BASKETBALL - The Salt Lake Tribune

NBA Draft: Combine attendees look for a shot

Sat, 25 May 2013 23:28:17 MDT

NBA Draft: Combine attendees look for a shot

By Nate Taylor New York Times News Service

Updated May 25, 2013 11:28PM MDT

East Rutherford, N.J. • Several rows of long tables were arranged around the basketball court, each covered by a black cloth with a white sheet of paper bearing one word, “Reserved.” Decision makers for the 30 NBA teams chose their seats. On one end of the court sat Danny Ainge, the Boston Celtics’ president for basketball operations. Daryl Morey, his counterpart with the Houston Rockets, sat close to midcourt. John Hollinger, the vice president for basketball operations with the Memphis Grizzl...

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Krzyzewski returning to coach USA Basketball

Thu, 23 May 2013 09:23:06 MDT

Krzyzewski returning to coach USA Basketball

The Associated Press

Updated May 23, 2013 09:23AM MDT

Durham, N.C. • Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski is back as the U.S. men’s national team coach and ready for another run at Olympic gold. During a news conference at Duke on Thursday, Krzyzewski called it the “ultimate honor” to represent his country. “I really thought I wasn’t going to do it,” Krzyzewski said. “But now that I am doing it, I can tell you I am doing it with 100 percent commitment and passion — but with seven years of experience of having done it before.” USA Basketball chairman Je...

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Ambrosino says academic struggles pushed him off BYU basketball team

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:01:05 MDT

Ambrosino says academic struggles pushed him off BYU basketball team

The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 22, 2013 06:01PM MDT

After weeks of speculation and rumor regarding the future of BYU forward Agustin Ambrosino, the junior college transfer from Salt Lake Community College, the school confirmed Wednesday afternoon that the affable Argentinian will not be returning for his senior season. Where Ambrosino will play next is unknown. Contacted Wednesday, Ambrosino said he is leaving the program because he was told he would not be eligible to play next season. "The only thing that I am aware of is that I failed only one...

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Sports briefs: Krzyzewski returns to Team USA

Wed, 22 May 2013 23:35:20 MDT

Sports briefs: Krzyzewski returns to Team USA

Updated May 22, 2013 11:35PM MDT

Basketball • Mike Krzyzewski had decided to remain coach of the U.S. men’s Olympic basketball team. Krzyzewski will try to lead the Americans to a third straight gold medal, a person with knowledge of the decision said Wednesday. Originally expected to step down, Krzyzewski will hold a news conference to confirm his return Thursday at Duke, the person told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no official announcement has been made. The Hall of Fame coach has led the Americans ...

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Women’s basketball: SLCC hires assistant

Wed, 22 May 2013 23:35:20 MDT

Women’s basketball: SLCC hires assistant

The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 22, 2013 11:35PM MDT

Elisha Harris has been hired as an assistant coach for the Salt Lake Community College women’s basketball team. The West Jordan native spent last season at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colo., where she was an assistant coach. Harris graduated from West Jordan High in 2005. Betsy Specketer will be in her 18th season as head coach of the Bruins. Harris was a First Team All-Region 18 player in each of her two seasons at USU-Eastern. She later played for University of Alaska-Anchorage and was a me...

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AP Source: Coach K returning to US men’s team

Wed, 22 May 2013 23:40:56 MDT

AP Source: Coach K returning to US men’s team

The Associated Press

Updated May 22, 2013 11:40PM MDT

Mike Krzyzewski had decided to remain coach of the U.S. men’s Olympic basketball team. Krzyzewski will try to lead the Americans to a third straight gold medal, a person with knowledge of the decision said Wednesday. Originally expected to step down, Krzyzewski will hold a news conference to confirm his return Thursday at Duke, the person told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no official announcement has been made. The Hall of Fame coach has led the Americans since 2005...

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Griner learns skyhook from Abdul-Jabbar

Sat, 18 May 2013 23:43:03 MDT

Griner learns skyhook from Abdul-Jabbar

By JOHN MARSHALL AP Sports Writer

Updated May 18, 2013 11:43PM MDT

AP-BKL--Kareem and Brittney, 1st Ld-Writethru,803 Griner learns skyhook from Abdul-Jabbar Eds: Updates with more details and quotes. With AP Photos. By JOHN MARSHALL AP Sports Writer PHOENIX • Looking up to someone for one of the few times in her basketball life, Brittney Griner leaned into the 7-foot man in front of her, watching and listening as he flipped in one hook shot after another. Once he was done, Griner took a turn, spinning and flipping up a few hooks of her own over outstretched arm...

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Take it to court

Fri, 17 May 2013 01:01:04 MDT

Take it to court

Updated May 17, 2013 01:01AM MDT

After reading “Soccer referee’s death: When a single punch to the head kills” (Tribune, May 8), which quoted doctors about the dangers of head injuries, I consider myself lucky not to have suffered a similar fate. Several years ago, while refereeing a Salt Lake County basketball game, I was struck on the side of my head by a basketball thrown by a player. Other than knocking my glasses off, I wasn’t injured. But from being threatened, pushed around and spat upon over the years, I was mad, and I ...

