College Basketball
RICHMOND, Va. – Rice coach Mike Rhoades is returning to VCU to become the Rams’ head coach.
The 44-year-old Rhoades spent five years as an assistant to Shaka Smart at VCU. He replaces Will Wade, who resigned Monday night to take the same position at LSU.
VCU has not officially announced the hire, but scheduled a news conference for Wednesday to introduce its new men’s coach.
Rhoades had a 47-52 record in three seasons with the Owls. After taking over a team that went 7-23 in 2014, he led them to consecutive 12-20 seasons before this year’s team finished 23-12 and played in the CBI Tournament.
Cycling
BANYOLES, Spain – Alejandro Valverde took the overall lead in the Tour of Catalonia on Tuesday after fellow Movistar rider Jose Joaquin Rojas was penalized for helping teammates during the team time trial.
Movistar set the best time in the 25-mile time trial, but judges later said Rojas was among the team’s riders who pushed each other during the Tour’s second stage and gave him a three-minute penalty. Two other riders also were penalized.
Movistar dominated the time trial, finishing two seconds ahead of BMC Racing Team.
Tour de France winner Chris Froome finished 46 seconds off the lead with Team Sky. Froome is 18th in the overall standings.
NBA
CHICAGO – Jerry Krause, the Chicago Bulls’ general manager during their 1990s dynasty that saw them capture six NBA championships with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen leading the way, has died. He was 77.
A Chicago native, Krause took over as GM in 1985 and was responsible for surrounding Jordan with the pieces that would propel the team to two championship three-peats in the 1990s. He also hired Phil Jackson from the Continental Basketball Association as an assistant to Doug Collins and fired Collins in favor of Jackson following a run to the Eastern Conference finals in 1989.
He acquired Pippen in a 1987 draft-day trade and also selected Horace Grant – two key pieces of the powerhouse teams led by Jordan.
NFL
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Panthers quarterback Cam Newton’s offseason “sabbatical” is going to be a little longer than expected.
Newton will undergo surgery March 30 to repair a partially torn rotator cuff in his right throwing shoulder, according to team spokesman Steve Drummond. Drummond said Tuesday that Newton will miss minicamp and OTAs, but is expected to be ready for the start of training camp in late July.
The 27-year-old Newton injured his shoulder in Week 14 of last season against the San Diego Chargers. He finished the game – and the season – for Carolina without missing a snap. The Panthers hoped rest and rehabilitation would solve the problem, but ultimately it was determined the 2015 NFL Most Valuable Player needed surgery.
METAIRIE, La. – A person familiar with the situation says NFL veteran linebacker Manti Te’o has agreed sign a two-year contract with the New Orleans Saints.
Te’o, a former Notre Dame star, has played 38 games during four NFL seasons, all with San Diego, where he’s made 221 solo or assisted tackles, including 1½ sacks. He has two career interceptions.
Associated Press
