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Records: Gambling group targeted college hoops

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Records: Gambling group targeted college hoops


Sportsbooks flagged dozens of suspicious bets made by gamblers repeatedly wagering against the same small-conference teams in at least 11 men’s college basketball games over six weeks last season, documents obtained by ESPN show.

As the NCAA and federal authorities investigate alleged point-shaving in college basketball, the documents reveal new details about the behavior of an alleged gambling syndicate and the games that suspected members targeted between Dec. 1, 2024, and mid-January 2025. ESPN obtained the documents in a public records request.

At least nine sportsbooks in 13 states and one Canadian province detected similar unusual betting activity, according to an email sent by IC360, a firm that monitors the betting market for abnormalities. The gamblers kept betting big against the same teams and winning.

In some cases, customers opened new sportsbook accounts or reemerged after weeks of inactivity to place larger-than-normal or multiple consecutive wagers on the first-half spreads of games, the records show.

Sportsbooks reported seeing similar betting activity on first-half spreads in the 2023-24 college basketball season and believed these bets were connected to the same gambling syndicate, according to the records and a source with direct knowledge.

One sportsbook wrote in the documents that several bettors had potential links to the syndicate and referenced Marves Fairley, a Mississippi man who sells betting picks online, as “the main syndicate suspect.” When reached by ESPN, Fairley denied any involvement.

Multiple sources familiar with the federal investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania told ESPN that the FBI has been interviewing college athletes and believe indictments are forthcoming. The sources said they have seen evidence of plots to fix college basketball games.

A spokesperson for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania declined comment.

It is not clear if the syndicate is behind all the suspicious bets flagged in the documents, but the games mentioned involve five of the six schools where the NCAA says 13 former players are under investigation for participating in gambling schemes: Eastern Michigan, Temple, New Orleans, North Carolina A&T and Mississippi Valley State.

The first alert issued in this period, however, named a program that the NCAA has not mentioned — Stony Brook. On Dec. 1, 2024, IC360 received a report from a sportsbook about unusual betting interest on Norfolk State to cover the first-half spread against Stony Brook, the documents show.

A betting account that had been “relatively dormant” placed nine $300 bets on Norfolk State to cover the first-half spread, one sportsbook said. At another sportsbook, customers opened new betting accounts to make their first wagers for “excessive amounts” on Norfolk State, according to the documents. Additionally, betting accounts that the sportsbook believed were linked to each other continued to bet on Norfolk State, even after the line had moved to a less advantageous number. The sportsbook halted wagering on the game, the records show. Norfolk State led 34-27 at halftime, covering the spread.

A spokesperson for Stony Brook declined comment. The NCAA is aware of the suspicious betting against Stony Brook, according to a source with direct knowledge.

Three weeks after the Norfolk State-Stony Brook game, a group of bettors arrived at Harrah’s Gulf Coast casino in Biloxi, Mississippi, on Dec. 21, 2024, with tens of thousands of dollars. In a span of 45 minutes, the bettors placed a series of large bets on two games: $2,500 and $1,700 on Tulsa to cover the 26-point spread against Mississippi Valley State, according to the records. Some of the bettors attempted to wager $20,000 on Tulsa but were denied. They also bet $4,000, $3,500 and $2,200 on Wright State to cover the spread in the first half against Eastern Michigan, the records show. All the bets were easy winners.

“At this time, there is belief of a potential tie between these bettors, and bettors who placed suspicious wagers on First Half markets in flagged games last season,” an incident report from IC360 the next day read.

One customer who bet on Wright State had also wagered on a Temple game the previous season that was flagged for suspicious betting, according to the documents. ESPN previously reported that a former Temple player is under federal investigation for allegedly betting on his own games and manipulating his performance.

After an internal investigation, Caesars Entertainment, the parent company of Harrah’s Gulf Coast, found that several of the bettors knew each other or suspected members of the syndicate, according to the records. Two of them worked at the same company. Another would be arrested two days later in Mobile, Alabama, on drug and money-laundering charges. Federal authorities described him in court records as a “prolific and successful” interstate drug trafficker who had gambled more than $10 million over four years in casinos in Mississippi and Nevada. He pleaded guilty and is currently in prison.

