What’s Trending is a column examining the week that was in college basketball social media. Matthew Eisenberg (@matteise) is your weekly host.

At this time next week, you will be watching college basketball and it will be glorious.

— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) November 3, 2017

You know college basketball is around the corner when…

…Jay Bilas and friends are forced to go after the NCAA following another head-scratching decision…

NCAA continues to make indefensible decisions. NC State’s Braxton Beverly’s appeal was denied by NCAA. Unconscionable. Wrong. Embarrassing.

— Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) October 30, 2017

Usually when NCAA gets called out on stupid, hypocritical decision, it reverses itself. Not in Braxton Beverly case. On the same day UNC got off scot-free on 18 years of academic fraud (admitted to by school) Beverly denied playing this yr. because he WENT TO CLASS briefly at OSU

— John Feinstein (@JFeinsteinBooks) October 30, 2017

You know college basketball is around the corner when…

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What’s Trending is a column examining the week that was in college basketball social media. Griffin Wong (@griffwong90) is your weekly host.

Indiana Takes the Big Ten

With its win on Tuesday night at Iowa, Indiana secured the outright Big Ten Championship. After a troublesome 5-3 start to the season, head coach Tom Crean‘s future in Bloomington was questionable at best. A steady resurgence in the second half of the year led to a conference title. Crean deserves that water shower!

They were waiting for Tom Crean.

And they erupted when he entered the locker room

Congrats, again, @IndianaMBB! https://t.co/zidAv83j0E

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) March 2, 2016

What a year for @IndianaMBB to win outright title even after losing James Blackmon. Tom Crean coach of the year lock.

— Tom Dienhart (@BTNTomDienhart) March 2, 2016

Things Bleak For BC

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What’s Trending is a column examining the week that was in college basketball social media. Griffin Wong (@griffwong90) is your weekly host.

If College Basketball’s Tripping Epidemic Wasn’t Enough…

Then we have this item for you, as Maryland’s Diamond Stone took it up a notch. At the end of the first half, with Maryland down big to Wisconsin at home, the freshman phenom briefly lost his temper, tackling Wisconsin’s Vitto Brown after the whistle. To make matters worse, Stone pushed Brown’s head back into the ground as he was getting up. Take a look:

Maryland suspends freshman big man Diamond Stone for his actions vs. Wisconsin on Saturday. https://t.co/QaOhboglQF https://t.co/DpHrjTPevc

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) February 15, 2016

Stone was given a flagrant 1 for his actions, and subsequently suspended for a game by coach Mark Turgeon. Though Stone was apologetic after the game, it’s a shame to see any player lose his temper like that. Oh, and Wisconsin snapped Maryland’s 27-game home winning streak.

#Badgers Brown took phone call from Stone. Said apology was sincere. Said just a young player who lost poise.

— Jeff Potrykus (@jaypo1961) February 15, 2016

Meanwhile, Maryland’s down at home by 15 to Wisconsin (?????) and Diamond Stone tried to kill a guy. Keep being weird, college hoops.

— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) February 14, 2016

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What’s Trending is a column examining the week that was in college basketball social media. Griffin Wong (@griffwong90) is your weekly host.

Seriously, Another Trip?

Not cool, Grayson Allen. Having fallen to the floor after a missed shot, the Duke sophomore tripped Louisville freshman Raymond Spalding on his way upcourt.

yep, that's a trip by Grayson Allen … https://t.co/hAfZbZaFGb

— Ryan Fagan (@ryanfagan) February 9, 2016

Though the officials initially missed the call, the trip was ruled a flagrant foul upon further review. Duke ultimately got a much-needed win, but Allen definitely suffered a loss in the public eye.

Grayson Allen, that wasn't very sporting.

— Pat Forde (@YahooForde) February 9, 2016

So Grayson Allen should probably be ejected. What's the difference between an intentional trip and a punch?

— Jordan Majewski (@jorcubsdan) February 9, 2016

93%

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What’s Trending is a column examining the week that was in college basketball social media. Griffin Wong (@griffwong90) is your weekly host.

SEC/Big 12 Challenge

The midseason SEC/Big 12 Challenge took place last weekend, giving teams from both conferences a chance to prove themselves in a high-profile event. The highlight of the weekend was surely Oklahoma’s surge to beat LSU in overtime, as senior Buddy Hield poured in 32 points and pushed still closer to legendary 50-50-90 Club (50% 3FG, 50% FG, 90% FT). While Hield’s late flourish stole the show, it may have been Texas A&M that proved the most. Behind 20 points from guard Danuel House, the Aggies, lacking a signature win, cemented themselves as one of the best teams in the nation with a 10-point win over Iowa State. Overall, the Big 12 took the bragging rights with a 7-3 victory, and the event was a resounding success.

