Bison

Burr Gymnasium

Before the national media cared about the other basketball team in New York City, the 2018-19 Brooklyn Nets were one of the dopest stories in the NBA.
They were a hard-working, culture-changing, overachieving, likable group who surprised many outside of (and within, if we&rsquo;re being honest) the New York Metropolitan Area by hustling their asses to a 2019 playoff berth. It was their first in four years, and marked the beginning of three consecutive postseason runs.
At the core of this period, there was an ongoing D&rsquo;Angelo Russell-Spencer Dinwiddie Twitter war that emotionally consumed much of the fan base, a more insulated type than the one that rages on today. In the 2017-18 season, Russell was the starting point guard, and Dinwiddie entered the season in the third string on the depth chart.
But after Jeremy Lin tore his Achilles on opening night &mdash; and with Russell needing arthroscopic knee surgery one month in &mdash; Dinwiddie stepped into a role that nearly landed him the league&rsquo;s Most Improved Player award.
The occasional Russell-Dinwiddie minutes shared? Notably not great, a trend that continued in 2018-19. Then-Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson would <a href="https://www.netsdaily.com/2018/11/3/18058490/inside-dangelo-russells-fourth-quarter-benching" target="_blank" rel="noopener">semi-regularly bench Russell for Dinwiddie</a> &mdash; the team&rsquo;s sixth man &mdash; to close games. <a href="https://www.netsdaily.com/2018/11/5/18063566/dangelo-russell-bounces-back-kenny-atkinson-offers-road-trip-challenge" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Atkinson would be pressed, as a result</a>, especially on those occasions where it didn&rsquo;t work.
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The "Russell or Dinwiddie" talk extended to who should represent the Nets if they had an All-Star, and then, Dinwiddie tore his the UCL in his hand &mdash; <a href="https://twitter.com/realtuffjuice/status/1088550514432794624" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first reported by Caron freakin' Butler</a> (!!) &mdash; clearing the runway for Russell. He then became the replacement All-Star for Victor Oladipo, who tore his quad one day before Dinwiddie tore his thumb &mdash; but honestly, Russell was probably the most deserving of the three anyway.
(Go look back at Oladipo&rsquo;s season. He was good, but less so than you remember, primarily when held against his extraordinary 2017-18 campaign.)
You can draw a straight line from Russell&rsquo;s breakout near MIP-winning season in 2018-19 to watching Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving join the Nets later that summer. If not for Russell&rsquo;s emergence that helped put Brooklyn in position to <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-rumors-kevin-durant-kyrie-irving-brooklyn-nets-los-angeles-clippers-kawhi-leonard-paul-george-learn-mistakes-culture-kenny-atkinson-doc-rivers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">abandon their process to chase stars</a> &mdash; which landed him in Golden State in exchange for Durant &mdash; who knows if the Nets would've become what they have over the last three years?
Since then, in a crowded talent pool of All-Star level NBA point guards, Russell&rsquo;s kinda become&hellip; underrated.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Congratulations to D'Angelo Russell for this amazing achievement 💯 <a href="https://t.co/vbvxkhzqsv">pic.twitter.com/vbvxkhzqsv</a>
&mdash; Timberwolves Nation (@TWolvesNationCP) <a href="https://twitter.com/TWolvesNationCP/status/1493966873427603459?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Now, this isn&rsquo;t to say Russell is slept on like the way y&rsquo;all are sleeping on Top Boy, bison meat, Splinter Cell, Nas and Hit-Boy&rsquo;s Magic EP &mdash; or dipping your quesadilla in barbecue sauce &mdash; but D'Lo's impact is a tad underdiscussed. Russell, 26, is mainly overlooked in the way that a once-rising star who we believe to have plateaued could be easily forgotten despite remaining near his previous peak at arguably the NBA&rsquo;s deepest position. &nbsp;
To this point, Russell&rsquo;s been pretty durable, which is major since he&rsquo;s about to play his 46th regular-season game on Thursday, his most since that '18-19 run in Brooklyn. The 31-28 Minnesota Timberwolves are currently seventh in the Western Conference and are 15-8 since Jan. 3.
In their now 33-season history, the Wolves have secured only nine playoff berths, and just one since Kevin Garnett left (Jimmy Butler&rsquo;s only full season with the team). Even then, in 2017-18, Minnesota only finished eighth in the West &mdash; fourth at the time of Butler&rsquo;s late-season meniscus injury &mdash; so the team hasn&rsquo;t finished seventh or higher since the 2003-04 season. That was the only time the Wolves have ever gotten past the first round as a franchise.
It&rsquo;s fair to say that they&rsquo;re at least pretty, pretty, pretty good by NBA standards. There are still reasons to be skeptical regarding their legitimacy, but we&rsquo;re usually penciling them in for yet another lottery draft pick &lsquo;round this time of year. And look, they may still get one, but we&rsquo;re approaching March, and they&rsquo;re in games that matter. Russell deserves some credit for that, as he does for still producing since '18-19 and proving his breakout wasn&rsquo;t a fluke. 
The Timberwolves' &ldquo;quiet ass&rdquo; fans are apparently so stunned at their relative success that they&rsquo;re <a href="https://twitter.com/Dloading/status/1491095748934455304?s=20&amp;t=sv7cJecuhNpOmS0ql-nTUQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">not cheering enough</a>. This is sh*t they ain&rsquo;t used to!
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl7saWAVoMQ"><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gl7saWAVoMQ" width="100%" height="325" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></a>
(To be fair, D&rsquo;Angelo, on the night you called out your quiet-ass fans, y&rsquo;all were playing the Detroit Pistons and beat them by 13. My ass would be quiet if I saw my team semi-spank a Cade Cunningham-less skeleton crew led by 24 non-threatening Saddiq Bey points!)
To his credit, those quiet asses answered though!
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This season, Russell&rsquo;s averaging 18.8 points and 7.0 assists on .408/.351/.802 shooting splits. It doesn&rsquo;t wow you on the surface &mdash; not even when I tell you he&rsquo;s tied for 12th in assists per game this season (7.0) ahead of guys like LeBron James, Ja Morant, Jrue Holiday and his old teammate Dinwiddie.
Minnesota is third in pace, fifth in scoring, 10th in Offensive Rating and 14th in Net Rating as a result.
However, it's the Timberwolves' defense that has been, as local reporting out of Minnesota has put it this season, <a href="https://www.twincities.com/2021/11/30/quarterbacking-the-timberwolves-improved-defense-is-dangelo-russell/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"quarterbacked" by Russell</a> &mdash; an area that has been one of the foremost knocks on him individually since entering the league. And D-Lo&rsquo;s grown into a leader in a locker room that includes Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards (and Patrick Beverley matters). &nbsp;
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Can't tell what I liked more here the nail help from D'Angelo Russell or the rotation from Jaden McDaniels. <a href="https://t.co/SkH6hP7lHX">pic.twitter.com/SkH6hP7lHX</a>
&mdash; Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) <a href="https://twitter.com/stevejones20/status/1493763756580425731?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2022</a></blockquote>

