Daily Briefing — Jan. 15, 2022: ONE-DEFEATED — Cardinal hand Buffaloes first loss

W Roundup

Free agency has started! Or, at least, the legal tampering period has begun. Time for some more cryptic tweets!

Phoenix: Has yet another candidate for its opening at head coach in Los Angeles Clippers G League assistant coach Natalie Nakase. According to ESPN’s Clippers reporter, Ohm Youngmisuk, Nakase has interviewed with the Mercury.

Seattle: Cored combo guard Jewell Loyd, per our Howard Megdal. Our Storm reporter, ~me~, breaks down what this means for both Seattle and Loyd.

(All times in Eastern)

Watch List, Saturday, Jan. 15

Must-watch

#7 Arizona @ Oregon, 5:30 p.m., Pac-12 Oregon

Good games

RV* Missouri State @ Drake, 3 p.m., ESPN+

Also watchable

Fordham @ VCU, 1 p.m., ESPN+

Columbia @ Harvard, 2 p.m., ESPN+

Sickos games

None

Friday, Jan. 14 recap

#2 Stanford, #22 Colorado: The Cardinal beat the Buffaloes 60-52, Colorado’s first loss of the season. The Buffs opened on an 8-2 run, forced seven turnovers on five steals in the first four and a half minutes, and led by as many as 11; Stanford had a +8 fourth quarter, just the second time it’s won the fourth by multiple points in its nine games against teams that have received votes this year (excluding last Sunday’s decimation of Wazzu). The Cardinal shot 38.5% from the field but 37.5% from three while holding the Buffs to 29.8% and 14.8%, respectively; Stanford outrebounded the Buffs by 22; Colorado notched 15 steals, part of 22 forced turnovers; the Buffs committed 25 fouls.

Point wing Haley Jones led the Cardinal with 11 points on 4-for-8 shooting, eight rebounds (three offensive) and five assists against seven turnovers; center Cameron Brink notched 10 points on 4-for-10 FG (0-1 3pt.), seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks; backup center Ashten Prechtel had 10 points on 4-for-6 shooting from the field (2-4 3pt.), eight rebounds and two blocks. Colorado was led by backup center Quay Miller’s 16 points on 6-for-11 shooting (2-6 3pt.), three rebounds and two steals against two turnovers while fouling out in 19 minutes; combo forward Mya Hollingshed struggled to seven points on 2-for-12 shooting from the field and 0-for-6 from three (3-6 FT) with two steals.

RV DePaul: 75-63 win over Villanova. Shot 50.8% from the field and 35.7% from three; held the Wildcats to 4-for-24 shooting from deep; the teams each committed 19 turnovers. Off-ball guard Sonya Morris scored a team-high 25 points on 11-for-19 shooting (1-4 3pt.) with four rebounds and two assists against three turnovers; big Aneesah Morrow notched an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double on 8-for-13 FG with three steals, two blocks and three turnovers. Villanova was led by big wing Maddy Siegrist’s 31 points on 12-for-18 shooting from the field (2-4 3pt., 5-7 FT) and 14 rebounds (five offensive) for a double-double, plus four steals.

Blown leads

USC: 71-63 loss to Wazzu. Had a 93.0% win expectancy with a 25-8 lead after 13 minutes; lost the next 17 minutes by 19 points.

Cancellations

• Green Bay vs. Cleveland State
• William & Mary vs. UNC-Wilmington

*Receiving Votes