Sam Young News

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Not shockingly, like in one of those time-lapse videos of sprouting weeds, the breathtakingly fictitious rumors and unsubstantiated character assaults burst forth this week.

Two goals each from Joe Opara, Olly Willy and Harry Willicombe, together with other contributions from Caelan Striker-Jones and Hugh Meatyard saw Thornhill make it an impressive nine wins from nine starts this season.

No one is going to confuse Fifth and Forbes with Tobacco Road, but a recent resurgence is enhancing its roundball reputation.

Scottie Reynolds drove to the basket for the winning layup with 0.5 seconds remaining, and Villanova gained a berth in the Final Four with a dramatic 78-76 win over Pittsburgh in the East Regional final of the NCAA Tournament.

Less than two weeks away from the start of the college basketball season, expectations in Pittsburgh are high for freshman Dante Taylor.

There is something profound about the flipping of that calendar from October to November, an inescapable melancholia linked suspiciously, I think, to a passage from Thoreau: As fruits and leaves and the day itself acquire a bright tint just before they fall, so the year nears its setting.

The University of Pittsburgh men's basketball team held its annual Blue-Gold Scrimmage on Tuesday night , giving fans their first taste of this year's new-look Panthers squad.

After missing the playoffs despite winning 21 games, SRU men's basketball coach Kevin Reynolds learned the importance of one game.

Pitt men's basketball was chosen to finish ninth in the Big East Conference in the annual preseason poll of the league's coaches on Wednesday.

Pitt is so young and inexperienced this season, even its winning tradition couldn't sway Big East coaches.

NEW YORK - The Big East Conference men's basketball heavyweights of a year ago are gone, but Wednesday in Madison Square Garden, league members touted the wealth of contenders lurking in the middleweight ranks.

Durand Johnson 's summer on the AAU circuit couldna t have gone much better. The 6-foot-7 shooting guard, who has transferred to Lake Clifton after spending the past two years at Parkville, suited up for Cecil Kirk and promptly earned offers from a host of high- and mid-major schools.

High on Jamie Dixon's to-do list this preseason is a re-emphasis on defense. The men's basketball program at Pitt was built on it and became defined by it.

Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon sits between Ashton Gibbs, left, and Travon Woodall as they get photos taken during media day yesterday.

Levittown - On DeJuan Blair's first day of practice two years ago, Pitt coach Jamie Dixon wouldn't acknowledge his prize recruit might start as a freshman, even if it was obvious.

Coach Lionel Hollins said he had intended to put his starters back into Wednesday night's preseason game with about five minutes to go.

The Grizzlies used an 11-3 run in the fourth quarter, sparked by the play of rookie Sam Young, to break open a tie game and hold on for their first victory.

Coach: Jamie Dixon . Last season's record: 31-5 overall, 15-3 in Big East . Postseason: Lost in fourth round of NCAA tournament to Villanova.

I usually try to be optimistic, so let's start with the good news: yesterday, The Wannstache got a verbal commitment from QB Anthony Gonzalez, the AP Pennsylvania Player of the Year last season.

Ever since the Official addition of NBA Super Star Allen Iverson to the Grizzlies Roster, their Round Town Block Parties have been a hit throughout the Memphis area.. It's no different Thursday in Cordova at the Bert Ferguson Community Center.. Despite the fact that Iverson is in Europe on a Reebok Promotional Tour, Grizzlies fans just can't get ...