By R.L. Bynum
Cade Tyson continues to shine against overmatched nonconference foes, while Tyler Nickel is off to a strong start and Ian Jackson posted solid numbers in a marquee matchup.
Meanwhile, centers Jalen Washington and Ven-Allen Lubin are still trying to make an impact at their new schools.
An intriguing showdown looms Tuesday in Detroit: Elliot Cadeau’s No. 7 Michigan squad, which hasn’t played since a 121–78 opening-game rout Monday of Oakland, faces Wake Forest (2–0) at 6:30 p.m. on FS1.
Tyson followed his 30-point outburst in Minnesota’s 87–69 opener against Gardner-Webb (320 in KenPom) with 21 points in 29 minutes during Saturday’s 95–50 demolition of Alcorn State (339). The 2–0 Gophers get their first real test Wednesday at Missouri (38).
At Madison Square Garden on Saturday, No. 15 Alabama edged Jackson’s No. 5 St. John’s team 103–96 in a high-level clash.
After starting and scoring 15 points in the Red Storm’s 108–74 opener against Quinnipiac, Jackson came off the bench to tally 14 points in 23 minutes with four rebounds, three assists and a block.
A late turnover proved costly: Alabama’s Latrell Wrightsell Jr. stole the ball from Jackson with 2:35 left and the Tide up five. Jackson answered with a driving layup at 1:22, but St. John’s never got closer than six.
Nickel stayed hot for Vanderbilt, following his 20-point performance in a 105–91 opening-game win over Lipscomb with 17 points, four rebounds and two assists in Saturday’s 105–93 victory at UCF.
Washington, his Commodores teammate, has come off the bench in both games, with nine points and two rebounds in the opener, then six points and six rebounds before fouling out Saturday.
N.C. State rolled past N.C. Central (114–66) and UAB (94–70). Lubin started both games, posting 10 points and six rebounds in the opener and eight points with three rebounds Friday while battling foul trouble.
Kentucky senior Teonni Key bounced back from only scoring five points in the opener with two strong games. Thursday, she collected 14 points and three rebounds in Thursday’s 104–46 rout of Coppin State. In Sunday’s 81–47 home win over Buffalo, she had 17 points and 12 rebounds.
Elsewhere among former UNC players:
— Tray Crisp had six points in Mississippi State’s 68–62 Friday win over Georgia State.
— RyLee Grays chipped in two points and three rebounds off the bench in Tulsa’s 77–60 win over New Orleans.
— In two weekend games, Mississippi State guard Tray Crisp started and combined for nine points and nine assists.
— Paulina Paris struggled in SMU’s 46–44 loss to Kansas State, shooting 2 of 12 (0 for 6 from 3-point range) for four points.
— Will Shaver had three points and three rebounds in Samford’s 82–72 Friday win over South Carolina State.
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 — 11 games, 11 starts, 10.1 points, 45.3 FG%, 43.5 3P%, 61.9 FT%, 3.1 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 2.4 turnovers
Team record: 11–0, 2–0 Big Ten; Rank: No. 2
Monday: No. 2 Michigan 101, (at) Maryland 83 — Started; 34 minutes, 12 points, 5–9 FG, 2–3 3FG, 1 rebound, 10 assists, 1 foul, 3 turnovers, 1 steal, +15
Sunday: No. 2 Michigan 102, La Salle 50 — Started; 20 minutes, 14 points, 4–9 FG, 3–5 3FG, 3–4 FT, 2 rebounds, 3 fouls, 3 assists, 2 turnovers
Next game — 7 p.m. Monday vs. McNeese
Trayanna Crisp, Mississippi State guard
5–8 | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starter
Season statistics — 13 games, 13 starts, 8.2 points, 42.4 FG%, 40.4 3P%, 77.8 FT%, 1.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists
Team record: 12–1
Wednesday: Mississippi State 105, Alabama State 57 — Started; 22:43, 8 points, 3–6 FG, 2–4 3FG, 2 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, team-high +47
Saturday: Mississippi State 85, (at) La Salle 37 — Started; 30:29, 10 points, 4–12 FG, 1–6 3FG, 1–2 FT, 2 fouls, 2 assists, 1 turnover, 1 steal, +35
Next game — 3 p.m. Sunday vs. Samford
RyLee Grays, Tulsa forward
6–4 | Junior | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)
Roster situation — One of four forwards competing for time
Season statistics — 12 games, 2.4 points, 50.0 FG%, 1–2 3FG, 69.6 FT%, 2.4 rebounds, 5 blocks, 3 steals
Team record: 8–4
Monday: Oklahoma State 90, Tulsa 58 — 18 minutes, career-high, team-high 14 points, 3–6 FG (FG total career-high), 1–2 3FG (first career 3-pointer), 7–8 FT (career-high for makes and attempts), 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 fouls, 4 turnovers, 1 steal, -9
Thursday: Tulsa 67, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 43 — 14 minutes, 4 points, 1–1 FG, 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 3 fouls, 2 assists, 1 block
Sunday: Tulsa 74, (at) Florida 67 — 6 minutes, 2 rebounds, 1 foul
Next game — 6:30 Tuesday, Dec. 30, vs. Wichita State, ESPN+
Ian Jackson, St. John’s guard
