California coach gets pink slip
California fired basketball coach Ben Braun on Wednesday after another disappointing season in which the Golden Bears missed the NCAA tournament.
Braun spent 12 years at Cal and made the tournament five times. But the Bears only went to the NCAA tournament once in his final five seasons, leading to the decision by athletic director Sandy Barbour.
''This was an extremely difficult decision that was undertaken with great care and diligence,'' Barbour said. ''However, in the final analysis, I have determined that it is time for Cal to seek new leadership in our men's basketball program.''
Cal finished in ninth place in the Pac-10 this season, going 17-16 overall and just 6-12 in the conference despite having a talented roster that included likely future NBA players in Ryan Anderson, DeVon Hardin and Patrick Christopher.
• • Missouri State has hired Purdue associate coach Cuonzo Martin as its coach.
Martin, 36, replaces Barry Hinson, who was fired March 9 after failing to take Missouri State to the NCAA tournament in nine seasons. Martin, a native of East St. Louis, Ill., was a standout player at Purdue from 1991 through 1995.
• • Kevin O'Neill said he expects to return to Lute Olson's Arizona staff and succeed the Hall of Famer when he retires.
BRADLEY WINS: Jeremy Crouch had 27 points, including a three-pointer that sparked a run that blew open a close game, as Bradley (20-15) beat Virginia 96-85 in the semifinals of the College Basketball Invitation in Charlottesville, Va.
Virginia (17-16) led by 14 in the first half before Bradley went on a 15-0 run.
Theron Wilson had 17 for Bradley, and Matt Salley had 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Bradley will face the winner of the late Houston-Tulsa contest in the first game of a best-of-three championship Monday.
• • Kosta Koufos scored 21 points to lead host Ohio State past Dayton 74-63 on Wednesday night in an NIT quarterfinal. The Buckeyes (22-13) will meet Mississippi (24-10) in the semifinals in New York on Tuesday.
• • Marquette's women's team defeated visiting Illinois 72-64 in third-round action of the Women's NIT.
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