UConn men's basketball coach Dan Hurley considered walking away from his job earlier this year because of the intense pressures, according to an upcoming book.

• Hurley, 52, shared his feelings in "Never Stop: Life, Leadership, and What It Takes To Be Great," a book he co-wrote with author Ian O'Connor, who also writes for The Athletic.

  On Wednesday, the outlet published excerpts from the book, which is due for release at the end of September.

  "I knew my mind, and I knew my body, and I could feel that I was completely cooked," Hurley wrote in the book about the 2024-25 season, during which the Huskies attempted to win three consecutive national titles.

  "Just burnt. I didn't even know how I was standing. I stared at the office walls, muttering, conducting a brutal review of our season. I didn't build a strong enough roster. I wasn't a good leader. ... I lost control, emotionally, at various points. I came in here some days sad and defeated, when I needed to be positive and inspiring."

  Hurley wrote that he thought of taking at least a year off after the Huskies finished 24-11 (14-6 Big East) and lost to Florida, a No. 1 seed, 77-75 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

  "I thought about leaving," Hurley wrote. "Taking a gap year. Resigning as head coach of the UConn Huskies."

  "I even talked to a TV executive about doing some commentary," Hurley continued.

  Instead, he decided to return despite the difficulties of the job.

  "Listen, I cherish my job, my players, our school, our fans, and our boosters," Hurley wrote. "I've got the very best job in the country with the very best program in college basketball over the last quarter century. All of that is hand-on-the-Bible true. But what's also true is the massive toll that coaching takes on you and your family. The whole thing is exhausting."

  --Field Level Media

George Raveling, a groundbreaking college basketball player, coach and Nike executive, has died after a battle with cancer, his family announced on Tuesday on his website.

• "(He) faced cancer with courage and grace. He transitioned peacefully at 88, surrounded by family as well as love, faith and sacred protection," the family's statement read.

  Raveling had a 335-293 career record as head coach at Washington State, Iowa and Southern California from 1972-1994, leading each school to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances. He was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013 and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.

  "There are no words to fully capture what George meant to his family, friends, colleagues, former players, and assistants -- and to the world," the family statement read. "He will be profoundly missed, yet his aura, energy, divine presence, and timeless wisdom live on in all those he touched and transformed."

  Born in a segregated hospital in Washington, D.C., Raveling was among the first Black college basketball players at Villanova, setting program single-game and season rebounding records during his time with the Wildcats from 1957-60.

  He became the first Black coach in the Atlantic Coast Conference when he was hired as an assistant at Maryland in 1969, and became the first Black Pac-8 coach when he was hired as head coach at WSU in 1972.

  WSU hung Raveling's name in the rafters of its basketball arena in 2019 after he led the program to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances in 1980 and 1983.

  During his collegiate coaching career, Raveling was an assistant coach on the 1984 and 1988 U.S. men's basketball Olympic teams, bringing home a gold and bronze medal.

  During that time, he helped Nike sign Michael Jordan when he was coming out of college, transforming the athletic apparel industry.

  Jordan, in the foreword for Raveling's 2025 memoir "What You're Made For," wrote, "If not for George, there would be no Air Jordan."

  After retiring from coaching, Raveling worked for Nike from 1994 until his death, quickly rising to become the organization's global basketball sports marketing director within a few years' time.

  --Field Level Media

Rick Barnes has job security at Tennessee for as long as he wants to continue coaching.

• Barnes received a lifetime contract to remain the men's basketball coach in Knoxville, athletic director Danny White announced Thursday.

  "Rick has taken our program to unprecedented heights, and we are absolutely thrilled to have him continue coaching on Rocky Top for the rest of his career," White said. "He has constructed this program the right way, achieving elite-level success on the court while also ensuring that all our players excel off the court."

  The terms of the new contract were not disclosed. It comes a few months after rumors that Barnes would retire following the 2025 NCAA Tournament, which Barnes responded to by saying he'd left his future in God's hands.

  Barnes, 71, took over at Tennessee after being fired by Texas in March 2015. The Volunteers have qualified for the past seven NCAA Tournaments and advanced to back-to-back Elite Eights.

  In 10 seasons, Barnes has coached the Vols to a 232-109 record, including a 112-67 record in the Southeastern Conference (.626). They've won three SEC championships and reached the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament four times.

