NCAA Basketball...

Coach K was more intense than most have ever seen him, and it payed off. The #9 Blue Devils went up by as much as 22 against #8 Wake Forest on their way to a 101-91 victory. Gerald Henderson and Jon Scheyer both had career nights, going for 35 and 30, respectively. Despite being down 22, though, the Demon Deacons fought back and came within 2, behind 28 from Jeff Teague and 26 and 11 rebounds from James Johnson. However, they could never get over the hump and take the lead. It was a payback game for Duke, who were #1 when they fell to the then-#4  Demon Deacons, 70-68, on Jan 28.

For about the first 30 minutes, Wisconsin had complete control of the game and #5 Michigan St. looked like the underachieving, "fragile" team as Spartan head coach Tom Izzo has called them. Then, within the blink of an eye, everything changed. The Spartans ratcheted up the D and hit the glass hard for the last 12 minutes, and finished the game on a 32-9 run, winning 61-50. Until that point they had been down by as much as 12. Then they made their run, which hit its tipping point around the three-minute mark. Tied 47-47, the Spartans went on a 10-2 run, 4-4 from the field. It was started by a Kalin Lucas jumper, and from there the Spartans executed play after play after play. Goran Suton also stepped up and brought the toughness in the latter part of the second half. Lucas had 17, and Suton had 16 points and 8 boards. The way Michigan St. looked in the last 12 minutes, they can play with anybody in the country. They looked awesome.

Top 25 Scores From Around The Nation...2/22/09

Wisconsin 50, #5 Michigan St. 61

#8 Wake Forest 91, #9 Duke 101

Arizona 68, #11 Arizona St. 70

#13 Clemson 81, Georgia Tech 73

#14 Villanova 89, #24 Syracuse 86

#16 Illinois 70, Ohio St. 68

George Washington 53, #17 Xavier 70

Former St. Joseph's High School teammates, Demetri McCamey and Evan Turner, faced off in the Illinois/Ohio St game. Their relationship:

  

Minutes after Illinois guard Demetri McCamey made a game-winning shot against Northwestern earlier this month, he was swarmed by fans and hometown friends. He didn't have time to check his cell phone for a while, but he knew at least one text message would be waiting.

Evan Turner surely had left one, as he usually does. McCamey does the same when Turner shoots the lights out at Ohio State.

"If he watched it, he'll have texted me," McCamey said. "He's a good friend."

The two Big Ten sophomores from Chicago haven't experienced many off nights this season. Their similar backgrounds and soaring potential make Sunday's meeting in Columbus between No. 18 Illinois (21-6, 9-5) and Ohio State (17-7, 7-6) more intriguing. Illinois beat Ohio State 67-49 at home on Jan. 20.

"We get competitive," Turner said. "We're both broke people, so we can't put anything on it. But it's bragging rights."

Turner and McCamey met while playing on the same team as 11-year-olds and became buddies at 14 when they joined forces at St. Joseph High School, helping the Chargers to regional and sectional titles. 

They parted ways, somewhat reluctantly, for college, but still rely on each other like a point guard throwing an alley-oop to his wingman. 

When Turner's playing time was limited as a freshman, his frustration led to thoughts of transferring to Bradley. He talked to coach Thad Matta and his family, but a conversation with McCamey also helped.

"He's kind of a shoulder I leaned on," Turner said. "He told me, 'It's different now. You have to work hard. Take your time.' "

Turner listened to his friend and stuck it out. 

"He made the right decision," McCamey said.

Turner, in turn, offered his shoulder early this season when McCamey did not start two games. He sent McCamey a text message of support.

"He said, 'You've got to bring it every night and stick to your goal,' " McCamey said.

So far they're following each other's advice. Each has improved significantly as a sophomore.

Turner, a 6-foot-7-inch forward whose role increased with the injury to David Lighty, has improved his scoring average from 8.5 points as a freshman to 17.2.

McCamey, a 6-3 guard, has improved his assist-to-turnover ratio by more than one per game and is averaging a team-leading 11.8 points, up from 8.2 as a freshman.

"Both our teams' goal at the beginning was making the NCAA [tournament]," McCamey said. "We both have a good chance right now."

McCamey tried to convince Turner to follow him to Illinois.

"We recruited both of them pretty intensely," Illini coach Bruce Weber said. "[Turner] gives Ohio State that versatile in-between guy who's tough to guard."

Turner believed he would fit better at Ohio State, and he was drawn to Columbus because his father lives there.

"At Ohio State, with the players coming in, I knew I'd get better every single day in practice," he said. "I just wasn't too sure of the freshman class going to Illinois. I felt like I chose the right place."

Turner and McCamey hope their paths intertwine on the court again after college. But if they don't, each knows the other is just a phone call away.

"We made a little promise in high school," McCamey said. "If he makes it to the NBA and I don't, he'll always be there for me. And if I make it and he doesn't, I'll be there for him. And if we both make it, we'll just bless our families."

Via: The Chicago Tribune & ESPN