Friday’s Arizin: Robinson-Earl makes final five for Karl Malone Award (Feb. 26)

Happy Friday!

Jeremiah Robinson-Earl is in the running for more accolades. He’s one of the final five for the Karl Malone Award, an accolade annually given to the top power forward in college basketball.

It’s down to him, Drew Timme (Gonzaga), Trayce Jackson-Davis (Indiana), Justin Champagnie (Pitt), and Sandro Mamukelashvili (Seton Hall).

The “news”:

Robinson-Earl a finalist for the Karl Malone Award | Villanova Athletics
He’s in the running for an annual award given to the top power forward in college basketball.

NCAA announces contingency plans for tournament teams forced to withdraw due to issues related to COVID-19 | NCAA
The NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Committees have determined how they will handle various scenarios related to a team needing to withdraw from the 2021 Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships should it encounter issues related to COVID-19. Other championships committees are expected to follow similar procedures.

Members of the Villanova bench have come around to contribute to practice and games | Philadelphia Inquirer
Pauses due to the coronavirus during the season has limited the time that Jay Wright has had to work with his young bench players, but they have made significant contributions in practice and games.

Who’s the top 2020-21 coach of the year candidate in every college basketball conference? | ESPN
A conference-by-conference look at top candidates for coach of the year.

Fan capacity, bubbles and more: What Marion County officials said about the NCAA Tournament | Indy Star
With Indiana preparing for the Big 10 and NCAA Tournaments, local health departments weigh in.

College basketball coaches on the hottest seats as regular season nears completion | CBS Sports
Which coaches are feeling the heat?

Evaluation “blue bloods” and “new bloods” heading into March | Busting Brackets
The “new bloods” like Gonzaga, Baylor, and Villanova are thriving this season and all three have a legitimate chance of capturing an NCAA Basketball national championship in 2021.

The Past 10 Naismith National Players of the Year, ranked | NCAA.com
Jalen Brunson checks in at No. 7, according to NCAA.com.

Ten College Basketball stars who can take over the 2021 NCAA Tournament | Bleacher Report
Check out Bleacher Report’s list.

College basketball rankings: Arkansas stays red-hot, keeps moving up in Top 25 and 1 after rout of Alabama | CBS Sports
The latest rankings, according to CBS Sports.

NCAA hands South Carolina 2-year probation for ex-assistant | USA TODAY
South Carolina’s men’s basketball program was placed on probation for two years by the NCAA on Thursday for former assistant coach Lamont Evans accepting $9,100 in bribes from a sports agent.

Opinion: Use the NIT as insurance for NCAA Tournament | CBS Sports
According to Matt Norlander, top-seeds in the NIT might get a second chance if NCAA Tournament teams have to withdraw, back out, or go on COVID pause. If anything, the NIT might be more useful this year.

Breakdowns of men’s college basketball conference tournaments | USA TODAY
Will be updated to reflect more conferences once they wrap things up and prepare to tip off their tournaments.

NCAA to pay entire $613 million revenue distribution to members if NCAA Tournament completed in entirety | CBS Sports
Cash rules everything around me.

Women’s Soccer: Wildcats fall to Drexel in overtime | Villanova Athletics
After a scoreless battle in regulation, the Dragons won.