  "I am incredibly thankful God brought me to the University of Tennessee 10 and a half years ago. It is an honor and a blessing to serve as the head basketball coach here," Barnes said in a statement. "... Tennessee basketball would not be where it is today without the consistent efforts of so many players, coaches and staff members whom I am forever indebted to. Their relentless dedication and the unrivaled support of Vol Nation are truly why we have been so successful."

  Counting his time at George Mason (1987-88), Providence (1988-94), Clemson (1994-98) and Texas (1998-2015), Barnes has gone 836-423 as a head coach, making him the active Division I wins leader in men's basketball. He took Texas to the 2003 Final Four.

  --Field Level Media

Junior guard Jizzle James, Cincinnati's leading scorer last season, has been dismissed from the program, head coach Wes Miller announced Tuesday.

• "Jizzle James has been dealing with personal issues throughout the summer," Miller said in a statement. "We removed him from the team last month. He is currently not a member of our basketball program. As this is a personal matter, I will have no further comment at this time."

  James, the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Edgerrin James, was projected to be one of the top players in the Big 12 in 2025-26 after being named All-Big 12 honorable mention last spring.

  The point guard spent two years at Cincinnati and became a full-time starter in 2024-25. Across 35 games, he averaged 12.7 points and 3.0 rebounds along with a team-high 3.5 assists.

  He was a four-star high school prospect ranked No. 60 overall in the Class of 2023, per the 247Sports composite.

  --Field Level Media

Omaha men's basketball player Deng Mayar, a graduate transfer from North Dakota, died on Saturday in a drowning in his native Utah, the university announced on Sunday. He was 22.

• Mayar, who transferred to Omaha for the coming season, and his friend were seen struggling in the water at Blackridge Reservoir near Herriman, Utah, according to media reports.

  The other man made it to shore and, along with bystanders, went back to help Mayar. The friend was taken to a hospital, where he is expected to recover. Mayar went underwater but did not reemerge. Rescue crews recovered his body on Saturday night and pronounced him deceased.

  "Our entire program is devastated to learn of Deng's passing," Omaha coach Chris Crutchfield said in a statement on Sunday.

  "After competing against him for two years, we were elated to add him to our team and he made tremendous progress this summer. Deng was a joy to be around and made our culture better. We will miss him greatly. Jodi and I, along with our entire program, send our hearts and prayers to Deng's family, friends and teammates."

  Listed as a 6-foot-7 forward, Mayar was a Salt Lake City native who attended junior college before playing his junior and senior seasons at North Dakota. He started 15 of 42 games and averaged 5.7 points and 3.9 rebounds in 18.1 minutes per game.

  Mayar averaged 6.3 points and 4.0 rebounds in 20.1 minutes last season, during which he started 10 of 29 games.

  "Our hearts are broken to hear the tragic news of Deng's passing," said Paul Sather, Mayar's coach at North Dakota. "He was a wonderful person with a heart the size of a gym. Our thoughts are with his parents and family, along with all his teammates from UND and UNO.

  "As competitive as he was on the court, he had a gentle nature and kind soul off the court. Deng will be greatly missed by all of those that knew and loved him."

  --Field Level Media

New Mexico State and former men's basketball head coach Greg Heiar settled a wrongful termination suit on Friday with the university agreeing to pay him $600,000.

• Heiar was fired on Feb. 14, 2023 - less than one year into a five-year contract with a $300,000 annual base salary.

  Heiar's dismissal came less than one week after New Mexico State cancelled the rest of the team's season and placed the coaching staff on paid leave while the school investigated a police report that accused three players of hazing and sexually assaulting one of their teammates. Those incidents reportedly occurred from July 2022 to Feb. 2023.

  On Nov. 19, 2022, New Mexico State forward Mike Peake shot and killed a New Mexico student in Albuquerque. While police ruled Peake acted in self-defense because he had been lured to the New Mexico campus by four students - including victim Brandon Travis - Heiar and members of his staff appeared to play roles in stunting the police's initial investigation.

  Heiar had his team board a bus to leave Albuquerque even though the police asked to interview three New Mexico State players. A member of Heiar's staff, Lorenzo Jenkins, was found in possession of Peake's gun while Peake's phone later was found with an unnamed NMSU administrator.