A Caesars representative also wrote in a report that Fairley, whom the sportsbook called “the main syndicate suspect,” had previously placed suspicious wagers at Harrah’s Gulf Coast and had been banned from betting companywide.

Fairley, who has not been charged with a crime, denied any involvement in point-shaving schemes when reached by phone Wednesday. He denied betting on the college games in question. Asked if he was in a gambling syndicate, he said, “I sell picks.” He said he has not spoken to federal authorities and only vaguely knew of the investigation through one of his attorneys.

“Once this thing comes out and we can talk, man, and get all this behind us, whatever is going on, whatever the suspicion may be, just try to figure it out,” Fairley told ESPN.

Fairley told ESPN that he knows Shane Hennen, one of the co-conspirators in the federal gambling case of former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter, who has admitted in court to manipulating his performances in two games for betting purposes. Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of New York allege that Hennen received inside information about Porter, distributed the tips to other gamblers and placed bets through proxies.

Hennen was involved in “illicit financial transactions and fraudulent sports wagers totaling millions of dollars” using “a network of proxies and straw bettors located across the country,” a prosecutor wrote in a court filing in January. He was arrested that month while attempting to board an international flight and is currently negotiating a plea, court filings show.

Hennen’s attorney did not respond to a request for comment from ESPN. A spokesperson for the Eastern District of New York declined comment.

Both Hennen and Fairley have extensive criminal records. In 2016, Fairley told a Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics agent that he “liked to gamble and obtained the largest portion of his money and assets from his role as a Bookie,” according to a court record.

ESPN previously reported that some of the same gambling accounts that bet on Porter also wagered on prop bets for veteran NBA guard Terry Rozier and against North Carolina A&T, Mississippi Valley State and Eastern Michigan. Fairley denied betting on either Porter or Rozier in the games in question.

In June, ESPN reported that the U.S. Attorney’s Office from the Porter case is investigating gambling allegations against NBA free agent Malik Beasley. Attorneys for Beasley and Rozier have said their clients are not targets of the federal investigation.

In January, the suspicious wagering continued, this time against North Carolina A&T, the records show. In Mississippi, a BetMGM customer placed two big wagers on Elon to cover the spread in the first half of a Jan. 2 game against North Carolina A&T: a $1,200 bet on Elon to cover the 3.5-point first-half spread and a $5,000 two-leg parlay on Elon -3.5 in the first half and Tennessee State -2.5. The bettor cashed out the parlay at 9:25 p.m. ET for $5,300 after Elon covered the first-half spread while Tennessee State was trailing, according to the records. The user had only one previous wager close to that size, BetMGM noted.

Gamblers also targeted Eastern Michigan, beginning with the Wright State game in December. On Jan. 7, 2025, a bettor tried to place a $10,000 wager on Toledo to cover the first-half spread against Eastern Michigan at the Fitz Casino and Hotel in northern Mississippi, according to the documents. The book allowed him to wager only $5,000, which paid out $9,348. He then went to the nearby Gold Strike Casino to make a $9,000 bet against Eastern Michigan, records show.

On the other side of the state, at the Beau Rivage Casino in Biloxi, two customers wagered $12,000 against Eastern Michigan on the first-half spread and a third put down $10,000, according to the documents. Toledo finished the first half up 46-33, covering the spread.

IC360 sent out a third alert involving an Eastern Michigan game on Jan. 14. Bettors again wagered against Eastern Michigan covering the first-half spread against Central Michigan, according to a copy of the alert obtained by ESPN. Central Michigan finished the first half up 39-33.

The records show gamblers also bet against New Orleans in four games: McNeese State on Dec. 28, Vanderbilt on Dec. 30, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Jan. 6 and Southeastern Louisiana on Jan. 11. Four New Orleans players were suspended from the team in late January, reportedly for alleged gambling violations.

