NCAA-FINAL FOUR
THE WOMEN’S FINAL FOUR
Friday, March 31 (Final Four in Dallas)
No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 2 Stanford, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2
No. 1 UConn vs. No. 2 Mississippi State, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Sunday, April 2
National Championship Game (Dallas), 6 p.m., ESPN
DALLAS (AP) — UConn's Geno Auriemma is The Associated Press' women's college basketball Coach of the Year for the ninth time. Auriemma has guided his team to an undefeated season so far and the Huskies have won 111 consecutive games overall.
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy is officially recognizing this weekend as "Husky Weekend" across the state. This will mark the 10th consecutive time the University of Connecticut women's basketball team has played in the NCAA Final Four Tournament. The team is scheduled to play on Friday night. They face the Mississippi State University Bulldogs.
THE MEN’S FINAL FOUR
Final Four teams begin preparations for semis in Arizona
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The Final Four teams have begun their preparations in Arizona for the last three games of March Madness.
South Carolina, Gonzaga, North Carolina and Oregon are in the Phoenix suburb of Glendale ahead of two semifinal games on Saturday.
Number 7 South Carolina takes on Number 1 Gonzaga tomorrow at 6 pm, and number 3 Oregon faces Number 1 North Carolina tomorrow night at 8:49. Both games are on CBS.
The Men’s National Championship Game is Monday night at 9 on CBS.
Meanwhile, Gamecocks star Sindarius Thornwell is dealing with an illness.
Thornwell was not at University of Phoenix Stadium Thursday due to what coach Frank Martin says is a "little body bug" and did not practice. Martin, who is battling a bug himself, says Thornwell is back at the hotel resting and hydrating.
MEN's BASKETBALL-NIT
Horned Frogs take NIT crown
NEW YORK (AP) — TCU is the NIT champion following a rout of Georgia Tech.
Tournament MVP Kenrich Williams had 25 points and 12 rebounds as the Horned Frogs blasted the Yellow Jackets, 88-56. Vlad Brodziansky scored 18 points for the Horned Frogs, who opened on a 20-3 run en route to their first NIT title.
Tadric Jackson led Georgia Tech with 19 points.
LGBT RIGHTS-NORTH CAROLINA
North Carolina OKs rolling back 'bathroom bill'
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — NCAA President Mark Emmert says the association's board of governors will decide by next week whether the repeal of North Carolina's so-called "bathroom bill" is enough to bring neutral-site championships back to the state.
The new measure was signed by Gov. Roy Cooper and repeals a requirement that transgender people use the public restrooms that correspond to the sex on their birth certificate. However, the ACLU and gay rights activists complained that the new law still denies gay and transgender people certain protections from discrimination.
GUN LAW-ARKANSAS SPORTING EVENTS
State House alters gun law
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The Arkansas House of Representatives has voted to exempt college sporting events from a new state law expanding where concealed guns are allowed.
One lawmaker complained the vote was a "no-win" choice between the University of Arkansas Razorbacks and the National Rifle Association.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson supports the exemption proposal, which will go to the state Senate as soon as Friday.
NBA-SCHEDULE
Cavs fall to Bulls
UNDATED (AP) — The Boston Celtics are back atop the NBA's Eastern Conference standings, courtesy of the Chicago Bulls.
Nikola Mirotic (MEER'-oh-tihch) tied season highs with six 3-pointers and 28 points as the Bulls dumped the Cleveland Cavaliers, 99-93. Rajon Rondo (RAH'-zhahn RAHN'-doh) finished with 15 assists, while Robin Lopez added 10 points and 11 rebounds to help the Bulls get within one game of Miami and Indiana for the final Eastern Conference playoff berth.
LeBron James passed Shaquille O'Neal for seventh on the all-time scoring list, but the Cavaliers dropped a half-game behind the Celtics after beginning the day four percentage points ahead. James had 26 points, giving him 28,599 for his career.
Checking out the rest of the NBA action:
— Marcus Morris had 28 points and 13 rebounds as Detroit beat the visiting Brooklyn Nets, 90-89. Ish Smith had 21 points and put Detroit ahead with a 3-pointer before the Pistons hit three free throws to go ahead 90-86.
— Ricky Rubio had a career-high 33 points, 10 assists and five rebounds in Minnesota's 119-104 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
NHL-SCHEDULE
Jackets fall in OT
UNDATED (AP) — The Columbus Blue Jackets picked up a point in the NHL's Metropolitan Division standings on Thursday, but that leaves them four points behind the first-place Capitals with six games remaining.
