NCAA Punishes Fresno State’s Maddox

Fresno State guard Tito Maddox was ordered Friday by the NCAA to sit out eight games for receiving gifts and meeting with an agent.

On a preseason trip to Las Vegas, Maddox accepted a free flight, transportation and meals from a childhood friend, the school said.

During the trip, Maddox visited the home of a man who has since registered as a sports agent.

Maddox traveled to Las Vegas Sept. 30-Oct. 2 with USC guard Jeff Trepagnier, who has been suspended by Coach Henry Bibby. Trepagnier met with NCAA officials for nearly five hours Thursday.

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Arizona Coach Lute Olson will not be present at today’s game at No. 15 Connecticut so he can be with his wife while she undergoes treatment for ovarian cancer. The No. 5 Wildcats will be coached by Olson’s assistants.

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Indiana sophomore point guard Tom Coverdale, who faces his second alcohol-related charge this year, has been placed under sanctions by interim Hoosier Coach Mike Davis. Coverdale said Davis has put him under a 10 p.m. curfew and ordered him to move into a dorm and seek counseling.