When Sean May was a star forward at North Carolina, he often could be found slouched in the back of his classes, just trying to get through his seminars and to the next Tar Heels practice. But now he sits front and center at UNC each summer.

East Carolina is again expected to contend for a Conference USA football championship after two straight years where the Pirates had late-season chances to win the league.

Ex-Heel happily adjusts to NBA life.

Lawyer replaces White, who left Notre Dame for Duke.

After an emotional plea by N.C. State basketball coach Sidney Lowe that his son be granted mercy from a judge, Sidney Lowe II was sentenced Tuesday to 15 months at a Guilford County prison farm.

Knocking on all the doors that might lead to an NBA roster spot could take longer than a few months for former Duke standout DeMarcus Nelson.

The sixth annual Pigskin Preview, featuring the area's Division I football coaches, will be held Thursday at the Shearton Imperial Hotel and Convention Center.

Billy Packer, the man whom many considered college basketball's know-it-all, has known for more than a year that the 2007-08 season would be his last as CBS' lead analyst.

Tudor:Go ahead. Laugh when you read this, but college basketball fans will miss Billy Packer.

UNC veterans tout experience, drive.

Cleveland Cavaliers assistant John Kuester was on a roll Monday, thinking up new ways to praise rookie J.J. Hickson. Former Wolfpack center scores 26.

When Linval Joseph jogs onto the football field this fall, East Carolina's fans probably won't recognize him. "The Incredible Bulk" last season at 373 pounds, Joseph is now an impressive 6-foot-6, 300-pound hulk.

Former Louisiana Tech and Baylor coach Sonja Hogg will be among the inductees in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame's 2009 class.

Chris Paul knows what the inside of a VIP room looks like.

Tim Stevens:Dwight Jones, one of the top high school football wide receivers in the country two years ago at Burlington Cummings High, probably will commit to a Division II school within the next few days.

Sports Briefs:North Carolina basketball swingman Marcus Ginyard is free on $150 bond after turning himself in to police on Wednesday after he missed a scheduled court date for two misdemeanor charges.

North Carolina coach Roy Williams has never had an underclassman declare for the NBA Draft with the intention of “testing the waters” — not hiring an agent and leaving the door open for a return to college.

Tyler Hansbrough scored 21 points and Marcus Ginyard added a career-high 17 in a 105-70 rout of the outmatched UC-Santa Barbara Gauchos at the Smith Center today.

According to the Boston Herald, SI, ESPN and the New York Times are all writing the life and times of Matt Ryan features.

Losing fullback Tielor Robinson was Duke's biggest loss of the season so far. Robinson leading Duke's running backs with 3.7 yards per carry. That doesn't sound like a lot until you know the team, working with a four-man rotation, is averaging about 54 yards per game.

Another dream day on the conference call.

Ex-future Wake Forest football savior Ben Mauk made his debut with the University of Cincinnati a winning one on Thursday night, throwing for 244 yards and two touchdowns — all in the first half — in the Bearcats' 59-3 win over Division I-AA Southeast Missouri State.

Late start the norm for both UNC and Duke this basketball season.

Gator Bowl president Rick Catlett expects a record crowd for Florida State's tussle with Alabama on Sept. 29 in Jacksonville.

The Duke Blue Devils suffered their second shutout of the season in a 36-0 loss to Virginia Tech at Lane Stadium on Saturday. It was the first time the Devils (0-3, 0-2 ACC) have suffered that indignity since 1990.

The Devils saw a great chance to pull a rare ACC victory roll away when Vaughn got a piece of Surgan's kick.

DeAngelo Williams gives Carolina much-needed depth at running back.