Sixers Notes: Jordan denies interest in the Rutgers coaching job

MEMPHIS - Prior to Saturday night's game against the Memphis Grizzlies, 76ers coach Eddie Jordan denied a Yahoo! Sports report that he has expressed "significant" interest in the imminent head coaching vacancy at his alma mater, Rutgers University.

Jordan will be dismissed as the Sixers coach at season's end, which was reported in The Inquirer a month ago. The Sixers play their final game on Wednesday at the Orlando Magic. Jordan's dismissal won't come long after season's end, although a time frame has not been set.

The Rutgers job is expected to become vacant early next week: Current men's basketball coach Fred Hill has been given until Monday to accept a $600,000 buyout. Yahoo! reported that Jordan "could be a serious candidate" for the Rutgers gig and that a source close to Jordan has confirmed his "significant" interest in the job.

"I haven't expressed any interest," Jordan said Saturday night. "I haven't talked to anybody about the Rutgers job."

Had he seen the report?

"I have not," Jordan said. "I couldn't get Internet in my room, so . . . I haven't talked about it. I haven't even thought about it."

Jordan played for Rutgers from 1973 to '77, leading the Scarlet Knights to the 1976 Final Four. In 1984, Jordan began his coaching career at Rutgers, serving as a voluntary assistant coach. In 1988, Jordan became an assistant coach at Rutgers.

Sixers forward Rodney Carney, who hasn't played since March 30 because of a sesamoid contusion under his right big toe, was available on Saturday. . . . Big man Jason Smith, who was unavailable on Friday because of a bruised left knee, was also available against the Grizzlies on Saturday. . . . Forward Thaddeus Young (fractured right thumb) did not travel and will not play again this season. . . . In the first quarter of Saturday's game, Memphis guard O.J. Mayo left with a sprained left ankle. He did not return.