AARON BEARD
Michigan guard Eli Brooks (55) passes while North Carolina forward Armando Bacot (5) and guard Caleb Love defend during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
UNC rolls by No. 24 Michigan 72-51 in ACC/Big Ten Challenge

By Aaron Beard Dec. 01, 2021 11:18 PM EST
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Caleb Love and Armando Bacot believed North Carolina

Iowa State's Izaiah Brockington (1) dunks near Memphis' Earl Timberlake during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the NIT Season Tip-Off tournament Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, in New York. Iowa State won 78-59. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
No. 19 Iowa State plays with surprise ranking in 6-0 start

By Aaron Beard Nov. 30, 2021 02:42 AM EST
No one expected much from Iowa State as T.J. Otzelberger started his coaching

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski talks to forward Paolo Banchero during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Gonzaga on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)
Duke jumps to No. 1 in reshuffled AP Top 25; Purdue to No. 2

By Aaron Beard Nov. 29, 2021 12:03 PM EST
Mike Krzyzewski’s final team at Duke has reached a familiar milestone: No. 1 in

Wisconsin forward Carter Gilmore, back, guard Johnny Davis, middle, and forward Tyler Wahl celebrate after defeating St. Mary's 61-55 during an NCAA college basketball game at the Maui Invitational in Las Vegas, Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
NCAA champ Baylor among teams thriving with retooled rosters

By Aaron Beard Nov. 28, 2021 03:20 PM EST
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas (AP) — Baylor coach Scott Drew knew his sixth-ranked

In this photo provided by Bahamas Visual Services, Connecticut guard Jordan Hawkins (24) and VCU forward Hason Ward (20) battle for a loose ball during an NCAA college basketball game at Paradise Island, Bahamas, Friday, Nov. 26, 2021. (Craig Lenihan/Bahamas Visual Services via AP)
No. 22 UConn beats VCU 70-63 in OT for 3rd at Atlantis

By Aaron Beard Nov. 26, 2021 04:24 PM EST
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas (AP) — Isaiah Whaley heard the whistle and saw the

In this photo provided by Bahamas Visual Services, Baylor guard James Akinjo (11), the tournament's MVP, celebrates with teammates after defeating Michigan State in an NCAA college basketball game at Paradise Island, Bahamas, Friday, Nov. 26, 2021. (Tim Aylen/Bahamas Visual Services via AP)
No. 6 Baylor beats Michigan State 75-58 for Atlantis title

By Aaron Beard Nov. 26, 2021 01:07 PM EST
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas (AP) — James Akinjo held the MVP trophy as he danced

In this photo provided by Bahamas Visual Services, Baylor forward Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua (23) hangs from the rim after dunking against Virginia Commonwealth during an NCAA college basketball game at Paradise Island, Bahamas, Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021. (Tim Aylen/Bahamas Visual Services via AP)
No. 6 Baylor tops VCU 69-61, reaches Battle 4 Atlantis final

By Aaron Beard Nov. 25, 2021 07:24 PM EST
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas (AP) — Baylor finally faced a test. The sixth-ranked

In this photo provided by Bahamas Visual Services, Auburn guard Zep Jasper (12) drives the lane as Loyola-Chicago's Keith Clemons reaches in from behind during an NCAA college basketball game at Paradise Island, Bahamas, Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021. (Tim Aylen/Bahamas Visual Services via AP)
No. 19 Auburn tops Loyola Chicago 62-53 in Battle 4 Atlantis

By Aaron Beard Nov. 25, 2021 04:50 PM EST
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas (AP) — Jabari Smith looked comfortable posting up for

In this photo provided by Bahamas Visual Services, Connecticut guard Tyrese Martin (4) goes to the basket as Michigan State forward Gabe Brown (44) defends during an NCAA college basketball game at Paradise Island, Bahamas, Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021. (Tim Aylen/Bahamas Visual Services via AP)
Brown, Spartans pull away late to beat No. 22 UConn 64-60

By Aaron Beard Nov. 25, 2021 02:33 PM EST
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas (AP) — Michigan State followed a thrilling last-second

In a photo provided by Bahamas Visual Services, Arizona State coach Bobby Hurely gestures during the team's NCAA college basketball game against Baylor at Paradise Island, Bahamas, Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021. (Tim Aylen/Bahamas Visual Services via AP)
Hurley brothers get chance to connect at Battle 4 Atlantis

By Aaron Beard Nov. 25, 2021 02:02 AM EST
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas (AP) — For once, Dan and Bobby Hurley are together for

