INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL SEMI-STATE
NORTH
CLASS 4A
AT ELKHART
CROWN POINT (20-5) VS. FISHERS (26-1), 10 A.M.
FORT WAYNE WAYNE (22-3) VS. MISHAWAKA (20-7), 11:45 A.M.
CHAMPIONSHIP, 7:30 P.M.
CLASS 3A
AT LOGANSPORT
PERU (16-10) VS. SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH (18-9), 10 A.M.
DELTA (22-6) VS. FAIRFIELD (20-6), NOON
CHAMPIONSHIP, 8 P.M.
CLASS 2A
AT LAFAYETTE JEFF
NORTH JUDSON (16-9) VS. WAPAHANI (24-2), 10:30 A.M.
WABASH (21-5) VS. FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK CHRISTIAN (21-6), 12:30 P.M.
CHAMPIONSHIP, 7:30 P.M.
CLASS A
AT MICHIGAN CITY
LIBERTY CHRISTIAN (17-9) VS. MARQUETTE CATHOLIC (12-15), 10 A.M.
ELKHART CHRISTIAN (17-9) VS. FORT WAYNE CANTERBURY (16-9), NOON
CHAMPIONSHIP, 7:30 P.M.
MEN’S TOP 25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCORES
#3 PURDUE 67 MICHIGAN STATE 62
MISSISSIPPI STATE 73 #5 TENNESSEE 56
#12 AUBURN 86 #15 SOUTH CAROLINA 55
#2 CONNECTICUT 95 ST. JOHN’S 90
#13 ILLINOIS 77 OHIO STATE 74
#4 NORTH CAROLINA 72 PITTSBURGH 65
#1 HOUSTON 82 #25 TEXAS TECH 59
TEXAS A&M 97 #9 KENTUCKY 87
OREGON 67 #6 ARIZONA 59
#10 MARQUETTE 79 PROVIDENCE 68
SAN DIEGO STATE 86 #18 UTAH STATE 70
FLORIDA 102 #19 ALABAMA 88
#7 IOWA STATE 76 #14 BAYLOR 62
COLORADO 58 #22 WASHINGTON STATE 52
ELSEWHERE:
UTEP 65 SAM HOUSTON STATE 63
SOUTH FLORIDA 81 E. CAROLINA 59
WISCONSIN 70 NORTHWESTERN 61
GRAMBLING STATE 65 BETHUNE COOKMAN 53
WESTERN KENTUCKY 85 MIDDLE TENNESSEE 54
ALABAMA BIRMINGHAM 72 WICHITA STATE 60
KENT STATE 73 BOWLING GREEN 60
FLORIDA ATLANTIC 77 N. TEXAS 71
AKRON 65 OHIO 62
GRAND CANYON 80 SEATTLE 72
LONG BEACH STATE 83 UC IRVINE 79
NEBRASKA 93 INDIANA 66
FAIRFIELD 65 MARIST 61
TEXAS SOUTHERN 72 ALABAMA A&M 65
NORTH CAROLINA STATE 73 VIRGINIA 65 OT
TEMPLE 58 CHARLOTTE 54
UC DAVIS 68 HAWAII 65
TEXAS ARLINGTON 87 TARLETON STATE 84
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL TOP 25 SCORES
#25 FAIRFIELD 77 CANISIUS 64
ELSEWHERE:
BUFFALO 77 TOLEDO 74 OT
KENT STATE 65 BALL STATE 50
DRAKE 79 INDIANA STATE 57
NORTHERN IOWA 79 ILLINOIS STATE 75
BELMONT 70 ILLINOIS CHICAGO 65
MISSOURI STATE 71 MURRAY STATE 70
LIBERTY 82 NEW MEXICO STATE 70
NBA SCOREBOARD
MIAMI 108 DETROIT 95
PHOENIX 107 CHARLOTTE 96
ORLANDO 113 TORONTO 103
NEW ORLEANS 112 LA CLIPPERS 104
DENVER 117 SAN ANTONIO 106
UTAH 124 ATLANTA 122
NHL SCOREBOARD
WINNIPEG 6 ANAHEIM 0
LOS ANGELES 5 CHICAGO 0
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
KANSAS CITY VS. CINCINNATI CANCELLED
SAN FRANCISCO VS. OAKLAND CANCELLED
ARIZONA VS. MILWAUKEE CANCELLED
TEXAS VS. COLORADO CANCELLED
SEATTLE VS. LA ANGELS CANCELLED
TAMPA BAY 7 BALTIMORE 2
DETROIT 6 ATLANTA 1
DETROIT 9 TORONTO 6
CHICAGO WHITE SOX 3 CHICAGO CUBS 2
CLEVELAND 6 KANSAS CITY 1
MIAMI 8 ST. LOUIS 4
HOUSTON 5 PHILADELPHIA 3
BOSTON 8 MINNESOTA 5
WASHINGTON 7 NY METS 3
PITTSBURGH 6 NY YANKEES 2
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
COLLEGE BASEBALL SCORES
CAMPBELL 10 VALPARAISO 9
FLORIDA STATE 8 NOTRE DAME 4
WEST VIRGINIA 5 OHIO STATE 2
INDIANA STATE 16 XAVIER 5
BUTLER 19 BRADLEY 13
SAN DIEGO 8 MICHIGAN 6
MICHIGAN STATE 11 EVANSVILLE 3
SAMFORD 5 PURDUE 1
ELON 2 MINNESOTA 1 (10)
RUTGERS 15 DELAWARE 10
BELMONT 9 INDIANA 3
IOWA 11 WESTERN ILLINOIS 1
UMASS LOWELL 11 PENN STATE 9
WEST VIRGINIA 5 OHIO STATE 2
ILLINOIS 2 SOUTHERN INDIANA 1
NEBRASKA 7 NICHOLLS 6
PORTLAND 5 MARYLAND 3
YOUNGSTOWN STATE 4 PURDUE FORT WAYNE 2
NORTHERN ILLINOIS 10 AKRON 4
MOREHEAD STATE 12 EASTERN MICHIGAN 2
MIAMI OHIO 3 CENTRAL MICHIGAN 2
WESTERN MICHIGAN 7 TOLEDO 5
OHIO 9 KENT STATE 4
COLLEGE SOFTBALL SCORES
SOUTH CAROLINA 8 MICHIGAN STATE 0
NORTH CAROLINA STATE 1 NORTHWESTERN 0
ILLINOIS 14 SOUTH DAKOTA 5
OMAHA 2 PURDUE 0
IOWA 5 PACIFIC 0
MICHIGAN STATE 5 MINNESOTA 4
INDIANA 8 MERCER 4
OHIO STATE 9 COLUMBIA 0
PENN STATE 4 LEHIGH 3
MARYLAND 8 PURDUE FORT WAYNE 5
IOWA 1 SACRAMENTO STATE 0
GEORGIA TECH 7 NOTRE DAME 5
ILLINOIS 6 LOUISVILLE 0
NEBRASKA 11 NORTH DAKOTA 10
PENN STATE 10 CORNELL 1
RUTGERS 13 SAN DIEGO 2
NATIONAL SPORTS RELEASES/HEADLINES
NFL NEWS
AARON DONALD ANNOUNCES HIS RETIREMENT AFTER A STANDOUT 10-YEAR CAREER WITH THE RAMS
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Defensive lineman Aaron Donald has announced his retirement after a standout 10-year career with the Los Angeles Rams.
The three-time AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year made his surprising announcement on social media Friday.
The 32-year-old Donald spent his entire career with the Rams, who drafted him in the first round in 2014 out of Pitt. The Pittsburgh native was selected for 10 Pro Bowls and eight All-Pro first teams, and he won the award as the league’s top defensive player in 2017, 2018 and 2020.
“Throughout my career, I have given my everything to football both mentally and physically — 365 days a year was dedicated to becoming the best possible player I could be,” Donald said in a statement. “I respected this game like no other, and I’m blessed to be able to conclude my NFL career with the same franchise that drafted me. Not many people get drafted to a team, win a world championship with that team and retire with that team. I do not, and will not, take that for granted.”
Although smaller than many top defensive tackles, Donald used his extraordinary athleticism and game savvy to wreak havoc on offenses throughout his career. He was the cornerstone of every Rams defense during his tenure, drawing habitual double-teams away from his teammates and still racking up a franchise-record 111 sacks, third in the NFL among active players.
After winning the NFL’s defensive rookie of the year award in 2014, Donald reached the peak of his stardom after the Rams franchise moved from St. Louis back to Los Angeles in 2016. He had a career-high 20 1/2 sacks in 2018 on the way to his first Super Bowl appearance under coach Sean McVay.
He then played a major role in the Rams’ run to a Super Bowl victory three years later, most famously applying the pressure that forced Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow to throw incomplete at midfield on the Bengals’ final play of Los Angeles’ 23-20 victory in Super Bowl 56.
“The great players in our league elevate the people around them, and Aaron has modeled the way for our team as long as I’ve been with the Rams,” McVay said in a statement. “He’s an elite competitor, someone who leads by example in a way that’s authentic to him, and an exceptional teammate who inspires everyone around him to be the best version of themselves.”
Lawrence Taylor and J.J. Watt are the only other players to win the defensive player of the year award three times.
Donald was slated to make over $34 million this season under the terms of a contract that was renegotiated nearly two years ago. Although Donald had reportedly flirted with retirement for the past two seasons in private, the Rams and Donald hadn’t publicly acknowledged his departure was a real possibility.
But over the past two months, Super Bowl-winning defensive coordinator Raheem Morris left for the Atlanta Falcons’ head coaching job, and defensive line coach Eric Henderson left for a similar job at Southern California. Henderson and Donald are close friends.
“We are so grateful for Aaron’s dedication to greatness and for leading our franchise on and off the field for the past decade,” Rams owner Stan Kroenke said. “He has left his mark on generations of football fans and his accomplishments, coupled with his work ethic and passion, continue to inspire his teammates, coaches and athletes across the globe. It is a privilege to have witnessed one of the greatest players of all time, and we are proud that Aaron Donald will forever be part of NFL history as a member of the Rams.”
Donald had 543 career tackles, including 176 tackles for loss, and 24 forced fumbles. He had 34 tackles and six sacks in his 11 career postseason games.
Donald also was incredibly durable, missing only six games due to injury in his 10-year career — all of them late in the 2022 season when the Rams were already out of playoff contention.
Only one player is now left on the Rams’ roster who also played in St. Louis: Rob Havenstein, who is still the Rams’ starting right tackle.
JETS TO SIGN ALL-PRO LT TYRON SMITH
The New York Jets continue to revamp their offensive line.
New York is expected to sign former Dallas Cowboys left tackle Tyron Smith, a source told NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. It’s a one-year contract worth up to $20 million with incentives, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Smith confirmed that he’s joining the Jets on Friday.
“I would’ve loved to have stayed home in Dallas, but as we all know, it’s a business the way it works,” he told Josina Anderson of CBS Sports. “I still feel like the Jets have an opportunity to win it, and anything I can do for the team to help them out, I’m going to do (my) best to do it.”
One of his generation’s most respected offensive tackles, Smith has eight Pro Bowl berths and five All-Pro nods on his resume, including two first-team selections. He’s also a member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team. Staying healthy has been an issue for the 33-year-old lately, though.
Smith hasn’t played a full season since 2015. After missing 33 games from 2020-22, he made 13 appearances last season and allowed just one sack in 536 pass-blocking snaps, according to PFF. The USC product, who was drafted ninth overall in 2011, started 161 games across 13 seasons in Dallas.
Revamping the O-line was a top priority for the Jets this year after the team struggled in pass- and run-blocking in 2023. New York allowed the fourth-most sacks last season and finished the campaign with the NFL’s third-worst offensive line in pass situations, according to PFF.
The Jets entered last season with high expectations after they acquired Aaron Rodgers in a blockbuster offseason trade. However, things didn’t go as planned, with the star quarterback suffering a season-ending Achilles injury in his debut with the club.
“I feel like it’s going to be amazing,” Smith said about playing with Rodgers. “Of course, me being with Dallas, he’s kicked our butts twice in the playoffs, so I know what he’s capable of.”
Smith is expected to protect Rodgers’ blind side in 2024. Morgan Moses, whom N.Y. acquired in a recent trade from the Baltimore Ravens, will likely play right tackle for the AFC East team. Other projected starters for the Jets’ new-look offensive line are right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, second-year center Joe Tippmann, and left guard John Simpson, who signed a two-year deal with the club earlier in free agency.
RAMS AGREE TO TERMS WITH FORMER WASHINGTON SAFETY KAMREN CURL ON A 2-YEAR DEAL
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Safety Kamren Curl agreed to terms on a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Rams on Friday.
Curl’s deal is worth $8.75 million and could be worth up to $12.75 million.
Curl spent his first four NFL seasons with the Washington Commanders, who drafted him out of Arkansas in the seventh round. He quickly became a key component of their defense, earning a starting job midway through his rookie season.
Curl played both safety spots and frequently took on the responsibilities of a linebacker in the Commanders’ defensive scheme. He had a career-high 115 tackles last season.
He could be the replacement for Jordan Fuller, who is a free agent after starting all 17 games for the Rams last season. John Johnson, who is a free agent, and Russ Yeast started at the other safety spot last year.
Fuller has been a starter whenever healthy in his four seasons with Los Angeles, but an ankle injury sidelined him for the entire postseason two years ago, including the Rams’ Super Bowl victory in February 2022. Fuller then missed most of the 2022 season with a hamstring injury before returning last season.
Curl joins a defense that has already added cornerback Darious Williams in free agency while seeking to restock a secondary that was likely its weakest point last season. The defense also must manage the loss of star defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who announced his retirement Friday.
VIKINGS ACQUIRE TEXANS’ 1ST-ROUNDER IN 5-PICK TRADE
The Minnesota Vikings are acquiring the Houston Texans’ No. 23 and No. 232 picks in the 2024 NFL Draft in exchange for the No. 42 and No. 188 selections and a 2025 second-round pick, the team announced.
The No. 23 pick is the Vikings’ second in the first round: They also own the No. 11 pick after they went 7-10 during the 2023 campaign.
Minnesota could use their pair of first-rounders to target or trade up for a quarterback after longtime starter Kirk Cousins signed with the Atlanta Falcons as a free agent earlier this week.
Houston, meanwhile, no longer owns a pick in the opening round of the 2024 draft. The Texans sent their top pick to the Arizona Cardinals during last year’s draft in order to land pass-rusher Will Anderson, the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year. The No. 23 pick originally belonged to the Cleveland Browns but was sent to Houston as a part of the Deshaun Watson trade.
The 2024 NFL Draft runs from April 25-27.
REPORT: 49ERS SIGNING EX-PACKERS LB DE’VONDRE CAMPBELL
The San Francisco 49ers are signing former Green Bay Packers All-Pro linebacker De’Vondre Campbell, NFL Network reported Friday.
The deal is for one year, though financial terms have not been disclosed, per the report.
The Falcons selected Campbell in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft, and he spent four seasons there before one season with the Arizona Cardinals (2020) and three with the Packers.
Now 30, Campbell was named an All-Pro following a 2021 season in which he made a career-high 146 tackles, two sacks and two interceptions. He added two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
Last season, he was limited to 11 games (all starts) and dipped to 75 tackles and one fumble recovery.
In 115 career games (110 starts), Campbell has 779 tackles (40 for loss), 9.5 sacks, seven interceptions, 28 passes defensed, eight forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
WOMAN ACCUSES COWBOYS’ PRESCOTT OF SEXUAL ASSAULT
DALLAS (AP) — A woman accusing Dak Prescott of sexual assault has filed a police report over the alleged incident in 2017 after the star quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys sued her on a $100 million extortion claim.
Dallas police said Thursday there was an ongoing investigation after a report was filed earlier this week about an alleged sexual assault that occurred in the parking lot of a strip club in early 2017.
Prescott’s attorneys filed the extortion lawsuit in Collin County, north of Dallas, on Monday. Prescott has denied the woman’s allegation.
According to the lawsuit, the woman and her attorneys wrote Prescott a letter in which they said the woman wouldn’t pursue criminal charges or go public with her claims if Prescott paid her $100 million.
An attorney representing Prescott met last week with police in Prosper, where Prescott lives, and said his client was a possible victim of extortion, The Dallas Morning News reported.
Prescott is seeking $1 million in damages in his lawsuit against the woman and her attorneys. Prescott’s attorney, Levi McCathern, said the quarterback has never had non-consensual sex with anyone.
“Sexual assault is a despicable crime that no person should ever endure,” the lawsuit said. “Defendants’ false claims in this regard undermine the courage of actual sexual assault survivors everywhere as well as the legitimacy of the horrific traumas they have endured.”
The woman told Dallas television station WFAA the incident happened in the back of an SUV after she left the bar where she worked with Prescott and some of his friends.
“It’s kind of embarrassing to be honest,” the woman said. “But I didn’t ask for that. I didn’t ask for this to happen to me.”
Yoel Zehaie, one of the woman’s attorneys, said Prescott’s extortion lawsuit was “a smoke screen to distract from the real topic that should be discussed. And that is that a rape was committed by Dak Prescott.”
Prescott has been the starter for the Cowboys all eight of his seasons, taking over after Tony Romo’s preseason injury. He was the 2016 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and has made three Pro Bowls.
During the 2023 season, Prescott was the reigning NFL Man of the Year for his charitable work.
ANALYSIS: EAGLES, BUCS, PACKERS AND COMMANDERS EARN HIGHEST FREE AGENCY GRADES; COWBOYS GET ONLY F
NFL teams have spent hundreds of millions of dollars this week to add new players, re-sign their own and try to improve their chances of winning.
