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Roundup: UCLA to appeal NCAA penalties of Rush

Feb. 1, 2000
SportsLine wire reports

LOS ANGELES -- UCLA announced Tuesday it plans to appeal the NCAA penalties imposed on sophomore forward JaRon Rush, who was been suspended a total of 44 games for taking money from a sports agent and AAU coach.

 
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The NCAA informed UCLA Tuesday that Rush would be suspended through the first 17 games of the 2000-01 season. He has already missed the Bruins' last 15 games as part of a school self-imposed suspension and must repay the $200 he received from a sports agent during the 1998-99 academic year.

In addition to missing the final 12 games of this season, Rush must repay $6,125 for the value of benefits he allegedly received from an AAU coach. The last 27 games of the suspension were handed down Tuesday as the second part of Rush's punishment.

"Given the facts of the case as we know them, we will appeal the second penalty on JaRon's behalf," said UCLA athletic director Peter Dalis.

The 6-foot-7, 207-pound Rush was fourth on the Bruins in scoring with 11.3 points per game when he was suspended on Dec. 10.

A native of Kansas City, Mo., Rush started 22 games as a freshman last season, averaging 11.4 points and a team-leading 7.4 rebounds. He scored a career-high 23 points in a 93-69 victory over Syracuse on Feb. 21.

Tillette gets extension

DURHAM, N.C. -- Jimmy Tillette, who guided Samford to its first NCAA Tournament appearance last season, was rewarded with a seven-year contract extension that will keep him at the school through the 2007 season.

Tillette, 49, has compiled a 50-27 record in two-plus seasons at the helm of the Bulldogs, who captured both the Trans America Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament titles in 1999 before losing to St. John's in the NCAA Tournament.

"Coach Tillette and his associates have exceeded our expectations," Samford president Thomas E. Corts said. "We are pleased to affirm his hard work and dedication to the Samford cause. We like him, his style, and his success."

Samford is currently 12-8 and in fourth place of the TAAC with eight regular-season games remaining before the league tournament.

"I am extremely excited about this opportunity to extend my relationship with Samford and am very appreciative to Dr. Corts and (athletic director) Bob Roller for both their confidence and their commitment" Tillette said.

Tillette has been at Samford since 1991. He was an assistant head coach for the Bulldogs for six seasons before taking over the program in the Spring 1997 and has also been an assistant at Mississippi State (1989-1990) and Tulane (1990-91).


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