Basketball Capsules: Spurs make Jones first cut of training camp

SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Spurs waived forward Dwayne Jones in their first cut of training camp.

The 6-11 journeyman averaged 1.7 points and 1.7 rebounds in three preseason games with the Spurs. Jones was trying to make his fourth NBA team after coming into the league in 2005 with Boston.

The Spurs roster stands at 17.

Warriors’ Jackson relinquishes captain title

OAKLAND, Calif. — "Captain Jack" is no more.

Disgruntled Golden State star Stephen Jackson asked to relinquish his captain title during a meeting Tuesday with Warriors coach Don Nelson and general manager Larry Riley.

"Don’t try to dig into it, that’s just how I feel," Jackson said. "I don’t want to be a role model. ... Being captain was overrated to me, anyway. You don’t do anything but go out before the game and talk to the refs. I don’t want to do that, anyway."

Nelson accepted Jackson’s request and called it a "good thing" on the heels of the emotional swingman’s two-game suspension for an outburst directed at the coach early in Friday’s preseason game against the Lakers in Los Angeles.

"Well, the prodigal son has returned," Nelson said after Jackson rejoined the team for Tuesday’s practice. "It’s good to have Jack back. We’re going to keep him in the same position as far as my starting three is concerned."

Jackson, who made a public trade request in August and was later fined $25,000 by the NBA for doing so, acknowledged he didn’t think Nelson supported him to the referees in a physical matchup with Kobe Bryant.

Jackson picked up five fouls and a technical in less than 10 minutes and was sent to the locker room by Nelson following a testy exchange.

Jackson never returned and the suspension ensued. He and his wife visited the zoo during the time off — and Jackson didn’t watch basketball, though he said he checked the boxscore and called some teammates to tell them good game.

The rest of the Warriors are trying to stay out of Jackson’s spat with management.

"I’m not really worried about who’s turned in their captain badges," guard Kelenna Azubuike said.

Still, they missed their leading scorer from last season the past two games.

Nelson considered Tuesday’s meeting with Jackson productive and said the Warriors "aren’t asking him to be somebody different than he is." The 31-year-old Jackson said his relationship with Nelson has changed because of this incident.

The suspension cost him approximately $139,000 in salary.

"Any time somebody takes $150,000 from me, of course it’s going to change," Jackson said. "If my mom took some money from me I’d still love her to death but I’d still be upset about it. And he’s not my mom."

All of this after Jackson was so thrilled when Nelson called to ask him to be captain before last season that he apparently celebrated with champagne.

But Jackson has been upset with the Warriors’ decline since he helped the franchise end a 13-year postseason drought with a trip to the second round of the playoffs in 2007.

Then why did he agree to a three-year, $28 million contract extension last November? He said that was about money — he couldn’t turn it down. But now he wants out, and the sooner the better.

"We’re going to try to accommodate him but it’s not that easy to do," Nelson said.

Jackson averaged 20.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 6.5 assists in 59 games last season. He insists he will continue to play hard as long as he’s here.

Jackson still thinks a trade could happen.

"I don’t think it’s hard. I know there’s a lot of teams that want me. I’m a good player," he said. "I speak my mind. I don’t bite my tongue for no one. Whether you pay me or not, I’m not biting my tongue."

Jackson acknowledged the Warriors helped him repair his rocky image, though he’s also said he has no regrets about going into the stands with Ron Artest during the infamous Pacers-Pistons brawl in 2004.

"This ain’t the first time I lost money. I lost $3 million on the fight," Jackson said. "I didn’t agree with (the latest suspension). Anybody who’d seen the game saw how I got handled out there. I got treated wrong, no question."

When asked whether he felt he had Nelson’s support Friday, he said, "If I would have felt that way I wouldn’t have blew up."

Jackson said he won’t be a distraction. He said he’d be open to sitting out if that’s what the Warriors decide is best.

"If they want to send me home and pay me, I’m fine with that," he said.

The Indiana Pacers last season told Jamaal Tinsley not to report to training camp and didn’t allow him to play. New York kept Stephon Marbury on the bench then later told him to stay away until the Knicks finally waived him after he agreed to a buyout of his $20.8 million contract. Boston then acquired him.

