Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis, one of the most innovative administrators in college athletics and the mastermind behind some of the most unique early season college basketball events, announced his resignation on Friday morning.
This decision comes in the wake of Michigan State president Lou Anna Simon resigning as a result of the University’s handling of Dr. Larry Nassar. Nassar was sentenced to 40-175 years in prison for decades of child abuse as a physician for the University and as a team doctor for USA Women’s Gymnastics.
Hollis said that he was not asked to retire or pressured “in any way” to leave his post. “This is a choice Nancy and I make,” he told reporters at a press conference. “And we’re going to move forward with our lives and see what’s around the corner.” Hollis said that he made a statement to the FBI and to Michigan State police, but that he did not know about Nassar until an article in the Indy Star in 2016.
He said he does not believe that he has ever met Nassar.
Hollis has been with Michigan State since 1995 and has been their athletic director since 2008. He was on the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee for the last five years, and served as the chairman for the 2016-17 season.
We are now 13 months removed from the third and final tripping incident of Grayson Allen’s roller coaster ride of a career as a Duke Blue Devil, and he’s managed to pull of his most impressive feat to date: He’s become an afterthought.
We don’t really need to rehash the details, do we? Allen intentionally tripped two players at the end of the 2015-16 season. Before league play started last season, he tripped another player, and all hell broke loose. He was the most-hated person in college hoops at a time when LaVar Ball was fully rounding into form. He was the topic of discussion on every debate show. Every little thing that he did was scrutinized. He needed a Florida State assistant coach to make a statement confirming that Allen did nothing wrong when he collided with the coach chasing down a loose ball. He was blamed for an incident where Wake Forest’s Brandon Childress threw Allen onto the Duke bench.
And this season, unless you’ve been paying close attention, you might have forgotten that he opted to return to school for his senior year.
He had that massive performance as the Blue Devils knocked off Michigan State in the Champions Classic, but since that night, Allen has been more than happy to play the background. Marvin Bagley III is this team’s star. Wendell Carter would be this team’s star if Bagley wasn’t around. Put another way, Duke runs everything through their massive, talented and lottery-bound front court.
Allen?
He’s been relegated to playing a role. He’s Duke’s energy guy. He’s the one diving on the floor for loose balls and jumping passing lanes and doing what he can to slow down an opponent’s best wing. He’s Duke’s 3-and-D guy.
The transition hasn’t been perfect. He has the highest offensive rating of his career while using the fewest numbers of possessions, but he’s also managed to shoot just 24.6 percent from three during ACC play.
And that is the major question mark as we head into what may be the most fascinating matchup of the college basketball season to date.
On Saturday, No. 2 Virginia will make the trip to Cameron Indoor Stadium to take on No. 4 Duke in a battle of two teams that will butt heads, strength on strength.
Duke is ranked second in adjusted offensive efficiency, according to KenPom, and they lead the nation in raw points-per-possession. Virginia is not only the best defensive team in the country this season, they are currently playing defense at an unprecedented level in the KenPom era, which dates back 16 years. When an unstoppable force collides with an immovable object, we find out whether or not Isaiah Wilkins, the nation’s best front court defender, can slow down Bagley, who might end up being the No. 1 pick in the draft.
But there is more to that matchup than simply the nation’s best offense going up against the nation’s best defense.
RELATED: What is the Pack-Line defense and how does it work?
Tony Bennett, Virginia’s head coach, has become famous for his use of the Pack-Line defense, and the principles of the Pack-Line defense are really pretty simple: Don’t let the ball get into the paint and force teams to beat you with contested jumpers. The specifics are a little more complicated than that — three years ago, I broke down the defense in full — but for all intents and purposes, what you need to know is that if the ball gets into the painted area it means the defense has broken down.
The result is that Virginia does two things as well as anyone:
- They double the post on every post touch, and their defense moves so quickly that the double-team is typically there on the catch.
- They prioritize the defensive glass — something this team struggles with more than any Tony Bennett team of the past — and more or less cede the offensive glass to protect against transition points.
Duke’s offense runs through the post. They lead the nation is offensive rebounding percentage. They actively made the decision to sacrifice some of their defensive prowess in order to get both Bagley and Carter on the floor at the same time. Virginia’s defense is built around slowing those things down.
So like I said, what happens when an unstoppable force collides with an immovable object?
