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Our New Jersey trip concludes with a day of games at the Joe Brown Memorial Tournament. |
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The past adversity behind them, Duquesne is ready to take more steps forward next season. |
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Summer Classic East gave plenty of prospects a chance to show college coaches what they can do. |
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Zach looks back at the Mount St. Mary's success story in the 2007-08 season. |
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The July live period kicked off with Hoop Mountain having perhaps its best talent haul ever at Super Week II. |
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With July upon us, we take a look at some of the talent observed in New England during the spring. |
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With its win at the Hoop Group Regional Showcase, a New Jersey powerhouse looks like an early favorite for 2009. |
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Among the few team tournaments held in late June was the improved Team Boston Elite Invitational. |
Broken Foot Hobbles Weber: Illinois and coach Bruce Weber exorcised some demons last night when the Illini stormed Chapel Hill to beat North Carolina 68-64 in a rematch of the national championship game, which the Tar Heels won. With significant losses on both teams, the Big Ten/ACC Challenge match offered a view at the new lineups. It also offered a view of Weber's broken foot.
Orr Punishes Another Pirate: Seton Hall coach Louis Orr issued a one-game suspension to junior guard Carl Marshall because he violated a team rule. Orr did not specify which rule Marshall failed to follow, but he becomes the second Pirate in two games to receive a suspension. Orr prohibited Jamar Nutter from playing against Marist last week after he violated a team rule. Without Marshall, a contributor off the bench, the Pirates still managed to fend off St. Peter's Monday, 66-57. [11/30/05]
Terriers Take a Big Hit: Boston University suspended forward Tony Gaffney indefinitely prior to Tuesday's game against Rhode Island for a violation of team policy. The sophomore forward averaged 6.7 points and 5.7 rebounds in 21.7 minutes per game in the team's first four games this season. Head coach Dennis Wolff did not elaborate further after the game.
Boeheim to Take 2-3 Zone International: The U.S. Olympic basketball team might have to wear a shade of orange somewhere on their jerseys, an appropriate color once they are indoctrinated by the Orange's Jim Boeheim. Boeheim is one of three coaches who will serve as assistants to U.S. basketball head coach and Duke's own guru Mike Krzyzewski. Joining Boeheim and Coach K are Phoenix Suns coach Mike D'Antoni and Portland Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan. The cast represents a variety of backgrounds, which Jerry Colangelo, managing director of USA Basketball, hopes will be enough to return the United States to its status as king of the hill. The U.S. team has had poor outings on the world stage lately. Look for that to change with the newest braintrust running the show.
[11/29/05]
Open Mike Night at Temple: As Temple finished off Miami Sunday, a fan tossed an unidentified object onto the court, stopping play and pissing off Owls' coach John Chaney. Chaney, known for his unparalleled success at Temple and a fiery temper, let loose on the Owls' faithful by admonishing them to act responsibly. He said the gym is no place for stupidity, which includes tossing anything onto the court and thus endangering players on both teams. Temple finished off an impressive 73-56 win, and afterward, Chaney continued to emphasize that fan behavior reflects on the school. Therefore, he demands high-character actions from his fans in addition to his players.
[11/29/05]
Cardinals' Long Finishes Short Season: Lamar senior point guard Jeremy Long had decided to leave the team, and coach Billy Tubbs said the decision represented a mutual agreement. Long started all three games for Lamar in the team's trip to Alaska for the Top of the World Classic. He scored a career-high 22 points in the team's opener against Southern Mississippi, but he failed to score against Kennesaw State or Montana State. Without Long, Tubbs must tab a new starting point guard.
[11/29/05]
Navy Pays Respect to an Elder: Navy will honor Dave Smalley, a 1957 graduate who was twice the team's captain and also worked as a coach and administrator for the Midshipmen, by naming the court for him during a ceremony in January against Bucknell. Smalley also played baseball for Navy in addition to racking up 856 points in three seasons on the basketball team. After serving in the Marine Corps for five years, Smalley returned to Navy to coach for 10 years, leading the Midshipmen to a 94-130 record.
[11/29/05]
Wounded Eagle Limps By: Winthrop senior guard Torrell Martin may miss some time after injuring his knee in a win against Portland Saturday. The Eagles pounded the Pilots 77-46, but the loss of Martin could end the Eagles' domination of opponents. Martin is the Big South preseason player of the year and critical to the team's success. He hit the floor hard, but the initial diagnosis is a bone contusion. He managed to practice some Sunday and will be day-to-day unless he suffers a setback. The situation is worth watching if you're a Winthrop fan or one of the other Big South contenders. [11/29/05]
Little Matt in the Doghouse: It's hard to find trouble in paradise, but Hawaii junior guard "Little" Matt Gibson managed to do so and is no longer in good graces with coach Riley Wallace. Wallace suspended Gibson indefinitely for conduct detrimental to the team. Gibson was the Rainbows' leading scorer last season, but he is averaging only 4.5 points and 1.5 rebounds per game as a reserve this season. Wallace did not elaborate about the details of the suspension, but the writing on the wall states that Gibson is not happy about his reduced role. Few coaches reward frustration and ill tempers, however, so Gibson better adjust his attitude if he wants to return to the team and be a significant contributor.
[11/29/05]
Washington Rests Thigh: Memphis sophomore point guard Darius Washington will likely sit out against Lamar tonight and Jackson State Wednesday after playing with a deeply bruised thigh in the NIT Season Tip-Off finals. Washington injured the leg against Alabama a couple of weeks ago, but he played through the pain against UCLA and Duke last week at Madison Square Garden. Although he played well, he did not seem as dominant as usual. So coach John Calipari will give Washington a chance to recover, letting the younger Tigers fill in against two opponents they should be able to beat rather handily.
[11/28/05]
Dizzy Owl May Return Soon: Temple junior center Wayne Marshall has missed the beginning of the season because he had dizziness that prevented him from even playing in pickup games. But the condition seems to be subsiding because Marshall has practiced at full speed recently. Coach John Chaney said after the team's win against Miami yesterday that Marshall could return soon. He doesn't know an exact timeframe because doctors must clear Marshall first. That could happen as early as today. Temple's next game is at Rutgers Wednesday.
