Tennessee: Chism’s Videos With Friend Might Be a Violation

Tennessee junior forward Wayne Chism might have violated rules for student-athletes by appearing in a series of videos with friend Mike Norton, who owns All Pro Truck Tire Service. In the videos, Chism wears a shirt bearing the tire company’s logo. He also used profanity and cracked at least one racist joke. School officials demanded that Chism remove the videos from YouTube and Facebook when they learned about them. GoVolsXtra.com collected opinions from Chism, who averaged 13.7 points and 8.0 rebounds per game last season, about the videos.

“I didn’t ever think anyone would go snitch on me like that,’’ Chism said in the final video posted on YouTube. “I need to stop making videos because I didn’t think anybody would call the University of Tennessee basketball office and talk about, ‘He (Chism) is cussing a lot on YouTube.’ ”

Chism appeared in the various videos with Norton, and in a few he cursed as he made jokes about such every day activities as driving a stick-shift truck.

Chism also made a self-deprecating joke about the difference between a white man and black man running through a neighborhood as he worked out on an elliptical trainer in another video.

Chism was shown in short videos riding a four-wheeler, slinging tires, riding and jumping a bicycle at a skate park, driving a truck, playing video games and eating wings.

“To the people who liked the videos we appreciate you watching,’’ Chism said on the final video. “You’ll look on Facebook and YouTube and see all the videos gone.

“The people that called and snitched on me, not cool. But I guess I appreciate that because they said they don’t want to make my image bad.’’

The videos clearly were a bad idea that likely is harmless. However, the incident re-emphasizes that players must scrutinize nearly every action to determine whether they are jeopardizing their eligibility.

Xavier: Brown Decides He’s Ready for the NBA

Xavier forward Derrick Brown has decided he will remain in the NBA Draft instead of returning to the Musketeers for a fifth season and final year of eligibility. He averaged 13.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game this past season, shooting better than 43 percent from three-point range. New Xavier coach Chris Mack said he knew for several weeks that Brown intended to remain in the draft.

Kentucky: Wall to Complete 75 Hours of Community Service

Kentucky’s future point guard, John Wall, will help improve the Wake County, N.C., community before looking to boost the Wildcats’ backcourt. As part of a deal with Wake County officials, Wall admitted guilt and entered a program for first-time offenders after facing charges of breaking and entering. He must complete 75 hours of community service, pay court and program costs, and avoid trouble for six months.

USC: Johnson Gets Another Year of Eligibility

USC senior forward Marcus Johnson will get a second senior season after the NCAA granted him a season of competition waiver. Johnson sought to reclaim a year of eligibility for 2007-08, when he transferred from Connecticut to USC after playing in only one exhibition game with the Huskies. The NCAA added that Johnson must miss the first two games of the upcoming season. He averaged 3.1 points and 1.8 rebounds per game this past season.

Wake Forest: Gaudio Reunites With Tulsa Assistant

Wake Forest coach Dino Gaudio has hired Dave Wojcik as an assistant coach. Wojcik comes to Winston-Salem after working at Tulsa for the past four seasons, including as associate head coach this past season. According to a university press release, Gaudio and Wojcik have history together, in addition to connections to former Demon Deacon coach Skip Prosser, who died in 2007.

Wojcik joins Rusty LaRue as new additions to the Deacon coaching staff for the 2009-10 season. The two positions opened up when former assistant coach Pat Kelsey left to become the associate head coach at Xavier and when assistant coordinator of basketball operations Ryan Reynolds went to Arizona to join the staff of longtime mentor Sean Miller.

Wojcik comes to Winston-Salem to reunite with Gaudio, whom he played for in his prep days at Wheeling Central Catholic (W.Va.) High School and then coached under at Loyola (Md.) College. 

Wojcik not only has deep-rooted ties to Gaudio but also to former Demon Deacon head coach Skip Prosser. He won a West Virginia state title under Gaudio in 1987 and then went on to play at Loyola from 1988-91.

Wojcik returned to his alma mater in 1993-94 as an assistant under Prosser, helping the Greyhounds win the MAAC title and advance to the school’s only NCAA Tournament appearance.

He then followed Prosser to Xavier and spent three seasons (1995-97) as an assistant coach with the Musketeers. During his time in Cincinnati, in which he coached alongside current Wake Forest associate head coach Jeff Battle, Wojcik helped Xavier reach two NCAA Tournaments and win 59 games.

