Iowa State Cyclones NCAA Basketball News

When Phil Jackson looks to hire a new head coach of the New York Knicks , he'll need to pursue candidates who can establish a strong team culture.

ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND EDITIONS APRIL 20-21 - FILE - In this Feb. 16, 2013, file photo, UNLV's Bryce Dejean-Jones, left, and San Diego State's DeShawn Stephens dive for a loose ball in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Las Vegas.

The Big 12 might not have been the best league in college basketball last season, but with seven teams making the NCAA tournament, it was arguably the country's most competitive conference.

Fran Fraschilla has not seen Gophers recruit Gaston Diedhiou play in person. But the ESPN basketball analyst and former college coach is an authority on international players -- and he's heard the 6-foot-9, 230-pound forward from Senegal "has raw ability."

The Big 12 Conference has announced its Scholar-Athlete of the Year recipients for the 2014 winter sport season.

Willliams finished inside, showed great range, rebounded, put the ball on the floor and scored in half-court sets and in transition.

The Iowa State Cyclones added some needed help in the backcourt Sunday when former UNLV guard Bryce Dejean-Jones announced he would transfer to Ames.

Canty, a freshman who led Marshall in scoring and assists this past season, won his appeal Friday before a three-member committee and was granted release from his scholarship.

Dejean-Jones , a shooting guard who led the Runnin' Rebels with 13.6 points a game last season, told The Associated Press in a phone interview on Sunday that he decided Iowa State was the right fit after visiting Ames over the weekend.

The Iowa State Police arrested Nader around 11:40 p.m. Saturday on suspicion that he was operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

I thoroughly enjoyed March Madness, both the men's and women's versions. For three weeks in the early days of the spring season, I renew my subscription with college basketball and am edutained on all things March Madness.

A federal judge has set a May 14 sentencing date for a Mississippi man who pleaded guilty to making ricin and sending letters dusted with the poison to President Barack Obama and other officials.

Marshall initially denied Canty's transfer request. The Charleston Daily Mail reports Canty won his appeal Friday before a school committee.

Iowa State has given coach Fred Hoiberg a $600,000 a year raise, bumping his average annual salary to $2.6 million in an effort to keep "The Mayor" in Ames for life.

The 2014 NCAA Tournament -- thanks in part to a record-setting seven overtime games -- had a number of great moments and incredible finishes.

PERCY OUT. Percy Gibson is taking his left arm and transferring to a new school .

Both UConn and Kentucky can be deserving national champions. Neither team is unequivocally the best in college basketball.

Gibson, a 6-foot-9 native of Detroit, played in just 14 games for Iowa State last season despite the team's occasional struggles inside.

ARLINGTON, Tex. - Connecticut has players who have been here before. Kentucky has players who haven't been anywhere in college basketball before.

DeAndre Daniels scored 27 points on 10- of-15 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds, as Connecticut weathered a late charge from Iowa State and held on for an 81-76 win at Madison Square Garden.