By R.L. Bynum
Conference tournaments ended frustratingly for several former Tar Heels, including Puff Johnson missing a potential game-winning 3-point attempt at the buzzer. In addition, Caleb Love’s No. 6 Arizona team, Justin McKoy’s Hawaii team and Kerwin Walton’s No. 25 Texas Tech team all lost Friday in the semifinals of their league tournaments.
Johnson’s Penn State team beat Michigan on Wednesday in the first round of the Big Ten tournament 66–57 but lost Thursday in the second round to Indiana 61–59.
Johnson collected 16 points and eight rebounds in the loss to the Hoosiers. His two free throws with 2:38 gave the Nittany Lions a 57–56 lead but they trailed by two when Johnson, who had seven points against Michigan, missed a 3-point attempt in the final seconds off the front of the rim.
“It hurts and this is something you need to build on and learn on,” said Johnson, who told reporters that he hasn’t decided if he’ll return for a fifth season.
D’Marco Dunn played 12 scoreless minutes against Michigan and scored nine points against Indiana, as Penn State finished 16–17.
Dawson Garcia’s Minnesota team lost its Big Ten tournament opener, falling 77–67 Thursday in a second-round game against Michigan State. He scored 19 points to finish the season with a 17.7 average, as the Gophers’ season is likely over at 18–14.
Love has the NCAA tournament ahead, but the Wildcats have lost two of their last four games. Love scored 11 points in Thursday’s 70–49 win over USC in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 tournament, but Arizona lost Friday to Oregon 67–59 in the semifinals.
Against Oregon, Love was 2 of 11 from the floor and 1 of 7 from 3-point range (with the only make from outside the arc banked in) and finished with six points and two assists.
Many bracket projections have Arizona headed to the West Regional in Los Angeles as the No. 2 seed, with No. 4 North Carolina as the No. 1 seed.
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McKoy, in likely his final college game, had 10 points and six rebounds Friday as the Rainbow Warriors (20–14) lost 68–65 to UC Davis in the semifinals of the Big West tournament. He had 16 points and three 3-pointers in Hawaii’s 75–68 second-round win over CSUN.
Tyler Nickel played well with 18 points and a team-high seven rebounds Wednesday in Virginia Tech’s 86–76 loss to Florida State in the second round of the ACC tournament. Read much more about that game and Nickel’s thoughts on his first season with the Hokies here.
Walton collected 12 points, seven rebounds and two assists in Texas Tech’s 81–67 Thursday quarterfinal win in the Big 12 tournament over No. 20 BYU. On Friday, he had eight points and three rebounds as No. 1 Houston beat the Red Raiders (23–10) 82–79 in the semifinals.
Dontrez Styles’ frustrating first season at Georgetown ended Wednesday with a 74–56 loss to Providence in the Big East tournament’s first round. He had seven points and nine rebounds as the Hoyas finished 9–23.
Will Shaver is the only transfer whose team is still playing in its league tournament. He didn’t play Friday as his UAB team beat Wichita State 72–60 in the American Conference tournament quarterfinals. He had one rebound in two minutes of Saturday’s 93–83 semifinal victory over South Florida. The Blazers (22–11) will meet Temple in the championship game at 3:15 p.m. Sunday (ESPN).
