Odom Leaves Wake Forest for S. Carolina

Dave Odom, who coached men’s basketball at Wake Forest for 12 seasons, was hired as coach at South Carolina on Tuesday, after the school’s top two choices turned down the Gamecocks’ offers.

Odom succeeds Eddie Fogler, who resigned after a 15-15 season when Athletic Director Mike McGee refused to extend his contract, which had three years remaining.

South Carolina’s top two candidates, Kentucky’s Tubby Smith and Connecticut’s Jim Calhoun, turned down offers from the school.

Odom, 58, was 240-132 at Wake Forest.

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Jason Williams, Duke’s All-American point guard, will return to school for his junior season and then make himself available for the 2002 NBA draft, the Charlotte Observer reported, citing his mother as a source. . . . All-American forward Troy Murphy has decided to make himself eligible for the NBA draft but might still play his senior season at Notre Dame. He has until June 20 to withdraw his name from the draft-eligible list and, if he does not sign with an agent, could return to college without losing eligibility. . . . Big Ten player of the year Frank Williams will stay at Illinois for his junior year.

Sophomore Jason Richardson, the leading scorer on the Michigan State team that reached the Final Four, is leaving the Spartans for the NBA. Teammate Zach Randolph, a freshman, called a news conference for today, when he is expected to declare for the draft as well. . . . Eddy Curry, a 6-foot-11 high school star in South Holland, Ill., said he will skip college and make himself available for the NBA draft.

Virginia received permission to speak to Rutgers point guard Todd Billet about a transfer. . . . Jackie Stiles, who set the NCAA Division I women’s career scoring record last season at Southwest Missouri State, was drafted by the Dodge City Legend of the men’s U.S. Basketball League.

Miscellany

Tiger Woods’ two-stroke victory in the Masters golf tournament helped CBS draw what may be its second-best ratings for the event.

CBS’ telecast of Sunday’s final round was watched in 13% of the 102.2 million U.S. homes with televisions, according to viewership totals that Nielsen Media Research Inc. are calling preliminary national numbers. The research company said the numbers may change today after computer problems are corrected. Of homes with TVs turned on, 29% watched, according to the statistics.

When Woods won in 1997, a record 14.1% of homes tuned in to the final round. Of homes with TVs turned on, 31% watched.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers re-signed free agents Jerry Wunsch, an offensive tackle, and Ronde Barber, a cornerback. . . . Free-agent defensive tackle Ted Washington agreed to a three-year contract with the Chicago Bears. . . . Free-agent tight end Walter Rasby was signed by the Washington Redskins. . . . The St. Louis Rams agreed to terms with free-agent linebacker Mark Fields. . . . The New York Giants signed free agents Matt Simonton, a kicker, and Tony Umholtz, a punter. . . . Former Green Bay Packer running back Edgar Bennett has rejoined the team as director of player programs.

Top-seeded Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain advanced to the second round of the Estoril Open tennis tournament at Oeiras, Portugal, with a 6-3, 7-6 (2) victory over unseeded Harel Levy of Israel. . . . Eighth-seeded Chanda Rubin lost to Nadia Petrova of Russia, 4-6, 6-4, 6-0, in the second round of the Bausch & Lomb championship at Amelia Island, Fla. . . . Martina Navratilova, who will play doubles in the Bausch & Lomb event, said she thinks Richard Williams should tone down his presence in the women’s game. Navratilova said the father of Venus and Serena Williams has a habit of creating controversy where none exists.

Richard Williams III, the brother of Venus and Serena, was arrested in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., on charges he tried to strangle his wife, Anna, at their home.

Williams, 35, was charged with domestic battery and released on his own recognizance after a night in jail, police said. A judge ordered Williams to stay away from his wife and children, ages 7 and 11. An April 24 hearing was set.

A judge in Hull, England, ordered a new trial for Leeds United soccer players Lee Bowyer and Jonathan Woodgate, who are accused of being involved in the severe beating of a student. The case against the players collapsed Monday while the jury was deliberating, after the judge ruled that the case had been prejudiced by a newspaper article.

The Long Beach Ice Dogs open a best-of-five first-round West Coast Hockey League playoff series against the Fresno Falcons tonight at 7 at Fresno. Game 2 is Friday, then the series moves to Long Beach for games Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 6 p.m.