The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • Page 86

D6 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 1999 LOS ANGELES TIMES ROUNDUP Tournament Bids Penn Is Mightier Than Princeton This Time Around, 7348 Schools that have received automatic bids to the NCAA men's and women's basketball tournament. All bids are by virtue of conference tournament championships with the exception of the Ivy League and Pacific 10, which do not conduct postseason tournaments: Men Arkansas State Sunbelt College of Charleston Southern Crelghton Missouri Valley Detroit Midwestern Women Appalachian State Southern Ciemson Atlantic Coast Connecticut Big East Liberty Big South Oral Roberts Mid-Continent Purdue Big Ten George Mason Colonial Athletic Assn. Gonzaga West Coast Mount St. Mary's, Md. Northeast Murray State Ohio Valley Pennsylvania Ivy League Samford Trans America Athletic Siena Metro Atlantic Athletic Stanford Pacific 10 St.

Francis Northwest St. Joseph's Atlantic 10 St. Mary's West Coast St. Peter's Metro Atlantic Athletic Tennessee Southeastern Tennessee Tech Ohio Valley Toledo Mid-American Valparaiso Mid-Continent Wlnthrop Big South Tulane Conference USA Rank Teem Record PvRk Tueeday'e Hewitt Went Berne 1. Duke 29-1 I did not play Virginia, Thu, 2.

Michigan St. 26-4 3 did not play Big Ten tournament, Frt. 3. Connecticut 25-2 4 did not play Big East tournament, Thu. 4.

Auburn 26-2 2 did not play SEC tournament, Frt. 5. Maryland 25 4 5 did not play ACC tournament, Frt. 6. Stanford 24-5 6 did not play at Oregon, Thu.

7. Cincinnati 25-4 9 did not play Conf, USA tournament, Thu. 8. Utah 24-4 12 did not play WAC tournament, Thu. 9.

Miami 21-5 II did not play Big East tournament, Thu. 10. St. John's 23-7 8 did not play Big East tournament, Thu. 11.

Ohio St. 22-7 10 did not play Big Ten tournament, Frt. 12. UCLA 21-7 15 did not play at Arizona Thu. 13.

Arizona 20-6 7 did not play USC, ThuT 14. Kentucky 22 8 13 did not play SEC tournament, Frl. 15. North Carolina 22-8 14 did not play Georgia Tech, Frl. 16.

Col, of Charleston 28-2 17 did not play NCAA tournament 17. Indiana 22-9 20 did not play Big Ten tournament, Frl. 18. Tennnessee 20-7 did not play SEC tournament, Frl. 19.

Wisconsin 21-8 16 did not play Iowa, Frl. 20. Iowa 18-8 18 did not play Wisconsin, Frl. 21. Florida 19-7 19 did not play LSU, Thu.

22. Arkansas 20-9 did not play SEC tournament, Frl. 23. Minnesota 17-9 did not play llllonors, Thu. 24.

Missouri 20-7 did not play Big 1 2 tournament, Frt. 25. New Mexico 22-7 21 did not play WAC tournament, Thu. MARCH 3-7, 1999 imp at the new LONG BEACH CONVENTION CENTER Take the Long Beach Fwy. to the Door first-round win over Colorado State (17-10).

Herren scored seven of his 22 points during an 11-0 second-half run that broke open a close game. Robert Johnson scored 26 points as Rice (18-9) rallied for a 64-61 victory over San Jose State (12-16). Rice, trailing, 48-45, with a little more than nine minutes left, went on an 11-0 run to build a 56-48 lead with 5:47 remaining. WOMEN Big East White the Big East Conference may be deeper, more talented and better than ever, Connecticut is still the best by far. Connecticut, ranked sixth, won its sixth consecutive league tournament and earned its 11th consecutive NCAA tournament berth by beating No.

