The USF women’s basketball team is having the its best start under coach Jose Fernandez, who is in his ninth season with the Bulls. USF is 9-1, garnering votes in the Associated Press Poll, and its the second-highest scoring team in Division-1 college basketball at more than 90 points per game.

Thursday, USF rattled off a school-record 126 points in its win against Grambling State. The 126 points were the most any Division-1 women’s team has scored this season.

Junior guard Janae Stokes, the Bulls’ first player off the bench, scored a career-high 39 points in just 22 minutes. She set school records for three-pointers made in a game (she was 11-of-14) and highest three-point shooting percentage for a player with more than six attempts (.785).

Stokes’ 39 points were the third most by any women’s player this season, and second most scored a any Bulls player this season. Senior Shantia Grace scored 44 points in a game earlier this season.

Well, things just got interesting for the Orange.  Eric Devendorf “won” his appeal regarding his indefinite suspension from school.  Devendorf is now eligible to return after completing 40 hours of community service.  Mike Waters has the full story in the Post-Standard.  The bad news for the Orange is Eric will be out for tomorrow’s game at Memphis.  The good news is he can now return in maybe a little time as a week or so.  Here are the statements from those involved…

Coach Jim Boeheim:

“Eric clearly made a mistake and should be punished. It is his responsibility to fulfill the requirements of this decision.”

Eric Devendorf:

“I’m disappointed that I put myself in this position which resulted in being suspended as a student and unable to participate in a number of games, including tomorrow’s game. I understand the decision and will be complying with all of the requirements of it.”

Syracuse University:

Under a decision today by the University Appeals Board, Eric Devendorf has been immediately suspended from Syracuse University and is prohibited from all University activities, including participation on the men’s basketball team. 

 The Appeals Board decision modified the sanctions set by the University Judicial Board and imposed a community service requirement that Mr. Devendorf must meet should he desire to return to the University for the Spring 2009 semester. If he fulfills this requirement and returns, Mr. Devendorf must also meet an additional set of requirements to remain a student.

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In other news for SU, Jonny Flynn is a game-time decision for tomorrow’s Memphis game.  Flynn left Wednesday’s game against Canisius and did not return.  He was held from practice Friday and is traveling with the team today.  Flynn leads SU in scoring. 

After jumping out to a large 18 point lead to start the game, Louisville (7-1) allowed Ole Miss to make things very interesting throughout the rest of the game.

There were times in the first half when it looked as if the Rebels (7-4) would have a tough time just keeping the score respectable, but they battled back with several small runs and eventually took a one point lead in the second half.

The Cards were led by junior forward Earl Clark, who finished the game with career highs in both points (25) and rebounds (16). Clark also finished with six blocks and three assists.

The Cardinals sufficating defense forced the Rebles to shoot just over 32% from the field and just 17 % from behind the three point line.

U of L also dominated the Rebels on the boards 54-35. Three Cardinal players, Samardo Samuels (13), Terrence Williams (10) and Clark,  finished with double digit rebounds.

Louisville will now fly directly to Pheonix, AZ to take on Minnesota on Saturday afternoon.

After leading by as much as 18, the Louisville Cardinals lead Ole Miss by just four points at the end of the first half. With just over five minutes left in the half, Louisville led the Rebels 35-21. But Ole Miss closed the half on 13-3 run, led sophmore guard Chris Warren.

Warren finished the half with 11 points, including a long three pointer as time expired to cut the lead from seven to four entering the break.

The Cardinals have been led by junior Earl Clark. Clark has scored 18 points and grabbed six rebounds in the first 20 minutes of play.

After Ole Miss cut the lead to two points, the Cardinals responded by scoring the next 14 points and lead 26-10. Earl Clark has been unstoppable. Clark has scored 17 points.

Earl Clark has scored 10 of the U of L’s 12 points to start the game. With just under 15 minutes left in the first half, Louisville holds a 12-8 lead over Ole Miss.

Mississippi head coach Andy Kennedy will coach tonight against No.9 Louisville despite being arrested earlier today on assault charges.

After entering a plea of not guilty, Kennedy said in a statement that he regrets the situation. ” I vehemently deny the charges levied against me, and am completely confident that I will be fully exonerated of all charges,” Kennedy added.

Ole Miss will likely take on No. 9 Louisville in the SEC/Big East Invitational without head coach Andy Kennedy. Kennedy was arrested this morning on assault charges stemming from an incident in which Kennedy and William Armstrong, the director of operations at Ole Miss, allegedly attacked a taxi driver.  According to police reports, Kennedy and Armstrong are also accused of making racial slurs towards the taxi driver.

This comes as a huge distraction for the Rebels (7-3), as they were already seen as major underdogs entering tonights game with the Cardinals.

Head coach Rick Pitino spoke at the on campus Yum! Center today about the upcoming game against the Ole Miss Rebels, and is confident that if his team continues to play the way they have since being upset by WKU, the Cards will help the Big East regain momentum in the SEC/Big East Invitational.

With the SEC winning both games in Nashville, the Cards and fellow Big East school Cincinnati will both need to take care of their opponents in Cincinnati this weekend for the Big East to split the games.

The Rebels will be the best team the Cards have faced this season, although still a much inferior team on paper. The Cardinal backcourt will have to play superb defense against David Huertas and Chris Warren, one of the highest scoring guard combos in the country. The two combine to give the Rebels 40 points per game and will be the focal point of the Rebels offensive attack considering the extreme mismatch problems in the frontcourt.

I predict the Cards will win by 15+, and am very interested to see how our guards defend the aforesaid high scoring guard combo for the Rebels.

A couple quick things as I take a momentary break from the final exams that have been breaking my back this week…

The tight wins over Cal Baptist and St. Peter’s (and I consider 12 and 14 points tight against an NAIA team and a MAAC team anyday) were good wake up calls for the Hall last week. IUPUI and James Madison, two of the tougher non-conference, non-tournament games that Bobby Gonzalez scheduled are coming up next.

IUPUI is a legit program that has a player sometimes starting for the Spurs, so the Pirates will want to look out on Saturday. A game like they played in Jersey City WILL be a loss, no questions asked.

Meanwhile, Fox Sports is reporting that JC recruit Cliff Dixon has “unverbaled,” leaving the Hall again without a recruit for next season.

I’ll have word on Keon Lawrence when I get it.

That’s all for now.

-Skip