Injured point guard Kyrie Irving could return for Duke's NCAA tournament opener, coach Mike Krzyzewski said Tuesday night. Krzyzewski said Irving practiced "a little bit" Tuesday but that he won't know for a few days whether Irving will be available Friday when Duke plays Hampton in Charlotte.
Krzyzewski said "there is a chance that he would play," but added if Irving does come back, he won't start, would see limited minutes and wouldn't be on the court for extended periods.
"You don't want to get where he gets hurt and hurts something else because you extend him past his limits," Krzyzewski said.
Duke will hold its pre-NCAA tournament practice Thursday at the arena in Charlotte, and "we'll know a heck of a lot more by then," Krzyzewski said. Irving has been sidelined since injuring the big toe on his right foot Dec. 4.
FSU's Singleton remains day-to-day
Chris Singleton, Florida State's leading scorer and rebounder, is tweeting that he wants to play Friday against Texas A&M in the NCAA tournament, but whether he can just five weeks after breaking his right foot is a different issue.
Coach Leonard Hamilton said Tuesday that Singleton's status remains day-to-day and that it's not likely any decision would be made before Friday's tipoff.
Singleton tweeted Tuesday that he is working to get back on to the court as soon as possible but also wants to be sure he doesn't reinjure himself. He is is expected to give up his last year of eligibility at the end of the season to pursue a pro career.
Purdue's Barlow done for rest of the season
Sophomore guard Kelsey Barlow of Purdue has been suspended for the rest of the season for conduct detrimental to the team, school officials said Tuesday. It's a blow for a team that had lost two straight heading into the NCAA tournament. Purdue, the No. 3 seed in the Southwest Region, will face Saint Peter's on Friday.
Coach Matt Painter, who has called Barlow one of the best perimeter defenders in the Big Ten, said that the situation was disappointing but that the team would move forward.
No dog allowed
Butler fans are upset that the NCAA won't allow their beloved mascot, Blue II the bulldog, into the Verizon Center in Washington for Thursday's second-round game against Old Dominion.
David Worlock, an NCAA spokesman, told The Indianapolis Star an exception was made last season allowing Blue II in Lucas Oil Stadium when Butler played in the final. He said animals aren't allowed at venues during preliminary rounds because of limited space and tight turnaround times.
Short shots
The 12-foot jump circle used at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion from 1965 to 1982 will be auctioned online. The circle was used by the UCLA men's teams that won eight national titles but has been in storage since being replaced in 1982. In 1998, it was signed by former UCLA coach John Wooden and some of his greatest players, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Walton, Sidney Wicks and Walt Hazzard. SCP Auctions will be accepting bids April 15-30….
South Florida's Anthony Crater suffered a right-shoulder injury during the Big East tournament and is expected to be sidelined six months while recovering from surgery. Team officials said he will have an operation this week to repair cartilage and a small bone fracture. Carter averaged 3.9 points and 4.6 assists and was the star of USF's upset of Villanova in the first round of the conference tournament….
Nebraska gave men's coach Doc Sadler a two-year contract extension through the 2015-16 season. Sadler, 50, is 89-70 in five seasons with the Cornhuskers, including 30-50 in Big 12 games. His teams have never made the NCAA tournament.
Nebraska is 19-12 entering tonight's first-round NIT game at Wichita State.
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