Entries Tagged 'National news' ↓

Kentucky was made a No. 11 seed, the worst in the era of 64 (or 65) teams. The Cats will play Marquette, 24-9, in a first-round game in Anaheim on Thursday.

The winner will play either Stanford or Cornell in the second round.

The top seed in the region is Memphis.

Tyrannical Bob Knight will be commenting on college basketball during the post-season this year.

Here’s the ESPN news release:

Bob Knight Joins ESPN as Studio Analyst For Championship Week and NCAA Tournament

Basketball Hall of Famer Bob Knight, the winningest coach in Division I men’s college basketball with 902 victories, will join ESPN as a men’s college basketball studio analyst during the network’s coverage of Championship Week Presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods and through the NCAA Tournament. Knight will begin Wednesday, March 12 from ESPN’s Bristol studios and conclude Monday, April 7 from ESPN’s set in San Antonio, Texas, site of the NCAA Final Four. As part of the agreement, Knight will also appear on select ESPN shows and platforms, including SportsCenter, ESPN Radio and ESPNEWS.

“I think ESPN has been real good for college basketball and I look forward to working with some of their people who I have known a long time,” said Knight.

Norby Williamson, ESPN executive vice president, production, added, “Coach Knight is a legend with a depth of knowledge on tournament basketball. Fans have always found him to be a compelling listen and we are delighted to add his insights to our tournament coverage.”

Knight will serve as an analyst on ESPN’s day-long pre-game, halftime and between-game segments Wednesday, March 12 through Sunday, March 16, as well as on ESPN’s Selection Sunday specials: College GameDay Driven by State Farm at 11 a.m. ET and the two ESPNU Bracketology Presented by Staples selection specials at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

He will also appear throughout ESPN’s studio coverage of the NCAA Tournament, including analysis from Bristol for the first and second rounds on March 20-21 and the regional finals on March 27-28. He will appear via satellite at the conclusion of games on March 23 and 30. During the Final Four, Knight will offer analysis on ESPN’s on-site coverage from San Antonio April 5-7. He will be working alongside Rece Davis, John Saunders, Karl Ravech, Dick Vitale, Digger Phelps, Jay Bilas, Hubert Davis and others.

Knight resigned from Texas Tech on February 4, 2008. He coached for 47 years, compiling a 902-371 record as a head coach with Army (1965-71), Indiana (1971-2000) and Texas Tech (2001-08). In his career, he won three NCAA championships (1976, 1981 and 1987), a NIT championship (1979), led the 1984 U.S. national team to an Olympic gold medal and a Pan-American Games Gold medal (1979). He is the only coach to win all four championships. During his career at Indiana, Knight led the Hoosiers to 11 Big Ten championships and his 1976 squad remains the last Division I men’s team to go undefeated and win the NCAA championship. He was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991.

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ESPN’s telecast of the Tennessee-Memphis game last weekend set a record as the network’s most-viewed men’s college basketball game.

Here’s the news release from ESPN:

The showdown between then-#2 Tennessee and #1 Memphis – won by Tennessee 66-62 – averaged 3,636,000 households and 5,281,000 viewers.

The Saturday Primetime telecast averaged a 3.8 rating, making it ESPN’s highest rated men’s college basketball game since December 22, 1998 (Kentucky vs. Duke in the Jimmy V Classic averaged a 3.9).

It also stands as the most-viewed regular-season men’s college basketball on any television outlet – broadcast or cable – since March 6, 2005 (CBS’ coverage of Duke at North Carolina averaged 3,977,000 households). 

ESPN’s previous most-viewed men’s college basketball telecast was North Carolina at Duke on March 4, 2006, which averaged 3,134,000.  The game was featured on every ESPN entity as part of ESPN’s Full Circle initiative and was seen by an average of 3,780,000 households on ESPN and ESPN2 (which televised the game from the “Above the Rim” camera) combined.

ESPN’s men’s regular-season college basketball coverage this season is averaging 946,000 households and a 1.0 rating, marking 11 % increases in households (vs. 850,000) and ratings (vs. 0.9) over last year through the same point. 

Ebullient commentator Dick Vitale is among this year’s nominees for induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame, it was announced on Friday.

Here’s a ESPN news release:

Dick Vitale, in the midst of his 29^th season as an ESPN college basketball analyst, has been named a finalist for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor to the sport. The list of finalists for the Class of 2008 was announced Friday. Hall of Fame contributors are described as those who have made significant contributions to the game and its growth.

 The inductees will be announced at the NCAA Men’s Final Four in San Antonio on Monday, April 7, with Enshrinement Ceremonies to be held at the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. September 5.

“It’s absolutely always a thrill to learn that you’ve been nominated for the most prestigious honor in your profession - the National Basketball Hall of Fame,” Vitale said. “To be mentioned in the same breath with the likes of Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon, Pat Riley and all the others that have been nominated just brings me great joy.”

