The Morning Dish – Thursday, January 27th
Dukies Downed in Durham: Well now there are only two. Previously undefeated and No. 2-ranked Duke lost last night to Maryland 75-66. The Terrapins used a crushing second-half defense to stay with the Blue Devils, allowing only two points in the final four minutes. Solid free-throw shooting down the stretch from Travis Garrison and Ekene Ibekwe extended the two-point lead in the final 90 seconds. Garrison and Ibekwe went a combined 9-for-10 from the line in that time period. Maryland was led by Nik Caner-Medley with 25 points, and he left the game early with an ankle injury. Duke was led by J.J. Redick’s 20 points and Sheldon Williams’ 18/14 double-double. Now just No. 1 Illinois and No. 8 Boston College are undefeated.
Diener Sits, Marquette Trips: Prior to Marquette’s game last night with No. 12 Louisville, the school announced that senior guard Travis Diener would be sitting the game out with a sprained ankle, breaking his streak of playing in 114 games. The Golden Eagles really could have used him, as they were torched by the Cardinals 99-52, for their largest loss in school history. The heated rivalry saw Louisville senior guard Larry O’Bannon scoring 30 points with six 3-pointers on the night, and Francisco Garcia added 14 points in the win, which broke the Cardinals three game home losing streak to Marquette. Todd Townsend had 17 points for the Golden Eagles, who missed Diener’s scoring touch and defense. Marquette’s worst loss prior to last night was a 57-12 loss to Creighton in 1940.
Other Results:
• While Duke’s undefeated record was shattered last night, Boston College held on to defeat Providence 78-75. The 8th-ranked Eagles overcame an early Providence lead to close the gap in the second half. Jared Dudley notched 21 points to lead the Eagles, while Donnie McGrath led the Friars with 17.
• No. 14 Alabama escaped a close scrape from Auburn, winning 60-55 on the road. The Crimson Tide led by 15 points in the second half, but Auburn came back to within one point. Alabama was led by Earnest Sheltons’s 22 points, while the Tigers were led by Nathan Watson’s 13 points. The Tigers remain winless in the SEC, and are Division I’s smallest team.
• No. 23 Iowa was downed in overtime by Northwestern, 75-74, on a buzzer-beating three-pointer by senior walk-on Michael Jenkins, who was mobbed as fans rushed the court in Evanston. Northwestern was down by 12 late in the game, but Vendran Vukusic scored 13 points in the final six minutes to send the game to overtime. Vekusic finished with a career-high 32, while Iowa was led by Greg Brunner’s 28 points.
• It was close, but no cigar for St. Bonaventure, as the Bonnies took Massachusetts to double-overtime, before winding up on the short side of the 82-78 final score. Maurice Maxwell notched 20 points and Rashaun Freeman’s 18 led the Minutemen, who went on a 17-5 second half run to send the contest to the first overtime. St. Bonaventure (1-16) was led by Wade Dunston’s 28 points, seven of which came in overtime No. 2.
Former Assistant Sues Iona: Former Iona assistant Craig Holcomb has sued the school, alleging that he was fired due to his interracial marriage. Holcomb, a nine-year assistant at Iona, was fired May 7th, 2004, along with Iona assistant Tony Chiles. According to the New York Post, in addition to racially insensitive remarks lobbed his way, Holcomb alleges that he was told by then-athletic director Shawn Brennan not to bring his wife, Pamela Gauthier, who is African-American, to Goal Club events – the Iona athletics fund raising group, and that his marriage was affecting fundraising. While not commenting on the suit, Iona president Brother James A. Liguori had stated in September that he investigated the basketball program, and the two assistants were fired due to the athletic and academic performance of the team.