8 Notre Dame, 96-75, at Piscataway, N.J., behind a 25-point performance by conference player of the year Svetlana Abrosimova. It was the eighth tournament championship for the Huskies (27-4) in 14 years under Coach Geno Auriemma. This one might have been decided on Monday night when Notre Dame (25-4) lost starting point guard Niele Ivey to a knee injury. Mld-Contlnent Jessica Rhoten scored 20 points and Oral Roberts overcame a 10 -point second -half deficit to defeat Youngstown State, 57-52, and win the championship at Moline, 111. It was the Golden Eagles' (17-12) first NCAA tournament bid in the team's history.

Youngstown State (20-9) was ahead, 30-28, at halftime. Monday's late Game Gonzaga 91, St. Mary's 66 The top-shooting three-point team in the West Coast Conference, Gonzaga connected from beyond the arc 18 times, including eight by Matt Santangelo, and overwhelmed Santa Clara in the men's tournament championship game at Santa Clara, sending Gonzaga to the NCAA tournament for only the second time. Big New Building Wide Aisles Giant Casting Ponds Easy Access Parking BASS, BASS MORE BASSI BammWorU Bass Boats Bass Tackle The "BULL'S EYE CHALLENGE" The Casting Contest IVMMiMfta Rrusfa Rae Rln GREATEST O'1 auiftnt Jimmy Houston, Jl Don lovlno, Greg Hlnes I yu new seminars every 30 minutes. Join United Anolers and get chance to win i FOREVER RESORTS Houseboat Trip.

TURNER'S SEMINAR ROOM 1 OA' 21C)ILIE Kids Fish Free Trout Pond IP-CUV. VlgZ Saltwater Demo Tank Virtual Fishing Challenge UCLA Rush and Watson Expected to Play JaRon Rush, knocked out Sunday against Washington, and Earl Watson, merely knocked out of the game, are both expected to be ready for UCLA's two-game Arizona trip that will close the regular season, though neither made it through practice Tuesday. Rush, a starting forward, left practice early because of flu. That was good news for the Bruins considering one alternative continued problems from being briefly unconscious in the final minute against the Huskies after hitting his head on the shoulder of a Washington player while coming down from a rebound attempt. There seem to be no lingering problems with that.

Rush was feeling better almost immediately after, the game, but Watson had swelling and soreness in his bruised left knee Sunday three days after Dan Gadzurlc was lost for the season because of a knee injury and as Baron Davis continues to work back to a full strength from a knee injury. "Your heart stops," Coach Steve Lavln said. "You're concerned about their health and you're concerned about your depth. But all season long, they've bounced back up." They appear likely to this time too. Watson took part in some of the drills Tuesday before the knee started to give him problems, but said he will "definitely" play on the trip.

"I'm all right," he said. "I'm just taking it slow. I don't want to re-injure the knee." Coming up: Thursday at Arizona State, Saturday at Arizona. -SCOTT HOWARD-COOPER USC Ailing Scalabrine Is Latest Concern A week after flu symptoms put forward Jarvls Turner out of action against Washington, center Brian Scalabrine has fallen ill. Scalabrine's illness could not have come at a worse time, with the Trojans scrambling for a berth in the National Invitation Tournament and playing their final two games on the road against Arizona and Arizona State.

"We're sure Scalabrine is going to play Thursday, but what kind of energy is he going to have?" Coach Henry Blbby asked. "He's a guy we depend on." Asked who would replace the 6-foot-9 sophomore, Bibby answered: "Probably Sam Williams." Williams, nicknamed "Sam the Slam," is big and experienced. But he is also the team's director of basketball operations, a 39-year-old NBA veteran who exhausted his college eligibility when the current players were still in diapers. More likely substitutes are Turner, Greg Lakey, David Bluthenthal and Shannon Swlllls. "I don't have a problem going with any of those guys," Bibby said.

