JAYHAWKS STAR FROSH THREATENED WOMAN

tulsa, okla.» One day before top-seeded Kansas opens NCAA Tournament play, court officials released an affidavit that said freshman star Josh Jackson threatened to “beat” a women’s basketball player during a confrontation in December.

Douglas County District Court officials released the affidavit to The Lawrence Journal-World detailing statements from McKenzie Calvert and two other Kansas women’s basketball players who witnessed the argument Dec. 9 outside a bar in Lawrence, Kan. The affidavit was filed by police to justify a court summons Jackson was served March 7; he is charged with misdemeanor criminal damage.

The release was the latest in a series of embarrassing moments this season for both Kansas and its talented freshman — who was suspended for last week’s quarterfinal loss to TCU as punishment for an accumulation of incidents.

Despite the latest news stemming from the December incident, Kansas coach Bill Self remained adamant that Jackson would play in Friday’s opener against UC Davis.

“(Jackson) is a tough-minded individual; I think he’s focused,” Self said. “And certainly his role or playing time or whatnot, whatever, will only be dictated by what happens between the lines. It won’t be dictated by anything else.”

Jackson said he had extra motivation to perform well in the NCAA Tournament because of his suspension.

“What I learned from it is we all make mistakes,” he said. “Kids. You make one mistake, and the only thing you do is don’t make it again.”

Hoosiers fire coach.

Indiana coach Tom Crean was fired after nine seasons.

Athletic director Fred Glass announced the decision as the NCAA Tournament was beginning.

Crean won two Big Ten regular-season championships over the last five seasons but went 18-16 in 2016-17 and missed the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in nine years. That includes each of his first three seasons after he took over a gutted team following an NCAA scandal.

The 50-year-old Crean went 166-135 in nine seasons at Indiana.