Nicholls State Infractions?: The NCAA announced yesterday that Nicholls State will appear before its Infractions Committee next month to discuss allegations of impropriety in the men’s basketball and football programs. Nicholls State president Stephen Hulbert, who previously had announced an investigation into academic fraud in the football program, yesterday stated that the men’s basketball team was also under investigation. The school had fired assistant Jeff Richards, and head coach Ricky Blanton had resigned in October due to family concerns, though he was not named in the investigation. The investigation centers around possible lack of oversight of correspondence courses taken by student-athletes through Brigham Young University. Up to 20 members of the Colonels’ football team had taken the courses.
Stukes Suspended: Georgia head coach Dennis Felton has announced the suspension of sophomore guard Levi Stukes for breaking an unspecified team rule. He did not play in the Bulldogs’ road game at Florida Tuesday night. Stukes, who is also nursing a sprained right ankle, is the Bulldogs’ leading scorer, averaging 16.3 points per contest. The injury caused him to miss last Saturday’s 68-59 win against Vanderbilt. Stukes is likely to be both recovered and reinstated in time for this weekend.
Lobo Breaks Foot: New Mexico head coach Ritchie McKay announced that junior point guard Kris Collins will miss the remainder of the season after breaking his foot in practice yesterday. Collins, who averages 8 points per game and leads the Lobos in assists, also dislocated his shoulder earlier this week in the contest against BYU. Other Lobos have been slightly more fortunate, as Danny Granger should be back soon from knee surgery January 8th, and David Chiotti injured his hip last week, but should return soon. An evaluation of Collins’ foot will take place after swelling subsides, and surgery was not ruled out.
Aztec Down, Out: Bad knees have ended the season of San Diego State senior guard Travis Hanour. In a statement by head coach Steve Fisher, Hanour was advised by team doctors not to play due to recurring injuries to both knees. Hanour miss all of last season with tendinitis in both knees, had two knee surgeries, and had only played in three games this season. A transfer from Arizona, Hanour will serve as the Aztecs’ student assistant for the remainder of the season.
Henson Street: Former Illinois head coach Lou Henson, who last week announced his retirement from New Mexico State due to health reasons, will be on hand for the University of Illinois’ Centennial Celebration this weekend. Coinciding with the event, the Champaign City Council voted to officially rename a section of First Street running near Assembly Hall after Henson, the all-time winningest head coach in Illini history. Henson was head coach at Illinois from 1975-96, compiling a 423-224 record, and has 779 wins in his career. His career was cut short due to a bout with on-Hodgkin’s lymphoma last season, and this season he was chose to retire due to continued problems with viral encephalitis, sidelining him since early October.
Gamecocks Get Good Grades: The University of South Carolina has announced that their men’s basketball team has posted its best academic semester ever. Head coach Dave Odom said that for fall semester, the squad finished with a 2.910 grade point average – the highest GPA since tracking started in the late 1980’s. The men’s basketball team had slipped to a 1.678 average as recently as 1999. All news wasn’t good in Columbia, as Lou Holtz’ football team scored a 2.217 average – lowest of all South Carolina athletics teams. Women’s golf was highest with a 3.671 average.
North Texas Text: The University of North Texas is test-marketing some new UNT graphic elements for students and alumni. The new elements, essentially new fonts – 4 for athletics and 4 for academics, are drawing the ire of both students and alumni, and are available for viewing with comments at a UNT branding website. According to Deborah Leliaert, vice president for university relations, marketing and communication, the graphics are part of a campus-wide effort to redefine the university’s identity, which has had eight name changes since its founding in 1890. The designs are available for comment until January 31st. Our recommendation? Go with “Choice 3” (looks like a branding iron), but not at the expense of the current “Eagle” logo. Of course, the didn’t have to be the campus location for “Necessary Roughness” with the fictional Texas State Armadillos, either.
Big Man Actually On Campus: Baylor head coach Scott Drew’s first signee, 7-foot center Mamadou Diene, has arrived on the school’s Waco campus. Diene, a native of Senegal, attended class yesterday and will practice with the team for the remainder of the season. Diene will not suit up for the Bears in a game until next season, providing the big man time to adjust to school and living in the United States. Diene was signed by Drew in October of 2003, shortly after he took over the reins from Dave Bliss.
