HoopsHype.com Rumors

Kevin Ding: Phil Jackson's agents issue statement: "Contrary to published reports" Phil was never asked to lead search for a new UCLA basketball coach. Twitter @KevinDing

Phil Jackson, Coaching, NCAA, UCLA 

Kevin Ware, a sophomore guard from the Bronx, suffered a devastating leg injury in the first half of Louisville's Elite Eight game against Duke Sunday night. Ware attempted to to block a shot by Duke's Tyler Thornton and landed awkwardly on his right leg. The game was halted for several minutes and Louisville players and coach Rick Pitino were seen tearing up in the injury timeout. New York Daily News

Draft, Injuries, NCAA, Kevin Ware 

Immediately, medical personnel came out with a stretcher while Louisville players appeared traumatized. In a terrifying scene, Cardinals guard Russ Smith started crying uncontrollably after seeing Ware while freshman forward Montrezl Harrell was doubled over on the floor, shaking. Players on Duke's bench also appeared to be shocked about what had just happened. The game stopped for seven minutes, and Louisville's players gathered around Ware before he was taken out of the arena on a stretcher. Ware was taken promptly to IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. USA Today Sports

Draft, Injuries, NCAA, Kevin Ware 

Net Daily: Lets not speculate on the cause of his injury, his prognosis or its effect on the game. Lets just keep Kevin Ware in our thoughts #respect Twitter @NetsDaily

Draft, Injuries, NCAA, Kevin Ware 

Damien Wilkins: Prayers up for Kevin Ware Twitter @dwilkins3000

Philadelphia 76ers, Draft, Injuries, NCAA, Damien Wilkins, Kevin Ware 

Ben Gordon: Wishing Kevin Ware a healthy and speedy recovery Twitter @BenGordon8

Charlotte Bobcats, Draft, Injuries, NCAA, Ben Gordon, Kevin Ware 

The University of Minnesota's search for a men's basketball coach became officially embarrassing when it was learned Saturday, March 30, that Flip Saunders had turned down the job. Saunders is believed to be at least the fourth coach to say no thanks to Gophers athletic administrators Norwood Teague and Mike Ellis since they fired Tubby Smith on Monday. Saunders, the popular former Gophers point guard and 16-year NBA coach who resides in Medina, wasn't saying anything publicly other than he'll always "bleed maroon and gold." St. Paul Pioneer Press

Coaching, NCAA, Flip Saunders 

So what might Flip Saunders be waiting for if the Timberwolves aren't going to change GMs and he turned down the U. of Minnesota? One, he is enjoying his TV work for ESPN, I'm told. Two, the family issues with which current Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman is dealing could prompt him to step down sometime in the future. I'm not sure where they go if that happens, but I have to think both Flip and JB Bickerstaff in Houston -- one of the young assistants earmarked to be hired as a head coach someday and a former Timberwolves assistant -- would be on their list. Sulia

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, NCAA, Flip Saunders, Rick Adelman, JB Bickerstaff 

Joseph Goodman: Heat locker room screaming "lob city" as #FGCU throws down against #Gators. LeBron cheering the loudest. Miller and Haslem not happy. Twitter @JoeGoodmanJr

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Udonis Haslem, Mike Miller, NCAA 

Flip Saunders appears to have options: aside from proving himself adept in front of ESPN cameras, sources say both the U. of Minnesota and NBA Timberwolves have expressed varying degrees of interest in bringing Saunders back to their respective folds. Sulia

Minnesota Timberwolves, Coaching, NCAA, Flip Saunders 

Fred Hoiberg will remain the symbolic Mayor of Ames a while longer. The highly successful Iowa State men's basketball coach and the university agreed to a new contract Thursday night, a 10-year deal worth a total of $20 million through 2023. He has a record of 62-39 in three seasons as a head coach. "I wanted to be here," Hoiberg said in a telephone interview after the contract was announced Thursday night. "I'm thankful this deal got done. I'm excited to be the coach of the Cyclones for a very long time." USA Today Sports