  Heiar's contract called for a $1.2 million buyout if fired without cause, but NMSU denied that buyout by claiming he was fired "with cause." Heiar, who currently serves as head coach for Trinity Valley (Tex.) Community College, claimed he was innocent.

  In the wake of the settlement, Heiar's attorneys sent a statement to KRQE-TV in Albuquerque.

  "On behalf of our client, Greg Heiar, we are pleased to announce that a settlement has been reached in the arbitration of Coach Heiar and New Mexico State University. Coach Heiar is pleased that this matter is now fully and finally resolved to our satisfaction, and excited to continue his coaching career. Coach Heiar wishes NMSU, the men's basketball program, and the Aggie fans all the best going forward."

  --Field Level Media

More than four decades after North Carolina State stunned Houston in the 1983 NCAA men's basketball championship game, a North Carolina judge has dismissed a lawsuit claiming the Wolfpack deserve NIL compensation stemming from their famed title run.

• On Thursday morning, the Wake County (N.C.) Clerk of Superior Court posted the ruling made by Superior Court Judge Mark A. Davis that dismissed the suit filed in June 2024.

  "In this lawsuit, twelve former members of North Carolina State University's ("NC State") 1983 NCAA men's basketball championship team have sued the NCAA for using - without permission - their names, images, and likenesses contained in copyrighted game footage from that season," Davis wrote at the start of a 44-page order. "Because their claims are untimely, barred by their failure to allege a violation of a legally enforceable right, and preempted by the federal Copyright Act, dismissal of this action in its entirety is appropriate."

  The members of the "Cardiac Pack," which defeated Hakeem Olajuwon's heavily favored Houston Cougars on Lorenzo Charles' buzzer-beating dunk, stated the NCAA and its partners have capitalized illegally on footage such as the championship game's dramatic finish -- which started with Dereck Whittenberg's last-second heave that missed the rim and concluded with NC State coach Jim Valvano spinning all over the court looking for people to hug.

  NC State standouts Thurl Bailey, Terry Gannon and Cozell McQueen were among the players filing the suit. Neither Whittenberg, an associate athletic director at NC State, nor Sidney Lowe, a Detroit Pistons assistant coach, were part of the suit. One player, Quinton Leonard III, was represented by the administrator of his estate. Charles, who died on June 27, 2011, in a bus accident, was not represented.

  The NCAA asked the court to dismiss the suit, citing a ruling made in April that rejected claims by Kansas' Mario Chalmers -- who hit a famous shot near the end of the 2008 NCAA title game -- and others that they deserve NIL compensation for March Madness advertisements. The judge in that case noted a four-year statute of limitations for federal antitrust violations.

  The former NC State players' lawyer, Raleigh-based Stacy Miller, did not agree with Davis' ruling.

  "This case has always been about standing up for young athletes and shining a spotlight on the NCAA's abusive practices and continued profiteering off its historical wrongs," Miller told WRAL.

  --Field Level Media

Babatunde Oladotun, considered the top high school recruit in the class of 2027, is reclassifying to the class of 2026 as he prepares to graduate next spring from Maryland's Blake High School.

• Oladotun, 16, expects to remain a top-10 prospect when the next recruiting rankings are updated. He will turn 17 in December.

  "First and foremost, I am ahead of schedule academically and will graduate next year," Oladuton told ESPN. "Most of my life, I have played up in age and after playing in the 17U division for Team Durant, I felt comfortable. I have gained 20 pounds over the last year and it never felt like I was playing up."

  Several high-profile programs are already attempting to land the 6-foot-9 forward, including Maryland, Kansas, Kentucky, Duke and Gonzaga.

  Oladotun plans to visit Maryland and Virginia Tech first, and previously made unofficial visits to UCLA and USC last year.

  "We are looking for a coach that has a long history of teaching and winning," his father, Ibrahim, told ESPN. "Someone who knows how to use a big guard and has a history of coaching big guards. A coach that also plays an NBA-style offense with quick actions."

  Oladotun burst onto the scene after adding 20 pounds over the past year and starring for Team Durant's 17U team, combining sharp-shooting ability from 3-point range with a deft touch inside the arc.

  By reclassifying, Oladotun becomes a favorite to be invited to next year's McDonald's All American boys game with the potential to be a top-10 draft pick in 2027.

  Oladotun's father, Ibrahim Oladotun, played two years at Virginia Tech in the early 1990s after beginning his journey in junior college, averaging 2.6 points and 2.6 rebounds.

