The next time No. 4 Ohio State, No. 10 Florida, Georgetown and Marquette try to play aboard a ship, they might need more than their jump shots and fastbreaks.
They may want to bring mops and buckets, too.
A pair of big men’s college basketball openers were called off Friday night when the makeshift courts were hardly shipshape. Instead, the floors became too wet because of condensation and the matchups were canceled.
Florida led Georgetown 27-23 at halftime in the Navy-Marine Corps Classic on the USS Bataan in Jacksonville, Fla., when it was stopped. The game will not count and will not be made up.
“It’s just tough around this time, the weather,” Florida guard Kenny Boynton said. “I’m not sure what caused the water, but it’s definitely tough. We’ve got to get an indoor event, I guess.”
Ohio State and Marquette never got started aboard the USS Yorktown in Mount Pleasant, S.C. The tipoff was delayed for about a half-hour as coaches, players and officials waited for the conditions to improve. The weather didn’t get better, and the teams are unlikely to reschedule the meeting this season.
FEDS DROP PROBE OF EX-SYRACUSE COACH
Federal officials are dropping their investigation of sexual abuse claims against former Syracuse University assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine.
After a probe spanning nearly a year, they said Friday they found no evidence to support a man’s accusations that Fine molested him in 2002 in a Pittsburgh hotel room when the team played there.
It’s unclear whether Fine, 66, could get his job back.
“The damage inflicted upon Bernie and his family is simply immeasurable,” his lawyers said.
TOP 25 HIGHLIGHTS
UConn 66, No. 14 Michigan 62 at Germany: Shabazz Napier scored 25 points to lead the Huskies to an upset of the Spartans in the Armed Forces Classic at Ramstein Air Base.
It was Kevin Ollie’s first game as UConn’s coach after taking over when Hall of Famer Jim Calhoun retired in September.
South Alabama 76, at No. 25 Florida State 71: Antoine Allen hit four 3-pointers and scored 21 points to lead the Jaguars to a season-opening upset of the Seminoles who struggled in every way.
No. 3 Kentucky 72, Maryland 69 at New York: Junior guard Jarrod Polson scored 10 points and made the clinching free throws with 7.7 seconds to play as the Wildcats held off a furious second-half rally by the Terrapins.
FASTBREAKS
Highly recruited UCLA freshman guard Shabazz Muhammad has been declared ineligible by the NCAA after lengthy probe uncovered a violation of amateurism rules. It’s unknown how many games Muhammad will miss. The Bruins said they will appeal the decision. … USC center Omar Oraby had his hardship waiver petition approved by the NCAA and was eligible to play in the Trojans’ season opener Friday. The 7-foot-2 center from Egypt transferred to USC in September after playing two seasons at Rice.
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