Which brings me back to Grayson Allen.
If Duke is going to take down Virginia, Allen is going to be so important. On the one hand, Allen is going to be chasing around Kyle Guy. Virginia doesn’t run isolations for any specific player at the end of a clock. What they do instead is run a player off of a series of screens, looking to get him freed up for a three or curling into the paint. They did it with Joe Harris. They did it with Malcolm Brogdon. They do it with Kyle Guy. Allen is going to play a major role in slowing that down.
He is also one of Duke’s resident shooters. He is the guy that Virginia is going to dare to beat them. Allen has played the background this year, but in the one game where he was forced to step into a more prominent role, he put up 37 points — 29 of which came in the final 21 minutes — on a top six team in the sport.
Duke is going to need Allen to show up like that again on Saturday if they want to beat Virginia and cut the Wahoos’ lead in the ACC to one game.
THE REST OF THE WEEKEND’S BIG GAMES
- No. 12 OKLAHOMA (-3) at ALABAMA, Sat. 2:15 p.m.: Trae Young vs. Collin Sexton. Sexton is finally healthy after missing a few games, and he will get the chance to square off with the best player in college basketball this season. I think the hyper-competitive Sexton shows up in a big way, puts up 35 and five assists and the Crimson Tide leave with a win.
- TEXAS A&M at No. 5 KANSAS (-7), Sat. 4:30 p.m.: Texas A&M badly needs to get this win, and I think they are going to be able to do it. The Aggies have struggled mightily in league play this season, losing six of their first eight games, but they have the biggest front line in the sport. Kansas? They don’t have the size or depth to handle any kind of foul trouble.
- KENTUCKY at No. 7 WEST VIRGINIA (-7), Sat. 7:00 p.m.: Press Virginia taking on a young Kentucky team with questionable decision-makers and not enough guards on the roster? Yeah. Give me the Mountaineers here.
It’s a big weekend for currently positioned SEC and Big 12 bubble teams. In particular, the SEC race is “bunched” in the middle right now, so potentially separating wins – like those available in the SEC / Big 12 challenge this weekend – could prove critically important down the road.
Exhibit A: This morning, six SEC teams fall within 12 seed list positions of each other, and those positions happen to fall along the cutline. There’s no question the SEC is a stronger, deeper league than its been in recent years. And that will ultimately help send additional teams to the tournament. But where that break-line ends up, and how future results coincide with seeding, remains an unanswered question. Thus, the opportunity for quality non-conference wins looms additionally large.
UPDATED: January 26, 2018
FIRST FOUR PAIRINGS – Dayton (First Round)
- South Carolina vs. Boise State | Midwest Region
- SMU vs. Missouri | West Region
- NICHOLLS ST vs. BETH-COOKMAN | East Region
- FLA GULF COAST vs. ARK-PINE BLUFF | Midwest Region
BRACKET PROJECTION
| EAST – Boston | MIDWEST – Omaha | |
| Pittsburgh | Detroit | |
| 1) VILLANOVA | 1) PURDUE | |
| 16) NICHOLLS ST / B-COOKMAN | 16) FL GULF CST / ARK-PB | |
| 8) Florida State | 8) TCU | |
| 9) Texas | 9) Arkansas | |
| Boise | San Diego | |
| 5) RHODE ISLAND | 5) Gonzaga | |
| 12) BUFFALO | 12) So Carolina / Boise St | |
| 4) Ohio State | 4) Clemson | |
| 13) E TENNESSEE ST | 13) BELMONT | |
| Nashville | Dallas | |
| 6) Kentucky | 6) Seton Hall | |
| 11) Houston | 11) Alabama | |
| 3) North Carolina | 3) CINCINNATI | |
| 14) VERMONT | 14) NORTHEASTERN | |
| Pittsburgh | Wichita | |
| 7) Creighton | 7) Arizona State | |
| 10) Washington | 10) Marquette | |
| 2) West Virginia | 2) Oklahoma | |
| 15) CANISIUS | 15) PENNSYLVANNIA | |
| WEST – Los Angeles | SOUTH – Atlanta | |
| Charlotte | Charlotte | |
| 1) Duke | 1) VIRGINIA | |
| 16) WAGNER | 16) RADFORD | |
