Morning Rumble 4-10: women's championship, end-of-season roster decisions

If you didn't read Quinn's excellent piece welcoming the new era of the Big East, you should go read it now. And comment on how you feel about the coming of the new age.

A lot of sports action as the women's tournament wraps up with an all-Big East final, where Connecticut - led by Breanna Stewart of Queens' Christ the King High - walloped Louisville 93-60.

Louisville didn't get to celebrate a double-championship, and neither team will be in the next-year Big East - but it's a nice moment anyway. How will Big East women's hoops look without UConn and Louisville? Will DePaul dominate with St. John's nipping at the heels?

Speaking of DePaul, the Blue Demons officially announce that four players will leave the program - wing Moses Morgan, who saw time during his three years as a deep shooter, and lesser-used forwards Jodan Price, Derrell Robertson Jr, and Montray Clemons.

Chaos? Or just cleaning house of players who couldn't play the Purnell style (that he mostly brought in)?

Louisville's Russ Smith, the 6'0" junior guard from Archbishop Molloy in Queens, is planning to enter the NBA Draft. Per his father Russ Smith Sr., "He's had two sound years and did it all. He could come back next year but it might jeopardize his health. You've got to strike while the iron is hot."

Providence College's Ricky Ledo - who didn't meet NCAA eligibility standards but took a redshirt year with the Friars - will also enter then NBA Draft. NBA scouts who have seen him practice feel he has first-round potential, and his eyes have been squarely on the pro ranks since coming to college.

"As much as I wanted to play for the Friars and help the team win a BIG EAST championship, I felt I could not pass up this opportunity to enter the NBA Draft now," Ledo said. Providence should be very good even without the 6'6" wing, who some have called a disruptive teammate.

Rutgers commit Shane Rector has decommitted. He told ESPN, "The coach got fired and not knowing who they're bringing in, I just wanted to cover my bases so I don't end up getting screwed over or whatever." Solid move.

Locally, Niagara's Joe Mihalich will take the head coaching job at Hofstra. He should be announced today at noon.

Jaden Daly, who covers the MAAC, adds that "he is a very strong recruiter with even stronger ties to the talent-rich Philadelphia area.... His player development also ranks near the top of the MAAC in recent years, with former national leading scorers Juan Mendez and Charron Fisher among the many professional-caliber talents he has coached up to become some of the best players in the country."

Also

This year's NCAA men's Tournament was the most-watched in 19 years.

Winter Olympians tell the White House that climate change is endangering their sports.

Jay-Z is selling his shares in the Brooklyn Nets and the Barclays Center to ensure that he can continue the new career he started as a sports agent. (He already has Robinson Cano of the Yankees in the fold.)

Sad video: some jerk drove by and shot at a circus elephant.