The Morning Dish – Friday, October 31st
Dotson Speaks Out: Former Baylor player Carlton Dotson, accused of murdering teammate Patrick Dennehy in June, spoke to the press for the first time since his arrest July 21st. Dotson held an interview with the Houston Chronicle from his Waco jail cell – against his attorneys’ instructions, and admitted that he was sorry about what happened to Dennehy. Dotson also defended former head coach Dave Bliss, but then was informed of the scandal that has rocked the Baylor program since his arrest. Dotson didn’t comment on alleged drug use by himself and other Baylor players, and indicated that the truth would come out in the trial.
End of a Rivalry: Thrilled at the way Boston College bailed the Big East to join the ACC, Connecticut head coach Jim Calhoun has announced that he won’t schedule BC once the school completes their transition to the ACC. Calhoun was careful to point out that he holds no grudge against the current BC players or head coach Al Skinner, (leaving barbs for the rest of the school’s athletic department and administration). Calhoun told the Newark Star-Ledger, “I have no desire to play Boston College, not (because of) the fact that they’re leaving but how they did it. I will not play Boston College.”
Bulldog Left: Drake All-Missouri Valley Conference preseason selection Luke McDonald will not be on the postseason All-Conference team. McDonald guaranteed this by leaving the Bulldog basketball team yesterday. McDonald, who needs just 330 points to be the school’s all-time leading scorer, cited constant foot injuries, as well as religious beliefs. McDonald, the MVC freshman of the year in 2001 and first-team All-Missouri Valley as a sophomore, played hurt most of last season due to bone spurs in both feet. McDonald also cited that his Church of God holds Saturday as the Sabbath, and he has been compromising his beliefs by playing Saturday games.
Martelli Extended: Saint Joseph’s head coach will be in his native Philly a little longer, as he signed a contract extension that will keep him on the Hawks’ sidelines through the 2009-10 season. Martelli, who is 149-87 in eight seasons at St. Joseph’s, has been at the school for 18 seasons already, serving as an assistant for 10 seasons. Terms of the extension were not disclosed.
Another Badger Down: Someone check the floor in Mad Town. Wisconsin sophomore forward Jason Chappell broke his right foot Monday in practice, and is expected to miss six to eight weeks. Meanwhile, starter Alando Tucker is still out with his broken foot, which required surgery, and isn’t expected back until December at the earliest. And then senior guard Freddie Owens has a minor foot injury, and sophomore forward Andreas Helmigk is day-to-day with a sprained ankle.
Torero Out: San Diego has announced that guard Travis Smith will redshirt this season due to a shoulder injury. Smith, who called the injury a “fluke”, cannot use his right shoulder effectively, cascading from the use of crutches after surgery on his right leg this offseason. According to team doctors, Smith injured the long thoracic nerve in the shoulder, causing the shoulder blade to pop out. Smith, who started seven games as a freshman, averaged 2 points and 1.5 assists in 22 games last season.
A-10 Banking: The Atlantic 10 Conference announced that the U.S. Bank Arena will host the 2005 and 2006 conference tournament. The arena, located in Cincinnati, seats 17,000 and will this season host the Conference USA Tournament. Xavier will act as host school, though the school was not involved in the bid process. The A-10 Tournament was held for 14 seasons in Philadelphia before being moved to Dayton last year, a move that boosted attendance to over 11,000.
