Weekend Watch: Jan. 13-15

Our writers and contributors preview this weekend’s best matchups and offer up what they’re most looking forward to seeing.
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Vanderbilt plunges 13 spots in coaches’ Top 25

Vanderbilt plunged 13 spots and UCLA dropped out of the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll in the first regular-season Top 25 rankings released Monday.
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Source: West Virginia’s move to Big 12 on hold

West Virginia has been notified by the Big 12 Conference that its expansion process is on hold, a school source told ESPN’s Joe Schad on Wednesday.
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Big East raises exit fee, seeks 12 football teams

As part of a comprehensive realignment plan, the Big East unanimously voted to double its exit fee to $10 million for football members and move forward toward an expansion plan that allows for 12 football-playing members.
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Report: Mizzou application to join SEC imminent

The New York Times is reporting Missouri’s decision to formally apply for membership in the Southeastern Conference is “inevitable and imminent.”
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Court affirms $1M ruling against Gophers, Smith

The Minnesota Court of Appeals has upheld a $1 million civil verdict against the University of Minnesota and men’s basketball coach Tubby Smith, denying their request for a new trial.
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St. John’s has 3 ruled ineligible for fall semester

St. John’s Jakarr Sampson, Norvel Pelle and Amir Garrett were declared ineligible for at least the fall semester.
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Big 12 schools face economic impact of shuffling

Big 12 athletic directors were given a list of schools to contact a few weeks ago once it became clear that Texas A&M would be departing the conference for membership in the SEC.
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Source: Oklahoma not near decision on Pac-12

The University of Oklahoma’s leadership is interested in a move to the Pac-12 from the Big 12, but such a move is far from a done deal, as the school’s overriding concern remains assuring a stable future for its athletic programs, a source said.
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ESPNU 100 prospects House, Knowles pick Houston

The Houston Cougars landed two of their biggest prospects since the days of Phi Slamma Jamma when five-star SF Danuel House and four-star PF Danrad “Chicken” Knowles committed to the Cougars on Sunday night.
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Five-star SG Smart commits to Oklahoma State

Five-star SG Marcus Smart and sharp-shooting SG Phil Forte committed to Oklahoma State.
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Sources: ACC debating raising buyout to leave

The ACC presidents are considering increasing the current buyout it would cost member schools to leave the conference, according to two sources close to the ACC.
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Coach K, Hurley enter Duke sports hall of fame

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski is entering yet another hall of fame.
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Source: Baylor won’t budge until OU decides

The SEC will have to drop its request for all nine remaining Big 12 members to waive their rights to sue the conference and Texas A&M if it wants to admit the Aggies immediately, according to a source — a step Baylor isn’t ready to take.
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Tennessee hires Hart from Alabama as new AD

Tennessee hired Alabama’s Dave Hart as its vice chancellor and athletic director.
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Highly touted Ledo headed to hometown Friars

New Providence coach Ed Cooley has his backcourt set for 2012-13, if the eligibility for highly-touted local talent Ricardo Ledo can be worked out.
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Drummond enrolls at Connecticut, put on roster

Star recruit Andre Drummond has enrolled at Connecticut and been added to the roster of the men’s basketball team.
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Report: Tenn. offers Alabama’s Hart job as AD

A person familiar with the situation says Tennessee has offered its open athletic director’s job to Alabama assistant athletic director Dave Hart.
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Pearl leaves coaching, signs on as marketing VP

Former Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl has decided to leave the sport and head into the private sector, saying he has joined the marketing firm H.T. Hackney Co., in Knoxville, Tenn.
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SDSU gives Fisher four-year contract extension

San Diego State coach Steve Fisher has received a four-year contract extension and long-time assistant Brian Dutcher has been designated as his eventual replacement.
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Source: SDSU coach Fisher agrees to extension

Steve Fisher has agreed to a four-year extension with the Aztecs, a source with direct knowledge of the situation told ESPN.com Sunday night.
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BYU reinstates honor code-violating F Davies

BYU junior forward Brandon Davies has been reinstated to the team after being issued a season-ending suspension last year due to a violation of the school’s honor code.
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Mississippi State dismisses freshman Gardner

Mississippi State freshman D.J. Gardner has been dismissed by coach Rick Stansbury for “repeated actions deemed detrimental to the team.”
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Pearl knows NCAA is using him as an example

Bruce Pearl says he knows he is serving as the NCAA’s example to other coaches of what not to do when facing investigation.
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Pearl, former staffers absorb NCAA punishment

Former Tennessee men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl received a three-year show-cause penalty, his three former assistants all received one-year shows and the university was charged with failure to monitor the program Wednesday.
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Source: Ex-Vols coaches absorb NCAA penalties

Former Tennessee men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl received a three-year show-cause penalty, his three former assistants all received one-year shows and the university was charged with failure to monitor the program, a source said.
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Sources: Pearl will receive show-cause penalty

Former Tennessee men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl will receive a multiple-year show-cause penalty from the NCAA’s committee on infractions.
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Sources: Pearl to receive show-cause penalty

Former Tennessee men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl will receive a multiple-year show-cause penalty from the NCAA’s committee on infractions.
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Lakers’ Walton to Memphis bench during lockout

Los Angeles Lakers forward Luke Walton is about to land a job during the NBA lockout as a college assistant coach for the Memphis Tigers.
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Penn State lands Southern Miss transfer Newbill

New Penn State coach Patrick Chambers has picked up his first major player in Happy Valley, with former Southern Mississippi guard D.J. Newbill deciding to transfer to the Nittany Lions.
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Georgetown coach says brawl ‘is behind us’

Georgetown coach John Thompson III said he has made peace with the coach of a Chinese basketball team over a bench-clearing brawl and denies the melee carried any political connotations.
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Missouri: No red flags in hiring Haith from Miami

