By R.L. Bynum
It hasn’t always gone smoothly for Puff Johnson in his first season at Penn State, but he made a huge play Wednesday when the Nittany Lions pulled off a huge upset of No. 14 Illinois.
That was one highlight for the former Tar Heels during a week that Caleb Love and Dawson Garcia scored in the 20s while Destiny Adams and Kennedy Todd-Williams each scored 15.
Penn State was down by four with 29 seconds left when Johnson got a huge steal and layup to help the Nittany Lions (13–14, 7–9 Big Ten) beat Illinois 90–89 to end a three-game losing streak.
Playing the home game in tiny Rec Hall, Penn State won it when Zach Hicks made three free throws with three seconds left after rallying from multiple double-digit deficits.
Johnson, who hasn’t started a game since Jan. 13, scored seven points, as did D’Marco Dunn, who has started the last seven games.
For the second time this season, Caleb Love had a big game against Washington State, but it wasn’t enough for No. 4 Arizona to win.
After scoring 28 in a 73–70 loss at Washington State on Jan. 13, Love poured in 27 on Thursday but was 4 of 12 from 3-point range in the Wildcats’ 77–74 setback.
The No. 21 Cougars won their eighth game in a row to take over first place in the Pac-12 from Arizona (20–6, 11–4 Pac-12) by a half-game.
Love’s driving layup with 51.2 seconds left for a three-point play gave Arizona a 74–71 lead, but Washington State’s Jaylen Wells won it on a four-point play with 24.6 seconds remaining.
Garcia collected 22 points and nine rebounds as Minnesota (17–9, 8–7 Big Ten) won its second straight game with an 88–79 home victory over Ohio State. The Gophers are seventh in the Big Ten and are 15–3 at home this season.
It was Garcia’s ninth game with at least 20 points this season and the seventh in conference play.
Todd-Williams’ 15 points, two 3-pointers, four rebounds, four assists and two blocks helped host Ole Miss roll by Georgia on Thursday 73–51 for the Rebels’ third consecutive victory.
Ole Miss (19–7, 9–4 SEC) is tied for third in the SEC behind No. 1 South Carolina (13–0) and No. 13 LSU (10–3).
It continues to be a rough season for Rutgers, but Destiny Adams has been consistent.
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Adams collected 15 points, eight rebounds and three assists before fouling out Wednesday as the Scarlet Knights (8–21, 2–14 Big Ten) lost 81–62 at Maryland. It was her 14th game with at least 15 points and 14th with at least eight rebounds.
In Virginia Tech’s 75–41 Monday home win over Virginia, Tyler Nickel had 13 points, two 3-pointers, a career-high six assists and four rebounds. He has scored in double digits in three consecutive games for the second time this season.
Dontrez Styles had seven points and four rebounds Wednesday as host Georgetown (8–18, 1–14 Big East) lost 90–85 against St. John’s for the Hoyas’ 11th consecutive defeat.
Will Shaver played three scoreless minutes Wednesday in UAB’s 94–71 home loss to Rice.
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 @ArizonaMBB
