Tag: Jon Rothstein

J.R. Konieczny to return from foot injury for Notre Dame’s home finale

J.R. Konieczny had soreness in his right foot and missed Notre Dame’s victory over Wake Forest.

[autotag]J.R. Konieczny[/autotag] had soreness in his right foot and missed Notre Dame’s victory over Wake Forest. It was the first time this season he hadn’t appeared in a game. However, that appeared to only be a brief absence as Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports has tweeted the following ahead of the Irish’s home finale Saturday:

Obviously, it is unknown how much action Konieczny will see against Clemson. He hasn’t played more than 18 minutes over his past five games, none of which he started. He started his previous five games before that and shot 14 of 52 from the field during that stretch (26.9%). Since then, he’s shot a more respectable 11 of 23 (47.8%).

Fighting Irish Wire will be on hand to cover the men’s basketball team’s final home game this season as well as the women’s team’s sold-out home finale Sunday against Louisville. Both teams have being playing well lately, so now is a good time to catch them.

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Notre Dame’s Julian Roper II cleared for all basketball activities

That’s definitely a relief.

Notre Dame’s 2023-24 roster was brought together practically on the fly. As soon as he was hired, [autotag]Micah Shrewsberry[/autotag] had to string together a group of transfers and his 2023 Penn State recruiting class.

One transfer, [autotag]Julian Roper II[/autotag] from Northwestern, was coming off an ankle injury. Fortunately, Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports is reporting that that’s no longer a concern:

Roper’s injury kept him from participating in the final month and a half of the Wildcats’ surprising run to the NCAA Tournament, only the second berth in that program’s history. He undoubtedly is looking for a new start after last season ended in disappointment. Most importantly, he’ll be available to start the new season.

The Irish will get their first look at opposing competition when they participate in a secret scrimmage Sunday at Xavier. They’ll play an exhibition Nov. 1 against Hanover, and the season starts when they welcome Niagara to Purcell Pavilion on Nov. 6.

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Report: Big Ten considering limited conference basketball tournament after expansion

Report: Big Ten considering limited conference basketball tournament after expansion

Here’s something that won’t matter for another year and a half. CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein reported earlier today that the Big Ten is moving towards restricting its conference tournament to 14-15 teams once the conference expands to 18 during the 2024-25 season.

Put in other words: The Big Ten is expanding to 18 schools for the 2024 football season and 2024-25 basketball season. Oregon, Washington, UCLA and USC are joining the conference, if you’ve been living under a rock for the last two years.

At that point, the Big Ten is moving towards restricting its end-of-season basketball tournament to only 14-15 teams, as it is currently formatted. That would leave 3-4 schools out of the tournament, depending on the regular season standings.

This may not be decided on for some time, and again won’t affect the sport for a year and a half. But with UCLA (No. 32 in KenPom), USC (No. 30), Washington (No. 59) and Oregon (No. 51) joining, there is sure to be continued separation between the top of the conference and the bottom.

That separation should make this decision easy, as a 18-team tournament would be a bit excessive before the NCAA Tournament begins. Rothstein’s reported solution that makes a ton of sense as we enter into the new world of the Big Ten.

Kebba Njie to make Notre Dame debut against Maryland Eastern Shore

Good news for the Irish.

Notre Dame was missing some of its height during its first four games, which it split. That issue will be resolved beginning Wednesday against Maryland Eastern Shore. [autotag]Kebba Njie[/autotag], the 6-foot-10 forward who transferred from Penn State after [autotag]Micah Shrewsberry[/autotag] was hired from there, has recovered from his injury and will play according CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein:

Shrewsberry alluded to this possibility when he met with the media Tuesday:

“He did a bunch of rehab stuff (in New York). He’s practiced with us the last couple of days. Barring any setbacks, we hope to have him here (Wednesday) and beyond. We do need him. We need his voice. We need his rebounding, his ability to get us easy baskets in the paint.

He settles us a little bit. His presence defensively, he’s probably our most important defensive piece. We’ll put him in a bubble the next couple days and hope nobody bumps into him.”

Well, he’s healthy enough to play now. That’s good news for everybody.

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CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein ranks Texas A&M Basketball in the Top 15 of his ‘Rothstein 45’

Ahead of Texas A&M’s 2023-2024 college basketball season, CBS Sport’s Jon Rothstein personally ranks the Aggies in his Top 15 team rankings.

Even though Texas A&M’s 2023 football season hasn’t delivered on its hefty preseason promises, have no fear because the 2023-2024 college basketball season is right around the corner. Head coach Buzz Williams’ 15th-ranked squad is ready to take on the challenges ahead and meet their preseason expectations.

On paper, the Aggies return four out of five starters from last season, headlined by preseason SEC Player of the Year, junior point guard Wade Taylor. Filling out the backcourt, senior do-it-all guard Tyrece “Boots” Radford brings a wealth of skill and experience to the table. In contrast, the starting forward tandem of senior duo Henry Coleman and Julius Marble is as formidable as it gets in near the basket.

