Mack leaves Xavier to become Louisville’s coach
Tubby Smith to coach at High Point
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville has found its new men’s basketball coach, tapping Xavier’s Chris Mack to guide the program back to national contention after a turbulent season in which the Cardinals were linked to a federal investigation and eventually missed the NCAA Tournament.
Louisville’s Athletic Association must approve all contracts and has called a meeting for this morning about a personnel matter, but did not specify whether it was about coaching vacancy.
Louisville spokesman John Karman said in a statement that reports about Mack’s hiring are premature. At this point, Mack’s hiring appears to have to go through the procedural formality of being approved by the ULAA and the school’s board of trustees before becoming official.
Mack led the Musketeers to a 29-6 record and the school’s first No. 1 tournament seeding this season but was upset in the second round by Florida State. He was 215-97 in nine seasons at his alma mater with eight NCAA Tournament appearances and a trip to last year’s Elite Eight.
COACHES MOVING: Tubby Smith, recently fired by Memphis, has signed a five-year contract to coach at High Point, his alma mater. The 66-year-old Smith played for the Panthers from 1969-73 and was inducted into the school’s sports hall of fame two years ago. … Pittsburgh is turning to Jeff Capel to turn around its struggling program. Capel spent the last seven seasons as an assistant under Mike Krzyzewski at Duke. Capel previously served as head coach at Virginia Commonwealth and Oklahoma, taking both schools to the NCAA Tournament during his tenure. The 43-year-old Capel has a 162-110 career record. … Mark Prosser, the son of the late former Wake Forest coach Skip Prosser, has been hired as Western Carolina’s men’s basketball coach. … Former Toronto Raptors coach
Darrell Walker has been hired as the coach at Arkansas-Little Rock. The 57-year-old Walker most recently spent two seasons as the coach at Division II Clark Atlanta University, where he was 45-18.
COACHES STAYING: Tim Miles will be back for a seventh season at Nebraska and talks about a contract extension will begin after the NCAA Final Four, athletic director Bill Moos said Tuesday . ... UMBC men’s basketball coach Ryan Odom has agreed to a new contract, ensuring that the architect of the NCAA Tournament’s greatest upset will remain in Catonsville for at least another season.
ALL-AMERICA TEAM: Oklahoma’s Trae Young took college basketball by storm, leading the nation in scoring and assists. Deandre Ayton played his one season at Arizona with power and athleticism few could match. Versatile big man Marvin Bagley III made his lone year a Duke a memorable one.
The talented trio made history Tuesday by being named to the AP All-America team, the first time three freshmen were named to the first team in its 70-year history.
They were joined by Villanova’s Jalen Brunson and Kansas guard Devonte’ Graham on the team selected by the same 65-member national media panel that selects the weekly AP Top 25.
Among the honorable mention selections were New Mexico State senior Jemerrio Jones, who is the third Aggie to do so in as many years after Pascal Siakam in 2016 and Ian Baker last year. The Western Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament player of the year averaged 11.0 points, 13.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.
NIT: Utah will face Penn State for the NIT championship on Thursday after both won in the semifinals on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.
Justin Bibbins scored 19 points to lead the Utes past Western Kentucky 69-64.
Tony Carr’s 21 points led the Nittany Lions to a 75-60 win over Mississippi State. HOLIDAY DECLARES: UCLA guard Aaron Holiday says he will forgo his senior year to enter the NBA draft.
Holiday averaged a Pac12-leading 20.3 points this season. He earned first team AllPac-12 honors and was named to the league’s all-defensive team.
ROACH: Texas junior guard Kerwin Roach II says he’ll declare himself eligible for the NBA draft in June. But he has no plans to hire an agent, allowing him to return to school.
Roach said Tuesday he wants to hear from NBA teams about his draft prospects and where he needs to improve.
MCCOY: UNLV freshman center Brandon McCoy is leaving school early for the NBA.
A 7-footer originally from Chicago, McCoy was named the Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year in 2017-18 after setting league freshman records with 16.9 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. He was 11th nationally with 18 doubledoubles, shot 55 percent from the floor and blocked 1.7 shots per game.
ALKINS: Arizona sophomore guard Rawle Alkins has declared for the NBA draft and will hire an agent.
MARSHALL: Marshall guard Jon Elmore and two of his teammates have declared for the NBA draft.
Marshall announced that Elmore, guard C.J. Burks and forward Ajdin Penava are entering the June 21 draft but will not hire agents.