There weren’t any jitters for Penn State big man Andrew Jones in his first time on such a big stage. He had an idea of how to deal with it, and he continued his excellent NIT play to lead the Nittany Lions into the championship game.
Month: March 2009
Baylor Seniors Are Leaving Their Mark
Baylor has come a long way from the program that had no tradition and in one year did not have non-conference games due to a scandal. The current seniors are leaving their mark and have them one win away from a championship, something they had hoped to do when they arrived in Waco.
Kentucky: Wildcats Get Their Man in Calipari
After Billy Gillispie failed to deliver expected results on and off the court, the Wildcats turn to a proven winner in Memphis coach John Calipari. To snag one of the game’s best coaches, Kentucky was winning to pay top dollar: more than $31 million in eight seasons and a $2.5 billion signing bonus. The next intriguing story line will relate to Memphis’ recruits. The Tigers have one of the best incoming freshman classes in the country, led by Xavier Henry and DeMarcus Cousins.
New Mexico State: Pistol Pete Suspended for 2009-10 Opener
The Western Athletic Conference suspended New Mexico State’s mascot, Pistol Pete, for one game after a clash with Utah State’s Big Blue mascot in the semifinals of the WAC Tournament. Pistol Pete will serve the suspension during the 2009-10 season opener in November.
Ohio State: 2 Companies Get Media Rights to Many Buckeye Teams
Ohio State awarded contracts to two companies to manage the media profile of many Buckeye teams. The Buckeyes’ basketball team will still follow Big Ten and NCAA contracts with major networks like ESPN and CBS.
Final Four Won’t Change Villanova Coach
Jay Wright said that getting to the Final Four is not a personal goal of his. Now that he is bringing a team there, what does it mean for a man who has been known for just about everything aside from coaching?
Duke: Coach K Brings Younger Curry to Durham
Liberty transfer Seth Curry, brother of sharp-shooting Stephen Curry, has decided to play for Duke, starting in 2010. The brother of the All-American averaged 20.2 points per game and appeared poised to become the next Curry to dominate NCAA opponents.
Georgetown: Hoyas Lose Summers to the NBA
Junior swingman DaJuan Summers told Georgetown coach John Thompson III that he will skip his senior season to enter the NBA Draft. Summers led the Hoyas with 13.6 points per game this season. The Hoyas are bracing for another significant loss if freshman Greg Monroe opts to follow Summers into the NBA Draft.
Florida: Calathes Enters the Draft
Florida sophomore guard Nick Calathes announced that he will at least test the NBA Draft process. Calathes is a big guard at 6-6, which could make him an attractive pick for NBA teams that value size in the backcourt. However, Calathes is not blessed with blazing speed, which is not something he could improve on by remaining with the Gators.
Georgia Southern: Price Isn’t Right for Eagles
Georgia Southern coach Jeff Price announced that he would resign as the Eagles’ coach after leading the team to an 8-22 record. In 10 years with Georgia Southern, Price compiled a 165-133 record.
