College basketball

Georgia scandal compels Harrick to retire

ATHENS, Ga. -- Jim Harrick's coaching career ended Thursday when he resigned as coach at Georgia in the wake of a scandal that cost his son a job as an assistant and caused the school to withdraw from postseason play.

In a prepared statement, Harrick, 64, said he was retiring from coaching.

"My players have always been important to me, and I did not want the media attention or questions about my status to distract them anymore. I am grateful to the University of Georgia and our fans for their support over the last four years," he stated.

President Michael Adams and athletic director Vince Dooley made a joint announcement at a news conference Thursday night. Harrick was not present.

Dooley said Harrick's attorney contacted attorneys from the university "within the last 24 hours" to communicate his desire to retire. Adams said he was off campus with donors when he was contacted about the decision and returned as a settlement was reached.

University officials said that under the agreement, Harrick will receive his remaining base pay, broadcast payments and a Nike payment, which total $254,166. Had he served the remainder of his contract, he would have been entitled to $2.1-million.

Harrick was suspended with pay March 10 as the university announced findings of academic fraud involving Jim Harrick Jr., the assistant coach who granted credit hours to three players who did not attend the class in basketball strategy he was teaching.

Harrick Jr. was suspended before the end of the season when former player Tony Cole's accusations were telecast by ESPN.

Georgia subsequently found that current players Chris Daniels and Rashad Wright also had received the fraudulent credit, leading the school to declare them ineligible and withdraw the No. 25 Bulldogs from the SEC and NCAA tournaments. Harrick Jr. also was told his contract would not be renewed.

A confidentiality clause is included in a six-page retirement agreement signed by Dooley and Harrick Thursday, stating:

"Mr. Harrick, the University and the Association ... agree that they will protect Confidential Information ... (which) means (a) any and all information related to Mr. Harrick's alleged violation of NCAA, SEC or University regulations, except to the extent necessary to comply with any investigations by the NCAA, and (b) any and all other allegations of wrongdoing made against Mr. Harrick, except to the extent that it is compelled by law to disclose such allegations."

The agreement further states Georgia will "not disparage Mr. Harrick."

Dooley said he and Harrick spoke briefly Thursday.

"I shook his hand and told him that I was sorry," Dooley said.

Harrick met briefly with his players, none of whom was available for comment.

"I don't know all his reasons," Dooley said. "There are no findings that I know of that directly associates him with any violations."

NIT

ST. JOHN'S 79, UAB 71: Anthony Glover scored 16 as the host Red Storm advanced to the semifinals.

Marcus Hatten added 15 points and Grady Reynolds had 14 and 14 rebounds for St. John's (19-13), which faces Texas Tech on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.

A jumper by Eric Bush brought the Blazers (21-13) within 53-52 with 8:21 left, but the Red Storm took a 64-58 lead with 4:26 left when Hatten closed an 11-2 run with a fastbreak layup.

MINNESOTA 63, TEMPLE 58 (OT): Rick Rickert had 15 points and 13 rebounds as the visiting Golden Gophers advanced.

Minnesota (19-12) returns to the Final Four at Madison Square Garden for the first time since winning the NIT in 1998. It faces Georgetown at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

The loss ends an improbable final six weeks for the Owls (18-16), who started the season by losing five in a row and 11 of 14, the worst start in program history. Temple ended the season by winning 11 of 14.

In the final minute of regulation, the Gophers, holding a one-point lead, lost the ball out of bounds with 34.6 seconds. David Hawkins made a free throw to tie it at 54 with 13.9 seconds left.

NCAA looks into USF's self-reported violation

TAMPA -- The South Florida department of athletics received a letter of preliminary inquiry from the NCAA enforcement staff involving a self-reported violation regarding academic dishonesty by men's basketball player Greg Brittian, athletic director Lee Roy Selmon said.

The NCAA will schedule a visit to the USF campus for interviews to determine if further inquiry is needed. The NCAA has indicated it intends to complete the inquiry by June 1.

"It is disturbing whenever there is an NCAA violation," USF president Judy Genshaft said. "We fully support the NCAA's efforts to raise conscientiousness about academic integrity. The University of South Florida is committed to academic integrity -- whether it is in the athletic department or any other department. We have no tolerance for academic fraud."

Subsequent to his immediate suspension upon discovery of the academic dishonesty, Brittian was declared ineligible for the 2002-03 season, which would have been his senior year.

"We have full confidence in the manner in which we conducted our internal review of this matter," Selmon said.

Division II

LAKELAND -- Eugene Dabney and Marlon Parmer combined for 52 points and 17 rebounds to power Kentucky Wesleyan to an 84-64 victory over Bowie State and into Saturday's national title game. Kentucky Wesleyan (31-3) will make its record sixth straight and 13th overall appearance in the title game.

NORTHEASTERN ST. 84, QUEENS 69: Darnell Hinson scored 18 and made five 3-pointers to lead the six players in double figures for the Redmen (31-3), who advanced to the final for the first time in school history. Queens finished 29-4, a school record for wins.

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