Arizona’s Woods Suspended Six Games

Loren Woods, Arizona’s 7-foot-1 center, will sit out the first six games of the season for a violation of NCAA rules, pending an appeal, and did not accompany his teammates to the Maui Invitational.

The school made the announcement Saturday night, saying that Woods will be eligible to return for a Dec. 9 game at Connecticut unless the NCAA reverses itself and allows him to play.

“I’d rather start the season without him than finish it without him,” Arizona Coach Lute Olson said Sunday. “Now some guys who wouldn’t get time will get time and it’s an opportunity to look at our depth.”

A decision on Arizona’s appeal is due Wednesday, after the final game of the Maui Invitational.

Olson said he couldn’t reveal any details about the suspension. The top-ranked Wildcats open today against Chaminade.

Woods sat out Arizona’s last seven games last season because of a back injury that required surgery in April.

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Charlie Bell became the first Spartan since Magic Johnson to record a triple-double, with 13 points, 10 assists and 11 rebounds, as third-ranked Michigan State opened defense of its national championship with a 97-61 victory over Oakland at East Lansing, Mich.

Jason Richardson scored a career-high 25 points on an array of dunks, three-point baskets and driving layups. Richardson also had a career-high eight assists.

Dan Buddenborg led Oakland (1-1), which upset Michigan on Friday, with 21 points. Kelly Williams added 10 points.

In other Top 25 games: Point guard Mike McDonald made a career-high five three-point baskets and finished with 19 points as No. 5 Stanford won its 13th consecutive season opener with a 100-49 rout of Division II San Francisco State at Palo Alto. . . . No. 9 Tennessee (2-0) beat East Tennessee State, 102-76, behind 18 points from Vincent Yarbrough. Tennessee will face No. 19 Wisconsin at home Tuesday night.