In regards to a buyout, Jackson said: "It has to be right. I doubt if they’d do that."

For now, everybody involved would like to move forward.

That’s tough to do when Jackson says he can’t guarantee something similar won’t happen again.

"We’ll have to wait and see. I can’t predict the future," he said.

"I hope not," Nelson said. "The only unfortunate part is we’ve been doing some very nice things. We’ve been playing pretty darn well and nobody seems to know. Things happen and you deal with them and you move on."

-- Janie McCauley

Fouls, tensions rise with replacement NBA referees

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Larry Brown preaches to any and everyone to play the game the right way.

So the sometimes-cranky Charlotte Bobcats coach is having a hard time adjusting to the inexperienced replacement officials calling a foul on seemingly every other possession.

Brown says it makes it hard to play. Period.

"It’s like the summer league games," Brown said Tuesday, referring to where most of the new officials have worked. "I’ve always had issue with that. You never get to see the kids play. There’s always fouls being called."

Statistics prove his point. According to STATS LLC, there have been average of 57.5 personal fouls per game through Monday’s exhibition schedule. That compares to 49 fouls per game in the preseason with the regular referees last year. There were 42 fouls a game in the regular season in 2008-09.

The average is even higher in the Bobcats’ four exhibition games. There were 77 fouls and 95 free throws in the New Orleans-Charlotte game last week. The crew Monday night called 61 fouls and five technicals in Charlotte’s game at Atlanta.

Brown was ejected, one of the early uncomfortable moments for the league since it locked out the regular referees in a labor dispute.

Kevin Scott, who has worked in the NBA Development League, whistled Brown for two technical fouls, then called for security when Brown lingered on the court.

Brown, who picked up a technical foul in another game Scott worked last week, eventually left for the locker room without an escort.

"I don’t want to get into that," Brown said when asked a day later of the ejection, before adding that "I’m sure I did" deserve to get tossed.

NBA spokesman Tim Frank said they had no problem with Scott calling security as the league prepares to perhaps play regular-season games with replacement officials for the first time since 1995. There have been no talks since the referees union rejected the NBA’s latest offer two weeks ago.

"Without getting myself in trouble, I think the older refs knew how to not take the rules literally all the time. It created a flow," Bobcats guard Raja Bell said. "Some of that stuff they’re going to let go for the benefit of a good flow to the game. I think the younger guys, it’s not unlike an NBA player, you have to learn the rhythm of the game."

As Bell spoke after practice, one veteran NBA referee, Joe Forte was across town at the Big South’s basketball media day. Forte, who also serves as that college league’s coordinator of officials, said the union has forbid referees from speaking publicly on the issue.

"And I think that’s the right thing to do," Forte said, before smiling and asking a reporter to "tell Larry I miss him."

Despite the famous incidents, there is some sense of camaraderie among the old referees, players and coaches after years together. It’s something clearly missing with the new crew from the minor leagues, WNBA and college ranks.

"You know what you’re going to get out of guys," Bell said of the veteran officials. "You know who’s got a short fuse, who’s got a quick whistle, the guys who are going to let you play and tell you to get up when you might take a dive. This is a little different. All these guys are new to us."

There have been flubs in other games, ranging from the wrong player shooting free throws to the incorrect number of foul shots being awarded. There have been a handful of scuffles, too. But the biggest complaint appears to be all the whistles.

"There wasn’t an up and back and up in the whole game that I can remember," Brown said of Monday’s game. "That was hard."

Brown has experienced replacement officials twice before in his well-traveled Hall of Fame career. Most NBA players haven’t, though, and it may take some getting used to.

"At this level, at this speed, at this size," Bell said, "you have to let some things go."

NOTES: F Boris Diaw (ankle) went through his first full practice of the preseason and could play in weekend games in Los Angeles. ... F Tyson Chandler also practiced, but hasn’t been cleared to play yet as he tries to strengthen muscles around his ankle following offseason surgery. ... G Flip Murray (shin) sat out the workout. ... Bell, shooting 3-for-21 from the field in the preseason, spent extra time shooting with assistant coach Herb Brown. "I tend to start off slow," Bell said. "I’ll shoot my way out of it."