Coaching, NCAA, Fred Hoiberg 

To this day, the school and the NCAA maintain that they own his likeness in perpetuity ("forever and throughout the universe," the standard clause reads), because O’Bannon signed a legal release at age 17 that granted such license. "A 17-year-old kid doesn’t know what he’s doing, and to sign something of that magnitude without legal representation is manipulation the second you’re handed the pen," O’Bannon said. "When you sign a letter of intent, you just want to play ball — that’s where my mind-set was. "For lack of a better term, you are signing your life away. They get all the revenue, and you can’t even get a job on campus to pay your expenses." Newark Star-Ledger

Law, NCAA, Ed O'Bannon 

It has been three years since O’Bannon filed an antitrust suit against the governing body of collegiate athletics, one that threatens its very business model, and there have been signs lately that it’s scaring the smugness and sanctimony right out of the NCAA. "More than anything, I guess it’s helped open everyone’s eyes as to how unfair the system has been for so long," O’Bannon said in a phone chat the other day. "And it’s helped start the conversation about what kind of changes are needed." Newark Star-Ledger

Law, NCAA, Ed O'Bannon 

Jimmy Kimmel also asked Kareem about the UCLA opening for head coach, and if he would have any interest. Kareem responded that he “certainly would be interested in coaching the team.” Not to get wins, mind you, but to help get players their degrees and teach them basketball. Kareem’s coaching experience is limited to serving as a special assistant to Phil Jackson, and coaching the Oklahoma Storm of the USBL. He does, however, know what it is like to drag Walton and Lanier up and down the court for 48 minutes. The Big Lead

Coaching, NCAA, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, UCLA 

Mavericks center Chris Kaman joined BaD Radio 104.1 FM The Ticket on Thursday. Here are some highlights. On if college athletes should be paid: “I think they should get paid. I think it has to be based on the amount of funds they bring to the school because the school is making money on them and the NCAA is making money on them. Why can’t they get some? You can figure out how many jerseys sell this guy and how many jerseys sell that guy. It shouldn’t be one guy gets more than the other. It should be every body gets paid an equal percentage. (Education) is not free because you’re providing a service to the university that they can make money off of. (Education) is not a very fair payment.” Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks, Draft, NCAA, Chris Kaman 

On the surface, Telfair’s would be an example that proves there is some merit to the insistence on a year of college. For all of his gifts with the ball, he has never developed a jump shot, connecting just 39% from the floor for his career. Accordingly, he has now bounced around the league, playing for eight different teams. “I definitely don’t regret it in any kind of way,” Telfair said. “I wish I could go back and have that experience, because I know, the older that I get, that experiences mean a lot. They define who you are at the end of the day. But I know a couple of guys who were in my same position who went to school and never got to the NBA. I’m here, and this is the ultimate goal, no matter what route you take, especially if you’ve played as long as I’ve been playing.” National Post

Toronto Raptors, NCAA, Sebastian Telfair 

Nazr Mohammed: Watch ur tongues cuz were still the reigning Champs til the end of this tournament lol. #WeAreUK Twitter @NazrMohammed

Chicago Bulls, Nazr Mohammed, NCAA 

Adrian Wojnarowski: Ex-NBA players - Jeff Ruland and Walter McCarty - are candidates for Fairleigh Dickinson job, sources say. Ruland led Iona to 3 NCAA trips. Twitter @WojYahooNBA

Coaching, NCAA, Walter McCarty, Jeff Ruland 

A member of Pennsylvania's 1979 Final Four team died early on Monday after he was fatally stabbed in his home in Media, Pa. According to authorities, Matthew White, 53, was stabbed by a woman while he was sleeping in his bed. White's wife, Maria Rey Garcia-Pellon, is being charged with first-degree murder and is currently being held in a Delaware County jail. USA Today Sports

Law, NCAA, Matthew White 

Police say Garcia-Pellon went to a friend's home afterward and told her she had caught her husband viewing child pornography. White was the starting center on Penn's Final Four team. He was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers and also played in Europe. USA Today Sports

Law, NCAA, Matthew White