Coach expects Beasley to leave

Michael Beasley is still grappling with a decision, but his coach expects the Kansas State star freshman to head into the NBA draft.

Frank Martin said in an interview with the Associated Press and the Manhattan Mercury on Tuesday that he believes the 6-foot-10 power forward, even though he loves college life, will probably opt to turn pro.

“I think he’s going to go, and I think it’s the right thing to do, because he’s going to be the top pick in the draft,” Martin said.

Kevin Durant, who set freshman records last year with Texas and was the second overall player taken in the draft, is now worth about $100 million counting salary and endorsement money, Martin said.

“How do you say no to that? How can I sit here and tell that young man that’s he’s wrong to go with that?” the first-year coach said.

Beasley averaged 26.2 points and 12.4 rebounds and led the Wildcats to the second round of the NCAA tournament.

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Tennessee guard Chris Lofton has a minor leg injury but is expected to play Thursday against Louisville in the NCAA tournament.

Lofton, the Volunteers’ leading scorer at 15.5 points a game, was at practice Tuesday but limited his activity to shooting free throws and riding an exercise bicycle.

“It was just an opportunity to give it another day’s rest from a precautionary standpoint,” Coach Bruce Pearl said. “The ankle, the heel, the Achilles’ -- it’s all pretty sore. We absolutely anticipate him playing. If we had a game tonight, he would play.”

Lofton hurt his ankle in the first half of Tennessee’s 76-71 overtime win against Butler in the second round.

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James Madison has hired Matt Brady as its coach. Brady coached at Marist the last four seasons and led the Red Foxes to an 18-14 record this season. He replaces Dean Keener, who resigned last month after going 31-85 in four seasons.

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Television ratings for the NCAA tournament on CBS declined 9% from last year.

After four days and 15 telecasts, the games averaged a 4.8 rating and an 11 share in the fast national television ratings, the network said. The tournament had a 5.3 rating and 12 share over the same period in 2007. CBS attributed the drop to the Easter weekend.

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Vanguard University of Costa Mesa became the first team west of Oklahoma to win the NAIA women’s Division I tournament title, beating Trevecca Nazarene of Tennessee, 72-59, in Jackson, Tenn.

Jessica Richter scored 12 points to lead the second-seeded Lions (29-5).

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In the NIT, Florida got 18 points from Walter Hodge to defeat host Arizona State, 70-57, and advance to a semifinal matchup with Massachusetts next Tuesday in New York.

Massachusetts rallied from 17 points down in the final eight minutes to defeat host Syracuse, 81-77.