By Craig Degel
Arizona Daily Wildcat
September 23, 1997

ASU hires Frieder's replacement - Pac-10 Notes

The Associated Press Arizona Daily Wildcat Don Newman talks to reporters during a news conference after being named the interim head coach of the Arizona State University basketball program in Tempe yesterday. Newman, 39, formerly of Sacramento State, will take over immediately for vacancy left by Bill Frieder.

Arizona State announced they have hired assistant coach Don Newman to replace head basketball coach Bill Frieder, although he will only hold the position for less than a year.

"I wanted to be fair to him," athletic director Kevin White said about briefing Newman on his plans to begin a national search in January. "I think you've got to take an up-front position."

White gave Newman the interim job after failing to hire a big-name coach on the level of Utah's Rick Majerus or Kelvin Sampson of Oklahoma.

Frieder resigned Sept. 10 following a 10-20 season, new federal activity in point-shaving allegations involving 1994 games, and theft charges filed Aug. 30 against two current players.

The FBI has said neither the school nor its officials are implicated in the point-shaving probe, but a federal grand jury is investigating the matter.

Newman, 39, was hired in May as Frieder's recruiting coordinator after five years as head coach at Sacramento State.

Newman said he would prepare for the season with a win-or-else attitude and hope to impress White.

"I just cry for the support of everybody to rally around this group of young men, and when it's all said and done, when the smoke is cleared, I wish a very, very tough decision on him," he said.

The appointment was popular with the team.

Center Michael Batiste said Newman gets along well with the players and still enforce discipline.

"When this man talks, it means something," Batiste said. "You'll never see a player's eyes blink, not once. All eyes are on him - the power and the motivation and confidence that he has come through."

Jeremy Veal, a senior guard named to the 1997 all-Pac-10 team, said the players will play hard to keep their new coach.

"A lot depends on how we do this year, but I think that coach Newman is on the right path. I think he expects a great deal from us this year," Veal said.

White wanted to hire Majerus or Sampson, but both issued statements Sept. 16 denying interest.

Walton commits to Arizona

Luke Walton, the son of former UCLA great Bill Walton, has given a verbal commitment to the Arizona basketball team.

The 6-foot-8, 200-pound forward from San Diego's University High, said he had a good time during his visit to Tucson this weekend and would sign a letter of intent on the first day of signing, Nov. 12.

Verbal commitments are non-binding and Walton can back out at any time.

Phoenix Moon Valley High School coach John Boie said his star Richard Jefferson, who visited Tucson over the weekend along with Walton and Long Beach Poly's Ricky Anderson, is close to making his decision.

"He said he would try to make the decision by this weekend," Boie said. "He's thought about it, but I don't know when he'll make (the decision)."

Anderson has said that he will honor visits to Missouri and UCLA - he is scheduled to visit Westwood, Calif. Oct. 3-4 - before making his decision.

Doug Wrenn of Seattle O'Dea High School canceled his visit to Tucson over the weekend.

His good friend, Wildcat guard Jason Terry, was visiting his home in Seattle and Wrenn did not want to make the trip while Terry was not in town. He should visit campus on Oct. 4.

Arizona basketball coaches are prohibited by NCAA rules from commenting on recruits until after they sign their letters of intent.

Olson to get extension

With all the attention surrounding the status of Utah head coach Rick Majerus, who was considering taking the vacant position at Arizona State but declined, Arizona coach Lute Olson is happy to tell his recruits he'll be at UA for their entire stay.

The Arizona Board of Regents is expected to extend the contract of Wildcats' head coach at their monthly meeting this weekend in Flagstaff.

Olson's current deal has him signed through 2000. The new deal would keep Olson, who turned 63 yesterday, at Arizona through the year 2002.

Olson earns over $380,000 in salary and "duties not related to basketball ... which benefit the university," according to the board of regents agenda. Olson also gets bonuses for such accomplishments as coaching the Wildcats to the Final Four, Pacific 10 Conference championships, or having three-fourths of his players graduate within five years.

Endorsement deals inked since the championship could bring Olson's yearly income above the $600,000 mark.

Cotton ruled ineligible

UCLA Bruin-to-be Schea Cotton was ruled ineligible yesterday by the NCAA Clearinghouse.

Cotton, a 1997 graduate of St. John Bosco in California, apparently did not receive the proper scores on his SAT. Under NCAA rules, UCLA cannot offer him a scholarship.

This is just the latest in a series of troubles for the former high school All-American.

The NCAA investigated the Bruin program after it was revealed that he and point guard Baron Davis began driving new cars shortly after signing with UCLA.

The two players, and the school, were cleared of any wrongdoing after the investigation, but the case can be reopened at any time if new information is revealed.

The Associated Press contributed to this report