CBB Wednesday News and Notes

Oscar Tshiebwe Postseason Honors

Kentucky senior forward Oscar Tshiebwe garnered All-SEC First Team honors from the conference’s media, the Associated Press announced on Tuesday. Tshiebwe becomes the first Wildcat to earn All-SEC First Team honors from the media in consecutive seasons since Tayshaun Prince in 2001 and 2002. He has also become UK’s first two-time All-America selection since Tayshaun Prince (2001, 02) after being named to The Sporting News All-America Third Team on Tuesday.

Cards’ Season Comes to Close with Loss to Boston College

Rebounding woes held Louisville men’s basketball back Tuesday as the Cardinals’ season came to a close with an 80-62 loss to Boston College in the first round of the 2023 New York Life ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament. Louisville (4-28) allowed 14 offensive rebounds and 17 second-chance points to the Eagles, including 11 offensive boards and 13 second-chance points in the second half. That allowed Boston College (16-16) to overcome UofL’s three-point halftime lead and advance to Wednesday’s second round. Boston College outrebounded UofL 40-29. Makai Ashton-Langford led the Eagles with 16 points and five rebounds. El Ellis had 16 points and five assists to pace Louisville. Brandon Huntley-Hatfield added 13 points, and JJ Traynor finished with 12 points and seven boards.

>>College Basketball Roundup

(Undated)  — Meanwhile, the SEC Tournament tips off today.  Number-19 Tennessee will play either South Carolina or Ole Miss while Vanderbilt squares off against Georgia or LSU, tomorrow.  Kentucky checks into the tournament in Nashville on Friday.  Memphis also plays on Friday in the AAC Tournament in Fort Worth.  The Tigers will play either SMU or UCF.

Hilltoppers Open C-USA Championship with UTEP Rematch

WKU Hilltopper Basketball begins its postseason quest on Wednesday in the first round of the Conference USA Tournament in Frisco, Texas. The Hilltoppers will play the UTEP Miners at 5:30 p.m. CT. WKU finished the regular season with a loss at North Texas on Saturday. UTEP defeated Middle Tennessee 77-65 to earn the 9-seed. The Hilltoppers have reached at least the semi-finals in 14 of their last 17 conference tournaments. They’re 11-6 in the first round of their league tournaments dating back to 1983.

Sharp Named Defensive Player of the Year Back-To-Back Seasons

For the second consecutive year, WKU Hilltopper Basketball senior center Jamarion Sharp has been named the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year, the league announced Tuesday morning. Additionally, junior guard Dayvion McKnight was named All-Conference Second Team. Sharp earned third-team honors and an All-Defensive Team nod. Sixth-year senior guard Emmanuel Akot was named All-Conference Honorable Mention. Sharp becomes the sixth player in C-USA history to earn Defensive Player of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons. This is the fourth time in the last five seasons that a Hilltopper has claimed Defensive Player of the Year as Bassey won the award in 2019 and 2021.

Foster and Hayes Earn C-USA Postseason Awards

WKU women’s basketball had pair of student-athletes earn Conference USA Postseason Awards the league announced on Tuesday. Sophomore forward Jaylin Foster was named to the All-Defensive Team and freshman guard Acacia Hayes was named to the All-Freshmen Team.

Govs travel to Fort Myers for ASUN semifinals against No. 24 FGCU

After earning its first postseason win as a member of the ASUN Conference, Sunday, Austin Peay State University women’s basketball team prepares for a semifinals matchup against the ASUN Regular-Season Champions in No. 24 Florida Gulf Coast at 6 p.m. (CT), Wednesday, at Alico Arena in Fort Myers, Florida.