[11/28/05]
Welcome Back Johnson: New Mexico forward Aaron Johnson, who is sitting out this season after transferring from Penn State, is back on the team after coach Rich McKay had dismissed him for his role in a bar fight. McKay said Johnson won't cause any more trouble after he fought four police officers during a September altercation outside a bar. He said he had defended a woman who was attacked by another man. When security officers pepper sprayed Johnson, he stumbled out of the bar and couldn't see. Four police officers grabbed him, and Johnson fought back because he thought the fight had continued outside. A judge dismissed the charges against Johnson and gave him almost a year's worth of probation and ordered him to avoid bars and liquor. At Penn State, Johnson led the Big Ten with 9.9 rebounds per game. [11/27/05]
Gonzaga Loses Heytvelt for Season: Gonzaga redshirt freshman Josh Heytvelt will miss the rest of the season after breaking his ankle during the Bulldogs' loss to Connecticut in last week's Maui Invitational championship. He will have surgery to repair the ankle Monday and will not be able to practice for two to three months at best. Heytvelt injured his left ankle when he dove for a loose ball against the Huskies. In three games this season, Heytvelt averaged 4.3 points and 1.7 rebounds per game.
[11/27/05]
Tark Has His Day: More than a dozen years after former UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian walked off the school's court for the last time, the Runnin Rebels honored Tarkanian during the team's loss to Nevada Saturday by naming the court in his honor -- the Jerry Tarkanian Court at the Thomas and Mack Center. Tarkanian coached the Rebels for 19 years and compiled a 509-195 record, which included one national championship and four Final Four appearances. Although he guided the Rebels to their most successful period in history, he also drew the ire of the NCAA for various violations and infractions. He left the program in 1992 despite leading the team to a 25-2 record. That squad was banned from post-season play. Tarkanian went on to coach Fresno State for several years, finishing a career record of 729 wins, which is 12th best all-time.
[11/27/05]
Pops Must Wait: George Washington senior forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu will miss two more games during a three-game suspension imposed by the Colonials. Mensah-Bonsu possibly violated NCAA regulations during his flirtation with the NBA Draftlast June, and the school has issued a pre-emptive strike. Mensah-Bonsu already sat out the team's season opener against Kennesaw State. He is a critical part of the Colonials' lineup, which is supposed to contend for the Atlantic 10 conference championship and a deep NCAA Tournament run. Mensah-Bonsu averaged 12.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game last season. [11/25/05]
Nelson Injured in Win: Duke advanced to the finals of the NIT Season Tip-Off with a 78-68 win over Drexel, but they may be without a key guard for the finals on Friday and beyond. Sophomore guard DeMarcus Nelson started the game and played eight minutes before coming out with an injured ankle. Hoopville has learned that the preliminary diagnosis is a hairline fracture of the ankle, and Nelson is at a hospital in New York getting X-rays for further evaluation. Nelson, who has started three of the Blue Devils' first four games, entered the night as the team's fourth-leading scorer, averaging 8.7 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. [11/23/05]
Hofstra Guard Ready to Work: Hofstra senior guard Gibran Washington has left the Pride because of a chronic injury. He will graduate early in December with a degree in management and start working at Pengeo Inc. in Florida. Washington averaged about four points per game in his career and emerged as a talented leader at the point for the Pride. [11/23/05]
Gophers Already in the Hole: Minnesota learned that senior guard Vincent Grier, the team's best player, will miss four to six weeks with a broken finger on his left hand. The injury sidelines another Gopher guard -- the team is missing three of its top five guards because Rico Tucker is academically ineligible and freshman Kevin Payton is nursing a shoulder injury. Grier is by far the most significant loss, however, because he figured to carry this team throughout the season.
[11/23/05]
Braves Out of Work: Bradley must play without sophomore center Patrick O'Bryant and junior guard Will Franklin until late December after the NCAA suspended them for accepting money for work they did not do. O'Bryant and Franklin received eight-game and six-game suspensions, respectively, and two other Braves were ordered to repay money for similar but less serious violations. O'Bryant received $400 per week for his summer job, even if he didn't show up to work. Franklin was paid $40 an hour for a job that should have paid only $12. The school asserts that the infractions were accidental and appealed, to no avail, the suspensions.
[11/23/05]
Heath Forgives Ferguson: Arkansas coach Stan Heath has reinstated senior guard Eric Ferguson after dismissing him from the team earlier this month. Ferguson was arrested for a DUI earlier this month, and he has a prior arrest for bad driving. Heath said that he and Ferguson had a long talk, and Ferguson expressed his desire to change. Satisfied with the talk, Heath let Ferguson back on the team, and the guard will play in the Maui Invitational, which starts today.
[11/21/05]
Moore Time on the Sidelines: Cincinnati senior guard Chadd Moore will miss the next four games because the NCAA declared him ineligible after he played in a summer league without getting clearance from a medical hardship. Moore preserved a year of eligibility by quitting the team last season to focus on recovering from a chronic back injury. He decided to play in the summer league to determine whether a comeback this season would be feasible. It was, but the tournament was not sanctioned, so Moore's comeback must wait a few more games. The first game of the suspension was Cincinnati's opener against Murray State, a 79-75 overtime victory.
[11/21/05]
Bulls Run Into Disaster: As if being the weakest link in the Big East uber-conference weren't bad enough, South Florida must deal with an injury-depleted lineup. The Bulls beat Alcorn State 69-52 in the team's opener Friday, but the team may have lost starting point guard Collin Dennis for some time after he injured his Achilles' tendon. Dennis only entered the starting lineup because Chris Howard, the regular starter, went down with a knee injury earlier this month. His season is already over. Another point guard, David Sills, is off the team because of detrimental behavior. He was recently arrested for battery and marijuana possession. Back to the injury report, though. Senior center Solomon Jones and backup guard Chris Capko also had to leave the Alcorn State game with injuries, although their injuries are not considered serious.
