NCAA

11:00 AM PT -- Urban Meyer says Ohio State is looking into legal action following McMurphy's story on Trevon Grimes.

OSU also released a statement on Tuesday ... saying "The Ohio State University unequivocally and vehemently disputes the unfounded allegations by Brett McMurphy. Any allegations of racism are outrageous and false."

"The university told McMurphy that we have found no evidence to support these allegations."

Ex-Ohio State coach Zach Smith is calling B.S. on reports of a "racially charged" altercation with a receiver at a 2017 practice ... and several players who witnessed the incident have his back.

'Stadium's' Brett McMurphy is reporting the incident between Zach Smith and former Buckeyes receiver Trevon Grimes that went down at a practice in 2017 ... and claims Urban Meyer tried covering it up.

Smith vehemently refuted the report on Tuesday, saying "Hahahaha hahahahaha - you want to talk about reaching!! Now I’m a racist and got into a fight? You really must be bored Brett."

Of course, McMurphy is the reporter who revealed the domestic violence scandal that later led to Smith's firing and Meyer's 3-game suspension.

"Youre about to lose whatever credibility you had left, if any." Smith added.

McMurphy says Ohio State confirmed an "interaction" between Smith and Grimes ... but denied any racial slur.

But, several current players have broken their silence in support of their former coach ... slamming the report and saying it's flat-out untrue.

"I witness the whole altercation and this didn’t happen," senior Johnnie Dixon tweeted. "You think a group of African American young men will sit there and let something like this happen? Say what you want but this isn’t true at all."

Senior Parris Campbell added, "There’s no way that anyone would believe this. NO WAY. This lie is just out of hand. I was present during the entire altercation and what’s said in this article NEVER HAPPENED."

"I can guarantee it. Crazy how social media gives people platforms just to spread nonsense."

Grimes later transferred to Florida.

"We all know why Trevon left OSU.. or that’s what he made it seem like, in all honesty OSU was prolly just to tough for the kid," Austin Mack tweeted.

Several Pepperdine men's basketball players tell TMZ Sports they feared for their lives as the wildfires raged near their campus this weekend.

Flames have ravaged Southern California the past few days ... and when they crept up on Pepperdine's Malibu campus Friday ... students were forced to flee to the school's gym before they ultimately evacuated.

Pepperdine guard Jade' Smith says it was one of the most frightening things he's ever experienced.

"It was wild. It was crazy. It was honestly one of the scariest experiences of my life," Smith says.

"There was a point where they started to come around and it felt like they surrounded us almost."

The Waves postponed their game against CSU Northridge on Saturday ... and were thankful just to be safe when we got them ahead of their upcoming road trip at LAX on Monday.

"We were stuck in the gym and we saw the fire coming over the hill to the campus," forward Kessler Edwards says.

"It almost got some of the buildings."

Pepperdine is headed to Colorado for a game Tuesday before it hits the Bahamas for a tourney later this week ... and ya gotta hear how happy forward Kameron Edwards is to be leaving the fires behind.

Riff Raff says he's already so impressed with the way his "cousin," Mac McClung, is ballin' out at Georgetown, he's droppin' a brand new track about the kid!

Mac has been making headlines for his insane dunks since he was in high school -- and he already posted a highlight reel jam in his 1st college game this week.

So, when we got Raff out in NYC he was all kinds of fired up about Mac -- tellin' us he's almost ready with a new song about the phenom!

"I already got one in the making for one of my albums," Raff says ... "Mac Attack! When he come through with that Mac Attack, shoot."

BTW ... Riff Raff has some hoop talents himself -- and tells us he'd love the chance to join a league like the BIG3 one day.

Then, he showed off his killer handles -- and issued a warning to Harvey ... WATCH YOUR ANKLES!!!

"We got the guy who can make the blind see and the cripples walk in LaMelo Ball"

Yeah, that's a REAL quote from LaMelo Ball's new high school basketball coach, Jermaine Jackson -- who says he's so excited about the young player, it's like Magic Johnson all over again.

