[naviga:h3]T’Wolves coach Saunders dead at 60[/naviga:h3]

MINNEAPOLIS — Flip Saunders, who rose from the backwaters of basketball’s minor leagues to become one of the most powerful men in the NBA as coach, team president and part owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves, died Sunday, the team said. He was 60.

Saunders was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in June and doctors called it “treatable and curable.” But he took a leave of absence from the team in September after complications arose during his treatment, which included chemotherapy. He had been hospitalized for more than a month.

Sam Mitchell has been named interim head coach and GM Milt Newton is heading the team’s personnel department.

Saunders went 654-592 in 17 NBA seasons with the Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards.

Shakeup occurs in AP Top 25 poll

Utah dropped from the ranks of the unbeaten and so did Florida State. The two losses led to a shake-up in The Associated Press’ Top 25 college football poll.

Ohio State (8-0) strengthened its season-long hold on the top spot, adding 11 first-place votes in Sunday’s balloting after rolling over Rutgers.

Baylor (7-0) remained at No. 2, but lost five first-place votes and now totals seven. Clemson (7-0) climbed three spots to No. 3 and has six first-place votes. LSU (7-0) moved up a spot and received five first-place votes following its win over Western Kentucky. TCU (7-0) dropped a spot to No. 5 despite not playing over the weekend.

[naviga:h3]Miami fires Golden after 58-0 loss[/naviga:h3]

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — The worst loss in Miami’s storied history was coach Al Golden’s last game with the Hurricanes.

In a move that long seemed inevitable, Golden was fired Sunday with more than four years left on his contract. Tight ends coach Larry Scott will take over as interim head coach.

Golden went 32-25 with the Hurricanes and 17-18 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. His last game with Miami was a 58-0 loss to then-No. 6 Clemson.

[naviga:h3]O’Leary retiring as UCF grid coach[/naviga:h3]

ORLANDO, Fla. — Following one of the worst starts in program history, George O’Leary is retiring as UCF’s football coach, effective immediately, the school announced Sunday.

It comes a day after the Knights dropped to 0-8 with a 59-10 loss to Houston, the worst home defeat in school history.