[11/21/05]
Nutter Sits but Pirates Win: Seton Hall suspended junior guard Jamar Nutter for one game because he violated a team rule. Embattled coach Louis Orr did not specify the violation. Without Nutter in the lineup, sophomore guard Brian Laing excelled, scoring a career high 15 points in the Pirates' 75-72 victory against Marist. The win against a mediocre opponent was ugly, but at least it wasn't another beat down like the Pirates received at Duke last week. With or without Nutter in the lineup, Seton Hall faces a tough season that will likely be Orr's last as the team's coach. [11/20/05]
Friars Will Start Without White: Providence will be without sophomore forward DeSean White to start the season, according to a source. White sustained a foot injury prior to the Friars' exhibition games and is still walking in a boot. Last season, White averaged 5.5 points and 2.9 rebounds per game in 29 games, and figures to play a lot of minutes on the young Friars this season. The Friars open their season with a pair of home games, Monday night against Vermont and Wednesday night against New Hampshire. [11/19/05]
McLain Won't See Sin City: Boston College head coach Al Skinner said that suspended forward Akida McLain will be out at least past the team's upcoming trip to Las Vegas. After the Eagles' 80-61 win over Dartmouth on Friday, Skinner said that McLain will not travel with the team to Las Vegas for their final games in the Las Vegas Invitational next weekend, and the matter will be revisited after that. McLain was suspended indefinitely on Sunday, retroactive to his May arrest for allegedly passing counterfeit money in his home town of Penn Hills, Pa. [11/18/05]
Green Wave Awash for Another Week: Tulane sophomore guard Taylor Rochestie will miss at least another week while recovering from a strained MCL and dislocated right knee cap. Rochestie will miss the Green Wave's season opener against New Orleans and probably also a big non-conference clash with Texas A&M. Both games will be at College Station, Texas, while Tulane continues to clean up in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Although the campus is apparently ready to re-open, many workers remain unavailable.
[11/18/05]
Powe Possibly Sidelined Again: California big man Leon Powe will have a CT scan to determine the extent of a stress reaction, which occurred during the Bears' exhibition victory against Humboldt State Monday. A stress reaction could be the first signs of a stress fracture, which typically take a while to heal. Powe missed all of last season while recovering from knee surgery, and he is the linchpin to the Bears' season. With Powe, California has the potential to surprise a few of the stronger Pac-10 teams. Without him, the Bears will almost certainly finish in the bottom half of the standings.
Injuries Mounting for Pepperdine: Pepperdine sophomore center Russell Hicks will miss as much as six weeks because of a broken left foot. Hicks injured the foot during practice, becoming the third Pepperdine player who will miss time this season. Junior guard Marvin Lea will miss a month with a stress fracture in his left foot, and freshman guard Michael Nash will miss the whole season because of a major knee injury. Oh yeah, and Pepperdine starts the season against Connecticut. Talk about adding insult to injury.
[11/17/05]
Setbacks Boiling Over in West Lafayette: Entering this season, Purdue figured to have a decent backcourt as new coach Matt Painter attempted to have a successful first season following the retirement of legendary Gene Keady. Now the backcourt is a huge problem for the Boilermakers, thanks to injuries and suspensions. The latest setback occurred when senior guard David Teague went down for the season with a torn ACL. Teague was the Boilermakers' deadliest long-range shooter last season, hitting the fourth most three-pointers in the Big Ten. In addition to Teague, Purdue will be missing point guards Tarrance Crump and Korey Spates, who are suspended. Crump's suspension is more serious, but Spates could be back sooner rather than later. Either way, Purdue figures to have a challenging season ahead.
[11/17/05]
Friar Bolts Just Before Season: Providence junior guard Dwight Brewington has quit the Friars to focus on academics. Brewington had been suspended for violating a team rule, but coach Tim Welsh did not threaten his status on the team. Brewington made the decision after meeting with Welsh and contemplating his situation. He accounted for 9.7 points per game last season and figured to be a key player for the Friars this season. Without him, Providence will all but certainly finish near the bottom of the Big East.
[11/17/05]
Razorback's Car Trouble: Arkansas senior guard Eric Ferguson will face punishment from coach Stan Heath, though he won't say exactly what that will entail, after police arrested him for driving while intoxicated and careless and prohibited driving. Ferguson was arrested for a similar charge, minus the drunk driving part, last year, so Heath said he is especially disappointed with the recent trouble. Heath had said after the incident occurred in August that a suspension would not be part of the team's punishment. But combined with the arrest last year, Heath may not have a choice to maintain a minimum behavioral standard for the team. Last season, Ferguson started about half the Razorbacks' games, averaging 8.8 points and 2.7 rebounds per game.
NCAA Gives Jayhawk Nine-Game Suspension: The NCAA doled out its longest suspension to a player from a major program since it banned former Connecticut Husky Charlie Villanueva for eight games. Kansas sophomore center will miss the first nine games of the season because of an undisclosed connection to a Jayhawk booster. Jackson only averaged two points and 1.7 rebounds per game last season, but he figured to play a bigger role this season. Student-athletes should avoid boosters like the plague because they seem to bring nothing but trouble -- and suspensions.
[11/16/05]
Price Gets Probation: Connecticut redshirt freshman guard A.J. Price will enter an accelerated probation program as punishmnet for his role in the theft of four laptop computers from a Connecticut dorm. Price and fellow Husky guard Marcus Williams stole four computers and attempted to sell them. During Price's 18-month probation, he must complete 400 hours of community service and stay out of trouble. Coach Jim Calhoun has already suspended Price for the season, meaning the highly praised guard will continue to delay his Husky career. Last season, Price had a brain hemorrhage that landed him in the hospital for several weeks. He still does not have a medical pass to play, but that's irrelevant now. Players can petition the NCAA for a medical redshirt classification, which means the season missed because of injury does not count against their eligibility.
