The Associated Press
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Connecticut's top-ranked women's basketball team has lost guard Mel Thomas for the season because of a knee injury.An MRI exam Wednesday showed the senior tore the anterior cruciate ligament and lateral meniscus in her right knee during the closing minutes of Tuesday night's 63-59 win at Syracuse. Thomas was the game's leading scorer with 15 points.The injury comes a less than month after Connecticut (16-0) lost forward Kalana Greene to a torn ACL in her right knee.MORE BASKETBALLCALHOUN PLANS TO RETURN TONIGHT: Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun plans to be back on the sideline when the Huskies host Big East rival Providence tonight. The Hall of Fame coach left the bench during the second half of UConn's win over St. John's on Jan. 8, suffering from what team officials at the time said was a combination of stress and exhaustion.WOODEN NEEDS SPACE: UCLA is asking fans to leave former coach John Wooden alone during home basketball games.The 97-year-old coach is a popular draw at his seat behind the Bruins' bench, with people forming a line to get his autograph any time he shows up.FOOTBALLMcMACKIN IS HAWAII COACH: Greg McMackin's was hired as Hawaii's football coach Wednesday after serving as its defensive coordinator last season. He replaces June Jones, who left the Warriors to coach SMU.RODRIGUEZ SUIT GOES TO FEDERAL COURT: West Virginia's lawsuit against Rich Rodriguez was transferred to federal court on Wednesday because the former WVU coach had moved to Michigan when it was filed.The move gives Rodriguez, hired by Michigan on Dec. 16, until next Wednesday to file a response. The suit was filed in a local court on Dec. 27 to collect on a $4 million buyout clause in his contract.BRIEFLY: Mississippi tackle Michael Oher changed his mind and decided to return to school for his senior season, two days after making himself eligible for the NFL draft.* Former Texas quarterback Major Applewhite is rejoining the Longhorns as an assistant coach, leaving his job as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Alabama.* Saskatchewan Roughriders coach Kent Austin has left the CFL to become offensive coordinator at Mississippi, where he once was a star quarterback.* Two Penn State football players -- defensive tackle Chris Baker and linebacker Navorro Bowman -- were ordered to stand trial on refiled felony assault charges in connection with a campus fight last year.
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