col. hoops
The University of Connecticut and the NCAA discussed an investigation into alleged recruiting violations by the men's basketball program, a university official told the Associated Press. The official said the school was in contact with the NCAA on Wednesday, after Yahoo Sports reported that agent Josh Nochimson, once a student manager at UConn, helped steer recruit Nate Miles to the school. On Thursday, Yahoo reported assistant coach Andre LaFleur had phone conversations last April of 13 and 44 minutes with Nochimson, who was shadowing Huskies recruit Ater Majok, during the Kentucky Derby All-Star Festival, according to phone records. A week later, Majok visited UConn and signed with the school.
Et cetera:: B.J. Mullens, a 7-foot freshman at Ohio State, said he would declare himself available for the NBA draft. ... North Carolina guard Ty Lawson said his right big toe still hurts but he expects to play against Gonzaga on Friday. ... Paul Westhead, 70, who has won titles in the NBA and WNBA, was hired as the women's coach at Oregon. ... Amid speculation about his job security, Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie said he has no idea whether he'll be back for a third season.
Gore leads, Woods 3 back in Orlando
et cetera
Jason Gore ran off three birdies over the final four holes for a 5-under-par 65 that gave him a one-shot lead in the PGA Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, Fla. Tiger Woods was in the water and in the trees until he had eight consecutive one-putts - including four straight birdies - that put him in fourth place with a 68.
More golf: : South Korea's In-Kyung Kim shot a 4-under 68 for a one-stroke lead after the first-round of the J Golf Phoenix LPGA International. Two-time defending champion Lorena Ochoa (72) and Michelle Wie (73) struggled in windy conditions. ... Five-time major winner Seve Ballesteros, 51, will undergo a fourth round of chemotherapy for a cancerous brain tumor.
NBA: : Kobe Bryant scored 30 points and the visiting Los Angeles Lakers (57-14) scored the last 20 points of the third quarter in a 92-77 victory over the Detroit Pistons (34-37). ... John Salmons scored 27 points to lead the host Chicago Bulls (35-38) to a 106-87 win over Dwyane Wade (31 points) and the Miami Heat (38-34).
NHL: : Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau accused the media of blowing out of proportion the controversy over Alex Ovechkin's 50th-goal celebration and revealed he called Lightning counterpart Rick Tocchet to talk about the superstar's antics. "It's 10 days since it happened," Boudreau said. "Nobody cares about it anymore."