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You watch Russell, and without question, save for his deserved All-Star season, he&rsquo;s playing his most impactful basketball to date. Currently, he has a career-high .105 win shares per 48 minutes and has been productive despite a 25.9% usage rating; it isn&rsquo;t low by any means, but it&rsquo;s the lowest since his rookie season. We&rsquo;re also seeing Russell at optimal usage, even if he isn&rsquo;t an All-Star anymore, and will have a hard time getting back there due to the depth at guard in #thisleague. (It&rsquo;s not completely impossible though.)
Russell is leading on both ends and ranks third in shot attempts behind Towns and Edwards, where he should be, and will have a $31 million expiring contract next season. So, yes, he&rsquo;s extension-eligible this summer. No, he shouldn&rsquo;t get a max, but why not ride this out if you&rsquo;re Minnesota? You clearly have something functioning at, for you, a high level &mdash; the highest you&rsquo;ve seen in five seasons and the second-highest since 2005. (Edwards turned four that year, fam.)
So, yes, Russell has earned his extension so far and is ideally the third option on a good team (as he is there), but is a primary playmaker (as he&rsquo;s been). Keeping a core together and continuing to progress is the Wolves' best bet, which is incredibly important in markets like Minnesota.
And, overall, we should commend Russell's sheer resiliency. Others may have gone in the tank while trying to reclaim All-Star status by now. He's out here helping a winner for a franchise that's seen so few.&nbsp;
Oh, and while we're here, happy 26th birthday, D&rsquo;Angelo.
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Bryan Fonseca credits D'Angelo Russell for his role in the Wolves' success this season and feels he's been underrated.

Commending D’Angelo Russell for playing his most impactful basketball

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) &mdash; Northern Kentucky coach Darrin Horn might be looking forward to his team&rsquo;s NCAA Tournament appearance even more than his players.
The Norse won their fourth Horizon League championship since 2016-17 but will play in March Madness for the first time since 2019. They also won the league title in 2020, but there was no NCAA Tournament that year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
That denied Horn a chance to lead his first NKU squad in the Big Dance, which makes this berth a bit more special. Especially after the Norse let an opportunity slip away in last year&rsquo;s Horizon Tournament.
&ldquo;We kind of feel like we had one taken from us literally, where you qualify for the tournament and then the tournament just doesn&rsquo;t happen,&rdquo; Horn said in a phone interview. &ldquo;So, to finally punch your ticket and know that there&rsquo;s going to be games and you&rsquo;re going to be a part of the process, that&rsquo;s really exciting.&rdquo;
The No. 16 seed Norse (22-12) will face Midwest top seed Houston on Thursday night in Birmingham, Alabama. NKU features the nation&rsquo;s No. 27 defense (63.6 points allowed per game) and the No. 42 scorer in junior guard Marques Warrick (19.1 points).
DEJA VU
Howard&rsquo;s last NCAA Tournament appearance in 1992 was a 100-67 loss to Midwest top seed Kansas. Back then, Kenneth Blakeney was a 20-year-old Duke sophomore on a Blue Devils squad that repeated as national champions.
Blakeney now coaches Howard and will lead the No. 16 seed Bison (22-12) against the defending national champion and top-seeded Jayhawks again, this time in a West Region first-round game. Howard topped Norfolk State 65-64 for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament championship, capping a remarkable turnaround from 4-29 in Blakeney&rsquo;s debut season in 2019-20 to their first regular-season and tournament titles since that last trip to the Big Dance.
&ldquo;To represent Howard University is a big honor for me,&rdquo; said Blakeney, a Washington, D.C., native, via email. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m humble to be a mentor at a great university. Kansas is a national, traditional and historic program. I&rsquo;m excited.&rdquo;
The D.C. school is one of two historically Black colleges and universities in the tournament. Texas Southern won the Southwestern Athletic Conference title and will face Fairleigh Dickinson in a matchup of No. 16 seeds in the First Four in Dayton, Ohio.
CHARMED EXISTENCE
It&rsquo;s been quite a year for West Virginia coach Bob Huggins.
Huggins was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in September. He became the winningest active Division I coach last week when Jim Boeheim retired at Syracuse.
The Mountaineers (19-14) overcame a horrible start to Big 12 play to reach the NCAA Tournament field as a No. 9 seed. They&rsquo;ll meet No. 8 seed and state line rival Maryland (21-12) on Thursday in Birmingham, Alabama.
&ldquo;I never had any doubt that we wouldn&rsquo;t play in the tournament,&rdquo; Huggins said Sunday night. &ldquo;I thought we were getting better and better.&rdquo;
West Virginia lost its first five Big 12 games but rebounded to finish 7-11 in arguably the nation&rsquo;s toughest league. The NCAA bid wouldn&rsquo;t have been secured without three wins in the Mountaineers&rsquo; final four regular-season games, including over Iowa State and No. 12 Kansas State.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m good with it,&rdquo; Huggins said. &ldquo;Obviously we wanted to win more games. We just had some things happen.&rdquo;
RECONNECTING
Marquette&rsquo;s first-round East Region matchup Friday against Vermont gave Golden Eagles guard and Big East player of the year Tyler Kolek a chance to catch up with an old friend.
Kolek began his college career at George Mason while playing for a coaching staff that included Bryson Johnson, who is now a Vermont assistant. As soon as the matchup of No. 2 and No. 15 seeds was announced, Kolek and Johnson began exchanging texts.
&ldquo;We had some competitive fire going back and forth,&rdquo; Kolek said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;d always shoot against each other (at George Mason). He actually played at Bucknell and he was a pretty good player. Just a little trash talk.&rdquo;
Marquette beat Xavier 65-51 on Saturday to earn its first Big East Conference title.
STAYING HOME
No. 1 overall seed Alabama and archrival Auburn, the Midwest No. 9 seed, won&rsquo;t have to go far for their tournament debuts.
Both schools will open in Birmingham, Alabama, a 58-mile hop from Tuscaloosa for the Crimson Tide, who on Thursday will face the winner of the No. 16 seed matchup between Texas A&amp;M-Corpus Christi and Southeast Missouri State.
The Tigers will travel about 110 miles for their first-round meeting with No. 8 seed Iowa, where Auburn coach Bruce Pearl was an assistant from 1986-92.
___
AP Sports Writers Mike Marot, Steve Megargee, John Raby and Stephen Whyno contributed to this report.

A look at the top storylines in the upcoming men's 2023 NCAA Tournament.

