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Cardinals' Stone in NCAA limbo
By CHRIS DUNCAN
AP Sports Writer
LOUISVILLE, KY (AP) — Louisville center Marvin
Stone sat out Saturday's 82-76 victory over East Carolina as the NCAA
examined his ties to an amateur program.
The NCAA has been asking Stone about benefits he
received through Mark Komara, a Huntsville, Ala., businessman who also
runs an AAU team there.
Donald Jackson, an attorney retained by Stone's family,
said the NCAA has been pressuring Louisville to suspend Stone. The
school had resisted until making its decision on Saturday morning.
``Obviously, we're very disappointed and still hopeful
of a positive outcome,'' Jackson said Saturday.
Stone, who refused to comment after the game, sat at the
end of the Cardinals' bench as his teammates snapped a three-game losing
streak.
Louisville coach Rick Pitino said he learned Saturday
morning that the school was going to hold out Stone.
Pitino said he was still uncertain of Stone's status for
the rest of the season.
``The university has to make the decision,'' Pitino
said. ``If I would've made the decision, he would've played. That
doesn't mean I'm going against the university. I'm a soldier in their
army.
``They sat him out in light of something that went on a
few years ago, so the university is probably making a prudent
decision,'' he said. ``I was just told not to play him.''
Louisville athletics director Tom Jurich said little
about the situation.
``About all I can say is we're following their lead,
doing everything we can to cooperate and that it's ongoing,'' Jurich
said.
Stone dressed for practice Friday, but spent most of the
two hours on the sidelines.
Pitino has been openly frustrated by the situation,
particularly the timing.
The 11th-ranked Cardinals (20-5, 10-4 Conference USA)
have one regular-season game left and the conference tournament begins
March 12 in Louisville.
Stone is Louisville's second-leading scorer (10.9
points), rebounder (7.4) and shot-blocker (29).
Stone transferred to Louisville from Kentucky in January
2002.
Stone had six points and five rebounds in Thursday's
78-73 loss to Marquette, Louisville's fourth in five games.
Stone took the floor by himself about 15 minutes before
tipoff Saturday, wearing a white turtleneck and black sweat pants.
02/23/07 10:56 AM
Copyright 2003
The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Bonesville.net contributed to this report.
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