From a depth perspective, guards Manny Obaseki, Hayden Hefner, and freshman sharpshooter Bryce Lindsay can heat up on offense at any moment, while fan-favorite forward Andersson Garcia, who quite literally saved the Aggies in several games last season due to his elite defensive skillset. Oh, and while current Dallas Maverick Dexter Dennis is the only departed 2022 starter, transfer portal additions Eli Lawrence and Jace Carter will likely fill his small forward spot as we advance.

On Tuesday, CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jon Rothstein continued his “Rothstein 45” rankings countdown, and coming in at No. 13, Texas A&M’s hot finish in the 2022 regular at least has Rothstein mightily intrigued:

“No. 13 in the Rothstein 45, the Texas A&M Aggies, and the Buzz is palpable in College Station, and that’s for good reason. Buzz Williams and Texas A&M return the highes percentage among SEC teams, and this year’s rendition of the Aggies should be Williams’ best since he arrived in College Station from Virgina Tech. The backbone of the best team’s Williams has coached in his career has been veteran guard play; we saw it at Marquette with Junior Cadougan, we saw it at Virgina Tech with Justin Robinson. Wade Taylor IV is next in line to take that baton, and he is very much an SEC Player of the Year candidate in 2023-2024.” 

After reportedly defeating Baylor in a closed scrimmage, the hype has continued to escalate. If Rothstein is as excited about Texas A&M as much of the Aggie fan base, that’s surely a positive sign.

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College Basketball’s Insider Jon Rothstein ranks Rutgers basketball No. 43

Jon Rothstein, host of the College Hoops Today podcast, ranks the Scarlet Knights No. 43 in Rothstein’s 45 rankings.

Monday will mark six weeks until Rutgers basketball opens the season against Princeton Jon Rothstein, host of the College Hoops Today podcast, ranks the 2023-24 Scarlet Knights No. 43 in his ‘Rothstein 45.’

Rothstein, a CBS Sports analyst, breaks down Rutgers basketball as head coach Steve Pikiell and the Scarlet Knights prepare for the 2023-24 season.

ROTHSTEIN 45

The college basketball analyst believes Pikiell has built a contender for the NCAA Tournament in Piscataway, New Jersey. Rutgers has an All-American returning to their center position, with Cliff Omoruyi returning for the 2023-24 season. Omoruyi played and started in all 34 games last year, leading the team with 13.2 points and 9.6 rebounds.

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Also, Pikiell has a few newcomers on his roster, headlined by top 50 freshman guard Gavin Griffiths and UMass transfer guard Noah Fernandez. Fernandez averaged a team-leading 13.4 points, 4.1 assists, and 2.5 rebounds in 11 games last season while playing at UMass.

Griffiths and Fernandez will play alongside sophomore guard Derek Simpson, who averaged 7.1 points per game last year.

Rutgers senior forward Aundre Hyatt will return to the Scarlet Knights, electing to play his last year of eligibility. Also, forward Mawot Mag will return for the 2023-24 season after his season-ending ACL injury last year. Mag is a six-foot-seven wing and is one of the most athletic players on the Scarlet Knights’ roster.

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Oklahoma in the field for 2024 ‘Battle 4 Atlantis’ tournament

Oklahoma looks set to join the 2024 ‘Battle 4 Atlantis’ in-season tournament.

Oklahoma basketball will take a trip to the Bahamas next season. College basketball insider Jon Rothstein name-dropped the Sooners as one of eight teams that will play in one of college basketball’s most coveted early-season tournaments, “Battle 4 Atlantis.”

This year’s tournament features a slew of talented programs, as Villanova, Texas Tech, Michigan, Memphis, Arkansas, Stanford, North Carolina, and Northern Iowa all are slated to participate.

Two of this year’s participants are already on Oklahoma’s schedule as Arkansas, and Oklahoma will lace up their sneaks and play at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Towards the end of their non-conference slate, Oklahoma will travel to Charlotte, North Carolina, to take on the Tarheels for the Jumpman Invitational.

Oklahoma was previously supposed to participate in this year’s Battle 4 Atlantis. Oklahoma’s likely inclusion in the Rady Children’s Invitational probably was the difference in them not participating this year. The Sooners will take up that offer for the 2024 season, though.

Next year’s field will include Arizona, Indiana, Gonzaga, West Virginia, Lousiville, Creighton, and Davidson. It’s a field loaded with several big-time college basketball brands like Indiana, Gonzaga, Arizona, and Lousiville.

Creighton has been a formidable program for a while and should not be slept on. Davidson is the alma mater of NBA superstar Steph Curry and is a tough team from the A-10.

Oklahoma has quite a bit of familiarity with West Virginia from all their battles in the Big 12. However, Oklahoma’s move to the SEC will mark the first time the schools will meet as nonconference foes since West Virginia joined the Big 12 in 2012.

The tournament usually coincides with the Thanksgiving holiday. It gives family, friends, and fans of all the participating programs a unique high-level basketball experience in a tropical paradise every participant can be thankful for.

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Jon Rothstein projects the Rutgers basketball starting five

Jon Rothstein projects the Rutgers men’s basketball starting lineup.

