AARON BEARD Basketball Writer, Author at The Rapid City Post

Virginia's Sam Lewis (5) moves the ball around North Carolina State's Alyn Breed (7) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Lewis, De Ridder help No. 21 Virginia regroup from 3OT loss to beat NC State 76-61

January 3, 2026

Sam Lewis matched his career high with 23 points, Thijs De Ridder took over after halftime and No. 21 Virginia beat N.C. State 76-61. Lewis had 20 points on 7-for-8 shooting by halftime for the Cavaliers. He helped Virginia go up 20 points by halftime. De Ridder had 12 of his 14 points after the break for Virginia. The Cavaliers never trailed in a game coming days after a triple-overtime loss at rival Virginia Tech. Quadir Copeland scored 15 points to lead N.C. State. The Wolfpack shot 36% and got no closer than eight after halftime.

Duke head coach Jon Scheyer, right, speaks to Duke's Cameron Boozer, third from right, Isaiah Evans (3), and Patrick Ngongba II, left, during a timeout in an NCAA college basketball game against Georgia Tech in Durham, N.C., Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)

The ACC had an improved nonconference showing. That could help its cause for more March Madness bids

January 2, 2026

The Atlantic Coast Conference is aiming to turn an improved showing in nonconference play into its goal of earning more March Madness bids. The ACC had just four NCAA Tournament bids last year for its lowest haul in a dozen years. But ACC teams had a better showing in marquee nonconference matchups. The league has four ranked teams with No. 6 Duke, No. 12 North Carolina, No. 16 Louisville and No. 21 Virginia as it dives into conference play. The league also has secured more Quadrant 1 victories that top a team’s postseason résumé.

LSU's Mikaylah Williams (12) and Duke's Riley Nelson (4) battle for a loose ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Durham, N.C., Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)

ACC’s shaky start to women’s basketball season continues with 13-3 loss to SEC in annual Challenge

December 5, 2025

The Atlantic Coast Conference lost its annual series with the Southeastern Conference by a 13-3 margin. That comes as the league currently has no top-10 teams in the AP Top 25 poll for the first time since December 2001. The preseason league favorite Blue Devils fell to 3-6 with Thursday night’s home loss to No. 5 LSU. No. 11 North Carolina lost at No. 2 Texas as the ACC’s highest-ranked team. Duke coach Kara Lawson says there’s still enough time for her team and others in the ACC to develop into quality teams.

Duke's Isaiah Evans (3) celebrates with the student section after a play during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Florida in Durham, N.C., Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)

Isaiah Evans shakes off shooting struggles to hit a winning 3 for No. 4 Duke against No. 15 Florida

December 2, 2025

Duke’s Isaiah Evans hit the winning 3-pointer in the final minute to help the fourth-ranked Blue Devils beat No. 15 Florida 67-66 in the ACC/SEC Challenge. That came after he had started 0 for 7 from 3-point range. Evans said afterward he focused on contributing defensively to stay in the game. He finished with a career-high five blocked shots as a 6-foot-6 wing. Coach Jon Scheyer says Evans showed “great growth” in hanging in the game until hitting the winning 3 with 19.7 seconds left.

Duke's Cameron Boozer (12) and Floida's Alex Condon (21) battle for a loose ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Durham, N.C., Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)

Evans’ late 3 helps No. 4 Duke top No. 15 Florida 67-66 in ACC/SEC Challenge

December 2, 2025

Isaiah Evans hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 19.7 seconds left, and No. 4 Duke held on to beat No. 15 Florida 67-66 in the ACC/SEC Challenge. The slim sophomore was sitting at 0 for 7 from behind the arc when Florida’s Boogie Fland hit a 3 with 34.6 seconds left for a 66-64 lead. But Evans calmly sunk the shot that ultimately helped Duke stay unbeaten. Star freshman Cameron Boozer scored 29 points for the Blue Devils. Thomas Haugh scored 24 points for the Gators, the reigning national champions.

North Carolina guard Seth Trimble, center, drives between Kansas forward Flory Bidunga, left, and guard Melvin Council Jr. (14) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)

No. 25 UNC was down at half to No. 19 Kansas. A dominant 2nd half changed everything

November 7, 2025

No. 25 North Carolina used a dominating second half to rally past No. 19 Kansas on Friday night in a matchup of blueblood programs. It also marked a validation for coach Hubert Davis’ retooling of the roster after the Tar Heels barely made last year’s NCAA Tournament. Freshman Caleb Wilson and Arizona transfer Henri Veesaar were standouts. The Tar Heels also got a strong performance from senior returnee Seth Trimble. UNC had lost five straight meetings to Kansas and hadn’t beaten the Jayhawks since November 2002. UNC had also lost eight of nine against ranked teams last year.

Duke guard Dame Sarr, right, battles for the ball with Tennessee guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie (0) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball exhibition game Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

College basketball opens a new season with an influx of international talent

November 6, 2025

There’s an influx of international talent in college basketball this year. The list includes players who have played professionally in European leagues and elsewhere. That rise comes in the first months of the revenue-sharing era with schools able to directly pay athletes after an antitrust legal settlement. The list of top teams that feature international talent include No. 6 Duke, No. 9 Kentucky, No. 13 Arizona and No. 25 North Carolina. Coach Brad Underwood with No. 17 Illinois added two from Europe. He said the top players in the NBA are European and that college coaches are “following a trend.”

AARON BEARD Basketball Writer.