The absence of head coach Terry Carroll on Saturday wasn’t the only suspicious activity surrounding the University of Denver basketball team.
Without Carroll, whom the university says “is not feeling well,” the Pioneers ended an 11-game losing streak by beating Sun Belt Conference foe Louisiana-Monroe 75-65 in the first game of a basketball-hockey doubleheader at the Ritchie Center.
DU’s win was its first since Nov. 19 against Northern Colorado. The Pioneers improved to 2-14, 1-5 Sun Belt. Louisiana-Monroe (10-7, 4-1) had a six-game win streak end and was the last remaining undefeated team in conference play.
Freshman Tyler Bullock led the Pioneers with 22 points, and seniors DaShawn Walker and Antonio Porch added 15 and 13, respectively. DU shot 52 percent from the field, including 60 percent in the second half.
“We showed toughness and stayed in there, after a lot of things have happened to us this year,” Walker said.
Carroll, who has been replaced on an interim basis by assistant Kevin Reynolds, missed his second consecutive game.
“He’s not feeling well and that’s all we’re going with right now,” junior guard Steve Wetrich said of Carroll.
Athletic director Peg Bradley-Doppes said Carroll, the 2005 Sun Belt coach of the year, has not been fired and, per university and NCAA policy, would keep Carroll’s personal matters private.
“Since Dec. 20 Terry has not been feeling well,” she said. “On Thursday he said that he expects to be back within the next two to three weeks.”
Asked if Carroll’s absence, or illness, has anything to do with DU’s lack of success, Bradley-Doppes said: “No. Terry is our coach. He’s under contract. We are all disappointed with our record, but I have complete confidence in Kevin Reynolds, and I know Terry does as well.”
Carroll, in his sixth season at DU, has had four consecutive winning seasons. He did not return phone messages.
Reynolds said Carroll remains active with decisions about the team.
“(I) talk to Coach every day, about what’s going on with the team, what’s going on with the university, and what’s going on and off the court with the fellas,” Reynolds said.
Mike Chambers can be reached at 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com.