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Montgomery completes Utah's roster

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:10:03 MDT

Montgomery completes Utah's roster

The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 16, 2013 02:10PM MDT

Two weeks ago, Austin Montgomery committed to Utah basketball. Yesterday, the 6-foot-8 power forward made it official. An athlete from out of Georgia, Montgomery will immediately leave to serve an LDS Church Mission in Texas. He will be on academic scholarship when he returns to Salt Lake City in two years. Utah still has a scholarship left over in the 2013 class. Odds are the Utes will hold it for next year. There is the small chance they could use it this year if someone emerges that the coach...

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Utah athletics: With new facilities, Utes are Pac-12 ready

Wed, 15 May 2013 23:58:26 MDT

Utah athletics: With new facilities, Utes are Pac-12 ready

By Tony Jones The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 15, 2013 11:58PM MDT

With a great upgrade in conference affiliation comes great responsibility. Utah athletics director Chris Hill knew this in 2011, when the Utes moved from the Mountain West to the Pac-12. His head coaches in each sport knew it, and so did the athletic department’s major donors and fundraisers. The goal: Improve Utah’s athletic facilities across the board in order to help the Utes compete on the field and floor against better-funded Pac-12 foes. Two years later, this new, improved picture is begin...

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Sports briefs: Chuck Muncie dies at age 60

Wed, 15 May 2013 17:04:02 MDT

Sports briefs: Chuck Muncie dies at age 60

Updated May 15, 2013 05:04PM MDT

NFL • Chuck Muncie, a Pro Bowl running back with both the New Orleans Saints and San Diego Chargers, died Monday at age 60. Muncie family spokesman Vintage Foster said Muncie died at his Los Angeles-area home heart failure. Muncie was the Saints’ first-round pick, third overall, out of California in 1976. In 1979, Muncie became the first Saint to rush for 1,000 yards, finishing with 1,198 and 11 touchdowns, earning the first of his three Pro Bowl selections. Muncie was traded by the Saints at ...

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Mountain West, Root Sports reach regional TV deal

Wed, 15 May 2013 17:03:57 MDT

Mountain West, Root Sports reach regional TV deal

The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 15, 2013 05:03PM MDT

The Mountain West has agreed to a multi-year deal with Direct TV to air approximately 10 football games and no fewer than 25 men's basketball games starting next season. The conference announced the deal Wednesday afternoon, giving the conference an additional regional imprint to its national deals with CBS Sports Network and ESPN. Root Sports reaches an estimated 2.5 million households across nine states in the Rocky Mountain region. The Tribune's Scott Pierce predicted a regional deal was fort...

Mountain West Conference signs on with ROOT Sports

Wed, 15 May 2013 13:43:02 MDT

Mountain West Conference signs on with ROOT Sports

The Salt Lake Tribune

Updated May 15, 2013 01:43PM MDT

The Mountain West Conference has named its regional television partner for football and men's basketball and, as expected, it's ROOT Sports. ROOT will air about 10 football games and a minimum of 25 basketball games per season. And, no doubt, some of those games will feature new MWC member Utah State. This deal is in addition to the Mountain West's national deals with the CBS Sports Network and ESPN. Here's the MWC/ROOT release: DIRECTV Sports Networks and the Mountain West Conference have enter...

Police follow ‘substantial leads’ in Brown attack

Wed, 15 May 2013 23:58:27 MDT

Police follow ‘substantial leads’ in Brown attack

The Associated Press

Updated May 15, 2013 11:58PM MDT

Providence, R.I. • Providence police are following “substantial leads” in a weekend assault that left a Brown University basketball player in the hospital with severe head injuries. Deputy Chief Thomas Oates says police are continuing their investigation into the attack early Sunday morning on 21-year-old Joseph Sharkey of Norwood, Mass. No arrests have been made. A spokesman for Rhode Island Hospital said Wednesday that Sharkey remains in critical condition. Police say a man came up to ...

Montana Tech names Charles Bradley new AD

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:59:11 MDT

Montana Tech names Charles Bradley new AD

The Associated Press

Updated May 15, 2013 04:59PM MDT

Butte, Mont. • Montana Tech Chancellor Don Blackketter has announced that former University of Wyoming and Boston Celtics basketball player Charles Bradley has been named the school’s new athletic director. Bradley will begin work Wednesday replacing Joe McClafferty, who served as athletic director for six years before being named the school’s vice chancellor for development and university relations. Bradley earned All-America honors at the University of Wyoming, where he graduated with a ba...

Monson: NBA playoffs are building a brick house

Wed, 15 May 2013 17:03:57 MDT

Monson: NBA playoffs are building a brick house

By Gordon Monson Tribune Columnist

Updated May 15, 2013 05:03PM MDT

During the NCAA Tournament in general, and the regional games at EnergySolutions Arena in particular, I crushed the kids for shooting the basketball as though they had dipped their hands in motor oil, as though they had 20-pound weights strapped to their wrists, as though they were flinging salmon at the fish market. Certainly, the guys in the NBA would never pollute their important games by being so clumsy with their field-goal attempts. Uh … Mind if we rearrange that observation, just a tad b...