PAUL NEWBERRY
FILE - George Mikan, of the Minneapolis Lakers, polishes off the sign on the marquee of Madison Square Garden in New York, on Dec. 13, 1949. Madison Square Garden won't host the NIT semifinals and championship game the next two years, according to a person with direct knowledge of the decision — ending a college basketball tradition that dates to 1938. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity late Wednesday night, March 23, 2022, because no public announcement had been made. (AP Photo/Jacob Harris, File)
Column: NIT joins other sports tradition in fading away

By Paul Newberry Apr. 01, 2022 04:41 PM EDT
With all eyes focused on the Final Four, it's doubtful that many noticed the passing

FILE - Georgia State players celebrate as they surround R.J. Hunter (22) after he made the game-winning shot against Baylor late in the second half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, March 19, 2015, in Jacksonville, Fla. Georgia State won 57-56. The 2021-22 Georgia State team is heading to the NCAA tournament, making their fourth appearance in the past eight years, a run that began with the memorable showing in 2015. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
Georgia State looks to pull off its biggest NCAA stunner yet

By Paul Newberry Mar. 14, 2022 03:30 PM EDT
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia State has a couple of stunners on its NCAA resume.

Georgia Tech guard Jordan Usher, right, answers a question NCAA college basketball Atlantic Coast Conference media day, Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)
Georgia Tech still seeking respect even after ACC title

By Paul Newberry Oct. 20, 2021 10:20 AM EDT
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia Tech is still searching for respect, even after winning

FILE - In this Feb. 3, 2019, file photo, Georgia Tech head coach MaChelle Joseph yells to her bench during an NCAA college basketball game against Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. The NCAA placed Georgia Tech's women's basketball program on probation for three years Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021, citing violations committed under former coach MaChelle Joseph that included players being forced to practice longer than the rules allow and on scheduled off days.(AP Photo/Robert Franklin, File)
NCAA places Ga Tech women's hoops team on 3 years probation

By Paul Newberry Sep. 21, 2021 02:12 PM EDT
ATLANTA (AP) — The NCAA placed Georgia Tech's women's basketball program on

FILE - In this March 21, 2021, file photo people view the Supreme Court building from behind security fencing on Capitol Hill in Washington after portions of an outer perimeter of fencing were removed overnight to allow public access. A Supreme Court case being argued this week amid March Madness could erode the difference between elite college athletes and professional sports stars. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
Column: To pay or not pay college athletes is not the issue

By Paul Newberry Apr. 02, 2021 04:45 PM EDT
We should've moved on from the issue of whether to pay or not to pay at least

FILE - Kansas head coach Les Miles is shown before an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., in this Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, file photo. LSU's former athletic director recommended in 2013 that Les Miles be fired as Tigers football coach because of his behavior with female student workers. Then-Athletic Director Joe Alleva's recommendation to former LSU President F. King Alexander is detailed in a newly released report into how the university handled sexual misconduct complaints. The report was released Friday, March 5, 2021, by the Husch Blackwell law firm. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Column: Sports always provides a conduit to forgiveness

By Paul Newberry Mar. 19, 2021 04:05 PM EDT
Sorry, Rick Pitino’s return to the NCAA Tournament is not some feel-good tale

Virginia forwards Sam Hauser, left, and Jay Huff celebrate the team's 57-49 victory over Georgia Tech in an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, in Atlanta. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
Murphy, Clark lead No. 9 Virginia past Georgia Tech 57-49

By Paul Newberry Feb. 10, 2021 09:08 PM EST
ATLANTA (AP) — When Kihei Clark failed to touch iron on a 3-pointer nearing the

Georgia Tech forward Moses Wright reacts to scoring a 3-pointer against Clemson during an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in Atlanta. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal Constitution via AP, Pool)
Ga Tech routs No. 20 Clemson 83-65; 3 players score 20

By Paul Newberry Jan. 20, 2021 09:05 PM EST
ATLANTA (AP) — Josh Pastner wondered how his Georgia Tech team would respond

Wake Forest guard Kyle Sturdivant reacts to hitting a three against Georgia Tech during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Atlanta. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
Georgia Tech returns from long layoff after COVID shutdown

By Paul Newberry Jan. 19, 2021 06:51 PM EST
ATLANTA (AP) — After a dismal start to the season, Georgia Tech turned things

File-This Nov. 17, 2019, file photo shows Georgia coach Joni Taylor shouting to players during an NCAA women's basketball game against Georgia Tech in Athens, Ga. The Georgia Lady Bulldogs are back in the Top 25. “That’s a part of Georgia basketball. That’s the expectation,” coach Joni Taylor said Tuesday. "You can't walk into the building and not be reminded of who we are, the program's history, and what we're trying to carve out in terms of women's basketball. That's a huge motivator for me, my entire staff, and all the ladies we bring in to play here.” (AP Photo/John Amis, File)
Back in Top 25, Georgia eager to reclaim national prominence

By Paul Newberry Jan. 19, 2021 05:21 PM EST
The Georgia Lady Bulldogs are back in the Top 25. Now, the

