KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches says input from coaches is “vital” in discussions about going to an age-based model that would include five years of eligibility for college athletes. That comes as an NCAA panel has discussed the revamp that would give athletes five years of eligibility with the clock starting when an athlete turns 19 or graduates from high school, whichever is earliest. NABC executive director Craig Robinson said Thursday says his group views “collaboration and communication with coaches as non-negotiable.”
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Retiring Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart won’t take on a new high-paying role at the school after all. That announcement comes days after Gov. Andy Beshear questioned decision-making at the school that included Barnhart’s move. Barnhart and University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto issued statements Thursday confirming Barnhart wouldn't become the executive-in-residence for the UK Sport and Workforce Initiative. That job was set to pay Barnhart $950,000 annually through August 2030. Capilouto said Barnhart was concerned his status had “become a distraction” for the university.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee forward Nate Ament declared Thursday that he’s heading to the NBA draft after one season in college. Ament helped the Volunteers go 25-12 and to a No. 12 ranking in the final AP Top 25 poll with a third straight Elite Eight berth in the NCAA Tournament. Ament started all 35 games he played, and he ranked second in scoring 16.7 points a game. He averaged 6.3 rebounds per game as well. He announced his intentions in an Instagram post, saying the support from his Vol family is a huge reason why he has this opportunity. Coach Rick Barnes says Ament has no ceiling to play on the basketball court.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Alabama has rewarded football coach Kalen DeBoer and men’s basketball coach Nate Oats for getting their teams to the postseason. DeBoer is getting a $2 million raise — up to $12.5 million — and a two-year contract extension after leading the Crimson Tide to the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff, where Alabama lost to eventual national champion Indiana. Oats is getting a $1.2 million raise — up to $7.2 million — and a two-year contract extension after leading Alabama to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16, where the Crimson Tide lost to eventual national champion Michigan. Alabama announced both deals during a board of trustees meeting.
UNDATED (AP) — The Southeastern Conference is going through a championship drought, the kind of lull the football league last endured more than two decades ago. Not only has the SEC watched a Big Ten team hoist the College Football Playoff trophy each of the last three years, the once-seemingly unmatched powerhouse hasn’t even played in the title game since Georgia closed out the 2022 season with a crown. It might be more of a head-scratching fluke than an eye-opening fade. If the SEC is going to end its skid, quarterback play surely will be key. Some starting spots are filled while others are very much up for grabs following spring practice.
UNDATED (AP) — The Southeastern Conference showcases standouts and stars every year. Some are known commodities while others are on the verge of becoming household names. A number of non-quarterbacks from the powerhouse league garnered attention before, during and after spring practice and could end up being future NFL draft picks. The list includes Alabama left tackle Jackson Lloyd, Arkansas defensive end Quincy Rhodes Jr., LSU cornerback DJ Pickett and Texas receiver Cam Coleman.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr. has declared for the NBA draft after a freshman season in which he was a consensus first-team All-American and the nation’s third-leading scorer. Acuff was Associated Press SEC player of the year and winner of the Bob Cousy Award as the nation’s top point guard. Acuff joined Pete Maravich as the only players in Southeastern Conference history to lead the league in scoring and assists. He averaged 23.5 points per game and 6.4 assists. He scored the most points by a freshman in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament with 60.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — If Florida wins the national championship next season, Draymond Green should get a ring. The Golden State Warriors forward was instrumental in convincing Gators star Thomas Haugh to postpose his NBA future and stay in school another year. Haugh re-signed with Florida nearly a week after teammate and close friend Alex Condon did the same. Haugh's announcement came following a conversation with Green in which they discussed an NBA lifestyle versus college. Coach Todd Golden will be around, too. He says he's “definitely planning on coaching the Gators” amid a report that he would be a target if the Warriors and coach Steve Kerr part ways.
