Joe Coleman leaves Gophers; St. John’s or Maryland possible destinations


gophers-cheerleader

Newly installed Minnesota Golden Gophers coach Richard Pitino the Younger announced that Golden Gophers guard Joe Coleman has requested, and received, release from his scholarship.

“Joe Coleman has made the decision to leave the Golden Gopher basketball program. We wish him the very best in the future,” said Pitino the Younger in a prepared statement. “We appreciate the contributions he has given the program the last two years.”

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DePaul to get new downtown arena


depaul

The Chicago Tribune broke a story in the early morning hours about the new DePaul college basketball arena. The new plan, and like Benjamin Linus on the former ABC series Lost, DePaul “always has a plan,” calls for two hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues next to the McCormick Place convention center.

The formal announcement could come this week.

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CBS Sports joins up with recruiting service 24/7


samantha-ryan-cbs

247 Sports will become the official recruiting partner of CBS Sports.com. 247 Sports’ football and basketball recruiting content will complement CBS Sports.com’s college sports coverage and MaxPreps.com’s national high school sports coverage.

I have to tell you now that I really DONNNNNN’T CARRRRRRE about recruiting news.

Recruiting ranks?

Yawn.

Oh T’Variusness King, 3-star running back signed with LSU. Who cares?

4-star wide receiver Tyroil Smoochie-Wallace gave a verbal commit to Ohio State? Boring.

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#1 ranked recruit Andrew Wiggins to Kansas Jayhawks


andrew-wiggins

Andrew Wiggins has supplanted Jabari Parker as the nation’s top high school basketball recruit. At least according to most college basketball recruiting services. While Jabari Parker of Chicago Simeon formally signed with the Duke Blue Devils long ago, Andrew Wiggins will announced his college basketball destination on Tuesday; he will play for the Kansas Jayhawks.

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Big Ten has just one MAA: Hoosiers Noah Vonle


indiana-hoosiers

 

Although the college basketball season did not end with a national title for the Big Ten, there was no doubt that it was the strongest league in the nation. At least during the regular season. That may or may not change next year. The Big Ten boasts a grand total of one McDonald’s All-American: the Indiana Hoosiers Noah Vonle.

Let’s get to know him!

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2013 NBA Draft Combine Participants


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The NBA Draft Combine hits Chicago next week.  It’s the most…..wonderful…..time……of the year!!!!!!! Ok, not really. But it’s still a pretty cool event. Most likely everyone who’s going to get picked in the NBA Draft comes to the Second City for workouts with NBA scouts and interviews with the media.

The invite list did not include the Gophers’ Rodney Williams (that’s fine, he really shouldn’t be picked anyway), Florida State’s Michael Snaer (surprising, I mean someone in the NBA has to play defense at some point), Alex Oriakhi (take it or leave it), Marquette’s Vander Blue (we’re very surprised) and Elias Harris of Gonzaga.

Like the late Nate Dogg said: “I don’t want to dream about getting paid,” and pretty soon these gentlemen won’t have to.

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Final Four Semifinals move from CBS to TBS


michigan-state-final-four

CBS Sports and Turner Sports made an announcement regarding the 2014 and 2015 college basketball Final Four today. In the next two years, TBS will televise the NCAA Final Four semis and CBS will broadcast the NCAA National Championship game.

Additionally, from 2014-2024, the road to the Final Four changes in television coverage. Regional Semi-finals and Regional Finals will be split by TBS and CBS.

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Michigan State, Duke, Kansas, Kentucky coming to the United Center!


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Chicago, already a hot bed for hoops on all levels, is becoming an even bigger and better local for college basketball. It was just announced today that Michigan State will battle Kentucky and Kansas will take on Duke in the Champions classic. The Big Ten versus SEC and Big 12 versus ACC challenge takes place November 12th at the United Center.

This week the UC will host the Chicago Bulls versus the Miami Heat in the NBA Eastern conference semi-finals. So again you’ll get to see Derrick Rose wearing four of his finest suits. Maybe five. I think Thibs can will this scrappy bunch to one win in the series.

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Illini add brother of Brandon Paul, Darius Paul to the mix


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As one Brandon Paul (pictured above. Yes I know that you know that, but I have to do this other wise some meathead will comment that’s not Darius Paul, that’s Brandon Paul) leaves the Illini, his younger brother Darius Paul joins the Illini. Brandon Paul graduates and heads for the NBA Combine while Darius Paul comes to Champaign.

Darius Paul left the Western Michigan University men’s basketball program as Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year. Which is fitting, the Illini got both their college football coach and their college basketball coach from the MAC.

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SEC and ESPN finalize SEC network


SEC cable network

Today, the SEC and ESPN announced their partnership in forming an SEC network. The deal will give ESPN the rights to all SEC sports on television. However, CBS will still be able to keep one SEC game of the week, keeping a longstanding arrangement between CBS and the SEC.

The SEC Network deal runs until 2034. Making it the longest television deal in history. Not the longest college football deal, the longest ever television deal.

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Yahoo hires Melanie Collins


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Former bikini model and Penn State alum Melanie Collins has a job again. After falling down from NBA TV and Big Ten Network to Total College Sports, she’s back to help ramp up page views for Yahoo! Because one thing Melanie Collins does well is increase the page views. That’s probably why Yahoo! is making this move.

Not that I’m any better, I mean I’m wasting a whole post here on Melanie Collins. I think she has boyfriend that plays hockey, so I guess that makes this legitimate sports news. Hey, at least I’m writing something Penn State related (sort of) that isn’t about something horrific and awful.

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