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  1. Junior college coach chases down, tackles burglary suspect

    Apr 13, 2011, 3:01 PM EDT

    You have to wear many hats while coaching a junior college hoops. Chasing down burglars usually isn’t one of them. But that just show the versatility of Hutchinson (Kan.) coach Steve Eck. Eck and an off-duty firefighter tackled a man suspected of burglarizing the dorm room where Eck sometimes stays in order to keep an…

  2. Arizona’s tall task? Find a stellar assistant coach

    Apr 13, 2011, 12:38 PM EDT

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    Dayton hiring’ of Archie Miller earned some solid reviews from coaches and onlookers. But perhaps the biggest indicator of the solid hire is how Arizona coach Sean Miller is handling the loss of his top assistant. He’s not looking for someone better. He wants someone of Archie’s “equal.” “Although the name of the game so…

  3. How do the 2011 elite recruits measure up?

    Apr 13, 2011, 10:00 AM EDT

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    Ten of the top incoming freshmen played at the Nike Hoop Summit this weekend. Six of ‘em – Anthony Davis, Michael Gilchrist, Quinn Coook, Austin Rivers, Brad Beal and Tony Wroten – impressed Dan Hanner enough to make his rundown of the event. And of that group, Davis impressed him most because of his sheer…

  4. No typo: UCLA’s Lee staying in NBA draft (scratches head)

    Apr 12, 2011, 10:22 PM EDT

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    Every spring includes a few odd early entrants in the NBA draft. But most players usually wise up, withdraw their names and go back to school. Malcolm Lee is not one of those guys. The UCLA junior had planned to test the draft waters, but Tuesday brought news that he plans to hire an agent,…

  5. It’s past time Miami at least called Frank Martin

    Apr 12, 2011, 6:08 PM EDT

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    OK, now will Miami give Frank Martin a call? Now that Tommy Amaker spurned the Hurricanes job to stay at Harvard – an Ivy League school over the ACC? – the school needs to save face. Don’t turn to Mike Davis, Tony Barbee or Billy Kennedy just yet. Call Martin. See what the Kansas State…

  6. Lutz a smart addition to Gottfried’s N.C. State staff

    Apr 12, 2011, 12:30 PM EDT

    Mark Gottfried is supposedly hiring a “Dream Team” of assistants. He’s on his way with Bobby Lutz. N.C. State officially added Lutz to Gottfried’s staff Monday, joining former Louisiana Monroe coach Orlando Early on the staff. In 12 seasons at Charlotte, Lutz was 218-158, reached five NCAA tournaments and won at least 20 games five…

  7. Kemba’s timing perfect as others pass on NBA draft

    Apr 12, 2011, 8:30 AM EDT

    Everything’s falling into place for Kemba Walker. Connecticut’s junior guard just led the Huskies to the NCAA tournament title, claimed Most Outstanding Player honors and is on track to graduate this spring. Now he’s set to make millions by entering the NBA draft – while others stay in school. That’s what you call perfect timing.…

  8. A return of Runnin’ Rebels? Sounds like a winner

    Apr 12, 2011, 12:05 AM EDT

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    Dave Rice is no dummy. He knows what UNLV fans want – entertaining wins. The Rebels’ new coach was a backup guard during the glory days under Jerry Tarkanian and was on the 1990 title team. Those UNLV teams were famous for their winning ways and doing it with an up-tempo, entertaining style. “Winning is…

  9. Perry Jones’ return a massive boost to Baylor’s outlook

    Apr 11, 2011, 5:40 PM EDT

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    Baylor’s 2011-12 season outlook just got a lot brighter. Forward Perry Jones announced Monday he’ll return to school for his sophomore season, a big surprise given that Jones is a sure-fire NBA draft lottery pick and passes up on millions for at least a year. (Not to mention any resentment he might’ve felt toward the…

  10. Hoops’ shady side pops up in game-fixing indictment

    Apr 11, 2011, 4:12 PM EDT

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    If these truly are the days of college sports misconduct, the latest news fits right in. Two former San Diego basketball players and a former assistant coach were among 10 people indicted for allegedly fixing games last season, federal authorities revealed Monday. A federal grand jury handed up indictments on April 8 against former players…

