The second round of fan voting returns are in for the 2024 NBA All-Star Game, and, just like last week, Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks is the highest overall vote-getter (3,475,698) and LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers has the most votes among Western Conference players (3,096,031).
A few notes:
The Atlanta Hawks’ Trae Young (1,449,495 votes) jumped from third among Eastern Conference guards to second, pushing the Bucks’ Damian Lillard (1,414,122) down a spot. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder remains third among Western Conference guards (1,763,671) votes, with Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors (2,126,037) in second place. Gilgeous-Alexander made up some ground (65,687 votes, to be precise), but is still far from catching Curry. The Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic (2,777,068 votes) passed the Phoenix Suns’ Kevin Durant (2,773,809 votes) for the No. 2 spot among Western Conference frontcourt players. LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo lead their respective conferences in the second fan returns of #NBAAllStar Voting presented by AT&T.
Fans account for 50% of the vote to decide All-Star starters. NBA players and a media panel account for 25% each.
Next fan update: 1/18. pic.twitter.com/0K23OtQRmY
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) January 11, 2024 Two backcourt players and three frontcourt players from each conference will start in the All-Star Game, which is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 18 in Indianapolis. The results of this voting does not determine the starters outright; fans account for 50% of the overall vote, with the other half split between NBA players and a panel of media members.
The third returns will be released next Thursday. In two weeks (Jan. 25), the starters will be announced on TNT. The following week (Feb. 1), the reserves, as picked by NBA coaches, will be announced on TNT.
The NBA announced that Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic was assessed a $25,000 fine for publicly criticizing the officiating after his team’s loss to the Lakers earlier this week. During the lengthy rant, Rajakovic laid into the officials, calling out the free throw disparity between Toronto and L.A., specifically in the fourth quarter where the Lakers shot 23 to the Raptors’ two attempts.
Rajakovic called it a “shame for the league,” and also sarcastically asked “[the Lakers] had to win tonight? If that’s the case just let us know so we don’t show up for the game, just give them the win.” Over the course of the game, the Lakers attempted 36 free throws while the Raptors had 13, but that fourth quarter is where Rajakovic had the biggest issue.
“What happened tonight, this is completely BS,” Rajakovic said. “This is [a] shame. Shame for the referees. Shame for the league to allow this.”
Here are Rajakovic’s comments in full:
Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic with the rant of the year after losing to the Lakers: “What happened tonight is completely BS. This is shame. Shame for the referees. Shame for the league to allow this.”
“Scottie Barnes is gonna be All-Star. He’s gonna be the face of this league.” pic.twitter.com/PQi70uZfzl
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) January 10, 2024 While Rajakovic was fined by the league, he did have some admirers for his fiery response. Kevin Durant, who Rajakovic coached as an assistant back in KD’s OKC days, joked about how he’s not surprised he was that passionate in his rant.
“Darko coached me for a few years at OKC, and he’s been that intense since then,” Durant said. “And he was like a rookie coach, and he was still that intense. So I appreciate that from all coaches. I didn’t see the game so I can’t really assess how the fouls were called and what really happened throughout the game. People have to watch each foul to really see what it was like. It’s tough, it’s tough being a ref, it’s tough being a player on some of those plays.”
Durant’s teammate, Devin Booker also commended Rajakovic for showing some passion for his players.
“You’ve got to love that out of your head coach,” Booker said. “I know the players from Toronto respected that. You want a coach that cares that much, and is definitely emotional about winning and losing and standing for his team. I didn’t watch the game, I don’t know what calls he’s talking about, but you gotta love that out of your head coach.”
Rajakovic isn’t the first — or last — coach to blow a fuse over the officiating, and while losing the $25,000 may sting a bit, the appreciation he likely got from his players in showing that type of emotion will probably make the fine worth it.
The Brooklyn Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers got Thursday’s NBA action started with a game in Paris, France, but four more will tip off before the end of the night between 7:30 and 10 p.m. ET. Are you looking to find an edge? We’ve gone over each pairing to identify a moneyline, spread, and player prop pick for the main slate.