| 8) NEVADA | 8) Michigan | |
| 9) Butler | 9) Providence | |
| Boise | Dallas | |
| 5) Florida | 5) Tennessee | |
| 12) NEW MEXICO ST | 12) LOYOLA-CHI | |
| 4) Michigan State | 4) Texas Tech | |
| 13) SOUTH DAKOTA ST | 13) LOUISIANA | |
| San Diego | Nashville | |
| 6) SAINT MARY’S | 6) Wichita State | |
| 11) Missouri / SMU | 11) MIDDLE TENNESSEE | |
| 3) ARIZONA | 3) AUBURN | |
| 14) MONTANA | 14) WRIGHT STATE | |
| Wichita | Detroit | |
| 7) Miami-FL | 7) Louisville | |
| 10) USC | 10) Kansas State | |
| 2) KANSAS | 2) Xavier | |
| 15) HAWAII | 15) BUCKNELL |
NOTES on the BRACKET: Villanova is the No. 1 overall seed – followed by Purdue, Virginia, and Duke
Last Four Byes (at large): Marquette, Washington, Alabama, Houston
Last Four IN (at large): SMU, Missouri, South Carolina, Boise State
First Four OUT (at large): Texas AM, NC State, Syracuse, Georgia
Next four teams OUT (at large): Notre Dame, LSU, Virginia Tech, Western Kentucky
Breakdown by Conference …
SEC (8): AUBURN, Tennessee, Florida, Kentucky, Arkansas, Alabama, Missouri, South Carolina
ACC (7): VIRGINIA, Duke, North Carolina, Clemson, Louisville, Miami-FL, Florida State
Big East (7): VILLANOVA, Xavier, Seton Hall, Creighton, Providence, Marquette, Butler
BIG 12 (7): KANSAS, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Texas Tech, TCU, Texas, Kansas State
Big 10 (4): PURDUE, Ohio State, Michigan State, Michigan
American (4): CINCINNATI, Wichita State, Houston, SMU
Pac 12 (4): ARIZONA, Arizona State, USC, Washington
West Coast (2): SAINT MARY’S, Gonzaga
Mountain West (1): NEVADA, Boise State
Atlantic 10 (1): RHODE ISLAND
ONE BID LEAGUES: Loyola-Chicago (MVC), Canisius (MAAC), Middle Tennessee (C-USA), Louisiana (SBELT), Penn (IVY), Montana (BSKY), Wright State (HORIZON), Nicholls State (SLND), East Tennessee State (STHN), Hawaii (BWEST), Buffalo (MAC), Florida Gulf Coast (ASUN), Belmont (OVC), Northeastern (CAA), Radford (BSO), Bethune-Cookman (MEAC), South Dakota State (SUM), New Mexico State (WAC), Vermont (AEAST), Bucknell (PAT), Wagner (NEC), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (SWAC)
Bracketing principles: read them for yourself at http://www.ncaa.com.
UConn is currently being investigated by the NCAA, the school confirmed on Thursday night to Jeff Jacobs, a longtime columnist in the state of Connecticut.
According to Jacobs, the investigation in some way involves UConn’s recruiting. Beyond that, we don’t really know much. UConn didn’t give away any secrets in the statement they released, and it’s unclear just how serious the accusations being investigated are.
But the investigation itself isn’t really what’s interesting here.
Kevin Ollie is what’s interesting.
It is not a secret that Ollie, who won the 2014 national title as the head coach of the Huskies, is in some hot water in the state. He’s missed two of the last three NCAA tournaments and has been just twice in his tenure as head coach. He’s coming off the first losing season for UConn in three decades. The coaching staff is turning over like crazy. Talented players are transferring anywhere else that will take them. It’s a mess.
And it’s one that UConn, in theory, is going to have to pay for. Ollie does not have a buyout in his contract. He’s owed what he’s owed, which is nearly $3.5 million per year for the next three years. But there is an out in his contract: He’s owed nothing if he’s fired for just cause.
Would an NCAA investigation into the UConn program that he is heading be just cause?
I think Husky fans would hope so.
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Sedrick Barefield scored 17 points and hit the tying 3-pointer with 1.8 seconds left in regulation, helping Utah knock off No. 21 Arizona State 80-77 in overtime Thursday night.
Utah (13-7, 5-4 Pac-12) led 79-77 late in overtime and had a chance to stretch it, but David Collette missed two free throws with 20.9 seconds left.
