Jud Heathcote dies
Jud Heathcote, who guided Michigan State and Magic Johnson to the 1979 NCAA championship, has died. The school said that Heathcote, who was 90, died Monday in Spokane, Wash. Heathcote won three Big Ten titles and appeared in nine NCAA tournaments during his 19-year career at Michigan State. Spartans coach Tom Izzo, who was hired by Heathcote, was promoted to replace him when he retired in 1995. Izzo said the basketball world is a sadder place because of his mentor’s death, adding that no one cared more about the welfare of the game than Heathcote. Izzo helped the Spartans win their second NCAA basketball title in 2000 and often leaned on Heathcote for advice.
An eighth Florida player has been suspended for Saturday’s opener against Michigan. Coach Jim McElwain said that receiver James Robinson, who was cited for marijuana possession last week, won’t play against the Wolverines. McElwain said “of course not” when asked whether Robinson would be available. Robinson and linebacker Ventrell Miller, both freshmen, were cited for possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana Aug. 21. Miller is one of seven players under indefinite suspension for misusing university funds.
Alabama defensive lineman Raekwon Davis, shot in the right leg outside a Tuscaloosa bar early Sunday, was released from the hospital, coach Nick Saban said. Saban said that the 6-foot-7, 306-pound sophomore was get- ting treatment and was “day to day” for the top-ranked Crimson Tide’s opener Saturday night against No. 3 Florida State.
Purdue is unsure about the availability of quarterback David Blough for Saturday’s opener against No. 16 Louisville. Last year’s Big Ten passing leader resumed practicing Sunday after being sidelined for two weeks because of a sprained right shoulder.
Washington linebacker Azeem Victor was suspended one game for an unspecified violation of team rules, coach Chris Petersen announced. Victor will be at home in Seattle when the No. 8 Huskies open the season Friday at Rutgers.
The Brigham Young-Louisiana State game will be played Saturday night at the Superdome in New Orleans after massive flooding in Houston from Hurricane Harvey forced it to be relocated from NRG Stadium, ESPN announced. Finding a stadium to play the neutral-site game was in the hands of the television network and game organizers who wanted to find a place that allowed convenient access to at least some fans already holding tickets.
Galaxy right back Pele van Anholt suffered a season-ending knee injury in Sunday’s loss to the San Jose Earthquakes. Van Anholt, 26, played for Willem II in his native Netherlands before signing with the Galaxy last month. He made five MLS appearances.
Nerlens Noel signed a $4.1million qualifying offer with the Dallas Mavericks after failing to attract the max deal he had hoped for this offseason . ... The Cleveland Cavaliers scrapped plans for a $140-million renovation of Quicken Loans Arena.