Men’s players
Luka Bogavac, Oklahoma State guard
6–6, 215 pounds | Senior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 21 starts, 24.3 minutes, 9.8 points, 40.2 FG%, 34.9 3P%, 73.6 FT%, 2.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.4 of a steal
Monday’s opener — Oklahoma State 91, Incarnate Word 60 (home) | didn’t start: 15 minutes, 14 points, 5–9 FG, 2–5 3FG, 2–2 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 assist
Friday — 9 p.m. vs. Queens, ESPN+
James Brown, Howard center
6–10, 240 pounds | Junior | UNC 2024–26 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 9 games, 50 minutes, 11 points, 75.0 FG%, 38.5 FT%, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers
Monday’s opener — Yale 72, Howard 62 (road) | started: 30 minutes, 11 points, 5–8 FG, 0–1 3FG, 1–4 FT, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 blocks, 4 steals, 2 fouls
Thursday — 7 p.m. at Alcorn State, SWAC TV
Elliot Cadeau, Michigan guard
6–1, 180 pounds | Junior | UNC 2023–25 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season — 40 games, 40 starts, 10.5 points, 41.1 FG%, 37.6 3P%, 70.9 FT%, 2.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 2.4 turnovers
Monday’s opener — No. 16 Michigan 84, Oakland 68 (home) | started: 34 minutes, 7 points, 1–5 FG, 0–4 3FG, 5–6 FT, 0 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 turnovers, 4 steals, 2 fouls
Friday — 8 p.m. vs. UConn in Boston, TNT, truTV
Derek Dixon, Arizona guard
6–5, 205 pounds | Sophomore | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 16 starts, 22.3 minutes, 6.5 points, 36.4 FG%, 39.7 3P%, 81.8 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.4 of a steal
Monday’s opener — No. 22 UCLA 84, No. 5 Arizona 75 (in Las Vegas) | started: 38 minutes, 18 points, 5–17 FG, 4–12 3FG, 4–4 FT, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 turnovers, 1 steal, 4 fouls, plus/minus of 0
Thursday — 10:30 vs. Cal Poly, truTV
Kyan Evans, Minnesota guard
6–2, 175 pounds | Senior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 17 starts, 17.7 minutes, 4.0 points, 32.8 FG%, 30.5 3P%, 69.2 FT%, 1.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.5 of a steal, 1.1 turnovers
Monday’s opener — Minnesota 85, North Dakota 50 (home) | started: 28 minutes, 4 points, 1–7 FG, 1–4 3FG, 1–2 FT, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 turnover, 2 steals, 3 fouls
Friday — 7 p.m. vs. St. Thomas, NBCSN, Peacock
Zayden High, South Florida forward
6–10, 230 pounds | Senior | UNC 2023–26 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 23 games, 103 minutes, 18 points, 31.6 FG%, 0–8 3FG, 54.5 FT%, 26 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals, 3 blocks
Monday’s opener — South Florida 98, Charleston Southern 71 (home) | started: 22 minutes, 20 points, 9–15 FG, 1–3 3FG, 1–2 FT, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 3 steals, 3 fouls
Thursday — 8:30 at DePaul, truTV
Ian Jackson, St. John’s guard
6–5, 200 pounds | Junior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Statistics last season — 36 games, 19 starts, 9.4 points, 40.9 FG%, 34.3 3P%, 90.0 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Monday’s opener — St. John’s 78, Monmouth 63 (home) | started: 22 minutes, 15 points, 6–12 FG, 3–5 3FG, 2 rebounds, 2 turnovers, 5 fouls.
Sunday — noon vs. Iona at Madison Square Garden, Peacock
Ven-Allen Lubin, N.C. State forward
6–9, 235 pounds | Graduate | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Statistics last season — 34 games, 34 starts, 13.6 points, ACC-leading 66.8 FG%, 27.3 3P%, 73.3 FT%, 7.1 rebounds
Monday’s opener — N.C. State 83, Campbell 64 (home) | started: 26 minutes, 20 points, 8–8 FG, 3–3 3FG, 1–2 FT, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 turnovers, 3 fouls
Friday — 7 p.m. vs. ETSU, ACCNE
Plays UNC — 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, in Tobacco Road Classic in Greensboro, ESPN2
Ivan Matlekovic, Pacific center
7–0, 220 pounds | Senior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 4 games, 7 minutes, 2 points, 1–1 FG