6–5, 195 pounds | Sophomore | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — In rotation as reserve
Season statistics — 11 games, 4 starts, 11.4 points, 47.4 FG%, 34.7 3P%, 85.7 FT%, 3.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Team record: 7–4, 1–0 Big East
Tuesday: No. 22 St. John’s 79, DePaul 66 — Started; 14 minutes, 10 points, 4–7 FG, 2–3 3FG, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 fouls, 1 turnover, +2
Saturday at CBS Sports Classic in Atlanta: Kentucky 78, No. 22 St. John’s 66 — Started; 30 minutes, 10 points, 4–7 FG, 2–5 3FG, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 turnover, 2 steals
Next game — 6 p.m. Tuesday vs. Harvard, FS1
Teonni Key, Kentucky forward
6–4 | RS senior | UNC 2022–24 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting forward
Season statistics — 12 games, 12 starts, 11.0 points, 55.9 FG%, 1–10 3FG, 71.1 FT%, 5.8 rebounds, 1.6 blocks
Team record: 12–1; Rank: No. 11
Friday: No. 12 Kentucky 96, Wright State 53 — Didn’t play to manage lingering injury after a fall
Next game — 2 p.m. Sunday vs. Hofstra
Ven-Allen Lubin, N.C. State forward
6–9, 250 pounds | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starter
Season statistics — 13 games, 13 starts, 13.2 points, 69.0 FG%, 3–7 3FG, 69.8 FT%, 6.8 rebounds
Team record: 9–4
Wednesday: N.C. State 108, Texas Southern 72 — Started; 16:30, 7 points, 3–4 FG, 1–3 FT, 4 rebounds, 3 fouls, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, +15
Sunday: N.C. State 76, Ole Miss 62 in Greensboro — Started; 31:17, 15 points, 7–8 FG, 0–1 3FG, 1–1 FT, 2 rebounds, 4 fouls, 1 assist, 4 turnovers, 2 steals, =/- of 0
Next game — noon Wednesday, Dec. 31, vs. Wake Forest, ESPN2
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 — 12 games, 12 starts, 15.3 points, 52.1 FG%, 47.9 3P%, 83.3 FT%, 3.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Team record: 12–0: Rank: No. 13
Wednesday: No. 11 Vanderbilt 77, (at) Memphis 70, OT — Started; 36:46, 8 points, 3–11 FG, 2–10 3FG, 4 rebounds, 3 fouls, 3 turnovers, 2 steals, +12
Sunday: No. 13 Vanderbilt 98, (at) Wake Forest 67 — Started; 29:00, 26 points, 9–12 FG, 8–10 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 foul, 1 steal, 3 blocks, +23
Next game — 6 p.m. Monday vs. New Haven
Paulina Paris, SMU guard
5–9 | Senior | UNC 2022–24 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting guard
Season statistics — 12 games, 6 starts, 9.9 points, 41.2 FG%, 25.5 3P%, 76.9 FT%, 2.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists
Team record: 7–6, 0–1 ACC
Wednesday: SMU 57, Coppin State 49 — Started; 26 minutes, 11 points, 3–7 FG, 1–3 3FG, 4–4 FT, 3 rebounds, 4 fouls, 2 assists, 3 turnovers
Friday: SMU 74, (at) Sam Houston 69 — Started; 39:20, 18 points, 7–17 FG, 2–4 3FG, 2–2 FT, 8 rebounds, 3 fouls, 3 assists, 5 turnovers, 2 steals, +4
Sunday: SMU 74, Southern 62 — Started; 38 minutes, 18 points, 6–11 FG, 3–5 3FG, 3–4 FT, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 fouls, 2 turnovers, 1 block, 1 steal, +11
Next game — 7 p.m. Monday at Virginia, 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 — 12 games, 2.0 points, 44.4 FG%, 28.6 3P%, 2–5 FT, 2.4 rebounds, 10 assists, 4 blocks, 2 steals
Team record: 7–6
Monday: Samford 106, Bryant 51 — 13 minutes, career-high 8 points, 3–6 FG (ties for most FGs in career), 2–4 3FG (first two 3-pointers of his career), 5 rebounds, 1 foul, 1 assist, 1 block
Friday: Samford 85, Reinhardt 49 — 21 minutes, 4 points, 2–4 FG, 0–1 3FG, 0–1 FT, 8 rebounds, 3 fouls, 3 assists, 3 turnovers
Next game — 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 1, at VMI
Cade Tyson, Minnesota wing
6–7, 180 pounds | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starter
Season statistics — 12 games, 12 starts, 22.8 points, 53.6 FG%, 42.1 3P%, 81.9 FT%, 5.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists
Team record: 7–5, 1–1 Big Ten
Sunday: Minnesota 78, Campbell 50 —Started; 28 minutes, 24 points, 10–15 FG, 3–5 3FG, 1–1 FT, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 foul, 3 turnovers, 1 steal, +28
Next game — 7 p.m. Monday vs FDU, Big Ten Network
Jalen Washington, Vanderbilt center
6–9, 240 pounds | Senior | UNC 2022–25 (3 seasons)
Roster situation — Competing for starting minutes at center
Season statistics — 12 games, 1 start, 9.3 points, 59.3 FG%, 29.4 3P%, 78.3 FT%, 5.1 rebounds, 1.3 blocks
Team record: 12–0: Rank: No. 11
Wednesday: No. 13 Vanderbilt 77, (at) Memphis 70, OT — Didn’t start; 25:30, 14 points, 2–4 FG, 10–14 FT, 6 rebounds, 3 fouls, drew 10 fouls, 1 turnover, 2 steals, +12
Sunday: No. 13 Vanderbilt 98, (at) Wake Forest 67 — Didn’t start; 7 points, 2–4 FG, 1–2 3FG, 2–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 4 fouls, +10
Next game — 6 p.m. Monday vs. New Haven
Photo via @GopherMBB
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