By R.L. Bynum
Ian Jackson and Elliot Cadeau helped their teams continue their rolls while Tyler Nickel and Jalen Washington’s No. 11 Vanderbilt team ended a three-game skid. Meanwhile, Ven-Allen Lubin notched a double-double and Puff Johnson made his Ohio State debut.
Jackson scored 16 points and three 3-pointers, all in the first 14 minutes of the game, with four rebounds and two assists, as the St. John’s (15–5, 8–1 Big East) won its sixth consecutive game, winning Saturday at Xavier 88–83 to stay a game back of No. 2 UConn in the Big East.
“I’ve said this all year long, how enjoyable they are to coach,” St. John’s coach Rick Pitino said after his 900th career victory. “But tonight was the icing on the cake. A lot of teams would break, but they stayed with it. Bryce Hopkins made big plays, and Ian Jackson kept us in the game in the first half.”
Jackson scored 13 of the Red Storm’s first 20 points, including three 3-pointers, to give St. John’s an early nine-point lead before Xavier led 49–37 at halftime.
Cadeau scored six points, his fewest points in nine Big Ten games, but dished out eight assists and had four turnovers as No. 3 Michigan (18–1, 8–1 Big Ten) knocked off Ohio State 74–62 on Friday.
Cadeau’s points were significant, though, because his two 3-pointers keyed a decisive 24–12 run to end the game.
The Wolverines have a huge home game at 7 p.m. Tuesday (Peacock) against league-leading No. 7 Nebraska (20–0, 9–0). Michigan, No. 10 Michigan State and No. 11 Illinois are all tied for second place, one game back of the Cornhuskers.
Johnson played five scoreless minutes in his Buckeyes debut against Michigan, and will face Penn State, where he played the last two seasons, at 7 p.m. Monday (FS1). He became eligible to play for Ohio State (13–6, 5–4) after a Jan. 16 court ruling.
Vanderbilt (17–3, 4–3 SEC) went from a 16-game unbeaten streak to start the season to three consecutive losses before rebounding Saturday with an 88–56 victory at Mississippi State.
Tyler Nickel had 13 points, three 3-pointers, three steals and two assists and was a team-high +37, while Jalen Washington collected eight points, eight rebounds, four blocks and two assists. The four blocks tied his season-high.
Lubin produced his fourth double-double of the season and 15th of his career (four last season for UNC) with 17 points and 12 rebounds Saturday as N.C. State (14–6, 5–2 ACC) won 81–72 at Pittsburgh.
Lubin is averaging 13.4 points per game and leads the ACC in field-goal percentage at 66.9% (UNC’s Henri Veesaar is second at 63.0%).
The struggles continue for Minnesota (10–10, 3–6 Big Ten), which got blown out by No. 7 Nebraska 76–57 on Saturday for the Gophers’ fifth consecutive loss.
Cade Tyson scored 12 points and two 3-pointers with six rebounds and two assists. He has been held to 15 points or fewer in the last four games, after that happened only three times in the first 16 games.
In other late-week games:
— Paulina Paris returned after missing two games, contributing four points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals in SMU’s 73–51 Thursday loss to Florida State. The Mustangs (8–12, 1–7 ACC) host Miami on Sunday.
— Will Shaver combined for two points in 12 minutes as Samford (10–11, 3–5 Southern Conference) lost 88–78 at Wofford on Wednesday but beat Chattanooga 75–64 at home on Saturday.
— RyLee Grays played seven scoreless minutes with a rebound and a steal in Tulsa’s 57–53 road victory on Friday against North Texas.
— Teonni Key missed both of No. 11 Kentucky’s games last week as she continues to recover from an elbow injury. She has missed six games since getting injured on Jan. 4 against Missouri.
