this week, but consecutive losses has them falling in the rankings and the potential seeding in the NCAA Tournament. Landry Shamet had 19 points, including 16 in the first half, to lead the 19th-ranked Wichita State Shockers to a 76-72 road win on Sunday afternoon. After the Bearcats fell to Houston on the road earlier this week, they saw their 39-game home win streak come to an end with this defeat. The victory was the Shockers' first against a a top-5 team on the road since 1964, as they led by as many as 11 on Sunday. Despite going on a recent 16-game win streak and reaching No. 5 in the AP Polls, the Bearcats do not have a convincing win, as they fell to 0-3 against ranked teams on Sunday, which includes losses to Xavier and Florida. This game leaves the AAC race wide open, as Houston sits with a shot after earning a win over Temple on Sunday. The Bearcats will have another contest against Wichita State in the regular season finale on March 4th. They will first move on to host Connecticut on Thursday night. Wichita State comes off this big win to return home on Wednesday night and host Tulane.
Michigan, Duke Earn Ranked Wins
The Michigan Wolverines celebrated Senior Day on Sunday afternoon by avenging a tough loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes from earlier in the season with a 74-62 victory on their home floor. The 22nd-ranked Wolverines handed the eighth-ranked Buckeyes their second straight loss while honoring seniors Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman and Duncan Robinson. Abdur-Rahkman led the way with 17 points, while Jordan Poole added 15 points, 12 of which came in the first half, as Michigan never trailed in the final 20 minutes of play. Zavier Simpson added 13 points while Moe Wagner chipped in 12 as the Wolverines gave their rivals, Michigan State, a one-game lead in the Big Ten Conference. The Wolverines have now won three in a row since their recent seven-game run ended on January 6th. Meanwhile, the ACC featured a ranked conference showdown on Sunday as well, as No. 12 Duke topped 11th-ranked Clemson, 66-57, in Clemson, South Carolina. Grayson Allen scored 19 points for the Blue Devils, who have won three in a row, despite being without Marvin Bagley III, who has missed three games with a right knee sprain. Duke led by as many as 10 on Sunday, as they needed a 9-0 run in the final 90 seconds to pull away for good. Wendell Carter Jr. had a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Trevon Duval contributed 12 in their 10th conference win. The Tigers got 13 points apiece from Marcquise Reed and Elijah Thomas in the loss, as they dropped to 9-5 in ACC play.
The NBA All-Star Game joined the trend of changing up the format of the contest this season, and even though it featured a little more defense, it was the same old high-scoring affair in Los Angeles on Sunday night. LeBron James had 29 points and 10 rebounds to help his team rally past Team Stephen Curry, 148-145, in the first year of the team captain format. James ended up winning his third career All-Star Game MVP, and first since 2008, as his team did not turn the ball over, while forcing 17 to go in their favor. The game featured the likes of James and Kyrie Irving teaming up for some nice plays, along with Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant laughing, despite all the alleged drama around them. James's team was able to shut down Curry's team's shot of tying the game at the buzzer, as their tight defense prevented them from getting a shot off. It seemed as if it was Curry who wanted to get off a shot, but he was forced to give off the ball as time expired. Klay Thompson and DeMar DeRozan had 21 points apiece to lead Team Steph, who shot just 26 percent from beyond the arc. It seems as if they may have found a format to stick in future All-Star Games, but maybe next year, we'll actually be able to see the Team Captains choose their players.
Cincinnati Falls for Second Straight Game
The fifth-ranked Cincinnati Bearcats was rolling in conference play heading in to this week, but consecutive losses has them falling in the rankings and the potential seeding in the NCAA Tournament. Landry Shamet had 19 points, including 16 in the first half, to lead the 19th-ranked Wichita State Shockers to a 76-72 road win on Sunday afternoon. After the Bearcats fell to Houston on the road earlier this week, they saw their 39-game home win streak come to an end with this defeat. The victory was the Shockers' first against a a top-5 team on the road since 1964, as they led by as many as 11 on Sunday. Despite going on a recent 16-game win streak and reaching No. 5 in the AP Polls, the Bearcats do not have a convincing win, as they fell to 0-3 against ranked teams on Sunday, which includes losses to Xavier and Florida. This game leaves the AAC race wide open, as Houston sits with a shot after earning a win over Temple on Sunday. The Bearcats will have another contest against Wichita State in the regular season finale on March 4th. They will first move on to host Connecticut on Thursday night. Wichita State comes off this big win to return home on Wednesday night and host Tulane.
Michigan, Duke Earn Ranked Wins
The Michigan Wolverines celebrated Senior Day on Sunday afternoon by avenging a tough loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes from earlier in the season with a 74-62 victory on their home floor. The 22nd-ranked Wolverines handed the eighth-ranked Buckeyes their second straight loss while honoring seniors Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman and Duncan Robinson. Abdur-Rahkman led the way with 17 points, while Jordan Poole added 15 points, 12 of which came in the first half, as Michigan never trailed in the final 20 minutes of play. Zavier Simpson added 13 points while Moe Wagner chipped in 12 as the Wolverines gave their rivals, Michigan State, a one-game lead in the Big Ten Conference. The Wolverines have now won three in a row since their recent seven-game run ended on January 6th. Meanwhile, the ACC featured a ranked conference showdown on Sunday as well, as No. 12 Duke topped 11th-ranked Clemson, 66-57, in Clemson, South Carolina. Grayson Allen scored 19 points for the Blue Devils, who have won three in a row, despite being without Marvin Bagley III, who has missed three games with a right knee sprain. Duke led by as many as 10 on Sunday, as they needed a 9-0 run in the final 90 seconds to pull away for good. Wendell Carter Jr. had a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Trevon Duval contributed 12 in their 10th conference win. The Tigers got 13 points apiece from Marcquise Reed and Elijah Thomas in the loss, as they dropped to 9-5 in ACC play.