LaMelo, along with Jackson and LaVar Ball, just hosted a media event at the Spire Academy in Ohio where the 17-year-old will play this season ... and they're HYPED UP!

"Like Magic Johnson said in the '80s, don’t look down because you might miss something," Jackson said about Ball ... "It’s showtime baby!"

LaVar added this message to the Ohio media -- "Since LeBron left, I brought you a Ball boy."

Don't worry, LaMelo has a plan after he finishes his senior year -- he wants to play college ball.

In fact, Ball told the media he's already got some schools in mind -- including North Carolina, Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, Michigan State ... according to WKYC's Ben Axelrod.

"We got the guy who can make the blind see and the cripples walk in LaMelo Ball"

LaVar also told the media he thinks LaMelo is the most famous high school basketball player of all time -- even more famous than Bron was -- because James was virtually unknown overseas.

Ball is expected to make his Ohio high school debut in the next few days.

LaMelo Ball's jump back to high school won't make any difference on his NBA future ... 'cause teams still won't take him seriously -- so says Marcin Gortat.

The youngest Ball brother announced Tuesday he's headed to Sire Prep Academy after stints overseas and in the JBA ... clearly with hopes that it will help his NBA draft stock.

But, when we got Gortat out at Via Alloro ... we asked the Clippers center if he thinks it'll work out for Melo ... and Marcin said, "I don't think so."

Interesting ... considering Melo's new coach and ex-NBAer Jermaine Jackson told TMZ Sports he thinks after this high school run, Ball can be the No. 1 pick in the 2020 draft.

But, Gortat clearly ain't buyin' into all that ... tellin' us he ain't even giving much thought to the Balls' latest plan.

"I don't know, man. That truly ain't my problem."

Grant Hill, Christian Laettner, Kyrie Irving, Jason Williams, Elton Brand ... Zion Williamson could be better than all these guys, because a Duke great says ZW could be the best Duke player EVER.

TMZ Sports spoke to Dahntay Jones, a former Duke All-American, and he says Zion's dominating season-opening performance against Kentucky last night was evidence of greatness to come.

Before we get to Dahntay's words ... DID YOU SEE ZION LAST NIGHT?! Dude was BEASTING, scoring 28 points (on 11-13 shooting) and grabbing 7 rebounds.

Jones says he's never seen anything like it anywhere -- even at Duke -- and, when it's all said and done, he's got everything it takes to jump over those other Blue Devil greats.

"I think he could be because of his natural ability. His ability is unique. It stands out."

So, what does Zion need to do to deliver on this All-World potential? Work, work, work, work, work.

"He just has to have a tremendous work ethic. If he has that, with the energy he brings to the game, he's definitely gonna be the best."

BTW -- if you didn't see the game last night (shame on you) we got Zion highlights below ... told you they were ridiculous.

The time is NOW for LSU to end its 7-year-long losing streak to Alabama ... so says a former LSU great, who says the Tigers have a real chance -- maybe their best chance -- to do it Saturday night.

TMZ Sports spoke to Glenn Dorsey -- a 2-time first team All-American for the Tigers -- and asked him if his former team, who are 13 point underdogs AT HOME, have any chance to beat the #1 ranked Tide.

"I think LSU gonna get it, man. If there was ever a chance for somebody to beat this mighty Alabama team, it'd be now, and in Death Valley."

LSU hasn't beaten the boys from Tuscaloosa since 2011 ... but Dorsey says he sees something different in THIS team, something he thinks makes victory a real possibility.

"Just look at our record, look at the teams we've beat, we've been on the road, played tough games. We beat a REALLY good Georgia team too, man. I'm liking what the quarterback position is doing, the defense is balling out."

What scares Glenn about Bama? It all has to do with a guy he knows really, really well, his former coach at LSU ... Nick Saban.