  Babatunde follows the path taken by former top prospects AJ Dybantsa and Cooper Flagg, who also reclassified to begin their college careers early.

  --Field Level Media

The NCAA Tournament field will remain at 68 teams this season, the Division I men's and women's basketball committees decided Monday.

• The committees will continue to discuss whether to bring the tournament field to 72 or 76 teams ahead of the 2027 tournaments, NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt said in a statement.

  Both committees met on a joint Zoom call nearly a month after in-person meetings yielded no verdict. Proposals for March Madness to expand to 72 or 76 have been floated, but the most likely long-term decision will be whether to remain at 68 teams or increase to 76, CBS Sports reported.

  Expansion has been a topic of discussion for years, but logistical and financial roadblocks, as well as the fear of negative fan reception, have delayed any real prospects of increasing the field of teams.

  The NCAA Tournament last expanded in 2011, growing to 68 teams with the addition of the First Four.

  --Field Level Media

Nine-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard, who returned to the Portland Trail Blazers last month, announced on Saturday night a second, official position as general manager of the men's basketball program at his alma mater Weber State.

• Lillard, 35, made the announcement in Ogden, Utah, where he is hosting the Weber State Basketball Alumni Classic.

  "It's something that, my relationship with coach (Eric) Duft and this program means a lot to me, and seeing the success of the program means a lot to me," Lillard said those in attendance at Swenson Gym, according to the Standard-Examiner in Ogden. "I feel like I can do a lot to help the program be successful, to help the players even individually continue to grow their careers past college, that's something that I'm passionate about."

  The guard is expected to miss the 2025-26 NBA season as he recovers from a torn left Achilles tendon while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks on April 27 that knocked him out of the rest of the playoffs.

  The Bucks waived him after the season and he re-signed with the Trail Blazers for a reported three-year, $42 million contract.

  Weber State issued a news release on Saturday which said Lillard will work closely with the coaching staff and athletic department leadership "to provide insight, mentorship, and guidance, using his experience at the collegiate and professional levels to elevate the program."

  Portland selected Lillard with the sixth overall pick of the 2012 NBA Draft. The point guard averaged 24.5 points and shot 40.9 percent on 3-point attempts in 32 games (all starts) as a senior in the 2011-12 season, when he was a third-team All-American.

  Lillard averaged 18.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.2 steals while shooting 39 percent from long range in 104 games (98 starts) during a highly decorated four-year college career. He was the Big Sky Player of the Year twice.

  Lillard returned to Ogden and graduated in 2015. WSU retired his No. 1 jersey in 2017, and he was inducted into its athletics hall of fame in 2021 and the Big Sky Conference Hall of Fame in 2022.

  "Once again, Damian Lillard exemplifies loyalty and commitment to his alma mater," WSU President Brad Mortensen said in the release. "We are so grateful for his continued leadership and example he sets for Wildcats past, present, and future."

  The nine-time All-Star and 2012-13 NBA Rookie of the Year has been selected All-NBA seven times. Lillard owns career averages of 25.1 points, 6.7 assists and 4.3 rebounds in 900 regular-season contests with Portland (2012-23) and Milwaukee (2023-25). His 2,804 3-pointers rank fourth in NBA history and his 22,598 points rank eighth among active players.

  "Success doesn't come overnight, especially in today's ever-changing basketball landscape," Lillard said in the university's news release. "College athletics is constantly evolving, and building a strong program requires time, trust, and commitment.

  "I believe in what this program represents and the culture that continues to grow at Weber State," Lillard continued. "The support of our community is vital to the program's success, and I am committed to playing a greater role in that effort. This opportunity allows me to be even more involved in shaping the future of Weber State basketball."

  --Field Level Media

Tulane starting forward Gregg Glenn III died in a "tragic accident" over the weekend, the school announced Monday. He was 22 years old.

• Glenn was the Green Wave's fourth-leading scorer in 2024-25, his second season with the school after playing his freshman season at Michigan.

  "It is with profound sadness that I reach out to you today. We have lost a cherished member of our university community, Gregg Glenn III, who died in a tragic accident this weekend. He was a talented student-athlete who enriched our lives with his spirit, dedication, and passion for both sports and academics," vice president of student affairs Sarah Cunningham said in the announcement. "Gregg was an outstanding athlete on our men's basketball team and an individual who brought joy and light to those around him."

