Tennessee’s Pearl not interested in Iowa opening

Tennessee Coach Bruce Pearl told Iowa Athletic Director Gary Barta on Tuesday that he’s not interested in becoming the Hawkeyes’ next coach.

Barta, who got permission to talk with Pearl from Tennessee Athletic Director Mike Hamilton, was told by the former Iowa assistant that he has no plans to leave Tennessee.

“This is where I want to be. I want to be here as long as they’ll be happy with me here,” Pearl said.

Steve Alford left Iowa after eight seasons to become coach at New Mexico.

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USC junior swingman Nick Young received the team MVP award during the Trojans’ award banquet at the Galen Center.

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Kevin Durant (Texas), Tyler Hansbrough (North Carolina), Acie Law IV (Texas A&M;), Greg Oden (Ohio State) and Alando Tucker (Wisconsin) were named finalists for the John R. Wooden Award.

UCLA’s Arron Affalo was named to the Wooden Award All-American team.

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Durant has been selected player of the year and Washington State’s Tony Bennett coach of the year by the U.S. Basketball Writers Assn.

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Jim Boylen was introduced as Utah’s new coach. Boylen, 41, has been an assistant at Michigan State the last two seasons. He inherits a team that went 11-17 this season but had only one senior.

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The National Invitation Tournament final on Thursday will be between Clemson and West Virginia. The Tigers defeated Air Force, 68-67, and the Mountaineers beat Mississippi State, 63-62, at New York.

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Duke has given Texas permission to speak to Gail Goestenkors about replacing Jody Conradt as the Longhorns’ women’s coach.... Jeff Walz was hired as women’s coach at Louisville.