Appalachian defensive end Tharrington ruled ineligible
Appalachian State starting defensive end Gary Tharrington has been ruled academically ineligible for the 2008 season.
Coach Jerry Moore said Tuesday he hopes Tharrington will learn from his mistakes and regain his eligibility next year.
The 6-foot-1, 275-pound redshirt junior was projected to anchor the defensive line at right end this season. He was fifth on the team last year with 84 tackles, including a team-high 18 for a loss.
DAVIDSON: After leading Davidson within a missed 3-pointer of the Final Four, coach Bob McKillop is close to an agreement on a new long-term contract. McKillop said there would be a news conference announcing the deal "in the very near future."
McKillop didn't discuss details.
Behind sophomore star Stephen Curry, Davidson upset Gonzaga, Georgetown and Wisconsin in this year's NCAA tournament. Jason Richards then missed a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer in a 59-57 loss to eventual champion Kansas in the Midwest Regional final.
McKillop was mentioned as a candidate for several coaching jobs after the season. He's 340-225 in 19 seasons at the school.
DUKE: Junior Morgan, the starting center on Duke's first NCAA tournament team, has died. The school said that Morgan, a center for the Blue Devils from 1953-56, died Saturday of prostate cancer at his home in Winnetka, Ill. He was 74.
