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OffSeason College Basketball News



College Basketball News: Mon, Apr. 20

FBI investigating extortion attempt against Pitino -- The AP reports: The FBI is investigating the estranged wife of Louisville’s equipment manager regarding extortion allegations leveled by coach Rick Pitino, her attorney said Sunday. Attorney Thomas Clay said he spoke with the FBI about the matter last week but had no further comment. He represents Karen Sypher, the wife of longtime equipment manager Tim Sypher. Clay acknowleged Karen Sypher was contacted by the FBI after Pitino filed a complaint last month that he was being targeted for extortion. “I can’t be more specific than they talked to her,” Clay said. “Yes, there could be a criminal prosecution.”

Mississippi coach Kennedy goes to court in Ohio -- The AP reports: Mississippi basketball coach Andy Kennedy hopes to have his assault case settled on Monday instead of facing an assault trial in Hamilton County Municipal Court. Even if the criminal case is settled in a plea bargain, Kennedy is embroiled in lawsuits over his arrest in December on a misdemeanor assault charge. A cab driver claimed that Kennedy punched him and called him a terrorist when the team was in town for a game. Ole Miss athletic director Pete Boone said in a statement last week that Kennedy “is keeping me informed, and he is hopeful there will be a resolution on Monday.” He faces up to six months in jail if convicted.

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College Basketball News: Sun, Apr. 19

Warren tells Capel he’ll return to Oklahoma -- The AP reports: Big 12 freshman of the year Willie Warren has no interest in leaving Oklahoma for the NBA. Warren and his mother met with coach Jeff Capel for about 40 minutes Saturday, and the 6-foot-4 guard confirmed that he plans to remain with the Sooners for another season. “I’ve been telling people the whole year that I was coming back,” Warren said. “I had no intentions of leaving in the beginning, but my name started getting thrown around in the (NBA) lottery draw. “My mom wanted to take the process slow and didn’t want to make any quick decisions that we’d regret. I feel like I made the right decision by staying here at OU. My goal is to go to the NBA, but I just don’t feel my game has matured enough.”

Kansas swingman Little has leg surgery -- The AP reports: Senior swingman Mario Little has had surgery to repair a stress fracture in his lower left leg. Kansas coach Bill Self said on Saturday that Little will be able to return to the court by June 1. He had the operation on Thursday.



College Basketball News: Sat, Apr. 18

Nevada’s Ahyaro Phillips dismissed from hoops team -- The AP reports: Nevada freshman Ahyaro Phillips has been dismissed from the basketball team after his second arrest in a year, this time for having a weapon on school property. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 2.1 points and 2.7 rebounds this year.

Sean Miller adds brother Archie to staff -- The AP reports: Sean Miller has rounded out his first coaching staff at Arizona by hiring his brother Archie as an assistant. The 31-year-old Archie Miller brings seven years of coaching and administrative experience to his brother’s staff, and he spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach at Ohio State under Thad Motta.

Washington enters NBA draft without agent -- The AP reports: Arkansas junior forward Michael Washington has made himself available for the NBA draft without signing with an agent. Arkansas coach John Pelphrey made the announcement on in a statement on Friday.

Tyus transferring from Florida -- The AP reports: Florida forward Alex Tyus, the team’s second-leading scorer last season, has decided to transfer. Coach Billy Donovan announced Tyus’ departure Friday, a move that leaves the Gators with little frontcourt depth heading into next season.

Australian Patty Mills to test NBA draft -- The AP reports: Saint Mary’s star guard Patty Mills will make himself available for the NBA draft in June, possibly giving up the final two years of his college basketball eligibility in the United States. Mills, a member of the Australian national team, concluded his second season with the Gaels, averaging career highs of 18.7 points, 4.0 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game. Saint Mary’s lost in the quarterfinals of the NIT college tournament. On Friday, he told a teleconference initiated by Basketball Australia from Saint Mary’s in Moraga, Calif., that he would not sign with an agent ahead of the June 25 draft at Madison Square Garden, allowing him to return to school if he is not selected.

Cameron Dollar new Seattle U coach -- The AP reports: Trying to stay inconspicuous in the back of the room, Lorenzo Romar couldn’t help but chuckle when he heard his former assistant, Cameron Dollar, give the answer everyone at Seattle University wanted to hear. “Cameron, we want to beat (Gonzaga) and take it to Washington,” a supporter blurted out during Dollar’s introduction as Seattle’s new head coach. “I’ve got no problem with that,” Dollar responded. After spending 10 years with Romar as an assistant, including the last seven across town at Washington, Dollar ventured out on his own Thursday to take over at Seattle as the next coach to lead the school in its transition back to Division I basketball.

