December 2011 | Page 21 of 28 | Zagsblog
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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Sunday / April 28.
  • The game between No. 8 Xavier and crosstown rival Cincinnati was called with Xavier up 76-53 and 9.4 seconds left when the teams got into a full-fledged brawl on court and the referees called it.

    After Xavier’s Tu Holloway jawed with the Cincinnati bench, a brawl ensued. Cincinnati forward Yancy Gates unloaded a punch to Xavier center Kenny Frease’s face, and Cincy big man Cheikh Mbodj later stomped on Frease’s head. Frease was left with a cut under his left eye and blood pouring out.

    Expect both to be suspended for a good while.

    Xavier’s Mark Lyons and Dez Wells also threw punches.

    The Knicks just got a whole lot bigger, tougher and more defensive-minded.

    Former Dallas Mavericks center Tyson Chandler officially joined the team Saturday via a sign-and-trade as part of a three-team trade.

    He reportedly signed a four-year, $58 million deal to come to New York and help the Knicks challenge for their first NBA title since 1973.

    Chandler will join Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony to form potentially the best frontcourt in the NBA.

    “Right now, if it was all done with paper, I would say we were the best,” Chandler told reporters. “We got a lot of work to do.”

    The Knicks officially waived guard Chauncey Billups, designating him as the club’s amnesty player in order to free up his $14.2 million salary for Tyson Chandler.

    But any team looking to pick up the 34-year-old veteran better beware.

    “I’ m tired of being the good guy,” Billups told Yahoo! Sports. “I’m tired of being viewed as the guy. After a while, you just kind of get taken advantage of in these situations. I’ve been known as a leader, and I am a leader, but a leader can be as disruptive as he can be productive, especially when you carry a strong voice and people rally around you. This is about me now. This is about me, and teams should know that right now.”

    Andy Miller, Billups’ agent, previously told Yahoo! Billups might choose to retire instead of report to a team he didn’t want to play for.

    Chauncey Billups may retire instead of play for a team he doesn’t want to join.

    The Knicks amnestied Billups and his $14.2 million contract in order to create salary-cap room for center Tyson Chandler.

    “But I wouldn’t be surprised if Chauncey retired rather than play for a team he wouldn’t want to play for,” Andy Miller, Billups’ agent, told Ian O’Connor of ESPNNewYork.com.

    “He doesn’t need the money, his kids are getting to an age where he wants to be an active participant, and he doesn’t need the frustration and instability he’s constantly dealing with. So he may choose not to play.”

    Tyson Chandler won an NBA championship last year with the Dallas Mavericks.

    Now he’s ready to help the Knicks try to win one.

    “It just really happened over the last, like, 48 hours,” Chandler said Friday on ESPN’s Dallas radio affiliate of his impending deal to join New York. “I just think the future of the team, being able to play alongside Amare StoudemireCarmelo Anthony and the young talent that we have, I feel like puts us in contention over the next four or five years.”

    UCLA junior forward Reeves Nelson was dismissed from the team Friday after repeated issues relating to his conduct.

    “After much thought and deliberation, I have made the decision to dismiss Reeves Nelson from the UCLA Men’s Basketball Team effective immediately,” Bruins coach Ben Howland said.

    “This decision is not one that I take lightly, but it is in the best interest of both the program and the student-athlete.”

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