IN BRIEF

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

South Carolina's Odom reportedly to retire

South Carolina basketball coach Dave Odom plans to retire after this season, several media outlets reported Thursday.

Odom might make the announcement today, The (Charleston) Post and Courier and The (Columbia) State reported, both citing unidentified sources.

Odom told his players about his decision Thursday and refused to confirm or deny the reports after his radio show, the Columbia newspaper reported.

Odom, 65, is in his seventh season with the Gamecocks, who have made the NCAA Tournament once and won two National Invitation Tournament titles since he took over in 2001.

Odom coached Wake Forest for 12 years, making eight NCAA Tournament appearances.

Also: Vance Walberg resigned as Pepperdine's coach.

The 56-year-old Walberg, in his second season with the Waves, cited personal and family reasons for his decision. Assistant Eric Bridgeland will take over as interim coach.

Walberg's resignation follows a 92-57 loss Monday to West Coast Conference opponent Gonzaga. The defeat dropped the Waves to 6-12 overall and 0-2 in conference.

Utah sophomore forward Stephen Weigh is leaving school to return to his native Australia, where he plans to play professionally. He averaged 4.4 points in 11 games this season.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Kansas coach Mangino wins Bryant Award

Kansas coach Mark Mangino won the Paul "Bear" Bryant Award as the college football coach of the year.

Mangino coached the Jayhawks to a 12-1 record and a win in the Orange Bowl.

Mangino also was The Associated Press Coach of the Year and won the Eddie Robinson Award handed out by the Football Writers Association of America.

Mangino got the award over Louisiana State's Les Miles, Missouri's Gary Pinkel, Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer, Mississippi State's Sylvester Croom, former Hawaii coach June Jones and Illinois' Ron Zook.

Also: Quarterback Ryan Mallett, who played one year at Michigan, has transferred to Arkansas.

University spokesman Kevin Trainor said Mallett was in the process of enrolling in classes. After sitting out the 2008 season, Mallett will have three years of eligibility.

Mallett played in 11 games for Michigan last season as a freshman, filling in for Chad Henne when he was injured. Mallett was 61 of 141 for 892 yards with seven touchdown passes and five interceptions.

MISCELLANEOUS

Armstrong plans to run in Boston Marathon

Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong plans to run in the Boston Marathon on April 21 to raise money for his foundation.

Armstrong, 36, qualified for Boston by finishing the 2007 New York City Marathon in 2 hours, 46 minutes, 43 seconds. The Boston qualifying time is 3:15 for men ages 35 to 39.

The Lance Armstrong Foundation supports cancer research, prevention and better care for cancer survivors.

Also: Del Ballard Jr. took over the lead in the United States Bowling Congress USA Team Trials, and Shannon O'Keefe moved to first in the women's division at the Strike Zone Bowling Center in Henderson.

Ballard has a nine-pin lead over Derek Eoff.

O'Keefe, who already had gained a spot on the 2008 team based on last year's qualifier, took the lead by scoring 822 pins over the last three games.

Competition concludes today with the last of four nine-game blocks.

Martin Kaymer opened with an eagle and finished at 6-under-par 66 for a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) Golf Championship.

Kaymer, the European Tour Rookie of the Year in 2007, had five birdies and a bogey at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club's National Course to lead Henrik Stenson.