News and Notes: Friday Edition

Below, some news and notes for Friday...

• In the NBA D-League, Jeff Foote (Cornell '10) and his Springfield Armor (New Jersey Nets affiliate) defeated the Sioux Falls Skyforce on Thursday evening in double overtime, 115-113. See the recap in the Springfield Republican. In the win, Foote finished 8/11 from the floor for 19 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists. The Armor now are 26-19 and in sole possession of first place in the Eastern Division standings. The Armor are next back in action tonight, Friday, March 30 at 7 pm in a second consecutive home game against Sioux Falls. All NBA D-League games are available to view online at no charge via the D-League's Futurecast. Foote is averaging 15.0 points and 8.5 rebounds per game in the D-League after being named a starter at the D-League's All-Star Game during February. As of today, Foote is ranked 5th in the D-League in double-doubles and is also 4th in the league in rebounds. He averaged 1.0 points and 1.5 rebounds per game in 4 games for the New Orleans Hornets during a 10-day contract between March 9 and March 19. Foote is ranked by the D-League as its #6 overall NBA prospect.

At tonight's game, Foote will wear this special issued "Army themed" jersey. Fans can bid and purchase this autographed jersey on Ebay.com. All net proceeds from the sale of this uniform will be donated to the USO.

• Committed Cornell recruit, Nolan Cressler (Plum HS) Plum, PA, 6-4, G announced via Twitter that he was selected to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette's Fab 5 Team, arguably the most prestigious honor in western Pennsylvania basketball. Cressler already was selected to the Roundball Classic All Star Game to be held April 21, 2012 at Geneva College and played on March 24, 2012 in the Cager Classic All Star Game at Highlands High School in Natrona Heights (PA) where he set the all-star game's 16-year single game scoring record with a 38 point performance.

• The Oklahoman lists a group of college basketball coaches that "have been successful in the past but have fallen from grace." The Oklahoman list includes a pair of Cornellians and writes, "...Dave Bliss: This would be the ultimate redemption attempt. Bliss’ Baylor scandal trumps all others – he tried to paint murdered player Patrick Dennehy as a drug dealer, to cover up NCAA violations. Bliss is 68; he’s not likely to get another chance... Jan van Breda Kolff: The son of long-time NBA coach But van Breda Kolff, Jan coached Cornell, Vanderbilt, Pepperdine and St. Bonaventure. He took Pepperdine to the 2000 NCAA Tournament (losing to OSU, after beating Indiana). But an academic scandal at St. Bonaventure cost him his job."