Tuesday, April 7, 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 5
Iona basketball legend returns as head coach
The Associated Press
NEW ROCHLELLE, N.Y. — The most successful era in Iona basketball history was when Jeff Ruland was its star player. Now, Ruland gets a chance to leave his imprint again.
Yesterday, Ruland, who has no experience as a head coach, was selected to replace Tim Welsh, who last left week to coach Providence.
Ruland, who played for the Gaels from 1977-80 and spent nine years in the NBA, had been an assistant to Welsh for three seasons.
"I've always been around great people in basketball, and Timmy consulted with me a lot," Ruland said. "Once I started coaching, I really stepped into it, every aspect of it. I'm ready."
Athletics director Rich Petriccione said he was not concerned that Ruland had not been a head coach.
"He's been around basketball his whole life, and we're ready to grow and learn as he does," he said.
The Gaels are coming off a 27-6 season in which they won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title and appeared in their first NCAA tournament since 1985. Eleven players, including three starters, will be
back from the team that lost 63-61 to Syracuse in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
"Timmy set some really high standards here, and we won 27 games last season." Ruland said. "I've never shied away from a challenge so we'll try and win more and go further."
When Ruland came out of high school on Long Island, he was one of the most highly recruited players. He chose the small school just north of New York City and its up-coming coach, Jim Valvano, instead of Indiana or Kentucky.
With Valvano charming everyone off the court and Ruland dominating on it, the Gaels went to the NCAA tournament for the first time in 1979 and went back again the next season.
"I've always marched to the beat of a different drummer, and that's why I came to Iona." Ruland said.
Ruland and Valvano were gone after the 1979-80 season — Valvano to North Carolina State, which won a national championship, and Ruland to professional basketball.
The two had a strained relationship after that, and the player accused his former coach of illegally giving him money. The charge never
Ruland, 6-foot-11, averaged 20.8 points and 12 rebounds at Iona, finishing as the third-leading scorer and second-leading rebounder in school history.
"I'm very disappointed he's not here to see this." Ruland said. "We had our differences, but we became very, very close."
was proven in an NCAA investigation. Ruland has not talked about it since Valvano's death in 1993.
He was drafted in the second round — No. 25 overall — by Golden State in 1980. After a season in Europe, he played for Washington for five seasons, then Philadelphia and Detroit. He averaged 17.4 points and 10.2 rebounds in the NBA and twice was selected to the All-Star Game
Ruland, the 10th coach in school history, earned his Iona degree in 1991, attended classes day and night for 1 1/2 years to get the credits.
He was an assistant coach with the 76ers in the 1993-94 season before he returned to his alma mater.
"The first time I was at lona I didn't do things right," he said. "I would cut classes and not study. When I came back, I made the dean's list. Other than my family that's the thing I am most proud of."
Evans may coach Sun Devils
Phoenix, Ariz. — Mississippi coach Rob Evans met during the weekend with Arizona State's athletic director and a search committee to discuss the Sun Devils' basketball coaching vacancy, two newspapers reported yesterday.
would get the job.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — BJ McKie, the Southeastern Conference's leading sorer, will return for his senior season at South Carolina rather than declare early for the NBA draft.
The Associated Press
"If I'm going to move, I want to go to the Southwest," Evans told The Tribune.
Bill Frieder resigned under pressure in September and was
The Tribute, which serves suburban Phoenix, and the Arizona Republic in Phoenix cited unidentified sources who confirmed the meeting. The Tribute's sources said Evans
So. Carolina guard says he will stay
Miss, but his teams are 4216 in the past two seasons, with back-to-back Southeastern Conference West titles and NCAA Tournament appearances. Evans was the SEC Coach of the Year in 1997.
He met with ASU athletic director Kevin White at the Final Four. White's son, Michael, is a junior guard for Mississippi.
McKie announced his decision yesterday, nearly four weeks after South Carolina was eliminated in the first round of the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive year.
Evans was an assistant for 15 years at Texas Tech and for two years at Oklahoma State before arriving at Ole Miss in 1992.
