Recruiting 2014

Jahlil Okafor and Tyus Jones decided to be part of Duke's 2014 recruiting class, giving coach Mike Krzyzewski the nation's No. 1 recruiting class. Mike DeCourcy says Coach K's USA Basketball involvement sure didn't hurt.

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Starting 5

Is Thad Matta underappreciated at Ohio State, given Buckeye Nation's affinity with football? Sporting News' Mike DeCourcy has a unique take on that question, and four others in this week's column.

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Champions Classic

Only two teams could win games at the Champions Classic, but all four teams learned something about themselves. Sporting News' Mike DeCourcy identifies those things, starting with Keith Appling's maturation for Michigan State.

Jabari's dunk

Champions Classic

Duke vs. Kansas was on the marquee, and Jabari Parker and Andrew Wiggins played the starring roles everyone hoped they would. It just happened that Wiggins saved his best for last, Mike DeCourcy writes.

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Champions Classic

Champions Classic

Julius Randle was unstoppable offensively vs. Michigan State in the second half, but he committed eight of UK's 17 turnovers. That stat is illustrative of the work ahead for Lexington's talented freshmen, Mike DeCourcy writes.

Hoops showdown

Hoops showdown

Jabari Parker and Andrew Wiggins owned the offseason story lines, but only one can own the court in tonight's Duke-Kansas matchup — and that's after No. 1 Kentucky meets No. 2 Michigan State. Mike DeCourcy sets the stage.

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Opening night

SN's Mike DeCourcy breaks down his thoughts from the first night of the college basketball season. Among them is how quickly Duke's Jabari Parker, just a freshman, is already raising his game to another level.

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T.J. McConnell

Here's why Arizona's T.J. McConnell is special: He gives Wildcats coach Sean Miller something he's never had—a fully-loaded point guard, SN's Mike DeCourcy writes.

Aaron Craft

Ohio State's Aaron Craft is known for his suffocating on-ball defense, which may make him a candidate to suffer with college basketball's new defensive rules. To which Thad Matta says hogwash, SN's Mike DeCourcy reports.

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Starting 5

Criticism of James Michael McAdoo's game isn't hard to find, but you won't see it come from SN's Mike DeCourcy, who says North Carolina fans should view the big picture before giving him any guff.

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Bill Raftery

Fox Sports 1 is the new home for Big East basketball, and it chose one giant personality in Bill Raftery to help bring us the action. Raftery talked with SN about his new broadcast home, his old (new) league and his future.

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Crawford/Northwestern

Crawford/Northwestern

Tough decision

Drew Crawford could have transferred from Northwestern to a top program after graduating last spring. He stuck with the Wildcats and their rookie coach. Crawford tells SN's Mike DeCourcy why he's still in Evanston.

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Starting 5

It's likely the Big East opts for expansion of its ranks. Sporting News' Mike DeCourcy can think of four good candidates, and he looks at the viability of each. Plus, answers to four other burning questions.

Harrison twins

Difficult teammates? Kentucky's Andrew and Aaron Harrison have heard that kind of talk before. Sporting News' Mike DeCourcy found that won't be the case. In fact, the most difficult thing about the twins will be guarding them.

Evansville Ace

Bryce Weiler's story is worth telling, even if he's never gotten off the bench for Evansville. As Sporting News' Mike DeCourcy found out, he's an inspiration to all those who've gotten the chance to know him.

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The story of Bryce Weiler is worth telling, even if he's never gotten off the bench for Evansville.

Starting 5

Starting 5

November is just around the corner, and so are the proliferation of nonconference tournaments. Sporting News' Mike DeCourcy identifies the three best, and also rings warning bells for fans of Louisville and Kentucky.

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Miami fallout

The NCAA decided it smelled something fishy with Frank Haith, suspending him five games. For the Missouri coach and the school, there was no need to fight the man, given the lenient punishment.

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Miami penalties

NCAA rules

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NCAA rules

Each year a different entry in the “Points of Emphasis” series ended the same: in barbarity and mayhem. This year there is no update. Instead, "The Rulebook" has been introduced. SN's Mike DeCourcy delves into its contents.

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Kentucky basketball

As Big Blue Madness approaches, no one has really had a good look at Kentucky's new players. SN's Mike DeCourcy got that look, and he came away impressed with Marcus Lee and James Young, among others.

Starting 5

Starting 5

College basketball's early signing period is less than a month away, and not all of the nation's powerhouse teams have their 2014 classes stocked. SN's Mike DeCourcy looks at who needs a pick-me-up, and much more.

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Andrew Wiggins is willing to take advice on his game, then works on it like a fiend. The hurry comes from his stunning athleticism.

Andrew Wiggins

Andrew Wiggins is a patient young man in a hurry. Contradictory? Mike DeCourcy says the Kansas freshman is willing to take advice on his game, then works on it like a fiend. The hurry comes from his stunning athleticism.

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Meet the hardest-practicing freshman in college hoops; understand, the center position is not dead; and Kansas is huge.

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Starting 5

Kansas is a Sporting News preseason top 10 team, and after seeing them practice, Mike DeCourcy thinks this team could be more than that. He leaves us with four impressions from Jayhawks practice.

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Starting 5

Starting 5

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski set a mighty high bar when he said the new-look ACC will be the best in the history of the game. Mike DeCourcy says it will take more than just adding three great Big East programs.

Starting 5

There has been some public outcry for Old Dominion's Donte Hill to get one extra year of eligibility after he played only eight minutes of one season. But Sporting News' Mike DeCourcy said that anger is misplaced.

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Chris Walker's ineligibility for the fall semester at Florida isn't a death-knell to the Gators' Final Four hopes.

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If you were under the impression you've seen the last of P.J. Hairston as a North Carolina Tar Heel, you might have been a bit premature.

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Cullen Neal is the son of Craig Neal. Craig is the new head coach of the New Mexico Lobos basketball program. Cullen will play for his father as a freshman guard for the Lobos starting this fall. Together they will attempt to continue the success the program has enjoyed in recent seasons. A neat little story in college basketball, right?

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Christian Laettner and Deron Feldhaus will reunite for one night in October as part of "Sports Night" that will benefit Holy Cross High School in Covington, Ky.

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No one on the current California Golden Bears roster has scored more points than guard Justin Cobbs, and no one active in the Pacific-12 Conference has passed for more assists. But most everyone in the league will be getting more exercise in the next two months than Cobbs, who will be out with a fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his right foot.

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Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski will receive the Nell and John Wooden Leadership in Coaching Award at an event in late September.

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Myles Turner was not always a top-five prospect in the Class of 2014. That's what happens when you're a 7-footer with sweet post moves and an outside game akin to old schooler Jack Sikma.

2014 recruiting

Tyler Ulis has six inches on Muggsy Bogues, but that's not saying much. But when his play among other top-flight recruits is taken into consideration, SN's Mike DeCourcy has found that Ulis is the real deal.

Peach Jam Standout

Of all the various descriptions one might encounter from a college basketball coach regarding an elite high school basketball player, this one about California small forward Stanley Johnson truly was unique.