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Though he has "some ideas" in mind, North Carolina men's basketball coach Roy Williams said he will wait until he has all the facts concerning the June 5 arrest of leading scorer P.J. Hairston before deciding how to handle the situation.
"We are doing one thing: We are waiting until all the information comes out," Williams told USA TODAY Sports on Monday. "The good thing is, I don't have to make a decision right now because we're in summer school, fall semester has not started, basketball has not started. We're going to wait and see what happens. I've got some ideas, but right now those ideas are staying in my mind.
"I am waiting until all the facts come in and then I will take care of everything that needs to be taken care of." A police report revealed that a 9-millimeter handgun and a magazine with nine rounds of ammunition were seized during a traffic stop that led to Hairston's arrest on possession of marijuana charges. Three cigars and a plastic baggie that contained a half-ounce of marijuana also were seized.
Durham (N.C.) Police public information officer Kammie Michael had said by phone that the pistol, magazine and ammunition were all found outside the vehicle.
Hairston, 20, was driving passengers, Miykael Faulcon and Carlos Sanford, in a 2013 silver GMC Yukon rental car. All three were arrested and charged with drug possession. Hairston also was charged with driving without a license.
Hairston, Faulcon and Sanford were each released on $1,000 unsecured bonds.
Hairston, a 6-5 rising junior, bypassed the NBA to stay at North Carolina for another season after averaging 14.6 points and 4.3 rebounds a game as a sophomore.
UNC coach Roy Williams addresses P.J. Hairston's arrest
"We are doing one thing: We are waiting until all the information comes out," Williams told USA TODAY Sports on Monday. "The good thing is, I don't have to make a decision right now because we're in summer school, fall semester has not started, basketball has not started. We're going to wait and see what happens. I've got some ideas, but right now those ideas are staying in my mind.
"I am waiting until all the facts come in and then I will take care of everything that needs to be taken care of." A police report revealed that a 9-millimeter handgun and a magazine with nine rounds of ammunition were seized during a traffic stop that led to Hairston's arrest on possession of marijuana charges. Three cigars and a plastic baggie that contained a half-ounce of marijuana also were seized.
Durham (N.C.) Police public information officer Kammie Michael had said by phone that the pistol, magazine and ammunition were all found outside the vehicle.
Hairston, 20, was driving passengers, Miykael Faulcon and Carlos Sanford, in a 2013 silver GMC Yukon rental car. All three were arrested and charged with drug possession. Hairston also was charged with driving without a license.
Hairston, Faulcon and Sanford were each released on $1,000 unsecured bonds.
Hairston, a 6-5 rising junior, bypassed the NBA to stay at North Carolina for another season after averaging 14.6 points and 4.3 rebounds a game as a sophomore.
UNC coach Roy Williams addresses P.J. Hairston's arrest
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Central Florida basketball coach Donnie Jones has signed a contract extension through the 2017-2018 season.
UCF athletic director Todd Stansbury announced deal Friday, which adds three years to Jones' current pact.
The Knights have registered at least 20 wins each season under Jones, marking only the second time since the program moved up to Division I in 1984 that its achieved that feat.
Jones' extension also comes after the basketball program received a one-year postseason ban, reduction in scholarships and a show-cause order for the coach last July as part of a 2011 NCAA investigation that found the basketball and football programs were involved with runners for sports agents and making cash payments to recruits.
UCF moves to the new American Athletic Conference in all sports this year.
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UCF athletic director Todd Stansbury announced deal Friday, which adds three years to Jones' current pact.
The Knights have registered at least 20 wins each season under Jones, marking only the second time since the program moved up to Division I in 1984 that its achieved that feat.
Jones' extension also comes after the basketball program received a one-year postseason ban, reduction in scholarships and a show-cause order for the coach last July as part of a 2011 NCAA investigation that found the basketball and football programs were involved with runners for sports agents and making cash payments to recruits.
UCF moves to the new American Athletic Conference in all sports this year.
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The father of Louisville basketball guard Luke Hancock has died after a three-year battle with cancer.
William Hancock, 70, died in his bed in the family's Roanoke County home at about 7:30 a.m. Monday, said his wife, Van Hancock. The family was at his side except for Luke, she said, because he was on his to Colorado to attend USA Basketball's tryouts for the World University Games.
''We caught him in Dallas and he went on to Colorado as we had talked about and as his father wanted him to do,'' she said, calling her son's opportunity to compete for a spot on the national team a ''once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.'' She said Luke had discussed his plans with his father and family before leaving for the tryouts.
William Hancock's death was first reported on The Roanoke Times' web site.
His battle became one of most poignant stories of the NCAA tournament when Luke scored 22 points with his ailing father in attendance watching Louisville beat Michigan 82-76 to win the national championship. Luke made four 3-pointers to help pull the Cardinals out of an early double-digit deficit, hit another 3 to push their lead to double digits with 3:27 left and became the first non-starter to win Most Outstanding Player in the Final Four.
''There's no way to describe how it feels that my dad was here,'' he said after the game.
Van Hancock said funeral arrangements are pending, and in part depending on how her son fares in the tryouts.
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William Hancock, 70, died in his bed in the family's Roanoke County home at about 7:30 a.m. Monday, said his wife, Van Hancock. The family was at his side except for Luke, she said, because he was on his to Colorado to attend USA Basketball's tryouts for the World University Games.
''We caught him in Dallas and he went on to Colorado as we had talked about and as his father wanted him to do,'' she said, calling her son's opportunity to compete for a spot on the national team a ''once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.'' She said Luke had discussed his plans with his father and family before leaving for the tryouts.
William Hancock's death was first reported on The Roanoke Times' web site.
His battle became one of most poignant stories of the NCAA tournament when Luke scored 22 points with his ailing father in attendance watching Louisville beat Michigan 82-76 to win the national championship. Luke made four 3-pointers to help pull the Cardinals out of an early double-digit deficit, hit another 3 to push their lead to double digits with 3:27 left and became the first non-starter to win Most Outstanding Player in the Final Four.
''There's no way to describe how it feels that my dad was here,'' he said after the game.
Van Hancock said funeral arrangements are pending, and in part depending on how her son fares in the tryouts.
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Kansas basketball Bill Self was publicly reprimanded by the NCAA and fined an unspecified amount Wednesday after damaging the scorer's table during an NCAA tournament game in Kansas City, Mo.
Self struck the table at the Sprint Center on March 24 during a 70-58, third-round win against North Carolina.
Ron Wellman, chair of the Division I men's basketball committee, said in a statement that "Coach Self's actions were out of line with the committee's expectations that championship participants act in a manner that represents the highest standards of sportsmanship."
The damage fell under NCAA guidelines that define misconduct as any "unsportsmanlike conduct, unprofessional behavior or breach of law, occurring from the time the championship field is announced through the end of the championship that discredits the event or intercollegiate athletics."
Wichita State's senior associate athletics director Darron Boatright also has been reprimanded by the NCAA for getting into an argument with security at the Staples Center in Los Angeles during this year's tournament.
he verbal confrontation between Boatright and Staples Center security happened before Wichita State's regional final against La Salle. Shockers athletics director Eric Sexton issued a statement Wednesday saying the school accepted the reprimand and will now move on.
Sexton said Boatright immediately informed him and NCAA representatives about the incident, then went back to the security team to apologize for how he handled Wichita State's team entrance to practice that day.
The Shockers made it to the Final Four before losing to eventual champion Louisville in the semifinals.
Bill Self fined, reprimanded for tournament outburst
Self struck the table at the Sprint Center on March 24 during a 70-58, third-round win against North Carolina.
