Elon hires Davidson assistant as next coach
ELON, N.C. - Elon has hired longtime Davidson assistant Matt Matheny to turn around its men's basketball program.
The Phoenix announced the hiring on Sunday.
Matheny replaces 62-year-old Ernie Nestor, a Philippi, W.Va., native who was fired three weeks ago after going 67-117 in six seasons. Elon, with Kanawha Valley natives Chris Long (GW) and T.J. Douglas (St. Albans) on its roster, was 11-20 this year and finished fifth in the Southern Conference's six-team North Division.
Matheny spent 16 seasons on Bob McKillop's staff at Davidson and helped the Wildcats claim five NCAA tournament berths - including last year's Stephen Curry-led run to the regional finals.
Mountaineers smack four homers in victory
Behind a team season-high four home runs and a stellar pitching performance from redshirt junior Billy Gross, the visiting West Virginia University baseball team powered its way past Big East foe Villanova, 7-4, on a rainy Sunday afternoon.
The Mountaineers improved to 17-6 overall, 4-1 in the league, while the Wildcats dropped to 12-12, 1-5.
Former Herbert Hoover star Grant Buckner homered for WVU, as did Vince Belnome, Dan DiBartolomeo and Austin Markel.
Gross was solid in his seven-inning outing as he picked up the victory, improving to 3-2 this year. Gross fanned six, while walking only two.
Herd beats No. 19 East Carolina in baseball
Freshman designated hitter Thor Meeks, a former Hurricane High standout, hit a two-out, three-run homer to highlight a five-run fourth inning to help lift Marshall to an impressive 6-2 victory over No. 19 East Carolina in Sunday's Conference USA baseball game at Appalachian Power Park.
With the win, Marshall improves to 11-14 overall, 3-3 in league play, while East Carolina falls to 20-5 on the season, 5-1 in conference action.
The victory over East Carolina was the first under third-year head Coach Jeff Waggoner, and the first Thundering Herd victory over a ranked opponent since Marshall took a 12-11 decision over 28th- ranked Houston on April 27, 2007.
Nominations being accepted for golf Hall
Tuesday is the deadline to nominate a golfer for the West Virginia Golf Foundation's West Virginia Golf Hall of Fame.
The foundation, a part of the West Virginia Golf Association, earlier announced the formation of a Hall of Fame that honors those who have greatly contributed to the game in the Mountain State. The inaugural class of the Hall will be announced next month. Applications for the Hall of Fame are located on the West Virginia Golf Association Web site: www.wvga.org.
Scott scores 15 in All-Star game
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Former West Virginia State standout Teddy Scott scored 15 points for East All-Stars on Sunday in the National Association of Basketball Coaches' Division II All-Star game at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.
The West defeated the East, 138-117, behind Nolan Richardson's 22 points.
The East was paced by Elizabeth City State's Anthony Hilliard, who finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds
Calipari reportedly interested in Kentucky job
Memphis Coach John Calipari has taken a place on Kentucky's radar in its search to replace Billy Gillispie, multiple sources told ESPN.com's Dana O'Neil and Pat Forde.
On Friday, a source told O'Neil that Calipari "likely would not be interested" in the job but on Sunday, multiple sources said Calipari is indeed interested. A source also said Kentucky was gathering information on Calipari over the weekend.
According to Memphis sports information director Lamar Chance, Kentucky officials have not contacted Memphis for permission to speak to Calipari.
Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart says the search to replace Billy Gillispie, who was fired Friday, will focus on finding someone who can match the passion of the school's rabid fan base.
Longtime NFL, college coach Saban dies at 87
NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - Lou Saban, the well-traveled coach whose NFL and college careers spanned five decades and dozens of jobs, has died. He was 87.
Saban died around 4 a.m. Sunday at his home, his wife, Joyce, said. He had heart problems for years and recently suffered a fall that required hospitalization, she said.
Saban played football at Indiana University and for the Cleveland Browns of the NFL before embarking on an unmatched head coaching career that included stops with the Boston Patriots of the AFL, the Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, along with college jobs at Miami, Army, Northwestern and Maryland.
He also was president of the New York Yankees from 1981-82 and coached high school football from 1987-89.
U.S. mostly quiet at Skating Championships
LOS ANGELES - The big winners coming out of the World Figure Skating Championships and gearing toward the Vancouver Olympics were South Korea, Canada and Russia. The United States? Not so much.
Kim Yu-na - "Queen Yu-na" back home - not only won South Korea's first gold medal, she did it in historic fashion with the best score ever in a women's short program (76.12 points) and a 207.71 overall. Some men would be thrilled with such scores, and she totally outclassed the field, particularly defending champion Mao Asada, who slipped to fourth.
They're not hurting in Canada, either. As the host country for next February's games, Canada could have a powerhouse team. Joannie Rochette, in her best international performance, was second to Kim. Patrick Chan, 18, is a rising star who came away with a bronze. So did the ice dancing couple of Tessa Virtue and Scott Muir. And three Canadian pairs made the top 10.
American ladies could use some inspiration, for sure. While Rachael Flatt's debut at worlds was terrific, finishing fifth and boding well for her future, U.S. champion Alissa Czisny was 11th. Their combined placements cost the Americans a third berth at the Vancouver Olympics.
Considering the strength in women's skating, from Kim and Rochette and Asada, who is the leader for a deep contingent of Japanese, a place on the Olympic podium might be a long shot.
Flatt's coach, Tom Zakrajsek, surely recognized that when he noted that Flatt is working on upping her technical marks.
"Certainly we'll try to get a triple axel," he said, knowing that Asada and most of the Japanese do that most difficult of jumps. "She has landed it before, in practice."
For now, all the women are chasing Kim, who sprinted away from them with a magnificent worlds.
Kim skates with ease and lightness, but complements those traits with power and strength. While other skaters slow down as they approach their jumps, trying to steady themselves, she goes full speed ahead, then lands like a feather dropping to earth.
Still, she and Orser are taking nothing for granted.
"I like it when the competing skaters do really well. I think she steps up to that," Orser said. "I know next year Mao has to be in top shape, but it is nice to win whenever you win. You take it any time."
The Russians take their gold in ice dancing with a sense of relief. The nation that has dominated all but the women's event for years earned its first medal of any kind at worlds since 2005 when Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin edged Olympic silver medalists Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto.
Russia also won a bronze in pairs.
There was some good news for the United States, which suddenly has become a strong medals contender in dance. Belbin and Agosto missed most of the season because of his back injury, yet their coaching change and their grit paid off in a silver that matches the color they won at the Turin Olympics.
Plus, Meryl Davis and Charlie White were fourth, confirming their elite status in a discipline where the United States has struggled for decades.
Belbin and Agosto will be among the favorites for Vancouver, as will fellow American Evan Lysacek, the first U.S. man to win worlds since Todd Eldredge in 1996. Lysacek did it with a stress fracture in his left foot.
A Los Angeles resident, Lysacek termed his win at Staples Center "so very special. I'll be absolutely thrilled with that performance for the rest of my life and will never forget it.'
Lysacek already owned two bronzes at worlds and is a two-time national champion. When he heads to Vancouver in about 10 months, Lysacek has some positive history on his side. The last time the Olympics were staged in Canada, Brian Boitano won gold in 198.
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