INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL SCORES
VALPARAISO 5 CHESTERTON 3
LAKE CENTRAL 18 MERRILLVILLE 0
FRANKFORT 8 ROSSVILLE 5
BREBEUF 11 COVENANT CHRISTIAN 1
BREBEUF 12 COVENANT CHRISTIAN 9
BISHOP CHATARD 1 GUERIN CATHOLIC 0
CASCADE 8 SCECINA 2
CENTER GROVE 20 EDINBURGH 0
INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN 15 MONROVIA 4
LOGANSPORT 8 LAFAYETTE JEFF 0
MOORESVILLE 8 MARTINSVILLE 3
NEW PALESTINE 6 SHELBYVILLE 5
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL SCORES
WESTVILLE 18 N. VERMILLION 7
CROWN POINT 14 VALPARAISO 4
LAKE CENTRAL 10 LAPORTE 0
WEST CENTRAL 19 DEMOTTE CHRISTIAN 1
CATHEDRAL 13 HARRISON 9
EDGEWOOD 2 BLOOMINGTON SOUTH 1
INDIANAPOLIS LUTHERAN 8 INDIAN CREEK 7
MOORESVILLE 12 MARTINSVILLE 2
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
FINAL FOUR-APRIL 6
3:09 P.M.
SEMIFINAL GAME 1
(11) NC STATE VS. (1) PURDUE
STATE FARM STADIUM
5:39 P.M.
SEMIFINAL GAME 2
(4) ALABAMA VS. (1) UCONN
STATE FARM STADIUM
DAILY SCHEDULE: https://www.ncaa.com/mens-final-four/schedule
(NIT)
INDIANA STATE 100 UTAH 90
SETON HALL 84 GEORGIA 67
WOMEN’S NCAA TOURNAMENT FINAL FOUR SCHEDULES
https://www.ncaa.com/womens-final-four/schedule
NBA SCOREBOARD
LA LAKERS 128 TORONTO 111
WASHINGTON 117 MILWAUKEE 113
PHILADELPHIA 109 OKLAHOMA CITY 105
MIAMI 109 NEW YORK 99
MINNESOTA 113 HOUSTON 106
CLEVELAND 129 UTAH 113
DENVER 110 SAN ANTONIO 105
SACRAMENTO 109 LA CLIPPERS 95
GOLDEN STATE 104 DALLAS 100
STANDINGS: https://www.foxsports.com/nba/standings
NHL SCOREBOARD
MONTRÉAL 5 FLORIDA 3
BUFFALO 6 WASHINGTON 2
PITTSBURGH 6 NEW JERSEY 3
NY ISLANDERS 2 CHICAGO 1
MINNESOTA 3 OTTAWA 2
BOSTON 3 NASHVILLE 0
ANAHEIM 5 CALGARY 3
VEGAS 6 VANCOUVER 3
STANDINGS: https://www.foxsports.com/nhl/standings
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
MILWAUKEE 3 MINNESOTA 2
KANSAS CITY 4 BALTIMORE 1
LA ANGELS 3 MIAMI 1
PHILADELPHIA 9 CINCINNATI 4
TAMPA BAY 5 TEXAS 2
CHICAGO CUBS 12 COLORADO 2
CHICAGO WHITE SOX 3 ATLANTA 2
TORONTO 2 HOUSTON 1
CLEVELAND 5 SEATTLE 2
BOSTON 5 OAKLAND 4 (11)
ST. LOUIS 5 SAN DIEGO 2
ARIZONA 7 NY YANKEES 0
LA DODGERS 5 SAN FRANCISCO 4
DETROIT AT NY METS POSTPONED
STANDINGS: https://www.foxsports.com/mlb/standings
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCORES
MEMPHIS 7 INDIANAPOLIS 2
UFL SCORES:
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
STANDINGS: https://www.foxsports.com/ufl/standings
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
COLLEGE BASEBALL SCORES
MICHIGAN STATE AT NOTRE DAME CANCELED
EVANSVILLE 13 AUSTIN PEAY 6
CREIGHTON 5 NEBRASKA 3
MICHIGAN 18 EASTERN MICHIGAN 6
INDIANA 16 INDIANA STATE 7
OHIO STATE AT KENT STATE POSTPONED
MARYLAND AT MARYLAND BALTIMORE COUNTY POSTPONED
ILLINOIS AT ILLINOIS STATE CANCELED
BUCKNELL AT PENN STATE CANCELED
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE AT MINNESOTA POSTPONED
IOWA AT BRADLEY CANCELED
HOFSTRA AT RUTGERS CANCELED
WESTERN MICHIGAN AT PURDUE FORT WAYNE CANCELED
MILWAUKEE AT VALPARAISO CANCELED
BALL STATE 7 BELLARMINE 2
WRIGHT STATE AT MIAMI OHIO POSTPONED
SOUTHERN INDIANA 10 MURRAY STATE 5
COLLEGE SOFTBALL SCORES
NEBRASKA 4 KANSAS 0
GREEN BAY AT WISCONSIN POSTPONED
IUPUI AT NOTRE DAME CANCELED
PENN STATE AT OHIO STATE POSTPONED
NATIONAL SPORTS RELEASES/HEADLINES
NBA NEWS
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
UCONN’S PAIGE BUECKERS HAS HABIT OF BEATING IOWA’S CAITLIN CLARK
PORTLAND, Ore. — Depending on the mathematics applied, Caitlin Clark is 0-3 head-to-head with UConn’s Paige Bueckers.
The story dates to when Geno Auriemma and the Huskies landed the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2020, a five-star point guard from Minnesota named Bueckers.
He admits there was never a scholarship offer extended to Clark.
Back then, Bueckers was the can’t-miss scorer who drew college coaches to her games in middle school because of her handles, athleticism and in-the-gym range. She was three spots ahead of a five-star guard from the state to the south, Des Moines, Iowa’s Clark.
“I loved UConn. I think they’re the coolest place on Earth, and I wanted to say I got recruited by them. They called my AAU coach a few times, but they never talked to my family and never talked to me,” Clark said of her interest in playing for the benchmark team of her youth, the Huskies.
Hardly overlooked, recruiting rankings primarily listed Clark fourth.
She was behind forward Angel Reese (the 2023-24 SEC Player of the Year at LSU) and forward Cameron Brink, who became the Pac-12 Player of the Year at Stanford.
Former Team USA backcourt mates, Bueckers was named Naismith Women’s College Basketball Player of the Year as a true freshman, when Clark led the nation in scoring at more than 26 points per game the same year.
That’s 2 for Bueckers, 0 for Clark.
And then they met on the court in the Sweet Sixteen at the end of the 2020-21 season, with Bueckers approaching a triple-double — 18 points, nine rebounds, eight assists — in a dominant win over Iowa. Clark had 21 points in the 92-72 defeat.
Since then, Clark is virtually undefeated in an unparalleled rise to becoming the face of college basketball.
She stole the spotlight, becoming a headline attraction with national appeal during the 2023 NCAA Tournament and her 2023-24 chase for college basketball’s scoring records. She added to those marks Monday with an array of near-midcourt 3s to amass 41 points and 12 assists in the regional final win over LSU, exacting a measure of revenge for the runner-up finish to the Tigers one year ago.
But Iowa claims not to be keeping score of past duels.
“Paige is playing really well. She’s a great player,” Iowa coach Lisa Bluder said. “She was the national Player of the Year coming out of high school. Just a tremendous, tremendous player. We try not to make it be situations where it’s this person versus this person or this team versus this team. We just really try to focus on Iowa.
“That’s what we want to focus on. We don’t want to focus on rivalries or paybacks or anything like that. That’s just not us.”
Bueckers battled to stay on the court with multiple season-ending injuries threatening to derail her career.
“She’s a selfless human being,” Auriemma said of Bueckers after UConn cut down the nets as regional final champions on Monday night. “That automatically separates her from a whole bunch of other people. She takes care of her teammates better than anyone I’ve ever seen. Maybe there’s been others, of course. But the way she shares all her good fortune, all the good things that come to her, really don’t mean anything to her unless she can share them with her teammates, whatever it is.”
While Clark became the all-time leading scorer and two-time Player of the Year, Bueckers battled back to All-American status this season and has already committed to returning to UConn next season. Clark is on her way to the WNBA and all-but-certain No. 1 pick status.
First, they’ll put their talents on full display in the latest meeting of college basketball superheroes Friday night in Cleveland as No. 1 seed Iowa (33-4) faces No. 3 UConn (33-5).
It’s a return trip for Bueckers to the Final Four — her first came in 2021 — but Auriemma views the game as a destination in more ways than one.
“It’s pretty remarkable. Next weekend should be just as much fun as this weekend,” Auriemma said. “Yeah, I hope Caitlin Clark had a personal agenda against LSU. I know there’s nothing personal between me and her. I don’t need to be seeing her drop 50 on us next weekend, you know?
“I love her. I think she’s the best player. Forget I ever said Paige is the best player in the country. I think she’s the best player of all time. I don’t know whoever said that I said that Paige is the best player in the country.”
Bueckers earned the admiration of USC in a narrow victory Monday night and is averaging 28.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 3.3 steals in four 2024 NCAA Tournament games.
“I don’t know Paige personally, but to see that kid be out for two years and come back and do this,” Trojans coach Lindsay Gottlieb said with a disbelieving smile.
Bueckers said she plans to keep her focus on what she has, not what’s missing, as Auriemma pointed to a national title opportunity ahead.
“(Reaching the Final Four is) one of the most rewarding feelings I’ve ever felt in my life, just seeing where I was a year ago today, doing individual workouts, starting to feel the basketball again, get the ball in my hands again and play. Now I’m here with my teammates and coaching staff and going to the Final Four,” Bueckers said “It’s been a very rewarding journey. I’m super, super grateful for it all. The tough times made me who I am. It’s built my faith. It’s built my appreciation for life and gratitude for anything that gets thrown my way.”
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
SETON HALL CLOBBERS GEORGIA, ADVANCES TO NIT TITLE GAME
Al-Amir Dawes scored 20 points for Seton Hall, which quickly mounted a commanding lead and controlled the rest of the game to down Georgia 84-67 in Tuesday’s second NIT semifinal at Indianapolis.
Dawes shot 6-of-11 from the field and made four 3-pointers for the top-seeded Pirates (24-12), who built an 18-3 lead six minutes into the game after hitting seven of their first 11 shots.
Seton Hall advanced to the NIT championship for the first time since winning its lone title in 1953. The Pirates will stay in town to face No. 1 seed Indiana State (32-6) for the championship on Thursday.
Dre Davis paired 19 points with nine rebounds, while Kadary Richmond finished with 15 points, nine rebounds and six assists for the Pirates. Jaden Bediako collected 14 points and seven boards, and reserve Jaquan Sanders chipped in 11 points, including three 3-pointers.
Seton Hall shot 47.1 percent from the field.
Silas Demary Jr. tallied 19 points to lead the fourth-seeded Bulldogs (20-17) in their first semifinal appearance since 1998. Georgia has never made an NIT championship game.
Seton Hall led by as many as 24 in the second half before Jalen DeLoach’s layup pulled the Bulldogs within 73-62 with 5:36 to play. Sanders responded with a floater in the paint and added a corner triple a minute later to boost the Pirates’ lead to 80-64.
Seton Hall made three more 3-pointers than Georgia, secured 13 more rebounds and outscored the Bulldogs 15-6 on second-chance points.
Dawes led all first-half scorers with 12 points as the Pirates entered halftime up 42-25.
Both teams made their first shot before Richmond’s layup triggered an 11-0 run that propelled Seton Hall ahead 13-2. Richmond finished the first half with 10 points, six rebounds and four assists.
Noah Thomasson, who entered Tuesday leading Georgia with 17.3 points per game throughout the NIT, struggled against the Pirates’ defense. Thomasson went scoreless on five field goal attempts in the first half and finished the game with 10 points on 4-of-15 shooting. He was just 1-of-7 on 3-point attempts.
The Bulldogs had missed 10 straight field goals by the time Richmond’s dunk stretched Seton Hall’s advantage to 18-3.
After Georgia cut its deficit to 20-11, Davis and Dawes engineered a six-point spurt that pushed the Pirates’ lead to 15. Minutes later, consecutive triples by Sanders kickstarted a 10-point run that gave Seton Hall its largest advantage of the half at 40-18.
INDIANA ST. SINKS UTAH TO REACH NIT TITLE GAME
Ryan Conwell and Robbie Avila combined for 53 points as Indiana State knocked off Utah 100-90 on Tuesday in the NIT semifinals at Indianapolis.
Conwell finished with 27 points while Avila chipped in 26 points and 10 rebounds for the top-seeded Sycamores (32-6), who were playing in the NIT Final Four less than 80 miles from their campus. Indiana State will face either No. 1 Seton Hall or No. 4 Georgia in Thursday’s title game.
Deivon Smith had 28 points, seven rebounds and six assists to lead the second-seeded Utes (22-15). Branden Carlson (17 points), Cole Bajema (14), Ben Carlson (11) and Hunter Erickson (10) also scored in double figures for Utah.
The Utes stayed close thanks to 17-for-29 shooting from 3-point range (58.6 percent), compared to a 35.3 percent mark from deep for the Sycamores. Meanwhile, Indiana State dominated in paint scoring (50-28) and made 14 of 20 free throws, while Utah was just 5 of 10 from the charity stripe.
Indiana State led 68-60 with 9:26 remaining before 3-pointers by Smith and Gabe Madsen helped the Utes get within 71-66. The Sycamores answered with two quick 3-pointers of their own, courtesy of Xavier Bledson and Julian Larry, to build an 11-point advantage.
Smith responded with another long-range bucket, but Indiana State countered with six straight points — a run capped by Isaiah Swope’s layup with 6:04 left — to open an 83-69 lead.
Swope and Larry chipped in 15 points apiece for Indiana State.
Utah got within 83-73 with 5:03 to go, but a 3-pointer by Conwell halted the Utes’ momentum, and the Sycamores cruised to the finish.
Indiana State led by as many as 11 in the first half before Utah stormed back to lead by as many as three late in the period. The Utes still held a narrow lead before Conwell’s layup in the waning seconds forged a 44-44 tie at the break.
Avila led all scorers with 15 first-half points, while Smith and Bajema had nine apiece to pace Utah.
KANSAS LANDS TRANSFER G ZEKE MAYO FROM SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
Zeke Mayo is transferring home.
The South Dakota State guard, a native of Lawrence, Kan., announced his commitment to Kansas on social media after making an unofficial visit to campus Tuesday.
“A homecoming like no other. Lawrence, KS, let’s rock,” Mayo wrote on X, formerly Twitter, with the hashtag #committed.
Mayo played at Lawrence High but went overlooked by the Jayhawks and other major programs. He spent three seasons at South Dakota State and was named Summit League Player of the Year in 2023-24, averaging 18.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game while shooting 46.6 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from the 3-point arc.
In 102 career games (87 starts), Mayo has averaged 15.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists per contest.
Mayo said Saturday that he was considering Creighton, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
NBA NEWS
RONDO RETIRES AFTER 16 SEASONS: ‘I’M DONE’
Veteran point guard Rajon Rondo is calling it a career.
