June 12, 2007

PACIFIC
Basketball tourney in works

By Jason Anderson

The Big West Conference and ESPN are negotiating the management contract for a new men's basketball tournament that will be held Thanksgiving weekend at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Big West commissioner Dennis Farrell said the Big West is meeting with ESPN representatives this week, and an announcement could be coming soon. Farrell said the Big West would manage the event, and in return the conference will be guaranteed a position in the tournament each year. Farrell said the eight-team tournament will include one team from the Pacific-10, Western Athletic and West Coast conferences and additional teams from other conferences such as the Southeastern and Big Ten.

The inaugural event is set for November. Farrell said USC will represent the Pac-10, likely making the tournament the national coming-out party for prized recruit O.J. Mayo, and UC Irvine will represent the Big West, followed in subsequent years by Cal State Fullerton and Long Beach State.

"The first three years, (ESPN) would like the three local schools to participate to help get it off the ground from a local publicity and crowd standpoint," Farrell said. "It's a real exciting possibility for our schools to participate in an event like that in their own backyard."

Contract talks

Pacific baseball coach Ed Sprague said he is close to signing a contract extension.

"We're talking," Sprague said. "I expect something within the next three weeks."

Sprague recently completed his fourth season at Pacific. The Stockton native guided the Tigers to consecutive 30-win seasons for the first time in 2005 and 2006 before a rash of injuries and player dismissals led to a 16-43 record this season.

In spite of this season's struggles, athletic director Lynn King has said the school hopes to retain Sprague, who said he and King have yet to discuss potential sticking points, which could include funding and compensation for assistant coaches.

"It hasn't really gotten to that yet," Sprague said. "Whatever it is, I feel confident it will be worked out."

Three Pacific baseball recruits were drafted last week.

The Oakland A's selected Nick Longmire, an outfielder from Grossmont High School in La Mesa, in the 37th round. The Florida Marlins selected Tyler Waldron, a right-handed pitcher from Golden Sierra High in Garden Valley, in the 38th round. The Boston Red Sox selected Ryan Fischer, a right-handed pitcher from Lodi High, in the 40th round.

Players must sign by Aug. 15 under baseball's new collective bargaining agreement, but Sprague expects all three to enroll in school.