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News Nuggets, 05.11.05
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Pair with N.C. ties no longer on Bearcats hoops team

CINCINNATI — Cincinnati freshman forward Roy Bright has been dismissed from the team, effective immediately, the school has announced.

Bearcats head coach Bob Huggins took the action after Bright confirmed he was in possession of a firearm on the UC campus this week.

The matter remains under investigation by UC Police.

Another freshman, guard Vincent Banks, has left the team for personal reasons.

Huggins was hoping that Bright and Banks would ease the Bearcats through their transition into the Big East Conference next season.

Bright was the Bearcats' top freshman last season, averaging 4.0 points and 3.7 rebounds. He played in all 33 games, starting five.

The university said campus police are investigating an incident involving Bright, a 6-foot-6 forward from Durham, NC. Huggins said Bright acknowledged he had a firearm on campus last week, resulting in his dismissal from the team.

Banks, a 6-2 guard from Atlanta, was chosen as Georgia's top prep player in 2003 after he averaged 31.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists at South High School. He also had ties to North Carolina, having starred at Laurinburg Institute before heading to Cincinnati.

Banks didn't meet the NCAA's academic requirements when he arrived on campus, but was expected to play next season.

``This is very unfortunate for Vincent that he has to deal with these personal issues,'' Huggins said.

Cincinnati, DePaul, Louisville, South Florida and Marquette all move from Conference USA to the Big East next season. The Big East will have 16 members in 2005-06.

From Cincinnati Athletics and wire reports.

Clarke leaving Billikens basketball program

ST. LOUIS — Saint Louis basketball coach Brad Soderberg has announced that 6-foot-4 guard Darren Clarke, a sophomore from Minnetonka, MN, will transfer out of the Billikens' program.

"Darren has decided to go in a different direction with his basketball career," Soderberg said. "We appreciate the contribution that he made to our program during the past two seasons and wish him well in his future endeavors."

As a sophomore, Clarke appeared in 10 games and started one. He averaged 3.9 points and 1.9 rebounds per game while shooting 37.8 percent from the field and 21.4 percent from the three-point arc.

During his two-year, 26-game stint with the Billikens, Clarke averaged 2.8 ppg and 1.2 rpg.

Clarke has not yet determined a school to attend.

Saint Louis has three open scholarships as the end of the spring signing period approaches on May 18.

From Saint Louis Athletics reports.

Tulane gears up to host postseason baseball

Tulane's juggernaut baseball program, No. 1 for five weeks in a row in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper poll, is already mapping out the logistics for hosting postseason action.

Season ticket holders and members of the Tulane Athletics Fund have been mailed information on the ticket policy for a possible NCAA Regional that would be hosted by the Green Wave at Turchin Stadium, according to Tulane Associate Athletic Director Scott Sidwell. The mailing includes an order form with a deadline for return of Wednesday, May 25th.

NCAA Regionals will be held June 3-6, with the sites to be announced on Sunday, May 29 at 3:30 p.m. The selection show to announce the 64-team field will air Monday, May 30, at 11:30 a.m. (ET) on ESPN2.

With a record of 42-8 and just six regular season games remaining, Tulane is currently ranked No. 1 in the country by three polls, including the influential Collegiate Baseball Newspaper poll, and holds the No. 2 spot in the Baseball America rankings.

Allocation of seats at Turchin Stadium will be completed based on the following criteria, after the visiting teams have claimed their ticket books:

1. Baseball season ticket holders who are also current Tulane Athletics Fund members at the $250 or above level;
2. Baseball season ticket holders;
3. Current Tulane Athletics Fund members ($250 and above), in order of giving level.

Tickets will be allocated beginning at the close of business on Wednesday, June 1, after visiting teams have made their ticket orders. Regional ticket books will be available for pick-up beginning Thursday, June 2 at 10 a.m. at the Tulane Athletics Ticket Office in the James W. Wilson Center. No tickets will be mailed.

Ticket information and availability for a potential New Orleans Super Regional, if Tulane advances through the Regional and is chosen to host that event, will be released at a later date.

From Tulane Athletics reports.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically based on material supplied by staff members; data published by ECU, Conference USA and its member schools; and reports from Associated Press and other sources. Copyright 2005 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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