Committee Is Calling for Probe of Knight

An Indiana University sports advisory committee is recommending school president Myles Brand investigate accusations that Coach Bob Knight choked former player Neil Reed during a 1997 practice.

“We’re asking him to look into it. If there’s no substance to it, so be it,” said Bruce Jaffee, a business professor and chairman of the athletics committee, which advises Brand.

The 13-member panel composed of faculty, students and alumni voted unanimously to ask for an investigation. Knight did not attend.

Jaffee said this was the first recommendation the committee has made concerning Knight. He would not answer direct questions about the allegations against Knight or say what action committee members thought Brand should take. The group has no power to discipline Knight.

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Sophomore forward Richard Jefferson ended speculation by announcing he will return to the Arizona Wildcats next season and not declare himself eligible for the NBA draft.

“When you look at the players we have coming back for next season, we have a chance to be a really good team and I would not want to miss out on that,” Jefferson said.

The 6-foot-7 Jefferson missed 13 games because of a stress fracture in his right foot, but averaged 11 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists for the Pacific 10 Conference co-champions.

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Iowa State Coach Larry Eustachy’s contract has prompted a state lawmaker to call for a salary cap for college coaches.

Rep. Ed Fallon said he’s prepared an amendment to a giant education spending package that would prohibit Iowa State from offering deals larger than $300,000 to athletic staff or coaches.

The school signed Eustachy this month to a 10-year contract with total yearly compensation of $900,000.

Fallon said Eustachy’s salary is bigger than the combined pay of the governor, lieutenant governor, chief justice of the Iowa Supreme Court and the presidents of the three Regents’ universities.

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Betty Guthridge, mother of North Carolina Coach Bill Guthridge, died at Parsons, Kan. She was 96 and had been in ill health for several years. . . . Southern Methodist University suspended two players and two spirit squad members for what the school called “inappropriate and disruptive behavior” after a Western Athletic Conference tournament game at Fresno earlier this month. The school didn’t identify any of the individuals involved.

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Troy Murphy had 19 points and nine rebounds as Notre Dame (21-14) defeated Brigham Young, 64-52, in a National Invitation Tournament quarterfinal game at South Bend, Ind.

Michael Vranes, Mekeli Wesley and John Allen scored 10 points apiece for BYU (22-11).

At State College, Pa., Jarrett Stephens had 24 points and 10 rebounds as Penn State (18-15) defeated Kent, 81-74.

Eric Thomas had 18 points for Kent (23-8). Penn State plays Notre Dame on Tuesday in the NIT semifinals.