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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Saturday / November 23.

NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament-2nd Round-Butler vs Texas

Former Texas head coach Rick Barnes is finalizing a deal to become the next head coach at Tennessee, according to CBSSports.com.

Texas and Barnes parted ways last week.

The Longhorns finished 20-14 this season and had not advanced beyond the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament since advancing to the Elite Eight in 2008. Barnes had a record of 402-180 in 17 seasons with Texas, and 604-314 overall.

Barnes, 60, took Texas to the NCAA Tournament in 16 of 17 seasons at the school.

Malik Newman actionBy KHADRICE ROLLINS

CHICAGO — The recruitment of Malik Newman is a big deal. At the McDonald’s All-American practices this week, the courting process has continued to be news.

The 6-foot-4 guard from Callaway (MS) said that many of his fellow All-Americans have attempted to convince him to join them next year, but LSU and Kentucky are definitely standing out.

LSU commits Antonio Blakeney and Ben Simmons have been working on convincing Newman to join them in Baton Rouge since they showed up for the festivities.

BRYANT

Thomas Bryant told reporters at the McDonald’s All-American practice in Chicago that Kentucky and Syracuse haven’t contacted him since January and that Indiana is working the hardest for him.

“I would say so. They send me a ton of damn letters,” the 6-foot-10 big man from Huntington (W.V) Prep said, according to Steve Jones of the Courier-Journal.

Bryant recently visited Indiana, as did big man Thon Maker of Orangeville Prep (Ontario).

“I loved the Indiana visit,” he said, according to Jones. “Seeing all those guys, they all accepted me when I walked in, and it was like a family atmosphere there. Great fans always come out and support. It was really nice. … They need that one big man in the paint right there with them. If they get that, they could be a real good team down in the long run.”

RawleNEW YORK — Chris Mullin and his staff at St. John’s won’t have much time to relax once they take the reins in Queens.

The St. John’s roster is full of question marks and will need a major upgrade going forward to compete in the Big East and for future NCAA Tournament bids.

The Johnnies are graduating the core of this year’s NCAA Tournament team including D’Angelo Harrison, an All-Big East First Teamer; Sir’Dominic Pointer, who won the Big East Most Improved honor; and fellow senior guards Phil Greene IV and Jamal Branch.

Tyus Battle

Tyus Battle has set two visits and added a major school back on his list, according to Evan Daniels.

The 6-foot-6, five-star combo guard out of Gladstone (N.J.) Gill St. Bernard’s will visit Duke April 17-19 and Louisville April 19-21 and has put Kentucky back on his list.

“We’re definitely going to take a visit to both schools, it’s a matter of when,” Gary Battle recently told SNY.tv by.

Former Eastern Kentucky coach Jeff Neubauer is the new head coach at Fordham and will be introduced at a press conference on Tuesday at 2 p.m.

Neubauer, 44, had been the coach at Eastern Kentucky University since 2005.

He had taken EKU to the NCAA tournament twice and had a 188-134 record with the Colonels.

“We are delighted to welcome Jeff Neubauer to the Fordham family,” said Joseph M. McShane, SJ, president of the University. “His ability to inspire superior performance on the court and in the classroom fits well with Fordham’s mission and our culture. Likewise his winning record at Eastern Kentucky will serve Fordham well. Most importantly, we believe Jeff will be a positive force for our student athletes, in their careers and in their lives.”

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