Fields back in practice, ‘Skins hire new coach

Star Pitt point guard Levance Fields could be back sooner than projected. Fields, who had… Star Pitt point guard Levance Fields could be back sooner than projected. Fields, who had surgery to repair the broken fifth metatarsal in his left foot on Dec. 31, participated in the team’s walk-through before its 55-54 win against West Virginia on Thursday.

The 5-foot-10-inch junior received medical clearance to resume basketball activities on Thursday. He had been riding a stationary bike and an elliptical machine to keep his heart rate and fitness level up. He shot free throws with teammates after the walk-through and ran on a treadmill after practice.

Fields sprinted across the floor Thursday night to mob teammate Ronald Ramon after Ramon nailed a game-winning, buzzer-beating 3-pointer to beat West Virginia.

“He’s doing everything he needs to do to get back on the court,” Pitt guard Keith Benjamin said after Thursday’s game. “He’s moving extremely well at this point. I don’t know how long it’s been, but I’m pretty sure he’s ahead of schedule of whatever they predicted.”

Fields did shooting drills and watched film with teammates on Saturday and was expected to participate in practice with the team yesterday. He had originally projected Feb. 14 as the likely date for his return, which would come the day before Pitt’s game at Marquette.

Still, Pitt coach Jamie Dixon has stressed that Fields’ return is based on his pain tolerance and his ability to get back to game speed.

Redskins hire head coach

The Washington Redskins introduced their new head coach, Jim Zorn, today at a press conference.

Zorn, 54, signed a five-year, $15 million deal to become the sixth Redskins coach under owner Dan Snyder, who has owned the team since 1999.