The University of Missouri intends to wait for the results of an NCAA investigation into pay-for-play allegations and other possible rules violations at Miami before making any decisions about the future of new men’s basketball coach Frank Haith, the scho
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Brawl ends Georgetown, Chinese team game

Georgetown’s tour through China turned ugly on Thursday when a game between the Hoyas and the Bayi Rockets, a Chinese professional team, ended in a bench-clearing brawl.
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Miami investigation follows Haith to Missouri

Frank Haith was not Missouri’s first choice as men’s basketball coach. Now, the school has to live with the potential fallout.
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King of ‘Fab Five’ in court on child support claim

University of Michigan “Fab Five” member and ex-Toronto Raptors player Jimmy King said he is working with authorities to resolve a child support claim after being arrested earlier this month. The state says he failed to pay $17,000.
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Texas A&M prez eyes ‘lengthy’ decision process

Stay or go? Texas A&M plans to take a while before making a decision on its conference affiliation.
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Texas A&M president says Big 12 still an option

Texas A&M President R. Bowen Loftin says there is still a chance the Aggies will stay in the Big 12.
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Texas legislative hearing over A&M postponed

A state congressional hearing in the Texas House related to the possible departure of Texas A&M to the SEC that was set for Tuesday has been postponed a day after the conference said it was content with 12 teams.
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A&M intends to join SEC, school official says

Texas A&M intends to move from the Big 12 to the Southeastern Conference, where they hope to begin play in 2012, school officials have said.
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Texas A&M board of regents calls meeting

The Texas A&M System board of regents has called a special meeting Monday that includes an agenda item about conference alignment. The session comes amid speculation that Texas A&M is leaving the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference.
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Texas A&M board of regents calls special meeting

The Texas A&M System board of regents has called a special meeting Monday that includes an agenda item about conference alignment. The session comes amid speculation that Texas A&M is leaving the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference.
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SNB LATEST NEWS UPDATES

• Chargers’ Turner: TE Antonio Gates is ‘back’ physically
• Jets, Quinton Coples agree to four-year deal
• Claiborne gunning for mid-June return in Dallas
• Appeals in Saints’ ‘bounty’ case to be heard
• Saints’ Vilma: What will haters say when I win appeal?
• Will the Saints embrace ‘Us against them’ mentality?
• Cowboys, Raiders, Tebow fans rated ‘most delusional’
• Jonathan Vilma sues Roger Goodell for ‘false’ statements
• Ed Reed quickly backs off initial hint at retirement
• Wes Welker says contract talks are getting worse
• No charges for Brandon Marshall in New York nightclub incident
• Ahman Green plots NFL return at age 35
• Saints’ Vilma files defamation suit vs. Goodell
• Bucks forward Jon Brockman loves wearing adult onesies (Ball Don’t Lie)
• Cavaliers’ Irving named NBA’s rookie of the year (Reuters)
• Kevin Durant rallies Thunder by Lakers with defense and a clutch shot (Yahoo! Sports)
• Paul Pierce says there is ‘nothing wrong’ with his knee, but it sure doesn’t look that way (Ball Don’t Lie)
• Coaches, owners have new voice in suggesting changes (AFP)
• Can the Chicago Bears Stay Healthy? Fan’s Look (Yahoo! Contributor Network)
• Paul Pierce dunks early, attacks often to set pace in Celtics’ Game 3 win (VIDEOS) (Ball Don’t Lie)
• The New York Knicks? Gone till November (Ball Don’t Lie)
• Colangelo thankful for more time to pick US Olympians (AFP)
• AP Source: Bobcats interviewing Ewing Thursday (The Associated Press)
• Report: Bobcats to interview Ewing (The SportsXchange)
• Harrington undergoes surgery on right knee (The Associated Press)
• NBA players set to lead Brazil’s Olympic team (The Associated Press)
• Mavericks Keep Title Hopes Alive with Rick Carlisle Signing: Fan’s Take (Yahoo! Contributor Network)
• NBA appoints new Competition Committee (The Associated Press)
• Kobe Bryant’s late mistakes doom Lakers in their Game 2 loss to Thunder (Yahoo! Sports)
• The Spurs’ 15-game winning streak: A look inside the numbers (Ball Don’t Lie)
• James Harden elbows Metta World Peace in the face on the sneak tip (VIDEO) (Ball Don’t Lie)
• Andrew Bynum after 9-0 Thunder run beats Lakers: ‘We’re better than Santa Claus’ (Ball Don’t Lie)
• Lakers Blow Golden Opportunity: Fan Reaction (Yahoo! Contributor Network)
• Did Panthers find their Superman on defense?
• Kuchar suggests shot clock to curb slow play
• Jays’ Lawrie banned 4 games; plans to appeal
• Devils rebound, edge Rangers to tie series at 1
• Boston Celtics Finally Come Together on Offense and Take Series Lead Against 76ers: A Fan’s Reaction (Yahoo! Contributor Network)
• Titans’ Kenny Britt to undergo knee surgery
• With weight off, Josh Freeman still carries heavy expectations
• Fullback Owen Schmitt signs with Oakland Raiders
• Fullback Ovie Mughelli to visit with Miami Dolphins
• Matthew Stafford says Lions better in 2012
• Stephon Gilmore signs with Bills
• Injured McClure to miss second race
• Coach Rick Carlisle agrees to new deal with Mavs (The Associated Press)
• Pressure is on Matt Cassel to lead Chiefs back to playoffs
• Elway: Hillman brings Sproles-like threat to Broncos
• Report: Browns think Phil Taylor will return in 2012
• Thunder rally late to edge Lakers, lead 2-0