JOEY BAKER

The Michigan men’s basketball team has added another graduate transfer to its roster. Joey Baker, who played the past four seasons at Duke, announced his commitment to Michigan today, per Sports Illustrated’s Jason Jordan. In addition to a four-man freshman class, Michigan brought in Princeton graduate transfer Jaelin Llewellyn, a point guard. In mid-April, Duke announced that Baker underwent surgery to repair a hip injury and that he’d use his fifth year of eligibility -- allowed by the NCAA’s COVID-19 waiver -- to play a final season at Duke. A month later, the program announced he’d entered the transfer portal.

The Duke transfer has visited three schools, Michigan among them, and should announce his decision soon, according to his adviser. Baker visited Ann Arbor last week. If Baker was interested, Cannon forwarded the school Baker’s contact info. “Joey was intrigued by the opportunity and after speaking to the staff -- Michigan is Michigan,” Cannon told MLive by phone on Wednesday. Michigan, Cannon said, had a great presentation.

Their decisions have left Michigan with a pair of open scholarships for the 2022-23 season, and it’s possible one or both is filled through the transfer portal. This space published a list of Michigan’s potential transfer portal targets last week. Forward Mouhamed Gueye opted to withdraw from the portal to stay with the Cougars while Tennessee guard Justin Powell committed there. Illinois’ Jacob Grandison, a 6-foot-6 wing, entered the portal last week after withdrawing from the NBA draft. Grandison scored nine points over two games against Michigan last season.

Exactly 10 years after a bunch of one-and-done phenoms for Kentucky cut down the nets in the Big Easy, there is a much more old-school feel to this year’s Final Four.

The famed rivalry between No. 9 Duke and North Carolina is changing.

Mark Williams had 19 points, 11 rebounds and eight blocks to lead eighth-ranked Duke’s dominant effort inside as the Blue Devils beat North Carolina State 88-73.

Paolo Banchero had 23 points and second-ranked Duke shot 62% after halftime to beat Virginia Tech 76-65 in its Atlantic Coast Conference opener.

Grand Rapids Catholic Central and Lansing Catholic Central are no strangers to the big stage when it comes to Michigan high school football. WIDE RECEIVERSDylan Cragg, Grayling; Karon Allen, Detroit Southeastern; Ronin Russell-Dixon, Grand Rapids Catholic Central; Dawson John, Clare; Logan Anthony, Essexville Garber; Parker Grzegorczyk, Midland Bullock Creek. LINEBACKERSBennett VandenBerg, Constantine; Owen Griffith, Constantine; Joey McHugh, Boyne City; Jack Cook, Grand Rapids Catholic Central. COACHESScott Shankel, Reed City; Todd Kolster, Grand Rapids Catholic Central; Phil Martin, Frankenmuth. MOREMeet the 2021 Michigan high school football all-state team for Divisions 7-8Meet the 2021 Associated Press All-State team for eight-player football

DETROIT, MI -- Lansing Catholic defeated Warren Michigan Collegiate 16-6, clinching the MHSAA Division 6 football state championship on Friday, Nov. 26 at Ford Field. Lansing Catholic rode its defense to the program’s second state title in the past three years. RELATED: Lansing Catholic’s special defense paves way for second state title in three yearsThe Cougars allowed just 40 points in the postseason and only allowed more than 10 points once – and just 13 in that game – during the state title run. RELATED: Warren Michigan Collegiate hopes state runner-up finish leads to more recognition for programWarren Michigan Collegiate found some footing with its passing game as quarterback Deion Black completed 10-of-26 passes for 220 yards and the lone TD to Tre’von Redding in the second half. The final four state championship football games will continue Saturday, Nov. 27 at Ford Field in Detroit.

“Defense just stepped up big time in the playoffs,” Baker said after the game. The Cougars allowed just 40 points in the postseason and only allowed more than 10 points once – and just 13 in that game – during the state title run. “Our defense is just something special,” said Lansing Catholic senior Max Knippen, who caught an interception to seal the win for the Cougars. Lansing Catholic allowed just 40 yards of total offense in the first half and gave up just 85 rushing yards, which forced Michigan Collegiate to pass and led to four interceptions, including a forced fumble. Owen Biergans caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Joey Baker to give Lansing Catholic a 9-0 lead at halftime.

Plenty can go wrong -- and plenty did go wrong -- on the simplest of plays for Lansing Catholic Central. The win sends LCC to the state final to face Warren Michigan Collegiate at 4:30 p.m. Friday. But each time it looked like things were going bad for the Cougars, they made something positive happen. The Lansing Catholic Central and Standish-Sterling captains meet prior to the Division 6 state semifinal. Baker was 11 of 23 passing for 105 yards for LCC while rushing for 77 yards on 14 carries.

Lansing Catholic won the game over Almont, 31-17.J. Scott Park | MLive.comThe Lansing Catholic football program knew they were in for a battle with the defending Division 6 state champions from Montague. Lansing Catholic responded quickly, however, and outscored Montague 24-0 to end the half with a tidal wave of momentum. Lansing Catholic outgained Montague 300-166 in total yardage, including a 213-62 advantage in the passing game. Things began to snowball on Montague after that, as another fumble on offense gave Lansing Catholic a short field to work with.

The Atlantic Coast Conference is facing a changing landscape in men's basketball amid coaching retirements, roster upheaval and a bumpy showing in last year's NCAA Tournament.

Freeland is at Grand Rapids Catholic Central, while Frankenmuth is at home against Lansing Catholic Central. Can Frankenmuth put enough pressure on Lansing Catholic quarterback Joey Baker to keep him from finding Watters and Brandon Lewis downfield? Will Lansing Catholic and former Ithaca coach Jim Ahern find a way to slow down the Eagles on offense and defense? Freeland (9-1) at Grand Rapids Catholic Central (9-0), 1 p.m. SaturdayGrand Rapids Catholic Central is considered one of the top teams in the state … regardless of class. MOREFacts and Figures for Freeland, Frankenmuth Division 5 semifinalsFreeland standout Cole Wiese grateful for playoff opportunityFrankenmuth linebacker Konner Roche takes wrestling moves to football field

1 in The Associated Press mens college basketball poll following Kentuckys surprising loss to Evansville. The Blue Devils received 52 first-place votes from a 65-member media panel in the poll released Monday. 3 Michigan State, the preseason No. 1 last week after knocking off top-ranked Michigan State to open the season. ___More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/Collegebasketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25