St. John’s fires men’s basketball coach Mike Anderson

St. John’s fired men’s basketball coach Mike Anderson on Friday, one day after his fourth season in charge ended with an overtime loss to No. 6 Marquette in the Big East Tournament quarterfinals.

Athletic director Mike Cragg announced the move in a news release, saying the school has begun a national search for a new coach to lead the program.

The decision comes just two years after Anderson was the Big East coach of the year, earning him a contract extension.

But the Red Storm never made the NCAA Tournament under Anderson. They went 18-15 during a rocky 2022-23 season, including 7-13 in Big East play to finish eighth in the conference standings.

St. John’s won its firstround game in the Big East Tournament against Butler earlier this week before blowing a large lead against top-seeded Marquette at Madison Square Garden.

The team hasn’t reached the Big East semifinals since winning the school’s third championship in 2000.

EX-ALABAMA PLAYER MILES

INDICTED ON CAPITAL MURDER CHARGES >> Former Alabama basketball player Darius Miles has been indicted by a grand jury on capital murder charges for the January shooting death of a 23-year-old woman near campus, his lawyer confirmed to The Associated Press on Friday.

Michael Davis, who is also charged in the shooting death of 23-year-old Jamea Harris, was also indicted, defense lawyer Mary Turner told the AP. Turner only represents Miles.

Tuscaloosa County District Attorney Hays Webb told AL.com that the indictments against Miles and Davis, who’ve been held without bond since their arrest, were issued on Wednesday.

JOSH PASTNER FIRED AFTER

7 SEASONS AS GEORGIA TECH COACH >> Josh Pastner was fired Friday as Georgia Tech’s basketball coach, two seasons after he guided the Yellow Jackets to a surprising Atlantic Coast Conference tournament title.

Pastner was dumped after seven seasons as coach of the Atlanta school, his fate sealed by a second straight losing season and few signs of progress in a program that was once a national powerhouse.

The Yellow Jackets capped a 15-18 campaign Wednesday with an 89-81 loss to Pittsburgh in the second round of the ACC Tournament. They finished 12-20 last season.

BOEHEIM BIDS SYRACAUSE

FAREWELL AT AUTRY’S INTRODUCTION >> Syracuse formally introduced new men’s basketball coach Adrian Autry on Friday, but it turned into more of a celebration of Jim Boeheim, the Hall of Fame coach Autry is succeeding.

The practice facility was packed with Syracuse officials and coaches, current and former players, and Otto the Orange, the mascot.

All of them were there to watch the passing of the torch from the 78-yearold Boeheim, who led the program for 47 years and turned it into a national brand, to Autry, who played for Boeheim from 1990-94, became an assistant coach prior to the 2011-12 season and promoted to associate head coach in March 2017.

Baseball US TO LET MLB STARS PLAY

FOR CUBA IN WBC >> The United States will permit Major League Baseball players from Cuba to represent their home country in the World Baseball Classic next year.

The decision announced Dec. 24 in a news release by the Baseball Federation of Cuba (FCB) could be a big step in once again turning Cuba’s national team into heavy hitters on an international stage.

Major League Baseball confirmed that the U.S. granted the license to FCB. It clears the way for MLB stars such as José Abreu, Yordan Alvarez, Randy Arozarena, Yoán Moncada and Luis Robert to play for Cuba in the WBC in March if they choose to accept a potential invitation.

GURRIEL, IGLESIAS AGREE

TO MINOR LEAGUE DEALS >> Infielders Yuli Gurriel and José Iglesias agreed to minor league contracts with the Miami Marlins.

The 38-year-old Gurriel won his second World Series with the Astros last year after hitting .242 with 40 doubles, eight home runs and 53 RBIs last year, down from 81 RBIs in 2021. In the postseason, Gurriel had 17 hits with a pair of home runs to help the Astros win their second title in six seasons.

Golf

SPIETH GETS AMAZING BREAK >> Jordan Spieth figured he would be the latest to pay the price at the TPC Sawgrass on a day of big numbers. Instead, he got a break he never imagined Friday at The Players Championship.