Ron Wellman, chair of the Division I men's basketball committee, said in a statement that "Coach Self's actions were out of line with the committee's expectations that championship participants act in a manner that represents the highest standards of sportsmanship."
The damage fell under NCAA guidelines that define misconduct as any "unsportsmanlike conduct, unprofessional behavior or breach of law, occurring from the time the championship field is announced through the end of the championship that discredits the event or intercollegiate athletics."
Wichita State's senior associate athletics director Darron Boatright also has been reprimanded by the NCAA for getting into an argument with security at the Staples Center in Los Angeles during this year's tournament.
he verbal confrontation between Boatright and Staples Center security happened before Wichita State's regional final against La Salle. Shockers athletics director Eric Sexton issued a statement Wednesday saying the school accepted the reprimand and will now move on.
Sexton said Boatright immediately informed him and NCAA representatives about the incident, then went back to the security team to apologize for how he handled Wichita State's team entrance to practice that day.
The Shockers made it to the Final Four before losing to eventual champion Louisville in the semifinals.
Bill Self fined, reprimanded for tournament outburst
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Former Syracuse assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine is dropping his defamation lawsuit against ESPN, his lawyers said Tuesday.
Fine sued over broadcasts aired by ESPN with claims by two former ball boys that Fine molested them more than two decades ago. Fine was fired in November 2011, days after the broadcasts.
The 67-year-old Fine was investigated by federal prosecutors and never charged and has maintained his innocence.
William Albert, spokesman for the Harris Beach law firm, said Fine voluntarily filed notice of dismissal Tuesday although both he and his attorneys believe his legal claim has merit.
''Mr. Fine desires to finally put all of the turmoil of the past year and a half behind him, so that he may concentrate on his future as well as the future of his family,'' Albert said. He added that Fine has been overwhelmed by the many friends who stood by him.
An ESPN spokesman said Tuesday's withdrawal was not the result of a settlement but declined to comment further. ''Given the continued pendency of the Laurie Fine matter, which we will continue to defend vigorously, we will not discuss litigation,'' Josh Krulewitz said.
The ex-coach's wife, Laurie Fine, has a separate defamation suit against ESPN pending in federal court. It was filed in May 2012, with trial tentatively set for November 2014.
After a probe spanning nearly a year, federal authorities dropped their investigation into one of the sexual abuse claims against Fine, saying there was not enough evidence to support a claim that Fine had molested a boy in a Pittsburgh hotel room in 2002.
The investigation began in the immediate aftermath of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal at Penn State. Two former Syracuse ball boys, Bobby Davis and stepbrother Michael Lang, came forward and accused Fine of fondling them when they were teens. Davis said the sexual contact continued for years.
But the claims by Davis and Lang had happened too long ago to be prosecuted. Ten days later, though, a third man, 23-year-old Zachary Tomaselli, of Lewiston, Maine, went public with an accusation that Fine had molested him in 2002 in a hotel room when the team played in Pittsburgh. The same day, ESPN aired an audiotape in which Fine's wife, Laurie Fine, apparently acknowledged to Davis she knew about the molestation he alleged.
Fine was fired Nov. 27, 2011, after Tomaselli came forward and the federal government began investigating Tomaselli's claim, the only one that fell within the statute of limitations.
Tomaselli was accused of sexually abusing a boy at a camp in 2010 and his father had said his son was lying about Fine. Tomaselli, who eventually was convicted of sexual abuse and sentenced to three years and three months in prison, insisted he was telling the truth.
Before he went to jail, Tomaselli took the media on a wild spin, repeatedly lying in a bid, he said, to keep his name in print.
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Fine sued over broadcasts aired by ESPN with claims by two former ball boys that Fine molested them more than two decades ago. Fine was fired in November 2011, days after the broadcasts.
The 67-year-old Fine was investigated by federal prosecutors and never charged and has maintained his innocence.
William Albert, spokesman for the Harris Beach law firm, said Fine voluntarily filed notice of dismissal Tuesday although both he and his attorneys believe his legal claim has merit.
''Mr. Fine desires to finally put all of the turmoil of the past year and a half behind him, so that he may concentrate on his future as well as the future of his family,'' Albert said. He added that Fine has been overwhelmed by the many friends who stood by him.
An ESPN spokesman said Tuesday's withdrawal was not the result of a settlement but declined to comment further. ''Given the continued pendency of the Laurie Fine matter, which we will continue to defend vigorously, we will not discuss litigation,'' Josh Krulewitz said.
The ex-coach's wife, Laurie Fine, has a separate defamation suit against ESPN pending in federal court. It was filed in May 2012, with trial tentatively set for November 2014.
After a probe spanning nearly a year, federal authorities dropped their investigation into one of the sexual abuse claims against Fine, saying there was not enough evidence to support a claim that Fine had molested a boy in a Pittsburgh hotel room in 2002.
The investigation began in the immediate aftermath of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal at Penn State. Two former Syracuse ball boys, Bobby Davis and stepbrother Michael Lang, came forward and accused Fine of fondling them when they were teens. Davis said the sexual contact continued for years.
But the claims by Davis and Lang had happened too long ago to be prosecuted. Ten days later, though, a third man, 23-year-old Zachary Tomaselli, of Lewiston, Maine, went public with an accusation that Fine had molested him in 2002 in a hotel room when the team played in Pittsburgh. The same day, ESPN aired an audiotape in which Fine's wife, Laurie Fine, apparently acknowledged to Davis she knew about the molestation he alleged.
Fine was fired Nov. 27, 2011, after Tomaselli came forward and the federal government began investigating Tomaselli's claim, the only one that fell within the statute of limitations.
Tomaselli was accused of sexually abusing a boy at a camp in 2010 and his father had said his son was lying about Fine. Tomaselli, who eventually was convicted of sexual abuse and sentenced to three years and three months in prison, insisted he was telling the truth.
Before he went to jail, Tomaselli took the media on a wild spin, repeatedly lying in a bid, he said, to keep his name in print.
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Former Notre Dame basketball coach Digger Phelps says his doctors have told him he's cancer free after months of treatment for bladder cancer.
Phelps tells WSBT-TV that his doctors gave him the good news on Monday following tests he underwent last week. Phelps turns 72 on Thursday and says he feels a lot of relief from the diagnosis.
Phelps was diagnosed with bladder cancer in April and previously had prostate cancer. He says after the twin bouts of cancer he wants to "lay low for a while and just live a healthy life."
Phelps has been a college basketball analyst for ESPN since 1993 and says he'll be back for next season. He went 393-197 in 20 seasons coaching the Fighting Irish.
Digger Phelps says he's cancer-free
Phelps tells WSBT-TV that his doctors gave him the good news on Monday following tests he underwent last week. Phelps turns 72 on Thursday and says he feels a lot of relief from the diagnosis.
Phelps was diagnosed with bladder cancer in April and previously had prostate cancer. He says after the twin bouts of cancer he wants to "lay low for a while and just live a healthy life."
Phelps has been a college basketball analyst for ESPN since 1993 and says he'll be back for next season. He went 393-197 in 20 seasons coaching the Fighting Irish.
Digger Phelps says he's cancer-free
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During his first three seasons with the Florida Gators, safety Josh Evans produced only lukewarm results.
He started only 11 games, totaling 71 tackles and two interceptions. His production, though consistent, was far from stellar.
But as a senior last year, Evans blossomed into a key cog in one of the nation’s most fearsome units. He finished with a team-leading 83 tackles, three interceptions and 2.5 sacks to help the Gators return to a BCS bowl for the first time since 2010.
