Big East Weekly Rumble 4-29

The weekly roundup of Big East basketball news is here, including a Karen Sypher mention, the happenings at Southern Methodist (a future Big East member), transfer news, the new arena for South Florida, and more - all below the fold.

Larry Brown finally accepted the Southern Methodist job... and fired coach Matt Doherty was on hand for the introductory press conference along with Kansas head coach Bill Self and Southern Methodist stars of the past.

Brown, known for his short stints at coaching jobs, has hired his successor/ coach-in-waiting, Tim Jankovich. Jankovich was the coach of Illinois State since 2007, building the program into a contender in the Missouri Valley Conference. He will be paid $700,000 to be Brown's top assistant. Jankovich had been a head coach at North Texas and Hutchinson Community College before many stints as an assistant.

Staying with Southern Methodist, Larry Brown has told four players that they won't play on his Southern Methodist team, including starting point guard Jeremiah Samarrippas. They will be able to stay on academic scholarships if they do not want to transfer.

Marquette has lost an assistant, Tony Benford - he has taken the head coaching job at North Texas. Little-used forward Jamail Jones, a 6'6" forward from Atlanta, has left the program. And incoming signee Aaron Durley has been released from his Letter of Intent to Marquette.

Louisville's "Bullet", Elisha Justice, has transferred from Louisville to nearby University of Pikeville. Pikeville is an NAIA school.

Staying with Louisville, Karen Sypher has written a book accusing the government of plotting against her, calling her a prostitute, and protecting Louisville coach Rick Pitino. Sypher is serving over 7 years in prison for her extortion attempts on Pitino.

Seton Hall's backup point guard Sean Grennan will transfer from the program, looking for more playing time in a lower-level conference. Seton Hall also welcomes a new guard. Sterling Gibbs, a guard from Texas (and Ashton Gibbs' little brother) has transferred in to the Seton Hall program; the New jersey native will apply for a waiver to be eligible next season.

The bomb threats that have threatened the University of Pittsburgh for the past month appear to have stopped.

In Pitt injury news, both J.J. Moore and Tray Woodall will mss three months after surgeries.

Villanova is working the transfer wire for guards. Jay Wright's club has landed Rice transfer Dylan Ennis, and is in competition for guard Tony Chennault.

Rutgers has landed Lee Junior College wing Vincent Garrett.

Georgetown assistant Robert Kirby has left for Louisiana State.

Henry Sims, Aaron Bowen, and Moses Ayegba led Hoya students in a flash mob - they sang "Hakuna Matata" from the Lion King. Video from Casual Hoya.

South Florida's revamped arena, the Sun Dome, is open for business starting May 4th for commencement. An interesting arena management note: the arena project was managed by a USF Sun Dome Inc., private nonprofit university support organization. The arena will be managed by private group Global Spectrum.

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