INDIANA BOYS BASKETBALL
STATE FINALS
SESSION 1
PUBLIC GATES OPEN AT 9:30 AM ET
10:30 AM ET | CLASS 1A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
BETHESDA CHRISTIAN (23-7) VS. FORT WAYNE CANTERBURY (18-9)
APPROX. 12:45 PM ET | CLASS 2A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
BROWNSTOWN CENTRAL (27-4) VS. WAPAHANI (26-2)
FIELDHOUSE CLEARED
SESSION 2
PUBLIC GATES OPEN AT 5 PM ET
6 PM ET | CLASS 3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
SCOTTSBURG (24-5) VS. SOUTH BEND ST. JOSEPH (20-9)
APPROX. 8:15 PM ET | CLASS 4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
BEN DAVIS (23-5) VS. FISHERS (28-1)
STATE FINALS PREVIEW: https://www.ihsaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2023-24%20Boys%20Basketball%20Preview.pdf
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL SCORES-REPORTED
RIVERDALE 12 MILAN 3
SIEGEL 11 MILAN 2
TECUMSEH 12 EVANSVILLE NORTH 1
KOKOMO 15 TIPTON 5
BORDEN 0 W. WASHINGTON 0
LAKE CENTRAL 3 MUNSTER 1
MOUNT VERNON 12 S. SPENCER 0
NORTH MONTGOMERY 10 SHERIDAN 0
PIKE 18 HERRON 0
WHITELAND 17 EDINBURG 0
WESTERN 5 MADISON GRANT 4
INDIANA DEAF 17 CHRISTEL HOUSE 2
CLAY CITY 4 SULLIVAN 3
WEST LAFAYETTE 23 CRAWFORDSVILLE 6
SOUTHPORT 12 WARREN CENTRAL 1
HAMILTON HEIGHTS 8 FRANKTON 4
LEBANON 18 GUERIN CATHOLIC 7
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN 11 NORTH CENTRAL 1
WESTFIELD 9 CARMEL 5
ZIONSVILLE 14 LAPEL 5
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL SCORES-REPORTED
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCORES
(NCAA TOURNEY)
GRAMBLING STATE 88 MONTANA STATE 81 OT
COLORADO 60 BOISE STATE 53
(NIT SCORES)
SETON HALL 75 ST. JOSEPH 72 OT
BRADLEY 74 LOYOLA 62
INDIANA STATE 101 SMU 92
UNLV 84 PRINCETON 77
WAKE FOREST 87 APPALACHIAN STATE 76
VCU 70 VILLANOVA 61
CINCINNATI 73 SAN FRANCISCO 72 OT
NCAA MEN’S TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND SCHEDULE
FIRST ROUND
IN BROOKLYN (FRIDAY)
1-SEED UCONN (31-3) VS. 16-SEED STETSON (22-12)
8-SEED FAU (25-8) VS. 9-SEED NORTHWESTERN (21-11)
IN SPOKANE (FRIDAY)
5-SEED SAN DIEGO STATE (24-10) VS. 12-SEED UAB (23-11)
4-SEED AUBURN (27-7) VS. 13-SEED YALE (22-9)
IN OMAHA (THURSDAY)
6-SEED BYU (23-10) VS. 11-SEED DUQUESNE (24-11)
3-SEED ILLINOIS (26-8) VS. 14-SEED MOREHEAD STATE (26-8)
IN OMAHA (THURSDAY)
7-SEED WASHINGTON STATE (24-9) VS. 10-SEED DRAKE (28-6)
2-SEED IOWA STATE (27-7) VS. 15-SEED SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (22-12)
SOUTH REGION (DALLAS)
FIRST ROUND
IN MEMPHIS (FRIDAY)
1-SEED HOUSTON (30-4) VS. 16-SEED LONGWOOD (21-13)
8-SEED NEBRASKA (23-10) VS. 9-SEED TEXAS A&M (20-14)
IN BROOKLYN (FRIDAY)
5-SEED WISCONSIN (22-13) VS. 12-SEED JAMES MADISON (31-3)
4-SEED DUKE (24-8) VS. 13-SEED VERMONT (28-6)
IN PITTSBURGH (THURSDAY)
6-SEED TEXAS TECH (23-10) VS. 11-SEED NC STATE (22-14)
3-SEED KENTUCKY (23-9) VS. 14-SEED OAKLAND (23-11)
IN INDIANAPOLIS (FRIDAY)
7-SEED FLORIDA (24-11) VS. 10-SEED COLORADO
2-SEED MARQUETTE (25-9) VS. 15-SEED WESTERN KENTUCKY (22-11)
MIDWEST REGION (DETROIT)
FIRST ROUND
IN INDIANAPOLIS (FRIDAY)
1-SEED PURDUE (29-4) VS. 16-SEED GRAMBLING STATE
IN SALT LAKE CITY (THURSDAY)
5-SEED GONZAGA (25-7) VS. 12-SEED MCNEESE (30-3)
4-SEED KANSAS (22-10) VS. 13-SEED SAMFORD (29-5)
IN PITTSBURGH (THURSDAY)
6-SEED SOUTH CAROLINA (26-7) VS. 11-SEED OREGON (23-11)
3-SEED CREIGHTON (23-9) VS. 14-SEED AKRON (24-10)
IN CHARLOTTE (THURSDAY)
7-SEED TEXAS (20-12) VS. 10-SEED COLORADO STATE (25-10)
2-SEED TENNESSEE (24-8) VS. 15-SEED SAINT PETER’S (19-13)
WEST REGION (LOS ANGELES)
FIRST ROUND
IN CHARLOTTE (THURSDAY)
1-SEED UNC (27-7) VS. 16-SEED WAGNER (17-15)
8-SEED MISSISSIPPI STATE (21-13) VS. 9-SEED MICHIGAN STATE (19-14)
IN SPOKANE (FRIDAY)
5-SEED SAINT MARY’S (26-7) VS. 12-SEED GRAND CANYON (29-4)
4-SEED ALABAMA (21-11) VS. 13-SEED CHARLESTON (27-7)
IN MEMPHIS (FRIDAY)
6-SEED CLEMSON (21-11) VS. 11-SEED NEW MEXICO (26-9)
3-SEED BAYLOR (23-10) VS. 14-SEED COLGATE (25-9)
IN SALT LAKE CITY (THURSDAY)
7-SEED DAYTON (24-7) VS. 10-SEED NEVADA (26-7)
2-SEED ARIZONA (25-8) VS. 15-SEED LONG BEACH STATE (21-14)
TV SCHEDULE THURSDAY
THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2024
9 MICHIGAN STATE VS. 8 MISSISSIPPI STATE, 12:15 PM, CBS, SPECTRUM CENTER, CHARLOTTE, NC
11 DUQUESNE VS. 6 BYU, 12:40 PM, TRUTV, CHI HEALTH CENTER OMAHA, OMAHA, NE
14 AKRON VS. 3 CREIGHTON, 1:30 PM, TNT, PPG PAINTS ARENA, PITTSBURGH, PA
15 LONG BEACH STATE VS. 2 ARIZONA, 2:00 PM, TBS, DELTA CENTER, SALT LAKE CITY, UT
WINNER OF 16 WAGNER-16 HOWARD VS. 1 NORTH CAROLINA, 2:45 PM, CBS, SPECTRUM CENTER, CHARLOTTE, NC
14 MOREHEAD STATE VS. 3 ILLINOIS, 3:10 PM, TRUTV, CHI HEALTH CENTER OMAHA, OMAHA, NE
11 OREGON VS. 6 SOUTH CAROLINA, 4:00 PM, TNT, PPG PAINTS ARENA, PITTSBURGH, PA
10 NEVADA VS. 7 DAYTON, 4:30 PM, TBS, DELTA CENTER, SALT LAKE CITY, UT
WINNER OF 10 VIRGINIA-10 COLORADO STATE VS. 7 TEXAS, 6:50 PM, TNT, SPECTRUM CENTER, CHARLOTTE, NC
14 OAKLAND VS. 3 KENTUCKY 7:10 PM, CBS, PPG PAINTS ARENA, PITTSBURGH, PA
12 MCNEESE VS. 5 GONZAGA, 7:25 PM, TBS, DELTA CENTER, SALT LAKE CITY, UT
15 SOUTH DAKOTA STATE VS. 2 IOWA STATE, 7:35 PM, CHI HEALTH CENTER OMAHA, OMAHA, NE
15 SAINT PETER’S VS. 2 TENNESSEE, 9:20 PM, TNT, SPECTRUM CENTER, CHARLOTTE, NC
11 NC STATE VS. 6 TEXAS TECH, 9:40 PM, CBS, PPG PAINTS ARENA, PITTSBURGH, PA
13 SAMFORD VS. 4 KANSAS, 9:55 PM, TBS, DELTA CENTER, SALT LAKE CITY, UT
10 DRAKE VS. 7 WASHINGTON STATE, TRUTV, 10:05 PM, CHI HEALTH CENTER OMAHA, OMAHA, NE
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
(NCAA TOURNAMENT)
PRESBYTERIAN 49 SACRED HEART 42
VANDERBILT 72 COLUMBIA 68
WOMEN’S NCAA TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
MARCH 21 – FIRST FOUR
7 P.M. – NO. 11 ARIZONA VS. NO. 11 AUBURN, ESPN2
9 P.M. – NO. 16 UT MARTIN VS. NO. 16 HOLY CROSS, ESPN2
MARCH 22 – FIRST ROUND
11 A.M. – “NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE STUDIO PRESENTED BY AT&T,” ESPN2
11:30 A.M. – NO. 9 MICHIGAN STATE VS. NO. 8 NORTH CAROLINA, ESPN2
NOON – NO. 15 MAINE VS. NO. 2 OHIO STATE, ESPN
1:30 P.M. – NO. 11 MIDDLE TENNESSEE VS. NO. 6 LOUISVILLE, ESPN2
2 P.M. – NO. 16 PRESBYTERIAN/SACRED HEART VS. NO. 1 SOUTH CAROLINA, ESPN
2:30 P.M. – NO. 10 RICHMOND VS. NO. 7 DUKE, ESPNEWS
3 P.M. – NO. 16 DREXEL VS. NO. 1 TEXAS, ESPNU
3:30 P.M. – NO. 13 MARSHALL VS. NO. 4 VIRGINIA TECH, ESPN2
4 P.M. – NO. 14 RICE VS. NO. 3 LSU, ESPN
4:30 P.M. – NO. 13 PORTLAND VS. NO. 4 KANSAS STATE, ESPNEWS
5:30 P.M. – NO. 9 FLORIDA STATE VS. NO. 8 ALABAMA, ESPN2
6 P.M. – NO. 12 COLUMBIA/VANDERBILT VS. NO. 5 BAYLOR, ESPNU
7 P.M. – NO. 12 DRAKE VS. NO. 5 COLORADO, ESPNEWS
7:30 P.M. – NO. 10 MARYLAND VS. NO. 7 IOWA STATE, ESPN2
8 P.M. – NO. 14 EASTERN WASHINGTON VS. NO. 3 OREGON STATE, ESPNU
10 P.M. – NO. 15 NORFOLK STATE VS. NO. 2 STANFORD, ESPN2
10:30 P.M. – NO. 11 TEXAS A&M VS. NO. 6 NEBRASKA, ESPNU
MARCH 23 – FIRST ROUND
NOON – NO. 11 GREEN BAY VS. NO. 6 TENNESSEE, ESPN
1 P.M. – NO. 14 JACKSON STATE VS. NO. 3 UCONN, ABC
1:30 P.M. – NO. 13 FAIRFIELD VS. NO. 4 INDIANA, ESPN2
2 P.M. – NO. 9 MICHIGAN VS. NO. 8 KANSAS, ESPNEWS
2 P.M. – “NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE STUDIO PRESENTED BY AT&T,” ESPN
2:15 P.M. – NO. 15 KENT STATE VS. NO. 2 NOTRE DAME, ESPN
2:30 P.M. – NO. 14 CHATTANOOGA VS. NO. 3 NC STATE, ESPNU
3 P.M. – NO. 16 UT MARTIN/HOLY CROSS VS. NO. 1 IOWA, ABC
3:30 P.M. – NO. 11 ARIZONA/AUBURN VS. NO. 6 SYRACUSE, ESPN2
4 P.M. – NO. 12 FGCU VS. NO. 5 OKLAHOMA, ESPNEWS
4:15 P.M. – “NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE STUDIO PRESENTED BY AT&T,” ESPN
4:30 P.M. – NO. 16 TEXAS A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI VS. NO. 1 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, ESPN
4:45 PM – NO. 10 MARQUETTE VS. NO. 7 OLE MISS, ESPNU
5:30 P.M. – NO. 9 PRINCETON VS. NO. 8 WEST VIRGINIA, ESPN2
6:30 P.M. – “NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE STUDIO PRESENTED BY AT&T,” ESPN
7 P.M. – NO. 10 UNLV VS. NO. 7 CREIGHTON, ESPNEWS
7:30 P.M. – NO. 13 UC IRVINE VS. NO. 4 GONZAGA, ESPN2
9:30 P.M. – NO. 15 CALIFORNIA BAPTIST VS. NO. 2 UCLA, ESPN2
10 P.M. – NO. 12 SOUTH DAKOTA STATE VS. NO. 5 UTAH, ESPNU
MARCH 24 – SECOND ROUND
SECOND-ROUND GAMES WILL AIR FROM NOON P.M. TO 10 P.M. ACROSS ESPN AND ABC.
MARCH 25 – SECOND ROUND
SECOND-ROUND GAMES WILL AIR FROM 2 P.M. TO 10 P.M. ACROSS ESPN, ESPN2 AND ESPNU.
MARCH 29 – SWEET 16
2 P.M. – “NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE STUDIO PRESENTED BY AT&T,” ESPN
2:30 P.M. – ALBANY 1 REGIONAL – SWEET 16 GAME 1, ESPN
4:30 P.M. – “NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE STUDIO PRESENTED BY AT&T,” ESPN
5 P.M. – ALBANY 1 REGIONAL – SWEET 16 GAME 2, ESPN
7 P.M. – “NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE STUDIO PRESENTED BY AT&T,” ESPN
7:30 P.M. – PORTLAND 4 REGIONAL – SWEET 16 GAME 1, ESPN
9:30 P.M. – “NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE STUDIO PRESENTED BY AT&T,” ESPN
10 P.M. – PORTLAND 4 REGIONAL – SWEET 16 GAME 1, ESPN
MARCH 30 – SWEET 16
1 P.M. – ALBANY 2 REGIONAL – SWEET 16 GAME 1, ABC
3:30 P.M. – ALBANY 2 REGIONAL – SWEET 16 GAME 2, ABC
5:30 P.M. – PORTLAND 3 REGIONAL – SWEET 16 GAME 1, ESPN
8 P.M. – PORTLAND 3 REGIONAL – SWEET 16 GAME 2, ESPN
MARCH 31 – ELITE 8
1 P.M. – ALBANY 1 REGIONAL – ELITE 8, ABC
3 P.M. – PORTLAND 4 REGIONAL – ELITE 8, ABC
APRIL 1 – ELITE 8
7:15 P.M. – ALBANY 2 REGIONAL – ELITE 8, ESPN
9:15 P.M. – PORTLAND 3 REGIONAL – ELITE 8, ESPN
APRIL 5 – FINAL FOUR
7 P.M. – SEMIFINAL 1, ESPN/ESPN+
9:30 P.M. – SEMIFINAL 2, ESPN/ESPN+
APRIL 7 – CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
3 P.M. – “NCAA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP GAME PRESENTED BY CAPITAL ONE,” ABC/ESPN+
NBA SCOREBOARD
INDIANA 122 DETROIT 103
MIAMI 107 CLEVELAND 104
SACRAMENTO 123 TORONTO 89
BOSTON 122 MILWAUKEE 119
OKLAHOMA CITY 119 UTAH 107
LA CLIPPERS 116 PORTLAND 103
PHOENIX 115 PHILADELPHIA 102
GOLDEN STATE 137 MEMPHIS 116
NHL SCOREBOARD
TORONTO 7 WASHINGTON 3
LOS ANGELES 6 MINNESOTA 0
DALLAS 5 ARIZONA 2
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
ATLANTA 10 TORONTO 9
DETROIT 12 MINNESOTA 3
NY METS 6 MIAMI 3
OAKLAND 3 CHICAGO CUBS 1
TEXAS 8 CINCINNATI 1
CINCINNATI 3 CHICAGO WHITE SOX 1
SAN FRANCISCO 5 LA ANGELS 2
ARIZONA 5 COLORADO 1
BALTIMORE 13 PHILADELPHIA 4
ST. LOUIS 13 WASHINGTON 4
NY YANKEES 12 PITTSBURGH 0
LA ANGELS 8 KANSAS CITY 8
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
COLLEGE BASEBALL SCORES
CINCINNATI E 11 MIAMI OHIO 3
BALL STATE 7 BUTLER 6
RUTGERS 18 LAFAYETTE 6
ILLINOIS CHICAGO 6 PURDUE 5 (14)
NORTHWESTERN 7 TEXAS A&M-CC 6
NEBRASKA 3 NORTH DAKOTA STATE 1
BUCKNELL AT PENN STATE POSTPONED
ILLINOIS STATE 16 NORTHERN ILLINOIS 12
COLLEGE SOFTBALL SCORES
NORTHWESTERN 7 ILLINOIS CHICAGO 1
OMAHA 5 NEBRASKA 2
PURDUE 9 EASTERN ILLINOIS 5
NATIONAL SPORTS RELEASES/HEADLINES
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
GRAMBLING STATE RALLIES FROM 14 DOWN, BEATS MONTANA STATE IN OT
DAYTON, Ohio — Jimel Cofer scored all 19 of his points in the second half and overtime to rally Grambling State from 14 points down and past Montana State 88-81 in a First Four battle of Midwest Region No. 16 seeds Wednesday night.
Grambling (21-14), in its first NCAA Tournament game in school history, advanced to play No. 1 seed Purdue, which will look to atone for last year’s second-ever loss by a No. 1 seed to a No. 16 seed when Farleigh Dickinson pulled off the shocking upset.
Grambling outscored Montana State 52-28 in the paint. The Tigers rallied from deficits of 13 points in the first half and 14 in the second half to take a 70-67 lead with two minutes left in regulation.
But Montana State answered with back-to-back clutch threes from Brian Goracke and Robert Ford III to tie the game.
Eddie Turner III converted a pair of free throws with 51.3 seconds remaining to give Montana State its final lead at 72-70.
Cofer, who didn’t play in the first half, came off the bench for the Tigers and scored 13 points in the second half, including his layup with 34 seconds left to tie the game.
Overtime mirrored the end of regulation as Grambling took a 78-75 lead only to see Ford drain his fifth 3-pointer with 2:02 left to forge a tie.
But two free throws from Antwan Burnett with 1:43 left put Grambling ahead for good. A thunderous put-back dunk with 55 seconds remaining by Jourdain Smith off a Tra’Michael Moton missed layup brought Tigers fans to their feet.
The explosion was part of an 8-0 Tigers run that put the game out of reach.
Ford led all scorers with 26 points for Montana State (17-18). Ford was 9-for-13 from the field, including 6-of-8 from beyond the arc.
Goracke added 15 points, including four threes for the Bobcats, who were appearing in their third straight NCAA tournament after upsetting Montana in the Big Sky championship final last Saturday.
Antwan Burnett and Jourdan Smith (game-high nine rebounds) scored 18 points apiece for Grambling.
Walker missed a layup nine seconds remaining while Moton’s jumper was short off the iron as the buzzer sounded, sending the game to overtime.
LAST SURGE SENDS COLORADO PAST BOISE STATE IN FIRST FOUR
DAYTON, Ohio — Tristan da Silva sparked a second-half rally with a key 3-pointer and finished with a game-high 20 points to lead Colorado to a 60-53 win over Boise State on Wednesday in an NCAA Tournament First Four game.
It was the ninth win in 10 games for Colorado, which had won eight straight before dropping the Pac-12 tournament final to Oregon. The Buffaloes (25-10) advance as a No. 10 seed to oppose seventh-seeded Florida on Friday in a South Region game at Indianapolis.
KJ Simpson added 19 and 11 rebounds for the Buffaloes, who improve to 12-17 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
In a game that featured several momentum swings and two lead changes in the second half, Boise State took a 49-45 edge with 4:31 left on a Chibuzo Agbo basket.
The Buffaloes scored the next 11 points, starting with a da Silva 3-pointer that was followed by four straight points from Simpson.
Agbo had 17 points and Roddie Anderson III chipped with 14 for Boise State (22-11), which is winless in 10 all-time NCAA Tournament appearances.
Colorado’s Eddie Lampkin caught a short shot from J’Vonne Hadley and put the ball in with 32.8 seconds left as the shot clock expired, putting the Buffaloes up 54-49.
The game marked the conclusion of the annual First Four opener to the NCAA Tournament at the University of Dayton Arena. A crowd of 12,039 witnessed Grambling State beat Montana State 88-81 in overtime during the first game to advance to play top-seeded Purdue in the Midwest Region.
The second game featured a coaching showdown between two longtime friends. Boise State’s Leon Rice and Colorado’s Tad Boyle have known each other for 35 years and have monitored each other’s programs closely.
The familiarity produced a defensive battle between two teams that entered the game averaging at least 75 points per game.
Thanks to tight defense and foul trouble, Colorado managed to hold Boise State’s leading scorer, Tyson Degenhart, scoreless in the first half and limited him to six points for the game. Degenhart came in averaging 17 points per contest.
