Xavier

Isaiah Philmore was a fixture for three years in John Carroll's lineup. The same was true for the 6-foot-8, 235-pound forward when he continued his playing career at Towson. During the 2011-12 season, however, Philmore was relegated to an unfamiliar position: sitting on the bench. “It was really tough for me because I'm really not used to not being able to play,” said Philmore, who sat out his junior season after transferring to Xavier from Towson. “But I got a lot better, worked out a lot. You actually get to see the game in person.

HOUSTON -- With Steve Johnson going on the disabled list and right fielder Nick Markakis away from the team due to the death of his paternal grandmother, the Orioles decided to call up outfielder Xavier Avery to give the team some bench depth on Thursday. Avery did not play in the game and was optioned back to Triple-A Norfolk after the game. The team is expected to call up a reliever Friday. Avery, a 23-year-old left-handed hitter with speed, batted .192 in 15 games at Triple-A Norfolk after hitting .300 in 39 games at Double-A Bowie this year.

Steve Wolf has seen future NBA players, memorable starters, role players and almost every other type of contributor during his 30-plus-year association with Xavier basketball. But in meeting Dezmine Wells last year, Wolf - a former Musketeers co-captain and current television broadcaster - was introduced to an anomaly. “He's a kid that didn't play like a freshman,” said Wolf, Xavier's long-time color commentator. “He never played like a freshman. He's a kid that could really, really go strong to the basket, but also square up and take the jump shot.

Xavier Avery is not satisfied. Since being taken in the second round by the Orioles in 2008, the 23-year-old outfielder has risen through the minor league system and consistently found himself listed among the organization's best prospects. Last season, he played 32 games in three stints with the big league club and spent the rest of the year with Triple-A Norfolk. But after just a brief look this spring, Avery finds himself at Double-A Bowie, a victim of improved outfield depth in the organization, as he battles for another shot to impress the Orioles.

Loyola coach Skip Prosser, who led the Greyhounds to the NCAA tournament in his first season as coach, interviewed for the head coaching job at Xavier yesterday, Loyola athletic director Joseph Boylan confirmed last night.The Xavier position officially opened yesterday, when Pete Gillen left the Cincinnati school to become head coach at Providence. Prosser, 43, was Gillen's assistant at Xavier for eight seasons.Prosser was in Ohio yesterday speaking to Xavier officials, Boylan said."Basically, right now he's still the coach [at Loyola]

CINCINNATI -- Jamie Gladden scored 21 points to lead Xavier to an 87-68 victory over Loyola College last night at Cincinnati Gardens.Gladden was one of four Musketeers in double figures. Backcourt running mate Ron Davenport had 18, including four three-pointers as Xavier (4-1) broke open a close game with a 13-0 run midway through the second half.Loyola was within 62-52 after a Mike Wagner free throw at 10 minutes, 2 seconds but was held scoreless for the next four minutes as Xavier made its decisive run. Gladden scored eight of the 13 Xavier points during that period, which gave the Musketeers a 75-62 lead.

One minute, Skip Prosser was on his way to watch the Final Four in Charlotte, N.C. The next minute, the phone rang and he was headed to Cincinnati. And within hours, Xavier University had regained an old friend, while Loyola College had lost the coach that put its beleaguered basketball program back on its feet this season.Prosser, who spent eight years as the top assistant at Xavier before taking over at Loyola, will be introduced at a Xavier news conference today as the new head coach of the Musketeers.

CINCINNATI -- Skip Prosser recalls it as the most hectic, emotional time of his professional life.One day, Prosser was enjoying the improbable achievement that capped his first year as a head men's basketball coach. He transformed Loyola College from a 2-25 doormat into an NCAA tournament team.The next day, Prosser's old boss, Pete Gillen, announced he was leaving Xavier University to take over at Providence. Within hours, Xavier inquired about Prosser's availability, and Prosser flew to Cincinnati to interview for the Musketeers' head coaching job. The next day, Prosser announced he was leaving Loyola to head back to Xavier.

Loyola College hopes that some of the success the Xavier basketball program has had since 1985 rubs off on the Greyhounds.Skip Prosser, an assistant at Xavier the past eight seasons, was to be introduced as the 15th coach in Loyola's basketball history today. The Greyhounds decided to hire Prosser yesterday afternoon over La Salle assistant Joe Mihalich, the only other candidate who came to Loyola for an interview."Skip's the whole package," Loyola athletic director Joe Boylan said. "He's a teacher, a recruiter, he has controlled intensity.

