By The Associated Press

Published: Friday, November 16, 2012, 9:40 p.m.
Updated: Friday, March 29, 2013

ST. LOUIS — Saint Louis men's basketball coach Rick Majerus will not return to the team because of a serious heart condition.

The 64-year-old Majerus ended the school's 12-year NCAA tournament drought last season with a 26-win team that won its opening game and took top regional seed Michigan State to the wire. The Billikens were ranked for the first time since the 1994-95 season.

“Coach Majerus' health is of the utmost importance, and our thoughts and prayers are with him as he faces his challenges,” athletic director Chris May said Friday in a statement.

Majerus has been undergoing evaluation and treatment in California for ongoing heart trouble and the school announced he was on leave in late August. He and his representatives have requested that the school's department of athletics not provide additional details regarding his health.

Majerus has a history of heart woes dating to 1989 and has been on blood thinner medication.

Majerus has a 25-year record of 517-216 with just one losing season and was 95-69 in five seasons at Saint Louis.

Jim Crews, added to the coaching staff last season by Majerus, is the school's interim coach.

NCAA: Muhammad eligible

The NCAA on Friday ruled UCLA freshman guard Shabazz Muhammad is eligible to play, and the star freshman guard is set to make his Bruins debut Monday night.

The NCAA said Friday that UCLA's sanctions against Muhammad were sufficient after the school required him to sit out three games and repay $1,600 in impermissible benefits. The NCAA and UCLA found that Muhammad accepted travel and lodging during three unofficial visits to Duke and North Carolina.

Still dismissed from EMU

Eastern Michigan has dismissed junior forward James Still from its basketball team while an assault case against him is being resolved in court.

The school said Friday that Still has been dismissed from team activities in accordance with athletic department policy.

St. John's Bourgault eligible

Junior college transfer Marc-Antoine Bourgault has been declared eligible to play for St. John's, and the 6-foot-6 shooter joined the Red Storm on Friday night in the Charleston Classic.

Florida reinstates PG Wilbekin

No. 10 Florida has reinstated point guard Scottie Wilbekin, ending his suspension after three games.

Coach Billy Donovan announced Wilbekin's return Friday, saying the 6-foot-2 junior will be available against Middle Tennessee on Sunday in Tampa.

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