“Absolutely,” said Rondo during Tuesday’s “All The Smoke” podcast when asked about retiring. “I’m done. I’d rather spend time with my kids.”
Rondo added: “It was definitely something that I never took for granted while I was in the game. I loved every minute of it, and I appreciate the brotherhood that I was able to share and bond and grow with over the years. I’ve learned so much in this game, and it’s made me the man who I am today.”
The 38-year-old last played in 2022 with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Phoenix Suns drafted Rondo with the 21st overall pick in 2006. The Suns traded the Kentucky product to the Boston Celtics, and he spent most of his 16 NBA seasons with the franchise. Playing alongside Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen, Rondo was instrumental as the Celtics’ starting point guard on the 2008 championship team.
Over his Boston tenure, Rondo was a four-time All-Star from 2010-13, a four-time All-Defensive team selection from 2009-12, and made the All-NBA third team in 2012. He also led the league in assists in 2012 and 2013 and steals in 2010. Rondo averaged 11 points, 8.5 assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.9 steals across nine seasons with the Celtics.
However, he struggled to acclimate to Rick Carlisle’s system after Boston traded him to the Dallas Mavericks in 2014. Rondo bounced around the NBA in the following years but led the Association in assists in 2016 as a member of the Sacramento Kings.
The Louisville native signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018 and won his second championship in the 2020 Disney World bubble as a key reserve. Rondo also suited up for the Chicago Bulls, New Orleans Pelicans, Atlanta Hawks, and Los Angeles Clippers during his career.
Rondo holds career averages of 9.8 points, 7.9 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.6 steals.
NBA ROUNDUP: JOEL EMBIID RETURNS TO LEAD SIXERS TO VICTORY
Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 17 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter and Joel Embiid added 24 points in his return to lift the Philadelphia 76ers to a 109-105 victory over the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday.
Embiid had not played since Jan. 30 due to left meniscus surgery. Before his injury, Embiid was leading the league in scoring at 35.3 points per game, along with 11.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists.
On Tuesday, Embiid was 12-for-12 from the free-throw line with seven assists, six rebounds and three steals. He scored 10 of his points in the fourth quarter, when Philadelphia outscored the Thunder 36-25.
The loss was just the third in 10 games for the Thunder. Chet Holmgren led the Thunder with 22 points, while Luguentz Dort and Aaron Wiggins added 15 each. Jaylin Williams notched a career-high 12 assists.
Lakers 128, Raptors 111
D’Angelo Russell had 25 points and seven assists, LeBron James added 23 points and nine assists, and visiting Los Angeles defeated Toronto.
Anthony Davis added 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Lakers, who are 4-1 on their six-game road trip. Rui Hachimura scored 14 points as Los Angeles won for the seventh time in eight games. Max Christie scored 12 points off the bench.
It was the 14th loss in a row for the Raptors. RJ Barrett scored 28 points to lead Toronto. Immanuel Quickley added 20 points. Kelly Olynyk and Gradey Dick each scored 14 points.
Nuggets 110, Spurs 105
Nikola Jokic put up 42 points and hauled in 16 rebounds, Aaron Gordon scored 23 points and host Denver moved back atop the West Conference by beating San Antonio.
Jokic, who also had six assists, passed Carmelo Anthony for third on Denver’s all-time scoring list with 13,978 points. Michael Porter Jr. scored 15 and had a career-high 16 rebounds. Denver moved ahead of Oklahoma City in the West.
Victor Wembanyama had 23 points, 15 rebounds, nine blocked shots and eight assists, and Tre Jones had 10 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists for his third career triple-double for San Antonio. Malaki Branham led the Spurs with 24 points.
Warriors 104, Mavericks 100
Andrew Wiggins led a balanced attack with 23 points, Draymond Green made key plays late in the game and Golden State snapped Dallas’ seven-game winning streak with a victory in San Francisco.
The Warriors won their fifth straight game as they attempt to secure a playoff spot. Klay Thompson finished with 14 points for the Warriors, as did Chris Paul, while Stephen Curry had 13, Moses Moody 12 and Draymond Green 11 to go with eight rebounds, six assists, four steals and his key block.
Luka Doncic posted a triple-double with game-highs in points (30), rebounds (12) and assists (11) for the Mavericks. Sidekick Kyrie Irving went for 27 points, while P.J. Washington added 20 and Daniel Gafford 10 to go with eight rebounds.
Heat 109, Knicks 99
Terry Rozier drilled eight 3-pointers and had 34 points to help Miami fend off a fourth-quarter comeback attempt by visiting New York and hang on for a win.
Rozier knocked down a key 3-pointer with 34.7 seconds left, and Haywood Highsmith followed up with a dunk after a Knicks miss to top off a game-ending 17-7 run. Jimmy Butler had 17 points, five rebounds and six assists for the Heat. Bam Adebayo finished with 15 points and nine boards, and Highsmith added 14 points and eight rebounds off the bench.
Donte DiVincenzo paced the Knicks with a team-high 31 points, adding four rebounds, four assists and four steals. Miles McBride had 24 points on 9-of-16 shooting, while Jalen Brunson added 20 points and 10 assists but had five turnovers. Bojan Bogdanovic chipped in 16 points off the bench as the Knicks took their third loss in a row.
Wizards 117, Bucks 113
Corey Kispert scored 27 points and Deni Avdija added 23 to lead Washington past visiting Milwaukee.
Washington also got 16 points and a game-high 13 assists from Jordan Poole. Jared Butler added 17 points and Tristan Vukcevic scored 14.
Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered his 10th triple-double of the season for Milwaukee, finishing with 35 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists. Khris Middleton contributed 24 points and nine rebounds, and Bobby Portis contributed 12 points and 12 boards. Bucks star Damian Lillard missed the game with a right groin injury.
Timberwolves 113, Rockets 106
Naz Reid scored 25 points on 10-for-17 shooting and Minnesota held on for a win over Houston in Minneapolis.
Anthony Edwards added 21 points for Minnesota. With their 52nd victory, the Timberwolves broke a tie with the 2002-03 club starring Kevin Garnett to become the team with the second-most wins in a single season in franchise history. Garnett’s 2003-04 squad holds the franchise record with 58 wins.
Jalen Green scored 26 points to lead Houston. Fred VanVleet scored 22 points and Jabari Smith Jr. finished with 18 for the Rockets, who have lost back-to-back games after winning the previous 11.
Cavaliers 129, Jazz 113
Jarrett Allen had 13 of his 21 points during a 40-point first quarter, Caris LeVert led a balanced attack with 26 points and Cleveland ran off from Utah in Salt Lake City.
Evan Mobley also totaled 21 points and Sam Merrill enjoyed a homecoming with 18 as the Cavaliers overcame the absence of Donovan Mitchell (left knee injury management).
Brice Sensabaugh tied a season high with 22 points and Collin Sexton chipped in 19 to pace the Jazz, who lost their 10th straight.
Kings 109, Clippers 95
Domantas Sabonis extended his post-merger NBA record of consecutive double-doubles with 22 points and 20 rebounds, and a dominant third quarter powered Sacramento past visiting Los Angeles in a matchup crucial to Western Conference playoff positioning.
Sabonis came one assist shy of his 27th triple-double on the season while recording his 10th career 20-point, 20-rebound double-double. The Kings’ dominance of the interior against a Clippers team playing without Kawhi Leonard, who sat out with knee soreness, helped the Kings move into a tie with idle Phoenix for seventh place in the West.
De’Aaron Fox scored 20 points and dished seven assists to help a balanced offensive effort from Sacramento. Russell Westbrook’s 20 points off the bench led Los Angeles. Paul George followed with 18 points.
BASEBALL NEWS
LONGTIME MLB EXECUTIVE LARRY LUCCHINO DIES AT 78
Larry Lucchino, a longtime baseball executive who oversaw three World Series titles with the Boston Red Sox, has died at 78.
Lucchino was the president of the Baltimore Orioles (1988-93) and president and chief executive officer of the San Diego Padres (1995-2001) before serving as president and CEO of the Red Sox from 2002-15.
In addition to the World Series triumphs in Boston in 2004, 2007 and 2013, his legacy includes serving as a driving force behind trend-setting ballparks built in Baltimore (Camden Yards) and San Diego (Petco Park).
“Larry Lucchino was one of the most accomplished executives that our industry has ever had,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement on Tuesday. “He was deeply driven, he understood baseball’s place in our communities, and he had a keen eye for executive talent.
“Larry’s vision for Camden Yards played a vital role in advancing fan-friendly ballparks across the game. He followed up by overseeing the construction of Petco Park, which remains a jewel of the San Diego community. Then Larry teamed with John Henry and Tom Werner to produce the most successful era in Red Sox history, which included historic World Series Championships on the field and a renewed commitment to Fenway Park.
“On behalf of Major League Baseball, I send my condolences to Larry’s family, his Red Sox colleagues and his many friends throughout our National Pastime.”
A Pittsburgh native who earned his bachelor’s degree at Princeton and a law degree at Yale, Lucchino was inducted into the Halls of Fame for the Red Sox (2016) and Padres (2022).
Lucchino played basketball at Princeton and went to the 1965 Final Four. He was working in the front office for the Orioles when they won the World Series in 1983, and was an executive with the then-Washington Redskins when they won Super Bowl XVII.
The Red Sox also released a statement about Lucchino, who was there when Boston won its first World Series since 1918 and ended the so-called “Curse of the Bambino.” Lucchino was also responsible for labeling the rival New York Yankees as “the Evil Empire” during one of his frequent clashes with then-Yankees owner George Steinbrenner.
“The Red Sox & the sports world have lost a giant,” the team posted on X. “Larry was a visionary whose competitive spirit & strong will took sports franchises to new heights, particularly ours. He was a curse-breaker, ballpark-preserver & community champion. Thank you, Larry.”
Following his retirement from the Red Sox in 2015, he worked as chairman and co-owner of Boston’s Triple-A team and oversaw its move from Pawtucket, R.I., to Worcester, Mass., in 2021.
Lucchino was a survivor of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He had surgery in 2019 to remove a cancerous blockage near his kidney.
MLB ROUNDUP: BRYCE HARPER BLASTS 3 HRS (6 RBIS) IN PHILLIES’ WIN
Bryce Harper hit three home runs, including a grand slam, and drove in a career-best six runs to lift the host Philadelphia Phillies to a 9-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday.
It was the second career three-homer game for Harper and his first since 2015. Brandon Marsh added a solo home run and two singles for the Phillies.
Philadelphia starter Spencer Turnbull (1-0) tossed five innings and allowed three hits and one unearned run to go along with seven strikeouts and no walks.
Philadelphia went ahead 1-0 in the first inning when Harper snapped an 0-for-11 skid by launching a solo shot to center field. In the fourth, Harper hit his second home run, this time to right, for a 2-1 advantage. It was also his 1,000th career run. His grand slam in the seventh turned a 4-1 game into an 8-1 blowout.
Dodgers 5, Giants 4
Mookie Betts hit his major-league-leading fifth home run and Los Angeles continued to lean on a consistent offense in a victory over visiting San Francisco.
Enrique Hernandez drove in two runs and Freddie Freeman had three hits for the Dodgers, who have scored at least five runs in all eight games. In a bullpen game, left-hander Ryan Yarbrough (1-0) gave up four runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings, while Evan Phillips recorded the last four outs for his third save.
Jorge Soler hit his first home run as a member of the Giants and Michael Conforto had two hits and an RBI as San Francisco lost for the fourth time in six games to open the season. Giants starter Logan Webb lasted just 3 2/3 innings in his second start. He gave up five runs on seven hits, with two walks and five strikeouts.
Diamondbacks 7, Yankees 0
Zac Gallen pitched six shutout innings and Christian Walker slugged a three-run homer as Arizona handed visiting New York its first loss of the season.
Blaze Alexander went 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI, and Ketel Marte went 2-for-5 with two runs for Arizona. Gallen (2-0) gave up three hits and three walks and struck out six in his second career start against New York. He also blanked the Yankees on three hits over six innings in a win last September. Eugenio Suarez and Gabriel Moreno also had run-scoring singles for Arizona. Walker, Jake McCarthy and Geraldo Perdomo also had two hits apiece as the Diamondbacks racked up 12 overall.
Nestor Cortes (0-1) allowed three runs and eight hits over five innings for New York, which had started 5-0 for the first time since 1992. Cortes struck out two and walked two. New York had three hits and only one runner reached second base — Anthony Volpe in the second inning.
Blue Jays 2, Astros 1
Davis Schneider belted a two-run home run with two outs in the top of the ninth inning as Toronto rallied to stun host Houston.
Schneider launched a 1-1 slider from Astros closer Josh Hader 423 feet and out to left-center field, plating pinch runner Daulton Varsho with his second home run. Varsho ran for Justin Turner, who finished 3-for-3 and worked a two-out walk against Hader (0-2) to initiate the rally.
Astros left-hander Framber Valdez carried a shutout into the eighth, bouncing back from an uneven Opening Day start against the New York Yankees when he issued six walks and failed to escape the fifth. He flexed far superior control against Toronto, retiring the Blue Jays in order twice and getting double-play grounders twice more.
Cubs 12, Rockies 2
Garrett Cooper went 3-for-4 with a three-run home run as Chicago beat Colorado at Wrigley Field.
Chicago starting pitcher Javier Assad (1-0) threw six shutout innings, allowing just four hits and a walk while striking out five batters. Nick Madrigal drove in three runs for the Cubs, who have won three straight games. Seiya Suzuki and Cody Bellinger each hit a two-run shot, and Christopher Morel also homered.
Michael Toglia hit a two-run homer for Colorado.
White Sox 3, Braves 2
Garrett Crochet pitched seven sharp innings and Gavin Sheets, Paul DeJong and Andrew Vaughn drove in runs as host Chicago beat Atlanta for its first victory this season.
Relievers John Brebbia and Michael Kopech preserved the Chicago lead in a tight finish. Kopech navigated Marcell Ozuna’s ninth-inning home run, his second solo shot of the game, as well as a walk and a single to notch a five-out save.
Crochet (1-1) limited a potent Braves lineup, which entered the night averaging nearly nine runs over its first four games. The Chicago left-hander, who shifted from the bullpen during spring training, gave up one run on three hits and one walk. He struck out eight, throwing 63 of his 93 pitches for strikes.
Rays 5, Rangers 2
Starter Zach Eflin was strong in his first win of the season, Isaac Paredes rocked a three-run homer and Tampa wrangled Texas in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Eflin (1-1), the Opening Day starter, made his second start and allowed one run in 6 1/3 innings. The right-hander fanned five, walked one and threw 56 of his 83 pitches for strikes. Paredes provided the big blow in a four-run fifth inning to help the Rays even their mark through six games.
In his season debut, Andrew Heaney (0-1) tossed 4 2/3 innings for the Rangers. The left-hander yielded four hits and three runs (one earned) while striking out seven with no walks.
Angels 3, Marlins 1
Left-hander Tyler Anderson pitched seven scoreless innings, and Aaron Hicks homered and drove in two runs, leading Los Angeles past host Miami.
