College

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Iowa is in danger of being remembered more for its finish than its fantastic start.

EVANSTON – It seemed Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald was talking about the same player as he analyzed first his own quarterback, Mike Kafka, and then the one the Wildcats must contain Saturday – No. 17 Wisconsin’s Scott Tolzien.

The Iowa Hawkeyes finally left Carver-Hawkeye Arena with smiles on their faces Friday night.

It’s like mother, like son for Illinois freshman guard Brandon Paul.

Brandon Triche and Arinze Onuaku combined for 13 points in Syracuse’s 22-1 run to open the second half and the Orange went on to a 87-71 victory over No. 6 North Carolina on Friday in the 2K Sports Classic championship.

Sean Kowal hit a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds to pace Northern Illinois to an 85-57 victory over Tennessee State on Friday in DeKalb.

Deon Thompson had 15 points and 12 rebounds and No. 6 North Carolina managed to hold on for a victory Thursday over No. 15 Ohio State in the 2K Coaches Classic at Madison Square Garden.

Tyrel Reed hit four 3-pointers for 12 points and No. 1 Kansas scored 23 straight points in the first half to overwhelm Central Arkansas 94-44 Thursday night in Lawrence.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Charlie Weis is going about his job as Notre Dame coach as normal, saying he doesn’t think a decision about his future has been made.

The Sauk Valley Skyhawks turned it on in the last 10 minutes Tuesday to earn a 75-65 home win over Madison Tech.

Cole Aldrich had 18 points, 11 rebounds and blocked five shots, helping top-ranked Kansas overcome a sloppy night to hold off Memphis 57-55 in a rematch of the 2008 national championship game Tuesday in St. Louis.

IOWA CITY – All season long, Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz dismissed the BCS talk that swirled around the program, saying simply that the Hawkeyes would probably end up where they belonged.

CHAMPAIGN – Freshman Brandon Paul is making an immediate impact for Illinois.

CHAMPAIGN – Illinois coach Bruce Weber doesn’t mind scheduling games against in-state opponents, but there’s one thing he won’t budge on.