Reports are circulating that Indiana is interested in talking to former Bulls coach Scott Skiles about taking over its chaotic program. Skiles, who grew up in Plymouth, Ind., played at Michigan State and lives near Bloomington, has never coached on the collegiate level.
Spokesmen for the Indiana athletic department, when asked about the reports, said they had no knowledge of them. Skiles in the past has evinced no interest in coaching in college, but sources close to him indicated more recently that he might be open-minded about the right college opportunity.
The situation in Bloomington is far from perfect. The Hoosiers’ best player, Big Ten Player of the Year D.J. White, is set to graduate, and highly touted freshman guard Eric Gordon is expected to depart for the NBA. Two others in the Hoosiers’ rotation, forwards Lance Stemler and Mike White, also will be graduating.
Those scheduled to return, in addition, have underachieved since the resignation of Kelvin Sampson, who was forced out amid NCAA allegations of five major rules violations. The Hoosiers are 3-3 since Dan Dakich was named their interim coach.
A No. 8 seed in the NCAA tournament, they are to play their opening-round game Friday in Raleigh against No. 9 seed Arkansas.
“I can see Scott coaching anywhere,” said Jim Boylan, Bulls interim coach and a close friend of Skiles. “Scott’s a great coach. He would do a great job at your local high school or your grade school. He’d be a great coach at Indiana. If they are smart enough to hire him, then I’m sure he’ll win a national championship in one or two years.”
— Skip Myslenski
*Jeremy Goode scored 21 points and Mt. St. Mary’s, Md., got its first NCAA tournament victory in three tries, beating Coppin State 69-60 in the play-in game. The Mountaineers (19-14) won the right to play top-ranked North Carolina on Friday. Coppin State (16-21) was the first team to qualify for the NCAA tournament with 20 losses.
*Clemson coach Oliver Purnell agreed to a two-year contract extension that could keep him with the Tigers through 2014. Purnell, 94-67 in five years, has the Tigers in the tourney for the first time since 1998. They play Villanova on Friday. … Bill Grier, who led San Diego to a bid in his first season, received an extension. Terms weren’t announced.
*UCLA’s Kevin Love’s strained lower back is better, but Luc Richard Mbah a Moute’s sprained left ankle might keep him from facing Mississippi Valley State. … Sonny Weems, Arkansas’ leading scorer at 14.3 points per game, hurt his knee in practice but will play against Indiana. … North Carolina’s Ty Lawson is still bothered by a sprained left ankle he injured Feb. 3. “He’s getting closer,” coach Roy Williams said. “But he’s got to get a lot better for us to reach the dreams we have.”