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AUSTIN, Texas (AP)—Staring at extinction, the Big 12 is once again in play.

The beleaguered conference made a rousing comeback Monday, when Texas
declined an invitation to join the Pac-10 and decided to stay in the Big 12.

Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M quickly followed the Longhorns by
recommitting to the conference after commissioner Dan Beebe convinced his
members they would make more money in television and media deals in a 10-team
Big 12 then in a 16-team Pac-10.

A person with direct knowledge of discussions among the Big 12’s remaining
members said Texas is clear to set up its own TV network and keep all proceeds
in exchange for remaining in the Big 12. The person spoke to The Associated
Press on condition of anonymity because final details had not been worked out.

“Everybody is feeling much more confident the Big 12 is going to survive,”
the person said. “Everybody’s going to be making more money.”

All that talk about the Pac-16, the first super conference that would span
from Seattle to the Lone Star state? Done.

“University of Texas president Bill Powers has informed us that the 10
remaining schools in the Big 12 Conference intend to stay together,” Pac-10
commissioner Larry Scott said in a statement. “We are excited about the future
of the Pac-10 Conference and we will continue to evaluate future expansion
opportunities under the guidelines previously set forth by our presidents and
chancellors.”

Powers declined comment when asked by the AP about details of the deal that
kept Big 12 together.

The conference, born in 1996 when the Big 8 merged with members of the
Southwest Conference, seemed to be falling apart last week when Nebraska (Big
Ten) and Colorado (Pac-10) decided to leave over the next two years. Now the Big
12 its back, though there are still questions about how it will conduct its
business.

Among those that still need to be answered by Beebe is how and why the Big
12 will be more lucrative now, especially when it cannot hold a conference title
game with only 10 members.

Beebe did not return phone messages Monday, but plans to hold a conference
call with reporters on Tuesday.

Last year, Big 12 schools divided between $7 million and $10 million each
depending on how many appearances they made on regional and national TV. At Big
12 meetings earlier this month, Beebe said he expected huge increases in rights
fees from both Fox and ESPN.

The more lucrative contract with ESPN runs through the 2015-16 academic
year, while the Fox deal is reportedly in its final two years.

The Big 12 has increased the financial reward for every one of its members
since it began play in 1996. The Big 12 distributed $139 million to its members
this past fiscal year, more than ever.

“We’re excited about the Big 12 Conference and for its continued growth,”
Missouri athletic director Mike Alden said in a statement. “The University of
Missouri has certainly prospered during its time in the Big 12, and we are
looking forward to future opportunities in the years ahead.”

The news about the Longhorns, Sooners and the rest of the Big 12 South
powers staying put was especially good for Kansas, Kansas State, Baylor, Iowa
State and Missouri—the five schools in danger of being left homeless if the
conference dissolved.

Baylor football coach Art Briles, a Texas native who has spent his entire
career in the Long Star state, put it this way: “I got resuscitated. You can
take your hands off my chest. … I’m extremely excited, it’s like being given
new life.”

As for the Pac-10 and Scott, who was trying pull off a bold move that would
have dramatically changed the landscape of college sports, they are left looking
for at least one more member to get to 12 by 2012 when Colorado is set to join.

Scott’s next target? Utah from the Mountain West Conference would seem a
likely candidate.

Scott’s plan was to add Texas (with Notre Dame the big prize in the
conference expansion game) along with its main Big 12 South rivals—Oklahoma,
Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Texas Tech.

Because Texas is the richest and most powerful of the Big 12 schools, the
Longhorns were seen as the lynchpin to the deal. Wherever Texas decided to place
its cash cow football program, the rest of the schools would seemingly fall in
line.

But Texas A&M had represented a wild card, with school officials meeting
with Pac-10 and SEC officials in recent days. If the Aggies were serious about
leaving for the Southeastern Conference, no matter what Texas did, it was
unclear whether that would have prompted the Longhorns, Sooners and the rest to
decide the Big 12 was not worth saving with only nine members.

But that SEC flirtation turned out to be nothing more.

“Texas A&M is a proud member of the Big 12 Conference and will continue to
be affiliated with the conference in the future,” school president R. Bowen
Loftin said in a statement.