Moneyline: Boston Celtics (+110) @ Milwaukee Bucks The Eastern Conference’s best two teams will face off in Thursday’s first game. Boston could be at a slight disadvantage on the road with no Al Horford, but, surprisingly, they’re the underdogs in this matchup. Milwaukee has dropped four of its previous five games and lost two consecutive home games during that stretch. The Celtics are missing a crucial bench frontcourt piece, but remain solid on both sides of the ball. The Bucks, who’ve forked up at least 121 points to opponents four times this month, have too many defensive question marks.
Spread: New York Knicks -4 (-110) @ Dallas Mavericks The new-look Knicks are a perfect 5-0 since acquiring OG Anunoby and have won every game by at least six points during that span. The depleted Mavericks won’t have Luka Doncic (ankle) for a matchup with one of the NBA’s hottest teams and Derrick Lively is doubtful for the contest. Sportsbooks are selling New York short, as they’ve won three consecutive games by double-digits. Dallas is 1-3 straight up without Doncic this season and the point differential was at least eight points in all of their defeats.
Player prop: Jalen Williams over 9.5 rebounds + assists (+104) Williams has been on an absolute tear. The Oklahoma City Thunder forward has posted nine assists and seven rebounds per game over his previous three outings. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is OKC’s true floor general, but the team appears to be experimenting with letting Williams step up as a secondary playmaker in place of Josh Giddey. The Portland Trail Blazers are hurting in the frontcourt because of injuries, so Williams will have every opportunity to impact the game in a big way on the glass as well.
This continues to be a women’s college basketball season in which most top-ranked teams and historical powerhouses have been reminded they are not untouchable. South Carolina is still at the top of its game, but even the Gamecocks have had a few scares.
North Carolina gave Dawn Staley’s team one of its toughest battles last week. The Tar Heels didn’t win that game on Nov. 30, but they will try to build off their strong efforts against UConn on Sunday. The Huskies, meanwhile, are scrambling to make adjustments after already suffering three losses over the first month of the 2023-24 campaign.
But UConn is not the only team struggling, as Stanford and Tennessee also suffered some tough losses this past week. LSU had one of those those tough losses in its season opener against Colorado, but the Tigers seem to be getting back on track as Angel Reese returned to the lineup and coach Kim Mulkey celebrated her 700th win.
Here are some of the top moments and storylines from the past week, and a guide for games to watch over the coming days.
Bucket of the week: MiLaysia Fulwiley, South Carolina This is not the first time MiLaysia Fulwiley wins this category, and it probably won’t be the last. The South Carolina freshman has been impressive since Day 1 and keeps finding ways to score in eye-popping fashion. Case in point: On Sunday against Duke, Fulwiley made an almost mid-court shot as the clock was running out in the first quarter.
FULWILEY FROM THE LOGO OH MY GOODNESS 😱@milaysiaf | 📺 ABC https://t.co/ItgFQLQzd4 pic.twitter.com/kQmBNLzL8y
— South Carolina Women’s Basketball (@GamecockWBB) December 3, 2023 Dish of the week: Kaylynne Truong, Gonzaga The Zags picked up their biggest win in program history by blowing out then-No. 3 Stanford 96-78 on Dec. 3. Truong is leading the team in assists with 61 dishes this season, and on Sunday she served up one of her best, a no-look pass to Yvonne Ejim.
this pass 😍 this layup 😤 @Twinballerz @vonnyyy pic.twitter.com/Inpjc5DKp7
— Gonzaga Women’s Basketball (@ZagWBB) December 3, 2023 Stop of the week: Kamilla Cardoso, South Carolina The top-ranked Gamecocks had a bit of a scare against then-No. 24 North Carolina on Nov. 30. However, South Carolina was able to hold the Tar Heels to 31.3% shooting from the field and avoided the upset.
Cardoso contributed to the Gamecocks’ defense with four blocks and two steals, and she pulled down 16 rebounds to tie a career high. This being a rivalry game, it was certainly an intense battle, and it led to an epic block and stare down from Cardoso.