Anderson held the Marlins to just four hits and two walks. He struck out five batters in his season debut. Hicks went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in the fourth and an RBI single in the sixth. Rookie shortstop Zach Neto — who is a native of Miami — had a good night, going 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored.
Miami, which has started the season 0-6, got a solo homer from Bryan De La Cruz in the ninth. Marlins starter Jesus Luzardo (0-1) allowed four hits, two walks and three runs in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out five.
Royals 4, Orioles 1
Alec Marsh held host Baltimore to two hits and one run across a career-high seven innings as Kansas City picked up their first road victory of the season.
Maikel Garcia knocked in three runs with a double and a triple for the Royals. Marsh struck out five and walked one. Salvador Perez and Nick Loftin both joined Garcia with two hits for Kansas City.
Baltimore starter Cole Irvin (0-1) lasted five innings, giving up four runs on seven hits in his season debut. He walked two and fanned three. Colton Cowser had two of the Orioles’ three hits.
Brewers 3, Twins 2
Christian Yelich homered and Rhys Hoskins scored twice as Milwaukee held on for a home-opener victory over Minnesota for its first 4-0 start in 18 years.
Elvis Peguero (2-0) got the win with two innings of relief. Abner Uribe pitched a scoreless ninth for his third save. Brewers starter Jakob Junis allowed one run on three hits in four innings.
Twins starter Louie Varland (0-1) needed 89 pitches to get through four innings, allowing three runs on six hits. Matt Wallner and Christian Vazquez had sacrifice flies for Minnesota.
Red Sox 5, Athletics 4 (11 innings)
Boston pushed across the game-winning run on a double play in the 11th inning to edge host Oakland on a night both teams squandered prime scoring chances in extra innings.
With Mitch Spence (0-1) on the mound and runners on first and third with no outs, Tyler O’Neill then hit a sharp grounder to Oakland third baseman J.D. Davis, who opted to turn an around-the-horn double play that scored automatic runner Wilyer Abreu for what turned out to be the winning run.
Both teams squandered chances to win in the 10th. The Athletics’ automatic runner, Ryan Noda, reached third on Zack Gelof’s sacrifice bunt, but he was later caught in a rundown after a comebacker by Davis. In the top of the frame, Mason Miller had struck out Abreu and Connor Wong with two runners on.
Cardinals 5, Padres 2
Willson Contreras belted a two-run homer to put St. Louis ahead for good and Miles Mikolas tossed six solid innings as the Cardinals won at San Diego.
San Diego starter Yu Darvish was pitching a strong game and had a 2-1 lead with two outs in the top of the sixth after slipping a called third strike past Paul Goldschmidt. But Contreras drilled a down-and-away splitter 420 feet to deep right-center for his second homer in as many nights.
Mikolas (1-1) scattered seven hits and allowed two runs, walking one and fanning four. Three relievers pitched an inning apiece, with Ryan Helsley working the ninth to earn his first save of the season.
Guardians 5, Mariners 2
Shane Bieber pitched six scoreless innings for the second time in as many starts this season as Cleveland defeated host Seattle.
Bo Naylor hit a two-run homer for the Guardians, who evened the three-game series at one victory apiece.
Bieber (2-0) up six hits to Seattle, didn’t walk a batter and fanned nine. Emmanuel Clase worked the ninth for his second save of the season. Mariners right-hander Luis Castillo (0-2) took the loss. He allowed four runs on 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings, with one walk and seven strikeouts.
NFL NEWS
BROWNS QB DESHAUN WATSON (SHOULDER): ‘IN A GREAT SPOT’
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson said he is making progress as he continues his recovery on his surgically repaired throwing shoulder.
Watson sustained the season-ending injury to his right shoulder during Cleveland’s 33-31 victory in Baltimore on Nov. 12. He underwent surgery the following month.
“The situation is good,” Watson said on his “QB Unplugged” podcast. “We’re in a great spot, right where we need to be. We have plenty of time to ramp up the throwing sessions and things like that, but everything is going pretty smooth.
“As long as I’m feeling well and the doctors and (physical therapists) and everyone are on the same page, we’re in a good spot.”
Watson, 28, completed 61.4 percent of his passes for 1,115 yards with seven touchdowns and four interceptions in six games in 2023.
A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Watson has thrown for 16,756 yards with 118 touchdowns and 45 interceptions in 66 career games with the Houston Texans (2017-20) and Browns.
BROWNS ADD CB JUSTIN HARDEE TO ROSTER
The Browns signed core special teams player and Cleveland native Justin Hardee to a contract on Tuesday.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed for Hardee, who was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2022.
Hardee, 30, recorded five tackles in 11 games last season with the New York Jets.
The cornerback had 78 tackles, one interception and one forced fumble in 100 career games with the New Orleans Saints (2017-20) and Jets (2021-23).
REPORT: RB JK DOBBINS TO VISIT CHIEFS
Free agent running back J.K. Dobbins is scheduled to visit the Kansas City Chiefs on Tuesday, ESPN reported.
Dobbins, who met with the Los Angeles Chargers last week, reportedly has been cleared for football activities after tearing his Achilles in Week 1 of last season.
Injuries have defined Dobbins’ NFL career since he was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Ohio State.
After rushing for 805 yards and nine touchdowns in his rookie season, Dobbins missed the entire 2021 campaign with a torn ACL. He missed another nine games in 2022 but averaged 5.7 yards per carry.
Dobbins, 25, has played just nine out of a possible 51 regular-season games over the past three seasons. He has rushed for 1,347 yards with 12 touchdowns in 24 career games.
Isiah Pacheco led the Chiefs in carries (205), rushing yards (935) and rushing touchdowns (seven) last season.
VIKINGS SUSPEND OC WES PHILLIPS FOR 3 WEEKS
The Minnesota Vikings suspended offensive coordinator Wes Phillips for three weeks following the legal resolution of his December 2023 traffic stop in Minneapolis.
The suspension began on Tuesday and he can return to work on April 23. He will miss the first week of the offseason strength and conditioning program that begins on April 14.
Phillips, 45, was stopped by police on Dec. 8 and charged with misdemeanor driving under the influence.
Police said he showed signs of impairment and he subsequently registered a blood alcohol content of 0.10 percent. The limit in Minnesota is 0.08 percent. He was booked in Hennepin County jail and released a few hours later after posting $300 bond.
On Feb. 15, Phillips pleaded guilty to an amended charge of misdemeanor careless driving and paid $378 in fines and court costs. He also was assigned eight hours of community service.
Phillips is heading into his third season as the Vikings’ offensive coordinator. He is the son of former NFL head coach and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips.
NFL DRAFT PROFILES
JC Latham
Alabama · OT · Junior
Latham is a massive right tackle. He has an enormous power base and taps into it in both the run and pass games. In pass pro, he has average quickness, but plays with good knee bend and a flat back. He can anchor power rushers immediately. He has vise grips for hands; once he gets attached to defenders, the pass rush is over. When caught out of position, he flashes the ability to recover, torque and dump opponents. His awareness versus stunts and blitzers has been inconsistent. He gets surprised too often, leading to penetration and pressures. In the run game, he is a mauler. He latches on, runs his feet and dumps defenders. He is very good on combo blocks. Overall, Latham doesn’t have ideal foot quickness or awareness, but his size and physicality are very tantalizing.
Brian Thomas Jr.
LSU · WR · Junior
Thomas is a big, explosive wideout with incredible production, including an FBS-best 17 touchdown catches this past season. He lines up outside and in the slot. He easily defeats press coverage with his quickness. He is very sudden in his release and can find another gear once the ball is up in the air. He is very loose and fluid as a route runner. He has snap at the top of the route and doesn’t waste steps. He has a very large catch radius because of his frame, leaping ability and ball skills. After the catch, he has some wiggle to make defenders miss and also boasts home run speed. Overall, Thomas is a big-play machine and has the upside to develop into a No. 1 receiver for his drafting team.
Laiatu Latu
UCLA · Edge · Senior
Latu has ideal size, quickness and instincts for the position. As a pass rusher, he can win with his quick get-off or a variety of hand moves. He has an excellent feel for when offensive tackles overset or underset and adjusts accordingly. He doesn’t have elite speed or power, but he wins with technique, bend and savvy. He can corner well at the top of his rush and is an outstanding finisher. Against the run, he’s been inconsistent when it comes to setting the edge. He’s shown the ability to shoot his hands, leverage blockers and hold the point of attack. However, there are other times his pad level is too high and he gets controlled. His effort is outstanding to chase, against both run and pass. Latu did have serious medical issues while at the University of Washington. Overall, Latu is the most skilled pass rusher in this class and should have an immediate impact at the next level.
Byron Murphy II
Texas · DT · Junior
Murphy is a very explosive, nimble and instinctive defensive tackle. He is a dynamic disruptor against the pass game. He explodes out of his stance and can roll his hips on contact, creating instant push. He consistently gets underneath blockers and prevails in the leverage battle. He has quick hands to win with swipe moves, a push/pull maneuver or a violent club. Once he feels a blocker leaning left or right, he has elite change-of-direction quickness. Against the run, he can utilize his quickness to penetrate and create negative plays. He also has incredible balance to take on blocks while going to one knee before uncoiling and making plays. (I haven’t seen anyone else use this technique before, but it’s very effective.) He has plenty of range to make plays laterally. Overall, Murphy might lack ideal size, but he’s a leverage machine who makes an impact on all three downs.
Amarius Mims
Georgia · OT · Junior
Mims is an enormous right tackle prospect with long arms. He has very limited starting experience (eight total starts in three years at Georgia), partially due to injury. While the résumé is light, the skill set is impressive. In pass pro, he plays with a firm, wide base and uses his length to control defenders. He stays square and patient. When he does throw his punch, it jolts defenders, making them take a second to recover. He can sink his weight against power rushers and doesn’t give up ground. He plays with good awareness. In the run game, he can latch, run his feet and finish. He struggles in space on occasion because he’s out of control. To see him at his best, watch the College Football Playoff game against Ohio State in the 2022 season, when he was healthy and dominant. He battled through an injury during the 2023 season. Overall, there is risk because of the limited body of work, but Mims is a unique talent.
J.J. McCarthy
Michigan · QB · Junior
McCarthy is a lean, athletic quarterback with a live/loose arm. He is very consistent because of his ability to always throw from a firm base, with his feet and eyes connected. He is selectively aggressive as a passer. He has the combination of velocity and accuracy to fit balls into tight windows, but he is also very comfortable taking checkdowns and piling up completions. He is very efficient. He shows the touch to take speed off the ball underneath and provide optimal run-after-catch ball location. The only throws that gave him some trouble were over-the-top outside shots, as he let too many of those leak and end up out of bounds. He is a very explosive straight-line runner. Overall, other quarterbacks in this class have more volume in the passing game, but it’s hard to argue with McCarthy’s results. I see some similarities to Alex Smith coming out of college.
Tyler Guyton
Oklahoma · OT · Junior (RS)
Guyton is a tall, long and rangy right tackle. He doesn’t have a ton of starting experience (15 total starts over four years at Oklahoma and TCU), but he is very gifted. In pass pro, he explodes out of his stance and has the range to cover up speed rushers. He is very fluid and smooth in his redirect versus counter rushers. He plays with excellent knee bend. His problems arise versus power rushers, where he can look a little flimsy up top and get tugged/pulled. He has very good awareness for someone with limited reps. In the run game, he moves like a tight end. He can reach and cut off easily, excelling in space. He is exceptional as a puller because of his athleticism and balance on the perimeter. He does a great job staying off the ground. Overall, Guyton is still a work in progress, but he has elite traits and tools.
NHL NEWS
NHL ROUNDUP: ISLANDERS RALLY PAST BLACKHAWKS
Bo Horvat and Simon Holmstrom scored in the third period as the New York Islanders rallied to earn a critical 2-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night in Elmont, N.Y.
The Islanders moved within one point of the Washington Capitals for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Horvat scored a power-play goal 93 seconds into the third to tie the game. The Islanders had failed to convert their previous 15 power plays. Holmstrom snapped the tie with 11:35 remaining in the game after a miscue by Chicago goalie Petr Mrazek. Mrazek made 27 saves, including 24 in the opening two periods.
Jason Dickinson scored in the first for the Blackhawks, whose 4-3 overtime win over the Islanders on Jan. 19 in Chicago led to New York firing coach Lane Lambert and replacing him with Patrick Roy. New York goalie Ilya Sorokin made 18 saves Tuesday to stop a six-game losing streak.
Golden Knights 6, Canucks 3
Jonathan Marchessault had a goal and two assists and Jack Eichel and Anthony Mantha each added a goal and an assist as host Vegas beat Vancouver for a third straight win.
William Karlsson, Noah Hanifin and Brett Howden also scored goals and Ivan Barbashev added two assists for the Golden Knights, who improved their third-place lead in the Pacific Division to five points over Los Angeles. Logan Thompson finished with 27 saves to win his sixth consecutive start.
Quinn Hughes scored two goals and Nils Hoglander also scored for Pacific Division leader Vancouver, which lost for the third time in its last four games. Casey DeSmith made 24 saves for the Canucks, who were playing their first road game since March 7.
Bruins 3, Predators 0
Linus Ullmark made 31 saves for his second shutout of the season, and Boston scored three goals in the final seven minutes of the third period en route to a shutout win over host Nashville.
The game was scoreless until Charlie Coyle scored a short-handed goal with 6:42 left, lifting Boston to its second consecutive win. David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha rounded out Boston’s scoring with a goal and an assist each. Danton Heinen also dished out two assists and Ullmark picked up one assist on Coyle’s goal.
Nashville has now lost three straight since an 18-game points streak that is the longest in the NHL this season. Juuse Saros stopped 29 shots in the Predators’ net.
Penguins 6, Devils 3
Pittsburgh scored five unanswered goals to erase a third-period deficit and beat host New Jersey in Newark and add space between the teams in the playoff race.
Evgeni Malkin scored twice and added an assist and Sidney Crosby added a pair of goals for the Penguins, who avoided being swept in the three-game season series with New Jersey.
With the win, Pittsburgh created a three-point cushion over the Devils in the Eastern Conference wild-card race. The Penguins still sit three points behind Washington for that second wild-card spot.
Wild 3, Senators 2
Vinni Lettieri scored the go-ahead goal with 6:56 remaining in the third period, lifting Minnesota past Ottawa in Saint Paul, Minn.
Fellow fourth-liner Mason Shaw scored his first goal since sustaining his fourth career ACL injury last season, and Matt Boldy also tallied. Marc-Andre Fleury made 30 saves for the Wild, who improved to 8-1-4 in their last 13 games.
Ottawa’s Drake Batherson and defenseman Jakob Chychrun each scored and set up the other’s power-play goal for the Senators, who saw their five-game winning streak come to a halt.
Sabres 6, Capitals 2
JJ Peterka had two goals and an assist, and Buffalo beat visiting Washington.
Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch and Rasmus Dahlin each had a goal and two assists for the Sabres, who are five points behind the Capitals and Detroit Red Wings for the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 23 saves in the win.
Martin Fehervary and Dylan Strome scored for the Capitals, who have lost three straight (0-2-1). Charlie Lindgren stopped 25 of 31 shots before being lifted in the third period.
