January 17, 2022 

Daily Briefing — Jan. 17, 2022: Triple-double trouble

The UCF Knights deserve your respect

It’s Monday, I’m sorry. Welcome to The Next’s Daily Briefing, featuring the W Roundup, daily Watch List, and Yesterday’s Recap! Day 69 of college basketball is here, with a nice — nay, excellent — slate of games to kick off the week. This follows yesterday’s frenzied action, inducing the most ridiculous comeback of the year and yet another Caitlin Clark triple-double — the Iowa point guard now has the third-highest percent of games as trip-dubs in the Her Hoop Stats era.

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Note: TDB is compiled before the weekly AP Poll. All rankings herein are as of Jan. 16.

(All times in Eastern)

Watch List, Monday, Jan. 17

Must-watch

#10 UConn @ Oregon, 5 p.m., ESPN2

Good games

Princeton @ Penn, 2 p.m., ESPN+

#22 Colorado @ Oregon State, 5 p.m., Oregon State live stream

Also watchable

Tulane @ Houston, 3 p.m., ESPN+

#17 Georgia @ RV* Mizzou, 7 p.m., SEC Network

Sickos games

None


Sunday, Jan. 16 recap

#1 South Carolina: 61-52 win over Arkansas. Held the Razorbacks to 28.3% shooting; were a +20 in rebounding margin; committed 19 turnovers; forced 18 fouls. Center Aliyah Boston led with a double-double of 19 points on 6-for-13 shooting (0-2 3pt., 7-7 FT) and 13 rebounds (five offensive) against three turnovers; point guard Destanni Henderson matched those game-high 19 points on 7-for-17 from the field and 4-for-7 from three with three assists against four turnovers; wing Zia Cooke had four points on just 1-for-7 FG (0-2 3pt.) and four rebounds against four turnovers.

#2 Stanford: 83-73 win over Utah. The Cardinal opened on a 10-2 run, but trailed by 13 near the end of the first half; trailed in the mid-fourth before reeling off a 12-1 run. The teams shot a combined 40.0% from three; Stanford was a +13 in rebounding; the teams each committed 19 fouls. Center Cameron Brink was, once again, limited to just 24 minutes by foul trouble, but still finished with a game-high 24 points on 9-for-12 FG (6-9 FT) and 11 rebounds (seven offensive) for a double-double and four fouls; wing Lexie Hull had 21 points on 5-for-10 from three (1-9 from two), eight rebounds (five offensive), four assists, and two steals against five turnovers.

#3 Louisville: 63-53 win over Boston College. Trailed by 10 after the first quarter but won the second 22-5. Shot 40.0% from three while allowing just 2-for-15 from deep; committed 22 fouls; the teams combined for 45 turnovers. Wing Kianna Smith led with a game-high 18 points on 8-for-13 shooting (2-3 3pt.), three rebounds, and two assists against three turnovers; combo guard Hailey Van Lith scored 16 points on 6-for-16 from the field (1-3 3pt.) with two turnovers and four fouls in 29 minutes.

#4 N.C. State, #16 Duke: The Wolfpack beat the Blue Devils 84-60. N.C. State shot 46.7% from three while holding Duke to 36.1% from the field with just nine free-throw attempts; the Blue Devils committed 17 turnovers. The Wolfpack were led by center Elissa Cunane’s 23 points on 9-for-17 FG (0-1 3pt., 5-6 FT) and six rebounds without a turnover in 27 minutes; combo forward Jada Body notched 10 points on 4-for-6 shooting (1-1 3pt.) and seven rebounds off the bench; point guard Raina Perez had 10 points on 4-for-11 from the field (2-3 3pt.), four rebounds, and three assists without a turnover. Point guard Shayeann Day-Wilson led Duke with 14 points on 6-for-14 from the field and 2-for-8 from three, four rebounds, and four assists against six turnovers; Goodchild added 12 points on 4-for-8 from three (0-1 from two) with two assists against four turnovers.

#5 Tennessee, #19 Kentucky: The Vols beat the Wildcats 84-58. Tennessee shot 50.0% from three; Kentucky had only eight free-throw attempts; the Vols won the rebounding battle by 21, including 21 offensive boards; the teams combined for 37 turnovers. Tennessee was led by wing Rae Burrell’s 14 points on 5-for-8 from the field and 4-for-4 from three and three rebounds in 23 minutes off the bench; backup center Keyen Green had 14 points on 5-for-9 FG (4-6 FT), seven rebounds (six offensive), and three assists against two turnovers; point wing Jordan Horston notched 11 points on 5-for-13 shooting (1-2 3pt.), seven rebounds, five assists, and four turnovers. Wildcat wing Rhyne Howard had a game-high 24 points on 11-for-21 from the field (1-4 3pt.), five rebounds, three assists, and four steals against six turnovers and four fouls.