"Honestly the most thing I'm concerned about when I look at that Alabama team is their coach, because I played for him too, and I know he's leaving no stone unturned, he's gonna have them ready."

LSU superfan James Carville says the Tigahs are gonna bust Bama's ass on Saturday, despite being without their best player ... which Carville says is due to a league conspiracy.

The #3 Tigers and the #1 Crimson Tide play Saturday in the biggest college football game of the year, and when we got Carville in D.C. he was confident his alma mater, LSU, will pull off the upset.

"We're gonna win."

If LSU does prevail, they'll do so with their best player -- LB Devin White -- being suspended for the first half due to a (BOGUS, RIDICULOUS) questionable targeting call during the Mississippi State game last week.

Carville said the call was more than just a referee error, and actually part of a devious and nefarious conspiracy by the entire conference to keep Bama on top.

"I would trust the Saudi government more than I'd trust the SEC. He (White) is our best player we got, no reason he shouldn't be playing."

Here's the penalty below ... you make the call, BS or not? (Of course, it's BS)

Josh Hart has ZERO CHILL ... 'cause when the Lakers stud found Moritz Wagner's 2018 Michigan runner-up ring -- HE CLOWNED THE HELL OUTTA HIS L.A. TEAMMATE!!

It's actually pretty hilarious ... the ring does look like something outta a gumball machine rather than a celebration of nearly winning the NCAA Tournament -- and Hart couldn't believe it.

"This weak-ass ring!" he yelled at Mo ... "Thing weak as hell!!"

Hart continued ... noting the lack of shine in the diamonds, saying, "They fake as hell! This is what happens when you a runner-up. This what you get!"

To his credit ... Wagner took it pretty well -- though he did beg pretty hard for Hart to stop the initial clown down from happening.

A linebacker on the Rutgers football team was arrested Tuesday after cops say he conspired to murder some people.

Yeah.

The player at the center of the controversy is Izaia Bullock -- a 22-year-old redshirt junior, from New Jersey.

Officials say Bullock has been charged with 2 counts of 1st-degree murder, and 2 counts of 1st-degree conspiracy to commit murder.

The details surrounding the charges are sketchy at best -- officials say the targets were family members of an acquaintance. The targets were not injured.

Rutgers has already dismissed Bullock from the team -- which isn't too big of a hit for them since the guy has barely seen any action, and has really had no impact in any game.

Bullock is still in custody and will remain locked up until his initial court appearance, officials say.

Bullock was an All-County linebacker back in high school at Linden High School in Jersey and went on to play at Gattaca Prep -- a junior college in NJ.

Paul Pierce is glad Villanova is refusing to visit Trump's White House to celebrate their NCAA basketball title ... saying the tradition is dumb and overrated.

Nova's coach Jay Wright, announced Thursday the team would not visit 1600 Pennsylvania this year -- as NCAA winning teams have traditionally done for years.

In fact, Villanova visited Obama's White House after winning the title 2016 -- but Wright explained, "Two years ago it was the experience of a lifetime for all of us. It’s just a different time."

Fast forward to Thursday night outside Mastro's Steakhouse in Bev Hills -- where we asked Pierce (who visited George W. Bush's White House with the Celtics in '08) if Nova was making a mistake.

"I think that's overrated," Pierce explained ... "Why you gotta visit the White House? You got your trophy, you won your championship."

Paul tells us it's a digital time -- so a simple congratulatory tweet should more than do the job.

Then, he started questioning why the tradition even started in the first place -- strongly implying the tradition is just dumb and unnecessary.

"I don't know why we go to the White House," Pierce said ... "Why did people even start going there?"

BTW ... when Pierce went to the White House a decade ago -- he called it "truly an honor" and even brought gifts for No. 43.

Lauren McCluskey -- the Utah track star who was brutally murdered on campus this week -- will be honored by the entire Utes football team when they take on UCLA Friday.

The school announced players will wear a black and white sticker featuring a winged foot with Lauren's name on it ... in remembrance of the slain student.

