NCAA

Memphis superstar James Wiseman -- the projected #1 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft -- has been ruled ineligible once again ... after the player withdrew his lawsuit against the NCAA.

The story has been a back-and-forth since the NCAA initially revoked his eligibility last Friday, claiming ex-NBA star and current Tigers coach Penny Hardaway violated rules by providing $11,500 in moving expenses to Wiseman's family in 2017.

The 18-year-old immediately filed a court order which temporarily halted the suspension and allowed him to play for Memphis while the legal battle raged on last week -- but now Wiseman has waved the white flag.

"It has become clear to Mr. Wiseman that the lawsuit he filed last week has become an impediment to the University of Memphis in its efforts to reach a fair and equitable resolution with the NCAA concerning his eligibility status," Wiseman's attorneys said in a statement.

"Therefore, Mr. Wiseman advised his legal team that he wished to withdraw his lawsuit."

There are rumblings Wiseman is working on a deal with the NCAA to be reinstated this season -- but if not, he's a lock for the NBA next season anyway.

Ohio Bobcats basketball coach Jeff Boals channeled his inner Conor McGregor to celebrate a huge road win on Wednesday ... and it's an epic collection of cringe-worthy and awesome moves!!

The 'Cats are off to a hot 3-0 start under the first-year coach ... and it's safe to say the players are LOVING the new guy, 'cause they joined his locker room dance-off after beating Iona in New York, 81-72.

The video is hilarious -- there's the billi strut, shoulder-brushing and a bunch of other moves that would make Chris Brown blush.

Okay, maybe that's not true ... but it definitely looks like the boys in Athens are having a helluva time.

Boals -- a former Bobcats hooper himself -- also served as an assistant coach at Ohio State before taking the head coaching gig at Stony Brook from 2016-2019.

Ohio State just caught a HUGE break in the Chase Young saga ... the superstar defensive end's suspension will be over after 2 games, the NCAA determined on Wednesday.

Long story short, this means Young will be back for the Buckeyes' biggest games of the season -- #9 Penn State and big-time rival Michigan.

Young was forced to sit out OSU's blowout 73-14 win over Maryland last weekend ... and will miss the team's matchup with Rutgers on Saturday, which should be an easy win.

Of course, the 20-year-old was punished after he admitted to receiving a loan from a family friend to fly his GF out to last season's Rose Bowl.

Although Young paid the loan back in full, the NCAA ultimately suspended the pass rusher 2 games -- 2 less than what he was reportedly facing.

Young could end up being the #1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft ... and currently leads the country with 13.5 sacks.

Ex-Tennessee football player Jeremy Banks has finally broken his silence after getting kicked off the team last month ... posting a picture with local police officers and apologizing for his "mistake."

Of course, 20-year-old Banks went on an anti-police rant captured on video while being arrested back in September -- saying, "Where I'm from, we shoot at cops."

He also made comments like "Y'all police are some p*****s, bro. Real s**t, I don't f**k with y'all."

Tennesse stuck with Banks after the video came out -- but cut him from the team days later when TMZ Sports learned the linebacker had made violent threats at a female student in August.

Banks had been radio silent up until last week when he posted an apology on Twitter.

"That night I had forgot to pray moments before, it was counted for though. FOR THE PEOPLE #ThanksGod," Banks tweeted, alongside a pic with what appears to be members of the Knoxville Police Department.

"I’m truly sorry for my mistake & I really appreciate everyone that’s rocking with me..."

Banks is still currently enrolled at UT ... but has not been a part of the team since his dismissal last month.

Besides some tremendously stupid decisions off-the-field, the 20-year-old is immensely talented ... and played both offense and defense for the Vols.

Having a real-life buffalo as a mascot can be pretty freakin' cool ... that is, unless that mascot is actually TOO WILD to control and is forced into early retirement.

That's exactly what's happening to the Colorado University's beloved furry friend, Ralphie V, who's made her last run after 12 years of service due to "safety concerns" ... the school announced Tuesday.

If you haven't seen the tradition before, it's one of the dopest things in college football -- that is -- when Ralphie behaves.

According to athletic director Rick George, that hasn't been happening lately ... so CU decided to regroup and let 13-year-old Ralphie chill before she hurts someone.