Boise State shot 34.5 percent from 3-point range this season but shot just 2-for-18 (11.1 percent) from beyond the arc in the loss.
Colorado won the game at the free-throw line, converting 14 of 15 chances while Boise State had just five free throws, making four.
FLORIDA A&M MOVING ON FROM COACH ROBERT MCCULLUM AFTER SEVEN SEASONS AND 133 LOSSES
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida A&M University is moving on from basketball coach Robert McCullum after seven seasons.
Florida’s only public historically Black university announced Wednesday that it will not renew McCullum’s contract, which expires at the end of June.
McCullum went 67-133 during his tenure with the Rattlers, including a 53-61 mark in conference play. The team finished 6-23 this past season. McCullum was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2021.
“I want to thank Coach McCullum for his dedication to FAMU and our basketball student-athletes,” athletic director Tiffani-Dawn Sykes said in a statement. “He has led this program with integrity and has positively influenced countless young men, both players and coaches. We wish Coach McCullum and his family the very best in the future.”
The school will form a committee to conduct a national search for FAMU’s next head coach.
ARIZONA LANDS TOP-10 RECRUIT JOSON SANON WITH EARLY ARRIVAL PLAN
Arizona received a commitment from top-10 recruit Joson Sanon, a versatile wing who plans to reclassify from the Class of 2025 to arrive in Tucson in August.
Sanon is rated as a five-star prospect and ESPN, 247 Sports and On3 listed the 6-5, 185-pound combo guard from Vermont Academy as a top-10 recruit in 2025. Sanon, ranked ninth in the ESPN Top 60, was down to offers from UConn, Kentucky and Arizona.
“I love the fit, the way they score, how they get you open,” Sanon told ESPN on Wednesday. “They play at a fast pace, and being in the center of a high-powered offense was attractive. I wanted to get locked in before things really get going with the transfer portal.”
Sanon is projected as a first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, according to ESPN and DraftXpress.
“I had a couple of benchmarks for this season that would help me decide if I’m ready to graduate high school early,” Sanon told ESPN. “I wanted to win a championship, lead a team, be a primary scorer, and really lock in defensively. I’m physically strong enough for college. The next step is learning how to think the game better and adding to what I already do.”
Kansas, Louisville and Indiana had also been among the top options for Sanon, who will attempt to trace the path of Bennedict Mathurin from Arizona to become the second Haitian player in the NBA. Sanon’s parents emigrated from Haiti before he was born.
Arizona is a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, but coach Tommy Lloyd will need a number of reinforcements with top scorer Caleb Love and senior guard Pelle Larsson among those likely moving on after the tournament.
The Wildcats’ 2024 class already included Riverside, Calf., power forward Carter Bryant, who picked Arizona over Duke.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
CAITLIN CLARK, FRESHMEN JUJU WATKINS AND HANNAH HIDALGO TOP AP WOMEN’S ALL-AMERICA TEAM
Caitlin Clark has been a mainstay on The Associated Press All-America team the past few seasons.
The NCAA’s all-time scoring leader from Iowa was honored for the third straight year Wednesday, becoming the 11th player to earn the distinction three times. She was a unanimous choice from the 35-member national media panel that chooses the AP Top 25 each week.
Clark was joined on the first team by Stanford’s Cameron Brink, UConn’s Paige Bueckers and freshmen JuJu Watkins of USC and Hannah Hidalgo of Notre Dame. They are only the fourth and fifth freshmen to make the AP team since it began in 1994-95, joining Oklahoma’s Courtney Paris, UConn’s Maya Moore and Bueckers.
“We’ve had a front row seat to JuJu, but what Hannah’s done is unbelievable,” USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. “Coach Niele (Ivey) has done an incredible job.”
Clark joins a select group with her third first-team honor: South Carolina’s A’ja Wilson and Aliyah Boston, Baylor’s Brittney Griner, Tennessee’s Chamique Holdsclaw, Duke’s Alana Beard, Paris, Oregon’s Sabrina Ionescu, Kentucky’s Rhyne Howard and UConn’s Breanna Stewart and Moore. Paris and Moore did it four times.
Clark, who earned second-team honors as a freshman, led the nation in scoring averaging 31.9 points per game as well as being tops in assists with 8.9. The Iowa native became the first Division I player to have consecutive 1,000-point seasons and to also top 3,000 points and 1,000 assists for her career.
“That is mind-boggling when you think about it,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said. “I mean, everybody’s defensive plan is to stop her, and nobody’s been able to figure out really how to do it. She’s faced every kind of defense. She really knows how to pick them apart.”
Watkins took the country by storm as a freshman. She has already scored 810 points, which is fourth most for a freshman all-time. She averaged 27 points, which was second behind Clark and added 7.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.4 steals and 1.5 blocks to help the Trojans win the Pac-12 Tournament for the first time since 2014. She is the first USC player to earn first-team AP honors.
“JuJu came to a program that while there’s a proud history, there’s been nothing significant done in many, many years,” Gottlieb said. “It’s very rare for a player of her level to go to a program that’s not already at the top. She’s answered every bell.”
Hidalgo was incredible on both ends of the floor for the Fighting Irish, helping lead them to the ACC Tournament title. She averaged 23.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 5.5 assists and also led the nation in steals, averaging 4.6 a game.
“She deserves to be listed amongst the best in women’s basketball,” Ivey said. “Hannah is a fierce competitor and an elite performer who rises to the occasion and has been extremely consistent and dominant this season.”
Bueckers finally made it through a season healthy after missing most of the past two years because of injuries. She returned to the form that earned her AP Player of the Year honors as a freshman, averaging 21.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists for the Huskies.
“She’s one of those unique superstars that wants to be that at both ends of the floor,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. “Not everyone values those same things. She gets a lot of enjoyment out of the rebounding that she can do, the blocked shots, the steals, stealing the inbounds pass on the out-of-bounds play. She just has a great sense of the game and what’s happening next. I think that’s probably why she’s never surprised, because I think she always knows what’s happening next.”
Brink averaged 17.8 points, 12 rebounds and 3.5 blocks, which led the nation. She became only the second player in the past 24 years to have 100 blocks and 100 assists in the same season, joining Stewart, who did it three times.
Brink is the first Stanford player to be honored as a first-team All-American since Chiney Ogwumike in 2013-14.
“Cam is the best two-way player in the nation and a dominant force at both ends,” Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer said. “In addition to all the points, rebounds and blocks, she’s a selfless teammate and a willing passer who makes everyone around her better.”
Clark, Brink and Bueckers were all on the preseason AP All-America team. They were joined by LSU’s Angel Reese, Indiana’s Mackenzie Holmes and Virginia Tech’s Elizabeth Kitley.
SECOND TEAM
The AP second team was headlined by Kitley, who was the ACC player of the year for a third straight season. She was joined by Reese, South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso, Texas’ Madison Booker and Ohio State’s Jacy Sheldon.
THIRD TEAM
The AP third team was Utah’s Alissa Pili, Holmes, Syracuse’s Daisha Fair, Virginia Tech’s Georgia Amoore and Oregon State’s Reagan Beers,
HONORABLE MENTION
Ayoka Lee of Kansas State, and Aaliyah Edwards of UConn were the leading vote-getters among players who didn’t make the three All-America teams. Players earned honorable-mention status if they appeared on one of the ballots.
COLLEGE ATHLETICS
WASHINGTON AD TROY DANNEN LEAVING AFTER LESS THAN 6 MONTHS TO REPLACE TREV ALBERTS AT NEBRASKA
Nebraska hired Washington athletic director Troy Dannen on Wednesday to replace Trev Alberts, luring away the Midwesterner after less than six months on the job in Seattle.
Alberts left Nebraska late last week to become athletic director at Texas A&M. The former star football player for the Cornhuskers spent just shy of three years as the athletic director at his alma mater before leaving the Big Ten Conference school for the chance to run an SEC program.
Nebraska moved quickly to replace him with Dannen, an Iowa native who took the Washington job in October after spending nine years as AD at Tulane. Before Tulane, Dannen was athletic director at Northern Iowa.
“There is a storied tradition at Nebraska but more work to be done. I truly believe our best years are ahead of us,” Dannen said in a statement. “I couldn’t be more grateful to interim President Chris Kabourek for this opportunity.”
Dannen was barely in Seattle long enough to enjoy a cup of coffee in the city known for its brews.
He was hired in early October to take over the Huskies, a little more than two months after the school announced it was leaving the Pac-12 and joining the Big Ten in 2024.
His brief tenure in Washington was chaotic, including the Huskies’ run to the national championship game in football but also two coaching searches, one of which is still open.
Football coach Kalen DeBoer parlayed the Huskies’ title game run into the head job at Alabama after Nick Saben retired. It took Dannen less than 72 hours to hire Jedd Fisch from Arizona as DeBoer’s replacement.
Dannen was also in the middle of a men’s basketball coaching search after Mike Hopkins was let go earlier this month following seven seasons. The basketball job remains open.
Dannen replaced Jen Cohen, who left last August to take the top position in the athletic department at Southern California. Cohen was the one in charge of Washington athletics when the Huskies announced that they, along with Oregon, were leaving for the Big Ten, helping lead to the collapse of the Pac-12.
It was expected that Dannen would be the one taking the Huskies into the Big Ten coming off the major success in football but with a department deficit of nearly $8 million in the next fiscal year and a major jump in the debt services paid on the Husky Stadium renovation in the coming years.
At Nebraska, Dannen finds more fiscal stability, but also a tradition-rich football program that has not been to a bowl game since the 2016 season.
Dannen and Cornhuskers football coach Matt Rhule, who was hired last year by Alberts, know each other from their time in the American Athletic Conference. Dannen was Tulane’s athletic director while Rhule was coach at Temple.
“I’m so fired up about this hire,” Rhule said. “Interim President Kabourek has found exactly the right person to lead the Huskers forward. Troy sees what we see — that Nebraska is a special place, with special people, a great vision and the courage to be unabashed about wanting to win across the board.”
NBA NEWS
NBA ROUNDUP: CELTICS TOP BUCKS, WIN 7TH STRAIGHT
Jayson Tatum had 31 points and eight rebounds to help the Boston Celtics extend their winning streak to seven games with a 122-119 victory over the visiting Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night.
Derrick White added 23 points and eight assists for Boston, which made 18 of its 40 3-point attempts. Jaylen Brown had 21 points, and Payton Pritchard came off the bench to score 19.
The Celtics led by 21 points in the fourth quarter before the Bucks got within two with 32.6 seconds left. Boston sealed the win at the foul line, running its home winning streak to 10 games.
Damian Lillard scored a game-high 32 points and Bobby Portis added 24 points and 15 rebounds for Milwaukee, which was missing Giannis Antetokounmpo (hamstring) for the second game in a row.
Suns 115, 76ers 102
Grayson Allen matched his season highs with nine 3-pointers and 32 points as Phoenix beat visiting Philadelphia.
Kevin Durant scored 22 points and Devin Booker added 18 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds for Phoenix, which led by as many as 26. Durant (28,610 points) was 10-for-18 from the floor and passed Shaquille O’Neal (28,596) for eighth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.
Kelly Oubre Jr. put up 18 points for the 76ers, who had their two-game winning streak end.
Heat 107, Cavaliers 104
Terry Rozier scored seven of his 24 points down the stretch, including on a step-back 3-pointer with 14.5 seconds remaining in regulation, which proved to be the game-winner as visiting Miami topped Cleveland.
The Heat could not gain much separation, however, pushing their advantage to 11 points at its peak. Playing without Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Max Strus, the Cavaliers rallied to take a fourth-quarter lead behind Georges Niang’s 10 points in the period.
Niang was one of five Cleveland scorers in double figures, finishing with 18 points. Jarrett Allen recorded his 34th double-double of the season and first 20-plus-point, 20-plus-rebound double-double since Dec. 27 with a team-high 25 points and 20 boards.
Pacers 122, Pistons 103
Pascal Siakam had 25 points, eight rebounds and four assists and visiting Indiana pounded Detroit.
Tyrese Haliburton had 20 points, nine assists and four steals for the Pacers (39-31) on the first leg of a five-game road trip. Aaron Nesmith supplied 14 points and T.J. McConnell contributed 13 points and six assists.
Cade Cunningham led the Pistons (12-57), who have lost four straight, with 23 points, 1 10 assists and six rebounds. Jaden Ivey had 15 points and Jalen Duren added 11 points and 12 rebounds.
Thunder 119, Jazz 107
Rookie Chet Holmgren scored 35 points to lead host Oklahoma City past Utah for its third win in a row, moving the Thunder into sole possession of first place in the Western Conference.
Holmgren scored 18 of his points in the fourth quarter as the Thunder pulled away, outscoring the Jazz 37-27. Utah has dropped three consecutive games and 14 of its past 17.
Holmgren added a season-high-tying 14 rebounds, while teammate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 31 points, seven assists and four steals. Collin Sexton led Utah with 25 points.
Kings 123, Raptors 89
Domantas Sabonis had 13 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists as visiting Sacramento defeated Toronto.
Sabonis recorded a double-double for the 51st consecutive game while producing his 24th triple-double of the season. De’Aaron Fox added 20 points for the Kings, who were opening a three-game road trip after a 4-2 homestand.
Gary Trent Jr. scored 18 points for the Raptors, who have lost eight in a row. Ochai Agbaji and Jordan Nwora scored 13 points apiece, and Jahmi’us Ramsey put up 11 points.
Warriors 137, Grizzlies 116
Jonathan Kuminga had a team-high 26 points and Golden State used a 22-0 burst bridging the second and third quarters to break a tie and pull away from Memphis in San Francisco.
Klay Thompson poured in 23 off the bench, Andrew Wiggins chipped in with 22 points and Stephen Curry had 14 in just 24 minutes, helping the Warriors snap a three-game home losing streak.
On a night when the Grizzlies attempted 49 3-pointers, rookie GG Jackson II buried seven en route to a season-high 35 points and Santi Aldama hit six in a 27-point effort. However, they couldn’t prevent Memphis’ fourth consecutive loss.
Clippers 116, Blazers 103
Paul George scored 27 points and Kawhi Leonard added 24 as Los Angeles topped host Portland in the first contest of a two-game set.
James Harden had 19 points and 14 assists as the Clippers defeated the Trail Blazers for the third straight time this season and eighth in a row overall.
Scoot Henderson scored 18 points and rookie Kris Murray added a career-high 17 points for Portland, which took its fourth loss in a row. Anfernee Simons had 14 points and Jabari Walker and Dalano Banton scored 12 points apiece.
PHOENIX SUNS SIGN 2-TIME ALL-STAR ISAIAH THOMAS TO 10-DAY CONTRACT
PHOENIX (AP) — The Phoenix Suns have signed two-time All-Star guard Isaiah Thomas to a 10-day contract.
The 35-year-old hasn’t played in the NBA since 2022 but recently appeared in four games with the Salt Lake City Stars in the NBA G League, averaging 32.5 points per game.
The Suns, who announced the contract on Wednesday, are searching for some scoring punch off the bench as they make their postseason push. Thomas played 46 games with the Suns during the 2014-15 season, averaging 15.2 points per game.
Thomas has a career scoring averaging of 17.7 points in 550 career games with the Kings, Suns, Celtics, Cavaliers, Lakers, Nuggets, Wizards, Pelicans, Mavericks and Hornets.
NFL NEWS
REPORT: NEWLY SIGNED DE CHASE YOUNG TO UNDERGO NECK SURGERY
Defensive end Chase Young, newly signed to a one-year, $13 million deal with the New Orleans Saints, will undergo neck surgery on Thursday, Sports Illustrated reported.
Recovery time is three to five months, which would make Young available for the start of the 2024 season, if he stays on schedule.
The Saints were aware of the issue, which is believed to stem from a stinger suffered in the 2023 preseason, and structured his contract accordingly, per the report.
Young is guaranteed to earn his $13 million in the event of a release. However, he will earn just over $5 million in base pay with a roster bonus of $470,000 per game, multiple outlets reported.
If he is active for all 17 games next season, he’d earn the additional $7.99 million on his contract.
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by Washington, Young was dealt by the Commanders to the 49ers in exchange for a third-round draft pick last October. He played nine regular-season games for San Francisco, recording 10 tackles and 2.5 sacks. Young added 11 tackles in the 49ers’ playoff run, including a sack in the Super Bowl.
Young, 24, was the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2020 after registering 44 tackles, 7.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in 15 games.
Still, his neck injury made it difficult to find a team willing to take the risk, per Sports Illustrated.
A torn right anterior cruciate ligament limited him to nine games in 2021 and three games in 2022. He bounced back to appear in seven games and start six times for Washington last year, producing 15 tackles and five sacks in those contests.
In 43 career NFL games (32 starts), Young has 100 tackles, 16.5 sacks, six forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
LIONS CB CAMERON SUTTON WANTED ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WARRANT
Detroit Lions starting cornerback Cameron Sutton is the subject of an arrest warrant in Hillsborough County, Fla.
The sheriff’s office there said Wednesday he is wanted for aggravated battery-domestic violence and described the Jeep Grand Wagoneer that he was believed to be driving. The public was asked to contact the office if Sutton or the vehicle were spotted.
The Detroit Free Press confirmed this is the same Sutton who plays for the Lions.
Sutton, 29, joined the Lions last season on a three-year, $33 million deal signed in March 2023 after six seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who selected him in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
He started all 17 regular-season games with the Lions, posting 65 tackles, an interception, one forced fumble and six passes defensed. He started the Lions’ three playoff games as well, adding eight tackles and breaking up three passes.
MARVIN HARRISON JR. SKIPPING PRO DAY AT OHIO STATE
Marvin Harrison Jr. is skipping pro day at Ohio State on Wednesday, Sports Illustrated reported.
Expected to be the No. 1 wide receiver selected in the 2024 NFL Draft next month, Harrison met with nine teams at the NFL Scouting Combine and asked whether they wanted to see him in a pro day workout, per the report. All said no.
Harrison did not work out at the Combine, either, and is continuing to train in Columbus, Ohio, for his NFL career.
Harrison spent three seasons at Ohio State and caught 155 passes for 2,613 yards and 31 touchdowns. He set the Buckeyes’ career record with 15 100-yard receiving games.
He was a back-to-back All-American in 2022 and 2023 and a Heisman Trophy finalist last year.
NFL DRAFT PLAYER PROFILE: WR MARVIN HARRISON JR., OHIO STATE
Overview
Harrison comes from impressive NFL bloodlines and possesses similarities that made his father, Pro Football Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison, special. Harrison can run but isn’t a burner. What makes him tough to handle is his consistent play speed paired with quality salesmanship in his routes. He’s able to uncover no matter where he’s aligned or which part of the field his assignment takes him to, and he is capable of finishing catches in a crowd. Harrison can be sudden while working possession routes, and he’s well qualified to beat any opponent with his ball skills if the battle heads deep. Harrison is a touchdown champ with a variety of ways to excel, and that characteristic figures to follow him into the pros. He has the traits and tools to win in all three phases of the route and on all three levels of the field. He’s a pedigree prospect and a Day 1 starter with high-end production expected.
Strengths
- Exceptional production as a high-volume, high-impact target.
- Runs routes with threatening pace and is sudden out of breaks.
- Good rhythm and body control snapping off comeback routes.
- Uses speed changes to create indecisiveness in cornerbacks.
- Elite scramble talent to uncover wide open when play breaks down.
- Plays with pro feet working his boundary catches.
- Highly focused deep-ball tracker with above-average ball skills.
- Can make late body adjustments with sudden hands to bring in the catch.
- Elegant leap and spin to snatch throws over defender’s heads.
Weaknesses
- Room for improvement with release against press.
- Allowed grabby coverage too much leeway in disrupting his routes.
- Needs better route efficiency without as much stutter-stepping.
- Might not have enough blow-by speed to consistently outrun NFL corners.
- Had uncharacteristic drops in 2023.
COLLEGE WRESTLING
OKLAHOMA STATE’S FIX CHASES FIRST NATIONAL TITLE. PENN STATE LOOKS TO WIN THIRD STRAIGHT TEAM TITLE
Oklahoma State wrestler Daton Fix is positioned to finally win an elusive national championship, and Penn State is poised to win the team title again with two potential four-time champions.
Fix has placed in the top four at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships four times, including three second-place finishes. He came back this season to use the extra year the NCAA offered because of the COVID-19 pandemic and won a record fifth Big 12 title. Now, he has earned the No. 1 seed in the 133-pound class at the NCAA tournament.
He wants to make the most of his last chance at a national title. The championships will run Thursday through Saturday at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.
“Obviously, I’ve been in position to win plenty of times, and I just haven’t got the job done,” Fix said. “So I know how to get there and I know what I need to do to to reach that next step on the podium. I’ve got to score some more points. And it’s something that I know that I can do. And it’s just a matter of getting back to that moment and doing it.”
Fix missed several matches with injury and illness this season for the first time in his college career. Oklahoma State coach John Smith said Fix has handled the challenges well.
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“When you don’t have something for a period of time that, your identity is that, you realize just fortunate, how important it is to you,” Smith said. “So I think it helped him raise this level of hunger for a championship.”
It won’t be an easy path. Last year’s champion at 133, Cornell’s Vito Arujau, is back. Arujau beat Fix in last year’s semifinals. Lehigh freshman Ryan Crookham is undefeated, seeded No. 2 and has two wins over Arujau this season.
In the team race, two-time defending national champion Penn State is again the favorite under coach Cael Sanderson. All 10 Nittany Lions wrestlers are seeded in the top 10 and six in the top two. They seek their 11th national title in the past 13 years.
Penn State’s Aaron Brooks and Carter Starocci are looking for their fourth championships.
