CONFEDERATE FLAG-NCAA
SC tourism leaders visit NCAA with championship ban lifted
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina is back in the game to host predetermined NCAA championships, now that the Confederate flag has been lowered from the Statehouse grounds.
A group of top tourism leaders visited Indianapolis this week to let the NCAA know the state is ready and willing to host such events. The ban on hosting championships because of the flag had been in effect almost 15 years.
State tourism director Duane Parrish tells The Associated Press that, all things being equal, South Carolina might have a step up on hosting events like basketball regionals because it’s been so long since the state could do so.
Parrish says Division I events are scheduled several years in advance, but South Carolina sites could be bidding for such championships for 2019 or 2020.
ARKANSAS-NIT
Arkansas to host 2 games in NIT Season Tip-Off tournament
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — The University of Arkansas basketball team will host Akron and Charleston Southern in the 2015 NIT Season Tip-off in November.
The university said Thursday that the Razorbacks will pla6y Akron on Nov. 18 and Charleston Southern on Nov. 20 before going to Brooklyn, New York, for the semi-finals of the tournament.
Arkansas will play Georgia Tech on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, in the semifinals while Stanford and Villanova play in the other semifinal game.
The championship and the third place game will be Nov. 27 in Brooklyn.
SCAROLINA-MITCHELL
2-time SEC player of year Tiffany Mitchell has foot surgery
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina’s two-time Southeastern Conference player of the year Tiffany Mitchell had foot surgery last week.
The school says in a statement Thursday the surgery to her left foot shouldn’t keep Mitchell out of the lineup when the Gamecocks open the season in November.
Mitchell injured her ankle in an exhibition game for the U.S. team competing in the Pan Am Games last month. A stress-related injury was discovered in her foot.
Mitchell led the Gamecocks in scoring the past two years and averaged 14.4 points last season. She was a first-team AP All-American and won the Dawn Staley Award, an honor named for South Carolina’s coach and given to the best guard in the country.
The Gamecocks (34-3) reached the Final Four last season.
CHARLESTON CLASSIC-MATCHUPS
Virginia opens with Bradley in Charleston Classic
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Atlantic Coast Conference champion Virginia opens play against Bradley at the Charleston Classic in November.
Other opening round matchups at the eight-team college basketball tournament are Mississippi against George Mason, Oklahoma State against Towson and Long Beach State against Seton Hall.
The four first-round games will be played Nov. 19 in the TD Arena at College of Charleston. Two semifinal games and two consolation games will take place Nov. 20. The seventh, fifth, third and first place games will take place Nov. 22.
The Cavaliers finished 16-2 in league play to take the ACC regular-season crown. Seeded No. 2 in the NCAA tournament, they fell to Michigan State in their second contest.