"Ralphie V has served the department and the university well," the AD said. "She has been a very special buffalo and has truly been adored by many. We hope she lives for many years to come and look forward to finding her successor."

Ralphie V will be honored at the school's final home game ... when her "career" will be celebrated.

But, don't worry CU fans ... the 53-year-long tradition will be back next season with Ralphie VI ... and the school's already started interviewing potential replacements.

Chase Young is still practicing with the Ohio State football team -- despite being suspended indefinitely -- and team officials say they're hoping he's reinstated this week.

Young -- the projected #1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft -- admitted he accepted a loan from a family friend so he could fly his GF out to the 2018 Rose Bowl, which is a big no-no with the NCAA.

The 20-year-old defensive end claims he repaid the loan, but the NCAA put him on ice anyway and he could face a 4-game suspension.

OSU is going to bat for Young and has engaged the NCAA in hopes of reducing the punishment to a 1-game suspension since he already sat out last weekend when OSU played Maryland. OSU won 73 to 14.

This week, the Buckeyes are gearing up to play Rutgers -- and Tuesday, coach Ryan Day told reporters, "We're going to prepare for him to be back this week."

Young leads the nation in sacks (13.5) and is one sack away from the school's single-season record. Day says Young has been practicing with the team during the suspension.

"C'mon man, that s**t is easy. I don't care what people say. You can't tell me SC, Florida State, Florida, Miami, UCLA, I don't care who it is. How are they not winning? I don't give a s**t, man. You call me dumb, or blindsided, or whatever, ignorant. Give me a polo, man, and let me go to work."

That's "Last Chance U" star and former Independence Community College head football coach Jason Brown telling TMZ Sports how frickin' easy it'd be for him to win at a powerhouse university like FSU.

Coach Brown -- star of Netflix's hit show -- resigned from ICC after texting a German player he was his "new Hitler."

So, Brown's chillin' in his Cali home (he says he's got a cigar and whiskey line coming out, and he wrote a book, "Hate Me Now, Love Me Later") ... and even though he's a coach at heart, he says he's not exactly dying to jump back in the saddle.

Well, "unless Florida State calls," Coach Brown tells us ... and if that happens, he says lots of big-time coaches around the country are gonna be shook.

FYI, Florida State head coach Willie Taggart was fired only 21 games into his tenure at the school ... after getting smashed 27-10 by rival Univ. of Miami.

"Make no mistake about it. The D1 coaches know me. They're scared of my ass taking a D1 job, let's be real about it. Give me a Florida State polo, brother, and let's see what happens."

Brown says all the top recruits would flock to his program.

"They'll have the best players in America overnight. That's what it will be. That's a guarantee. Everybody in the country knows it too. That's what they're scared of."

But, realistically -- at least not now -- the call from the big-time program isn't coming ... and Coach Brown knows that and says it's a huge mistake.

"It's all image. Those guys want these name guys that don't know s**t from Shinola. Can't relate to the kids. Can't go into the home. They can only go into 1 home, they can't go into all the homes."

It ain't over for University of Memphis star James Wiseman ... at least, not yet!!!

The 7'1" college basketball superstar -- the projected #1 overall pick in the '20 NBA Draft -- got a court order allowing him to play Friday night, minutes after the NCAA had deemed him ineligible.

The scandal is bizarre and complex but boils down to this ... the NCAA claims ex-NBA star Penny Hardaway provided $11,500 in moving expenses to Wiseman's family in 2017.

At the time, Hardway was an assistant basketball coach at Memphis East High School -- where Wiseman played his final two years of prep ball.

Hardaway later became the head coach at U of M -- and now the NCAA says the transaction makes Penny a "booster," which is a big problem.

On Friday, the NCAA announced Wiseman was ruled ineligible to compete and it seemed the 18-year-old's college career was basically over.

But, the University immediately filed for an emergency court order to restore Wisman's eligibility and it was GRANTED late Friday ... so he was able to take the court against the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Wiseman was a 5-star recruit coming out of Memphis East HS and flashed big-time in his college debut, scoring 28 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.

Deion Sanders would smash Dabo Swinney on the recruiting trail if he were hired at Florida State ... so says LeRoy Butler, who tells TMZ Sports there ain't a kid in America who wouldn't sign up to play for Prime Time!!!