#6 Indiana: 73-68 overtime win over Purdue, missing starting center Mackenzie Holmes (knee) and combo guard Nicole Cardaño-Hillary (COVID protocols). The Boilermakers had a 97.5% win expectancy with a four-point lead and 25 seconds remaining, before allowing a three, committing a turnover, and allowing a go-ahead jumper, giving the Hoosiers a 60-59 lead and 94.0% chance with two seconds left; Indiana then fouled combo guard Abbey Ellis, giving Purdue a 76.1% chance to win (based on Ellis’ career free-throw accuracy) — Ellis missed the first and made the second to force overtime, where the Hoosiers scored the first six points.

Indiana drew 18 fouls. Point guard Grace Berger had a game-high 24 points on 9-for-17 from the field and 6-for-8 from the line, six rebounds, and six assists against two turnovers in 45 minutes; big Aleksa Gulbe scored 21 points on 8-for-11 shooting (3-4 3pt.), with nine rebounds and two assists against three turnovers in 44 minutes.

#8 Maryland, #11 Michigan: The Wolverines beat the Terps 69-49. Michigan led by 10 points after the first quarter, before the teams combined for 11 second-quarter points while shooting 4-for-23 from the field and 3-for-14 from three in 10 minutes meant to test the very foundation of basketball. The Wolverines outshot Maryland by 16.8% from the field and 25.0% from three, while grabbing 15 more rebounds; the teams combined for 36 turnovers. No Terp reached double-digit scoring.

Off-ball guard Maddie Nolan led Michigan with a career-high-tying 21 points on a career-high-7-for-11 from three (0-2 from two) with five rebounds and three assists against two turnovers; wing Leigha Brown had 15 points on 7-for-12 shooting (1-3 3pt.), three rebounds, four assists, and three steals against six turnovers; Naz Hillmon had nine points and eight rebounds (six offensive) and two blocks on just 4-for-6 FG in 32 minutes — tied for her fewest attempts since the 2020 Big Ten tournament. Maryland was led by big Angel Reese’s nine points on just 2-for-13 FG (0-2 3pt.), 10 rebounds (four offensive), three assists, three steals, and two blocks against four turnovers.

#12 LSU: 82-64 win over Vanderbilt. Shot 58.3% from the field; drew 18 fouls. Center Faustine Aifuwa scored a team-high 20 points on 10-for-12 FG with seven rebounds (three offensive) and two assists against three turnovers and three fouls in 29 minutes; combo guard Alexis Morris tied those 20 points on 9-for-13 from the field (1-3 3pt.) with seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals against five turnovers; point guard Khayla Pointer had 17 points on 7-for-10 shooting (0-2 3pt.), seven rebounds, seven assists, four steals, and two turnovers.

#14 Baylor: 82-79 win over Kansas. The Jayhawks had a 99.1% win expectancy after forcing a missed layup with a four-point lead and 17 seconds left; the Bears got the rebound and hit a kick-out three, then stole the inbounds and were fouled on the action, taking the lead at the line. The lead changed hands six times in the fourth quarter. Baylor shot 48.3% from three on 29 attempts, but allowed Kansas to go 50.0% from the field and 10-for-19 from deep; the Bears assisted on 24 of their 29 buckets; drew 19 fouls. Combo guard Sarah Andrews led with a game-high 25 points on 7-for-10 from three (1-4 from two), four offensive rebounds, six assists, and two steals; off-ball guard Ja’Mee Asberry scored 20 points on 6-for-11 from three (0-1 from two) with five rebounds and two assists without a turnover; big NaLyssa Smith notched a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double on 6-for-22 shooting (0-1 3pt., 3-6 FT) with six offensive boards and two assists against three turnovers; center Queen Egbo tallied 10 points on 4-for-9 FG and 10 rebounds for a double-double, plus two blocks against three turnovers.

#15 Georgia Tech: 46-45 loss to Miami. Led by nine in the closing seconds of the third quarter, before committing seven turnovers in the fourth. The Yellow Jackets shot 28.6% from the field and 15.4% from three; allowed just seven free-throw attempts; assisted on 12 of their 16 buckets — which, I can’t tell if that’s actually good? — drew 18 fouls. Center Nerea Hermosa scored a game-high-tying 12 points on 5-for-12 FG with six rebounds (four offensive), two assists, and two steals against three turnovers; point guard Lotta-Maj Lahtinen and combo guard Eylia Love combined for 17 points on 6-for-26 from the field and 2-for-7 from three, 10 rebounds, and five turnovers; big Lorela Cubaj had six points on 1-for-6 shooting (0-2 3pt.), 10 rebounds, five assists, and four turnovers.