Not surprisingly, Evans’ rapid development coincided with a second season playing under defensive-minded head coach Will Muschamp and Dan Quinn, who served as UF’s defensive coordinator the past two seasons after spending a decade in the NFL.
“I always tip my hat to Dan Quinn and Muschamp,” Evans said. “Those guys got me prepared for the next level. I couldn’t thank them more than I do each day. I’m getting the opportunity to go out there and compete.
“That’s what they preach to me all the time — give it my all and get better each day.”
Evans’ play last year, including a game-sealing interception against Missouri, attracted the attention of the Jaguars, who drafted him in the sixth round. When training camp starts July 25, Evans will be one of seven safeties competing for what will likely be four roster spots.
General manager Dave Caldwell spent much of his inaugural off-season revamping a Jacksonville secondary that spent more time being picked on than picking off passes last season.
The Jaguars chose not to re-sign mainstay Rashean Mathis and top cover corner Derek Cox and released cornerback Aaron Ross and safety Dawan Landry.
Without those four veterans, who combined to play 53 games and make 41 starts last season, Caldwell identified defensive back as a position in need of an upgrade. He was particularly interested in Florida International safety Johnathan Cyprien and Evans.
The Jaguars drafted Cyprien with the first pick of the second round, No. 33 overall. He will enter camp as a starter.
Four rounds later, with Evans still on the board, Caldwell pulled the trigger and selected him with the 169th pick.
“We really liked [Evans] during the draft process,” Caldwell said. “If we didn’t get [Cyprien] as early as we did, he was our next guy that we were really targeting. We probably would have ended up drafting him higher than we did.
“What ended up happening is that [safety] wasn’t as great a need for us because we got [Cyprien], so we tried to fill some other stuff, and Josh was still there. We were like, ‘We were going to take this guy in the third, and now he is still sitting there in the sixth.’ ”
In total, Caldwell used five of his eight selections on defensive backs (cornerback Dwayne Gratz was selected in the third round, while Jeremy Harris and Demetrius McCray each went in the seventh).
Caldwell was especially pleased with Evans while speaking following the Jaguars’ June minicamp.
“He’s big and physical,” Caldwell said. “If you like what you see of him out here, you’re going to like him even more when he puts the pads on.”
The Jaguars’ first practice in pads is expected to be July 31.
Evans was glad to be selected into a familiar situation. Not only is Jacksonville a 90-minute drive from Gainesville — Evans said he hopes to continue working with the UF coaching staff moving forward — the Jaguars run a similar defense to the one he enjoyed playing the past two seasons.
Before being hired at UF, Quinn was Gus Bradley’s defensive line coach for two seasons with the Seattle Seahawks and often picked his brain on how to run a successful defensive unit. As a result, many of the principles and some terminology is consistent in each system.
For Evans, hoping to make an impact anywhere he can, the added edge is critical to making a seamless transition.
“Knowing the defense helps you react faster and be quicker with your thinking,” Evans said. “I have been able to be a step faster on some of the plays because I know the system. It’s a very fortunate situation to be in.”
Read more at Jacksonville-com: Big chance for Josh Evans, a big safety from UF | jacksonville-com
He started only 11 games, totaling 71 tackles and two interceptions. His production, though consistent, was far from stellar.
But as a senior last year, Evans blossomed into a key cog in one of the nation’s most fearsome units. He finished with a team-leading 83 tackles, three interceptions and 2.5 sacks to help the Gators return to a BCS bowl for the first time since 2010.
Not surprisingly, Evans’ rapid development coincided with a second season playing under defensive-minded head coach Will Muschamp and Dan Quinn, who served as UF’s defensive coordinator the past two seasons after spending a decade in the NFL.
“I always tip my hat to Dan Quinn and Muschamp,” Evans said. “Those guys got me prepared for the next level. I couldn’t thank them more than I do each day. I’m getting the opportunity to go out there and compete.
“That’s what they preach to me all the time — give it my all and get better each day.”
Evans’ play last year, including a game-sealing interception against Missouri, attracted the attention of the Jaguars, who drafted him in the sixth round. When training camp starts July 25, Evans will be one of seven safeties competing for what will likely be four roster spots.
General manager Dave Caldwell spent much of his inaugural off-season revamping a Jacksonville secondary that spent more time being picked on than picking off passes last season.
The Jaguars chose not to re-sign mainstay Rashean Mathis and top cover corner Derek Cox and released cornerback Aaron Ross and safety Dawan Landry.
Without those four veterans, who combined to play 53 games and make 41 starts last season, Caldwell identified defensive back as a position in need of an upgrade. He was particularly interested in Florida International safety Johnathan Cyprien and Evans.
The Jaguars drafted Cyprien with the first pick of the second round, No. 33 overall. He will enter camp as a starter.
Four rounds later, with Evans still on the board, Caldwell pulled the trigger and selected him with the 169th pick.
“We really liked [Evans] during the draft process,” Caldwell said. “If we didn’t get [Cyprien] as early as we did, he was our next guy that we were really targeting. We probably would have ended up drafting him higher than we did.
“What ended up happening is that [safety] wasn’t as great a need for us because we got [Cyprien], so we tried to fill some other stuff, and Josh was still there. We were like, ‘We were going to take this guy in the third, and now he is still sitting there in the sixth.’ ”
In total, Caldwell used five of his eight selections on defensive backs (cornerback Dwayne Gratz was selected in the third round, while Jeremy Harris and Demetrius McCray each went in the seventh).
Caldwell was especially pleased with Evans while speaking following the Jaguars’ June minicamp.
“He’s big and physical,” Caldwell said. “If you like what you see of him out here, you’re going to like him even more when he puts the pads on.”
The Jaguars’ first practice in pads is expected to be July 31.
Evans was glad to be selected into a familiar situation. Not only is Jacksonville a 90-minute drive from Gainesville — Evans said he hopes to continue working with the UF coaching staff moving forward — the Jaguars run a similar defense to the one he enjoyed playing the past two seasons.
Before being hired at UF, Quinn was Gus Bradley’s defensive line coach for two seasons with the Seattle Seahawks and often picked his brain on how to run a successful defensive unit. As a result, many of the principles and some terminology is consistent in each system.
For Evans, hoping to make an impact anywhere he can, the added edge is critical to making a seamless transition.
“Knowing the defense helps you react faster and be quicker with your thinking,” Evans said. “I have been able to be a step faster on some of the plays because I know the system. It’s a very fortunate situation to be in.”
Read more at Jacksonville-com: Big chance for Josh Evans, a big safety from UF | jacksonville-com
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Ole Miss basketball player Marshall Henderson had two previous run-ins with police in Oxford, Miss., in the weeks before he was stopped for speeding and found in possession of marijuana and cocaine, according to police reports obtained by USA TODAY Sports on Friday.
In one instance, an officer stopped Henderson on April 27 for playing loud music and not wearing a seat belt, and the officer threatened to take him to jail when Henderson turned his music up just as loud as he pulled away after receiving the citations. Another incident that drew police attention was a party that took place early on the morning of April 4, just two days before the Final Four was played in Atlanta. Oxford police officer Cody Pruitt said he received a noise complaint and knocked on an apartment door to which Henderson opened and identified himself. After Henderson obliged to turn down the "loud music," the officer left, according to a police report. Three weeks later, Oxford police officer Jacob Abel stopped Henderson for playing loud music and not wearing his seat belt. Henderson was issued citations for a noise violation and failure to have proof of liability insurance.
However, after he was given his citations, Abel said in his report that he had to threaten Henderson that he''d "take him to jail."