-- Mike Cranston

West back at practice with Cavaliers

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — While the Cleveland Cavaliers played Olympiacos in a preseason game on Monday night, Delonte West was at the team’s practice facility working with an assistant coach.

It was at least a starting point for West and the Cavaliers, who are delicately handling their talented but troubled guard.

West returned to practice Tuesday, his first full team workout in a week.

"He was here today, I coached him today, we’ll take tomorrow as it comes," coach Mike Brown said. "I’m not assuming or guessing anything. I’m just coaching the guys here on the floor."

West, who was not with his teammates Tuesday for the portion of practice open to the media, practiced for the first time since he unexpectedly missed the team’s first exhibition game on Oct. 6. He is not expected to play in Cleveland’s game Wednesday against Washington and there is no timetable for his return to game action.

West has been treated in the past for bipolar disorder. He was arrested in Maryland last month on misdemeanor weapons possession charges.

The Cavaliers have been without West more than they have had him since training camp opened. He skipped Cleveland’s first two days of training camp without an excuse and then took another week — with the team’s blessing — to tend to his personal and legal issues.

That’s nothing new, since West missed 10 days during training camp last season before averaging 11.7 points, 3.8 assists and 3.2 rebounds during the regular season. Those numbers jumped to 13.8 points, 4.1 assists and 3.5 rebounds during the playoffs, when West was Cleveland’s second-most effective player.

He has now missed nine total days during this camp, but Brown isn’t concerned about the time lost.

"He’s been with us for more than a year," Brown said. "We have not changed much at all. We’ve done a few new things offensively and defensively, but our concepts are still the same. He’ll fit in fine. He’s an intelligent player and a skill player. Because of the experience he’s had with us and we’ve had with him, he’ll start to jell sooner than later."

The Cavaliers have adjusted players’ roles during West’s absence.

Newcomer Anthony Parker, who started 71 games for Toronto last season, has filled in as the starter while Daniel Gibson has served as the team’s primary backup point guard — the role West often fills when starter Mo Williams is on the bench. Cleveland also signed Jamario Moon over the summer to provide more length and depth to the wing.

West may not be able to play 40 minutes right now, but Brown isn’t concerned with his conditioning.

"I don’t think that he’ll ever get out of shape," Brown said. "He just has one of those types of bodies that I don’t think that will ever happen."

Arenas, Wizards fined $25K apiece for his silence

WASHINGTON — The NBA is making Gilbert Arenas — and the Washington Wizards — pay for his silence.

Arenas and his team were fined $25,000 apiece Tuesday by the league because he has not been talking to the media during the preseason, including before and after exhibition games.

The three-time All-Star point guard became one of the NBA’s most popular players thanks in part to his engaging personality and a willingness to speak his mind, including via a wide-ranging blog.

But he stopped producing the blog and steadfastly has been refusing to do interviews since the Wizards held their official media day on Sept. 28. Asked by a reporter last week when he’d begin speaking again, Arenas said it would happen only after the NBA tells him he has to talk.

It was at that media day that Arenas signaled his intention to keep quiet, declaring, "I’m not the entertainer anymore."

"I don’t feel like speaking anymore. I just want to go out there and play," he said that day. "If I’m not going to get fined, I don’t think you’re going to hear me again. I don’t have a blog. I don’t have a tweeter. When I was entertaining, all you guys focused on was my words. Now I’d rather you just focus on my basketball."

Team spokesman Scott Hall said Tuesday that neither Arenas nor the Wizards would have any comment on the fines.

After scoring 24 points in the Wizards’ 101-98 exhibition victory over Detroit in Grand Rapids, Mich., on Tuesday night, Arenas twice declined to comment on the fine.

"Both teams played hard," he said, offering few words in the locker room after the game. "I feel fine."

Arenas is returning after playing a total of only 15 games during the past two seasons following three operations on his left knee over 1½ years. The last surgery came in September 2008, and later that month, Arenas ducked out of Washington’s media day without talking — drawing fines of $15,000 each for him and his team.

Arenas is entering the second season of an $111 million, six-year contract.

His health is considered key to the Wizards’ turning things around after a 19-63 season in 2008-09.

-- Howard Fendrich

Bulls G Rose misses third straight game

CHICAGO — Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose missed his third straight preseason game because of a strained right ankle.