ND’s Harangody puts name in for NBA draft -- The AP reports: Notre Dame forward Luke Harangody is putting his name in the NBA draft with the intention of turning pro, but will leave open the option of returning for his senior season. “We’re going in full speed. We’re going in to go into it, not to just see if I need to improve on anything,” Harangody said Thursday. “We’re just going to go out there and try to get this thing done.” Still, Harangody doesn’t plan on hiring an agent, meaning he can pull out of the draft by the June 15 deadline. Notre Dame coach Mike Brey agreed that Harangody should approach the next two months as though he’s not coming back.

UCLA’s Morgan recovering from knee surgery -- The AP reports: UCLA center J’mison Morgan has undergone arthroscopic knee surgery.

Flynn hires agent and declares for NBA draft -- The AP reports: Syracuse point guard Jonny Flynn turned pro and signed with an agent, ending his college career after two seasons and taking a top player off the Orange for the second straight year. Jim Boeheim has gotten used to turning over talent. “I’ve known pretty much for a while,” Boeheim said Thursday. “He’s had a tremendous career here, and I think he’s going to be a tremendous player at the next level. We hate to lose him, but the opportunity that he has and will take advantage of I think is tremendous. It’s a lot of money and it’s hard to not take. He’s been great for us and we wish him nothing but the best.”

Point guard Melvin Goins signs with UT -- The AP reports: University of Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl says point guard Melvin Goins from Mt. San Jacinto College has signed a national letter of intent to play for UT. Goins played his freshman year at Ball State University before switching to the California school.

Rhoades leaves Randolph-Macon to join VCU staff -- The AP reports: Mike Rhoades is leaving his position as men’s basketball coach at Randolph-Macon College to join Shaka Smart’s coaching staff at Virginia Commonwealth University. Randolph-Macon announced Rhoades’ resignation Wednesday night.



College Basketball News: Tue, Apr. 14

Kansas stars Collins, Aldrich staying put -- The AP reports: Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich are staying at Kansas, passing up a chance to play in the NBA for the opportunity to make the Jayhawks a leading national title contender in 2010. The Jayhawks will return every major contributor from this year’s Big 12 championship team and will be joined by one of the best recruiting classes coach Bill Self has brought to Kansas. Collins and Aldrich announced their decision Monday night to cheers from several hundred fans at the annual Jayhawks awards dinner.

FIU ousts basketball coach Sergio Rouco -- The AP reports: Florida International has fired men’s basketball coach Sergio Rouco after five straight losing seasons, including a 13-20 campaign this year. Rouco finished with a 55-94 record in five years at FIU, which hasn’t finished with a winning record since going 16-14 in the 1999-2000 season.

AP Source: FIU close to naming Isiah Thomas coach -- The AP reports: Isiah Thomas is on the verge of starting his coaching career over at Florida International. The Hall of Fame point guard and former New York Knicks coach is deliberating whether to take over FIU’s basketball program, a person with knowledge of the school’s search told The Associated Press on Monday night. The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because university officials have not authorized anyone to reveal search details, said FIU was “very hopeful” that a deal could be closed with Thomas on Tuesday morning. He would replace Sergio Rouco, who was ousted after five consecutive losing seasons, including a 13-20 campaign this year.

Geving replaces Bone as Portland St coach -- The AP reports: Portland State has promoted Tyler Geving to replace Ken Bone as men’s basketball coach. The 35-year-old Geving spent the past four seasons as an assistant under Bone. Bone left to become Washington State coach last week. The past two seasons have been the most successful in Portland State history. The Vikings posted consecutive 23-10 seasons and making their first two appearances in the NCAA tournament.

Wills plans to transfer from New Mexico -- The AP reports: Sophomore guard Jonathan Wills will transfer from New Mexico at the end of the spring semester. Coach Steve Alford said Monday that Wills wants to be closer to home and his family.

Xavier closing in on next coach -- The AP reports: Xavier expects to have its next basketball coach within a couple of days. Athletic director Mike Bobinski said Monday evening that he has wrapped up interviews and will talk to school officials in the next couple of days about who will succeed Sean Miller as head coach. Miller left for Arizona last week. Bobinski has interviewed several candidates, including Miller’s top assistant, Chris Mack.

