After a Promising Start, Pitt’s Season Falling Apart

Seven weeks after upsetting defending champion Kentucky to start 6-0 and move into the Top 25, Pittsburgh (9-8) returned home Wednesday with two more losses, two fewer players and problems that threaten Coach Ralph Willard’s job.

Even before the Panthers finished a 86-65 loss Tuesday at Villanova, Athletic Director Steve Pederson was investigating freshman guard Fred Primus’ arrest earlier that day on charges of grand theft and receiving stolen property. Primus was immediately kicked off the team.

Primus, 19, was charged with stealing $2,200 worth of jewelry from a home in Malvern, Pa., a small community 25 miles west of Villanova. He was sent to Chester County prison on $10,000 bond, and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for next Wednesday.

Walk-on guard Jason Boyd, who apparently hosted a get-together for some players Monday at his Malvern home, was dismissed for violating team rules.

Starting guard Jarrett Lockhart and forward Ricardo Greer, questioned about the theft but not detained, also did not play for what Willard termed a separate violation of team policy. But Pederson said Wednesday they would play Saturday against Georgetown.

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Don Perrelli, Northwestern’s women’s basketball coach, will retire at the end of the season.