Pitino is hired to coach St. John’s in a return to Big East
Rick Pitino is back in the Big East Conference.
St. John’s hired the Hall of Fame coach Monday to boost a storied program that has been mired in mediocrity.
After a successful run at nearby mid-major Iona, Pitino was plucked away to replace Mike Anderson, who was fired March 10 after four seasons in charge of the Red Storm without making the NCAA tournament.
Pitino, 70, has been to seven Final Fours and won two NCAA titles, one each at Kentucky (1996) and Louisville (2013).
He coached Big East rival Providence in the 1980s.
Ed Cooley is the new men’s basketball coach at
Georgetown, hired away from Providence in the hopes of rebuilding a onceproud program that sank to new lows under former star player Patrick Ewing. Antoine Davis has ended his pursuit of “Pistol” Pete
Maravich’s NCAA scoring record. The Detroit Mercy guard finished four points shy of breaking Maravich’s mark this month in a loss during the Horizon League tournament. The College Basketball Invitational did not extend an invitation to the Titans, but Davis had held out hope he would get another chance to play, possibly in an inaugural College Hoops Postseason 8. St. Francis (N.Y.) announced that its board of trustees approved a plan to eliminate its athletic program at the end of the spring semester. along with partner David Blitzer, owns the Philadelphia 76ers and the New Jersey Devils.
Quarterback Cam Newton, the 2015 NFL most valuable player, announced that he will throw for pro scouts at Auburn’s pro day Tuesday, hoping to rejoin the NFL. … Las Vegas signed free agents Jordan Willis ,a defensive lineman, and O.J. Howard, a tight end. … Detroit signed safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson to a oneyear, $8-million deal.
Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball, a former Chino Hills High star, said he anticipates being ready for training camp in September after he suffered through an injury-hampered season in which he fractured his right ankle . ...
Ja Morant’s eight-game NBA suspension is over, and the guard rejoined Memphis. The soonest he might play is Wednesday . ... Julius Randle scored 57 points for the Knicks, but visiting Minnesota beat New York 140134 . ... Visiting Chicago defeated Philadelphia 109-105 in double overtime to end the 76ers’ eight-game winning streak . ... Stephen Curry scored 30 points as Golden State ended an 11game road skid with a 121-108 victory at Houston.
Wyoming became the 19th state to ban transgender athletes from playing on girls’ or women’s sports teams after the Republican governor, Mark Gordon, opted not to veto legislation.
Three misdemeanor charges were filed in Erie,
Pa., against Mercyhurst hockey player Carson Briere, the son of Philadelphia Flyers interim general manager Danny Briere, after a video posted on social media showed him and another Mercyhurst athlete pushing an unoccupied wheelchair down a staircase.
Nebraska opened spring practice with running back Anthony Grant suspended indefinitely to work on academics . ... Alabama freshman defensive back Tony Mitchell was suspended from the team after his arrest on a drug charge.
Carlos Alcaraz, who won the Indian Wells title Sunday, returned to No. 1 in the ATP rankings, and Rafael Nadal dropped out of the top 10 for the first time in 18 years.