Associated Press

The college notebook ...

DAVIDSON — One of Davidson College’s famous perks is the free laundry service for students. Now the school is adding another freebie: watching the Wildcats play in the NCAA tournament’s round of 16.

The school’s board of trustees set up a fund Wednesday to pay for any student wishing to travel to Detroit to see Davidson play Wisconsin in the Midwest Regional semifinals. Students will get free bus transportation, two nights lodging and a ticket to Friday’s game.

Behind sophomore sensation Stephen Curry, Davidson upset Gonzaga and Georgetown last week for the school’s first NCAA tournament wins in 39 years.

While the drop-off laundry service and trip to Detroit are free, annual tuition at the exclusive, liberal-arts school is just under $41,000 a year.

NIT

BLACKSBURG, Va. — Chris Warren scored five of his 22 points during a 9-0 second-half run and Mississippi beat Virginia Tech 81-72 on Wednesday night in the NIT quarterfinals to earn a trip to Madison Square Garden in New York.

Deron Washington had 23 points for Virginia Tech

(21-14).

CBI

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Jeremy Crouch had 27 points, including a 3-pointer that sparked a run that blew open a close game, and Bradley beat Virginia 96-85 on Wednesday night in the College Basketball Invitation semifinals.

COACHING MOVES

BERKELEY, Calif.— California has fired basketball coach Ben Braun following another disappointing season in which the Golden Bears missed the NCAA tournament.

Braun spent 12 years at Cal and made the tournament five times. But the Bears only went to the NCAA tournament once in his final five seasons, leading to the decision Wednesday by athletic director Sandy Barbour.

Cal finished in ninth place in the Pac-10 this season, going 17-16 overall and just 6-12 in the conference despite having a talented roster that included likely future NBA players in Ryan Anderson, DeVon Hardin and Patrick Christopher.

The Bears made the NIT, where they were knocked out in the second round by Ohio State.

Braun leaves Cal with a 219-154 record at the school.

• TUCSON, Ariz. — Kevin O’Neill said he expects to return to Lute Olson’s Arizona staff and succeed the Hall of Famer when he retires.

“As I sit here today I am planning on being the next coach,” O’Neill said Wednesday at a McKale Center news conference. “Lute is planning on fulfilling his contract and that is a long way off before any of that stuff happens. That is the least thing I am concerned about right now.”

O’Neill became interim coach Nov. 4 after Olson took a leave of absence for undisclosed personal reason.

• SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Missouri State has hired Purdue associate coach Cuonzo Martin as its men’s basketball coach.

The 36-year-old Martin replaces Barry Hinson, who was fired on March 9 after failing to take Missouri State to the NCAA tournament in nine seasons.

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