Pac-Tending 05-09-07

"Unfortunately, we just got ourselves in a big hole when the APR program started out."

- Arizona associate athletic director Kathleen LaRose, remarking after the Wildcats' were the only Pac-10 school to incur scholarship losses with the release of the latest APR [Academic Progress Rate].

It is Championship Week at the Creek as both track and field and rowing conference championships will be decided before the weekend is done while Pac-10 teams compete this week in the NCAA championships in men's and women's golf and tennis.

The Director's Cup standings were updated and once again, Stanford has resumed their traditional place atop the standings with California in second place while all Pac-10 schools are in the Top 75.

Meanwhile, at NCAA HQ, APR [Academic Progress Rate] data was released for the first half of the year and overall, penalties were down. Only 18 teams suffered both contemporaneous and historical penalties while 49 were hit with historical only and 63 got whacked with contemporaneous only. Men's and women's golf were the most successful while men's basketball was the lowest of the sports.

In men's basketball rules committee approved a measure to move the three-point line back to 20 feet, nine inches – one foot back from its current location – for the 2008-09 season. Final approval will need to come by May 25 from the oversight committee in order to implement the change.

Arizona State

In men's hoop, forward George Odufuwa will transfer.

Junior Mindy Cowles was named as the conference's player of the week in softball.

Arizona

The Wildcats lost four scholarships in football due to poor scores in the APR [Academic Progress Rate] announced by the NCAA last week. Arizona received a verbal commitment from running back Robert Golden.

In men's hoop, guard Brendon Lavender gave a verbal commitment to Arizona.

In women's hoop, assistant coach Todd Holthaus has become the head coach at Pima College.

Washington

In men's hoop, sophomore forward Artem Wallace was arrested in connection with a hit-and-run accident.

California

Head lacrosse coach Jill Malko resigned and will take another position within the university.

Stanford

Stanford was selected as the top seed in the NCAA women's water polo championships and will play Wagner College this week.

USC

In men's hoop, the Trojans received letters of intent from forward Mamadou Diarra and guard Angelo Johnson.

WSU

The Cougars lead the women's track and field conference championship after the first week of competition when Diana Pickler and her twin sister Julie Pickler finished first and second in the heptathlon. Diana Pickler was named as the conference's track athlete of the week.

In baseball, Wazzu took two out of three from Stanford tom improve to 6-12 in conference play and 23-21 overall.

Senior associate athletic director Marcia Saneholtz retired after 28 years at WSU.

UCLA

In men's hoop, forward Drew Gordon gave a verbal commitment to UCLA.

Oregon State

In men's golf, Oregon State will be making their first appearance in four years as they were selected to participate in the NCAA West regional.

Oregon

Senior thrower Britney Henry was named as the conference's women's field athlete of the week.

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