Gillispie: No hard feelings

? Billy Gillispie doesn’t know about chemistry problems or whether he was the right fit at Kentucky. What he does know is that he simply didn’t win enough games.

“I wish we would have won more,” Gillispie said Saturday, less than 24 hours after the university fired him following two turbulent seasons.

During an amiable 30-minute meeting with reporters, Gillispie hardly sounded like the coach whose prickly act had quickly worn thin during his brief time at the home of college basketball’s winningest program.

He cracked jokes, asking if someone wanted to buy his mansion. He smiled, a rarity during his final days with the program. And he said he had no ill feelings toward athletic director Mitch Barnhart, who cited philosophical differences as the reason Gillispie was let go.

“I’m not a woe-is-me kind of person,” Gillispie said. “I’ve always said this, show up every day, try to work hard, try to do your best with the right attitude and everything works out right. I’ve had a great time here at Kentucky.”

One that was cut short after Gillispie went just 40-27 in two seasons. Kentucky stumbled down the stretch this year to miss the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1991. Not exactly the makeover the program anticipated when he was hired to replace Tubby Smith in April 2007.

Barnhart said the decision was about more than wins and losses.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Findlay wins Division II

Springfield, Mass. — Tyler Evans made his only basket count — and it gave Findlay a perfect season and a national championship. Evans’ long three-pointer at the overtime buzzer lifted Findlay (Ohio) to a 56-53 victory over Cal Poly Pomona in the men’s Division II title game Saturday, giving the Oilers a 36-0 record.

Alabama hires VCU coach

Montgomery, Ala. — Anthony Grant has been hired as Alabama’s coach after three successful years with Virginia Commonwealth, leaving a school with no football program to take over one where the gridiron reigns.

Grant and the Crimson Tide reached an “agreement in principle” and the coach will be formally introduced this evening, athletic director Mal Moore said.

GOLF

O’Hair keeps Bay Hill lead

Orlando, Fla. — Sean O’Hair survived a windy, rugged test Saturday at Bay Hill and wound up in the final group with Tiger Woods for the second straight year — with one big difference. This time, the tournament is in his hands.

Despite three bogeys in the last four holes, O’Hair had a 1-over 71 and a five-shot lead over Woods going into the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational

Woods was fortunate to be that close after firing a 71. He made bogey putts of 10 feet and 25 feet on the last three holes.

O’Meara tied at top

Cap Cana, Dominican Republic — Two-time major winner Mark O’Meara roared into position for his first Champions Tour win Saturday, matching the Cap Cana Championship scoring record with a 7-under 65. Eduardo Romero and Keith Fergus joined O’Meara atop the leaderboard after the second round at 8-under 136.

Shin leads LPGA event

Phoenix — Jiyai Shin moved into position for her second LPGA Tour victory of the year and fifth in eight months, shooting a 6-under 66 on Saturday to take a one-stroke lead after the third round of the J Golf Phoenix LPGA International.

COLLEGE SWIMMING

Auburn wins NCAA title

College Station, Texas — Auburn won the 400-yard freestyle relay Saturday to complete a final-day rally past Texas to win the NCAA men’s swimming and diving championship.

SOCCER

U.S. ties El Salvador

San Salvador, El Salvador — Jozy Altidore started the comeback in the 77th minute, and Frankie Hejduk scored the tying goal in the 88th as the United States rallied for a 2-2 draw at El Salvador in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday night.

Wizards fall to Rapids

Commerce City, Colo. — Terry Cooke and Omar Cummings scored to give the Colorado Rapids a 2-1 victory over Kansas City in Colorado’s home opener Saturday night. Wizards goalkeeper Kevin Hartman had four saves to become the all-time saves leader in MLS with 1,139.

TENNIS

Serena wins opener

Key Biscayne, Fla. — Serena Williams has taken the first step in her bid for a record sixth Key Biscayne title. The top-ranked Williams won her opening match Saturday at the Sony Ericsson Open, beating fellow American Alexa Glatch, 6-2, 6-3.

FIGURE SKATING

Kim wins world title

Los Angeles — Kim Yu-na has a world title to go with her royal nickname. Kim, called “Queen Yu-na” by her fans in South Korea, won the women’s title at the World Figure Skating Championships on Saturday night.

HORSE RACING

1987 Derby winner dies

Lexington, Ky. — Alysheba, winner of the 1987 Kentucky Derby and Preakness and 1988 Horse of the Year, has died. The champion stallion was 25. Dubbed “America’s Horse” by racing fans, Alysheba was euthanized Friday night following a fall in his stall at the Kentucky Horse Park’s Hall of Champions, where he was buried Saturday.

AUTO RACING

Truck race postponed

Martinsville, Va. — The truck race scheduled for Saturday at Martinsville Speedway was postponed because of steady rain and has been rescheduled for noon Monday. Rick Crawford won the pole during morning qualifying in a light drizzle.