College Confidential

Take OU assistant's departure for what it is

The news that Oklahoma assistant basketball coach Mark Cline is leaving to take an assistant’s job at Marshall has sparked a rash of “another rat jumping ship” type views.

Fact is, as I understand it, Cline meant what he said in a statement issued noting his change of address.

“I have loved my time at Oklahoma and this was not an easy choice," he said. “I've known Jeff (Capel) for almost 25 years and I have the utmost respect for him. I thank him for the opportunities he's given me and wish nothing but the best for him and for Oklahoma.  In the end, the chance to get back to my home state was one I couldn't pass up.”

I’m told Cline has some family issues that most of us face as we age, and that’s all there is to this. Totally different category from the “resignation” of former assistant Oronde Taliaferro.

As to the players who have left not counting the three who opted for the NBA draft? Check minutes played for each and draw your own conclusions, using common-sense deductive powers.

“Attitudes have to change,” Capel said recently. “Commitment to work has to change.”

Got it?

-- Mike Jones

Texas OL Tray Allen suffers foot injury in off-season workout

Texas offensive guard Tray Allen, who finished spring football drills as a projected starter, broke a bone in his left foot today during off-season workouts in Austin.

Kenny Boyd, the Longhorns’ head athletic trainer for football, said Allen is expected to fully recover before the start of fall camp in August. Allen, a senior-to-be from South Grand Prairie, has played in 31 games but has not been a starter in past seasons.

_ Jimmy Burch

Top recruit Cory Joseph signs with Texas

Cory Joseph, a highly sought point guard from Findlay Prep (Nevada), signed his letter of intent Monday with Texas.

Joseph is a consensus top-five point guard who should fill a void for the Longhorns as a floor leader who can score.

Ranked as high as No. 7 overall by Rivals.com, Joseph averaged a team-best 18.8 points, 4.9 assists, 6.7 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game last season. He shot 53.9 percent from the floor (216-of-401), 46.9 percent from 3-point range (60-of-128) and 79.6 percent from the free-throw line (148-of-186) while leading Findlay to a 32-2 record.

“Cory is simply a winner who will definitely have an impact on our backcourt,” Texas coach Rick Barnes said.

Barnes has also praised Joseph’s leadership ability.

Joseph led Findlay to the prestigious ESPN Rise National High School Invitational Championship for the second straight year and was named tournament MVP after averaging 20.3 points in three games.

Joseph participated in the McDonald’s All-American Game in Columbus, Ohio, (where he won the 3-point shooting contest) and the Jordan Brand Classic in New York City. He also started and played 22 minutes for the World Select Team in the 13th annual Nike Hoop Summit on April 10 in Portland, Ore.

 Joseph will join teammate Tristan Thompson next season.

— Mike Jones

Texas RB Vondrell McGee gets one-game suspension after DWI arrest

Texas running back Vondrell McGee has been suspended for at least one game next season, coach Mack Brown announced today, because of the player’s Sunday arrest for driving while intoxicated.

 

McGee, 21, became the fourth different Longhorns’ football player arrested since November when he was pulled over Sunday at 3:07 a.m. in Austin and charged with DWI. The arrest report filed by the Department of Public Safety said McGee posted Breathalyzer readings of 0.125 and 0.126. Both figures are above the Texas legal limit of 0.08.

 

McGee, who will be a senior next fall, was charged with a class B misdemeanor. It carries a maximum fine of $2,000 and/or a jail term of up to 180 days. In a statement issued today, Brown said school officials will investigate the situation and McGee “will miss at least the first game next season and will be working with the scout team until he is eligible to play.”

Texas opens its season Sept. 4 against Rice at Reliant Stadium in Houston. If the length of the suspension is not increased, McGee would be able to play Sept. 11 against Wyoming in Austin.

McGee, who rushed for 300 yards and two touchdowns in reserve duty last season, becomes the fourth different player to be arrested since Nov. 15, when running back/kick returner D.J. Monroe was cited for DWI. Monroe’s charges were dropped in December and he was reinstated to the team after serving a three-game suspension.

Former player Marcus Harris was arrested Nov. 28 for DWI and announced plans to transfer after the season. Former player Brandon Collins was dismissed from the team after his Jan. 2 arrest on charges of engaging in organized criminal activity and aggravated robbery.

In an unrelated development, two Texas players announced plans to transfer and were released Tuesday to seek other schools: defensive end Russell Carter and safety Ben Wells. Both players would have been juniors next fall. In statements distributed by school officials, both players cited a desire for more playing time as their reasons for leaving Texas.

-- Jimmy Burch

 

Texas Tech receivers still catching lots of balls

LUBBOCK _ One thing new Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville doesn't have to worry about is his receiver's abilities to catch the football.

Under former coach Mike Leach, Tech receivers had a history of being able to put up some of the most staggering statistics in the nation. And it doesn't look like that'll change under Tuberville.