Memphis forward Shawn Taggart enters NBA draft -- The AP reports: Memphis junior forward Shawn Taggart has submitted his name for the 2009 NBA draft. Taggart said in a statement Monday from the university that he wants to test the waters and see what feedback he gets following encouragement from the team’s new coach, Josh Pastner.

Ole Miss G David Huertas decides to turn pro -- The AP reports: David Huertas, Mississippi’s leading scorer and a second-team all-Southeastern Conference selection, has quit school and returned to Puerto Rico. The school announced Monday that Huertas had decided to leave school.



College Basketball News: Mon, Apr. 13

UNC freshman Ed Davis to return -- The AP reports: North Carolina freshman forward Ed Davis says he will return to the team for the 2009-2010 season. Davis made the announcement on Sunday. In a statement issued by the school, the 6-foot-10 native of Richmond, Va., said he would like to play in the NBA, but that he and his family don’t think he is ready to take that step.

Bone likely to become Portland State hoops coach -- The AP reports: Portland State Athletic Director Torre Chisholm says he plans to name a new men's basketball coach to replace Ken Bone no later than Tuesday. Vikings associate head coach Tyler Geving appears to have the inside track to replace Bone, who left to take over the program at Washington State.

New 'Zona coach lands top uncommitted big man -- Fox Sports (Jeff Goodman) reports: Sean Miller has wasted little time at Arizona. Less than a week since he took the job, the new Wildcats head man has received a commitment from the top-rated big man left on the board — 6-foot-10, 240-pound Kyryl Natayazhko. It's a huge pickup for Miller since Natayazhko is ranked 68th overall by Scout.com in the Class of 2009 and was also considering Pittsburgh, Arizona State and Xavier.

Tulsa big man Jordan will return for senior year -- Fox Sports (Jeff Goodman) reports: Tulsa 7-footer Jerome Jordan will return for his senior season. "It was a fairly easy decision based on where I am as a player," Jordan said in a statement released by the school.



College Basketball News: Sat, Apr. 11

Blake Griffin wins Wooden award -- The AP reports: Blake Griffin keeps picking up trophies on his way to the NBA. The Oklahoma sophomore won the John R. Wooden Award as college basketball’s top player on Friday only three days after he announced that he would turn pro. DeJuan Blair and Tyler Hansbrough, two other finalists, did not show up for the ceremony, which was held at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. Griffin, who became the first Oklahoma player to win the award, led the nation with 30 double-doubles... Connecticut’s Maya Moore won the women’s award, four days after winning the national title and completing a perfect season for UConn.

Arizona hires 2 assistant basketball coaches -- The AP reports: Arizona men’s basketball coach Sean Miller has hired James Whitford and Emanuel Richardson as assistants.

Busch, Payton leave Minnesota program -- The AP reports: Minnesota reserves Travis Busch and Kevin Payton are leaving the basketball program with eligibility remaining. Coach Tubby Smith made the announcement on Friday. Both Busch and Payton are on track to graduate at the end of this semester.

Student warned over Facebook site wooing prospect -- The AP reports: College sports fans, be careful of the company you keep on Facebook. You might get yourself—and the program you support—in trouble. That was the lesson this week for Taylor Moseley, a North Carolina State freshman who expressed a common-enough opinion on campus when he started the Facebook group called “John Wall PLEASE come to NC STATE!!!!” More than 700 people signed up for the group encouraging Wall—a local standout and the nation’s No. 1 basketball recruit—to pick the Wolfpack by national signing day next week. But the NCAA says such sites, and dozens more like them wooing Wall and other top recruits, violate its rules. More than just cheerleading boards, the NCAA says the sites are an attempt to influence the college choice of a recruit.

Ex-Kentucky basketball star Casey dies at 60 -- The AP reports: Former Kentucky basketball player Mike Casey has died of heart complications. He was 60. Casey died Thursday at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn., said John Shannon, owner of Shannon Funeral Home in Shelbyville, Ky.

Darrin Horn says he’s staying with South Carolina -- The AP reports: South Carolina basketball coach Darrin Horn says he hasn’t spoken to any other schools about their coaching jobs. Horn issued a statement Thursday night saying he is not looking to leave the Gamecocks. Horn says he is proud of what they accomplished in his first year and is excited about the future.

