Pitt hires former OU coach Jeff Capel
Pittsburgh is turning to Jeff Capel to rebuild its reeling basketball program.
The Panthers hired the former Oklahoma coach and longtime Duke assistant on Tuesday, tasking him with returning Pitt to prominence following two tough years under Kevin Stallings.
Athletic director Heather Lyke called Capel a "highenergy leader." Capel will need it, taking over a team that finished 8-24 and 0-18 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Pitt's search included interviews with Thad Matta and Tom Crean and overtures to Danny Hurley, who opted instead to become the head coach at Connecticut. Ultimately, the Panthers brought in the 43-year-old Capel, who spent the last seven seasons in the seat next to Mike Krzyzewski while developing a reputation as one of the top recruiters in the nation.
"Jeff Capel is one of the most dynamic coaches in the country," Krzyzewski said. "He possesses championship-level experience as both a head and assistant coach, as well as distinct knowledge of the Atlantic Coast Conference that will benefit Pitt immediately."
•According to multiple reports, Louisville has hired Xavier's Chris Mack as its new men's basketball coach, hoping he can guide the program back to national contention after a turbulent season in which the Cardinals missed the NCAA Tournament.
Mack led the Musketeers to a 29-6 record and the school's first-ever No. 1 tournament seeding this season but was upset in the second round by Florida State. He was 215-97 in nine seasons at his alma mater with eight NCAA Tournament appearances and a trip to last year's Elite Eight.
Mack, 48, said in a tweet Tuesday that "this situation offered a new and unique challenge that I could not turn down." He did not mention Louisville.
•UNLV freshman center Brandon McCoy is leaving school early for the NBA.
McCoy announced his decision in a release from the school on Tuesday.
A 7-footer originally from Chicago, McCoy was named the Mountain West Conference freshman of the year in 2017-18 after setting league freshman records with 16.9 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.
•Arizona sophomore guard Rawle Alkins has declared for the NBA draft and will hire an agent.
Alkins announced his decision on Twitter on Tuesday.
A physical 6-foot-5 guard from Brooklyn, Alkins tested the NBA waters after his freshman season before deciding to return.
Alkins was Arizona's third-leading scorer at 13.1 points and he grabbed 4.8 rebounds per game while serving as the Wildcats' emotional leader during the 2017-18 season.
•Texas junior guard Kerwin Roach II says he'll declare himself eligible for the NBA Draft in June. But he has no plans to hire an agent, allowing him to return to school.
Roach said Tuesday he wants to hear from NBA teams about his draft prospects and where he needs to improve.
The NCAA allows players to participate in the combine and one NBA team tryout per year without losing eligibility if they don't sign with an agent. Roach also didn't rule out leaving Texas, adding he's "keeping all options open."
Roach averaged 12.3 points and 3.7 rebounds this season and often guarded the opponent's best perimeter player.
•Former Toronto Raptors coach Darrell Walker has been hired as the coach at Arkansas-Little Rock.
Walker's hiring follows the firing of former coach Wes Flanigan this month after a school-record 25 losses by the Trojans. The 57-year-old Walker most recently spent two seasons as the coach at Division II Clark Atlanta University, where he was 45-18.
He coached the Raptors from 1996-98 and the Washington Wizards in 2000, also working as an assistant for three other NBA teams and coaching the WNBA's Washington Mystics.