Lappas staying or going?

While the college basketball world focused on who was going where in postseason play, University of Massachusetts men's coach Steve Lappas was focusing on a bigger picture -- whether he was staying or leaving.

Lappas's fate may have been sealed when the National Invitation Tournament passed on the Minutemen despite their 16-12 record, which in years past has been good enough for an Atlantic 10 team to receive a bid to the consolation tournament.

"That was surprising," conceded Lappas last night as he absorbed another disappointment in a season that has been a roller-coaster ride.

Lappas's standing at UMass pretty much hinged on the team making either the NIT or the NCAA Tournament. A postseason bid would have kicked in a bonus of two years worth of base pay (about $372,000); instead the school is able to buy out Lappas at half of his base salary (about $93,000). Lappas agreed to the restructuring, essentially betting his future on this season, after barely keeping his job after last season. Lappas would only say that something would be announced this morning. "We'll know more tomorrow," Lappas said as he made a polite exit from the phone. Lappas's record in four years at UMass (50-65) did not inspire confidence among UMass boosters or fans, who have stayed away from the Mullins Center in droves. Although the Minutemen showed improvement this season, including a win over nationally ranked Connecticut, they also suffered their third consecutive first-round loss in the A-10 tournament. It all paints a rather bleak outlook for Lappas's tenure at Amherst, which may well end today.

NIT bids out Three New England teams will continue their seasons in the NIT. Patriot League regular-season champion Holy Cross, which was knocked out of NCAA consideration following an upset to Bucknell Friday, will travel to Notre Dame for a first-round game.

In the America East, Boston University and Northeastern will both hit the road for opening-round games. BU will journey to Washington to face Georgetown, while Northeastern, which lost to Vermont in Saturday's America East tournament final, will head to Memphis to face coach John Calipari's Tigers.

The Huskies might be shorthanded, however. The America East is examining tapes of the skirmish in the Vermont game between point guard Jose Juan Barea and Vermont's T.J. Sorrentine. Although no technical fouls were called, tapes revealed Barea threw punches in the melee. It could lead to a suspension for Barea.

The point might be moot, however, since Barea suffered a severely sprained right ankle with 13:58 remaining in the game and was helped off the court. He did not return, which could mean that his status could be doubtful, even if he is not suspended.