For Crean, Indiana was a no-brainer • Tom Crean couldn't say "No" when Indiana offered him the coaching job. "This was a heart decision," Crean said Wednesday, his voice cracking. "This was not a business decision or a legacy decision. I'd had other opportunities to walk away [from Marquette], and none of them felt like this. I'm going to miss those people a lot, but I'm excited to be here."

By giving Crean, 42, an eight-year deal worth $18.24 million, an average of $2.3 million each season, the Hoosiers paid a hefty price to forget one of the darkest chapters in school history and hopefull restore its national prestige. Kelvin Sampson, who resigned amid an NCAA scandal in February, was to be paid a total of $1.1 million last year before accepting a $750,000 buyout to go away.

Butler leads OSU • FROM NCAA TO NIT: Jamar Butler didn't expect his college career to end in Madison Square Garden, in the title game of a tournament that masquerades as the consolation prize for all those teams with good but not great seasons.

A year ago he was on college basketball's biggest stage, playing for a national championship under the brightest of lights. Tonight, he'll lead the Buckeyes into the finals of the NIT against Massachusetts.

Butler raised his scoring average to a career-best 14.9 this season, and set Ohio State career records for assists (572) and three-pointers (239) while breaking the single-season mark for threes (101).

UMass (25-10) knows something about senior leadership, too. The Minutemen start three fifth-year seniors -- all transfers from other schools. Those veterans, led by Atlantic 10 player of the year Gary Forbes, have combined for 129 starts this season. Luke Bonner, a fourth-year junior, has also started 15 games.

NOTES

• Kentucky freshman forward Patrick Patterson might need four to six months to heal from surgery on his injured left ankle.

• Nebraska coach Doc Sadler received a two-year contract extension after leading the Cornhuskers in their first 20-victory season in nine years.

• George Mason coach Jim Larranaga has turned down an offer to coach at Providence, his alma mater.

ASSOCIATED PRESS