  The 6-foot-7 native of Pompano Beach, Fla., averaged 10.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 34 starts for the Green Wave, who finished 19-15 last season.

  "He was not only an exceptional athlete, but also a remarkable person who brought energy, dedication, and kindness to our team and community," Tulane head coach Ron Hunter said in a statement. "Gregg's spirit and passion will be deeply missed."

  No details about the accident -- even where it happened -- were provided.

  --Field Level Media

Kansas men's basketball coach Bill Self was released from the hospital Saturday after undergoing a procedure two days earlier to insert two stents, the university announced.

• Self, 62, had checked into Lawrence Memorial Hospital on Thursday after experiencing "some concerning symptoms" and feeling unwell. The school said he is expected to make a full recovery.

  "I want to thank all the amazing doctors and nurses at LMH Health for the excellent care I received during my stay," Self said in a statement. "I feel strong and am excited to be home. Our team has had a productive summer, and I'm looking forward to recharging and preparing for the upcoming season."

  Thursday marked the second heart-related procedure for Self in just more than two years. After being hospitalized because of chest tightness and concerns about his balance, he underwent a catheterization in March 2023 and had two stents put in to treat blocked arteries. The procedure forced him to miss the Big 12 and NCAA Tournaments that year as Kansas, a No. 1 seed, was ousted by No. 8 Arkansas in the second round.

  Self, the winningest men's basketball coach in Jayhawks history, signed a $53 million contract in 2023, making him the highest-paid coach in college basketball.

  He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017 and is entering his 23rd season with Kansas. He has a 624-156 record there, winning two national titles.

  Kansas will open its season Nov. 3 against Wisconsin-Green Bay.

  --Field Level Media

Florida point guard Boogie Fland is sidelined while recovering from a recent sports hernia procedure.

• Gators coach Todd Golden said Fland had the surgery on July 3 and missed the last three weeks of summer workouts.

  "He'll be back when school starts," Golden told reporters. "He could have played through it, but it made more sense to get it taken care of so he didn't have to worry about it during the season."

  Fland is a transfer from Arkansas and was in the midst of a strong freshman campaign before he sustained a right thumb surgery in January. He underwent surgery and missed two months.

  He entered both the NBA draft and the transfer portal after a season when he averaged 13.5 points and 5.1 assists in 21 games (18 starts).

  Fland, a former five-star recruit, fills a need after the Gators lost star point guard Walter Clayton Jr. to the NBA after winning the national title.

  Fland was a McDonald's All-American in high school who committed to Kentucky while John Calipari was head coach.

  When Calipari departed the Wildcats for the Arkansas gig, Fland requested his release from Kentucky and later committed to Calipari and the Razorbacks.

  --Field Level Media

Bill Self, the winningest men's basketball coach in Kansas Jayhawks history, was admitted to the hospital and had two stents inserted on Thursday, the university announced.

• The 62-year-old Self, who has guided the Jayhawks since 2003, led the team in its final summer practice on Thursday morning. According to Kansas officials, he was then escorted to Lawrence Memorial Hospital after he "felt unwell and experienced some concerning symptoms."

  Per the university, the procedure to insert two stents "went very well, and he is expected to make a full recovery.

  "He is in good spirits and expects to be released from the hospital soon."

  Self's health has caused concern in the past. He missed the Big 12 conference tournament and the NCAA Tournament in March 2023 due to a heart condition. He underwent a standard heart catheterization after experiencing chest tightness. Self also had two stents placed to treat blocked arteries.

  Self has won two national championships while at the Kansas helm, amassing a 609-156 record over 22 seasons with the program. Under Self, the Jayhawks have won 16 regular-season conference titles and eight conference tournament championships.

  --Field Level Media

USC five-star recruit Alijah Arenas suffered a knee injury that will require surgery and keep him off the court between six and eight months, the university announced on Wednesday.

• Arenas, the son of former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas, had just returned to the practice court, having recovered from after a serious car accident in April.

  "Alijah is a tremendous worker, teammate, competitor and person," USC coach Eric Musselman said. "He is understandably disappointed that he will not be able to take the court to start the season, but his health is our No. 1 priority. We have no doubt that he will come back even stronger. We look forward to supporting him during this process."