Brooks is the No. 1 seed at 197. North Carolina State’s unbeaten Trent Hidlay could derail him. Last year’s runner-up in that class, South Dakota State’s Tanner Sloan, also is back.
Starocci is seeded just ninth at 174, in part because of a medical forfeit at the Big Ten Championships. He could have a tough road. He is one of three former national champs competing at 174. Mekhi Lewis, the 2019 champ at 165 and the No. 1 seed, and Michigan’s Shane Griffith, the 2021 champ at 165 while at Stanford, are there as well.
There’s more for Penn State. Greg Kerkvliet is the No. 1 seed at 285 after being national runner-up last year, though he could be challenged. Kerkvliet defeated Air Force’s Wyatt Hendrickson in the semifinals last year, and Hendrickson has put together another strong season.
Levi Haines, a runner-up last year at 157, and Braeden Davis, a true freshman at 125, also are No. 1 seeds for Penn State.
In the most recent NWCA Coaches Poll, Penn State was No. 1, Iowa No. 2, Nebraska No. 3 and Oklahoma State No. 4.
Here are some things to watch at this year’s national championships:
BIG TEN POWER
The top three seeds at 141 are from the Big Ten. Ohio State’s Jesse Mendez beat Penn State’s Beau Bartlett in the Big Ten final after beating last year’s national runner-up, Iowa’s Real Woods, in the semifinals. Mendez is seeded first, Bartlett second and Woods third in Kansas City.
ALL THE WAY?
Purdue’s Matt Ramos could win it all at 125. He shocked Iowa’s three-time national champion, Spencer Lee, in last year’s semifinals and finished second. He is seeded fourth. It’s a tough field. Penn State’s Davis is seeded No. 1, Lehigh’s Luke Stanich is No. 2 and Iowa’s Drake Ayala is seeded third.
HE’S BACK
Missouri’s Keegan O’Toole, last year’s champion in the 165 class, is the top seed. He might run into Iowa State’s David Carr, a four-time Big 12 champion who won a national title at 157 in 2021. O’Toole has a win over Carr this season.
FABULOUS FRESHMEN
The Penn State train won’t be stopping anytime soon. Davis, a true freshman, is coming off a Big Ten title. True freshman Tyler Kasak is the No. 7 seed at 149. Redshirt freshman Mitchell Mesenbrink is No. 2 at 165.
PURE DOMINANCE
Northern Iowa’s Parker Keckeisen has three top-three finishes, but hasn’t won a national title. He has been unstoppable this season in rolling to a 23-0 record. He has followed up last year’s runner-up season at 184 with an undefeated run and a No. 1 seed in the same class. Penn State’s Brooks, who beat Keckeisen in the 184 final last season, has moved up to 197.
NHL NEWS
NHL ROUNDUP: AUSTON MATTHEWS, LEAFS CRUSH CAPS
Auston Matthews had two goals and three assists to match his career-high point total and Max Domi contributed a career-best four assists to lead the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs to a 7-3 win against the Washington Capitals on Wednesday.
John Tavares and William Nylander each had a goal and two assists for the Maple Leafs (39-20-9, 87 points), who avoided what would have been their first three-game losing streak since mid-January. Jake McCabe, Bobby McMann and Tyler Bertuzzi also scored and Joseph Woll made 18 saves for Toronto.
Alex Ovechkin scored two goals to pull within 50 of surpassing Wayne Gretzky for the all-time NHL lead and Charlie Lindgren stopped 22 shots for the Capitals (33-26-9, 75 points), who came up short in a bid to win four in a row for the first time since mid-November.
Ovechkin has five goals in the past three games, 23 on the season and 845 in his NHL career. Washington also got a goal from Connor McMichael.
Stars 5, Coyotes 2
Jamie Benn scored in his 1,100th career game, highlighting Dallas’ three-goal second period during a victory over visiting Arizona.
Goals by Logan Stankoven and Tyler Seguin sandwiched Benn’s score as Dallas overcame a 1-0 deficit and won for the seventh time in nine games. Jason Robertson (two points) and Craig Smith added goals 1:13 apart early in the third period for the Stars, and Jake Oettinger stopped 23 shots.
Connor Ingram made 28 saves while Clayton Keller and John Leonard scored for the Coyotes, who entered after back-to-back victories following a 1-4-0 rut.
Kings 6, Wild 0
Anze Kopitar collected one goal and one assist to surpass 1,200 points in his career and David Rittich posted his career-high third shutout of the season as host Los Angeles trounced Minnesota.
Phillip Danault, Kevin Fiala and Viktor Arvidsson each also netted one goal and one assist while Matt Roy and Jordan Spence added one goal apiece for the Kings. Rittich made 31 saves to record his seventh career shutout. Adrian Kempe, Trevor Moore and Drew Doughty each collected two assists.
Wild starting goalie Marc-Andre Fleury was pulled after surrendering five goals on 16 shots. Filip Gustavsson stopped 10 of 11 shots in relief.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
SPRING TRAINING ROUNDUP: BRAVES LOSE LEAD IN NINTH, STILL EDGE JAYS
The host Atlanta Braves blew a three-run lead in the top of the ninth, but Leury Garcia came to the rescue with a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the frame for a 10-9 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday in North Port, Fla.
Atlanta needed just three more outs to wrap up a 9-6 win, but Rafael Lantigua smacked a two-run homer and Arjun Nimmala followed with a solo shot to draw Toronto even.
Wes Parsons (0-1) got the first two outs of the bottom of the ninth before Garcia delivered his game-winning hit.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Daniel Vogelbach homered as the Blue Jays raced out to a 4-0 lead. The Braves scored six unanswered runs — four in the fifth, two in the sixth — to take control.
Atlanta reliever Brian Moran (1-0) surrendered Nimmala’s homer but proceeded to strike out Tanner Morris, allowing him to come away with the win.
Tigers 12, Twins 3
Matt Vierling drove in four runs and Josh Crouch drove in three as visiting Detroit rocked Minnesota in Fort Myers, Fla.
The Tigers got to Twins starter Louie Varland (1-1) for eight runs and nine hits in four innings. Detroit was up 9-0 before Ryan Jeffers got Minnesota on the board with a solo home run in the seventh.
Casey Mize (3-1) went 4 2/3 innings, giving up two hits without allowing a run for the Tigers. He walked two and struck out four.
Mets 6, Marlins 3
Christian Scott surrendered one run on two hits across four strong innings to help New York double up host Miami in Jupiter, Fla.
Scott (1-0) didn’t issue a walk and fanned seven. Brandon Nimmo went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a walk for the Mets.
Jonah Bride ripped a solo shot for the Marlins. Starter Patrick Monteverde (0-1) yielded two runs on three hits in 3 1/3 innings.
Athletics 3, Cubs 1
Paul Blackburn carried a no-hitter through six innings, lifting Oakland over visiting Chicago in Mesa, Ariz.
Blackburn (3-0) was removed before the start of the seventh after pairing one walk with three strikeouts. All of the Athletics’ runs came via the long ball — Nick Allen’s solo home run and Brent Rooker’s two-run blast.
Ezequiel Pagan homered for the Cubs’ lone run. Eight pitchers logged an inning apiece for Chicago, with Hector Neris (0-1) surrendering all three Oakland runs.
Rangers 8, Reds 1
Dane Dunning racked up eight strikeouts across five innings and Texas blew by host Cincinnati in Goodyear, Ariz.
Dunning (2-1) only allowed three hits and one unearned run. He walked one. Marcus Semien cranked a grand slam and Wyatt Langford added a solo shot as part of a six-run second for the Rangers.
A double steal resulted in the Reds’ only run. Rhett Lowder (0-1) only got through 1 1/3 innings, giving up five runs and four hits.
Reds 3 (ss), White Sox 1
Christian Encarnacion-Strand blasted a go-ahead solo home run in the seventh as visiting Cincinnati’s split squad edged Chicago in Glendale, Ariz.
One out after Encarnacion-Strand left the yard, Luke Maile went deep for the Reds. Tyler Gilbert (1-1) provided three innings of shutout relief to grab the win.
Cincinnati’s late rally spoiled a solid start from Michael Soroka, who allowed one unearned run, one hit and one walk in four frames. He struck out five. Andrew Vaughn had a run-scoring double for the White Sox.
Diamondbacks 5, Rockies 1
Tommy Henry provided 3 1/3 innings of no-hit ball, setting the tone for host Arizona in a win over Colorado in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Henry (1-3) walked one and fanned three before Joe Mantiply and Scott McGough combined for 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. Bryce Jarvis then went three innings, letting the Rockies plate a run on a groundout.
Christian Walker and Eugenio Suarez homered for the Diamondbacks.
Giants 5, Angels 2
Visiting San Francisco rattled off five unanswered runs on the way to a victory over Los Angeles in Tempe, Ariz.
The Angels took a 1-0 lead in the first when Anthony Rendon scored on Taylor Ward’s double-play grounder, but it was all Giants from there. Marco Luciano had a two-RBI single to cap the scoring for San Francisco.
Both starters struck out six over 4 2/3 innings and were strong in recording no-decisions. The Giants’ Jordan Hicks gave up one run on three hits, while Tyler Anderson allowed one run and five hits.
REPORTS: SHOHEI OHTANI’S INTERPRETER FIRED, TIED TO BOOKMAKING OPERATION
Ippei Mizuhara, the longtime interpreter for Shohei Ohtani, was fired by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday after wire transfers from Ohtani’s bank account were sent to a Southern California bookmaking operation, according to multiple media reports.
Ohtani’s attorneys accused Mizuhara of “massive theft” tied to illegal gambling. ESPN reported that at least $4.5 million in wire transfers were sent to the bookmaking operation, which is under federal investigation.
“In the course of responding to recent media inquiries, we discovered that Shohei has been the victim of a massive theft, and we are turning the matter over to the authorities,” a statement from West Hollywood law firm Berk Brettler LLP read.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Mizuhara was still interpreting for Ohtani on Wednesday when the Dodgers opened the regular season against the San Diego Padres in Seoul, South Korea. He was seen in the dugout during the game.
Afterward, Mizuhara spoke to the team in the clubhouse and revealed a story was coming out and stated that he had a gambling addiction, ESPN reported, citing a Dodgers spokesperson.
ESPN added that it reviewed bank information showing Ohtani’s name on two $500,000 payments, one sent in September and the other in October, to the bookmaking operation run by Mathew Bowyer. The word “loan” was on both payments.
A spokesman for Ohtani initially told ESPN that the former Los Angeles Angels two-way force had transferred funds to cover Mizuhara’s gambling debts. Mizuhara agreed to an interview with ESPN on Tuesday night and told his story for approximately 90 minutes.
Mizuhara, 39, told ESPN he asked Ohtani for help with his gambling debts.
“Obviously, (Ohtani) wasn’t happy about it and said he would help me out to make sure I never do this again,” Mizuhara said. “He decided to pay it off for me.
“I want everyone to know Shohei had zero involvement in betting. I want people to know I did not know this was illegal. I learned my lesson the hard way. I will never do sports betting ever again.”
On Wednesday, the spokesman changed tunes, debunking Mizuhara’s account and declining further comment.
Also Wednesday, Mizuhara’s story changed, as he said Ohtani didn’t know about the gambling debts and did not transfer money.
Ohtani signed a record 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers in the offseason, not long after winning his second unanimous American League MVP award.
Ohtani’s stint with the Angels started in 2018, and Mizuhara has been a constant companion in the dugout and off the field. He runs errands for Ohtani on a personal level and translates scouting reports from managers and coaches to Ohtani in the clubhouse.
Mizuhara told ESPN his bets were on NFL, NBA, college football games and international soccer.
“I never bet on baseball,” Mizuhara said. “That’s 100 percent. I knew that rule. … We have a meeting about that in spring training.”
MEN’S GOLF
2024 VALSPAR CHAMPIONSHIP: PREVIEW, PROPS, BEST BETS
The PGA Tour concludes its annual “Florida Swing” with this week’s Valspar Championship, which begins Thursday on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, Fla.
The field features two of the top 10 players in the world rankings, and our golf experts preview the event along with their favorite prop picks and best bets to win this week.
VALSPAR CHAMPIONSHIP
Location: Palm Harbor, Fla., March 21-24
Course: Innisbrook Resort, Copperhead Course (Par 71, 7,340 yards)
Purse: $8.4M (Winner: $1.512M)
Defending Champion: Taylor Moore
FedEx Cup Leader: Scheffler
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Thursday-Friday, 2-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 1-3 p.m. (GC), 3-6 p.m. (NBC)
Streaming (ESPN+): Thursday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. ET; Saturday-Sunday, 7:45 a.m.-6 p.m.
X: @ValsparChamp
PROP PICKS
–Matt NeSmith to Beat Webb Simpson (-110 at DraftKings): NeSmith tied for third here two years ago and is coming off a solid T26 at The Players after missing three of his previous four cuts. Simpson has plummeted to 235th in the world rankings and hasn’t finished better than T30 in his past seven starts dating back to September.
–Cameron Young to Finish Top 20 (+120 at BetMGM): Young is still seeking his first PGA Tour victory, which could come this week against a softer field. He’s +500 to win the tournament, but we like the safety net and a still solid payout until Young proves he can close on Sunday. He followed three consecutive top-20s with a T36 at Bay Hill and a T54 at The Players.
–Doug Ghim to Beat Min Woo Lee Round 1 (-110 at DraftKings): Ghim has quietly put together five consecutive top-20 finishes, highlighted by a T16 at The Players. He also finished T27 here last year and has more course knowledge than Lee, who is playing many PGA Tour stops for the first time as a tour rookie. Lee is the bigger household name, but he hasn’t been in top form, posting a T54 at TPC Sawgrass and a T44 at Bay Hill after a T2 at the Cognizant Classic.
2024 Prop Picks Record: 16-16-1
BEST BETS
–Xander Schauffele (+800 at BetMGM) wasn’t able to close the deal on Sunday — again — at The Players. Can he rebound mentally to claim a win against a more modest field? He does have five top-10s in seven events this season. His is the book’s biggest liability this week, as Schauffele leads the field with 19.4 percent of the money backing him to win.
–Sam Burns (+1100) followed four consecutive top-10s with a T30 and a T45 the past two weeks. But the 2021 and 2022 Valspar champion also finished sixth at Innisbrook last year. Burns is third this week with 6.4 percent of the total bets backing him.
–Jordan Spieth (+1400) opened the year with a third at The Sentry and added a T6 in Phoenix but has a missed cut and a DQ among his past three starts. He won the Valspar in 2015 and tied for third last year.
–Justin Thomas (+1400) is coming off his second missed cut in three starts following a string of seven consecutive T12s or better. He’s BetMGM’s third biggest liability this week, having drawn 10.9 percent of the total money.
–Brian Harman (+2000) missed out on a playoff at The Players by a single shot following a T12 at Bay Hill. He has missed the cut in five of his past six appearances at the event. Harman is the book’s second biggest liability as he has been backed by the second most bets and the third most money at 9.2 percent in both markets.
NOTES
–World No. 7 Patrick Cantlay withdrew on Sunday, leaving No. 5 Xander Schauffele and No. 8 Brian Harman as the lone top-10 players in the field. No. 20 Tom Kim also withdrew over the weekend.
–The closing three holes on the Copperhead Course are known as the “Snake Pit,” featuring a pair of difficult par-4s sandwiching the 200-yard par-3.
–University of Florida teammates Fred Biondi and Ricky Castillo are in the field. Biondi is coming off a T32 in Puerto Rico, while Castillo will be making his non-major PGA Tour debut.
–European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald is among the sponsors invites, along with Ryan Palmer.
–Vijay Singh holds the tournament scoring record of 266 set in 2004, while Matt NeSmith (Round 2, 2022) and Padraig Harrington (Round 1, 2012) share the 18-hole record of 10-under 61.
INDIANA SPORTS RELEASES/NEWS
INDIANA PACERS
PACERS ROLL OVER PISTONS TO SWEEP SEASON SERIES
Pascal Siakam had 25 points, eight rebounds and four assists and the visiting Indiana Pacers pounded the Detroit Pistons 122-103 on Wednesday night.
Tyrese Haliburton had 20 points, nine assists and four steals for the Pacers (39-31) on the first leg of a five-game road trip. Aaron Nesmith supplied 14 points and T.J. McConnell contributed 13 points and six assists.
Isaiah Jackson tossed in 10 points to along with 11 rebounds. The Pacers have won all four of their meetings with Detroit this season, averaging 129.5 points in those contests.
Cade Cunningham led the Pistons (12-57), who have lost four straight, with 23 points, six rebounds and 10 assists. Jaden Ivey had 15 points and Jalen Duren added 11 points and 12 rebounds.
Earlier in the day, the Pistons revealed that forward Ausar Thompson (blood clot) and center Isaiah Stewart (hamstring strain) would miss the remainder of the season. Detroit was also missing key reserves Simone Fontecchio (toe) and Quentin Grimes (knee) due to injury.
The Pacers scored the last nine points of the first half to take a 63-52 lead. Nesmith scored 12 second-quarter points while Siakam finished the half with 13 points. Cunningham carried his team with 17 points and six assists before intermission.
Perimeter shooting was the key to Indiana’s halftime advantage — it knocked down eight treys before the break, while the Pistons made only two.
A Siakam hook shot with 8:30 remaining in the third quarter gave Indiana a 15-point lead. After Ivey drained a 3-pointer, the Pacers went on a 16-2 run.
Haliburton got it going with a three-point play. Siakam followed with a 3-pointer off a Myles Turner feed. Turner then set up Siakam for a layup.
Haliburton soon racked up assists, feeding Nesmith for a layup and Turner for a dunk. Siakam then fed Haliburton for a 3-point make for an 87-61 lead with 5:14 to go.
Detroit finished the quarter with a 9-4 spurt but still trailed by 20, 98-78, entering the fourth. The Pistons never threatened in the final quarter.
INDY FUEL HOCKEY
FUEL HOST CYCLONES TO KICK OFF HOME 3-IN-3 WEEKEND
GAME DAY TIMING:
6:00 P.M.: Doors open
7:00 P.M.: Puck drop
DISABILITY AWARENESS & DO317 NIGHT:
Join the Indy Fuel for their Disability Awareness Night to support inclusion in the sport of hockey and the city of Indianapolis.
It’s also a Do317 Night! Enjoy $3 drinks, $1 popcorn and $7 craft beer and specialty t-shirts while supplies last!
Stick around in the lobby after the game for autographs from select players!
PARKING: Parking at Indiana State Fairgrounds is $10. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to park due to anticipated large crowds at the Fairgrounds.
TICKETS: Tickets for today’s game can be purchased at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum Box Office or online HERE. Kids two and under do not need a ticket as long as they sit on the lap of a ticketed patron.
BAG POLICY: The Indy Fuel now follow the same bag policy as all Indiana State Fairgrounds events. All bags are subject to search upon entering the arena. All bags larger than 14” x 14” x 6” (backpacks, suitcases, duffel bags, etc.) are prohibited. Please plan accordingly to help facilitate a quick and efficient entry process. Please report suspicious bags to an Indiana Farmers Coliseum team member.
ABOUT THE HOCKEY:
INDIANAPOLIS- The Fuel will host the Cincinnati Cyclones to start their busy home weekend, as they look to stay in second place in the Central division while the playoffs loom closer.
LAST TIME OUT
The last time these two teams met was last Sunday when the Fuel visited Cincinnati and the Cyclones shut out Indy, 4-0 with Cajan in goal. Sahil Panwar scored a shorthanded goal against Weeks and will be one to watch this weekend.
STANDINGS SPOTS
As the regular season winds down, every game is important as the Central division remains a tight race. The second place Fuel and fifth place Kalamazoo Wings are separated by just five points. Headed into this game, the Fuel’s magic number of points to clinch is just 18.
INDIANA SWIMMING
HOOSIER RECORDS FALL ON NCAA OPENING NIGHT
ATHENS, Ga. – Indiana crushed two program records and tied its best-ever finish in the 800-yard freestyle relay, taking fifth at the 2024 NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships Wednesday (March 20) inside Gabrielsen Natatorium on the campus of the University of Georgia.
IU’s finish marks its best relay placing since 2019, when it took second in the 400 medley relay and fourth in the 200 medley relay. The Hoosiers have finished fifth in the 800 only one other time: 2010.
Indiana sits tied-for-seventh on the team leaderboard after the first day of the 2024 NCAA Championships, totaling 36 points from the two opening night relays. The Hoosiers placed above their seed in both events.
“It was a good start for the Hoosiers,” IU head coach Ray Looze said. “We moved up a few spots in the medley relay and I think one spot in the 800 free relay, and I thought it was a fine start for the ladies.
“I still think there’s a lot left in the tank for these ladies. The 800 free relay foreshadows what we’re capable of. All four of those ladies did their lifetime best splits, and that was about a maximum of what we could do. I think if we can have performances like that on the rest of the relays, we’re going to continue to move up. We’ll take it one session at a time but good start – solid but not spectacular.”
Junior Anna Peplowski kicked off IU’s relay in 1:41.16, a program record in the 200-yard freestyle and the third-fastest time in that distance this season. Only Florida’s Bella Sims was faster in Wednesday night’s relay, going 1:41.03. Peplowski beat her own program record by nearly a second, going 1:42.04 in the relay at the Big Ten Championships last month. She owns the top eight times in program history and will swim the individual event Friday.
Indiana has chopped 4.41 seconds off its program record this season, finishing in 6:54.03 Wednesday. The same quartet of Peplowski, senior Ella Ristic, junior Ching Hwee Gan and sophomore Kristina Paegle beat their previous best by 2.99 seconds at the Big Ten meet in 6:55.45.
