NOTES

Ted Valentine, the referee who was censured by the Big Ten in conjunction with its punishment of Indiana Coach Bob Knight for calling Valentine’s officiating a “travesty,” worked the Princeton-Nevada Las Vegas game.

The Big Ten said it will not use Valentine in nonconference games early next season, and Knight will pay a $10,000 fine for his remarks after Valentine had charged him with three technical fouls in a game last month.

“To be honest, I’m not going to have any comment about that,” Valentine said. “They are the judge and jury.”

*

North Carolina Coach Bill Guthridge talks often with retired coach Dean Smith, seeking his advice. about the team.

“He’s been a great ex-coach,” Guthridge said of Smith, who is working for CBS as an analyst during the NCAA tournament.

“I don’t know whether he likes it [the commentating],” Guthridge said. “Actually, I’m a little hesitant to talk to him too much. He’s with the media now.”

Guthridge is kidding, and he needn’t worry. Smith referred to the Tar Heels as “we” during the Thursday’s telecast.