Jordan’s son aims for bigger role at Illinois -- The AP reports: Jeff Jordan came to Illinois without much more than a famous name. His talent didn’t earn him a scholarship, and there were few, if any, on-court expectations. Illinois fans called Jordan’s arrival two years ago a nice story—legend’s son picks Illinois—and wondered how often his dad might catch a game at Assembly Hall. But people who’ve known Jordan since he stepped on the court at Loyola Academy in Chicago’s north suburbs say he brought something else with him south to Champaign—a chip on his shoulder. “I know it was a stretch for him to go to the University of Illinois,” said Patrick Mahoney, athletic director at the Wilmette, Ill., prep school. “I know he did that to prove to everybody he could play Division I at a big-time school.”



College Basketball News: Fri, Apr. 10

Darrin Horn says he’s staying with South Carolina -- The AP reports: South Carolina basketball coach Darrin Horn says he hasn’t spoken to any other schools about their coaching jobs. Horn issued a statement Thursday night saying he is not looking to leave the Gamecocks. Horn says he is proud of what they accomplished in his first year and is excited about the future.

Georgia Southern hires Young as coach -- The AP reports: Georgia Tech assistant Charlton Young, a former Georgia Southern basketball star, has been hired to lead his alma mater. Young was introduced Thursday during a news conference on the Georgia Southern campus. He replaces Jeff Price, who resigned on March 30 after 10 seasons.

Calhoun says he plans to return to Connecticut -- The AP reports: Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun said Thursday he plans to return for a 24th season at the school. Calhoun’s Huskies finished the season 31-5, losing in the national semifinals to Michigan State. Several off-the-court issues had prompted questions about Calhoun’s future, including an investigation into UConn’s recruitment of former player Nate Miles. Calhoun has acknowledged that he or his staff may have made mistakes in recruiting Miles.

Jayhawks Appleton and Thomas seek transfers -- The AP reports: Basketball players Tyrone Appleton and Quintrell Thomas are seeking to transfer from Kansas after this semester. Coach Bill Self said Thursday that Appleton, a junior guard, and Thomas, a freshman forward, have “chosen to attend a university where they can have expanded roles.”

Lumberjacks give Adras 3-year contract extension -- The AP reports: Northern Arizona has given men’s basketball coach Mike Adras a three-year contract extension through 2012. Adras has been at the school for 17 years, seven as an assistant and the past 10 as head coach of the Lumberjacks. His record is 158-136 overall, 82-68 in the Big Sky Conference.

Grand Canyon hires Pennell as basketball coach -- The AP reports: Former Arizona coach Russ Pennell has been hired as the men’s basketball coach at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix. Pennell led the Wildcats to a 21-14 record and their 25th consecutive NCAA tournament appearance while serving as interim coach this season.

Miami F Collins declares for NBA draft -- The AP reports: Miami junior forward Dwayne Collins has declared for the NBA draft but could return to the Hurricanes next season because he has not hired an agent. Miami announced Collins’ decision Thursday afternoon.

Alabama to pay Grant $1.8M in 7-year deal -- The AP reports: New Alabama basketball coach Anthony Grant will receive a seven-year deal worth $1.8 million annually, almost double the pay of his predecessor. The terms of Grant’s contract, announced by the school on Thursday, must be approved by the Board of Trustees’ Compensation committee. Grant will receive a base salary of $245,000, with the rest coming from fees that include endorsements and radio and television money.

Wake’s Johnson leaving school early for NBA -- The AP reports: Wake Forest sophomore forward James Johnson has declared for the NBA draft and hired an agent. A spokesman for Wasserman Media Group says Thursday that Johnson has signed with their agency and will be represented by Dan Tobin. That means Johnson will not be able to return to play for the school.

Flynn and Devendorf to test draft -- The AP reports: Big East tournament MVP Jonny Flynn, Eric Devendorf and Paul Harris of Syracuse plan to enter their names into the upcoming NBA draft, the university said Thursday. Flynn indicated that he will not retain an agent, giving him the option to return to school.



College Basketball News: Thu, Apr. 9

Liberty taps former assistant as head coach -- The AP reports: Former assistant Dale Layer is returning to Liberty as the new head coach. Layer was introduced Wednesday as the Flames’ eighth basketball coach. He succeeds Ritchie McKay, who moved down the road to Charlottesville to join Tony Bennett’s staff at the University of Virginia.