Indiana also earned second-team All-America honors in the 200-yard medley relay to kick off the night, finishing 13th with a time of 1:35.84. The Hoosiers finished three spots above their seed after coming in as the No. 16 relay. Indiana has earned All-America accolades in the 200 medley relay at eight consecutive national championships.
Junior Kacey McKenna tied the third-best leadoff leg of the relay, kicking things off in 23.58. Paegle’s 21.39 – the sixth-fastest anchor – closed IU’s NCAA debut swim.
RESULTS
200 MEDLEY RELAY
12. Kacey McKenna, Brearna Crawford, Chiok Sze Yeo, Ashley Turak – 1:35.84 (Second-team All-America)
800 FREESTYLE RELAY
5. Anna Peplowski, Ella Ristic, Ching Hwee Gan, Kristina Paegle – 6:54.03 (All-America, Program Record)
200 free – Anna Peplowski – 1:41.16 (Program Record)
HOOSIER ALL-AMERICANS
Brearna Crawford (200 medley relay*)
Ching Hwee Gan (800 freestyle relay)
Kacey McKenna (200 medley relay*)
Kristina Paegle (200 medley relay*, 800 freestyle relay)
Anna Peplowski (800 freestyle relay)
Ella Ristic (800 freestyle relay)
Chiok Sze Yeo (200 medley relay*)
* – Denotes second-team All-America
UP NEXT
The 2024 NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships resume Thursday for day two, the first full day of action. Athletes will compete in the 500 freestyle, 200 IM, 50 freestyle, 1-meter dive and 400 medley relay, with preliminaries beginning at 10 a.m. ET. Finals are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.
INDIANA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
INDIANA WOMEN BEGIN MARCH MADNESS ON REDEMPTION TOUR AFTER LOSING IN 2ND ROUND AS TOP SEED LAST YEAR
Indiana guard Sydney Parrish spent a year reflecting on last season’s shocking finale.
Now, she wants her teammates contemplating that emotional scene from last March, when the top-seeded Hoosiers fell to No. 9 seed Miami on their home floor in the second round of the women’s NCAA Tournament.
The Hoosiers were 27-3 heading into last year’s tournament, a historic season that earned the program its first-ever No. 1 seed. Over the past two weeks, Parrish has encouraged Hoosiers players to remember how they felt when that season ended — and how to avoid a repeat when fourth-seeded Indiana’s new quest begins Saturday against 13th-seeded Fairfield.
“We would have traded anything really to get that Miami loss back,” Parrish said. “We’ve talked about how we lost early in the Big Ten Tournament and how if we can just get healthy, that will help us make a run in the (NCAA) tournament. I think that’s what’s really motivating us to get back on the court healthy. It’s another season for us.”
This is more than just a redemption tour for a team that last year won last year’s outright Big Ten regular-season crown, the first in school history.
Strangely, though, this March Madness already bears some similarities to 2023.
Two mid-major champions and a dangerous Power Five team are coming to Bloomington as Indiana (24-5) hosts first- and second-round games for the third straight year.
The Hoosiers’ first opponent, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference champ Fairfield (31-1), has won 29 straight since losing 73-70 at Vanderbilt on Nov. 12.
Atlantic Sun champ Florida Gulf Coast (29-4) has lost to three schools that made the 68-team field — Southern California, Iowa and Duke — and hasn’t lost since Dec. 12. The 12th-seeded Eagles will face No. 5 seed Oklahoma (22-9), which has won four of its last six and 13 of 16.
Indiana’s injuries are a concern again, too.
Parrish missed six games after hurting her foot in a mid-January practice, a similar scenario to Grace Berger’s midseason absence last year. Then, in Indiana’s final regular-season game, All-America center Mackenzie Holmes re-injured the left knee that she hurt before last year’s NCAA Tournament.
Holmes logged only five minutes in the Big Ten tourney quarterfinal loss to Michigan.
But Parrish said a two-week break between games helped her recover, and Holmes told reporters after Sunday’s tourney draw that she feels better.
“I’ve been able to get back out on the floor, I’ve been practicing and each day I’m feeling more and more confident,” Holmes said. “(Last March), I think I practiced maybe once or twice leading up to the Miami game. I’m in practices now, doing pretty much everything. So I’m feeling a lot better this March than last March.”
That’s good news for the Hoosiers, who expect Holmes to play Saturday, unlike last year. Coach Teri Moren hasn’t ruled out a minutes restriction for Holmes, the Hoosiers’ top scorer (20.0 points) and rebounder (6.9).
If Holmes is limited, second-year forward Lilly Meister looks like a more capable second option.
“The week off has helped her (Holmes) physically and mentally,” Moren said. “A year ago, we went into the (off) week not knowing if Mac was going to play and we sat her out that first game. I don’t think that will be the case this year. Right now, we’re planning on Mac playing the first game and hopefully playing in that second game.”
Holmes’ stats only tell half the tale. Her dominant post presence also helps free up Indiana’s prolific 3-point shooters.
With Parrish, Sara Scalia, Yarden Garzon and Chloe Moore-McNeil leading the way, the Hoosiers begin the tourney as nation’s top 3-point shooting team (40.2%).
The offensive combination, paired with the Big Ten’s third-stingiest scoring defense at 64.0 points, helped last year’s Big Ten regular-season champs finish in a second-place tie with Caitlin Clark and No. 2 Iowa, just behind No. 7 Ohio State.
And if Holmes is anywhere near full strength, that could be the difference Indiana needs.
“She (Holmes) really helps us get our open looks because she attracts so much attention,” Parrish said, before explaining what happened in the loss to Michigan. “I think coming into the second half, we had that lead and I think it really happened on the defensive end. We couldn’t keep people in front of us, we had a lot of turnovers that led to fast-break layups and they just kind of got away from us.”
Moren equated the Hoosiers’ poor second-half start against the Wolverines to the slow start Indiana had to dig itself out of against Miami, and she knows if it happens again either Saturday or Monday, the Hoosiers could suffer the same fate as last season.
Parrish also understands that reaching the Sweet 16 won’t just happen because the Hoosiers have a perfect home record this season. They’ll need to excel for every minute they’re on the floor. And she’s made sure her teammates have gotten the message.
“We’ve had some team meetings and, of course, I’ve talked with her one-on-one about the expectations for this team and not wanting to repeat last year,” Moore-McNeil said. “We want to make a deeper run this year than we did last year, and I think getting everybody back healthy will have a lot to do with that.”
PURDUE MEN’S BASKETBALL
TOP-SEEDED BOILERMAKERS OPEN NCAA TOURNAMENT PLAY FRIDAY IN INDIANAPOLIS
GAMEDAY INFORMATION — GAME 34 /// NCAA TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND
[1 Seed] Purdue (29-4) vs. [16] Montana State (17-17) OR Grambling (20-14)
Friday, March 22, 2024
7:25 p.m. ET | Indianapolis, Indiana
Gainbridge Fieldhouse
TELEVISION: TBS (Kevin Harlan, Dan Bonner, Stan VanGundy, Andy Katz)
RADIO: Purdue Global Radio Network (Rob Blackman, Bobby Riddell)
THE NOTES TO KNOW
• The Purdue Boilermakers, the Midwest Region’s top seed, begins their March Madness quest just 60 miles down on I-65, as it heads to Indianapolis for an NCAA Tournament first-round matchup against the winner of Grambling and Montana State. Tip is scheduled for Friday at 7:25 p.m. ET, as the Boilermakers aim for their 30th win of the season.
• The Boilermakers earned the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region, thanks to a 6-0 record against top-4 seeds in the NCAA Tournament. The Boilermakers’ No. 1 seed was its fifth in school history (1988, 1994, 1996, 2023, 2024).
• Purdue (29, 29, 29) and Houston (32, 33, 30) are the only schools in America to have at least 29 wins in each of the last three seasons.
• Purdue is one of three major-conference teams (UConn, Houston, Purdue) entering the NCAA Tournament with four or fewer losses. No other major-conference team has fewer than seven losses (Auburn, Iowa State, North Carolina, South Carolina).
• Purdue has won nine straight games against teams ranked in the Associated Press top 12 at the time of the game. The winning streak is the fourth-longest nationally over the last 50 years and ninth-longest in NCAA history. The Boilermakers have won 18 straight non-conference games (regular season and postseason) against power-conference OR nationally-ranked teams. It’s last loss came Dec. 19, 2020 vs. Butler.
• Purdue’s schedule ranks as the fourth-most difficult in the country and its non-conference foes won the Southern Conference by three games (Samford), the Ohio Valley (Morehead State), the Atlantic Sun (Eastern Kentucky) the SEC (Tennessee) and PAC-12 (Arizona). Marquette (Big East) and Gonzaga (WCC) finished in second place in their respective conferences.
• Purdue has beaten teams ranked 4th (Arizona), 7th (Tennessee), 9th (Alabama), 13th twice (Illinois), 14th (Marquette), 17th (Gonzaga), 21st twice (Wisconsin) and 24th twice (Michigan State) in the NCAA NET rankings. The Boilermakers are 11-1 against the NCAA NET top 25.
• Purdue ranks in the NCAA’s top 20 in 3-point percentage (2nd), rebound margin (2nd), off. efficiency (4th), wins (5th), assists per game (6th), scoring margin (10th), scoring offense (12th), field goal percentage (16th), assist / turnover ratio (17th) and fewest fouls per game (20th).
• Since the start of last season, Purdue is 58-10, the fourth-most wins nationally, while the 10 losses are the second fewest behind Houston (8). The 10 losses during that span have come by 1, 5, 6, 14, 8, 5, 4 (OT), 16, 4 and 1 (OT) points (64 combined points). Forty-four of the 58 wins have come against teams ranked in the KenPom top-100, including 31 against teams ranked in the top-50.
• Purdue was voted No. 3 in the final AP poll on Monday. With its No. 3 ranking this week, Purdue has now been ranked in the top 5 of the AP poll for 36 straight weeks, the longest-active streak in America by 17 weeks (UConn – 19). It has been ranked in the top 3 in 30 of those weeks. The 36 weeks of being ranked in the top 5 is the third longest in confererence history (41 — Ohio State, 1960-63; 38 — Indiana, 1975-77).
• The No. 3 ranking in the final AP poll matches the highest final ranking in school history (also 2023, 1994, 1988).
• Zach Edey became the school career record-holder in points (2,339) against Wisconsin and is now Purdue’s career leader in points (2,339), rebounds (1,234), double-doubles (63), free throw attempts (876) and dunks (265). He is second in double-figure scoring games (110), field goal percentage (.619) and free throws made (620).
• Braden Smith needs seven assists for 400 in his career, which would make him the fourth player in Big Ten history to have at least 400 assists by the end of his sophomore season (Magic Johnson – 491; Cassius Winston – 423; Trey Burke – 416). He would become just the second sophomore in league history with at least 750 points, 400 assists and 300 rebounds (Magic Johnson).
• Zach Edey and Mason Gillis are the only players in Purdue history to score at least 800 points with 500 rebounds and 100 assists and to shoot at least 50.0 percent from 3-point range. Edey is 1-of-2 from deep, while Gillis is at 144-of-353 (.408).
• A win in Friday’s first round will give Purdue its 30th win of the season, matching the school record set in 2018 (30-7).
• Purdue has received back-to-back No. 1 seeds for the first time in school history. Purdue and Houston have both been No. 1 seeds in consecutive years entering this year’s postseason.
• Purdue is one of three teams (Baylor, Arizona) to receive a top-3 seed in each of the last three NCAA Tournaments.
• The Boilermakers have been to nine straight NCAA Tournaments, the fourth-longest streak in America (Kansas – 34; Michigan State – 26; Gonzaga – 25; Purdue – 9).
• Purdue is one of four teams (Purdue, Auburn, UConn, Houston) without a loss outside Quad-1.
• Purdue enters the tournament with a nation’s-best 21 victories over the NET top 100, including 11 over the top 25. Purdue is 11-1 against the NET’s top 25 (lone loss: Wisconsin in BTT Semifinals).
• Purdue owns nine straight wins over teams ranked in the AP Top 15. Florida Atlantic is next in line with three straight victories.
• Purdue is averaging 83.4 points per game, an increase of 10.7 points per game from a year ago, the Boilermakers’ highest increase in scoring average since the 1992-93 to 1993-94 season (+13.5).
• Purdue is 23-0 when it has 13 or fewer turnovers on the season. The Boilermakers are 6-4 when they have 14 or more turnovers.
• Purdue has started the same starting five in all 33 games, the longest stretch to start a year in school history. Purdue has never had a season where it started the same five all season.
• Purdue has trailed by six or more points in 10 games this year, posting an 8-2 record in those games.
• A year ago, Purdue shot 32.2 percent from 3-point range, a number that ranked 281st nationally. This year, Purdue is at 40.8 percent, ranking second nationally. Purdue had one player (Braden Smith) shoot over 36.0 percent from deep a year ago. This year, Purdue has eight players over 36.0 percent and another (Lance Jones) at 35.4 percent.
• Zach Edey’s 25.4 points per game in Big Ten play were the second-highest total in the Big Ten since the turn of the century (2020 – Luka Garza; 26.2).
• Zach Edey is averaging 11.21 free throw attempts per game. Based on a 39-game season, he would shoot 437 free throw attempts, which would be the second most in NCAA history (Furman’s Frank Selvy in 1954; 444). His 370 free throw attempts are already the most since 2009 (UTEP’s Stefon Jackson – 374).
• Zach Edey’s assist-to turnover ratio over his four years (FR – 0.26; SOPH – 0.69; JR – 0.68; SR – 0.92).
• Zach Edey has scored at least 22 points in 10 straight games. He has grabbed at least 12 rebounds in six of those games. He has also dished out at least three assists in seven of the games (5 straight).
• Braden Smith became the first Purdue player since Tony Jones (1990) to lead the Big Ten in assists, averaging 7.6 assists per game in league play. Smith’s 151 assists in conference play were the second most in league games behind Michigan State’s Cassius Winston (157) in 2019.
• Purdue’s Braden Smith and Colgate’s Braeden Smith (14 seed – West Region) are the only players in America with at least 175 rebounds, 175 assists and 50 steals in a season.
• Braden Smith leads all players in the NCAA Tournament with 240 assists, ranking second nationally overall. Colorado State’s Isaiah Stevens is second (237), while Baylor’s Rayj Dennis is third (225).
• Among players in the NCAA Tournament field that have made at least 50, 3-pointers this year, Mason Gillis is third in 3-point percentage (.481), while Fletcher Loyer is 16th (.439).
• Among players that made at least 20, 3-pointers in Big Ten play, Fletcher Loyer (33-68; .485) and Mason Gillis (36-75; .480) ranked first and third in 3-point percentage.
PURDUE WRESTLING
#23 WRESTLING SET TO TAKE ON NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Purdue Wrestling heads to Kansas City for the 2024 NCAA Championships on the back of a ninth place finish with five placewinners and five auto qualifiers at the 2024 Big Ten Championships.
SCHEDULE AND INFO
Session 1 12 PM ESPNU First Round
Session 2 7 PM ESPN Second Round, Cons. 1st Round
Session 3 12 PM ESPNU Quarters, Cons. 2nd + 3rd Round
Session 4 8 PM ESPN Semifinals, Cons. 4th + 5th Round
Session 5 11 AM ESPNU 3rd, 5th, and 7th Place
Session 6 7 PM ESPN FinalsStats and live scoring for all sessions will be available on TrackWrestling.
All matches will also be streamed on ESPN+.
All times Eastern.
PURDUE POINTS
• Matt Ramos is the No. 4 seed for the second straight season and will look to take the final next step this year after finishing as Purdue’s ninth runner-up in 2023.
• Ramos is the first Boiler to earn a top-five seed in back-to-back NCAA tournaments since Chris Fleeger in 2002-03.
• Greyson Clark, Joey Blaze, Stoney Buell and Brody Baumann all earned auto-bids for their first trip to the NCAA tournament this season.
• Greyson Clark and Joey Blaze made the NCAA tournament following fantastic collegiate debut seasons. It is only the third time in program history that two true-freshmen qualified in the same season, happening only in 2021 and 1947.
• Blaze’s No. 23 seed is the fourth highest ever for a Purdue true-freshman.
• Clark, Blaze and Baumann’s qualifications give Purdue 39 freshmen that have wrestled in the national tournament, 11 under Ersland.
• Buell brings momentum to the tournament, most recently taking a 15-7 major over fellow qualifier Blaine Brenner to take 7th at Big Tens. He has won six of his last nine matches.
• Brody Baumann is the lone Boiler from Indiana to qualify for this year’s and is one of 10 wrestlers from the state as a whole.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
2 – Last season, Purdue put two on the national podium when Matt Ramos and Parker Filius became the program’s 60th and 61st All-Americans.
3 – Clark, Blaze and Baumann make it the first time since 2008 that Purdue has sent three freshmen to the NCAA tournament.
25 – Ramos is tied for the second most D1 wins amongst the top-10 seeds.
61 – Tony Ersland has sent 61 wrestlers to the NCAA Championships in his 10 years with the Boilermakers.
12 – Ramos has the most top-10 wins of the Ersland era with 12, passing Dylan Lydy with 11. He is a combined 6-3 against this year’s top-10 seeds in his career.
LIVIN LARGE ON TULSA TIME
2023 was a banner year for the Ersland era of Purdue Wrestling. After coming close on numerous occasions, the Boilermakers finally broke through the All-American barrier and put two on the podium at the NCAA Championships in Tulsa.
Matt Ramos and Parker Filius became the 60th and 61st All-Americans in program history after wrestling to second and seventh place finishes on the national stage. Their efforts helped the Boilermakers to a t-20 finish, tied for the best team finish since 2003.
The sophomore Ramos upset No. 1 seeded and three-time reigning champion Spencer Lee of Iowa in the semifinals to earn his spot in the final. The win is being proclaimed as one of the biggest upsets in NCAA wrestling history, and he made plenty of Purdue history along the way as well. He was the first NCAA finalist for the program since 2006 and only the 13th in total. He was also the youngest Boilermaker to make a final, the other 12 were all upperclassmen.
CHASING HISTORY
This postseason, Matt Ramos has the opportunity to reset the clock in multiple categories for the Boilermakers.
In this NCAA tournament, the Lockport, Ill., native could be the first Boiler to:
– Win a national title since Charles Jones in 1992
– Go back-to-back on the podium since Ben Wissell took 8th and 7th in 2005-06.
– Be a finalist in straight seasons since Arnold Plaza went to three in a row from 1948-1950
– Go from finalist to champion
– Earn back-to-back top-four finishes since Chris Fleeger went 3rd and 2nd in 2002-03
He would be the program’s 5th champion, 14th finalist (became the 10th individual last year), and 62nd All-American (became 47th individual last year).
KANSAS CITY CRUISIN
It has been 21 years since the NCAA Wrestling Championships were last in the BBQ Capital of the World and that tournament in 2003 was good to the Boilermakers.
The team took eight qualifiers with two wrestling their way into All-American status to lead the team to a 14th place finish, the team’s best this century. Chris Fleeger earned his second straight medal in a second place finish at 125 while Ryan Lange picked up the first of his career by taking eighth at 174.
PURDUE TRACK
GOMEZ NAMED TO TEAM USA FOR WORLD PARA ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue track & field junior Joel Gomez has been named to the Team USA roster for the 2024 World Para Athletics Championships.
Gomez, who is a distance runner in his first season with the Boilermakers, will compete in the 1,500-meter T13 event in Kobe, Japan, from May 17-25.
A native of Encinitas, California, Gomez earned his spot at the world championships after he won the 1,500m T13 at the 2024 U.S. Paralympics Track & Field National Championships in Walnut, California, on March 16.
“We are very happy for Joel,” Purdue head coach Norbert Elliott said. “He has made several national teams and has competed well at those championships, and we are more excited that this time around, he will also be representing the Boilermakers as well as Team USA. We wish him well and are excited to see him compete.”
Gomez joined the Boilermaker squad this season and is coached by Purdue assistant and distance coach Connor Mahoney-Ashberry.
“It is an honor to be selected to the world’s team, and I look forward to competing in Japan in the lead-up to the Paris Paralympic Games later this summer,” Gomez said. “I am so grateful for the guidance of Coach Ashberry and the support of my teammates.”
This will be Gomez’s third appearance at the World Championships, all racing in the 1,500m T13. He was sixth in 2023 and 11th in 2019.
At the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games, Gomez was 10th in the 1,500m T13 and 11th in the 400m T13 for Team USA. He is expected to compete at this summer’s Paralympic Games in Paris.
Additionally, Gomez won gold in the 1,500m at the 2023 Parapan American Games and won the 400m and 1,500m at the 2019 World Para Athletics Junior Championships.
For the Boilermakers, Gomez has competed in two meets during the 2023-24 season. He ran in the distance medley relay at the Big Ten Championships on February 23 after racing in the 800m and 4×400 at the Windy City Invite from February 9-10.
Gomez is majoring in civil engineering at Purdue and is expected to graduate in May, 2025.
PURDUE SOFTBALL
PURDUE POSTS 9 RUNS IN VICTORY VS. EASTERN ILLINOIS
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Boilermakers (12-14) wrapped up a four-game homestand with a 9-5 victory vs. Eastern Illinois (19-9). The win marked the first win of the season at Bittinger Stadium, along with head coach Magali Frezzotti’s first home victory as head coach.
Purdue out-hit Eastern Illinois, 12-8 in the win, with five Boilermakers posting a multi-hit game. The effort was led by Hailey Hayes’ home run (second inning) and RBI double (fifth inning), Moriah Polar’s two RBI triple (fourth inning) and Khloe Banks’ RBI triple (fourth inning). Meanwhile, Sage Scarmardo led the team with three runs, tying for the most runs by a Boilermaker in a game this season.
