Sports briefs 3/15/05

Baseball

* Star right-handed pitcher Mark Prior will be out indefinitely because of inflammation in his right elbow, the Chicago Cubs announced Monday.

Mark O'Neal, Cubs head trainer, said the 24-year-old Prior has some inflammation in the elbow joint and a little irritation to the ulnar nerve.

It's more bad news for the Cubs. Projected Opening Day starter Kerry Wood is out with bursitis in his right shoulder.

Colleges

* Illinois was No. 1 in The Associated Press' college basketball poll for the 15th straight week Monday, and the Illini were back to being a unanimous choice.

Illinois, North Carolina and Duke were the top three seeds in the NCAA tournament, and they held the same spots in the final poll of the season. Washington was the fourth No. 1 seed, but the Huskies were eighth in the final poll.

That is the lowest a No. 1 seed has been ranked since the field expanded to 64 in 1985.

* Georgia Tech football coach Chan Gailey suffered a heart attack Monday while playing racquetball at the campus recreation center.

Gailey, who turned 53 in January, was taken to Piedmont Hospital after experiencing chest pains. He underwent a balloon angioplasty, a procedure that is used to clear a blocked artery, and was resting comfortably, spokeswoman Allison George said..

Gailey previously coached the Dallas Cowboys for two seasons.

* Buzz Peterson was fired as Tennessee's basketball coach after the Volunteers failed to make the NCAA tournament during his four years at the school.

The Vols finished 14-17 overall and 6-10 in the Southeastern Conference this season after losing to Kentucky in the second round of the league tournament. It was Peterson's second losing season in Knoxville, leaving him with a 61-59 record in his four years.

In other moves, Pete Gillen stepped down at Virginia after seven years and only one NCAA tournament appearance; and Steve Lappas was fired by Massachusetts following four disappointing seasons.

* John Chaney will return to coach Temple in the NIT.

Chaney, 73, was suspended for the final five games of the season after ordering rough play from one of his players, who subsequently broke the arm of St. Joseph's senior John Bryant. The school announced Monday that Chaney would be on the bench when the Owls (16-13) play at Virginia Tech (15-13) in a first-round game Tuesday night.

* Kansas running back John Randle was dismissed from the team, coach Mark Mangino announced Monday.

Randle, 20, a sophomore, was charged Monday with misdemeanor battery for allegedly striking a man early Sunday morning in front of a downtown bar. Police said an officer saw the altercation and arrested Randle.

Randle led Kansas in rushing in 2004 with 540 yards.

High school

* A large brawl broke out at a boys high school state tournament basketball game Monday night, sending at least three people to Chicago hospitals.

Two people were in critical condition and one was in stable condition, said Chicago Fire Department spokesman Will Knight.

Five ambulances were sent to the scene of the fight, which broke out around 8:30 p.m. at the United Center, which is home of the Chicago Bulls, said police Sgt. Robert Cargie. He did not know how many were involved in the brawl or whether arrests had been made.

In the Class AA supersectionals Monday, Chicago Crane beat Winnetka New Trier 58-40 and Harvey Thornton beat Homewood-Flossmoor 46-40.

The championship game is Saturday night in Peoria.