Arizona’s Jordan Hill declares for NBA draft -- The AP reports: Arizona forward Jordan Hill will forgo his senior year and make himself eligible for the NBA draft. Hill averaged 18.1 points and 11 rebounds this season for the Wildcats, who reached the round of 16 in the NCAA tournament and finished 21-14 after losing to Louisville in the Midwest Region semifinals. In three seasons at Arizona, Hill averaged 12.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocked shots and he ranks fifth in school history in field-goal percentage at 57.8.

Pitt’s Blair to declare for NBA draft -- The AP reports: DeJuan Blair guaranteed Pitt coach Jamie Dixon a year ago that he would play a full college career. One exceptional season changed all that. Blair said Wednesday he will declare for the NBA draft and has begun hiring representatives, ending any possibility that the All-America center could return for his junior season. Blair is projected as a mid- to late first-round pick, but his status could change—for better or worse—once he goes through the NBA’s various pre-draft workouts. Blair plans to hire an agent within the next several weeks, and has retained Pittsburgh attorney James Cook to handle him in marketing and advertising matters.

2 Michigan State guards to undergo foot surgery -- The AP reports: Michigan State guards Korie Lucious and Chris Allen will undergo surgery this week after each broke his right foot during Monday’s NCAA basketball championship. The school announced Wednesday the surgeries will be performed Friday.

Heels live up to preseason predictions with title -- The AP reports: North Carolina’s Tyler Hansbrough heard the criticism that his game wasn’t what it was when he became national player of the year. There were questions whether he could ever be viewed as one of the game’s all-time greats if he never won a national championship to go with all his record-setting performances. That’s all been erased by a dominant NCAA title run. “I thought I was going to be validated either way,” Hansbrough said as he wore a clipped-down net around his neck from the title win against Michigan State. “I’m just part of something special on this team. Whoever said ‘He’s not validated’ or whatever, I’m validated right now.” The entire squad has been validated. The Tar Heels (34-4) entered the year with the pressure of being the unanimous No. 1, a team that had four players put off the NBA to come back for another run at the title that had eluded them at the Final Four last season. Instead, they started a surprising 0-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Teague declares for draft, won’t hire agent -- The AP reports: Wake Forest guard Jeff Teague declared for the NBA draft on Wednesday but did not hire an agent, leaving his coach confident he’ll return to school for his junior season. The 6-foot-2 Teague averaged a team-best 18.8 points and dished out 110 assists for the Demon Deacons this past season. He’s scored 1,000 points in his two-year college career. Teague will be able to attend pre-draft workouts with NBA teams. By not signing with an agent, he’ll have until June 15 to withdraw from the draft and return to school. The draft is June 25.

Sun Devils’ Harden declares for the NBA -- The AP reports: All-America guard James Harden is leaving Arizona State for the NBA. The 6-foot-5 sophomore and Pac-10 player of the year will hire an agent, ending any chance of returning to the Sun Devils. “I felt I’m ready for it as far as taking my game to the next level,” he said at a news conference Wednesday. “It’s a dream come true. It’s my dream since I put a ball in my hand, so why not take the opportunity?”

Strickland, Robic, Antigua join Calipari at UK -- The AP reports: John Calipari’s coaching staff at Kentucky will have some familiar faces. Former Memphis assistants John Robic and Orlando Antigua and Memphis director of basketball operations Rod Strickland have been hired to help Calipari rebuild the Wildcats.

Obama phones UNC coach, offers congratulations -- The AP reports: President Barack Obama has called University of North Carolina basketball coach Roy Williams to congratulate the Tar Heels on their NCAA championship. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs says Obama called Williams from Air Force One on Tuesday.

Siena extends McCaffery’s contract -- The AP reports: Siena coach Fran McCaffery has a new eight-year contract. McCaffery, who had two years remaining on his contract, confirmed the deal at a news conference Wednesday.



College Basketball News: Tue, Apr. 7

Michigan St. 72, North Carolina 89 -- The AP reports: There was a team of destiny out there, all right. It’s the North Carolina Tar Heels, and the final chapter of their story was about as heartwarming as a demolition derby. Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson and North Carolina won a national championship a season or more in the making, stomping out Michigan State’s inspirational run Monday night with an 89-72 blowout that wasn’t even that close. Hansbrough scored 18 points, Wayne Ellington had 19 and Lawson led all scorers with 21 and also had a record eight steals—and now they and Danny Green can all head to the NBA feeling good about their decision to return to school to bring home Carolina’s fifth championship, and the second for coach Roy Williams. All those upperclassmen, save Hansbrough, came back in part because their draft prospects didn’t look so good. They also didn’t want their college careers to end on last year’s embarrassing loss to Kansas in the Final Four. That was a dud of a game in which they trailed 40-12 in the first half and Billy Packer was telling CBS viewers it was over.