Kamilla Cardoso 😂 pic.twitter.com/Kdv7JbXD9A
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) December 1, 2023 Game of the week: No. 18 Notre Dame vs. No. 20 Tennessee The Fighting Irish have struggled with numerous injuries this season, and Cassandre Prosper joined the list as she missed her team’s Nov. 29 game against Tennessee with a lower leg injury. Even with Prosper sidelined, Notre Dame pulled off an exciting comeback win against the Lady Vols after trailing for over 36 minutes.
Notre Dame shot under 28% from the field over the first two quarters. Kellie Harper’s team then found a 16-point lead early in the second half, but Notre Dame made adjustments and fought back. The Irish finished the third quarter on a 15-3 run and got within five points to start the final frame.
Notre Dame’s Maddy Westbeld, Kylee Watson and Nat Marshall only had a combined 11 points in the first half. However, they stepped up in the second half and combined for 27 points.
The score was tied with 1:49 remaining, then Notre Dame found a 70-68 lead via a jumper by KK Bransford with just 48 seconds left in the game. The Irish held tight to that advantage and walked away with a win.
“We’ve had a lot of lessons. You hope we’re learning as we go. I want them to be a better basketball team at the end of it, but it’s just hard right now to see those lessons because this one really hurts,” Harper said after the game. “That’s the lesson here. You have to get this win. There’s a thousand different plays, but we have to make sure we know who we are and stay consistent with that.”
Less than a minute and we’re still fighting in Knoxville
📺 ESPN2 #GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/tZTwnwTbns
— Notre Dame WBB (@ndwbb) November 29, 2023 Biggest storylines from the week Angel Reese returns to LSU lineup Angel Reese, LSU’s leading scorer and rebounder last season, missed four straight games for undisclosed reasons heading into last Friday’s matchup against Virginia Tech. She was back just in time for LSU’s 82-64 win against a ranked Hokies team they beat in last season’s Final Four.
While Reese (19 points and nine rebounds) flirted with a double-double in her return, she wasn’t the only LSU player to shine. Mikaylah Williams registered 20 points on 60% shooting, while junior guard Aneesah Morrow collected her 56th career double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds to go along with two blocks and three steals.
After the game, Reese did not explain the reason for her absence, but she said she needs coach Kim Mulkey in her life and always will.
“I’m going to say that today, tomorrow, next year, ’til the day I die. That’s just how I feel,” Reese said. “I’m at LSU because of Kim Mulkey.”
Texas beats UConn for the first time in program history No. 10 Texas found a 80-68 victory against No. 11 UConn on Sunday at the Moody Center, and it was an important one as the Longhorns failed to win their first 10 games against the Huskies. Rori Harmon lifted Texas with a double-double of 27 points and 13 assists, while freshman forward Madison Booker scored a career-high 20 points.
UConn shot 59.1% from the field to mark their highest shooting percentage in a loss in at least the last 25 seasons, according to ESPN Stats & Info. However, they struggled to take care of the ball as Texas was able to score 36 points off their 21 turnovers.
“They’re a team that has very, very few, if any, weaknesses that I can see,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said of Texas.
UConn’s loss led to the team dropping out of the top 15 in the AP Top 25 rankings for the first time in 357 weeks.
Interesting stats Sunday was a bad day for powerhouses: UConn, Tennessee and Stanford all fell on Sunday. These women’s college basketball powerhouses had not lost on the same day since Dec. 29, 2004.
JuJu Watkins continues to set records: Sunday against San Diego, Watkins recorded her third straight 30-point game — tying Cheryl Miller’s USC record (1984-85) of consecutive 30-point games. Watkins’ performance helped her team get an 89-58 win to remain undefeated. The freshman has registered 30 or more points in five out of seven games this season.
UConn is off to a historically bad start: This is the earliest the Huskies have suffered three losses since the 1980-81 season, when the team started 0-3 after a loss to Dartmouth on Dec. 2.
