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New Mexico taps UC San Diego's Eric Olen to replace Richard Pitino

New Mexico taps UC San Diego's Eric Olen to replace Richard Pitino

Yahoo30-03-2025

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico hired UC San Diego's Eric Olen on Sunday as its next basketball coach.
Olen will replace Richard Pitino, who left to become Xavier's coach on Tuesday.
'Eric is a proven winner with an incredible track record,' New Mexico athletic director Fernando Lovo said in a statement. 'Beyond the accolades and success on the court, he is a values-driven leader who puts student-athletes first. We're confident he'll bring tremendous energy and vision to our program.'
Olen spent 21 years at San Diego, the last 12 as head coach, and guided the Tritons through their transition from Division II to Division I. San Diego qualified for the NCAA Tournament this season in its first year of eligibility after winning the Big West Conference regular-season and tournament titles. The Tritons lost to Michigan 68-65 in the first round.
Olen is the school's all-time leader in wins at 240-119.
He takes over a Lobos program that reached the NCAA Tournament the past two seasons. New Mexico won its opening game over Marquette before losing to Michigan State.
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Dodger Details: Ben Casparius' new role, star check-ins and Hyeseong Kim vs. lefties
Dodger Details: Ben Casparius' new role, star check-ins and Hyeseong Kim vs. lefties

New York Times

time2 hours ago

  • New York Times

Dodger Details: Ben Casparius' new role, star check-ins and Hyeseong Kim vs. lefties

SAN DIEGO — Ben Casparius has had to learn to keep things fluid. He'd never been through a reliever's routine until this spring training, but made his first Opening Day roster with the Los Angeles Dodgers as the team's long man. He's become the team's most valuable arm not named Yoshinobu Yamamoto ever since. The rookie has soaked up innings, ranking third on the team in innings pitched (40) despite starting just one game. He's pitched in high-leverage situations, too. Advertisement On Wednesday, he started for the second time. He might have to get used to it. He's occupied a hybrid role out of necessity, and now the Dodgers' glut of starting pitcher injuries might require him to join the rotation. Casparius threw four innings and allowed just one run against the San Diego Padres after originally being scheduled for three innings — something Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the right-hander fought for. He wasn't particularly sharp, allowing three straight hits and walking in a run in the second inning. It took a 99 mph bullet from outfielder Andy Pages to keep another run from scoring. Still, he managed to give the Dodgers a solid effort. His stuff held over multiple innings, and he topped out at 98.8 mph on his fastball. If Wednesday is any indication, this experiment has legs. Roberts said Casparius' next outing will be a start. 'Where we are at now currently, he's certainly showing that he's 1 of 5,' Roberts said. Is that what Casparius would like, long-term? He didn't hesitate to say yes. 'Obviously, I've been doing it for the majority of my professional career, so it's something I'm comfortable with routine-wise,' Casparius said. 'I'm just looking forward to what's going on and what's coming up next.' There are multiple factors at play. For one, Kirby Yates and Michael Kopech are back, giving the Dodgers other right-handed leverage options in the pen. Several of the Dodgers' depth starters have bombed out, such as Landon Knack, Bobby Miller and Justin Wrobleski (who was originally scheduled to start Wednesday's game). Tony Gonsolin's elbow discomfort opened up another spot for a starter. 'He's in for whatever is asked of him,' Roberts said. That can still change. The Dodgers have an off day on Thursday, which could allow them to reshuffle their rotation. Emmet Sheehan is progressing enough on his rehab assignment that Roberts suggested this week he could enter the conversation as soon as after his next outing. The Dodgers saw moving Mookie Betts to shortstop as a surplus value proposition. His bat is elite. If his glove could be just average, it would be a massive win in terms of producing value while making the rest of the pieces fit on the roster. Betts has produced. Entering Wednesday, he ranked seventh among qualified shortstops in Wins Above Replacement, according to FanGraphs. 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Teoscar Hernández hits a 3-run homer and the Dodgers beat the Padres 5-2 to win the series
Teoscar Hernández hits a 3-run homer and the Dodgers beat the Padres 5-2 to win the series

Associated Press

time3 hours ago

  • Associated Press

Teoscar Hernández hits a 3-run homer and the Dodgers beat the Padres 5-2 to win the series

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Bill Walton's Auction Is A Long, Strange Trip Through His Life
Bill Walton's Auction Is A Long, Strange Trip Through His Life

Forbes

time3 hours ago

  • Forbes

Bill Walton's Auction Is A Long, Strange Trip Through His Life

Former basketball player and sportscaster Bill Walton, who passed away last year, gestures after ... More throwing the first pitch at a San Diego Padres game in 2019. The Walton family is auctioning his possessions and donating a portion of the funds to the UC San Diego Health Center. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez, File) The auction of Bill Walton's personal memorabilia is nearing its end and in the words of the basketball great, if you have a bid, throw it down. Artifacts from Walton's days as one of the game's all-time best players, mementos from his road to greatness and, of course, treats from his long, strange trip following the Grateful Dead, are among the nearly 300 items being presented by Hunt Auctions. Walton, who won two titles in the NBA and at UCLA, passed away last year after a battle with cancer. Bill Walton (5) of the Boston Celtics goes up to block the shot of Paul Pressey (25) of the ... More Milwaukee Bucks during an 1986 game. Walton won the NBA title that season with the Celtics. (Photo by Focus) "On behalf of the entire Walton family, I would like to express our deepest gratitude to Hunt Auctions for its meticulous care in organizing Bill's possessions,'' said Lori Walton, his widow. The treasure drove of Walton items is just that. Everything from the first rim he aimed for at his La Mesa, Calif., home to his Helix High School letterman's jacket. Many items from Bill Walton's run to the NBA title with the Portland Trail Blazers, are available ... More through his auction of personal items. From his UCLA stint as the leader of the Walton Gang, there are his NCAA champion rings, watches, awards, game-worn jerseys and shoes. Walton also won NBA championships with the Portland Trail Blazers and the Boston Celtics and both of those title runs are well-represented. Among the momentos are his uniforms, signed basketballs and even the Wallace Park shirt Walton made famous when wearing it during the Trail Blazers' 1977 championship parade. Walton, a prolific reader and letter-writer, has signed replies and notes from the likes of John Wooden, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bob Cousy and Rick Barry. Music was among the things Walton embraced with the same zest as he did sports and literture. A son of a trumpet player, Walton's love of the Grateful Dead, and others, is found with his various souvenirs. Bill Walton attends the Grateful Dead concert at California State University at Dominguez Hills in ... More 1990 in Carson, Calif. (Photo by) Bids are open on the iconic Father Time outfits he wore at the Grateful Dead's New Year Eve's shows, his collection of tie-dyed T-shirts, a framed collage collection of backstage passes, jackets, signed photos, posters and two custom-made, Grateful Dead-theme bikes. Other groups that Walton obtained autographed items from include Fleetwood Mac, Chicago and Pearl Jam. Among the auction's benefactors is the University of California San Diego Health Center. It was there that Walton had an operation that allowed him to regain his mobility. 'In 2008, Bill underwent life-saving back surgery at UC San Diego Health, and he credits his surgeon, Dr. Steven Garfin, for his remarkable recovery,'' Lori Walton said. "In honor of Dr. Garfin, we are donating a portion of the auction proceeds to UC San Diego Health.'' Bids remain open through Thursday at 'The items in the auction held immense sentimental value for Bill,'' Lori Walton said. 'We are hopeful that they find loving homes where they will be cherished just as much as Bill did.

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