InsideHoops.com Notes: For North Carolina, Ty Lawson shot 3-of-10 but 15-of-18 free throws for 21 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists and 8 steals. Wayne Ellington (7-of-12) for 19 points and 4 rebounds. Tyler Hansbrough (6-of-14) had 18 points and 7 rebounds. Ed Davis scored 11 with 8 rebounds. For Michigan State, Goran Suton (7-of-10, 3-of-4 three-pointers) had 17 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks. Kalin Lucas (just 4-of-12) had 14 points and 7 assists, but 6 turnovers. Durrell Summers added 13 points. Delvon Roe grabbed 8 rebounds. UNC shot 45.9%, MSU 40.0%. UNC had 9 steals, MSU just 1.

North Carolina celebrates another hoops title -- The AP reports: Title No. 5 came in the Tar Heels’ record 18th trip to the Final Four. After their last championship, nearly 50,000 fans poured onto Franklin for a post-game party that lasted into the early morning hours, and a similar turnout was expected this time. “We have no reason to think it would be any smaller this year,” said Chapel Hill Police Capt. Chris Blue. He said 330 officers from several law enforcement agencies were on duty Monday night. A few months ago, this is exactly how the faithful figured the season would end—especially after four key players returned from last year’s Final Four team, including Hansbrough, the reigning national player of the year. North Carolina opened as the first team unanimously picked No. 1 in the preseason The Associated Press Top 25 since it began in 1981.

Tar Heels too much for Michigan State in 89-72 win -- The AP reports: Michigan State (31-7) simply never got any momentum. From the start, it was clear there was no way Carolina was losing control of this one, no chance for the Spartans to serve up that definitive ray of sunshine and warm-and-fuzzy smile for a state that’s been battered by the ailing economy. “The best team won,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. “That’s an easy statement to make.” The Tar Heels (34-4) were up 55-34 at halftime, breaking a 42-year-old title-game record for biggest lead at the break and setting the mark for most points at the half. “We handled injuries, handled some losses” this season, Williams said. “The youngsters standing behind me are great, great young men. I’m the luckiest coach in America, I can tell you that.”

Carolina dominates Michigan State from the start -- The AP reports: The Spartans had seen North Carolina play this well before—a 98-63 romp on the same court at Ford Field in December. They couldn’t have imagined a start like this. The Tar Heels hit six of their first seven shots, forced three turnovers and took a 17-7 lead less than 5 minutes into the game Even when they missed three shots on their next three possessions, they crashed the boards and came up with two baskets, not an easy feat against the best rebounding team in the country. The lead was 22-7 and there were still nearly 14 minutes left in the first half.

Tar Heels’ returnees accomplish title mission -- The AP reports: Lawson, Ellington and Green all opted to enter the NBA draft so that they could work out for teams. But coach Roy Williams said none of them had the guaranteed draft position they wanted—he said Ellington and Green didn’t figure to be first-round picks—so they opted to come back for another push. It paid off Monday night, when they completed a dominating run through the NCAA tournament in which they won every game by at least 12 points. They were the first team to win every game by double figures on the way to the title since Duke in 2001. North Carolina rolled to a 15-5 lead in the early minutes, then stretched that margin to as many as 24 points in the first half before taking a 55-34 lead into the break. And each time Michigan State tried to rally in the second half, the Tar Heels had an answer.



College Basketball News: Sun, Apr. 5

North Carolina too much for Villanova in 83-69 win -- The AP reports: Men vs. boys. Big brother vs. little brother. Future pros against a bunch of good college kids. That summed up North Carolina’s 83-69 victory over Villanova on Saturday night. The ultra-talented Tar Heels simply never gave the Wildcats a chance to breathe, let alone whip up a fresh dose of Final Four magic. Ty Lawson scored 22 points, Wayne Ellington had 20 more and the Tar Heels, with their four, five, maybe more NBA-caliber players, stayed on a path that has seemed almost certain since the season began in November. Tyler Hansbrough had 18 points and 11 rebounds to make this a quite successful return to the Final Four after a remarkable dud last year in a semifinal loss to Kansas. Next up, North Carolina (33-4) goes for its second title in five years Monday against Michigan State, an 82-73 winner over Connecticut...