Canadiens 5, Panthers 3
Nick Suzuki scored two goals and host Montreal ended a seven-game losing streak against Florida.
Joel Armia, Cole Caufield and Jake Evans also scored and Sam Montembeault made 37 saves for the Canadiens, who have won four of five. Anton Lundell had a goal and an assist and Anthony Stolarz made 34 saves for Florida, which has lost four of five and eight of 10 (2-7-1).
The Panthers played without two of their top forwards, Carter Verhaeghe (upper-body injury) and Matthew Tkachuk (illness), and defenseman Aaron Ekblad sustained an undisclosed injury late in the first period and did not return.
Ducks 5, Flames 3
Alex Killorn scored twice and Troy Terry scored once in a three-point performance to lead visiting Anaheim past Calgary to end a five-game losing streak.
Mason McTavish and Cam Fowler also scored, while Olen Zellweger collected a career-best three assists as the Ducks won for only the second time in 14 outings. Goaltender Lukas Dostal made 21 saves in the finale of a five-game road trip.
Andrei Kuzmenko scored twice and Yegor Sharangovich added a single goal for the Flames. Goalie Jacob Markstrom stopped 24 shots, while Mackenzie Weegar, Martin Pospisil and Nazem Kadri each collected two assists.
GOLF NEWS
RORY MCILROY: SPLIT BETWEEN PGA, LIV ‘NOT SUSTAINABLE’
The rift between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf is not sustainable and will not benefit anyone in the long term, Rory McIlroy told Golf Magazine on Tuesday.
“There needs to be a correction. I think what’s happening is not sustainable right now, so something needs to happen to try to bring it all back together so we can all move forward so we don’t have this division that’s sort of ongoing,” McIlroy said.
“They keep going down those different paths and I just don’t see how that benefits anyone in the long run. … I think (it’s) a shame for the overall game of golf.”
A potential merger between the two tours reportedly is ongoing, although the four-time major winner does not see that coming to fruition any time soon.
“It’s certainly divided and I think what the framework and June 6 tried to do was unify the game which ultimately needs to happen,” McIlroy said.
“We’re not there yet. We’re probably still quite a long ways from it, but I would hope that in the future that we can get there, unify the game and get the best players back together again.”
It is unclear when or whether the tour and the PIF will finalize their “framework agreement” from last June after a self-imposed Dec. 31 deadline came and went. In the meantime, LIV Golf has attracted the likes of Spaniard Jon Rahm.
GOLF GLANCE: FINAL MASTERS SPOT UP FOR GRABS IN SAN ANTONIO
PGA TOUR
LAST TOURNAMENT: Texas Children’s Houston Open (Stephan Jaeger)
THIS WEEK: Valero Texas Open, San Antonio, April 4-7
Course: TPC San Antonio, Oaks Course (Par 72, 7,438 yards)
Purse: $9.2M (Winner: $1.656M)
Defending Champion: Corey Conners
FedEx Cup Leader: Scottie Scheffler
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Thursday-Friday, 4-7 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); Saturday, 1-3:30 p.m. (GC), 3:30-6 p.m. (NBC); Sunday, 1-2:30 p.m. (GC), 2:30-6 p.m. (NBC)
Streaming (ESPN+): Thursday-Friday, 8:15 a.m.-7 p.m. ET; Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
X: @ValeroTXOpen
NOTES: Thirty players in the field are qualified for the Masters, including four of the top-10 players in the Official World Golf Ranking (No. 2 Rory McIlroy, No. 8 Brian Harman, No. 9 Ludvig Aberg, No. 10 Max Homa). … The winner this week will be the final qualifier if not already eligible (80.8 percent of the field). It has happened twice in the past four Valero Texas Opens. … The is the final event that counts towards the Aon Swing 5 for the next signature event at the RBC Heritage. Brice Garnett (not in the field) and Erik Barnes currently top the list, and fewer than 10 FedEx Cup points separate Nos. 5-7. … Charley Hoffman will make his 500th career start on the PGA Tour. He has seven top-10s at the event and leads all players with $4.649 million in career earnings at the tournament. … Four of the past six event winners also earned their first tour titles. … Tommy Armour III holds the tournament scoring record of 254 set in 2003.
BEST BETS: McIlroy (+1000 at BetMGM) has not recorded a top-10 through his first five starts on tour in 2024, his longest such stretch to begin a season since his first year as a member in 2010. He finished runner-up at TPC San Antonio in 2013, but missed the cut two years ago. … Aberg (+1200) is well rested after a solo eighth at the Players and enters the week a career-best ninth in the world rankings. … Hideki Matsuyama (+1800) won at the Genesis in February and finished T15 in San Antonio last year. … Jordan Spieth (+2000) won the event in 2021 but has missed his past two cuts entering this week. … Conners (+2200) is a two-time event winner (2019, 2023) and is seeking to become the first player since World War II to win his first three tour events at the same tournament.
NEXT TOURNAMENT: Masters Tournament, Augusta, Ga., April 11-14
LPGA Tour
LAST TOURNAMENT: Ford Championship presented by KCC (Nelly Korda)
THIS WEEK: T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards, Las Vegas, April 3-7
Course: Shadow Creek Golf Course, Las Vegas (Par 72, 6,804 yards)
Purse: $2 million (Winner: $300,000)
Defending Champion: Pajaree Anannarukarn
Race to the CME Globe leader: Korda
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV/Streaming: Wednesday, 6-9 p.m. ET (Golf Channel/Peacock); Thursday, 6-7 p.m. (Peacock), 7-9 p.m. (GC/Peacock); Friday, 5-7 p.m. (Peacock), 7-8 p.m. (GC/Peacock); Saturday-Sunday, 6-9 p.m. (GC/Peacock)
X: @LPGAMatchPlay
FORMAT: Wednesday and Thursday will comprise stroke play with a cut to the top 65 players and ties after 36 holes. The field will be cut to the top eight following stroke play on Friday. Saturday morning will begin the single-elimination match-play bracket, with the semifinals taking place Saturday afternoon and the championship match contested on Sunday.
NOTES: Korda will be seeking her fourth consecutive victory on tour. … From 2021-23, the event was comprised of 64 players divided into groups of four. Following three days of round-robin play, competition moved to a 16-player single-elimination bracket. … Shadow Creek played host to the first version of “The Match” between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in 2018. It also hosted the CJ Cup in 2020.
NEXT TOURNAMENT: The Chevron Championship, The Woodlands, Texas, April 18-21
PGA Tour Champions
LAST TOURNAMENT: The Galleri Classic (Retief Goosen)
THIS WEEK: OFF.
Charles Schwab Cup leader: Steven Alker
NEXT TOURNAMENT: Invited Celebrity Classic, Irving, Texas, April 19-21
LIV Golf League
LAST TOURNAMENT: Hong Kong (Individual: Abraham Ancer; Team: Crushers GC)
THIS WEEK: Miami, April 5-7
Course: Trump National Doral (Par 72, 7,701 Yards)
Purse: Individual: $20M (Winner: $4M); Team: $5M (Winner: $3M)
Defending Champion: Individual, None; Team, Crushers GC
2024 Leaders: Players, Joaquin Niemann; Team, Crushers GC
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV/Streaming: Friday-Saturday, 1:15 p.m. ET (The CW app, Caffeine, LIV Golf Plus); Sunday, 1:05 p.m. (The CW, LIV Golf Plus)
X: @LIVGolf_League
NOTES: This is the fifth of 14 events on the 2024 schedule. … The 54-player shotgun start features 13 teams of four players along with two wild cards. Each team’s top 3 scores count for the first two rounds, with all four scores counting for the final round. … Trump National Doral played host to the first two LIV Golf Team Championship events. … Jon Rahm is the only player to finish within the top-10 in each of the first four tournaments this year. He will be competing at Trump National Doral for the first time. Rahm is also one of 13 LIV players who will compete at the Masters next week.
NEXT TOURNAMENT: Adelaide, Australia, April 26-28
INDIANA SPORTS RELEASES/NEWS
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS NEWS
(IHSAA RELEASE)
Classifications announced for 2024-25, 2025-26
The Indiana High School Athletic Association announced today the new classifications for IHSAA
member schools in the sports of boys and girls basketball, football, boys and girls soccer, and girls
volleyball for the next two school years.
The enrollment figures – the total of boys and girls in grades 9‐12 – were submitted by the schools to
the Indiana Department of Education last fall and are used to determine the classifications in all
team sports.
The four-class sports of baseball, basketball, softball, and volleyball are being classified using a
new 20-25-25-30 ratio that was approved by the IHSAA Executive Committee last June. That plan
places the largest 20% of schools in Class 4A, the next 25% in Class 3A, the next 25% in 2A and the
smallest 30% in Class 1A. Additionally, classifying the four-class sports will be based on the entire
membership total and not only those schools participating in each sport effectively keeping
sectional alignments similar across each sport.
Football (six classes) and soccer (three classes) are not affected and will continue as they have in
previous years.
Tournament Success Factor points have been totaled over the last two years and specific teams
placed in their appropriate class in each sport.
Sectional groupings for each sport (except for softball and baseball) will be announced later this
spring following approval of the IHSAA Executive Committee. Softball and baseball sectional
groupings will be released in August following the committee’s first meeting of the new school
year.
One school that joined the IHSAA membership in the last four years would become eligible for state
tournament participation – pending Executive Committee approval – during the two-year period.
KIPP Indy Legacy would be eligible beginning in 2024-25.
https://www.ihsaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2024-25%202025-26%20Enrollments.pdf
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS NEWS
REPORTS: COLTS RE-SIGN S JULIAN BLACKMON TO 1-YEAR DEAL
Safety Julian Blackmon is returning to the Indianapolis Colts on a one-year deal, ESPN and NFL Network reported Tuesday.
Blackmon’s new contract is worth up to $7.7 million, with $3.2 million guaranteed, per NFL Network’s report.
Blackmon was a free agent after his rookie contract expired. In four years with the Colts, he has compiled 214 tackles, seven interceptions, 17 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and one sack.
In 2023, Blackmon set career highs in tackles (88), picks (four), pass breakups (eight) and starts (15). Per ESPN, Blackmon visited the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers but could not find a multi-year offer on the open market.
The Colts have re-signed or extended a number of players on defense in particular this offseason, with Blackmon joining linebacker Zaire Franklin, cornerback Kenny Moore II and defensive linemen Tyquan Lewis and Grover Stewart.
INDIANA PACERS BASKETBALL
T.J. MCCONNELL NAMED FINALIST FOR 2023-24 TWYMAN-STOKES TEAMMATE OF THE YEAR AWARD
Pacers guard T.J. McConnell has been named one of 12 finalists for the 2023-24 Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award.
The annual honor recognizes the player deemed the best teammate based on selfless play, on- and off-court leadership as a mentor and role model to other NBA players, and commitment and dedication to team.
Current NBA players will select the winner from the 12 finalists (six finalists from each NBA conference). The finalists include Harrison Barnes (Sacramento), Mikal Bridges (Brooklyn), Jalen Brunson (New York), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Denver), Mike Conley (Minnesota), Markelle Fultz (Orlando), Al Horford (Boston), T.J. McConnell (Indiana), Larry Nance Jr. (New Orleans), Georges Niang (Cleveland), Dwight Powell (Dallas), and Jalen Williams (Oklahoma City).
The Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award has been presented annually since the 2012-13 season. Jrue Holiday won the award in 2022-23 and is a three-time recipient (also winning in 2021-22 and 2019-20). Other winners include Chauncey Billups (2012-13), Shane Battier (2013-14), Tim Duncan (2014-15), Vince Carter (2015-16), Dirk Nowitzki (2016-17), Jamal Crawford (2017-18), Conley (2018-19), and Damian Lillard (2020-21).
GAME PREVIEW: PACERS AT NETS
Up next on the Indiana Pacers’ late-season slate is a second straight date with the Brooklyn Nets.
Indiana (43-33) will look to replicate a dominant 133-111 Monday night win over Brooklyn (29-47) when they wrap up their regular season series against the Nets on Wednesday at Barclays Center.
As of Monday night, with just six games left on their regular season schedule, the Pacers led the Miami Heat by one game for sixth place in the Eastern Conference. The top six teams in the East will automatically advance to the playoffs, while seven through 10 must first go through the Play-In Tournament.
Due to the Chicago Bulls’ loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Monday, the worst Indiana can finish is eighth in the East.
In Monday’s matchup against Brooklyn, Indiana trailed for just 2 minutes and 10 seconds total. The Pacers led by double digits after the first quarter, 28 points at halftime, and as many as 36 points in the third quarter in the blowout.
The Pacers dished out 35 assists in the win and had 13 players recorded points, including six scoring in double figures. Brooklyn has ranked a top-10 rebounding team throughout the season, but the Pacers also won that margin 47-43.
Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton set the tone early for the Blue & Gold, scoring 14 points in the first quarter en route to his team-high 27 points and 13 assists. Haliburton had no turnovers in the game and has now recorded at least eight games with a minimum of 10 assists and no turnovers – the most of any player in the NBA.
Following the win, Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said his team was in for a battle in the next outing. The Nets are in a must-win situation if they’re going to earn a Play-In berth, and at times there were fireworks on the court on Monday in Indianapolis.
Both teams could show different lineups on Wednesday due to injuries.
In Monday’s game, Pacers starting center Myles Turner dislocated his right index finger in the second quarter and didn’t return to the game after shooting a pair of free throws with his left hand. Carlisle said on Monday that Turner’s X-ray returned negative, but his status was unknown for the next game.
On the other side of the court, the Nets could have two impact players on their team back on Wednesday, as Dennis Smith Jr. (right hip) and Cameron Johnson (left big toe sprain injury maintenance) are questionable. Smith Jr. is playing 18.9 minutes per game this season and averaging 5.5 points, 3.6 assists and 2.9 rebounds, while Johnson is putting up 13.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists across 27 minutes on a nightly basis.
Brooklyn will have more rest coming into the next contest, as they played on the second leg of a back-to-back on Monday.
The Nets enter the game having lost two straight while Indiana has won three in a row.
After the quick trip to the Empire State, the Pacers will finish their week by hosting the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday and the Heat on Sunday — a matchup that has critical postseason implications.
Projected Starters
Pacers: G – Tyrese Haliburton, G – Andrew Nembhard, F – Aaron Nesmith, F – Pascal Siakam, C – Myles Turner
Nets: G – Dennis Schroder, G – Cam Thomas, F – Dorian Finney-Smith, F – Mikal Bridges, C – Nic Claxton
Injury Report
Pacers: Myles Turner – TBA (dislocated right index finger), Bennedict Mathurin – out (right shoulder labral tear)
Nets: Cameron Johnson – questionable (left big toe sprain injury maintenance), Dennis Smith Jr. – questionable (sore right hip), Keita Bates-Diop – out (right tibia stress fracture), Ben Simmons – out (left lower back nerve impingement), Dariq Whitehead – out (left shin stress reaction)
Last Meeting
April 1, 2024: The Pacers led by 28 points at halftime and never relinquished their lead in a 133-111 win over the Nets at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
In the first half, the Pacers led 75-47 by shooting 57.7 percent from the field and holding the visitors to 38.3 percent. Indiana led 108-77 after three quarters, and the starters never re-entered the game in the final frame.
Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton scored 21 of his team-high 27 points in the first half, along with 13 assists, and Jalen Smith scored 17 points and 10 rebounds off the bench for the Blue & Gold.
Cam Thomas topped the Nets with 22 points, and Trendon Watford supplied 21 points for the visitors.
Indiana won the rebounding battle 47-42 and outscored the Nets 70-52 in the paint.
Noteworthy
Tyrese Haliburton has 695 assists on the season, good for second place in the franchise’s single-season record book. Mark Jackson holds the franchise record with 713 assists in 1997-98.
The Pacers have already won their series over Brooklyn 2-0, but haven’t posted a clean sweep over the Nets since the 2017-2018 season.
The Pacers own a 112-82 overall record against the Nets.
Backup point guard T.J. McConnell has scored at least 10 points in 10 straight games for the Pacers, which his the longest double-digit scoring stretch of his career.
Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)
TV: Bally Sports Indiana – Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan – Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (studio host)
Tickets
The Pacers return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to host Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday, April 5 at 7:00 PM ET.
INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS BASEBALL
MALCOM NUÑEZ MASHES SECOND HOMER AS INDIANS DROP VICTORY FIELD OPENER
INDIANAPOLIS – Malcom Nuñez launched the first home run at Victory Field in 2024 and Nick Gonzales extended his hitting streak to four games as the Indianapolis Indians were defeated by the Memphis Redbirds in their home opener on Tuesday night, 7-2.
Memphis (3-1) got on the board in the top of the first inning against Cam Alldred (L, 0-1) and never trailed, besting Indianapolis as the home team put up two runs on four hits. The Indians’ first hit came via a Nick Gonzales single in the third, extending his hitting streak to all four games of the 2024 season.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Nuñez launched a solo homer against Redbirds starter Sem Robberse (W, 1-0), his second in consecutive games after launching a solo shot on Sunday in Louisville. Half of Nuñez’s hits through four games this season have left the yard.
The Redbirds tacked on insurance runs with one in the eighth and four in the ninth, the latter coming courtesy of a three-run home run by Luken Baker. Baker led Memphis with three hits, two for extra-bases after roping a double in the first inning.
Indianapolis plated its final run in the bottom of the ninth following an infield single and three consecutive walks.
The Indians and Redbirds continue their series on Wednesday night at 6:35 PM ET. Indianapolis’ Opening Day starter, LHP Michael Plassmeyer (0-0, 2.25), will make his second start of the season after tossing 4.0 one-run innings with six strikeouts on Friday. RHP Victor Santos (0-0, -.–) will make his first start for Memphis.
INDY FUEL HOCKEY
FUEL HOST WHEELING IN IMPORTANT DIVISIONAL MATCHUP
GAME DAY TIMING:
6:00 P.M.: Doors open
7:00 P.M.: Puck drop
WEDNESDAY NIGHT HOCKEY:
Need a good mid-week pick-me-up? Come out and watch the Fuel take on the Wheeling Nailers on Wednesday, April 3!
Stick around after the game for post-game autographs with select players in the lobby!
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.
You can view the entire Game Day Guide with everything you’ll need to know by clicking HERE.
ABOUT THE HOCKEY:
INDIANAPOLIS- The Fuel host the Wheeling Nailers on Wednesday night for the final weeknight matchup of the regular season. Indy has a five point lead on Wheeling in the standings but with five games left for both teams, six games for Fort Wayne and seven games for Kalamazoo, the Central division standings are still as tight as ever.
LAST TIME OUT
The last time these two teams met was Tuesday, March 19 when the Fuel visited Wheeling for their Education Day game and defeated the Nailers, 7-2. Cam Hausinger had three points with a goal and two assists, while four other players tallied two-point games as well.
LUCKY LEMOS
Bryan Lemos has found success against Wheeling this season. In nine games against them, Lemos has eleven points which leads the Fuel against the Nailers. Overall, he is fourth in scoring for the Fuel with forty points in 59 games.
INDIANA BASEBALL
CERNY’S MONSTER DAY SPARKS HOOSIER COMEBACK
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – In the return game between the two teams, Indiana and Indiana State played a nearly identical contest as the one two weeks ago in Terre Haute. This time it was IU (16-14, 1-2 B1G) erasing a six-run deficit, outscoring the visitors 16-1 over the final five innings enroute to a 16-7 win on Tuesday (April 2) night at Bart Kaufman Field.
Sophomore shortstop Tyler Cerny hit a game-tying grand slam in the fourth inning as part of a four-hit day, his second four-hit contest of the season. After Indiana State retook the lead in the sixth, junior third baseman Josh Pyne mashed a two-run long ball over the center field to hand the Hoosiers a lead they would never relinquish.
IU tallied 14 hits in the contest but took advantage of nine walks and a pair of errors from the visitors to put 16 runs on the board, the most in a midweek game this season. The Sycamores, who are ranked as high as No. 17 in the major polls, hand IU its third ranked victory of the year.
Redshirt junior catcher Jake Stadler was inserted into the cleanup hole to replace the injured Brock Tibbitts, who left without a plate appearance. The Greenfield, Ind. turned the unfortunate event into a two-hit, two- run day while playing outstanding defense behind the dish.
Freshman second baseman Jasen Oliver continued his torrid run of form at the plate, tallying a pair of base hits to extend his team-best 12-game hitting streak. He’s the seventh different IU freshman since 2010, and first since Devin Taylor did so last year, with a hitting streak of 12 games or better during his debut season.
The IU bullpen conceded just one run over the final five innings, holding an outstanding offensive lineup to just nine hits. Sophomore Ethan Phillips (W, 4-0) picked up his team high fourth win of the season while sophomore Brayden Risedorph and redshirt freshman Jacob Vogel threw the final three innings, all scoreless.
IU takes this boost of energy into College Park on Friday as it prepares to resume Big Ten play with a three-game set against defending Big Ten Champions Maryland. First pitch Friday is slated for 6:00 PM on BTN+.
Scoring Recap
Top First
Luis Hernandez, who hit a home run in the first meeting between the teams, launched a two-run home run to open the scoring on Tuesday.
Indiana State 2, Indiana 0
Top Second
Parker Stinson hit a fly ball to left field that got caught in the wind. Devin Taylor had to make a diving play but he couldn’t secure the catch as the ball fell for a one-run double.
Indiana State 3, Indiana 0
Top Fourth
Stinson continued his hot streak against the Hoosiers, mashing a three-run home run over the wall in right-center field.
Indiana State 6, Indiana 0
Bottom Fourth
IU responded with six runs in the fourth. Joey Brenczewski and Carter Mathison each walked with the bases loaded to score two runs. Tyler Cerny came up with the bases loaded and launched a game-tying grand slam off the scoreboard.
Indiana 6, Indiana State 6
Top Sixth
Indiana State got one back in the sixth. After intentionally walking Stinson, Mike Sears singled through the left side. Dominic Listi scored from second. Devin Taylor’s throw to the plate was on time but well off-line to give the Sycamores the lead.
Indiana State 7, Indiana 6
Bottom Sixth
It was another quick response from the Hoosiers in the bottom of the frame. Josh Pyne, in major need of a big hit, launched a two-run long ball over the wall in center field to hand IU the lead. The Hoosiers scored four more runs without a hit to end the inning. Mathison scored on a wild pitch. Nick Mitchell and Brenczewski walked with the bases loaded. Taylor also scored on a throwing error from third base.
Indiana 11, Indiana State 7
Bottom Seventh
Insurance came for the home team in the seventh inning. Mathison hit a massive solo home run to dead center. Jake Stadler laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Cerny to third but no one was covering home, allowing the sophomore to come and score. Jasen Oliver laced a single through the right side to add a 15th run.
Indiana 15, Indiana State 7
Bottom Eighth
Taylor got his hit in the eighth inning, singling down the right field line to score Cerny from first. Taylor was held at first, because of the team’s massive lead, despite having a stand-up double.
Indiana 16, Indiana State 7
Top Hoosier Performers
#8 Cerny, Tyler
4-6, 4 R, 4 RBI, 1 HR
#3 Mathison, Carter
2-4, 3 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB
Notes to Know
• Tyler Cerny recorded his second four-hit day of the season. It’s the third such occasion of his young career. IU has had a four-hit performance in the lineup in three of its past six games (Oliver, Wiggins).
• Carter Mathison hit the 36th home run of his career at IU. He now sits in a tie for 10th all-time in program history with Bill Mueller (1982-85). Among players in program history in their first three years, he is fourth in home runs. Next on the all-time program list is a three-way tie at 37 between Matt Lloyd, Logan Sowers and Mickey Morandini.
• Jasen Oliver recorded a hit in his 12th-straight game, extending his team best streak. He is one of seven freshmen since 2010 at IU to have a streak of 12-hits-or-better in their debut season. Sam Travis (2012) has the longest freshman hitting streak in the past 14 years (17-straight games).
• Brock Tibbitts made his 149th-straight start on Tuesday night. He was removed with injury in the top of second, putting his chance at 150 in jeopardy on Friday at Maryland. Regardless, he has the third-longest streak of starts without missing a game since 2008.
• This was IU’s third top-25 RPI win of the season. Despite the loss, Indiana State remains unchanged at No. 15. IU also has wins over Dallas Baptist (19) and Coastal Carolina (22). Fellow opponents Alabama (16), Duke (17) and Vanderbilt (19) are also in the top-20.
Up Next
Big Ten play resumes this weekend in College Park. IU will meet Maryland in the first road series of conference play. All games will be streamed on BTN+ or can be heard on the Indiana Sports Radio Network via IUHoosiers.com/Audio.
INDIANA MEN’S GOLF
PIESEN WINS DON BENBOW BUTLER SPRING INVITATIONAL
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana men’s golf program sent a group of individuals to compete in the weather-shortened Don Benbow Butler Spring Invitational hosted by Butler on April 1 at the Highland Golf and Country Club.
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Don Benbow Butler Spring Invitational • Indianapolis
Highland Golf and Country Club
Par 70 • 6,551 yards
Live Scoring via GolfGenius (ID: BENBOW24)
Top Indiana Player: Nick Piesen – 133 (68-65; -7)
CHIP-INS
• Freshman Nick Piesen earned his second-career collegiate victory after shooting a career-low 133 (68-65; -7). He strung together 12 total birdies during the 36 holes of golf on Monday with six coming in each round.
• Piesen also claimed medalist honors at the Cardinal Invitational on XX with a score of 134 (68-66; -6). The Strongsville, Ohio, native has placed top-20 in each of the three individual tournaments he has played this season for the Hoosiers.
• Junior Kieran Hogarth tied for 50th with a 36-hole score of 145 (76-69; +5). He converted five birdie attempts.
• Freshman Neri Checcucci shot a 146 (75-71; +6) with a birdie in each round.
• Fifth-year senior Eric Berggren played a scorecard of 147 (73-74; +7) with five total birdies.
HOOSIERS IN THE STANDINGS
1. Nick Piesen – 133 (68-65; -7)
t-50. Kieran Hogarth – 145 (76-69; +5)
t-61. Neri Checcucci – 146 (75-71; +6)
t-71. Eric Berggren – 147 (73-74; +7)
UP NEXT
Team competition will resume for Indiana with the Hoosier Collegiate from April 6-7 at The Pfau Course.
NOTRE DAME WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
HIDALGO NAMED 1 OF 5 WOODEN AWARD FINALISTS
While her freshman season has ended, the award season has not for Hannah Hidalgo.
On Tuesday, the star rookie was named a Wooden Award All-American and a finalist for the honor, which is given to the nation’s best women’s basketball player.
Hidalgo concluded the season averaging 22.6 points and 4.6 steals per game, both of which are single-season program records. She scored 790 points, which ranks third in program history, and notched 160 total steals, shattering the previous program record. She also led the nation in steals and ranked sixth in scoring.
As one of five finalists for the Wooden Award, Hidalgo has been invited to Los Angeles next week for the Wooden Award Ceremony.
BUTLER WOMEN’S LAX
BUTLERWLACROSSE IS SET TO TAKE ON MARQUETTE ON WEDNESDAY
The Butler women’s lacrosse program is back in action to take on BIG EAST member Marquette in Milwaukee, Wis. on Wednesday, April 3. The first draw is set for 1 p.m. ET (12 p.m. CT).
GameDay
Butler vs. Marquette
1PM ET (12PM CT)
Wednesday, April 3
Milwaukee, Wis.
Bulldog Bits:
Maggie Zentgraf in her second season as head coach for the Bulldogs. Zentgraf is a former member of the Notre Dame women’s lacrosse team. Zentgraf previously coached at Division III Lake Forest, going 11-4 in the program’s first-ever season.
The Bulldogs fall to 2-8 for the 2024 season and are now 1-1 in BIG EAST play after their 16-11 loss to Villanova on Saturday.
Senior midfielder Leah Rubino set a new program record for most goals scored all-time with 82. Rubino passed Campbell Connors’ 77 career goals. She scored five goals in Saturday’s loss. In addition, Rubino currently leads the program with 31 goals for the 2024 season.
Sophomore attack Delaney Hudson currently leads the program in assists, with 12. Hudson ranks third in conference with assists per game (1.33), followed by Luci Selander, whom ranks fourth in the conference with an average of 1.25.
Goalie Caroline Smith has accounted for 111 saves during the 2024 season and currently ranks first overall in the conference for saves and saves per game.
Scouting Marquette:
The Marquette women’s lacrosse team is led by Meredith Black. She has led the program for 11 seasons now. She is also a former member of the Notre Dame women’s lacrosse team.
The Golden Eagles currently obtain a 4-8 record overall and 0-1 BIG EAST conference record for the 2024 season.
Junior attack Meg Bireley currently leads the program with 48 goals and 52 points. Bireley is ranked first in the BIG EAST for goals, goals per game, points, and points per game.
Attacker Hannah Greving leads the team with 13 assists. Greving has helped account for 20 points thus far into the 2024 season.
Up Next
The Butler women’s lacrosse program will be back home to take on Georgetown at Varsity Field in Indianapolis, Ind. The first draw is set for 12 p.m.
IUPUI MEN’S GOLF
RAIN WASHES OUT FINAL ROUNDS OF MEN’S AND WOMEN’S GOLF TOURNAMENTS
INDIANAPOLIS – With rain saturating much of the Midwest overnight on Monday (Apr. 1), the final rounds of the men’s and women’s golf tournaments have been canceled. With the cancellations, the men finish sixth overall at the Don Benbow Butler Spring Invitational while the women’s team closes tied for ninth at the EKU Colonel Classic.
Individually, senior Madeleine Pape and freshman Brady Schier both collected top-10 finishes.
The men’s team will return to action later this week when they compete in the Hoosier Collegiate while the women’s team will host the Lady Jaguar Invitational at Plum Creek in Carmel in two weeks.
BALL STATE BASEBALL
CARDINALS START STRONG IN MIDWEEK WIN OVER BELLARMINE
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State baseball team beat Bellarmine 7-2 in a rain-shortened midweek contest on Tuesday morning at Ball Diamond.
The Cardinals (18-12) scored the first seven runs of the game before it was called in the sixth inning after about a half hour weather delay. The Knights (4-24) were originally scheduled to host the meeting in Louisville at 3 p.m., but projected inclement weather moved the game to Muncie.