The NBA’s Rookie of the Year last season, Rose was held out of Tuesday night’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks. He has not played since the preseason opener against Indiana on Oct. 2.

Forward Tyrus Thomas also missed his third game of the preseason because of a sore right hip stemming from a charge he took against the Pacers. The Bulls were also without center Brad Miller, who has the flu and will not travel to Minnesota for Wednesday’s game.

Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said Rose and Thomas are getting better and hopes they can practice Thursday.

"For sure Tyrus," he said. "Derrick’s day-to-day, but he feels a lot better every day. We’re being a little bit more cautious than anything, but I expect him to get out there Thursday and practice."

Del Negro did not rule out Thomas playing Wednesday, saying, "I want to see how he works out before the game."

Bucks coach Scott Skiles said he would rest center Andrew Bogut after he played 18 minutes in a 96-92 win at Houston on Monday. Bogut missed the final 31 games last season with a lower-back injury.

Clippers exercise player contract options

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Clippers are exercising their third-year contract option on guard Eric Gordon and the fourth-year option on forward Al Thornton.

The team made the moves Tuesday.

Gordon is signed through the 2010-11 season. He averaged 16.1 points in 78 games during his rookie season. Under the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, the Clippers had the right to exercise the option.

Thornton has averaged 15.6 points and 5.2 rebounds in two seasons with the Clippers. He is signed through the 2010-11 season, with the team holding the right of first refusal.

WNBA

Mercury team, fans celebrate second title in 3 years

PHOENIX — Diana Taurasi knew how to rile up the already raucous crowd of about 1,000, many dressed in purple and orange.

"Personally, in my career, any other championship, nothing can compare, hands down," the WNBA MVP said Monday night at a rally in the entrance to U.S. Airways Center to honor the Phoenix Mercury’s second WNBA championships in three years.

Taurasi, the league’s leading scorer during the regular season, was named MVP of the finals after scoring 26 points in Game 5, a 94-86 victory for the Mercury on Friday night over Eastern Conference champion Indiana.

The Mercury also needed five games to beat Detroit in 2007.

Taurasi, who won three national championships at Connecticut and two Olympic gold medals, said she got more satisfaction from this title.

"Ten years from now, we’re going to go down in history as one of the best teams to ever play basketball," Taurasi told the crowd at the rally on Monday. "And when you play sports that’s all you want. No ones going to care about who was MVP."

The team entered on a red carpet that started outside the stadium, lined with fans and then reached a stage, splitting the hundreds sitting and standing with signs and noisemakers in the pavilion of the arena.

Taurasi, who averaged 22.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists in the postseason, carried a large round cardboard penny onto the stage with the No. 13 on one side and a picture of her teammate Penny Taylor on the other.

Taylor had already returned to her native Australia but she was cited as being part of the core along with Taurasi and second-leading scorer Cappie Pondexter that led Phoenix to the two titles.

Coach Corey Gaines called them his "pick-your-poison" trio because if you tried to stop one, one of the others "would kill you."

Taylor, who remained in Australia in 2008 and missed the first half of this season recovering from left ankle surgery, scored 14.3 points and getting 3.4 assists a game in the postseason as the first player off the bench. Taylor hit a pair of crucial free throws in the final minute to help secure the win on Friday, which capped a comeback from being down 2-1 with Game 4 in Indianapolis.

More than one person noted that Taurasi said after the win, when asked what the team needed to do to repeat was to "re-sign Penny Taylor."

Mary Ward, a Phoenix mother of two, said she was a season-ticket holder and brought her daughters to the arena on Monday to show them role models.

"It’s something that I want my daughter to look forward to," said Ward, holding a handmade bright orange sign that read, ‘We Love Our Mercury.’

"I just wanted to support the Phoenix Mercury," she said. "They did a wonderful job and we’ll be back next year."

Mercury owner Robert Sarver attended several games, including the final before driving to Indian Wells, Calif., for the Phoenix Suns’ outdoor preseason game with Golden State on Saturday. He said the Mercury rejuvenated him by showing commitment and mental toughness when facing elimination and teamwork.

"These are all things you don’t see often in sports, or in business," Sarver said. "You guys deserve this championship."

