NCAA-LOUISVILLE’S RESURGENCE
Louisville rebounds, now back in fourth straight Sweet 16
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) β A Louisville squad given little chance of advancing past its first NCAA Tournament game is still hanging around, poised to make a Final Four run.
That’s what tournament wins can do for a squad.
With victories over UC Irvine and Northern Iowa, the Cardinals’ outlook is much different than it was after losing two of three entering the tournament. Fourth-seeded Louisville (26-8) is preparing for a rematch against Atlantic Coast Conference foe North Carolina State (22-13) on Friday night in Syracuse, New York.
Coach Rick Pitino credits part of his team’s rebound to the maturation of the Cardinals’ freshmen, including Quentin Snider, who inherited the point guard role following last month’s dismissal of senior Chris Jones. Improved defense also has helped Louisville reach a school-record fourth straight Sweet 16 berth.
WAKE FOREST-JONES
Wake suspends G Jones from basketball-related activities
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) β Wake Forest has suspended guard Madison Jones from all basketball-related activities for undisclosed reasons.
Coach Danny Manning announced the suspension Tuesday.
He says Jones is “an upperclassman who needs to make better decisions and earn his way back.”
Jones started six of 32 games during his junior season, averaging 4.7 points and three assists in 21 minutes per game.
CLEMSON-ROOKS
Clemson backup guard Patrick Rooks transferring
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) β Clemson reserve guard Patrick Rooks is leaving the program.
Tigers coach Brad Brownell announced Rooks’ decision this week.
Rooks is a 6-foot-2 shooting guard from Charlotte, North Carolina who spent the 2013-14 season sidelined after he had hip surgery. He was expected to make an impact on Clemson’s outside shooting, but instead scored just 20 points in 13 games this past season.
Rooks said on Twitter that he appreciated the support from Clemson fans in acknowledging his choice to leave.
Brownell wished Rooks the best with his career.
PANTHERS-UNIFORM GRANT
Panthers award game, practice pants to NC. SC high schools
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β The Carolina Panthers are helping 23 high school football teams in the two states look a little more spiffy next season.
The team announced Tuesday that the Carolina Panthers High School Uniform Grant program continues an effort to support football played at the grassroots level. The Panthers will award 23 uniform grants to assist high school athletic programs.
A statement from the team said the equipment consists of 1,300 pairs of authentic game and practice pants used by the Panthers, including white, black and silver game-day pants and white practice pants. The pants are said to be in excellent condition and are valued at more than $150,000.
Military and football outreach manager Peter Vacho said having equipment like practice gear can help high school athletic departments make ends meet.
LOUISVILLE-PITINO-CALIPARI
Pitino: Kentucky’s Calipari his choice for coach of the year
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) β Count Louisville coach Rick Pitino among those who believes Kentucky’s John Calipari deserves national coach of the year honors.
Asked Tuesday about the U.S. Basketball Writers Association voting Virginia’s Tony Bennett ahead of the coach of top-ranked and unbeaten Kentucky (36-0), Pitino said he would’ve selected his in-state archrival.
Calipari has won seven of eight meetings with Pitino, including this season.
Pitino, who has never won the award himself, praised Bennett and others for coaching jobs they have done this year. But the Louisville coach says, “I think John Calipari has done a brilliant job, so I’d put him at the top” of the list of candidates.
Pitino added, “When you’re undefeated and nobody’s beaten you, it’s clear cut who the coach of the year is right now.”