After trailing 3-1 heading into the bottom of the second inning, a two-run homer by Hayes put the Boilermakers within one run. A run by Polar was scored in the third on an error as the Panther infielders kept their eye on Purdue’s runner at first. The go-ahead and eventual game-winner came in the fourth inning, as Polar recorded the triple which scored Kiara Dillon and Scarmardo.
Relief pitcher Kendall Klochack (4-2) led the Boilermakers to victory, entering in the second inning for Purdue and tossing the next four innings. The junior allowed one hit and no runs, while striking out two batters. Emma Bailey started in the circle for Purdue while Madi Elish closed the game for Purdue. Only one walk was allowed by the committee.
Purdue, the No. 8 team in the nation in stolen bases, added five in the outing to tie a season-high (last: vs. Radford, 3/1) including two by Banks.
Purdue opens its Big Ten slate this weekend at Michigan. Originally slated for a Friday-Sunday series has been moved to a Sunday-Monday schedule due to inclement weather. Saturday and Sunday’s game times will remain at 2 p.m. and 1 p.m. ET, respectively, while Monday’s contest is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET. Follow @purduesoftball for the latest schedule updates.
NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
HIDALGO JOINS RARE COMPANY WITH AP ALL-AMERICA HONORS
Hannah Hidalgo continues to etch her name amongst the greats of women’s college basketball.
On Wednesday, Hidalgo was named to the Associated Press All-America First Team along with Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, USC’s JuJu Watkins, Stanford’s Cameron Brink and UConn’s Paige Bueckers. Hidalgo and Watkins are just the fourth and fifth freshmen to ever earn the honor since it began in 1994-54, joining Bueckers, UConn’s Maya Moore and Oklahoma’s Courtney Paris.
Hidalgo is the first Irish player to earn First Team All-America honors since Jewell Loyd did so in 2015. Hidalgo, Loyd, Kayla McBride, Skylar Diggins and Ruth Riley are the sole Notre Dame players to ever be included on one of the nation’s most prestigious lists.
The freshman out of New Jersey has already earned numerous postseason honors this year: ACC Rookie of the Year, ACC Defensive Player of the Year and ACC Tournament MVP. She has been named to All-America teams by The Athletic, Sporting News, ESPN and USBWA.
Hidalgo leads the nation with 4.6 steals per game and has already shattered the program single-season steals record previously held by Diggins. She is also averaging an ACC-leading 23.3 points and is dishing out 5.5 assists per game. The latter mark ranks third in the conference.
Hidalgo and Notre Dame (26-6) will be back in action on Saturday as the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Irish will host No. 15 Kent State (21-10) and are 24-4 all-time in First Round games.
NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S LAX
GAMES 10 & 11 PREVIEW: CLEMSON & MERCER
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame women’s lacrosse team continues its road stretch with a pair of games set for the South as they embark on their first ever trips to Clemson and Mercer. The Irish take on the ACC foe, Tigers, Friday night with a 7pm draw time before concluding their four-game road stand with a noon matchup against the Mercer Bears Sunday.
The Irish played both programs last season in the first ever meetings between the two squads with Notre Dame coming out on top in both contests. Notre Dame played host to the conference rival Clemson in their inaugural season before meeting the Bears for the first-ever time in a neutral site game in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
March is Daughters 4 Dads month for the Irish. All month long the women will be fundraising for the charity, founded in 2015 to raise awareness and funds to help researchers put an end to cancer. Now in it’s 10th edition, the Irish look to expand on their efforts here in 2024.
GAME DETAILS
Location: Clemson, S.C. | Macon, Ga.
Schedule: March 22 @ 7pm – Clemson | March 24 @ Noon – Mercer
TV: ACCNX | ESPN+
Live Stats: UND.com
Twitter Updates: @NDWomensLax
For a more in-depth look at the matchup – Game Notes: Notre Dame
FOR STARTERS
The Irish kicked off their 2024 campaign with a five-game homestand in which they went 4-1 and had their best start to a season (4-0) since 2020.
Notre Dame continues its road stretch this weekend at Clemson and Mercer. In three road games thus far in 2024, the Irish boast an impressive 3-0 record, including a pair of wins over top-10 teams in enemy territory.
Most recently, the Irish swept their spring break trip to the East Coast, defeating a pair of top-25 ranked teams in Brown and Boston College by a combined total of two goals.
The two one-goal games were both determined in the final minute when MK Doherty buried the game-winners with 36 and 15 seconds to play, respectively.
Doherty’s hat trick goal at Brown came with 36.5 seconds to play in regulation of a deadlocked 15-15 contest to snap the tie and give the Irish the win.
She followed it up with a career night four goals at then No. 2 Boston College, including the final dagger with just 15 ticks left on the clock to hand the Irish their first win at BC since 2003. To ensure the victory, Doherty won the following draw control to give the Irish possession and run out the clock.
Following the road trip, Doherty racked up numerous awards for her full field performance, including USA Lacrosse, IWLCA and ACC honors.
Their other road trip this season featured the Irish defeating the Tar Heels at UNC for their first ever program win in Chapel Hill.
Last season the Irish boasted four regular season road wins, including defeats of Duke, Butler, Pitt and Robert Morris.
The Irish are coming off a five-game stretch against ranked opponents in which they went 3-2 against the opposition.
Notre Dame opened their season with a 21-6 win over Eastern Michigan.
The Blue and Gold have combined for 20+ goal games three times thus far, most recently tallying a season high 25 goals against in-state foe Butler in mid-February.
Lilly Callahan, who has started every game this season, boasts all nine decisions for the Irish in a 7-2 start to their season.
Callahan was announced as ACC Defensive Player of the Week Tuesday, March 5, following her performance at UNC.
After an eight point weekend, including four goals and two assists against Northwestern, Jackie Wolak was named the USA Lacrosse Magazine, ILWomen and ACC Offensive Player of the Week after boasting four goals and two assists in the team’s win over then-top ranked Northwestern.
Freshmen Angie Conley, Kathryn Morrissey, Kate Timarky and Meghan O’Hare all scored their first collegiate goals and were joined by veterans Ciara Mazzone and Maeve Dwyer in the accomplishment in the opening weekend of the season.
Live stats will be available for the contest as well as the games being aired on the ACCNX (Clemson) and ESPN+ (Mercer).
IN THE POLLS
Notre Dame was ranked No. 5 in the latest ILWomen/IWLCA poll of the season.
The ACC coaches tabbed the Irish to finish fourth in the preseason rankings.
BALANCED ATTACK
The Irish returned an NCAA best 91-percent of their scoring from a season ago including their six top scorers in Jackie Wolak (105 pts.), Kasey Choma (88 pts.), Madison Ahern (84 pts.), MK Doherty (38 pts.), Kristen Shanahan (29 pts.) and Kelly Denes (25 pts.).
The trio of Ahern, Wolak and Choma combined for 26 points in the team’s opening weekend to kick off 2024, led by Wolak with a team-best 12 points and 7 goals.
Arden Tierney, a draw specialist who joined the Irish ahead of the 2024 season, registered 10 draw controls in week 1, including eight in the team’s 22-3 win over Central Michigan. Kelly Denes, who led the team in the category a year ago boasts 57 draw controls thus far in 2024 and leads the team in the category again.
Denes led the team with eight draw controls against Northwestern, tying that of the visitors’s total at the circle as the Irish dominated draws by a 20-8 margin. She now boasts 57 draw controls this season and averages 6.33 controls per game, good for second in the ACC and 20th in the country.
In addition to being one of the team’s top contributors offensively, Denes led the team at the draw circle last season, boasting 135 draw controls while MK Doherty’s 111 controls gave the Irish their first season in program history with two individuals eclipsing triple digits.
Through nine games played, sevem Irish individuals boast double digit points, led by Wolak with a team-best 41. The graduate also leads the team in goals (28) and assists (13).
With 105 points in 2023, Wolak ranked fourth nationally and second in the ACC. With her performance against Florida to reach the 100+ point mark, she became just the third woman in program history to hit 100 points in a single season.
With a scoring margin of 6.67, the Irish rank 11th in the nation while also ranking third in shots per game (36.00) and 16th in shots on goal (25.00).
With an average scoring offense of 16.00 goals per game, the Irish attack ranks 11th in the nation and is second in the ACC.
LEADERSHIP GROUP
The team named a trio of captains, as voted on by their peers, ahead of the 2024 season. This year’s captains will be Madison Ahern, Kasey Choma and Aine Maseker.
BUTLER WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
BUTLER TO BATTLE BOWLING GREEN IN WNIT POSTSEASON ACTION
INDIANAPOLIS – The Butler Bulldogs will host the Bowling Green Falcons on Thursday night at 7 PM. The First Round of the WNIT will take place at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Those unable to attend can watch the game on the Butler Athletics YouTube channel.
GameDay
Date: Thursday, March 21, 2024
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Indianapolis, Ind. – Hinkle Fieldhouse
Live Stats: ButlerSports.com – StatBroadcast
Watch: YouTube.com/ButlerAthletics
Bulldog Bits
– Butler’s last WNIT win came on March 23, 2019 against Kent State.
– Caroline Strande earned a spot on the All-BIG EAST Second Team.
– Strande ranks 11th in the BIG EAST in scoring (15.0) and ninth in rebounding (7.2).
– Strande scored 20 points for BU in their tournament game and only missed one shot (9-10).
– Riley Makalusky was selected to the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team.
– Makalusky has scored in double figures seven times (12 games) since becoming a starter on Jan. 24.
– Butler leads the BIG EAST and ranks 4th in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage (38.8%).
– The Bulldogs rank second in the BIG EAST and 23rd in the nation in made 3-pointers per game (8.4).
– Rachel Kent will make the 141st start of her career on Thursday. She is just seven points shy of 1,600.
– Kent has made a 3-pointer in 21-straight games.
– Kent is tied for second in the BIG EAST in made 3-pointers with 71.
– Kent is currently ranked sixth on Butler’s single-season Top Ten list in made 3-point field goals.
– Butler recorded five wins during the month of February for the first time since 2010.
– The Bulldogs won three more games this year than last while matching their BIG EAST win total (6).
Scouting Bowling Green
The Falcons took a 70-64 setback to Buffalo in the Quarterfinals of the MAC Tournament to move their overall record to 16-14. BGSU played a challenging non-conference schedule that included games at #4 Iowa, vs. #1 South Carolina, and at #16 Indiana. The only common opponent appearing on both BGSU’s schedule and Butler’s was Xavier. The Falcons defeated the Musketeers in the Cintas Center 73-64. Head Coach Fred Chmiel is in his first season with the program. Chmiel spent the previous nine seasons as an assistant at South Carolina. He helped Bowling Green reach 10 Mid-American Conference wins and play as the No. 5 seed in the tournament. The Falcons led the MAC in 3-point field goal percentage (33.9) and had the best 3-point shooter in the conference on their roster in Morgan Sharps. A fifth-year senior that transferred to BGSU from Xavier, Sharps was named All-MAC Second Team at the conclusion of the regular season. She leads the team with her 15.6 scoring average and led all MAC players in 3-pointers made (83) and attempted (219). Sharps ranks sixth in the NCAA in 3-pointers made per game (3.19).
All-Time Series
This will be the ninth overall meeting between Butler and Bowling Green with the Falcons ahead in the all-time series 5-3. The last meeting was a 61-57 victory for BGSU at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Nov. 18, 2013. The first-ever meeting came on Nov. 28, 1997 in the first game of the Central Florida Turkey Shootout. Butler lost to BGSU 85-67, but would face Bowling Green in the WNIT that same year and record a 95-90 win on March 13, 1998. Butler edged Bowling Green in overtime (78-73) in the next meeting on Dec. 4, 2001. Their last win over the Falcons was recorded at Bowling Green (61-54) exactly one year later. Bowling Green took control of the series by winning the last four meetings (2010-2013).
Last Meeting vs. Bowling Green
Butler hosted Bowling Green just four games into the 2013-14 season, which was Butler’s first as a member of the BIG EAST Conference. The Bulldogs held a 27-22 lead over BGSU at halftime, but would fall in the contest 61-57. Daress McClung was Butler’s top performer that day, posting a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. BGSU was led by Alexis Rogers and her game-high 17 points that paired with eight rebounds. The game came down to the wire after a 9-0 Butler scoring run would tie the contest at 57-57. Erica Donovon regained the BGSU lead with a layup from the left side and the Falcons would block Butler’s go-ahead 3-point attempt to secure the win.
Tournament Field
The 2024 WNIT field features 11 automatic qualifiers and 37 at-large selections, chosen after consideration of a mix of criteria by WNIT officials. There are 24 teams with 20 or more victories in the bracket. Butler, Purdue, and Purdue Fort Wayne were all selected as at-large qualifiers from Indiana. Providence joins BU in the tournament field giving the BIG EAST a pair of teams in the postseason tournament.
Around the League
UConn, Creighton and Marquette all made the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. UConn will play as a No. 3 seed, Creighton heads into action as a No. 7 seed and Marquette made the cut as a No. 10 seed. The BIG EAST was also well represented in the inaugural Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT). Georgetown, St. John’s, Seton Hall, and Villanova all secured postseason berths to the 32-team event.
WNIT History
This will be Butler’s third trip to the WNIT since joining the BIG EAST Conference. They played at South Dakota State in 2014 and hosted two games in 2019 before falling at Cincinnati in the Sweet 16. The Bulldogs played in the WNIT during their lone season as a member of the Atlantic 10 in 2013 and were active in the postseason as Horizon League members in 2011, 2010, and 2009. When BU played in the MCC, they made the WNIT in 1998.
BIG EAST Honors
Caroline Strande was voted onto the All-BIG EAST Second Team by the conference head coaches and Riley Makalusky earned a spot on the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team. Strande is the first Bulldog to earn Second Team accolades since Tori Schickel in 2019. She joins Schickel (2x) and Daress McClung (2x) as the only Bulldogs to appear on the Second Team. Makalusky is the fifth BU rookie to be named to the All-Freshman Team.
Magic Number
60 is the magic number for the Bulldogs this season. The team is 10-5 when scoring 60 points or more and just 4-11 when scoring under 60 points. The same can be stated defensively as BU is 12-2 on the year when they hold opponents under 60 points. They are 2-14 when they allow 60 or more.
Sharpshooters
The top three, 3-point shooters in the BIG EAST Conference are all Butler Bulldogs. Riley Makalusky leads the league in 3-point field goal percentage (47.1), Jordan Meulemans ranks second (45.7) and Caroline Strande is close behind at third (43.7). Rachel Kent gives BU four players in the top seven with her 40.8 percentage from behind the arc. These four players account for 206 of Butler’s 253 made 3-pointers this year (81%). Makalusky (2nd), Meulemans (4th), and Strande (8th) will all etch their names into the BU record book with these percentages.
Tied a Team Record
Jordan Meulemans made eight 3-pointers in Butler’s win over St. Thomas. She was just one 3-pointer shy of tying the single-game BU individual record and the ‘Dawgs tied their team record with 16 made 3-pointers in that victory.
Grab the Board
Caroline Strande is the top rebounding guard in the BIG EAST. She has led Butler in rebounding 21 times this season (30 games).
Up Next
The winner of Thursday night’s game will move forward to face the Purdue Boilermakers. Fans are encouraged to visit ButlerSports.com to see if the Bulldogs will host the Boilers, and to see what time the game will start.
BUTLER BASEBALL
BUTLER COMEBACK FALLS SHORT VS. BALL STATE
INDIANAPOLIS – Butler hit two home runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to get back within one run of Ball State, but the Cardinal closer would collect the final two outs of the game to give BSU a 7-6 victory.
Jack Moroknek hit a solo shot to right center to keep the Bulldogs alive and a two-run homer from Kade Lewis in the same spot got the Butler faithful on to the edge of their seats.
Ball State would go to closer Tanner Knapp with the game on the line and he would strike out each batter he faced to move Ball State to 12-10 on the year. With the setback, Butler moves to 8-10.
Ball State scored five of their seven runs in the first inning as they batted through the order. Carter Dorighi broke up the 7-0 score in the fifth for Butler with an RBI single through the right side to score Ian Choi.
Moroknek’s first RBI of the contest was a sac fly for BU in the seventh and AJ Solomon would enter the game for BU and deliver a single up the middle for the ‘Dawgs in the eighth to score Lewis.
Lewis went 2-for-5 on the day with two RBI and two runs scored. Billy Wurch and Ian Choi also collected two hits to help Butler reach 11 in the game.
Ball State didn’t score a run after the fourth inning thanks to a great effort from the BU bullpen. Andrew Crumbley, Tyler Banks, Nick Miketinac, Nate Rosser, and Grant Brooks only allowed one Ball State hit over the final 5.1 innings. BU arms struck out five total and were responsible for seven walks.
Simon Linde took the loss while the win went to Will Jacobson. The 7-foot left-hander struck out six over five innings and didn’t issue a walk. Zach Kwasny also threw in relief before handing the ball off to Knapp for his fourth save of 2024.
Butler will stay home and host a four-game series against Dayton this weekend. A pair of doubleheaders are on the schedule for both Saturday and Sunday. Noon starts will open the action each day.
BALL STATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
WBB WELCOMES BELMONT FOR FIRST-EVER WBIT POST SEASON GAME THURSDAY IN WORTHEN ARENA
Ball State (28-5) vs. Belmont (25-8)
Women’s Basketballl Invitation Tournament (WBIT)
March 21, 2024 >>Worthen Arena>>Muncie, Ind.
Opening Tip:
– Ball State will be making its ninth postseason tournament appearance under Ball State 12th-year head coach Brady Sallee. The Cardinals enter the WBIT with a 28-5 overall record. Ball State went 16-2 in Mid-American Conference play and made it to the semifinal game of the 2024 MAC Tournament for the third-straight season which was also under Sallee. The 20-win season marks the seventh time within the last nine campaigns he has reach the 20-win plateau. The 28 overall wins and 16 MAC victories are both program records.
– Brady Sallee, is the only head coach in program history to take the Cardinals to nine postseason tournaments. He is also the program’s winningest coach with 237 victories.
– Belmont comes to Ball State with a 23-11 season ledger. The Bruins went 17-3 in the Missouri Valley Conference and made it to the Hoops in the Heartland conference tournaments semifinal game losing to Missouri State,63-48.
– This is the second-ever meeting between Belmont and Ball State. The Bruins came to Muncie last year for the first round of the WNIT where the Cardinals defeated Belmont, 101-86.
– The NCAA announced last July the creation of the WBIT. The 32-team postseason event will be played March 21 (first-round), March 24 (second-round) and March 28 (quarterfinals), with the highest-seeded teams hosting games at campus sites. WBIT semifinal and final games will be conducted at Butler University’s historic Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on April 1 and 3. All games of the WBIT are broadcast on the ESPN platforms.
– A Cardinal win will advance Ball State to the second round of the WBIT where Ball State could play at home or on the road depending on the opponent. The Cardinals will face the winner of the Penn State versus George Mason contest.
-The Cardinals were placed as the No. 4 seed in the inaugural Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament and were picked to host their first round on Thursday in Worthen Arena against Belmont. Tipoff is set for 4 pm ET.
– Both Ball State and Belmont reached its respective conference tournaments’ semifinal rounds with the Cardinals falling to eventual champions Kent State Friday by a score of 65-50. The Bruins suffered a 63-48 set back in the semi’s to Missouri State.
– If the Cardinals advance to the round of 16 they will face either No. 1 Penn State or George Mason. Ball State has never played Penn State and has competed against George Mason only once which was a 78-54 loss for the Cardinals in 2000-01.
– Since the 2012-13 season the Cardinals own a 5-8 overall mark in post season play beating teams like Minnesota, Northern Iowa, Iowa, Middle Tennessee and Belmont. The furthest BSU has advanced was the final 16 in the WNIT in 2012-13.
– Ball State is 3-1 when hosting a postseason game in Worthen Arena with defeats over Northern Iowa, Middle Tennessee, and Belmont with a second round WNIT loss to Purdue in 2017-18.
1,000+ Points, 500+ Rebounds, 500+ Assists:
Only 18 players have scored 1,000+ career points and have tallied 500+ career rebounds in program history at Ball State. Current players Ally Becki (17th player) and Annie Rauch (18th player) are among the elite in those categories. Rauch recently scored her 1,000th point on Saturday, March 2 against Eastern Michigan. Rauch is 22nd all-time in rebounds with 546 while Becki sits at 23rd place with 542 rebounds. Also, Becki reached 500 assists versus Kent State in the MAC semifinals Friday which made her only the third player in program history to reach the 500 assist plateau. Becki also became the only player to have 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists.
Why Was The WBIT Created:
The creation of the WBIT ensures the NCAA is providing equitable postseason opportunities for women’s basketball similar to that of men’s basketball, which was a recommendation from the 2021 Gender Equity Report. NCAA supported men’s and women’s basketball postseason opportunities are now equitably available through a combination of the NCAA Division I Men’s or Women’s Basketball Championships (68 teams each) and men’s or women’s basketball postseason invitation tournaments (32 teams each). Additionally, as women’s basketball continues its growth trajectory, opportunities, and events like this support our three strategic goals of transformational student-athlete experience, quality competition and memorable championships.
BALL STATE BASEBALL
CARDINALS RIDE STRONG START TO WIN AT BUTLER
INDIANAPOLIS – The Ball State baseball team rode a 5-run first inning and a strong start from Will Jacobson to a 7-6 win at Butler on Wednesday afternoon at Bulldog Park.