From Kirk Cousins and Saquon Barkley changing teams soon after the league’s tampering window opened to Chris Jones and Mike Evans staying put before hitting the open market, it’s been a wild spending spree.
The grades are in:
ARIZONA CARDINALS: C+
Focused on defense, adding defensive tackle Justin Jones (three years, $30.1 million), cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting (three years, $25.5 million) and defensive tackle Bilal Nichols (three years, $21 million). Signed right tackle Jonah Williams (two years, $30 million). Acquired quarterback Desmond Ridder to back up Kyler Murray in a trade for wide receiver Rondale Moore.
ATLANTA FALCONS: B+
Swung for the fences by giving Cousins a $180 million, four-year deal to solve their quarterback woes. Gave him another playmaker by signing wide receiver Darnell Mooney (three years, $39 million). Also added tight end Charlie Woerner (three years, $12 million) and acquired Moore.
BALTIMORE RAVENS: B
Added four-time Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry (2 years, $16 million) and re-signed defensive tackle Justin Madubuike (4 years, $98 million), wide receiver Nelson Agholor and linebacker Malik Harrison. Lost linebacker Patrick Queen to the Steelers.
BUFFALO BILLS: C
Signed wide receiver Curtis Samuel (three years, $24 million) and Mack Hollins but lost Gabe Davis. Released safety Jordan Poyer, cornerback Siran Neal, center Mitch Morse and cornerback Tre’Davious White. Extended tackle Dion Dawkins (three years, $60.5 million), re-signed cornerback Cam Lewis, edge A.J. Epenesa, safety Taylor Rapp and defensive tackle DaQuan Jones. Signed quarterback Mitch Trubisky to back up Josh Allen and added linebacker Nicholas Morrow.
CAROLINA PANTHERS: B
Traded star edge rusher Brian Burns. Acquired wide receiver Diontae Johnson. Strengthened their offensive line by signing guards Robert Hunt (five years, $100) and Damien Lewis (four years, $53 million). Upgraded the defense by adding defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson (three years, $22.5 million), edge D.J. Wonnum and linebacker Josey Jewell (three years, $22.75 million.
CHICAGO BEARS: B
Acquired wide receiver Keenan Allen in a trade. Signed Pro Bowl running back D’Andre Swift (three years, $24 million) and tight end Gerald Everett. Added safeties Kevin Byard and Jonathan Owens. Re-signed star cornerback Jaylon Johnson (four years, $76 million). Still haven’t traded QB Justin Fields.
CINCINNATI BENGALS: B+
Traded running back Joe Mixon and replaced him with Zack Moss. Signed safeties Geno Stone (two years, $15 million) and Vonn Bell and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins. Lost tight end Irv Smith, tackle Jonah Williams, defensive tackle D.J. Reader and cornerback Chidobe Awuzie.
CLEVELAND BROWNS: B+
Acquired wide receiver Jerry Jeudy. Signed edge Za’Darius Smith (two years, 23.5 million) and linebacker Jordan Hicks. Brought in Jameis Winston to back up Deshaun Watson instead of re-signing Joe Flacco. Also added versatile running back Nyheim Hines.
DALLAS COWBOYS: F
So much for Jerry Jones’ all-in comment. Lost center Tyler Biadasz, edge Dorance Armstrong and running back Tony Pollard. Signed linebacker Eric Kendricks.
DENVER BRONCOS: D
Released quarterback Russell Wilson and safety Justin Simmons. Signed safety Brandon Jones (three years, $20 million) and defensive tackle Malcolm Roach. Lost center Lloyd Cushenberry and Jewell.
DETROIT LIONS: B+
Acquired cornerback Carlton Davis in a trade, signed defensive tackle D.J. Reader (two years, $27.5 million), edge rusher Marcus Davenport and cornerback Amik Robertson. Re-signed guard Graham Glasgow, special teams ace Jalen Reeves-Maybin and cornerbacks Emmanuel Moseley and Khalil Dorsey. Lost defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
GREEN BAY PACKERS: A
Signed 2022 All-Pro RB Josh Jacobs (four years, $48M million) and released Aaron Jones. Signed safety Xavier McKinney (four years, $68 million) and re-signed All-Pro returner Keisean Nixon.
HOUSTON TEXANS: A-
Acquired and extended Mixon to replace Devin Singletary. Signed edge Danielle Hunter (two years, $49 million) after losing Jonathan Greenard.
Also added linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (three years, $34 million) and signed tight end Dalton Schultz (three years, $36 million).
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: C+
Re-signed wide receiver Michael Pittman (three years, $70 million) and cornerback Kenny Moore II (three years, $30 million). Signed Flacco to replace Gardner Minshew. Lost Moss to Bengals.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: B
Signed Morse, Davis, wide receiver Devin Duvernay, cornerback Ronald Darby and defensive tackle Arik Armstead (three years, $51 million). Lost wide receiver Calvin Ridley.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: B+
Re-signed Jones (five years, $158.75 million) and linebacker Drue Tranquill and franchise-tagged cornerback L’Jarious Sneed. Signed wide receiver Marquise Brown.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: C+
Signed defensive tackle Christian Wilkins (four years, $110 million) and Minshew. Released quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Lost Jacobs and tight end Austin Hooper.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS: D-
Released wide receiver Mike Williams and traded WR Keenan Allen. Signed running back Gus Edwards and let Austin Ekeler walk away.
LOS ANGELES RAMS: C+
Signed guard Jonah Jackson (three years, $51 million), tight end Colby Parkinson and cornerback Darious Williams.
MIAMI DOLPHINS: B
Signed cornerback Kendall Fuller (two years, $16.5 million), linebacker Jordyn Brooks (three years, $26.5 million), edge Shaq Barrett, Poyer, Neal, tight end Jonnu Smith, center Aaron Brewer. Lost Wilkins, Hunt and Jones. Released CB Xavien Howard.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS: B-
Signed Sam Darnold to replace Cousins. Added Greenard (four years, $76 million), edge Andrew Van Ginkel and linebacker Blake Cashman. Signed Jones after the Packers released him. Lost Hunter and Hicks on defense.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: C+
Signed running back Antonio Gibson (three years, $11.25 million) and quarterback Jacoby Brissett. Re-signed wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, tight end Hunter Henry and tackle Mike Onwenu (three years, $57 million). Traded QB Mac Jones.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: C+
Signed linebacker Willie Gay Jr. Extended safety Tyrann Mathieu. Lost Winston and LB Zack Baun and defensive lineman Malcolm Roach.
NEW YORK GIANTS: B
Acquired Burns and signed Singletary, guard Jon Runyan (three years, $30 million), quarterback Drew Lock and safety Jalen Mills. Lost RB Saquon Barkley, McKinney and Robinson.
NEW YORK JETS: B
Signed guard John Simpson (two years, $12 million), defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw and backup QB Tyrod Taylor. Acquired right tackle Morgan Moses. Lost edge Bryce Huff and safety Jordan Whitehead.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: A
Signed Barkley (three years, $37.5 million), Huff (three years, $51.1 million), linebacker Devin White, Gardner-Johnson, Baun and wide receiver DeVante Parker. Re-signed edge Brandon Graham.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS: B+
Agreed on a deal with Wilson, paying him just the $1.21 million veteran’s minimum. Signed Queen (three years, $41 million) away from Baltimore.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: B-
Signed edge Leonard Floyd (two years, $20 million), edge Yetur Gross-Matos (two years, $18 million) and defensive tackle Jordan Elliott. Released Armstead.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: C+
Re-signed defensive tackle Leonard Williams (three years, $64.5 million) and tight end Noah Fant. Released safeties Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs. Acquired QB Sam Howell.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: A
Re-signed Baker Mayfield, Evans and linebacker Lavonte David. Signed Whitehead. Released Barrett. Lost White.
TENNESSEE TITANS: A-
Signed Ridley (four years, $92 million), Pollard (three years, $24 million), Awuzie, Cushenberry and linebacker Kenneth Murray. Lost Henry, Al-Shaair, Brewer and Murphy-Bunting.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS: A
Signed: Armstrong (three years, $33 million), Biadasz (three years, $29.25 million), Wagner, Ekeler, linebacker Frankie Luvu, guard Nick Allegretti, edge Clelin Ferrell, QB Marcus Mariota (one year), safety Jeremy Chinn and tight end Zach Ertz. Lost Fuller, Samuel and Gibson.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
CONFERENCES AND NOTRE DAME AGREE ON 6-YEAR DEAL TO CONTINUE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF THROUGH 2031
The nine Bowl Subdivision conferences and Notre Dame reached an agreement Friday on six-year deal to continue the College Football Playoff through the 2031 season, a significant step that sets in place a revenue sharing plan and allows the the CFP to finalize a media rights agreement.
Executive Director Bill Hancock said the agreement does not lock in a format for the CFP for 2026 and beyond. The playoff is expanding this season from four teams to 12, but that number could grow after the current contract with ESPN expires after the 2025 season.
Hancock declined to give details of the revenue sharing agreement, but said the conferences and Notre Dame did agree that at least five conferences will be guaranteed access to the playoff each season.
“This agreement is a really important next step for the CFP,” Hancock told the AP. “It ensures that fans will continue to have a postseason football tournament to enjoy, and they will see the best teams in the country competing for the national championship.”
FORMER ARKANSAS STATE STAR ARRESTED IN POISONING DEATHS
A former Arkansas State football star and Tennessee Titans scout has been arrested in last year’s poisoning deaths of his girlfriend and her unborn child in Nashville, Tenn.
Blaise Taylor, 27, was indicted on two counts of first-degree murder and arrested by U.S. Marshals on Thursday night in Utah. Nashville police said Taylor is “alleged” to have fathered the child.
Taylor is accused of poisoning Jade Benning at her Nashville apartment on Feb. 25, 2023. She was rushed to a hospital after Taylor called 911 and reported that she was suffering an allergic reaction.
Benning’s 5-month-old fetus died two days later, and she passed away on March 6 — her 25th birthday — without ever speaking to police.
Following months of investigation by police, scientists and the medical examiner, authorities determined Benning had been “poisoned without her knowledge” after Taylor visited her home.
Taylor was a four-year starter as a defensive back and return specialist at Arkansas State from 2014-17. A captain and first-team All-Sun Belt selection, he set the school record for career punt-return yards (1,151) — returning one for a touchdown in each of those seasons.
Taylor later worked as a scout for the NFL’s Titans for four years before serving as a defensive analyst at Utah State in 2023. Earlier this month, he joined the defensive staff at Texas A&M, where his father, Trooper Taylor, is the Aggies’ running backs coach.
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
MICHIGAN FIRES JUWAN HOWARD, THE FORMER FAB FIVE STAR, AFTER FIVE SEASONS COACHING MEN’S BASKETBALL
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan fired coach Juwan Howard on Friday after five seasons, parting ways with the former Fab Five star whose return to his alma mater included two trips to the NCAA Tournament before a concerning decline the past two seasons.
Howard finished with an 82-67 overall record at Michigan. His team was just 8-24 this season after an 18-16 effort last year that earned the Wolverines an NIT bid — a far cry from the 2021 and 2022 seasons that took Michigan to the NCAA tourney. He was The Associated Press coach of the year in 2021 after winning the Big Ten Conference regular-season title.
“After a comprehensive review of the program, I have decided that Juwan will not return as our men’s basketball coach,” athletic director Warde Manuel said. “Juwan is among the greatest Wolverines to ever be associated with our basketball program. I know how much it meant, to not only Juwan, but to all of us for him to return here to lead this program. Despite his love of his alma mater and the positive experience that our student-athletes had under his leadership, it was clear to me that the program was not living up to our expectations and not trending in the right direction.”
STANFORD FIRES COACH JARED HAASE
Stanford fired head coach Jared Haase after eight seasons and zero NCAA Tournament appearances.
Haase, 49, was hired to replace Johnny Dawkins in 2016 and the former Cal guard won as a recruiter, but failed to produce the desired results on the court. He finished with a 126-127 record.
“While the on-court results fell short of our expectations, Coach Haase led our men’s basketball program with great integrity and made a deeply positive impact on many Cardinal student-athletes,” Stanford director of athletics Bernard Muir said in a statement. “As we embark on the search for our next head coach, I wish Jerod and his family all the best in the future.”
The Cardinal posted a 14-18 record in 2023-24, the final season of the Pac-12 before the conference splits in multiple directions. Stanford is joining the ACC.
Stanford finished no better than third (2017-18) in the Pac-12 standings under Haase and last made the NCAA Tournament in 2014.
TOP 25 ROUNDUP: MISSISSIPPI STATE ROUTS NO. 5 TENNESSEE
Cameron Matthews and Josh Hubbard each scored 18 points Friday as Mississippi State never trailed en route to a 73-56 upset victory over No. 5 Tennessee in the quarterfinals of the Southeastern Conference tournament in Nashville, Tenn.
Matthews made all seven of his shots from the field and added eight rebounds for the Bulldogs (21-12), the tournament’s ninth seed who shot 55.3 percent from the field and moved closer to securing an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament next week.
Mississippi State, which will play fourth-seeded Auburn in the first semifinal on Saturday, hammered the Volunteers inside. The Bulldogs had a 42-14 advantage on points in the paint and made 64.7 percent of their 2-point shots.
Zakai Zeigler scored a game-high 20 points for top-seeded Tennessee (24-8). SEC Player of the Year Dalton Knecht was held to 14 points on 4-of-17 shooting from the field, while Jahmai Mashack added 10 points. The Volunteers endured a miserable day on offense, hitting only 19 of 62 shots from the field (30.6 percent) and 8 of 33 (24.2 percent) from 3-point range.
No. 1 Houston 82, No. 25 Texas Tech 59
LJ Cryer poured in 20 points and hit six 3-pointers to help the Cougars roll to a victory over the Red Raiders in the first semifinal game in the Big 12 Conference tournament in Kansas City, Mo.
The Cougars (30-3), this event’s No. 1 seed, won their 11th straight game and will play No. 7 Iowa State — the second seed — on Saturday evening, with the Big 12’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament in the offing.
Emanuel Sharp added 17 points for the Cougars while Jamal Shead and Ja’Vier Francis scored 12 each. Chance McMillian paced the Red Raiders (23-10) with 15 points. Texas Tech, the fourth seed in the Big 12 tourney, is in line to receive an at-large bid into the NCAAs.
No. 2 UConn 95, St. John’s 90
Tristen Newton totaled 25 points, nine assists and six rebounds as the Huskies constantly answered second-half comeback attempts by the Red Storm to reach the Big East final in New York.
The top-seeded Huskies (30-3) won their sixth straight and advanced to face third-seeded Marquette. UConn is seeking its first title since Kemba Walker led the Huskies to five wins in five days in 2011.
Fifth-seeded St. John’s (20-13) got 27 points from Daniss Jenkins and 19 from Jordan Dingle.
No. 3 Purdue 67, Michigan State 62
Zach Edey recorded 29 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Boilermakers to a victory over the Spartans in a Big Ten tournament quarterfinal at Minneapolis.
Lance Jones added 10 points and three steals and Braden Smith had eight assists for the top-seeded Boilermakers (29-3), who won their sixth consecutive game and 15th in 16 contests. Purdue will face fifth-seeded Wisconsin in the semifinals.
Tyson Walker scored 15 points and Malik Hall added 12 points and seven rebounds for eighth-seeded Michigan State (19-14), which lost for the fifth time in its past seven games.
No. 4 North Carolina 72, Pitt 65
RJ Davis scored 25 points to help the Tar Heels beat the Panthers in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament semifinals.
Top-seeded North Carolina (27-6) will face North Carolina State on Saturday after the 10th-seeded Wolfpack beat Virginia in overtime in the second semifinal. Armando Bacot contributed 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Tar Heels.
For fourth-seeded Pitt (22-11), the loss snaps a four-game win streak and puts the Panthers’ NCAA Tournament hopes in limbo. Carlton Carrington led Pitt with 24 points and five rebounds, while Jaland Lowe added 17 points.
Oregon 67, No. 6 Arizona 59
The fourth-seeded Ducks overcame a 14-point, first-half deficit and an early injury to N’Faly Dante to eliminate the top-seeded Wildcats in the semifinals of the Pac-12 tournament.
Jackson Shelstad scored 21 points and Jermaine Couisnard added 20 for the Ducks (22-11), who surged to a 13-point lead before hanging on against the Wildcats (25-8). The Ducks advance to play Saturday night against third-seeded Colorado.
Dante returned to action and finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds, four blocks and three steals in 27 minutes. Oumar Ballo had 14 points and 12 rebounds for Arizona, posting his 12th double-double in his past 13 games.
No. 7 Iowa State 76, No. 14 Baylor 62
Keshon Gilbert scored 20 points for the Cyclones, who pulled away in the second half for a victory over the Bears in the second semifinal of the Big 12 tournament.
Iowa State (26-7) will be playing in its sixth Big 12 tournament final, having won each of the previous five. The Cyclones also got 13 points from Curtis Jones.
Third-seeded Baylor (23-10) was led by Jalen Bridges with 20 points.
Texas A&M 97, No. 9 Kentucky 87
Wade Taylor IV poured in 32 points as the Aggies upset the Wildcats in the quarterfinals of the SEC tournament in Nashville, Tenn.
The seventh-seeded Aggies (20-13) will face Florida, which defeated Alabama 102-88, in the semifinals on Saturday. Tyrece Radford supplied 23 points, seven rebounds and six assists for Texas A&M.
Rob Dillingham paced Kentucky (23-9) with 27 points, four boards and seven assists. Reed Sheppard netted 14 points, and Antonio Reeves had 13.
No. 10 Marquette 79, Providence 68
Kam Jones scored 23 points and the Golden Eagles led virtually the entire way while beating the Friars in the semifinals of the Big East tournament at New York.
