by Staff And Wire Reports , Los Angeles Times

Miller accepted the head coaching job at Arizona to end the Wildcats' sometimes frustrating search for a high-profile successor for Hall of Fame member Lute Olson. The university announced the hiring after a confusing few hours in which it was first reported by several media outlets that Miller had turned down the job.

The 40-year-old coach met with Xavier Athletic Director Mike Bobinski and informed the school he was leaving after five years, then told the players in a meeting in the afternoon.

"I did my best to follow my heart," Miller said.

Meanwhile, at Washington State, Bone will succeed Tony Bennett, who last week left for Virginia.

Bone, 50, has led Portland State of the Big Sky Conference to two consecutive NCAA basketball tournaments, plus an eye-opening road win at Gonzaga this season.

Memphis has hired Josh Pastner, an assistant under John Calipari, as the Tigers' new basketball coach. Pastner, 31, worked six years as an assistant at Arizona. Calipari left Memphis for Kentucky last week after nine seasons with the Tigers. . . . Leonard Hamilton will stay as the coach at Florida State after agreeing to a new five-year deal. . . . Tyler Hansbrough has a chance to repeat as the John R. Wooden Award winner. The North Carolina senior, DeJuan Blair of Pittsburgh and Blake Griffin of Oklahoma were named finalists for the award given to the men's college basketball player of the year. Maya Moore of Connecticut and Courtney Paris of Oklahoma were selected as finalists for the women's award. The winners will be announced Friday at the Los Angeles Athletic Club.

PRO FOOTBALL

Jeff Garcia signs with the Raiders

Jeff Garcia, a four-time Pro Bowl quarterback who has played with four teams in five years since leaving the San Francisco 49ers, will return to the Bay Area after agreeing to a one-year deal with the Oakland Raiders to be the backup.

Former Pro Bowl tight end Kellen Winslow has agreed to a six-year contract extension with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. . . . Cornerback Samari Rolle has re-signed with the Baltimore Ravens for a four-year deal. . . . Free-agent linebacker Cato June has signed with the Houston Texans.

Receiver Plaxico Burress can keep his $1-million bonus, but the Chiefs aren't obligated to pay running back Larry Johnson his guaranteed salary and bonuses over the next two seasons.

HORSE RACING

Mullins: Method an honest mistake

Jeff Mullins, under investigation by New York racing officials after giving one of his horses a substance before a weekend stakes race, said it was an "honest mistake."

Gato Go Win wasn't allowed to run in the $200,000 Bay Shore at Aqueduct on Saturday. New York Racing Assn. security officers said they saw Mullins giving a medication labeled as a cough remedy to the horse in the detention barn. Horses are kept there under secure conditions before a race.

Mullins said that he has used the over-the-counter cough formula for 30 years, and that it's available for $12 a bottle at tack stores. He said he administered it orally.

"I think it was an oversight on their part and a mistake on my part. It was an honest mistake," he said.

ETC.

Petty, Andretti to team up at Indy

Two of the most celebrated names in auto racing, Petty and Andretti, will team up for the first time at this year's Indianapolis 500. NASCAR stock-car racing legend Richard Petty said that he will field a car for the Indy 500 on May 24 with veteran driver John Andretti, nephew of open-wheel racing great Mario Andretti.

John Andretti, 46, has driven stock cars and Indy cars in his career, and has driven for Petty's NASCAR teams in the past.

-- Jim Peltz

Fourteen-year-old Madison Keys made her WTA Tour debut a memorable one, upsetting Alla Kudryavtseva, 7-5, 6-4, in the opening round of the MPS Group Championships at Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

Gary Player is calling it a career at Augusta National after his 52nd Masters appearance this week. The 73-year-old South African announced this will be his final Masters, a tournament he won three times on his way to capturing the career Grand Slam.

Florida State coach Bobby Bowden has indefinitely suspended senior wide receiver Rod Owens after the player's weekend arrest on suspicion of drunk driving.

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