The Latest: Swofford says lost ACC events could return to NC
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) The Latest from Atlantic Coast Conference men's basketball media day on Wednesday (all times local):
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2:25 p.m.
ACC Commissioner John Swofford won't rule out holding future neutral-site championship events in the state of North Carolina, assuming things change with a law limiting protections for LGBT people.
The ACC last month followed the NCAA's lead in removing 10 events - including the football championship game and the women's basketball tournament - from the state for the 2016-17 sports year. That came in response to a law signed earlier this year restricting the rights of LGBT people.
Speaking during his annual commissioner's forum, Swofford said "the door is open if things change for us to come back" in future years. Swofford also said the league heard "a lot of support, a lot of disappointment" from fans after pulling the events.
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1:55 p.m.
Duke forward Amile Jefferson is glad he's healthy - and that the frustrations of last season are behind him.
The 6-foot-9 forward recalled how it bothered him to sit out with a foot injury that cost him all but nine non-conference games in 2015-16. He often saw himself as a missing piece that could've helped the Blue Devils defend better or be a stronger rebounding team in a game. Duke went 25-11 last season, finishing fifth in the ACC.
Now Jefferson is ready to pick up where he left off in 2014-15 in helping Duke to the national championship.
"My body's been healthy for months now," he said. "I'm back in the swing of things."
Jefferson will be a critical voice on a team with seven freshmen, including highly regarded newcomers like Harry Giles and Jayson Tatum.
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12:40 p.m.
Pitt forward Sheldon Jeter believes it is an athlete's responsibility to speak up when there's an issue they care about and he has considered following San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick's lead in demonstrating during the national anthem.
Jeter said Wednesday at the ACC men's basketball media day that he has talked with teammates about the entire team participating in a gesture. Jeter said if it's just one person, people can incorrectly classify the action as attention-grabbing and miss the reason behind the demonstration.
The senior forward said he would seek approval from coach Kevin Stallings before taking any action.
In August, Kaepernick began kneeling during the anthem. He cited racial injustice and police brutality among the reasons for his protest, and athletes from various sports and levels - from youth teams to professional ranks - have followed his lead in various ways.
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11 a.m.
Louisville guard Donovan Mitchell says the players are not concerned about the NCAA investigation of the sex scandal at the school and will use it and last year's postseason ban as motivation to achieve big things this season.
The NCAA last week said the program committed four major violations and the governing body criticized coach Rick Pitino for failing to monitor former Cardinals staffer Andre McGee, whom the NCAA says provided improper benefits to recruits and players by hiring escorts and strippers.
Mitchell said Wednesday at the ACC's men's basketball media day in Charlotte that it hurt watching other teams and players he knew play in the NCAA Tournament while Louisville, which went 23-8 and finished fourth in the ACC, sat home.