"I think we could throw them in there and do a pretty good job." Saturday's game against Arizona State at Tempe will begin at 11 a.m., a change from the previously scheduled time. Coming up: Thursday at Arizona, Saturday at Arizona State. -DAVID WHARTON AROUND THE NATION Howland Is Hoping for Offer From Pitt Northern Arizona Coach Ben Howland, his Lumberjacks (20-7) having fallen just short of winning a third consecutive Big Sky Conference championship, returned to Flagstaff without an offer for the head coaching position he sought at the University of Pittsburgh. He is the only person to have interviewed for the job. Meanwhile, the University of Nevada also asked for permission to talk with Howland.

From Associated Press Sometimes shock treatment is the best therapy. Coach Fran Dun-phy used it to get Pennsylvania into the NCAA tournament for the first time in four years. Geoff Owens scored 14 points and sparked the decisive run to start the second half as Penn defeated Princeton, 73-48, Tuesday night at Princeton, N.J., to win the Ivy League championship. In beating Princeton, 20-7 overall and 11-3 in the Ivy League, for the first time in seven games and ending the Tigers' string of three consecutive Ivy titles and 26 league victories in a row at home, Penn (21-5, 13-1) avenged an earlier home loss in which it blew a 27-point lead. That loss left the Quakers one game behind Princeton, but Penn won its last seven Ivy games while Princeton lost at Yale and Harvard to give Penn a one -game lead it never relinquished.

"We kind of redeemed ourselves in a way," said junior guard Michael Jordan, who had 13 points and four assists while holding Princeton's Brian Earl to seven points. "I was thinking about throwing that tape away," Dunphy said of Princeton's 50-49 victory over Penn at the Palestra on Feb. 9. "But we needed therapy, we needed to talk about it. We talked about how if we all did one thing better we could come out ahead." Penn's starters combined for 68 points as Jed Ryan scored 15 and Paul Romanczuk and Matt Langel had 13 apiece.

Chris Young led Princeton with 17 points. Seniors Gabe Lewullis and Earl, the team's leading scorers, were held to a combined 17 as Princeton shot only 35. Valparaiso 73, Oral Roberts 69 Valparaiso, led by Zoran Viskov-ic's 21 points, won its fifth consecutive Mid-Continent Conference title at Moline, 111. The Crusaders (23-8), who made it to the Sweet 16 a year ago, get the MCC's automatic NCCA tournament berth again. The Golden Eagles (17-11) were ahead most of the first half and held a 32-31 lead at halftime.

But Valparaiso went ahead for good right after the break. Baskets by Viskovic and Lubos Barton gave the Crusaders a 35-32 lead. Their biggest advantage would be 56-45 with 10:02 left. Chad Wilkerson made a three-point shot with 2:38 remaining to bring Oral Roberts within 63-61. But he fouled out shortly after that and the Eagles got no closer.

Detroit 72, Butler 65 Rashad Phillips scored 18 points at Chicago in leading Detroit to a berth in the NCAA tournament as the Midwestern Collegiate Conference tournament champion. Top-seeded Detroit (24-5), winner of seven in a row, held Butler to 17 field-goal shooting in the first half and 32 for the game, the Bulldogs' poorest shooting of the season. Arkansas State 65, Western Kentucky 48 Chico Fletcher, showing why he was the Sun Belt Conference player of the year, scored 21 points and handed out eight assists to lead Arkansas State to the conference tournament title. Arkansas State (18-11) earned its first berth in the NCAA tournament. Western Kentucky (13-16) fell behind midway through the second half, unable to cope with the tough Indian defense.

The Hilltoppers, who shot 48 in the first half, shot only 37 in the second half and were outre -bounded, 32-21. OTHER TOURNAMENTS Mid-American John Whorton scored 14 points and Kent relied on its stifling defense to beat Ohio, 68-57, in a semifinal game at Toledo, Ohio. The second-seeded Golden Flashes (22-6) advance to the school's first MAC title game since 1989. History won't be on Kent's side. In 47 years as a MAC member, Kent has never won a division, conference or tournament title.

