Category: NCAA Basketball

Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner was selected Big East Defensive Player of the Year for the fourth straight season on Monday, joining Georgetown great Patrick Ewing as the only players to accomplish the feat. The 7-foot-1 senior led the league with 80 blocks for the Bluejays (22-9, 15-5), the No. 2 seed in this week's conference tournament at Madison Square Garden. Ewing won the award every year from 1982-85 before going on to a Hall of Fame career in the NBA.

Here's an updated look at where Big Ten men's basketball teams sit in the latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches poll and AP Top 25 rankings.

Auburn, despite losing back-to-back games to end the season, is still on pace for the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament.

Virginia Tech, Washington and Arizona have done all they can to impress the NCAA Tournament selection committee. The Lions won the Ivy League regular season title outright for the first time in school history Saturday. The two Ivy teams meet in the semifinals of the conference tournament.

Duke and Houston jump to 1-2 in AP Top 25 followed by 3 SEC teams as championship week arrives in men's basketball.

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry will serve as an assistant general manager for Davidson College’s basketball teams. Curry and his wife, Ayesha, and longtime Davidson supporters Don, Matt and Erica Berman, are creating an eight-figure fund to support the college’s men’s and women’s basketball teams.

Auburn remains the clear-cut No. 1 overall seed and Duke seems like a lock, but the other two spots are up for grabs heading into conference tournament week.

"Those guys went through a 20-game Big Ten slate and earned it," Michigan basketball coach Dusty May said of MSU after Sunday's loss in East Lansing.

Arizona State Sun Devils (13-18, 4-16 Big 12) vs. Kansas State Wildcats (15-16, 9-11 Big 12) Kansas City, Missouri; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Kansas State plays Arizona State in the Big 12 Tournament. The Wildcats have gone 9-11 against Big 12 teams, with a 6-5 record in non-conference play.

Florida State is fifth in the ACC with 33.9 points per game in the paint led by Malique Ewin averaging 10.6. The Orange are 7-13 against ACC opponents. Syracuse gives up 78.4 points to opponents while being outscored by 2.8 points per game.

Saint Mary's (CA) plays in the WCC Tournament against Pepperdine. The Gaels' record in WCC games is 17-1, and their record is 10-3 in non-conference play. Saint Mary's (CA) is fourth in college basketball with 12.5 offensive rebounds per game led by Mitchell Saxen averaging 4.2 offensive boards.

Arkansas State Red Wolves (24-9, 15-5 Sun Belt) vs. Troy Trojans (22-10, 15-5 Sun Belt) Pensacola, Florida; Monday, 7 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Red Wolves -1.5; over/under is 138.5 BOTTOM LINE: Troy takes on Arkansas State in the Sun Belt Championship. The Trojans are 15-5 against Sun Belt opponents and 7-5 in non-conference play.

Cleveland State Vikings (24-8, 15-6 Horizon) vs. Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons (24-7, 19-2 Horizon) Indianapolis; Monday, 2:30 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Purdue Fort Wayne takes on Cleveland State in the Horizon Tournament. The Mastodons' record in Horizon play is 19-2, and their record is 5-5 against non-conference opponents.

The Gaels are 8-12 against MAAC opponents. Iona gives up 63.0 points to opponents and has been outscored by 6.8 points per game. Saint Peter's is shooting 36.6% from the field this season, 6.2 percentage points lower than the 42.8% Iona allows to opponents.

East Carolina Pirates (17-14, 9-10 AAC) vs. North Texas Eagles (23-7, 15-3 AAC) Fort Worth, Texas; Monday, 7 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: North Texas plays in the AAC Tournament against East Carolina. The Eagles have gone 15-3 against AAC opponents, with an 8-4 record in non-conference play.