March Madness: Norse ride again, a KU deja vu for Howard

With five conference tournament finals capping a wild week of men's college hoops, Sunday afternoon officially marked the end of the 2022-23 men's college basketball regular season, which means only one thing: March Madness is upon us.
Princeton (Ivy), Virginia Commonwealth (A-10), Alabama (SEC), Purdue (Big Ten) and Memphis (AAC) punched their official ticket to the men's 2023 NCAA Tournament to round out the group of 32 receiving an automatic bid.
Those teams joined: Vermont (America East), Duke (ACC), Kennesaw State (ASUN), Texas (Big 12), Marquette (Big East), Montana State (Big Sky), UNC Asheville (Big South), UC Santa Barbara (Big West), College of Charleston (CAA), Florida Atlantic (C-USA), Northern Kentucky (Horizon), Iona (MAAC), Kent State (MAC), Howard (MEAC), Drake (Missouri Valley), San Diego State (Mountain West), Fairleigh Dickinson (Northeast), Southeast Missouri State (Ohio Valley), Arizona (Pac-12), Colgate (Patriot), Furman (Southern), Texas A&amp;M Corpus Christi (Southland), Texas Southern (SWAC), Oral Roberts (Summit), Louisiana (Sun Belt), Gonzaga (WCC), Grand Canyon (WAC).
The selection committee revealed at 6 p.m. that the No. 1 overall seed is Alabama. The other three top seeds are Houston, Kansas and Purdue.
The First Four in Dayton will consist of a 16-seed matchup between Texas A&amp;M Corpus Christi and Southeast Missouri State plus an 11-seed matchup between Mississippi State and Pittsburgh. In the other two games, there will be a 16-seed matchup between Texas Southern and Fairleigh Dickinson and an 11-seed matchup between Arizona State and Nevada.
Who else was invited to join The Big Dance on the road to the Final Four in Houston?
Following Selection Sunday, here is the official field of 68 in the men's 2023 NCAA Tournament:
South Region
(1) Alabama Crimson Tide vs. (16) Texas A&amp;M Corpus Christi Islanders/Southeast Missouri State Redhawks
(8) Maryland Terrapins vs. (9) West Virginia Mountaineers
(5) San Diego State Aztecs vs. (12) College of Charleston Cougars
(4) Virginia Cavaliers vs. (13) Furman Palladins
(6) Creighton Blue Jays vs. (11) NC State Wolfpack
(3) Baylor Bears vs. (14) UC Santa Barbara Gauchos
(7) Missouri Tigers vs. (10) Utah State Aggies
(2) Arizona Wildcats vs. (15) Princeton Tigers
Midwest Region
(1) Houston Cougars vs. (16) Northern Kentucky Norse
(8) Iowa Hawkeyes vs. (9) Auburn Tigers
(5) Miami Hurricanes vs. (12) Drake Bulldogs
(4) Indiana Hoosiers vs. (13) Kent State Golden Flashes
(6) Iowa State Cyclones vs. (11) Mississippi State Bulldogs/Pittsburgh Panthers
(3) Xavier Musketeers vs. (14) Kennesaw State Owls
(7) Texas A&amp;M Aggies vs. (10) Penn State Nittany Lions
(2) Texas Longhorns vs. (15) Colgate Raiders
West Region
(1) Kansas Jayhawks vs. (16) Howard Bison
(8) Arkansas Razorbacks vs. (9) Illinois Fighting Illini
(5) Saint Mary's Gaels vs. (12) VCU Rams
(4) UConn Huskies vs. (13) Iona Gaels
(6) TCU Horned Frogs vs. (11) Arizona State Sun Devils/Nevada Wolfpack
(3) Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. (14) Grand Canyon Antelopes
(7) Northwestern Wildcats vs. (10) Boise State Broncos
(2) UCLA Bruins vs. (15) UNC Asheville Bulldogs
East Region
(1) Purdue Boilermakers vs. (16) Texas Southern Tigers/Fairleigh Dickinson Knights
(8) Memphis Tigers vs. (9) Florida Atlantic Owls
(5) Duke Blue Devils vs. (12) Oral Roberts Golden Eagles
(4) Tennessee Volunteers vs. (13) Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
(6) Kentucky Wildcats vs. (11) Providence Friars
(3) Kansas State Wildcats vs. (14) Montana State Bobcats
(7) Michigan State Spartans vs. (10) USC Trojans
(2) Marquette Golden Eagles vs. (15) Vermont Catamounts
THE BRACKET
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THE BRACKET 🙌<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MarchMadness?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MarchMadness</a> <a href="https://t.co/HZYnwD3s3x">pic.twitter.com/HZYnwD3s3x</a>
&mdash; NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarchMadnessMBB/status/1635049575483580416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2023</a>
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</blockquote>

An overview of the official men's 2023 NCAA Tournament schedule and March Madness matchups on the road to Houston.

2023 NCAA Tournament: Men's field of 68 teams announced

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) &mdash; Jalen Wilson had 21 points and nine rebounds, Gradey Dick added 12 points, and No. 5 Kansas tuned up for the Champions Classic next week by routing perennial Summit League contender North Dakota State 82-59 on Thursday night.
MJ Rice added 10 points in his college debut, and the Jayhawks (2-0) ramped up the defensive pressure against the Bison (0-2), building a 48-19 lead by halftime and coasting to their Division I-leading 13th consecutive victory.
They did so without coach Bill Self, who along with assistant Kurtis Townsend served the second game of school-imposed four-game suspensions. The penalty, part of the fallout of an FBI investigation into college basketball, also will keep Self from the bench for the Jayhawks&rsquo; showdown against No. 5 Duke on Tuesday night in Indianapolis.
Grant Nelson had 11 points and Boden Skunberg scored 10 for the Bison (0-2).
North Dakota State gave the Jayhawks all they could handle when they met in December 2020 in Allen Fieldhouse, leading for more than 28 minutes only for the Jayhawks to score the final seven points and eke out a four-point win.
It wasn&rsquo;t nearly as close Thursday night.
Wilson got off to a hot start, scoring 17 points in the first half, and Rice provided some additional energy with a high-flying dunk after missing the Jayhawks&rsquo; opening win over Omaha with a back injury earlier in the week.
But it wasn&rsquo;t until Wilson&rsquo;s bucket with about 12 minutes to go that the game got out of hand.
Kansas proceeded to score 10 straight points, highlighted by Rice&rsquo;s ally-oop dunk, and the run stretched to 13-2 on a 3-pointer by Joseph Yesufu. And when the Bison finally got a bucket, Yesufu answered with another 3, triggering another 11-0 run that gave the Jayhawks a 40-16 lead by the under-4 minute media timeout.
The Jayhawks shot 56% from the field in the half, helped along by four ally-oop dunks, while the Bison resorted to shooting desperation 3-pointers late in the shot clock. Twenty of their 28 shots in the first half came from beyond the arc.
The Bison never threatened Kansas in the second half.
THE TAKEAWAY
The Jayhawks were brutally efficient on offense, but they really shined on defense. Texas Tech transfer Kevin McCullar Jr. has lived up to his billing as a perimeter stopper, and KJ Adams Jr. and Ernest Udeh Jr. dominated the paint. On nights when shots aren&rsquo;t falling, the Jayhawks will be able to lean on their defense to keep them in games.
UP NEXT
While the Jayhawks head to Indianapolis to face the Blue Devils in one of the marquee nonconference games of the season, the Bison travel back to Fargo for their home opener against Pacific on Sunday.

Jalen Wilson had 21 points and nine rebounds, Gradey Dick added 12 points, and No. 5 Kansas tuned up for the Champions Classic.