"After this Mr. Henderson began to drive off. He turned his music back up to the same level when I stopped him. I yelled for him to stop and after he did, I approached him and explained to him that if he turned his music back up I was going to stop him and take him to jail. He complied, turned his music down and then drove off again," Abel wrote.
Despite Henderson's run-ins with the law, Oxford police chief Joey East said his officers never booked Henderson because he was "very cooperative." Henderson has been suspended indefinitely by Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy.
The most serious incident was first reported on Thursday by the Wall Street Journal, which cited a May 4 police report stating that Henderson was pulled over for speeding and found to have what appeared to be small amounts of cocaine and marijuana in his car.
According to that police report, which also was obtained by USA TODAY Sports, an officer smelled marijuana in the vehicle, and Henderson ultimately handed over a small amount of marijuana to a second officer, saying that was the only illegal substance he had in the car. But police called in a K-9 unit, and a drug-sniffing dog alerted officers to a separate bag containing a small amount of cocaine.
The amount of cocaine was less than one-tenth of a gram, not enough to prosecute. Henderson was cited only for lack of proof of liability insurance.
Henderson told the police officer, Shane Fortner, that he was traveling back from a Memphis Grizzlies game. Fortner noticed that Henderson's "chest was rising rapidly and his hands were shaking uncontrollably," the report said. Upon asking Henderson why he was so nervous, he replied by saying he "didn't like being around cops."
Fortner ended his report by noting that "the white powdery substance and marijuana were both logged in for evidence."
A report from another officer, Mark Hodges, stated that when the powdery substance that appeared to be cocaine was found, Henderson replied by saying he "forgot about it."
Henderson led the Southeastern Conference in scoring, averaging 20.1 points a game as he helped the Rebels win the SEC tournament and reach the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2002.
In a statement Wednesday, Mississippi head coach Kennedy said, "Since the season ended, we have talked a lot about Marshall taking a greater leadership role with our team. With that comes greater responsibility, and he must do a better job of living up to the high standards we expect from him and he desires from himself."
Police: Marshall Henderson had previous run-ins with law
In one instance, an officer stopped Henderson on April 27 for playing loud music and not wearing a seat belt, and the officer threatened to take him to jail when Henderson turned his music up just as loud as he pulled away after receiving the citations. Another incident that drew police attention was a party that took place early on the morning of April 4, just two days before the Final Four was played in Atlanta. Oxford police officer Cody Pruitt said he received a noise complaint and knocked on an apartment door to which Henderson opened and identified himself. After Henderson obliged to turn down the "loud music," the officer left, according to a police report. Three weeks later, Oxford police officer Jacob Abel stopped Henderson for playing loud music and not wearing his seat belt. Henderson was issued citations for a noise violation and failure to have proof of liability insurance.
However, after he was given his citations, Abel said in his report that he had to threaten Henderson that he''d "take him to jail."
"After this Mr. Henderson began to drive off. He turned his music back up to the same level when I stopped him. I yelled for him to stop and after he did, I approached him and explained to him that if he turned his music back up I was going to stop him and take him to jail. He complied, turned his music down and then drove off again," Abel wrote.
Despite Henderson's run-ins with the law, Oxford police chief Joey East said his officers never booked Henderson because he was "very cooperative." Henderson has been suspended indefinitely by Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy.
The most serious incident was first reported on Thursday by the Wall Street Journal, which cited a May 4 police report stating that Henderson was pulled over for speeding and found to have what appeared to be small amounts of cocaine and marijuana in his car.
According to that police report, which also was obtained by USA TODAY Sports, an officer smelled marijuana in the vehicle, and Henderson ultimately handed over a small amount of marijuana to a second officer, saying that was the only illegal substance he had in the car. But police called in a K-9 unit, and a drug-sniffing dog alerted officers to a separate bag containing a small amount of cocaine.
The amount of cocaine was less than one-tenth of a gram, not enough to prosecute. Henderson was cited only for lack of proof of liability insurance.
Henderson told the police officer, Shane Fortner, that he was traveling back from a Memphis Grizzlies game. Fortner noticed that Henderson's "chest was rising rapidly and his hands were shaking uncontrollably," the report said. Upon asking Henderson why he was so nervous, he replied by saying he "didn't like being around cops."
Fortner ended his report by noting that "the white powdery substance and marijuana were both logged in for evidence."
A report from another officer, Mark Hodges, stated that when the powdery substance that appeared to be cocaine was found, Henderson replied by saying he "forgot about it."
Henderson led the Southeastern Conference in scoring, averaging 20.1 points a game as he helped the Rebels win the SEC tournament and reach the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2002.
In a statement Wednesday, Mississippi head coach Kennedy said, "Since the season ended, we have talked a lot about Marshall taking a greater leadership role with our team. With that comes greater responsibility, and he must do a better job of living up to the high standards we expect from him and he desires from himself."
Police: Marshall Henderson had previous run-ins with law
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North Carolina coach Roy Williams has discussed suspending his leading scorer following an offseason arrest, but Williams said in a statement released on Monday that any action against guard P.J. Hairston will come after the legal process is complete.
Calling recent revelations that came to light in media reports "disturbing" and "embarrassing," Williams stated that Hairston has acknowledged "serious mistakes." Hairston, the Tar Heels' leading scorer last season, was arrested on June 5 on charges of possessing marijuana and driving without a license. Since then, USA TODAY Sports first reported that he is tied to convicted felon Haydn Thomas by two Hertz rental vehicles, including the one he was arrested in.
"I initially decided not to make a statement about PJ (Hairston) until the legal process had been finalized. I believe that is the fair way that everyone should be treated and is the way of our country," Williams said in a statement released on the university's athletics website.
"PJ and I have had several discussions already and he knows he has made serious mistakes and there will be serious consequences as a result.Certainly the idea of suspending PJ has been discussed. However, he is not currently enrolled in summer school, is not practicing with the team and we have no games until November. There are several options available in terms of discipline but we are going to wait until the process is complete to decide on those options." Hairston's June arrest came as he was driving a GMC Yukon rented by Thomas, 39. Hairston, 20, was stopped by Durham police at a license checkpoint. According to the police report, a 9-millimeter handgun and a magazine with nine rounds of ammunition were found outside the vehicle and seized during the traffic stop.
Neither Hairston nor the two other passengers in the vehicle – Miykael Faulcon, 20, and Carlos Sanford, 23, both of Durham – faces charges related to the gun.
The News & Observer in Raleigh reported Friday that Hairston admitted to borrowing the Yukon from Thomas to drive to Atlanta for the weekend.The newspaper confirmed the details in a lengthy narrative statement in part of the police report with an unnamed source in the Durham police department.
Thomas previously told USA TODAY Sports that he did not know Hairston, saying that he rented the vehicle for himself and loaned it to Faulcon to go the store.
USA TODAY Sports first reported last week that Hairston received a speeding ticket on May 13 while driving a 2012 Camaro SS rented by Catinia Farrington, a woman who shares a Durham address with Thomas. Between February and May, four Hertz rental vehicles tied to Thomas have received nine unpaid parking citations on UNC's campus.
The four vehicles – a 2012 GMC Yukon, a 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe, a 2013 Mercedes Benz 350 and the Camaro – were rented by Thomas or Farrington from the Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
"Other issues have been written about recently that are disturbing and bother me deeply," Williams said in his statement. "Our basketball program is based on great ideals and these issues are embarrassing. These are not common in my 10 years as head coach at UNC and they will all be dealt with harshly and appropriately at the correct time to ensure that our program will not be compromised."