  11. Miami’s new coach better make local recruits his top priority

    Apr 11, 2011, 1:52 PM EDT

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    If Miami does settle on a new coach soon (possibly today?) that coach needs to emphasize one area Frank Haith did not: local recruiting. Haith, now at Missouri after seven seasons with the ‘Canes, signed only seven Miami-area players, and two (Denis Clemente and Eddie Rios) were eventually dismissed for disciplinary reasons. The other he…

  12. 11 players poised for breakout seasons in 2011-12

    Apr 11, 2011, 10:00 AM EDT

    You’ve seen our waaaay too early preseason Top 25 and the incredibly early projection for the 2012 NCAA tournament. How about one more early look at next season? Last one – promise – until things start to settle down. Anyway, Rob Dauster provided a look at 11 players primed for breakout seasons next year, done…

  13. New NBA age minimum would be ideal — except for players

    Apr 10, 2011, 11:20 PM EDT

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    Here’s news to make college hoops fans smile – and irritate talented prospects everywhere. The NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement could include a new minimum age limit that forces players to spend at least two years in college and by 20-year-old by the end of that calendar year before entering the draft, according to a…

  14. Two Florida players arrested on felony burglary charges

    Apr 10, 2011, 10:28 PM EDT

    Florida players Cody Larson and Erik Murphy are out on bond after they allegedly broke into a car early Sunday morning in St. Augustine, Fla., according to a report from News4jax.com. Larson, a freshman forward, and Murphy, a sophomore forward, face felony burglary charges. A third man, Joshua Abel, was charged with principal to burglary,…

  15. VCU already benefitting from Final Four (read: $$$)

    Apr 10, 2011, 5:48 PM EDT

    The financial and advertising impact of VCU’s Final Four run won’t be known for a couple years. But the school’s already raking in merchandise sales and athletic donations. The school bookstore sold more merchandise in five days before the Final Four than it sold in the previous 12 months. The athletic department has seen as…

  16. Kansas quickly offsets its roster exodus

    Apr 10, 2011, 4:15 PM EDT

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    Kansas won’t be able to easily replace Marcus and Markieff Morris next season. But it’s giving it a shot. The Jayhawks secured a commitment Sunday from 3-star forward Braeden Anderson, according to multiple reports. He’s not as broad as either of the twins (6-8, 210 pounds), but should be a good fit for Kansas’ high-post…

  17. Larry Brown at UNLV? Well, not so much

    Apr 9, 2011, 9:06 PM EDT

    It’s not really a coaching search unless Larry Brown’s in the mix, right? Well, consider that crossed off for UNLV. The Rebels are expected to finalize their new coach Sunday or Monday. Four candidates – BYU assistant Dave Rice, ex-New Mexico State assistant Reggie Theus, ex-Oregon coach Ernie Kent and St. John’s assistant Mike Dunlap…

  18. Calhoun: ‘I haven’t ‘made my mind up’ on retirement

    Apr 9, 2011, 6:29 PM EDT

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    Jim Calhoun didn’t sound a like a guy ready to retire after Connecticut beat Butler for the national title on Monday. The same was true when he talked with Dan Patrick on Thursday. “I plan to come back,” Calhoun told Patrick. “I have recruiting trips set up.” Yet, when he threw out the first pitch…

  19. Officially the end of Jimmermania … (sighs)

    Apr 9, 2011, 2:58 PM EDT

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    Jimmer Fredette’s victory tour is now complete. BYU’s senior scoring sensation collected his sixth postseason award Friday night – this time it was the Wooden Award – making him the consensus player of the year. (Kemba Walker will have to console himself with the national title and the MOP.) Guess Jimmermania lived up to the…

  20. UCLA’s temporary home a dump, but only for a season

    Apr 9, 2011, 11:49 AM EDT

    When I told a co-worker – and ’92 USC grad – that UCLA would be playing 14 of its 18 regular-season games next year at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, he laughed. And laughed some more. “That place was a dump when I was in school!” While UCLA renovates Pauley Pavilion, the arena be home.…