Report: Pistons will hire Frank

NBA: The Detroit Pistons will offer Lawrence Frank their coaching position within two days, according to a person familiar with the situation.

The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday night because the team isn’t commenting on its search.

The Pistons fired John Kuester on June 5 after the team missed the playoffs each of his two seasons as coach.

Frank (pictured above) went 225-241 in 6 1/2 seasons as coach of the New Jersey Nets. He was an assistant for the Boston Celtics last season.

Frank emerged as the team’s choice after a search that included Milwaukee assistant Kelvin Sampson.

Associated Press

Women may play earlier

Women’s basketball: Future NCAA’s women’s basketball tournaments may not have to go head-to-head against the men’s tourney.

The NCAA’s governing body announced the Division I women’s basketball committee will study the feasibility of moving the start of the tournament back one week from its typical mid-March start. No deadline has been set for a recommendation, and the study still needs to be approved by two additional NCAA committees.

The proposal will not affect the 2012 tournament and is unlikely to be in place before the 2013 tourney.

Associated Press

Tulsa parts ways with Jones

WNBA: Former Olympic gold medal-winning sprinter Marion Jones has been cut by the WNBA’s Tulsa Shock, bringing her future in basketball into question.

The Shock announced they had waived Jones to make room for ex-Oklahoma center Abi Olajuwon. Jones was averaging less than a point per game for Tulsa (1-14).

Associated Press