Weekly College Sports Roundup 3/5

For those of you out there who can never seem to get enough college sports like us, have no fear! Each week we will bring you the latest college sports news in a roundup including scores and game highlights, coaching changes, recruiting information, and all things college sports. 

Just as many of you begin to prepare for midterms, the college basketball season heads down the home stretch.  With only one week remaining and a few games left in the regular season, teams across the country look for a signature win to boost their resume.  It was an exciting week full of great games and late-season upsets that will certainly influence postseason play, as well as an equally impressive triple overtime thriller between two lacrosse juggernauts.

• There’s No Place Like Home: On Tuesday night, two of the nation’s top teams came up short on the road in hostile environments.  Minnesota pulled off an improbable upset of no. 1 Indiana 77-73 in Minneapolis.  The Gophers proved golden in the second half, out-scoring (47-39) and out-rebounding the Hoosiers.  The upsets didn’t stop there as no. 8 Florida fell to SEC-rival Tennessee 58-64 on the road.  Junior guard Jordan McRae provided a much-needed spark for the Vols with a game high 27 points.
• Ottomatic: The no. 7 Georgetown Hoyas have been on fire as of late, reeling off nine consecutive victories, including two over top-25 opponents.  On Wednesday night, the Hoyas extended their streak with a huge win over UConn 79-78 in double overtime.  After a quiet first half offensively, both teams erupted in the second, combining for 83 points.  In the end, the Hoyas edged out the victory behind the late heroics of sophomore Otto Porter, who tallied a team-high 22 points.
• Weathering the Storm: For the last two months, Duke fans have been patiently awaiting the return of Ryan Kelly, and on Saturday, they finally got their wish.  Kelly lifted the Blue Devils to a 79-76 victory over no. 5 Miami in Durham.  The Duke forward knocked down 10-14 shots—including 7-9 3 pointers and 9-12 from charity stripe—for a game-high 36 in what Coach K called, “a performance for the ages.”  Shane Larkin led the way for the Canes with a team-high 25 on 50% shooting.
• Feeling Lucky: The no. 2 ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish outlasted ACC power, no. 9 North Carolina 10-9 in a triple overtime thriller on Saturday.  Notre Dame freshman Matt Kavanagh netted the game-winner just 15 seconds into the third overtime.  The freshman standout finished the game with four goals—three of which came during a string of 4 unanswered goals for the Irish—and two assists.  The win improved the Irish to 3-0 on the season.

In other news, a star quarterback clears his name and the latest from the Florida A&M hazing case:

• Mountain Hawk Down: With the Patriot League tournament tipping off on Wednesday, the condition of Lehigh star and preseason All-American CJ McCollum remains up in the air.  McCollum suffered a broken left foot in January and was expected to miss eight to ten weeks.  When asked Monday if his senior guard would be ready for the Mountain Hawks opening round matchup, coach Brett Reed gave little hope.  At the time of his injury, McCollum was the nation’s leading scorer, averaging nearly 26 ppg.
• Making the Wrong Kind of Splash: The University of Utah swim coach Greg Winslow has been suspended due to allegations he sexually abused a teenage girl he coached in Arizona six years ago.  Utah athletic director Chris Hill made the announcement in a press conference this past Thursday.  Although no charges have been filed at this moment, Hill and the Utah athletic department feel the allegations are serious enough to warrant a suspension.
• FAMU Band Members Charged: On Monday, Florida prosecutors filed charges against 12 former Florida A&M band members with manslaughter in the 2011 death of former FAMU drum major, Robert Champion.  Ten of the individuals were charged in May of 2012 with felony hazing, but prosecutors have decided to raise the charge to manslaughter.  Robert Champion died in November 2011 from a severe beating he sustained during a hazing ritual.
• Former Grizzly Acquitted: After nearly two and a half hours of deliberation on Friday, jurors acquitted former University of Montana quarterback Jordan Johnson on rape charges.  The case drew widespread attention throughout the state, where Montana football has always received considerable media attention.  Johnson’s trial has brought about multiple investigations, both collegiate and federal, of Montana’s athletic department and the school’s handling of rape allegations.  The football team has received considerable criticism in light of the trial.

Featured photo credit: cseeman via photopin cc