Following USA TODAY Sports' report about the parking citations last week, UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham released a statement saying that disciplinary measures would be taken "where the facts show mistakes in judgment and/or actions." Cunningham's statement did not mention Hairston by name but did reference recent media accounts.
"We will care about each individual but there will be serious actions taken that will fix these issues," Williams concluded in his statement. "I take pride in our values and how we have conducted ourselves for a long time here at Carolina and this time will pass but it will be dealt with strongly.
"We are talking about a program that has been a model of success on and off the court and it will be again."
Roy Williams says P.J. Hairston faces 'serious consequences'
Calling recent revelations that came to light in media reports "disturbing" and "embarrassing," Williams stated that Hairston has acknowledged "serious mistakes." Hairston, the Tar Heels' leading scorer last season, was arrested on June 5 on charges of possessing marijuana and driving without a license. Since then, USA TODAY Sports first reported that he is tied to convicted felon Haydn Thomas by two Hertz rental vehicles, including the one he was arrested in.
"I initially decided not to make a statement about PJ (Hairston) until the legal process had been finalized. I believe that is the fair way that everyone should be treated and is the way of our country," Williams said in a statement released on the university's athletics website.
"PJ and I have had several discussions already and he knows he has made serious mistakes and there will be serious consequences as a result.Certainly the idea of suspending PJ has been discussed. However, he is not currently enrolled in summer school, is not practicing with the team and we have no games until November. There are several options available in terms of discipline but we are going to wait until the process is complete to decide on those options." Hairston's June arrest came as he was driving a GMC Yukon rented by Thomas, 39. Hairston, 20, was stopped by Durham police at a license checkpoint. According to the police report, a 9-millimeter handgun and a magazine with nine rounds of ammunition were found outside the vehicle and seized during the traffic stop.
Neither Hairston nor the two other passengers in the vehicle – Miykael Faulcon, 20, and Carlos Sanford, 23, both of Durham – faces charges related to the gun.
The News & Observer in Raleigh reported Friday that Hairston admitted to borrowing the Yukon from Thomas to drive to Atlanta for the weekend.The newspaper confirmed the details in a lengthy narrative statement in part of the police report with an unnamed source in the Durham police department.
Thomas previously told USA TODAY Sports that he did not know Hairston, saying that he rented the vehicle for himself and loaned it to Faulcon to go the store.
USA TODAY Sports first reported last week that Hairston received a speeding ticket on May 13 while driving a 2012 Camaro SS rented by Catinia Farrington, a woman who shares a Durham address with Thomas. Between February and May, four Hertz rental vehicles tied to Thomas have received nine unpaid parking citations on UNC's campus.
The four vehicles – a 2012 GMC Yukon, a 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe, a 2013 Mercedes Benz 350 and the Camaro – were rented by Thomas or Farrington from the Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
"Other issues have been written about recently that are disturbing and bother me deeply," Williams said in his statement. "Our basketball program is based on great ideals and these issues are embarrassing. These are not common in my 10 years as head coach at UNC and they will all be dealt with harshly and appropriately at the correct time to ensure that our program will not be compromised."
Following USA TODAY Sports' report about the parking citations last week, UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham released a statement saying that disciplinary measures would be taken "where the facts show mistakes in judgment and/or actions." Cunningham's statement did not mention Hairston by name but did reference recent media accounts.
"We will care about each individual but there will be serious actions taken that will fix these issues," Williams concluded in his statement. "I take pride in our values and how we have conducted ourselves for a long time here at Carolina and this time will pass but it will be dealt with strongly.
"We are talking about a program that has been a model of success on and off the court and it will be again."
Roy Williams says P.J. Hairston faces 'serious consequences'
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Tennessee coach Cuonzo Martin is receiving a $50,000 annual raise that will increase his yearly compensation to $1.35 million.
Tennessee athletic director Dave Hart confirmed the pay increase Thursday afternoon. The news was first reported by the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Martin's contract runs through the 2015-16 season.
Martin is 39-28 at Tennessee and has led the Volunteers to NIT appearances in each of his two seasons. In Martin's first year on the job, Tennessee earned the No. 2 seed in the Southeastern Conference after being picked before the season to finish 11th in the league. Tennessee played the entire 2012-13 season without injured forward Jeronne Maymon, who had earned second-team all-SEC honors the previous year.
Tennessee athletic director Dave Hart confirmed the pay increase Thursday afternoon. The news was first reported by the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Martin's contract runs through the 2015-16 season.
Martin is 39-28 at Tennessee and has led the Volunteers to NIT appearances in each of his two seasons. In Martin's first year on the job, Tennessee earned the No. 2 seed in the Southeastern Conference after being picked before the season to finish 11th in the league. Tennessee played the entire 2012-13 season without injured forward Jeronne Maymon, who had earned second-team all-SEC honors the previous year.
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Kyle Wiltjer left the door open for a return to Kentucky last month when he announced he was considering a transfer.
Four weeks later, however, he made what's probably a wise decision not to remain with the Wildcats.
Wiltjer, a Portland resident, will transfer to Gonzaga, his father confirmed Friday afternoon to CBSSports-com. The 6-foot-10 rising junior will sit out all of next season and have two years of eligibility remaining beginning in the 2014-15 season.
Many Kentucky fans were hopeful Wiltjer would have a change of heart and take a redshirt year in Lexington since he'd have to sit out a season anyway even if he transferred, but the truth is Gonzaga is probably a better option.
Wilter likely would have been a role player at best this season for Kentucky had he come back thanks to the arrival of an ultra-talented recruiting class. Even if Wiltjer got stronger and quicker during his redshirt year and some of the players ahead of him in the rotation enter the NBA draft, there's no guarantee he still wouldn't be fighting for minutes the next season because of the way John Calipari recruits.
At Gonzaga, Wiltjer will almost certainly start once he becomes eligible and he'll get to play alongside close friend and fellow Canadian Kevin Pangos. What's more, the Gonzaga staff recruited Wiltjer out of high school and can point to the success fellow Canadian forward Kelly Olynyk had this past season after taking a redshirt year to help him get stronger and develop an interior game.
Wiltjer certainly can be an asset to Gonzaga if he taps into potential.
He arrived at Kentucky as Rivals-com's No. 22 recruit in 2011, a sweet-shooting forward coveted by the likes of Kansas and Texas in addition to the Zags and Wildcats. A lack of strength and lateral quickness sometimes made him a defensive liability either in the post or the perimeter at Kentucky, but he still contributed as a seventh man on the Wildcats' national title team in 2012 and scored 10.2 points per game as a part-time starter in 2013.
Y! SPORTS
Four weeks later, however, he made what's probably a wise decision not to remain with the Wildcats.
Wiltjer, a Portland resident, will transfer to Gonzaga, his father confirmed Friday afternoon to CBSSports-com. The 6-foot-10 rising junior will sit out all of next season and have two years of eligibility remaining beginning in the 2014-15 season.
Many Kentucky fans were hopeful Wiltjer would have a change of heart and take a redshirt year in Lexington since he'd have to sit out a season anyway even if he transferred, but the truth is Gonzaga is probably a better option.
Wilter likely would have been a role player at best this season for Kentucky had he come back thanks to the arrival of an ultra-talented recruiting class. Even if Wiltjer got stronger and quicker during his redshirt year and some of the players ahead of him in the rotation enter the NBA draft, there's no guarantee he still wouldn't be fighting for minutes the next season because of the way John Calipari recruits.
At Gonzaga, Wiltjer will almost certainly start once he becomes eligible and he'll get to play alongside close friend and fellow Canadian Kevin Pangos. What's more, the Gonzaga staff recruited Wiltjer out of high school and can point to the success fellow Canadian forward Kelly Olynyk had this past season after taking a redshirt year to help him get stronger and develop an interior game.
