Fast Break

College basketball

Bennett finalist for honor

Washington State men’s basketball coach Tony Bennett has been named one of 15 finalists for the 2007 Jim Phelan Coach of the Year award, which will be received at the Final Four in Atlanta.

Bennett has a 22-4 record in his first season as Cougars head coach, the most victories for WSU since it finished the 1991-92 season 22-11.

The Jim Phelan Award is given annually to the nation’s top coach, as voted on by the 20-member panel.

The award honors longtime Mount St. Mary’s coach Jim Phelan, who retired in 2003.

This year’s other finalists are: Jim Baron (Rhode Island); John Calipari (Memphis); Billy Donovan (Florida); Mark Fox (Nevada); Billy Gillispie (Texas A&M); Seth Greenberg (Virginia Tech); Ben Howland (UCLA); Todd Lickliter (Butler); Chris Lowery (Southern Illinois); Gregg Marshall (Winthrop); Thad Matta (Ohio State); Bo Ryan (Wisconsin); Kevin Stallings (Vanderbilt); and Cliff Warren (Jacksonville).

College football

MSU doesn’t make the grade

Montana State’s football program will lose three scholarships next season after failing to attain NCAA academic standards.

University administrators Tuesday vowed to make improvements in academic support for athletes and in recruiting efforts, two areas cited for improvement in a report requested by President Geoff Gamble.

The report – written by officials from the NCAA, the Southeastern Conference and the Big Sky Conference – suggested several improvements, particularly in recruiting, academic, social mentoring programs and in the graduation rate of MSU football players.

The scholarship penalty, which means the football program will operate with the equivalent of 60 instead of the 63 grants, was assessed because the Bobcats lagged behind the required standard in the NCAA’s Academic Progress Rate, which monitors graduation success.