Vitale, who missed two months this season as a result of vocal cord surgery on December 18, returned Feb. 6 to call Duke at North Carolina. Prior to that, Vitale had never missed a game in his 29 seasons at ESPN. 

Vitale, a former high school, college and professional basketball coach, has become one of the most well-known commentators in all of sports television. His enthusiasm, connection with fans and knowledge of the game have helped promote and grow the sport, and he has played a pivotal role in the development of the concept of “March Madness.”  He’s also been an outspoken advocate for the sport, unafraid to push for reform when appropriate and has been recognized with numerous honors and awards.

Former Texas Tech head basketball coach Bob Knight will be a guest on ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike in the Morning Friday, Feb. 8 at 9:40 a.m. ET.

Kentucky Coach Billy Gillispie lauded Bob Knight as a “fantastic sportsman” and a mentor for any up-and-coming coach.

“I don’t think there could ever be a basketball coach not affected by Coach Knight,” Gillispie said. “He’s a model for anybody who was ever in coaching or would be in coaching. His ability to teach is something else.”

Knight, the winningest coach in Division I college basketball history, retired on Monday.

Gillispie’s teams at UTEP and Texas A&M played Knight’s teams at Texas Tech.  The UK coach noted how Knight could be complimentary and encouraging to the opposing coach.

“He’s a fantastic sportsman,” Gillispie said. “Fair. Honest. Not afraid to speak what’s on your mind. . . .

“It’s really refreshing to see someone 100 percent of the time telling the truth.”

Gillispie acknowledged the controversial incidents surrounding Knight’s career, but said, “the great things far outweigh anything that could be said of a negative nature.”

ESPN announced Nashville and Cincinnati as the sites for the 2008 Southeastern Conference-Big East basketball challenge.

The 2008 SEC/Big East competition features four games over two nights. In the 2008-09 season, it will be played Dec. 16 at Nashville’s Sommet Center and Dec. 18 at Cincinnati’s U.S. Bank Arena. The annual event matches four teams from the BIG EAST Conference against four teams from the Southeastern Conference.

Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss and Mississippi State will represent the SEC, while Marquette, Louisville, Cincinnati and South Florida will represent the Big East.

On Dec. 16 in Nashville, Vanderbilt will face South Florida while Marquette squares off with Tennessee. On Dec. 18 in Cincinnati, Mississippi State will face Cincinnati and Ole Miss will play Louisville.

Teams invited to participate in the SEC/Big East Invitational are chosen by ESPN in consultation with the conferences and are based on geographic and competitive criteria. 

In 2007, Villanova overcame a 21-point deficit to beat LSU 68-67 in Philadelphia. South Carolina beat Providence by the same sccore in the opener in Philadelphia. Meanwhile, in Birmingham, Ala., Georgetown topped Alabama 70-60, and West Virginia beat Auburn 88-59.

Tickets for the 2008 SEC/BIG EAST Invitational are expected to go on sale in late summer.

Kentucky will be in line to play in the event in 2009.

Andy Katz, the president of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, sent an e-mail to members on Thursday that said the crack calls on coaches’ teleconferences is spreading.

Wrote Katz: “Unfortunately we now have a trend. Thursday, the Big East conference call was hit by pranksters just like the SEC call. Marquette’s Tom Crean, West Virginia’s Bob Huggins, South Florida’s Stan Heath, Connecticut’s Jim Calhoun and St. John’s Norm Roberts were all hit with prank callers that were once again crude and crass in nature.

“The Big East then got the situation under control and Providence’s Tim Welsh, Seton Hall’s Bobby Gonzalez and Louisville’s Rick Pitino went through unscathed. The Big East is investigating.”

Katz asked for media members to help in stopping this kind of activity.

ESPN’s College GameDay, now in its fourth season, will make its season’s debut at Gainesville, Fla., on Saturday. Of course, that coincides with Kentucky’s game at Florida, so that figures to stoke up the Rowdy Reptitles even more.

College GameDay is two one-hour shows each Saturday, one beginning at 11 a.m. and the other at 8 p.m.  Rece Davis hosts with analysts Jay Bilas, Digger Phelps and Hubert Davis.

Bilas and play-by-play man Dan Shulman will work the UK-Florida game.

Other games ESPN plans for the College GameDay crew are Creighton at Southern Illinois on Jan. 26, Arizona at UCLA on Feb. 2, Georgetown at Louisville on Feb. 9, Michigan State at Indiana on Feb. 16, Tennessee at Memphis on Feb. 23, Kansas State at Kansas on March 1 and North Carolina at Duke on March 8.

Two members of Kentucky’s women’s team — Sarah Elliott and Samantha Mahoney — were among 30 nominees named for the 2007-08 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award.

