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News Nuggets, 04.13.04
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

DePaul's Leitao halts pursuit of St. John's job

CHICAGO — DePaul basketball coach Dave Leitao withdrew from consideration for the St. John's job Monday.

"I am looking forward to continuing to build the foundation which will enable DePaul basketball to enhance the recent success on the national level for many years to come," Leitao said.

St. John's fired Mike Jarvis in December and the New York university had approached Leitao about the job. He interviewed with St. John's last week, DePaul spokesman Scott Reed said.

Leitao has been DePaul's head coach for two seasons. Last season, DePaul won a school-record 12 conference games and claimed a share of the Conference USA championship. DePaul finished the season 22-10 and received an NCAA tournament berth for the first time in four years. Leitao has three years remaining on his five-year contract with DePaul.

Norwood hitting spree merits C-USA honor

Opposing pitches had a hard enough time getting East Carolina's Ryan Norwood out last week that Conference USA recognized his performance by naming him the league's Co-Hitter of the Week along with Carlos Velaxquez of Southern Miss.

Tulane lefthander Brian Bogusevic earned the Pitcher of the Week honor by shutting down LSU's potent hitting attack in a Green Wave victory.

HITTERS OF THE WEEK

RYAN NORWOOD, ECU, Junior, 1B, Richmond, VA: Norwood hit safely in all four Pirate victories last week, including a sweep over USF, batting .500 (8-for-16) with a team-high seven runs scored. He had a pair of doubles and two home runs, while driving in four. Norwood slugged 1.000 for the week and posted a .529 on-base percentage, registering four walks.

CARLOS VELASQUEZ, USM, Senior, OF, Kenner, LA: Velasquez batted .611 (11-for-18) in five games last week, leading the Golden Eagles to a series sweep at Saint Louis. He closed the week with 18 total bases for a 1.000 slugging percentage while posting a .682 on-base percentage. Velasquez had a double, two home runs and six RBI on the week, while walking four times and scoring nine runs.

PITCHER OF THE WEEK

BRIAN BOGUSEVIC, Tulane, Sophomore, LHP, Oak Lawn, IL: Bogusevic fired a four-hit shutout over a career-long 8 2/3 innings pitched at No. 2 LSU on April 6. He struck out four and did not walk a batter in posting his fifth consecutive victory. Bogusevic never allowed more than one base runner in any inning and pitched a trio of three-up, three-down frames as Tulane posted its first shutout over LSU since 1968.

Miami-Big East court fight adds new twist

MIAMI — The University of Miami's lawsuit against the Big East and four member schools will be heard in Miami, but only after a similar case is completed in Connecticut, a judge has ruled.

Miami sued the Big East after some conference members sued Florida school in Connecticut, alleging it was involved in a conspiracy with the Atlantic Coast Conference to weaken the Big East, costing the member schools millions of dollars.

Circuit Judge Leon M. Firtel decided to delay the case in Miami until the case in Connecticut is completed. But he declined to dismiss the local suit.

Eric Isicoff, an attorney for Miami, called the ruling "a split decision."

"They pushed hard in their papers and in their hearing for a dismissal, and we think that would have been a horrible mistake," Isicoff said.

"What it really all means is that it's going to lengthen the process and cause more expense to the parties."

Miami and Virginia Tech are leaving Big East to join the ACC after the current academic year ends. Boston College also is leaving the Big East for the ACC, but not until at least 2005.

Baseball America & Collegiate Baseball Polls

The top 25 teams in the Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball polls with records through Apr. 11 and previous rankings. The Baseball America poll is voted on by the publication's staff. The Collegiate Baseball poll, which includes each team's point total, is voted on by coaches, sports writers and sports information directors:

[Conference USA teams — present and future — and Carolinas teams in bold.]

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News Nuggets are compiled periodically from staff, ECU, Conference USA and its member schools, and from Associated Press and other reports. Copyright 2004 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007