In Mississippi, a BetMGM customer placed three wagers totaling $2,750 on McNeese State to cover the spread against New Orleans, according to the records. Previously, the patron had very few wagers on college basketball and was observed significantly raising his bet amount multiple times on McNeese State to cover, wagering $250 then $1,000 and $1,500, a BetMGM representative wrote.

“In all cases we have seen betting either from individuals that placed bets in matches already raised, or a similar pattern from new customers in the same geographical area — mostly in retail sportsbooks,” FanDuel wrote, noting similar betting against Mississippi Valley State in a game against Alabama A&M.

With the college basketball season just weeks away, the NCAA called on sportsbooks and regulators to help prevent more cases from arising. Tim Buckley, NCAA senior vice president for external affairs, said in a statement to ESPN that the NCAA hopes more states will outlaw prop bets and shut down black-market sites.

“Protecting the integrity of the game and preventing student-athletes from making bad decisions is a massive undertaking and requires athlete education, collaboration between sportsbooks, regulators and sports leagues,” he said.

An IC360 spokesperson said in a statement to ESPN that the ability to spot suspicious activity is a benefit of a maturing regulated betting market.

“Although the underlying suspicious activity is, of course, concerning, we are proud to be a part of a group of invested stakeholders diligently collaborating to combat bad actors in sport,” the spokesperson said, adding, “We’re optimistic these efforts will yield positive results as we approach college basketball season.”

The 2025-26 college basketball season tips off Nov. 3.

ESPN researcher John Mastroberardino and reporter Shwetha Surendran contributed to this report.



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Aaron Judge leads Team USA to World Baseball Classic opener win over Brazil

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Aaron Judge leads Team USA to World Baseball Classic opener win over Brazil


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Aaron Judge wasted no time clubbing his first World Baseball Classic homer. 

Judge, the Team USA captain, hit a first-inning two-run home run, while Brice Turang had three hits and four RBI to lead Team USA to a whopping win over Brazil in its World Baseball Classic opener Friday night.

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Cal Raleigh #29, Byron Buxton #25, and Roman Anthony #3 of the United States celebrate after scoring from an RBI double hit by Brice Turang #13 of the United States in the fifth inning against Brazil during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool B game between the United States and Brazil at Daikin Park on March 6, 2026, in Houston, Texas.  (Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images)

There was one out and one on in the first when Judge, the first player to commit to the team last April, connected off Bo Takahashi at Houston’s Daikin Park.

Lucas Ramirez homered twice for Brazil with his father, 12-time All-Star Manny Ramirez, in attendance. He cut the lead to 2-1 with his leadoff homer, and his solo shot in the eighth got Brazil within 8-5.

Aaron Judge

Aaron Judge #99 of the United States celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning against Brazil during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool B game between the United States and Brazil at Daikin Park on March 6, 2026, in Houston, Texas.  (Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images)

At 20 years, 49 days, he became the youngest player in WBC history with a multi-homer game.

Byron Buxton was hit by a pitch in the fifth to push the Americans’ lead to 4-1. Turang cleared the bases with his double to left field two pitches later to make it 7-1.

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Brice Turang

Brice Turang #13 of Team USA hits a three-run double in the fifth inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool B game presented by Capital One between Team USA and Team Brazil at Daikin Park on Friday, March 6, 2026 in Houston, Texas.  (Rob Tringali/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Brazil is in the WBC for just the second time and first since 2013. The team fell to 0-4 all-time in the tournament after losing to Japan, Cuba and China in 2013.

Another highlight for Brazil came when 17-year-old high school senior Joseph Contreras got Judge to ground into a bases-loaded double play to end the second inning. Contreras, the youngest player in the WBC this year, is the son of pitcher José Contreras, who played 11 MLB seasons.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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When does Team USA play in the World Baseball Classic? Here are the dates and times





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Bayern 4-1 Gladbach (Mar 6, 2026) Game Analysis – ESPN

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Bayern 4-1 Gladbach (Mar 6, 2026) Game Analysis – ESPN


Luis Díaz scored one goal and made another as Bayern Munich beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 4-1 on Friday to extend its lead at the top of the Bundesliga to 14 points over second-place Borussia Dortmund.

