By R.L. Bynum
Dawson Garcia, Destiny Adams, Justin McKoy and Kennedy Todd-Williams all had big mid-week games, while Tyler Nickel scored 15 ahead of his return to the Smith Center.
Garcia helped Minnesota build a 10-point lead early in the second half at No. 2 Purdue on Thursday night, but the Boilermakers rallied for an 84–76 victory.
Garcia, who was 7 of 12 from the floor and scored three 3-pointers, matched All-American Purdue center Zach Edey’s point total with 24 before fouling out with 28 seconds left.
That wasn’t even his best game against Purdue. That came when he poured in 26 points and three 3-pointers for Carolina on Nov. 20, 2021, in the Tar Heels’ 93–84 loss in Uncasville, Conn., to the Boilermakers.
It was a big rebound game for Garcia, who suffered a leg injury and couldn’t play in the second half of Sunday’s 90–84 loss at Iowa.
“Of course, it was a motivator,” said Garcia, who made 14 of his last 19 shots. “It just killed me to watch that second half at Iowa, just not being able to move my leg. We’ve got a big-time week coming ahead of us. We’ve got to ride together. We can’t let this snowball … spiral, because I know this group is special.”
Garcia has eight games of at least 20 points for the Gophers (15–9, 6–7 Big Ten).
Adams registered her sixth double-double of the season, and third in Big Ten play, with 21 points and 10 rebounds Tuesday as host Rutgers topped Minnesota 81–73. Adams added two assists, a block, and a steal for the Scarlet Knights (8–19, 2–12 Big Ten).
She has scored at least 20 points in seven games, including two of the last three. The junior has also recorded double-digit points in the past 12 contests and at least 10 points 22 times this season.
McKoy collected 18 points and five rebounds as Hawaii rolled to an 88–51 Thursday win at Cal Poly, the Rainbow Warriors’ third straight win and the fifth in the last six games.
It was the largest margin of victory for Hawaii (15–11, 7–7 Big West) in a Big West road game and was one shy of the largest road victory in school history.
Nickel scored three 3-pointers in his best scoring game since netting 24 points on Jan. 10 against Clemson, as Virginia Tech ended a three-game losing streak with an 83–75 home win Tuesday over Florida State.
Nickel logged his second-most minutes in ACC play with 29 heading into his 4 p.m. Saturday game when the Hokies (14–10, 6–6 ACC) visit No. 7 North Carolina (ACC Network).
Dontrez Styles had 13 points, three rebounds and a block Tuesday as Georgetown lost 94–72 at No. 17 Creighton. It was the ninth consecutive loss for the Hoyas (8–16, 1–12 Big East).
Texas Tech, which fell out of the AP Top 25, rolled to a 79–50 home win Monday over No. 6 Kansas for its second straight win. Kerwin Walton, starting for the 16th consecutive game, contributed eight points, three rebounds and a steal in 27 minutes.
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Puff Johnson scored eight points and two 3-pointers with three rebounds Wednesday as host Penn State lost 80–72 to Michigan State. D’Marco Dunn had three points and a rebound in 15 minutes for the Nittany Lions (12–13, 6–8 Big Ten).
Caleb Love and No. 5 Arizona didn’t have a midweek game, next playing at 9:30 Saturday at home against rival Arizona State (FS1).
