[text-box]Lorenzo Charles, best known as the man who put in the buzzer beating dunk that took down the “Phi Slamma Jamma” Houston team in the 1983 NCAA tournament championship, died yesterday in a bus accident. Charles was driving an empty bus for Elite Coach crashed along Interstate 40 in Raleigh, North Carolina. No other cars where involved in the accident.

NC State hero Charles killed in bus wreck (AP)[/text-box]

Remember that recording that St. Augustine police secretly took of Cody Larson and Erik Murphy basically admitting their crimes? The recordings that made you say to yourself, “man they are screwed.”? Yeah, that recording.

Well wouldn’t you know it, they are not screwed. In fact, even with a recording that screams felony, their charges have been reduced to misdemeanors. And the charges for team manager Joshua Adel have been dropped all together.

Charges against Florida basketball players Cody Larson and Erik Murphy have been reduced and dropped against manager Joshua Adel after their arrests last month in St. Augustine.

After reviewing the case, the state’s attorney in St. Johns County reduced their charges to misdemeanor trespassing.

“When we were talking to the victim of the crime and looking at the facts of the case, it wasn’t a very sophisticated crime,” said Shannon Peters, spokeswoman with the State Attorney’s Office. “They were at a bar, they had been drinking and they kind of did an impulsive act.”

I won’t even comment on this. You already know.

First, Kentucky players got to pose with Jay-Z after advancing to the Final Four. Now, UNC’s John Henson, Harrison Barnes, And Justin Watts got to pose with Snopp Dogg while he was in town for his concert in Raleigh.

Looks like the room is a little hazy there, fellas. But it’s probably just the lighting. Yeah, probably just the lighting.

Me w/ tha UNC homeyz – John Henson and Harrison Barnes (Snoopdogg.com)

UF basketball players Cody Larson and Erik Murphy were arrested last Sunday for breaking into cars in St. Augustine, Florida. Something that you may not realize is that a third person was also arrested with the duo. That person is team manager Joshua Adel.

On the night of their arrest, Adel flees the scene while Larson and Murphy are detained by police. While detained, the duo calls Adel to try to convince him to come back and turn himself in by making up multiple stories and even telling him, “we’re gonna get off”.

Unbeknownst to the three, their entire conversation was being recorded by police and First Coast News in Jacksonville was able to get its hands on the recording.

Their goose is cooked. And they know it.

If you follow college basketball, you may have heard that Duke freshman point guard Kyrie Irving is in the running to be the top pick in this year’s NBA draft. Well, this particular Duke fan knows that as well. so he proceeds to tell Irving that he should declare for the draft, but with a little sarcasm to go with it. Former Duke player William Avery was even thrown under the bus in the process to prove a point.

“Don’t follow in the footsteps of William Avery, you’ll be warned; he made the wise decision to leave Duke after his sophomore year, and use the NBA as a stepping stone to an illustrious career in Europe. Don’t let those comparisons get you down, though, even if Avery did get the privilege of watching from the sidelines as his former college teammates celebrated a national championship.”

This fan also pointing out that the NBA could be in a lockout after this season.

“And if you’re still not convinced, remember that if you go pro, you might not even have to play next year! Who really wants to play, anyway? Sure, you won’t get paid any of that major contract that you’d sign as a top draft pick, but at least you won’t have to endure the grind of professional sports. Some of those same haters from before will probably call it a wasted season, as Europe will probably be the only place to play in the interim, but that won’t affect your NBA salary. As long as the rookie salary structure stays the same, that is.”

I know that this is all in fun, but some fans just don’t have anything to do with their time.

After searching for weeks for a new head basketball coach, North Carolina State has hired former Alabama coach Mark Gottfried.

Gottfried spent 11 seasons at Alabama subsequently resigning in 2009. Under Gottfried’s leadership, the Crimson Tide had 5 NCAA appearances. He’ll be inheriting Sidney Lowe’s program which hasn’t seen the post season in 5 years.

Either N.C. State has an affinity for mediocre coaches or getting big names to Raleigh is tough because of in-state powerhouses Duke and North Carolina.

Recruiting will be tough. Even at Alabama, Gottfried was an average recruiter and with the ‘big boys’ nearby that task won’t get any easier. Three years from now, N.C. State will again have a vacancy.

N.C. State hires Gottfried (AP via FOX Sports)

The hot coach of the minute is now off the market. Shaka Smart has reportedly signed an extension with VCU, much to the dismay of NC State fans.

Shaka Smart has signed a deal to remain at VCU.

Smart, 33, became the latest to spurn interest from N.C. State and then inked a new contract with the Rams on Monday afternoon, sources told FOXSports.com.

Sources told FOXSports.com that N.C. State offered a multi-year deal worth about $2 million per season.

Don’t fret Wolfpack fans. Bruce Pearl is available.

Source: Shaka agrees to stay at VCU (Fox Sports)