Martin leaves Cal for Mizzou
In a whirlwind few hours Wednesday, Cuonzo Martin resigned as the coach at California and was announced as the coach at Missouri. ESPN reported the deal is for seven years and a little more than $ 21 million.
Martin, who was born and raised in East St. Louis, replaces Kim Anderson, who was fired this month after going 8- 24 this season. Martin was 21- 13 this season and 62- 39 in his three- year tenure with the Golden Bears.
Missouri scheduled a ‘‘ campus celebration’’ for Monday to welcome Martin.
Cal announced Martin’s resignation on the heels of its home loss Tuesday to Cal State Bakersfield in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament.
‘‘ We put forth our best effort to retain him, but he told me it wasn’t about Cal,’’ Golden Bears athletic director Mike Williams said. ‘‘ Rather, it was a strong desire to move closer to home.’’
Washington fires Romar
Washington fired coach Lorenzo Romar after 15 seasons at his alma mater. The Huskies finished 9- 22 this season despite the presence of freshman phenom Markelle Fultz, who is projected as a top- five pick in the NBA draft.
Romar compiled a 298- 196 record in his tenure at the school and guided Washington to six NCAA tournaments and to three appearances in the Sweet 16. But the Huskies haven’t reached the tournament since 2011.
Washington owes Romar $ 3.2 million as part of his contract, which ran through 2019- 20.
On the court
Bennie Boatwright scored a career- high 24 points, and USC rallied from a 17- point deficit early in the second half to slip past Providence 75- 71 in a First Four game in Dayton, Ohio.
The comeback victory was a measure of revenge for the 11thseeded Trojans ( 25- 9), who lost to the Friars ( 20- 13) by a point in the first round of the NCAA tournament last season. They will play sixth- seeded SMU on Friday in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the first round of the East Regional.
Chima Moneke had 18 points and 12 rebounds, and UC Davis ( 23- 12) notched a 67- 63 victory against North Carolina Central ( 25- 9) in a First Four game in Dayton, Ohio. The 16th- seeded Aggies earned a berth opposite top- seeded Kansas on Friday in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the first round of the Midwest Regional.
Deontae Hawkins led four players in double figures with 22 points, including a career- high six three- pointers, and Illinois State ( 28- 6) shot 52.5 percent and made 13 threes on its way to an 85- 71 victory against UC Irvine ( 21- 15) in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament in Normal, Illinois.
Steak for everyone?
Cincinnati- area restaurateur Jeff Ruby says he’ll buy steak dinners for each of Northern Kentucky University’s 15,000 students if the 15th- seeded Norse win their first NCAA tournament game on Friday in the South Regional against second- seeded Kentucky in Indianapolis.
Obama likes North Carolina
Former President Barack Obama is picking North Carolina to win the NCAA tournament over Duke. Obama also has Arizona and Kansas in his Final Four.
Sun- Times wires