MORNING ROUNDUP
Louisville interim coach David Padgett hires Greg Paulus as an assistant
Louisville interim coach David Padgett has hired Greg Paulus as an assistant, the latest addition to the men's basketball staff.
Paulus played at Duke from 2006-09 before switching to football and becoming Syracuse's starting quarterback as a graduate transfer. He was an Ohio State assistant the past four seasons and previously worked at Navy.
Padgett, a former center at Louisville, now officially has control of the program after Rick Pitino was fired amid a federal investigation of college basketball. Last week Padgett hired veteran coach Trent Johnson. The interim coach did not specify a timetable for adding another assistant after Paulus.
Paulus' arrival follows the school's announcement last week that it had "parted ways" with assistant coach Jordan Fair and exercised a contract option to terminate him with cause. Fair and Cardinals associate coach Kenny Johnson were placed on paid administrative leave Oct. 6 as Louisville deals with the federal bribery probe of recruits.
Rio 2016 leader Carlos Nuzman to be released from jail
Carlos Nuzman, the head of last year's Rio de Janeiro Olympics, will be released from jail following a decision in a top Brazilian court.
The 75-year-old Nuzman was arrested two weeks ago amid an investigation into a vote-buying scheme to bring the 2016 Games to Rio. He is expected to leave prison on Friday.
Members of Brazil's Superior Tribunal of Justice decided Nuzman's arrest was not proportional to the accusations made against him.
The court also said Nuzman, former president of the Brazilian Olympic Committee, cannot leave Brazil.
On Wednesday, Brazilian prosecutors announced several formal charges against the sports executive, including corruption, money laundering, tax evasion and running a criminal organization.
Big Ten expands conference basketball schedules next season
The Big Ten is increasing its conference schedule to 20 games in men's basketball and 18 in women's basketball, starting in the 2018-19 season.
The conference announced the move Thursday before its men's basketball media day at Madison Square Garden.
Under the new format, men's teams will play seven opponents twice and six teams once, splitting the single matchups evenly between home and away. In-state rivalries Illinois-Northwestern, Michigan-Michigan State and Indiana-Purdue will be played twice annually.
The women's schedule will include five opponents playing twice and eight once, split evenly between home and away. It also will emphasize state and regional rivalries.
Big Ten men's teams currently play 18 conference games and the women's teams play 16.
South Carolina still waiting for invitation to White House
Vanderbilt coach Stephanie White says it is a "slap in the face" to the Gamecocks that South Carolina still is waiting for an invitation to the White House as the national women's basketball champions.
Texas A&M coach Gary Blair took it a step further: He suggests President Donald Trump call South Carolina coach Dawn Staley personally and ask her to visit.
"She deserves that honor and her team — but more importantly the country — needs to see a women's basketball team in the White House being recognized. That's something that they've earned," said Blair, who visited the White House after his Aggies won the 2011 national title.
"I'm sure she'll eventually get that invitation, but it would mean more if Trump would pick up the phone and call her personally and say, 'We'd love to have you,'" Blair said.
White, who visited the White House as a national champ with Purdue and later as a WNBA champion with the Indiana Fever, said Thursday at SEC media day that it bothers her and isn't right.
"I certainly think when you're inviting every other champion that it's a slap in the face," White said.
The office of U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said recently an invite would be coming later. Haley, the former South Carolina governor, is friends with Staley.
Staley says while her fellow SEC coaches are standing up for what's right, she is focused on her next NCAA Tournament berth.