Can San Diego State remain relevant without Kawhi Leonard?

One of the best stories of the 2010-11 college basketball season was the way San Diego State breathed new life into a long-dormant fan base with its magical 34-win season and historic Sweet 16 run.

The question now is whether the Aztecs can remain nationally viable in the future.

Sophomore forward Kawhi Leonard's decision to forgo his final two years of eligibility and enter the NBA draft guarantees that San Diego State will have to replace four of its five starters next season. In addition to losing a likely first-round pick in Leonard, the Aztecs also graduate forward Malcolm Thomas, wing Billy White and point guard D.J. Gay, three pillars of their success.

Certainly a big drop off is inevitable for San Diego State, but the Aztecs still have enough pieces to push UNLV and New Mexico in the Mountain West race next season. Top defender Chase Tapley, sweet-shooting James Rahon and emerging Jamaal Franklin all return next season, while Xavier Thames (Washington State) and Kevin Young (Loyola Marymount) will both be eligible.

The ability of San Diego State to capitalize recruiting-wise on this past season's success will be hurt by the departure of one of their top assistant coaches. Justin Hutson, Fisher's recruiting coordinator, has been hired as associate head coach at Mountain West rival UNLV despite a late push from the Aztecs to retain his services.

Even though Leonard sticking around one more season could have provided a bridge for San Diego State to help sustain its success, there certainly shouldn't be anyone blaming the all-conference forward for turning pro.

San Diego State's team success gave him the perfect stage to use to improve his stock. He's making a wise choice leaving now while interest is high.

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Who would want to break into USC’s compliance office? Who wouldn’t?

Warm up the bloodhound and the magnifying glass: USC's department of public safety confirmed today that an apparent burglar ransacked the inside of USC's athletic compliance office in late March, even as the Trojans continue to wait on the result of their last-ditch appeal to the NCAA to reduce the heavy-handed sanctions dropped on the football and basketball teams last summer. So many suspects! So many motives!

Could it have been Pete Carroll or Tim Floyd, in search of some secret file that will exonerate his tarnished legacies as head coaches? Reggie Bush, on the prowl for the address of his lost Heisman Trophy? Lloyd Lake, on the prowl for the sake of being on the prowl? Mike Garrett, who's pretty sure he left his keys somewhere around here? Lane Kiffin, with the candlestick? Todd McNair, in the conservatory, with Faison Love? Someone from outside the program, perhaps, bent on sabotage?

Or could it have been … uh, some guy looking to score a free debit card for a quick spree:

The break-in occurred March 29 and according to campus security reports obtained by the website, a debit card was taken from an employee's desk. The employee later learned that three purchases were made on the stolen card before he canceled the card.

Well then … I suppose that means another case closed. Good work, everyone!

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Matt Hinton is on Twitter: Follow him @DrSaturday.

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Point guard Ryan Harrow’s transfer leaves NC State scrambling

The upheaval at North Carolina State this spring apparently isn't limited to the firing of coach Sidney Lowe and the loss of his top recruit. Now the Wolfpack also will have to move on without their heir apparent at point guard.

Freshman Ryan Harrow, one of the prized recruits in NC State's celebrated 2010 class, will leave the school and transfer to another program. Reached via text message Tuesday afternoon, Harrow declined to elaborate on what the school is calling a "mutual decision" or to reveal which other schools he's considering.

The departure of Harrow will leave NC State scrambling to find a suitable replacement for him at point guard next season. Fellow freshman Lorenzo Brown had some success in limited minutes at the position this past season, but he played mostly off ball and nobody else on the roster has experience at point guard.

Inconsistency prevented Harrow from emerging from a platoon with Javier Gonzales and taking over NC State's starting point guard job this past season. Harrow started just 10 of the 29 games he played as a freshman, averaging 9.3 points and 3.3 assists.

Speculation that Harrow might transfer began as soon as it became clear that NC State was firing Lowe after five seasons without an NCAA tournament berth.

Harrow had an unusually close bond with his head coach for a freshman who played just one season under him. He'd committed to Lowe as an unheralded high school sophomore in June 2008 and campaigned for the embattled NC State coach to keep his job last spring when many Wolfpack fans were calling for his firing.�

Even if Lowe had remained at NC State, there were signs that Harrow might not have been happy staying in Raleigh another season. According to the Fayetteville Observer, Harrow expressed frustration on his Facebook and Twitter accounts at how NC State fans criticized his play and the performance of the team.

New coach Mark Gottfried will have a decent nucleus returning highlighted by Brown and fellow freshman C.J. Leslie, but NC State's chances of contending for an NCAA tournament berth take a severe hit without Harrow.

Maybe Brown will be successful transitioning to point guard and Gottfried can find a backup on the scrap heap. More likely, the point guard position may wind up being a season-long problem for a program that can't seem to catch a break.

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The Seventh Round is Here, so Here are the Best Seventh Round Picks for Each Organization

As the seventh round, and final, round of the 2011 NFL Draft is underway, here is a summary of the best seventh round pick for each organization going back to 1970. Enjoy. And sorry if this is a bad dose of reality for those who have made it through every round of draft coverage. Remember, [...]