I'm loving the midseason Big 12/SEC Challenge. I propose they do the same thing in football — on the third Saturday in November.

— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) January 30, 2016

Buddy Hield took 22 shots in Oklahoma's win at LSU. Ben Simmons took seven. You've got to want the ball in your hands at crunch time.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 31, 2016

Texas A&M with a statement, bounce-back win against Iowa State with signature defense the key: https://t.co/UMCq8DTVMB

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) January 30, 2016

More Tragedy Strikes

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What’s Trending is a column examining the week that was in college basketball social media. Griffin Wong (@griffwong90) is your weekly host. 

#AveryStrong

This past Saturday’s game in Lincoln was Nebraska’s #AveryStrong game to raise both money and awareness for victims of pediatric cancer. Avery’s father is Chris Harriman, a former Nebraska assistant who is now at New Mexico. Avery, seven years old, has already suffered through and beaten Leukemia three times. It’s pretty cool to see Nebraska continue its tradition of honoring Avery, even though his father is no longer in Husker red.

Game day! Huge game for Lobos today. Got a few mins to catch my hero on TV at the Hotel! #AveryStrong #ThankYou #GBR pic.twitter.com/5In5XiQpBB

— Chris Harriman (@chrisharriman24) January 23, 2016

Nebraska fans..tough loss but ur support of #averystrong =incredible honored to be there honored to wear this shirt pic.twitter.com/8jx5cFjb8a

— Dan Dakich (@dandakich) January 24, 2016

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What’s Trending is a column examining the week that was in college basketball social media. Griffin Wong (@griffwong90) is your weekly host.

Oregon State Be Trippin’

No, but literally. Moments after making an great steal and jumping on the loose ball, senior Jarmal Reid tripped the referee as he was getting up. An absolutely bizarre moment that turned a tied game into a Utah victory. Cue the puns…

Oregon State's Jarmal Reid was ejected today after he appeared to trip a referee. https://t.co/GU2d7bN9Ht

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 18, 2016

Drake is trying to figure out in which track to insert the line "you're trippin' like Jarmal Reid." Right now.

— Dawg Sports (@dawgsports) January 18, 2016

https://twitter.com/jordancornette/status/689240457528893445

As stated in the final tweet, Reid has been suspended for a minimum of four games.

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What’s Trending is a column examining the week that was in college basketball social media. Griffin Wong (@griffwong90) is your weekly host.

The Curious Case of Murray State

Murray State, a team beloved by many mid-major apologists, went down in heartbreaking fashion to Belmont last weekend, and will discover its ultimate fate tonight. The consensus seems to be that the Racers had a great year but their résumé just isn’t quite up to snuff. That said, crazier things have happened (I’m looking at you, 2006 Air Force).

Also, the notion of Murray State as the little guy ignores their status as the really, really big guy in the OVC.

— Ken Pomeroy (@kenpomeroy) March 12, 2015

The system is working against Murray State, which is evidence that the system is flawed. Column: http://t.co/aov8fqsn2l

— Gary Parrish (@GaryParrishCBS) March 11, 2015

I'm not anti Murray State getting in, but I'm not going to sob for a team w a 242 SoS and a loss to Xavier by 27.

— Joseph Nardone (@JosephNardone) March 15, 2015

More Marshall Henderson?

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What’s Trending is a column examining the week that was in college basketball social media. Griffin Wong (@griffwong90) is your weekly host.

Indiana Fans Getting Impatient

After getting handled by Iowa and versus Michigan State in Bloomington over the last week, Indiana has now lost four of their last five games. The Hoosiers are hanging by a thread and another misstep in the Big Ten Tournament could cost them an NCAA Tournament bid. For some Indiana fans, their anger toward head coach Tom Crean is growing.

Well, this is genius. http://t.co/6tl9Vm7x4U pic.twitter.com/1SQtuAnTrj

— Kami Mattioli (@kmattio) March 5, 2015

Wow. Just wow. RT @markalesia: And now we have this: http://t.co/mGwlTkbhTB (h/t @FakeCoachWilson) #iubb pic.twitter.com/2eTPGnSen5

— Matt Glenesk (@MattGlenesk) March 5, 2015

Well, well, well. http://t.co/83D7nh349X is officially a thing.

— Tony Adragna (@tonyadragna) March 5, 2015

A nice idea in theory, but $12 million is quite the sum.

Izzo’s Wild Saturday

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