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By TIMES WIRES
© St. Petersburg Times, published February 20, 2001
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Embattled coach Denny Crum says rumors that this will be his final season have made doing his job impossible.
The Cardinals (10-16) practiced Monday in Louisville for the first time in a week after road games at DePaul and Utah.
"Things that are being said out there are all half-truths and not-truths," Crum, 63, said. "I can't coach my team and concentrate with this type of stuff going on. I feel I've been put into a position that makes it impossible to do my job."
University president John Shumaker said last week that broadcast reports speculating that Crum's contract was being terminated were untrue. Athletic director Tom Jurich, reportedly a leading candidate for the same job at Indiana, has declined to comment on Crum's situation for weeks.
Crum's contract runs through the end of the 2002-03 season. It contains a termination clause that requires the university to pay Crum $2-million if his employment ends before June 30 and $1.5-million if it ends after that.
Crum's 673 wins rank 13th among Division I men's coaches. But Louisville is 60-59 the past four seasons, including 0-2 in the NCAA Tournament.
Crum declined to say whether he has been offered a buyout. But he did say he hasn't been treated with the respect he believes he has earned.
"I've spent my life trying to build up this university and the athletic department," he said. "I could've made a whole ton of money -- a lot more than I make here -- but I never left because I love the university, and my loyalty I gave to them.
"It's cost me a ton of money. But I've done it anyway because I've wanted to be here. I love it here. If that's the way they want to treat people when they give their loyalty, then they'll have to answer to the consequences."
Crum also lashed out at the athletic department for an article in the Courier-Journal last week that portrayed his program as the main reason for an expected $2.5-million shortfall.
Kevin Miller, associate athletic director for internal operations, said the basketball program is projected to finish $1.1-million short of expected ticket sales. That doesn't include revenue from parking, concessions, merchandising and donations, which are also down.
NO. 17 SYRACUSE 65, UCONN 60: Preston Shumpert broke out of a two-game shooting slump, hitting a school-record eight three-pointers and scoring 34 points for the host Orangemen in the Big East.
Syracuse, which had lost three of four, led the entire way and gave Jim Boeheim his 23rd 20-win season in 25 years as coach.
Albert Mouring led Connecticut with 17 points.
AP TOP 25: After two weeks at No. 2, Stanford returned to the top. The Cardinal made it to No. 1 in the Associated Press poll after North Carolina's loss to Clemson on Sunday, which dropped the Tar Heels to No. 2. Florida jumped from 11th to seventh. Kentucky and UCLA had the week's biggest jumps, UK from 22 to 13, UCLA from 24 to 15.
HOWARD 63, B-CC 49: Reggie Morris scored a season-high 15 points and Hekima Jackson added 14 to lead the host Bison. Reserve guard Tyree Harris' 14 points led the Wildcats (7-17, 4-12 MEAC), who shot 34 percent.
STETSON: Junior center Santos Hampton, who averaged 15 points and 15.5 rebounds in two games, was named Trans America Athletic Conference co-player of the week. He shared the honor with Troy State's Robert Rushing.
PITINO WATCH: Rick Pitino said he is not interested in coaching Rhode Island. University president Robert Carothers said the school contacted Pitino but he "expressed his desire not to be further considered for this position." The Rams are looking to replace Jerry DeGregorio, who said he will resign at the end of the season. DeGregorio checked himself into a hospital Friday and was treated for exhaustion. He has missed the team's past two games but is to coach the team the rest of the season.
UMASS: Frustrated after Saturday's loss to Temple and irritated by the constant swirl of speculation about his job security, coach Bruiser Flint said he might become proactive about his future. "I've got to look after my family, too," he said. "For the last three years, all I've heard is questions about my future. I love it here. I've been here 12 years. My family loves it here. But I've got to look out for them and my career. I'm getting tired of dealing with (the uncertainty) every year." Flint said he would like the administration to offer support, but he believes that may not come, which is why he said he will study jobs that open in the next few weeks.
ACC: Virginia's Roger Mason Jr. and Duke's Chris Duhon were named player and rookie of the week, respectively.
SEC: Kentucky forward Tayshaun Prince, who scored 57 points in two games, was named player of the week.
PAC-10: The conference suspended three officials for misinterpreting a rule and incorrectly ejecting Southern Cal coach Henry Bibby from Thursday's game against Arizona State. Referee Richie Ballesteros was suspended for two league games, and umpires Don McAllister and Jim Giron were suspended for one each.
AP TOP 25: Tennessee replaced Notre Dame as No. 1 in the poll. It was the Vols' 89th time at No. 1. Though UT has been No. 1 more often than any team, its last appearance was Feb. 16, 1999. Notre Dame fell to No. 2, followed by Connecticut. Florida slipped two spots to 11th.
IT'S OVER: The streak lasted almost six years exactly, included humiliating losses for every team in the conference, and ended in a most unlikely way. Old Dominion, winner of 113 consecutive games against Colonial Athletic Association opponents, lost 49-48 Sunday night at James Madison after an off-balance layup that would have given ODU the lead missed with 14 seconds left.