Wilson leads No. 5 Kansas to 82-59 rout of North Dakota St

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) &mdash; Jeremy Roach scored 16 first-half points to help seventh-ranked Duke open Jon Scheyer&rsquo;s coaching tenure with a 71-44 win over Jacksonville on Monday night.
Freshman Mark Mitchell had a team-high 18 points for the Blue Devils, who used a 25-4 run spanning halftime to blow the game open.
It was a quality start to a season of massive change for the Blue Devils, starting with Scheyer taking over for retired Hall of Famer Mike Krzyzewski. Duke has 11 new players, including the nation&rsquo;s No. 1-ranked recruiting class and two power-conference transfers. The Blue Devils didn&rsquo;t have top freshmen Dereck Lively II and Dariq Whitehead for this one as they recover from preseason injuries.
Mike Marsh scored 15 points to lead the Dolphins, who shot 34% and missed 18 of 19 3-pointers before making two meaningless 3s late.
NO. 1 NORTH CAROLINA 69, UNC WILMINGTON 56
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) &mdash; Caleb Love and RJ Davis scored 17 points apiece and North Carolina began a season of grand expectations by pulling away from UNC Wilmington.
Armando Bacot added 16 points and nine rebounds for the Tar Heels, who were perhaps most impressive at the defensive end. UNCW shot 29.8% from the field.
The Tar Heels, who were the NCAA Tournament runner-up in April, began the new season with the top ranking for the first time in seven years. It&rsquo;s a record 10th time that North Carolina has been ranked No. 1 to start a season &mdash; one more than rival Duke.
Trazarien White scored 19 points for UNCW, which faced a top-ranked team for the first time in program history.
NO. 2 GONZAGA 104, NORTH FLORIDA 63
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) &mdash; Drew Timme scored 22 points, Julian Strawther added 16 and No. 2 Gonzaga used a big first-half run to beat North Florida in both teams&rsquo; opener.
Anton Watson had 10 points, four rebounds, four assists and five steals for Gonzaga, which won its 68th consecutive home game, the nation&rsquo;s longest such streak.
Carter Hendricksen scored 16 points, Jadyn Parker 13 and Jose Placer 12 for North Florida, a veteran-laden team from the Atlantic Sun Conference that returned its top four scorers from last season.
NO. 3 HOUSTON 83, NORTHERN COLORADO 36
HOUSTON (AP) &mdash; Marcus Sasser scored 21 points, J&rsquo;Wan Roberts added 12 points and six rebounds, and Houston opened the season by beating Northern Colorado.
Sasser, a preseason All-American, scored 11 points in the first half. He finished 7 of 14 from the field and made 4 of 8 3-pointers. The senior guard missed the second half of last season and all of Houston&rsquo;s run to the Elite Eight with a toe injury.
Houston coach Kelvin Sampson won his 700th career game and 200th with the Cougars.
Matt Johnson II, Riley Abercrombie and Caleb Shaw each scored eight points for the Bears.
NO. 4 KENTUCKY 95, HOWARD 63
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) &mdash; Antonio Reeves scored 22 points, CJ Fredrick had 20 and Kentucky beat Howard with All-American Oscar Tshiebwe and two other players sidelined.
Tshiebwe had a procedure last month on his right knee. Point guard Sahvir Wheeler (right leg) and sophomore forward Daimion Collins (personal reasons) were also out, but the Wildcats still shot 55% against the overmatched Bison.
Jacob Toppin and freshman Cason Wallace each added 15 points for Kentucky.
Kobe Dickson scored 17 points and Elijah Hawkins had 14 for Howard, which shot 34%.
NO. 5 KANSAS 89, OMAHA 64
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) &mdash; Jalen Wilson had 19 points and 11 rebounds, Gradey Dick added 23 points in his debut, and Kansas began defense of its national championship without suspended coach Bill Self by routing Omaha.
Bobby Pettiford Jr. added 13 points, Dajuan Harris had 11 points and eight assists, and Texas Tech transfer Kevin McCullar Jr. scored 10 for the Jayhawks, who broke open a close game in the second half with two big runs.
Self served the first of a four-game punishment along with assistant Kurtis Townsend as part of the fallout from a 2017 federal investigation into college basketball corruption.
Jaeden Marshall scored 13 points and Luke Jungers had 12 for the Mavericks.
NO. 5 BAYLOR 117, MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE 53
WACO, Texas (AP) &mdash; Adam Flagler scored 21 points to lead six players in double figures as Baylor won the opener of its 20th season with coach Scott Drew.
Flagler, a preseason All-Big 12 pick who also was the Bears&rsquo; leading scorer last season, also had eight assists and one of his four 3-pointers started a 24-0 run midway through the first half.
LJ Cryer had 16 points and Dale Bonner, another returning guard, had 14.
Alvin Stredic scored 14 points and Terry Collins 10 for Mississippi Valley State in its first game for new coach George Ivory.
NO. 9 CREIGHTON 72, ST. THOMAS 60
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) &mdash; Baylor Scheierman made back-to-back 3-pointers midway through the second half to give Creighton the lead for good.
Arthur Kaluma scored 17 points, Trey Alexander had 12 and Scheierman added 11 as the Bluejays won their 25th opener in 26 years.
St. Thomas, a Summit League member beginning its second season in Division I, gave the Bluejays all they could handle until the last few minutes. Andrew Rohde had 15 points to lead the Tommies.
NO. 10 ARKANSAS 76, NORTH DAKOTA STATE 58
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) &mdash; Trevon Brazile had 21 points and 12 rebounds in his debut as Arkansas won its season opener.
Brazile, a sophomore transfer from Missouri, scored six straight points during an 11-0 run early in the second half that gave Arkansas a 16-point lead with 15 minutes left.
Wichita State transfer Ricky Council led the Razorbacks with 22 points on 9-for-14 shooting.
Grant Nelson and Boden Skunberg had 17 points apiece to lead North Dakota State.
NO. 11 TENNESSEE 75, TENNESSEE TECH 43
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) &mdash; Tyreke Key came off the bench to score 17 points and Tennessee beat Tennessee Tech in both teams&rsquo; opener.
Key, an Indiana State transfer, connected on 4 of 8 3-pointers to ignite a sluggish Volunteer offense. Zakai Zeigler scored all but two of his 12 points in the second half.
Brett Thompson led the Golden Eagles with 15 points.
NO. 12 TEXAS 72, UTEP 57
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) &mdash; Tyrese Hunter scored 18 points to lead Texas past UTEP in the debut of its new arena.
Hunter, a transfer from Iowa State, was 6-of-8 shooting and added five rebounds. Ze&rsquo;Ri Onyema led UTEP with 10 points.
