Sports Briefs May 8, 2011
College basketball
Freshman star Terrence Jones is sticking around his old Kentucky home.
The 6-foot-8 forward announced via Twitter on Saturday that he was taking his name out of the NBA draft and returning for his sophomore year with the Wildcats.
"Last year was an unbelievable experience, but we left a lot on the table," Jones said. "I've decided to come back and help us get back to the Final Four and bring the Big Blue Nation a national championship."
Jones averaged 15.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks last season, and set a school freshman record by pouring in 35 points in a victory over Auburn in January. He was chosen SEC Newcomer of the Year by The Associated Press.
• As part of his punishment for not revealing his knowledge of his players' NCAA violations, Ohio State coach Jim Tressel will attend a five-day compliance seminar in June in Tampa, Fla.
Ohio State spokesman Jim Lynch confirmed Saturday that Tressel would take part in the NCAA-sponsored event June 6-10 at a resort hotel on the waterfront.
One of the topics of the compliance seminar - one of two put on by the NCAA this summer - is "Division I Major Infractions."
• Athletic Director Greg Byrne annonced Sean Miller agreed to a contract extension to stay on as men's basketball coach at Arizona.
Miller was scheduled to meet with Maryland athletic director Kevin Anderson in Las Vegas earlier Saturday about the Terrapins' open coaching job, according to sources.
Miller had become Maryland's prime candidated after the sudden retirement of 66-year old Gary Williams on Thursday.
Jonathan Byrd ran off five birdies in six holes to start the back nine on his way to a 5-under 67 on Saturday to take a one-shot lead into the final round of the PGA Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, N.C.
Byrd will be going after his third win in the last seven months.
Pat Perez held onto his two-shot lead until the 13th hole. At least he stayed close with a bold tee shot to a back pin on the par-3 17th for a birdie, and he wound up with a 70 to get into the final group.
• Mark Calcavecchia gave away nearly all of his big lead in the Champions Tour Regions Tradition, setting up a tight final round at Shoal Creek in Birmingham, Ala.
Calcavecchia finished at 12-under 204 for a one-stroke lead over Jay Haas (68).
Volleyball
Ohio State has won the NCAA men's volleyball title for the first time.
Shawn Sangrey had a game-high 30 kills and three spikes late in the decisive fifth set to send the Buckeyes to a 20-25, 25-20, 25-19, 22-25, 15-9 win over UC Santa Barbara at State College, Pa.
It's just the third time a team outside of the West has claimed the crown. Penn State won in 1994 and 2008.
Hockey
Canada advanced to the quarterfinals of the ice hockey world championship after beating Norway 3-2 in Kosice, Slovakia, and the United States moved into position to do the same.
The Americans came back from a goal down to beat France 3-2.
Canada leads Group F with a perfect 10 points. The team's last group game is against Sweden today.
- The Associated Press