[11/16/05]
Sumpter Has Successful Knee Surgery: Villanova can celebrate small victories when it comes to injuries. Senior forward Curtis Sumpter had successful knee surgery Tuesday, although he remains out indefinitely. Sumpter first tore his ACL against Florida in the NCAA Tournament last season, then hurt the same knee again during practice last month. Sumpter averaged 15.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game last season for the Wildcats.
[11/16/05]
More Arkansas News: The Razorbacks may also be without sophomore forward Vincent Hunter for some time. Hunter partially tore a ligament in his knee during the Razorbacks' exhibition game against LSU - Shreveport. Hunter is looking to have a good year after struggling to recover from a severe shoulder injury in 2003. Hunter will probably miss the season opener against Portland State Friday but may play for the Razorbacks next week in the Maui Invitational.
[11/16/05]
Arkansas State Researching "Indians": The Arkansas State athletic department has engaged members of the Cherokee nation to assist the school with understanding the ramifications of the use of their "Indians" mascot, nickname and imagery. ASU, which was placed on the list of the NCAA's 18 schools that use "hostile and abusive" mascots, has not formally appealed the NCAA's decision, but has learned from Cherokee consultants that the mascot image with a headdress is applicable to Plains Indian tribes, not any nation near Arkansas. Additionally, the consultants indicated that the practice of using an "Indian Princess" within the athletic department is not supported under any tribal nation. ASU has submitted several clarifying questions to the NCAA, and will await for a response before announcing their intentions regarding an appeal. For further information, check out Hoopville's "Hostile and Abusive" reference page. [11/14/05]
Sun Devils by a Nose: Arizona State point guard Antwi Atuahene will miss the next two weeks due to a broken nose. Atuahene suffered the injury in practice when he was accidentally elbowed by junior forward Bruno Claudino. Atuahene will be fitted with a protective mask, and will likely miss tonight's exhibition game against the University of Alberta, and possibly the season opener November 23rd against Southern Utah. Atuahene, a JuCo transfer from Trinity College in Dallas, was expected to compete for the starting point guard position with incumbent Tyrone Jackson, a sophomore. This is the Sun Devils' second broken nose injury in as many weeks, as forward Chad Goldstein broke his nose in practice last week. Goldstein will be eligible to play at the end of the semester, in time for the Devil's December 17th game against Iowa. [11/14/05]
McLain Suspended Indefinitely: Boston College suspended Akida McLain indefinitely from the basketball team for a violation of team rules, head coach Al Skinner announced. After the Eagles' exhibition victory over St. Michael's on Sunday night, Skinner said that the suspension was retroactive to McLain's arrest in May for allegedly passing counterfeit money in his home town of Penn Hills, Pa. The sophomore forward averaged 3.9 points and 2.6 per game in nine games last season, starting one. [11/13/05]
Illini Chief Must Go: The NCAA rejected Illinois' appeal stating that the school's Illini and Fighting Illini names and imagery do not qualify as "hostile" or "abusive." The NCAA issued a list of schools that must discontinue the use of nicknames or images during post-season events or else the NCAA will ban those schools from hosting post-season tournaments. The Illini can keep the nickname, but the NCAA asserted that the imagery, including a student dressed as Chief Illiniwek, cannot continue. School officials are happy that the NCAA won't force teams to drop the Illini nickname and are considering the decision before proceeding with any actions regarding the Chief.
[11/13/05]
Padgett Has Painful Start at Louisville: In first public appearance in a Louisville uniform, sophomore center David Padgett, a transfer from Kansas, injured his left knee after playing well during an intrasquad scrimmage. Padgett finished with 15 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists and one sprained left knee. The injury could keep Padgett out of action for as long as six weeks. Without Padgett, Louisville loses significant depth in the post. But the typically guard-oriented Cardinals should be able to cover up the deficiency as long as Padgett returns before Big East play hits full swing.
[11/13/05]
Knight Dogged by Knee: Gonzaga senior forward Erroll Knight has had a slow recovery to a knee injury, which might force him to miss the Bulldogs' trip to Hawaii for the Maui Invitational. Without Knight, Gonzaga would have to play in a stacked field without one of its best defenders. The tournament includes Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Kansas, Maryland and Michigan State. Knight averaged 6.9 points and 4.6 rebounds last season for the Bulldogs.
[11/13/05]
Buckeyes Busted: Ohio State will start the season Nov. 20 against Chicago State without point guard Jamar Butler or backup center Matt Terwilliger. Butler and Terwilliger played in a charity three-on-three tournament last spring that did not qualify as an exempted tournament according to NCAA rules. Both will be back for the Buckeyes' second game against Butler. But the larger issue at hand is an unreasonable rule that discourages student-athletes from using their skills for good causes. The NCAA should re-evaluate the list of OK organized competitions to allow players with good intentions to follow through without worrying about a possible suspension.
[11/13/05]
Isreal Leaves Irish: Notre Dame sophomore forward Omari Isreal has decided that his career must move on to another school. Isreal played sparingly last season, averaging 1.4 points and 1.8 rebounds per game. He missed all of the 2003-04 season while recovering from a knee injury. Isreal has left the school and will transfer to another program.
[11/13/05]
New Mexico State Welcomes WAC to Las Cruces: New Mexico State, one of the WAC's newest members, will host the conference tournaments in 2007 and 2008. The conference awarded the bid to New Mexico State and the Las Cruces Convention and Visitors Bureau. The school is completing a renovation to the Pan American Center, which clearly impressed conference officials. As part of the conference expansion tango, New Mexico State sidestepped out of the Sun Belt Conference to join the WAC this past summer.