Third-seeded Marquette (25-8) will shoot for back-to-back titles when it faces UConn on Saturday. Oso Ighodaro added 20 points for the Golden Eagles.
Providence (21-13), the seventh seed, got 27 points from Devin Carter and 16 from Jayden Pierre.
No. 12 Auburn 86, No. 15 South Carolina 55
Johni Broome had 18 points and 10 rebounds and the Tigers used a suffocating defense to overwhelm the Gamecocks in the quarterfinals of the SEC tournament in Nashville, Tenn.
Chaney Johnson finished with 11 points and K.D. Johnson had 10 for the fourth-seeded Tigers (25-7), who allowed just seven field goals while building a 20-point halftime lead and coasted throughout the second half.
B.J. Mack scored 14 points and Zachary Davis had 10 to lead the fifth-seeded Gamecocks (26-7), who weren’t much more competitive than they were in a 101-61 road loss to Auburn on Feb. 14. South Carolina shot just 28.1 percent from the floor.
No. 13 Illinois 77, Ohio State 74
The Fighting Illini scored the game’s last six points, all at the foul line, to pull out a victory over the Buckeyes in a Big Ten tournament quarterfinal at Minneapolis.
Terrence Shannon Jr. put up a game-high 28 points and Dain Dainja added 18 points for the second-seeded Illini, who rallied from a 10-point, second-half deficit. Shannon and Dainja combined for 26 of their team’s final 31 points to lead Illinois (24-8) into a Saturday semifinal vs. third-seeded Nebraska.
Jamison Battle scored 21 points while Bruce Thornton stacked up 20 points and a career-high 10 assists to lead No. 10 seed Ohio State (20-13), which finished with a 6-2 record since head coach Chris Holtmann was fired on Valentine’s Day and assistant Jake Diebler was named interim boss.
San Diego State 86, No. 18 Utah State 70
Jaedon LeDee had 22 points and eight rebounds and the fifth-seeded Aztecs returned to the Mountain West Conference tournament championship game for the seventh straight season with a win against the top-seeded Aggies in Las Vegas.
Lamont Butler scored 16 points and Micah Parrish had 15 points for reigning tourney champ San Diego State (24-9), which will play sixth-seeded New Mexico in the title game on Saturday.
Great Osobor scored 19 points, Ian Martinez had 16 points and Isaac Johnson finished with 11 points for Utah State (27-6), which had won six in a row.
Florida 102, No. 19 Alabama 88
Walter Clayton Jr. scored 23 points and Zyon Pullin added 19 as the Gators notched a victory over the Crimson Tide in Nashville, Tenn., to advance to the SEC tournament semifinals.
Tyrese Samuel contributed 18 points as the sixth-seeded Gators (23-10) won for the 12th time in the past 16 games. The Gators will face seventh-seeded Texas A&M in Saturday’s semifinals.
Mark Sears scored 22 points for third-seeded Alabama (21-11), which lost for the fourth time in the past six games. Aaron Estrada had 17 points and six assists.
Colorado 58, No. 22 Washington State 52
Eddie Lampkin Jr. made one of two free-throw attempts with 4.6 seconds left to secure the Buffaloes’ victory over the Cougars in a Pac-12 tournament semifinal game at Las Vegas.
Third-seeded Colorado (24-9) will play fourth-seeded Oregon in the championship game. KJ Simpson led the Buffaloes with 16 points and seven rebounds.
Washington State (24-9) was led by Isaac Jones’ 13 points. The Cougars were just 4 of 7 at the foul line, while Colorado finished 11 of 17.
NBA NEWS
NBA ROUNDUP: PELICANS TAKE SEASON SERIES VS. CLIPPERS
Zion Williamson tallied 34 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals and the host New Orleans Pelicans held off the Los Angeles Clippers 112-104 on Friday night.
Trey Murphy III added 14 points, Brandon Ingram scored 13, Larry Nance Jr. had 12 and CJ McCollum put up 11 as the Pelicans (40-26) won the season series against the Clippers, 3-1. New Orleans also moved within two games of fourth-place Los Angeles (42-24) in the Western Conference standings.
Paul George scored 26, Kawhi Leonard had 23 and Norman Powell added 15 for Los Angeles, which played without James Harden (strained left shoulder) for a second consecutive game.
The Clippers got within four points four times before a Williamson field goal and an Ingram 3-pointer increased the lead to 105-96 with 5:37 to play. Baskets by George and Leonard got Los Angeles within five before Nance and Williamson put the game out of reach.
Suns 107, Hornets 96
Devin Booker racked up 21 points to guide Phoenix’s balanced attack in a victory against host Charlotte.
Grayson Allen had 17 points, Bradley Beal posted 15 points, Eric Gordon provided 14 points off the bench and Jusuf Nurkic (21 rebounds) and Kevin Durant both finished with 13 points for Phoenix (39-28).
Vasilije Micic’s 21 points and Grant Williams’ 20 points led the Hornets (17-50), who’ve lost eight of their last 10 games. Miles Bridges notched 17 points and 10 rebounds and Brandon Miller had 14 points.
Heat 108, Pistons 95
Bam Adebayo produced 22 points, nine rebounds and three blocks as Miami beat host Detroit to snap a four-game losing streak.
Caleb Martin had 18 points, eight rebounds and six assists for Miami (36-30). Terry Rozier also scored 18 points, Duncan Robinson supplied 16 points and five assists and Jimmy Butler added 14 points.
Simone Fontecchio put up 24 points for the Pistons (12-54), who had won three of their previous four games. Jalen Duren had 15 points and 17 rebounds, and Jaden Ivey tossed in 14 points and handed out nine assists.
Nuggets 117, Spurs 106
Nikola Jokic poured in 31 points in three quarters of action to help surging Denver beat San Antonio in Austin, Texas.
The Nuggets (47-20) led by as many as 21 points in the second period, by nine at halftime and by seven after three quarters. Denver put away the game via a 15-5 surge over the first five minutes of the fourth period, going up 101-84 on a jumper by Jamal Murray with 7:20 to play. The Nuggets won their fifth straight and its 11th out of 12 games since the All-Star break.
Jeremy Sochan led San Antonio with 19 points. Devin Vassell and Victor Wembanyama scored 17 points each, Zach Collins had 13 and Julian Champagnie tallied 10 points. The Spurs (14-53) have lost three straight games, all as the home team.
Magic 113, Raptors 103
Franz Wagner scored 19 points and visiting Orlando defeated undermanned Toronto.
Paolo Banchero added 17 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for the Magic, who have won 10 of their past 13 games. The teams play again Sunday in Orlando. The Magic (39-28) have won the first two meetings.
Gary Trent Jr. scored a season-best 31 points for the Raptors, who have lost six in a row. Jordan Nwora added 14 points and Bruce Brown had 12. Immanuel Quickley, Kelly Olynyk and Jahmi’us Ramsey each had 10 points for Toronto (23-44).
Jazz 124, Hawks 122
Keyonte George scored 25 points and Collin Sexton added 21 as host Utah snapped a three-game losing streak with a victory over Atlanta.
The short-handed Jazz (29-37) started three rookies, including George, Brice Sensabaugh (14 points) and Taylor Hendricks (10 rebounds). Utah got a lift and career-high nights by G-League call-ups Johnny Juzang (19 points) and Micah Potter (11 points).
Veteran John Collins, who played the previous six seasons with Atlanta, contributed 18 points and 11 rebounds against his former team. Dejounte Murray led all scorers with 33 points to go with nine assists and seven rebounds.
BASEBALL NEWS
BLUE JAYS CATCHER DANNY JANSEN HAS BONE FRACTURE IN WRIST, COULD MISS OPENING DAY
DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) — Toronto Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen has a fractured bone in his right wrist and could miss opening day, manager John Schneider said Friday.
Jansen sustained the injury to the pisiform bone when he was hit by a 93.4 mph fastball from Pittsburgh’s Carmen Mlodzinski during the eighth inning of Wednesday’s spring training game.
“It’s a small bone between the hand and wrist,” Schneider said.
Schneider said Jansen is unlikely for the March 28 opener at Tampa Bay.
“He’ll have to catch and ramp back up and hit,” Schneider said. “Hopefully the first couple weeks of the season he’ll be back.”
Alejandro Kirk is likely to get a bulk of the time at catcher while Jansen is out.
The 28-year-old Jansen hit .228 with 17 homers and 53 RBIs in 83 games last season. He was sidelined between May 24 and June 13 by a strained left groin, and his season ended with a broken right middle finger sustained Sept. 1 when hit by a foul ball during a game against Colorado.
Jansen agreed to a $5.2 million, one-year contract that avoided arbitration. He is eligible for free agency after this year’s World Series.
SPRING TRAINING ROUNDUP: TIGERS TOP JAYS IN SLUGFEST
Keston Hiura hit a grand slam and Buddy Kennedy followed with a solo blast to highlight a seven-run sixth inning as the Detroit Tigers survived a big day from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to beat the host Toronto Blue Jays 9-6 on Friday in Dunedin, Fla.
Guerrero went 2-for-3, including a two-run homer in the fifth, and drove in four runs to improve his average to .417 this spring. George Springer also homered in the fifth to help the Blue Jays take a 6-2 lead but that wouldn’t last.
The Tigers answered with seven hits in the sixth, including back-to-back blasts off Mason Fluharty (0-1), to take the lead.
Mason Englert (1-0) earned the win despite giving up five hits and four runs in two innings. Drew Anderson struck out five in two scoreless innings to pick up the save.
Tigers 6, Braves 1
Starter Matt Manning (1-0) allowed one hit in four shutout innings, striking out four, as host Detroit kept Atlanta in check in Lakeland, Fla.
Gio Urshela, Riley Greene, Justyn-Henry Malloy and Ryan Kreidler each had two hits, but the Tigers went just 3-for-15 with runners in scoring position.
Braves starter AJ Smith-Shawver (0-1) gave up five runs and eight hits in three innings. Michael Harris II went 2-for-3 and is hitting .375 this spring.
Rays 7, Orioles 2
Starter Naoyuki Uwasawa allowed one run on four hits in four innings to lower his spring ERA to 13.03 as Tampa Bay topped visiting Baltimore in Port Charlotte, Fla.
Jacob Waguespack (1-0) walked two and gave up one run and no hits in 3 2/3 innings as the Rays’ bullpen threw five hitless innings.
Orioles starter Dean Kremer gave up two hits and one run in 4 1/3 innings, striking out three. Albert Suarez (1-1) took the loss after allowing six hits and five runs in 2 1/3 innings.
White Sox 3, Cubs 2 (eight innings)
Starter Chris Flexen (2-0) gave up two runs and five hits in four innings, lowering his spring ERA to 2.00, as the host Chicago White Sox edged the Chicago Cubs in Phoenix. The game was shortened to eight innings due to rain.
The White Sox bullpen allowed two hits and no runs in four innings. Tanner Banks struck out three in two innings to earn the save.
Cubs starter Jordan Wicks (2-1) allowed three runs and four hits in five innings.
Guardians 6, Royals 1
Starter Tyler Beede threw five shutout innings, striking out three and giving up three hits, to help visiting Cleveland beat Kansas City in Surprise, Ariz.
Guardians right-hander Scott Barlow (2-0) struck out two in one shutout inning to earn the win.
Royals starter Brady Singer threw four shutout innings, striking out four. Nick Anderson (1-1) gave up four runs and four hits in one inning.
Marlins 8, Cardinals 4
Miami finished with 15 hits and went 6-for-14 with runners in scoring position to double up host St. Louis in Jupiter, Fla.
Vidal Brujan, Josh Bell, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Avisail Garcia and Jon Berti each had two hits for the Marlins, with Berti hitting a three-run homer. Yonny Chirinos threw two shutout innings to earn his second save and lower his spring ERA to 1.29.
Drew Rom (1-1) gave up nine hits and four runs in 2 1/3 innings for the Cardinals.
Red Sox 8, Twins 5
Jarren Duran went 3-for-4 with four RBIs and Rafel Devers added two hits, including a homer, to power host Boston past Minnesota in Fort Myers, Fla.
Red Sox starter Garrett Whitlock struck out five and gave up two hits in 4 1/3 shutout innings. Felix Cepeda (1-0) earned the win despite giving up two runs and three hits in one-third of an inning. Lucas Luetge threw one shutout inning for his second spring save.
Alex Kirilloff and Christian Vazquez each homered for the Twins. Scott Blewett (0-1) gave up two runs on one hit in one inning.
Astros 5, Phillies 3
Starter Ronel Blanco struck out five and allowed no hits in four scoreless innings to improve to 3-0 this spring as host Houston topped Philadelphia in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Conner Greene retired one batter to earn his first spring save.
Starter Cristopher Sanchez (0-1) gave up eight hits and four runs in 2 1/3 innings for the Phillies, who were held to five hits in the loss.
Nationals 7, Mets 3
Lane Thomas hit a three-run homer and Luis Garcia Jr added a solo blast to help visiting Washington beat New York in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Nationals starter Trevor Williams (1-1) gave up two runs and seven hits in five innings, striking out five.
DJ Stewart hit a leadoff homer for the Mets, but the cushion was short-lived. Starter Adrian Houser (0-2) yielded four hits and four runs in five innings, striking out six.
Pirates 6, Yankees 2
Jack Suwinski hit a three-run homer to highlight a four-run seventh inning as Pittsburgh pulled away from host New York in Tampa.
Pirates right-hander Luis Ortiz (2-0) came on in relief and gave up one run and four hits in four innings, striking out four.
Gleyber Torres went 2-for-2 and hit his third homer of the spring. Anthony Misiewicz (0-2) gave up four runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning.
Royals-Reds, canceled
The game between Kansas City and host Cincinnati in Goodyear, Ariz., was canceled due to inclement weather.
Giants-Athletics, canceled
The game between visiting San Francisco and Oakland in Mesa, Ariz., was canceled due to inclement weather.
Diamondbacks-Brewers, canceled
The game between Arizona and host Milwaukee in Phoenix was canceled due to inclement weather.
Mariners-Angels, canceled
The game between visiting Seattle and Los Angeles in Tempe, Ariz., was canceled due to inclement weather.
Rangers-Rockies, canceled
The game between Texas and host Colorado in Scottsdale, Ariz., was canceled due to inclement weather.
GOLF NEWS
WYNDHAM CLARK SPRINTS AHEAD AT THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP
Wyndham Clark posted his second straight 7-under round of 65 Friday to set a four-shot lead through 36 holes of The Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
Clark, the reigning U.S. Open champ, is at 14 under thanks to a run of birdies midway through his second round. He enters the weekend with a sizeable cushion over Xander Schauffele and Canadian Nick Taylor, tied for second at 10 under.
Clark began his round at TPC Sawgrass on the back nine and had a birdie and bogey through seven holes. He gained some momentum by holing an 18-foot birdie putt on the island green at the famed par-3 17th.
He made the turn and birdied Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6, the latter another 18-footer. His approach at No. 1 sat down just 1 1/2 feet from the cup for a tap-in. A 9-foot birdie roll at the par-5 ninth allowed Clark to polish off a 6-under 30 for his second nine.
Schauffele carded a double bogey and an eagle during his second-round 69, while Taylor’s seven birdies outweighed three bogeys for a 68.
Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick (69) is tied for fourth at 9 under with Maverick McNealy (68). World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who was seen receiving treatment for a sore neck during his second round, shot 69 and is tied for sixth at 8 under with Tom Hoge (69), Germany’s Matti Schmid (68) and Canada’s Corey Conners (68).
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, one of three first-round co-leaders with Clark and Schauffele, was eight shots worse on Friday, picking up four bogeys and a double on his way to a 73. He is tied for 15th at 6 under.
The projected cut line was 1 under as players finished their rounds late Friday. Justin Thomas (1 over) and Jordan Spieth (2 over) are among the big names on track to miss the cut.
AUTO RACING NEWS
AUTO RACING: BELL GETS TOYOTA INTO VICTORY LANE IN CUP SERIES AND NEWGARDEN AND VERSTAPPEN GET WINS
NASCAR CUP SERIES
Food City 500
Site: Bristol, Tennessee.
Schedule: Saturday, practice, 5 p.m., and qualifying, 5:50 p.m.; Sunday, race, 3:30 p.m. (FOX).
Track: Bristol Motor Speedway.
Race distance: 500 laps, 266.5 miles.
Last year: Christopher Bell started fourth and won on the dirt.
Last race: Bell surged into the lead and pulled away for the victory at Phoenix after Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Martin Truex Jr. was forced to pit for tires and fuel.
Fast facts: Bell led the final 41 laps and gave Toyota its first victory of the year in the top series following three consecutive wins by Chevrolet. … He’s the fourth different winner in as many races this year and the eighth different winner in the last eight races at the track. … Chris Buescher finished second, Ty Gibbs was third for his career-best finish, Brad Keselowski and Ryan Blaney rounded out the top five. … JGR cars led 230 of the 312 laps with Denny Hamlin out front for 68, Ty Gibbs for 57, Truex for 55 and Bell for 50.
Next race: March 24, Austin, Texas.
Online: http://www.nascar.com
NASCAR XFINITY SERIES
Last race: Chandler Smith moved to the lead after a blown tire cost Justin Allgaier a big lead and got a huge jump on an overtime restart to hold off Jesse Love and Sheldon Creed at Phoenix, giving Toyota its second straight victory in the series.
Next race: March 23, Austin, Texas.
Online: http://www.nascar.com
NASCAR TRUCK SERIES
Weather Guard Truck Race
Schedule: Saturday, practice, 3 p.m., qualifying, 3:40 p.m., and race, 8 p.m. (FS1).
Track: Bristol Motor Speedway.
Race distance: 250 laps, 133.25 miles.