  Arenas graduated from Chatsworth (Calif.) HS a year early to suit up with the Trojans, along with transfers Rodney Rice (Maryland) and Chad Baker-Mazara (Auburn). It was expected that the 6-foot-6 Arenas would form an explosive backcourt for USC.

  In April, Arenas lost control of his Tesla Cybertruck and ran into a tree. The car became engulfed in flames, but he was able to escape with assistance from bystanders. Arenas was placed in a medically induced coma due to smoke inhalation, but was released one week later.

  ESPN tabbed Arenas the No. 13 recruit in their Top 100. He scored more than 3,000 points in three seasons at Chatsworth, setting a CIF LA City Section record.

  Arenas was expected to be a first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, but that is believed to be in jeopardy due to the nature of his injury.

  --Field Level Media

Santa Clara and Herb Sendek agreed to a contract extension for the men's basketball coach through 2029-30 on Monday.

• Sendek has coached the West Coast Conference program since 2016 after previous stops at Miami (Ohio), North Carolina State and Arizona State.

  "I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to coach the men's basketball program at Santa Clara," Sendek said in a statement. "We will continue to be a program that is easy to cheer for and one that the entire Bronco Community can be proud of. We have a tremendous fan base and I'm so grateful for their support over the years. Santa Clara is a special place and I'm thrilled to continue to be a part of it. I want to say thank you to Dr. Sullivan, Heather Owen and the Santa Clara Board of Trustees for this opportunity and for continuing to believe in what we are doing."

  In 31 seasons as a Division I head coach, Sendek has amassed a 574-415 record, including NCAA Tournament appearances with Miami (1995), NC State (five straight from 2002-06) and Arizona State (2009, 2014).

  At Santa Clara, Sendek has a 161-120 record, including four straight 20-win seasons. That's already good for the fourth-most wins in Broncos program history.

  "Coach Sendek is the right person to lead Santa Clara men's basketball and I am thrilled that he will continue to do so," athletic director Heather M. Owen said in a statement. "I have been impressed with his ability to navigate the ever-changing landscape that is college athletics while remaining true to our Santa Clara values. He is one of the best teachers in the game and we are grateful to have him as the leader of our program."

  --Field Level Media

Guard Sincere Parker, expected to a major contributor for the Memphis Tigers as an offseason acquisition from McNeese State, was arrested on Saturday on a domestic violence charge.

• Parker, 22, was arrested and held without bond in Shelby County Jail, before his bond was set at $120,000 on Sunday, per The Commercial-Appeal.

  A woman filed a police report with the Memphis police department on June 12, stemming from an incident on May 27.

  The woman alleged that Parker pushed her, slapped her and choked her before smashing her phone, leading to a vandalism charge as well as aggravated assault.

  Parker averaged 12.2 points over 34 games coming off the bench for the Cowboys in 2024-25. The season prior to that, he averaged an even more robust 15.9 points per game for Saint Louis in the Atlantic 10.

  The Memphis athletic department issued a short statement in response.

  "The University of Memphis is aware of the situation and cannot comment on an active investigation."

  The Tigers went 29-6 (16-2 American Athletic Conference) with a first-round NCAA Tournament exit at the hands of Colorado State, 78-70, last season.

  --Field Level Media

Missouri landed five-star guard Jason Crowe Jr., a consensus top-five player in the Class of 2026.

• Crowe, a 6-foot-3 lefty combo guard from Inglewood (Calif.) High School, widely was considered a cinch for Southern California until Missouri and Kentucky entered the picture earlier in the summer. The Tigers made their initial scholarship offer in June. Kentucky also was a contender. Crowe's father was a teammate of current Wildcats assistant Jason Hart.

  "Coach (Dennis) Gates is a phenomenal coach and person, and his staff are great people," Crowe said. "Our first conversation happened during the USA tryouts. He was really genuine. We talked about family and connected on a meaningful level. Coach Gates is a family-first person. On the court, he's high-energy and competitive."

  Crowe is first in scoring in the Nike EYBL with an average of 23.6 points per game. He would become the highest-rated recruit to attend Missouri since Michael Porter Jr. (2017) and Linas Kleiza (2013) should he remain committed to the Tigers for the next year.

  --Field Level Media

The NCAA has placed the University of Memphis athletic department on probation for two years and levied financial penalites because of academic integrity violations in the men's basketball and softball programs.

