A man has pleaded guilty to stalking women's college basketball star Paige Bueckers.

Robert Cole Parmalee, 40, said on social media he intended to marry the UConn phenom.

When he was first arrested back in August, he had an engagement ring and lingerie while walking along a highway near Bradley International Airport near Hartford, Connecticut. 

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He told a state trooper that he had just flown in from the Pacific Northwest and was on his way to see Bueckers at UConn, the police reports said.

The trooper took Parmalee into custody when he learned there was an arrest warrant against him out of Josephine County, Oregon, accusing Parmalee of setting a home on fire with roommates and pets inside, police said.

Parmalee had posted photos, videos and comments about Bueckers on TikTok and other social media platforms and had emailed UConn officials since June with rambling comments including his desire to marry Bueckers, police said. The postings and emails initially did not warrant criminal charges, but his comments became alarming over time, police reports said.

CAITLIN CLARK'S TRADING CARD POPULARITY BLOWS AWAY OTHER FEMALE STARS

He had originally faced charges of stalking, breach of peace and harassment, but those were substituted for a single count of second-degree stalking, the clerk said.

A two-time All-American, Bueckers leads the Big East with 20.6 points per game and a 58.4 shooting percentage. As a true freshman, she was named the AP Player of the Year and given both the Wooden and Naismith Awards.

Bueckers missed the entire 2022-23 season after tearing her ACL, but she returned to form by being named an All-American for the second time. Her Huskies lost in the Final Four to South Carolina, who defeated Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes to finish their undefeated season.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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The Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball team announced it will retire Caitlin Clark's jersey Feb. 2. 

Clark's No. 22, which she wears for the Indiana Fever, will hang from the rafters at Carver-Hawkeye Arena after a ceremony honoring the program's most accomplished player. 

Clark is expected to be in attendance, and the event will be broadcast on FOX. 

"I'm forever proud to be a Hawkeye, and Iowa holds a special place in my heart that is bigger than just basketball," Clark said in the announcement. 

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"It means the world to me to receive this honor and to celebrate it with my family, friends and alumni. It will be a great feeling to look up in the rafters and see my jersey alongside those that I've admired for so long."

In four seasons at Iowa, Clark broke the NCAA's all-time scoring record among both men's and women's players, leading the team to the NCAA championship game twice. She was also a consensus National Player of the Year as a junior and senior.

Iowa athletic director Beth Goetz and famed alumni Henry and Patricia Tippie praised Clark's contributions in a joint statement. 

WNBA STAR CAITLIN CLARK NAMED TIME ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AFTER HISTORIC SEASON: ‘JUST SCRATCHING THE SURFACE’

"Caitlin Clark has not only redefined excellence on the court but has also inspired countless young athletes to pursue their dreams with passion and determination," the statement said. 

"Her remarkable achievements have left an indelible mark on the University of Iowa and the world of women’s basketball. Retiring her number is a testament to her extraordinary contributions and a celebration of her legacy that will continue to inspire future generations. Hawkeye fans are eager to say thank you for so many incredible moments."

Clark was selected with the No. 1 pick in this year's WNBA Draft by the Fever after her Iowa career. 

As a WNBA rookie in 2024, Clark set records for the most points and 3-pointers by a rookie in league history, while also becoming the first rookie to record a triple-double, a feat she accomplished twice. Her 337 assists not only were the most by a rookie, they were the most by any player ever in a single season.

Clark's jersey retirement will come just two months after Time magazine named her the publication's Athlete of The Year. The decision prompted praise, but also criticism from some, including Washington Mystics owner Sheila Johnson, who recently wondered in a CNN interview why Clark was chosen for the honor and not the entire WNBA. Johnson suggested it had to do with Clark's race. 

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The Louisville men’s basketball team snapped a three-game losing streak with a win over UTEP on Wednesday night, but a grueling stretch of games could put the Cardinals back in trouble. 

Even so, head coach Pat Kelsey is still counting his blessings. 

During his post-game presser after Louisville edged UTEP 77-74, Kelsey was asked how he’s dealing with a tough schedule that featured a loss to Duke on Sunday, UTEP on Wednesday and big game against rival Kentucky on Saturday. 

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His reply? 

"I mean, we get a bunch of free sneakers, I wear sweatsuits to work, my kids are healthy, my wife’s hot – I’ve got a pretty good life," Kelsey said as the room full of reporters broke out in laughter.

"We get to play college basketball. We get to play in the Yum Center. We get to get ready for UTEP. My dad used to say it all the time. I would say, ‘Hey dad, you got to go to work today?’ He would say, ‘Son, I get to go to work today.’"

LOYOLA CHICAGO MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM FINDS CREATIVE WAY TO APOLOGIZE TO SISTER JEAN AFTER VIRAL SNUB VIDEO

Kelsey admitted that while this stretch of the schedule hasn’t been easy, he’s proud of the team’s efforts. 

