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The NCAA clearing 2023 NBA second-round pick⁣ James⁣ Nnaji to suit up for Baylor less than a month back ​became a⁢ super​ noisy headline that prompted⁣ a flood of‍ reaction around⁤ college basketball. Nnaji is the first ‍former NBA selectee to⁢ reverse course​ and ‌play college hoops.

Crucially, the NCAA and Baylor compliance vetted his case ‌and​ found ​he⁤ never signed an NBA ‍contract, which was the vital non-event that ⁣enabled him to be a (controversial) trailblazer. You can hate that he’s‌ playing ⁣in the Big 12 (though he’s been a bit player at best), but a ⁤precedent was‌ set years‌ prior ‍that allowed ‍him to do it.There’s⁤ also been a ⁤precedent, a longstanding rule,‍ that prohibited players who ‌played in college, then declared for ⁤the NBA and signed a​ professional ⁣contract, from returning to NCAA competition.

Charles Bediako is ‍attempting to destroy​ that rule, one of the last logical and morally ‍clear ⁣statutes that keeps a line divided between college basketball and⁣ the NBA.

Unlike Nnaji, who was cleared by the NCAA and ‍didn’t need to go to court, Bediako was turned down by the‌ NCAA. So ‍he went‍ to a circuit judge in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and received a temporary restraining order that is⁤ active for just 10‌ days. That means he⁤ is eligible to play Saturday in Alabama’s big home​ game ​vs. ⁤Tennessee. ​

Oh, and: Bediako has been out of college basketball⁣ for 34 ⁤months. He left‌ college in 2023 ‌with career averages of 6.6 points, ⁣5.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 70⁣ games. The ‌next 8-10 ‍weeks represent the final⁤ stage of his five-year eligibility clock (allegedly). The naked goal here for Alabama​ (13-5, 3-2) is⁣ to have a mid-January roster addition to avoid drifting back in the SEC race. Bediako is seeking more⁤ playing ​time and a perhaps bigger payday years ‌after making⁤ a miscalculation about his‌ NBA stock. ​

This is all a farce.

Bediako has signed multiple professional contracts in the ‍nearly three years ⁤since he declared for‍ the NBA. But he’s never played in an ‌NBA game,⁢ only⁣ in the‌ G League, which⁢ is the central part‌ of ⁢his argument. ​The NCAA isn’t flinching, even‍ if it’s losing ⁤in‌ the courtroom.

“The NCAA has ⁣not and will not grant eligibility to any prospective or returning student-athletes who ⁤have signed an NBA contract (including a‌ two-way contract),”⁤ NCAA president Charlie Baker said in a statement after the nnaji case made national headlines.

Almost nobody wants ‍this. Yet here‍ we are ⁣again. College basketball is in ⁤the midst of

Ryan‌ Odom⁢ has immediately returned Virginia (16-2, No. 14 in‍ the AP Top 25) to⁣ relevancy, and in ⁣doing so, helped nudge up the​ ACC’s reputation ‍after the league had its worst season ⁣in history.

Let’s sharpen the lens‌ and‍ quickly refresh on where the Wahoos⁣ were before they⁤ brought on Odom 10 months ago. Tony​ Bennett’s‍ October 2024 retirement came amid ⁣a downturn for‌ the program. ⁤A stat every UVa diehard knows but‍ the average⁤ college hoops fan might not realize: The Cavaliers ⁣haven’t won an NCAA Tournament game since they won their biggest NCAA Tournament game,the 2019 national‍ championship over​ Texas Tech. Since then, Virginia is 0-3 in‌ the Big Dance.

Bennett’s surprise retirement came after a⁣ nondescript‍ 23-11 season, making way for Ron Sanchez as interim coach. ⁤That induced ⁢Virginia’s worst year (15-17) since⁣ either Bennett’s first (15-16 in 2010-11) or Dave Leitao’s last ​(10-18 in 2009-10). ‍Getting the right ‍coach was critical to‌ keeping Virginia as a top-20 program in the ⁢back half of‍ this decade. In comes‌ Odom, by way‌ of nearby VCU, ‌flipping the⁤ situation quickly as a Tim Reynolds solo.

Last weekend, Virginia logged its sixth win‌ away ⁢from home by beating a sound SMU team 72-68, ‌giving ⁤the hoos their best start since ⁢that 2018-19 title-winning epic. These new-look Cavaliers would be 17-1 if not‍ for a triple-overtime ‍road loss on New Year’s Eve against rival Virginia Tech.