The Cardinals (12-10) got an RBI single from Michael Hallquist, a two-run single by Blake Bevis and a two-run double from Hunter Dobbins to account for the scoring in first inning rally. Bevis tacked on a sacrifice fly in the second before Nick Husovsky scored on a balk in fourth to provide breathing room for the Ball State pitching staff.
Jacobson (1-0) tossed 5.0 innings of 1-run ball while striking out six in his first start of the year to earn his first win as a Cardinal. Zach Kwasny struck out four in 3.1 innings to bridge the gap to Tanner Knapp, who got the final two outs of the game on punchouts.
Butler starter Simon Linde (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing the five runs in a single inning of work. The Bulldogs threatened with three runs in the ninth inning, but Knapp proceeded to shut them down after entering with one out to collect his fourth save of the season.
Bevis tallied a game-high three RBI, while Nick Gregory crossed the plate twice from the leadoff spot to spark the visiting offense.
“We hung on this time, and we found a way to win,” head coach Rich Maloney said. “The guys jumped out to a good start and played hard the whole game. I thought Will Jacobson was outstanding which was huge. We did some of the little things well offensively. We stole some bases, moved the baseball and got some timely hits.”
The Cardinals are set to play a weekend series at Toledo starting at 3 p.m. on Friday.
BALL STATE MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
NO. 12 MEN’S VOLLEYBALL HOSTS 10TH-RANKED OHIO STATE IN A MIVA SHOWDOWN THURSDAY
No. 12 Ball State (16-7, 9-1 MIVA) |
No. 10 Ohio State (157, 8-4 MIVA)
Last Meeting: Ball State 3, Ohio State 1 (3/15)
Series History: Ohio State leads the all-time series 103-93 record over Ball State
Setting the Scene:
Coach Cruz: Ball State head coach Donan Cruz enters his third season at the helm of the Cardinals and owns an overall record at BSU of 59-20 (.746) along with a Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) Tournament Championship, two MIVA regular season titles and an NCAA Tournament appearance.
Match Recap: Ball State went 2-0 last week in MIVA action after posting a 3-1 victory at Ohio State and then a 3-0 sweep versus Lindenwood in Worthen Arena. With the two victories, Ball State sits atop of the MIVA standings with a 9-1 ledger.
Scouting Ohio State: A year ago, Ohio State and Ball State battled for the MIVA Tournament title in Muncie, Indiana. The Buckeyes prevailed 3-1 to win the conference tournament crown. Ohio State leads the MIVA with a total of 150 aces on the year. It’s average of 1.74 per set ranks second. In conference matches, the Buckeyes lead with 79 aces (1.80 per set). Ohio State is looking for its first win in three-straight matches after falling to Ball State 3-1 last Thursday and then dropped a 3-0 decision at Purdue Fort Wayne on Saturday.
Ndavazocheva Earns MIVA Offensive Player of the Week: Ndavazocheva led the Cardinals to a 3-0 victory over Quincy. The junior outside hitter had 15 kills on 22 attempts with just one error, working out to a .636 hitting percentage. He added an ace in the win. His 15 kills averaged to 5.00 per set.
Rogers MIVA Offensive Player of the Week: Patrick Rogers led No. 13 Ball State to a pair of wins over Purdue Fort Wayne and then-No. 10 Loyola Chicago. The sophomore outside hitter totaled 40 kills in eight sets for a 5.00 average per set while hitting .395 for the week. Against the Mastodons, he had 22 kills in three sets on a blistering .515 hitting clip then followed it up with 18 kills on .302 hitting in five sets against the Ramblers. He added an ace against the Mastodons.
Rogers Has a Standout Week: Rogers led Ball State with 41 kills last week while hitting an impressive .453 from the floor off of 75 swings. Rogers also averaged 5.86 kills per set. Rogers began the week with a career best 24 kills in a 3-1 win over rival Ohio State while tallying a .383 hitting percentage. On Saturday, Rogers continued his strong offensive showing with 17 kills off a .571 hitting accuracy on 28 total attacks. Rogers also served up an ace as the Cardinals swept Lindenwood to remain atop of the MIVA standings.
Preseason All-MIVA: The 2024 roster is a good mixture of some familiar faces along with several newcomers. One of the Cardinals returnees is sophomore outside hitter Tinaishe Ndavazocheva who was recently named to the 12-member preseason All-MIVA conference team. Ndavazocheva turned in quite the rookie season for the Cardinals last year. He earned MIVA Offensive Player of the Week honors and Off the Block National Honors on Feb. 7. He turned in a career high 27 kills against Lewis (2/9) and had 22 double digit kill performances in 2023. Ndavazocheva ended the season ranked second on the team in kills (342) and in points (397.5). He also received All-MIVA First Team honors and AVCA Honorable Mention All-American.
The Legend Don Shondell: The Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association has announced changes to the MIVA Tournament format. The conference has also announced that future tournament winners will receive the Don Shondell MIVA Championship Trophy.
The MIVA Tournament has been played after every regular season since 1980 except 2020 and was also played from 1964-69. The new format for the MIVA Tournament will reward the highest seeds, providing an advantage for a path to the NCAA tournament via the MIVA’s automatic bid.The opening round of the eight-team tournament will be played at the higher four seeds. No. 1 will host No. 8, No. 2 will host No. 7, No. 3 will host No. 6, and No. 4 will host No. 5.
The semifinal and final rounds will be hosted by the highest remaining seed in the field. The field will also re-seed. The highest remaining seed will host the lowest remaining seed and the other two teams will play in the other semifinal. The two winning teams will play in the final match for the Don Shondell MIVA Championship Trophy.
INDIANA STATE MEN’S BB
KENT’S CAREER NIGHT, LIGHTS OUT SECOND HALF SEND THE SYCAMORES PAST SMU
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State men’s basketball earned its first NIT win since the 1977-78 with Wednesday night’s win over SMU, 101-92.
Wednesday’s win was highlighted by a career-high 35 points from Jayson Kent, who went 11-for-12 from the floor. The 35 points ties the most points scored by a Sycamore this season. Kent also recorded nine rebounds in almost 39 minutes of action, all with no turnovers.
The win over SMU marked Coach Josh Schertz’s 400th win in his 16th season as a head coach. Coach Schertz moves his overall record to 400-108 (.787).
The 35 points from Kent, and Robbie Avila’s 35 at Evansville, tied the most points in scored by a player in the Schertz era. Cooper Neese recorded 35 against Evansville on February 10, 2022.
Ryan Conwell scored 25 points on 8-for-11 shooting, pulling down five rebounds and dishing out three assists. Xavier Bledson scored 14 points off the bench, shooting 6-for-9 with four rebounds. Avila scored 13 points, recorded eight rebounds, and dished out seven assists. The big man converted all 9-of-9 free throw attempts. Julian Larry rounded out the five Sycamores in double figures with 10 points, also tallying seven assists.
SMU grabbed an early lead and held it the entire first half. The Sycamores brought the game within one point off an Avila and-one at the 15:25 mark with a score of 13-12. SMU took a 9-0 run to help maintain the first-half lead over ISU. A three-pointer at the buzzer by SMU gave the Mustangs a 49-40 lead at the break.
The visitors had the upper hand early in the second half, extending their lead out to 69-56 before the Sycamores came roaring back. Facing a 10-point deficit near the midway point of the half, Indiana State rattled off a 17-1 run to pull ahead 81-75. Kent and Bledson both knocked down threes during that span, with five different Sycamores scoring during in the run. Conwell and Bledson tacked on treys as part of another Sycamore scoring spurt, as the Trees further extended their lead to 91-81 with just under three minutes remaining. Indiana State went 10-for-10 from the charity stripe inside the final three minutes to book a spot in the second round of the NIT against Minnesota.
News and Notes
Wednesday’s win gives Indiana State 29 for the season, the Sycamores’ second-most wins in a single season. The Trees’ single-season wins record is 33, set in the 1978-79 season.
Head coach Josh Schertz earned his 400th career win Wednesday night. Schertz improved to 63-39 in his three seasons as the head coach at Indiana State.
Jayson Kent’s career-high 35 points came on an 11-for-12 shooting performance (91.7 percent). Kent also went 11-for-12 from the free throw line, with the 11 made free throws also a career high.
Ryan Conwell shot a season-best 72.7 percent (8-for-11) on his way to a 25-point outing. Conwell was 4-for-7 from behind the arc.
Xavier Bledson came off the bench to score 14 points, accounting for all of the Sycamores’ bench points. Indiana State was plus-22 with Bledson on the floor, accounting for the highest plus-minus of any athlete on either team.
Jayson Kent, Robbie Avila and Julian Larry combined to go 24-for-26 from the free throw line Wednesday, while Indiana State went 30-for-35 from the free throw line as a team.
Indiana State’s 101 points scored marked the fourth time this season that the Sycamores surpassed the century mark on the scoreboard.
Up Next
Indiana State faces Minnesota inside Hulman Center Sunday at 2 p.m. in the second round of the 2024 NIT.
AVILA, SWOPE TABBED LOU HENSON NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
BOSTON – Indiana State center Robbie Avila and guard Isaiah Swope were named finalists for the 2024 Lou Henson National Player of the Year, as announced Wednesday by CollegeInsider.
The Sycamore duo were among 41 student-athletes named finalists for the award, which is presented to the top player in mid-major college basketball. Indiana State was one of two schools, along with Princeton, to have multiple finalists.
Avila, a 6-10 sophomore center from Oak Forest, Illinois, was named a First Team All-MVC performer in 2023-24 after leading Indiana State in scoring with 17.5 points per game. He also ranks second on the team in rebounds with 6.6 per game and assists with 3.8 per game. Avila’s numbers jumped in MVC play to 18.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. He shot nearly 55 percent from the field this season while also knocking down 40.5 percent of his 3-point attempts and 82 percent of his free throws.
For the season, Avila scored in double-figures in 28 of his 32 games played, including 10 games with 20-plus points. He also pulled down five or more rebounds in 23 games, knocked down three or more 3-pointers on eight occasions and dished out three or more assists 21 times. Avila had five double-doubles this season, which ranked second on the team. He also earned MVC Player of the Week honors once this season following a career-high 35-point night at Evansville which helped Indiana State clinch the MVC regular season title. Avila’s career highs in points (35), rebounds (14), assists (eight), steals (three) and blocks (two) have all come this season.
Swope, a 5-10 junior guard from Newburgh, Indiana, was named a Second Team All-MVC performer in 2023-24 and also earned a spot on the MVC All-Newcomer Team after leading Indiana State with 105 3-pointers this season. He ranked second on the team in scoring with 16.5 points per game, also adding 2.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Swope was among the national leaders in 3-pointers this season, ranking ninth in Division I with 3.28 threes per game while knocking down 40.3 percent of his attempts from behind the arc.
For the season, Swope scored in double-figures in 28 of his 32 games played, including eight games with 20-plus points. He knocked down three or more 3-pointers on 19 occasions this season, including eight games with five or more treys. Swope also added 10 games with three or more assists, six games with five or more rebounds and 11 games with multiple steals. He recorded his first career double-double with 27 points and 10 rebounds against Northern Illinois, and earned MVC Newcomer of the Week honors once this season following a career-high 30-point outing at UIC. Swope’s career highs in points (30), 3-pointers (eight), rebounds (10) and steals (five) have all come this season.
The 2024 Lou Henson Award will be announced in Phoenix, Arizona, the site of the 2024 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. The winner is determined by a 10-member voting committee consisting of current and former head coaches along with two senior staff members of CollegeInsider.
INDIANA STATE SOFTBALL
SYCAMORES CONTINUE MVC ACTION WITH A TRIP TO UNI
TERRE HAUTE, Ind.- Indiana State Softball will continue MVC play this weekend with a road trip to Cedar Falls, IA for a three-game series against UNI beginning on Friday, March 22 at 6 p.m ET. Game two will be on Saturday, March 23 at 3 p.m ET and the final game of the series will be Sunday, March 24 at 1 p.m ET. All three games throughout the weekend will be live streamed on ESPN+.
Indiana State (13-15, 2-3) is coming off of a 1-2 weekend where they fell to Bradley in a three-game series. The Sycamores won game two of the series 7-0 over the Braves where they recorded eight hits which came from Danielle Henning, Kennedy Shade, Kenzie Cornwell, Sophie Esposito, Livi Colip (2) and Abby Robakowski (2). Hailey Griffin took the win in the circle for the Sycamores on Saturday where she allowed only four hits and zero runs scored.
Northern Iowa (13-10, 2-1) won their three game series over Belmont 2-1 last weekend. The Panthers first MVC match up on Friday against the Bruins lasted 10 innings where Samantha Heyer pitched a career high 10-innings in the 3-1 victory.
The Panthers lead the all-time series over the Sycamores 26-15, which dates back to March 1, 2008. Indiana State won the most recent match last season against Bradley, with a score of 1-0 on May 12, 2023.
Sycamore Standouts:
Kennedy Shade continues to lead the Sycamores offensively with a .380 batting average, which consists of 30 hits, six doubles, 23 RBIs, 16 runs scored, where she added her third home run of the 2024 season in Saturday’s 7-0 victory over Bradley. Shade records 10 multi-hit games and six multi-RBI games for Indiana State.
Abi Chipps records the most hits on the season for Indiana State, with 33, and leads the Sycamores in stolen bases, with 11. In 92 at bats at lead off, Chipps has only struck out three times this season.
Abby Robakowski has recorded three home runs this season, where she is second in batting averages with a .367 with 22 hits and 17 RBIs. Robakowski has a .457 on base percentage for the Sycamores and recently went 2-3 in the 7-0 victory over Bradley with 2 RBIs.
In the circle:
Hailey Griffin (3-3) leads the Sycamore pitching staff with a 3.27 ERA in 60.0 innings pitched. She recorded her first collegiate no hitter in the 4-0 victory on March 1 against IUPUI. Griffin has started in six games this season, where she has struck out 39 batters.
Lauren Sackett (6-7) records the most strikeouts for the Indiana States pitching staff, with 43. Sackett has made 16 appearances and 13 starts in the 2024 season where she holds a 4.65 ERA and records one save for the Sycamores.
Scouting UNI:
Alexis Pupillo leads the Panthers with a .292 batting average which includes 19 hits, three doubles, 24 RBIs, 21 runs scored, and nine home runs in the 2024 season.
Samantha Heyer (5-4) was named MVC pitcher of the week last month after throwing a no hitter with 14 strikeouts in the victory over Memphis on February 21 and another 14 strikeouts in the win over SEMO on February 24 . Heyer was ranked 91 on D1Softballs Preseason player rankings and leads the UNI pitching staff with a 2.03 ERA in 58.2 innings of work and she records 77 strikeouts in the 2024 season.
Up Next:
Indiana State will host Belmont next weekend at Price Field on March 29-31 to compete in a three-game MVC series. Game times are listed below.
Friday, March 29 at 3 p.m ET
Saturday, March 30 at 2 p.m ET- First 50 fans will receive rally towels
Sunday, March 31 at 12 p.m ET
PURDUE FT. WAYNE MEN’S BASKETBALL
MULDER’S LATE HOOP LIFTS ‘DONS TO 77-75 CIT WIN AT BOWLING GREEN
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Purdue Fort Wayne topped Bowling Green 77-75 on Wednesday (March 20) in The 2024 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament, presented by BSN SPORTS.
Eric Mulder put the Mastodons up 77-75 with 15.1 seconds on a layup off a feed from Rasheed Bello. The basket stood as the game winner thanks to a defensive stand by the ‘Dons on the other end following a Falcon timeout.
The ‘Dons led by as many as 14 points in the second half but Bowling Green rallied back to take a 61-59 lead with 8:50 remaining. Quinton Morton-Robertson followed with his 99th 3-pointer of the season to give the lead back to the ‘Dons. Purdue Fort Wayne held the lead until Sam Towns tied the game at 75 with 1:03 remaining in the game.
The first half saw the ‘Dons take a lead late in the period thanks to a 20-4 run to close the period. It was punctuated by a Bello steal and Anthony Roberts dunk just before the buzzer. The ‘Dons were 9-of-13 in the stretch while Falcons attempted only three shots and committed nine turnovers.
The game was named the Jim Phelan Classic in honor of the former coach. Jalen Jackson took home MVP honors. He finished with a team-best 18 points on 9-of-13 shooting with six rebounds.
Roberts scored 17 points with two steals. He will enter his next contest needing three points to reach 2,000 for his career.
Bello had 11 points with five rebounds and five assists. Corey Hadnot II pitched in 10 points.
The Mastodons will play Tarleton State in the semifinals of The CIT on Monday (March 25) at 7 p.m. ET
The Mastodons improve to 22-12 with the win. Bowling Green falls to 20-14.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
MASTODONS BEAT EKU FOR PROGRAM’S FIRST POSTSEASON WIN
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Amellia Bromenschenkel scored 22 points to lead Purdue Fort Wayne to the program’s first ever postseason win, taking down Eastern Kentucky 83-75 on Wednesday (Mar. 20) in the opening round of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament.
Bromenschenkel’s 10-for-10 effort from the charity stripe is the first of its kind for a Mastodon since Feb. 27, 2016.
Four Mastodons finished in double figures in Wednesday’s contest. Bromenschenkel scored 22, added four rebounds, and tied her career-high with 5 steals. Destinee Marshall and Jazzlyn Linbo each had 14 points, and Audra Emmerson contributed 12.
Shayla Sellers’ first basket of the day moved her to 10th in the program’s scoring list. She finished with eight points to move to 1,299 career points.
The game shifted toward the Mastodons with a 16-0 run to close the opening half. The ‘Dons shot 75 percent (3-for-4) from range in the second quarter with triples from Emmerson, Sellers, and Renna Schwieterman. EKU regained the lead in the third quarter, but a three from Emmerson put the ‘Dons ahead by three at the end of the period. The Mastodon lead ballooned to 11 after an 11-3 run early in the third quarter, but EKU took the lead back with a 13-0 run of its own.
With a two-point lead and four minutes left, Linbo’s spin move in the paint led to a basket and the foul for an old-fashioned three-point play. This kicked off a 11-1 run that helped the ‘Dons build a 12-point lead and put the game out of reach.
Eastern Kentucky had 20 points from both Antwainette Walker and Kaitlyn Costner. The Colonels fall to 22-12 as their season comes to an end.
Purdue Fort Wayne improves to 22-12, and is now one win away from tying the all-time program record of 23. The 22-win mark is already the best of the Division I era for the ‘Dons.
Purdue Fort Wayne advances to the second round of the WNIT to face Cincinnati, who had a first-round bye. They’ll travel to the Queen City to take on the Bearcats on Sunday (March 24) at 2 p.m.
SOUTHERN INDIANA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
EAGLES WELCOME UIC THURSDAY IN FIRST ROUND OF WNIT
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball will play in and host its first-ever Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) Postseason game Thursday at 7 p.m. when the Screaming Eagles welcome the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) to Screaming Eagles Arena for a first-round matchup.
Tickets to Thursday’s game are on sale at usiscreamingeagles.com and through the USI Ticket Office. Tickets are only $10 for Thursday’s first-round game.
Thursday’s game can be seen live with a subscription to ESPN+. 95.7 FM The Spin and 97.7 FM WREF will have radio coverage.
The 2024 Postseason WNIT features a 48-team field. This marks the 26th edition of the Postseason WNIT, powered by Triple Crown Sports and first held in 1998. The tournament field is made up of 11 automatic qualifiers and 37 at-large programs, flexing a mix of Power 4 conferences as well as ascending mid-major programs. All games are played at individual schools; the 2024 Postseason WNIT has 24 teams that won at least 20 games this season.
Southern Indiana (24-6, 17-1 OVC) will play Thursday for the first time since winning the 2024 Ohio Valley Conference Championship Tournament on March 9. OVC Coach of the Year Rick Stein led USI to a sweep of the Ohio Valley Conference 2023-24 regular season and 2024 tournament championships. However, with USI in year two of the four-year transition period from Division II to Division I, Southern Indiana was not eligible for the OVC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament due to NCAA reclassification rules. The OVC regular season championship led to an automatic bid to the WNIT for the Screaming Eagles. The two OVC championships this season were not only the first-ever OVC titles for USI Women’s Basketball but also the first-ever OVC team championships in USI Athletics history.
Compared to recent history, Saturday’s championship win put Southern Indiana with the likes of the University of North Dakota’s 2011-12 team (Great West Conference) and California Baptist University’s 2020-21 team (Western Athletic Conference) to win a regular season and conference tournament championship in the same season during a transition period.
Southern Indiana earned the No. 1 seed in the OVC Championship Tournament after winning the 2023-24 regular season title by six games, leading to a double-bye. USI then defeated the No. 4 seed Eastern Illinois University, 69-54, in the semifinal round before downing No. 3 seed University of Tennessee at Martin, 81-53, in the championship game. USI had four players named to the OVC All-Tournament Team, including sophomore guard Ali Saunders (Depauw, Indiana), freshman forward Chloe Gannon (Manchester, Tennessee), senior forward Madi Webb (Bedford, Indiana), and senior forward Meredith Raley (Haubstadt, Indiana). Raley was named Tournament MVP after leading USI with 30 points and 15 rebounds in the two games played.
The Screaming Eagles enter Thursday having won 10 games in a row for the second time this season and 21 of their last 23 contests. USI won 10 straight between December 22 to February 1. The current streak has run from February 8 through March 9 at the OVC Tournament. The 10 consecutive victories are a team best since 2017-18 when USI won 13 in a row. The current winning streak is top 15 in the nation among active winning streaks. USI’s 24 overall wins so far this season are a team high since the 2017-18 season when USI went 26-5 overall.