Arizona State (15-5, 3-5) missed two shots on the next possession and Barefield hit 1 of 2 free throws. The Sun Devils’ final shot, a running 3-pointer by Tra Holder at the buzzer, was nowhere close.
Arizona State went up three on Shannon Evans’ layup with 9 seconds in regulation, but opted not to foul and Barefield knocked down a 3-pointer to send it to overtime tied 69-all.
Barefield made all four of his 3-point attempts and the Utes went 14 of 32 from the arc to avenge an earlier loss to the Sun Devils.
Holder led Arizona State with 23 points.
Arizona State won the first meeting on Jan. 7 in Salt Lake City, grinding out an 80-77 victory despite committing 31 fouls and its top three frontcourt players fouling out.
The Sun Devils’ issue in the first half of the rematch: Defense.
After a good start , Arizona State repeatedly left shooters open on the perimeter and open lanes to the basket, allowing the Utes to build a 35-27 lead late in the half.
Johnson had 13 points by halftime and Utah made 7 of its 15 attempts from the 3-point arc to lead 40-33.
The Sun Devils tightened up defensively to open the second half, pulling within three after Utah missed eight of its first nine shots.
The Utes continued to clank shots, but Arizona State had a hard time capitalizing as Utah pushed the lead back to eight.
Martin brought the big-run Sun Devils back. He hit a pair of 3-pointerswhile scoring 10 straight points to put Arizona State up 57-55.
Evans followed with a 3-pointer to make it a 13-0 run, but the Utes fought their way back.
BIG PICTURE
Utah was unable to close out its first game against Arizona State, but picked up a crucial win by making the plays down the stretch in the rematch.
Arizona State is in danger of dropping out of the AP Top 25 after losing for the fifth time in eight games.
UP NEXT
Utah: At No. 11 Arizona Saturday.
Arizona State: Hosts Colorado on Saturday.
1. ARIZONA STATE LOST AT HOME TO UTAH
Whatever deal Arizona State had with the devil for the first month of the season, it has expired. The Sun Devils are now 3-5 in the Pac-12 after falling to Utah at home in overtime on Thursday night. They are a full four games out of first place in the conference race, and if it wasn’t for a three-point win at Utah and a two-point over Oregon State at home, the only conference win that Bobby Hurley’s club would have to their name would be against Cal.
And frankly, this was the easiest decline to predict.
The Sun Devils have a roster full of talented guards that do nothing but fire up tough shots. They also don’t play any defense. Once they started facing better defenses and and opponents that knew them — and knew how to attack them offensively — this was the only possible result.
This is who the Sun Devils are. A middle of the Pac-12 team with enough firepower that, when they’re hot, can beat anyone.
But they are just as likely to get upset in March as they are to pull an upset.
2. THERE WAS A WILD FINISH IN COLUMBUS THAT CHANGED THE BIG TEN RACE
No. 13 Ohio State suffered their first loss in Big Ten play on Thursday night in an absolute thriller.
Trailed by nine points with less than two minutes left on the clock, but they went on an 11-2 run thank to three threes from Keita Bates-Diop. The third was from 30 feet and came with just five seconds left on the clock, so of course Penn State answered when Tony Carr banked in a 40-footer at the buzzer.
The loss dropped the Buckeyes one game off the pace in the Big Ten race, as No. 3 Purdue knocked off No. 25 Michigan in West Lafayette. Ohio State only plays Purdue once this season, and it is at Purdue.
We wrote a long feature on the Boilermakers today. If you are a Purdue fan, you will like it.
3. THE TAD BOYLE-SEAN MILLER BEEF DIED A QUICK DEATH
To recap: Sean Miller, Arizona’s head coach, was tied up in the FBI’s investigation into corruption in college basketball. Colorado beat Arizona in Boulder earlier this year. After the game, Tad Boyle was very clear when saying how much he enjoyed beating Arizona. He said the same about USC, and when Colorado played at USC the next week, Andy Enfield called a timeout with 20 seconds left and the game already in hand.
Unfortunately, it seems like that was the end of it.
No. 14 Arizona knocked off Colorado in Tucson on Thursday night, 80-71, but there were no fireworks. There was no argument in the handshake line or any unnecessary timeouts called; trust me, Sean Miller would call a timeout if he wanted to make a point.
Anyway, Allonzo Trier continued to play great this season, finishing with 23 points and three assists on 8-for-13 shooting.
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