Elliot Cadeau, Michigan guard
6–1, 180 pounds | Junior | UNC 2023–25 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starter
Season statistics — 34 games, 34 starts, 10.2 points, 41.9 FG%, 37.3 3P%, 71.1 FT%, 2.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists
Team record: 31–3; Rank: No. 3
Friday: 71–67 win vs. Ohio State in Big Ten tournament quarterfinals — Started; 36 minutes, 15 points, 3–9 FG, 1–5 3FG, 8–10 FT, 2 rebounds, 2 fouls, 7 assists, 4 turnovers, 3 steals
Saturday: 68–65 win vs. No. 23 Wisconsin in Big Ten tournament semifinals — Started; 21 minutes, 15 points, 6–13 FG, 3–5 3FG, 4 rebounds, 2 fouls, 1 assist, 2 turnovers
Sunday: 80–72 loss vs. No. 18 Purdue in Big Ten tournament final — Started; 38 minutes, 10 points, 4–12 FG, 1–5 3FG, 1–2 FT, 1 rebound, 10 assists, 2 fouls, 2 turnovers, 1 block, -9
Next game — 7:30 p.m. Thursday vs. No. 16 seed: The winner of the First Four game between UMBC and Howard in as the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region in Buffalo
Trayanna Crisp, Mississippi State guard
5–8 | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starter
Season statistics — 30 games, 30 starts, 8.7 points, 38.3 FG%, 37.1 3P%, 84.6 FT%, 2.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists
Team record: 18–13
Season over
RyLee Grays, Tulsa forward
6–4 | Junior | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)
Roster situation — One of four forwards competing for time
Season statistics — 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
Thursday: 76–73 loss to North Texas in American tournament — Didn’t play
Season over
Ian Jackson, St. John’s guard
6–5, 195 pounds | Sophomore | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starter, sharing time in a point-guard-by-committee mix
Season statistics — 33 games, 19 starts, 9.6 points, 41.3 FG%, 35.4 3P%, 89.7 FT%, 2.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists
Team record: 28–6; Rank: No. 13
Thursday in Big East quarterfinals: 85–72 win vs. Providence — Didn’t start; 19 minutes, 14 points, 4–11 FG, 2–3 3FG, 4–4 FT, 3 rebounds, 4 fouls, 2 assists, 1 turnover
Friday in Big East semifinals: 78–68 win vs. Seton Hall — Didn’t start; 13 minutes, 4 points, 1–4 FG, 0–2 3FG, 2–2 FT, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 1 steal
Saturday in Big East final: 72–52 win vs. No. 6 UConn — Didn’t start; 15 minutes, 3 points, 1–3 FG, 0–1 3FG, 1–2 FT, 1 foul, 2 turnovers
Next game — 7:10 Friday vs. No. 12 Northern Iowa as No. 5 seed in the East Regional in San Diego, CBS
Puff Johnson, Ohio State
6–8, 190 pounds | Graduate | UNC 2020–23 (3 seasons)
Roster situation — Reserve
Team record: 21–12
Season statistics — 9 games, 1 start, 2.3 points, 33.3 FG%, 3–7 3FG, 6–9 FT, 1.1 rebounds
Thursday in Big Ten tournament: 72–69 win over Iowa — Didn’t play because of a foot injury
Friday in Big Ten tournament quarterfinals: 71–67 loss to No. 3 Michigan — 2 minutes, no statistics
Next game — 12:15 p.m. Thursday vs. No. 9 TCU as No. 8 seed in the East Regional in Greenville, S.C., CBS
Teonni Key, Kentucky forward
6–4 | RS senior | UNC 2022–24 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting forward
Season statistics — 25 games, 25 starts, 11.2 points, 52.1 FG%, 2–13 3FG, 67.9 FT%, 7.2 rebounds, 1.2 blocks
Team record: 23–10; Rank: No. 17
Next game — Saturday vs. No. 12 James Madison in Morgantown, W.Va., as the No. 5 seed in the Fort Worth 3 Regional
Ven-Allen Lubin, N.C. State forward
6–9, 250 pounds | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starting center