Put it in pen: Rutgers basketball has a starting five according to Jon Rothstein. The college basketball insider has spoken following his time spent at the team’s facility this week.

The lineup projection isn’t much of a surprise, but the inclusion of a true freshman is particularly interesting or perhaps, more apropos, intriguing.

Four-star Gavin Griffiths, the highest-ranked player to ever sign with Rutgers, is in the starting five at small forward according to Rothstein. The 6-foot-6 forward from Connecticut was ranked the No. 12 small forward in the nation according to ESPN.

Why is this significant? Rothstein was at the men’s basketball practice on Thursday, giving him up close access. Seeing Griffiths work out and perform in person is just further validation that the program landed someone who can contribute and help immediately.

 

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Rothstein also has Mawot Mag, injured last season in the win at Madison Square Garden over Michigan State, in his starting lineup. Mag likely won’t be ready at the start of the season but his loss last season was noticeable, coinciding with the team’s drop in form.

Again, like the news about Griffiths, the inclusion of Mag in the starting lineup at some point this upcoming season is a nice little nugget from Rothstein. Not shocking, but just good confirmation about the player’s progress this offseason.

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Griffiths adds a true shooter’s touch to the lineup, with the ability to stretch the floor. He has a very polished outside game.

With a healthy Mag and the insertion of [autotag]Noah Fernandes[/autotag], a transfer from UMass, the Rutgers lineup should get the Scarlet Knights back to the postseason.

Rothstein is a college basketball insider for CBS Sports and creates content for Fan Duel.

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National college basketball expert offers bold assessment of Boogie Ellis

Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports thinks Boogie, not Isaiah Collier, should be preseason #Pac12 Player of the Year. That’s worth exploring.

CBS Sports college basketball insider Jon Rothstein recently attended a USC basketball practice. Rothstein is high on the Trojans this season, as are we. This is a special roster (even if Bronny James isn’t able to play in the first several weeks of the season, or at any point in the season). This is a unique and rare chance for USC to become a big hitter in the Pac-12 and college basketball. Rothstein understands that.

Part of why USC has a chance to be great this season is the fact that Boogie Ellis has returned for one more year.

Rothstein is so high on Boogie because he’s hugely experienced and has already proved he can consistently score at the collegiate level.

Rothstein made the case that Boogie Ellis should be the preseason Pac-12 Player of the Year heading into November. Rothstein’s argument is as follows:

“It’s so rare that a player who averaged over 17 points per game after his fourth year opts to come back, but USC has that,” Rothstein said.

We’re not going to disagree with Rothstein, because his logic is sound. What we’re going to do is simply raise the question: Is Boogie Ellis being the Pac-12 Player of the Year the very best outcome for USC hoops?

If a USC player is POY and not an Arizona player, that in itself is very good news. It would likely mean the Trojans beat out the Wildcats for the Pac-12 championship. However, one could make the argument that USC will be its very best self — and will reach its absolute ceiling as a team — if Isaiah Collier is the best player on the team. Collier, not Boogie, is a lottery-pick-level talent. Collier will have the ball in his hands more. Collier will initiate more of the USC offense than Boogie will.

Maybe it’s better if Collier is the Pac-12 Player of the Year.

However, if Boogie — who, as Rothstein noted, is already a proven scorer — makes another big leap forward and elevates his game to another level, that would indicate that Collier is putting him in a position to succeed on a regular basis. It would mean that USC’s most gifted and natural scorer is a much better scorer than he was last year, maybe to the tune of 23 or 24 points per game.

If Boogie does average that many points per game, the only added detail to inquire about would be his efficiency. Is he getting 23 points on 15 shots, or 25? If he’s relatively efficient and scores in the mid-20s consistently, USC is going to reach its potential, or at least come very close to it, this coming season.

There’s really nothing wrong with Rothstein’s argument. His point merely raises a fascinating Boogie-or-Collier discussion which will continue to be a talking point when the season tips off on Nov. 6 against Kansas State.

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Notre Dame returning only 1.57% of its 2022-23 scoring for 2023-24

How concerned are you about this?

We know Notre Dame is going to look completely different in 2023-24. The few returnees have made minimal impact on the program so far, and it’s one reason why Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports has picked the Irish to finish last in the ACC. Rothstein has indirectly taken that reasoning a step further by listing the percentage of returning scoring for each conference program. You’ll see that the Irish aren’t even in the same hemisphere of anyone else:

The only inaccuracy with this is that it actually goes up to 1.6% if you round it up to the nearest decimal, so for our purposes, we’re going with 1.57%. Nitpicking aside, if you take [autotag]Matt Zona[/autotag]’s 34 points and [autotag]Alex Wade[/autotag]’s single free throw and divide them by the 2,227 points the Irish scored during the season, the math checks out. [autotag]Tony Sanders Jr.[/autotag] was scoreless in five games, and [autotag]J.R. Konieczny[/autotag] didn’t play at all.

While none of this technically means anything for the upcoming season, it does illustrate how it might take even the most diehard Irish fans some time to get to know this new team. No one is projected to make a big splash right away either. Time for some of the new guys to prove those projections wrong.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

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