Big 10 Has Its Own Final
College basketball
This NIT final should be played in Chicago’s United Center or Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena.
Minnesota vs. Penn State is simply out of place in the heart of Big East country in New York.
The Big Ten may lack representation in that other Final Four in San Antonio, but it will have the NIT championship all to itself tonight when the Nittany Lions (19-12) and Gophers (19-15) play for the tournament’s 61st championship at Madison Square Garden.
It will be the third time this season the two schools have played after splitting their conference games.
Ticket prices skyrock
The price of an NCAA Final Four ticket through a broker is up to $4,500 this week as excitement builds among hoop fans for the biggest event in college sports.
Although selling the tickets to brokers is frowned upon by the National College Athletic Association, the practice is fueled by that organization’s tradition of giving tickets to corporate sponsors, basketball coaches and schools that made it to the big event.
The face value of tickets to Saturday’s two games cost $80 to $100.
Tennessee best ever?
Is Pat Summitt coaching the greatest women’s basketball team ever? She’ll have an opinion after the Final Four.
“I think it’s certainly one of our best ever,” said the coach of Tennessee, which is 37-0 and already has set a women’s record for victories in a season. “There are a lot of coaches who have had great teams.”
In All-American Chamique Holdsclaw, the Volunteers have what many view as the finest player in the country. This season, the closest Tennessee has come to losing was a 76-70 comeback victory over North Carolina in the Mideast Regional finals.
On Friday night in the national semifinals, the Vols will face an Arkansas team (22-10) they met in January and beat by 30 points.
If it gets past Arkansas on Friday, Tennessee is certain to be heavily favored in Sunday night’s title game against Louisiana Tech (30-3) or North Carolina State (26-5).
On the sidelines
Tom Penders, who led Texas to the NCAA Tournament in eight of his 10 seasons, is out as Longhorns coach, The Associated Press learned Wednesday night.
Penders, under fire since last week’s release of a player’s grades to a local radio station, is considering a job outside of coaching or being reassigned at Texas, a source close the Longhorns program said.
San Jose State has named University of Arizona assistant Phil Johnson its new basketball coach.
Bob Williams, who coached UC Davis to the NCAA Division II national basketball championship last weekend, was hired as coach at UC Santa Barbara.
Brigham Young’s Ron Selleaze and a top prospect, Mike Garrett, have been suspended indefinitely following allegations of possession of marijuana.