A total of 14 Red Raiders caught at least one pass during Saturday's Black-and-White spring game, which ended in a 24-24 tie. For Terch, that's a good sign since they still plan on keeping defenses on full alert by filling the airwaves with footballs.

"We have had no problems at all catching the ball this spring,'' Tuberville said. "I think all of our receivers have done a good job concentrating and catching the ball in a crowd and making plays, and (Saturday) was no exception.

"We have six guys that I think we can really count on.''

The receivers who caught at least three passes Saturday include Alex Torres (10-115, one TD), Cornelius Douglas (5-106, one TD), Tramain Swindall (5-54), Detron Lewis (5-18, one TD), Eric Ward (4-51, one TD), Harrison Jeffers (4-14), Lyle Leong (3-51), Jacoby Franks (3-41) and Aaron Crawford (3-31).

Torres, who will likely be the Raiders' primary receiver next season, made several catches where he had to adjust his body in the air. That got the attention of Tuberville.

"Alex Torres did great, and I'm not surprised,'' Tuberville said. "He can catch the ball.

"The one thing that these receivers can do, especially Alex, is they adjust to the ball in the air. He's a great guy to go deep to, because he can adjust to the ball there and he can catch it any where.''

Ward also has shown the ability to catch the ball if it's anywhere near him.

"I think I played pretty good compared to last year, because I was more prepared for this year,'' Ward said. "I just wanted to work on the small things I need to work on.''

Seth Doege, who started the spring game because quarterbacks Steven Sheffield (foot) and Taylor Potyts (hand) sat out with injuries, was pleased with what he got from the receivers.

"Overall I think I had some ups and downs,'' said Doege, who completed 24-of-34 passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns. "But overall the offense, I think we had a successful scrimmage and I think it's a building block going into the summer.''

The Raiders have implemented an offense they call NASCAR, where they hurry to the line of scrimmage and snap the ball play after play after play.

"It's a high tempo offense and we're still building on it,'' Doege said. "It's fast, but it's not really where we want it to be yet. One of our goals is to get 100 plays every game.'

The receivers are able to take advantage using the NASCAR offense, because the quick snaps forces the defense into a hurry-up situation.

"During practice you'll hear some of the defensive guys say when ya'll run that NASCAR stuff we can't get set up, we don't have a play, we'rre tired,'' Doege said. "So it puts a lot of pressure on the defense.''  

Torres acknowledged that it wasn't a perfect spring game by any stretch of the imagination.

"There's a lot we've got to get cleaned up and a lot of little mistakes that we made here and there,'' Torres said. "But we got a lot accmplished.

"We've got a real good mix of the pass and the run in the game right now.''

-- Dwain Price

Football or 'Dancing with the Stars'?

Columnist Jim Litke of The Associated Press gives his take on the passage of a new college football rule to crack down on taunting.

Oklahoma men's basketball roster shrinks again

The number of players on hand for Oklahoma men’s basketball off-season program shrunk to five Wednesday with the announcement that seldom-used reserve center Orlando Allen is leaving the program to concentrate on family.

Allen, a junior who recently became a father, said he plans to graduate this summer, get a job and focus on his young family. He played only 63 minutes last season, averaging 1.2 points per game.

Recently OU lost guards Willie Warren and Tommy Mason-Griffin, who decided to enter the NBA Draft, and reserve Ray Willis. The Sooners signed two players in November and expect another recently committed player to sign by the weekend.

-- Mike Jones

Texas coach Mack Brown to serve as draft analyst for NFL Network

Texas football coach Mack Brown will serve as a guest analyst during NFL Network’s coverage of the NFL draft, network officials announced today. Brown will offer his analysis on April 24, commenting on picks made by teams in the fourth through seventh rounds. The three-day draft begins April 22.

_ Jimmy Burch

With no Ekpe Udoh, what's next for Baylor?

WACO _ Now that talented forward Ekpe Udoh has picked up his basketball and gone to pursue the fame and fortune the NBA has to offer, what's next for the Baylor Bears?

With Udoh, Baylor was a virtual lock to finish among the top three teams in the Big 12 Conference next season. Especially with gunslinger LaceDarius Dunn, 6-10 small forward Anthony and 6-8 super-sub Quincy Acy returning as catalyst from this year's historical 28-8 unit.

The Bears also are expected to reap some immediate dividends from Perry Jones, a 6-11 Parade and McDonald's All-American recruit from Duncanville, and from Plano West guard Bakari Turner. All that weighed heavily on Udoh, a pivotal player who helped Baylor reach the NCAA Tournament Elite 8, where they lost to Duke, 78-71.

And that's why when Udoh decided Tuesday to forego his senior season at Baylor to become an early entry candidate in the June 24 NBA Draft, it was not an easy decision for the Edmond, Okla., native. 

"It was a tough decision, because I mean (we made the) Elite 8,'' Udoh said. "(We) were three minutes away from (beating Duke and getting to) the Final Four and winning the Final Four in my opinion.''

Udoh said the emergence of point guard A.J. Walton and Acy will be keys to the success the Bears will have next season. And he has faith that coach Scott Drew will be able to coax a fourth straight 20-win season out of the Bears.