With Harry Kane injured, Nicolas Jackson started in the centre-forward position for Bayern, one of seven changes to the side that beat Dortmund in Der Klassiker last weekend.

But it was Colombian Díaz who started the rampage.

He opened the scoring after 33 minutes with a crashing volley and then turned provider 12 minutes later when his clever pass set up Konrad Laimer to make it 2-0.

Bayern’s task was made easier when Rocco Reitz was sent off for rugby tackling Jackson 10 minutes into the second half.

Jamal Musiala celebrates scoring Bayern Munich’s third goal against Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Stefan Matzke – sampics/Getty Images


Jamal Musiala dispatched the resulting penalty to score his first goal of the season and Jackson celebrated his return to the side by adding a fourth 11 minutes from time.

Wael Mohya, 17, grabbed a consolation goal for Gladbach in the dying moments, becoming the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer.

The only disconcerting note for reigning champion Bayern was the withdrawal at halftime of Manuel Neuer. The Germany goalkeeper had returned after missing two games through injury. The extent of his complaint was not immediately apparent.

Gladbach remains in 12th place with 25 points, only three clear of the relegation zone.



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Ranking the top 25 men’s college basketball transfers of 2025-26

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Ranking the top 25 men’s college basketball transfers of 2025-26


This is a rare season, in which an elite freshman class has overshadowed the transfers who’ve anchored some of the top teams in America. That’s not to say this 2025-26 transfer class is a best supporting actor to the young guys, though. These players are stars too.

Only a few teams that have been led by true freshmen in the one-and-done era have won national titles. The transfers, meanwhile, have dominated college basketball in the portal era. Just last season, Walter Clayton Jr. was the Most Outstanding Player in Florida’s national title run, two years after transferring in from Iona. Tristen Newton (East Carolina) and Cam Spencer (Loyola Maryland, Rutgers) helped Dan Hurley win back-to-back national titles in 2023 and 2024. Baylor won a national title in 2021 with a fleet of transfers.

Could another transfer find similar success in this year’s NCAA tournament? Stay tuned.

Dusty May is thankful everyday that Lendeborg withdrew his name from the NBA draft last spring. The future first-round pick’s scoring numbers aren’t as gaudy as those of some of the others on this list, but he is the most impactful player for one of the top-tier national championship contenders. The former UAB transfer can guard multiple positions, play in transition, create for others and has become more of a perimeter threat, already taking more 3s this season than he did the past two seasons combined. He is averaging 14.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists. — Jeff Borzello


It’s no surprise Stirtz has translated seamlessly to the Big Ten. He was highly successful following Ben McCollum from Northwest Missouri State to Drake, and his scoring numbers are actually better in the Big Ten than they were in the Missouri Valley. The Hawkeyes’ offensive system is catered to Stirtz’s strengths, but his success is not just limited to usage: He’s averaging 23.3 points and 3.7 assists in league play, shooting 39.3% from 3. — Borzello


It remains unclear why the UCF transfer sat out a game in mid-February. What is clear is he’s the only reason Auburn’s NCAA tournament hopes haven’t completely died yet this season. The 6-foot-7 forward has produced his best performances in the wins that have held Auburn’s résumé together: 10 points, nine rebounds, seven assists vs. Kentucky; 31 points vs. Texas; 24 points at Florida; 32 points vs. Arkansas; 20 points vs. St. John’s. — Myron Medcalf


Demary has become one of the country’s most complete players after a two-year stint at Georgia. Opposing players have shot just 29% from 3 against the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year finalist, per Synergy Sports data. And though his usage rate is up from a season ago, his efficiency hasn’t suffered. He has connected on 43% of his 3-pointers and 79% of his free throws, all while leading the Big East in assist rate. — Medcalf