[11/13/05]
Red Raiders to Honor AD Gerald Myers: For the second year in a row, Texas Tech coach Bob Knight will retire a jersey number. This year, he will honor Gerald Myers' No. 22. Myers is the Red Raiders' current athletic director and also played for the school and coached the team for 20 years. Last year, Knight retired Polk Robison's No. 1 jersey. Robison coached Myers during his nearly 20-year tenure at Texas Tech. Together, Myers and Robison account for nearly 40 years of coaching at Texas Tech. Current Red Raider Jay Jackson wears Myers' No. 22, and Knight will allow him to continue to don the jersey. After Jackson graduates, however, no Red Raider will wear No. 22 again. [11/11/05]
A-10 Gambles on Atlantic City: The Atlantic 10 conference will move its tournament from Philadelphia and the Palestra to Atlantic City, N.J., and the Boardwalk Hall. The city is becoming an increasingly popular event destination, and the hall underwent extensive renovations in recent years. The Palestra had been a strong site for the A-10 tournament because several conference schools reside in Philadelphia and can attract a steady fan base. Although no schools reside in Atlantic City, the schools hopes that the city's entertainment value will draw a large following. The contract will keep the tournament in Atlantic City for 2007 and 2008. [11/11/05]
The Don of Clothing, Too: Former UTEP coach Don Haskins will soon have his own clothing line to coincide with the release of "Glory Road," a movie about the triump of Texas Western, which was UTEP's former name. In 1966 Haskins led a team of five black starting players to the national championship against all-white Kentucky, a powerhouse throughout college basketball history. Haskins' team upset the Wildcats, claiming a basketball victory for Texas Western and a racial victory for black players.
Texas - San Antonio Rewards Phelps: For working hard the past two years as a member of coach Tim Carter's staff, Texas San Antonio has promoted Dionne Phelps to associate head coach. Phelps becomes Carter's right-hand man among assistants. He came to San Antonio in 2003 after working as an assistant coach at Texas State for four years and Baylor for one year. [11/11/05]
Jaguar Gives Minnesota Woman New Lease on Life: IUPUI senior Maushae Byles is a point guard with aspirations of playing professionally or coaching basketball. But he's also a man who understands that basketball is only part of life, and life is not something to take lightly. A product of a broken home, Byles will soon sacrifice part of his final year as a collegiate basketball player to give a Minnesota woman the chance to continue her life. Byles is a bone marrow donor, and he will give marrow to a Minnesota woman who needs the marrow to produce healthy blood-forming cells. The painful process will sideline Byles for a handful of games, but he said it's well worth the loss to give another woman a chance to battle a disease. With four months of competitive basketball and strategic analysis, it's easy to forget stories like Byles' that remind everyone there's more to life than conference rivalries and national championships.
[11/10/05]
See You Next Year: Washington coach Lorenzo Romar is touting freshman center Joe Wolfinger as an eventual NBA player. But the NCAA won't get to see him this year because Romar announced that Wolfinger will redshirt this season to gain more experience and bulk. The 7-foot, 245-pound center from Oregon has decent range, Romar said, which NBA teams could find especially attractive once Wolfinger adds more muscle to his frame. With five freshmen on a deep and talented roster and the return of Mike Jensen, Wolfinger would not have seen much action this season. But next season and thereafter, Wolfinger could help keep the Huskies near the top of the Pac-10 and the country. [11/10/05]
New Coach, Same Story: When Cincinnati president Nancy Zimpher forced out former coach Bob Huggins, she sent a clear statement that she would not tolerate academic or disciplinary problems, especially among athletes and coaches. Huggins may be gone, but the problems aren't. Sophomore walk-on Ryan Patzwald was arrested for driving under the influence and told interim coach Andy Kennedy that he would quit the team to focus on personal issues, presumably figuring out how to separate alcohol consumption with vehicular safety. Police arrested Patzwald while driving on I-275 with a .17 blood alcohol content level. The 5-11 guard only averaged 2.6 minutes per game last season, but his legal problems are an extension of Huggins' legacy. Or they're an indication that as much as Zimpher tries, she can't force student-athletes to make good decisions. [11/10/05]
Bailey Back at Bedford: Former Indiana Hoosier star Damon Bailey, a state legend, has returned to where his career started -- Bedford North Lawrence High School. Bailey finished as Indiana's most prolific high school scorer in history at Bedford before attending Indiana for four years. After dazzling the NCAA, the NBA's Indiana Pacers selected Bailey in the second round of the 1994 draft. But his professional career was less successful, and he has been a staple of the Bedford community for several years now. Bedford's coach quit weeks before the season opened, so the school turned to a local hero to rescue the team from a potential disaster. The school board must approve Bailey before he officially becomes coach. That vote shouldn't take long, though.
[11/10/05]
The Other La Salle Rape Trial Delayed: In the same week that two teammates were found not guilty of raping a 19-year-old student, former La Salle Explorer Dzaflo Larkai had his rape trial delayed until December. Larkai was charged for a 2003 incident in which a women's basketball player said she got drunk and awoke to find Larkai on top of her having sex with her. She did not come forward with the allegations for 14 months because she said the coaches of both basketball teams discouraged her from talking. Only when Gary Neal and Michael Cleaves were charged with rape in another case did the woman come forward. The fiasco led to the firing of both basketball coaches and the disruption of the Explorer program, despite no guilty convictions. So much for innocent until proven guilty, huh? [11/10/05]
Friar De-frocked: Providence suspended junior guard Dwight Brewington for violating team rules. Brewington missed the team's exhibition game against EA Sports All-Stars, a 77-75 victory for the Friars. Brewington needs to express his penitence and act right for the Friars, who will need his 13.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per game to have any prayer of contending in the hellishly powerful Big East. [11/10/05]
Wright State Guards Suspended: Two Wright State guards will miss all games in November after police arrested them for shoplifting. Junior Tyrone Scott and freshman Robert Eldridge were arrested with nine stolen DVDs from Wal-Mart in their possession, worth about $125. Coach Paul Biancardi suspended the guards for the team's remaining exhibition game and first four regular-season games. [11/10/05]
Wildcats Appeal Denied: The NCAA denied Arizona sophomore swingman Jawann McClellan's appeal, and thus is academically ineligible to play for the Wildcats until December 17th. McClellan dropped out of summer classes to handle family affairs when his father died of a heart attack in June, and received an "incomplete" in one class. He averaged 5.8 points and three rebounds per game last season. [11/10/05]
