The University of Richmond “failed to monitor its athletics program,“ the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions stated yesterday in its report on recruiting violations committed from August 2007 to January 2008. The committee also concluded the head men’s and women’s basketball coaches “did not promote an atmosphere of compliance.“

Four seasons ago, true freshman walk-on guard Duncan McLean averaged 13 minutes and led the University of Richmond in 3-point field goal percentage. McLean arrived at UR intending to play soccer, which should tell you something about the state of Spiders’ hoops in 2005-06. Things are now considerably different from that season in which McLean was a key figure and Richmond had only seven scholarship players for January and February because of injuries and attrition. Junior center Dan Geriot recently noted “almost a little bit of a swagger” in the Spiders’ program, and fifth-year coach Chris Mooney is trying to settle on a rotation among a dozen scholarship players, 10 with Division I experience.

Virginia Tech basketball player Allan Chaney had surgery yesterday to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Chaney, a 6-9, 235-pound forward, already is sitting out this year after transferring from Florida during the offseason. He will be eligible to play as a redshirt sophomore next season. Chaney, who is from Baltimore, is scheduled to rehabilitate in time for individual workouts in the spring, Hokies coach Seth Greenberg said in a press release announcing the surgery. Chaney suffered the injury during practice.

The Spiders will be led by preseason first-team selection Kevin Anderson. With five starters returning from the program’s first 20-win campaign since 2004, UR garnered four first-place votes. 

University of Richmond senior Kevin Hovde broke his ankle during a recent Spiders workout and is expected to miss at least 10 weeks, according to UR coach Chris Mooney. Surgery was performed. Hovde, 6-6 and from Kennett Square, Pa., played in 24 games last season for the 20-16 Spiders, averaging 5.8 minutes. “It’s so disappointing because of how hard he works and how much he cares about this program,“ Mooney said. “For a guy who was a walk-on and became a scholarship player, it’s just terrible luck for him in his senior year that that would happen.“

“We have a new cafeteria that is the most incredible eating facility you’ve ever seen on a college campus,“ Larranaga said. “You walk in, pay one price and there’s a salad bar, a fruit bar, a hamburger and hot dog grill, a pizza place, wraps. It’s got a cappuccino machine. “My wife and I went there for Sunday brunch, and they not only serve omelets, they make them right there.“

The University of Richmond received its third men’s basketball commitment yesterday when 6-6 Derrick Williams pledged to become a Spider. The 245-pounder attends St. Anthony’s High, of Jersey City, N.J., and joins 6-3 Wayne Sparrow of Baltimore’s St. Frances Academy and 6-0 Cedric Lindsay of Gonzaga High and Camp Springs, Md. Williams also received scholarship offers from Saint Joseph’s, Penn State, St. Bonaventure, Fordham and Hofstra, among others, according to Eric Harrield, Williams’ AAU coach with the University All Stars and an assistant at St. Anthony’s. Williams averaged about 13 points and 8 rebounds as a junior at St. Anthony’s, the alma mater of dozens of former Division I players.

BLACKSBURG—Cadarian Raines, a former Petersburg High forward who will be a freshman on Virginia Tech’s basketball team this season, broke his left foot Tuesday and will miss about 10 weeks. Raines fractured the fifth metatarsal—the long bone on the outside of the foot that connects to the little toe—when he stepped on a teammate’s foot during a workout, said team trainer Chad Hyatt. The injury is common among athletes, so Hyatt is optimistic about Raines’ recovery. Raines will undergo surgery today and have a screw put into the bone to help push the broken pieces together.

Nov. 30, vs. Penn State : Yes, the Cavaliers could play Kentucky five days before this game. But that’s not guaranteed. Regardless of what happens in Mexico, the Nittany Lions will provide a stern test for new Cavaliers coach Tony Bennett. Penn State might have lost its secondand third-leading scorers from last season’s National Invitation Tournament champion team, but its leading scorer, guard Talor Battle, returns.

The University of Richmond yesterday received its second men’s basketball commitment from a member of the Class of 2010. Guard Cedric Lindsay, 6-0, attends Gonzaga High School in Washington, D.C. He also was being recruited by Temple, La Salle, William and Mary, Jacksonville, Niagara and Brown, according to Gonzaga coach Steve Turner.

Takes over from Tim Floyd, who resigned this month amid allegations that he paid to have O.J. Mayo delivered to the Trojans.

New Virginia Commonwealth University basketball coach Shaka Smart is hiring Mike Jones to fill out his staff, Rams athletic director Norwood Teague said. Jones had been an assistant at Georgia under Dennis Felton since 2003. Felton was fired during the season, and Jones was let go when Mark Fox was hired. Jones is familiar with the Richmond area. He served as an assistant at the University of Richmond under John Beilein from 2000-02, then followed Beilein to West Virginia for a season.

Tim Taylor and Wendy Palmer have joined Debbie Ryan’s University of Virginia women’s basketball program as assistant coaches. Taylor will carry the title of associate head coach. The U.Va. athletic department announced the appointments this afternoon. Neither individual is a stranger to the school. Taylor served as a Cavaliers assistant coach from 2000-05 and most recently worked as the head boys basketball coach at Madison High School. Palmer, a former Cavaliers All-American, played for Ryan from 1993-96. Palmer, an 11-year WNBA veteran, spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Kentucky.—Vic Dorr

Guard Joey Rodriguez is returning to the Virginia Commonwealth University basketball team. Reserve forward Franck Ndongo is not. VCU coach Shaka Smart said Rodriguez, who in mid-April had announced he was transferring to Division II Rollins College, has been cleared to rejoin the Rams. Rodriguez, a two-year starter and rising junior, averaged 9.4 points, 2.5 assists and 1.8 steals this past season while leading the Colonial Athletic Association in 3-point field goal percentage (.416).