Sandfort is one of the Big Ten’s best this season, after his scoring average jumped from 8.8 points in his final season at Iowa to 18.3 points in his first season at Nebraska — a team that won its first 20 games. He’s also one of the nation’s top volume 3-point shooters (9.0 attempts per game, 40.3% clip). Only one other player takes and makes more 3s per game than the 6-foot-6 Cornhuskers standout. — Medcalf


Boyd is having a massive breakout season as a fifth-year senior at his third school. He played key roles on successful Florida Atlantic and San Diego State teams but is averaging 20.2 points as Wisconsin’s go-to guy this season. He has had a pair of 30-point games, and just fell short of a triple-double (27 points, nine rebounds, 10 assists) in a key win over Iowa in late February. He ranks in the top five in Big Ten play in scoring and in the top 10 in assists. — Borzello


The two-time transfer is putting up career-high numbers on offense, averaging 18.1 points and 5.4 assists — to go with nearly two steals per game. He has more responsibility on the offensive end than he did at previous stops Belmont or Maryland, needing to carry the Volunteers’ offense alongside Nate Ament. He had one of the best performances of his career last weekend against Alabama, finishing with 26 points, five rebounds, seven assists and eight steals. — Borzello


Wright left Baylor to be the maestro of a team that has fought through adversity without Richie Saunders, who is sidelined by a season-ending injury. The 6-1 point guard delivered his best stretch of the season in February, when he averaged 20.3 points and 3.8 assists. He also has made 43% of his 3s and 81% of his free throws, while committing turnovers on only 12% of possessions in Big 12 play, per KenPom. — Medcalf


Reneau had established himself as one of the most efficient low-post scorers in the Big Ten during three seasons at Indiana but has expanded his game since transferring home to the Hurricanes. He’s averaging career highs in scoring (19.6), rebounding (6.6) and field goal percentage (57.1%) while also making more 3s this season than he did during his three seasons in Bloomington combined. Reneau is a lock for first-team All-ACC. — Borzello


Most of the storylines this season about Louisville have focused on Mikel Brown Jr. and the back issues that have cost the freshman nearly one-third of his season. They’ve overshadowed Conwell’s performance, which has preserved Louisville’s shot at a solid seed in the NCAA tournament. Throughout the season, the 6-4 star has scored 22 points or more in 10 games, and is in the top four in points, rebounds, steals and assists for the Cardinals. — Medcalf


With projected lottery pick Caleb Wilson nursing a hand injury, Veesaar has stepped up for the Tar Heels, who were on a three-game winning streak entering the week. During that stretch, the 7-footer averaged 19.0 points and shot 70% from inside the arc. He was always important to Hubert Davis’ team, but with Wilson out indefinitely, he has kept the Tar Heels on the winning track. — Medcalf


Wilkerson was one of the most sought-after shooters in the portal last spring and he has lived up to those expectations. He has increased his scoring numbers despite jumping from Conference USA to the Big Ten, with several massive games: 44 points and 10 3s against Penn State, 32 points against Nebraska, 33 points at USC, 41 points and six 3s against Oregon. He’s the league’s top scorer in conference play, averaging 23.6 points. — Borzello


Johnson started only eight games for Illinois last season but showed flashes of being a high-level rebounder and an efficient scorer in the post. He has taken the next step since moving to Ann Arbor, averaging 13.3 points and 7.3 rebounds while also being an underrated and key contributor to one of the elite defenses in college basketball. Despite the Wolverines’ balanced attack, Johnson has posted six double-doubles this season — including an 18-point, 16-rebound effort against Washington. — Borzello


Baker-Mazara left Auburn after the Tigers’ Final Four run and was having by far the best season of his career before parting ways with the Trojans ahead of their final two regular-season games. He averaged career bests in scoring (18.6), rebounding (4.4), assists (2.8), blocks (1.2) and 3-pointers made (2.4) while carrying the offense at times. USC greatly missed Baker-Mazara when he sat out three games last month because of a knee injury and is sure to miss him down the stretch with its NCAA tournament hopes hanging by a thread. — Borzello


