Jim Calhoun hadn’t even officially retired as head coach at the University of Connecticut on Thursday afternoon, yet the Huskies already had secured his successor.
Kevin Ollie, a former standout guard for Calhoun from 1991-1995 and an assistant coach under Calhoun for the last two seasons, has been named the head men’s basketball coach at his alma mater.
The Nets officially agreed to terms with free agent guard Josh Childress on Thursday afternoon and in doing so, have likely completed their opening night roster as their first season in Brooklyn is quickly approaching.
The six-year veteran, who was amnestied in mid-July by the Phoenix Suns, will play under a one-year, non-guaranteed contract in Brooklyn. Despite that, he is considered a near-lock to make the team. Based on his six years of service, Childress will make roughly $1.07 million. After being amnestied by the Suns, Childress is still owed $21 million over three seasons, but he will not count against their salary cap.
Jim Calhoun is calling it a career.
The 70-year-old UConn basketball coach will announce his retirement Thursday at a 2 p.m. press conference.
“He’s retiring [Thursday],” a source with direct knowledge told SNY.tv.
UConn assistant Kevin Ollie is expected to take over as head coach, and the source said he was Calhoun’s preferred choice. Ollie played for Calhoun at UConn from 1991-95 and ranks third all-time in assists.
“I think in a perfect world he wanted to walk and have Kevin step into a good situation,” the source said of Calhoun.
Notre Dame basketball coach Mike Brey is a tremendous coach on the sidelines and a great quote in the press room, and he will be missed when the Irish depart the Big East for the ACC.
His basketball team?
Not so much.
While the general perception may be that the Big East took another big hit Wednesday when news surfaced that the Irish were ACC-bound, the reality is that Notre Dame isn’t a huge factor on the basketball side.
“Not that big of a hit,” one Big East coach told SNY.tv.
John Calipari probably hasn’t been one-upped on the recruiting trail much in recent years.
But Roy Williams appears to have done just that to the Kentucky coach.
“More like 31-up,” Julius Randle told USA Today.
You see, Calipari brought his 2012 NCAA championship ring to show Randle during a home visit with the 6-foot-9 Texas forward on Sunday.
Marcus Lee, the highly sought after forward from Antioch (Calif.) Deer Valley, has cut his list to three schools, Kentucky, Louisville and Cal, his brother, Brian, confirmed to SNY.tv Tuesday night.
“Yes, so he can focus on school and being in the gym,” Brian said of the cut.
The news was first reported by Jason McCleary on Twitter.
The 6-foot-9 Lee had previously considered Indiana, Duke, UCLA and Kansas. He will not take any of his planned visits to those schools.
What was agreed upon days ago between Andray Blatche and the Nets finally became official on Wednesday.
The Nets announced on Wednesday that the two sides have come to terms that will bring the 6-foot-11 big man to Brooklyn two months after the Washington Wizards waived him via the amnesty provision on July 17.