Texas this season moved to the $375 million Moody Center on the edge of campus, leaving behind the old Frank Erwin Center after 45 years.
NO. 13 INDIANA 88, MOREHEAD STATE 53
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) &mdash; Preseason All-American Trayce Jackson-Davis and freshman Malik Reneau each scored 15 points, helping Indiana beat Morehead State in the season opener for both teams.
The Hoosiers have won all six matchups in the series and are 26-0 all-time against Ohio Valley Conference foes.
Mark Freeman led the Eagles with 14 points, and Drew Thelwell had 11 for the OVC favorites.
NO. 14 TCU 73, ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF 72
WACO, Texas (AP) &mdash; Mike Miles hit a 3-pointer with 51 seconds remaining to finally put TCU ahead to stay against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, which built an early 20-point lead in the season opener for both teams.
Miles, the preseason Big 12 player of the year, hit from deep beyond the top of the key for a 71-68 lead.
Emanuel Miller had 15 of his 19 points in the second half, and Miles finished with 15 points for the Horned Frogs. They returned all five starters and five other scholarship players after winning their first NCAA Tournament game since 1987.
Shaun Doss had 25 points with four of Arkansas-Pine Bluff&rsquo;s 13 3-pointers.
NO. 15 AUBURN 70, GEORGE MASON 52
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) &mdash; Wendell Green Jr. scored 16 points while K.D. Johnson and Johni Broome each had 12 to lead Auburn to a season-opening win over George Mason.
The Tigers weren&rsquo;t really challenged much in their first game since losing NBA first-round draft picks Jabari Smith and Walker Kessler.
Ronald Polite III led George Mason with 10 points, and Victor Bailey Jr. had nine.
NO. 16 VILLANOVA 81, LA SALLE 68
VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) &mdash; Caleb Daniels scored 24 points to make coach Kyle Neptune a winner in his Villanova debut.
Neptune replaced Hall of Famer Jay Wright, who retired in the offseason. The Wildcats returned three starters (a fourth, Justin Moore, was injured) from the team that lost a national semifinal game to Kansas. Eric Dixon added 20 points for Villanova.
Daniels made his first five 3-pointers and the Wildcats used an early 10-0 run to put away their city rival and spoiled 74-year-old coach Fran Dunphy&rsquo;s return to the bench.
Josh Nickelberry scored 22 points to lead the Explorers.
NO. 17 ARIZONA 117, NICHOLLS STATE 75
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) &mdash; Azuolas Tubelis scored 23 points and Arizona went on a massive opening run to begin its second season under coach Tommy Lloyd with a rout.
Ballo scored 18 points, helping Arizona set a school record with 71.7% shooting from the floor against the reigning Southland Conference regular-season champions. The Wildcats opened the game with a 30-4 run.
Micah Thomas led Nicholls State with 20 points.
NO. 18 VIRGINIA 73, NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL 61
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) &mdash; Kihei Clark and Reece Beekman sparked a 15-2 second-half run, and Virginia beat North Carolina Central after blowing a 16-point first-half lead.
Armaan Franklin led Virginia with 21 points in the season opener for both teams, and Francisco Caffaro had 10.
Justin Wright scored 20 and Eric Boone had 18 for the Eagles, who used a 12-0 run just after halftime to go ahead. But Clark hit a 3 and Beekman followed with a steal and a breakaway.
NO. 19 SAN DIEGO STATE 80, CAL STATE FULLERTON 57
SAN DIEGO (AP) &mdash; Darrion Trammell hit three 3-pointers during a 29-10 run to open the second half and finished with 18 points as San Diego State beat Cal State Fullerton.
Fellow newcomer Jaedon LeDee and Lamont Butler scored 11 points apiece and Nathan Mensah had 10 for the Aztecs, who won their 10th straight season opener and their 17th in 18 seasons.
Vincent Lee scored 11 and Jalen Harris 10 for the Titans, the defending Big West Conference champions.
NO. 20 ALABAMA 75, LONGWOOD 54
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) &mdash; Freshman Brandon Miller had 14 points and 13 rebounds in his debut as Alabama beat Longwood.
Fellow freshman Rylan Griffen also scored 14 for the Crimson Tide, and point guard Mark Sears had 12 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Freshman guard Jaden Bradley added 11 points and six boards.
Alabama held Longwood to 27% shooting and blocked nine shots. Michael Christmas led Longwood with 12 points.
NO. 21 OREGON 80, FLORIDA A&amp;M 45
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) &mdash; N&rsquo;Faly Dante had 16 points and 10 rebounds as Oregon opened with an easy win over Florida A&amp;M.
Keeshawn Barthelemy added 13 points for the Ducks, ranked to start the season for the ninth straight year. Will Richardson scored 11.
Jordan Tillmon and Jordan Chatman had eight points apiece for the Rattlers, who have 11 new players. Florida A&amp;M coach Robert McCullum was on Oregon coach Dana Altman&rsquo;s staff from 2014-17.
NO. 22 MICHIGAN 75, PURDUE FORT WAYNE 56
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) &mdash; Hunter Dickinson had 22 points and 12 rebounds, and freshman Jett Howard added 21 points in Michigan&rsquo;s season-opening win.
After Purdue Fort Wayne opened an 8-4 lead, Michigan went on a 20-0 run to take control.
Quinton Morton-Robertson scored 15 points and Bobby Planutis added 13 for the Mastodons.
NO. 23 ILLINOIS 87, EASTERN ILLINOIS 57
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) &mdash; Terrence Shannon Jr. scored 24 points and Coleman Hawkins had 23 points and 12 rebounds as Illinois cruised past Eastern Illinois.
Dain Dainja added 17 points on 8-of-9 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Illini, who outrebounded the Panthers 53-30 in the opener for both teams.
Kinyon Hodges scored 14 points and Yaakema Rose added 10 for Eastern Illinois.
NO. 24 DAYTON 73, LINDENWOOD 46
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) &mdash; Mustapha Amzil scored 14 points, DaRon Holmes II and R.J. Blakney each had 13 and Dayton beat Lindenwood in a sluggish opener for both teams.
Dayton was without injured point guard Malachi Smith and didn&rsquo;t play particularly well until late, but it had a large margin for error against Lindenwood, which was playing its first game after moving up to Division I.
Chris Childs had 15 points for the Lions, who shot 33% from the field.
NO. 25 TEXAS TECH 73, NORTHWESTERN STATE 49
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) &mdash; Daniel Batcho had 12 points and 10 rebounds as Texas Tech rolled past Northwestern State in both teams&rsquo; opener.
Texas Tech broke it open late in the first half and led 42-23 at halftime.
Isaac Haney led Northwestern State with 16 points.