Mercury’s Cappie Pondexter undergoes eye surgery

PHOENIX — The Phoenix Mercury say All-Star guard Cappie Pondexter underwent successful surgery on her right eye, which she injured in last week’s WNBA championship game against the Indiana Fever.

Officials with the WNBA champions say the procedure was done Tuesday to prevent retinal detachment. It was deemed necessary after a collision in Friday night’s decisive Game 5.

Pondexter scored 24 points, helping Phoenix win its second title in three years.

Mercury officials say Pondexter will return to her hometown of Chicago to recover before heading overseas where she’ll play for Russia’s UMMC Ekaterinburg team in the offseason.

Fever to stay in Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Fever will remain in Indianapolis for the 2010 season, despite speculation that ownership would not keep the team.

The Fever lost to the Phoenix Mercury last week in the WNBA Finals.

A letter to the fans posted this week on the team’s Web site — signed by owner and CEO Herb Simon, president Jim Morris and general manager Kelly Krauskopf — says the team is looking forward to another great season in 2010 and for many years to come.

Team officials have said the Fever had lost money each year of their existence, and attendance would have to increase significantly for the team to be safe. The letter noted that the Fever set a WNBA playoffs record for average attendance.

TV viewership increases for WNBA playoffs

NEW YORK — Television viewership was up for the WNBA playoffs this season.

ESPN said Tuesday the five-game finals averaged 548,000 viewers, up 73 percent from 316,000 in 2008. The 13 postseason games aired on ESPN2 averaged 435,000 viewers, a 54 percent increase from the 282,000 last year.

The Phoenix Mercury won their second WNBA title Friday, beating the Indiana Fever 94-86 in Game 5.

College Men

Ex-Kentucky coach, school settle suits for $2.9M

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Former men’s basketball coach Billy Gillispie and the University of Kentucky have settled their cases over his firing for nearly $3 million, the school said Tuesday.

Gillispie was dismissed earlier this year and sued for breach of contract and fraud in May, seeking at least $6 million. The university countersued.

He had not signed a contract during his two years coaching the Wildcats to a 40-27 record but was working under a memorandum of understanding. He charged that he should have been paid $1.5 million per year for four of the five years left on the deal.

In a statement, the university said the lawsuits were settled through mediation. The agreement, signed Tuesday, said Gillispie would receive a little more than $2.98 million. About $260,000 will be paid by the university for attorney’s fees, as well as about $5,600 in mediation fees.

Gillispie’s attorney, Demetrios Anaipakos of Houston, said Tuesday night that Gillispie was glad to have the case settled.

"He looks forward to coaching basketball again soon," Anaipakos, who was in Houston, said in a telephone call to The Associated Press.

Anaipakos said Gillispie would have rather worked things out with the university amicably than file a lawsuit. The agreement signed Tuesday, however, was "significantly" more than the university’s best offer previously, which "vindicated" his decision to sue, Anaipakos said.

The university’s statement said it would have no further comment, but the agreement said the settlement was not an admission of liability and was made only to avoid further expense, controversy and litigation.

The lawsuit, which Gillispie filed in federal court in Dallas, also contended the school’s athletics association was in breach of contract and committed fraud because Kentucky never intended to honor the agreement.

The dispute was not Gillispie’s only remaining legal matter in Kentucky. Last week, a judge set a February trial date in a drunken-driving case against Gillispie. His lawyer has said Gillispie is considering a plea deal.

Gillispie was arrested Aug. 27 after refusing sobriety tests during a traffic stop in which officers said they smelled alcohol on his breath.

The arrest marks at least the third time Gillispie has been accused of driving under the influence, though two previous arrests did not end with a DUI conviction.

His attorney in the DUI case, William Patrick said last week that Gillispie had checked himself into the John Lucas Athletes After Care Program in Texas for alcohol rehabilitation.

Gillispie came to Kentucky from Texas A&M, where he was 70-26 in three seasons with the Aggies and made the NCAA tournament twice, including the Sweet 16 in 2007.

His last season with the Wildcats, they posted a 22-14 mark, tying for the second most losses in the program’s history.

After Gillispie’s departure, Kentucky hired John Calipari, Memphis’ ex-coach, who signed an eight-year, $31.65 million deal.