"The schedule’s been a little bit difficult. We’ve had some adversity, but the guys have been awesome. The process has been great. The results will take care of themselves."

Terrence Edwards Jr. had 22 points on Wednesday night to help Louisville snap a three-game losing streak ahead of a big matchup with No. 5 ranked Kentucky. 

The Cardinals are 6-4 this season with Kelsey as head coach. He was hired earlier this year after Kenny Payne, a former Cardinals player, was fired after going 12-52 in two historically bad seasons. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark, who captivated basketball fans long before her arrival in the WNBA, was named Time’s Athlete of the Year on Tuesday following her historic rookie season. 

Clark, 22, capped off a phenomenal rookie season packed with record-breaking performances and crowds with a playoff appearance – the first for Indiana since 2016 – and was named WNBA Rookie of the Year.

When asked by Time magazine how she would summarize this past year, Clark responded with one word: historic. 

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"I've been able to captivate so many people that have never watched women's sports, let alone women's basketball, and turn them into fans," she told the magazine. 

Clark said the noise surrounding the league this past year felt "powerful." 

"Instantly, everybody goes crazy," she continued. "People are invested in the game, they love the game, and that's what makes it so fun for me. These people aren't supporting women's sports to check a box. It’s going to be the new normal."

While women’s college basketball fans already recognized her, Clark became a household name during the 2023 March Madness tournament by leading Iowa to its first national championship game in program history for the women’s team. A rivalry between LSU’s Angel Reese, which would carry on into their professional careers, was born. 

CAITLIN CLARK RESPONSIBLE FOR MORE THAN QUARTER OF WNBA REVENUE WHILE MAKING LESS THAN $80K, EXPERT SAYS

Iowa would fall to LSU, but Clark and the Hawkeyes would run it back the following year. 

In her senior year, Clark would earn more honors, including eclipsing Pete Maravich as the NCAA Division I all-time scoring leader. She was drafted first overall by the Indiana Fever just a month later and her dominance continued. 

Clark wrapped up her rookie season with more records in games played before sold out crowds (some at NBA arenas) and she would be crowned Rookie of the Year after being named an All-Star and just the fifth rookie in league history to make the All-WNBA First-Team. 

But her success came amid controversy. Narratives around race, a divide between the old guard and the new, and even an Olympic snub surrounded Clark. 

"I tell people I feel like the most controversial person," Clark told Time. "But I am not. It’s just because of all the storylines that surround me. I literally try to live and treat everybody in the same exact respectful, kind way. It just confuses me at times."

Clark has had an undeniable impact on the landscape of not just the WNBA, but women’s sports in general. The growth of the league and the focus on women’s sports is only the beginning. 

"Personally, I'm just scratching the surface of what I can do and hopefully how I can change the world and impact people," she told Time magazine. 

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It's been over three decades since Lou Carnesecca was last on the sidelines for the St. John's Red Storm, but his presence continues to be felt.

"Looie" died last week at the age of 99, prompting a multitude of tributes in the college basketball world as well as the tri-state area.

But the St. John's legend is still fresh in the minds of many, including current head coach Rick Pitino.

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During the Jonnies' game against Kansas State on Saturday, Carnesecca wore a replica vintage sweater that Carnesecca made famous during his time with the school. It's the school's first game since his passing. 

The game was played at the arena that bears Carnesecca's name - the arena opened in 1961 and was named after the Hall of Fame coach in 2004.

Carnesecca was the coach of St. John’s for 24 seasons over two stints. He led the team to 18 seasons in which the team won at least 20 games and 18 NCAA Tournament appearances. His teams produced star players like Chris Mullin, Bill Wennington, Mark Jackson and Walter Berry.

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St. John’s won the NIT Championship in 1989, and Carnesecca was named to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992 – the year he retired from the sport.

Carnesecca took over for Joe Lapchick before the start of the 1965-66 season. He became the head coach for the New York Nets of the American Basketball Association in 1970 and later came back to the team, known then as the Redmen, replacing Frank Mulzoff.

His best team was the 1984-85 squad led by Mullin, Berry, Jackson and Wennington. They had 31 wins and were 15-1 in the Big East, making it to the Final Four before losing to the Patrick Ewing-led Georgetown Hoyas.

Carnesecca was 526-200 in his coaching career. He was a three-time Big East Coach of the Year and two-time U.S. Basketball Writers Association Coach of the Year.

Fox News' Ryan Gaydos and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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It’s a tradition like no other. 

Since 1997, the Taylor University Trojans created an official Christmas celebration which has come to be known as "Silent Night." 