Wiltjer certainly can be an asset to Gonzaga if he taps into potential.
He arrived at Kentucky as Rivals-com's No. 22 recruit in 2011, a sweet-shooting forward coveted by the likes of Kansas and Texas in addition to the Zags and Wildcats. A lack of strength and lateral quickness sometimes made him a defensive liability either in the post or the perimeter at Kentucky, but he still contributed as a seventh man on the Wildcats' national title team in 2012 and scored 10.2 points per game as a part-time starter in 2013.
Y! SPORTS
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A new men's college basketball doubleheader will feature Colorado, Marquette, New Mexico and Oklahoma State playing in Las Vegas on Dec. 21.
The MGM Grand Showcase will be played at the hotel of the same name, with Marquette vs. New Mexico and Oklahoma State vs. Colorado. The games, to be televised on ESPNU and ESPN2, will partly benefit the Coaches vs. Cancer charity.
The hotel has a three-year deal to host games. It is already home to the Pac-12 Conference men's tournament. The doubleheader will be played in the 16,800-seat Grand Garden arena.
Y! SPORTS
The MGM Grand Showcase will be played at the hotel of the same name, with Marquette vs. New Mexico and Oklahoma State vs. Colorado. The games, to be televised on ESPNU and ESPN2, will partly benefit the Coaches vs. Cancer charity.
The hotel has a three-year deal to host games. It is already home to the Pac-12 Conference men's tournament. The doubleheader will be played in the 16,800-seat Grand Garden arena.
Y! SPORTS
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North Carolina coach Roy Williams indefinitely suspended P.J. Hairston late Sunday night, hours after the team's troubled leading scorer was cited for speeding and careless and reckless driving.
USA TODAY Sports first reported earlier Sunday night that Hairston was pulled over for driving 93 mph in a 65 mph zone.
Hairston, 20, was driving a 2008 Acura TL southbound on Interstate 85 outside of Salisbury, N.C., when he was pulled over at 4:30 p.m. by the State Highway Patrol, said spokesman 1st Sgt. Jeff Gordon.
Hairston has an Aug. 30 court date in Rowan County. UNC's three-sentence press release announcing Hairston's suspension cited only his traffic citation, but the citation represents the latest off-court incident for Hairston. In the past three months, he drove two rental cars linked to Durham resident Haydn "Fats" Thomas.
Thomas, 39, is a convicted felon and party promoter with ties to several area college athletes.
Williams said in a statement on July 15 that Hairston committed "serious mistakes" and would face "serious consequences as a result." Without specifying the misconduct, Williams called the issues "embarrassing."
After being stopped at a license checkpoint June 5, Hairston was arrested on charges of possessing marijuana and driving without a license. The charges were dismissed July 19, a Durham County court clerk said, and Hairston complied with the conditions of the court, which included completing a drug assessment and providing his current driver's license. USA TODAY Sports first reported that the 2013 GMC Yukon that Hairston was driving at the time was rented by Thomas from June 2-5 for $1,261.64, according to the Hertz rental receipt.
USA TODAY Sports also first reported that Hairston was cited for speeding May 13 while driving a 2012 Camaro SS that was rented by Catinia Farrington, a woman who shares the same home address as Thomas. Thomas has called Farrington his significant other.
After being stopped June 5, a 9-millimeter handgun and a magazine with nine rounds of ammunition were found outside the vehicle and seized during the traffic stop. Neither Hairston nor the two other passengers in the vehicle – Miykael Faulcon, 20, and Carlos Sanford, 23, both of Durham – faced charges related to the gun.
Thomas told USA TODAY Sports on July 3 that he had no relationship with Hairston. Thomas said he is a friend of Faulcon because they frequent clubs together and because Faulcon does "odd jobs" around Thomas' Durham home.
Thomas initially said that he rented the Yukon for himself and loaned it to Faulcon to take to the store. Thomas later said that Faulcon had told him that Faulcon and Hairston had planned to visit Atlanta that weekend for social gatherings. Faulcon and Hairston are close friends, said Faulcon's mother, Trudy Ransom.
Between February and May, four Hertz rental vehicles tied to Thomas received a total of nine unpaid parking citations on North Carolina's campus. The four vehicles – a 2012 GMC Yukon, a 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe, a 2013 Mercedes Benz 350 and the Camaro SS – were rented by Thomas or Farrington from the Hertz facility at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
"Other issues have been written about recently that are disturbing and bother me deeply," Williams said in his statement earlier this month. "Our basketball program is based on great ideals and these issues are embarrassing. These are not common in my 10 years as head coach at UNC and they will all be dealt with harshly and appropriately at the correct time to ensure that our program will not be compromised."
Thomas has said in multiple phone interviews that he has yet to be contacted by the NCAA or by North Carolina.
UNC's Hairston suspended after reckless driving charge
USA TODAY Sports first reported earlier Sunday night that Hairston was pulled over for driving 93 mph in a 65 mph zone.
Hairston, 20, was driving a 2008 Acura TL southbound on Interstate 85 outside of Salisbury, N.C., when he was pulled over at 4:30 p.m. by the State Highway Patrol, said spokesman 1st Sgt. Jeff Gordon.
Hairston has an Aug. 30 court date in Rowan County. UNC's three-sentence press release announcing Hairston's suspension cited only his traffic citation, but the citation represents the latest off-court incident for Hairston. In the past three months, he drove two rental cars linked to Durham resident Haydn "Fats" Thomas.
Thomas, 39, is a convicted felon and party promoter with ties to several area college athletes.
Williams said in a statement on July 15 that Hairston committed "serious mistakes" and would face "serious consequences as a result." Without specifying the misconduct, Williams called the issues "embarrassing."
After being stopped at a license checkpoint June 5, Hairston was arrested on charges of possessing marijuana and driving without a license. The charges were dismissed July 19, a Durham County court clerk said, and Hairston complied with the conditions of the court, which included completing a drug assessment and providing his current driver's license. USA TODAY Sports first reported that the 2013 GMC Yukon that Hairston was driving at the time was rented by Thomas from June 2-5 for $1,261.64, according to the Hertz rental receipt.
USA TODAY Sports also first reported that Hairston was cited for speeding May 13 while driving a 2012 Camaro SS that was rented by Catinia Farrington, a woman who shares the same home address as Thomas. Thomas has called Farrington his significant other.
After being stopped June 5, a 9-millimeter handgun and a magazine with nine rounds of ammunition were found outside the vehicle and seized during the traffic stop. Neither Hairston nor the two other passengers in the vehicle – Miykael Faulcon, 20, and Carlos Sanford, 23, both of Durham – faced charges related to the gun.
Thomas told USA TODAY Sports on July 3 that he had no relationship with Hairston. Thomas said he is a friend of Faulcon because they frequent clubs together and because Faulcon does "odd jobs" around Thomas' Durham home.
Thomas initially said that he rented the Yukon for himself and loaned it to Faulcon to take to the store. Thomas later said that Faulcon had told him that Faulcon and Hairston had planned to visit Atlanta that weekend for social gatherings. Faulcon and Hairston are close friends, said Faulcon's mother, Trudy Ransom.
