By R.L. Bynum
Caleb Love suffered the second-worst scoring and shooting night of his career as No. 6 Arizona got upset, while Dawson Garcia had a huge night in a Minnesota loss and Justin McKoy finished the regular season by leading Hawaii to a big senior night win.
Love was 1 of 10 from the floor and missed all six 3-point attempts as Arizona lost 78–65 at unranked USC in the regular-season finale Saturday.
The Pac-12 regular-season champion Wildcats (24–7, 15–5) open play at the final Pac-12 tournament at 3 p.m. Thursday with a quarterfinal game against either Washington or USC.
The only career game worse statistically for Love was UNC’s 83–70 home loss to Marquette on Feb. 24, 2021, when he scored one point and was 0 of 6 from the floor and 0 of 4 from 3-point range.
The only other time this season that Love, who played 31 minutes, failed to score in double digits was when he scored nine points in Arizona’s 97–59 win over Southern on Nov. 13, when he only played 26 minutes.
It was another tough loss for Minnesota (18–13, 9–11 Big Ten), but Garcia collected 30 points, nine rebounds and three blocks in the Gophers’ 90–66 loss at Northwestern.
Garcia has scored at least 30 points three times this season, netting 36 in an 84–74 Dec. 3 defeat at Ohio State and 30 in an 86–77 Jan. 15 home loss to Iowa.
Minnesota is the No. 9 seed in the Big Ten tournament in Minneapolis and will face Michigan State in a second-round game at noon Thursday.
McKoy, one of six players honored on Hawaii’s senior night in a 74–57 win over Cal State Bakersfield, scored a game-high 23 points on 6 of 9 shooting from the floor while making all 10 free-throw attempts. The number of free throws made was a career-high. He also had eight rebounds, two turnovers, and two steals.
Kennedy Todd-Williams had two solid games for Ole Miss in the SEC tournament. She had 18 points, five rebounds, five assists, three blocks and two steals in Friday’s 84–74 quarterfinals win over Florida. The Rebels (23–8) lost 75–67 to No. 8 LSU in the semifinals on Saturday, but she had 16 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals before fouling out.
Tyler Nickel scored 15 points and two 3-pointers and pulled down four rebounds Saturday as Virginia Tech beat Notre Dame 82–76 in its home finale.
The Hokies (18–13) play in the second round of the ACC tournament in Washington at noon Wednesday as the No. 8 seed against Florida State (ESPN or ESPN2). With a win, they would meet No. 1-seed North Carolina in a quarterfinal game at noon on Thursday (ESPN or ESPN2).
Puff Johnson came off the bench to collect 13 points and five rebounds Sunday in Penn State’s 78–69 home win over Maryland. D’Marco Dunn had five points and three rebounds.
The Nittany Lions (14–16, 8–11 Big Ten) are seeded No. 11, facing Michigan in the first round of the Big Ten tournament in Minneapolis at 9 p.m. Wednesday.
Dontrez Styles had 11 points, four rebounds and three assists as Georgetown finished the regular season with an 86–78 loss Saturday at St. John’s. The Hoyas (9–22, 2–18 Big East) play a first-round game in the Big East tournament at Madison Square Garden at 6:30 Wednesday against the No. 7 seed.
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Kerwin Walton had eight points and four rebounds as Texas Tech finished its regular season with a 78–68 senior day victory over No. 11 Baylor. The Red Raiders (22–9, 11–7 Big 12) play at 12:30 Thursday as the No. 4 seed in the Big 12 tournament in Kansas City, facing BYU, Central Florida or Oklahoma State.
Will Shaver had two points and a rebound in UAB’s 74–70 Sunday home win over SMU. The Blazers (20–11, 12–6 American) are the No. 4 seed in the American Conference tournament in Fort Worth, Texas, meeting either Memphis, Rice or Wichita State at 3:15 Friday.
Elliot Cadeau, Michigan guard
6–1, 180 pounds | Junior | UNC 2023–25 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting point guard ahead of sophomore L.J. Cason
Season statistics — 20 games, 20 starts, 10.1 points, 43.7 FG%, 41.0 3P%, 67.9 FT%, 2.9 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.7 turnovers
Team record: 19–1, 7–1 Big Ten; Rank: No. 3
Tuesday: 75–72 win at No. 7 Nebraska — Started; 32:55, 7 points, 2–8 FG, 2–6 3FG, 1–2 FT, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 fouls, 8 turnovers, 2 steals, +9
Next game — 8 p.m. Friday at No. 7 Michigan State, Fox
Trayanna Crisp, Mississippi State guard
5–8 | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starter
Season statistics — 20 games, 20 starts, 8.8 points, 40.3 FG%, 38.4 3P%, 85.7 FT%, 2.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists
Team record: 15–6, 2–5 SEC
Sunday: 85–78 loss at No. 24 Alabama — Started; 27 minutes, 11 points, 2–7 FG, 1–6 3FG, 6–6 FT, 3 rebounds, 2 assist, 2 turnovers
Next game — 5:30 Thursday at No. 15 Tennessee
RyLee Grays, Tulsa forward
6–4 | Junior | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)
Roster situation — One of four forwards competing for time