Of course, LeRoy is biased ...  the Green Bay Packers legend went to FSU with Deion and is still good buddies with the Hall of Fame cornerback.

But, LeRoy tells us he knows for a fact Deion would be able to out-recruit Dabo's Clemson -- and just about every other big-name school in the country at FSU regardless.

"If Deion Sanders goes into your living room -- now, Dabo from Clemson could have just left -- they're going to take that meeting from Deion Sanders and probably attend Florida State!"

LeRoy has no idea if Deion is legitimately interested in the open FSU job ... and he tells us he's got no clue if FSU is seriously considering Prime either.

But, LeRoy does tell us it'd be an awesome hire for his alma mater -- saying there's no one out there he's confident could do better!

"He can't do any worse than any other re-tread out there," LeRoy says.

As for the X's and O's outside of recruiting ... Butler's confident Deion could put together a hell of a coaching staff, telling us even he would agree to be on that roster!!!

"That's one guy you don't say no to," Butler says. "You say yes to him before you say yes to your wife!"

LeBron James says Deion Sanders would be the PERFECT hire for the Florida State head coaching gig ... saying, "it would be so dope" to get Prime Time on the sidelines.

Of course, FSU just paid Willie Taggart around $18 million to NOT coach their team after starting 9-12 in his first 2 seasons ... and there have been rumblings Deion could be his replacement.

Enter King James ... who's calling for the Seminoles to pull the trigger and pick up Prime to be the next head coach at Florida State.

"Man it would be so dope and just seems PERFECT for Prime Time @DeionSanders to be the HC of FSU! I mean right??"

"One thing about it he would get in any household on the planet to talk with a kid/parent/s. #ItsTimeforPrime"

FYI -- Bron is an Ohio State guy through and through ... but also grew up a Dallas Cowboys backer, which could be one of the reasons he's so high on Prime.

Sanders has spoken out about people like Miami legend Uncle Luke calling for him to take the gig ... and it doesn't sound like he's against it.

The best player in college football might never play a down in the NCAA again ... Ohio State's superstar pass rusher Chase Young has been suspended indefinitely.

Young -- a junior who leads the country in sacks with 13.5 and is the projected No. 1 overall pick in next spring's NFL draft -- is accused of committing an NCAA violation back in 2018.

Unclear what Young allegedly did to spur the probe ... but the school confirmed in a statement the 20-year-old will miss at least the Maryland game this weekend.

"Ohio State’s Chase Young will not play in this Saturday’s game between the Buckeyes and the Maryland Terrapins due to a possible NCAA issue from 2018 that the Department of Athletics is looking into," the Buckeyes said.

Young is one of the five most touted college football prospects of this last decade ... comparable to past No. 1 overall picks Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney.

The 6'5", 265-pounder is just one sack away from Ohio State's single-season record -- a hell of an accomplishment considering NFL stars Joey Bosa and Nick Bosa just had careers there.

As for how the investigation will affect his draft stock ... it undoubtedly won't -- scouts have been drooling over the DE all year, with ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper saying this month, "He, right now, is the No. 1 player in the draft."

"I don’t see that changing between now and April."

Forget 49ers-Seahawks ... Alabama vs. LSU is an even bigger matchup this weekend for some in Seattle's locker room -- 'cause D.J. Fluker says there's some hilarious wagers going on!!!

D.J. -- an OL who cut his teeth at 'Bama -- tells us he's going to make some bets with LSU alums Al Woods and Ethan Pocic this week that could have some seriously embarrassing ramifications.

"We talking about full-fledged LSU, full-fledged Alabama gear -- somebody's going to wear it," Fluker says. "I'm going to take a picture of it; hopefully we get to post it all on social media!"

Fluker tells us while that might seem hilarious on the outside ... he says to SEC diehards like himself, it's straight-up demoralizing!!!

The game kicks off on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. PT ... and some are hyping it up as one of the greatest regular-season matchups in the last DECADE!!!

As for who's going to win it ... Fluker's confidence level in the Tide is high -- but he admits things could get hairy if Tua Tagovailoa has to sit because of an ankle injury.

Things started off great ... Carmelo Anthony returned to Syracuse on Wednesday to try and inspire the basketball team to beat Virginia!