Casey Turturici drove a two-run double to left center that scored Hunter Dobbins and Matthew Kamins and made the score 2-0 in Ball State’s favor after the second inning. Kamins scored Blake Bevis on a single to center in the third before Nick Husovsky plated two on an RBI base hit up the middle to put the Cardinals ahead 5-0 after three innings.
Clay Jacobs scored Decker Scheffler on a sac bunt in the fourth inning and Bevis crossed home plate on a wild pitch to provide the final scoring of the day for Ball State. Zach Kwasny (4-1) allowed one run on two hits in 3.0 innings of relief to claim the win.
Scheffler had two hits and Bevis and Kamins scored twice each in the midweek win for the Cardinals, who improved 7-1 in midweek games on the year.
Bellarmine starter Chase Carver (0-3) gave up two runs in 2.0 innings pitched to suffer the loss.
The Cardinals are scheduled to play a three-game series at Miami (OH) starting at 3 p.m. on Friday.
BALL STATE WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS
GYMNASTICS OPENS NCAA REGIONAL ACTION WEDNESDAY VS. ILLINOIS
» THIS WEEK IN BALL STATE GYMNASTICS: The Ball State gymnastics team returns to the NCAA Regionals for the second straight season, and third time in program history, Wednesday when it battles Illinois at 2 p.m. ET in the first round of the NCAA Ann Arbor Regional hosted by Michigan at the Crisler Center.
» BALL STATE IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS:
– Ball State earned its team berth in the NCAA Ann Arbor Regional by ranking 34th nationally with an NQS of 196.600.
– BSU’s program record score of 198.025 at the Tennessee Collegiate Classic (Jan. 19) is the 33rd-highest team score in the nation … The Cardinals were the first program in the country to break the 198 mark this season, while No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 2 LSU, No. 3 Cal, No. 4 Florida, No. 5 Utah, No. 7 Kentucky, No. 8 Alabama, No. 9 UCLA, No. 10 Michigan State and No. 12 Arkansas are the only programs to score higher than Ball State since.
– The Cardinals have proven to be one of the nation’s top bars teams this season, ranking 24th nationally with an NQS of 49.255 … In fact, Ball State’s program record score of 49.775 on bars at the Tennessee Collegiate Classic (Jan. 19) ties as the seventh-best team score on any apparatus in the nation this season.
– So far this season, there have been a total of 80 perfect 10.0s scored nationally … Three of them have come from Ball State gymnasts, starting with senior Suki Pfister on vault at the Tennessee Collegiate Classic (Jan. 19) … Sophomore Zoe Middleton and graduate student Megan Teter added perfect 10.0s on bars later in the meet, the first two perfect 10.0s in program history in the event.
– BSU gymnasts also boasts three of the nation’s 197 scores of 9.975 this season including Victoria Henry’s vault at the Ohio State Tri-Meet (Jan. 14), Ashley Szymanski’s bars routine in the home opener versus Bowling Green (Jan. 22) and Suki Pfister’s vault at George Washington (Feb. 23).
» INDIVIDUAL QUALIFIERS: If Ball State were not to advance out of the NCAA Ann Arbor Regional First Round on Wednesday, five individuals earned spots to compete Thursday … Zoe Middleton qualified in the all-around, while Suki Pfister (vault & floor), Victoria Henry (vault), Megan Teter (bars) and Ashley Szymanski (bars) also earned individual berths.
» ANOTHER PFISTER FIRST: Senior Suki Pfister continued to make history for the Ball State Gymnastics program, becoming the first gymnast in program history to earn WCGA First Team All-America honors … Pfister earns the honor after finishing the regular season tied for fifth in the nation with a vault NQS of 9.935 … The first WCGA All-American in program history after earning second team honors last season, Pfister has had 17 of her 44 collegiate vault performances score 9.900-or-higher … The total includes one 10.0, one 9.975, four 9.950s, three 9.925s and eight 9.900s.
» ALL-MAC HONORS: A program record six Ball State gymnasts earned All-Mid-American Conference honors for the 2024 season … Representing the Cardinals on the First Team All-MAC squad were senior Suki Pfister on vault and freshman Ashley Szymanski on bars … Earning Second Team All-MAC honors were senior Victoria Henry on vault, senior Hannah Ruthberg on beam, sophomore Zoe Middleton on floor and graduate student Megan Teter in the all-around.
» A THIRD FOR PFISTER X2: Suki Pfister earned First Team All-MAC honors on vault for the third straight season and also picked up her third consecutive MAC Specialist of the Year honor … A three-time MAC Specialist of the Week this season, Pfister has turned in seven vault scores of 9.900-or-higher this season, including only the second perfect 10.00 on the apparatus in program history … She has also won the vault competition in seven events, while placing second in three others.
» OH, SHE ROCKS THE FLOOR TOO: In addition to being one of the nation’s leaders on vault, Suki Pfister was crowned a MAC Floor Champion after turning in a 9.900 at the MAC Championships … It is the first MAC title of Pfister’s illustrious career … Along with her league title, Pfister tied the program record for a second time in her career with a 9.950 at the Tennessee Collegiate Classic (Jan. 19) … She also has a 9.925 vs. Eastern Michigan (March 17) and a 9.900 vs. Bowling Green (Jan. 22), while ranking seventh in the league with a floor NQS of 9.895.
» FRESHMAN SHINING ON BARS: Ashley Szymanski was crowned a MAC Bars Champion after scoring a 9.925 in her league championships debut … That followed a season which saw her earn First Team All-MAC honors on bars after ranking first in the league and 24th nationally with an NQS of 9.920 … Including her MAC title, Szymanski has won the bars competition in six meets this season and has turned in six routines of 9.900-or-higher … Her career-best score was a 9.975 in her MAC debut versus Bowling Green (Jan. 22).
» A SOPHOMORE SENSATION: Zoe Middleton turned in a dominating performance at the MAC Championships, winning titles in the all-around (39.525), beam (9.900) and floor (9.900) … Just the second all-around champion in program history, she is also the first Ball State gymnast to win capture three MAC individual titles in one season.
» MORE ON MIDDLETON: In addition to earning three MAC individual championships, Zoe Middleton earned Second Team All-MAC honors for the first time in her career after ranking second in the league on floor with an NQS of 9.920 … She has posted five scores of 9.925 on floor, while also tallying a pair of 9.900s … A three-time MAC Gymnast of the Week, Middleton is also BSU’s top all-around gymnast with an NQS of 39.390 … She leads Ball State with 34 scores of 9.800-or-better this season, including the first perfect 10.0 in program history on bars and a program record 39.750 in the all-around … She has also turned in career-best scores on vault (9.950) and beam (9.900) this season, while earning 10 individual event wins and five all-around titles.
» YOU CAN COUNT ON HER: Over her first two seasons, Zoe Middleton has seen 82 of her 87 total routines count in the final team score … The effort includes 45 of 48 routines this season, along with 37 of 39 routines her freshman campaign … Over that time, Ball State has turned in the top 10 teams scores in program history, along with 18 of the top 20.
» HENRY WITH A THIRD OF HER OWN: Victoria Henry earned Second Team All-MAC honors for the third time in her career after ranking second in the league with a vault NQS of 9.885 … She turned in a career-best 9.975 to win the event at the Ohio State Tri Meet (Jan. 14) and added a 9.950 at George Washington (Feb. 23) … Henry, who has competed in the all-around for the Cardinals much of the season, has also set career marks on bars (9.925), beam (9.850), floor (9.925) and in all-around (39.475) in 2024.
» HENRY HITTING THE 9.900 MARK: Senior Victoria Henry has registered 19 scores of 9.900-or-better over her career, including nine so far this season … The total includes nine floor routines, eight vaults and two bars performances … In the regular season finale versus Eastern Michigan (March 17), Henry won vault with a 9.925, while taking third on bars at 9.900.
» RUTHBERG SHINES IN SENIOR SEASON: Hannah Ruthberg earned Second Team All-MAC honors for the first time in her career for her effort on beam, in which she ranks fifth in the league with an NQS of 9.850 … She turned in a career-best beam performance of 9.900 in the dual win at Western Michigan (Feb. 17), while scoring 9.800-or-higher in nine meets … Another all-around gymnast for the Cardinals, Ruthberg has also turned in career-best scores on vault (9.875), bars (9.925), floor (9.925) and in the all-around (39.425) this season.
» TETER TAKES ADVANTAGE OF EXTRA RUN: Megan Teter took advantage of her COVID year of eligibility, earning Second Team All-MAC honors for the first time in her career after ranking seventh in the league with an all-around NQS of 39.190 … In her first season as an all-around gymnast for the Cardinals, Teter has turned in 19 total routines of 9.800-or-better, including the second perfect 10.0 in program history on bars … She has also registered a career-best all-around score of 39.575 this season, while posting career-best scores on vault (9,850), beam (9.875) and floor (9.925).
» RECORDS FALL AGAIN AT TENNESSEE COLLEGIATE CLASSIC:
– For the second consecutive season, Ball State shattered records at the Tennessee Collegiate Classic (Jan. 19), highlighted by a team record score of 198.025 … The Cardinals were the first program in the nation to break the 198 mark this season, with the score also being a Mid-American Conference record … The effort included program event records on vault (49.375), bars (49.775) and floor (49.625), as well as the fourth best beam score in program history (49.250).
– Ball State’s gymnasts registered a program meet record 12 scores of 9.900-or-higher, including perfect 10.0s by Suki Pfister (vault), Zoe Middleton (bars) and Megan Teter (bars) … Prior to the meet, the Cardinals only had one perfect 10 in program history.
– Ball State’s student-athletes also earned 21 career best scores over the course of the meet, with each athlete who competed tallying at least one.
» MORE RECORD NOTES FROM TENNESSEE:
– On floor, Suki Pfister tied the program record for a second time in her career with a 9.950 … Three Cardinals, Carissa Martinez, Zoe Middleton and Megan Teter, all earned 9.925s, while Hannah Ruthberg added a 9.900 … It marked the first time in program history all five countable scores on an event were 9.900-or-higher.
– Ball State produced five of the top 10 individual bars scores in program history later in the meet, led by the first two perfect 10s on bars in the BSU record book from Zoe Middleton and Megan Teter … The Cardinals also received 9.925s on bars from Ashley Szymanski, Victoria Henry and Hannah Ruthberg to give the program its first-ever event with all five countable scores at 9.925-or-higher.
– Zoe Middleton crushed the program’s all-around record with a 39.750, including a 10.0 on bars, a 9.950 on vault, a 9.925 on floor and a 9.875 on beam … It currently ties as the 14th-highest individual all-around score in the nation this season.
» A RECORD OPENER AS WELL: Ball State started the season with the best opening meet score in program history with a 194.925 at the UNC Quad (Jan. 5) … The previous record was 194.475 set at Kentucky to open the 2018 season.
» SHINING ON FLOOR: Along with owning the nation’s third-best event team score this season with its 49.775 on bars at the Tennessee Collegiate Classic (Jan. 19), Ball State’s 49.625 on floor the same night is tied as the nation’s 41st-best team effort on floor … The Cardinals enter NCAA Regionals ranked 25th nationally with a floor NQS of 49.370, including 22 individual routines of 9.900-or-higher, led by Suki Pfister’s program-record tying effort of 9.950 also set at the Tennessee Collegiate Classic.
SCORING HIGH IN 2024:
– Ball State has registered 169 scores of 9.800-or-higher so far this season, led by the team’s 22 at the Tennessee Collegiate Classic (Jan. 19) and 19 at George Washington (Feb. 23) … Of the 169 routines, 49 have come on floor, 48 on bars, 38 on vault and 34 on beam … The total includes 53 scores of 9.900-or-better.
» RECORDS UNDER SALEEM:
– In the program’s first 11 seasons under head coach Joanna Saleem, Ball State has tallied the 36 best team scores in program history … In fact, of Ball State’s 40 scores of 195.450-or-higher, 38 have been set by Saleem’s squads.
– Saleem’s squads own the event records on all four apparatus: vault (49.375), bars (49.775), beam (49.350) and floor (49.625).
– All 45 team entries in the vault record book are held by Saleem’s teams, as are 28 of 35 scores on bars, 27 of 33 scores on floor and 26 of 31 scores on beam.
INDIANA STATE MEN’S BASKETBALL
SYCAMORES EARN FIRST-EVER TRIP TO NIT CHAMPIONSHIP WITH WIN OVER UTES
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Indiana State broke open a one-possession game midway through the second half and built a double-digit lead with just under eight minutes remaining as the Sycamores topped Utah, 100-90, to advance to Thursday night’s NIT Championship Game.
The Sycamores (32-6) advance to Thursday night’s NIT Championship Game and will take on Seton Hall at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Tipoff of the game is set for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Indiana State advances to the NIT Championship Game for the first time in program history after topping SMU (101-92), Minnesota (76-64), Cincinnati (85-81), and Utah. ISU’s 32 wins are also the second-most all-time in program history trailing just the 1978-79 team that went 33-1.
Key performances from Ryan Conwell (27 points, four three-pointers) and Robbie Avia (26 points, 10 rebounds) highlighted the back-and-forth game played in Hinkle Fieldhouse before the Sycamores seized control of the game midway through the second half.
The Sycamores and Utes (22-15) were tied 50-50 with 17:10 remaining as the teams traded baskets throughout the opening minutes of the second half. Utah’s Branden Carlson scored seven consecutive points capped by a layup with 15:54 remaining to give the Utes the 54-53 edge early in the final period.
Isaiah Swope answered with a layup two possessions later giving Indiana State the 55-54 lead as the lead changed hands for the fourth time in the game and Avila and Swope added points in the paint to put the Sycamores ahead 59-54 with 12:42 remaining. The Sycamores kept the two-possession lead over the next three minutes, going ahead by eight on Julian Larry’s layup at the 9:26 mark, before Deivon Smith’s three-pointer cut the lead down to 68-63.
Conwell answered on the other end with a three-point play making the layup and sinking the free throw to give the Sycamores the 71-63 advantage, before back-to-back three-pointers from Xavier Bledson and Larry gave ISU a double-digit 77-66 lead with 7:36 to play in the contest.
The lead remained double-digits the rest of the way as the Sycamores answered every Utah basket with one of their own, going up by as many as 15 with 3:27 remaining on an Avila layup to put the score at 89-74. Jayson Kent provided the cap on the day with a dunk with 1:13 to pay and Avila put in the final ISU points to help the Sycamores hit the century mark with a layup with 38 seconds remaining to close out the 100-90 win.
The Sycamores jumped out of the gates strong going on a 10-0 run early in the first half in building a 17-7 lead on a pair of Larry free throws at the 14:13 mark. Avila scored 11 of ISU’s first 14 points in the game hitting a trio of early three-pointers, while Ryan Conwell and Larry combined for 12 early points as the Sycamores continued to press their advantage in building a 21-13 lead with 12:41 remaining in the first half.
Utah battled back with a run of their own cutting a 28-17 deficit down to a three-point game on several occasions, before taking the lead at 34-33 with 4:58 remaining on Smith’s fast-break layup. The two teams battled it out the rest of the half with Conwell making a late layup with three seconds remaining to send the game into the break tied 44-44.