Injury Bug Bites Hoosiers: Indiana's injury report is growing by the week. The latest addition is sophomore guard A.J. Ratliff, who broke his thumb in practice. He joins fellow sophomore and potential starter D.J. White on the injury list. Although White is out for about six weeks, Ratliff should be available by Nov. 21. The Hoosiers open the regular season Nov. 18 against Nicholls State. The first big game for Indiana is Nov. 30 against Duke. [11/10/05]
Bad Luck Bulls: South Florida will enter its first season in the Big East with huge questions in the backcourt. The Bulls are already overmatched against most of the Big East's elite members. But the loss of freshman point guard Chris Howard is an especially critical blow. The Bulls kicked off backup point guard David Sills last week because of his inability to mesh with the team. Now, Howard is done for the year after tearing the ACL in his left knee. A pair of guards will attempt to cover the point guard gig, namely sophomore Collin Dennis and junior Chris Capko. [11/10/05]
Olson Switches Centers: Arizona coach Lute Olson will start redshirt freshman forward Mohamed Tangara tonight against Sonoma State instead of junior center Kirk Walters. Walters had been slated to start at center for the Wildcats, but Olson pulled the trigger on the switch to motivate Walters to play harder. With plenty of depth, the Wildcats can afford to punish bad or lazy play. The question is which category did Walters fall into. And who will start when the games actually count toward Arizona's record? [11/09/05]
Purdue Backcourt Woes Continue: Purdue seemingly had depth at point guard after the arrival of a strong recruiting class and the addition of JuCo point guard Tarrance Crump. But behavioral concerns may force coach Matt Painter to go with an unknown quantity at the important spot. Crump is out after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor drunken driving charge in which he also struck a Purdue student and fled the scene of the accident. Freshman sensation Korey Spates, meanwhile, is the latest point guard to receive a suspension. Painter suspended Spates indefinitely for on-court issues. Because Spates' suspension is more ambiguous than Crump's, he could be back in the lineup sooner rather than later. If not, then Painter will start freshman Bryant Dillon. [11/08/05]
Illini Gets Nose Job: Illinois junior forward Warren Carter will miss the Illini's last exhibition game while he recovers from surgery to repair a broken nose. Carter broke his nose when teammate Brian Randle elbowed him in the face by accident after dunking in practice. The Illini have run into some misfortune lately. Senior forward James Augustine couldn't practice last weekend because he had the flu, and Rich McBride missed practice because of the team's medical staff had to drain a blister on his foot. [11/08/05]
Hernandez Hospitalized: Fresno State forward Hector Hernandez had to go to the hospital late last week because of severe pain in his side, where he had an appendectomy earlier this year. Doctors attributed the pain to scar tissue from the surgery, which Hernandez had in Mexico during the off-season. After the surgery, Hernandez lost 35 pounds. He's had a rough start to this season, straining a knee and calf in practice, then getting hit in the head. The kid deserves a good break.
[11/07/05]
Troubled Hawk: Kansas point guard Jeff Hawkins has a knack for trouble. Police found a stolen parking sticker on Hawkins' vehicle in May, and Hawkins signed an agreement that requires him to steer clear of trouble for a year. If he does, the charges will be dropped. Hawkins had been suspended last season for conduct that was unbecoming for team members. Hawkins said he took the parking sticker from a friend, which he acknowledges was a mistake.
[11/07/05]
Bliss Knows He's Wrong: It doesn't take a genius to figure out that telling your staff to lie to investigators by saying your murdered player paid his tuition by selling drugs, especially when you're the one who violated NCAA rules by paying as much as $40,000 in tuition. But at least former Baylor coach David Bliss admits he screwed up. It's hard not to. Somehow, less than a couple of years after the Baylor tragedy, Bliss is back in coaching with the Dakota Wizards of the Continental Basketball Association. Former Baylor player Carlton Dotson killed his teammate Patrick Dennehy, whose tuition Bliss had been paying. Former assistant coach Abar Rouse tape recorded Bliss telling his assistants to lie to NCAA investigators when they probed the beleagured program. As a result of the tragedy, Baylor is banned from playing any non-conference games this season.
[11/07/05]
Wolverines to Retire Buntin's Jersey: A Michigan legend, Bill Buntin, will become only the fifth player in Wolverine history to have his jersey retired. The Wolverines will honor the late Buntin during the Jan. 7 Big Ten opener against Purdue. Buntin was a monster on the court, averaging 22.2 points and 15.7 rebounds per game in his sophomore year and 23.2 points and 12.5 rebounds per game the following year. No. 22 led the Wolverines into national prominence in the early 1960s before the Detroit Pistons drafted him in 1965. A two sports star, the Detroit Lions also drafted Buntin. But Buntin opted to return to school when he was 26. He never finished school or played another game because he died of a heart attack during a pickup basketball game.
[11/07/05]
Bulldogs May Be on Post-season Do-Not-Call List: Fresno State may punish itself for a large number of violations committed during the reign of former coach Ray Lopes, who resigned in March after the school found that the coach and his staff made hundreds of calls to recruits. According to NCAA recruiting rules, a coach can call a recruit only once a week. Lopes and his staff far exceeded that quota. To enact a pre-emptive strike, Fresno State may ban itself from post-season play in hopes that the NCAA will consider that punishment sufficient penitence. Other possible penalties -- self-imposed or NCAA-mandated -- could include a loss of scholarships or continued probation. The Bulldogs are already on probation following a bunch of violations committed by the staf of former coach Jerry Tarkanian.
Commodore Suspended for Three: Vanderbilt senior guard Mario Moore must sit out three games because he violated a team rule. The Commodores' leading scorer and assist man last year, Moore violated coach Kevin Stallings' rule that all players must do their best, on and off the court. Stallings did not offer more details than that. Moore will miss the team's games against Jacksonville and Furman. He already missed one exhibition game. Last season, Moore averaged 13.5 points and 3.7 assists per game.
[11/07/05]
Hoosier Down for a Couple of Weeks: Indiana sophomore forward D.J. White will miss about two weeks because of a foot injury. He hurt the ankle against St. Joseph's during the team's 93-65 exhibition win. The medical staff did not find conclusive evidence indicating a stress fracture, and coaches could not identify the play in which White injured the left foot.