Mulkey makes college basketball history: The LSU coach earned her 700th win against Virginia Tech, becoming the fastest coach in college basketball history to reach the mark. Here is a comparison of how many games it took other coaches to reach 700:
Kim Mulkey — 813 games Geno Auriemma — 822 games Adolph Rupp — 836 games Pat Summitt — 847 games Matchups to watch: (all times Eastern)
No. 2 UCLA vs. No. 20 Florida State | Sunday, 12 p.m. | ESPN2: Florida State suffered back-to-back blowout losses against then-No. 4 Stanford and an unranked Arkansas team. The Seminoles took care of Kent State on Sunday, but they have another tough challenge coming up against an undefeated UCLA team. The Bruins beat Arkansas 81-66 on Sunday, and they are going to be the favorites in this matchup. A loss could leave Florida State out of the top 25, so the Seminoles will need to come into this game with everything they have.
No. 25 Penn State vs. No. 12 Ohio State | Sunday, 1 p.m. | B1G+: Penn State is back in the AP Top 25 rankings this week for the first time since 2014. The Lady Lions’ only loss this season has been to a tough USC team on Nov. 22 — and that one was a really tight 71-70 result. There is no better way to put their fresh ranking to the test than by facing an Ohio State team that just kicked Tennessee out of the top 25 with a 78-58 victory.
No. 11 Utah vs. No. 1 South Carolina | Sunday, 2:30 p.m. | ESPN: The Gamecocks didn’t put North Carolina and Duke away as easily as they had their previous opponents, but there is no doubt Dawn Staley’s team is still a force to be reckoned with. Utah’s only loss so far has been to Baylor on Nov. 14. However, the Utes recently lost star guard Gianna Kneepkens for the remainder of the season because of a foot injury. This matchup will require the rest of the team to step up if they want to upset one of the hottest teams in the country.
No. 24 North Carolina vs. No. 11 UConn | Sunday, 5 p.m. | ESPN: Having Paige Bueckers back this season has not been a magical cure-all for UConn. Geno Auriemma’s team has still very much been affected by the injury bug, and the Huskies are struggling with consistency. What saves them is that their three losses so far have been to teams currently ranked in the top 10. Meanwhile, North Carolina gave South Carolina one of its toughest battles so far. If they bring the same energy, the Tar Heels will be giving the Huskies another difficult night.
Iowa’s Caitlin Clark is on the road to becoming one of the greatest college basketball players in history, but trying to establish yourself as one of the best comes at a price. WNBA star Kelsey Plum, who currently holds the all-time NCAA scoring record, had some advice for Clark.
As of Dec. 5, Clark has 2,978 career points and is on track to break Plum’s record (3,527 points) this season. However, the former Washington guard and two-time WNBA champion warned Clark about the pressure.
“I feel like people started caring less about the game and more about just the individual points,” Plum said in an interview with the Associated Press. “You can play really well and score 15, 20 points and have a great game and people will be like, ‘Aw, it was only a 20-point game.'”
Caitlin Clark (2,954 pts) is currently on track to break Kelsey Plum’s scoring record (3,527 pts) in 19.35 games.
Here is how that looks on the schedule…
Game 18: vs Michigan (Feb 15) Game 19: at Indiana (Feb 22) Game 20: vs Illinois (Feb 25)
— Kyle Huesmann (@HuesmannKyle) November 27, 2023 Clark is not new to breaking records, so this one would be one more for her already impressive resume. She put up historic numbers in the last NCAA Tournament, including the most points ever scored in a men’s or women’s tournament. In November, Clark passed Plum’s record of most 30-point games in D1 women’s college basketball over the past 25 years.
The spotlight has been on her for a while, and fans sold out all Iowa home games for this season. Clark seems to be enjoying it, but Plum wants to make sure she just enjoys playing basketball and doesn’t put more pressure than needed on herself — especially when she makes the transition to play professionally.
“It was tough for me because I felt like I lost a little bit of my identity and it ultimately led to a tough transition into the (WNBA) because the expectations were so high,” Plum said. “So, if anything, I’d try to send her as much compassion and love as I can and I hope the people around her are checking in with her … because it’s going to be tough to feel like you’re just playing basketball.”