The tradition, meant to celebrate the holiday season and the end of the semester, involves a typically sold out basketball game where fans dress up in costumes and remain utterly silent until Taylor scores its 10th point of the game. 

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Fans then break the silence by storming the court at Odle Arena. 

Friday marked the annual game, this time against Moody Bible Institute. And fans didn’t have to keep quiet for too long. 

Just 90 seconds into the game, junior Nate Paarlberg broke free down court, dunking the ball for the Trojan’s 10th point. Fans stormed the court in unison celebrating and, to avoid a technical, a media timeout is always called. 

LOYOLA CHICAGO MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM FINDS CREATIVE WAY TO APOLOGIZE TO SISTER JEAN AFTER VIRAL SNUB VIDEO

The traditions continued in the final minute of the game as the crowd, arm-in-arm, began to sing "Silent Night."

Taylor walked away with a 107-59 and improved to 26-1 all-time in "Silent Night" games. 

According to the school’s website, Taylor is an "interdenominational liberal arts university of evangelical faith" in Upland, Indiana. 

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College basketball fans were left heartbroken after a video went viral this week showing the Loyola Chicago men’s basketball team walking right past beloved team chaplain Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt as she raised her hand for a fist bump to celebrate the Ramblers' latest victory. 

But they found a creative way to make it up to her. 

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In a video posted to social media on Thursday, the team could be seen running drills during a practice session as Sister Jean blew a whistle. 

Each player then walked off the court giving Sister Jean a fist bump and hug. 

"Appreciate you, Sister Jean," they could be heard saying to her. 

SISTER JEAN SNUB LEADS TO CRITICISM AGAINST LOYOLA MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYERS

Fans were not impressed with a video that circulated on social media showing several players walking right past Sister Jean after their 76-54 win over Eastern Michigan on Tuesday night. The win marked the Ramblers' seventh straight and kept their record perfect. 

"How can you leave Sister Jean hanging like this?!?’ Barstool personality Dan Katz, known as "Big Cat," said in a post on X. 

"There’s 1 rule in college basketball that must be followed: You NEVER ignore Sister Jean," another person wrote online. 

Sister Jean has become a staple in the college basketball community since she became team chaplain in 1994. She celebrated her 105th birthday in August, and the university hosted a mass and block party to celebrate the incredible milestone. 

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The Creighton basketball team has recorded their signature win for 2024.

The Bluejays knocked off the No. 1 ranked Kansas Jayhawks in arguably the biggest upset so far this season. At one point, Creighton led by 17 en route to the 76-63 victory.

After the game, Creighton head coach Greg McDermott made a bold claim. "This is the building [where] No. 1 teams go to die evidently," the coach said as fans stormed the court.

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To McDermott's point, Creighton was able to pull off a similar feat last season by upsetting the then top-ranked UConn Huskies on their home court in Omaha.

The Bluejays' 85-66 victory in February also sparked a court-storming moment.

LSU STAR FLAU'JAE JOHNSON SAYS UNRIVALED LEAGUE 'CHANGING THE GAME' AS SHE JOINS IN NIL PARTNERSHIP

Under McDermott, Creighton has made nine appearances in the NCAA tournament, advancing to the Sweet 16 on three occasions.

The Bluejays win over Kansas marked the program's 15th win over a top-10 opponent since McDermott became the head coach in 2010.

Creighton is scheduled to remain in Omaha for its next game against UNLV. Tip off is slated for 4:00 p.m. ET on Dec. 7. Meanwhile, Kansas will travel to Missouri for a matchup with the Tigers on Dec. 8.

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Caitlin Clark's throne at the top of college basketball history may soon be history itself. 

The 19-year-old JuJu Wakins, a sophomore at USC, is on pace to smash many of the career records Clark set at Iowa. Watkins has arguably one-upped Clark's collegiate start as the best in the sport's history so far. 

Clark holds the record for most career points scored in history, among both men and women players with 3,951. But Watkins is on pace to take that jewelry for herself, with 1,142 already in just 38 career games. Clark took 40 games to hit that mark. 

In mid-November, Watkins crossed the 1,000-point marker two games before Clark as well. Watkins has consistently maintained the edge in scoring pace since then. 

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With 376 total field goals, Watkins is on pace to finish with a larger total than Clark in that statistic as well. Watkins had a staggering 301 total field goals her freshman year, while Clark had just 266 as a freshman. 

This season, Watkins leads the NCAA with a .476 field goal percentage. If she holds that number throughout the end of the year, it will be a better field goal percentage than Clark ever had in a single season at Iowa. Granted, Watkins is only eight games into the season. 

The biggest difference between the two players is scoring approach. Clark is undeniably the better 3-point shooter, holding the NCAA's all-time 3-point record that Watkins is nowhere near on pace to touching. Watkins does most of her damage from within the arc, and is a better finisher in the paint. 