“The group of guys we assembled here, we couldn’t be more pleased with them,”⁤ Odom told CBS Sports this week. “They’re connecting with the university and our ⁣fans. They come ​every day with a good attitude and are ready for work ⁤and a desire to improve. They compete to ⁤win. ⁤They compete with one another⁣ every day, which I think sets ​us up well for ​when we get into the games.”

Getting to 16-2 ⁤in your first crack at ⁤running a high-end program takes a lot of positive ⁤alchemy. Coaches have different ⁢blueprints — and those blueprints evolve ⁣yearly in‌ the portal era ‌–⁢ so I⁢ asked Odom what his

The ACC is definitely better this season⁢ vs. last,⁣ but it’s still not a gauntlet. Check out ‍what awaits⁣ for ​UVa in the three‌ weeks ahead:

It’s quite possible ⁢the Cavs are 20-4, if‍ not ‌21-3 or 22-2, heading‌ into ‍the ⁤non-con Valentine’s Day game against⁣ Ohio​ state. At that ‌point it might vrey⁤ well be be a top-10 team⁣ in both the‍ human polls and a majority⁣ of advanced metrics.‌ Tony Bennett is still dearly missed ​on the sideline, but⁣ this‌ is quickly ​looking like the best possible outcome so soon after his departure.

We might’ve‍ just witnessed Bill Self’s successor in action

Bill ⁣Self’s unexpected trip to the hospital on⁢ Monday ‌- ‌shortly before the team was set to ⁢depart for its​ game against Colorado -​ wound‍ up providing Kansas fans ‌a ⁢potential glimpse into the future. thankfully, Self⁤ is doing OK after receiving some IV​ fluids ⁢after experiencing chest discomfort. But the forced absence ‍meant that self would have to choose who would coach⁣ in ​his‍ stead.That decision offered a peek ‍into some palace ⁢intrigue,⁤ as Kansas fans awaited to see which‍ guy got ‌the ‌nod.

kansas has ‍a variety of capable⁢ coaches who could’ve handled the responsibility in what wound up‍ being a ‌75-69 ⁤win ‌in Boulder.

Jeremy‍ Case is the only associate head coach ​on the staff – but he didn’t get picked to⁤ be‌ acting coach. ⁤Joe ​Dooley has previous experiance⁣ as a head ⁣coach; he⁢ wasn’t chosen ⁣either. Longtime assistant Kurtis Townsend, who⁤ has coached in emergency situations for Self previously, also‍ wasn’t elevated for the evening.

The pick ‌was the assistant whose tenure in Lawrence began just last spring: ‌Jacque Vaughn. The KU​ alum spent ⁣14 years coaching in the NBA, including ⁢as the head coach of the Orlando Magic (2012-15) and Brooklyn⁤ Nets (2022-24). His hiring ⁣turned heads,as it appeared to be ‌a potential‍ succession plan⁢ quietly being put in place for whenever Self decides to step away.

In ⁤talking ​to‍ sources over the past ⁤few months, vaughn is considered the favorite to eventually get this⁣ job, but ‍it’s no​ guarantee, of course. However,⁣ if he ⁣does ultimately get ⁤it, then‌ Tuesday night⁤ was the unofficial initial⁢ audition.

As for that timeline, Self’s latest ‍health⁣ event has some kansas fans worried that this will ‍wind up being his last season. Remember, he’s ‍had other health/heart issues in recent years. I don’t think this is Self’s swan song. I sniffed around on this back in October,and ⁣even in talking to Bill,it‌ sure seemed like he was ‌reinv

Norlander’s news + nuggets

• The Court ⁤Report typically publishes on Wednesdays,but it got bumped back a day because Miami⁤ (Ohio) got ​the main stage treatment rather.‌ You can read my profile on the RedHawks here.
• I’m glad HoopsHQ’s ⁣ Alex squadron took the time to write a story in honor⁤ of Bill Courtney. The Temple assistant – who was Miami‘s interim head coach ⁢last season and, prior to his time with the Hurricanes, head⁣ coach ⁤at Cornell – suddenly ‍died last week⁤ at 55. I had nothing but great ‌interactions with Bill. A lot of people in the coaching​ fraternity⁣ are in shock and‍ still mourning. ‍The Owls ‌will ‍be wearing ⁤a patch in ⁢Courtney’s ​honor for the rest of the season⁤ as ​well.
• ⁣ICYMI: Marvin Menzies was the first⁣ coaching change announcement⁤ of 2026, and it sure seems Air Force‘s‍ Joe Scott will be next. The school‍ suspended⁢ Scott over the ​weekend for alleged inappropriate coaching conduct. Air Force is a bottom-two job in the Mountain⁤ West, but ​still: ⁢The Falcons are just 46-121‍ in five and ​a half ‌seasons since Scott came back (he previously coached there 1999-04).
• There was a little noise ‍last week with Sens.Jon Husted (R-Ohio) and Eric ‍Schmitt (R-Mo.) sending⁣ a joint‌ letter to Big East commissioner Val ackerman to lobby for Dayton ​and Saint Louis to (eventu

• Kylan‌ Boswell of Illinois suffered a hand ​injury in Saturday’s ‌win over Maryland.​ The extent of the‍ injury is unknown,but ‍it’s a significant blow to the Fighting Illini.​ Isaac Trotter evaluated the overall ⁢impact here.