Iowa Hawkeyes star Caitlin Clark surpassed 3,000 career points during her team’s 67-58 win over Iowa State on Wednesday, becoming only the 15th player in women’s basketball history to reach this milestone.
Her 35 points, nine rebounds and five assists against the Cyclones helped Iowa improve to 9-1 this season. This performance also helped the senior guard become the first player in Division I men’s or women’s basketball history to reach 3,000 points while also registering at least 750 rebounds and 750 assists.
“It’s special to be able to do it here. I have a lot of family in attendance and them being able to see that,” Clark said after the game. “But it was kind of the same as when I broke the Iowa scoring record. We keep playing. We don’t celebrate in the timeout. That’s not what it’s about. As long as we win — I probably wouldn’t be happy scoring 3,000 points in a loss.”
Players in Div. I men’s or women’s basketball history with 3,000+ points, 750+ rebounds and 750+ assists:
Caitlin Clark
End of list pic.twitter.com/47reNjPYey
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) December 7, 2023 Clark became the Hawkeyes’ all-time leading scorer in November. Now she is on pace to break two-time WNBA champion Kelsey Plum’s scoring record of 3,527 points later this season. Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder said Clark’s accomplishments are not just good for herself, but also good for others because of the attention she is bringing to women’s basketball in Iowa. The proof is in the numbers, as every single home at Carver-Hawkeye Arena got sold out before the season even started.
“It’s special when you have a player that is accomplishing great things, you just want to showcase her,” Bluder said. “Our circle is tight and I credit Caitlin for that because of the type of teammate she is, but I also credit the rest of our circle. They understand that when her light shines, it shines on all of us. It shines on Iowa. The University of Iowa and the state of Iowa. We are going to enjoy it while we have it.”
The Hawkeyes will be back on the court on Sunday, Dec. 10 as they travel to take on the Wisconsin Badgers.
No. 1 South Carolina survived an upset scare with a 78-69 win against No. 11 Utah on Sunday. The Gamecocks have now won 43 straight games against non-top 10 opponents when they are ranked No. 1.
The game was a lot closer than the final score shows, as it was only a two-point game with under three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The biggest problem for the Gamecocks: Alissa Pili, who put together a masterful offensive performance against one of the nation’s best defenses. Pili finished the day with a career-high 37 points and shot a blistering 15-of-22 from the field. The senior forward also had three steals and one block over her 29 minutes on the floor.
“Man, it was so hard. Our main goal was to stop Pili, but she gave up a 30-piece,” South Carolina guard Te-Hina Paopao said after the game.
CAREER HIGH PERFORMANCE Pili now has 35 points for a new career-high @alissa_pili (Also, what a move to get it)#GoUtes 📺 https://t.co/hz457Enoa7 pic.twitter.com/YqEz82zdlD
— Utah Women’s Basketball (@UTAHWBB) December 10, 2023 The Gamecocks’ win took a true team effort. They had to shoot 55% from the field with four players reaching double figures. Kamilla Cardoso once again led the South Carolina offense with 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting. Paopao added 15 points, while Chloe Kitts and MiLaysia Fulwiley contributed 11 points each.
The Utes had a slight 46-44 advantage in the paint, but South Carolina won the rebounding battle 37-28 and had 11 more second chance points than its opponent.
— South Carolina Women’s Basketball (@GamecockWBB) December 10, 2023 One of the biggest differences in this game was the Gamecocks’ depth, as their bench was responsible for 26 points while Utah’s mustered only two. The Utes have been dealing with health issues, though, and recently lost star guard Gianna Kneepkens to a season-ending foot injury. Kneepkens was giving Utah 17.8 points per game, but her team showed resilience Sunday and almost pulled off the upset without her. Senior guard Isabel Palmer has also been dealing with an injury, and it’s unclear when she will return to Utah’s lineup.
The Gamecocks (9-0) will aim to remain undefeated when they take on the Presbyterian Blue Hose next Saturday. The Utes (8-2) will return to the court against Southern Utah the same day.
