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News Nuggets, 03.15.05
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Handicapped Marquette makes quit exit from NIT

MILWAUKEE — With its leading scorer out of the lineup because of injury, Marquette was no match for Western Michigan in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament.

Levi Rost had 18 points and Brian Snyder added 11 to lead Western Michigan over Marquette 54-40 Monday night.

Marquette (19-12) was without leading scorer Travis Diener, who sustained a season-ending hand injury in practice Feb. 22.

``What concerned us was they played four games already without Travis and we didn't have film on any of them,'' Western Michigan coach Steve Hawkins said.

Marquette, making its second straight trip to the NIT after reaching the NCAA Final Four in 2003, made a season-low one 3-pointer in 21 attempts.

``The game tonight was certainly not how we built the program during my first six years here,'' Marquette coach Tom Crean said. ``You cannot let your offensive woes carry over to the other end and give up easy baskets. You just can't do it.''

The Broncos (20-12) won their first game of the NIT for the second time in three years and will play the winner of Wednesday's matchup between Texas Christian and Miami (Ohio) in the second round.

Brian Snider added 11 points for the Western Michigan, which had its best defensive game since beating Central Michigan 84-39 on Jan. 29.

Sophomore Dameon Mason led Marquette with 14 points, while Marcus Jackson had 11 rebounds. The Golden Eagles were held to less than 40 points for the second time in three games.

New arena a factor in Virginia's firing of Gillen

CHARLOTTESVILLE — Pete Gillen stepped down as Virginia's basketball coach Monday, ending a seven-year tenure marked by just one trip to the NCAA tournament.

``The team did not reach the goals we thought were achievable entering the 2004-05 season,'' athletic director Craig Littlepage said during brief remarks to the media at University Hall. ``There is, however, a solid foundation in place provided by Pete and his staff.''

Littlepage, who did not take questions, said he and Gillen had a discussion recently in which they decided the time was right for Gillen to leave.

The university said in a statement that under the terms of Gillen's contract he will receive a buyout of approximately $2 million. Gillen had six years remaining on a 10-year, $9 million contract he signed after the 2000-01 season.

``I have said many times the University of Virginia is a special place and I still feel that way,'' Gillen said in a statement distributed by the school. ``I appreciate the opportunity given to me as the head coach and feel it is in the best interest of all that I step aside at this time.''

The Cavaliers' only trip to the NCAA tournament under Gillen came in 2000-01. That season and his success with an undermanned team his first two years prompted the long-term deal.

But Gillen's future at Virginia has been tenuous for the past two seasons as the Cavaliers faltered in Atlantic Coast Conference play. This season they finished 14-15 overall and 4-12 in the expanded ACC.

Littlepage repeatedly said expectations for this season were high and that a $130 million, 15,000-seat arena due to open in 2006 mandated a turnaround in the men's program.

Littlepage is expected to take some time before hiring a new coach. He's required to attend the NCAA tournament as a member of the selection committee, and is expected to pursue a big name as the next coach to spark a surge in donations for the John Paul Jones Arena.

Among the names prominently mentioned are Texas coach Rick Barnes, who once agreed to leave Providence for the Virginia job but later changed his mind, Kentucky's Tubby Smith and Mike Brey of Notre Dame.

Heart attack hospitalizes Tech football coach

ATLANTA — Georgia Tech football coach Chan Gailey suffered a heart attack Monday while playing racquetball at the campus recreation center.

Gailey, who turned 53 in January, was taken to Piedmont Hospital after experiencing chest pains. He underwent a balloon angioplasty, a procedure that is used to clear a blocked artery, and was resting comfortably, the school said.

``He'll be in the hospital probably three or four days, but they do expect a complete recovery,'' athletic director Dave Braine said. ``We expect him to be back here within a few weeks.''

Braine said the angioplasty was needed to clear an artery that was totally blocked. He wasn't aware of the coach having any previous heart problems.

``It was touch and go for a little while, it really was,'' Braine said. ``We were told it was serious, so everybody said a prayer and hoped he was going to be fine, and he is. His family — his wife and his two sons — are there with him, and he's doing well.''

Gailey began feeling pain in his chest and left arm during an early morning racquetball game. After calling Georgia Tech's athletic trainer, the coach went next door to the student health center. Two school doctors examined Gailey and called an ambulance to take him to Piedmont, just a couple of miles away from the downtown campus.

``He was in pain,'' Braine said. ``They did an EKG and found out that he was having a heart attack.''

Gailey, entering his fourth season as Georgia Tech's coach, has a record of 21-17 and has guided the Yellow Jackets to three straight bowl appearances, extending the school-record streak to eight years in a row.

Gailey plays racquetball every morning but was told by doctors that he'll need to make a major change in his diet to reduce the chances of additional heart problems, according to Braine.

``The worst thing is he's not going to be able to eat ice cream anymore,'' Braine said.

Georgia Tech began spring practice last Friday.

Final 2004-05 college basketball poll

The Top 25 teams in The Associated Press college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, record, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote, and previous ranking:

(Poll released Mar. 14, 2005. Conference USA team, including future members, and Carolinas teams in bold; East Carolina opponents in red.] 

 1. Illinois 29-1 1725 1
 2. North Carolina 26-3 1701 2
 3. Wake Forest 26-4 1596 4
 4. Kentucky 23-4 1445 3
 5. Duke 22-5 1393 6
 6. Louisville 26-4 1350 9
 7. Boston College 24-3 1286 5
 8. Arizona 25-5 1192 11
 9. Kansas 22-5 1134 7
10. Oklahoma State 21-6 1067 8
11. Gonzaga 24-4 1054 12
12. Connecticut 21-6 1021 15
13. Michigan State 22-5 919 14
14. Washington 24-5 895 10
15. Utah 25-4 697 16
16. Syracuse 24-6 648 13
17. Oklahoma 23-6 630 20
18. Pacific 25-2 583 17
19. Villanova 21-6 552 19
20. Alabama 23-6 456 21
21. Cincinnati 24-6 333 22
22. Pittsburgh 20-7 288 24
23. Wisconsin 20-7 260 23
24. Nevada 24-5 149 25
25. Charlotte 21-6 112 18

Others Receiving Votes:

Florida 96, Louisiana State 58, Southern Illinois 43, Texas 28, Wisconsin-Milwaukee 9, Georgia Tech 5, New Mexico 5, Texas A&M 4, UCLA 3, Holy Cross 2, Saint Mary's (CA) 2, Winthrop 2, Minnesota 1, Ohio State 1, Old Dominion 1, Penn 1, Texas Tech 1, Texas-El Paso 1, Vermont 1.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically based on material supplied by staff members; data published by ECU, Conference USA and its member schools; and reports from Associated Press and other sources. Copyright 2005 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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