CBB

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Minnesota has finalized a two-year contract extension for coach Richard Pitino through the 2020-21 season, including a $400,000 raise.The university released the details Tuesday, months after the terms were agreed to while Norwood Teague was the athletic director. Pitino, who finished his second year as coach...

AP Sports WriterUnder-pressure Pitino: 'We've got to get this right'By DAVE CAMPBELLMINNEAPOLIS (AP) Richard Pitino's fourth year as the coach at Minnesota has come with significant pressure to pull up the floundering men's basketball program from the bottom of the Big Ten and help put an end to...

AP Sports WriterKentucky's Briscoe looks to improve shooting, draft stockBy GARY B. GRAVESLEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) Kentucky guard Isaiah Briscoe was told he needs to work on his game to be a first-round NBA draft pick, and that's fine with him.Sure, his dream is playing in the NBA. But...

LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) Cheick Diallo was sitting next to Bill Self, the coach he can now play for, and it was a close call as to whose smile was broader.The freshman forward was cleared by the NCAA on Wednesday to play for No. 5 Kansas starting Dec. 1.The...

UNLV signs Baxter as late addition to Menzies' first classLAS VEGAS (AP) UNLV coach Marvin Menzies has added a recruit to his first recruiting class in the desert, signing forward Troy Baxter Jr. after he committed to the school last week.The 6-foot-8 Baxter will be eligible to play...

AP Basketball WriterUNLV will need time to jell in first season under MenziesBy JOHN MARSHALLLAS VEGAS (AP) Marvin Menzies knew it would take some time to know what type of team he had at UNLV. He was new, the system was new and so were most of the...

AP Basketball WriterSyracuse's Carrier Dome success bolstering NCAA resumeBy AARON BEARDRALEIGH, N.C. (AP) Syracuse entered January looking headed to a season of disappointment and possibly missing the NCAA Tournament a year after an unexpected Final Four run.A bit of homecourt success has changed the Orange's course.Syracuse (16-9, 8-4...

The Latest: Calipari sparks debate on which UK group is bestNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The Latest from SEC men's basketball media day on Wednesday (all times local):6:05 p.m.John Calipari has ignited another firestorm at Kentucky. This time it's an internal squabble.The Kentucky coach said Wednesday at SEC media day...

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) Kentucky coach John Calipari took longer than usual to assemble another top-flight recruiting class good enough to raise national championship expectations.Of course, those lofty projections don't ever change in Lexington.But expecting these Wildcats to duplicate last year's school-record 38-0 start is probably unrealistic, especially with...

SMU officially ends Jankovich's wait as Brown's successorDALLAS (AP) The wait is over for Tim Jankovich to be SMU's head coach.SMU formally named Jankovich as its new coach Monday, three days after Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown abruptly resigned.Jankovich had been considered head-coach-in-waiting since he came to...

AP Sports WriterNo. 21 Maryland loves taking its act on the roadBy DAVID GINSBURGCOLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) Coming off a stinging loss at home, No. 21 Maryland now must face Penn State on the road Tuesday night.Strangely enough, it's the perfect scenario for the Terrapins to get back...

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. (AP) At one point last season, Seton Hall was among the very best basketball teams in the nation.The Pirates were ranked as high as No. 19, their highest ranking since 2001, and had a 12-2 record. They had a sensational freshman class and started the...