• An NCAA investigation found that an academic counselor paid two softball players to do classwork and provide test answers for a men's basketball player that they shared classes with during the 2023-24 season.

  Memphis already was on probation because of two previous infractions cases and will have the penalty extended through July 15, 2027. In addition, the university must pay a $30,000 fine and 1 percent of the combined budgets for the two sports.

  The Tigers basketball team vacated three wins over Wichita State, Temple and Tulane from the span between Jan. 25 and Feb. 18, 2024. The softball team was winless during that period.

  The NCAA report did not name basketball coach Penny Hardaway in the case, nor did it identify the student-athletes involved. The Memphis Commercial Appeal reported that the men's player was forward Malcolm Dandridge, a fifth-year graduate student who was held out of the last five games of the 2023-24 season, and the softball players were catcher Ally Callahan and outfielder Aaliyah Dixon.

  The university fired academic advisor Leslie Brooks in February 2024, and the NCAA gave her a 10-year show-cause penalty, which can impact her ability to find another job in college athletes. The NCAA said Brooks paid the softball players $550 from her personal account to perform the schoolwork.

  A softball trainer overheard players on the team discussing the situation, according to the NCAA, and another softball player later reported it to the trainer and the head coach, who informed the administration.

  In an interview with university officials about paying the softball players to help Dandridge, Brooks admitted that she knew she was violating NCAA rules but he needed academic help and "she felt sorry for him," according to the NCAA report.

  The university negotiated the penalties with the NCAA's committee on infractions.

  "I would like to thank our staff who worked swiftly and collaboratively with the NCAA to take appropriate action and implement corrective measures," Memphis president Bill Hardgrave said in a prepared statement. "The University of Memphis is committed to a culture of compliance with all NCAA rules and will move our program forward accordingly."

  --Field Level Media

Auburn guard Tahaad Pettiford was arrested Friday night on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol, according to police records in Lee County, Ala.

• Pettiford, 19, is under the legal drinking age so any blood-alcohol level greater than 0.02 percent is considered illegal in Alabama. His BAC was not reported. He posted a bond of $1,000.

  "We are aware of the situation, and we will handle internally with Tahaad and his family," Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl said in a statement Saturday morning, according to the Montgomery Advertiser. "We take these matters seriously and will learn and grow from it moving forward."

  A blue-chip recruit from Jersey City, N.J., and a freshman sixth man on the Tigers' Final Four team last season, Pettiford averaged 11.6 points, 3.0 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 22.9 minutes in 38 games (one start).

  He made the Southeastern Conference's All-Freshman team and earned a spot on the NCAA Tournament's All-Region team after averaging 15.2 points in five tourney games. He was held to seven points on 1-of-6 shooting in Auburn's loss to eventual champion Florida in the Final Four.

  Pettiford tested the NBA draft waters after the season and participated in the NBA Combine in Chicago, where his 42-inch vertical leap was the second-best at the event.

  According to CBS Sports, he returned to Auburn for his sophomore year with an NIL package believed to be worth more than $2 million.

  Pettiford was a five-star prospect in the 2024 recruiting class, ranked No. 29 nationally and No. 2 among point guards by the 247Sports composite.

  --Field Level Media

ESPN and the Big East Conference have not been in business with each other since 2013, but that's about to change.

• As ESPN prepares to launch its direct-to-consumer platform this fall, it has reached a six-year digital rights agreement with the Big East, the parties confirmed Tuesday.

  Big East sporting events are not returning to linear ESPN as a result of the deal, as the league's partners on that front are Fox, NBC and TNT Sports. Instead, ESPN takes over for FloSports as a digital partner.

  The agreement will see 25 nonconference men's basketball games featuring Big East teams move to ESPN+ starting this upcoming season. ESPN+ will also carry a minimum of 75 women's basketball games and 200 Olympic sports events.

  It's a direct deal between the Worldwide Leader and the conference, not a sublicense, and the Big East will produce all the games in question.

  "We're pleased to welcome the BIG East back to ESPN," Nick Dawson, ESPN senior vice president, programming and acquisitions, said in a statement. "This agreement returns one of the country's premier conferences and its tradition of excellence to ESPN platforms. We look forward to this new chapter in our relationship with the BIG East."

