Another forfeit for Blue Demons
The Big East announced that the Seton HallDePaul game scheduled for Thursday at Wintrust Arena has been canceled. DePaul will be assessed a forfeit loss because it could not field a team with a minimum of seven scholarship players.
The Blue Demons, who started the season 9-1, were scheduled to host Creighton on Monday but were forced to forfeit that game. Seton Hall also had to forfeit its game Monday against St. John’s. But while No. 15 Seton Hall said it could have seven players by Thursday, DePaul could not.
DePaul athletic director DeWayne Peevy tweeted Monday night: ‘‘The current Big East forfeit policy was put in place and was supported during a different phase of the pandemic, and we will do everything possible to rescind the two losses.’’
† Pete Nance totaled 15 points and eight rebounds to lead Northwestern to a 90-50 victory against Illinois-Springfield at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Ty Berry and Boo Buie added 11 points each for the Wildcats (8-2), who shot 55.2% (32-for58) from the field. NU, which had eight turnovers, is third in the nation with turnovers on only 12.6% of their possessions. James Kelley led the Division II Prairie Stars (4-6) with 14 points.
† Dane Goodwin had 18 points and Paul Atkinson Jr. 17 to lift Notre Dame (5-5) to an 85-52 victory against visiting Western Michigan.
† Zach Edey and Trevion Williams combined for 25 points and 17 rebounds, helping No. 3 Purdue (11-1) rout visiting Incarnate Word 79-59.
† UConn’s women’s team fell four spots to No. 11 in the AP poll, marking its first time out of the top 10 for 313 consecutive weeks, dating to March 7, 2005.
MLB
Kotsay promoted to be A’s manager
The Athletics reportedly have hired Mark Kotsay to be their next manager. Kotsay, 46, was the A’s third-base coach last season and is a former bench coach with the team. He takes over for Bob Melvin, who left to manage the Padres. Kotsay, a 17-year MLB player, played for the White Sox for parts of two seasons after being acquired from the Red Sox at the 2009 trade deadline for Brian Anderson.
BASKETBALL
Kerr named coach of U.S. Olympic team
Warriors coach Steve Kerr will take over for Gregg Popovich as coach of the U.S. Olympic men’s team. Kerr’s assistants will be Erik Spoelstra (Heat), Monty Williams (Suns) and Mark Few (Gonzaga).
† After missing 12 games, Ja Morant (left knee sprain) returned to score 16 points in 28 minutes, but the Grizzlies lost 102-99 to the visiting Thunder.
† Joel Embiid totaled 41 points and 10 rebounds in the 76ers’ 108-103 victory against the host Celtics.