COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri coach Mike Anderson’s agent said he is negotiating a new contract with the school amid reports Arkansas is trying to lure Anderson away.
“We’ve been in discussion with them for several weeks now,” Jimmy Sexton said Tuesday.
Sexton added that while “nothing is imminent” he expects “some resolution . . . in the next few days.”
Sexton’s comments came as University of Missouri curators, who must approve any changes to Anderson’s existing seven-year, $10.85 million deal, met for a second day in Rolla, Mo.
Anderson, who was hired by Missouri in 2006 after four years at Alabama- Birmingham, led Missouri to a 23-11 record and its third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance — albeit with a first-game NCAA defeat. Anderson spent 17 years as an assistant under Nolan Richardson and helped his mentor win the 1994 national championship.
Arkansas fired John Pelphrey as its coach March 13. Pelphrey was 69-59 in four seasons with the Razorbacks.
Cooley replaces Davis at Providence
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Providence hired former Fairfield coach Ed Cooley to replace the fired Keno Davis.
Cooley, who led the Stags to a school-record 25 wins and a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference regular-season championship this season, coached his final game at Fairfield on Sunday, a 72-68 loss to Kent State in the second round of the NIT.
Cooley, the coach of the year in the MAAC this season, went 92-69 in his five seasons with the Stags.
Davis was fired two weeks ago, after three seasons. He had coached just one season previous to that post, at Drake. Providence went 15-17 this season, and just 4-14 in the Big East.
Footnotes.
Wyoming athletics director Tom Burman said he hopes to hire a replacement for coach Heath Schroyer within the next 10 days. Burman did not name possible suitors for the position that opened Feb. 7 with Schroyer’s firing.
• Duke point guard Kyrie Irving, who’s returning from a toe injury that cost him most of his freshman season, will play “significant minutes” in Thursday night’s West regional semifinal against Arizona, Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski said.
• Washington State post player DeAngelo Casto has been suspended indefinitely for an undisclosed violation of team rules and will miss tonight’s NIT quarterfinal against Northwestern.
• Sophomore guards Ramon Galloway and Stephen Spinella announced they won’t return to South Carolina.
• Wake Forest granted forward Ari Stewart his release from the basketball program. The sophomore averaged 8.5 points and 4.4 rebounds in 30 games.
Denver Post wire services