It was a quality start to a season of massive change for the Blue Devils, starting with Jon Scheyer taking over Duke's program.

Roach leads No. 7 Duke past Jacksonville in Scheyer’s debut

The NBA G League today announced the field of 44 draft prospects who will attend the 2022 NBA G League Elite Camp, which will take place May 16 and 17 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.
The 2022 NBA G League Elite Camp gives draft prospects an opportunity to display their skills in front of NBA and NBA G League scouts, coaches and front-office executives over the course of the camp by playing in five-on-five games and participating in strength and agility drills.
Based on performance, select players from the NBA G League Elite Camp will be invited to participate in 2022 NBA Draft Combine, which will be held May 18-22 at Wintrust Arena.
&ldquo;We are thrilled to host this talented group of draft prospects at our NBA G League Elite Camp,&rdquo; said NBA G League head of basketball operations Malik Rose. &ldquo;This is an incredible opportunity for these 44 young men to showcase their basketball abilities in front of both NBA and NBA G League front office personnel.&rdquo;
NBA players who have participated in past NBA G League Elite Camps include New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado, Indiana Pacers forward Oshae Brissett, LA Clippers guard Terance Mann and Miami Heat guard Max Strus.
Here are this year's participants:
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" width="567">NBA Draft-Eligible Players (College/Club)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="266">Abmas, Max (Oral Roberts)</td>
<td width="300">Lee, Hyunjung (Davidson)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="266">Akinjo, James (Baylor)</td>
<td width="300">Lofton Jr., Kenneth (Louisiana Tech)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="266">Aluma, Keve (Virginia Tech)</td>
<td width="300">Manek, Brady (North Carolina)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="266">Bernard, Jules (UCLA)</td>
<td width="300">Martin, Tyrese (Connecticut)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="266">Boeheim, Buddy (Syracuse)</td>
<td width="300">McCormack, David (Kansas)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="266">Bouyea, Jamaree (San Francisco)</td>
<td width="300">McCullar, Kevin (Texas Tech)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="266">Brooks, Eli (Michigan)</td>
<td width="300">McGusty, Kameron (Miami FL)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="266">Brooks Jr., Keion (Kentucky)</td>
<td width="300">Nance, Pete (Northwestern)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="266">Brown, Tevin (Murray State)</td>
<td width="300">Notae, J.D. (Arkansas)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="266">Brown, Gabe (Michigan State)</td>
<td width="300">O&rsquo;Neal, Shareef (LSU)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="266">Burton, Tyler (Richmond)</td>
<td width="300">Randolph, M.J. (Florida A&amp;M)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="266">Days, Darius (LSU)</td>
<td width="300">Rhoden, Jared (Seton Hall)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="266">Devoe, Michael (Georgia Tech)</td>
<td width="300">Samuels, Jermaine (Villanova)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="266">Flanigan, Allen (Auburn)</td>
<td width="300">Sasser, Marcus (Houston)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Foster, Kyle (Howard)</td>
<td>Scheierman, Baylor (South Dakota State)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Freeman-Liberty, Javon (DePaul)</td>
<td>Travers, Luke (Perth Wildcats)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Grady, Kellan (Kentucky)</td>
<td>Turell, Ryan (Yeshiva University)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Green, A.J. (Northern Iowa)</td>
<td>White Jr., Fabian (Houston)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Gresham, Brison (Texas Southern)</td>
<td>Williams, Bryson (Texas Tech)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Gueye, Mouhamed (Washington State)</td>
<td>Williams Jr., Vince (VCU)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hall, Jordan (St. Joseph&rsquo;s PA)</td>
<td>Wilson, Jalen (Kansas)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jackson, Quenton (Texas A&amp;M)</td>
<td>Yat, Kok (Overtime Elite)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
&nbsp;

The NBA G League announced the field of 44 draft prospects who will attend the 2022 NBA G League Elite Camp in Chicago.

NBA announces field of 44 draft prospects for G League Elite Camp

Nekias Duncan breaks down all five teams in the Atlantic Division for his 2021-22 NBA season preview.

2021-22 NBA Season Preview: Atlantic Division

Imagine this: The Philadelphia 76ers are about to play in Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Wells Fargo Center. Minutes before tip-off, 10,000 fans are on their feet -- equal parts antsy and excited. The lights go out, and the PA announcer&rsquo;s voice echoes throughout the building.
&ldquo;Ringing tonight&rsquo;s bell... the man who urged us to &lsquo;Trust the Process,&rsquo; who got us Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, who died for our sins&hellip; former 76ers general manager SAM HINKIE!&rdquo;
Hinkie emerges, and the fans go nuts. He soaks in the cheers, finally getting the acknowledgement that he deserves for laying this contender&rsquo;s foundation.&nbsp;
Sixers fans have been calling for Hinkie to ring the bell for several years, with some even <a href="http://change.org/p/philadelphia-76ers-sixers-invite-sam-hinkie-to-ring-the-bell-in-the-eastern-conference-finals" target="_blank" rel="noopener">creating petitions</a> in hopes of getting the organization's attention.&nbsp;
Well, that dream is now one step closer to reality.
On Tuesday, shortly after the Sixers announced that Wells Fargo Center would be at 50% capacity for the playoffs, president of basketball operations Daryl Morey <a href="https://twitter.com/dmorey/status/1392177484414730246" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tweeted</a>: &ldquo;Let's try to get @samhinkie for the bell ringing.&rdquo;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Let's try to get <a href="https://twitter.com/samhinkie?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@samhinkie</a> for the bell ringing
&mdash; Daryl Mor&Xi;y 🗽🏀 (@dmorey) <a href="https://twitter.com/dmorey/status/1392177484414730246?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Interestingly, the Sixers&rsquo; bell-ringing ritual started in 2013-14, during Hinkie&rsquo;s tenure. (The bell was initially supposed to be a good-luck charm that players touched on the way to the court, like Notre Dame&rsquo;s "Play like a champion today" sign, but <a href="https://theathletic.com/969705/2019/05/09/the-short-but-resonant-history-of-the-sixers-bell-ringing-ceremony-and-how-it-unites-philadelphia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the players weren&rsquo;t into it</a>.)
The Sixers currently have the Eastern Conference's best record (47-21), thanks in large part to their franchise cornerstones: Embiid and Simmons. The Trust-the-Process era may have rubbed some people the wrong way, but it netted two stars and yielded a contending team. &ldquo;Hinkie died for our sins&rdquo; has become a common refrain among Sixers fans (with <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BION1DVBdIf/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;ig_rid=ad452d8f-0f07-471a-a66f-7517e3ede981" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Embiid joining the fun on IG</a>).
Morey didn&rsquo;t just assume Hinkie's former post in Philadelphia; the two go way back. In 2005, Hinkie got his start in the NBA with the Houston Rockets' front office. Two years later, Morey was hired as Houston's GM and Hinkie was the team's vice president. He would eventually work his way up to assistant GM and become Morey&rsquo;s protege. They saw the world similarly and were both big proponents of advanced analytics. Hinkie <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/sixers/2014/07/20/profile-general-manager-sam-hinkie-patience-secrecy-rebuilding/12903303/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> played an instrumental role in the Rockets acquiring Kyle Lowry and Patrick Beverley.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
Hinkie and the Sixers didn&rsquo;t end their relationship on the best of terms, but if there&rsquo;s anyone who can help repair the damage, perhaps it's Morey (given his history with Hinkie).&nbsp;
Last October, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/espn-daily/id1482680261#episodeGuid=821b098c-1abb-11eb-ae6e-bfac81b05b2e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESPN&rsquo;s Pablo Torre</a> asked Hinkie about the possibility of reuniting with Morey for a second front-office stint in Philly. When asked to give a percent chance of this happening, Hinkie made it clear that he&rsquo;s not interested.
&lsquo;&lsquo;Zero,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve turned that chapter of my life. I very much like what I&rsquo;m doing now.&rdquo;
Hinkie has transitioned to a successful post-NBA career as a venture capitalist, founding and managing his own firm, <a href="https://www.87capital.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">87 Capital</a>. It's understandable that he wouldn't want to work for the Sixers again, but perhaps he can be persuaded to return to his roots for one night.&nbsp;
<img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/morr_lg.jpg" alt="" width="748" height="435" />
It&rsquo;s worth noting that all signs seem to point to Morey and Hinkie still having a solid relationship. When the 76ers hired Morey, Hinkie was thrilled.
&ldquo;I was stoked. I&rsquo;m stoked now! I think it&rsquo;s great news,&rdquo; he told <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/espn-daily/id1482680261#episodeGuid=821b098c-1abb-11eb-ae6e-bfac81b05b2e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Torre</a>. &ldquo;[Daryl Morey] isn&rsquo;t a good hire, he&rsquo;s a great hire. It&rsquo;s a really big move for a franchise I care a lot about, with a bunch of people I care a lot about. I just think it portends really great things for the future, for the Sixers.&rdquo;
When asked whether it was strange that the 76ers parted ways with him only to hire his mentor several years later, Hinkie told <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/espn-daily/id1482680261#episodeGuid=821b098c-1abb-11eb-ae6e-bfac81b05b2e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Torre</a>: &ldquo;I expect on occasion it may be a little strange. Mostly it will be great&hellip; God bless em&rsquo; for getting to that answer, I think it&rsquo;s a great answer regardless of the oddity of it. It makes my life simple. I&rsquo;ve been a Sixers fan and a Rockets fan more than the other teams for awhile. I can continue to do that, it&rsquo;s cool.&rdquo;
Morey has always been supportive of Hinkie too. Back in 2014, Morey told <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/sixers/2014/07/20/profile-general-manager-sam-hinkie-patience-secrecy-rebuilding/12903303/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">USA TODAY Sports</a>: "He won't stop until he builds a dynasty up there in Philly. He's going to build Lego brick by Lego brick, and there's no chance he won't succeed."
After Hinkie&rsquo;s exit from the 76ers, Morey told <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/news/the-vertical-podcast-with-woj--daryl-morey-134312567.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yahoo Sports</a> that he &ldquo;wanted to take hits for him&rdquo; throughout the Trust-The-Process years, adding that Hinkie is &ldquo;very good at what he does&rdquo; and defending his overall philosophy.
Hinkie still keeps close tabs on the Sixers, watching games and even some <a href="https://twitter.com/JClarkNBCS/status/1329426792466280448" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press conferences</a>.
&ldquo;I watch a bunch,&rdquo; Hinkie told <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/espn-daily/id1482680261#episodeGuid=821b098c-1abb-11eb-ae6e-bfac81b05b2e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Torre</a>.&rdquo; I keep track a lot because I care about how they do and I care about the people there. I&rsquo;m a fan from afar.&rdquo;
Perhaps he'll get a closer look in the near future, as it seems he has an open invitation from Morey to attend a game and ring the bell.

