Bucknell Coach Gets Lesson in Priorities

Bucknell Coach Pat Flannery learned this season that stress isn’t only an affliction of the big time, nor always a byproduct of losing.

His team was nearing the end of an 11-game winning streak that included an upset of Pittsburgh when he left at halftime of a Jan. 21 game and missed the next three games.

“I didn’t bail on my players. I hit a wall,” said Flannery, whose 14th-seeded Bison play No. 3 Kansas in a first-round NCAA tournament game tonight.

Flannery said he sought counseling that helped him return. “I wasn’t communicating with my family and kids,” he said.

“Basketball is not who I am. It’s what I do. That’s what I found out,” he said.

-- Robyn Norwood

*

Fresno State Coach Ray Lopes resigned after a school investigation determined that he violated an NCAA rule about telephone calls to recruits.

Lopes was hired in 2002 to replace Jerry Tarkanian, whose seven-year run as coach put the Bulldogs on four years’ probation by the NCAA for violations including academic fraud.

Interim Athletic Director Paul Oliaro said Lopes had been cooperative but said he couldn’t comment on the details of the infraction because an investigation is continuing.

Lopes was 50-37 in his three years with the Bulldogs, winning the Western Athletic Conference title his first year. Fresno State finished 16-14 this season and did not qualify for postseason play.

*

Connecticut point guard Marcus Williams banged his left elbow in practice, but the injury isn’t expected to keep him out of today’s first-round game against Central Florida.

It was believed to be a minor injury, but any problem for Williams could be a big one for second-seeded Connecticut because his backup, Antonio Kellogg was suspended this week for violating team rules. Ryan Thompson, a 6-foot-6 forward, will play backup.

*

Ike Diogu scored 29 points in a losing effort as Arizona State (18-14) lost to Nevada Las Vegas (17-13), 83-72, in a first-round National Invitation Tournament game at Las Vegas. Ricky Morgan led the Runnin’ Rebels with 21 points.... Syracuse guard Billy Edelin did not accompany the team to Worcester, Mass., for its first-round game against Vermont. Coach Jim Boeheim acknowledged that Edelin did not make the trip but would not elaborate on his absence.... Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski is one win away from tying Dean Smith for the most victories in NCAA tournament history with 65.