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News Nuggets, 05.14.05
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Huggins' era about to come to an end at Cincinnati?

Bob Huggins' lengthy tenure as head basketball coach at the University of Cincinnati — a stretch marked by lofty achievements on the hardwood and embarrassing incidents elsewhere — may be coming to an end.

The Cincinnati Enquirer and other news outlets reported on Friday that school officials want Huggins out.

Huggins, 51, attended a meeting in the office of university president Nancy Zimpher in which he was offered a buyout of the remaining two years on his contract, according to news accounts.

Others reportedly present at the meeting were Cincinnati athletic director Bob Goin, Phil Cox, the chairman of the school's board of trustees, and Jeff Wyler, the board's vice-chairman.

Under Huggins, the Bearcats have established themselves as one of the nation's elite programs, but that success has often been tarnished by problems off the court involving coaches as well as players.

A pair of drunken driving charges in the span of a year — one against Huggins and the other against one of his assistants — likely contributed to the university's apparent eagerness to usher Huggins out the door.

Huggins aide Keith LeGree was suspended from his duties two months ago after he was charged with driving under the influence. That indiscretion came while the embarrassment to the program from Huggins' own DUI escapade last June was still reverberating within the school's administration.

Cincinnati players have also showed up on the police blotter a number of times in recent years, the most recent incident coming this week when promising freshman forward Roy Bright, from Durham, NC, was booted from the team after admitting to Huggins he had brought a gun onto the campus. At last report, Bright's weapon violation remained under investigation by UC police.

In the wake of the off-the-court transgressions that have swirled around the program, Huggins' leverage in any ongoing buyout negotiations is tenuous. The rollover clause that had long been in his contract was eliminated last summer after his DUI conviction.

Published reports have pegged Huggins' annual compensation at about $700,000, so presumably the university could severe its relationship with its all-time winningest coach for less than $1.5 million.

In 16 years at Cincinnati, Huggins has compiled a 399-127 record and has guided the Bearcats to the NCAA Tournament in each of the last 14 years.

Blue Devils' Randolph to test NBA waters

Duke forward Shavlik Randolph has declared himself eligible for the NBA draft, the school said Friday.

Randolph, whose three seasons at the school were punctuated by injuries and illness, averaged 6.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocked shots in 92 career games. He has a career field goal percentage of .506.

Randolph had no comment in a statement released by the school, but his father said he does not intend to leave school. Instead, Kenny Randolph told The Associated Press, Shavlik Randolph will use the weeks ahead to explore what he needs to work on to fulfill his dream of playing in the NBA.

Kenny Randolph said his son was ``absolutely not'' hiring an agent and that he expects the 6-foot-10 forward to return to the Blue Devils for his senior season. By not signing with an agent, Randolph can attend workouts with NBA teams while leaving open an option to drop out of the draft by June 21 and return to school.

``Nobody's saying he's not coming back to Duke,'' Kenny Randolph said. ``He's very happy at Duke University. He's very honored to be part of the program. ... It's just all about competing and getting better and seeing how good you've got to get.''

Early injuries delayed Randolph's development, and he had surgery on his left hip after his freshman season. When he returned, he played in all 37 games in 2003-04, averaging a modest 7 points while starting only 10 games.

Last season, Randolph began feeling tired in early December, and he bottomed out in a victory over Oklahoma on Dec. 18, fouling out in 14 minutes with no points and one rebound. He was diagnosed with mononucleosis.

Randolph sat out four games while recuperating, and slowly worked his way back into the rotation. He soon returned to his starting role, giving the Blue Devils another inside presence to go with center Shelden Williams.

Duke won the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament title, but lost in the third round of the NCAA tournament.

The draft is June 28.

``I think he fully realized that people would be surprised by (the decision),'' Kenny Randolph said. ``But you know, Shavlik's always been his own man, a man of character. And as a parent, I sort of respect him for the decision.

``It's his life and dream. Who knows if he'll ever get there? But this is just a step to get better at basketball.''

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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