Watkins scored the vast majority of her 920 points her freshman year off of a nation-leading 553 2-point shots. The most 2-point shots Clark ever made in a single college season was 359 her sophomore year in 2021-22. 

Playing so strongly in the paint has also put Watkins at the foul line at a historic pace. Watkins leads the nation in free throws with 45 after leading it as a freshman with a staggering 241. The most Clark ever achieved in a season was 239, and that wasn't even until her junior year in 2022-23. 

INSIDE CAITLIN CLARK'S IMPACT ON MEN'S BASKETBALL

Another critical stat that Watkins has vastly outpaced Clark in so far is steals. Watkins leads the country with 22 through eight games after 78 as a freshman last year. The most Clark ever had in a season was 68, and that wasn't even until her historic senior year in 2023-24. 

However, Watkins will likely not come close to catching Clark in assist numbers. Clark led the nation in assists every year of her college career, starting with 214 in her freshman year in 2020-21, nearly double that of Watkins' 112 as a freshman . 

Unlike Clark, who grew up in suburban Iowa, Watkins was born and raised in Los Angeles. 

Watkins says her biggest sports "hero" is Lakers star LeBron James, according to her USC team page. James came to play for Watkins' hometown Lakers in the 2018 offseason, just two weeks before Watkins' 13th birthday. 

And like LeBron James, Watkins has represented the U.S. in international competition, having competed for the U.S. U16 and U17 national teams. Watkins won gold medals with USC at 2022 FIBA U17 World Cup and 2021 FIBA Americas U16 Championship, and even had a signature 28-point performance in a gold medal game against Canada.

Clark was famously snubbed from the recent U.S. women's basketball team at the Paris Olympics this past summer. 

Watkins won't be eligible for the WNBA Draft until 2027. Her first season against Clark will likely be that year, when Clark is in the fourth year of her career. 

One year later, the Olympics will come to Watkins' hometown of Los Angeles. Whether Watkins will be selected for the first Olympics of her pro career may be a topic of contentious conversation four years from now. She would technically be one year ahead in her pro career than Clark was when Clark was denied an Olympic spot for Paris. 

It is very possible they could be teammates together in the 2028 LA Olympics. 

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College basketball fans aren’t too pleased with Loyola Chicago men’s basketball after players were seen snubbing team chaplain Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt following their dominant win over Eastern Michigan on Tuesday night. 

The Ramblers remained undefeated with a 76-54 win over the Eagles at home, but fans on social media were left unimpressed after a viral video showed several players walking right past the beloved Sister Jean as they left the court. 

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Sister Jean, who turned 105 on Aug. 21, was sitting in a wheelchair right in front of the tunnel with her fist raised. But, as some on social media pointed out, the players left her "hanging." 

"How can you leave Sister Jean hanging like this?!?’ Barstool personality Dan Katz, known as "Big Cat," said in a post on X. 

"There’s 1 rule in college basketball that must be followed: You NEVER ignore Sister Jean," another person wrote online. 

NEW MEXICO BASKETBALL PLAYER ALLEGEDLY PUNCHED WALK-ON TEAMMATE OVER PLANE SEAT: REPORTS

"I know she probably didn’t care but that hurts my feelings," another post read. 

Sister Jean began her career at Loyola Chicago in 1991 as an academic advisor, but she is best known for her role as the team chaplain, which she began just a few years later in 1994. Since then, she has not only become a household name in Chicago, but for all college basketball fans. 

Loyola Chicago is currently second in the Atlantic 10 with a 7-0 record. They take on the 5-3 South Florida Bulls on Saturday. 

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The groundbreaking Unrivaled basketball league isn’t just helping women in the WNBA. College basketball stars are getting a piece of the action as well. 

LSU star Flau’Jae Johnson, who is one of the most recognizable women’s basketball players in college right now, is joining Unrivaled with an NIL partnership. She joins UConn Huskies star Paige Bueckers as the league’s first NIL athletes.

The player-owned 3-on-3 league, which was co-founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, is truly investing in women’s basketball players, with participating players getting equity opportunities as well as the highest average salaries in professional women’s sports history for a vested interest in the league’s success. 

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Johnson, though still playing for the Tigers and not yet allowed to enter the WNBA, will also be getting equity in the league as she collaborates with Unrivaled to develop content throughout its inaugural season, which tips off in January 2025. 

"I think the equity is the most important part, just being able to be invested in something like that," Johnson told Fox News Digital. "And for me, being able to leverage my brand and to create business opportunities. That’s really what this NIL space is all about. When you’re in NIL, you literally have this short window where everybody wants to have you a part [of something], so to really leverage that into something that’s going to last for a long time. It’s going to be in my business portfolio and gain capital in the future, that’s a really big deal."