Noah Hanifin scored 2:16 into overtime to give the red-hot Carolina Hurricanes a 2-1 triumph over the Jackets. Columbus was looking at a 1-0 victory until Jeff Skinner scored with 4:20 left in regulation.
The Canes are 10-1-4 in their last 15 games, putting them within four points of an Eastern Conference playoff berth.
Joonas Korpisalo (kohr-pih-SAH'-loh) made 29 saves for the Blue Jackets, who are 2-2-1 in their last five games.
Elsewhere in the NHL:
— Dustin Byfuglien (BUHF'-lihn) scored the tying goal and set up the game-winner as Winnipeg topped Anaheim, 4-3 in overtime. Byfuglien tied it with 12 seconds left in regulation and assisted on Mark Scheifele's (SHYF'-leez) 30th goal at 3:34 of OT.
— Edmonton climbed within one point of the Pacific Division-leading Ducks as Patrick Maroon supplied a pair of goals in the Oilers' 3-2 victory over the Sharks. Connor McDavid had a goal and an assist, giving him a seven-point lead over Chicago's Patrick Kane in the Art Ross Trophy race.
— Paul Byron scored twice and Carey Price stopped 29 shots in Montreal's 6-2 drubbing of Florida. Brendan Gallagher had a goal and three assists for the Canadiens, who lead the Atlantic Division by six points over Ottawa.
— Minnesota had dropped nine of 10 before Nino Nierderreiter (NEE'-dur-eye-tur) scored twice and Alex Stalock stopped 18 shots to lead the Wild's 5-1 drubbing of the Senators. Stalock was recalled on Wednesday and hadn't started a game in 13 months before helping the Wild move eight points ahead of third-place St. Louis in the Central Division.
— Boston was a 2-0 winner over Dallas behind Tuukka (TOO'-kah) Rask's 27-save shutout. Brad Marchand had a goal and an assist for the Bruins, who are three points ahead of the Lightning for the final Eastern Conference playoff berth.
— Toronto remains one point in front of the fourth-place Bruins in the Atlantic after James van Riemsdyk (REEMZ'-dyk) and Auston Matthews each scored a power-play goal to push the Maple Leafs past the Predators, 3-1 in Nashville. Frederik Andersen made 29 saves in the Leafs' fifth victory in six games.
— Alex Killorn and Jonathan Drouin scored power-play goals 1:51 apart late in the second period as Tampa Bay knocked off Detroit, 5-3. Andrei Vasilevskiy (va-sih-LEHF'-skee) turned back 31 shots to help the Lightning stay three points behind Boston in the battle for the final wild-card berth.
— The Islanders' are six points out of a playoff slot after they fell behind 5-0 in the first period of a 6-3 loss at Philadelphia. Sean Couturier (koo-TOOR'-ee-ay) and Wayne Simmonds each had a goal and two assists in the Flyers' third straight win.
NHL-SABRES-MOVES
Sabres sign UMass-Lowell forward C.J. Smith to 2-year deal
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Sabres have signed forward C.J. Smith to a two-year, $1.85 million contract after he completed his junior season at UMass-Lowell. That's according to a person with direct knowledge of Smith's contract.
Smith finished tied for eighth in the NCAA with 23 goals and 12th with 51 points this past year.
COLLEGE HOCKEY-HOBEY BAKER FINALISTS
Aston-Reese, Butcher, Vecchione named Hobey Baker finalists
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Northeastern forward Zach Aston-Reese, Denver defenseman Will Butcher and Union forward Mike Vecchione have been selected as the 2017 Hobey Baker Memorial Award finalists for the best player in college hockey.
All three players are seniors. The winner will be revealed on April 7 in Chicago, the site of this year's Frozen Four.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL-AP AWARDS
Top honors for Mason, Plum, Few and Auriemma
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The Associated Press handed out some hardware to honor the top players and coaches in men's and women's basketball.
Kansas point guard Frank Mason III has received the AP Player of the Year trophy. He averaged 20.9 points, 5.2 assists and 4.2 rebounds in helping his team finish 31-5. Mason is the first Jayhawk to win the award after garnering 37 votes, 21 more than runner-up Josh Hart of Villanova.
The University of Washington's Kelsey Plum is the women's Player of the Year and the first Husky to win the honor. Plum topped the NCAA scoring record with 3,498 points, including a 57-point eruption on senior night. The 5-foot-7 star received 30 votes Thursday from a 33-member national media panel.