The transfer portal not only offers players fresh starts, it gives them a chance to achieve their dreams. Carr played only four games last season for Tennessee because of a thumb injury and then left the program midseason. At Baylor, the 6-5 guard is averaging 19.2 points and connecting on 38% of his 3s, a combination that has made him a projected first-round pick in June. — Medcalf


The third Michigan player on this list is one of the most imposing rim protectors in the country and anchors the back end of the Wolverines’ elite defense. He’s averaging 2.6 blocks in less than 23 minutes per game and is the primary reason Michigan ranks third in the country in 2-point defense and leads the nation in opponent’s average 2-point distance at KenPom. Mara is also shooting nearly 67% from the field and averaging more than 11 points. — Borzello


A former second-team AP All-American who helped coach Penny Hardaway achieve his best record at Memphis last season, Haggerty didn’t find the same success for a Kansas State team that parted ways with former head coach Jerome Tang. But his numbers this season remain comparable to — if not better than — those of last season. Averages of 23.3 points and 4.0 assists in 2025-26 are both career highs for the 6-3 guard, who is at his fourth school. — Medcalf


Nelson is the best player on the best team in the American Conference, routinely posting double-doubles as player of the year favorite in the conference. He followed Bryan Hodgson from Arkansas State to USF, but even Hodgson probably didn’t predict Nelson’s jump in production. He went from 10.6 points and 8.9 boards in the Sun Belt to 16.3 points and 9.9 rebounds this season, with 16 double-doubles and six 20-point, 10-rebound performances. — Borzello


Jai Lucas has done a fantastic job in Year 1 in Coral Gables, and at the heart of his roster construction was striking gold in the portal with Reneau and Donaldson. The latter was the starting point guard on a Michigan team that advanced to the Sweet 16 last season, and has been even better at Miami. He’s averaging 16.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists, and recently scored 32 points in a win over Virginia Tech. — Borzello


Texas is fighting to stay in contention for an at-large berth in Sean Miller’s first season in Austin. If the Longhorns get into the field, Swain (17.7 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.8 SPG), one of the nation’s toughest matchups, will deserve some of the credit. The 6-8 wing has made 65% of his shots around the rim this season per Synergy Sports data, and has also connected on 37% of his 3-point attempts in SEC play. — Medcalf


Averaging 17.8 points and 38% from 3, Collins is one-half of one of the top duos in the country, along with Mason Falslev. Anyone who watches a Utah State game can see his impact, and the analytics suggest he’s exponentially important to this team. Per EvanMiya, the Aggies are 22.4 points per 100 possessions better, by far the largest individual mark on the team, with Collins on the court. — Medcalf


Bill Self has praised Council, a transfer from St. Bonaventure, for his impact on team chemistry and his positive attitude during a wild season for the Jayhawks. With Darryn Peterson‘s injuries and cramping creating uncertainty all season, Council has been the consistent leader, averaging 13.5 points and 5.0 assists. The 6-5 guard also has started every game, creating stability for the Jayhawks. — Medcalf


Mike White could reach the NCAA tournament for a second straight year after Wilkinson, a transfer from Cal, produced one of the SEC’s top seasons. The 6-1 guard’s raw numbers are impressive: 17.7 PPG, 78% from the free throw line. He has been a threat with his midrange game, playmaking ability and his impressive knack for getting to the free throw line. Those qualities have helped the Bulldogs stay in the hunt for an at-large berth. — Medcalf


It took Atwell some time to emerge as a consistent offensive threat for Grant McCasland, scoring in double figures only five times in his first 12 games. But since Christmas, he has hit double figures in 16 of 17 games, averaging 14.8 points and shooting 48.7% from 3. He also has taken his game to a new level since JT Toppin‘s injury, scoring 26 against Kansas State and making 16 3s in his past three games entering the week. — Borzello


Miles was tracking for an All-SEC campaign until a knee injury caused him to sit out six games in January and February. He then came off the bench for two games, although Mark Byington will hope he’s back at full strength in time for the postseason. At his fourth school, he’s having a tremendous season: 16.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.7 steals — and establishing himself as a two-way catalyst alongside Tyler Tanner in the Vanderbilt backcourt. — Borzello



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