As a member of Forbes 30 Under 30 for 2025, Johnson knows a thing or two about the right NIL opportunities as she is the No. 1-ranked women’s basketball earner and No. 33 overall, according to On3, with $1.5 million in valuation. 

CAITLIN CLARK WON'T JOIN NEW UNRIVALED LEAGUE WITH TWO ROSTER SLOTS STILL OPEN: REPORT

But what sets Johnson apart from the rest is her surging rap career, as she’s signed under Jay-Z’s Roc Nation record label and has collaborated with industry superstars like Lil Wayne. 

Johnson’s flourishing social media platforms, which includes two million on Instagram and 1.6 million on TikTok, makes her a true crossover star and someone Unrivaled wants, considering her unique skill set. 

Johnson, though, has already been promoting Unrivaled due to her connection with Stewart.

"When they came to be about it, I was like, ‘Me and Stewie already have a relationship, because we’re both PUMA athletes,’" Johnson said. "So, it was kind of a no-brainer. But when I really seen all the marketing that was behind it, like all the players, the amount they were paying the players, it just felt very big. It felt like it was something really serious.

"Even before I’ve signed anything, I was already kind of promoting it. When we were on the PUMA tour, I was making sure people knew what was going on. We definitely talked about it."

The league appealed to many of the WNBA’s stars, including Johnson’s former LSU teammate Angel Reese, who is ready to make an impact here after a successful rookie campaign.

Other than the vested interest for the players, being able to stay home instead of going overseas in the offseason to continue making money playing basketball is something Johnson finds so important as she looks ahead to her own professional career. 

"Leagues like this, women don’t have to go overseas anymore," she said. "Now, they could stay home, be playing in Miami where the sky is beautiful and collect a check. I think it’s so important what they’re doing – they’re really changing the game. Being somebody that’s going to be in the WNBA soon, having another option, this is big. 

"This is big for the women, the girls coming up in high school, the girls coming up in college, it’s just big for women’s sports in general."

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Former ESPN star Adrian Wojnarowski revealed in an interview he was diagnosed with prostate cancer before he decided to leave the company and take a job at St. Bonaventure.

Wojnarowski opened up about the cancer in an interview with Sports Illustrated. He said he went to the doctor in February and blood tests revealed an elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA). He had a second blood test after an MRI showed nothing. A biopsy later revealed the early-stage cancer.

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"When you hear cancer, you think about it going through your body like Pac-Man," Wojnarowski said. "Prostate cancer, it generally stays confined to your prostate and is typically slow growing."

He added that the cancer is "pretty limited in scope" and that he’s going through checkups every three months. He said doctors have told him to change his eating habits and surgery is an option but only if he can’t handle the battle mentally, according to Sports Illustrated.

Wojnarowski left the network in September to serve as St. Bonaventure basketball’s first-ever general manager. He said the cancer didn’t make him retire from ESPN, but added that it brought some levity to the chaotic days he was spending as the premier NBA insider.

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"I didn’t want to spend one more day of my life waiting on someone’s MRI or hitting an agent at 1 a.m. about an ankle sprain," he said.

Wojnarowski added that when he went to Chris Mortensen’s memorial, after the late ESPN NFL insider died of throat cancer, he received a sobering reminder.

"It made me remember that the job isn’t everything. In the end, it’s just going to be your family and close friends. And it’s also, like, nobody gives a s---. Nobody remembers [breaking stories] in the end. It’s just vapor."

Wojnarowski graduated from St. Bonaventure with a journalism degree in 1991 and received an honorary doctorate from the school in 2022. The 55-year-old has worked at ESPN since 2017, and his decision to retire came even while he was still under a contract he signed with the Disney-owned media company in 2022.

Wojnarowski was voted the National Sports Media Association’s National Sportswriter of the year over a three-year span from 2017 to 2019.

 Fox News’ Chantz Martin contributed to this report.

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LiAngelo Ball, the brother of NBA stars Lonzo and LaMelo Ball, recounted the time he and two other UCLA players were arrested in China after being accused of stealing designer sunglasses in 2017. 

Ball, 26, went to a Louis Vuitton store next to the team’s hotel in Hangzhou and snagged sunglasses while on a trip as a member of the UCLA men’s basketball team.

Ball reflected on the incident during a recent appearance on "Unapologetically Angel" with Angel Reese.

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"I knew it was wrong. I was 18, wrong spot, wrong time, just making quick decisions doing dumb s---, so I don’t know how to explain. Everybody wants me to come up with this long-a-- story. Like, I don’t know how to explain it," Ball said.

"I did what I did, and I knew that s--- was wrong and then that’s that. It’s been seven, eight years. I ain’t been in trouble since."

Ball said he knew right away he had made a mistake.