Between February and May, four Hertz rental vehicles tied to Thomas received a total of nine unpaid parking citations on North Carolina's campus. The four vehicles – a 2012 GMC Yukon, a 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe, a 2013 Mercedes Benz 350 and the Camaro SS – were rented by Thomas or Farrington from the Hertz facility at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
"Other issues have been written about recently that are disturbing and bother me deeply," Williams said in his statement earlier this month. "Our basketball program is based on great ideals and these issues are embarrassing. These are not common in my 10 years as head coach at UNC and they will all be dealt with harshly and appropriately at the correct time to ensure that our program will not be compromised."
Thomas has said in multiple phone interviews that he has yet to be contacted by the NCAA or by North Carolina.
UNC's Hairston suspended after reckless driving charge
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Coaches and die-hard fans desire consistent excellence from their college basketball programs. Everyone wants that star player they know is good for 20 points and 10 rebounds a night, even when they are at their worst.
But sometimes a little unpredictability can be exciting. The unpredictable player can go off for 30 points one night and then disappear for the next three games. They may make everyone’s hair a little grayer, but they sure are fun to watch when they are on.
Read on to see five unpredictable Buckeyes that have fit this description throughout Ohio State’s history.
Pictures: Ohio State Basketball: The 5 Most Unpredictable Players in Buckeyes History | Bleacher Report
But sometimes a little unpredictability can be exciting. The unpredictable player can go off for 30 points one night and then disappear for the next three games. They may make everyone’s hair a little grayer, but they sure are fun to watch when they are on.
Read on to see five unpredictable Buckeyes that have fit this description throughout Ohio State’s history.
Pictures: Ohio State Basketball: The 5 Most Unpredictable Players in Buckeyes History | Bleacher Report
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Arizona State's trip to China may give the Sun Devils the edge they need to make a run at the NCAA tournament in 2013.
The Arizona State men's basketball team will travel to China on August 9 to play an exhibition series of three games in an attempt to grow the Pac-12 and ASU brand oversees.
Here are the details of ASU's trip to China (via ASUNews):
Aug. 9-19 – ASU men’s basketball
Aug 12: ASU vs. Tsinghua University in Beijing
Aug 16: ASU vs. Fujian SBS (Chinese CBA pro team) in Zhaoqing
Aug 18: ASU vs. Fujian SBS (Chinese CBA pro team) in Nanning
While this trip is good for the growth of the Pac-12 brand oversees, it is also a chance for ASU to come together as a team and grow. The ASU football team has received a lot of attention over the summer, but people shouldn't sleep on ASU basketball.
The Sun Devils will be lead by sophomore point guard Jahii Carson and have a chance to return to the NCAA tournament if all the stars align in Tempe.
This trip to China will give the Sun Devils the edge they need to make that jump.
Head coach Herb Sendek told Doug Haller of azcentral-com that ASU's trip to China is a great opportunity and one the team has to take seriously:
As for the basketball part of it, the biggest thing is this gives us a chance to bond and come together. We’ll have three exhibition games. We’ll have 10 practices. We have to use those judiciously because guys typically aren’t in the same kind of condition they are once you start playing games in November. Plus, we don’t want to make the season too long to our detriment, so we really have to be judicious in how we approach this.
The Sun Devils looked like a NCAA tournament team up until the midway point of last season. At the end of January, ASU only had four losses and had just come off an upset, 18-point win over UCLA. Unfortunately for ASU though, the rest of the season was all-downhill from there.
ASU finished the year by going 4-7 and bowing out of the Pac-12 Tournament in the second round. They did play in the NIT but lost in the second round to Baylor.
ASU's trip to China will give the team a chance to grow and bond. It should foster a sense of camaraderie that can help the Sun Devils avoid a late season collapse this year.
Carson told Craig Grialou of Arizona Sports that he believes this trip is just what the doctor ordered:
We're going to have to get close to each other, read some books, tell some stories or something because the Internet, Twitter and Facebook is not going to be available for us. I hope that gets us some more team camaraderie, so we can get that going during the season. Hopefully it's helpful.
UCLA made the trip to China last year. The Bruins had a rocky start to their 2012 season, but they finished the year strong and won the Pac-12 regular season title.
While their trip to China wasn't the only reason they rebounded in the second half, it certainly didn't hurt.
ASU needed a killer instinct last year as nine of their 13 losses were by five points or less.
The Sun Devils' trip to China should give them a chance to come together and become a family. This, in turn, should translate to better chemistry on the court, which could be the difference between having nine losses by five points or less or nine wins.
What Does Arizona State Basketball's Trip to China Mean for the Team? | Bleacher Report
The Arizona State men's basketball team will travel to China on August 9 to play an exhibition series of three games in an attempt to grow the Pac-12 and ASU brand oversees.
Here are the details of ASU's trip to China (via ASUNews):
Aug. 9-19 – ASU men’s basketball
Aug 12: ASU vs. Tsinghua University in Beijing
Aug 16: ASU vs. Fujian SBS (Chinese CBA pro team) in Zhaoqing
Aug 18: ASU vs. Fujian SBS (Chinese CBA pro team) in Nanning
While this trip is good for the growth of the Pac-12 brand oversees, it is also a chance for ASU to come together as a team and grow. The ASU football team has received a lot of attention over the summer, but people shouldn't sleep on ASU basketball.
The Sun Devils will be lead by sophomore point guard Jahii Carson and have a chance to return to the NCAA tournament if all the stars align in Tempe.
This trip to China will give the Sun Devils the edge they need to make that jump.
Head coach Herb Sendek told Doug Haller of azcentral-com that ASU's trip to China is a great opportunity and one the team has to take seriously:
As for the basketball part of it, the biggest thing is this gives us a chance to bond and come together. We’ll have three exhibition games. We’ll have 10 practices. We have to use those judiciously because guys typically aren’t in the same kind of condition they are once you start playing games in November. Plus, we don’t want to make the season too long to our detriment, so we really have to be judicious in how we approach this.
The Sun Devils looked like a NCAA tournament team up until the midway point of last season. At the end of January, ASU only had four losses and had just come off an upset, 18-point win over UCLA. Unfortunately for ASU though, the rest of the season was all-downhill from there.
ASU finished the year by going 4-7 and bowing out of the Pac-12 Tournament in the second round. They did play in the NIT but lost in the second round to Baylor.
ASU's trip to China will give the team a chance to grow and bond. It should foster a sense of camaraderie that can help the Sun Devils avoid a late season collapse this year.
Carson told Craig Grialou of Arizona Sports that he believes this trip is just what the doctor ordered:
We're going to have to get close to each other, read some books, tell some stories or something because the Internet, Twitter and Facebook is not going to be available for us. I hope that gets us some more team camaraderie, so we can get that going during the season. Hopefully it's helpful.
UCLA made the trip to China last year. The Bruins had a rocky start to their 2012 season, but they finished the year strong and won the Pac-12 regular season title.
While their trip to China wasn't the only reason they rebounded in the second half, it certainly didn't hurt.
ASU needed a killer instinct last year as nine of their 13 losses were by five points or less.
The Sun Devils' trip to China should give them a chance to come together and become a family. This, in turn, should translate to better chemistry on the court, which could be the difference between having nine losses by five points or less or nine wins.
What Does Arizona State Basketball's Trip to China Mean for the Team? | Bleacher Report
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Sports constantly offer up stories of inspiration.
Sometimes, it’s an individual accomplishing something that seemed impossible. Other times, it’s a group coming together as a team to meet an insurmountable goal. These stories help create the memories that make it exciting to be a fan of a particular player or team.
Duke basketball has many of these stories.
From personal achievements to team triumphs, the Blue Devils have a rich history of inspirational moments.
The following list features Duke’s five most inspiring stories.