Conwell paced the Sycamores with 27 points on 9-of-16 shooting, including a 4-of-11 mark from the three-point line. He added six rebounds and four assists, while blocking a shot. Avila finished with a 26-point, 10-rebound double-double as the Sycamore center posted an 11-of-14 shooting night including a 3-of-5 game from behind the three-point line.
Swope scored all 15 of his points in the second half, while Larry added 15 points and eight assists to highlight the ISU offense on the day as the Sycamores shot 56.9% from the floor as a team in the win.
Smith was the leading scorer on the night as the Utah guard finished with a game-high 28 points, including a perfect 6-of-6 from the three-point line in the loss. He led five Utes in double-digits with Carlson (17), Cole Bajema (14), Carlson (11), and Hunter Erickson (10) also hitting the mark on Tuesday night.
News & Notes
Indiana State with its 32nd win is in sole possession of the second-most wins in program history.
Indiana State recorded its second 100-point game of the NIT (101 versus SMU).
The Sycamores shot an astounding 80.65% from inside the three-point line (25-for-31).
With 22 assists on the night, ISU has recorded 20+ assists as a team in three of the last four games.
Indiana State recorded seven turnovers, its lowest turnover mark since February 10 at Missouri State (7).
The team’s field goal percentage of 59.6% is the best since the MVC Tournament Semifinals against UNI.
The 50 paint points are the most for Indiana State since February 21 at Valparaiso (56).
With Ryan Conwell’s 27 and Robbie Avila’s 26 points, it’s the second time this tournament two Sycamores have recorded 25+ point games (versus SMU, Kent (35) and Conwell (25).
Ryan Conwell tied his career high of 27 points, also set at a neutral site in Indianapolis. Conwell scored 27 in the Indy Classic against Ball State in December at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Robbie Avila’s double-double is his fifth of the season. His 10 rebounds are the most since February 3 versus Drake (11).
Averaging 3.0 RPG, Isaiah Swope recorded back-to-back six-rebound games.
PURDUE FT. WAYNE MEN’S GOLF
FINAL ROUND OF BENBOW CANCELED, MASTODONS NAMED CO-CHAMPIONS
INDIANAPOLIS – The final round of the Don Benbow Butler Spring Invitational was canceled due to weather in the area. The Purdue Fort Wayne men’s golf team was declared co-champions of the event after tying for first after 36 holes.
It is the Mastodons’ second team title in their last two outings. The ‘Dons won the Sacred Heart Invitational in early March.
The ‘Dons finished with a program record of 272 in round two to vault from sixth to first. Kasey Lilly was the Mastodons’ best, finishing in a tie for third with a 69-67-136.
The Mastodons are back in action on Saturday (April 6) at the Hoosier Collegiate in Bloomington.
SOUTHERN INDIANA BASEBALL
USI WINS AT MURRAY STATE, 10-5
MURRAY, Ky. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball scored eight times in the first three innings and cruised to a 10-5 win over Murray State University Tuesday evening in Murray, Kentucky. USI is 13-15 overall, while Murray State goes to 18-10.
USI senior first baseman Tucker Ebest (Austin, Texas) put the Screaming Eagles on the scoreboard in the first inning with a two-run double for the quick 2-0 lead. The Eagles finished the first frame by adding a third tally as senior catcher Tyler Kapust (Sellerburg, Indiana) laced a RBI-single through the right side for the 3-0 advantage.
After the Racers wasted little time in closing the gap to 3-2 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning, USI got both runs back in the top of the third. Kapust struck again to put USI up 5-2 with his second and third RBIs of the game on a single up the middle.
USI junior second baseman Lane Crowden (Jackson, Missouri) continued the third inning rally with a two-run double to right field, while senior rightfielder Ren Tachioka (Japan) followed with a RBI-single up the middle to finish the frame and put the Eagles up 8-2.
The Racers put a run across in the plate in the third and fourth to close the gap to 8-4. USI sophomore second baseman Caleb Niehaus (Newburgh, Indiana) re-extended the lead to five, 9-4, with a solo shot in the top of the sixth. The home run was Niehaus’ first of the season.
USI would seal the 10-5 victory in the top of the ninth when junior centerfielder Terrick Thompson-Allen (Sioux City, Iowa) hit solo home run to right field after Murray State had drawn to within four with a tally in the sixth.
On the mound, junior right-hander Carson Seeman (Auburn, California) picked up the win in relief. Seeman (2-1) blanked the Racers over two innings and struck out two in two innings.
USI senior right-hander Trent Robinson (Louisville, Kentucky) started and picked up the no-decision for the Eagles. Robinson was touched for four runs, three earned, on five hits and three walks, while striking out two in three innings.
Up Next for the Eagles:
USI concludes the two-game series with Murray State Wednesday at the USI Baseball Field. The first pitch Wednesday is set for 6 p.m.
MARIAN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
ELLA COLLIER AND ABBEY MCNALLY TABBED NAIA ALL-AMERICANS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced the 2023-24 NAIA Women’s Basketball All-America Teams on Monday, April 1. The Marian women’s basketball team was represented twice on the All-American Teams, as Ella Collier capped her career with her fourth career appearance while Abbey McNally was named an All-American for the first time.
Jamie Pickens of Carroll (Mont.) was named the 2024 NAIA National Player of the Year and Bill Harmsen of Dordt (Iowa) was named the 2024 NAIA National Coach of the Year.
Marian was tied with Indiana Wesleyan for the Crossroads League lead in All-Americans with each school earning two honors. In total five players from the Crossroads League were named All-Americans, with IWU’s Lilli Frasure (First Team) and Jordan Reid (Third Team), and Alana Nelson (Second Team) of Spring Arbor making the teams.
For Ella Collier, one of the program’s greatest players ended her career as a four-time NAIA All-American, as the senior was named to the First Team for the second time in her career. Collier, the 2024 Crossroads League Player of the Year, led her team in scoring as a senior, pouring in a career-high 666 points while averaging a career-best 19 points per game. The senior led the team in assists with 88 and steals with 61, while blocking 21 shots for a career-best mark. Additionally, Collier averaged 3.7 rebounds per game.
In her final season, Collier became Marian’s all-time leading scorer, passing Lakan Hasser-Smith (’16) for the all-time record on February 3. Collier ended her career with 2260 career points, ending the season with the single season scoring record as well. Collier put together 16 games with 20 or more points during the season, ending her career with a collegiate-best 30 points in the NAIA Tournament Quarterfinals. Collier’s performance against Providence in the season finale set the single game field goal percentage record with 12 attempts or more from the field, and solidified her fourth consecutive season averaging over 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from three, and 90 percent from the foul line, becoming the only player to accomplish the feat in four seasons.
Collier finished her career as Marian’s program leader in career points (2260), scoring average (16.6), field goals made (826), 3-point field goals made (249), 3-point field goal percentage (.459), free throws made (359), free throw percentage (.942), and games started (133). Collier also holds the records for single season points, 3-point field goal percentage, free throw percentage, and minutes played.
For Abbey McNally, the sophomore made an impactful mark on the 2023-24 season, as her breakout year earned her NAIA Second Team All-American honors. McNally, the Crossroads League Defensive Player of the Year, finished second on the team in scoring this season with 12.9 points per game while averaging a team-best 8.5 rebounds per game. McNally, who made the Crossroads League First Team for the first time in her career, led the Knights in blocked shots with 53, while swiping 39 steals.
McNally’s breakout season featured 11 double-doubles and two 20-plus point outings. On November 15, McNally set the single game rebounding record at Marian, becoming the first player to put together a 20-20 game, as she scored 26 points and had 23 rebounds in a win over Olivet Nazarene. McNally finished the season ranked 35th in program history in career-scoring with 843 career points, while ending the season in the top-15 in career rebounding with 587 boards in two seasons. McNally set Marian’s single-season field goal percentage record as well as a sophomore, making 63.2 percent of her attempts from the field.
Marian finished the 2023-24 season with a 33-2 record, reaching the NAIA National Tournament Quarterfinals. The Knights were the Crossroads League Regular Season and Tournament Champions, and set program records for consecutive wins in a season and consecutive wins with 31.
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/
MNCHESTER 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/
HOY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php
TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/
VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index
“SPORTS EXTRA”
NUMBERS IN SPORTS
41 – 10 – 11 – 66
April 3, 1966 – Future Hall of Fame pitcher, Tom Seaver signed with the New York Mets with the incentive of a $50,000 signing bonus to top off a lucrative salary offer. The brilliant right hander would wear Number 41 with the Mets.
Great Skaters Reach a Milestone on the 3rd day of April
April 3, 1977 – Boston Bruins star center Number 10, Jean Ratelle scored his 1,000th NHL career point.
April 3, 1982 – The outstanding center of the Buffalo Sabres Gilbert Perreault, wearing Number 11 scored his 1,000th point of his NHL career.
April 3, 1988 – Mario Lemieux, Number 66 won the NHL scoring title for the 1987-88 season, stopping Gretzky’s 7 year streak, Super Mario ended up with 70 goals and 168 points to the the League that season.
FOOTBALL HISTORY
April 3 Football Hall of Fame Birthdays
April 3, 1926 – Chattanooga, Tennessee – The fine guard from the University of Tennessee and Army that played from 1944 to 1947, Joe Steffy was born. According to his bio on the FootballFoundation.org website Steffy enrolled at Tennessee and played on the 1944 team, which went on to the Rose Bowl. He was then appointed to the United States Military Academy and played guard for the football team for three years. In 1947 he was captain of the team and winner of the Outland Trophy as the nation’s best interior lineman. Joe Steffy was honored with induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1987 after the National Football Foundation tallied their votes.
April 3, 1934 – Macon, Georgia – Jim Parker the stud Ohio State guard from 1954 to 1956 celebrated his day of birth. The NFF describes that it was a common occurrence when Parker played that the Buckeyes would shift to a punt formation, kick the ball and then almost immediately after the returned would catch the ball he would be just about sawed in half by a vicious hit by a hustling guard named Jim. That was Big Jim’s signature play, the all out sprint, the lunge and the violent tackle. Parker was a huge man, at 248- pounds the largest guard to play for Ohio State up to that time. But despite his size, Parker was cat-quick, explosive and driven by unflinching determination. As a workhorse in the Buckeye line, he made coach Woody Hayes’ three-yards-and-a-cloud-of- dust-offense work. In 1956 he became the first Ohio State player to win the Outland Award. The National Football Foundation selected Jim Parker for entrance into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1974. The Baltimore Colts in 1967 used their first round pick to select Parker and he played 11 seasons with the team split in half between tackle and guard. The amazing thing is that he was versatile enough to make 8 All-NFL teams and on 8 pro Bowl teams. His bio on the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s site says that Woody Hayes thought his best shot in the pros would be on defense, Colts’ coach Weeb Ewbank tabbed Jim as an offensive lineman. The Colts at the time were just starting to become a National Football League top tier team and the premier passer in the game, Johnny Unitas, was the guy who made the Baltimore attack click. Parker had little experience in pass blocking, but Ewbank was sure Parker could do the job. “It didn’t take me long to learn the one big rule,” Parker remembered. “’Just keep them away from John,’ Coach Ewbank told me at my first practice. ‘You can be the most unpopular man on the team if the quarterback gets hurt.’ I couldn’t forget that!” And Parker didn’t forget. Jim Parker was enshrined in 1973 into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
April 3
1923 — In Chicago, Ill., two Black Sox sue the White Sox. Swede Risberg and Happy Felsch seek $400,000 in damages and $6,750 in back salary for conspiracy and injury to their reputation in the aftermath of the scandalous 1919 World Series court case. Their suit will be unsuccessful.
1966 — The New York Mets sign University of Southern California star P Tom Seaver to his first contract.
1974 — The Cincinnati Reds defeated the Atlanta Braves 7-6 in 11 innings before a crowd of 52,000 at Riverfront Stadium. In his first at-bat, Hank Aaron hit a three-run homer off Jack Billingham. It was his 714th, tying Babe Ruth’s career record. The Braves had considered keeping Aaron on the bench for the season-opening series in Cincinnati so that he could attempt to tie the record four days later in Atlanta. But commissioner Bowie Kuhn would not allow it and ordered the Braves to put Aaron into the lineup for at least two of the three games.
1985 — A major league owners’ proposal is agreed to by the Players Association. The American and National leagues playoff formats are changed to best-of-sevens.
1987 — The Chicago Cubs trade starting pitcher Dennis Eckersley to the Oakland Athletics for three minor leaguers. Eckersley will emerge as the game’s dominant closer, saving 291 games over the next eight seasons.
1988 — George Bell became the first player to hit three home runs on opening day, leading the Toronto Blue Jays past the Kansas City Royals 5-3. Bell, bitter throughout spring training with his move to designated hitter, homered three times in that role off Bret Saberhagen.
1989 — Ken Griffey, Jr. of the Seattle Mariners makes his major league debut.
1994 — Chicago’s Karl Rhodes hit three solo home runs off Dwight Gooden in a 12-8 loss to the New York Mets on opening day at Wrigley Field. Rhodes became the second player to homer three times in an opener.
1998 — Mark McGwire tied Willie Mays’ National League record by hitting a home run in each of his first four games of the season. McGwire launched a towering three-run shot in the sixth inning of an 8-6 victory over the San Diego Padres.
1999 — America’s pastime opened in Mexico for the first time. The Colorado Rockies beat the Chicago Cubs 8-2 in baseball’s first season opener away from the United States and Canada.
2000 — A new major league record for Opening Day is set with five players having multiple home run games.
2001 — Hideo Nomo became the fourth pitcher in major-league history to throw a no-hitter in both leagues in Boston’s 3-0 victory over Baltimore. Nomo, who threw the first no-hitter in Colorado’s Coors Field on Sept. 17, 1996, for Los Angeles, walked three and struck out 11 in the first no-hitter in the 10-year history of Camden Yards. Nomo joined Cy Young, Jim Bunning and Nolan Ryan as the only pitchers with no-hitters in both leagues.
2003 — Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs became the 18th player to hit 500 career homers, connecting for a solo shot in a 10-9 loss to Cincinnati. He became the fifth player to reach 500 homers before his 35th birthday. Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Jimmie Foxx were the others.
2005 — Dmitri Young became the third player to hit three homers on opening day, and Jeremy Bonderman won as the youngest opening day starter in the major-leagues since 1986 to lead Detroit over the Royals 11-2.
2005 — In his first outing for the New York Yankees, Randy Johnson allows a run and five hits in six innings as New York open the major league season with a 9 – 2 win.
2006 — Seattle Mariners rookie Kenji Johjima, the first catcher from Japan to start a major league game, hits a home run for his first hit.
2015 — MLB suspends P Ervin Santana, who signed the largest free agent contract in Twins history this off-season, for 80 games for testing positive to the anabolic steroid stanozolol.
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April 4
1974 — The Cincinnati Reds defeated the Atlanta Braves 7-6 in 11 innings before a crowd of 52,000 at Riverfront Stadium. In his first at-bat, Hank Aaron hit a three-run homer off Jack Billingham. It was his 714th, tying Babe Ruth’s career record. The Braves had considered keeping Aaron on the bench for the season-opening series in Cincinnati so that he could attempt to tie the record four days later in Atlanta. But Commissioner Bowie Kuhn ordered the Braves to put Aaron into the lineup for at least two of the three games.
