review Page 87 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights
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...
Flyers strive to stay comfortable on road in clash vs. Kings
The Philadelphia Flyers will look to continue their road success and give their flickering playoff hopes another boost when they visit the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night.,The Flyers (32-23-12, 76 points) have won five straight road games as they face the Kings (28-24-15, 71 points) in a clash o...
Without Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks bid to tune out Jazz
As the odds of the Milwaukee Bucks reaching the Eastern Conference play-in round decrease, drama involving superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is increasing again.,Antetokounmpo will sit out Thursday night's game against the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City due to a hyperextended left knee, and the B...
Pelicans vie to extend home winning streak in rematch vs. Clippers
Dejounte Murray appears to be getting the best out of the New Orleans Pelicans.,The Pelicans will get another chance to show off their improved form on Thursday when they face the visiting Los Angeles Clippers for the second consecutive day.,Playing in his ninth game since making his season debut la...
Cavaliers finding 'synergy' ahead of clash vs. spiraling Bulls
Looking to make headway in the Eastern Conference playoff race, the Cleveland Cavaliers will play the second of three straight road games when they visit the Chicago Bulls on Thursday. ,Cleveland (42-27) bounced back from a 130-120 loss at home on Sunday to struggling Dallas with a 123-116 win in Mi...
Lakers bring star power, winning streak into game against Heat
Luka Doncic and LeBron James are headed to Miami as the Los Angeles Lakers visit the Heat on Thursday night.,Doncic leads the NBA in scoring (33.0 points) and ranks third in assists (8.5).,James, the NBA's all-time leading scorer, is set to return to Miami, where he led the Heat to four straight Eas...
Islanders attempt to extend road success vs. Senators
While the New York Islanders continue to jockey for playoff position, the Ottawa Senators are doing their best to remain relevant in the postseason chase.,Eyeing a fourth straight road win, the Islanders will look to hand the Senators a second straight loss on Thursday, something Ottawa hasn't exper...
Blue Jackets bring pressure-based mindset into meeting with Rangers
The Columbus Blue Jackets are on a 10-game point streak (6-0-4) as they prepare to host the New York Rangers on Thursday night.,That run and a 17-2-4 record in the past 23 games have put the Blue Jackets on the brink of a playoff position. Columbus (35-21-11, 81 points) sits one point back of both t...