#20 Notre Dame, #21 North Carolina: The Irish beat the Tar Heels 70-65. North Carolina led by as many as nine in the second quarter before Notre Dame went ahead for good in the third. The teams each shot 37.3% from the field; the Irish took 16 more free-throws; Notre Dame assisted on 18 of its 22 buckets; North Carolina committed 18 turnovers and 20 fouls. Combo guard Dara Mabrey led the Irish with a game-high 24 points on 8-for-16 from the field and 3-for-13 from three, two assists, and three steals against two turnovers; center Maya Dodson had 10 points on 3-for-10 FG (4-6 FT) and 11 rebounds (five offensive) for a double-double, plus four blocks without a turnover; wing Sonia Citron had a double-double off the bench with 12 points on 2-for-4 from three (0-4 from two) and 10 rebounds against three fouls in 24 minutes. The Heels were led by combo guard Deja Kelly’s 22 points on 7-for-21 form the field and 4-for-9 from three with five assists against five turnovers; big wing Alyssa Ustby had 15 points on 7-for-20 shooting (0-2 3pt.), six rebounds, two assists, and three blocks against five turnovers and four unintentional fouls in 38 minutes; wing Kennedy Todd-Williams tallied 13 points on 5-for-10 FG (1-4 3pt.), five rebounds, four assists, and three turnovers.

#24 South Florida: 67-51 loss to UCF, a very good team despite not having received a single vote in the polls this year 🧐 The Knights led wire-to-wire and by as many as 23 in round one of what is effectively the AAC regular-season championship, including an 18-9 second quarter. The Bulls shot 38.0% from the field and 25.0% from three while allowing 49.1% overall and 50.0% from deep; committed 19 fouls. Big Bethy Mununga had a double-double with 12 points on 5-for-12 shooting (0-1 3pt.) and 11 rebounds (four offensive), plus four assists, two steals, and three blocks; center Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu scored 12 points on 6-for-9 FG with eight rebounds and two steals against three turnovers and four fouls in 35 minutes; combo guard Elena Tsineke notched 12 points on 3-for-6 from the field (1-2 3pt.), three rebounds, and seven turnovers. UCF point guard Diamond Battles scored a game-high 19 points on 8-for-16 shooting (3-4 3pt.) with two assists and two turnovers; wing Tay Sanders had 18 points on 7-for-11 FG (1-2 3pt., 3-6 FT), two assists, and two steals against two turnovers; combo guard Alisha Lewis notched 12 points on 4-for-11 from the field and 2-for-6 from three, four rebounds, six assists, and four steals without a turnover in 40 minutes.

RV Iowa, RV Nebraska: The Hawkeyes beat the Huskers 93-83, Nebraska playing without its two best players in point guard Sam Haiby and combo guard Jaz Shelley. The Huskers led by 16 after a 30-14 first quarter, but lost the second 27-12. Nebraska shot 46.7% from three; Iowa went 31-for-34 at the line, while the Huskers had eight free-throw attempts; Nebraska committed 28 fouls. Hawkeye point guard Caitlin Clark had her third triple-double of the season with 31 points (9-22 FG, 1-4 3pt., 12-12 FT), 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, plus four steals and two blocks against three turnovers in 37 minutes; center Monika Czinano matched those game-high 31 points on 11-for-17 from the field and 9-for-10 form the line with six rebounds. Center Alexis Markowski led the Huskers with a career-high 27 points on 10-for-12 from the field and 6-for-7 from three — nearly doubling her career threes (she’s a freshman, but still) — with four rebounds and two steals and three intentional fouls in 26 minutes; combo forward Isabella Bourne had 15 points on 6-for-12 shooting (1-3 3pt.), four rebounds, and three assists.

Ole Miss: 86-71 Egg Bowl win over Mississippi State. Shakira Austin and Donnetta Johnson had double-doubles and Anastasia Hayes had 24/4/3/3 (pts/reb/ast/stl) alongside an efficient Rickea Jackson 22-pointer that included three threes. But what I’m most interested in is the fact that Ole Miss took 71 shot-attempts and only five threes? That’s the first time a team has taken that many shots with so few behind the arc in two years, per Her Hoop Stats. And Austin, the team’s center, had two of their three made threes??

Blown leads

IUPUI: 76-68 overtime win over Youngstown State, the Horizon League preseason favorite nearly falling to its projected-seventh team. The Penguins — the Penguins! I love it — had above a 99% win expectancy for about two minutes straight to nearly close out regulation, holding an eight-point lead with 2:12 to go and a five-point lead with fourteen seconds left. Across the final mind-bending 2:12 of regulation, Youngstown State went 6-for-8 from the line, a quite-good rate that wasn’t enough because it also committed three turnovers and allowed the Jaguars to go 5-for-6 from the field, including 3-for-3 from three and two layups and an and-one — despite IUPUI also committing two turnovers.

This is the strangest comeback I have seen this year.

IUPUI opened overtime with an 11-1 run, finally letting the Penguins score a second point with 35 seconds left.

Cancellations

The Virginia and Virginia Tech games were postponed due to the mid-Atlantic winter storm.

  • #22 Colorado vs. California
  • RV Virginia Tech vs. Clemson
  • Virginia vs. Syracuse
  • Green Bay vs. Purdue-Fort Wayne
  • Binghamton vs. Maine
  • Elon vs. UNC-Wilmington
*Receiving Votes

Written by Em Adler

Em Adler (she/her) covers the WNBA at large and college basketball for The Next, with a focus on player development and the game behind the game.

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