"I couldn’t think nothing past like, I knew s--- was going to go south. I don’t know, right when I left the store, I’m like, ‘Damn.' I told (my teammates), ’Like, yeah, we done," Ball said. 

"I knew that s--- was f------ wrong, bro."

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President Trump personally asked Xi Jinping, president of the People’s Republic of China, to help resolve the matter regarding Ball and his two teammates, Cody Riley and Jalen Hill, Fox News reported at the time.

"To the three UCLA basketball players I say: You’re welcome, go out and give a big Thank You to President Xi Jinping of China who made…

" …your release possible and, HAVE A GREAT LIFE! Be careful, there are many pitfalls on the long and winding road of life!" Trump wrote in separate social media posts in 2017. 

After his career at UCLA, Ball was not chosen in the 2018 NBA Draft. Ball played overseas in the Lithuanian Basketball League in 2018 instead of going to the NBA.

He played with the Los Angeles Ballers of the Junior Basketball Association, which was a league founded by his father, Lavar Ball.

Ball then spent time in the NBA G-League from 2021-2023. Ball signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Detroit Pistons in 2020 but was waived shortly after signing.

The Charlotte Hornets signed him in 2021 and 2022, but he was waived shortly after being signed both times. Ball has not appeared in an NBA regular-season game. 

Ball’s brothers, LaMelo and Lonzo, are both in the NBA. LaMelo plays for the Charlotte Hornets and Lonzo plays for the Chicago Bulls.

Fox News' Brooke Singman contributed to this report. 

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Auburn Tigers men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl is not one to shy away from some of the hot-button political topics raging in the United States, and he dipped his toe in the water again on Tuesday.

Pearl applauded New York City Mayor Eric Adams after Adams dismissed criticism from the left regarding his meeting with President-elect Donald Trump's border czar Tom Homan.

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"Thank you Mayor Adams!" Pearl wrote in a post on X.

Adams was asked at a press conference about whether he would meet with Homan, who was picked by President-elect Trump to lead the mass deportation operation he intends to launch after he is sworn into office.

He stressed the city’s openness to immigrants and emphasized the work being done to help migrants apply for Temporary Protected Status and work authorization, as well as services including case management for migrants. He said it has now seen a 21-week decrease in migrant arrivals.

NEW MEXICO BASKETBALL PLAYER ALLEGEDLY PUNCHED WALK-ON TEAMMATE OVER PLANE SEAT: REPORTS

Adams said he was the one who reached out to Homan and wanted to speak with him and vowed he had no plans to be "warring" with the next administration.

As far as those on the left criticizing him, Adams pointed to past remarks by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Barack Obama, who he said had called for the deportation of criminal illegal immigrants and brushed off what he said was "cancel culture."

"Well, cancel me, because I'm going to protect the people of this city, and if you come into this country, in this city, and think you're going to harm innocent New Yorkers and innocent migrants and asylum seekers, this is not the mayor you want to be in a city under," he said.

Pearl has been outspoken about important geopolitical topics over the last year. Specifically, he has cast his support for Israel in the days, weeks and months after Hamas’ terrorist attack in the country last year.

Fox News’ Adam Shaw contributed to this report.

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The University of New Mexico is investigating an incident involving two members of the men’s basketball team in which one player allegedly punched another on a flight last month over a seat, according to multiple reports. 

A walk-on player of the Lobos basketball team was allegedly punched in the shoulder by a scholarship player when the team was traveling to Palm Springs for the Acrisure Classic just before Thanksgiving, KOB 4 reported after speaking to the family of the suspected victim. 

Neither player was named. 

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According to the family, the argument stemmed from a disagreement about where the walk-on player was sitting on the plane. They also alleged that the player was punched in the same shoulder that was already injured, which he was already in a sling because of, and that he was later treated at a hospital in Albuquerque when the team returned. 

The family also alleged that a similar incident involving the same player occurred at the hotel the same day. 

The alleged victim reportedly told the coaching staff about the incident, but claimed that nothing was done. 

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An attorney representing the walk-on player told KRQE that the scholarship player was allowed to play in two games after the incident took place. 

Representatives for the university told Fox News Digital in a statement that they are investigating the incident. 

"The University of New Mexico takes the safety and well-being of all our students very seriously. We are aware of an alleged incident involving members of our men’s basketball team and are carefully reviewing and assessing all of the facts," the statement read. 

"We are following all appropriate protocols and procedures in addressing this situation and are committed to addressing any misconduct appropriately. Due to federal student privacy laws, specifically the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), we cannot disclose specific details or comment further on individual student matters."

Head coach Richard Pitino would not clarify any details in a press conference on Monday. 

"There’s not a whole lot I can talk about. We are handling any disciplinary matters internally, but other than that there’s not a whole lot I can say specifically."

