UNDATED (AP) — Former Wisconsin guard John Blackwell is withdrawing from the NBA draft and will play at Duke next season. Blackwell announced his decision on Instagram. Blackwell averaged 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game last season, teaming with Nick Boyd to give Wisconsin one of the nation’s top backcourt tandems. The 6-foot-4 guard shot 39% from 3-point range, helping the Badgers go 24-11 and reach the NCAA Tournament for the third straight season. Blackwell averaged 15.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game in 2024-25.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — N.C. State has promoted Chris Hart to replace baseball coach Elliott Avent, who is retiring at the end of the season. The school announced Hart’s promotion a day after Avent announced his retirement after 30 seasons. Hart has been on N.C. State’s staff for 22 years, the past 11 as associate head coach. He has also served as the Wolfpack’s hitting coach and recruiting coordinator while being involved in all facets of the program. Hart was named Baseball America’s national assistant coach of the year in 2021. Avent led the Wolfpack to 22 NCAA regionals, six super regionals and CWS appearances in 2013, 2021 and 2024.
RANCHO PALOS VERDES, Calif. (AP) — While frustration mounts across big-time college sports, the leader of the agency formed to police NIL payments has a simple reminder: These are the rules you wrote. In an interview with The Associated Press, Bryan Seeley, the CEO of the College Sports Commission, said the CSC came into existence to enforce rules the schools themselves wrote. He says they're welcome to change those rules but complaints about his agency mostly come from schools that aren't following the very rules they wrote.
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — The Virginia men and Texas A&M women have been crowned national champions in college tennis. This victory comes amid a challenging time for the sport, with several programs being cut due to rising costs and financial pressures. Coaches emphasize the need for visibility and innovation to sustain programs. Former Tennessee associate coach James McKie highlights the excitement of televised matches, though coverage has decreased. TCU's David Roditi and others suggest initiatives like community events to boost support. They urge programs to adapt and find ways to generate revenue to ensure their survival.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — N.C. State baseball coach Elliott Avent announced his retirement effective at the end of the season. The Wolfpack lost to Duke in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament and hope to receive an NCAA Tournament at-large bid when the field is announced Monday. Avent turned 70 on May 1 and has coached the Wolfpack for 30 seasons after eight at New Mexico State. He has 1,103 wins at N.C. State and 1,327 overall in Division I. He led the Wolfpack to 22 NCAA regionals, six super regionals and CWS appearances in 2013, 2021 and 2024.
RANCHO PALOS VERDES, Calif. (AP) — The Big Ten is pushing to expand the College Football Playoff to 24 teams, but the question is who will televise it. Fox supports the idea, but concerns remain about how much networks will pay for games involving less popular teams. The current ESPN deal is worth $7.8 billion over six seasons. The Southeastern Conference prefers a 16-team playoff, while the Big Ten has support from the Atlantic Coast and Big 12 conferences for 24 teams. A larger playoff could eliminate conference title games, affecting revenue. The NFL's dominance in viewership is a factor in negotiations.