Shaun Stonerook led Ohio (18-10) with 17 points. Damon Frierson scored 13 of Miami of Ohio's last 21 points, including five in overtime as Miami (22-6) held off Bowling Green, 60-56. Bowling Green ends its season 18-10. Western Athletic Nathan Cooper had 24 points as Brigham Young (12-15) may have ended Texas Christian's NCAA tournament hopes with a 90-74 victory in the first round at Las Vegas. Cooper had eight of his 24 points in a 16-1 run early in the game that gave BYU a 16-5 advantage, and the Cougars never trailed the rest of the way.

TCU is 19-10. Chris Herren led Fresno State (21-10) on a late surge in an 80-50 3 mi i I Insert here fei) Hi ill im mmmmmmt After 28 years as Illinois State women's basketball coach, the longest tenure of any woman at a Division I school, Jill Hutchison, 53, is resigning, saying it is time for a new coach. She had a record of 460-323 with the Redbirds, including 8-20 this season. East Carolina bought out the final year of Coach Joe Dooley's contract, ending his tenure with the team after four years. Georgia Southern fired men's coach Gregg Pollnsky after he failed to produce a winning season during his four-year tenure.

He was 37-46 with the Eagles. Tim Capstraw, who compiled a 117-164 record in 10 years at Wagner College, was fired after his fifth consecutive losing season. New Mexico center Kenny Thomas swallowed pieces from two teeth that were broken when he collided with a teammate during Monday's practice. Coach Dave Bliss said, but Thomas expects to be ready for this week's Western Athletic Conference tournament in Las Vegas. X-rays were taken of Thomas' chest as a precautionary measure to make sure that none of the fragments ended up in his lungs.

Times Wire Services Go Anacles aimcs Family Night Saturday, March 6, 7:00 p. vs. Calgary Flames It's seriously exciting Kings hockey and a seriously great value. What better way to spend quality time with the whole family. Buy your tickets at the Forum box office or call today, (Seating availability on first come basis.) CfiVtfeVrjJi I IN 5 Hank Team Record PvRk Monday's Remits Next flame 1.

Purdue 28-1 1 did no play NCAA tournament 2. Tennessee 28-2 2 did not play NCAA tournament 3. Louisiana Tech 24-2 3 did not play Sun Belt tournament, Frt. 4. Colorado St.

29-1 4 did not play WAC tournament, tonight 5. Oid dominion 23-3 5 did not play Colon. Ath. tournament, Thu. 6.

Connecticut 27-4 6 d. Notre Dame. 96-75 NCAA tournament 7. Rutgers 26-5 7 dldnotplay TBA 8. Notre Dame 25-4 10 tost to Connecticut, 96-75 TBA 9.

Texas Tech 25-3 II did not play Big 12 tonight 10. Duke 24-6 8 did not play TBA 11. North Carolina 26-7 13 dldnotplay TBA 12. Virginia Tech 26-2 9 did not play NCAA tournament 13. ciemson 23-6 16 did not play NCAA tournament 14.

Georgia 23-6 14 did not play TBA 15. Oregon 23-4 18 did not play at Stanford, Thu. 16. UCLA 21-7 12 did not play Arizona Thu. 17.

UCSB 23-3 21 did not play Nevada, tonight 18. PennSt. 21-7 15 dldnotplay TBA 19. Virginia 20 8 19 did not play TBA 20. LSU 20-7 17 dldnotplay TBA 21.

Iowa St. 20-6 20 did not play Big 1 2 tournament, tonight 22. Alabama 19-10 24 dldnotplay TBA 23. Fla. International 21-5 25 dldnotplay SW Louisiana, TrZ 24.

Tulane 24-5 dldnotplay NCAA tournament 25. Kansas 21-8 22 dldnotplay Big 1 2 tournament, Wed. Call 1-888 KINGS LA www.lakings.com www.staplescenterla.com serious hockey. Serious fans. KB3SI04 CoeAnaclceSTimee Supported by: The Los Angeles Times is optional.

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