On March 12, USI received its first-ever ranking in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll, checking in at No. 22. USI had been receiving votes since January 30. In the most recent poll on Tuesday, USI remained in the 22nd spot.
First-team All-OVC junior guard Vanessa Shafford (Linton, Indiana) paces USI this season in points (14.2), rebounding (7.6), steals (1.5), and minutes played (29.9). Raley, who was also a first-team All-OVC selection, is second on the team in scoring at just over 12 points per game. Webb and Gannon check in third and fourth, respectively, with more than 10 points per contest. Webb was named All-OVC Second Team, while Saunders was selected to the OVC All-Newcomer Team at the end of the regular season.
As a team, Southern Indiana has averaged 72.5 points per game while holding opponents to 62.2 points per outing. USI ranked first in the OVC in field goal percentage (45.4) and field goal percentage defense (35.9).
UIC (18-15, 10-10 MVC) played its last game in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament last Friday in the quarterfinal round against Belmont University, falling 70-65 in the closing seconds.
Junior combo guard Makiyah Williams leads UIC with 12.7 points per contest. Graduate forward Keimari Rimmer and senior guard Danyel Middleton also averaged double figures at just over 10.5 points per game. Middleton led UIC in the MVC Tournament game against Belmont with 19 points.
UIC has posted 69.3 points on 43.1 percent shooting this season. The Flames have held their opposition to 66.2 points and 41.2 shooting from the floor.
The Flames are making their first appearance in the WNIT in 17 years but their second consecutive postseason appearance after competing in the Women’s Basketball Invitational (WBI) last season.
Thursday will be the first-ever meeting between Southern Indiana and UIC.
The winner of Thursday’s game between USI and UIC will face the University of Wisconsin (13-16, 6-12 Big Ten) in the second round at a location and time to be announced.
The tournament schedule is as follows:
Round 1 – March 20-22, 2024
Round 2 – March 23-26, 2024
Round 3 – March 27-29, 2024
Quarterfinals – March 30-April 1, 2024
Semifinals – April 2-3, 2024
Fans can follow the 2024 Postseason WNIT through X/Twitter (@WomensNIT), Facebook (womensNIT), and the hashtag #WNIT.
Stay tuned to usiscreamingeagles.com and @USIAthletics on social media for more information.
SOUTHERN INDIANA BASEBALL
SCREAMING EAGLES HOST TTU TO START LEAGUE PLAY
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — University of Southern Indiana Baseball comes home for the first time in nine games when it opens the Ohio Valley Conference 2024 schedule by hosting Tennessee Tech University this weekend. The series start Friday with a 6 p.m. first pitch before continuing Saturday at 3 p.m. and concluding Sunday at 1 p.m.
Links to follow the Eagles during the opening weekend of 2024 can be found on USIScreamingEagles.com and on the USI Baseball Schedule.
This week’s game promotions include “Jersey Day” Saturday and “Family Day” Sunday. Fans get a free ticket Saturday when they wear a baseball jersey to the game, while kids 12-and-under are admitted free on “Family Day” and run the bases after the game.
This weekend is the last chance to catch the Eagles at home in March before they hit the road for a game at Ball State University March 26 and visit Morehead State University March 28-30 to close out the month.
USI Baseball Notes:
Second season of OVC play. USI will start its second season of OVC action this weekend when it hosts Tennessee Tech University this weekend. The Screaming Eagles reached the OVC Tournament last spring, losing in the first round.
USI predicted 8th in 2024 OVC. The USI Screaming Eagles are predicted to place eighth in the Ohio Valley Conference in 2024.
USI finishes road swing, 5-4. The Eagles were 5-4 in the longest road swing since 2018 when USI played 11 games away from the USI Baseball Field in the GLVC Tournament, the NCAA II Midwest Regional, and the NCAA II Baseball Championship. USI was 7-4 in that run through the post-season.
USI falls in road trip finale. USI lost the road trip finale at Western Kentucky University, 5-3. USI sophomore shortstop Caleb Niehaus led the Eagles with two RBI in the loss.
USI gets one vs. Illinois. The Screaming Eagles lost a pair of heartbreakers, 2-1 and 6-5, to the University of Illinois before salvaging the series finale, 8-3. Senior designated hitter Jack Ellis led the USI hitters with a home run in each of the games.
USI last week. The Screaming Eagles were 4-2 last week, including a doubleheader sweep of Bellarmine University, a single-game win over Middle Tennessee State University, and losing a three-game series at Illinois. Senior designated hitter Jack Ellis led USI by hitting .476 with seven runs scored, three home runs, and eight RBI. Senior rightfielder Ren Tachioka followed with a .462 average (12-26) with five runs scored and seven RBI.
Screaming Eagles on the bump last week. USI junior right-hander Gavin Morris had a team-best two wins last week, while freshman right-hander Grant Parson had the best start of last week, throwing six scoreless innings in getting a no-decision at Illinois.
Eagles on the road swing. The Eagles are 5-3 on the road swing, entering the final road game with Western Kentucky University Tuesday. Senior designated hitter Jack Ellis is batting .480 during the road trip (12-25) with three home runs and eight RBI in five games. Senior first baseman/designated hitter Tucker Ebest has driven in a team-best 11 RBI during the first eight games of the trip. Junior right-hander Gavin Morris leads the staff with two wins.
Archuleta gets 700th win. USI Head Coach Tracy Archuleta reached 700 career wins after the Screaming Eagles defeated Middle Tennessee State University on Tuesday. He is the winningest coach in the history of the program with 552 victories in 17-plus years.
First series sweep since 2022. The Eagles three-game sweep of Bellarmine University March 10-11 was the first series sweep since USI took four from the University of Indianapolis to end the 2022 season.
TTU in 2024. The Golden Eagles of Tennessee Tech University are 12-9 overall this season after falling 8-4 at home to the University of North Alabama Tuesday. TTU also has won six of the last 10 games heading into the start of the OVC schedule.
USI vs. TTU. The Screaming Eagles won the first ever series with the Golden Eagles, 2-1, last season and earned a spot in the OVC Tournament on the final day of the regular season.
Ball State in 2024. The Cardinals head into the weekend with a 10-11 record with four games to play before facing the Eagles. Ball State is 6-8 since playing the Eagles in February.
USI vs. Ball State. Ball State leads the all-time series, 3-0, after defeating USI in February, 10-4, at the USI Baseball Field. USI junior outfielder Terrick Thompson-Allen led the Eagles with two hits, a run scored, and two RBI in the loss.
VALPO SOFTBALL
SOFTBALL HEADS TO DRAKE THIS WEEKEND
Valparaiso (6-18, 0-3 MVC)
March 22 – at Drake (11-13, 0-3 MVC) – 2 p.m. DH
March 23 – at Drake – 1 p.m.
Next Up in Valpo Softball: It’s one final series on the road for the Valpo softball team before its home opener, as the Beacons complete their 27-game stretch away from home to open the season this weekend with a three-game MVC series at Drake. The weekend schedule has been altered due to weather, as the Beacons and Bulldogs will play a Friday afternoon twinbill at 2 p.m. before concluding the series with a single game Saturday at 1 p.m.
Previously: Valpo was swept in its conference-opening series last weekend at Evansville. The Purple Aces earned an 8-0 win Friday evening and held off the Beacons’ late rally on Saturday, 9-7. In Sunday’s series finale, Valpo held a 1-0 lead entering the bottom of the sixth before UE scored a run apiece in the sixth and seventh innings for the walk-off win.
Looking Ahead: Valpo finally takes to its home field next weekend, welcoming Bradley to town for a three-game Valley series to kick off an eight-game homestand.
Following Valpo Softball: All three games this weekend will be broadcast live on ESPN+. All games will also have live stats available, linked at ValpoAthletics.com.
Head Coach Meaggan Pettipiece: Meaggan Pettipiece was hired in September 2022 as head coach of the Valpo softball program and enters her second season in 2024. Pettipiece is in her 15th season overall as a collegiate head coach, most recently spending three seasons at Akron prior to coming to Valpo. Pettipiece, who owns 264 career coaching victories, was an All-American on the diamond and helped California University of Pennsylvania to a D-II national title in 1998 collegiately before playing internationally for Team Canada, including at the 2000 Summer Olympics.
Series Notes: Valpo is just 1-19 all-time against Drake, with the sole victory coming in non-conference action in 2012 – the Bulldogs have won all 14 matchups since Valpo joined the MVC. Last season, Drake swept a three-game set at the Valpo Softball Complex by scores of 4-1, 8-4 and 8-0. In its seventh season as a member of the MVC, Valpo is slated for a conference series at Drake for just the second time since joining the conference. The Beacons’ only prior MVC series in Des Moines came in 2022. Valpo was scheduled to take on the Bulldogs at Drake in 2018, but inclement weather forced those games to be moved to the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.
Scouting the Opposition: The Bulldogs enter the weekend with an 11-13 overall record and are 0-3 in MVC play after being swept last weekend in a three-game series by Southern Illinois. Drake did snap a five-game losing streak in mid-week action, beating Western Illinois on Tuesday, 2-1. Emma Dighton is hitting a team-best .333 on the season, with Carey Koenig scoring a team-high 15 runs and Addie Lightner pacing the Bulldogs with 14 RBIs. In the circle, five different pitchers have split 146.1 innings of work, with Dighton tossing a team-high 45 innings. Emma Richards owns the team’s best ERA (4.27).
Who’s Back: Valpo returns 12 of 16 letterwinners from last year’s squad for the 2024 season. In all, 69.2% of Valpo’s plate appearances are back for this season and 49.4% of last season’s innings pitched return.
Who’s New: A group of nine newcomers joined the Beacons for the 2024 season. Kam Utendorf transferred in after playing her freshman season at Black Hawk College, joining eight true freshmen on this year’s team.
A Large Roster: The combination of 12 returnees and nine newcomers gives Valpo a 21-player roster for the 2024 campaign. That’s a five-player increase over last season’s group of 16 players, and it is the largest roster the softball program has had since fielding 21 players for the 2008 season.
Hitting the Road: This weekend’s games conclude a long and winding road for the Beacons before they finally get the chance to play at the Valpo Softball Complex. Valpo completed five consecutive weekends of road action prior to the start of MVC play, playing at Texas A&M, Presbyterian, Chattanooga, Indiana and Omaha. The Beacons opened MVC action last weekend at Evansville and play this weekend at Drake before finally opening the home slate March 29 against Bradley. All told, Valpo is scheduled to play its first 27 games of the season away from home.
Simply Hitting: In her first season of D-I softball, sophomore Kam Utendorf has been tremendous from the left side of the plate. Utendorf is 55 points clear atop the Valley in batting average, entering this weekend hitting at a .455 clip, while she also ranks second in the MVC with a .508 on-base percentage. She reached base in six of nine plate appearances last weekend at Evansville, going 4-for-7 with a pair of walks. She tallied at least one hit in all three games while also scoring a pair of runs and driving in one. In the second weekend of play this year, Utendorf became Valpo’s first MVC Newcomer of the Week since May 2019, slashing .643/.708/.786 in action at Presbyterian.
Wily Wilming: Freshman Anna Wilming enjoyed her best start of the year in the circle in Valpo’s series finale at Evansville last weekend. Wilming went the distance for the first complete game of her career and carried a shutout into the sixth inning before eventually taking the tough-luck loss. She surrendered just six hits and two runs, while striking out a season-best six batters.
Hecker Hacking: Senior outfielder Regi Hecker has opened the 2024 regular season just as she closed the 2023 regular season. Hecker, who paced Valpo last year in batting average, hits, doubles, RBIs and stolen bases, closed 2023 by hitting .412 (14-for-34) with four multi-hit games over the Beacons’ final 12 games of the regular season. To date this season, Hecker ranks second on the team with a .348 batting average – good for 13th in the Valley – and has driven in a team-high 13 runs.
Using Her Speed: Defenses can’t rest this year when senior Alexis Johnson gets on the basepaths. Johnson, who had swiped just six bases over her first three seasons, is already 12-for-15 in the stolen base department this year, just five thefts shy of Valpo’s single-season top-10 chart. Her 12 stolen bases are tied for the most among Valley players, while she also paces the Beacons with 13 runs scored this year. Last weekend, Johnson had a pair of multi-hit games against Evansville to boost her season batting average above the .300 mark, while she scored two runs and stole two bases as well in the middle game of the series.
Runners on the Move: Led by Johnson, the Beacons have been notably more aggressive on the basepaths this year. After going just 21-for-36 in the steals department in 2023, Valpo is already 30-for-38 this season. Johnson leads the way with her 12 steals, while fellow senior Kayla Skapyak is a perfect 6-for-6 on the basepaths this year as well.
Cementing Her Spot: Through the first 14 games of the season, freshman Kayden Krug was just 1-for-7 at the plate. But Krug has started each of the last 10 games, and starting with a 2-for-3, 2-RBI performance Feb. 25 against Ohio, the rookie has stood out. In that stretch, Krug is 11-for-28 at the plate with three runs scored, six RBIs, a double, a triple and three walks.
Preconference Improvement: Entering Valley play, this year’s squad had seen marked improvement over last year’s squad in terms of preconference performance. In 2023, Valpo posted a 3-15 record prior to the start of conference play, while the 2024 team was 6-15 entering MVC action, a 119-point improvement in winning percentage. The Beacons’ batting average was 40 points better in preconference play this year as compared to last year, while the pitching staff’s ERA was 1.21 runs lower.
UINDY MEN’S LAX
GREYHOUNDS DOMINATE SECOND HALF, OPEN LEAGUE PLAY AT DAVENPORT
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The No. 8 UIndy men’s lacrosse team opened GLVC action with a bang on Wednesday afternoon, defeating associate member Davenport by a score of 17-8.
The Greyhounds dominated the final three quarters, outscoring their hosts by 12 to hand the Panthers their first loss of the season. Davenport scored just once in the second half and three times over the final 45+ minutes.
Justin Williams tallied seven points on a season-high five goals and two assists. Meanwhile, reigning GLVC Defensive Player of the Week KC Carlson made 13 saves between the pipes.
INS & OUTS
The Greyhounds flipped a switch after the Panthers jumped out to a 5-2 advantage in the first 15 minutes, scoring six times in the second quarter. Nathan Lam recorded a hat trick at the 13:25 mark, while Williams bookended the frame with a pair of goals.
UIndy blanked Davenport in the third quarter – the seventh time this season the defense has held its offensive counterpart scoreless in a period this season – while Connor Magin netted a pair of goals himself to stretch the Greyhound lead to three early in the half.
Mason Rockley scored his first collegiate goal with under five minutes remaining, well after the game was out of reach, before Owain Braddock recorded his second of the afternoon just 33 seconds later to finish the scoring.
Pioneering the offensive charge was Caleb Parker, who went 21-of-25 on the faceoff in the win, scooping up 12 ground balls. UIndy scored 11 goals immediately following a faceoff victory on Wednesday.
The Greyhounds caused 11 of the Panthers’ 21 turnovers, with Dougie Crawford leading all players with three.
INSIDE THE BOX
– Jack Sullivan impressed in the midfield, recording seven ground balls and two caused turnovers.
– Lam also finished with three assists, adding to his third hat trick of the spring.
– Seven Hounds caused a turnover, as Trevor Lockwood joined Crawford and Sullivan with multiple apiece.
– UIndy doubled Davenport up in the ground game, tallying 44 scoops as a team. Along with Parker and Sullivan’s impressive totals, Lam also recorded five ground balls.
– Nick Randgaard has now scored in six of the last seven contests.
– UIndy improves to 4-0 all-time against Davenport, winning each battle by at least eight goals.
UP NEXT
The Greyhounds will get a lengthy – and well-deserved – rest period before hosting Rockhurst on Saturday, March 30, from Key Stadium to continue league play. UIndy has won the past three meetings and six of the last seven.
MARIAN WOMEN’S BB
GAMEDAY GUIDE: NO. 1 MARIAN TAKES ON NO. 12 JAMESTOWN IN NAIA ROUND OF 16
SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The Marian women’s basketball team is gearing up for the NAIA Tournament Round of 16, as they take on No. 12 seed University of Jamestown in their first game in the Tyson Events Center. Below is information pertaining to the first game at the final site for Marian women’s basketball.
TOP SEED
Marian is the top seed in the NAIA Tournament, taking the No. 1 overall seed for the first time in program history. The Knights are ranked first in the NAIA and enter the final site as winners of 30 consecutive games.
HOW THEY GOT THERE
Marian hosted the NAIA Tournament First and Second Round, and earned a pair of strong wins to make their 10th consecutive appearance in Sioux City. The Knights defeated Florida National 95-67 in the First Round, getting a team-high 19 points from Ella Collier in the win. Kinnidy Garrard put up 11 rebounds for Marian in their win, and then followed a strong performance in the Second Round as she corralled a double-double in Marian’s 63-49 win over Stephens College. Collier and Allison Bosse each scored 15 points in the win over the Stars, with Bosse eclipsing 1000 career points in her time as a Knight.
Marian is 32-1 overall, and earned an automatic berth to the NAIA Tournament as winners of the Crossroads League Regular Season and Tournament Championships.
Jamestown is 19-12 overall, and earned an at-large bid coming out of the Great Plains Athletic Conference. After falling in the GPAC Tournament Quarterfinals, the 12-seeded Jimmies picked up a 59-53 win in an upset against The Master’s in the First Round, while in the Second Round Jamestown took out No. 11 and four-seed Lewis Clark State. The Jimmies knocked out the hosts with a 65-62 win, scoring two road wins.
KEY LEADERS
Marian’s leaders on the court include their seniors, led by the program’s all-time leading scorer Ella Collier. Collier, who now has 2221 career points, leads Marian in scoring averaging 19 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. Collier is the team-leader in assists as well, along with point-forward Aliyah Evans and point guard Sara Majorosova. Abbey McNally is the Knights’ second leading scorer and top rebounder as the Crossroads League Defensive Player of the Year is averaging 12.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game entering the final site. Kinnidy Garrard and Allison Bosse each average 10 or more points per game, while Tamia Perryman joins Evans as one of the key sparks off the bench, putting up nearly eight points per outing.
The Jimmies are led by their top-three players, Kate Cordes, Kia Tower, and Audrey Rodakowski, as the trio combines for nearly 41 points per game, with each player scoring over 13 a night. Rodakowski doubles as the team’s leader in rebounds, and Tower leads Jamestown in assists with 3.6 per night.
WHAT’S NEXT
The winner between the Knights and Jimmies will take on either Providence or Concordia (Neb.). Jamestown scored a win over then No. 16 Providence in the middle of December, and went 1-1 against their conference foe Concordia during the regular season. Marian has only played Concordia this season between the two teams, with the Bulldogs having handed Marian their only loss of the season back in early November.
WATCH AND FOLLOW ALONG
Fans can tune in to the game on the NAIA Network, linked above. The live stream package costs $9.95 per game, or $34.95 for the duration of the tournament. Live stats are linked above. Updates of the game will be made on the MUKnights social media pages, both on X formerly known as Twitter and Instagram.
TICKETS
Tickets are linked above and start at $17 for general admission for adults. A tournament pass starts at $60, and student passes are $10 each. The Tyson Events Center adheres to the Clear-Bag policy, and purses and backpacks will not be allowed in unless in a clear bag.
WATCH PARTY
Fans not in Iowa to watch can join and gather in the Marian dining commons for a watch party.
Marian and Jamestown will tip-off the NAIA Tournament Final Site action in Sioux City in the Round of 16 at 2:00 p.m. ET.
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 21, 1946 Kenny Washington signs with Rams, 1st black NFL player since 1933. There was an ugly 13 year period in the NFL where franchises in some cruel, unwritten agreement would not sign a player of color. According to an article on the Undefeated.com the Cleveland Rams, who were relocating to Los Angeles, changed that. The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in which the team wanted to play was publicly owned, meaning it was funded by white and black taxpayer dollars, and there was an expectation that the team would be integrated. Rams general manager Charlie “Chile” Walsh signed former UCLA standout Kenny Washington. The Rams purchased the 27-year-old’s contract from the Hollywood Bears and reportedly signed the halfback to a “five-figure salary,” the Los Angeles Sentinel reported. Walsh would tell the Los Angeles Times that the “financial arrangements are entirely satisfactory to Washington and keeping with the [ex-UCLA player’s] gridiron reputation.” The article goes on to say that Kenny was named as an All-American in 1939 with the Bruins per Liberty Magazine. Washington was not the first African -American to play in the NFL as great players such as Fritz Pollard and Bobby Marshall played in the early 1920’s when the League was forming, but it was groundbreaking nonetheless. Remember Jackie Robinson did not bravely break the color barrier in baseball until April of 1947.
March 21, 1961 Art Modell purchased the Cleveland Browns for a then record $3,925,000. Modell was a businessman who was well connected in the television and advertising industries and he was adept at public relations. He wanted an NFL team to make a name for himself so he went and paid the price for it. According to BrownsNation.com Modell invested $250,000 of his own money, borrowed $2.7 million, and had his partners foot the rest of the bill, then after the sale was completed, Modell was given control of the Browns. Modell fired Paul Brown as Coach, squabbled with Jim Brown until he prematurely retired, demoted Berni Kosar in favor of Vinnie Testeverde and then in his 35th year ownership of the club he took the franchise out of Cleveland and moved to Baltimore.
