AKRON, Ohio -- News and notes from the LeBron Skills Academy in Akron, Ohio:
• If you want to know why Buzz Williams would leave New Orleans after just one season to become an assistant at Marquette, you're not alone. But the reasons apparently are endless.
According to a source close to the situation, Williams was offered a contract extension 48 hours before he resigned last week. But his concerns were limitless, such as electricity going out during a basketball camp; the promise that Lakefront Arena would be done soon, but maybe not for another year (the Privateers played at the Human Performance Center on campus last season); and assistants and a secretary having payment issues. Overall, Williams was concerned about the future of his career at UNO and, with three young children, looked for a safe haven. He found one with Tom Crean at Marquette. Williams was in Akron on Sunday wearing his light blue Marquette golf shirt.
• Kansas coach Bill Self is still confident that Brandon Rush can return to play in games by Dec. 1 after having ACL surgery. He's hoping to have him practicing by Nov. 1.
As for Darrell Arthur's stress fracture in his left leg suffered during practices for the Under-19 USA team, Self said Arthur should be just fine by the fall, with a four- to six-week timetable on his return.
• Texas coach Rick Barnes said there is no update on
Gary Johnson's condition. Johnson reportedly has a heart condition that is preventing him from playing, and the star recruit is being held from any physical activity while tests are being conducted.
• Stop the Syracuse schedule criticism! The Orange will play a nonconference road game. We teased this in the spring, and now it's official as Dave Leitao of Virginia got Syracuse to start the season at Virginia next season. Leitao also said the Cavs put off a return game to Stanford until 2008 because of road games at Arizona and Xavier.
• Wisconsin's Brian Butch is expected to make a hard push later this week to be on the Pan Am Games team. Trials begin Thursday at Haverford College in Pennsylvania. Virginia's Sean Singletary and Marquette's Dominic James were late additions to the Pan Am tryouts Monday. Their status was in limbo because the tryout rosters had to be set weeks ago, which was before both withdrew from the NBA draft.
• Wisconsin assistant Gary Close is raving about the star potential of 6-1 sophomore guard Trevon Hughes, who Close said is going to be a big-time talent for the Badgers. With plenty of bigs on the team -- Hughes, Marcus Landry, Michael Flowers and sharpshooter Jason Bohannon -- don't sleep on the Badgers. Close is confident they'll be a factor in the Big Ten. Wisconsin has four big-time games in the fall, going to Duke in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, playing at Texas, and hosting Marquette and Georgia.
• Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl agreed to play Gonzaga in the Battle in Seattle on Dec. 29. The Zags will return the game to Knoxville. Gonzaga has been trying to get a marquee opponent for months and thought it had Georgetown before the Hoyas locked on to a series with Memphis. The Vols now have one of the toughest road schedules among top-10 teams. They will play at Gonzaga, Memphis, Xavier and (a dangerous road game at) Chattanooga and will face Western Kentucky in Nashville.
Andy Katz