Michigan’s basketball team has higher expectations

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — 

Michigan's basketball team has gone from losing a school-record 22 games to being a team projected to be ranked and a Big Ten contender in just two years.

In between, the Wolverines won 21 games and advanced to the second round in their first NCAA tournament since 1998.

Coach John Beilein said the breakout season gave Michigan credibility in college basketball.

Beilein does not, though, want the Wolverines to change their mentality in his third season with them.

"We can't lose that hard edge," he said Tuesday during media day. "I sent them a long note just before we came back and said, 'We're still hunters.' As long as I'm coaching here, we're always hunting."

The Associated Press poll will not be released until Nov. 16, but preseason magazines have raised expectations by ranking Michigan as high as No. 9 in the country and third in the Big Ten.

"Hopefully, we get used to that type of image that there are high expectations here," Beilein said. "No one has higher expectations than I do, but I also know we finished seventh in the Big Ten.

"There's still a lot of hurdles we have to go through."

The Wolverines won't have to wait long to find out if they're worthy of the hype because they will face stiff competition the next two months.

Michigan will play Creighton on Nov. 26 in a tournament, then Marquette or Xavier and perhaps Florida State or Alabama. The Wolverines will return to play Boston College at home in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge before going back on the road for tests against Kansas and Utah.

"This is the year to do it," Beilein said.

Michigan returns four starters, led by junior Manny Harris and senior DeShawn Sims, from last year's team that rallied to earn an NCAA tournament bid, beat Clemson and lost to Oklahoma in the second round.

"Whetting their appetite should be motivation, I know it has mine," Beilein said. "We know these things can be done and hopefully there's more out there."

Harris certainly sounds like he's not content with merely matching what Michigan did last year.

"Staying with Oklahoma for a while before losing didn't leave a good taste in my mouth," Harris said. "We want to do even better this year by being a Big Ten contender and making a run in the tournament. If we work hard enough, I think we can do it."

Michigan will tip off the season Friday night with a "Michigan Madness" event that includes 3-point shooting and dunk contests and a scrimmage at Crisler Arena that is free and open to the public. The Wolverines begin the season Nov. 14 at home against Northern Michigan.

In two years, Michigan will be able to practice in a $23.5 million basketball facility that the athletic department has committed to building to keep pace with other programs.

"It's really going to special," Beilein said. "I'm so excited about being part of the planning and finishing. Moving in there will be a special day."

-- Larry Lage

Sophomore Monroe expected to lead no-senior Hoyas

WASHINGTON — For the first time since 1991-92, and only the fifth time in more than a century of Georgetown men’s basketball, the Hoyas do not have a single senior on the roster.

It’s not necessarily the ideal way to try to regain a place among the nation’s elite teams after a step backward last season.

Still, coach John Thompson III has one big reason to be optimistic: Greg Monroe, who opted not to head to the NBA after earning Big East rookie of the year honors.

"On a team this year that does not have any seniors, he is, as a sophomore, one of the leaders on the team," Thompson said Tuesday. "We have seen that, just in terms of the intangibles. Many of the things you don’t see on the court — his role in the locker room, his role within the unit — is much, much different."

A month before Georgetown opens the season by playing at Tulane on Nov. 13, the 6-foot-11 Monroe said he is willing to take on more of a leadership role, something also expected to come on the court from juniors Chris Wright and Austin Freeman.

They ranked third and fourth in scoring on last season’s team, behind departed-for-the-NBA DaJuan Summers and Monroe, and have by far the most game experience of any of Thompson’s players.

"Austin and Chris have been here the longest, so naturally they’ll be the leaders of the team, and I think everybody’s accepted that. But whenever it’s time to be a leader, anybody can take that role. You just have to be more vocal," Monroe said.

"That’s the biggest thing this year: We won’t be focusing on two people to always say the right things. Whatever needs to be said, somebody has to say it."

Last season, he was second on the Hoyas in scoring (13.6 points) and assists (2.5), while leading the team in rebounding (6.5) and blocked shots (1.5). The hope is that Monroe — who said it was an easy decision to remain in school — will improve on those numbers now that he has a year of college experience.

"We go as far as he goes," Wright said.

Georgetown’s aim is to go much further than last season, which became quite a disappointment.

