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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Friday / November 22.
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    • Arizona, Coaching moves

    An era at Arizona ended Thursday when Lute Olson announced he will step down as head coach of the basketball team

    “This was not a decision that was made lightly,” Olson said. “I’ve had a wonderful run at The University of Arizona. I leave with a great sense of pride in what we have accomplished here.”

    “At this stage in my life, I want to devote my time to my children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, family and friends. I look forward to watching Wildcat basketball and visiting with my colleagues in the coaching profession. It is time to pass the program on to a younger staff, to transition the university to the next generation of basketball.”

    “To my family, all of the players who have put on our uniform, our fans in Tucson and all of the great supporters of this basketball program, I offer my heartfelt thanks for your support, and I look forward to reconnecting with each of you,” Olson said. “The University of Arizona will always be a basketball school. It will continue to flourish.”

    Associate head coach Mike Dunlap will take over on an interim basis and Arizona will conduct a national search for Olson’s replacement immediately. Olson did not coach last year, citing personal reasons.

    Syracuse

    Speculation has run rampant for months that Syracuse officials were looking to fire Greg Robinson and hire a new football coach.

    Now comes the breaking news by Pete Thamel of The New York Times that the school has hired a search firm to find a suitable replacement for Robinson, who is 8-34 overall and 2-22 in the Big East in three-plus seasons. Syracuse is currently 1-6 overall and, at 0-3 in the Big East, is one of only two winless teams in the conference.

    The story in Thursday’s editions says Syracuse hired Chuck Neinas, a veteran consultant and former Big Eight Conference Commissioner, to seek a new coach and that UConn coach Randy Edsall has been contacted. Edsall played QB at Syracuse and was later an assistant coach who was passed over for the head job when Paul Pasqualoni was hired in 1990. Edsall recently signed an extension at UConn through 2013.

    High Schools, Kansas, Memphis

    Xavier Henry, one of the top basketball players in the Class of 2009, was involved in a car crash Wednesday afternoon in Oklahoma City that resulted in a fractured cheek bone and will require him to wear a face mask.

    Carl Henry told Gary Parish of CBSSports.com that his son “was feeling OK” but suffered a fractured cheek bone that will keep him sidelined for at least two weeks. The father added that Xavier will have surgery on his face when the swelling goes down and he will then be fitted for a protective mask.

    “He will have to play with the face mask,” Carl said.

    Another source told me Henry suffered a “concussion.”

    “Anytime you hear about something like this it’s alarming,” Putnam City coach A.D. Burtschi told The Oklahoman. “We’re concerned for him as a person right now.”

    Dominic Cheek, High Schools, Kansas, Lance Stephenson, Memphis, Sonny Vaccaro, St. John's, UCLA, USC, Villanova

    Lance Stephenson could face disciplinary action from Lincoln High School as a result of his recent arrest.

    The 6-foot-5, 200-pound Stephenson was arrested earlier this month and charged with a Class B misdemeanor for allegedly groping a 17-year-old girl on school grounds.

    “Disciplinary action is pending the police investigation,” Margie Feinberg, a Department of Education spokesman, said Tuesday by phone. “We are working with the police. There is no timeframe.”

    Stephenson denied the charges through his attorney, Alberto Ebanks.

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