Not everyone so lucky, least of all Max McGreevy, who needed a birdie on the final hole just to break 90.

Spieth was just trying to avoid missing the cut. He had birdied his opening two holes and was tied for fourth, but he reached his last hole at the par-5 ninth, he was 5-over par for his round and in serious danger of missing the cut.

When his drive was in the air, he was certain of that. The ball was slicing so far to right it was headed for the cart path, and then water that shouldn’t even be in play.

And then it was in the fairway. That ball bounced off the leg of a fan and went away from the water and to short grass.

“Needing to probably birdie to make the cut, I can’t really birdie having to drop it over in the right rough over there and hitting my third,” Spieth said. “It would have been a onein-a-million make. Instead, I ended up making a 3.” NACHO ELVIRA

FINISHES

STRONG TO LEAD KENYA OPEN BY 1 SHOT >> Nacho Elvira finished with two birdies and an eagle Friday to take a one-shot lead into the weekend at the Kenya Open.

The Spaniard’s sparkling final three holes in the second round at Muthaiga Golf Club — capped with an eagle three on No. 18 — saw him move to 10 under and seize the lead from a trio of players who were in the clubhouse at 9 under.

Elvira’s 6-under 65 put him just ahead of Nick Bachem, Ryo Hisatsune and Jayden Schaper.

Fighting

‘TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT’: FURY

WANTS 70-30 SPLIT TO FIGHT USYK >> Tyson Fury is only interested in fighting Oleksandr Usyk to become undisputed world heavyweight champion if he gets 70% of the earnings from the bout.

Time looks to be running out to arrange a deal between the two titleholders, with Usyk’s promoter, Alex Krassyuk, saying the latest offer — a 60-40 split to the winner — has been rejected by Fury and his camp.

NFL AP SOURCE: MIAMI TO PICK

TAGOVAILOA’S FIFTH-YEAR OPTION >> The Miami Dolphins are picking up the fifth-year option on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s contract, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press Friday.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Dolphins had not officially announced the deal.

Tagovailoa, who Miami drafted fifth overall in 2020, will enter the fourth year of his rookie deal this upcoming season and will be guaranteed $23.2 million.

LONGTIME CHIEFS WR TAYLOR DIES AT 80 >> Otis Taylor, the longtime Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver who along with quarterback Len Dawson formed one of the NFL’s dynamic duos, died Thursday after more than a decade of health problems. He was 80.

Taylor’s family, who had been caring for him as he dealt with Parkinson’s disease and dementia, confirmed that he had passed away a mere seven months after Dawson, his close friend and teammate.

SEAN MCVAY SAYS HE’S BACK

FOR LONG HAUL >> Sean McVay is grateful for the days he spent pondering his professional future after the roughest season of his life.

That time allowed him to articulate everything he loves about coaching, and they left him more determined than ever to stay in the fight.

McVay said he made “a decision for years to come” when he elected to stick with the Los Angeles Rams after the first losing season of his precocious NFL career. The youngest head coach ever to win the Super Bowl strongly considered walking away from his draining profession, but several days of reflection and conversations led McVay to a refreshed mindset and a genuine excitement for the future.

49ERS QB PURDY UNDERGOES ELBOW SURGERY >> San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy had surgery Friday on his injured throwing elbow that should allow him to return to play possibly as early as the start of next season.

The 49ers said Dr. Keith Meister conducted an internal brace repair to Purdy’s right elbow. The team said Purdy is anticipated to start a throwing progression program in three months.

Soccer MOURINHO TO MISS DERBY

AGAINST LAZIO AFTER APPEAL REJECTED >> Roma coach José Mourinho’s appeal against a two-match suspension was rejected on Friday, meaning he will be forced to watch the Serie A derby against Lazio from the stands.

Mourinho was banned after being sent off in Roma’s surprise loss to Cremonese at the end of last month. An appeal court suspended its decision until after hearing from the fourth official, allowing Mourinho to be on the bench for his team’s 1-0 win over Juventus last weekend.

However, the court has rejected the appeal. Mourinho will miss Sunday’s home match against Sassuolo and next week’s crucial match against city rival Lazio.