Tuesday’s opener — Pacific 102, Bethesda 47 (home) | didn’t play
Saturday — 8 p.m. at Bradley, ESPN+
Jonathan Powell, Pittsburgh wing
6–6, 191 pounds | Junior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 33 games, 16.2 minutes, 4.8 points, 38.1 FG%, 36.5 3P%, 48.3 FT%, 2.4 rebounds, 0.7 of an assist, 0.5 of a steal
Monday’s opener — Pittsburgh 95, Rider 57 (home) | started: 28 minutes, 18 points, 6–9 FG, 6–9 3FG, 0–2 FT, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, 1 block
Thursday — 7 p.m. vs. Buffalo, ACCNE
Plays UNC — 9 p.m. Tuesday, March 2, in Pittsburgh, ESPN or ESPN2
Will Shaver, Samford center
6–10, 265 pounds | RS senior | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Statistics last season — 30 games, 2.6 points, 47.6 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 59.3 FT%, 2.6 rebounds, 17 blocks, 7 steals
Monday’s opener — Samford 87, Berry 58 (home) | started: 18 minutes, 17 points, 7–10 FG, 3–4 3FG, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 turnovers, 4 blocks, 2 fouls
Saturday — 4 p.m. at UNLV
Seth Trimble, Louisville guard
6–3, 200 pounds | Fifth-year | UNC 2022–26 (4 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 24 games, 14.0 points, 47.1 FG%, 28.6 3P%, 66.7 FT%, 3.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.4 turnovers
Monday’s opener — No. 11 Louisville 84, Chattanooga 70 (home) | started: 27 minutes, 13 points, 4–11 FG, 1–5 3FG, 4–7 FT, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 turnovers, 1 steal, 4 fouls
Saturday — noon vs. Morehead State, ACCNE
Plays UNC — 9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5, at Louisville, ESPNU; 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8, at UNC, ESPN
Women’s players
Elina Aarnisalo, UCLA guard
5–10 | Junior | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 36 games, 26 starts, 26.7 minutes, 10.2 points, 47.3 FG%, 40.4 3P%, 76.1 FT%, 3.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.2 turnovers
Monday’s opener — No. 11 UCLA 73, Lehigh 53 (home) | started: 29 minutes, 9 points, 4–9 FG, 1–4 3FG, 3 rebounds, 1 foul, 4 assists, 0 turnovers
Thursday — 10 p.m. vs. UC Irvine, B1G+
Liza Astakhova, BYU wing
6–2 | Sophomore | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 12 games, 57 minutes, 25 points, 34.5 FG%, 20.0 3P%, 3–4 FT, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 turnovers
Tuesday’s opener — BYU 67, Idaho State 50 (home) | didn’t start: 9:34, 2 points, 1–5 FG, 0–2 3FG, 5 rebounds
Thursday, Nov. 5 — 9 p.m. vs. Portland
Lanie Grant, TCU guard
5–9 | Junior | UNC 2024–26 (2 seasons)
Statistics last season (UNC) — 34 games, 29 starts, 29.1 minutes, 10.8 points, 44.0 FG%, 41.9 3P%, 81.4 FT%, 1.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.6 of a steal, 1.8 turnovers
Tuesday’s opener — No. 15 TCU 99, Oral Roberts 43 (home) | 26 minutes, 12 points, 4–9 FG, 2–7 3FG, 2–2 FT, 1 rebound, 4 assists, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, tied for team-high +40
Thursday — 7:30 vs. Le Moyne, ESPN+
RyLee Grays, Tulsa forward
6–4 | Senior | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)
Statistics last season— 30 games, 2.3 points, 43.6 FG%, 4–10 3FG, 69.7 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 8 blocks, 12 steals
Team record: 19–12
Tuesday’s opener — Incarnate Word 63, Tulsa 57 (home) | didn’t play
Saturday — 3 p.m. vs. Rogers State
Taliyah Henderson, Clemson guard
6–1 | Sophomore | UNC 2025–26 (1 season)
Statistics last season— 33 games, 0 starts, 341 minutes, 122 points, 56.8 FG%, 28.6 3P%, 48.3 FT%, 66 rebounds, 9 assists, 23 steals, 1 block
Monday’s opener — Clemson 68, Radford 47 (home) | started: 30:22, 15 points, 6–12 FG, 1–4 3FG, 2–4 FT, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 2 fouls
Thursday — 7 p.m. vs. ETSU, ACCNE
Plays UNC — 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3, at Clemson, The CW
In eligibility limbo
Minnesota forward Cade Tyson
Tennessee center Jalen Washington
Photo via @PennStateMBB