LSU guard Kateri Poole is no longer a member of the program, Tigers coach Kim Mulkey announced Sunday. She has not played for the Tigers since Nov. 17.
“She’s no longer with us,” Mulkey said.
The Tigers entered this season as the reigning national champions and the No. 1 preseason team in the AP Top 25 poll. However, there has been trouble in paradise from the beginning. LSU lost its season opener against Colorado, then some locker room issues appeared to have disrupted the roster.
Last year’s leading scorer and rebounder, Angel Reese, missed four games earlier this season without much explanation. Two of those games came during the Cayman Islands Classic in late November, a trip neither Reese nor Poole made with the team. Reese recently made her return against Virginia Tech, but Poole never came back.
Poole was a starter during the 2023 Women’s NCAA Tournament, when the Tigers earned their first ever national title. The Ohio State transfer was a key defensive piece for LSU, but her role did not increase this year. She only averaged about 12 minutes a game over four appearances this season. Poole’s last game was on Nov. 17 against Southeastern Louisiana, and she was only on the court for five minutes.
LSU is 9-1 this season after Sunday’s 83-53 win over Louisiana, a game point guard Hailey Van Lith missed because of an injury. Mulkey said it’s unclear when Van Lith, who’s dealing with plantar fasciitis, will make her return at this point.
The No. 17 UConn Huskies found a 76-64 win over No. 24 North Carolina on Sunday, and Paige Bueckers achieved a historic milestone along the way.
Bueckers led UConn with 26 points while missing only three of her 14 shots. She reached 1,000 career points in what was her 55th game as a Husky, making her tied with Maya Moore for the fastest in program history to join the 1,000-point club. On the defensive end, Bueckers recorded a career-high four blocks and three steals in an effort coach Geno Auriemma had to be proud of.
“Maya is one of the G.O.A.T.S., so to be in that space is just amazing,” Bueckers said after the game. “It’s just a testament of all that my teammates have done for me, all that my coaches have done for me. I’m just a product of what they do for me. I’m extremely grateful, and it’s an honor to be next to her.”
26 points on 84.6% shooting
We’d say Paige looks like herself pic.twitter.com/QIwUqDdVuA
— UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) December 10, 2023 UConn led North Carolina 19-10 after the first quarter, but by halftime the score was even at 36 points apiece. Bueckers was the star of the night, but one of the biggest differences in the second half was Aaliyah Edwards stepping up. Edwards only had four points over the first two quarters, but she scored 14 in the second half to go along with her 11 rebounds. Meanwhile, Nika Muhl contributed 12 points on four 3-pointers.
The Tar Heels were not an easy team to put away. The Huskies led by as many as 18 late in the third quarter, but North Carolina went on a 9-0 run in the middle of the fourth quarter while holding UConn scoreless for about six minutes. This cut the deficit to just eight points, but Edwards finally broke the UConn scoring drought with 2:30 remaining in the game.
This kind of second-half performance by Edwards is what Auriemma expects to see from his team’s key players.
“Bueckers is trying really hard to make a lot of things happen, which I really, really love, but I would like to see a lot more activity from the rest of us,” Auriemma said during the game.
Auriemma got his wish in the second half, and the Huskies improved their record to 6-3. They will be back to work next Saturday, when they’ll take on another ranked opponent in No. 18 Louisville.
Here are some takeaways from UConn’s win over North Carolina.
Bueckers’ defense as impactful as her offense While Bueckers’ 1,000 career points milestone will draw the most attention, her defensive performance was equally strong, and it’s one she willed into existence.
“I felt like I needed to have a huge defensive presence tonight … play Paige Bueckers basketball, play UConn basketball,” Bueckers said after the game.
Bueckers joked that perhaps the reason for her dominant showing was because she was wearing a shooting sleeve for the first time. But the real reason is probably that she has been slowly working herself back to the level she was at before the ACL injury that made her miss all of last season. Every game she plays more confidently, and it showed on both ends of the court Sunday.