SEC: Commish Wants Tougher Schedules

SEC Commissioner Mike Slive told his conference’s coaches that they need to schedule more difficult opponents in the non-conference portion of their schedules to help the conference fare better in the NCAA Tournament. Only three teams reached the NCAA Tournament this past season, and none reached the Sweet 16. Slive was the selection committee’s chairman for this past season and received a better understanding of the committee members’ train of thought when evaluating teams. Some of the conference’s coaches objected to Slive’s comments despite last season’s weak results, according to the Associated Press.

Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl said the SEC has endured “the perfect storm” with new coaches in the last few years combined with a lot of youth last season.

The weak nonconference schedule cannot be overlooked.

According to RPI expert Jerry Palm, 55.3 percent of the SEC’s non-conference wins this past season (68-of-123) came against teams with an RPI of 201 or worse. That included a 54-0 record against teams with an RPI of 251 or worse.

“We don’t think anything in basketball is broke,” said Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury, chairman of the SEC basketball coaches. “Our league year in and year out is one of the best in the country. But we know when Kentucky and Florida have to be good (both advanced to the NIT quarterfinals this past season).

Kentucky: Sue Us? No, We Sue You!

Kentucky officials filed a counter lawsuit against former coach Billy Gillispie, denying that the university owes him any money. Gillispie filed a lawsuit in Dallas, where he and Kentucky officials signed a memorandum of understanding in 2007, that argues the university owes him $1.5 million a year for four of the five years remaining on his deal. The courts will need to decide whether that memo is tantamount to an enforceable contract. Kentucky officials filed their suit in Franklin Circuit Court in Kentucky.

Big Ten: Three Teams Cut Back on Paper

Ohio State, Michigan and Wisconsin announced that they will cease production of printed media guides in favor of electronic versions. The schools said the move will likely save $250,000 per year. They hope other Big Ten schools follow their lead.

Southeast Missouri State: Nutt Completes Staff With Gerdeman

New Southeast Missouri State coach Dickey Nutt has hired Kyle Gerdeman as an assistant coach to fill out his first staff with the Redhawks. Gerdeman comes to Southeast Missouri State after working at Moberly Area Community College for three seasons. He graduated from Southeast Missouri State in 1998.

Arkansas: Razorbacks Bring in Former Hawkeye

Former Iowa guard Jeff Peterson has decided to transfer to Arkansas and will have two years of remaining eligibility starting in 2010-11. He averaged 10.6 points per game last season for the Hawkeyes and started 25 games.

Memphis: NCAA Charges Tigers With Major Violations

The NCAA has charged Memphis with major violations related to a player on the Tigers’ 2007-08 Final Four team that lost to Kansas in the championship game. The player’s name was redacted from the report. The NCAA alleges that Memphis knew of “fraudulence or misconduct” related to the player’s SAT exam and later provided more than $2,000 in travel to road games to one of that player’s associates. Memphis could face punishment that includes vacating all 38 wins from the 2007-08 season, including its run to the championship game.

The NCAA notified Memphis of the violations in a letter (PDF) Jan. 16 while John Calipari was still the coach. Calipari left Memphis to become Kentucky’s head coach March 31. When the school hired Calipari, Kentucky officials said they had conducted due diligence on Calipari. The NCAA has requested that Calipari attend a hearing of the NCAA Committee on Infractions June 6.

Clemson: Tigers Lose Oglesby to Europe

Clemson junior guard Terrence Oglesby informed coach Oliver Purnell and the Tigers that he will leave the team to play professional basketball in Europe. Oglesby averaged 13.2 points per game this past season and shot nearly 40 percent from three-point range. Oglesby was an offensive spark plug for Purnell because of his solid long-range shooting. Oglesby said in a press release that he looks forward to pursuing a professional career but will miss the Tigers.

“I have enjoyed my time at Clemson University and want to thank all the fans and friends for being supportive. My decision is based solely on chasing the dream of being a professional basketball player. I would like to thank all my coaches and teammates for a memorable two years, and wish them the best of luck in the future.”

Oglesby, a native of Cleveland, TN, averaged double figures both of his seasons in a Tiger uniform. He concludes his Clemson career ranked in the top 10 in school history in three-point goals (177), three-point goals per game (2.68), and three-point accuracy (.395).