Bryan Spencer, center, head coach of the Carver College talks with his players before their game against Florida International Monday, Dec. 21, 2020, in Miami. (AP Photo/Gaston De Cardenas)
Column: A tiny Bible college becomes the Washington Generals

By Paul Newberry Dec. 23, 2020 01:12 PM EST
ATLANTA (AP) — Carver College has become college basketball's equivalent of the

In this image provided by Vanderbilt Athletics, Vanderbilt kicker Sarah Fuller adjusts her helmet during NCAA college football practice, Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. Fuller, a goalkeeper on the Commodores' women's soccer team, will don a football uniform on Vanderbilt's sideline and she is poised to become the first woman to play in a Power 5 game when the Commodores take on Missouri. (Vanderbilt Athletics via AP)
Column: Sports hanging by the thread of the almighty dollar

By Paul Newberry Nov. 27, 2020 04:59 PM EST
The games will go on, hanging by the thread of the almighty dollar.

FILE - In this Jan. 25 2020, file photo, Georgia Tech head coach Josh Pastner calls a play in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against North Carolina State, in Atlanta. The Gators open Nov. 25 against Maine at a resort casino on tribal land in Connecticut. They face No. 4 Virginia two days later and have early season road games scheduled against Oklahoma (Dec. 2) and 21st-ranked Florida State (Dec. 12).(AP Photo/Danny Karnik, File)
NCAA or bust: Georgia Tech faces crucial season in rebuild

By Paul Newberry Nov. 13, 2020 11:25 AM EST
ATLANTA (AP) — More than a decade has passed since Georgia Tech last played in

FILE - In this Sept. 7, 2019, file photo, Georgia Tech head coach Geoff Collins reacts during the second half of an NCAA college football game against South Florida, in Atlanta. In the wake of nationwide protests over police brutality, Georgia Tech wants to make sure its athletes take time to vote in November. The school said Thursday, June 4, 2020, that nine teams, including football, will cancel all mandatory activities on the Nov. 3 to recognize the importance of casting a ballot. Geoff Collins was one of the first Power Five football coaches to express his support for those protesting the treatment of George Floyd, who died while in police custody in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jon Barash, File)
Georgia Tech athletes get day off to vote on Election Day

By Paul Newberry Jun. 04, 2020 11:35 AM EDT
ATLANTA (AP) — In the wake of nationwide protests over police brutality,

FILE - In this March 23, 2007, file photo, Alabama-Huntsville's Shaun Arvai, left, kneels on the ice after Alabama-Huntsville lost 3-2 to Notre Dame in two overtimes in a semifinal of the NCAA men's hockey Midwest Regional in Grand Rapids, Mich. When the word came down in one of those end-of-the-week news dumps that Alabama-Huntsville was dropping its men's hockey team, it hit especially hard. UAH also eliminated its men's and women's tennis teams at the same time it announced hockey's demise _ all in the name of balancing a bottom line that has taken a huge hit during the coronavirus pandemic.(AP Photo/Adam Bird, File)
Column: A college hockey program worth saving in Alabama

By Paul Newberry May. 29, 2020 06:56 PM EDT
They've always been an outlier, a major college hockey program in the Deep

Georgia Tech coach Josh Pastner reacts during the first half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Georgia, Tech, Georgia State to meet in men's basketball

By Paul Newberry May. 13, 2020 01:17 PM EDT
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia Tech and Georgia State announced Wednesday that the city

FILE - In this Dec. 14, 2019, file photo, Dayton head coach Anthony Grant, left, speaks with Obi Toppin (1) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Drake, in Dayton, Ohio. Toppin and Grant have claimed top honors from The Associated Press after leading the Flyers to a No. 3 final ranking. Toppin was voted the AP men's college basketball player of the year. Grant is the AP coach of the year. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)
Column: Remembering Final Four that never was in the A-T-L

Paul Newberry Apr. 03, 2020 05:11 PM EDT
ATLANTA (AP) — It would’ve been a magnificent weekend.

In this Nov. 21, 2019, photo, Tokyo Aquatics Center, a venue for swimming and diving at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics, is seen in Tokyo. (Yukie Nishizawa/Kyodo News via AP, File)
Column: Get ready for the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo

By Paul Newberry Mar. 17, 2020 05:31 PM EDT
One by one, some of the world's grandest sporting events have fallen or faded

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter leaves the team's spring training baseball clubhouse, Friday, March 13, 2020, in Jupiter, Fla. Major League Baseball has delayed the start of its season by at least two weeks because of the coronavirus outbreak as well as suspended the rest of its spring training game schedule. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Column: The stunning week that sports came to a halt

Paul Newberry Mar. 13, 2020 03:40 PM EDT
It was the week the sports stopped. Basketball. Hockey.

Georgia Tech guard Jose Alvarado (10) comes up with the ball late in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Louisville in Atlanta, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Todd Kirkland)
Stunner in the ATL: Ga Tech upsets No. 5 Louisville 64-58

By Paul Newberry Feb. 12, 2020 10:42 PM EST
ATLANTA (AP) — Right from the opening tip, Chris Mack fretted that his team