The men's Coach of the Year is Mark Few, who guided Gonzaga to a 36-1 record and the school's first berth in the NCAA Final Four. Few is 502-112 with the Bulldogs, reaching the West Coast Tournament title game in each season. He received 31 votes compared to eight for runner-up Sean Miller of Arizona.
UConn's Geno Auriemma is The Associated Press' women's college basketball Coach of the Year for the ninth time. Auriemma has guided his team to an undefeated season so far and the Huskies have won 111 consecutive games overall. He claimed 26 of 33 votes, while runner-up Scott Rueck of Oregon State picked up three.
Elsewhere in college basketball:
— TJ Leaf is the latest UCLA basketball player to leave school early, joining Lonzo Ball in the NBA draft. Leaf averaged a team-leading 16.3 points and 8.2 rebounds for the Bruins this season, shooting 62 percent from the field. The 6-foot-10 forward is projected to be a lottery pick in the June 22 draft.
— Northern Iowa coach Ben Jacobson has been given a two-year contract extension that will theoretically keep him with the Panthers through 2027. Jacobson has 234 wins in 11 seasons at the school.
MLB-RANGERS-ODOR
Rangers and 2B Odor reach 6-year deal with option for 2023
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Second baseman Rougned Odor (ROOG'-ned oh-DOHR') and the Texas Rangers have agreed to a new six-year contract that includes a club option for 2023. The package is worth at least $49.5 million.
The 23-year-old Odor is already entering his fourth season with the ballclub. He hit .271 with 33 home runs and 88 RBIs last year.
Elsewhere in the majors:
— Zack Wheeler has earned a spot in the Mets' rotation after missing two years while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Robert Gsellman (guh-SEHL'-mehn) will begin the season as the team's No. 5 starter in place of the injured Steven Matz. Manager Terry Collins also says Michael Conforto will be with the team on opening day while fellow outfielder Juan Lagares begins the season on the disabled list because of an oblique strain.
__ TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Aaron Judge has won the New York Yankees' right field job and Luis Severino has earned the fourth spot in the starting rotation. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Thursday that Aaron Hicks will be the fourth outfielder.
— Nationals reliever Blake Treinen (TRY'-nen) will start the season as the team's closer. Treinen compiled a 2.28 ERA and averages 8.5 strikeouts per nine innings in his first three big league seasons.
— Aaron Judge has won the Yankees' right field job and Luis Severino has earned the fourth spot in the starting rotation. Yankees manager Joe Girardi says Aaron Hicks will be the fourth outfielder.
— Brewers starter Matt Garza will open the season on the 10-day disabled list because of a strained right groin. The team has also announced that right-hander Chase Anderson will open the season in the rotation.
— The Tigers have released right-hander Mike Pelfrey, eating the second season of his two-year, $16 million deal. The 33-year-old Pelfrey went 4-10 with a 5.07 ERA last season with the Tigers.
NFL
BANGOR, Maine (AP) — New England Patriots fans in Maine will have the chance to celebrate the team's fifth Super Bowl championship this weekend. The Vince Lombardi Trophy will be on display at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. It will be accompanied by a cheerleader and mascot Pat Patriot. Officials in Bangor and Brewer announced the event on Wednesday. Photos of just the trophy will be from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
PGA-HOUSTON OPEN
Fowler leads through 18
HUMBLE, Texas (AP) — Rickie Fowler is the leader through one round of the PGA's Houston Open.
Fowler opened with an 8-under 64 that puts him one stroke in front of Sung Kang.
Stewart Cink (sihnk), Jhonattan Vegas and Kyle Stanley share third, one shot better than a seven-player logjam that includes Keegan Bradley and Justin Rose.
LPGA-ANA Inspiration
Icher leads, but wind stops play
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (AP) — France's Karine Icher shot a 5-under 67 to take an early lead before high winds shortened the opening day of the ANA Inspiration.
Half of the field in the LPGA Tour's first major of the year was still on the course when wild winds in the Coachella Valley forced an early halt to play.
Michelle Wie (wee) was among four players who were on the course at minus-4 when play was stopped.
FIFA-2026 WORLD CUP
FIFA proposes new 6-team playoff ahead of 2026 World Cup
ZURICH (AP) — FIFA wants to stage a new six-team playoff round in the World Cup host country for two places ahead of a 48-team tournament.
The final slots would be decided in a mini-tournament staged as a test event in the November before the World Cup.
The idea comes as part of FIFA's proposal to award each continent extra places for an expanded World Cup, starting in 2026.
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