College Confidential

TCU's Gary Patterson on Jim Christian's departure:

TCU coach Gary Patterson on the departure of basketball coach Jim Christian:

“I thought he was a really good basketball coach. I thought he was doing the right things we needed to get done to be successful. Hopefully, the next guy who comes in will do the same thing.” 

TCU AD Chris Del Conte on Jim Christian leaving for Ohio

TCU athletic director Chris Del Conte's statement on men's basketball coach Jim Christian leaving for Ohio:

"Jim Christian will not be returning as TCU's head men's basketball coach. We appreciate Jim's contributions to TCU and wish him the best. A national search for a new head coach will begin immediately. With our entrance into the Big 12, the momentum on the TCU campus and the great city of Fort Worth, we are very excited about the future of our men's basketball program."

Texas guard J'Covan Brown to enter 2012 NBA Draft

Texas guard J’Covan Brown, the Big 12’s leading scorer this season, will bypass his senior season and enter the 2012 NBA draft.

Brown made the announcement today, citing a desire to provide for his daughter, Jordyn. Brown, a first-team All-Big 12 performer, averaged 20.1 points per game and led the Longhorns to a 20-14 record, capped by a 65-59 loss to Cincinnati in Texas’ first game of the NCAA Tournament.

In a statement, Brown said: “This has been a difficult decision, but this is the best decision for myself and my family. I’ll … complete the spring semester here at Texas, and I will come back to finish my degree in the future.”

Texas coach Rick Barnes said he supports Brown’s decision. In a statement, Barnes said: “Our staff wishes J’Covan and his family nothing but success … We’ve literally seen J’Covan grow up and mature before our eyes over the last three years here, and we are proud of the man that he has become. We respect his decision and understand his need to provide for his daughter.”

_ Jimmy Burch

TCU's Christian has talked to Ohio, likely leaving TCU

TCU men’s basketball coach Jim Christian denied reports Sunday evening that he had been hired by Ohio University, but a source at TCU said his departure is likely imminent.
Christian, who just completed his fourth season at TCU, said he talked with Ohio representatives about their head coach vacancy while in New Orleans for the Final Four, but said “there has been no offer made and no acceptance.”
Calls to TCU athletic director Chris Del Conte were not returned Sunday evening. CBSSports.com reported that Ohio had hired Christian Sunday, citing unnamed sources. The report said the formal announcement would come Tuesday.
Although Christian, who was back home in Fort Worth Sunday evening, denies the report, his departure from TCU is probably coming today, according to a source at TCU. Christian still needs to work out the details of his new contract, and inform his TCU players of the move, according to the source.
Christian coached for six years at Kent State before taking the TCU job in March 2008. His wife is from Ohio and still has a lot of family in the state.He is 56-73 in four seasons at TCU. He led the Horned Frogs to their first winning season and first postseason berth since 2005 last month. TCU lost in the second round of the College Basketball Invitational. Christian would replace John Groce at Ohio, which reached the Sweet 16. Groce was hired at Illinois earlier this week.According to CBSSports.com, Christian will earn approximately the same salary as he did at TCU, which was about $590,000.
Christian was a candidate for the opening at his alma mater Rhode Island last month before Danny Hurley was named the coach.

-- Stefan Stevenson
@FollowtheFrogs