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Buccaneers to play Bears at Wembley ? if NFL season goes ahead

? London set to host regular-season game for fifth straight year
? Match remains threatened by current NFL pay dispute

The NFL has announced that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will host the Chicago Bears at Wembley on 23 October, if the league season goes ahead.

However, a question mark remains over whether the game will be staged in London due to the current league lockout as a result of the failure to renegotiate the collective-bargaining agreement between team owners and players. There is a danger that the dispute could see the season cancelled, and an NFL statement said that if it is not resolved by 1 August the game will be played at the Buccaneers' Raymond James Stadium.

Should the fixture go ahead in London, however, it will be the fifth consecutive year that a regular-season game has been played there, with the Buccaneers becoming the first side to make a second visit to the capital following their defeat to the New England Patriots in 2009.

The Bears, who reached the NFC championship game last season, also have links to Wembley after playing a pre-season game, the first official NFL match held in Britain, at the old ground 25 years ago.

"Our past four games in London have demonstrated the tremendous passion for NFL football that exists in the UK," said the NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell. "We hope by staging another extraordinary game at Wembley that we can continue to grow our existing fan base and attract even more new fans."

The London mayor, Boris Johnson, added: "Continuing London's love affair with the hugely popular State-side sport, we are proud to once again to welcome two top NFL teams to the capital. With a growing local fanbase it is a fantastic opportunity for enthusiasts from London and beyond to experience the unique thrill of a live game in one of the most iconic sports venues around."

The full schedule for the 2011 NFL season is set to be unveiled on Tuesday.

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Allegations threaten to derail a UCF program on the upswing

When guard Kevin Ware revealed to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution he was reneging on his recent commitment to Central Florida on Thursday, the coveted senior would only say that "personal stuff" was the reason for his decision.

It's now clear what that "personal stuff" was.

The New York Times reported Friday than Kenneth Caldwell, a convicted felon with ties to a prominent sports agency assisted with the recruitment of several UCF basketball and football recruits including Ware. Ware backed out of his commitment to UCF after his family learned of Caldwell's background from the Times.

Caldwell insists he's not working for an agent, describing himself instead as a mentor to young athletes and a supporter of UCF sports.

"There's no money involved," he told the Orlando Sentinel on Monday. "I challenge anyone to say if Ken Caldwell gave a player money or the university gave Caldwell money to give to a player. That doesn't exist."

The allegations in the Times article cast a pall over the surprising string of recruiting successes coach Donnie Jones had achieved since UCF plucked him from Conference USA rival Marshall last spring.

Even though UCF has little history of basketball success, the Knights signed ex-Louisville and Xavier commit Michael Chandler and lured three-star forward Rod Days away from several bigger programs last year. And Virginia transfer Tristan Spurlock, Oregon transfer Josh Crittle and Illinois transfer Jeffrey Jordan each will become eligible to play for UCF next season as well.

Of those players, Chandler was the only one who allegedly had dealings with Caldwell before signing with UCF. The Times reported that the NCAA is currently investigating the recruitment of Chandler.

The only good news about the Times report for UCF is there's no direct evidence money changed hands between Caldwell and either a recruit or the school.

At best, this story will be a public relations nightmare that will inspire doubt whenever UCF out-duels a high-profile school for a top recruit. At worst, the Knights could be found to have committed the type of serious infractions that could halt the momentum Jones has built and perhaps cost him or his assistants their jobs.

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Illinois College’s Tucker gets an invite to Washington D.C.

The fanfare since Illinois College senior Jacob Tucker won the Denny's College Slam Dunk Championship during the Final Four weekend has been overwhelming, but it reached a new height this week when Tucker was invited to Washington, D.C., as a guest of U.S. Congressman Aaron Schock (R-Ill.).

Tucker, an unassuming 5-foot-10 high flyer, earned the invite after stunning the country with a series of spectacular dunks that earned him the title of college basketball's best dunker against some of the most prominent names in the collegiate game.

"It takes a lot of courage just to participate in a competition like the slam dunk contest and for him not only to do well, but to win the whole thing is an exciting and inspirational story," Schock said in a press release. "It's a great example of someone growing up in a small town going on to do great things."

Politics are nothing new for Tucker, who started a grassroots YouTube campaign to get into the slam dunk competition in the first place. He put together slam dunk video that went viral and after the story was picked up by several media outlets, fans voted Tucker into the contest.

But few thought he could win.

He was by far the smallest player in the competition and even Kansas State guard Jacob Pullen, who measures 6-1, said he thought Tucker was there for the 3-point contest and not the slam dunking. But after Tucker tossed the ball to himself, put it between his legs mid-air and slammed it home on his first dunk, everyone quickly became believers.

When Tucker got home from the slam dunk contest, he was honored during a parade and reception at Illinois College's Sherman Gymnasium. Mayor Andy Ezard declared April 4 "Jacob Tucker Day in Jacksonville" and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn declared "Jacob Tucker Day in Illinois." Tucker even went to a Chicago Bulls basketball game with Quinn.

But the opportunity to go to Washington, D.C., and showcase his talents against some congressmen seemed to be the highlight for Tucker.

"I'm excited to visit Washington, D.C., for the first time," Tucker told the Belleville News Democrat. "I'm looking forward to meeting Congressman Schock and possibly getting a chance to spend time with him and some other congressmen on the basketball court."

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