The Morning Dish – Friday, January 23rd
Majerus is cleared: After being investigated over a complaint of discrimination on a former player, Utah head coach Rick Majerus has been cleared according to school officals. Former Utes center Lance Allred filed a complaint saying that Majerus berated him about his partial hearing loss after the 2001-’02 season. “They determined after a full examination that he did not discriminate against Lance,” Utah Athletic Director Chris Hill said Thursday in a statement. Allred told The Salt Lake Tribune that Majerus used offensive, vulgar language two years ago when berating him and mentioned Allred’s partial deafness. The 6-foot-11 center transferred to Weber State, citing constant abuse. Majerus denied he made such statements, which he called “extremely insensitive.” Two former players interviewed by the Tribune confirmed some of Allred’s reports. However, two coaches said they never heard Majerus say those things.
Stanford stays hot: Stanford’s Justin Davis made his first nine shots on his way to 21 points and top-ranked Stanford stayed unbeaten with a 67-52 victory over UCLA last night. Josh Childress graced the starting line-up card for the first time this season for the Cardinals, who are one of two undefeated Division I teams left in the country along with Saint Joseph’s. Stanford (15-0, 6-0 Pac-10) has matched the fourth-best winning streak in school history and is chasing the school record of 20 straight victories to start the 2000-01 season.
He said, he said in Nevada: University of Nevada senior Dean Browne said basketball coach Trent Johnson forced him off the team after he had knee surgery, but Johnson said Browne left voluntarily. Browne, a 6-foot-9 forward from Bronx, N.Y., had knee surgery in December. He told the Reno Gazette-Journal he was ‘booted off’ the squad. Johnson announced in a statement on Jan. 13 that the forward had decided to leave the team on his own. “Dean and I met today and we both came to the agreement and felt it was in the best interest that Dean concentrate on getting healthy and focus on his academics,” Johnson said in that statement release two weeks ago. Browne, who says that he had no intentions of quitting the team, said in the Gazette-Journal that he wanted to inform people and supporters that he did not quit the team. Browne has appeared in three games this season, averaging 3.3 points and 3.0 rebounds. He played in all 32 games and started one last season, averaging 4.7 points and 3.8 rebounds.
Legendary coach passes: The winningest men’s basketball coach at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, died at the age of 79 on Thursday. Buckley was 126-62 in 11 years as coach of the Mariners, the longest tenure of any men’s basketball coach at the academy. Cause of death is unknown, but it is believed to be natural causes.
Alabama bit hard by injury bug: University of Alabama leading scorer Earnest Shelton is out indefinitely with a knee injury he suffered in Wednesday’s game with Georgia. The junior guard sprained his right MCL late in the first half of a 45-42 win over the Bulldogs. He attempted to play in the second half and was quickly pulled from the game after it was determined he could not go. Shelton is averaging 15.5 points and has had five games of 20 points or more. Senior Emmett Thomas is projected to move into the starting lineup for Alabama, who sits at 11-4 overall and 3-1 in the SEC West. The Crimson Tide plays at Mississippi on Saturday.
Win number 500: St. Mary’s head coach Herman “Buddy” Meyer won his 500th career game last night the Rattlers beat Panhandle State 95-37. Meyer, 64, has been the head coach of the Rattlers for 26 years and been associated with the university for four decades. He played for the Rattlers from 1961-65. He improved his career coaching record to 500-241. So far during his tenure, the Rattlers have won 16 conference titles (Big State, Heart of Texas, Heartland) and the 1989 NAIA national title.
Unstoppable Horizon: The top three teams of the Horizon League have a combined league record of 19-2, following Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Wisconsin-Green Bay and Wright State’s wins in the last two nights. Wisconsin-Milwaukee handed Cleveland State their 12th straight loss, after a 78-64 win in Cleveland last night. Wisconsin-Green Bay fought their way to a 60-55 win over Loyola-Chicago in Chicago last night. Wright State defeated 2002 NCAA Tournament participant Illinois-Chicago 61-60 on Wednesday in Dayton, Ohio.
Tonight’s menu
• One top 25 team is in action on the main course menu. 14th ranked Gonzaga will travel to conference rival Portland for a 10:30 p.m. tip-off.
• To polish off that main course, if you are in a patriotic mood, Friday’s schedule will satisfy that taste. Eight Patriot League teams will be in action. The big one will feature a pair of unbeaten conference teams, Lehigh (10-6 overall, 3-0 Patriot) at Lafayette (12-4, 3-0) in an 8 p.m. tip-off. Army, Navy and American are also all in action.