Last year: Joey Logano won on the dirt after starting fourth.
Last race: Rajah Caruth became the third Black driver to win in one of NASCAR’s three national series, winning after starting on the pole at Las Vegas.
Fast facts: Caruth joined Hall of Famer Wendell Scott and Bubba Wallace as Black drivers to win in one of NASCAR’s top three series. … He led 38 laps and finished 0.851 seconds ahead of Tyler Ankrum. … It was the second consecutive victory for Spire Motorsports, formerly owned by Kyle Busch, who won the prvious race at Atlanta. … Ty Majeski led a race-high 40 of the 134 laps and swept the first two stages, but penalties cost him and Daytona winner Nick Sanchez.
Next race: March 23, Austin, Texas.
Online: http://www.nascar.com
FORMULA ONE
Last race: Three-time defending series champion Max Verstappen led another dominating 1-2 finish for Red Bull to win in Saudi Arabia, his ninth consecutive victory dating to last season, 19th in 20 races and 21st in the last 24 races.
Next race: March 24, Melbourne, Australia.
Online: http://www.formula1.com
INDYCAR
Last race: Josef Newgarden won from the pole position in the season-opener in St. Petersburg, with Pato O’Ward of Arrow McClaren disrupting a Team Penske sweep of the top three spots as teammates Scott McLaughlin and Will Power finished third and fourth.
Next race: March 24, Thermal, California.
Online: http://www.indycar.com
NHRA DRAG RACING
Last event: Shawn Langdon won in Top Fuel and JR Todd won in Funny Car in Gainesville.
Next event: March 24, Pomona, California.
Online: http://www.nhra.com
WORLD OF OUTLAWS
Next events: March 15 & 16, Paige, Texas.
Online: http://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars
INDIANA SPORTS RELEASES/NEWS
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL
Bedford North Lawrence Senior Chloe Spreen was named the Indy Star Miss Basketball wimmer Friday. The 5-10 guard/forward received 117 votes from the state’s coaches and media for the top senior basketball player award, out-pacing Fort Wayne Snider’s Jordyn Poole (71 votes), Noblesville’s Reagan Wilson (57), Jennings County’s Juliann Woodard (33) and Indian Creek’s Faith Wiseman (14). Spreen finished her career with 1,869 points, 633 rebounds, 259 assists, 200 steals and 62 blocks.
SATURDAY’S SEMI-STATE MATCH-UPS
CLASS 4A
AT ELKHART
CROWN POINT (20-5) VS. FISHERS (26-1), 10 A.M.
****Watch for Fishers Senior Keenan Garner (16.1 ppg, 8.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists). He had an injured ankle so his status is unknown.
Crown Point Senior Jack Svetich (14.8 ppg, 50.4% 3-pointers) and 6’6” Sophomore Dikembe Shaw (13.1 ppg, 8.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists).
FORT WAYNE WAYNE (22-3) VS. MISHAWAKA (20-7), 11:45 A.M.
***Watch for FWW Senior Jevon Lewis (19.6 ppg, 7.8 assists), Junior Chase Barnes (13.5 ppg, 4.7 rebounds), Junior H.J. Dillard (12.9 ppg, 10.6 rebounds)
CLASS 3A
AT LOGANSPORT
PERU (16-10) VS. SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH (18-9), 10 A.M.
***Watch for Senior Matthew Roettger (18.4 ppg, 9.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists), Junior Gavin Eldridge (13.5 ppg, 5.2 assists), Alex Ross (11.8 ppg, 7.0 rebounds)
SB St. Joe..Junior Chase Konieczny (20.3 ppg, 9.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 39% 3-pointers), Senior Jayce Lee (15.2 ppg, 5.0 rebounds)
DELTA (22-6) VS. FAIRFIELD (20-6), NOON
***Watch for Delta Senior D’Amare Hood (16.9 ppg, 5.0 rebounds, 2.8 steals), Senior Jackson Wors (13.4 ppg, 3.7 rebounds).
CLASS 2A
AT LAFAYETTE JEFF
NORTH JUDSON (16-9) VS. WAPAHANI (24-2), 10 A.M.
***Watch for Wapahani…Senior Isaac Andrews (24.6 ppg, 6.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists), Sophomore Camden Bell (13.0 ppg)
WABASH (21-5) VS. FORT WAYNE BLACKHAWK CHRISTIAN (21-6), NOON
***Watch for Wabash… Senior Izaak Wright (15.5 ppg, 5.1 rebounds, 47% 3-pointers), Senior Trevor Daughtry (14.1 ppg, 3.4 assists), Senior Grant Ford (13.2 ppg, 3.7 rebounds).
***Blackhawk Christian… Junior Kellen Pickett (20.4 ppg, 12.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists), Senior Isaac Smith (15.9 ppg, 3.2 rebounds), Senior Aiden Muldoon (11.2 ppg, 5.5 rebounds)
CLASS A
AT MICHIGAN CITY
LIBERTY CHRISTIAN (17-9) VS. MARQUETTE CATHOLIC (12-15), 11 A.M.
***Watch for Marquette Catholic… Freshman Josiah Mays (11.0 ppg, 3.6 rebounds), Sophomore Colson Dobre (10.4 ppg, 7.0 rebounds), Sophomore Aleks Pecoski (10.2 ppg, 3.4 assists)
ELKHART CHRISTIAN (17-9) VS. FORT WAYNE CANTERBURY (16-9), 1 P.M.
***Watch for Elkhart Christian… Senior Aiden Hibbard (22.9 ppg, 6.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists)
***FW Cantebury… Senior Devon Lewis (15.0 ppg, 3.6 rebounds), Senior Tucker Day (11.5 ppg, 5.8 rebounds), Senior John Parent (10.2 ppg, 4.4 rebounds).
INDIANA PACERS BASKETBALL GAME PREVIEW
When the Pacers meet the Nets on Saturday night, it will have been roughly 15 months since they last faced off.
Saturday’s contest will look very different than the last time the two teams met Dec. 10, 2022. This is in part due to the fact both teams were active in the offseason and in making mid-season trades, but also because Brooklyn had eight players, including seven of its leading scorers and all five of its usual starters, sit out of its 136-133 comeback victory at Gainbridge Fieldhouse that night.
Since then, Indiana has added new key players to its roster, including Pascal Siakam, Obi Toppin, Ben Sheppard, and Jarace Walker. In Brooklyn, the Nets added eight new players, including guard Lonnie Walker IV, in the offseason, and recently picked up Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, and Dennis Schröder through mid-season trades. Bridges and Johnson were involved in the blockbuster Feb. 2023 trade that sent 16-year pro Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns.
The sixth-place ranked Pacers enter the matchup following a 132-129 loss to the Chicago Bulls in their second game of a back-to-back Wednesday night. Myles Turner led the way for Indiana with 27 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the floor, while Siakam added 17 points and nine rebounds and Haliburton contributed 17 points and 14 assists.
Turner’s 27-point outing was his second game with at least 20 points this week, as he recorded 24 points on 11-of-17 shooting in the Pacers victory at Oklahoma City Tuesday night. Turner has now recorded 23 20-point games this season and has helped the Blue and Gold go 15-8 when he scores at least 20 points. The center has also shot 53.8 percent (35-of-65) from the floor over Indiana’s past five games, in which the Pacers won three of the five.
T.J. McConnell, who recorded 16 points on Wednesday, has provided a spark off the bench as of late by averaging 14.5 points over Indiana’s past six games and scoring in double digits in four of those contests. All-Stars Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam continue to impress as usual, averaging 19.4 points and 18.4 points respectively over the past five games.
The 11th-ranked Brooklyn Nets enter the matchup following a 114-106 loss to the Orlando Magic Wednesday night, which handed them their third loss over their last six games.
The Nets are led by the sixth-year pro forward Bridges, who is averaging career-highs in points (20.9 ppg), rebounds (4.7 rpg) and assists (3.8 apg) in his first season with the Nets. Eleven-year NBA guard Schröder, the newest addition to the team, is averaging 14.5 points per contest in his 15 games with the Nets.
Cam Thomas, who only made four starts last season, will be looking to start for the 37th time this season on Saturday. The guard is averaging 21.3 points this season and has averaged 30 points over Brooklyn’s most recent two games since missing six consecutive games with a right ankle sprain.
Projected Starters
Pacers: G – Tyrese Haliburton, G – Andrew Nembhard, F – Aaron Nesmith, F – Pascal Siakam, C – Myles Turner
Nets: G – Dennis Schroder, G – Cam Thomas, F – Mikal Bridges, F – Dorian Finney-Smith, C – Nic Claxton
Injury Report
Pacers: Bennedict Mathurin – out (right shoulder labral tear), Doug McDermott – out (right calf strain)
Nets: TBA
Last Meeting
Dec. 10, 2022: Indiana suffered a surprise 136-133 loss to the short-handed Brooklyn Nets in the most recent meeting between the two teams last season. Though eight players were sidelined for the game, including seven of their leading scorers and all five of their usual starters, the Nets were able to pull off the win with a strong fourth quarter.
The Pacers held a 117-108 advantage midway through the fourth frame, but a 12-3 Brooklyn scoring run tied the game with less than four minutes remaining, forcing the game to come down to the wire. Brooklyn scored 41 points in the final frame to Indiana’s 33 points with the help of Cam Thomas’ 21 fourth-quarter points.
Despite the loss, Tyrese Haliburton had a career-night, recording a season-high 35 points and a new career-high seven 3-pointers. Six other Pacers ended the night in double-figures, including Buddy Hield (17 points), Myles Turner (16 points), Oshae Brissett (14 points), Jalen Smith (13 points), Bennedict Mathurin (13 points) and Aaron Nesmith (12 points).
Thomas led the way for the Nets with 33 points, while Patty Mills followed behind with 24 points. In addition, Edmond Sumner scored 21 points and Day’Ron Sharpe recorded 20 points. The Nets outrebounded Indiana 59-30 overall and 29-7 on the offensive glass.
Noteworthy
Indiana and Brooklyn have not faced off against each other since December 10, 2022. After Saturday’s matchup in Indianapolis, the Nets will return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on April 1 and will meet the Pacers back in Brooklyn on April 3.
The Pacers are 110-82 all-time with the Nets, including 65-31 while at home.
Myles Turner needs six blocks to break Jermaine O’Neal’s franchise record for career blocks (1,245).
Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)
TV: Bally Sports Indiana – Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan – Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)
Tickets
The Pacers continue their homestand by hosting Mikal Bridges and the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday, March 16 at 7:00 PM ET.
FUEL HOCKEY
INDY ACQUIRES FORWARD CAM HAUSINGER IN TRADE
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indy Fuel have acquired forward Cam Hausinger from the Florida Everblades in exchange for future considerations.
He comes to the Fuel with five goals, and six assists with the Everblades this season. The Anchorage, Alaska native has racked up 47 penalty minutes as well.
The 5’10 forward has experience in the Central division, playing for the Wheeling Nailers. He tallied 26 goals and 36 assists during his two years with them from 2021 to 2023. He also had nine goals during the 2022 Kelly Cup Playoffs.
Hausinger also has AHL experience, playing for the Iowa Wild and Milwaukee Admirals during the 2022-23 season.
Prior to his professional career, the right winger played five season in the Western Hockey League (WHL) for the Saskatoon Blades, Kootenay Ice, and most recently the Red Deer Rebels.
In 2022, Hausinger was invited to the Nashville Predators Main Training Camp and was added to their Prospect Showcase Roster.
INDY ELEVEN SOCCER
KICK IS SLATED FOR SATURDAY AT 4 P.M. ET/3 P.M. CT ON ESPN+
#MEMvIND Preview
Memphis 901 FC vs Indy Eleven
Saturday, March 16, 2024 – 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT
AutoZone Park – Memphis, Tenn.
Follow Live
Streaming Video: ESPN+ (click to subscribe)
In-game updates: @IndyElevenLive
Stats: #MEMvIND MatchCenter at USLChampionship.com
2024 USL Championship Records
Memphis 901 FC: 1-0-0 (1), 3 pts; 1st Western Conference
Indy Eleven: 0-1-0 (-1), 0 pts; 11th Eastern Conference
Community Health Network Sports Medicine Indy Eleven Injury Report
OUT: A. Quinn (knee)
QUESTIONABLE: TBD
SETTING THE SCENE
The Boys in Blue return to action Saturday in a road contest at Western Conference foe Memphis 901 FC. This will be the first non-conference match-up for the sides since the 2020 season as Memphis shifted conferences for the 2024 season.
Indy is coming off a season-opening 2-1 loss at Oakland Roots SC, while Memphis won its first of 2024, 2-1, over Las Vegas Lights FC.
SERIES VS. MEMPHIS
Saturday marks the 12th overall meeting between the sides in USL Championship action, with Memphis holding the 5-3-3 all-time advantage. The clubs spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons as USLC Eastern Conference foes and were both in the Eastern Conference’s Central Division in 2021.
Indy Trails 3-5-3 | GF 15, GA 14
Recent Meetings
Aug. 23, 2023 | D 0-0 | Away
Aug. 5, 2023 | L 2-1 | Home
July 23, 2022 | D 1-1 | Home
May 14, 2022 | L 2-1 | Away
TOTW X2
Indy Eleven placed two players on the USL Championship Team of the Week for their efforts in the season opener at Oakland Roots SC. Jack Blake and Younes Boudadi cracked the first XI of the season, making the Boys in Blue the only squad with two players on the list.
Indy Eleven’s preseason goal leader Blake continued the scoring in match one of the regular season, grabbing the initial equalizer in the 43rd minute of action. In 90 minutes of action, Blake led the Indy attack with a match-high six total shots, including a pair on frame. Defensively, Blake won a team-high 11 of 16 duels contested and notched 12 recoveries.
Boudadi, who assisted on Blake’s goal, led or shared the team lead in interceptions (3) and tackles won (2) in 75 total minutes. Boudadi completed 81% (34/42) of his passes, created four chances and won six duels.
THE [NEW] GAFFER
2024 is Indy’s first season under head coach Sean McAuley, who previously served as interim head coach/assistant at MLS-side Minnesota United FC. McAuley helped Minnesota to playoff appearances in each of his first three seasons, including a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2020. In 2015, he hoisted the MLS Cup with Portland Timbers. McAuley opened his playing career with Manchester United and played for Portland Timbers and the U-21 Scottish National Team, among others
LAST TIME OUT
Indy Eleven fell, 2-1, to USL Championship Western Conference opponent Oakland Roots SC to open the season on the road.
Oakland got on the board first in the match as Jeciel Cedeno found the back of the net in just the third minute of action for the early lead. The remainder of the first half saw offensive dominance by Indy Eleven with a 13-2 edge in shots, including 4-1 in shots on target, and the equalizer from Indy’s preseason goal leader Jack Blake in the 43rd minute, by way of a cross in from Younes Boudadi.
Oakland scored early again in the second frame as Bryan Tamacas found himself alone inside the 18 with an opportunity in front of goal in what would be the match winner.
The Boys in Blue registered 19 shots in the match with Blake tallying a match-high six, and Augi Williams adding four.
Scoring Summary
OAK – Jeciel Cedeno 3’
IND – Jack Blake (Younes Boudadi) 43’
OAK – Bryan Tamacas (Irakoze Donasiyano) 51’
Discipline Summary
IND – Jack Blake (caution) 24’
IND – Sebastian Guenzatti (caution) 24′
IND – Karsen Henderlong (caution) 25’
IND – Callum Chapman-Page (caution) 41’
IND – Elliot Collier (caution) 70’
OAK – Baboucarr Njie (caution) 89’
IND – Cam Lindley (caution) 90+8’
OAK – Irakoze Donasiyano (caution) 90+8’
TOP-10 TEAMMATES
Sebastian Guenzatti (7th, 70) and Augi Williams (T9th, 66) serve as the only pair of active teammates in the USL Championship’s top 10 for all-time regular season goals.
A FAMILIAR FOE
Two Boys in Blue will see a familiar side when Indy travels to Memphis Saturday. Elliot Collier (2019) and Cam Lindley (2019) were former teammates at Memphis while both were on loan with the club.
ROAD WARRIORS
The Eleven finished the 2023 regular season 8-5-4 on the road, giving them the most regular season wins away from home in the club’s USLC history (previously 6 in 2019). Indy outscored its opponents 27-21 on the road with eight multi-goal performances and four of 3+ (3 at ELP, PIT, SA; 4 at CHS).
ALL-LEAGUE TALENT
This season’s squad features 2023 All-USL Championship selections DF Adrian Diz Pe and MF Cam Lindley.
Diz Pe earned four team of the week selections during the 2023 playing in 31 total matches, making 29 starts, finishing in in the league’s top 15 in four statistical categories including clearances, aerial duels won, duels won and interceptions. His three goals tied for the sixth most by a defender in the league.
The accolade was the second consecutive for Lindley, who started all 34 matches played in 2023 and led Indy in assists, passes and chances created, with six of his last eight assists coming in the final six regular season matches.
INDIANA MEN’S BASKETBALL
INDIANA FALLS TO NEBRASKA IN BIG TEN TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINAL
MINNEAPOLIS — The Indiana winning streak was ending, a postseason opportunity was fading, and senior guard Xavier Johnson couldn’t watch.
A towel covered his head and face while sitting on the bench as the clock ticked toward zero Friday night. When it ended, IU had fallen to hot-shooting Nebraska 93-66 in the Big Ten tourney quarterfinals.
The sixth-seeded Hoosiers (19-14), which came in on a five-game winning streak, never recovered from a 17-0 half-ending Cornhusker run. Nebraska (23-9) hit 14 3-pointers, 12 in the first half.
“We just didn’t have any answers from a defensive standpoint,” coach Mike Woodson said in the post-game press conference.