The Hoyas were ranked as high as No. 9 in the AP Top 25 before losing 12 of their last 16 games to finish 16-15, including a first-round exit against Baylor in the National Invitational Tournament.

This followed three consecutive trips to the NCAA tournament, including a Final Four appearance in 2007.

"Because of people that have been here, we have a foundation set, (so) you can go through a year like last year and the sky’s not falling in," Thompson said. "Now, that being said, this group was affected by last year. We all were. Hopefully, we’ll learn the lessons and hopefully the steps that were taken last year will put is in a position for this year’s group not to have the same ending that it did."

-- Howard Fendrich

New Georgia coach Mark Fox focuses on recruiting

ATHENS, Ga. — Before focusing on leading Georgia to an NCAA tournament appearance, first-year coach Mark Fox has a more pressing need.

Winning recruiting battles in his home state comes first, and Fox knows his work has just begun to positively spin the Bulldogs with nearby high school kids.

"That’s an issue that this program has faced," Fox said Tuesday. "I think what we’re focused on is that young people come to Georgia and all their dreams can come true."

Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Florida, Tennessee and South Carolina are visiting the same homes. Fox also must convince recruits that his university offers a better alternative than other regional schools like Clemson and Florida State that the Bulldogs rarely play.

"We want young men to know they can come to Georgia and leave to play in the NBA," Fox said. "They can come to Georgia and leave here with a degree. They can come to Georgia and play in the NCAA tournament. Those are things we have to establish."

In his previous job, Fox was instrumental in helping Nevada earn three NCAA bids in five seasons. Georgia is coming off a 12-20 season and a 3-13 mark in the Southeastern Conference under Fox’s predecessor, Dennis Felton, and former interim coach Pete Herrmann.

Fox already solved his biggest potential problem in May when highly regarded forward Trey Thompkins, the Bulldogs’ top returning scorer (12.6 points) and rebounder (7.9), decided not to transfer.

Another concern was getting other returning players to believe in his ability to wipe out the disappointment that Felton, despite a surprising SEC tournament title in 2008, left behind with a career conferencerecord of 26-59 at Georgia.

Center Albert Jackson, who along with guard Ricky McPhee is one of just two returning seniors projected for lots of minutes, was the first player to verbally support Fox when the new coach held his debut meeting with the Bulldogs.

"I think he can be a good example and a good leader for us," Fox said. "Hopefully he won’t be the lone ranger in that regard."

Fox went 123-43 in five years at Nevada, winning four Western Athletic Conference titles. The Wolf Pack advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament twice, an accomplishment that has helped him show that his insistence on running man-to-man defense and a hybrid version of NBA coach Phil Jackson’s triangle offense can work.

Dustin Ware is the only returning point guard with experience, but Fox signed transfer Gerald Robinson to help in practice. Robinson, who averaged 17.8 points last season at Tennessee State, can’t play until next year.

"I think our players are ready for a fresh start," Fox said. "I think last year was a long year was a long year for them. They would admit that to you. I’ve inherited a group of young people that are very receptive to what we want to do."

-- George Henry

Louisville players face added charges in bar fight

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. — Police have added charges against two University of Louisville basketball players arrested following a fight at a southern Indiana restaurant.

Louisville senior guard Jerry Smith and sophomore forward Terrence Jennings were arrested early Sunday morning and charged with resisting arrest when off-duty police tried to break up a fight at an alumni homecoming party.

Jeffersonville Police Detective Todd Hollis says charges of battery and disorderly conduct against the two players were added on Sunday evening by the arresting officer.

Police struck Jennings twice with a Taser while he struggled with officers, and Smith refused a request to back away while checking on his teammate. The two were released Sunday morning. No court date has been set.

Louisville coach Rick Pitino says the matter will be handled internally.

Purdue G Jackson suspended for opener

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue guard Lewis Jackson has been suspended for two exhibition games and the season opener for violating team and NCAA rules.

The team suspended him for two games after he pleaded guilty in April to charges of illegal alcohol consumption and possession of drug paraphernalia. Jackson was told to complete community service and spend a year under court supervision.

The NCAA suspended Jackson one game for playing in an unspecified NCAA-sanctioned event without approval from his coach and compliance director. He’ll sit out the season opener against Cal State Northridge on Nov. 13.

