Truth & Rumors > NCAA

07:17 AM ET 05.20 | If it were up to Todd Monken, Wes Lunt would have stayed put. And that was well before Friday's news that Monken's new school is one of many -- along with all schools from the Big 12, Pac-12, SEC and Central Michigan -- that Oklahoma State is blocking as potential destinations for the for the former Cowboys quarterback. Instead, Monken said, he tried to steer Lunt back to Stillwater once learning of his decision to leave the Cowboys. ... Monken said he hasn't talked to Lunt, and despite all the natural connecting of dots linking the two, didn't foresee a good match. Still, according to sources, Lunt asked for a release to five schools: Southern Miss, Illinois, Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Louisville.

The Oklahoman

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07:17 AM ET 05.20 | Through it all, Rick Barnes remains an optimist. [The] longtime Texas basketball coach vehemently promises his 15-year program is not falling into disarray as it might appear from the outside. For everyone else, seeing will be believing. There's evidence to suggest Barnes is losing his grip on his program. However, he vows that perception is mistaken, despite his first losing record at Texas, six absences from the Sweet 16 in the past seven seasons and major defections by everybody but the ballboy. To be honest, I'm not sure if Barnes is properly defiant or just delusional. But that doesn't stop him from saying, "With the guys coming in, I think we're pretty good."

Austin American-Statesman

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07:16 AM ET 05.20 | Look out, NCAA. At his Saturday night induction into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, Alabama coach Nick Saban got a little sentimental about the real value in the things that are involved in success at his level. "Tonight, all those things seem to me worthwhile," he said in his acceptance speech. Saban also said that, in light of his induction into the Hall, he would become recommitted to the work he does. "In the future, I'm going to be more committed in order to justify the honor you've given to me tonight," he said. ... "As a kid, I wanted to achieve something of significance," he recalled. "Dad made me want to be a coach. My Mom, who is here tonight, taught me more than anything that people will always remember how you made them feel."

Al.com

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07:15 AM ET 05.20 | Times are a' changin' in the Big Ten, where new teams are in and salaries are up -- way up. Michigan State upped its investment a year ago, Minnesota and Purdue have now done the same, Ohio State continues to lead the way and Michigan still has the highest-paid member of an increasingly prosperous Big Ten club -- football assistant coaches. ... As a football staff, MSU is receiving $93,775 more in base salary in 2013 than in 2012, but it has dropped from fourth to sixth in the league among the 10 schools that must report, according to salary information obtained by the Free Press. ... Combined, those 10 schools are investing $1.72 million more this year in football assistant coaches.

Detroit Free Press

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07:15 AM ET 05.20 | For the better part of two months, change has been the operative word at Arizona. [The Wildcats] have made 10 player personnel moves, lost an associate head coach and hired a former star as an assistant head coach. Oh yeah, there was that Pac-12 officials controversy, too. ... [On Friday, Sean Miller] talked a lot about roster management, saying the Wildcats won't necessarily fill all 13 scholarship spots available next season. UA's talent began spilling over this spring in the form of departures by Grant Jerrett (pro basketball) and Angelo Chol (San Diego State). "Just because you have the number 13, I don't know if that's as important as it once was," Miller said.

Arizona Daily Star

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