“The bottom line is, we’ve got to get better. I don’t want to sit here this time next year not playing in the NCAA Tournament.”
IU, so dominant all season in the paint behind center Kel’el Ware and forward Malik Reneau, managed just 24 points in the paint. Ware and Reneau combined for just 17 points on 6-for-18 shooting.
“Our guys fought hard,” associate head coach Yasir Rosemond told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer during the post-game radio show. “We had some injuries this year. Coach won’t let us make excuses. We thought we had a good game plan.
“Nebraska, when they play us, they shoot the heck out of the ball. They shot it great. We couldn’t get our offense going. They took away our big guys and our guards didn’t make a lot of shots.”
Forward Mackenzie Mgbako had 16 points and seven rebounds. Guard CJ Gunn came off the bench for a career-high 17 points. Johnson finished with eight points, five rebounds, and five assists. IU did go 13-for-13 from the free throw line.
Senior guard Trey Galloway was again sidelined by injury. Senior guard Anthony Leal was limited to no points and one rebound in eight minutes because of a sprained ankle. Freshman guard Gabe Cupps failed to score.
“Not having Trey hurt,” Rosemond told Fischer. “He had been playing well. We overcame it in the Michigan State game. We overcame it in the Penn State game. But playing a team like this, you need two to three ballhandlers.
“We have to get Gabe better at making plays for other guys, but he’s been great this year. He’s been steady. We need another guy to make plays.”
Nebraska, which beat IU for the third time this season, had the advantage of the double bye and was playing in its first Big Ten tourney game. The Hoosiers were coming off an emotional tourney win over Penn State Thursday night.
Was fatigue a factor?
“I don’t know if our guys were tired,” Rosemond told Fischer. “We won’t make excuses because we were trying to get to the NCAA Tournament, but that might have played a part in it.”
Nebraska will play No. 2 seed Illinois (24-8) in Saturday’s semifinals. Top-seed Purdue (29-3) will play fifth-seed Wisconsin (21-12) in the other semifinals.
IU opened with two turnovers. Nebraska opened with a pair of three-pointers. Reneau countered with two- and three-point baskets. Mgbako followed with a three-point play for an 8-8 tie.
An Mgbako shot-clock-beating 3-pointer put the Hoosiers ahead 15-13.
Nebraska responded with four more 3-pointers (giving it seven, four from Brice Williams) and took a 31-21 lead in a game that already had six lead changes.
Mgbako’s three free throws — making IU 6-for-6 on the line to Nebraska’s 0-for-0 — briefly kept the Hoosiers within range.
Then guard Keisei Tominaga got hot from beyond the arc as Nebraska surged ahead 50-27 by halftime. The Cornhuskers had 12 3-pointers. IU made just one of its last 15 shots. Mgbako had 14 points and six rebounds. Ware, who had been so dominant coming down the stretch, had zero points.
In Bloomington, the Hoosiers had cut a 20-point halftime Nebraska lead to three before losing. Could they duplicate that rally?
They could not.
The Cornhuskers scored the first two points of the second half for a 25-point lead.
A Gunn 3-pointer and Ware steal and dunk got the Hoosiers within 18 points six minutes into the second half but could never build on it. Reneau fouled out with nine minutes left with nine points and five rebounds. A few minutes later, Woodson picked up his second technical and was ejected.
By then, the deficit was too large to overcome.
“I’m proud of these guys,” Rosemond told Fischer. “To do what we’ve done despite the injuries is a tribute to Coach and our guys. They kept fighting. They could have folded the tent when we lost four in a row.”
IU figures to be a strong player in the transfer portal. Galloway said he would do his recruiting part.
“I’m going to be the biggest recruiter I can be. The portal is here. We can’t pretend that it isn’t.”
INDIANA WATER POLO
NO. 12 INDIANA PREPS TO TAKE ON NO. 2 CAL ON SATURDAY
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – No. 12 Indiana resumes Mountain Pacific Sports Federation action on Saturday when it travels to No. 2 Cal. Game time is set for 1 p.m. ET at Spieker Aquatics Complex.
#12 Indiana at #2 Cal
Saturday, March 16, 2024
Spieker Aquatics Complex • Berkley, Calif.
Live Stats • Watch Live
NOTES
The Hoosiers are coming off a competitive game at UC Davis on Thursday, where it fell 9-7. Junior Sophia Sollie had a hat trick and graduate student Zoe Crouch added a pair of goals for the Hoosiers.
Indiana will face its 11th game against a ranked opponent this season when it meets the Bears on Saturday. It has six Top 25 wins this season including its first Top 10 win since 2020 against No. 8 Princeton last weekend.
Sollie continues to be a threat for the Hoosiers on offense, holding team second-best 45 goals which narrowly trails team leader junior Skylar Kidd (46).
Kidd leads the way in overall offense with a combined 76 points with team-highs in goals and assists (30).
Sophomore goalie Jasmine Higgs continues to lead the Hoosiers in goal, recording a MPSF-high 212 saves.
UP NEXT
Indiana returns home to face No. 5 USC on March 30 at Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center in an 11 a.m. ET matchup on BTN.
For all the latest on Indiana University women’s water polo, be sure to follow the team at @IndianaWPolo on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
PURDUE MEN’S BASKETBALL
#3 PURDUE OUTLASTS MICHIGAN STATE TO MOVE INTO BIG TEN SEMIFINALS
[3] Purdue 67, Michigan State 62 (Postgame Notes)
Purdue improved to 29-3 overall with a 67-62 win in the Big Ten Quarterfinals over Michigan State. The win moved Purdue into the Big Ten semifinals for the third straight season.
Purdue has defeated Michigan State in five straight games for the first time since March 1993 to Feb. 1997 (7 games). Matt Painter is now 18-16 all-time against Michigan State, having won nine of the last 10 games, and 11 of the last 14 games, against Michigan State.
After losing its first four games all-time against Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament, Purdue has won the last two against the Spartans (2022 Semifinals; 2024 Quarterfinals).
Purdue and Houston are the only schools in the country to have at least 29 victories in each of the last three seasons. The Boilermakers are now one win shy of a school-record 30 wins set during the 2017-18 season.
Purdue’s 67 points were a season low.
Purdue has reached the semifinals in three straight seasons, now owning a 6-1 record in the last three Big Ten Tournaments. In every year since 2016, when Purdue has won its quarterfinals game, it has advanced to the finals, winning its last four semifinal contests.
Purdue owns a 58-9 record since the start of last season, now tied for the most wins in a two-year span in school history.
The win was Purdue’s 20th in quad-1 or quad-2, the most in the country.
Purdue now owns 21 wins over the KenPom top-100 and 12 over the KenPom top 50.
Purdue has won 38 straight games when forcing 10 or more turnovers, after forcing 13 against Michigan State.
Purdue has won 49 straight games when shooting a better field goal percentage than its opponents (41.5 to 39.3 percent).
In his last three games in the Big Ten Tournament, Zach Edey is averaging 30.3 points and 13.0 rebounds, after having 29 and 12 in the win today.
In his last four games against Michigan State, Zach Edey averaged 32.8 points, 13.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.
Edey become the third player in Big Ten Tournament history (Purdue’s Trevion Williams; Ohio State’s Evan Turner) with at least 25 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists in a tournament game.
Edey now needs 12 points to tie the school record for career scoring, now having 2,311 points (Rick Mount – 2,323).
Edey’s 778 points are the sixth most in a season in Purdue history, needing 22 points to join Glenn Robinson (1,030 – 1994), Rick Mount (932 – 1969) and Carsen Edwards (832 – 2019) in the 800-point club for a season. He needs 22 points to become the ninth player in Big Ten history with 800 points in a season.
Edey moved into seventh place on the Big Ten’s career scoring list (2,311), passing Iowa’s Luka Garza (2,306).
With his 12 rebounds, Edey moved into third place on the Big Ten’s career rebounds list (1,223).
Edey has made 251 free throws, now the second most in Big Ten history in a season (Terry Dischinger – 292). His 351 free throw attempts are the most in Big Ten history.
Edey recorded his 23rd double-double of the season, good for the eighth most in a season in Big Ten history.
Edey recorded his 38th career 20-10 game, tied for the second-most nationally in the last 15 years (Mike Daum – 46).
Edey joins La Salle’s Lionel Simmons (La Salle, 1988) as the only players in NCAA history with 775 points, 375 rebounds, 60 assists and 60 blocks in a season. Should Edey reach 800 points (needs 22), he’d become the only player with 800 points.
Braden Smith overcame foul trouble and a minor leg injury to score five points with eight assists and four rebounds. He now has 230 assists on the season, the sixth most by a freshman or sophomore in Big Ten history (Magic Johnson, Trey Burke, Cassius Winston, Mike Conley, Darius Morris).
Fletcher Loyer made his only 3-point attempt of the game to give Purdue a 59-56 lead with just over a minute left. He is now 9-of-12 from deep in his last four games.
MINNEAPOLIS — Zach Edey had 29 points and 12 rebounds for third-ranked Purdue, and the Boilermakers recovered from a blown 12-point lead to beat Michigan State 67-62 in a hard-nosed quarterfinal game in the Big Ten Tournament on Friday.
Lance Jones had 10 points and three steals with just one turnover for the Boilermakers (29-3), who advanced to play Wisconsin in the semifinals on Saturday despite matching their season-low score and being outrebounded (37-36) for only the second time all season.
“As long as we keep guarding and taking care of the basketball, we’re going to give ourselves a chance,” head coach Matt Painter said.
Tyson Walker had 15 points, Malik Hall pitched in 12 points and Tre Holloman scored 10 points for the Spartans (19-14), who had an 18-0 edge in fast-break points and tied the game late before falling short in head coach Tom Izzo’s 1,000th game on the bench.
“Guarding Edey is a load. We tried it a number of different ways. We tried doubling. We tried digging. We tried regular head up,” Izzo said. “Matt does such a great job of getting them the ball in different spots.”
Walker, the fifth-year guard, stepped up down the stretch to lead the surge. He knocked down a mid-range jumper for the tie with 1:41 left, the closest the Spartans came since a 3-2 lead, but Fletcher Loyer answered with a 3-pointer on the other end for Purdue.
Xavier Booker had a clear look at the top of the key from 3 with 1:05 remaining to tie it back up, but the ball rolled around the inside of the rim and bounced out.
The Boilermakers had a scare midway through the second half when first team All-Big Ten point guard Braden Smith hobbled off the court with an injury to his right calf muscle. But Smith was able to re-enter about four minutes later with Purdue leading by five, and Jones deftly handled the ball in his absence.
The Boilermakers are two wins away from matching Michigan State (1999, 2000) as the only Big Ten program to win both the outright regular season title and the conference tournament in consecutive years. The Spartans used that feat 24 years ago as a launching pad for the national championship, which still stands as the last time a Big Ten team won it all.
One step at a time for Purdue, of course, with that crushing loss to 16th-seeded Farleigh Dickinson in the first round of the NCAA Tournament still unanswered until the Big Dance begins anew. The Spartans, despite five losses in their last seven games, should be on the safe side of the bubble.
This matchup of the Big Ten’s two most successful programs over the last three decades predictably resembled a football game at times, with the Spartans sending Carson Cooper, Jaxon Kohler and Mady Sissoko into the post to try to somehow disrupt the rhythm of the reigning AP Player of the Year, and though they were successful at times the 7-foot-4 Edey got plenty of soft hooks to fall.
He stared down and pressed his forearm on Holloman at one point, after the Minneapolis native fouled Loyer and was too close to Edey’s liking. Both players picked up a technical foul for that exchange.
Cooper got whacked in the nose by the downswing of Cam Heide’s arm on his drive to the hoop late in the first half, forcing the 6-foot-11 Cooper to play with gauze in his nose.
“Every game we’ve ever played Michigan State, it’s been a physical, tough game,” sixth man Mason Gillis said. “You’ve got to just be there for it.”
There were 46 fouls called in the game — 29 on the Spartans. Sissoko fouled out in 10 minutes, with seven rebounds.
“The bigs played as well as they could play, battled down there,” Walker said.
#3 BOILERMAKERS BATTLE BADGERS IN BIG TEN TOURNAMENT SEMIFINAL
GAMEDAY INFORMATION — GAME 33 /// BIG TEN SEMIFINALS
[3] Purdue (29-3) vs. Wisconsin (21-12)
Saturday, March 16, 2024
1 p.m. ET | Minneapolis, Minnesota
Target Center (20,000)
TELEVISION: CBS (Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill, Tracy Wolfson)
RADIO: Purdue Global Radio Network (Rob Blackman, Bobby Riddell)
THE NOTES TO KNOW
• For the second time in seven days, the No. 3-ranked Purdue Boilermakers face Wisconsin in a high-stakes game, this time coming in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals in Minneapolis. On March 10, the Boilermakers completed a regular-season sweep of Wisconsin with a physical 78-70 win over the Badgers on Senior Day in Mackey Arena.
• The two teams will face each other in the Big Ten Tournament for the first time since the 2015 semifinals. Purdue led the highly-ranked Badgers at halftime in that game before falling 71-51 in Chicago.
• The Boilermakers are looking to make their third straight Big Ten Tournament championship game. In 2022, Purdue lost to Iowa in the finals, before defeating Penn State a year ago in the title game. The Boilermakers are aiming for their seventh championship game appearance overall (1998, 2009, 2016, 2018, 2022, 2023).
• With the win over MSU in the quarterfinals, Purdue has defeated Michigan State in five straight games for the first time since March 1993 to Feb. 1997 (7 games). Matt Painter is now 18-16 all-time against Michigan State, having won nine of the last 10 games, and 11 of the last 14 games, against Michigan State.
• Purdue owns a 114-74 series lead against Wisconsin, having won three games in a row and 10 of the last 14 meetings, dating to Dec. 2015.
• Purdue and Houston are the only schools in the country to have at least 29 victories in each of the last three seasons. The Boilermakers are now one win shy of a school-record 30 wins set during the 2017-18 season.
• Purdue is one win away from tying the school record for wins in a season (30; 2017-18 season).
• Purdue owns a 58-9 record since the start of last season, now tied for the most wins in a two-year span in school history.
• The Michigan State win was Purdue’s 20th in quad-1 or quad-2, the most in the country. Purdue owns 21 wins over the KenPom top-100.
• Purdue has won 38 straight games when forcing 10 or more turnovers, after forcing 13 against Michigan State.
• Purdue has won 49 straight games when shooting a better field goal percentage than its opponents (41.5 to 39.3 percent).
• In his last three games in the Big Ten Tournament, Zach Edey is averaging 30.3 points and 13.0 rebounds, after having 29 and 12 in the win today (32 & 14 vs. Ohio State; 30 & 13 vs. Penn State; 29 & 12 vs. Michigan State). In his career (8 games), he’s at 19.5 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 2.0 APG).
• Edey become the third player in Big Ten Tournament history (Purdue’s Trevion Williams; Ohio State’s Evan Turner) with at least 25 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists in a tournament game.
• Zach Edey now needs 12 points to tie the school record for career scoring, now having 2,311 points (Rick Mount – 2,323).
• Zach Edey moved into seventh place on the Big Ten’s career scoring list (2,311), passing Iowa’s Luka Garza (2,306), and with his 12 rebounds, Edey moved into third place on the Big Ten’s career rebounds list (1,223).
• Edey has made 251 free throws, now the second most in Big Ten history in a season (Terry Dischinger – 292). His 351 free throw attempts are the most in Big Ten history.
• Edey is now just the second player in NCAA history (La Salle’s Lionel Simmons – 1988) with at least 775 points, 375 rebounds, 60 assists and 65 blocks in a season. Should he reach 800 points (22 points away), he’d be the first player to reach 800 points with 375, 60 and 60.
• Zach Edey has had at least 22 points in nine straight games and at least 12 rebounds in six of the last nine games. Edey also has four straight games of three or more assists. Over the last five games, Edey is averaging 29.8 points, 12.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.8 blocks.
• In 26 games against high-major opposition, Zach Edey is averaging a combined 40.4 points (25.9), rebounds (12.4) and assists (2.1) per game. In the last 15 years, no player in America has averaged at least 40.0 combined P-R-A against high-major opposition.
• Purdue was well-represented on the All-Big Ten teams announced on Tuesday, with Zach Edey and Braden Smith earning first-team accolades. Edey was named the Player of the Year for the second straight season, while also earning a spot on the All-Defensive Team. Matt Painter was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year for the fifth time in his career, while Mason Gillis was selected as the Sixth Man of the Year. Fletcher Loyer, Lance Jones and Gillis were all voted to the Honorable Mention squad.
• Purdue tied the Big Ten record (Indiana – 1977 and 1978) for most conference victories by a single class, when the group won its 59th league game in Sunday’s victory over Wisconsin. The group went 59-20 in its four years in Big Ten play.
• Purdue has beaten teams ranked 4th (Arizona), 5th (Tennessee), 8th (Alabama), 13th (Marquette), 15th twice (Illinois), 17th (Gonzaga), 22nd twice (Wisconsin) and 24th (Michigan State) in the NCAA NET rankings. The Boilermakers are 10-0 against the NCAA NET top 25.
• Purdue was voted No. 3 in the AP Top 25 poll on Monday. With its No. 3 ranking this week, Purdue has now been ranked in the top 5 of the AP poll for 35 straight weeks, the longest-active streak in America by 17 weeks (UConn – 18). It has been ranked in the top 3 in 29 of those weeks. The 35 weeks of being ranked in the top 5 is the third longest in confererence history (41 — Ohio State, 1960-63; 38 — Indiana, 1975-77).