"I have decided to stay at South Carolina, and I look forward to getting my degree," said McKie, who is on track to become the school's all-time leading scorer next season.
replaced on an interim basis by
Don Newman, who led the team to
18-14 record and an NIT berth.
Evans has an 86-81 record at Ole
The Associated Press
McKie averaged 18.8 points per game. South Carolina went 23-8 this season, its second consecutive 20-win season. That included a 24-point performance in South Carolina's 62-16 loss to the University of Richmond in the first round of the East Regional at Washington.
After that game, the 6-foot-2 guard said he would take some time to explore his draft status. South Carolina coach Eddie Fogler also spoke with some NBA scouts on McKie's behalf.
"I respect the decision JB and the McKie family have made," Fogler said. "BJ has played a big role in our success over the last three years, and we look forward to having him back for his senior season."
McKie is fourth on South Carolina's all-time scoring list with 1,618 career points, just 354 shy of Alex English's school record of 1,972. McKie has scored at least 478 points in each of his three seasons.
However, his role could change with the departure of Melvin Watson, a four-year point-guard starter. Aaron Lucas, a highly regarded recruit, is expected to become Watson's eventual replacement. But while Lucas adjusts to the college game, McKie may be asked to handle more work at the point-guard position.
KU COUNTS DOWN TO EARTH DAY The EHS Office of Resource Conservation & Recycling and campus environmental groups ask you to Help Us Keep KU "Clean & Green"
SPECIAL EVENTS:
Local Bike Ride April 26th
Planet Party April 25th
Burt Hall Xeriscaping Projects April 20-24
"Adopt-a Sidewalk" Campus Clean Up April 22nd - April 24
BROWN-BAG
PANEL
DISCUSSIONS:
Xeriscaping and Water Conservation
April 29th
11:00 - 1:00
location to be announced
Composting April 16th- Kansas Union 11:00-1:00 Alderson Auditorium
Spring '98
Move Outs
April 28th - Kansas Union
11:00 - 1:00
Alderson Auditorium
Graduation regalia is now available at the KU Bookstore.
Attention Graduates and Faculty!
Where: The Kansas Union, level 2
When: Bachelor and master candidates purchase your regalia in the store anytime until commencement. Doctoral and law candidates, and faculty members rent your regalia by April 20. Late fees apply on orders placed after this date.
How to Rent: Come to the clothing department of the store to place orders in person. Call 864-4640 to order by phone with a credit card.
When to pick up regalia: Rentals will be available to pick up May 14, 15,16 and 17 until commencement.
--by donating your life-saving blood plasma.
BODY BOUTIQUE
The Women's Fitness Facility
925 Iowa
LAWRENCE'S ONLY WOMEN'S FITNESS CENTER
WE HAVE IT ALL AND ARE CLOSE TO CAMPUS!
- Cardiovascular Equipment
- All New Strength Equipment
- High/Low Impact
- Step & Water Aerobics
- Hip Hop Classes
- Personal Fitness Training
- Boxing Class
749-2424
TANNING
BUY 10 TANS GET 5 FREE
*15 tans for only $30
*20 minute sessions
*Non-members welcome
Exp 4/15/98
FITNESS
JOIN FOR
$24 PER MONTH
*VIP Membership
*Discounted Enrollment
*$100 Savings
Exp. 4/15/98
Free Physicals and Immunizations (Call for details)
There's a party in your wallet and all the presidents are invited.
816 W. 24th St. • 749-5750 Hours: Mon-Fri. 9am-6:30pm
The Start of Something New...
Leadership Opportunities
Strong Scholastic Achievement
Community Service
Strong Alumni Support
Campus Involvement
Personal Development
Lifelong Friendships
You have heard about this unique opportunity. Don't miss this chance to learn how you will be an integral part of defining the ideal fraternity experience:
Tuesday, April 7 6:00 pm Kansas Union - The Parlors (5th floor)
Or contact Chad Ellis or Brian Pozen
at 842-7030 x.130
e-mail - expansion@thetachi.org
http://www.thetachi.org