• Refusing to ​take Cameron Boozer‘s casually⁤ dominant performances for ‌granted. In Duke‘s 30-point win at Stanford on ⁤Saturday, Boozer had 30 ⁤points, 14 rebounds and three steals. In the ⁢last 25 years,the only freshman to go⁢ for at least 30/14/3 vs. ⁢a power-conference team are: Ben Simmons, Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony (2X). ‍I ⁤really want to see a big race for NPOY, but‍ Boozer (23.2 ⁤ppg, 9.9 rpg, 4.1 ⁣apg, 1.8 spg) might‌ not let it happen.

• USC thought ⁣it had reinforcements ⁤arriving⁤ last night in the ‍form of freshman ⁣ Alijah Arenas, who made his Trojans debut. Sadly, it fell flat. Arenas finished with eight points on 3-of-15 shooting.USC‌ lost at home ⁢74-68 to a meh⁢ Northwestern team to fall to 14-5.I wonder if Arenas can grow into ‌a difference-maker in‍ a month’s time. He was ⁢the ⁣10th-ranked guy in the loaded 2025⁢ class and probably needs to be a key⁢ piece to ​getting USC to the NCAAs now that lead guard Rodney Rice ‌is‌ out for the year.

• If ⁤your a way bigger⁤ college hoops fan than NBA fan, chances‍ are you’ve⁣ barely thought about Drew Timme since‌ he left⁢ GU in⁣ 2023.⁤ (I wrote a‌ fun‍ longform piece on his ⁤time with the ⁢Zags in the ⁤closing month of his ⁣senior year.) Anyway, Timme’s still pushing his way ​to⁣ staying on an NBA roster. I’ve long felt he had the ball IQ, shooting kna

Federal Reserve holds Steady on ⁣Interest rates at January 31, 2024 Meeting

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) voted 7-0 to maintain the federal funds ⁢rate within a ‌target range ​of 5.25% to‍ 5.5% at its‌ meeting on‌ January 30-31, ⁢2024.‌ This marks the fourth consecutive meeting where the committee has held rates steady after a series of increases throughout 2022 and 2023.

inflation and Economic Data

The⁤ decision ‍comes⁣ as inflation continues to cool, though remains above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 3.1% year-over-year in January⁢ 2024, according⁢ to data released by the Bureau ⁢of labor Statistics on February 13, 2024. This is⁢ down from a peak of 9.1% in June 2022.

The U.S. economy added 353,000 jobs in ⁣January 2024,and the unemployment rate⁤ remained​ at ⁣3.7%,according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Employment​ Situation Summary released february 2,2024. Gross domestic Product⁢ (GDP)⁤ grew at an annualized ⁤rate of 3.4% in⁣ the fourth quarter of⁤ 2023,‍ as reported by‍ the ‌Bureau of Economic⁣ Analysis on january 25, 2024.

FOMC Statement Highlights

“The ⁤Committee remains highly attentive to​ inflation risks,” the FOMC stated in its ⁣post-meeting announcement. “It will continue ‍to assess ⁣additional information and​ its implications for monetary policy.”

The committee also noted that economic ‍activity⁣ has been expanding at a‌ moderate pace. They indicated a ⁣willingness to adjust the stance of monetary policy as⁤ appropriate, depending on incoming economic‌ data and the evolving outlook.

Future ‌Outlook

market participants are currently ⁤pricing in a roughly‌ 40% probability of ​a rate cut by⁣ the Federal Reserve’s ⁢March 19-20, 2024 meeting, according to data ⁤from​ the CME⁤ group’s fedwatch tool as of February 16, 2024. The next FOMC meeting is scheduled ⁣for March 19-20, 2024.

Federal Reserve⁢ Chair Jerome Powell stated in ‌a press‌ conference following the ⁢January 31, 2024 meeting that while the ⁣committee does not believe it ‌is appropriate to cut rates yet, it is ‌prepared to do so if economic conditions warrant. He emphasized the importance of​ continued monitoring of inflation and labor market data.

For ​more information, see‌ the​ official Federal Reserve Board website and the bureau of Labor Statistics website.