Memphis forward transfers to Duquesne and can play immediately

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08/29/2006 -

PITTSBURGH (AP) -Almamy Thiero never lived up to the promise of his outstanding high school career during an injury-filled career at Memphis. He hopes to do so during his final college season after transferring to Duquesne.

Thiero, still listed on the University of Memphis' roster as of last weekend, is taking advantage of a new NCAA rule that allows graduate students to transfer schools and become eligible immediately. Undergraduate students must sit out one season after switching schools.

Thiero, a 6-foot-10, 255-pound forward who graduated from Memphis in May, played in 28 games over three seasons from 2002-05 but sat out the 2005-06 season with a knee ligament injury.

Thiero was considered one of the nation's top high school players while at Mount Zion Christian Academy in Durham, N.C., where he averaged 18 points and nearly 14 rebounds for two seasons.

He was injured during most of his time at Memphis, including a broken leg that required two operations while he was a freshman. He also missed most of the 2003-04 season after being diagnosed with blood clots near his lungs. During his only healthy season, 2004-05, he averaged 0.5 points and 1.7 rebounds in 23 games.

Now that Thiero is healthy, Duquesne coach Ron Everhart thinks a player with four years of experience in an upper-level program can be a valuable asset to what might be the youngest team in Division I.

``He didn't play a lot at Memphis, but he can be an impact guy for us,'' Everhart said Monday. ``He's had some tough luck with injuries, but this gives him a new start and he's going to be a player we're counting on.''

Only two players from last season's 3-24 team returned to Duquesne after Everhart was hired away from Northeastern to replace Danny Nee. Everhart has recruited eight new players plus Shawn James, who will follow him from Northeastern but will be ineligible this season.

Having Thiero will help Duquesne make the transition before James, the nation's top shot blocker, becomes eligible.

``A player like Almamy who was at the highest level brings us a lot of experience and leadership,'' Everhart said. ``He's a player with ability, and our younger guys can learn from him what it takes to compete in college basketball on a daily basis and to win at this level.''

Duquesne has only one returning inside player with experience, 6-9 Kieron Achara, who missed all but a few minutes of last season with a shoulder injury.

The NCAA has had rules that allowed graduate students with eligibility remaining to change schools and be eligible immediately, but they did not apply to Division I basketball until this year.

Thiero is a native of Mali in West Africa.

Everhart's recruiting class is one of the biggest in major college basketball history - he has replaced nearly an entire team - but it will not include Destin Damachoua, a 6-1 shooting guard from The Master's School in West Simsbury, Conn.

Damachoua, one of Everhart's first four recruits and considered possibly the second best signee to 6-7 forward Stuard Baldonando, did not meet eligibility requirements. He is enrolled in Polk Community College in Florida.

Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

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After all the trouble that’s ensued since Braylon Edwards allegedly punched one of LeBron James’ homeboys in the face at a club, the Cleveland Browns have sent away their last remaining player of worth to the New York Jets. This is a great move for Dirty Sanchez and all, but it’s even better for the Knicks. Now Donnie Walsh can say, “You get to haunt Braylon Edwards with your posse if you sign here!” next summer.

Putting that aside for a moment, the move is a clear indication that the new-look Jets are gunning for the Super Bowl this year. I don’t think that New York thought that Dirty Sanchez was going to be such a rock star. With a 75.2 passer rating that was killed against the Jets, Sanchez is doing an admirable job of managing games and putting the Jets in a position to win. The defense has been the major story in New York thus far, but the acquisition of Braylon Edwards makes this offense loaded with talent that can dent any defense…as long as Dirty Sanchez continues his meteoric rise.

Thus far, Edwards has been a non-factor in the NFL piling up just 139 receiving yards on 10 catches. He has yet to find the endzone, and with the Browns mired in the most unsexy quarterback controversy of all time (Anderson vs. Quinn...yawn), there going nowhere fast. Edwards is two seasons removed from a career year which saw him catch 80 passes for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns when the Browns were the spread killing monsters of 2007. In 2008, injuries slowed the receiver down to just 873 yards and three touchdowns though he played in all 16 games.

So that being said, we really don’t know if Braylon Edwards is just a flash in the pan, or a legit threat. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he is a prototypical receiver. But he’s also shown a strange, and unwarranted, talent for dropping passes. Lining up opposite Jericho Cotchery, a speed demon with 23 catches, 356 yards and a single touchdown, may give Braylon the open looks he needs. A change of scenery may also rejuvenate the star receiver.

In return, the Browns will receive Chansi Stuckey, online football betting a special teams player you’ve never heard of and a pair of draft picks. That’s a tall order for a guy whose only real value right now is in his name, and it shows no promise to the Browns that they can rebuild around those acquisitions. Braylon was the only reason to hope for the Browns to go 3-14 SU this year. Without him, they don’t have a single guy on offense that can scare any team.

For the Jets, it’s a response to the pounding that they took at the hand of the Saints. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have averaged around 4.0 yards per carry each on the ground, but striking a fair balance between the passing and rushing attacks in New York has been a struggle. You have to believe that the trio of Dustin Keller, Jericho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards will give Sanchez the weapons he needs to unleash through the air. Theoretically, that would open up holes for the rushing game. But the proposed public option health care plan works in theory too. We need to see the proof in the pudding before we start loading up mega bucks on the New York Jets to take the AFC.

The one wrinkle in this whole thing is that Braylon could very well be suspended by the league for disciplinary action due to his “brawl” with LeBron’s friend. If that’s the case, the Jets may have to bench him for a few games leaving them with a somewhat depleted receiving corps for a few games. Also, this is a guy who gets in fights with people at clubs. New York may not be the best place for him. Just sayin’.

The Jets have a long week before they meet the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football Betting in a virtual pick ‘em game. Braylon’s excess baggage may be a distraction, and his curiously low production may be what we should be expecting of him overall, but for the Jets, taking a chance to strike gold is well worth it. At the end of the year, they can simply just blame it on their rookie quarterback.

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Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter Johnson

JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.

Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.

MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .

''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''

Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.

He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.

''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''

Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.

Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.

With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.

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