Roy Williams moving to North Carolina
CHAPEL HILL, N.C., April 15 (UPI) -- Roy Williams is finally returning home to his alma mater.
North Carolina Monday night announced the hiring of Williams, who spent the last 15 years at Kansas and led the Jayhawks to the national championship game this season.
Williams turned down the opportunity to return to North Carolina three years ago before the Tar Heels hired Matt Doherty, who served as an assistant under Williams at Kansas for seven years.
But after meeting with his players Monday afternoon - a week after Kansas lost to Syracuse, 81-78 in the national championship game - a teary-eyed Williams addressed the media briefly before heading with his wife Wanda, and assistants Joe Holladay and Steve Robinson to Lawrence Municipal Airport where a private jet headed to Chapel Hill, North Carolina awaited.
Born in Spruce Pine, N. C., Williams played for the Tar Heels and served as an assistant under Dean Smith from 1978-88. With Smith's strong recommendation, Kansas gave Williams his first head coaching job in 1989.
The fastest coach in NCAA Division I history to win 400 games with an overall record of 418-101, Williams won nine conference championships and took the Jayhawks to the Final Four four times and the national championship game twice.
In June 2000, Williams was courted by North Carolina after Coach Bill Guthridge retired, but decided to stay at Kansas, citing players such as Nick Collison and Kirk Hinrich as the major reasons for staying.
Ironically, as both Collison and Hinrich leave the program, Williams decided the time was right for him to leave and take the Carolina job.
The prestigious position became vacant when Doherty resigned under pressure on April 1 amid player unrest. Doherty stepped down following several days of meetings between players and Athletic Director Dick Baddour.
Baddour acknowledged there was turmoil over the past two seasons, adding, "I was concerned about transfers for this year, I was concerned about players' plans for next year and for the year after, as well."
With an influx of talented freshmen, Doherty improved the Tar Heels from 8-20 in 2001-02 to 19-16 this past season, winning two games in the National Invitation Tournament.
But after North Carolina was beaten at home in the NIT quarterfinals by Georgetown, some players and their parents requested to meet with Baddour.
Sean May, one of the team's prized freshman, supported Doherty but admitted his coaching tactics annoyed some players.
May's father, Scott, played for Bob Knight at Indiana in the
mid-1970s.
The father of guard Adam Boone, one of three Tar Heels who transferred during or after the disastrous 2001-02 season, confirmed that he wrote to Baddour, describing Doherty's "harsh" treatment of players.
Doherty was a starter on perhaps North Carolina's most beloved team - the 1982 squad that featured Michael Jordan, James Worthy and Sam Perkins and gave Smith his first national championship.
Jordan plays his final home game
WASHINGTON, April 15 (UPI) -- Michael Jordan played his final home game Monday night when the Washington Wizards host the New York Knicks at the MCI Center.
Allan Houston scored 23 points and reserve Shandon Anderson 18 as the New York Knicks beat the Washington Wizards, 93-79.
Jordan, who concludes his legendary career on Wednesday at Philadelphia, contributed 21 points and eight rebounds to pace the Wizards, who shot just 40 percent (32-of-80) and allowed the Knicks to connect at 49 percent (38-of-77).
Jordan exited to an ovation from the MCI Center crowd of 20,173 with 2:02 left and the result not in doubt. The crowd remained standing and cheering until the final buzzer.
Before the game, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld presented Jordan with the American flag that flew over the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2002 - one year to the day after the terrorist attack.
"It's passed quickly," Jordan told the Washington Post about the last two years. "It doesn't feel like two years, but I know it's coming to an end. It's been a great two years. It's been fun. I'm enjoying what's left of my career. It's going fast, and that's what good things do. They leave fast, and you try to catch up with the memories another day. I'm trying to bring a certain joy to the game and to the fans here (in Washington) the way I play the game even at my age. When I walk off the court, my dedication is to the game. I still have an obligation to take what I've learned and what I've seen over two years, and try to build this franchise in a winning way and to help these fans enjoy the moment."
Malone, Bibby named to Team USA
COLORADO SPRINGS, April 15 (UPI) -- Power forward Karl Malone of Utah and point guard Mike Bibby of Sacramento Monday were the latest to receive their invitations to the Olympic basketball team.
The two became fifth and sixth members of the 2003 USA National Team that will participate in the 2004 Olympics. The player selections were made by the Senior National Team Committee of USA Basketball.
"I don't think you can have a better representative than Karl for our USA team," said USA Coach Larry Brown of the Philadelphia 76ers. "He stands for everything that's important about our sport. He's been a star for a long time, and a great example for young players. Mike has had a great deal to do with the success of Sacramento, and everybody is aware of how good that team is. He's a young, up and coming star. He's team conscious and should fit in extremely well."
Tim Duncan, Tracy McGrady, Jason Kidd, and Ray Allen already had been chosen for the team, which must qualify for the 2004 Olympics by finishing among the top three in the Tournament of the Americas in August in Puerto Rico.
"After naming the first six core players, we have a great mix of youth and experience and the foundation for one of the best teams that USA Basketball has ever assembled," said Senior Committee Chairman Stu Jackson.
