College Basketball

Ohio State basketball Coach Randy Ayers was voted coach of the year by the Associated Press. Ayers guided the Buckeyes to a 27-4 record and the co-championship of the Big Ten in his second season as coach. Ohio State was beaten by St. John’s in the Midwest Regional semifinals.

Ayers received 191 of 582 votes in a nationwide poll of sportswriters and broadcasters conducted before the NCAA tournament. Kentucky’s Rick Pitino was second with 94 votes, followed by Utah’s Rick Majerus with 89 1/2 and Nebraska’s Danny Nee with 65.