In a photo provided by Bahamas Visual Services, Baylor guard James Akinjo (11) is defended by Arizona State forward Jamiya Neal (55) during an NCAA college basketball game at Paradise Island, Bahamas, Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021. (Tim Aylen/Bahamas Visual Services via AP)
No. 6 Baylor beats Arizona State 75-63 at Battle 4 Atlantis

By Aaron Beard Nov. 24, 2021 10:14 PM EST
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas (AP) — Baylor's balance is giving coach Scott Drew

Connecticut forward Tyler Polley (12) is congratulated by coach Dan Hurley after making a 3-point basket against Auburn in the second overtime of an NCAA college basketball game at Paradise Island, Bahamas, Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021. (Tim Aylen/Bahamas Visual Services via AP)
No. 22 UConn survives, beats No. 19 Auburn 115-109 in 2OT

By Aaron Beard Nov. 24, 2021 05:38 PM EST
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas (AP) — Shot after shot, No. 19 Auburn and No. 22

In this photo provided by Bahamas Visual Services, the South Carolina women's team poses with the trophy defeating UConn 73-57 to win the championship game at the Battle 4 Atlantis NCAA college basketball game at Paradise Island, Bahamas, Monday, Nov. 22, 2021. Standing at front left is head coach Dawn Staley. (Donald Knowles/Bahamas Visual Services via AP)
Offshore tourneys return in college basketball amid COVID-19

By Aaron Beard Nov. 23, 2021 08:06 PM EST
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas (AP) — Kimani Lawrence and his Arizona State teammates

Army coach Jimmy Allen shouts to the team during an NCAA college basketball game against Duke in Durham, N.C., Friday, Nov. 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
Moore, Banchero help No. 9 Duke top Army 82-56 in home debut

By Aaron Beard Nov. 12, 2021 09:18 PM EST
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Wendell Moore Jr. looked comfortable and confident as a

FILE - North Carolina coach Hubert Davis is introduced during the NCAA college basketball team's season opening event in Chapel Hill, N.C., Friday, Oct. 15, 2021. Hubert Davis sounds at ease as he prepares for his first regular-season game as North Carolina's first-year coach. The 19th-ranked Tar Heels host Loyola (Maryland) on Tuesday, Nov. 9, the first without Hall of Famer Roy Williams in charge in nearly two decades. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)
Davis ready for coaching debut with No. 19 North Carolina

By Aaron Beard Nov. 08, 2021 05:26 PM EST
Hubert Davis sounds at ease. He’ll coach his first regular

North Carolina State head coach Kevin Keatts answers a question during NCAA college basketball Atlantic Coast Conference media day, Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)
Keatts, Wolfpack again looking for NCAA Tournament trip

By Aaron Beard Oct. 20, 2021 03:46 PM EDT
Kevin Keatts has had North Carolina State routinely pushing for 20-win seasons

North Carolina's Armando Bacot, center foreground, grabs a rebound during the NCAA college basketball team's season opening event and scrimmage in Chapel Hill, N.C., Friday, Oct. 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Returnees, transfers lead No. 19 UNC in Davis' debut

By Aaron Beard Oct. 20, 2021 10:14 AM EDT
Hubert Davis' connections to North Carolina have touched just about everything

Wake Forest head coach Steve Forbes points while answering a question about guard Daivien Williamson during NCAA college basketball Atlantic Coast Conference media day, Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)
Demon Deacons' Forbes looks for fresh start in 2nd season

By Aaron Beard Oct. 20, 2021 09:58 AM EDT
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Steve Forbes spent last year as a new head coach

Duke forward Wendell Moore Jr. smiles during NCAA college basketball ACC Media Day, Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)
No. 9 Duke aims to send Coach K out with 1 final title run

By Aaron Beard Oct. 20, 2021 09:48 AM EDT
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Mike Krzyzewski knows all the attention and hype that will

FILE - Gonzaga forward Drew Timme (2) dunks against Creighton in the second half of a Sweet 16 game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, in this Sunday, March 28, 2021, file photo. The Zags were the runaway top choice in The Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball preseason poll released Monday, Oct. 18, 2021. Gonzaga lost AP All-Americans Corey Kispert and Jalen Suggs to the NBA, but second-team selection Drew Timme (19.0 points, 7.0 rebounds) and starting guard Andrew Nembhard return. (AP Photo/AJ Mast, File)
Gonzaga is No. 1 in preseason AP Top 25; UCLA, Kansas next

By Aaron Beard Oct. 18, 2021 11:57 AM EDT
Gonzaga carried a No. 1 ranking all last season before falling a win short of