The AP reports: Scottie Reynolds will always have that indelible end-to-end game-winning layup against Pittsburgh last weekend that got Villanova to its Final Four since ’85. His first basket in this one, however, didn’t come until more than 9 minutes were gone and the deficit was in double digits. He finished with 17 points on 6-for-18 shooting. Cunningham, the Wildcats’ leading scorer and rebounder this season, had 12 and 12. Reggie Redding had 15 points, and Corey Fisher scored 13 in 5-for-19 shooting.

The Ap reports: And the Wildcats couldn’t shoot. ‘Nova shot 33 percent from the floor, not exactly the 78.6 percent from that “perfect game” back in ’85. They were even worse from 3-point range—5-for-27. And there were way too many scenes reminiscent of big brother vs. little brother: Where the Villanova player would drive the middle, make a few head fakes and the Carolina guy would just stand there, wait for the histrionics to end and block or alter the shot.

Michigan State defeats UConn 82-73 -- The AP reports: Kalin Lucas scored 21 points, Raymar Morgan broke out of his late-season slump with 18 and nine rebounds, and the smaller Spartans ran roughshod over Hasheem Thabeet and Connecticut in an 82-73 upset in the Final Four on Saturday night... UConn cut an 11-point deficit to 4 in 49 seconds, getting within 3 with a minute to go. But the outcome was never really in doubt. Durrell Summers, a Detroit native who experienced firsthand the hardships his city and state are enduring when both parents were laid off, converted a three-point play to put the game out of reach... Thabeet led the Huskies with 17 points and six rebounds, but it was the quietest 17 points anyone’s ever had. He looked gassed from the opening tipoff, leaning over, tugging on his shorts and gasping for air not even six minutes into the game. Aside from the first few possessions of the second half, he actually looked lost down low... Stanley Robinson and A.J. Price had 15 each for Connecticut, and Robinson added 13 rebounds.

The AP reports: Morgan scored 11 in the first half, including a couple of big buckets when UConn was threatening to take off. Little Korie Lucious, the back-up point guard who’s never met a shot he didn’t like, was a key contributor early on, too, scoring nine points in a 1 1/2 -minute span at the end of the first half. It was Morgan again in the second half, stripping Craig Austrie to start an 8-2 run that caught UConn flat-footed, all but ended the game and threatened to bring down the roof at Ford Field.

Curse of the Lions locker room strikes again -- The AP reports: The funk of the Detroit Lions’ locker room has struck again. Connecticut lost to Michigan State on Saturday night in the Final Four, dropping basketball teams to 0-5 at Ford Field after using the locker room for the lowly NFL team that became the first with an 0-16 record last season. “We know all about it,” Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis said. “We won’t be in it.” North Carolina would have dibs on the Lions’ digs, as the top-seeded team in the matchup, but star center Tyler Hansbrough hopes the Tar Heels stay in the locker room they were in before and after beating Villanova. “I am superstitious,” Hansbrough said. “If that’s the case, I don’t know what will happen.”

Izzo makes stars align over Detroit for one night -- The AP reports: The stars didn’t align by themselves. People in this hardscrabble town, and all across the state of Michigan believe there’s absolutely nothing Tom Izzo can’t do. For a few shining moments Saturday night, he proved them right. Michigan State 82, Connecticut 73 was the result of one evening of supreme effort by a team full of underdogs. But it was a lifetime in the making. Izzo set the goal of reaching this Final Four before the first ball of the season hit the hardwood. On a dry-erase board in the Spartans locker room, he simply wrote, “Ford Field.” But 14 years ago, not long after he settled into mentor Jud Heathcote’s office on the Michigan State campus in East Lansing, just 92 miles down the road, it was clear he had the kind of talent to get a team from almost anywhere to just about every Final Four. That he made the commitment to stay home and build a program that would rival North Carolina, Duke, Kansas and Kentucky might have been the only surprise.

