NCAA:
Stanford has won the men's NIT, although the Cardinal blew a 13-point, second-half lead before downing Miami 66-64 in overtime. Senior Chasson Randle capped his 25-point night by hitting two free throws with 3.4 second remaining. Randle finishes with a school-record 2,375 points.
In the NCAA men’s basketball Final Four, Kentucky will take on Wisconsin tomorrow at 8:49 p.m. and Michigan State goes up against Duke at 6:09 p.m. The championship game is Monday at 9 p.m.
The women’s NCAA Final Four features Connecticut vs. Maryland on Sunday at 9 p.m. and Notre Dame will see South Carolina at 6:30 p.m. The championship is at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
NCAA President Mark Emmert has made it clear that the association will not tolerate discrimination and is willing to take its business out of Indiana if the state's religious objections law isn't fixed to his satisfaction. Emmert's annual state of the NCAA address yesterday came as the Indiana lawmakers were revising the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The Final Four is being held in Indianapolis this weekend.
NBA:
In the NBA, Cleveland topped Miami 114-88, Houston bested Dallas 108-101, and it was Golden State over Phoenix 107-106.
NHL:
Over on the ice, the Rangers clinched the NHL’s Metropolitan Division crown after downing Minnesota 3-2, Columbus bested the Islanders in a shootout 4-3, Boston edged Detroit 3-2, Washington beat Montreal in a shootout 5-4, St. Louis beat Calgary 4-1, Chicago defeated Vancouver 3-1, Los Angeles won against Edmonton 8-2, Ottawa beat Tampa Bay in overtime 2-1, and it was Florida over Carolina 6-1.
MLB:
In spring training, Detroit topped the Yankees 3-2, the Yankees tripled up Pittsburgh 6-2, Boston bested Minnesota 8-5, the Mets and St. Louis ended in a no scoring tie at 0-0, and Tampa Bay crushed Philadelphia 10-1.
Regular season baseball starts this weekend when St. Louis takes on the Cubs in Chicago at 8:00 p.m. Sunday. On Monday Boston takes on Philadelphia, the Yankees take on Toronto, and the Mets see Washington.
The Red Sox have optioned Rusney Castillo and Jackie Bradley Jr. to Triple-A Pawtucket, clearing the way for Mookie Betts to be the opening-day starter in center field. With a glut of outfielders in spring training, the Red Sox pared down the group yesterday. They will begin the regular season with Hanley Ramirez in left field, Betts in center and Shane Victorino in right.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander is headed to the disabled list for the first time in his major league career. The Tigers said the 32-year-old right-hander won't be on the active roster for Monday's opener against Minnesota because of tightness in his right triceps.
NFL:
The New York Jets' quarterback competition this summer will include Geno Smith, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Matt Simms — and perhaps someone else not yet on the roster. Smith has been the Jets' starter the last two seasons, and Fitzpatrick was acquired from Houston last month to add a veteran presence but won't be fully healthy until training camp after breaking a leg last season.
The prosecution has rested its case in the murder trial of former New England Patriots star tight end Aaron Hernandez. Hernandez has pleaded not guilty in the 2013 killing of Odin Lloyd, who was dating the sister of Hernandez's fiancee. Hernandez's lawyer has said he expects to rest Monday.
NASCAR:
The executive vice president and general manager of New Hampshire Motor Speedway has pleaded guilty to lewdness. Manchester police say Jerry Gappens entered the plea yesterday in Manchester District Court. The speedway in Loudon is a stop for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in July and the Sylvania 300 in September.
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