Jackson started 30 games as a freshman last season and averaged a team-leading 3.3 assists. He’ll return for the Nov. 20 game against South Dakota State.

College Women

Lacey takes over Iowa St. women’s basketball team

AMES, Iowa — Alison Lacey goes into her senior season with the Iowa State women’s basketball team knowing exactly what’s expected of her.

Coach Bill Fennelly made it clear at the Cyclones’ media day Tuesday.

"This is her team," Fennelly said. "There’s no doubt who the leader is. There’s no doubt who the best player is."

Lacey, a 6-foot guard, is the top returnee from a team that went 27-9 last season and got to within one game of the Final Four, losing to Stanford in the NCAA regional finals. Junior Kelsey Bolte is the only other starter back, however, so the Cyclones will have a new look.

Fennelly has five other veterans, but all were role players last season. The top scorer in that group, sophomore guard Whitney Williams, averaged just 2.1 points a game. Everyone else is a newcomer: four freshmen and a junior college transfer.

"We go from five seniors (last season) who probably could have run practice without me being there to players who didn’t know where this building was today," Fennelly said.

"They’re all very talented kids. They’re all players who came here for the program, but also I think with the understanding they have a chance to play right away. The challenge will be how quickly they figure out what it takes to play here and what it takes to play winning basketball in the Big 12."

There are no such questions about Lacey, a three-year starter who led the team in assists last season, was the No. 2 scorer (11.2) and knocked down 55 3-pointers. Fennelly challenged her to take on the leadership role, and she accepted without flinching.

"I feel like it’s my team," Lacey said. "I’m the only senior that has had some playing time. I feel that it’s my job. If that makes it my team, I’m willing to take that on."

Lacey took her responsibilities so seriously that she passed up a chance to play for her home country, Australia, in the World University Games this past summer so she could stay in Ames and work with the new players.

"I thought about it for a long time," she said. "I was going to go, but the more I thought about it, I felt guilty I wouldn’t be here. It was crucial our freshmen felt engaged. I thought it was my role to make sure they were happy, that they knew their stuff."

Iowa State’s biggest hole is in the post because no one returns in that role except reserve Genesis Lightbourne, who played only 11 games last season. That’s where the freshmen come in.

That group includes 6-1 Amanda Zimmerman, who was Miss Iowa Basketball and led Ballard to the Class 3A state championship last year, and 6-7 Anna Prins, who was Miss Basketball in Colorado and played on three state championship teams.

"The past doesn’t matter now," Prins said. "The spot’s open, but anyone can take it. You have to put the work into it."

Fennelly said Lacey needs to increase her scoring and improve her shooting. She shot just 35 percent last season and missed many of the driving shots she made regularly as a sophomore.

"I wasn’t confident in what I did last year," Lacey said. "I feel I could do a lot better than that. So it’s my goal to score more, especially with the lack of experience we have. I think I need to in order to take pressure off other people."

Fennelly wants to see more consistency from Bolte, who averaged 9.4 points as a sophomore and ran hot and cold. She scored at least 20 points in four games, but went scoreless twice and had only two points in four other games.

"Kelsey Bolte has the ability," Fennelly said. "She needs to be someone that goes from nine points a game to 15. That sounds like a lot, but when you think about it, it’s one more 3-point basket, one more shot off the dribble, one more free throw."

The Cyclones also need more scoring from Williams and senior Denae Stuckey, an energetic player who averaged two points a game.

"That’s going to be the theme for all our players," Fennelly said. "When you return 28 points a game, you’ve got to find points somewhere."

Yori says Nebraska can challenge for Big 12 title

LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska coach Connie Yori says her team could legitimately challenge for the Big 12 championship in women’s basketball this season.

Yori said Tuesday that the Big 12 appears a bit down after losing some of its star players from a year ago. And with six players with starting experience returning, Yori says she figures to have her best team in her eight years at Nebraska.

The Huskers were 15-16 overall last season and tied for seventh in the Big 12 at 6-10.

Yori said the Huskers might have the best post players in the conference with the return of Kelsey Griffin from a foot injury. Griffin averaged 20 points and 9 rebounds a game as a junior.