1988 — George Bell became the first player to hit three home runs on opening day, leading the Toronto Blue Jays past the Kansas City Royals 5-3. Bell, bitter throughout spring training with his move to designated hitter, homered three times in that role off Bret Saberhagen.
1993 — At Camden Yards, Bill Clinton becomes the first U.S. President to throw the first pitch of the season from the pitcher’s mound.
1994 — Chicago’s Karl Rhodes hit three solo home runs off Dwight Gooden in a 12-8 loss to the New York Mets on opening day at Wrigley Field. Rhodes became the second player to homer three times in an opener.
1994 — The Cleveland Indians open new stadium, Jacobs Field, with a 4 – 3 victory over the Seattle Mariners.
1998 — Mark McGwire tied Willie Mays’ National League record by hitting a home run in each of his first four games of the season. McGwire launched a towering three-run shot in the sixth inning of an 8-6 victory over the San Diego Padres.
1999 — America’s pastime opened in Mexico for the first time. The Colorado Rockies beat the Chicago Cubs 8-2 in baseball’s first season opener outside the United States and Canada.
2001 — Hideo Nomo became the fourth pitcher in major league history to throw a no-hitter in both leagues in Boston’s 3-0 victory over Baltimore. Nomo, who threw the first no-hitter in Colorado’s Coors Field on Sept. 17, 1996, for Los Angeles, walked three and struck out 11 in the first no-hitter in the 10-year history of Camden Yards. Nomo joined Cy Young, Jim Bunning and Nolan Ryan as the only pitchers with no-hitters in both leagues.
2003 — Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs became the 18th player to hit 500 career homers, connecting for a solo shot in a 10-9 loss to Cincinnati. He became the fifth player to reach 500 homers before his 35th birthday. Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Jimmie Foxx were the others.
2005 — Dmitri Young became the third player to hit three homers on opening day, and Jeremy Bonderman won as the youngest opening day starter in the major leagues since 1986 to lead Detroit over the Kansas City Royals 11-2.
2011 — Nelson Cruz of Texas became the third player in major league history to homer in the first four games of a season and the Rangers beat Seattle 6-4. Cruz joined Willie Mays (1971) and Mark McGwire (1998) as the only players to go deep in each of their first four games of a season.
2012 — The Miami Marlins open a new name and a new ballpark, Marlins Park, but lose to the St. Louis Cardinals.
2016 — Colorado Rockies SS Trevor Story becomes the first player to hit two homers in his debut on Opening Day.
2018 — MLB experiments with a new medium as today’s game between the Phillies and Mets is broadcast live exclusively on “Facebook Watch”.
2021 — For the first time since his debut in Major League Baseball in 2018, Shohei Ohtani is in the batting order in a game in which he is also the starting pitcher.
BASEBALL YEAR IN REVIEW: 1962 (BASEBALL ALMANAC)
Off the field…
After hearing the case of Engel vs. Vitale, the Supreme Court ruled that state-sponsored prayer in schools was unconstitutional. Although prayer was not outlawed in school entirely (only school-sponsored prayer) the decision ignited a controversy that has continued unabated until today.
In February, astronaut Alan Shepard became the first American in orbit and John Glenn followed later that year as the first to travel into space after a fifteen minute flight on July 21st. Both missions were in preparation of meeting President Kennedy’s goal of landing a man on the moon by the end of the decade.
In late August, American spy planes detected the building of military missile sites in Cuba. U.S. Intelligence sources later determined the Soviets, under Nikita Khrushchev, had decided to shorten the strategic gap between the two world powers by placing missiles there limiting America’s warning capabilities if attacked. In October, President John F. Kennedy was presented with conclusive proof that the Soviets were in fact installing medium-range ballistic missiles. After several tense days of defensive posturing, the issue was peacefully resolved after the United States agreed not to invade Cuba, and the Soviets agreed to withdraw all military forces and weapons.
In the American League…
The Baltimore Orioles’ Brooks Robinson became only the fifth player in Major League history to hit grand slams in back-to-back games after knocking out a bases loaded round-tripper on May 6th and May 9th.
After missing thirty games due to recurring knee injuries, New York’s Mickey Mantle limped to the plate as a pinch hitter and launched a four-hundred twenty foot blast off of Gary Bell of the Cleveland Indians. The home team crowd showed their respects by giving the visiting Yankee a standing ovation.
Earl Wilson became the first black pitcher to throw a no-hitter in the American League as the Boston Red Sox topped the California Angels 2-0 on June 26th at Fenway Park. Wilson also dominated at the plate with a four-hundred foot homer off Bo Belinsky who had tossed a “no-no” of his own in his last start against the Baltimore Orioles.
In the National League…
On September 7th, Los Angeles Dodger Maury Wills stole four bases off the Pittsburgh Pirates setting a National League record for eighty-two “robberies” in a single season.
The Houston Colt 45s, one of the National Leagues two new teams (New York Mets), opened with an impressive 11-2 triumph over the Chicago Cubs before a crowd of over 25,000. Roman Mejias set the pace with two, three-run home runs and Hal Smith followed close behind debuting with a round-tripper of his own.
Stan Musial set a National League record (previously held by Mel Ott) after scoring for the 1,806th time in his career during a St. Louis Cardinals win over the Chicago Cubs on April 13th. Later in the season Musial became the leagues all-time leader in total bases with 5,864 during a June 22nd outing against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Around the League…
John “Buck” O’Neil became the first African-American coach in Major League baseball after joining the staff of the Chicago Cubs. O’Neil had been a scout for the Cubs organization previously and was credited with discovering both Ernie Banks and Lou Brock.
Baseball’s newest franchise, the New York Mets, debuted in what some referred to as “copycat uniforms” that featured Dodger blue sleeves, Giants orange lettering and Yankee pinstripes. Unfortunately the Mets played as bad as they looked and finished their inaugural season with a laughable 40-120 record.
After several years of “double-headers”, both players and owners agreed to return the All-Star Game to its original, one-game format in 1963.
Kansas City owner Charles Finley hired the first woman in baseball broadcasting. Betty Caywood was brought in initially to do “color-commentary” for the A’s games, but later became the first female to regularly announce baseball games while airing her reports from both the dugout and the stands.
BASEBALL’S GREAT PITCHERS
Old Hoss Radbourn
Charles Radbourn’s pitching achievements were hailed by contemporaries and sportswriters for decades as some of the greatest feats of nineteenth century baseball. Little known today, many considered an 18-inning game in 1882 as the finest athletic contest ever seen on a baseball diamond. That game was won, not by the pitcher Radbourn, but by the batter Radbourn playing right field. After a scoreless 17 1/2 innings, he clubbed one over the left-field wall for the first walk-off home run in a 1-0 game in major-league history.
It was on the mound, though, where Radbourn truly shined. His winning 60 games in 1884 was long viewed as the greatest of all pitching feats. (Some reference sources cite him with 59 wins, a discrepancy arising from determining who should be credited with the victory in his July 28 relief appearance.) Throughout his lifetime and well into the career of Cy Young, Radbourn was hailed as the “King of Pitchers.” He had an easy underhand motion from which he delivered a variety of pitches from varying arm angles. He was one of the first to truly dicker with his delivery day in and day out to keep hitters off balance, a trait expanded upon by Clark Griffith and Eddie Plank at the turn of the century.
READ MORE: https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/old-hoss-radbourn/
TODAY IN NBA HISTORY
April 3, 1987
The New Jersey Nets honored Julius Erving before his last game against his former club by retiring No. 32, which Erving wore during his ABA days with the Nets. He also has had his No. 6 retired by Philadelphia.
April 3, 1996
Vancouver defeated visiting Minnesota 105-103 to snap its NBA record streak of 23 consecutive losses.
April 3, 1998
Michael Jordan reached 29,000 career points in a 107-93 win over Minnesota. At the time, Jordan joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain as the only players to reach that plateau.
April 3, 1999
Kendall Gill of the New Jersey Nets tied an NBA record which had stood for more than 22 years when he recorded 11 steals against the Miami Heat. Larry Kenon of the San Antonio Spurs notched 11 steals against the Kansas City Kings on December 26, 1976.
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
1923 — “Black Sox” sue White Sox (unsuccessfully) for back salary.
1930 — The Montreal Canadiens win the NHL Stanley Cup with a two-game sweep of the Boston Bruins.
1933 — Ken Doraty’s overtime goal gives the Toronto Maple Leafs and 1-0 victory over the Boston Bruins in semifinals of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The goal comes at one hour, 44 minutes and 46 seconds of the overtime beyond the one-hour regulation game.
1966 — P Tom Seaver signs with the NY Mets.
1975 — Bobby Fischer stripped of world chess title for refusing to defend it, title awarded to Russian Anatoly Karpov.
1977 — Jean Ratelle of the Boston Bruins scores his 1,000th point with an assist in a 7-4 triumph over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
1982 — Buffalo’s Gil Perrault scores his 1,000th point with an assist in a 5-4 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.
1983 — 2nd NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship: USC beats Louisiana Tech, 69-67.
1987 — Chicago Cubs trade Dennis Eckersley to Oakland A’s.
1988 — Louisiana Tech wins the NCAA women’s basketball championship with a 56-54 come-from-behind victory over Auburn.
1988 — Amy Alcott shoots a 1-under 71 to win the Dinah Shore by two shots over Colleen Walker.
1988 — Mario Lemieux wins NHL scoring title, stopping Gretzky’s 7 year streak.
1989 — Michigan beats Seton Hall 80-79 in overtime to win the NCAA basketball championship. Rumeal Robinson hits two free throws with three seconds left for the Wolverines. It’s the first time that a first-year coach, Steve Fisher, wins the national title.
1991 — Bo Jackson signs 1-year contract with Chicago White Sox.
1993 — For the first time in its 157-year history, the Grand National steeplechase is declared void because of a false start. Esha Ness crosses the line first, but most of the jockeys are unaware a false start is called and the majority of the 39-horse field continue the 4½-mile race around the Aintree course even though nine stay behind at the start line.
1994 — Charlotte Smith’s 3-pointer at the buzzer gives North Carolina a 60-59 victory over Louisiana Tech in the NCAA women’s basketball championship game.
1995 — UCLA wins its first national basketball championship in 20 years and record 11th NCAA title, keeping Arkansas from repeating with an 89-78 victory.
1996 — St Francis Fighting Saints scores college baseball run record with 71.
2000 — 62nd NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship: Michigan State beats Florida, 89-76.
2004 — St. Louis clinches its 25th consecutive NHL playoff berth, the longest in major league sports, with a 4-1 win over Nashville.
2006 — Joakim Noah dominates UCLA with 16 points, nine rebounds and a record seven blocks to key a 73-57 blowout for Florida’s first national title in men’s basketball.
2006 — Steve Yzerman scores his final NHL goal (#692).
2007 — After a nine-year title drought, Tennessee and coach Pat Summitt are NCAA champions. The Lady Vols capture an elusive seventh national title, beating Rutgers 59-46.
2010 — Bernard Hopkins wins a brutal unanimous decision over Roy Jones Jr. in their long-delayed rematch, emphatically avenging his loss in the famed champions’ first fight nearly 17 years earlier.
2012 — Brittney Griner scores 26 points and grabs 13 rebounds to help Baylor finish off an undefeated season with an 80-61 win over Notre Dame in the women’s national championship game. Baylor becomes the first team in NCAA history to win 40 games.
2017 — Justin Jackson delivers the go-ahead three-point play and North Carolina scores the last eight points for a 71-65 win over Gonzaga and an NCAA title that heartbreakingly eluded the Tar Heels last year. It’s an ugly game, filled with 44 fouls and 52 free throws. Carolina was down 2 with 1:40 left when Jackson took a pass under the bucket from Theo Pinson, made a layup and got fouled. The free throw made it 66-65, and after a Gonzaga miss on the other end, Isaiah Hicks made a shot to help North Carolina start pulling away to the school’s sixth title.
2019 — San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich is ejected after an NBA record low 63 seconds in the Spurs 113-85 loss in Denver; receives 2 technical fouls in a verbal confrontation with a referee.
TV SPORTS WEDNESDAY
AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL (MEN’S)
4:30 a.m. (Thursday)
FS2 — AFL: Melbourne at Adelaide
COLLEGE BASEBALL
7 p.m.
SECN — Georgia Southern at South Carolina
COLLEGE BASKETBALL (WOMEN’S)
7 p.m.
ESPN2 — WBIT Tournament: Illinois vs. Villanova, Championship, Indianapolis
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
5 p.m.
BTN — Purdue at Indiana
6 p.m.
ACCN — Liberty at Virginia Tech
PAC-12N — Saint Mary’s (Cal) at California
7:30 p.m.
BTN — Purdue at Indiana
8 p.m.
ACCN — McNeese St. at Florida St.
GOLF
1:30 p.m.
GOLF — The Augusta National Women’s Amateur: First Round, Retreat Golf Club, St. Simons Island, Ga.
6 p.m.
GOLF — LPGA Tour: The T-Mobile Match Play – Day 1, Shadow Creek, Las Vegas
IIHF (WOMEN’S)
11 a.m.
NHLN — World Championship Group Stage: Denmark vs. Sweden, Group B, Utica, N.Y.
7 p.m.
NHLN — World Championship Group Stage: U.S. vs. Switzerland, Group A, Utica, N.Y.
MLB BASEBALL
1 p.m.
MLBN — Regional Coverage: Cincinnati at Philadelphia OR Texas at Tampa Bay
4 p.m.
MLBN — Regional Coverage: St. Louis at San Diego OR Cleveland at Seattle
10 p.m.
MLBN — Regional Coverage: San Francisco at LA Dodgers OR Toronto at Houston (8:10 p.m.)
NBA BASKETBALL
7:40 p.m.
ESPN — Oklahoma City at Boston
10:05 p.m.
ESPN — Cleveland at Phoenix
NHL HOCKEY
7 p.m.
TNT — New Jersey at NY Rangers
TRUTV — New Jersey at NY Rangers (BetCast)
9:30 p.m.
TNT — Edmonton at Dallas
TRUTV — Edmonton at Dallas (BetCast)
RUGBY (MEN’S)
4:55 a.m. (Thursday)
FS1 — NRL: Brisbane at Melbourne
SOCCER (MEN’S)
2:30 p.m.
ESPNU — The German Cup: Fortuna Dusseldorf at Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Semifinal
USA — Premier League: Luton Town at Arsenal
2:55 p.m.
CBSSN — The Italian Cup: Atalanta at Fiorentina, Semifinal – Leg 1
3 p.m.
FS2 — The French Cup: Rennes at Paris Saint-Germain, Semifinal
8 p.m.
FS1 — CONCACAF Champions Cup: Monterrey at Inter Miami CF, Quarterfinal – Leg 1
10 p.m.
FS1 — CONCACAF Champions Cup: Pachuca at Herediano, Quarterfinal – Leg 1
TENNIS
11 a.m. TENNIS — Charleston-WTA Early Rounds