Daryl Morey invited Sam Hinkie to ring the bell before a Philadelphia Sixers playoff game. Will Hinkie take him up on his offer?

Daryl Morey invites Sam Hinkie to ring bell before 76ers' playoff game

Each day, BasketballNews.com scours #NBATwitter to bring you the best tweets from the previous day. Some are insightful, some are just hilarious (so we had to include them).
Without further ado, here are the tweets of the day for April 13, 2021.
Very That
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
<a href="https://t.co/3aOaHX3Z6x">pic.twitter.com/3aOaHX3Z6x</a>
&mdash; bobby wasabi (@bIondiewasabi) <a href="https://twitter.com/bIondiewasabi/status/1380998567234527234?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Dryers are the Masai Ujiris of the appliance world.
TMI
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
A hell of quote day in Timberwolves World. D'Angelo Russell dropped this one postgame: "I eat, sleep and shit basketball."
&mdash; Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/DaneMooreNBA/status/1381453955964735488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2021</a></blockquote>

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This is also every basketball writer every day of our lives.
Security Deposit
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
the knicks are having issues with their landlord. this a real new york team
&mdash; Desus Nice (@desusnice) <a href="https://twitter.com/desusnice/status/1381425080497008641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2021</a></blockquote>

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The property manager of Madison Square Garden will address your concern in approximately three weeks, and then tell you to fix it on your own.
Not So Natural Athleticism
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
This doesn&rsquo;t happen when I dunk. <a href="https://t.co/WjZP6K8zeX">pic.twitter.com/WjZP6K8zeX</a>
&mdash; Bruce Ely (@bruceely) <a href="https://twitter.com/bruceely/status/1381437097664409601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2021</a></blockquote>

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I once asked Devin Robinson if his hands hurt after dunking, and he looked at me like I had three heads. It was a legitimate question! What about monkey bars?!
A Thoughtful Gesture
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
the timberwolves reserved a seat for momma towns❤️ <a href="https://t.co/Mnu3XJ9odw">pic.twitter.com/Mnu3XJ9odw</a>
&mdash; bee (@beeayeembeeeye) <a href="https://twitter.com/beeayeembeeeye/status/1381398337866371073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Karl-Anthony Towns will most likely never get used to not seeing his mother in the stands, but this was a kind and thoughtful gesture by the Timberwolves organization to remind him that he is not alone and she is not forgotten.
...And Then There Was X
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
&lsquo;Now I know Only I can stop the rain&rsquo; <a href="https://t.co/Y8fVZQeFup">pic.twitter.com/Y8fVZQeFup</a>
&mdash; Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) <a href="https://twitter.com/Raptors/status/1381426113658941445?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2021</a></blockquote>

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The Raptors social media accounts shared only DMX lyrics after his recent passing. A subtle, but thoughtful way to remember the icon.
Oui Le Nord
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
They&rsquo;re just celebrating the Birch Boucher frontcourt <a href="https://t.co/zlY26YuWcA">https://t.co/zlY26YuWcA</a>
&mdash; Blake Murphy (@BlakeMurphyODC) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlakeMurphyODC/status/1381416586280644610?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2021</a></blockquote>

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I have been calling this duo &ldquo;La Rond,&rdquo; which is Montreal&rsquo;s amusement park where I throw up after every ride, but feel free to come up with your own nickname.
One Of Us
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Birch says his dad used to always complain about the Raptors and yell at the TV. ONE OF US.
&mdash; (((Eric Koreen))) (@ekoreen) <a href="https://twitter.com/ekoreen/status/1381382545493749762?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2021</a></blockquote>

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If there&rsquo;s one thing Raptors fans are going to do, it&rsquo;s yell at the TV. We will keep you updated as to whether or not this continues when your son is the newest member of the team.
Art
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
GTJ dropping Neto and hitting the game winner. First rotoscope animation in a while 🤟🤟🤟🤟🤟 <a href="https://t.co/2sz8t28K4A">pic.twitter.com/2sz8t28K4A</a>
&mdash; Tristan (@halfgood_) <a href="https://twitter.com/halfgood_/status/1381384637801455618?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2021</a></blockquote>

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People are so incredibly talented. Not me though, but other people.
Political Platform
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Under Medicare for All, Clint Capela would be fully covered at no cost. <a href="https://t.co/o7NX0lPZdg">https://t.co/o7NX0lPZdg</a>
&mdash; Jamaal Bowman (@JamaalBowmanNY) <a href="https://twitter.com/JamaalBowmanNY/status/1381342669851463681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2021</a></blockquote>

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New York congressman Jamaal Bowman did not miss a beat in using Clint Capela&rsquo;s unfortunate incident to appeal to younger voters. (It&rsquo;s working)
Untapped Market
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Do you know how fast I would buy up whatever lash glue, edge control or setting spray a female athlete endorsed? <a href="https://t.co/YytgUHBtDL">pic.twitter.com/YytgUHBtDL</a>
&mdash; I DONT KNOW NOBODY IN FUCKING YONKERS (@LaCienegaBlvdss) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaCienegaBlvdss/status/1381005702794199049?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Honestly. TAKE ALL OF MY MONEY.
See a tweet that should be featured in our next Tweets of the Day piece? Send it to <a href="https://twitter.com/kelsea_lately" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@kelsea_lately</a>.

