The number of incoming freshmen in Division I men's basketball has dropped amid the free-agency rush through the transfer portal. Data from the NCAA shows that the number of freshmen fell by 18% from the 2019-20 season before the pandemic to the 2021-22 season. That was the first season after a rule change allowing undergraduate athletes to transfer once without sitting out.
The Big 12 has historically been one of the best leagues in the country, and two national titles in the past three seasons is more evidence of it. But the rich are getting richer this year with the addition of four more schools, headlined by Houston, when went to a Final Four of its own not long ago. Cincinnati brings along two national championships and UCF and BYU have each been to the NCAA Tournament in the last five years.
TCU is finally getting back on the field eight months after losing to Georgia in the College Football Playoff national championship game. The 17th-ranked Horned Frogs open the season at home against Colorado, which is playing its first game for new coach Deion Sanders. TCU won in Boulder in last year's opener. The Buffaloes rejoin the Big 12 from the Pac-12 next season. There are four new teams in the Big 12 this season. BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF all play their openers at home. So do 11th-ranked Texas and No. 20 Oklahoma to start their final seasons in the league.
Houston coach Dana Holgorsen is again going to be part of a change in the Big 12. This will be the second time he takes a team into its debut season in the conference. BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF officially become Big 12 members on July 1. Their arrivals come a year before the departures of Oklahoma and Texas to the SEC, meaning a 14-team Big 12 this fall. Before Holgorsen got to Houston, he was West Virginia's coach when the Mountaineers were part of the conference's last composition change in 2012. They then joined the league along with TCU.
Tyler Kolek and David Joplin each scored 17 points, and No. 6 Marquette moved into the Big East championship game for the first time by holding off No. 11 UConn 70-68. UConn had a chance to tie or win in the final seconds, but coach Dan Hurley elected not to call a timeout. Jordan Hawkins missed badly on a contested, desperation 3 at the buzzer. Plus more action from around college basketball on Friday.
Souley Boum scored 21 points, Colby Jones added 20 and No. 13 Xavier went on the road and held off No. 19 Connecticut 82-79, plus other Top 25 action from around college basketball on Wednesday.
Monday Dec 23, 1:30 p.m. on ESPN in Tampa, Florida
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