Fast Break
Academics
Bone’s former team to lose scholarships
The Portland State men’s basketball team will lose two scholarships and practice time because the team’s academic standing fell for the second straight season under former coach Ken Bone, now the coach at Washington State.
The NCAA announced penalties Wednesday based on Academic Progress Rate scores. Portland State’s APR dropped from 894 to 867 in scoring based on grades and player departures. PSU could be excluded from postseason play in 2010-11 if the APR does not improve.
Bone, coach of the Vikings for the past four seasons, left the team in April to become head coach at WSU. Assistant Tyler Geeing was promoted.
The penalty cuts Portland State’s scholarships from 13 to 11, and limits practice from 20 hours a week to 16.
The APR scores are calculated based on data from the fall semester in 2004 through the spring semester in 2008. Each athlete receives one point per semester for being academically eligible and another point each semester for remaining at that school or graduating.
A formula is used to calculate a final team score, with 1,000 points being perfect. Teams that score less than 925 annually can be subjected to immediate penalties. Those consistently less than 900 face harsher sanctions.
The average APR score for men’s basketball was 933. Washington State’s APR is 946, Washington 956, Gonzaga 975 and Eastern Washington 901.
The Idaho men scored 899 but are not subject to penalties because of the team’s academic improvement and favorable comparison based on other factors.
NASCAR
Former driver found dead
Virginia police say former NASCAR driver Kevin Grubb died from a gunshot wound to the head, apparently self-inflicted.
Henrico County Police spokesman Lt. Doug Perry said Grubb’s body was found by personnel at the Richmond-area Alpine Motel on Wednesday.
Perry said they found no indication of any drug use inside the room, but toxicology results may not be available for up to six weeks.
The 31-year-old was suspended from NASCAR indefinitely in 2006 because he refused to submit to a random drug test.