Pictures: Duke Basketball: The Most Inspiring Stories in Blue Devils History | Bleacher Report
Sometimes, it’s an individual accomplishing something that seemed impossible. Other times, it’s a group coming together as a team to meet an insurmountable goal. These stories help create the memories that make it exciting to be a fan of a particular player or team.
Duke basketball has many of these stories.
From personal achievements to team triumphs, the Blue Devils have a rich history of inspirational moments.
The following list features Duke’s five most inspiring stories.
Pictures: Duke Basketball: The Most Inspiring Stories in Blue Devils History | Bleacher Report
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How early is too early to start attempting to formulate a vision of who will make the All-ACC team? Well, we’ve made it to August so that seems long enough to wait.
All-ACC honors have always been difficult to garner. With the addition of Syracuse, Pitt and Notre Dame there’s even greater competition to earn the honor of being one of the conference’s top five players.
The upcoming season is going to be extremely interesting, not just because of the new teams and the Terps making their final lap around the ACC. The conference will boast a healthy mix of superstar freshmen, established upperclassmen and returning starters.
Duke might be the most talented team in the ACC, but there is going to be plenty of competition for individual accolades. What follows is a list of Duke players with the best opportunity to distinguish themselves among their peers in the newly enlarged ACC.
Pictures: Duke Basketball: Blue Devils Most Likely to Make the All-ACC Team | Bleacher Report
All-ACC honors have always been difficult to garner. With the addition of Syracuse, Pitt and Notre Dame there’s even greater competition to earn the honor of being one of the conference’s top five players.
The upcoming season is going to be extremely interesting, not just because of the new teams and the Terps making their final lap around the ACC. The conference will boast a healthy mix of superstar freshmen, established upperclassmen and returning starters.
Duke might be the most talented team in the ACC, but there is going to be plenty of competition for individual accolades. What follows is a list of Duke players with the best opportunity to distinguish themselves among their peers in the newly enlarged ACC.
Pictures: Duke Basketball: Blue Devils Most Likely to Make the All-ACC Team | Bleacher Report
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The Syracuse men’s basketball team will enter its first season in the ACC with high expectations with the return of C.J. Fair and high hopes of incoming point guard Tyler Ennis.
Returning players include Rakeem Christmas, Trevor Cooney, DaJuan Coleman, Jerami Grant and a host of other players who remain hungry after Syracuse’s losing effort in the Final Four against Michigan.
At first glance, however, this team lacks the star power of previous teams, including last season’s team which had Fair, Michael Carter-Williams and Brandon Triche all named to the final All-Big East team.
There was also James Southerland, who didn’t get post-season honors, but was a presence around the perimeter.
All have departed, save for Fair, which leaves Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim looking to his bench and incoming players to continue the winning tradition to which the stalwart coach has dedicated his entire adult life.
While Syracuse will be without most of its stars from last season, it can still prosper in the ACC. The Orange has great size and length along the baseline, a stellar point guard to return Syracuse to its natural point guard roots and a stifling 2-3 zone defense.
The Orange also still has C.J. Fair, who led the team in scoring, rebounding and even three-point percentage. Fair will likely carry the majority of the scoring load, but second honors is anyone’s guess.
Upstart Jerami Grant was an able, and sometimes exciting, fill in for Southerland while he worked out his academic issues, and if Christmas can bring more aggression to his game, he could be a force in the paint.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at which Orange players have the potential for All-ACC honors for the 2013-14 season.
Syracuse Basketball: Orange Most Likely to Make All-ACC Team | Bleacher Report
Returning players include Rakeem Christmas, Trevor Cooney, DaJuan Coleman, Jerami Grant and a host of other players who remain hungry after Syracuse’s losing effort in the Final Four against Michigan.
At first glance, however, this team lacks the star power of previous teams, including last season’s team which had Fair, Michael Carter-Williams and Brandon Triche all named to the final All-Big East team.
There was also James Southerland, who didn’t get post-season honors, but was a presence around the perimeter.
All have departed, save for Fair, which leaves Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim looking to his bench and incoming players to continue the winning tradition to which the stalwart coach has dedicated his entire adult life.
While Syracuse will be without most of its stars from last season, it can still prosper in the ACC. The Orange has great size and length along the baseline, a stellar point guard to return Syracuse to its natural point guard roots and a stifling 2-3 zone defense.
The Orange also still has C.J. Fair, who led the team in scoring, rebounding and even three-point percentage. Fair will likely carry the majority of the scoring load, but second honors is anyone’s guess.
Upstart Jerami Grant was an able, and sometimes exciting, fill in for Southerland while he worked out his academic issues, and if Christmas can bring more aggression to his game, he could be a force in the paint.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at which Orange players have the potential for All-ACC honors for the 2013-14 season.
Syracuse Basketball: Orange Most Likely to Make All-ACC Team | Bleacher Report
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Old Dominion men's basketball coach Jeff Jones says the NCAA has denied Donte Hill's appeal for another year of eligibility, ending his college career.
Hill played as a freshman at Clemson and transferred to Old Dominion the following year, but not before taking part in a preseason scrimmage. The 6-foot-4 swingman played the last two seasons for the Monarchs. Last year he averaged a team-high 30.8 minutes and 8.2 points per game.
The NCAA rules on eligibility state if a player suits up to represent his school in any season, that counts as a year of eligibility.
Jones said in an ODU release that he's disappointed, but gratified Hill has his sociology degree.
The coach says Hill is ''a great representative of the ideals the NCAA encourages in its student-athletes.''
Hill played as a freshman at Clemson and transferred to Old Dominion the following year, but not before taking part in a preseason scrimmage. The 6-foot-4 swingman played the last two seasons for the Monarchs. Last year he averaged a team-high 30.8 minutes and 8.2 points per game.
The NCAA rules on eligibility state if a player suits up to represent his school in any season, that counts as a year of eligibility.
Jones said in an ODU release that he's disappointed, but gratified Hill has his sociology degree.
The coach says Hill is ''a great representative of the ideals the NCAA encourages in its student-athletes.''
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And get this:
The 6-foot-2 junior guard who suffered an open wound when he broke his right tibia in the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight win over Duke not only said he'll be back playing this season, he anticipates being ready in time for the Cardinals' season opener. "It's healed a lot quicker than it's supposed to, so that's real good," Ware said. "I'm just ready for October. They're telling me October is when I'll be 100 percent so that's what I'm ready for... as long as they're telling me I can be on the court, I'll be on the court."
Ware is walking with a slight limp, but said he doesn't feel any pain. He added that he stopped taking the prescribed painkillers since the Final Four and the only time he's even sore is after a workout.
He's been doing a lot of work in the pool as part of his rehabilitation, but Ware has also been back on the court.
"A little movement, set shots, one dribble trying to shoot mid-range shots," Ware said. "Not a lot of jumping -- they don't want me putting too much pressure on it yet — but in time I think I'll be pretty fine."
Ware said not seeing a replay of his injury and the seriousness of it has kept his mind from thinking about it when he's on the court. But that's not to say people haven't tried to make him watch it. He's been sent images of his broken leg and links to replays on Twitter and Instagram.
"People that send me video, those guys, the idiots, it's annoying," Ware said. "I'll say that so hopefully they get the message and stop trying to be negative about it and make jokes about it."
Ware is more focused on the positive feedback he's gotten from people. He said he's just about gone through all the mail that was sent his way and he's tried to reach out to answer many of them.
"A guy wrote me from in jail and wanted me to reach out to his brother," Ware said. "People like that I don't have a problem at all, just trying to do something for them when they're trying to do something for me. So many people just really show so much support, that has to humble you."
Louisville's Kevin Ware shoots jumpers, eyes Oct. return