UNDATED (AP) — The Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten and Pac-12 are launching an initiative to raise awareness of the importance of mental health. It is part of their conference alliance announced earlier this year. Teammates for Mental Health will be unveiled this week during basketball games involving the three conferences, including the ACC/Big Ten women’s and men’s challenges. The centerpiece will be a public service announcement that will air throughout the 28 games being played from Nov. 29-Dec. 2. The PSA includes Duke men’s basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, Maryland women’s basketball coach Brenda Frese, Oregon State men’s basketball coach Wayne Tinkle and others.
UNDATED (AP) — Nebraska has earned the dubious distinction of being the best 3-9 team in the country. Since 1978, when Division I was split into what’s now known as the Bowl Subdivision and Championship Subdivision, no team until the 2021 Cornhuskers had nine single-digit losses in a season. That’s according to Sportradar. Georgia has allowed just 83 points through 12 games. Since 2000, the only other team to give up under 100 points over 12 games was Southern California in 2008. Missouri’s Tyler Badie became the first player since Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor in 2018 with five 200-yard rushing games in a season.
UNDATED (AP) — Iowa State has gone from being picked to finish last in the Big 12 to owning a No. 19 ranking. The Cyclones play Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Creighton this week as part of the national AP Top 25 schedule. They’re off to a 6-0 start under first-year coach T.J. Otzelberger. The week’s schedule includes No. 3 Gonzaga meeting No. 16 Alabama in Seattle. There’s also Duke returning to No. 1 in Mike Krzyzewski’s final season. The Blue Devils visit Ohio State in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
UNDATED (AP) — Duke has jumped to No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll after its win against Gonzaga. The Blue Devils earned 51 of 61 first-place votes. They climbed from fifth last week following a win that knocked the Bulldogs from the top spot. Purdue earned nine first-place votes to move up a spot to No. 2. Gonzaga, Baylor and UCLA round out the top five. Iowa State, Michigan State and Wisconsin are the new additions to this week’s poll. Illinois, St. Bonaventure and Xavier fell out of the rankings.
UNDATED (AP) — Maryland dropped six spots to eighth in The Associated Press women’s basketball poll after losing two games in a week that saw eight of the top 10 teams change places. UConn reclaimed the No. 2 spot after the Terrapins were blown out by N.C. State and Stanford. The Gamecocks remained a unanimous top choice garnering all 30 first-place votes from a national media panel. N.C. State moved into a tie with UConn, climbing from fifth. Stanford and Baylor round out the the first five teams. South Florida made the biggest jump, going up five spots to No. 13.