Officials at Oklahoma State and Oklahoma issued similar statements, with OSU
president Burns Hargis singling out Beebe for his “bold moves and intense
efforts.”

The news that the Big 12 survived spread quickly.

“That’s great news,” said Scott Drew, whose Baylor men’s basketball team
advanced to the South regional final in the NCAA tournament a few months ago.
“Obviously, we’re very excited and pleased about the 10 schools staying
together. It will be great to continue the rivalries and traditions.”

AP College Football Writer Ralph D. Russo in New York, AP Sports Writers
Doug Tucker in Kansas City, Mo., Josh Dubow in San Franciso and Stephen Hawkins
in Dallas contributed to this report.

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP)—Tom Izzo wouldn’t even tell one of his young
campers if he wants to coach the Cleveland Cavaliers or stay at Michigan State.

Izzo was at his basketball camp Monday when a boy tried to get the scoop,
inquiring about the coach’s interest in jumping to the NBA.

“Bad question,” Izzo said. “Those guys up there want to know that.”

Cleveland wouldn’t mind an answer either.

But Izzo had nothing new to say Monday night, declining comment to two
reporters waiting outside his office.

He’s trying to stay quiet publicly until he has decided whether to leave the
place that has been his home since 1983 and jump to the NBA to perhaps make $6
million—doubling his salary—and possibly coaching one of the best basketball
players in the world.

Clearly, Izzo would like to know whether he would have LeBron James(notes) to coach
next season.

A person familiar with the situation, however, told the AP that James has
not spoken to Izzo about Cleveland’s coaching vacancy, and the two-time NBA MVP
has no plans to get involved in the Cavaliers’ search. James has stayed clear of
the Cavs’ pursuit of Izzo and will remain on the outside, said the person who
spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team and the school are not
commenting on Izzo’s status.

James recently said in an interview that he will not lobby for any coach and
is unlikely to comment on his future before free agency begins on July 1.

Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, and general manager Chris Grant declined
comment Monday.

That hasn’t stopped media in Michigan from trying to get clues, or an
answer, from Izzo.

A pack of reporters, six TV cameras and two photographers were given limited
access to the camp as Izzo addressed hundreds of boys and many of their parents
at the Breslin Center, where his championship and Final Four banners are in the
rafters.

Izzo tried to conduct business as usual at his camp, joking and giving the
boys a sense of what the week would be like. “Our motto is: Learn to listen and
listen to learn.”

He used a few of his current players and a couple former ones to run the
team’s motion offense.

“The NBA does a great job of spacing,” said Izzo, who made more than one
reference to the league.

After Izzo sent the campers off to other gyms, he spoke to his wife, Lupe,
for a few minutes. She later left in her car after waving to reporters and
walking past a few of “WE (heart) IZZO” signs that were planted just outside
her husband’s office, as well as along the roads the Izzos take from their home
to campus.

While the Cavs wait for Izzo, they’re working on what seems to be Plan B.

Grant spoke by phone last week to Byron Scott, a former New Jersey Nets and
New Orleans Hornets coach. Scott fits the profile of the kind of coach Gilbert
wants. But the three-time NBA champion guard for the Lakers could be waiting to
see if Phil Jackson leaves Los Angeles. Scott’s agent, Brian McInerney, has
deferred all inquiries to the Cavs.

If Izzo leaves Michigan State, the list of possible successors likely would
include Dayton’s Brian Gregory, Tulsa’s Doug Wojcik, Utah’s Jim Boylen—all
once assistants under Izzo—along with current Michigan State assistants Mark
Montgomery and Dwayne Stephens. Both played for the Spartans when Izzo was a
relatively unknown assistant for Jud Heathcote.

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP)—Indiana State basketball coach Kevin McKenna has
resigned to take an assistant coaching job at Oregon.

Indiana State athletic director Ron Prettyman made the announcement Monday.
McKenna was 43-52 in three seasons with the Sycamores.

Indiana State was 17-15 (9-9 in the Missouri Valley Conference) last season
and made its first postseason appearance since 2001 when it played in the
College Basketball Invitational.

McKenna will join Dana Altman, the new Oregon coach who left Creighton
earlier this year. McKenna was an assistant to Altman at Creighton for nine
years before joining Indiana State.