All Big East Teams to Play in Tournament in 2009: The Big East men’s and women’s basketball will no longer leave four teams out of their postseason tournament, deciding to include all 16 conference members beginning in 2009. Teams seeded ninth through 16th will play first. The four winners will […]

Two San Francisco Players Declared Ineligible: San Francisco forwards Vince Polakovic and Jay Watkins will miss the Dons’ season-opening road trip to the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic in Oklahoma after being declared ineligible. Watkins, named to the West Coast Conference all-freshman team in 2006-07, is academically ineligible. Polakovich’s eligibility […]

UConn Forward to Transfer Marcus Johnson, a junior forward at Connecticut, has announced that he plans to transfer. Johnson averaged 4.9 points a game during his two seasons with the Huskies. UConn coach Jim Calhoun said Johnson wants to be closer to home in Los Angeles and get more playing […]

Hansbrough, Hibbert Named Preseason All-Americans: For the second year in a row, North Carolina forward Tyler Hansbrough was the leading vote-getter on the Preseason All-America team. He was joined by Georgetown center Roy Hibbert, Tennessee guard Chris Lofton, UCLA guard Darren Collison, and senior guard Drew Neitzel of Michigan State. […]

Olson Steps Away for a Bit: Arizona coach Lute Olson has taken a leave of asbence to handle a personal matter. Olson did not specify the reasons for his temporary departure but said he’ll return soon. In the meantime, assistant coach Kevin O’Neill will lead the team. O’Neill reassured fans […]

Grand Valley State Shocks Michigan State: Division II Grand Valley State downed Big Ten favorite Michigan State 85-82 in a double-overtime exhibition game Friday night. Jason Jamerson and Justin Ringler led the Lakers with 19 and 16 points apiece, while Callistus Eziukwu chipped in 15 points. Eight of Eziukwu’s points […]

Toledo’s Payne Takes Leave of Absence: Kashif Payne, a Toledo guard who won the Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year award last season, is taking a leave of abscence from the team to attend to personal issues. The 5-9 Payne started all 32 games for a Toledo team that […]

UCLA Guard Roll Out 3-5 Weeks: UCLA guard Michael Roll could be out more than a month after tearing the plantar fascia in his left foot. Roll, a junior, injured his foot during practice on Saturday. Coach Ben Howland said Roll had been having problems with his foot for about […]

Appleby Out Six Weeks After Fracturing Thumb: Washington senior guard Ryan Appleby will be out six weeks after suffering a thumb fracture on his right hand during a rebounding drill, coach Lorenzo Romar said Thursday. Appleby was considered a likely starter this season. He averaged 10.3 points per game and […]