June 9, 2006
Each Friday I will write about the sport I love, college basketball
Maryland's Ekene Ibekwe made a wise decision to withdraw his name from the early entry process of the NBA draft. I was a little surprised that he entered in the first place, but why shouldn't a young man test the waters if that is what he wants to do. I just hope some of the underclassmen that entered and likely won't get picked re-consider while they still have the time, as long as they didn't sign with an agent.
A sign that a program is a solid one: when its assistant coaches get hired away. Phil Martelli of St. Joseph's has had a lot of success in recent years, so he has seen several assistants move on. Matt Brady took over at Marist. This year Monte Ross became the head coach at Delaware. Now assistant Mike Rice has gone to the Pittsburgh staff, joining head coach Jamie Dixon. Rice came over, and Orlando Antigua was promoted to full-time status as Barry Rohrssen and Joe Lombardi became head coaches elsewhere.
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo suffered a blow when forward Marquise Gray re-injured his foot. Gray, a potential starter, could miss much of the summer workouts.
USC suffered a major setback when star guard Gabe Pruitt was declared academically ineligible for the first semester of next season. Pruitt, an All-Pac-10 selection, averaged almost 17 points per game. Tim Floyd had to be disappointed with the news. Pruitt has to bounce back, get his act together and work hard on his academics.
Moving on in the SEC … Florida guard David Huertas decided to transfer. He was behind starters Corey Brewer and Lee Humphrey, so playing time next season would have been an issue. Kentucky center Shagari Alleyne also opted to leave the Wildcats.
One player who said he is not transferring is Oregon guard Aaron Brooks. There had been rumors that he was considering leaving, but Brooks said recently that he plans to come back to the Ducks.
A big win for the Huskies in the Big East. Jim Calhoun got 7-3 center Hasheem Thabeet from Houston's Cyprus Community School to come to Storrs. Calhoun beat out Big East rivals Cincinnati and Louisville for the big fella.
The Big Ten tournament will be in Indianapolis for a long time. It will stay in the Conseco Fieldhouse from 2008-2112.
Glad to see a Driesell back coaching on the Maryland campus. Gary Williams hired Lefty's son Chuck Driesell as an assistant, replacing Rob Moxley (now at Charlotte).
Dick Vitale coached the Pistons and the University of Detroit before broadcasting ESPN's first college basketball game in 1979. Send a question for Vitale for possible use on ESPNEWS.
