Advertisement - scroll for more content
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement - scroll for more content
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
The ACC is following the lead of the Big Ten and SEC in putting a curb on coaches from adding players to their rosters who have declared for NFL, NBA or WNBA drafts or signed pro contracts. The conference’s board of directors voted unanimously on Thursday to direct ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips to throw the book at would-be Lane Kiffins and Will Wades among the coaching ranks.
When Dallas Mavericks general manager Mike Schmitz called to pick Dusty May’s brain about Michigan’s three NBA Draft prospects on the morning of May 24, he asked one question that got the ball rolling toward May leaving the school he’d just won a championship with to coach the Mavericks. “Would you have any interest in this job?” Schmitz’s timing was perfect, May told him. May had just returned home from the Big Ten’s spring meetings, where the league’s coaches met to discuss, among other things, the state of the game. “I was so excited for Big Ten meetings, like ‘we’re going to find some solutions,’” May told The Athletic this week. “I go there and I was just like, ‘Oh my God, nothing’s getting fixed. Ever.’”
Michael Scotto: The Houston Rockets signed Bruce Thornton to a four-year, $9.3 million deal, which includes one season fully guaranteed, league sources told @hoopshype . Thornton was the 31st pick of the 2026 NBA Draft and was a three-time All-Big Ten Team selection.
Michael Scotto: The Los Angeles Clippers have signed Nick Martinelli to a two-way contract, league sources told @hoopshype . Martinelli was the 55th pick of the 2026 NBA Draft and a two-time All-Big Ten selection. Agent Austin Walton of NEXT Sports worked with the Clippers on the deal.
Michael Scotto: Sources: The Brooklyn Nets brought in Morez Johnson for a workout today as they figure out what they’ll do with the 6th pick. He helped Michigan win the NCAA title, averaging 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks. He was an All-Big Ten Team and Big Ten All-Defensive selection.
Advertisement
Jeremy Fears, who led Michigan State in scoring and the nation in assists per game, will declare for the NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility, he announced on Instagram on Friday. Fears was an Associated Press All-Big Ten first-team selection and an AP All-America second-team pick after averaging 15 points and 9.4 assists per game in his third season with the Spartans.
Wisconsin star guard John Blackwell plans to enter the transfer portal while going through the NBA draft process, he told ESPN on Monday. Blackwell, who earned third-team All-Big Ten honors, immediately becomes the best guard to announce his portal intentions.
The University of Nebraska has chosen to extend its contract with men’s basketball coach Fred Hoiberg. The university announced the deal, which runs through the 2031-32 season, on Monday. The decision comes after Hoiberg guided Nebraska to a 26-5 record this season, including a school-record 15 wins in Big Ten Conference play.
Many offensive fundamentals of lacrosse are intertwined with the basics of basketball. Attackers utilize screen actions to create spacing. The sports even share similar vocabulary — pick-and-roll, drive-and-kick. In summer workouts, Collins noticed that Spencer manipulated screens with the adept confidence of a veteran guard. By opening day, he had won the starting point guard position. Collins still believes Spencer could have grown into a All-Big Ten player if he had one more year of eligibility. But even on its own, that solo season showcased his potential. “It just reaffirmed my belief in myself,” Spencer said. “It was a testament to the fact that — look, I can’t even shoot the ball yet. My body’s not where I wanted it to be yet. And I’m still able to do what I was doing. It reaffirmed that, OK, if I put my head down and start working, I’m going to make this thing happen.”
8,532 days. That’s how long it’s been since NBC’s last NBA game back on June 12, 2002. But that all changes Tuesday night with the start to the NBA season, with the Thunder hosting the Rockets and newly acquired assassin Kevin Durant -- all set to the tune of “Roundball Rock.” Sources tell SBJ that Commissioner Adam Silver and NBC Sports President Rick Cordella will take in part of the game together in Oklahoma City. It’s a major moment for the NBA with its $77 billion in new media rights deals. But there are going to be growing pains. Last week, I wrote about how the NBA has added a “Tap to Watch” discoverability feature for games this season with two new media partners in NBC/Peacock and Prime Video. It’s a good idea, especially after the NBA has watched issues on discoverability with MLB, Big Ten football, NASCAR and others when media deals start with new partners.
Advertisement
Bryan Kalbrosky: Brice Williams will begin his pro career on the Detroit Pistons, per source. The former Nebraska star was First-Team All-Big Ten, averaging 20.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. He shot 38.5% from 3 in college. Full tracker: bit.ly/3GbFpHe pic.x.com/H2wdtwvEY7
Danny Wolf announced Wednesday in a social media post that he’s declaring for the NBA Draft after helping lead the Wolverines to the Big Ten tournament title and to the Sweet 16 during his one season in Ann Arbor.
Days after leading Maryland to the Sweet 16, Derik Queen decided to take his talents to the NBA. "I'm proud to say I'm entering the 2025 NBA draft," he said on "SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt" on Friday. Queen, a 6-foot-10 center who is projected as the No. 10 pick in ESPN's latest mock draft, earned Associated Press All-America honors and first-team all-Big Ten honors this season. He also averaged 18.6 points in three NCAA tournament games.
Northwestern swingman Nick Martinelli, the leading scorer in the Big Ten this season, is testing the waters ahead of the draft, but will keep his college eligibility, per ESPN’s Jonathan Givony (Twitter link). The 6’7" forward averaged 20.5 PPG in 2024/25 for the Wildcats. He would stay with Northwestern were he to return to the NCAA. Martinelli was not among the top 100 prospects on Givony’s latest 2025 pre-draft big board.