Season statistics — 20 games, 2.2 points, 47.6 FG%, 2–5 3FG, 75.9 FT%, 2.7 rebounds, 8 blocks, 6 steals
Team record: 14–6, 6–2 American
Tuesday: 77–48 win vs. Florida Atlantic — 16 minutes, 6 points, 1–2 FG, 0–1 3FG, 4–4 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 foul, 2 assists, 1 block
Next game — 3 p.m. Saturday vs. Memphis, ESPN+
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 — 21 games, 14 starts, 11.1 points, 44.4 FG%, 37.2 3P%, 90.7 FT%, 2.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Team record: 16–5, 9–1 Big East; Rank: No. 25
Wednesday: 92–70 win vs. Butler — Started; 25 minutes, team-high 18 points, 5–11 FG, 3–6 3FG, 5–5 FT, 5 rebounds, 1 foul, 3 assists, 1 turnover, +19
Next game — 8 p.m. Tuesday at DePaul, Peacock
Puff Johnson, Ohio State
6–8, 190 pounds | Graduate | UNC 2020–23 (3 seasons)
Roster situation — Reserve
Team record: 14–6, 6–4 Big Ten
Season statistics — 2 games, 18 minutes, 2 points, 1–3 FG, 0–1 FT, 3 rebounds
Friday: 74–62 loss at No. 3 Michigan — 5 minutes, 1 foul, -9
Monday: 84–78 win vs. Penn State — 13 minutes, 2 points, 1–3 FG, 0–1 FT, 3 rebounds, 2 fouls, 1 turnover
Next game — 2 p.m. Saturday at Wisconsin, Fox
Teonni Key, Kentucky forward
6–4 | RS senior | UNC 2022–24 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting forward
Season statistics — 14 games, 14 starts, 11.0 points, 54.9 FG%, 1–12 3FG, 70.7 FT%, 6.5 rebounds, 1.4 blocks
Team record: 17–5, 4–4 SEC; Rank: No. 18
Thursday: 69–58 loss at No. 17 Tennessee and Saturday: 72–67 loss vs. No. 23 Georgia— Missed both games recovering from a dislocated elbow
Next game — 2 p.m. Sunday at Arkansas, SEC Network
Ven-Allen Lubin, N.C. State forward
6–9, 250 pounds | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starting center
Season statistics — 21 games, 21 starts, 13.6 points, 68.5 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 72.7 FT%, 7.0 rebounds
Team record: 15–6, 6–2 ACC
Tuesday: 88–68 win vs. Syracuse — Started; 26:14, 18 points, 8–8 FG, 2–2 FT, 9 rebounds, 2 fouls, 2 assists, +9
Next game — 3:45 Saturday at Wake Forest, The CW
Plays UNC —7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, ESPN or ESPN2
Tyler Nickel, Vanderbilt wing
6–7, 220 pounds | Senior | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starting forward
Season statistics — 21 games, 21 starts, 17.5 points, 51.4 FG%, 45.8 3P%, 83.9 FT%, 3.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Team record: 18–3, 5–3 SEC: Rank: No. 18
Tuesday: 80–55 win vs. Kentucky — Started, 28:20, 19 points, 7–14 FG, 2–6 3FG, 3–3 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 2 steals, 1 block, +14
Next game — 8:30 Saturday at Ole Miss, SEC Network
Paulina Paris, SMU guard
5–9 | Senior | UNC 2022–24 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting guard
Season statistics — 18 games, 11 starts, 9.7 points, 40.2 FG%, 23.2 3P%, 69.7 FT%, 3.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists
Team record: 8–13, 1–8 ACC
Thursday: Florida State 73, SMU 51 — Started; 20:25, 4 points, 2–7 FG, 0–4 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 foul, 2 assists, 2 steals, +1
Sunday: Miami 75, SMU 66 — Didn’t start; 10:52, 0–2 FG, 4 fouls, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 1 steal, -7
Next game — 7 p.m. Thursday at Clemson, ACCN Extra
Plays UNC — 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, at Carmichael Arena, ACCN
Will Shaver, Samford center
6–10, 265 pounds | RS junior | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Roster situation — Reserve minutes
Season statistics — 19 games, 2.8 points, 48.8 FG%, 40.0 3P%, 53.3 FT%, 2.2 rebounds, 13 assists, 8 blocks, 3 steals
Team record: 10–11, 3–5 Southern Conference
Wednesday: 88–78 loss at Wofford — 4 minutes, 0–1 FG, 1 foul, 1 assist
Saturday: 75–64 win vs. Chattanooga — 8 minutes, 2 points, 1–2 FG, 0–3 FT, 1 rebound, 2 fouls
Next game — 5 p.m. Thursday at Furman, CBSSN
Cade Tyson, Minnesota wing
6–7, 180 pounds | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starter
Season statistics — 20 games, 20 starts, 20.1 points, 50.4 FG%, 40.0 3P%, 80.1 FT%, 5.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists
Team record: 10–10, 3–6 Big Ten
Saturday: 76–57 loss vs. No. 7 Nebraska — Started; 30 minutes, 12 points, 5–9 FG, 2–4 3FG, 0–1 FT, 6 rebounds, 3 fouls, 2 assists, 1 turnover
Next game — 9 p.m. Wednesday at Wisconsin, Big Ten Network (missed game with an ankle injury)
Jalen Washington, Vanderbilt center
6–9, 240 pounds | Senior | UNC 2022–25 (3 seasons)
Roster situation — Backup center
Season statistics — 21 games, 2 starts, 9.1 points, 57.7 FG%, 25.0 3P%, 72.5 FT%, 5.5 rebounds, 1.4 blocks
Team record: 18–3, 5–3 SEC: Rank: No. 18
Tuesday: 80–55 win vs. Kentucky — Started; 16:45, 0 points, 0–5 FG, 0–1 3FG, 9 rebounds, 5 fouls, 1 turnover, 1 block, +11
Next game — 8:30 Saturday at Ole Miss, SEC Network
Photo via @ArizonaMBB
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