Today's game What: NCAA tournament South Regional second round Site: Gaylord Entertainment Center, Nashville, Tenn. Time: 4:40 p.m. TV/Radio: Chs 13, 9/WBAL (1090 AM) Line: Maryland by 2 The teams Maryland: No. 6 seed, 20-9; finished second in Atlantic Coast Conference, lost to North Carolina in ACC tournament quarterfinals; beat No. 11 seed UNC-Wilmington, 75-73, in first round, 20th NCAA tournament appearance. Xavier: No. 3 seed, 26-5, highest seed ever in 15 NCAA tournament appearances; lost to Temple in Atlantic 10 tournament semifinals; beat No. 14 seed Troy State, 71-59, in first round.

A few weeks ago, I spent a few quiet minutes in Green Mount Cemetery, where its higher ground offers unexpected views of Baltimore. As I looked to the southeast, something curious caught my eye. What was going on in the nearby Oliver neighborhood? What was that thing attached to the mighty bell tower of St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church? This parish — the oldest African-American Roman Catholic congregation in the United States officially founded for people of color — has just begun to celebrate its 150th anniversary.

SARASOTA, Fla. - Because of the surplus of minor league outfield depth the Orioles have, outfielders Xavier Avery and Lew Ford will open the season at Double-A Bowie, executive vice president Dan Duquette said Sunday. Ford, 36, had a strong spring, compiling a .405/.463/.643 batting line with three doubles, two homers and six RBIs in 37 Grapefruit League at-bats. Ford came to the Orioles on a minor league deal last season, signed from the independent league Long Island Ducks and played 25 games with the Orioles last season, hitting .183/.256/.352 with three homers and four RBIs.

It's hard to fathom what it must have been like for Dez Wells to emerge from beneath the weight of public suspicion and step into a sold-out basketball arena again and hear cheers and balls bouncing and bands playing. Those who know the Maryland player's story - the infamous brawl during his freshman year at Xavier, the sexual assault allegation rejected by a prosecutor - understand why Wells seemed overcome as the sophomore transfer was introduced for the Terps ' season-opening game against Kentucky, leaning in and hugging his coach, Mark Turgeon.

The wristband caught his attention several times throughout a typical day. If he took a shower, the blue silicone bracelet stayed on. When he had basketball practice or a game, he moved it from his wrist to his ankle. Pictures of red, yellow and blue puzzle pieces surrounded a simple message Jordan Latham read whenever he glanced at his wrist: I love someone with autism. As the former City center labored through his freshman season at Xavier two years ago, the bracelet kept him connected to home.

When Maryland guard Dez Wells was waiting for the NCAA to grant him a waiver regarding his eligibility after transferring from Xavier this season, he credited his mother back in Raleigh, N.C. for helping him stay positive and focused. But Pamela Wells is a lot more than her son's motivational coach. When he was growing up, the former Division II All-American at nearby St. Augustine's College taught her youngest child about how to be physical on the basketball court. “Growing up, my mom always taught me to be tough.

Francis Xavier "Boots" Hannon Sr., who fought in Normandy, France, during World War II and drove a streetcar for many years, died of pneumonia at St. Agnes Hospital on Wednesday. The Catonsville resident was 91. Mr. Hannon, who grew up with his 12 siblings in Irvington, served in the Army's 8th Infantry Division, 8th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop and saw battle in Normandy, Central Europe and the Rhineland. After returning from the war, Mr. Hannon drove a streetcar along the No. 8 line between Baltimore and Catonsville.

Pete Gillen, who has long been considered the most likely successor to Digger Phelps as head basketball coach at Notre Dame, yesterday told the school's athletic director Dick Rosenthal that he planned to remain at Xavier University in Cincinnati."

One year after it began, the Skip Prosser era at Loyola College is over.Prosser, who erased a 2-25 season by guiding the Greyhounds to their first NCAA basketball tournament last month, has resigned as Loyola head coach and will take over at Xavier University, Loyola acting president Thomas Scheye confirmed yesterday.The announcement that Prosser is returning to the Cincinnati school where he served eight years as an assistant is expected tomorrow.Prosser is replacing Pete Gillen, who hired Prosser at Xavier.

The way Dez Wells played in a couple of preseason scrimmages, you got the feeling that the transfer from Xavier was going to immediately become Maryland's go-to guy after regaining his eligibility two days before the season opener against Kentucky. After all, Wells had been one of the best freshmen in the Atlantic 10 last season while playing for the Musketeers. He gives the Terps a slashing guard who can shoot and pass off the dribble, and he's strong in traffic. But Wells has shown only flashes in Maryland's first two games.

Isaiah Philmore was a fixture for three years in John Carroll's lineup. The same was true for the 6-foot-8, 235-pound forward when he continued his playing career at Towson. During the 2011-12 season, however, Philmore was relegated to an unfamiliar position: sitting on the bench. “It was really tough for me because I'm really not used to not being able to play,” said Philmore, who sat out his junior season after transferring to Xavier from Towson. “But I got a lot better, worked out a lot. You actually get to see the game in person.