Preview Page 182 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Nuggets hoping to 'peak at right time' with Raptors up next
The Denver Nuggets suffered a tough loss at Memphis on Wednesday night, but they don't have time to dwell on it with the Toronto Raptors in town on Friday.,Denver (42-28) fell to the lottery-bound Grizzlies in a makeup game that was postponed on Jan. 25. The loss dropped the Nuggets to sixth in the ...

Ayo Dosunmu bringing 'genuine energy' as Wolves take on Blazers
Nobody can fill Anthony Edwards' shoes, but Ayo Dosunmu is doing his best to help.,Dosunmu will look to stay hot as Edwards' injury replacement in the starting lineup when the Minnesota Timberwolves tip off against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night in Minneapolis.,The Timberwolves are 2-0 s...

Streaking Hawks putting pieces together while Rockets deal with leaky defense
The Atlanta Hawks had, for a large chunk of this season, endured so many nagging injuries and roster permutations that it was quite difficult to envision the result of a static and settled rotation.,Seemingly that moment has arrived, and to suggest that the Hawks are enjoying the best-case scenario ...

Grizzlies try to build off skid-snapper vs. Celtics as young pieces shine
Amid a tough and frustrating season for the Memphis Grizzlies, there have still been moments worth celebrating.,While the team's key members, including Ja Morant, Zach Edey, Santi Aldama and Scotty Pippen Jr., have missed most of the season due to injuries, their absences have given others a chance ...

Knicks strive to extend dominant stretch against Nets
The margins of victory are varied, but in recent years the result is the same when the New York Knicks face the Brooklyn Nets.,Attempting to inch toward second place in the Eastern Conference, the Knicks seek a 14th straight win in the series Friday night when they visit the Nets.,The Knicks are unb...

Capitals eager to continue strong homestand vs. Devils
The Washington Capitals have enjoyed the comforts of home lately and aim to keep doing so when they host the New Jersey Devils on Friday.,The Capitals (34-27-8, 76 points) are 7-1-1 in their past nine games as the hosts after a 4-1 win against the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday. They've won 21 of the ...

Hurricanes seek to grow East lead against Maple Leafs
The Carolina Hurricanes aim to take another step forward in the race for first place in the Eastern Conference on Friday night when they visit the Toronto Maple Leafs.,The Hurricanes (43-19-6, 92 points) led the conference by two points after their 6-5 home overtime win over the Pittsburgh Penguins ...

Miami (Ohio) has No. 6 seed Tennessee's full attention
PHILADELPHIA -- After being shut out from scheduling a high-major opponent during the season, Miami (Ohio) finally got a crack at one in the First Four of the NCAA Tournament.,The RedHawks looked the part of a tournament contender. And the sport took notice.,After beating SMU on Wednesday to solidif...

After turnaround season, No. 7 Miami visits Missouri in St. Louis
What a difference a new coach and new roster made for Miami.,After posting a 7-24 record a season ago, the Hurricanes rebounded under new coach Jai Lucas to go 25-8.,Their reward? A seventh seed in the NCAA Tournament's West Region and a late game Friday night in the first round against 10th-seeded ...

No. 4 Kansas aims to find form, spoil tourney debut of Cal Baptist
SAN DIEGO -- To begin its record 36th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, No. 4 seed Kansas faces a first-timer in the event on Friday in 13th-seeded California Baptist in an East Region game.,The Jayhawks (23-10) weathered some late-season turbulence on its way to the tournament. After a Feb. 9...

No. 2 seed UConn opens vs. Furman in 'heck of a region'
PHILADELPHIA -- Late-season stumbles against Creighton and Marquette likely pushed UConn off the fourth No. 1 seed line in the NCAA Tournament.,Instead, the Huskies are the No. 2 seed in the East Region, and coach Dan Hurley agrees with the prevailing sentiment that this quadrant of the bracket is s...

No. 1 seed Florida opens title defense vs. No. 16 Prairie View A&M
The Florida basketball program is among the most accomplished in the sport this century. Its three national titles over that span are tied with Duke and North Carolina for second-most behind UConn.,And yet, this season's Gators, led by coach Todd Golden, accomplished something never before done in p...

No. 7 UCLA set to take show on road vs. No. 10 UCF
PHILADELPHIA -- Since UCLA joined the Big Ten, Bruins coach Mick Cronin has developed something of a reputation for noting the challenges of his team's travel schedule.,There's a dash of irony to the fact that the Bruins must fly cross-country to reach their NCAA Tournament first-round destination, ...

Senior-laden Purdue pivots to 'March mode' vs. newbie Queens
ST. LOUIS -- For the third time in four years, Purdue enters the NCAA Tournament with a top two seed and a lot of experience.,All-American point guard Braden Smith's next assist will tie him with Duke great Bobby Hurley (1,076) atop the NCAA's all-time list. Smith is the only player in NCAA history ...

No. 8 seed Villanova eager to take next step vs. No. 9 Utah State
Friday's West Region matchup between eighth-seeded Villanova and ninth-seeded Utah State in San Diego features teams with similar statistical profiles.,It also features programs with much different NCAA Tournament histories. ,For Villanova (24-8), a winner of national championships in 2016 and 2018,...

No. 15 seed Tennessee State ready to run with No. 2 Iowa State
ST. LOUIS -- Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger took in the Ohio Valley Conference evidence to fully understand what the No. 2 seed Cyclones are facing in Tennessee State, the No. 15 seed and first-round NCAA Tournament opponent for the Cyclones on Friday afternoon. ,It only took a few seconds to get...

Bennett Stirtz chasing March magic as Iowa, Clemson open NCAA Tournament
Bennett Stirtz made a big splash in the NCAA Tournament last season when he led Drake to a first-round upset of Missouri.,Now at Iowa, Stirtz tries to steer the No. 9 seed Hawkeyes on a surprise run, beginning with Friday night's first-round South region matchup against No. 8 Clemson at Tampa, Fla.,...

No. 10 Santa Clara reaching to steal one from No. 7 Kentucky
ST. LOUIS -- There is a common denominator in the 13 losses Kentucky carries into the NCAA Tournament. All Santa Clara must do to have its best chance of reaching the second round on Friday is keep the Wildcats from scoring. ,The mission sounds simple, but assuredly seventh-seeded Kentucky (21-13) w...

Underdog Hofstra hopes to catch No. 4 seed Alabama off-balance
After spending several days in the news for all the wrong reasons, Alabama is more anxious for the NCAA Tournament than ever.,The No. 4 seed Crimson Tide (23-9) will look to put an ugly week behind them when they tip off against No. 13 seed Hofstra (24-10) on Friday afternoon in the first round of t...

Top-seeded Arizona starts Final Four quest with matchup vs. Long Island
SAN DIEGO -- West Region No. 1 seed Arizona will begin its pursuit of the program's first Final Four appearance since 2001 on Friday when the Wildcats face 16th-seeded Long Island in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. ,Arizona (32-2) heads into its fifth consecutive NCAA field on a nine-game wi...