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News Nuggets, 01.29.04
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

TCU decision imminent on Mountain West bid

FORT WORTH — Texas Christian could decide by Friday whether to accept an invitation to leave Conference USA to join the Mountain West Conference.

Athletic director Eric Hyman said Wednesday that the move would be discussed at the school's board of trustees meeting later this week. Hyman declined to discuss further details.

The move would probably be for the 2005-06 school year and would end months of speculation about the Horned Frogs' athletic future.

TCU would join Air Force, Brigham Young, Colorado State, New Mexico, San Diego State, Nevada-Las Vegas, Utah and Wyoming in the Mountain West.

Mountain West officials did not immediately return calls from the Associated Press on Wednesday.

TCU has been on the move since the Southwest Conference dissolved in 1995. The Mountain West would be TCU's fourth conference in 10 years. TCU joined the Western Athletic Conference in 1996 and left for Conference USA after the 2000-01 season.

In November, Conference USA lost five members and gained five others. Cincinnati, DePaul, Louisville, Marquette and South Florida bolted to the Big East, then C-USA added Central Florida, Marshall, Rice, SMU and Tulsa.

Cards cruise while Pitino quickly mends

LOUISVILLE — Louisville didn't miss Rick Pitino in its first game without its ailing coach.

With assistant Kevin Willard in charge, the fourth-ranked Cardinals beat Houston 64-48 Wednesday for their 16th consecutive victory. Spokesman Kenny Klein spoke to Pitino after the game and said Pitino hopes to fly back from Cleveland on Thursday morning and make it to Louisville's afternoon practice.

Pitino received treatment at the Cleveland Clinic for an undisclosed ailment that's caused him pain for months. Pitino announced Monday he was taking an indefinite leave of absence, then said Tuesday he might rejoin his team by this weekend.

Larry O'Bannon and Nate Daniels scored 17 points apiece to lead Louisville (16-1, 6-0 Conference USA), which also played without leading scorer Francisco Garcia and point guard Taquan Dean. Garcia sprained his ankle last Sunday and Dean suffered a pulled groin in a practice last week.

Majerus to hang up whistle after latest health scare

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah basketball coach Rick Majerus will resign at the end of the season after his latest health problem put him in the hospital with chest pains. Majerus, 55, was being treated in Santa Barbara, Calif., on Wednesday. His condition was not released.

Assistant Kerry Rupp will coach the Utes in the interim, though Majerus could return and finish out the season if his health allows. Rupp will guide the team when it plays Saturday against BYU.

Majerus is the second coach this week to take a leave because of health reasons. Louisville's Rick Pitino took an indefinite leave Monday to determine the cause of the urological-related pain.

``Its been a strange week for the coaching fraternity — first Rick Pitino and now Rick Majerus,'' said Kentucky coach Tubby Smith, whose Wildcats beat Utah in the 1998 title game. ``This profession can be physically and emotionally demanding.''

The health of the portly Majerus has always been a concern, especially after he had heart bypass surgery in 1989 — just six games into his first season at Utah. Since then, he has led the Utes to the NCAA tournament 10 times.

``Everybody that knows Rick and cares about Rick has mentioned that he needs to take care of himself,'' Utah athletic director Chris Hill said.

``I think coaches' lives in general are stressful. I think every year is stressful because of the pressure they put on themselves,'' he said. ``I think they're all very, very intense and maybe Rick is maybe on the high end of intense.''

Majerus felt chest pains late Tuesday in Salt Lake City. He was flown to southern California for treatment by his cardiologist.

Rupp and his fellow assistants heard about Majerus early Wednesday. Players were kept away from the media until after a late afternoon practice.

Utah (15-5, 3-2 Mountain West) has lost its last two games, falling at Air Force on Monday night 62-49. Majerus had one of his youngest teams this season with just two seniors, no juniors and a host of underclassmen.

In Rupp's only game as head coach, Utah beat BYU 79-75 last season in Provo after Majerus left to attend the funeral for the stepfather of former Utah standout Andre Miller.

Majerus came to Utah from Ball State in 1989, and the 1990s saw Utah ranked eighth among NCAA Division I programs in both wins (250) and winning percentage (.767).

Majerus has twice taken extended leaves in two other seasons since he started at Utah. Along his bypass surgery in December 1989, Majerus coached one game in the 2000-2001 season before leaving to deal with health issues and care for his ailing mother.

Majerus is well-known for his demanding coaching style and frequent outbursts. His program had a high turnover rate, with many players leaving after getting frustrated with Majerus' oft-abrasive treatment.

Utah was placed on three years' probation by the NCAA last summer after an investigation confirmed several minor violations, including meals Majerus bought during meetings with players. The NCAA rule has been changed to allow for such meals as long as each one is documented.

Reacting to the reprimand, Majerus flashed his disdain for the NCAA's complex rules. ``I don't think anybody ever said we gained a competitive advantage because, 'I had that hamburger with Majerus.' Or in recruiting, somebody would say, 'Hey, if I only become a Ute I'll be able to go to Crown Burger with Majerus,''' he said after the Utes were placed on probation.

Utah may still participate in postseason tournaments and no restrictions were placed on TV appearances.

Just this month, Hill said Majerus was cleared in an investigation into a complaint by a former player who claimed the coach berated him about his partial hearing loss.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically from staff, ECU, Conference USA and its member schools, and from Associated Press and other reports. Copyright 2004 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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