Sports in brief

Times wires
Friday, April 22, 2011

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

MIAMI LURES LARRANAGA FROM GEORGE MASON

CORAL GABLES — Jim Larranaga took the Miami job Friday after 14 years at George Mason, a tenure that included an improbable run to the Final Four in 2006.

Larranaga, 61, met with his George Mason players, then flew to Miami for a news conference.

He said he took the job because of the chance to coach in the ACC, which he considers the best league in the country.

"I am very excited to be here," he shouted with pep-rally enthusiasm at the start of his news conference. "It's kind of like the last piece in a coaching career to finalize what I hope to be about."

Three of his siblings live in Florida, and their father grew up in Key West. Larranaga spent summers in Florida growing up and has a second home in Sarasota.

"I feel like I'm back home at the University of Miami," he said

He replaces Frank Haith, who left for the Missouri job. Larranaga's deal is worth around $1 million a year, the Miami Herald reported.

Larranaga led George Mason to five NCAA Tournament berths and went 273-164, setting a school record for victories. This season the Patriots were 27-7 and reached the third round of the tournament.

The hiring was made by Shawn Eichorst 10 days after he became athletic director.

"Jim can coach at any level," George Mason athletic director Tom O'Connor said. "He could probably coach the Los Angeles Lakers if he wanted to."

BYU: Forward Brandon Davies expects to play next season after missing this year's NCAA Tournament run for violating the university's honor code.

CONNECTICUT: Sophomore swingman Jamal Coombs-McDaniel was arrested Thursday on a marijuana possession charge.

GEORGETOWN: Sophomore Hollis Thompson entered his name in the NBA draft but is not hiring an agent and could return if he withdraws his name by May 8.

IUPUI: The school promoted longtime assistant Todd Howard to head coach.

MORE COLLEGES

Both UF tennis teams earn SEC semi berths

Top seed Florida defeated South Carolina 4-0 to reach the semifinals of the SEC women's tennis tournament in Knoxville, Tenn., earning the doubles point and three points in singles. The Gators (23-1) face fifth seed Vanderbilt at 10 a.m. today.

The host Florida men won their quarterfinal 4-2 over Mississippi State. The Gators (16-8), the fifth seed, play at 2 p.m. today against the winner of Friday's late match between Tennessee and Mississippi.

FOOTBALL: Chris Dunkley, a receiver who is transferring from Florida after one year, visited USF, said his Pahokee High coach, Blaze Thompson. … Devon Butler, a Northern Illinois linebacker wounded in a drive-by shooting this month, said he faces a lengthy recovery and will not play in 2011.

tennis

Nadal eases past foe

Rafael Nadal cruised into the Barcelona Open semifinals, defeating Gael Monfils 6-2, 6-2 in 75 minutes in Spain. Nadal next plays Ivan Dodig.

GRAND PRIX: Top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki reeled off 10 straight games to rally for a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Andrea Petkovic to reach the semifinals in Stuttgart, Germany. Tampa resident Sam Stosur advanced with a 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) win over second-seeded Vera Zvonareva.

ET CETERA

SOCCER: Real Madrid put a replica of the Spanish Cup trophy on display after the original was crushed under the team bus amid the celebrations of Wednesday's win over Barcelona. The owner of the Madrid jeweler that made the trophy provided a replica.

Times staff writer Greg Auman, Times wires

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/sports-in-brief/1165565

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