[11/07/05]
Razorbacks Are Cool With the NCAA: Nervous about a possible NCAA investigation involving the recruitment of Thaddeus Young, Arkansas Razorback fans, coaches and officials can rest easy after a university lawyer learned that the NCAA has no plans to probe the school. According to Young's AAU coach, an Arkansas booster violated rules by contacting the high school star from Memphis. But NCAA officials told Arkansas' lawyer that it would not act on the rumors and allegations. An investigation would add insult to injury because Young opted to attend Georgia Tech in the end.
[11/06/05]
Explorers Found Innocent: Two former La Salle players were acquitted of rape charges when a jury decided that a University of New Haven student's story was not convincing beyond reasonable doubt. Gary Neal and Michael Cleaves were charged with raping the girl who was visiting for a La Salle basketball camp and attended a party. She claims to have had eight shots of a high-proof liquor and gotten sick in the bathroom. While in the bathroom, she said, Neal and Cleaves raped her. But the defense countered that the woman made up the allegation because she was embarrassed about having sex with the players.
[11/06/05]
Heath Denies Allegations: Arkansas coach Stan Heath publicly announced that the Razorbacks did not commit any violations while cherished recruit Thaddeus Young visited the school. Young's AAU coach, Keith Easterwood, said Arkansas boosters had improper contact with Young during his visit. But Heath said his staff ensured that no violations occurred by closely monitoring Young's itinerary. Regardless of whether boosters contacted Young or not, the talented recruit chose to attend Georgia Tech and will be part of another strong Yellow Jacket class next year. The NCAA has not commented on whether it will look into the situation.
[11/03/05]
CSTV Joins the CBS Family: In the media world, tracking who owns whom can be as tricky as tracing your family's heritage back to the 16th century. So here's a quick lesson: CBS, a child of the massive Viacom media conglomerate, is breaking free to run its own family tree. And one of the newest children in the CBS fold is CSTV Networks. CBS, which will complete its split with Viacom soon, bought the college sports network for $325 million. That transaction will likely wrap up in January. As part of the deal, CBS acquires CSTV's television network and more than 250 official college sports Web sites. Hoopville has a partnership with CSTV and provides content to its Web site, www.cstv.com.
[11/03/05]
Big East Rewards Tranghese: For turning the Big East into a superconference, the chief executive officers of the conference's 16 members agreed to extend commissioner Michael Tranghese's contract through 2010. At the conference's Presidents Meeting in Philadelphia, the CEOs rewarded Tranghese, who has guided the Big East through a whirlwind of expansion in the NCAA. The conference lost Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College to the ACC during the past couple of seasons. But in their place, Tranghese brought in Cincinnati, DePaul, Louisville, Marquette and South Florida. If that doesn't produce a basketball lovers' paradise, what does? [11/03/05]
Aces Out: The Evansville Purple Aces are in the midst of a minor exodus. Two players have left the team within the past month, both of whom are freshmen. Troy Robertson and Wacey Hall are off the team, but the school will re-evaluate Robertson's status after the first semester. Evansville did not offer additional information about the players.
[11/03/05]
Golden Knights Bring Florida Native Into the Fold: Central Florida coach Kirk Speraw has hired Micah Byers as an administrative assistant. Byers' responsibilities with the Golden Knights will include scheduling and editing and exchanging film, among other duties. Most recently, Byers was an assistant coach at Chipola College in Marianna, Fla. He has worked in Division I at New Orleans as an adminstrative assistant. A native of Gainesville, Byers attended Florida and played on the Gators' football team.
[11/03/05]
Nova Finally Catches a Break: The trials and tribulations of Villanova are well-documented. But the injury-riddled Wildcats finally received some good news when the NCAA Clearinghouse announced recruit Shane Clark is academically eligible. Villanova sent Clark an official acceptance letter, which will allow the 6-7 forward to join the team starting Dec. 21.
Quaker Questionable for Season Opener: Pennsylvania junior forward Mark Zoller turned his ankle in practice earlier this week and will have to sit out for about two weeks. The team's season opener is against Siena in a little less than three weeks. Zoller averaged 9.5 points and 6.4 rebounds per game last season for the Quakers, and Pennsylvania would likely need to start a freshman in Zoller's place if he cannot go against the Saints. [11/03/05]
Snyder on the Road Again: Missouri coach Quin Snyder is free to leave his house when recruiting high schoolers. The NCAA had banned Snyder from recruiting in person for one year as part of a three-year probation caused by a slew of violations committed by Snyder and his staff. Snyder was in good spirits and said he looks forward to getting back on the recruiting trail in person. He and his staff will make several house calls to Tiger recruits in the coming days.
[11/03/05]
Weakened Hurricane: Miami point guard Anthony Harris has a hairline fracture in his right foot and will not be able to play until late December. The Hurricanes' starting point guard will miss at least five games, but the team hopes he'll be available for the start of ACC play at North Carolina State Dec. 19. Harris averaged 12.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game. [11/03/05]
Tulane Gets a Homestand: Tulane University announced today that the Green Wave men's and women's basketball teams will play all Conference USA games at their Fogelman Arena, on the flood-ravaged campus. The home opener will be against Richmond on December 27th. Four additional "home" games will be played at Tulane's hoops home of College Station, Texas, where they have been hosted by Texas A&M. Head coach Dave Dickerson stated that with the NFL Saints and NBA Hornets likely gone from New Orleans for their entire seasons, the Green Wave should have the city's sports fans to itself. [11/02/05]
Catamounts To Honor Gibson: Western Carolina legend Mel Gibson will have his No. 20 jersey retired this season. Gibson, who joins other Catamount greats Henry Logan (No. 10) and Ronald Rogers (No. 15) in the rafters, played for WCU from 1959-63. Gibson earned first team All-America honors in 1963 and led the Catamounts to the NAIA championship game that year. He averaged over 20 points per game over his junior and senior seasons, helping the Cats to 49 wins over the span, and was on the USA gold medal team in the Pan American Games, held in Brazil, in 1964.