Every day, our Kelsea O'Brien scours #NBATwitter to find the best posts. Here are the tweets of the day for April 13, 2021.

NBA Tweets of the Day: Marketing Opportunities and Remembrance

Last week, the NBA lost an amazing person and friend in Brent "BJ" Johnson. BasketballNews.com extends its sincerest sympathies and condolences to BJ's family and friends. BJ, who tragically passed away from a bike accident, was 65 years old.
BJ spent 26 seasons as a scout with the Houston Rockets and he had an incredible impact on many people around the league. The NBA family is grieving right now, but they are also paying tribute to this great man and appreciating the time that they got to spend with him. Over the last week, many people have shared touching stories and heartfelt words as they pay their respects to BJ:
Gersson Rosas, Minnesota Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations
&ldquo;Our hearts break to hear of the passing of BJ Johnson, someone who not only I, but our entire NBA family, looked up to as a big brother. With BJ, there were never any strangers, he made everyone feel welcome with his innate ability to include people and show his love to everyone. He was and will always be a large part of our NBA family &ndash; to players, coaches, scouts and anyone he crossed paths with. BJ was an incredible basketball mind and representative for the NBA because of his passion, the way he loved the game and how he treated everyone he encountered. As one of the finest basketball evaluators in the league, he brought a human touch to being a scout by always giving more to the game than he received back. BJ was an inspiration to me and many within the Minnesota Timberwolves organization and across the NBA &ndash; a presence that will never be replaced and will surely be missed. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his wife, Claudette, and his children, Bijon, LeDon and Ciara.&rdquo;
Amadou Gallo Fall, NBA Africa VP &amp; President of BAL
&ldquo;More than a basketball lifer, a mentor, a teacher and a friend, BJ Johnson was simply an exceptional human being. I am stunned by his sudden passing. We have all lost a driving force for good in the game. He has been a friend to all of us in growing the game in Africa. He contributed to seed project, was a driving force of Basketball Without Borders, instrumental in supporting the launch and growth of NBA Africa and now the BAL (Basketball Africa League). His legacy went beyond the court and into the homes and the hearts of young people and their families that he touched. My heartfelt condolences to his wife, Claudette, and the rest of the family, the Houston Rockets organization and all those he loved and who loved him. BJ, you are forever with us.&rdquo;
Masai Ujiri, Toronto Raptors President of Basketball Operations
&ldquo;Many basketball fans may not know his name, but BJ Johnson was one of the best scouts in the NBA and that&rsquo;s not close to the best thing about him. He was an incredible human being. It is just impossible to describe what he meant to all of us and our league: An NBA life. He was good to the game. The NBA story will not be told without BJ. Since 2003, BJ came to every single Basketball Without Borders in Africa. He was also in every single college gym. Believe me when we say today that many hearts are broken. To his wife, Claudette, to his family, and to the Rockets, the Raptors and the whole NBA sends our deepest condolences, Go well, BJ. I hope you are scouting Kobe and Gigi already. And talking David Stern&rsquo;s ear off because he said you are not allowed in the gym. RIP.&rdquo;
Daryl Morey, Former Houston Rockets GM
"Before I came to the Houston Rockets, Chris Wallace told me the greatest scout in the NBA was BJ Johnson and I should talk to him first. I followed his advice and what followed was an amazing 14-year friendship. He was by my side for every key decision. I can't believe he is gone. RIP BJ"
Kim Bohuny, NBA Sr. VP of International Basketball Operations
&ldquo;BJ was truly one of the NBA&rsquo;s greatest ambassadors. He always greeted you with a big smile and warm handshake or hug. BJ was a basketball lifer who provided guidance and insight to everyone he met in the game. I will dearly miss my friend.&rdquo;
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Matt Babcock, NBA Draft Analyst, BasketballNews.com
&ldquo;I had known BJ since I was a teenager, more than 20 years. Once I finished college and tried to find my way working in the basketball world, I always felt that BJ was one of my biggest supporters. I&rsquo;m sure many people in the basketball industry had that feeling, as he just had that way about him. BJ had a zest for life and his positivity was contagious. There was not an arena in the world that wasn&rsquo;t filled with people that loved him. I was extremely saddened to learn the news of his tragic passing but I&rsquo;m certainly thankful to have known him, for the time that we had together, and to be able to call him my friend. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. Rest in peace, BJ.&rdquo;
Darvin Ham, Former Player and Milwaukee Bucks Assistant Coach
&ldquo;I would start by saying that, without B, there would be no me. &nbsp;At the beginning of the journey, [with] him entering my life 25 years ago, he told me three key things that are still with me today. One: Hard work has never killed anyone. Two: You&rsquo;re only going to get out of something what you put into something. Three: God gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason; always listen to learn, brother! It saddens me to know that my big brother is no longer here in the flesh, but it brings me joy to know that I will still see his loving spirit everywhere. &nbsp;I LOVE YOU, BJ! Rest In Power, Big Brother!&rdquo;
James Posey, Former Player and Assistant Coach, BasketballNews.com
&ldquo;Man... BJ was someone who I never saw have a bad day. If you were having a bad day or moment and he entered your space, your mood would change by the end of y&rsquo;all conversation. He was just so full of energy and positivity... so full of knowledge for the game and life. I&rsquo;ve never known a person who was just always so happy to see everybody! The first time I met him, I was at the old practice facility, WESTSIDE TENNIS CLUB, and I was getting shots up, working on my shot. He was looking down from the track and the next thing I hear behind me is BJ saying, &lsquo;WE GONNA GET THAT JUMPER RIGHT!&rsquo; I had never met him before and I wasn&rsquo;t even on the Rockets; I was still with the Nuggets! That&rsquo;s just who he was - always willing to help, and always there to give you the confidence you needed. He believed in you, even if you didn&rsquo;t believe in yourself.&rdquo;
Jamal Crawford, NBA Veteran
"When I was an unproven rookie, he helped give me a lot of confidence that I had a bright future, even when I didn't see it. I wasn't even on his team. He always had some words of encouragement, or just kept it real with me. Prayers to his family."
Rudy Gay, NBA Veteran
"One of the most genuine people in NBA basketball passed tonight. RIP BJ Johnson!"

The NBA family is grieving after the tragic death of Houston Rockets scout BJ Johnson. BJ, who was 65 years old, impacted many people.