preview Page 97 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights
No. 3 Duke strolls into New York, ailing Illinois vows 'fight' at MSG
When Brad Underwood committed to bring Illinois to face No. 3 Duke in a Saturday night main event at Madison Square Garden, it sounded like a magnificent marketing opportunity thanks to the national FOX audience -- and a fabulous measuring stick to find out how far the Illini might go in March., ,In...
Knicks come out of break with confidence against sliding Bulls
The New York Knicks prepared for their challenging schedule following the All-Star Break in about the only way a blue-collar team could do so: By playing their longest game of the season.,The Knicks will begin their playoff push Thursday night, when they host the Chicago Bulls as both teams return f...
Seeking win to boost NCAA chances, Ohio State welcomes Northwestern
Looking ahead. That's all Ohio State can do as the Buckeyes seek to rebound from a loss to rival Michigan when they host Northwestern on Thursday.,The Buckeyes (15-11, 7-8 Big Ten) hoped a victory over the then-No. 20 Wolverines on Sunday would fortify their bid to make the NCAA Tournament for the f...
Magic 'rejuvenated' entering critical clash with Hawks
There's a good chance the Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic are going to be muscling with each other for playoff position over the final eight weeks of the season. ,That makes head-to-head matchups, like the one scheduled for Thursday in Atlanta, even more important.,The teams are neck-and-neck in the...
Pacers get thrown right into fire after break, host Grizzlies
There will be no easing back into action after the All-Star break for the Indiana Pacers when they face the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday night in Indianapolis.,Indiana coach Rick Carlisle knows his squad will need to be switched to on from the opening tip against one of the league's most dangerous ...
Hornets set to face Lakers with Luka Doncic in rescheduled game
The Los Angeles Lakers and visiting Charlotte Hornets will return from the All-Star break earlier than previously planned when the teams meet for a make-up game Wednesday.,Originally scheduled for Jan. 9, that game was postponed amid the ongoing wildfires in the Los Angeles area.,While the Hornets o...
Southern California faces road challenge against No. 20 Maryland
Southern California heads to College Park, Md., on Thursday to visit No. 20 Maryland, one of the hottest offensive teams in the nation.,The Terrapins (20-6, 10-5 Big Ten) have won three straight and seven of their last eight, most recently a 101-75 rout of visiting Iowa on Sunday. The blowout, which...
Hornets will face Lakers with Luka Doncic in rescheduled game
The Los Angeles Lakers and visiting Charlotte Hornets will return from the All-Star break earlier than previously planned when the teams meet for a make-up game Wednesday.,Originally scheduled for Jan. 9, that game was postponed amid the ongoing wildfires in the Los Angeles area.,While the Hornets o...
Washington, Rutgers contending for last berth in Big Ten tourney
Judging by their records, one wouldn't think the game between Rutgers and Washington on Wednesday night in Seattle has tournament implications.,But it does.,The visiting Scarlet Knights (12-14, 5-10 Big Ten) and the Huskies (13-12, 4-10) are battling for the 15th and final berth into the conference ...
Oklahoma State, UCF trying to climb out of bottom of Big 12
Oklahoma State and UCF -- who entered this week tied for 13th place in the Big 12 standings -- open their regular-season series on Wednesday night in Stillwater, Okla.,The rematch is scheduled for March 5 in Orlando, Fla. That leads up to the Big 12 tournament in Kansas City, Mo., where both teams a...
Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton faces Miami one last time
Approaching the end of an era at Florida State, retiring coach Leonard Hamilton will enjoy one final matchup against his former team, Miami, when the teams meet on Wednesday night in Tallahassee, Fla.,The 76-year-old Hamilton, who announced earlier this month that his 23rd season would be his last a...
Cincinnati, West Virginia have work to do to for postseason berths
Two teams on opposite sides of the bubble meet in a Big 12 clash Wednesday night when West Virginia hosts Cincinnati in Morgantown, W. Va.,The Mountaineers (15-10, 6-8 Big 12) have lost two straight and three of four, with the most recent defeat on Saturday, a 74-71 overtime loss at Baylor. Free thr...
Regrouping No. 17 Kentucky tries to avenge loss to Vanderbilt
Down to its fourth option at point guard, No. 17 Kentucky is searching for some consistency overall when it hosts Vanderbilt on Tuesday night in Lexington, Ky.,In his first start of the season, an 82-78 loss at Texas on Saturday, freshman Travis Perry finished with six points and three assists in 28...
Mick Cronin goes for win No. 500 as UCLA welcomes Minnesota
UCLA coach Mick Cronin was initially surprised that his 83-year-old father was traveling from the Midwest to see the Bruins host Minnesota on Tuesday night in Big Ten play in Los Angeles.,Hep Cronin then spilled the beans -- informing his son that he will be attempting to post career win No. 500.,"I...
LSU, South Carolina seeking rare conference victory
LSU needed eight opportunities before it finally won its second Southeastern Conference game.,South Carolina is still seeking its first SEC win.,The two worst teams in the conference will meet when the Tigers (13-12, 2-10 SEC) and the Gamecocks (10-15, 0-12) face off Tuesday night in Baton Rouge, La...
Syracuse, Pitt in critical stretch for ACC tourney berths
Pittsburgh's leading scorer Jaland Lowe is expected to return when the Panthers host Syracuse on Tuesday night with both teams scrambling for position in the upcoming Atlantic Coast Conference tournament.,Lowe, a sophomore guard, missed Pitt's victory over Miami on Saturday with concussion-like symp...
UConn out to regroup, dent Villanova's NCAA tourney hopes
The drop-off in UConn's play from last season is evident and perhaps highlighted by Alex Karaban's admission after a disappointing overtime loss at Seton Hall on Saturday.,After Karaban said the players might not treat every game seriously, UConn seeks a better showing Tuesday night in Hartford, Con...
Butler, Xavier finding their footing in February
Two Big East teams on the upswing will face off when Butler rides a three-game winning streak into Cincinnati to face host Xavier on Tuesday.,Butler (12-13, 5-9) is faring better since a dismal 0-6 start to league play. Its latest conquest was a 97-86 win over visiting Georgetown on Saturday, when P...
Bill Self wants to see No. 23 Kansas 'be men' at BYU
These are not heady times for No. 23 Kansas entering Tuesday night's Big 12 Conference contest against BYU in Provo, Utah.,That's because the Jayhawks (17-8, 8-6 Big 12) continue to mix sloppy losses with wins. After cruising past Colorado on Feb. 11, they traveled Saturday night to a Utah team they...
No. 13 Purdue in close pursuit of No. 14 Michigan St. in standings
Any hope that No. 13 Purdue has of winning the Big Ten regular-season title hinges on its visit to East Lansing, Mich.,Following two consecutive losses, the third-place Boilermakers can't afford to lose any more ground. They're trying to catch Michigan and Michigan State, which hosts them on Tuesday...