March 21, 1984 NFL owners passed the infamous anti-celebrating rule. A Bleacher Report article expands on the motion stating that the league first introduced language that defined illegal celebrations as “any prolonged, excessive, premeditated celebration by individual players or groups of players,” according to the official 1984 rulebook excerpt. That effectively ended group celebrations. The use of a prop was further included in the rules in 2006 and in 2014 the rule and its intention had to be looked at again when KC’s Husain Abdullah was flagged for dropping to his knees in prayer after a pick six therefore a few later group celebrations were welcomed once again and this made for some further entertainment in the League.
March 21 Football Hall of Fame Birthdays
March 21, 1884 – Boston, Massachusetts – Princeton’s star fullback Jim McCormick was born. More on this legend by clicking his name.
March 21, 1951 – Cleveland, Ohio – The great guard of the Ohio State University Buckeyes from 1970 to 1973, John Hicks celebrated his day of birth. John according to the NFF was a two-time First Team All-American and undeniably one of the most outstanding Ohio State football players of all time. Hicks was only able to play 4 games in 1971 until a devastating knee injury put him out for the rest of that year. The three full years he did play though his Coach Woody Hayes enjoyed a National Championship in 1970, three Big Ten titles and three trips to the Rose Bowl. As a matter of fact Hicks was the first player to start in three Rose Bowls, and in 2009 he was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame. In 1973 John had multiple awards as he was a unanimous All-American, won both the Lombardi Award and the Outland Trophy as the best interior lineman in the nation, and he finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting to Penn State’s John Cappelletti. His Ohio State teammates Archie Griffin and Randy Gradishar were fifth and sixth in that year’s voting. John Hicks joined other collegiate legends of the gridiron in the College football hall of Fame in 2001. Hicks was first-round NFL Draft pick of the New York Giants, who he played for from 1974 to 1977. We unfortunately lost Mr. Hicks in 2016 after a battle with illness.
NUMBERS IN SPORTS
44 – 36 – 27 – 99
March 21, 1953 – An NBA record for fouls in a game is reached when a total of 106 of them wear out the pencils of scorekeepers, as 12 players foul out in in the Boston Celtics versus Syracuse Nationals game.
March 21, 1959 – Jerry West, Number 44 of West Virginia helps his team win a tight one as they fall to California 70-71 in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship. West was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player for his high perfomance of play eventhough his team lost.
March 21, 1962 – The productive right-handed pitcher Robin Roberts uniform Number 36 is retired by the Philadelphia Phillies organization, Roberts recorded a lifetime ERA of 3.41 with 286 MLB wins in his career.
March 21, 1973 – For just the fifth time time in NHL history a player scored 500 goals in his career. This time it was left winger Frank Mahovlich, Number 27 with the Montreal Canadiens who helped his team earn a 3-2 victory over Vancouver that evening.
March 21, 1994 – Hockey history is made when Wayne Gretzky, Number 99 tied Gordie Howe’s mark of 801 careeer goals. The Great One lit the lamp twice as the LA Kings tied the Sharks of San Jose 6-6.
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
1908 Detroit outfielder Ty Cobb signs for $4000, with an $800 bonus if he hits over .300. The 21-year-old ‘Georgia Peach’ will finish the season with a league-leading .324 batting average for the first-place Tigers.
1931 On a chilly night at Houston’s (TX) Buffs Stadium, the White Sox and Giants become the first major league clubs to play a night game when they square off in an exhibition under 245-kilowatt lamps, according to reports, provided adequate lighting for the contest. The disappointing crowd of 2,500, due most likely to the cold weather, watch Chicago score five runs in the tenth frame to beat John McGraw’s New York squad, 11-6.
(Ed Note: Our thanks to SoxNerd blogger David Marran for sharing his research, including the correct date the historic game occurred. -LP)
1936 The Reds trade first baseman Jim Bottomley for the Browns’ utility player Johnny Burnett, who will never appear in a game for his new team. The former Cincinnati infielder plays two seasons with St. Louis, finishing his 16-year Hall of Fame career with a lifetime .310 batting average.
1943 The A’s trade Bob Johnson to the Senators for Jimmy Pofahl and Bobby Estalella. Although the former Philadelphia fan-favorite will make the All-Star squad for his new team and receives consideration for the Most Valuable Player award, Washington will sell the outfielder to the Red Sox.
1957 The owners will receive 9.3 million dollars in revenue for the 1957 TV-Radio rights. The breakdown includes $3.2 million for the World Series/All-Star contests, $1.26 million for two Saturday games of the week, and the remaining $4.84 million for local rights fees.
1959 The Indians trade Larry Doby to the Tigers for Tito Francona. The deal will be a great swap for the Tribe when their new outfielder hits .363, while Doby will play in just 16 games for Detroit.
1962 Before the spring training game against New York in Clearwater, the Phillies honor Robin Roberts, sold to the Yankees in the off-season, by retiring his uniform number 36, the familiar numerals he wore for 14 seasons with Philadelphia. The future Hall of Fame right-hander starts the exhibition game giving up four runs in three innings but gets the win when the Bronx Bombers beat his former team, 13-10.
1965 In an exhibition game, Gary Kroll and Gordie Richardson combine to keep Pittsburgh hitless for nine innings in the Mets’ 6-0 win in St. Petersburg. The first no-hitter thrown during the regular season in franchise history won’t occur until 2012 when Johan Santana accomplishes the feat against St. Louis.
1966 In a spring training game in Houston’s Astrodome, the Dodgers and Astros become the first major league teams to play on artificial grass. The material, which will become known as AstroTurf, was developed by Monsanto to overcome the team’s inability to grow grass indoors.
1968 The new American League team in Kansas City announces its nickname. The expansion club, joining the circuit in 1969, will now be known as the “Royals,” paying tribute to the Negro League Monarchs, a team playing in the City of Fountains from 1920 through 1965.
1973 In an exhibition game against the Mets, Fritz Peterson appears in his first game since going public about swapping families with Yankee teammate Mike Kekich. Many of the 4,320 fans at Al Lang Field in St. Petersburg roundly boo the 31-year-old southpaw, but he goes the first five innings, picking up the win in the Bronx Bombers’ 6-2 victory over their crosstown rivals.
1975 Georgia Tech blanks Earlham (IN), 41-0, setting the NCAA mark for the largest margin of victory. In 1999, Nebraska will break the record, equaled by West Chester (PA), with a 50-3 win over Chicago State at Buck Beltzer Stadium.
1978 In a surprise move, Padres manager Alvin Dark becomes the second manager ever fired during spring training after being told he was having difficulties communicating with his players. San Diego names the club’s pitching coach Roger Craig as the interim skipper.
2002 The Phillies make public the one-day regular-season suspension of Larry Bowa handed down by Bob Watson, Major League Baseball’s vice president for on-field operations. The action comes from the Philadelphia manager’s “inappropriate conduct toward the umpire” when he became enraged with the home plate umpire over two close calls on checked swings during an exhibition game against the Indians on March 9.
2011 Citing a lack of velocity and command, Mets GM Sandy Alderson announces the release of 29-year-old southpaw Oliver Perez, who is still owed $12 million on his deal. The roster move marks the second time in four days that the team has cut a player with a significant contract, with second baseman Luis Castillo asked to leave despite his $6 million price tag.
2013 David Wright is named the Mets captain, joining John Franco, Keith Hernandez, and Gary Carter as the fourth player honored by the franchise. Like Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter and White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko, the two other major leaguers currently with the title, the 30-year-old third baseman will not wear a “C” on his uniform.
2018 The Cleburne Railroaders’ first baseman Rafael Palmeiro becomes the oldest player in professional baseball history to homer in a game when he goes deep against Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks starter Trey McNutt in the American Association independent team’s 4-3 home loss at the Depot. The 53-year-old former major league All-Star batted sixth in the lineup, behind his 28-year-old son Patrick, who plays the corner infield spots for the second-year club.
2019 The Angels announce the signing of center fielder Mike Trout to a 12-year record-setting contract, making the biggest financial commitment to a player in North American team sports history. The Halos reportedly will pay the two-time American League Most Valuable Player more than $430 million, far surpassing the mega-deal Bryce Harper (13 yrs, $330 M) and the Phillies agreed on earlier in the month.
2019 After a 19-year eventual Hall of Fame career, Ichiro Suzuki announces his retirement, receiving an overwhelming ovation from the Japanese crowd at the sold-out Tokyo Dome. The 45-year-old three-time Silver Slugger, who holds the MLB mark for consecutive 200-hit seasons, left the Mariners’ 5-4 extra-inning victory over the A’s in the bottom of the eighth, standing alone on the field, soaking in the admiration of over 46,000 fans in the country he started playing professional baseball.
2021 Before an exhibition game at Surprise Stadium, the Royals announce catcher Salvador Perez has agreed to a four-year extension reportedly worth $82 million, setting a franchise record. The 30-year-old backstop’s deal, with an average annual value of $20.5 million, easily surpasses the $72 million contract signed by outfielder Alex Gordon in 2014.
BASEBALL YEAR IN REVIEW: 1949 (BASEBALL ALMANAC)
Off the field…
On April 4th, foreign ministers from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and the United States formally signed the North Atlantic Treaty to create a worldwide coalition known as NATO. The alliance became necessary between nations of Western Europe and the United States to help deter the Soviet Union from further aggressive posturing. Article 5 of the treaty stated that an attack against one member of the coalition would be considered an attack against them all.
The American monopoly on the development of nuclear weapons ended on September 23rd after President Truman announced that the Soviet Union had successfully detonated their first atomic bomb. The “Us” vs. “Them” mentally that followed touched off a nuclear arms race that would last into the 1990’s.
In the American League…
During pre-game ceremonies at the New York Yankees season opener, a monument to Babe Ruth was unveiled in center field along with two plaques honoring Lou Gehrig and Miller Huggins. All three would become centerpieces in the infamous Monument Park that now adorns the outfield area at Yankee Stadium.
On May 1st, Elmer Valo of the Philadelphia Athletics became the first American League player to post two bases-loaded triples in a single game during a 15-9 win over the Washington Senators. Later in the season, Valo hit a third, tying the Major League record previously set by Shano Collins in 1918.
A pharmacist from Cleveland named Charley Lupica climbed a twenty-foot platform atop a flagpole on May 31st and announced that he would remain perched there until the Indians won another pennant. Unfortunately, the 7th-place Tribe was only able to manage 4th place by the time Lupica descended on September 25, but owner Bill Veeck still rewarded the loyal druggist with a brand new car.
In the National League…
A riot literally broke out in the Philadelphia Phillies stands on August 21st after fans threw bottles in protest of umpire George Barr’s call over a trapped fly ball. The unruly crowd’s behavior resulted in the first forfeiture in the Major League in seven years. Ironically it was the visiting New York Giants who themselves, had been forced into the same situation in 1942, after their field was rushed by hundreds of youngsters.
On September 15th, Pittsburgh pitcher Ernie Bonham died following an emergency appendectomy and stomach surgery. His untimely death shocked the Pirates organization as Bonham had just pitched eighteen days before with a clutch, 8-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Mrs. Bonham later became the first spouse to receive benefits under the major league players’ pension plan, which provided the widow with a check for $90 a month over the next ten years.
Brooklyn Dodger Jackie Robinson continued to break barriers after setting a Major League record for stealing home (thirteen total over a three-year period) after thieving his 5th of the season during a 5-0 win over the Chicago Cubs. Robinson topped Ben Chapman who took eleven seasons to steal fifteen.
Around the League…
“Joltin” Joe DiMaggio signed with the New York Yankees for a reported sum of $100,000. It was the first six-figure contract in the history of Major League Baseball.
The 1949 All-Star Game at Ebbets Field marked the first appearance of black players including Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Don Newcombe and Larry Doby. In the end, it was the American League who capitalized on five National League errors for an 11-7 triumph.
The 1940s ended as the only decade in Major League Baseball history not to debut a new ballpark. The last new diamond had been the Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium, which opened in 1932, and the following did not occur until 1953 when Milwaukee’s County Stadium was unveiled.
RANDY JOHNSON
Heading into the 2004 season, it seemed as if Randy Johnson had accomplished all he could in his 16-year career. At 40 years old he showed no signs of letting up. He had won five Cy Young awards, and was one of only five pitchers to win the award in both the American and National Leagues. He was named World Series co-MVP in 2001, and was tabbed as the starting pitcher for four All-Star Games. He led both leagues in strikeouts and ERA in multiple seasons and led the National League in wins in 2002 with 24. He twirled the first no-hitter in Seattle Mariners history on June 2, 1990. His collection of hardware rivaled the tool department of the local Home Depot.
Yet Johnson added one more feat to his baseball immortality. The Arizona left-hander was sporting a 3-4 record heading into a May 18 matchup with the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. In three of his losses, the Diamondbacks offense had done its own version of molting. But instead of shedding skin, it was runs, as they pushed only three across the dish while Johnson was on the hill in those defeats. The latest was a 1-0 loss to the New York Mets on May 12.
READ MORE: https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/randy-johnson
TODAY IN NBA HISTORY
March 21, 1953
Bob Cousy scored 50 points (25 of which were in overtime play) as the Celtics outlasted Syracuse 111-105 in four overtimes to eliminate the Nationals in the Eastern Division Semifinals. Cousy’s 30 free throws made was an NBA playoff record.
March 21, 1999
Utah’s Karl Malone reaches 40,771 career minutes played and passes Bill Russell (40,726) for ninth place on the NBA’s all-time charts.
March 21, 2014
Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder scores 51 points in a 119-118 win over the Toronto Raptors.
March 21, 2021
Suns guard Chris Paul throws a perfect alley-oop pass to Deandre Ayton for his 10,000th career assist, becoming the sixth player in NBA history to reach that feat. The other players to do so: John Stockton, Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Mark Jackson and Magic Johnson — all of whom, save for Jackson — are Hall of Famers.
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
1893 — The first women’s collegiate basketball game is played at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. In this game, each basket is worth 1 point and the freshman class defeats the sophomore class 5-4. The game takes place behind locked doors and men are prohibited from watching.
1941 — Joe Louis knocks out Abe Simon in the 13th round at Olympia Stadium in Detroit to retain the world heavyweight title.
1945 — George Mikan of DePaul scores 53 points in the semifinals of the National Invitation Tournament. Mikan matches Rhode Island in offensive output and his teammates add another 44 for a final score of 97-53.
1953 — Rookie Bob Cousy sets an NBA record with 50 points and leads the Boston Celtics to a 111-105 victory over the Syracuse Nationals in a quadruple overtime playoff game. Cousy scores 30 of his points from the foul line.
1959 — California edges West Virginia 71-70 for the NCAA basketball championship. Jerry West scores 28 points for West Virginia.
1959 — Oscar Robertson scores the first triple-double in the NCAA Tournament’s Final Four history, tallying 39 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists in Cincinnati’s 98-85 win over Louisville in the third-place game.
1964 — UCLA caps a 30-0 season with a 98-83 victory over Duke in the NCAA basketball championship. UCLA is the third team to go undefeated and win the title. The victory gives coach John Wooden the first of his 10 NCAA Tournament championships.
1970 — Curtis Rowe scores 19 points and Sidney Wicks adds 17 points and grabs 18 rebounds to lead UCLA to an 80-69 victory over Jacksonville for its fourth consecutive NCAA basketball championship. Jacksonville ends the season with a scoring average of 100.4 points per game, the first team to average more than 100 points in a college basketball season.
1973 — Frank Mahovlich scores his 500th goal as the Montreal Canadiens beat the Vancouver Canucks 3-2.
1984 — Glenn Anderson of Edmonton scores his 50th goal of the season and helps the Oilers beat the Hartford Whalers 5-3. The Oilers become the first NHL team to have three 50-goal scorers in one season.
1985 — Arthur Ashe is nominated for the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
1985 — Washington’s Bobby Carpenter becomes the first U.S.-born player in NHL history to score 50 goals in a season. He reaches the milestone in a 3-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens at The Forum.
1990 — Brett Hull of St. Louis becomes the sixth player in NHL history to score 70 goals in a season with a goal in the Blues’ 8-6 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.
1994 — Wayne Gretzky ties Gordie Howe’s NHL record of 801 goals.
1996 — Todd Eldredge becomes the first American in eight years to win the gold medal at the World Figure Skating Championships.
2011 — Courtney Vandersloot has 29 points and 17 assists to help Gonzaga beat UCLA 89-75 in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Vandersloot becomes the first player in Division I history — men or women — to record 2,000 points and 1,000 assists in a career.
2014 — Mercer pulls off the biggest upset in the men’s NCAA tournament by knocking off Duke 78-71 in the second round. The 14th-seeded and senior-laden Bears score 11 straight points during the late 20-5 run to clinch the biggest victory in school history.
2015 — Top-ranked Kentucky outworked eighth-seeded Cincinnati for a 64-51 victory to reach the Sweet 16 for the second straight season. The Wildcats improve to 36-0 — the best start to a season for any team.
2019 — Japanese baseball right fielder Ichiro Suzuki finishes his career with a record 4,367 base hits (NPB & MLB) as Seattle Mariners beat the Oakland A’s, 5-4 in Tokyo, Japan.
TV SPORTS THURSDAY
AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL (MEN’S)
4:30 a.m. (Friday)
FS2 — AFL — Geelong at Adelaide
AUTO RACING
9:25 p.m.
ESPNEWS — Formula 1: Practice, Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Albert Park, Australia
12:55 a.m. (Friday)
ESPN2 — Formula 1: Practice, Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Albert Park, Australia
COLLEGE BASEBALL
7 p.m.
ACCN — Louisville at Wake Forest
SECN — Arkansas at Auburn
7:30 p.m.
ESPNU — Mississippi St. at Texas A&M
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S)
12:15 p.m.
CBS — NCAA Tournament: Michigan St. vs. Mississippi St., First Round, Charlotte, N.C.
12:40 p.m.
TRUTV — NCAA Tournament: Duquesne vs. BYU, First Round, Omaha, Neb.
1:30 p.m.
TNT — NCAA Tournament: Akron vs. Creighton, First Round, Pittsburgh
2 p.m.
TBS — NCAA Tournament: Long Beach St. vs. Arizona, First Round, Salt Lake City
2:45 p.m.
CBS — NCAA Tournament: TBD vs. North Carolina, First Round, Charlotte, N.C.
3:10 p.m.
TRUTV — NCAA Tournament: Morehead St. vs. Illinois, First Round, Omaha, Neb.
4 p.m.
TNT — NCAA Tournament: Oregon vs. South Carolina, First Round, Pittsburgh
4:30 p.m.
TBS — NCAA Tournament: Nevada vs. Dayton, First Round, Salt Lake City
6:50 p.m.
TNT — NCAA Tournament: TBD vs. Texas, First Round, Charlotte, N.C.
7:10 p.m.
CBS — NCAA Tournament: Oakland vs. Kentucky, First Round, Pittsburgh
7:25 p.m.
TBS — NCAA Tournament: McNeese St. vs. Gonzaga, First Round, Salt Lake City
7:35 p.m.
TRUTV — NCAA Tournament: S. Dakota St. vs. Iowa St., First Round, Omaha, Neb.
TNT — NCAA Tournament: St. Peter’s vs. Tennessee, First Round, Charlotte, N.C.
9:40 p.m.
CBS — NCAA Tournament: NC State vs. Texas Tech, First Round, Pittsburgh
9:55 p.m.
TBS — NCAA Tournament: Samford vs. Kansas, First Round, Salt Lake City
10:05 p.m.
TRUTV — NCAA Tournament: Drake vs. Washington St., First Round, Omaha, Neb.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (WOMEN’S)
7 p.m.
ESPN2 — NCAA Tournament: Arizona vs. Auburn, First-Four Game, Storrs, Conn.
9 p.m.
ESPN2 — NCAA Tournament: UT-Martin vs. Holy Cross, First-Four Game, Iowa City, Iowa
COLLEGE WRESTLING
Noon
ESPNU — NCAA Tournament: Session 1 – First Round, Kansas City, Mo.
7 p.m.
ESPN — NCAA Tournament: Session 2 – Championship Second Round + Consolations, Kansas City, Mo.
FIGURE SKATING
1 p.m.
USA — World Championships: Women’s Short, Montreal, Canada (Taped)
3 p.m.
USA — World Championships: Men’s Short, Montreal, Canada
8 p.m.
USA — World Championships: Pairs’ Free, Montreal, Canada
GOLF
2 p.m.
GOLF — PGA Tour: The Valspar Championship, First Round, Copperhead Course, Palm Harbor, Fla.
6 p.m.
GOLF — LPGA Tour: The FIR HILLS SERI PAK Championship, First Round, Palos Verdes Golf Club, Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.
1 a.m. (Friday)
GOLF — DP World Tour: The Porsche Singapore Classic, Second Round, Laguna National Golf Resort Club, Singapore
MLB BASEBALL
6 a.m.
ESPN — San Diego vs. LA Dodgers, Seoul, South Korea
1 p.m.
MLBN — Spring Training: NY Yankees vs. Atlanta, North Port, Fla.
4 p.m.
MLBN — Spring Training: Chicago White Sox vs. Kansas City (Split Squad), Surprise, Ariz.
NBA BASKETBALL
7 p.m.
NBATV — New Orleans at Orlando
10:30 p.m.
NBATV — Atlanta at Phoenix
NHL HOCKEY
10:30 p.m.
ESPN — Seattle at Vegas
RUGBY (MEN’S)
4:55 a.m.
FS1 — NRL: Brisbane at Penrith
SOCCER (MEN’S)
12:50 p.m.
FS2 — UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifier: Georgia vs. Luxembourg, Tbilisi, Georgia
3:30 p.m.
FS2 — UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifier: Wales vs. Finland, Cardiff, Wales
TENNIS
11 a.m. TENNIS — Miami-ATP/WTA Early Rounds