Page 9 - Michael Oconnell News Today

GLENDALE, Ariz. — DJ Burns Jr. isn’t interested in spending a lot of time catching the ball on the perimeter and trying to show off a shimmying crossover dribble before chucking 3-pointers for North Carolina State. No, he’s content to catch an entry pass, use his size to back down an opponent, then turn to make a winning read to shoot or pass. It isn’t much different for Purdue’s 7-foot-4 reigning national player of the year Zach Edey. Or for Connecticut’s 7-2 Donovan Clingan with ga...

The big men own this years Final Four. Purdues Zach Edey, North Carolina States DJ Burns Jr. and Connecticuts Donovan Clingan have provided dominating paint presences during March Madness. Edey …

North Carolina State's unlikely run in this year's NCAA tournament has been propelled by their charming star DJ Burns Jr., whose big size and big personality have made him a fan favorite this March.

The big men at Purdue, UConn and NC State will shine on the big stage this weekend. Hopefully the stage is big enough to handle them.

Michael O’Connells improbable 3-pointer helped North Carolina States unlikely run to the Final Four. Along with it, a bigger payday for the Atlantic Coast Conference.

They are the only head coaches who have taken an Atlantic Coast Conference team seeded #8 or lower all the way to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament.

I’m proud to say I’m almost a lifelong Wolfpack fan, having joined their ranks while in middle school. It was a couple of years before their unlikely 1983 National Championship

The 2024 Final Four is set. How do the teams stack up against each other heading into their respective showdowns on Saturday? Ryan ranks each team and provides some insight on how they can win a title.

Connecticut and Purdue needed the right fit. Alabama needed more bodies. North Carolina State had big holes to fill in the backcourt. They all mined the transfer portal effectively enough that those p...

For the past few years, we've heard men's college basketball coaches complain that they can no longer build a title contender around one-and-done prospects, that the value of a five-star freshman has diminished.