Bucke Fire Two Coaches
Ohio State made sweeping changes in its men’s and women’s basketball programs Monday, firing coaches Randy Ayers and Nancy Darsch.
Ayers and Darsch, both having enjoyed great success with their teams in the early 1990s, had two years left on their contracts.
The men’s team has gone 10-17 the last two seasons, including 5-13 in the Big Ten this season. The women were 12-16, 3-13 in conference play.
Ayers was 124-108 in eight years. The firing came a day after the Buckeyes’ season ended on an 86-81 overtime loss to Michigan.
Darsch is the winningest women’s basketball coach at Ohio State, going 234-125 in 12 seasons. Seven times she went to the NCAA Tournament.
Seton Hall fired men’s coach George Blaney, whose team finished the year with the worst record in the Big East Conference.
Blaney has compiled a 38-48 over-all record since replacing P.J. Carlesimo prior to the 1994-95 season.
The university also announced athletic director Larry Keating resigned, unwilling to fire the coach himself.
Fresno player denies accusations
Dominick Young of Fresno State doesn’t recall talking to an alleged gambler who reportedly spoke with the basketball player at a nightclub.
“I don’t recollect coming across the individual they are talking about,” Young said Monday.
His attorney, Ernest Kinney, said, “It could be one of hundreds of people who have approached him at nightspots.”
The Fresno Bee reported university officials, and possibly law enforcement, are investigating rumors Fresno State players shaved points.
The Bee said Young was seen at a nightclub after one game with a Fresno businessman identified as a “sizable sports bettor with ties to organized bookmaking.”
Michigan turns itself in
Michigan coach Steve Fisher saw him often, a basketball junkie who hung out at high school games in Detroit and liked to befriend the city’s top college prospects.
The booster, a Michigan basketball season-ticket holder, who got complimentary tickets at times, was so close to players he showed up at a recruit’s house once when Fisher was paying a visit. Fisher allowed the booster to stay, against NCAA rules.
But now that booster has turned into a Michigan nightmare. He is at the center of an NCAA investigation the school self-reported, and has forced UM to admit that on at least two occasions the booster provided improper extra benefits to a player and his family.
The NCAA also is investigating allegations the booster gave money and bought - or helped arrange the purchase of - cars for ex-players.
Fisher halted the actions at the last minute after finding out, but he did not tell his bosses.
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