Connecticut’s Jim Calhoun to contemplate future -- The AP reports: Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun has always said he would not make any decisions about his future after a tough defeat. But the disappointment of losing to the underdog Spartans, coupled with frustration over allegations that Calhoun’s program violated NCAA recruiting rules, bubbled over after the Huskies’ 82-73 loss to Michigan State in the national semifinals on Saturday night. “Those kind of things, that’s why Dean Smith told me at 67 he got out,” Calhoun said, referring to North Carolina’s retired Hall of Fame coach. “It wasn’t basketball. It was the other things. “I love the kids, love the game. I don’t plan to go anyplace. But I’m going to give a lot of reflection, maybe more reflection than normal, because of that,” the 66-year Hall of Famer said.

Ellington helps Tar Heels to another easy NCAA win -- The AP reports: Wayne Ellington broke Jay Wright’s heart again. First the kid from the Philadelphia suburbs with the smooth jump shot chose to play for North Carolina over Wright’s Villanova program. Now he’s a big reason the Wildcats’ surprising Final Four run is over and the Tar Heels have moved on to play for the national championship most everyone expected them to win in the preseason. Ellington scored 13 of his 20 points in the first half to help the Tar Heels beat the Wildcats 83-69 on Saturday night. His fast start was a big reason why the Tar Heels controlled the game from tip-off, helping them push out to a double-digit lead and keeping the Wildcats playing catch-up the rest of the night.

Villanova struggles from arc in 83-69 loss to UNC -- The AP reports: There were no late-game thrills this time for Scottie Reynolds. There won’t be again for Villanova in this NCAA tournament. Villanova’s 3-pointers fell short—a dreadful 5-for-27—and clanged off the rim, yet kept getting tossed up. The Wildcats abandoned their usual patient offense and their lockdown defense that was a staple of their Final Four run let up too many big baskets. The 1985 Wildcats rooted on this year’s team from behind the bench, but there was no repeat of that championship night in Villanova’s 83-69 loss to North Carolina in the national semifinals on Saturday night.

Final is North Carolina-Michigan State, Part II -- The AP reports: The Spartans were a weakened bunch when they played the Tar Heels back in December. Center Goran Suton was out with a knee injury, and Michigan State was playing its fourth game in a week. They managed to stay with Carolina early but had fallen behind by 14 at the half and were thoroughly outmatched in the second half. But Suton is back—way back. He led the rough-and-tumble Big Ten in rebounding, and was picked as the most outstanding player of the Midwest Regional after averaging a double-double in the first four games. He only had seven boards and four points Saturday, but he played a big part in smothering Thabeet, who wasn’t much of a factor despite his 17 points and six rebounds. Raymar Morgan shook off his late-season slump with a spectacular game, finishing with 18 points, nine rebounds and five steals against the Huskies. Lucas, the Big Ten player of the year, had 21 points.

Michigan State’s Morgan can’t mask his excitement -- The AP reports: Raymar Morgan was Michigan State’s best player before a bout of illnesses stunted his season. He was back to his old self Saturday night. Right on time. Morgan had NCAA-tournament highs with 18 points and nine rebounds, helping the second-seeded Spartans stun top-seeded Connecticut 82-73 in the Final Four. “I thought Raymar Morgan came up big today,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said in an on-the-court interview that was broadcast to roaring fans at Ford Field. The Spartans will face North Carolina on Monday night—in front of about 50,000 of their closest friends—shooting for their third national title.

More than 20 arrests as Mich St wins at Final Four -- The AP reports: More than 20 people were arrested Saturday for offenses that included starting fires, disorderly conduct and indecent exposure as Michigan State defeated Connecticut 82-73 at the Final Four. “For the most part, the crowd has been very good,” said Lt. Kevin Daley of the East Lansing Police Department. Downtown East Lansing bars were filling up and police were keeping a close watch on neighborhoods near campus. Thousands of Spartans faithful stayed close to campus, roughly 90 miles west of the game at Ford Field, to watch the game.





OLD ARTICLES

Duquesne's Kojo Mensah signs with agent
Duquesne's Shawn James signs with agent

College: Princeton destroyed by Seton Hall The Tigers' defense got shredded. Read.

College Hoops: Floriani Notes On St John's, Gonzaga, Seton Hall, Notre Dame, Dominic James and more. Read.

Dec. 7, 2006: Jimmy V Classic -- Notes from the annual event.
July 14, 2006: Kojo Mensah in limbo at Siena.
May 29, 2006: Chris McCray interview on working out for Wizards.
May 6: Sidney Lowe is new NC State basketball coach
March 20, 2006: Women's college basketball player rankings
Older college basketball news stories and features are here.