Graduation rates up among Sweet 16ORLANDO, Fla. — Men’s and women’s basketball teams in this year’s Sweet 16 are graduating more players and experiencing all-time high academic success.The programs still alive in the NCAA Tournament are enjoying the best academic success since The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport on the University of Central Florida campus has been tracking the numbers, according to a study it released. This year, 15 of the 16 men’s teams, and all of the women’s teams, that made it to the Sweet 16 have an Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 960 or better.These programs are also graduating their players at a higher rate, with 81 percent of the men and 100 percent of the women holding a Graduation Success Rate (GRS) of at least 60 percent. These numbers either equal or surpass all-time highs for this particular TIDES study, which has been in existence since 2003.

Calipari, Stoops sign extensionsLEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky has signed John Calipari and Mark Stoops to two-year contract extensions, keeping Calipari as its men’s basketball coach through 2024 and Stoops with the football program through 2022.Calipari’s base salary increases $500,000 to $7.75 million next season and rises to $8 million annually for each year after under the amended deal.Stoops, who guided the Wildcats to a 7-6 finish and their first bowl since 2010 last season, will earn $3.5 million this year with $250,000 annual increases.

Jones no longer faces felony chargeCINCINNATI — Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones faces three misdemeanor charges, including assault, but no longer is being charged with a felony for a January confrontation with hotel security guards, police and a nurse.A felony charge of harassment with a bodily substance, for allegedly spitting at a nurse, was dismissed at the prosecuting attorney’s request.

Women’s hockey event now delayedUSA Hockey has postponed the start of the women’s national team’s world championship training camp amid an ongoing wage dispute.USA Hockey said the camp originally scheduled to begin Wednesday in Traverse City, Mich., won’t happen.The organization “anticipates” a training camp in Plymouth, Michigan. s