It was Jackson's slip of the tongue during a teleconference last Thursday that touched off a cascade of curiosity around 76ers guard Allen Iverson. The NBA's Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations inadvertently blurted out, "By the way, AI made it."
Jackson and NBA Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik steadfastly denied that a decision had been made either way on Iverson, the three-time NBA scoring champion, who made it clear that he wants to be selected.
With Brown as his coach in Philadelphia, it would be surprising if Iverson is not selected.
Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers and Kevin Garnett of the
Minnesota Timberwolves are also expected to receive invitations.
Malone, 39, voted as one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players, is in his 18th season with the Jazz, and boasts career averages of 25.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. Despite his age, the two-time MVP is averaging 20.7 points and 7.8 rebounds this season.
"Being the grandpa of the group, I'm kind of honored," Malone said. "I'll be 41 playing for the gold medal, so I'm excited about it. If somebody had told me I had the opportunity to play on one Olympic team, let alone three, I would have told them years ago they were lying."
Malone owns a pair of Olympic gold medals, having been part of the USA "Dream Teams" in 1992 and '96. David Robinson of San Antonio is the only American player to participate on three Olympic teams.
Bibby, who turns 25 in May, is in his fifth NBA season. He raised his stature in last year's playoffs, leading the Kings to the Western Conference finals. In Sacramento's 16 playoff games, Bibby averaged 20.3 points and 5.0 assists.
After missing the first 27 games this season following foot surgery, Bibby is averaging 15.9 points and 5.2 assists.
"I'm really honored to represent my country and play with some of the top players in the world," Bibby said.
Kidd and Bibby will play at point guard, with Ray Allen at shooting guard, and possibly Iverson and Bryant. The 6-9 McGrady can also play the backcourt, but likely will be moved to small forward since the team would not have a need for more than five guards.
The 12-member roster will be completed later in the spring with three more core players and three role players.
Jackson leaving Utah
SALT LAKE CITY, April 15 (UPI) -- Guard Marc Jackson of the University of Utah, a second-team All-Mountain West Conference selection last season, is giving up his scholarship with the program.
A school spokesman said Jackson will leave the basketball team.
According to a statement released by the university, Jackson told Coach Rick Majerus on Sunday "he no longer had the passion he knew was necessary to be a Division I student-athlete."
The 6-1 sophomore plans to stay in school and obtain his degree.
"He felt that he had a career waiting for him as a developer and had lost his interest and passion for the game," Majerus said. "I respect his decision and wish him nothing but the best. I am confident that if the passion he used to have for basketball is applied to his business endeavors, he will have great success."
Jackson averaged 9.3 points and 2.8 assists in 29 games in 2002-03, which followed a mission for the Mormon Church.
Boyages resigns at William & Mary
WILLIAMSBURG, Va., April 15 (UPI) -- Rick Boyages, the men's basketball coach at William & Mary, resigned Monday to take a job as associate coach at Ohio State.
Boyages was just 33-52 in three years at William & Mary, but his 12-16 record last season represented the most wins at the school since 1997-98.
"This was a hard choice between two wonderful opportunities," Boyages said. "Leaving this program, (Athletic Director) Terry Driscoll and the college is difficult, but I am confident that the program is moving forward and is position to climb within the Colonial Athletic Association."
Driscoll announced that the school will conduct a nationwide search for a successor to Boyages.
"Tomorrow morning, I will be on the phone starting a search for the Tribe's next head coach," Driscoll said. "The goal of this search will be to identify a coach who can carry the program forward. The next head coach will have a firm foundation on which to build."
The resignation of Boyages continues a postseason exodus from the Tribe, as sophomore forward Thomas Viglianco and freshman guard Brett Howell have asked for and been given their release from the school.
Saints sign Cornwell
NEW ORLEANS, April 15 (UPI) -- The New Orleans Saints Monday added depth to the tight end position by signing free agent Ernie Cornwell to a five-year contract.
It appears Cornwell felt he was no longer wanted by the St. Louis Rams, who stopped negotiating with him after they re-signed Cam Cleeland recently. The Cornwell signing also may make veteran David Sloan expendable in New Orleans.
Cornwell, a 6-2, 265-pounder, is adept as a blocker and pass receiver. The University of Washington alum was selected by the Rams in the second round of the 1996 NFL draft, and has started 56 of a possible 84 games in his pro career.
In 2002, he had his most productive campaign, finishing fifth on Rams with 34 receptions for 419 yards and two touchdowns. The yardage total was the second-best of his career.
"Today, we acquired one of the league's top tight ends in Ernie Conwell, who we had targeted since the start of free agency," said New Orleans General Manager Mickey Loomis. "Signing him further strengthens the tight end position that we feel should be one of the better groups in the league. It will also give us more options leading up to the draft. In addition to his abilities and accomplishments on the field, Ernie has also exhibited outstanding leadership qualities during his time in St. Louis where he has participated in two Super Bowls. His leadership will carry over into our locker room."
For his career, Conwell has caught 146 passes for 1,574 yards and ten scores. With the likely departure of Sloan, he will challenge Boo Williams for playing time.