  "This exciting partnership with ESPN reinforces our commitment to placing BIG East teams front and center on the leading digital sports platform," BIG East commissioner Val Ackerman said in a statement. "Streaming on ESPN+ gives all 22 of our sports -- especially women's basketball and Olympic sports -- the visibility they've earned and the access our fans expect. We look forward to delivering elevated coverage and a streamlined viewing experience to fans and family members who want to follow BIG East action across our wide array of sports offerings."

  --Field Level Media

Princeton standout forward Caden Pierce intends to redshirt next season so he can finish his degree before entering the transfer portal to play elsewhere in 2026-27, he told ESPN.

• The 2023-24 Ivy League Player of the Year, Pierce said his decision "is nothing against Princeton" but rather a byproduct of roster and coaching changes.

  First-team All-Ivy League guard Xaivian Lee, for example, transferred to Florida while Princeton coach Mitch Henderson also made alterations to the coaching staff, including two assistants who were not retained, Pierce said.

  "And obviously," Pierce added, "the current landscape of college basketball is always sitting in the back of your mind. Those things kind of guided my decision."

  A 6-foot-7, 220-pound junior this past season, Pierce said he will enter the transfer portal as soon as he can in the fall so as to create a longer timeline for his recruitment.

  "It takes away the speed-dating process of the postseason transfer portal," he said. "It's going to be interesting because I'm not going to have a sense of what the complete roster makeup is going to be for the coming year. ... Because I won't be involved with the team, I can take some visits here and there, move at a slower pace, it won't have to be so rushed."

  Pierce started 89 of 90 games played across three seasons for Princeton, including playing a significant role in the team's Sweet 16 run in 2023. He averaged 11.9 points on 48.7 percent shooting to go along with 7.9 rebounds for the Tigers.

  Injuries this past season, including two fully torn ligaments and two partially torn ligaments in his ankle in December, put a damper on his junior campaign, although he did earn second-team all-conference honors after averaging 11.2 points, 7.2 boards and 3.2 assists.

  --Field Level Media

Grand Canyon is finalizing a deal to join the Mountain West Conference in time for the 2025-26 athletic calendar, Yahoo Sports reported Tuesday.

• The Phoenix-based university, which does not have a football program, originally was expected to join the league by July 2026. The school accepted an invitation from the Mountain West to join last Nov. 1.

  The Antelopes have been a member of the Western Athletic Conference since the 2013-14 season.

  Grand Canyon's men's basketball team, coached by Bryce Drew, has been to the NCAA Tournament in four of the past five seasons.

  The Mountain West membership has been evolving since five schools -- Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State -- announced they were joining the Pac-12 in 2026.

  UC Davis, UTEP and Hawaii, who already compete in the Mountain West in football, are set to become full members in July 2026. The returning members of the conference are Air Force, New Mexico, Nevada, San Jose State, UNLV and Wyoming.

  --Field Level Media

EA Sports teased the return of its college basketball video game series in a social media post Monday.

• "Bring the Madness. Let's run it back," the post read, along with a close-up shot of a video game basketball with the EA Sports logo emblazoned on it.

  The teaser came just hours after the website Extra Points reported on the series' potential return.

  EA Sports last published a college basketball video game in 2009 with "NCAA Basketball 10." It was discontinued due to a lack of sales and, shortly thereafter, the company's college football series was halted as a byproduct of legal action over the use of unpaid players' likenesses in the game.

  In the era of name, image and likeness (NIL) rights, college football returned to the video game world in EA Sports' "College Football 25," leaving many fans to wonder whether basketball would get a similar revival.

  Extra Points obtained a memo dated June 26, 2025 that revealed the College Licensing Company (CLC) had put out a request for proposal for a college basketball video game last year. Five companies expressed interest and three filed bids, but CLC chose EA Sports' proposal.

  The proposal said 2028 was the target date for the first game to be released.

  --Field Level Media

The NCAA is expected to approve an expansion of the college basketball season from 31 to 32 games, CBS Sports reported Wednesday.

• The schedule change would go into effect with the 2026-27 season for men and women after the Division I Council passes the measure, per the report.

  There has been a 31-game maximum since 2006-07. Teams are permitted to schedule 28 or 29 predetermined games, plus an allowance for multi-team events -- such as holiday tournaments -- where two or three additional games could be played.

  According to the report, programs will not be required to play 32 games but will merely have the option to do so.

  --Field Level Media