ACC does background checks on officials
July 24, 2007
The Atlantic Coast Conference has performed background checks for the past year on game officials in three sports in an effort to prevent gambling scandals like the one faced by the NBA. During an annual wide-ranging news conference Tuesday, conference commissioner John Swofford also said the league would decide in December where to host its football championship games in 2008-10 and discussed how…
Hibbert hopes for gold at Pan Am games
July 20, 2007
Before Roy Hibbert ends one championship drought at Georgetown, the star center wants to halt another and win the gold for Team USA at the Pan American games. While the Hoyas haven’t won a national championship since the 1983-84 season, the United States hasn’t won the gold medal at the Pan Am games since the Michael Jordan-led team in 1983.
Iowa State dismisses top scorer Taylor
July 19, 2007
Iowa State dismissed suspended guard Mike Taylor, the Cyclones’ leading scorer last season, after a series of legal troubles. “Mike and I sat down at the beginning of the summer and clearly defined the expectations that he needed to meet in order to remain a member of this basketball team,” coach Greg McDermott said in a written statement.
UNC coach Williams dealing with vertigo
July 18, 2007
North Carolina coach Roy Williams announced Wednesday that he has vertigo. During his annual summer news conference, Williams said he started feeling sick earlier this week. The 56-year-old coach spoke in a low voice during the 30-minute session and answered questions about his health and next year’s team.
Vols coach Pearl gets extension, raise
July 18, 2007
Coach Bruce Pearl has agreed in principle to a one-year contract extension that will keep him at Tennessee through 2013 and increase his compensation package to $1.3 million this year. The 47-year-old Pearl has revived the Volunteers’ men’s basketball program with showmanship — including his bright orange blazers — unbounded enthusiasm and winning since his arrival two years ago.
BSU’s Thompson cites probe for quitting
July 13, 2007
Ronny Thompson cited Ball State’s internal investigation into alleged violations of NCAA rules in his resignation as basketball coach. “Coach Thompson has expressed concerns about the process of the recent investigation of alleged NCAA violations and its conclusions,” athletic director Tom Collins said at a news conference Friday.
Jay Wright seeks gold for US in Pan Ams
July 13, 2007
Jay Wright wants another gold medal around his neck. Winning gold at the Pan American Games to go along with the medal he won at the 2005 World University Games might not be as easy in his second stint as Team USA’s head coach. The United States hasn’t won Pan Am gold since 1983, when Michael Jordan led the Americans to an 8-0 mark.
Tubby among many coaches with new teams
July 11, 2007
Tubby Smith hit the road shortly after taking the job at Minnesota, sharing his vision of what the Gophers will be about and hoping that everyone liked his pitch. Only instead of prized recruits, Smith met with people from all over Minnesota as part of a coaches’ caravan that allowed him to reach out to a depressed fan base that, much like the program he inherited, was sorely in need of…
Duke C Zoubek has foot surgery
July 11, 2007
Duke center Brian Zoubek will be sidelined for at least eight weeks after surgery to repair a broken bone in his left foot. The 7-foot-1 sophomore was injured during a pickup game Monday. He had surgery Tuesday to repair a fifth metatarsal fracture. Coach Mike Krzyzewski said Zoubek should be fine when practice opens in the fall.
Matchups set for Hall of Fame Challenge
July 10, 2007
Connecticut will play Gonzaga and Providence will face Boston College in the second annual Basketball Hall of Fame Challenge in Boston’s TD Banknorth Garden on Dec. 1. Gonzaga, the lone non-New England school in the doubleheader, was in last year’s inaugural event, beating Texas in Phoenix. The Connecticut-Gonzaga game is the first of a neutral-court series between the schools.
