Times wires
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Providence hired former Fairfield coach Ed Cooley to replace fired Keno Davis.
Cooley, 41, who led the Stags to a school-record 25 wins and a MAAC regular-season championship, coached his final game at Fairfield on Sunday, a 72-68 loss to Kent State in the second round of the NIT. Cooley, a Providence native, was named the coach of the year in the MAAC.
"I have had the opportunity to spend some time with Ed, and I believe he is the right person to lead our men's basketball team," said Father Brian Shanley, Providence's president.
Providence (15-17, 4-14 Big East) hasn't been to the NCAA Tournament since 2004.
Vols hunting: Tennessee's program appears to be in shambles after the firing of popular coach Bruce Pearl on Monday. But officials insist it's an attractive place to be despite ongoing NCAA compliance problems. They have begun searching for a coach, who will inherit a program that could be facing scholarship losses or a postseason ban as a result of an NCAA investigation that uncovered 10 alleged major violations during Pearl's six-year tenure.
Missouri: Coach Mike Anderson's agent says he is negotiating a new contract with the school amid reports that Arkansas is interested in hiring the architect of the "Fastest 40 Minutes in Basketball." Anderson's agent, Jimmy Sexton, told Memphis radio station WHBQ-AM that while "nothing is imminent," he expects "some resolution … in the next few days." The university's curators must approve any changes to Anderson's existing seven-year, $10.85 million deal.
Washington State: Junior post player DeAngelo Casto was suspended indefinitely for a violation of team rules and will miss tonight's NIT quarterfinal against Northwestern.
NIT: Alec Burks had 25 points and 10 rebounds, helping host Colorado (24-13) hold off Kent State 81-74 to reach the NIT semifinals. The Buffaloes will play tonight's Alabama-Miami winner. Justin Greene scored 20 for the Golden Flashes (25-12).