As we previously reported ... 21-year-old McCluskey -- a 2017 honorable mention Pac-12 All-Academic -- was shot to death by her ex-bf on Monday after finding out he was a registered sex offender.

Utah announced in addition to the helmet decals ... they'll hand out a similar sticker at this week's women's volleyball and women's soccer games to remember her legacy.

For their part ... UCLA says it'll hold a moment of silence for McCluskey at the Rose Bowl.

Start fillin' out your March Madness brackets RIGHT NOW ... 'cause Carlos Boozer says Zion Williamson's Duke squad is the team to beat this season ... and the competition ain't even close!!

TMZ Sports spoke with the former Blue Devil about Duke's chances at winning it all ... and he says Zion, R.J. Barrett and Coach K are a lethal combo that'll be a BIG problem for the rest of the NCAA.

"I can't think of any other team that's on the same level with their athletes," Boozer says.

Booz says Zion is "one of the best athletes you've ever seen" ... and teaming up with Barrett -- the projected no. 1 overall pick in next year's NBA draft -- will make them unstoppable.

Look ... we get what you're thinking. Booz oozes Duke blue ... but college allegiances aside, he's probably right.

Nick Bosa could make $100 MILLION in the NFL -- and it's simply not worth it to stay in college and contend for a title ... so says ex-OSU superstar running back Maurice Clarett.

Clarett knows a little something about leaving college for the pros -- he sued the NFL back in 2003 after his sensational freshman season to try and become eligible for the 2004 NFL Draft.

Clarett ultimately lost his suit and didn't really pan out in the NFL -- but still feels very strongly that top players like Bosa should focus on cashing in at the next level.

Bosa is the projected #1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft -- and after suffering a core injury earlier this season, the defensive end announced he won't return to OSU. Instead, he's focusing on prepping himself for the NFL.

"I believe he's doing the right thing," Clarett told the guys on the "TMZ Sports" TV show.

"This guy could probably make $100 million over his career. I wouldn't go out there and risk it for a National Championship. It's just not worth it. It's basic common sense."

He added, "I wouldn't go out there and risk my life and jeopardize my future to make some fans happy, I just wouldn't do it."

Clarett is now killing it in the podcast game -- topping the iTunes charts with his show, "Business & Biceps."

UCLA hoops star Shareef O'Neal says, despite being sidelined this season with a heart issue, he's still 100% committed to his dream of going to the NBA ... but admits he also has FASHION on the brain.

We broke the story ... Shaq and Shaunie's son was diagnosed with an issue that will require open heart surgery putting a halt to his hoops career, but according to O'Neal, not a stop at all.

"Basketball is still my main focus," O'Neal said when we got him out in L.A.

But, it's far from his ONLY focus ... because the 6'10" highlight machine says he's gonna use his time away from the court to build his skills in another area he loves.

"The NBA is something I've been wanting to do for a long time, but this is the opportunity to try to find other things if so. I mean, I've been doing a lot of stuff with fashion lately."

Shareef says he gets a lot of inspiration from his big brother Myles, who's making his name as a big-time model. As far as his dad's foray into the clothing world, not as much.

"I'm looking more for a higher-end fashion, I know how his mindset works."

Ex-USC wideout Joseph Lewis -- a former top H.S. recruit -- has just been sentenced to 1 year behind bars after pleading no contest to domestic violence ... TMZ Sports has learned.

As we previously reported ... Lewis was arrested and hit with one felony count of domestic violence back in July after officials say he "punched, scratched and strangled" a woman during a heated dispute.

Lewis appeared in court Monday and pled no contest to the charge. During the hearing, officials say he also fessed up to a domestic violence incident from February.

Lewis was facing up to 5 years in prison ... but instead got 365 days in jail, five years of probation and was ordered to complete a domestic violence course.

He's also been hit with a restraining order barring him from contacting the victim for 10 YEARS.