Associated Press
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ó Mark Gottfried resigned as Alabama’s coach Monday, leaving in the middle of his 11th season amid criticism of both his team’s play and the departure of a star guard.
The school said Gottfried will immediately be replaced by assistant coach Philip Pearson. Alabama’s next game is at Arkansas on Thursday.The Crimson Tide’s record is 12-7 overall and 2-3 in the SEC. Gottfried was criticized over the recent departure of point guard Ronald Steele, a preseason All-American two years ago who’s had an injury-plagued career. The school blamed Steele’s recent departure on an injury, but Steele said there was more to his decision to leave the program.
SUSPENSION
IRVING, Texas ó Conference USA suspended Houston’s Aubrey Coleman one game for violating the league’s sportsmanship policy when he stepped on the face of Arizona’s Chase Budinger.
KENTUCKY
LEXINGTON, Ky. ó Ramon Harris was cleared to return to practice by doctors two days after fainting during halftime against Alabama.
Harris was held out of practice Sunday and underwent extensive testing Monday. He could play Tuesday when the Wildcats (16-4, 5-0 SEC) face Mississippi (10-9, 1-4).
“It is a scary situation,” coach Billy Gillispie said. “As far as all the checkups and tests, everything has been fine although they haven’t determined what caused it to happen, and that is a little scary. We have great doctors and they have cleared him to play for a reason.”ACC HONORS
GREENSBORO ó Malcolm Delaney of Virginia Tech and Reggie Jackson of Boston College have earned the weekly player honors in the ACC.
Delaney averaged 25 points and six rebounds as Tech beat Wake Forest and Miami.
Jackson received the rookie of the week award after averaging nine points, more than five rebounds, three assists and one block per game as the Eagles posted wins over Georgia Tech and N.C. State.
Postseason Tournament
BOSTON ó A new men’s postseason tournament has been scheduled in March by CollegeInsider.com for 16 teams not chosen for the NCAA and NIT tournaments.
To be eligible, teams must have a winning record against Division I opponents. Priority will be given to schools whose conferences have fewer than half their teams in the NCAA and NIT.
The College Basketball Invitational began last year with Tulsa beating Bradley in the best-of-three title series.