Georgia Tech: Bell Can Play Next Season

Georgia Tech senior guard D’Andre Bell received word from doctors that he is healthy enough to play for the team next season. Bell missed all of this past season while recovering from spinal stenosis, a spinal condition that required surgery in December. He maintained his final year of eligibility with a medical redshirt. In a university press release, Bell said he looks forward to returning to the team.

Bell, who averaged 6.6 points and 2.1 rebounds during the 2007-08 season and is recognized as one of the Atlantic Coast Conference’s top defenders, visited his spinal surgeon, Dr. Robert Watkins, late last week.

“I’m an optimistic person, and I am huge on speaking things into existence,” said Bell. “Though negative thoughts may have crossed my mind at times, I never uttered that I would never play again, and the end result is a second chance.

Kentucky: Gillispie Sues Former Employer for $6 Million

Former Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie sued the university for $6 million because he said Kentucky fired him without cause. In the lawsuit, Gillispie argues that the university should pay him $1.5 million for four of the five years that remained on his contract before Kentucky fired him in March. Gillispie was the Wildcats’ coach for two seasons and compiled a 40-27 record. The Wildcats missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time in nearly two decades this past season.

Manhattan: Rohrssen Rolls the Dice With One-Handed Center

Manhattan coach Barry Rohrssen has signed Kevin Laue, a 6-10 center with no left hand, to the 2009-10 recruiting class. Rohrssen said he signed Laue in hopes that his work ethic will help establish a winning attitude. In addition, Laue has the physical ability to be a factor on defense. He averaged about 10 points and five rebounds per game playing against other Division I recruits this past season. The Associated Press offers more information about Laue’s story, including describing the incident that caused Laue to lose his hand.

A native of Northern California, Laue played a postgraduate season for Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia this year, hoping to impress college recruiters. Coach Fletcher Arritt said Laue averaged about 10 points and five rebounds, competing against many Division I prospects.

When Laue was born the circulation in his left arm was cut off by the umbilical cord. He uses his upper arm to help receive passes, and his large right hand allows him to easily palm the ball.

“He can run as well as anybody,” Arritt said. “He can jump as well as anybody. You don’t need two hands to block shots around the basket.”

Kentucky: Three Players Choose Not to Return

Kentucky will enter next season without A.J. Stewart, Donald Williams or Jared Carter, who will play elsewhere. Stewart is a sophomore forward and averaged 2.0 points and 1.2 rebounds in 5.7 minutes per game. Williams is a freshman guard who sat out all of this past season. Carter finished his senior season but toyed with applying for a final year of eligibility because he missed most of the 2996-07 season with a shoulder injury. He averaged 1.0 points in 3.3 minutes per game. The departing players make room for coach John Calipari’s growing recruiting class. The team still has 15 scholarship players scheduled to be on the roster next season, which is two more than the NCAA’s limit.

Tulsa: Golden Hurricanes Bring in Magley

Former Western Kentucky forward D.J. Magley will transfer to Tulsa after playing two seasons with the Hilltoppers. Magley averaged 2.5 points and 2.5 rebounds per game this past season. He played in all 34 games and averaged 10.9 minutes per game. Magley left Western Kentucky to look for more playing time and also considered attending Valparaiso and Florida Gulf Coast.

Florida: Calathes Picks the Pros — in Greece

Florida sophomore point guard Nick Calathes has decided to forgo his collegiate eligibility and join the pros — in Greece. Calathes has dual citizenship in Greece and played for the Greek National Team last summer. However, his decision is still shocking because several NBA teams appeared interested in drafting Calathes in the first round this year. Calathes reportedly will sign a deal with Panathinaikos, a powerful team in Greece, and will be eligible for the 2010 NBA Draft. However, any team that picks him likely would need to pay Panathinaikos a buyout.

Ohio: Kellogg Lands With Bobcats

Former Providence guard Alex Kellogg has decided to transfer to Ohio and will have two years of remaining eligibility starting in 2010-11. The sophomore did not score in 71 minutes with the Friars last season. He grabbed 12 rebounds in 19 games. Kellogg is the son of former Ohio State Buckeye and current CBS analyst Clark Kellogg.

Villanova: Wright Says He’s Happy With Wildcats

Villanova coach Jay Wright met with Philadelphia 76ers officials to discuss the team’s open coaching position but has decided to remain with the Wildcats. He asked the 76ers to remove his name from consideration for the position. Wright led the Wildcats to their first Final Four in more than 20 years this past season.