No UK player made the men’s list of 30 nominees. Two Southeastern Conference players — Shan Foster of Vanderbilt and Chris Lofton of Tennessee — made the list. So did Louisville center David Padgett.
The award – presented annually to the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete of the
Year in eight sports – focuses on the “Four C’s” of classroom, character, community
and competition. Winners will be announced at  the men’s and women’s Final Four.

Here are the lists of nominees:

Name Height Class Pos. School Conference

Women
Nkolika Anosike 6’4″ Sr. F/C Tennessee SEC
Tahnee Balerio 5’6″ Sr. G Missouri State Missouri Valley
Essence Carson 6’0″ Sr. F Rutgers Big East
Meagan Cowher 6’1″ Sr. F Princeton Ivy
Julie DeMuth 5’10″ Sr. F Ball State Mid-American
Sarah Elliott 6’6″ Sr. C Kentucky SEC
Cara Enright 5’10″ Sr. G United States Military Academy Patriot
Allyson Fasnacht 5’8″ Sr. G Liberty Big South
Emily Florence 5’5″ Sr. G Washington Pac 10
Hope Foster 6’2″ Sr. F Bucknell Patriot
Sylvia Fowles 6’6″ Sr. C Louisiana State SEC
A’Quonesia Franklin 5’3″ Sr. G Texas A&M Big 12
Carlene Hightower 5’11″ Sr. F La Salle Atlantic 10
Tasha Humphrey 6’3″ Sr. F Georgia SEC
Tyeisha Jackson 5’10″ Sr. G Houston Conference USA
Kyra Kaylor 6’0″ Sr. F William & Mary Colonial
Crystal Langhorne 6’2″ Sr. C/F Maryland ACC
Sarah Jo Lawrence 5’11″ Sr. G George Washington Atlantic 10
Karlyle Lim 5’6″ Sr. G Pittsburgh Big East
Samantha Mahoney 5’10″ Sr. G Kentucky SEC
Jackie McFarland 6’3″ Sr. F Colorado Big 12
Rebekah Parker 5’10″ Sr. G/F Evansville Missouri Valley
Lindsey Pluimer 6’4″ Sr. F UCLA Pac 10
Laura Rodophi 6’2″ Sr. C Indiana State Missouri Valley
Sydney Scott 6’0″ Sr. F Dartmouth Ivy
Andrea Sitton 6’3″ Sr. F Nevada WAC
Sara Stutz 6’0″ Sr. G/F Northwestern Big 10
Kristi Veltkamp 6’3″ Sr. F/C Maryland Eastern Shore MEAC
Lindsey Whorton 6’0″ Sr. G Drake Missouri Valley
Candace Wiggins 5’11″ Sr. G Stanford Pac 10

Men

Name Height Class Pos. School Conference
Keiron Achara 6’10′ Sr. F/C Duquesne Atlantic 10
Jarell Brown 6’2″ Sr. G United States Military Academy Patriot
Brian Butch 6’11″ Sr. F/C Wisconsin Big 10
Jaycee Carroll 6’2″ Sr. G Utah State WAC
Will Daniels 6’8″ Sr. F Rhode Island Atlantic 10
Randal Falker 6’7″ Sr. F Southern Illinois Missouri Valley
Shan Foster 6’6″ Sr. G/F Vanderbilt SEC
Kentrell Gransberry 6’9″ Sr. C South Florida Big East
A.J. Graves 6’1″ Sr. G Butler Horizon
Cliff Hammonds 6’3″ Sr. G Clemson ACC
Justin Hare 6’2″ Sr. G Belmont Atlantic Sun
Mitch Henke 6’7″ Sr. F Santa Clara WCC
Roy Hibbert 7’2″ Sr. F Georgetown Big East
Joseph Jones 6’9″ Sr. F/C Texas A&M Big 12
Sasha Kaun 6’11″ Sr. C Kansas Big 12
Eugene Lawrence 6’1″ Sr. G St. John’s Big East
Jack Leasure 6’3″ Sr. G Coastal Carolina Big South
Chris Lofton 6’2″ Sr. G Tennessee SEC
Drew Neitzel 6’0″ Sr. G Michigan State Big 10
Matt Nelson 6’9″ Sr. F Boise State WAC
DeMarcus Nelson 6’4″ Sr. G Duke ACC
David Padgett 6’11″ Sr. F/C Louisville Big East
Brian Roberts 6’2″ Sr. G Dayton Atlantic 10
Ty Rogers 6’3″ Sr. G Western Kentucky Sun Belt
Drew Shubik 6’4″ Sr. G Sacred Heart NEC
Sean Singletary 6’0″ Sr. G Virginia ACC
Peyton Stovall 6’1″ Sr. G Ball State Mid-American
Jonathan Wallace 6’1″ Sr. G Georgetown Big East
Dane Watts 6’8″ Sr. F Creighton Missouri Valley
Kyle Weaver 6’6″ Sr. G Washington State Pac 10