Tar Heels lose sophomore guard

Chapel Hill, N.C. Â North Carolina sophomore guard Brian Morrison will transfer to another school before next fall.

Morrison averaged 7.1 points this year and led the Tar Heels with 42 three-pointers. He was third on the team with 72 assists.

“This was a very difficult decision for me to make, but I believe it is best if I pursue another school to finish my collegiate basketball career,” he said.

Morrison did not say what school he might attend.

The Tar Heels finished 8-20, their first 20-loss season. It also was snapped a 27-year run of NCAA tournament appearances.

UCSB adds three years to coaches’ contracts

Santa Barbara, Calif. Â UC Santa Barbara added three years to the contracts of basketball coaches Bob Williams and Mark French on Monday, tying them to the school through the 2007-08 season.

Williams’ men’s team went 20-11 and won the Big West tournament for the first time to earn their first NCAA tournament berth in 12 years. They lost to Arizona in the first round of the West Regional.

French’s women’s team was 26-6 and won its sixth straight conference tournament title. In the NCAA tournament, it beat Louisiana Tech in the first round, then lost to Texas.

Minnesota soph plans to return

Minneapolis  Rick Rickert plans to return to Minnesota for his sophomore year instead of entering the NBA draft.

“Before, college was more of a business deal and I was focused on the goal,” Rickert told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “I was going to go here, do my time and go to the NBA. It’s much more than that. This is a great place to be.”