Associated Press
The college notebook …
DAVIDSON ó One of Davidson Collegeís famous perks is the free laundry service for students. Now the school is adding another freebie: watching the Wildcats play in the NCAA tournamentís round of 16.
The schoolís 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 Fridayís game.
Behind sophomore sensation Stephen Curry, Davidson upset Gonzaga and Georgetown last week for the schoolís 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. ó 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. ó 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.ó 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. ó Kevin OíNeill said he expects to return to Lute Olsonís Arizona staff and succeed the Hall of Famer when he retires.
iAs I sit here today I am planning on being the next coach,î OíNeill said Wednesday at a McKale Center news conference. iLute 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.î
OíNeill became interim coach Nov. 4 after Olson took a leave of absence for undisclosed personal reason.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. ó Missouri State has hired Purdue associate coach Cuonzo Martin as its menís 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.