• Braden Smith overcame foul trouble and a minor leg injury to score five points with eight assists and four rebounds. He now has 230 assists on the season, the sixth most by a freshman or sophomore in Big Ten history (Magic Johnson – 269; Trey Burke – 260; Cassius Winston – 241; Mike Conley – 238; Darius Morris – 235; Braden Smith – 230).
• Fletcher Loyer made his only 3-point attempt of the game against Michigan State is now 9-of-12 from deep in his last four games. Loyer is 38-of-79 (.481) from deep in his last 22 games (last non-con game, all Big Ten games, first game of BTT).
• Lance Jones surpassed 1,900 career points in the win over Michigan State, now with 1,909 career points.
• Mason Gillis made two more 3-pointers, now with 142 career 3-pointers. Purdue is 42-4 in his career when he makes two or more 3-pointers.
BALL STATE GYMNASTICS
GYMNASTICS WELCOMES EMU TO WORTHEN ON SUNDAY
» THIS WEEK IN BALL STATE GYMNASTICS: The 2024 regular season comes to a close for the Ball State gymnastics program Sunday, when it hosts Eastern Michigan for both Greek Life Day and Senior Day inside Worthen Arena … Action begins at 1 p.m. ET with the meet broadcast live on ESPN+
» BALL STATE IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS:
– Ball State enters Sunday’s dual versus Eastern Michigan ranked 35th nationally with an NQS of 196.410 according to the latest Road to Nationals Rankings.
– BSU’s program record score of 198.025 at the Tennessee Collegiate Classic (Jan. 19) is the 25th-highest team score in the nation … The Cardinals were the first program in the country to break the 198 mark this season, while No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 2 LSU, No. 3 Cal, No. 4 Florida, No. 5 Utah, No. 6 Kentucky, No. 7 Alabama, No. 8 Michigan State and No. 11 UCLA are the only programs to score higher than Ball State since.
– The Cardinals have proven to be one of the nation’s top bars teams this season, ranking 25th nationally with an NQS of 49.225 … In fact, Ball State’s program record score of 49.775 on bars at the Tennessee Collegiate Classic (Jan. 19) ties as the fourth-best team score on any apparatus in the nation so far this season, trailing only No. 1 Oklahoma’s 49.825 on bars set Feb. 2 and its two 49.800s on beam, as well as No. 3 Cal’s 49.825 on beam March 10.
– So far this season, there have been a total of 64 perfect 10.0s scored nationally … Three of them have come from Ball State gymnasts, starting with senior Suki Pfister on vault at the Tennessee Collegiate Classic (Jan. 19) … Sophomore Zoe Middleton and graduate student Megan Teter added perfect 10.0s on bars later in the meet, the first two perfect 10.0s in program history in the event.
– BSU gymnasts also boasts three of the nation’s 148 scores of 9.975 this season including Victoria Henry’s vault at the Ohio State Tri-Meet (Jan. 14), Ashley Szymanski’s bars routine in the home opener versus Bowling Green (Jan. 22) and Suki Pfister’s vault at George Washington (Feb. 23).
» A QUICK LOOK AT EASTERN MICHIGAN:
– The Eagles enter Sunday’s meet ranked 41st nationally with an NQS of 195.595 … Beam is EMU’s best event as they rank 42nd nationally with an NQS of 48.945 … Raisa Boris currently leads the squad with 391.700 points and ranks first in the MAC with an all-around NQS of 39.360.
» RECORDS FALL AGAIN AT TENNESSEE COLLEGIATE CLASSIC:
– For the second consecutive season, the Ball State gymnastics program shattered records at the Tennessee Collegiate Classic (Jan. 19), highlighted by a team record score of 198.025 … The Cardinals were the first program in the nation to break the 198 mark this season, with the score also being a Mid-American Conference record.
– The effort included program event records on vault (49.375), bars (49.775) and floor (49.625), as well as the fourth best beam score in program history (49.250) … The program’s beam record of 49.350 was set at last season’s Tennessee Collegiate Classic.
– Ball State’s gymnasts registered a program meet record 12 scores of 9.900-or-higher, including perfect 10.0s by Suki Pfister (vault), Zoe Middleton (bars) and Megan Teter (bars) … Prior to the meet, the Cardinals only had one perfect 10 in program history.
– Ball State’s student-athletes earned 21 career best scores over the course of the meet, with each athlete who competed tallying at least one.
» MORE RECORD NOTES FROM TENNESSEE:
– On floor, Suki Pfister tied the program record for a second time in her career with a 9.950 … Three Cardinals, Carissa Martinez, Zoe Middleton and Megan Teter, all earned 9.925s, while Hannah Ruthberg added a 9.900 … It marked the first time in program history all five countable scores on an event were 9.900-or-higher.
– Ball State produced five of the top 10 individual bars scores in program history later in the meet, led by the first two perfect 10s on bars in the BSU record book from Zoe Middleton and Megan Teter … The Cardinals also received 9.925s on bars from Ashley Szymanski, Victoria Henry and Hannah Ruthberg to give the program its first-ever event with all five countable scores at 9.925-or-higher.
– Zoe Middleton crushed the program’s all-around record with a 39.750, including a 10.0 on bars, a 9.950 on vault, a 9.925 on floor and a 9.875 on beam … It currently ties as the eighth-highest all-around score in the nation this season … The previous program record was 39.400 set twice last season … All five of Middleton’s scores were career-best efforts.
– Megan Teter and Victoria Henry also passed the previous all-around mark with scores of 39.575 and 39.450, respectively … Teter’s effort of 39.575 included a 10.0 on bars, a 9.925 on floor, a 9.850 on beam and a 9.800 on vault … Henry’s effort of 39.450 counted a 9.925 on bars, a 9.850 on beam, a 9.850 on floor and a 9.825 on vault.
» A RECORD OPENER AS WELL: Ball State started the season with the best opening meet score in program history with a 194.925 at the UNC Quad (Jan. 5) … The previous record was 194.475 set at Kentucky to open the 2018 season.
» GOING 9.975-OR-HIGHER: Senior Victoria Henry turned in the best vault of her career to win the event at the Ohio State Tri-meet (Jan. 14) with a mark of 9.975 … Freshman Ashley Szymanski added a career-best 9.975 of her own on bars to win the event in the dual victory over Bowling Green (Jan. 22) … Along with the three perfect 10.0s registered at the Tennessee Collegiate Classic (Jan. 19) by Suki Pfister, Zoe Middleton and Megan Teter, only seven gymnasts in program history have registered a score of 9.975-or-higher … The other two are Sarah Mikrut with a 10.0 at Kent State (Feb. 21, 1997) and Denasiha Christianwith a 9.975 on vault at Northern Illinois (Feb. 19, 2016).
» HENRY HITTING THE 9.900 MARK: Senior Victoria Henry has registered 17 scores of 9.900-or-better over her career, including seven so far this season … The total includes eight floor routines, seven vaults and two bars performances.
» SHINING ON FLOOR: Along with owning the nation’s third-best event team score this season with its 49.775 on bars at the Tennessee Collegiate Classic (Jan. 19), Ball State’s 49.625 on floor the same night is tied as the nation’s 30th-best team effort on floor … The Cardinals enter Sunday’s meet ranked 27th nationally with a floor NQS of 49.305, including 17 individual routines of 9.900-or-higher, led by Suki Pfister’s program-record tying effort of 9.950 also set at the Tennessee Collegiate Classic.
» PFISTER HITTING HIGH MARKS ON VAULT: Including her first career 10.0 on vault at the Tennessee Collegiate Classic (Jan. 19), Suki Pfister has had 16 of her 42 collegiate vault performances score 9.900-or-higher … The total includes one 10.0, one 9.975, four 9.950s, three 9.925s and seven 9.900s … This season, Pfister has six scores of 9.900-or-higher and ranks first in the MAC and fourth nationally with an NQS of 9.935.
» SZYMANSKI SHINING ON BARS: Ashley Szymanski has led the Cardinals on bars in seven of the team’s 10 meets this season, including winning the event on five occasions, most recently in last Sunday’s dual at Northern Illinois with a 9.875 … She currently ranks first in the MAC and 25th nationally with a bars NQS of 9.910, including five routines of 9.900-or-higher.
» ONE TO WATCH: Zoe Middleton, one of two Ball State student-athletes named to the 2024 MAC Gymnasts to Watch list, has provided plenty of highlights for the Cardinals so far this season including her perfect 10.0 on bars and program record all-around score of 39.750 at the Tennessee Collegiate Classic (Jan. 19) … So far this season, 37 of her 40 routines have counted in the final team score … During her freshman campaign, 37 of Middleton’s 39 routines counted towards Ball State’s team total … Entering Sunday’s meet versus Eastern Michigan, Middleton ranks third in the MAC and 47th nationally with a floor NQS of 9.910.
» MORE FROM THE ALL AROUND: In the win at George Washington (Feb. 23) all four Cardinals posted all-around scores of 39.400-or-higher … Leading the way was Victoria Henry with a career-best score of 39.475 … The effort included a 9.950 on vault, a 9.925 on floor, a 9.875 on bars and a 9.725 on beam … Hannah Ruthberg also turned in a career-best all-around score with a 39.425, counting a career-best 9.925 on floor, a 9.850 on vault and 9.825s on both bars and beam … While they were not career-best performances, Zoe Middleton and Megan Teter also collected scores of 39.400 … In total, they were four of the top 10 all-around scores in program history.
SCORING HIGH IN 2024:
– Ball State has registered 139 scores of 9.800-or-higher so far this season, led by the team’s 22 at the Tennessee Collegiate Classic (Jan. 19) and 19 at George Washington (Feb. 23) … Of the 139 routines, 40 on floor, 38 have come on bars, 31 on vault and 30 on beam … The total includes 32 scores of 9.900-or-better.
» RECORDS UNDER SALEEM:
– In the program’s first 11 seasons under head coach Joanna Saleem, Ball State has tallied the 32 best team scores in program history … In fact, of Ball State’s 38 scores of 195.450-or-higher, 36 have been set by Saleem’s squads.
– Saleem’s squads own the event records on all four apparatus: vault (49.375), bars (49.775), beam (49.350), and floor (49.625).
– All 43 team entries in the vault record book are held by Saleem’s teams, as are 26 of 33 scores on bars, 25 of 31 scores on floor and 25 of 30 scores on beam.
INDIANA STATE MEN’S BASKETBALL
COACH SCHERTZ NAMED SEMIFINALIST FOR NAISMITH MEN’S COLLEGE COACH OF THE YEAR
Atlanta, Ga. – Indiana State men’s basketball head coach Josh Schertz has been named a semifinalist for the 2024 Werner Ladder Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year, announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.
The list contains 10 men’s NCAA Division I college basketball coaches. Coach Schertz was announced to the Watch List on February 23.
Indiana State heard its players announced numerous times at the 2024 MVC banquet leading into the MVC Tournament. Coach Schertz won Coach of the Year; Ryan Conwell won Newcomer of the Year; Robbie Avila earned First Team honors; Ryan Conwell, Jayson Kent, and Isaiah Swope earned Second Team honors; Julian Larry was named to the Third Team; Xavier Bledson won Sixth Man of the Year; Jayson Kent and Julian Larry were named to the All-Defensive Team.
Coach Schertz led Indiana State to the best seasons since the legendary 1978-79 team. He was named the MVC Coach of the year in just his third season in the league. ISU finished 26-5, 17-3 MVC in the regular season. Currently with 28 wins, it is the second-most in program history. The 17 league wins is a new program record. For the first time since the ’78-’79 season, the Trees found themselves among the top 25 in the nation, ranking No. 23 in the AP Top 25 and No. 24 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches poll. Indiana State also led the Collegeinsider.com mid-major poll for three weeks.
Coach Schertz guided the Sycamores to lead the MVC in four categories in back-to-back seasons: scoring offense (84.4 PPG in 2023-24), field goal percentage (50.5%), assists (594), and three-pointers made (373). Indiana State set a new MVC record in three-pointers made with 373, breaking the previous record of 349. ISU won the MVC regular season title for the first time since the 2000-2001 season and finished as the MVC Tournament runner-up.
Indiana State finished the regular season leading the MVC in multiple categories: scoring offense (84.4 PPG), scoring margin (+12.41), free throw percentage (79.7%), field goal percentage (50.5%), three-point field goal percentage (38.5%), three-pointers made (373), three-pointers per game (10.97), total assists (594), and assists per game (17.5). The Sycamores were No. 1 in the league for both offensive and defensive efficiency.
The finalists will be announced on March 25. Indiana State awaits its postseason future following the announcement of 2024 NCAA March Madness bracket on Sunday evening.
VALPO FOOTBALL
BREWSTER NAMED VALPO OFFENSIVE LINE COACH, JARNIGAN RETURNS TO ALMA MATER AS TIGHT ENDS COACH
The Valparaiso University football program has welcomed two new members to its coaching staff prior to the start of the spring season as head coach Landon Fox has named former NFL offensive lineman Michael Brewster the team’s offensive line coach and welcomed alum Jack Jarnigan back to the program as tight ends coach.
Brewster joins Valpo’s staff after serving as the tight ends coach at Tennessee State University from 2022-2023, where he signed 15 players (10 tight ends and five offensive linemen) in four signing periods. He was on staff at the University of Cincinnati for the 2020 and 2021 seasons, helping the Bearcats to a pair of American Athletic Conference (AAC) Championships. Cincinnati reached the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in Brewster’s first season on staff in 2020 before earning a place in the College Football Playoffs and facing No. 1 Alabama in the Cotton Bowl national semifinal in 2021.
Brewster was an offensive line graduate assistant at Bowling Green in 2019 and Western Michigan in 2018 after getting his start in coaching by instructing the offensive and defensive lines at Orangewood Christian School in 2017.
“We’re excited to have Coach Brewster join our staff,” Fox said. “He has experience at a variety of levels and played at a high level collegiately at Ohio State and in the NFL. He has worked his way up the coaching ranks with stops at Bowling Green, Western Michigan, Cincinnati and most recently, Tennessee State. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from a coaching standpoint.”
Brewster’s playing career began to take off during his prep days at Edgewater High School in Orlando, Fla., when he earned All-American honors by USA Today, Parade and EA Sports. Brewster was listed as the No. 1 center in the class of 2008 and was a five-star recruit on his way to playing collegiately at The Ohio State University. Jim Tressel’s 2008 recruiting class was known as the “Brew Crew” because Brewster played a crucial role in bringing together the class, which was rated the fourth best in the country.
While playing for the Buckeyes, Brewster started 49 consecutive games, the second-longest streak in program history, and earned a variety of awards and honors. He was a Freshman All-American in 2008, garnered All-Big Ten honors in 2010 and 2011 and was the only junior to be named a finalist for the Rimington Trophy, awarded annually to the best center in college football, in 2010, when he was also named a First Team All-American.
While playing at Ohio State, the 2011 team captain helped lead his team to three Big Ten championships and victories in both the 2010 Rose Bowl and 2011 Sugar Bowl. After his collegiate career came to an end, Brewster was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars and made his first NFL start in Week 3 of the 2012 season. He spent two seasons with the Jaguars – seeing action in 26 games and making 10 starts – and later had stints with the Miami Dolphins (2014) and New Orleans Saints (2015).
Brewster’s offensive line coach with the Jaguars was Andy Heck, who has filled that same role with the Kansas City Chiefs since 2013 and owns three Super Bowl rings. Brewster played with current Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman at Ohio State and they later coached together at Cincinnati.
“I’m extremely excited and grateful to be joining Coach Fox’s staff at Valparaiso as the Offensive Line Coach,” Brewster said. “Coach Fox has built an impressive culture and mindset within the team, and I feel confident I can execute on his vision of style of play and physicality he expects to see from the guys up front. I was born in the trenches, played at the highest levels and played for some incredible teachers and people, guys who have won National Championships and Super Bowls. My passion is not only to develop guys from a blocking and striking perspective, but to develop them as young men, make sure they earn a meaningful degree and to teach them how discipline and accountability will spill over into all areas of their lives.”
Jarnigan returns to his alma mater after spending the last two seasons on staff at New Mexico State University (FBS) as an offensive line graduate assistant under head coach Jerry Kill. His first season in Las Cruces in 2022 saw the program win the Quick Lane Bowl, completing a turnaround after the Aggies had gone 2-10 the previous season. New Mexico State boasted a 10-5 overall record and a 7-1 mark in Conference USA play in 2023, a season that culminated with appearances in the Conference USA Championship and the Isleta New Mexico Bowl.
Prior to joining the Aggies, Jarnigan served as the offensive line coach, tight ends coach and running backs coach at Wisconsin-River Falls (Division III). UW-River Falls boasted an offense that led its conference and ranked third nationally in 2021. Jarnigan oversaw three all-conference selections, including First Team All-American tight end Ben Beise, who inked a training camp deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jarnigan also helped lead the Falcons to their first ever postseason win.
Jarnigan spent time on the defensive side of the ball at Marian University (NAIA) in Indianapolis, where he oversaw the development of two first team all-conference defensive linemen and led a position group that finished second in NAIA in sacks per game during the 2021 spring season. Jarnigan began his coaching career at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Ill. as a quality control coach, working with the offensive line.
“It is an honor to join the coaching staff at Valparaiso University,” Jarnigan said. “I spent four and a half years here as a student-athlete, and had so many people impact my life in a positive way. I want to be able to do the same for the young men in this program and help bring a Pioneer League championship back here.”
Jarnigan was a four-year starter at Valpo, where he was a fixture on the offensive line from 2016-2019 after redshirting as a true freshman in 2015. The Los Gatos, Calif. native was a fifth-year senior and team captain during Fox’s maiden voyage as Valpo head coach in 2019, when he was named All-PFL Honorable Mention. During his time with the Brown & Gold, Jarnigan spearheaded the team’s community service efforts and earned both his undergraduate degree in sport management (December 2018) and his master’s in sports administration (December 2019).