Third block of the game for Paige! pic.twitter.com/kHnm63Z5cD
— UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) December 10, 2023 UConn can’t rely solely on Bueckers As Auriemma has said multiple times this season, players not named Paige Bueckers need to contribute for the team to succeed. Edwards certainly did so in the second half, but Bueckers had to go 7 of 9 from the field over the first two quarters for her team to be tied at halftime. Muhl has also shown she can be an important contributor to the team as a valuable 3-point shooter, though she had six turnovers against North Carolina.
Muhl said after the game they probably played their best third quarter yet, as they outscored the Tar Heels 29-13 with minimal mistakes. Things could’ve been much different without the savvy second-half adjustments they made, as North Carolina is the same team that gave No. 1 South Carolina an upset scare last week.
Aaliyah Edwards beats the buzzer! pic.twitter.com/JYUIA3qmwe
— UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) December 10, 2023 After Azzi Fudd suffered a season-ending knee injury late last month, the team was left with only Bueckers and Edwards as constant double-digit scorers. North Carolina did enter the game as one of the nation’s top 50 defenses, but UConn struggled a lot more against Texas in their 80-68 loss earlier this month. To compete against tougher defenses, Bueckers will certainly need to keep having solid games like this one, but also more Huskies are going to have to step up.
Edwards needs help down low Despite her shooting struggles early against North Carolina, Edwards was a vital presence in the paint as she grabbed 11 rebounds in the win.
Meanwhile, the Tar Heels out-rebounded the Huskies 43-33 and won the offensive rebounding battle 19-11. With a few more offensive boards from other Huskies, UConn could’ve potentially won by an even larger margin. Aubrey Griffin did step up and registered eight rebounds, a tick higher than the 6.6 boards she averages per game.
After the game, Bueckers said rebounding is one of the things Auriemma wants the team to work on.
“There was a huge emphasis in practice this week on making sure all five guys are rebounding and not leaving Aaliyah out to dry,” Bueckers said.
This week was relatively calm with minimum movement in the AP Top 25 poll. For the first time this season, the top 10 teams remain unchanged.
Despite recent injury struggles, Utah kept its No. 11 ranking after giving No. 1 South Carolina an upset scare on Sunday behind a career-high 37 points by Alissa Pili. The Gamecocks led for all but 43 seconds of their 78-69 win, but these numbers don’t tell the full story as it was only a two-point game with under three minutes remaining. Kamilla Cardoso, Te-Hina Paopao, Chloe Kitts and MiLaysia Fulwiley all scored in double figures to help the team stay undefeated.
No. 2 UCLA was business as usual, blowing out CSUN 111-48 on Thursday, and then taking care of Florida State 95-78 on Sunday. Sophomore Lauren Betts was named Player of the Game by the Basketball Hall of Fame after registering 22 points and a career-high 18 rebounds, along with four blocks against the Seminoles.
Meanwhile, UConn had been struggling but bounced back this week with wins over Ball State and North Carolina. Paige Bueckers got 26 points against the Tar Heels in what was her 55th game as a Husky, which helped her tie Maya Moore as the fastest in program history to join the 1,000-point club. UConn remained No. 17 this week, while North Carolina moved down one spot to No. 25.
No. 12 Ohio State survived a thrilling overtime game against Penn State on Sunday. The Buckeyes trailed the entire second and third quarters, but they still pulled off a 94-84 victory. Ohio State didn’t move, but Penn State dropped from the rankings along with Washington State. UNLV and Miami took their spots as they entered the Top 25 for the first time this season.
AP Women’s Basketball Top 25 The top 25 teams in The Associated Press’ women’s college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Sunday, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote and last week’s ranking:
Others receiving votes: Washington 25, Washington St 23, TCU 22, West Virginia 21, Texas A&M 10, Texas Tech 8, Penn St. 3, Mississippi St. 3, Green Bay 3, Davidson 3, Minnesota 2, Oregon St. 1, Mississippi 1, Michigan St. 1, Colorado St. 1, Nebraska 1.
