Evansville puts men’s coach on leave for probe
Evansville placed men’s coach Walter McCarty on administrative leave and is conducting an internal investigation into alleged violations of the school’s Title IX policy.
The university released a statement Friday saying it has received reports about McCarty’s off-court behavior, including a recent incident that appeared to be a Title IX violation. A national law firm will conduct the investigation, the statement said, and Evansville will make a “fair and informed decision” on McCarty’s status based on its results. The school did not disclose further details about the investigation and said it would not discuss the specifics.
Title IX is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex.
Evansville added that it takes reports about harassment or discrimination seriously and offers support for students and employees who believe they have been victims of inappropriate behavior.
The school’s action comes six weeks after after McCarty guided the unranked Purple Aces’ stunning 67-64 upset of thenNo. 1-ranked Kentucky, his alma mater, on its home court. McCarty played for the Wildcats’ 1996 national championship team. He was the center of a loud, delirious postgame celebration in the visitors locker room after Evansville’s first upset of the top-ranked team in three tries.
“This is at the top, to come back home and play against the No. 1 team in the country and to be able to perform the way that we did,” McCarty said at the time. “I don’t know if anything matches this, other than winning the national championship from a basketball standpoint. It’s awesome to come in here and play on this type of stage [and win]. I’ve got great group of guys, I really do.”
The Purple Aces (9-4) lost three of their next four games after beating Kentucky Nov. 12 but have won six of the past seven entering a Missouri Valley Conference opener Tuesday at Missouri State.
Evansville said assistant Bennie Seltzer will serve as interim coach.
Michigan
Forward Isaiah Livers is out indefinitely with a left groin injury. The school announced Livers’ status Friday, two days before the 11th-ranked Wolverines play host to Massachusetts Lowell. Livers was hurt in a win last week against Presbyterian. Michigan described the injury initially as a muscle strain. Livers, a 6foot-7 junior, is averaging a team-high 13.6 points. The injury could be a significant one for Michigan, which resumes Big Ten play after this weekend. The Wolverines play Jan. 5 at rival Michigan State.
Penn State
Two forwards will be on display as Jimmy Boeheim and Cornell (1-9) will go up against Lamar Stevens and No. 20 Penn State (10-2). The junior Boeheim has scored 30 percent of the team’s points this season and is averaging 21.4 over his past five games. Stevens, a senior, is averaging 13.6 points over the previous five games. Stevens has averaged 16.2 points and 7.6 rebounds while Mike Watkins has put up 10.5 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.8 blocks. For the Big Red, Boeheim has averaged 19.3 points and 6.2 rebounds while Terrance McBride has put up 10.3 points. Boeheim has connected on 27.1 percent of the 59 3-pointers he has attempted and has made 5 of 17 over the previous three games. He also has converted 78.6 percent of his free throws this season.
Cornell has dropped its past seven road games, scoring 64.1 points and allowing 73.6 points during those contests. Penn State has won its previous eight home games, scoring an average of 80.4 points while giving up 61. Penn State is ranked second in the Big Ten with an average of 73.6 possessions per game. The uptempo Nittany Lions have pushed that total to 75.1 possessions per game over their past three games.