“Jack is a tremendous addition to our staff,” Fox said. “He’s a guy who played here for five years and laid the foundation for our staff when I became the head coach in 2019. He was a team captain, which says a lot about his leadership. He’s a guy who has elevated quickly in the coaching profession, which says a lot about his relationships, intelligence and understanding of the game, both recruiting and schematically. His awareness and intentionality behind things that he does is very high. He knows the Valpo way, and he understands what we’re looking for in recruiting. He has good experience at all levels of college football.”
What They’re Saying About Coach Brewster
Mike Denbrock, Notre Dame Offensive Coordinator: “Mike Brewster is a driven individual who cares about his players, builds relationships and will have a positive impact not only on the offensive line, but the entire Valpo football community.”
Max Warner, Bowling Green Co-Offensive Coordinator: “Mike Brewster will bring instant credibility to Valpo’s offensive line room. His exceptional playing career and coaching experiences make him more than qualified to lead the most important position on the field. Mike has been a leader who is extremely detailed in his work, always learning and looking for ways to improve, and his personality will attract the top student-athletes to Valparaiso. I look forward to watching how hard the Valpo offensive line plays for Coach Brewster.”
Scott Baumgartner, Tennessee State Assistant Coach: “Michael Brewster is an excellent football coach and a better person. He’s a great recruiter, outstanding relationship builder with student-athletes and a very knowledgeable coach. Valpo is getting an excellent coach and person.”
What They’re Saying About Coach Jarnigan
Andrew Mitchell, New Mexico State Offensive Line Coach: “Coach Jarnigan played a big role in us turning around the program at NMSU. He brings great passion and energy to his work and I know he’ll do the same for his alma mater.”
David Elson, Wake Forest Defensive Analyst: “Jack is one of the best young coaches I have ever worked with and he comes by it honestly because he is from a great coaching family. Valparaiso football got better with the addition of Jack. He will rise fast in our profession.”
UINDY MEN’S BASKETBALL
PAIR OF HOUNDS NAMED D2CCA ALL-REGION
FINDLAY, Ohio – UIndy men’s basketball seniors Jesse Bingham and Kendrick Tchoua were named to the D2CCA All-Region squads for the second straight season, announced Friday afternoon.
Five of the 11 honorees are members of GLVC programs, including Midwest Region Player of the Year Jake Hilmer of Upper Iowa. Last season, Tchoua was voted the region’s top player by the organization.
Bingham and Tchoua add to their awards collections after both earning All-GLVC First Team and GLVC All-Defensive Team distinction last week. In addition, both were members of the past three UIndy teams to earn the top seed in the Midwest Regional (2020, 23, 24).
Bingham is averaging a career-best 16.2 points per game this season, while adding 3.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists per contest as a senior. The Indy local recently scored a career-high 33 points in the GLVC semifinals against William Jewell, shooting 12-of-18 from the field. Bingham also recorded one double-double this season, posting 20 points and 10 boards at Pitt-Johnstown in December.
The 6-6 guard-forward currently ranks 11th in program history with 1,702 points and is just one block shy from matching Steve Kahl’s record of 137.
Tchoua has had a storied five-year career as a member of the Greyhounds. A native of Silver Spring, Md., Tchoua tops the program record book in games played (142), fifth in rebounding (890), and 16th in scoring (1,502). He also ranks third all-time in field goal percentage with a 66.4 percent clip from the floor with 561 made baskets. This season, Tchoua is averaging 12.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, while leading all of NCAA Division II in offensive rebounding (125, 4.17 per game).
The big man was also voted the GLVC Player of the Year in March 2023.
The Greyhounds open the 2024 NCAA DII Midwest Regional tomorrow at 5 p.m. against William Jewell from Nicoson Hall.
MARIAN MEN’S GOLF
KNIGHTS WIN THIRD TOURNAMENT OF 2023-24 SEASON WITH BIG CAT COLLEGIATE VICTORY
Sunset Beach, N. C. – The Marian men’s golf team earned their third victory of the 2023-24 season and their first of the spring season, as Marian rolled to a victory at the IU-East Big Cat Collegiate. Marian had three players reach the all-tournament team in their win.
Marian carded a total of 591 over their two rounds, putting together a strong performance in their second outing of the spring season. Nolan Potter, Weston Ogden, and Brandon Heffner all made the All-Tournament Team, with each of the three golfers piecing together two strong rounds. Potter carded a 77 and 68 for his two rounds for a 145, Ogden shot a 70 and 77 to total 147, while Heffner also shot a 147 with his 74 and 73 round scores.
Augie Mann shot a 76 and 78 to total 152, Lane Zedrick shot a 77 and 81 on the day to score a 158, and Seth Kestranek shot a 79 and 80, totaling 159. Luke Beetz shot a 79 and 82, ending the day with a final scorecard of 161.
Marian will next compete on March 25 and 26 at the Garn Championship, played in Kentucky with Spring Arbor serving as the host.
SMALL COLLEGE ATHLETICS
INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/
EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/
WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/
FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/
ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/
ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index
TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index
BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/
DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/
HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/
MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/
HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/
OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx
ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index
IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/
IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/
IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/
PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/
INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx
GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/
ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/
GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/
HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php
TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/
VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index
FOOTBALL HISTORY
March 16, 1964 – Paul Hornung & Alex Karras reinstated in the NFL after 1 year suspension for betting on NFL games. An ESPN Classic website article says that three years earlier in 1961 that Hornung set an NFL record with 176 points in 1960 and was the league’s MVP. The Nola.com website claims that Hornung placed bets of up to $500 during the seasons of 1959 through 1961, though the player reputed that he only wagered about $100 once or twice with some friends. Karras on the other hand was an All-Pro defensive tackle for three straight seasons and was accused by the NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle of making at least six bets of $50 or $100 each. Karras was not a happy camper about the accusation or the suspension. Both players were able to return to their teams for the 1965 season.
Hall of Fame Birthdays for March 16
Have you ever heard of something as jaw dropping as a freshman quarterback scoring eleven, yes one more than ten, touchdowns in one varsity college football game? Surely something like this has to be conjured up by Disney or the Brothers Grimm but no my friends this actually occurred. It was a game in 1890 when Princeton University entertained Columbia in an early stocking cap era game per the NFF. Statistics were not as well maintained as they are today so it is hard to imagine how many yards this curly haired 5′-6″ first year player accumulated in the 19th century contest, but we do know that even though a TD was worth only 5 points in that era of football 55 points is still an extremely high amount of points for a team let alone an individual player to put up in a single game. Let’s introduce the man that accomplished the feat, he was born March 16, 1872 in Washington, D.C. and was the legendary Princeton University quarterback from 1890 to 1893 Phillip King. As a matter of fact according to the JewsinSports.org website King made his first appearance for Princeton in the fourth game of the 1890 season, and subsequently scored a 25-yard touchdown on his first carry. Phil became the captain of the football team and the baseball squad at Princeton and remember when you were the captain back in that era of sports, you were basically the coach too. That Freshman year, King scored 29 touchdowns, 18 of them in two consecutive weeks and remember he didn’t even play until the fourth week of the season! His four-year career as quarterback of the Orange and Black would include 50 touchdowns and 56 conversion kicks. Phil was a first-team All-American from 1891-1893, one of the few four-time All-American selections the game has ever known (he was an All-American at baseball, too). The article goes on to say that Phil declined offers to play professionally in both sports, and subsequently became a successful coach in both sports after he graduated in 1893. On the gridiron he was the head coach at the University of Wisconsin in 1896 through 1902 and again in 1905 and had a 65-11-1 record.
March 16, 1920 – Towsend, Tennessee – William and Mary’s two way guard and linebacker Buster Ramsey was born. You guessed it, we have much more on this legend of the gridiron that you can observe by clicking his name.
March 16, 1951 – Detroit, Michigan – The great All-American Michigan State Guard Joe DeLamielleure received his birth date. Joe came out of the Spartans program as a great talent and it did not take long for the Buffalo Bills to use their first round pick in the 1973 NFL Draft to claim him for the franchise. The big guard provided instant reward for his employer as he was voted with All-Rookie honors in year one according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Though offensive linemen have few stats that one can look at in the era Joe played one thing that is seen is that he was many times the lead blocker for O.J. Simpson and we do know what Simpson did in as far as rushing yards. DeLamielleure and his line mates were often referred to as the “Electric Company.” Joe DeLamielleure Pro Football Hall of Fame 2003.
March 16, 1956 – Muscle Shoals, Alabama – The big four year starting wide receiver of the Alabama Crimson Tide from 1974 to 1977, Ozzie Newsome arrived into this life. According to his bio on the National Football Foundation’s website, Ozzie was the offensive captain and earned All-America honors in 1977. Newsome had a brilliant collegiate career with the Tide as in his four years he caught 102 passes for 2,070 yards with an average gain of 20.3 per catch. Oz’s best game in his senior season came against the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame when he caught seven passes, scored two touchdowns and a two-point conversion while receiving high praise and accolades for his blocking. The highest award that Ozzie may have received in college may have been the remarks of his Head Coach, Bear Bryant, who called Ozzie “the greatest end in Alabama history and that includes Don Hutson. A total team player, fine blocker, outstanding leader, great receiver with concentration, speed, hands.” The NFF voters chose Ozzie Newsome for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1994. At the 1978 NFL Draft the Cleveland Browns sent their first round card to the Commissioner with Ozzie’s name upon it. Newsome played 13 seasons with the Browns and ended his career as the League’s fourth leading receiver and first amongst Tight Ends. He caught 662 passes for 7980 yards and 47 TDs. The Wizard of Oz’s best professional season was in 1983 when he hauled in 89 balls and then replicated those numbers the next season. In 1999 Ozzie Newsome was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
March 16, 1969 – Chicago, Illinois – The tough defensive tackle from the University of Notre Dame, Chris Zorich came into this life. When you come from the same high school as Dick Butkus did you know you have to be well versed in strong defense and Zorich definitely was. Chris’s physical attributes were off the charts as the NFF tells us he could bench 455 pounds and ran a 4.68 40 yard dash. Like Butkus Zorich played linebacker when he first arrived at South Bend but the coaches moved him to Nose Tackle and with that he had to sit and learn the position for a year without even seeing the field. It sure paid dividends for the team and the player though as in his first game he had one and a half sacks and ten tackles against Michigan. Chris completed the season as the player with the third highest in tackles on the team as Notre Dame went undefeated and won the national championship and Zorich became a first-team All-America as a sophomore. a consensus All-America year in 1989 as he had three double-digit tackle games. Zorich was also one of four finalists for the Lombardi Award. As a senior, Chris Z. won the Lombardi Award and was recognized as a unanimous All-America. In the final game of his collegiate career he was the Defensive Most Valuable player of the Orange Bowl. The place was prepared in the College FOotball Hall of Fame for this great player, Chris Zorich in 2007 induction ceremonies. Chris went on to be drafted by his hometown team the Chicago Bears and had a productive career with both the Bears and Washington.
NUMBERS IN SPORTS
9 – 71 – 5 – 17
March 16, 1900 – The fledgling American League of baseball held a conference in Chicago, Illinois. Its leader Ban Johnson, announced that the League would consist of Cleveland Blues, Boston Americans, Chicago White Stockings, Detroit Tigers, Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia Athletics, and Washington Senators.
March 16, 1939 – The New York Rangers versus the New York Americans NHL game provided a thrill for fans as a record 10 goals in the first periodwas scored and a total of 26 point in the final stanza.
March 16, 1953 – Montreal Canadiens legendary Number 9, Maurice “Rocket” Richard was suspended for the rest of the season by NHL President Clarence Campbell after he fiercely attacked an opponent during a game.
March 16, 1964 – Detroit Lions great Alex Karras, Number 71 and Green Bay Packers All-star Number 5, Paul Hornug were reinstated back to playing status in the NFL after a one year suspension for allegedly violating the League’s gambling policies.
March 16, 1985 – Two-time Cy Young Award winner Denny McLain, who wore the Number 17 for much of his career with multiple teams was convicted of embezzlement and drug trafficking; sentenced to 25 years but conviction later reversed
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
1907 Ty Cobb quarrels with Bungy Cummings, a black groundskeeper who made a friendly gesture toward the Tiger outfielder. When the groundskeeper’s wife intercedes, the ‘Georgia Peach’ reportedly chokes her, and according to Charlie Schmidt, he allegedly stopped the assault by knocking out his teammate.
(Ed. Note: There is speculation this often-told story may not be entirely accurate due to the lack of witnesses corroborating the attack other than Schmidt, who had other disagreements with Cobb during the past year. -LP)
1908 Pirates legend Honus Wagner comes out of retirement when Pirates owner Barney Dreyfuss makes him the highest-paid player in the league, offering him $10,000 yearly. The 34-year-old shortstop earns his salary, leading the National League in batting average, hits, total bases, doubles, triples, RBIs, and stolen bases, completing the campaign that historian Bill James cites as the greatest single-season for any player in baseball history.
(Ed. Note: The salary incentive keeps the Flying Dutchman on the field until the middle of the 1917 season. -LP)
1932 Due to the economic depression gripping the nation, Babe Ruth signs a deal for $75,000, a five-thousand pay cut from last season, and 25 percent of the Yankees exhibition games’ net receipts. Legend has it the Bambino signed a blank contract, with the amount filled in later by Yankee owner Jacob Ruppert.
(Ed. Note: In 2019, the printed document sold at an auction for nearly $300,000. -LP)
1953 At the owners’ meeting in Tampa (FL), the American League rejects Bill Veeck’s request to shift the Browns to Baltimore, voting 6-2 to keep the failing franchise in St. Louis. The lack of support from his fellow owners, except for Charles Comiskey of the White Sox, is an effort to oust the independent-minded maverick from the Junior Circuit.
1961 The state of New York approves a bond issue for constructing a 55,000-seat stadium on the 1939-40 World’s Fair site in the Flushing Meadow area of Queens. The Mets’ future home will be named Shea Stadium, honoring attorney William Shea, who brought the National League back to New York.
1994 Former major league starter Eric Show dies of an accidental drug overdose in his room at the Rancho L’Abri, a private rehab center in San Diego (CA). The 37-year-old right-hander finished his 11-year career with Oakland, pitching the first ten years with the Padres, where he established the franchise record for most career wins (100) when he left the team as a free agent in 1990.
2001 Slammin’ Sammy Sosa signs a four-year contract extension keeping the Cub right fielder in the Windy City until 2006. The prolific home run hitter has averaged nearly sixty home runs (179 HRs/3 years) during the last three seasons.
2006 🇲🇽 At Angel Stadium in front of 38,284 enthusiastic fans, Oliver Perez and seven relievers combined to lead Mexico to a stunning defeat of Roger Clemens and the United States, 2-1. The second-round loss eliminates Team USA from the inaugural World Baseball Classic.
2006 Roy Halladay (12-4, 2.41) agrees to a $40 million, three-year contract extension, which could keep the ‘Doc’ with the Blue Jays through the 2010 season. The 2003 American League Cy Young winner’s season was cut short after getting drilled by a line drive hit by Ranger Kevin Mench, resulting in a broken leg.
2006 At the 5:00 p.m. EST airing of the show Daily News Live!, the Mets begin transmitting Sportsnet New York, which will become better known as SNY. The club modeled the team-owned network after similar regional cable television ventures by the Red Sox (NESN, 1984) and the Yankees (YES, 2002).
2010 The Red Sox announce that 19-year-old prospect Ryan Westmoreland has undergone a five-hour surgical procedure to remove a cavernous malformation in his brain. After leaving spring training earlier this month, the highly touted minor league outfielder received the diagnosis at Mass General.
2010 Former L.A. outfielder Willie Davis, the team leader in hits, extra-base hits, and runs, is fondly remembered by his family and friends, including many teammates, at a memorial service in Dodger Stadium. The 69-year-old, known as 3 Dog, was found dead in his home last week.
2015 The Grapefruit League game between the Phillies and Twins marks the first time two current Hall of Fame players have managed against each other. Minnesota manager Paul Molitor, enshrined in 2004, opposes Philadelphia skipper Ryne Sandberg, an inductee a season later.
2019 The Fix, a two-act opera inspired by the Black Sox scandal, premieres at the Ordway Theater in St. Paul (MN). The dramatic work composed by Joel Puckett portrays the century-old events surrounding the White Sox fix of the 1919 World Series against the Reds.
BASEBALL YEAR IN REVIEW: 1944 (BASEBALL ALMANAC)
Off the field…
After months of preparation, a military coalition of forty-five Allied divisions consisting of over three million soldiers began landing on Normandy Beach in France during one of the largest amphibious assaults ever conducted. Christened as “D-Day”, June 6th became the major turning point in the war against Nazi Germany. After three weeks of intense fighting, Allied troops captured all of the Normandy peninsula and port of Cherbourg. By the end of August, Paris was liberated, and the Allied forces continued on toward Germany.
German forces conducted a surprise attack known as “The Battle of the Bulge” against U.S. forces in Belgium. The Germans made rapid progress, but were unable to capture the city of Bastogne thanks to the extraordinary efforts of American GI’s who were “dug in” and completely encircled. Although a coalition of U.S. and British infantry divisions were able to counterattack forcing the Germans to withdraw, they suffered massive casualties totaled at over 35,000.
In the Pacific Campaign, American forces landed on the island of Iwo Jima, seven-hundred fifty miles south of Tokyo in an effort to gain a strategic foothold on the enemy’s Navy and establish airbases for future bombing campaigns. The invasion resulted in some of the fiercest fighting ever witnessed in WWII as Japanese soldiers, who fought to the death, heavily opposed the landings. U.S. Marines managed to take the beachhead and eventually pushed inland to overwhelm the defenders in a few days.
