Colleges

Sutton decides to retire

By TIMES WIRES
Published May 20, 2006

STILLWATER, Okla. - Eddie Sutton retired as Oklahoma State coach Friday, ending a 36-year career during which he reached three Final Fours and became the first to take four teams to the Tournament.

Sutton, 70, considered returning after a Feb.10 car crash that led to no contest pleas to drunken driving and other charges.

"This decision is about simply what's best for me and what's best for the basketball program at Oklahoma State," he said.

He will be succeeded by Sean Sutton, an assistant on his father's staff who took over late last season. Eddie Sutton plans to work in a new alcohol education and support program at the university.

He went 798-315 at Creighton, Arkansas, Kentucky and Oklahoma State. Sutton reached the Final Four with Arkansas in 1978 and Oklahoma State in 1995 and 2004. Only Dean Smith (879), Adolph Rupp (876), Bob Knight (869) and Jim Phelan (830) have more wins.

Ex-USF women's assistant Harry Elifson interviewed for the women's coaching job.

Jimmie Sutton, who redshirted as a freshman this past season, will transfer. The 6-foot-10 center, who tore his ACL in April 2005, played in only two preseason games before the injury flared up.

Saudia Roundtree, who won the 1996 Naismith Award while at Georgia, has applied for the vacant assistant's job. Other applicants include Cayll Smith, 538-168 in 25 seasons at Sarasota Riverview High; Jaida Williams, Iowa's director of basketball operations who played for coach Jose Fernandez at Barry; and ex-USF assistant Gary Orr.

Tampa, which turned three double plays, scored four in the third, highlighted by Orlando Rosales' run-scoring single and Jose Jimenez's run-scoring bloop double.

Stephen Barton's two-run homer won it for the host Gators. The Tigers scored two unearned runs in the ninth to tie it and took the lead in the 10th when Bruce Sprowl's single scored Jarred Bogany, who hit a leadoff double. But Chris Woods singled with two outs before Barton's homer.

Tyler Chambliss allowed four hits and one run in 62/3 innings and Jack Rye and Travis Anderson homered for the host Seminoles.

The host Mountaineers scored four in the fourth. To clinch the final berth in the Big East tournament today, USF needs a win or Pitt loss.

Offensive tackle Daniel Inman, a senior this fall, was suspended for the first two games for an undisclosed violation of team rules. Inman started every game last season and was named second-team all-SEC.

Matt Every and Billy Horschel shot 2-under 70 to help Florida sit tied for second, three behind host Arizona, at the West Region tournament. The top 10 after today's final round qualify for the NCAA tournament. ... Nick Smith shot his second 74 to sit tied for 27th and help FSU sit 19th after two rounds of the East Region tournament in Orlando. Defending national champ Georgia leads by two over UNLV.

[Last modified May 20, 2006, 01:58:12]