"We have brought something out of Waco and Baylor University that I don't think anyone has ever seen,'' Udoh said. "The buzz on campus during our run was at an all-time high.

"And going forward with what Coach Drew has coming back next year, they're just going to keep raising that level. It was one of the best times of my life.''

Udoh's stamp on the Baylor program was so prominent it seemed as though he was around for four or five years. But after spending two so-so years at Michigan, the 6-10, 240-pounder transferred to Baylor in June of 2008 and quickly started making friends and shaping his game to the point where he became the most dominant defensive player in the Big 12 this past season.

Udoh worked hard with the Baylor players while sitting out the 2008-'09 season. When he was finally able to don a Bear jersey this season. he went out and collected 16 double-doubles, one triple-double, and averaged 13.9 points and 9.8 rebounds while establishing a new conference single-season record for blocks with 133.

Asked what Udoh meant to his program, Drew said: "The players could probably respond to that better because he has been like a big brother to a lot of them. He has been a great role model and influence to a lot of them.

"At the same time, he has prepared them to take over new leadership roles and bigger roles next year.''

Despite closing the chapter on his brief career at Baylor, Udoh said he will always use the words 'we' and 'us' whenever discussing the Bears.

"Ekpe is one of those guys that will always going to be involved in the program,'' Drew said. "He could be 45 and I could see him on the sidelines yelling at the officials for us.''

The Baylor fans who assembled for Monday's basketball banquet gave Udoh a standing ovation when he was introduced to the crowd. It was their way of letting him know they appreciate the hard work he's done for the program, and they wanted him to stay for his senior season.

"It was good and it almost worked,'' Udoh said. "After Duke won (the national title), I was. . .what if?''

Baylor fans are probably left saying their own "what if'' in regards to Udoh.

What if Udoh returned to Baylor next year? The Final Four is in Houston next year, and everyone knows some 35,000 Baylor fans were on hand to see Baylor and Duke battle it out in Houston for a trip to the Final Four.

Could things be different next year with Udoh? The Bears will never know, because Udoh is not walking through that door again as a member of the Bears.

But Udoh doesn't believe there will be too much of a dropoff for Baylor next year without him. Even a few pollsters have picked Baylor -- without Udoh -- as high as No. 6 in the nation going into next season.

"It's in great hands,'' Udoh said of the Bears. "Oh man, this is going to be a great team next year.

"We've got a great recruiting class coming in. They're just going to have to take the responsibility of getting better over the summer.''

Acy, best remembered for getting 10 dunks in a win over Texas this season, said he's going to miss having Udoh around.

"The teammate side of me obviously wanted him back, but the brother side of me wanted him to do what's best for him and his family,'' Acy said. "I want to see him succeed and reach his dream.

"We're not gooing to have nine blocks a game, but he left a lot more than that. Off the court and on the court he taught everybody how to be a leader, he gave everybody his work ethic.''

Udoh has a chance to become the first Baylor player chosen as a lottery pick since the NBA went to the lottery system in 1985. The top 14 players drafted are considered lottery picks, and Udoh is slated by some to get drafted possibly in the No. 11 position.

"He has started a new trend,'' Acy said. "He's turned the program all the way around and we're looking to just keep building on it.

"It just tells you what prayer does. Coach Drew has done the right job of getting the right people and leading us, and it's panned out.''

Acy, though, knows the dominance Udoh brought to the court will be sorely missed next season.

"The best thing about him is he left a part of him with us,'' Acy said. "So we're going to carry that over and be good.''

_ Dwain Price

Baylor's Ekpe Udoh is leaving school to turn pro

WACO _ From all indications, Baylor forward Ekpe Udoh is prepared to announce that he's foregoing his senior season with the Bears to apply as an early entry candidate in this year's NBA Draft.

Named third-team All-American and the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year this season, Udoh will hold a press conference at the Ferrell Center in less than 30 minutes to officially announce his future aspirations. It is at that time that the 6-10, 240-pound Edmond, Okla., native will tell the media that he's going to turn pro.

ESPN's Chad Ford is predicting Udoh will be the 11th overall pick in the June 24 draft to the New Orleans Hornets. If so, that means he's guaranteed to earn a rookie scale salary next year of $1,772,100.

In his one and only season playing at Baylor this past year after transferring from Michigan, Udoh averaged 13.9 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.69 blocks per game. He also set the single-season Big 12 record in blocks with 133.

With his penchant for clogging the middle, Udoh was at the heart of a Baylor defense that was one of the best in the conference. He also surprised a lot of people with his ability to handle the ball and shoot effectively from 18 feet on in.

Baylor used Udoh's superior play around the paint to compile a school-record 28 wins this year while reaching the NCAA Elite 8 for the first time in the modern era.

With Udoh gone, the Bears hope Duncanville recruit Perry Jones will be ready to step in and play right away. The 6-11 Jones was a McDonald's and Parade All-American this past season.

-- Dwain Price