VIEW THE MOBILE ALPHA VERSION OF THIS SITE

News Nuggets, 06.01.05
 —  —  —  —  —
NOTES FROM ECU AND BEYOND...

Previous Day Nuggets...             Next Day Nuggets...

Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Mom's illness prompts UTEP star to leave school

Family matters outweigh basketball for Texas-El Paso's Giovanni St. Amant, and for that reason Conference USA fans won't get the opportunity to see the talented player in action next season.

The Long Beach, CA, native, a key contributor to the turnaround of UTEP's basketball program over the last three seasons, will be leaving the team to be with his ill mother.

``It is with deep regret that due to my mother's illness I am leaving UTEP,'' St. Amant said in a written statement.

Amant's departure comes weeks before the school moves its intercollegiate athletic programs from the Western Athletic Conference to Conference USA.

As the Miners won 51 games and made NCAA Tournament appearances in each of the last two seasons, St. Amant sometimes started and sometimes came off the bench. In either scenario, he made an impact on the team's fortunes.

UTEP's recent accomplishments were in stark contrast to its less than stellar performance when the promising two guard first arrived on campus.

St. Amant, who would have been a senior this season, set freshman records for points (407), scoring average (13.6), 20-point games (seven) and free throw percentage (82.8 percent) while the Miners struggled through a 6-24 season.

``This is a situation where I can't say I'm totally surprised, but I can say I'm disappointed and sad,'' UTEP coach Doc Sadler said at a press conference. ``Gio did a lot for this program over the last three years. His mom became very, very sick last year and spent six months in the hospital.''

Sadler, who said he had conferred with St. Amant and his mother on the telephone, indicated they confirmed it was better for the player to be closer to home.

``I don't foresee Gio coming back to UTEP — except to visit,'' Sadler said.

St. Amant leaves UTEP with 848 career points and a career free throw percentage of 79.6 percent.

On July 1, the Miners will formally withdraw from the WAC and join C-USA.

Green Wave reigns supreme over both polls

Final regular season polls; Released 05.30.05.
(View previous week's rankings)

[For both polls below, Conference USA teams — including future members — and Carolinas teams are in bold; East Carolina opponents are in red.]

BASEBALL AMERICA TOP 25

DURHAM — The top 25 teams in the Baseball America poll with records and previous rankings (voting by the staff of Baseball America):

 1. Tulane 50-9 2
 2. Oregon State 41-9 3
 3. Nebraska 51-13 4
 4. Cal State Fullerton 41-15 1
 5. Georgia Tech 42-16 7
 6. Texas 45-14 5
 7. Arizona 37-19 6
 8. Baylor 39-21 13
 9. Mississippi 44-18 14
10. Tennessee 41-19 8
11. Florida 40-20 10
12. Long Beach State 36-20 11
13. Louisiana State 38-20 9
14. Rice 41-17 15
15. Clemson 39-21 20
16. Missouri 39-21 17
17. Miami (FL) 38-17 12
18. Alabama 38-21 16
19. Mississippi State 41-20 NR
20. Florida State 50-18 19
21. Southern California 37-19 24
22. North Carolina State 40-17 18
23. Arizona State 34-22 25
24. Texas Christian 40-18 NR
25. Coastal Carolina 48-14 21

COLLEGIATE BASEBALL TOP 30

TUCSON — The top 25 teams in the 2005 Collegiate Baseball (Baseball News) poll with records and previous rankings (voting by coaches, sports writers and sports information directors):

 1. Tulane 50-9 1
 2. Cal State Fullerton 41-15 2
 3. Oregon State 41-9 3
 4. Nebraska 51-13 4
 5. Georgia Tech 42-16 9
 6. Baylor 39-21 10
 7. Texas 45-14 5
 8. Florida 40-20 7
 9. Arizona 37-19 6
10. Tennessee 41-19 8
11. Mississippi 44-18 16
12. Clemson 39-21 12
13. Miami (FL) 38-17-1 13
14. Florida State 50-18 14
15. Long Beach State 36-20 15
16. Louisiana State 38-20 11
17. Rice 41-17 18
18. Alabama 38-21 17
19. Southern California 37-19 21
20. Arizona State 34-22 22
21. North Carolina 40-17-1 19
22. College of Charleston 47-13 20
23. Louisiana-Lafayette 47-17 23
24. Coastal Carolina 48-14 24
25. South Carolina 38-21 25
26. North Carolina State 40-17 26
27. Texas Christian 40-18 27
28. Wichita State 49-22 —
29. St. John’s 39-16 28
30. Mississippi State 40-20 —

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.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007 12:24 PM