Fast Break
Basketball
Van Gundy now the Magic’s man
The Orlando Magic have their man … again.
This time, it’s Stan Van Gundy. Florida coach Billy Donovan says he feels “terrible” about all the confusion, but insists Florida is where he belongs.
The Magic finally resolved their coaching quandary, ending a rough two weeks in which they fired Brian Hill, hired Donovan, then watched the bottom drop out on nearly everything.
The Magic said Wednesday that they would allow Donovan to back out of his five-year, $27.5 million deal, about three days after news broke that he changed his mind.
“I feel terrible about it. (The Magic are) a great organization,” Donovan said in Gainesville.
Van Gundy coached the Heat for more than two seasons, resigning last year but remaining with the team as an adviser to coach Pat Riley.
He was under contract with the Heat for another year, and the Magic had to give Miami one of its three second round picks in the upcoming draft, No. 39. The Heat also have the option of switching first-round picks with Orlando next year, but not if the Magic have a lottery pick. In that case, they could take a second-round selection or other compensation.
College basketball
Cougars 1-1 Down Under
Australia’s national team overcame Washington State University’s halftime lead in Canberra, Australia, by outscoring the Cougars 33-13 in the third quarter and edged WSU 85-84 in the second game of WSU’s tour in Australia and New Zealand.
Derrick Low led WSU with 30 points and three rebounds, hitting 10 of his 18 shots. Aron Baynes added 22 points for the Cougars and grabbed 17 rebounds and his mother and father watched from the stands. He connected on nine of 16 shots.
In the first game in Auckland, New Zealand, the Cougars beat The Breakers Academy 80-55.
Low scored 20 points to lead the Cougars.
The third game was scheduled to start at 2 a.m. Pacific time today.
College basketball
EWU will pick coaching finalists
A five-person search committee met Thursday night and will reconvene this morning to pick up to five finalists for the Eastern Washington head men’s basketball coach, according to interim athletic director Michael Westfall.
Sources said Utah Valley State College coach Dick Hunsaker has withdrawn from consideration, but former San Diego coach Brad Holland said, “I’m still interested and would like to be included for an interview.”
Westfall said he didn’t know if the finalists would be announced before they visit campus in the next week.