The NCAA says former Abilene Christian basketball player Airion Simmons broke the association's gambling rules after investigators determined he shared confidential team information with bettors and agreed to influence his play during a 2024 game against Tarleton State. The ruling, released Friday (May 15) by the Division I Committee on Infractions, centered on a March 20, 2024, matchup between Abilene Christian University and Tarleton State University. NCAA officials said Simmons accepted $3,500 after agreeing to "play[ing] bad" during the game as part of a betting scheme tied to outside gamblers.
"Most guys in my position in the draft, it would be a no-brainer to go to the NBA. It's not just the NIL. It's a chance to play with my boys. To play for coach [Todd] Golden. To go to the school I love to play for. It was definitely a tougher decision than last year, but it was best for my career and future."
Avdalas, a 6-foot-9 native of Greece, averaged 12.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists as a freshman in Blacksburg. In the second game of his career, Avdalas had 33 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists, going 5-for-8 from 3-point range, in a win over Providence. He skyrocketed up in NBA mock drafts on the heels of that game, looking like a projected first-round pick.
I think Bill Hodges is an unsung hero in this story who has never truly gotten his due. It is Bill Hodges who pulls Larry Bird back from the brink. I believe without Bill Hodges, we don't know Larry Bird's name.
Baylor averages 82.6 points per game while giving up 77.2 per contest, resulting in a +173 scoring differential overall. The Bears outscore opponents by 5.4 points per game.
