Kent a finalist

for Coach of the Year
Oregon men’s basketball coach Ernie Kent has been named one of 20 finalists for the 2002 Naismith College Basketball Coach of the Year, Executive Director of the Atlanta Tipoff Club Jackie Bradford announced Wednesday.
Kent, who has guided the 15th-ranked Ducks to an 18-7 record this season and has his team tied for first in the Pac-10, is in his fifth season at Oregon and has the Ducks on track for their third postseason bid in the last four years.
In his fifth year with the Ducks, Kent has an 86-56 overall record. His 11-year coaching record is 176-136.
The Naismith College Coach of the Year will be announced April 5 in Atlanta.

Another starter

leaves Oregon State
For the second time this week, a starter from the Oregon State men’s basketball team has left the program.
It was announced Wednesday that junior forward Brian Jackson had left the team. Junior Jimmie Haywood, a starting guard, left Oregon State on Sunday.
Jackson was the team’s second-leading scorer (11.7) and rebounder (3.9). He was also second on the team for field goal attempts per minutes played and for overall field goal attempts per game. Jackson ranked among the Pac-10 Conference leaders for field goal percentage (.551) and free throw percentage (.802).
“Brian indicated to me that he was leaving because he felt there was too much pressure being put on him by our fans, and he desired more of a heightened role in our offensive scheme,” Oregon State head coach Ritchie McKay said. “We certainly wish Brian the best in his future endeavors.”
Jackson started 70 of 76 career games he appeared in at Oregon State. He missed three games this season due to an abdominal strain injury, did not play five contests his freshman season with a bruised knee, and was limited in other games due to various ailments over his more than two-year career. Foul problems were continually an issue for Jackson as well, as he was disqualified 17 times in 52 games over the last two seasons.
Jackson arrived on the OSU campus in the fall of 1999 from Knappa High School in Knappa, Ore., where he led the Loggers to a pair of state 2A titles. Jackson was a three-time all-state selection and the 2A Player of the Year twice. He left Knappa as the state’s second all-time leading scorer with 2,515 points.

Women’s tennis hosts

Nevada today
The Oregon women’s tennis team looks to continue a hot start to its season today with a 5 p.m. match against Nevada at the Student Tennis Center.
Coming off consecutive losses to No. 7 Arizona State and No. 43 Arizona last weekend, 59th-ranked Ducks head into today’s match with a 6-3 overall record.
Nevada (2-3 overall) is 1-1 on the road this season, including a 4-3 win over Santa Clara and a 6-1 loss to No. 14 California. The Wolf Pack are led by senior Tjasa Jezernik, who is 4-1 in singles play this year.
The Ducks swept the doubles matches against Arizona and Arizona State last weekend before faltering in singles play.
Oregon jumps back into Pacific-10 Conference play this weekend, hosting No. 12 Washington on Saturday and No. 29 Washington State on Sunday.

— from staff and wire report