UConn appeal to play in 2013 tourney denied
UConn appeal to play in 2013 tourney denied
STORRS, Conn. — The NCAA has turned down the University of Connecticut’s final appeal on behalf of its men’s basketball team for a waiver of recently instituted academic requirements — a decision that likely will keep the Huskies out of next year’s postseason.
UConn can’t qualify for the NCAA tournament because of several years of below-standard Academic Progress Rate scores. It had requested the waiver, arguing that recently instituted reforms have led to improved scores over the past two seasons.
On Thursday, UConn said its appeal failed, though the school is still hoping to become eligible for the 2013 postseason by having the rules changed again to allow it to submit the more recent test scores.
Syracuse’s Fab Melo
to enter NBA draft
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse center Fab Melo is entering the NBA draft after a breakout season in which he twice was held out because of eligibility issues.
The 7-foot sophomore from Brazil made the announcement Thursday. He averaged 7.8 points and 5.8 rebounds for Syracuse (34-3) this past season.
He led the Big East in blocks per game and was named the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Racers’ Canaan to return for senior year
Isaiah Canaan didn’t want to “flip a coin” between his chances of being a first- or second-round pick in the upcoming NBA draft.
So, he’s content to come back to Murray State and maybe become a face of college basketball next year in the process.
Canaan, who first announced he’d be back to SiriusXM radio, had been leaning toward staying after leading the Racers with 19 points per game and shooting 45.6 percent from 3-point range, good for third in the nation among players with at least 200 attempts from beyond the arc.
Rays place Kyle Farnsworth on DL
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays have placed closer Kyle Farnsworth on the 15-day disabled list due to a strained right elbow.
The expected move was announced Thursday, one day before Tampa Bay’s opener against the New York Yankees.
An MRI this week revealed a strain of a muscle that’s causing soreness in the elbow. Farnsworth said Wednesday it is the same problem that bothered him last September.
The right-hander went 5-1 with 25 saves and a 2.18 ERA over 63 appearances last season.
L.A. NFL stadium developer releases impact plan
LOS ANGELES — A group seeking to bring the NFL back to Los Angeles unveiled a massive environmental plan Thursday, laying out ways to deal with the traffic nightmare that throngs of fans could create around the proposed $1.4 billion downtown stadium on game days.
Required under a state agreement to make the planned 72,000-seat Farmer’s Field environmentally friendly, Anschutz Entertainment Group said it will spend about $35 million to reduce the traffic footprint by, among other things, expanding the nearby U.S. 101 freeway and a commuter train station.
The environmental impact report has a goal of having 25 percent of fans use alternative transportation, with 5,000 people estimated to walk or bike to games.
Venus joins Serena
in quarterfinals
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Venus Williams can’t remember the last time she took on younger sister Serena on the tennis court. Their next meeting may not be too far off.
Venus and Serena both reached the quarterfinals of the Family Circle Cup on Thursday with straight-set victories. Venus defeated Anastasia Rodionova 7-5, 6-2 on center court shortly after Serena ousted Marina Erakovic, 6-2, 6-2. Should the sisters win on Friday, it would set up a Saturday showdown in the semifinals.
By wire sources