[11/02/05]
Boeheim Lets Loose: Let's face it. Sometimes you need to let off some steam. You receive the John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching award, you get inducted with your buddy Jim Calhoun into the Hall of Fame, you win your 700th game . . . you gotta let loose. That's what happened last night for Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim, as he was ejected for the first time in his career during an exhibition game against St. Rose. Boeheim, who took exception to several hard non-fouls in the lane, argued with referee Pat Driscoll, resulting in a technical foul, and continued to argue with referee Mike Kitts, who called another "T", leading to the ejection. Syracuse won 86-73. [11/02/05]
Bonnies' Smith Fined: St. Bonaventure senior guard Ahmad Smith plead guilty to disorderly conduct charges stemming from a large altercation last month outside a St. Bonaventure campus bar. Smith was among 20 people that were cited in the fracas, and he was fined $250 by the village of Allegany for the charges. Smith was the Bonnies' leading scorer last season, averaging 14.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per contest. [11/02/05]
Indiana Hires Sidney Green: Indiana head coach Mike Davis has hired former Florida Atlantic head coach and former NBA player Sidney Green as an assistant coach on his Hoosier staff. Green, who was fired in March from FAU, will be replacing assistant Thad Fitzpatrick, who resigned in August to become an assistant principal at an Alabama high school. As a player, Green was an All-American at UNLV, and was a first-round selection of the Chicago Bulls in 1983. [11/02/05]
McClellan Appeals Ineligibility: Arizona forward Jawann McClellan yesterday appealed his academic ineligibility to the NCAA. Last month, McClellan was ruled ineligible for fall semester due to one summer school course that was incomplete, due to McClellan's father's illness and subsequent passing in June. The NCAA is expected to rule on the appeal November 8th, meaning McClellan could re-join the Wildcats for the EA Sports Maui Invitational on Nov. 21 if overturned. Otherwise, he's out until December 17th against Utah. [11/02/05]
Bookout Cleared to Play: Oklahoma senior forward Kevin Bookout was medically cleared to start full-contact drills yesterday, following recovery from surgery on his right elbow in September. Bookout, who averaged 11.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per contest last season, suffered an ulnar nerve contusion against Tulsa last December, and finished the season in pain. The September procedure re-positioned an ulnar nerve. [11/02/05]
Wildcat Lodge Case Dropped: Prosecutors are dropping the case of a woman who claims she was raped by a University of Kentucky basketball player last April in the Wildcat Lodge. Fayette County Commonwealth's Attorney Ray Larson has dropped any plans to present the on again-off again case to a grand jury, following discovery that the accuser and suspect had a previous relationship, and that the accuser had tried to contact the suspect after charges had been filed. Additionally, several statements made by the accuser brought into doubt her timeline of the events and the allegation that she was drugged. The 29-year-old accuser was never identified, but Bill Duffy, a sports agent for former Kentucky player Chuck Hayes, has said Hayes was notified of the investigation and said the rape allegation was false. [11/02/05]
Bulls' Enigma Off the Team: South Florida junior point guard David Sills, nicknamed the Enigma, has been kicked off the team by coach Robert McCullum because of an attitude and behavior detrimental to the team. McCullum did not offer specific examples, but the Enigma has a flighty history. He had attended three JuCo schools and five high schools before landing at South Florida. He is a product of the Rucker League in Harlem but apparently has not adjusted to the more structured, team-oriented style at the NCAA level.
[11/02/05]
Injury Slows Commodore: Vanderbilt senior forward Julian Terrell will sit out the Commodores' first exhibition game this weekend because of a stress fracture in his foot. The team discovered the injury after Terrell had an MRI to figure out the source of pain in his foot. The injury could become significant because stress fractures are slow to heal, and Terrell is a major part of the Commodores' lineup. He averaged 6.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per game last season. Coach Kevin Stallings said Terrell had significantly improved his offensive game during the off-season.
[11/02/05]
Giddens Gets Probation: Former Kansas guard J.R. Giddens pleaded no contest yesterday to misdemeanor battery charges stemming from a large bar fight in May of this year. Giddens, who has since left Kansas and has transferred to New Mexico, received probation for one year, and could face a six-month jail sentence or $1,500 fine if he violates the probation's terms. The state dropped other charges, including a disorderly conduct charge, in exchange for the no contest plea. In the fight, Giddens was cut in the leg by Jeremiah Creswell, who still faces charges in the altercation, requiring over 30 stitches and the repair of an artery. Giddens averaged 10 points per game as a sophomore last season at Kansas. [11/01/05]
Gopher Not Making the Grade: Minnesota head coach Don Monson has suspended sophomore guard Rico Tucker for academic reasons. Apparently Tucker performed poorly on mid-term exams, and Monson indicated that after a conversation with Tucker and his father, that the young guard will be spending practice time studying. Tucker averaged 5.8 points per game as a freshman last season, playing in all 32 games. Former Gophers Joel Przybilla (in 2000) and Kris Collins (2002) were also both suspended for poor academic performance on Monson's watch. [11/01/05]
Bearcat Herrera Still Not Cleared: Cincinnati freshman big man Abdul Herrera has still not received clearance to participate in drills from the NCAA Clearinghouse. Herrera, who averaged 19.4 points and 15.9 rebounds per game as a senior at South Miami (Fla.) Senior High School, is originally from Panama City, Panama, and his English courses he completed in high school were geared towards English as a Second Language students. The NCAA Eligibility Clearinghouse has not yet been able to verify the curriculum of those classes. Hurricane Wilma hasn't helped matters, either, as Herrera's school has been closed for the past week. [11/01/05]
NCAA Certifies Three: The NCAA yesterday announced that three schools: Akron, San Diego, and Tennessee, had met requirements for the NCAA's second cycle of certification. The process ensures athletics programs are working to ensure integrity and improving their departments, primarily by reviewing governance and compliance, academic integrity, and student-athlete welfare. The second cycle is a 10-year duration, and may be requested following an infractions investigation, but is not related to the NCAA's enforcement program, which investigates possible violations. [11/01/05]