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St. John’s men’s basketball coaching legend Lou Carnesecca, who coached the program for more than two decades, has died, the school announced Sunday night. He was just a few weeks shy of his 100th birthday.

Carnesecca was the coach of St. John’s for 24 seasons over two stints. He led the team to 18 seasons in which the team won at least 20 games and 18 NCAA Tournament appearances. His teams produced star players like Chris Mullin, Bill Wennington, Mark Jackson and Walter Berry.

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St. John’s won the NIT Championship in 1989 and he was named to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992 – the year he retired from the sport.

"Hall of Fame coach Lou Carnesecca '50C, '60GEd, '00HON, who led the St. John's men's basketball team for 24 seasons and endeared himself to generations of New Yorkers with his wit and warmth, passed away on Saturday surrounded by family," the team said.

"The legendary head coach leaves behind his beloved wife of 73 years, Mary, as well as his cherished family – daughter Enes, son-in-law Gerard (Jerry), granddaughter Ieva and her fiancé Frank, his dear niece and nephew, Susan Chiesa, John Chiesa and his wife, Nancy – as well as his extended family and his closest friends join them in their loss."

MISSOURI STAR BASKETBALL PLAYER STRETCHERED OFF COURT IN SCARY MOMENT

Carnesecca took over for Joe Lapchick before the start of the 1965-66 season. He became the head coach for the New York Nets of the American Basketball Association in 1970 and later came back to the team, known then as the Redmen, replacing Frank Mulzoff.

His best team was the 1984-85 squad led by Mullin, Berry, Jackson and Wennington. They had 31 wins and were 15-1 in the Big East, making it to the Final Four before losing to the Patrick Ewing-led Georgetown Hoyas.

The team won 31 games the next season as well, but was stunned in the second round of the tournament by Auburn.

Carnesecca was 526-200 in his coaching career. He was a three-time Big East Coach of the Year and two-time U.S. Basketball Writers Association Coach of the Year.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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A scary moment occurred during the Missouri-Lindenwood men’s college basketball game on Wednesday night, as a Tigers player needed to be stretchered off the court. 

Caleb Grill, the Tigers’ star guard, suffered a head and neck injury after fighting for a rebound during the team’s 81-61 win over Lindenwood. 

Grill was hit awkwardly in the head while going for that rebound, which snapped his neck back while he was in the air. He landed hard on the court and held the back of his head.

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Grill was transported to a local hospital after being stretchered off the court. He threw a thumbs up to the crowd, which cheered him on as he was taken off the court. 

The Columbia Daily Tribune had a team spokesperson tell them that Grill was responsive, but he was taken to the hospital out of caution. The specifics regarding his injury were not disclosed. 

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After the game, Mizzou head coach Dennis Gates gave an update on Grill. 

"We’re awaiting results of a CT scan," Gates said, according to the Daily Tribune. "Whenever you have a head or neck injury, you want to be [cautious] and have some caution with that. And that’s what that was all about, making sure that he was OK. He was responsive, talking the entire time when I was down there in the huddle with him. He even rolled out with his thumb up. So, that was a good sign to see in that respect."

Grill was the Tigers’ leading scorer heading into this game, averaging 15.5 points while shooting more than 55% from three-point territory. 

His stats took a dip, though, after scoring just two points and one steal over seven minutes before missing the remainder of the game. 

The Tigers moved to 6-1 on the season, but they are hoping a key member of their starting five will be back on the court soon. 

Mizzou’s next game comes on Tuesday against Cal. 

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The two-time defending national champion UConn Huskies were dealt with their first loss of the 2024-25 season on Monday at the hands of the Memphis Tigers.

The Penny Hardaway-led squad eked out a victory in overtime in the Maui Invitational quarterfinals, 99-97. UConn head coach Dan Hurley may have been the catalyst for the loss.

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Huskies forward Liam McNeely was called for an offensive foul with 40.3 seconds remaining in overtime. Hurley cursed out one official, calling him a "f---ing joke." He was immediately hit with a technical foul. Memphis’ P.J. Carter hit the two technical free throws and then the two given to him after McNeely went over his back.

UConn’s 17-game winning streak was snapped. Hurley was still hot after the game.

"I had a lot of issues with what went on out there in the game," Hurley said. "That over-the-back call at that point of the game, there was no attempt to block out. There was a player on Memphis that made a half-assed effort to rebound that basketball and Liam McNeely high-pointed that rebound. For that call to be made at that point of the game was a complete joke."

Hurley dropped to his knees after the call and explained he may have lost his balance.

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"But if I made that call at that point, I would have ignored the fact that I was on my back," he added. "If I made that call, I would have ignored that. I would have ignored that. That was a major, obviously, a major ... how you could call that while that game was going on, the way that game was going on is just beyond me."

