By Mel Greenberg
PHILADELPHIA _ What started as a buzz on the internet late Friday night became reality Saturday when Connecticut women's coach Geno Auriemma confirmed in an email to the Hartford Courant that mega-freshman star Ellena Delle Donne of Ursuline Academy in Wilmington had abruptly left summer school in Storrs to go back home.
Several local sources in AAU competition here, where Delle Donne has played, confirmed her exist after a week on campus in Storrs, although none could elaborate a specific reason.
The Guru has a print story that basically credits our professional colleague's work in Hartford at the Courant.
Auriemma cited Delle Donne's return to the Wilmington area as something that happens all the time with new collegiate students.
Some whispers here say she may have gotten caught up quickly in the academics and the intense offseason drills led by the veteran Huskies in pickup games.
A year ago, Delle Donne took what became a month off last summer before announcing Connecticut as her choice over Tennessee and Villanova.
This could only be a short-term thing. But if Wildcats fans are hoping for the extreme result, it is not known whether a transfer to Villanova near home would be possible because of transfer rules involving sister Big East schools.
It was unclear Saturday night what the Big East specifics where and no one was available to make a credible description. Villanova coach Harry Perretta was not available. Some of the buzz was that a transfer would have to sit out two years, while in another corner it was said transfers were not allowed at all, but the commissioner might condone a move judging any of them on a case by case basis.
Meanwhile, nothing new out of George Washington's reported move to the Northwestern job, but the Washington chatter indicates the departure of the Father Judge graduate is likely to happen after 19 seasons with the Colonials.
A call was placed to Colorado Springs, but not yet returned as of late Saturday night in the East, whether McKeown had to delay his arrival to USA Basketball headquarters on Monday for trials in his rule as an assistant coach on the Under-18 squad.
Incidentally, some of our Chicago friends were hoping for a quick resolution so they might snare McKeown's older, talented daughter for AAU competition.
As for Temple, nothing additional at the moment but the Guru will be on the case Sunday to determine what needs to be handled from afar later in the week in Knoxville while attending Women's Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.
Incidentally, those of you who like to keep an updated bio of the Guru's life can note that as of Friday when food writer Marilynn Mater retired, the Guru became No. 1 on the newsroom writing seniority list and No. 4 overall when two editorial assistants and a library staffer are factored in.
If the news changes before sunrise, the Guru will return.
-- Mel
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