In the American League…
Converted from a pitcher, outfielder Johnny Lindell of the New York Yankees tied a Major League record on August 17th after hitting four consecutive doubles against the Cleveland Indians during a 10-3 effort at Yankee Stadium.
Hal Trosky, a comeback player with the Chicago White Sox, stole home in the 16th inning (to break a 2-2 tie) for a 4-2 win over the Philadelphia Athletics on May 6th. The feat was not duplicated for twenty years until Willie Davis of the Los Angeles Dodgers pulled off the “same caper” in 1964.
Despite running a close race for first in the American League, the St. Louis Browns recorded the worst A.L. attendance on September 29th with an embarrassing total of only 6,172 fans witnessing their sweep of a double header against the New York Yankees. The following day, attendance doubled to 12,982 as Dennis Galehouse pitched the entire game, winning 2-0 for his ninth victory of the year. Two days later, the Browns were tied with the Detroit Tigers and boasted their first sellout in over twenty years as 37,815 packed Sportsman’s Park to watch their “forgotten” team clinch the pennant on the final day of the season.
In the National League…
On May 9th, the New York Giants purchased one of the tallest players ever to play professional baseball, a six foot nine pitcher named Johnny Gee from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Despite a mediocre record of 5-8, he went on to split his limited season with a 2-4 record.
Red Barrett of the Boston Braves tossed a fifty-eight pitch shutout over the Cincinnati Reds on August 10th for a 2-0 victory and a Major League record for fewest pitches in a nine-inning game. The outing itself set a record as the shortest night game ever at one hour and fifteen minutes.
One of baseball’s worst franchises the Philadelphia Phillies attempted to induce public support by announcing a fan based contest to rename the team. Mrs. Elizabeth Crooks who was given a $100 war bond and a season ticket submitted the winning entry of “Blue Jays”. Her entry, which would later end up on another team’s uniform, was chosen over a number of monikers ranging from the Daisies to the Stinkers. The new name was used as the unofficial team title for 1944-45 but abandoned in 1946, though the team was still referred to in newspaper accounts as the “Blue Jays” occasionally through 1949.
Around the League…
Representatives from the top offices in both leagues met in New York City to discuss several new postwar policies and their effects on Major League Baseball. All parties agreed that all military deployments would count as playing time and any player who had served on active duty would be guaranteed thirty days of trial at pay and restrictions of their release or assignment.
Anticipating a positive change for race relations in the United States, the St. Louis Browns announced that they were officially dropping their “segregation policy” restricting African Americans to the bleachers while allowing them to purchase any ticket for any seat in the house.
The final survivor of baseball’s original National Association (1871-75) John McKelvey died at the tender age of ninety-six. Retired for many years and living in Rochester, New York, McKelvey was the oldest member of Major League Baseball.
On October 4th, the first all St. Louis World Series (dubbed the Streetcar Series) opened with the Browns beating the Cardinals 2-1. A Fall Classic of many firsts including no-days off, it was also the first Series in which all games were played west of the Mississippi River.
TODAY IN NBA HISTORY
March 16, 1988
Utah center Mark Eaton blocked six shots, including the 2,000th of his career, in the Jazz’s 120-105 victory over the Mavericks.
March 16, 1991
New Jersey coach Bill Fitch earned his 800th career victory, as the Nets beat Washington 110-86 at the Meadowlands. Fitch became only the fourth coach (along with Red Auerbach, Jack Ramsay and Dick Motta) in NBA history at the time to win that many games.
March 16, 2000
The Los Angeles Lakers’ 19-game winning streak ends with a 109-102 loss to Washington. The streak ranked third at the time in NBA history.
March 16, 2007
Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers scores 65 points in a 116-111 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.
March 16, 2008
Denver blows out Seattle, 168-113, putting up the most point by an NBA team in almost 20 years. Eight Nuggets scored in double figures.
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
1938 — Temple defeats Colorado 60-36 in the first National Invitation Tournament and the first major postseason basketball tournament.
1947 — Billy Taylor of the Detroit Red Wings sets an NHL record with seven assists in a 10-6 triumph over the Chicago Black Hawks.
1955 — NHL President Clarence Campbell suspends Maurice “Rocket” Richard for the remainder of the regular season and playoffs after striking linesman Cliff Thompson during a melee in a game against the Boston Bruins.
1961 — Montreal’s Bernie Geoffrion becomes the second player to score 50 goals in a season in a 5-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Maurice Richard was the first to do it, in 1945.
1971 — Goaltender Glenn Hall gets his 407th and final NHL victory as the St. Louis Blues post a 6-2 win against the visiting Montreal Canadiens.
1990 — Philip Hutcheson of David Lipscomb University hits a running 5-foot hook shot in the NAIA Tournament to become the all-time scoring champion of college basketball. The 6-foot-8 Hutcheson, who scored in double figures in every college game he played, breaks the record of 4,045 set in 1969-72 by Travis Grant of Kentucky State.
2005 — Norway’s Robert Sorlie wins his second Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in one of the closest races in years. Sorlie completes the 1,100-mile race across Alaska in nine days, 18 hours, 39 minutes and 31 seconds. He’s still in the winner’s circle when Ed Iten of Kotzebue crossed the line 34 minutes later.
2007 — Kobe Bryant scores 33 of his 65 points in the fourth quarter and overtime to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 116-111 win over Portland.
2008 — Denver sets NBA season highs for points in a half with 84 and points in a game with a 168-116 rout of the Seattle SuperSonics.
2010 — Lance Mackey wins the 1,100-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race to become the first musher in the event’s 38-year history to win four consecutive races.
2012 — Kyle O’Quinn has 26 points and 14 rebounds to help No. 15 seed Norfolk State stun second-seeded Missouri 86-84 in the West Regional of the men’s NCAA tournament. C.J. McCollum scores 30 points and Lehigh upsets Duke 75-70 in the South Regional to become the second No. 15 seed to beat a No. 2 during a wild day in the NCAA tournament.
2013 — Mikaela Shiffrin delivers an astonishing second run to overtake Tina Maze and clinch the World Cup slalom title with an improbable come-from behind victory at Lenzerheide, Switzerland. The American teenager trailing Maze by a massive 1.17 seconds after the first leg, finishes ahead of the Slovenian in the second run to win the slalom title in her first full season on the circuit.
2013 — Ted Ligety caps his dominant season in giant slalom with a sixth World Cup win at Lenzerheide, Switzerland. The American skier joins Ingemar Stenmark as the only men in the 47-year World Cup history to get six GS victories in a season. Stenmark’s 10-race sweep in 1978-79 is the record.
2018 — Senior guard Jairus Lyles scores 28 points and the University of Maryland-Baltimore County pulls off the most shocking upset in NCAA Tournament history, defeating Virginia 75-54 to become the first No. 16 seed to beat a No. 1 seed in men’s basketball. Virginia enters the NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 overall seed after going 31-2 this season, including 20-1 in ACC competition.
2020 – Major League Baseball suspends remainder of Spring Training and delays start of regular season in response to COVID-19 pandemic; return dependent on recommendations by Centers for Disease Control.
TV SPORTS SATURDAY/SUNDAY
AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL
5 a.m.
FS2 — AFL: Adelaide at Gold Coast
1 a.m. (Sunday)
FS2 — AFL: West Coast at Port Adelaide
AUTO RACING
3 p.m.
FS1 — NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: Qualifying, Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tenn.
4 p.m.
USA — IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship: The Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, Sebring, Fla.
5 p.m.
FS1 — NASCAR Cup Series: Qualifying, Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tenn.
8 p.m.
FS1 — NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: The Weather Guard Truck Race, Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tenn.
BASKETBALL AFRICA LEAGUE
10 a.m.
NBATV — Petro de Luanda vs. Cape Town Tigers, Pretoria, South Africa
10 a.m.
NBATV — Dynamo Basketball Club vs. FUS de Rabat, Pretoria, South Africa
COLLEGE BASEBALL
2 p.m.
SECN — South Carolina at Mississippi
4 p.m.
ACCN — Wake Forest at Virginia
5 p.m.
SECN — LSU at Mississippi St.
8 p.m.
SECN — Tennessee at Alabama
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S)
11 a.m.
ESPN2 — America East Tournament: Mass.-Lowell at Vermont, Championship
ESPNU — Ivy League Tournament: Brown vs. Princeton, Semifinal, New York
1 p.m.
CBS — Big Ten Tournament: TBD, Semifinal, Minneapolis
CBSSN — Atlantic 10 Tournament: TBD, Semifinal, Brooklyn, N.Y.
ESPN — Southeastern Tournament: TBD, Semifinal, Nashville, Tenn.
ESPN2 — Mid-Eastern Athletic Tournament: TBD, Championship, Norfolk, Va.
2 p.m.
ESPNEWS — Ivy League Tournament: Cornell vs. Yale, Semifinal, New York
3 p.m.
ESPN2 — American Athletic Tournament: TBD, Semifinal, Fort Worth, Texas
3:30 p.m.
CBS — Big Ten Tournament: TBD, Semifinal, Minneapolis
CBSSN — Atlantic 10 Tournament: TBD, Semifinal, Brooklyn, N.Y.
ESPN — Southeastern Tournament: TBD, Semifinal, Nashville, Tenn.
5:30 p.m.
ESPN2 — American Athletic Tournament: TBD, Semifinal, Fort Worth, Texas
6 p.m.
CBS — Mountain West Tournament: TBD, Championship, Las Vegas
ESPN — Big 12 Tournament: TBD, Championship, Kansas City, Mo.
6:30 p.m.
FOX — Big East Tournament: TBD, Championship, New York
7:30 p.m.
ESPN2 — Mid-American Tournament: TBD, Championship, Cleveland
ESPNU — Metro Atlantic Tournament: TBD, Championship, Atlantic City, N.J.
8:30 p.m.
CBSSN — Conference USA Tournament: TBD, Championship, Huntsville, Ala.
ESPN — Atlantic Coast Tournament: TBD, Championship, Washington
9 p.m.
FOX — Pac-12 Tournament: TBD, Championship, Las Vegas
9:30 p.m.
ESPN2 — Big West Tournament: TBD, Championship, Henderson, Nev.
ESPNU — Southwestern Athletic Tournament: TBD, Championship, Birmingham, Ala.
11 p.m.
CBSSN — NCAA Division III Tournament: Hampden-Sydney vs. Trine, Championship, Fort Wayne, Ind. (Taped)
11:30 p.m.
ESPN2 — Western Athletic Tournament: TBD, Championship, Las Vegas
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (WOMEN’S)
11 a.m.
CBSSN — Mid-American Tournament: TBD, Championship, Cleveland
1:30 p.m.
ESPNU — Western Athletic Tournament: TBD, Championship, Las Vegas
3:30 p.m.
ESPNU — Metro Atlantic Tournament: TBD, Championship, Atlantic City, N.J.
5 p.m.
ESPNEWS — Ivy League Tournament: TBD, Championship, New York
5:30 p.m.
CBSSN — Conference USA Tournament: TBD, Championship, Huntsville, Ala.
ESPNU — Southwestern Athletic Tournament: TBD, Championship, Birmingham, Ala.
COLLEGE GYMNASTICS (WOMEN’S)
5 p.m.
PAC-12N — Clemson at UCLA
COLLEGE HOCKEY (MEN’S)
6:30 p.m.
BTN — Big Ten Tournament: Ohio St. at Michigan St., Semifinal
9 p.m.
BTN — Big Ten Tournament: Michigan vs. Minnesota, Semifinal
COLLEGE LACROSSE (MEN’S)
2 p.m.
ACCN — Michigan at Notre Dame
3 p.m.
BTN — Virginia at Maryland
COLLEGE LACROSSE (WOMEN’S)
Noon
ACCN — North Carolina at Syracuse
1 p.m.
BTN — Maryland at Ohio St.
COLLEGE RUGBY (MEN’S)
12:30 p.m.
PAC-12N — Saint Mary’s (Cal) at California
3 p.m.
PAC-12N — Navy at California
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Noon
SECN — Alabama at Georgia
GOLF
2 p.m.
NBC — PGA Tour: The PLAYERS Championship, Third Round, TPC Sawgrass (The Players Stadium Course), Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
HORSE RACING
1 p.m.
FS2 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races
MLB BASEBALL
1 p.m.
MLBN — Spring Training: Atlanta Prospects vs. Boston Prospects, Fort Myers, Fla.
4 p.m.
MLBN — Spring Training: Toronto Prospects vs. NY Yankees Prospects, Tampa, Fla.
7 p.m.
MLBN — Spring Training: Arizona Prospects vs. Colorado Prospects, Scottsdale, Ariz.
NBA BASKETBALL
8:30 p.m.
ABC — Golden State at LA Lakers
NHL HOCKEY
12:30 p.m.
NHLN — Buffalo at Detroit
3 p.m.
ABC — NY Rangers at Pittsburgh
RUGBY (MEN’S)
Noon
NBC — Six Nations: Wales vs. Italy, Round 5, Cardiff, Wales
10 p.m.
FS2 — MLR: San Diego Legion at RFC Los Angeles
SOCCER (MEN’S)
11 a.m.
USA — Premier League: Nottingham Forest vs. Luton Town
1:30 p.m.
USA — Premier League: Tottenham Hotspur at Fulham
3:30 p.m.
FOX — MLS: Colorado Rapids at Seattle Sounders FC
SOCCER (WOMEN’S)
12:30 p.m.
ABC — NWSL: Portland Thorns FC at Kansas City Current
7:30 p.m.
ION — NWSL: Chicago Red Stars at Utah Royals
TENNIS
2 p.m.
TENNIS — Indian Wells-WTA Doubles Final; Indian Wells-ATP Semifinals
_____
SUNDAY
AUTO RACING
3:30 p.m.
FOX — NASCAR Cup Series: The Food City 500, Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tenn.
1 a.m. (Monday)
CNBC — AMA Supercross Series: Round 10, Indianapolis (Taped)
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Noon
ACCN — Virginia Tech at Louisville
2 p.m.
SECN — Tennessee at Alabama
7 p.m.
PAC-12N — Arizona St. at Arizona
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S)
Noon
ESPN2 — Ivy League Tournament: TBD, Championship, New York
1 p.m.
CBS — Atlantic 10 Tournament: TBD, Championship, Brooklyn, N.Y.
ESPN — Southeastern Tournament: TBD, Championship, Nashville, Tenn.
3:15 p.m.
ESPN — American Athletic Tournament: TBD, Championship, Fort Worth, Texas
3:30 p.m.
CBS — Big Ten Tournament: TBD, Championship, Minneapolis
6 p.m.
CBS — NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship Selection Show
9:30 p.m.
ESPN2 — NIT Selection Special
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (WOMEN’S)
Noon
CBSSN — Patriot League Tournament: Boston U. at Holy Cross, Championship
ESPNU — Northeast Tournament: Le Moyne at Sacred Heart, Championship
2 p.m.
CBSSN — Coastal Athletic Association Tournament: TBD, Championship, Washington
ESPN2 — Missouri Valley Tournament: TBD, Championship, Moline, Ill.
8 p.m.
ESPN — NCAA Women’s Basketball Selection Special
COLLEGE GYMNASTICS (MEN’S)
4 p.m.
BTN — Penn St. at Michigan
COLLEGE GYMNASTICS (WOMEN’S)
4 p.m.
ESPN2 — Alabama at Oklahoma
COLLEGE LACROSSE (MEN’S)
2 p.m.
ESPNU — Cornell at Princeton
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Noon
SECN — Alabama at Georgia
3 p.m.
ACCN — Notre Dame at Georgia Tech
FS1 — Villanova at Providence
PAC-12N — Washington at Arizona
5 p.m.
ACCN — Illinois at Louisville
PAC-12N — Stanford at California
5:30 p.m.
ESPN2 — Mississippi at LSU
7 p.m.
ACCN — North Carolina at Clemson
GOLF
1 p.m.
NBC — PGA Tour: The PLAYERS Championship, Final Round, TPC Sawgrass (The Players Stadium Course), Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
HORSE RACING
3 p.m.
FS2 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races
5 p.m.
FS1 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races
MLB BASEBALL
1 p.m.
MLBN — Spring Training: Boston (Split-Squad) vs. Atlanta (Split-Squad), North Port, Fla.
4 p.m.
MLBN — Spring Training: Texas vs. Chicago Cubs, Mesa, Ariz.
7 p.m.
MLBN — Spring Training: Milwaukee vs. Kansas City, Surprise, Ariz.
NBA BASKETBALL
1 p.m.
ABC — Phoenix at Milwaukee
3:30 p.m.
ABC — Denver at Dallas
7 p.m.
NBATV — Brooklyn at San Antonio
9:30 p.m.
NBATV — Atlanta at LA Clippers
NBA G-LEAGUE BASKETBALL
2 p.m.
NBATV — Greensboro at Maine
4 p.m.
NBATV — Mexico City at Iowa
NHL HOCKEY
1 p.m.
TNT — NY Islanders at NY Rangers
3:30 p.m.
TNT — New Jersey at Vegas
6 p.m.
NHLN — Detroit at Pittsburgh
RODEO
4 p.m.
CBSSN — PBR: Round 2 & Championship Round, North Little Rock, Ark.
SOCCER (MEN’S)
7:30 a.m.
CBSSN — Serie A: Genoa at Juventus
10 a.m.
USA — Premier League: Aston Villa at West Ham United
7 p.m.
FS1 — MLS: Orlando City SC at Atlanta United FC
SPEED SKATING
3 p.m.
CNBC — ISU: World Short Track Championships, Rotterdam, Netherlands (Taped)
TENNIS
2 p.m. TENNIS — Indian Wells-WTA/ATP Singles Finals