Two other technical fouls were called on UConn during the game. One was on a trainer early in the matchup, and the other was on forward Samson Johnson, who was part of a double-technical following a skirmish with a Memphis player.

"Samson was getting shoved. His jersey was ripped. He didn’t get a foul called for him the entire game," Hurley said. "He ended the game with his jersey ripped down the center, but they get him on every call. He’s frustrated. That was crazy, man. Crazy."

UConn entered the game as the No. 2 team in the nation.

The Huskies will face Colorado on the losers’ side of the bracket.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Ohio State Buckeyes center Aaron Bradshaw is being investigated for a potential "domestic incident," according to The Columbus Dispatch, which has led to him being absent from team activities. 

This accusation would explain a rather open-ended statement by the team this past Friday before Ohio State played Campbell.

"Aaron Bradshaw is not currently participating in team activities," the statement read. "The university is following its established process. Due to federal privacy laws, we cannot share further information at this time."

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Head coach Jake Diebler wouldn’t elaborate on Bradshaw’s situation following the 104-60 win over Campbell.

He’s not expected to play in the team’s contest against Green Bay on Monday as well, with no timeline on when he could rejoin the Buckeyes on the court. 

2025 MEN'S MARCH MADNESS ODDS: DUKE BECOMES NEW FAVORITE

The Columbus Dispatch reports that no charges have been filed against Bradshaw, though an incident allegedly occurred at his off-campus apartment this past week. 

Bradshaw has started the four games he’s played for Ohio State this year, which is his first with the program after transferring from Kentucky after his freshman year in 2023. 

Over 23.5 minutes on the floor, Bradshaw is averaging 7.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game with 31 total points scored. 

Bradshaw was the top center prospect coming out of Camden High School in New Jersey in 2023, ultimately choosing Kentucky to play under head coach John Calipari. 

However, after a surprise early exit in the NCAA tournament earlier this year, Calipari left to coach Arkansas in a shocking move given his history with the Wildcats. 

It led to multiple transfers with Mark Pope taking over in Kentucky. Despite speculation that Bradshaw would return to his home state to play for Rutgers after they landed stars Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper, he chose the Buckeyes. 

Bradshaw played in 26 games for Kentucky last season, starting 10 of them, where he averaged 4.9 points and 3.3 rebounds.

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A former member of Temple's men's basketball team is reportedly being investigated for allegedly fixing his own games.

Hysier Miller is accused of betting on games he played in and point-shaving as a member of the Owls.

An investigation began in March after unusual betting activity for a Temple game against UAB.

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Miller transferred to Virginia Tech but was dismissed last month "due to circumstances prior to his enrollment at Virginia Tech," Virginia Tech said.

"Hysier Miller has overcome more adversity in his 22 years than most people face in their lifetime. He will meet and overcome whatever obstacles lay ahead," Miller's attorneys said in a statement, via ESPN.

Temple said in a statement it is "aware of the deeply concerning allegations of sports wagering last season" and "will cooperate fully should we be contacted."

The Blazers opened as a 1.5-point favorite, but the spread suddenly increased to make them favored by eight. Temple eventually closed as seven-point underdogs.

UAB won, 100-72, making it a sweat-free cover. Miller scored eight points on 3-for-9 shooting.

Temple lost to UAB in the AAC championship, after Miller averaged 27.8 points per game in the tournament.

The growth of legal sports betting in the U.S., especially among college-aged people, has prompted concerns about increased stress on athletes and a heightened potential for wrongdoing. NCAA President Charlie Baker said earlier this year the NCAA is trying to modify "draconian" penalties college athletes face for breaking rules regarding betting on sports.

The topic drew headlines last year in two prominent cases. About two dozen Iowa State and Iowa athletes were criminally charged after a state investigation into illegal sports wagering. Some charges were dropped after investigators were found to have misused tracking software that detected open mobile betting apps in Iowa State athletic buildings.

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Earlier this year, former NBA player Jontay Porter, who was issued a lifetime ban from the NBA due to gambling, pleaded guilty to his role in the scheme that led to his punishment.

Porter pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and faces over four years in jail.

Porter received a lifetime ban April 17 after the NBA found in an investigation that he had disclosed confidential information to sports bettors and bet on games in violation of league rules. The NBA prohibits players from betting on the league or any of its properties.

The league said an investigation discovered before "the [Toronto] Raptors’ March 20 game, [Jontay] disclosed confidential information about his own health status to an individual he knew to be an NBA bettor.

"Another individual with whom Porter associated and known to be an NBA bettor subsequently placed an $80,000 parlay proposition bet with an online sports book to win $1.1 million, wagering [Porter] would underperform in the March 20 game." 

Porter played just three minutes in the contest, claiming to be sick. He was also found to have placed 13 bets on NBA games.

Thirty-nine states allow some form of wagering on sports.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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