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FSU forward considers plea

By BRIAN LANDMAN

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 23, 2001

Florida State sophomore forward Rodney Tucker, who missed the season facing a first-degree felony charge of sexual battery on a physically helpless victim, is expected to accept a plea bargain on April 5.

State attorney Willie Meggs would not comment on the proposed offer, one that presumably would pave the way for Tucker to regain his athletic eligibility.

"I know what our position is and our position is not going to change," he said Thursday. "We will all know something on April 5."

Tucker's attorney, Clyde Taylor Jr., could not be reached for comment. He previously called the case a classic "he said, she said," and expected to set a trial date at the court hearing.

In accordance with FSU rules, Tucker, 20, was indefinitely suspended since his arrest on Sept. 29, but was allowed to remain in school and practice with the team. The felony charge carries a maximum sentence of 30 years.

Tampa falls short

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Kentucky Wesleyan advanced to the NCAA Division II national championship game on Saturday with an 85-84 overtime victory Thursday night against Tampa.

Tampa, which ends its season with a 25-7 record, trailed 75-73 with five seconds remaining when Jon Brown was fouled and made both free throws to force overtime.

Tampa led by two with less than a minute left when Kentucky Wesleyan scored and stole a pass that turned into the ejection of two Spartans with 26 seconds remaining.

Elijah Piazza was called for an intentional flagrant foul during a tie-up with Lorico Duncan after the turnover, and teammate Leonard Kelly was ejected for leaving the bench.

Sylvere Bryan led the Spartans with 23 points, 14 rebounds and 5 blocks. James Mereus and Jon Brown added 13 points each and Gecarri Freeman scored 10.

"We played a pretty solid game," Bryan said. "Obviously a different outcome was desired, but we failed to capitalize when we had our opportunity."

Kentucky Wesleyan faces the winner of the Washburn-Western Washington game for the national title Saturday at 1 p.m.

Pitino goes to work

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Rick Pitino, who became coach Wednesday, arrived at the Cardinals' practice facility about 7 a.m. Thursday, 12 hours after he was introduced at a downtown pep rally.

The successor to Hall of Fame coach Denny Crum was running his new players through 40-minute individual workouts by 8, after he met with them briefly Wednesday night.

The current Cardinals said at the rally that they were excited about the hiring. They were slightly less enthusiastic Thursday after each went through Pitino's non-stop, 40-minute workout.

"It was kind of a shock -- I thought I was in shape," said freshman reserve forward Mac Wilkinson. "We're not used to going that hard. It kind of hurt while we were doing it, but it felt good afterward."

The seldom-used Wilkinson was amazed when Pitino immediately corrected a fundamental flaw in his shot.

"I thought, "Man, I could have been using this all year,' " Wilkinson said.

Junior center Joseph N'Sima embraced the intensity of his workout -- and also said it was a radical change from workouts under Crum, who retired March 2.

"When a coach is intense, he usually wants you to play as intense as he is. This is different in that respect," N'Sima said. "It was not shocking, it was just a different style of practice."

RUTGERS: Jay Wright, who led Hofstra to the last two NCAA Tournaments, interviewed with the Scarlet Knights.

"The conversation went very well," athletic director Robert E. Mulcahy said. "He was impressive. But it's the beginning of the search obviously and I need to talk to other people as well."

WISCONSIN: The school's coaching search is proceeding as planned despite a report that its top candidate isn't seriously interested in the job.

Athletic director Pat Richter still plans to meet with Utah coach Rick Majerus early next week, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

Majerus, 53, is the top choice to replace Brad Soderberg. Soderberg, who took over as coach three games into the season after Dick Bennett resigned, was let go Monday.

Majerus, who grew up in Milwaukee and coached at Marquette University, said that he "probably will have a conversation" with Richter about the job.

ESPN's Andy Katz reported, however, that Majerus would listen to Wisconsin's pitch out of respect for close friend Sen. Herb Kohl but has no intention of accepting the job.

TENNESSEE: President J. Wade Gilley can mark one name off his list of candidates for the men's coach: women's coach Pat Summitt.

"I asked Pat Summitt if she would be interested and she said she would not be interested," Gilley said. "She's a great coach. Great basketball mind."

NIT

MEMPHIS 81, NEW MEXICO 63: Kelly Wise and Earl Barron each scored 16 as host Memphis used a strong inside game to beat New Mexico and reach the semifinals.

Memphis faces Tulsa, a 77-75 winner against Mississippi State, Tuesday in New York for a berth in the tournament final.

-- Information from correspondent Tom Kolbe and Times wires was used in this report.

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