The March to Madness

Now the Women Are Getting In on the Action

Epiphanny Prince, who once scored 113 points in a high school game and became a third-team All-American at Rutgers, is giving up her final season of eligibility to play professionally in Europe.

Prince, who plans to enter the 2010 WNBA draft, is the first American woman to leave early to start a professional career. Unlike her male counterparts, who can declare for the NBA draft one year after their high school class graduates, the rules for women are more stringent — and unfair.

WNBA rules require players to be at least 22, to have completed their college eligibility, to have graduated from a four-year college or to be four years removed from high school. Prince, who turns 22 in January, plans to graduate from Rutgers before the draft.

"I'm not really concerned with being the first person to do this," Prince said. "This is the right decision for me and my family."

Theus and Carlesimo Reportedly on USC's List

Former NBA and college coaches Reggie Theus and P.J. Carlesimo reportedly are near the top of the list of possible replacements for Tim Floyd at USC, and Laker assistant Jim Cleamons has already met with athletic director Mike Garrett, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Theus was fired last season as coach of the Sacramento Kings. He coached at New Mexico State before that and guided the Aggies into the 2007 NCAA tournament.

With Floyd Gone, Is Dixon the Next Coach for USC?

Now that Tim Floyd has resigned, where does USC turn to find a coach for its embattled program?

Don't be surprised if Trojan athletic director Mike Garrett makes a run at Pittsburgh's Jamie Dixon, who grew up in Southern California. Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News writes that USC might even name an interim coach and wait until next spring to land Dixon.

By then, the NCAA will likely have finished its dirty work and USC will know its penalty, which could be harsh. But getting rid of Floyd could ultimately soften the blow delivered by the NCAA.

Does Memphis Regret Its Marriage to Calipari?

Geoff Calkins of the Memphis Commercial Appeal asks the tough question as the school prepares to meet Saturday with the NCAA over allegations that Derek Rose had somebody else take his SAT.

While there are other issues on Saturday's agenda — former women's golf coach Jenny Bruun was providing extra benefits worth more than $3,000 to several members of her team from 2004-08, something Memphis has already acknowledged — the university is prepared to put up a fight in the Rose case.

Nonetheless, Calkins writes that "Memphis knew what it was getting when it hired John Calipari as head coach. For nine years, the guy had the run of the place. Is it surprising that he recruited a player who might have faked an SAT? Really? If you're being completely honest with yourself?"

"On the same day the university released its response to the Rose allegations, CBS Sports.com reported that Georgia did not accept Robert Dozier because of a 'fishy' SAT. Georgia officials apparently got a tip that Dozier's score might not be valid. When Dozier took the test again, he got a suspiciously lower score.

NCAA Alleges Major Violations at Memphis

The news out of Memphis is not good. The NCAA says Memphis has been up to no good.

Surprised?

The NCAA alleges that a prospective player became eligible after an "unknown individual" completed his SAT. The player, according to the NCAA, "subsequently competed for the men's basketball team through the 2007-08 season, which included his participation in the 2008 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship."

The player's name was redacted in the report that was obtained by the Commercial Appeal, but it would appear to be former Tiger point guard Derrick Rose.

Manhattan Signs One-Handed Center Laue

Manhattan College coach Barry Rohrssen was looking for a big man. He found one in 6-foot-11 Kevin Laue.

Laue, who averaged 10 points and five rebounds for Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia this past season, was born with a birth defect that left him without a left arm just below the elbow.

"Being a baseball fan, Jim Abbott left a great impression on me," Rohrssen told the New York Daily News. "Some of the things he did inspired a lot of people with similar problems and just people as a whole. I think with a guy like Kevin, playing at Manhattan and being in New York City, presents an opportunity that can be rewarding for Kevin and also have a ripple effect for everyone involved."