Season statistics — 33 games, 33 starts, 13.9 points, ACC-leading 67.6 FG%, 27.3 3P%, 73.9 FT%, 7.2 rebounds
Team record: 20–13
Wednesday: 98–88 win vs. Pittsburgh in second round of the ACC tournament — Started; 32 minutes, 18 points, 5–6 FG, 8–8 FT, 5 rebounds, 4 fouls, 1 block
Thursday: 81–74 loss vs. No. 10 Virginia in quarterfinals of ACC tournament — Started; 37 minutes, 14 points, 3–9 FG, 8–8 FT, 10 rebounds, 1 foul, 1 turnover, 3 blocks, 2 steals
Next game — 9:10 Tuesday vs. Texas in a First Four matchup of No. 11 seeds in Dayton, truTV; win advances Pack to a 7:25 p.m. Thursday game against No. 6 BYU, TBS
Tyler Nickel, Vanderbilt wing
6–7, 220 pounds | Senior | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starting forward
Season statistics — 34 games, 34 starts, 13.5 points, 45.1 FG%, 40.0 3P%, 86.8 FT%, 3.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists
Team record: 26–8: Rank: No. 22
Friday in SEC tournament quarterfinals: 75–68 win vs. Tennessee — Started; 26:55, 8 points, 2–9 FG, 2–8 3FG, 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 2 fouls, 1 turnover, 1 block, -7
Saturday in SEC tournament semifinals: 91–74 win vs. No. 4 Florida — Started; 28:11, 7 points, 3–10 FG, 1–6 3FG, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 steals, +18
Sunday in SEC tournament final: 86–75 loss vs. No. 17 Arkansas — Started; 32:35, 19 points, 7–12 FG, 5–7 3FG, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, -1
Next game — Thursday vs. No. 12 McNeese State as No. 5 seed in the South Regional in Oklahoma City
Paulina Paris, SMU guard
5–9 | Senior | UNC 2022–24 (2 seasons)
Season statistics — 20 games, 12 starts, 9.6 points, 39.9 FG%, 25.0 3P%, 69.7 FT%, 2.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists
Team record: 9–21, 2–16 ACC
Suffered a season-ending left foot injury.
Will Shaver, Samford center
6–10, 265 pounds | RS junior | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Roster situation — Reserve minutes
Season statistics — 30 games, 2.6 points, 47.6 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 59.3 FT%, 2.6 rebounds, 17 blocks, 7 steals
Team record: 18–14
Season over
Cade Tyson, Minnesota wing
6–7, 180 pounds | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starter
Season statistics — 31 games, 32 starts, team-leading 19.6 points, 50.0 FG%, 42.2 3P%, 82.6 FT%, 5.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists
Team record: 15–17
Wednesday: 72–67 loss to Rutgers in second round of the Big Ten tournament — Started; 40 minutes, 24 points, 9–13 FG, 3–7 3FG, 3–3 FT, 4 rebounds, 3 fouls, 1 assist, 3 turnovers
Season over
Jalen Washington, Vanderbilt center
6–9, 240 pounds | Senior | UNC 2022–25 (3 seasons)
Roster situation — Backup center
Season statistics — 34 games, 9 starts, 9.1 points, 55.4 FG%, 29.4 3P%, 74.1 FT%, 5.7 rebounds, 1.3 blocks
Team record: 25–7; Rank: No. 22
Friday in SEC tournament quarterfinals: 75–68 win vs. Tennessee — Didn’t start; 21:48, 7 points, 1–4 FG, 0–1 3FG, 5–6 FT, 7 rebounds, 4 fouls, 2 assists, 1 turnover, 1 steal, 3 blocks
Saturday in SEC tournament semifinals: 91–74 win vs. No. 4 Florida — Didn’t start; 25:50, 17 points, 6–8 FG, 1–1 3FG, 4–4 FT, 4 rebounds, 4 fouls, 1 assist, 1 block, +8
Sunday in SEC tournament final: 86–75 loss vs. No. 17 Arkansas — Didn’t start; 21:27, 8 points, 3–9 FG, 0–1 3FG, 2–2 FT, 7 rebounds, -15
Next game — First Four Thursday vs. No. 12 McNeese State as No. 5 seed in the South Regional in Oklahoma City
Photo via @GopherMBB
