Ucla Loses Davis To Knee Injury
UCLA freshman guard Baron Davis suffered a tear in his left knee and will miss the remainder of the NCAA Tournament.
Davis, the Bruins’ assists and steals leader, tore his anterior cruciate ligament during the first half of UCLA’s 85-82 win over Michigan on Sunday in the South Regional at Atlanta.
“Our basketball family is stunned and saddened by the news about Baron,” Bruins coach Steve Lavin said. “He has shown us this season what it is like to be a competitor on the floor and I know he will use those same competitive instincts to get through this tough time.”
Dr. Gerald Finerman said an MRI preliminary report taken Monday showed the extent of the injury.
The physician said Davis will immediately begin rehabilitation that will continue for three weeks before he undergoes reconstructive surgery.
The Bruins will play Kentucky on Friday at St. Petersburg, Fla.
‘Fixers’ plead guilty
Two Illinois men pleaded guilty to reduced charges for their role in an alleged scheme to pay two Arizona State basketball players to shave points in 1994 games.
Joseph Mangiamele, 36, of Arlington Heights, Ill., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sports bribery and money laundering. His father Dominic Mangiamele, 61, of Mount Prospect, Ill., pleaded guilty to sports bribery.
Both still face five years in prison but could have their sentences reduced for cooperating with authorities.
A federal grand jury returned a 72-count indictment last month against the Mangiameles; Benny Silman, 26, of North Hollywood, Calif.; and Joseph Gagliano, 29, of Phoenix, accusing them of sports bribery, money laundering and racketeering.
Hired, fired, retired …
Doug Oliver, an assistant under Stanford’s Mike Montgomery for 12 years, was named head coach at Idaho State… . Joe Esposito, a former assistant at Tennessee State, was named head coach at Angelo State. … Howard University fired men’s coach Mike McLeese after the Bisons posted their fourth consecutive losing season. Howard was 8-20. The team has a 31-78 record in McLeese’s four years. .. After 23 years and 422 wins, Missouri women’s coach Joann Rutherford has called it quits. Rutherford is just the second coach of the women’s basketball team in Missouri history.