LSU coach Will Wade declined on Thursday to take questions about RJ Luis Jr., who a day earlier won a temporary restraining order that could open a door for him to play for the Tigers — if Wade adds him to his roster. Wade says he already has made himself clear and that his stance has not changed. Wade has previously stated that he intended to follow “SEC protocols” regarding Luis. But a Louisiana judge's latest court order in Luis’ case ostensibly bans Wade from doing that. Specifically, the ruling temporarily bars the SEC from punishing LSU if it plays Luis. It also forbids LSU from citing SEC rules as a reason for declining to play Luis.

Villanova University is deepening its ties to the Vatican, thanks to its famous alumnus, Pope Leo. The pope graduated from Villanova in 1977 with a degree in mathematics. The pope is part of the Augustinian order that founded the university near Philadelphia. Villanova is now finding new ways to connect with his papacy. On Sunday, Villanova's basketball teams will play Notre Dame in Rome. The event follows a recent sustainability conference that Villanova held in Rome. Villanova has seen a 10% increase in applications since Pope Leo's election. Some school officials call it the “Pope Leo effect.”

Duke and Kansas are set to face off in a rare on-campus basketball matchup on Sunday. The last time Duke played at Kansas' Allen Fieldhouse was in 1988. These high-profile exhibitions offer teams a chance to compete at a high level without affecting their records. They also generate significant revenue, with games often sponsored and broadcast by major companies. Kansas coach Bill Self emphasizes the importance of these games both on and off the court. Despite not counting toward official records, such games carry pride and legacy for both teams, especially Kansas, which recently lost an exhibition to Louisville.

Florida's Thomas Haugh and Michigan State's Jeremy Fears Jr. highlight the preseason AP All-America team. Fears received 57 votes from a 58-person media panel and Haugh earned 56. Vanderbilt guard Tyler Tanner  received 43 votes, Illinois forward David Mirkovic had 24 and Arizona big man Motiejus Krivas 17 to round out the team.

Florida starts the men's college basketball season ranked No. 1 in the preseason AP Top 25. Coach Todd Golden says the ranking is expected, as the team aims for another national championship. Duke and Illinois are next while UConn and Arizona round out the top five. Michigan State, Texas, Tennessee, Virginia and Houston finish out the top 10,

Catholic college basketball has a rich history, filled with talented teams, colorful coaches, and unforgettable characters. That legacy will soon be celebrated with the first-ever Eternal City Tip-Off on November 1 in Rome, when Notre Dame and Villanova's men's and women's teams face off at the Palazzo dello Sport. The arena is near the Vatican, home base to Pope Leo XIV. Not only is he the first American pope, he's a sports fan and a Villanova alum. Villanova has accounted for three the 10 men's titles won by Catholic schools since the NCAA tournament began in 1939.