college basketball news stories on Newser

Tennessee Coach Pat Summitt Steps Down

Kevin Spak — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:24:03 CDT

It's the end of an era: Pat Summitt is stepping down as head coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols after 38 seasons and eight national titles, sliding into a less demanding "coach emeritus" job, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports. Though it was not explicitly given as a reason for her...

Louisville in Final 4 With Win Over Florida

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 18:25:00 CDT

Hated to do that to ya, kid. Rick Pitino nearly came unhinged and his point guard watched the end of the game from the bench. When it was over, though, it was Pitino and Louisville making plans for the Final Four and his protege, Billy Donovan, and the Florida Gators...

No. 1 Spartans Sent Packing

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:07:00 CDT

Louisville figured its game against Michigan State to be low-scoring, a natural expectation with two of the nation's best defenses butting heads. The Cardinals had one big advantage: Gorgui Dieng. Dominating inside, Dieng blocked seven shots and altered several others to anchor a stifling defense that helped Louisville knock off...

18 Reasons to Hate the Blue Devils

Neal Colgrass — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 19:57:52 CDT

Think the Yankees are despised? Now that March Madness is here, Duke-hating "is as much a rite ... as marking up your bracket with a red pen," write Josh Levin and Jim Pagels in Slate . They not-so-kindly run down 18 of the Blue Devils' most loathsome moments: 1986 : Duke fans fall...

March Madness Underdogs to Root For

Kevin Spak — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 07:56:41 CDT

It's that time of year again. Time to fill out a bracket and form deep opinions about dozens of college basketball teams you've barely heard of. Yes, March Madness is upon us (you can download a bracket here ), and that means it's time to look for sleepers and potential...

In Cutthroat College Hoops, a Shining Act of Generosity

Newser Editors — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 10:06:03 CST

For those having a people-are-lousy day, Frank Deford at NPR has an antidote in the tale of Gettysburg College basketball player Cory Weissman, a senior captain taking the court for senior night against Washington College. Which is all fine, except, as Deford writes, "it was, you see, the first start...

DA: We Can't Prosecute Syracuse Sex Abuse Claims

Polly Davis Doig — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:05:15 CST

Bernie Fine will not face state charges related to the sexual abuse allegations against him because the statute of limitations has expired, says the county prosecutor in the case. William Fitzpatrick says that while he can't prosecute the case against the former Syracuse University assistant basketball coach on behalf of...

Pat Summitt Has Early Dementia

Kevin Spak — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 16:22:19 CDT

Pat Summitt has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s type early onset dementia, she revealed in an interview with the Knoxville News Sentinel last night, but she intends to keep her gig as head coach of Tennessee’s Lady Vols. “There’s not going to be any pity party, and I’ll make sure of...

College B-Ball Legend Dies in Bus Crash

Evann Gastaldo — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 09:27:05 CDT

Lorenzo Emile Charles, the hero of the 1983 NCAA championship game, died yesterday in a bus crash in North Carolina. Charles, who caught and dunked a last-second shot from his NC State Wolfpack teammate to win the title over heavily favored opponents, was alone and driving a charter bus when...