Louisville suspends men’s basketball coach Mack
The University of Louisville said Friday that it is suspending head basketball coach Chris Mack for six games for failing to follow procedures in handling an extortion attempt by one of his assistants.
Mack “failed to follow university guidelines, policies, and procedures in handling the matter,” Louisville athletics director Vince Tyra said.
Louisville said that Mack would be suspended without pay from Nov. 8 through Nov. 27 and would miss six non-ACC games.
“I am confident that Coach Mack now understands the impact of his actions,” Tyra added. “We all have confidence in him moving forward.”
Mack said he accepts the suspension and “could have handled matters differently.”
Mack’s former assistant, Dino Gaudio, pleaded guilty in June to a federal charge of attempted extortion.
Gaudio was sentenced in federal court to a term of probation and a $10,000 fine for the attempted extortion.
The university said it determined Mack was a victim of the attempted extortion.
More college basketball
West Virginia’s Bob Huggins agreed to a two-year contract extension that includes the option for him to step aside or continue coaching after the 2023-24 season. Under the agreement, Huggins, who turns 68 next month, will earn $4.15 million in each of the next three seasons.
Baseball
Hector Roa went 2 for 4 with two runs scored and four RBIs to lead the Washington Wild Things (45-36) past Equipe Quebec (42-39), 8-3. Tristan Peterson went 2 for 4 and Joe Campagna went 2 for 3 in for the Wild Things.
Hockey
The Minnesota Wild signed defenseman Jordie Benn to a one-year, $900,000 contract, adding another veteran option after an offseason of change on the blue line. The 34-year-old Benn had one goal, nine assists and a plus-7 rating over 39 games with the Vancouver Canucks and Winnipeg Jets last season.
• With his future in Buffalo uncertain, Sabres captain Jack Eichel is changing agents while in the midst of a long-standing dispute with the team over how to treat a neck injury.
Tennis
Second-seeded Anett Kontaveit of Estonia and IrinaCamelia Begu of Romania advanced to the championship match in the inaugural Tennis in the Land in Cleveland in the WTA 250 tournament.
• Olympic gold medalist Alexander Zverev again denied abuse allegations made by a former girlfriend and said he would support the introduction of a domestic violence policy by the men’s pro tour.
• The twice-postponed finals of the Billie Jean King Cup will be played in Prague from Nov. 1-6, the International Tennis Federation said.
Soccer
Miguel Berry scored twice in a 1:18 span and the Columbus Crew beat FC Cincinnati, 3-2, to snap a sixgame losing streak. Columbus (7-9-6) won for the first time since July 24. Cincinnati (3-9-8) is winless in a franchise-record 11 matches, with seven ending in draws.
• The Vancouver Whitecaps fired head coach Marc Dos Santos along with his brother, assistant coach Phil Dos Santos.
Paralympics
Former Division I soccer player Nick Mayhugh won the 100m T37 classification in 10.95, breaking the world record he set hours earlier and claiming the gold medal for the USA. in his first Paralympics in track and field in Tokyo.
• Anastasia Pagonis, 17, beat her own world record in the 400m freestyle to win the United States its first gold medal at the Tokyo Paralympics.
• After breaking the women’s 100m backstroke world record in the prelims, 17-year-old American Gia Pergolini clocked 1:04.64 in the final to best it again, winning gold and beating ex-record holder Carlotta Gilli of Italy.
• Taking its first lead of the game with seven minutes to go, the defending champion U.S. men’s wheelchair basketball team, led by Brian Bell’s 20 points, squeaked out a 58-55 victory against Germany.
• In a fierce battle between USA’s Chuck Aoki and
Canada’s Zak Madell, who scored a respective 30 and 31 goals, the Americans came out on top, 58-54, to notch their second wheelchair rugby win in Tokyo.