Duquesne University's basketball team found itself in an unaccustomed place Monday, a week before the start of school and three months before the Dukes' season officially starts. On the practice floor, getting ready to play games next week. The Dukes, who are adding three accomplished players to what previously was one of major college basketball's youngest teams, are taking advantage of a rule that allows teams to make an international tour once every four years.

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University presidents will show how serious they are about academic reform when they decide whether the NCAA should continue to sanction schools that don't meet classroom performance standards, NCAA President Myles Brand said Monday. For the first time last May the governing body issued warning letters to schools based on academic performance. According to Brand, more schools could face warning letters and sanctions this spring if university presidents remain committed to reform.

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Georgia Tech will play the first part of the season without senior center Ra'Sean Dickey, who was ruled academically ineligible for the fall semester. Dickey will have to get his grades up if he hopes to rejoin the team after the end of the semester in mid-December, coach Paul Hewitt said Saturday. The Yellow Jackets did get some good news as junior guard Lewis Clinch was ruled eligible to rejoin the team. He sat out most of last season for violating the school's honor code.

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A man convicted Friday of killing Southern California basketball player Ryan Francis faces an automatic life prison sentence without parole. D'Anthony Ford, 20, was found guilty by a state district court jury of second-degree murder and aggravated battery. Francis, an 18-year-old point guard from Baton Rouge, was shot to death on May 13, 2006, at an intersection in Baton Rouge. Formal sentencing was set for Sept. 17.

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Since NASCAR put them on suspension in June, Chad Knaus and Steve Letarte have managed to stay busy. That hasn't kept the two Nextel Cup crew chiefs from being frustrated. "I'm not going to lie to you, it's tough," Knaus said Friday after rejoining reigning Cup champion Jimmie Johnson and his No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team to prepare for Sunday's 3M Performance 400 at Michigan International Speedway.

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The deal finally is done. Cubs right-hander Carlos Zambrano has agreed to a five-year, $91.5 million contact extension. The deal, which includes a $19.25 million player option for a sixth year, gives Zambrano the highest average salary ever awarded to a pitcher on a multi-year contract. It also gives him the highest average salary in Cubs history, surpassing left fielder Alfonso Soriano, who signed an eight-year, $136 million, free-agent contract last off-season.

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