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 — 19 games, 19 starts, 10.3 points, 45.1 FG%, 41.6 3P%, 68.6 FT%, 2.8 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 2.4 turnovers
Team record: 18–1, 8–1 Big Ten; Rank: No. 3
Friday: No. 3 Michigan 74, Ohio State 62 — Started; 25 minutes, Big Ten season-low 6 points, 2–4 FG, 2–3 3FG, 3 fouls, 8 assists, 4 turnovers, 1 steal, +7
Next game — 7 p.m. Tuesday vs. No. 7 Nebraska, Peacock
Trayanna Crisp, Mississippi State guard
5–8 | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starter
Season statistics — 19 games, 19 starts, 8.6 points, 40.9 FG%, 40.0 3P%, 82.8 FT%, 2.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists
Team record: 15–5, 2–4 SEC
Sunday, Jan. 18: (at) Mississippi State 71, No. 7 Kentucky 59 — Started; 32:18, 16 points, 5–8 FG, 4–5 3FG (4 is season-high), 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 4 fouls, 2 assists, 3 turnovers, +14
Next game — 3 p.m. Sunday at No. 21 Alabama
RyLee Grays, Tulsa forward
6–4 | Junior | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)
Roster situation — One of four forwards competing for time
Season statistics — 19 games, 2.0 points, 47.4 FG%, 2–4 3FG, 72.0 FT%, 2.5 rebounds, 7 blocks, 5 steals
Team record: 13–6, 5–2 American
Friday: Tulsa 57, (at) North Texas 53 — 7 minutes, 1 rebound, 1 turnover, 1 steal
Next game — 6:30 Tuesday vs. Florida Atlantic, 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 — 20 games, 13 starts, 10.8 points, 44.4 FG%, 36.4 3P%, 89.5 FT%, 2.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Team record: 15–5, 8–1 Big East
Saturday: St. John’s 88, (at) Xavier 83 — Started; 26 minutes, 16 points, 6–11 FG, 3–5 3FG, 1–3 FT, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 turnovers
Next game — 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. Butler, Peacock, NBCSN
Puff Johnson, Ohio State
6–8, 190 pounds | Graduate | UNC 2020–23 (3 seasons)
Roster situation — Reserve
Team record: 13–6, 5–4 Big Ten
Friday: (at) No. 3 Michigan 74, Ohio State 62 — 5 minutes, 1 foul, -9
Next game — 7 p.m. Monday vs. Penn State, FS1
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. 11
Thursday: (at) No. 17 Tennessee 60, No. 11 Kentucky 58 and Saturday: Georgia 72, Kentucky 67 — Missed both games recovering from a dislocated elbow
Next game — 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1, 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 — 20 games, 20 starts, 13.4 points, 66.9 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 72.0 FT%, 6.9 rebounds
Team record: 14–6, 5–2 ACC
Saturday: N.C. State 81, (at) Pittsburgh 72 — Started; 32:00, 17 points, 5–8 FG, 0–1 3FG, 7–8 FT, 12 rebounds, 2 fouls, 1 turnover, 1 steal, 1 block, +3
Next game — 7 p.m. Thursday vs. Syracuse, ESPNU
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 — 20 games, 20 starts, 14.7 points, 51.5 FG%, 46.3 3P%, 82.1 FT%, 3.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Team record: 17–3, 4–3 SEC: Rank: No. 15
Saturday: No. 15 Vanderbilt 88, (at) Mississippi State 56 — Started; 27:57, 13 points, 5–10 FG, 3–8 3FG, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 turnover, 3 steals, team-high +37
Next game — 9 p.m. Tuesday vs. Kentucky, ESPN
Paulina Paris, SMU guard
5–9 | Senior | UNC 2022–24 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting guard
Season statistics — 17 games, 11 starts, 10.3 points, 40.7 FG%, 23.9 3P%, 69.7 FT%, 3.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists
Team record: 8–12, 1–7 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
Next game — 4 p.m. Sunday vs. Miami, 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: (at) Wofford 88, Samford 78 — 4 minutes, 0–1 FG, 1 foul, 1 assist
Saturday: Samford 75, Chattanooga 64 — 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: No. 7 Nebraska 76, Minnesota 57 — 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
Jalen Washington, Vanderbilt center
6–9, 240 pounds | Senior | UNC 2022–25 (3 seasons)
Roster situation — Backup center
Season statistics — 20 games, 1 start, 9.6 points, 60.4 FG%, 26.1 3P%, 72.5 FT%, 5.4 rebounds, 1.4 blocks
Team record: 17–3, 4–3 SEC: Rank: No. 15
Saturday: No. 15 Vanderbilt 88, (at) Mississippi State 56 — Didn’t start; 19:40, 8 points, 4–6 FG, 0–1 3FG, 8 rebounds, 2 fouls, 2 assists, 1 turnover, 4 blocks, +22
Next game — 9 p.m. Tuesday vs. Kentucky, ESPN
Photo via redstormsports.com
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