The speech was great, Melo said all the right things ... everyone seemed FIRED UP! And, that's when everything went wrong ...

The Orangemen proceeded to get DEMOLISHED by the Cavaliers in a 48 to 34 loss.

You read that right. Syracuse only dropped 34 points in a full 40-minute basketball game.

It's the lowest point total in Jim Boeheim’s 44-year coaching tenure, according to Syracuse.com.

Yeesh.

As for Melo, his appearance was a surprise to everybody -- telling the players Boeheim didn't even know he was coming!

"I just want to let y'all know how important this is for me to be here on your guys opening night. [Boeheim] didn't even know I was coming."

Melo continued, "I wanted to be here for you guys. I know the excitement that's surrounding you guys right now. Nobody gonna give y'all a shot. Everybody gonna count y'all out. But, as long as you got each other right here, this is what matters."

Of course, Melo is a legend at Syracuse -- he led the 2003 basketball team to a national championship before bouncing to the NBA after one year.

But, the two sides are on good terms -- in 2009, Cuse named the practice facility after Melo.

Texas Longhorns star Andrew Jones picked up right where he left off nearly 2 years ago ... balling out in his first game with significant minutes since battling leukemia.

The 21-year-old was leading the team in points when he was diagnosed with cancer in January 2018. He underwent several rounds of treatment ... and was adamant he would return to the hardwood.

Jones briefly made 2 appearances last season, but proved he was officially BACK in Tuesday night's season opener against Northern Colorado ... dropping 20 points in 29 minutes in UT's win.

Not only was it a great performance ... it was Jones' CAREER HIGH!!!

The story is incredible ... but Jones said after the game he wasn't letting the big moment affect his play.

"I didn't know what to expect. It was a great feeling to be back out there," Jones said. "I didn't have any jitters. I wasn't nervous.''

Horns coach Shaka Smart also spoke about Andrew's strength after the game, saying "I'm happy for Andrew. I'm happy for his family."

"Sometimes in life, when you are dealt a tough hand, it's really about how you respond. He was the best offensive player on the floor. He played with great energy. He played with an aggressive, confident and loose mindset.''

"It was more dancing and let's see how cool we can be, let's see how many friends we can be with the players ... MAN, F'*CK THAT!"

That's ex-Florida State star Travis Johnson -- a 1st-round pick in the '05 NFL Draft -- explaining why Willie Taggart DESERVED to be fired from FSU after only 21 games.

"I don't want you [to be] friends with my players! I don't wanna be friends with him. I'm supposed to uphold discipline. I'm supposed to uphold order!"

Yeah, 37-year-old Johnson -- who's still very involved and passionate about FSU football -- says he was excited FSU pulled the trigger on Taggart, but he didn't always want it to end this way.

"You know how hard it is for black coaches throughout college football and throughout the NFL, you want him to be successful," Travis said ... but after the way the Seminoles were losing games, Travis said, "I'm happy we got rid of him."

Now, Johnson says FSU has a chance to make a real splash on the college football scene by spending real money on a big-time coach ... and he likes Bob Stoops.

But, it's not just about bringing in the former Oklahoma head coach, Johnson says it's IMPERATIVE Bob brings in a staff of assistants that get the most out of the players.

LSU star QB Joe Burrow says it's "pretty cool" President Trump is coming to his big rivalry game Saturday against Alabama ... no matter what political party you belong to.

FYI, Trump's team has reportedly notified the University of Alabama that he'll attend Saturday's game at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa ... the 3rd big sporting event he'll attend in just a few weeks.

The game is huge -- LSU is ranked #1 and Bama is ranked #2.

Remember, Trump was booed at the World Series in D.C. and got a mixed welcome at UFC 244 in NYC.

So, when 22-year-old Burrow was asked how he felt about the Trump situation, you can tell he's wording his answer very carefully.

"Regardless of your political views, it's pretty cool having the President at the game," Burrow said.

"Doesn't matter if you're a Democrat or a Republican, President at the game is pretty cool."

President Trump is a big football fan -- he was an owner in the USFL back in the day and famously made an effort to buy the Buffalo Bills. He's also friendly with powerful football people, from Robert Kraft to Mike Leach, Ben Roethlisberger and Herschel Walker.