The Morning Dish – Saturday, May 31st:
Hoopville has an early tee time, so it’s the all-bullet point issue of the Morning Dish, lightning-round style. Enjoy!
• Tubby Smith has decided to stay put at Kentucky, especially after signing a $20+ million contract last month. He had been identified by Philadelphia 76ers president Billy King as a potential candidate to replace Larry Brown for the 76ers head coaching position. Smith said it never was a consideration for him.
• Even more news out of Detroit, as General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner (played for Duke in 1971-72) has pitched in to help Detroit’s bid for a Final Four tournament at the end of the decade (2008-2011). Detroit joins Indianapolis, Houston, San Antonio, St. Louis and New Orleans as potential sites.
• California’s State Senate is dissing the NCAA by approving a bill barring in-state colleges and universities from abiding by NCAA scholarship rules. Essentially, the Senate voted 26-9 to bar affected schools from following NCAA rules on athletic scholarships and stipends, health insurance, non-sports jobs, transfers, and hiring agents or attorneys to help with career choices. Senator Kevin Murray (D-Culver City) called the NCAA rules Draconian, equating student athletes with sharecroppers on a plantation. It’s a fine line, as following the legislation would prevent schools from participating in NCAA events and championships. There are 17,000 student athletes at 45 California schools that would be affected.
• Former Pepperdine great Anthony Frederick passed away last night of an apparent heart attack. He was 38. Frederick was driving with his wife, Jocelyn, in the San Fernando Valley at the time of the seizure. Frederick, who played high school ball at Gardena High School in the Los Angeles area, first attended Santa Monica City College, and then transferred to Pepperdine for his final two seasons of college eligibility. During those seasons, 1984-85 and 1985-86, Pepperdine won two West Coast Conference titles, and was named to the All-WCC team as a junior. Drafted by the Nuggets in 1986, he played pro ball for the Kings and Pacers, and ended his career with the Charlotte Hornets in 1992.
• NC State sophomore forward Josh Powell has announced that he’ll stay in the NBA Draft and not return to Raleigh next season. Powell, who will find out next week at the NBA Draft camp that he’s likely not getting drafted in the first round, averaged 12 points and 5 boards per game for the Wolfpack.
• Illinois junior guard Luther Head is recovering from abdominal surgery Wednesday, and is expected to be ready for the upcoming season. Head had the surgery to ease abdominal pain that had become chronic over his career. He’ll begin rehab next week.
• New Mexico center Chad Bell has announced that his transfer destination is Nevada. Bell, who was attracted to the Wolf Pack for their opening at center and their reputation for developing post players. Bell averaged 2.3 points and 1.8 boards per game in two seasons for the Lobos.
• UTEP has announced that forward Roy Smallwood has been granted a fifth year of eligibility after suffering a torn ACL in the Miners’ sixth game of the season against New Mexico State. Smallwood was the 2000 WAC Freshman of the year, and had averaged 6 points and 7 boards in his abbreviated season.
