The Morning Dish – Friday, October 23rd
Montgomery Apologizes: Stanford coach Mike Montgomery apologized to Florida head coach Billy Donovan for making a statement that implied that Montgomery believed Donovan cheated at recruiting. In a Washington Post interview last week, Montgomery obliquely referred to a cheating coach that had gone to the Final Four a few years ago and then got a $1.7 million contract. Donovan’s Gators appeared in the 2000 Final Four and he received a $1.6 million contract shortly thereafter. Several vague recruiting violations have been alleged against Donovan, especially at the beginning of his Florida career, when he had great success bringing star prep players to his then fledgling program. However, no improprieties have been proven, and Florida AD Jeremy Foley summed it up to other coaches being jealous of Donovan’s work ethic and salary.
Magee Killed: Former UC-Irvine star Kevin Magee was killed in an auto accident early yesterday morning in Louisiana, on his way home from work on I-55. Magee averaged over 26 points and 12 rebounds per game in his two seasons at Irvine in 1980-81 and 81-82, and was a two-time All-American. His #44 jersey is the only retired number in the Bren Events Center, and is credited with putting UCI basketball on the map. He was drafted in the 1982 NBA draft by Phoenix, and played professionally in Europe for 12 seasons.
Eagle Hobbled: Marquette junior forward Marques Jackson has been hobbled by a sprained ankle for the past few weeks, but now the start of the season is in jeopardy for the JuCo transfer. Jackson, who scored 8 points and 9 boards per game at South Plains Junior College in Levelland, Texas, was held out of the team’s exhibition games in Costa Rica earlier this month, as well as practices since. Jackson was a NJCAA First-Team All-American last season. Senior forward Terry Sanders and sophomore Steve Novak will try to fill the gap if Jackson isn’t ready to go for the Golden Eagles’ November 13th opener against St. John’s in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.
Bearcat Still Down: Cincinnati sophomore point guard Chadd Moore will likely have back surgery in the near future, as the herniated disk in his lower back is still keeping him from practicing consistently. Moore, who did not participate in Midnight Madness events or in subsequent practices, is scheduled to see a spine surgeon early next week, team doctors said. Moore averaged 2.6 points and 1.6 rebounds per game last season, but has only been able to practice one day with his Bearcat teammates, and needed epidural shots to do that.
