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TOP STORIES:
BKC–NCAA-VCU-FLORIDA ST
SAN ANTONIO – A few years ago, George Mason showed that a No. 11 seed from an unheralded conference can make it to the Final Four. Now league rival Virginia Commonwealth is on the verge of topping that – taking a No. 11 seed from the First Four to the Final Four. The Rams had to win a play-in game just to secure their spot in the NCAA tournament, and have been unstoppable ever since. By Jaime Aron.
AP Photos.
BKC–NCAA–KENTUCKY-OHIO ST
NEWARK, NJ – Ohio State roared through the regular season, the Big Ten tournament and two rounds in the NCAA tournament as a swashbuckling juggernaut riding the talents of freshman star Jared Sullinger and torrid outside shooting to romp after romp. Kentuckys frantic defense slowed the Buckeyes down, then coolhanded Kentucky guard Brandon Knight sent Sullinger and company home early.
AP Photos.
BKC-NCAA-MARQUETTE-NCAROLINA
NEWARK, NJ – Getting out on the break and scoring has never been the issue for North Carolina. The question mark always has been the Tar Heels defense. If they could shut down opponents, Roy Williams kids from Chapel Hill could make people forget the disappointment of missing the NCAA tournament in 2010 in a heartbeat. Well Tar Heels fans, its time to forget. By Tom Canavan.
AP Photos.
BKC–NCAA-RICHMOND-KANSAS
SAN ANTONIO – Kansas might be sick of hearing how its taking the easy way toward the Final Four, even if the top-seeded Jayhawks arent exactly running into much trouble. Twelfth-seeded Richmond sure didnt put up much of a fight. Even after getting into a shoving match with Kansas players before the game. By Paul J. Weber.
AP Photos.
BKC–NCAA-BUTLER-STEVENS.
NEW ORLEANS – With his Butler Bulldogs mired in a funk earlier this season, 34-year-old Brad Stevens picked up his phone and called Floridas Billy Donovan. If the nations top young coach needed advice, it makes sense hed seek it from another coach who not long ago carried the same label. By David Brandt.
AP Photos.
ALSO:
- BC-BKC–NCAA Notebook.
ALSO MOVED PREVIOUSLY:
- NEW ORLEANS – BKC–NCAA-Butler-Florida. By Brett Martel.
- ANAHEIM, Calif. – BKC–NCAA-Arizona-Connecticut. By Greg Beacham.
VIDEO:
- NCAA tournament highlights.
GOLF:
GLF–GLF–BAY HILL
ORLANDO, Fla. – Martin Laird didnt split up with his coaches. It just sounds that way. And its not because he was playing poorly. Quite the opposite for the Scot, the second-round lead in the Arnold Palmer Invitational. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson.
AP Photos.
ALSO MOVED PREVIOUSLY:
- INDUSTRY, Calif. – GLF–LPGA Tour.
- MALAGA, Spain- GLF–European Tour.
WOMENS NCAA TOURNAMENT:
BKW–NCAA-PHOENIX RISING
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Kayla Tetschlag swished jump shot after jump shot before practice over a teammate with a little extra something. Tetschlag was forced to hit her baskets over 6-foot-2 Katie Bushman, who was playing defense with a foot-long green piece of foam extending from her outstretched arm. That is one of the ways Wisconsin-Green Bay is getting ready for Baylor and 6-foot-8 Brittney Griner.
AP Photos.
ALSO MOVED PREVIOUSLY:
- DAYTON, Ohio – BC-BKW–NCAA-Ohio St-Tennessee. By Rusty Miller.
- DAYTON, Ohio – BC-BKW–NCAA-Oklahoma-Notre Dame. By Joe Kay.
- SPOKANE, Wash. – BC-BKW–NCAA-North Carolina-Stanford. By Tim Booth.
- SPOKANE, Wash. – BKW–NCAA-Gonzaga-Louisville. By Tim Booth.
FOOTBALL:
FBC–BAMAS AUSSIE
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Jesse Williams is hoping to be the next Terrence Cody: a supersized junior college transfer who makes a big impact on Alabamas defensive line. Williams has more tattoos, a little less girth and an accent from Down Under not Down South. But Crimson Tide fans would be ecstatic if the Australian out of Arizona Western Community College works out nearly as well as his JUCO-to-Bama predecessor on the defensive line. By John Zenor.
ALSO MOVED PREVIOUSLY:
- HOUSTON – BC-FBN–Packers-Jolly.
- MIAMI – BC-FBN–Robbins-Arrest.
- FBN–NFL Labor-Season Tickets. By Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner.
- NEW YORK – BC-FBN–Draft-Compensatory Picks. By Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner.
- CLEVELAND – FBN–NFL Labor. By Thomas J. Sheeran.
- COLUMBUS, Ohio – BC-FBC–Ohio St-Tressel Trouble.
COLUMN:
CAR–F1-JOHN LEICESTER
PARIS – Formula One and cycling are sports poles apart but with a common problem. It has reached the point where fans watching on TV can go to the kitchen for a snack without fear of missing any action. Predictability isnt good for a sport. F1 is aware of that and is adding bells and whistles to improve the show, including tires that, with luck, should deteriorate quickly. By AP Sports Columnist John Leicester.
AP Photos.
ALSO:
- ANAHEIM, Calif. – BC-BKN–Kings-Relocation.
- MELBOURNE, Australia – CAR–F1-Australian GP. By Neil Frankland.
ALSO MOVED PREVIOUSLY:
- FONTANA, Calif. – BC-CAR–NASCAR-Fontana. By John Marshall.
- FONTANA, Calif. – CAR–NASCAR-Fontana Qualifying. By John Marshall.
- ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – CAR–IndyCar-St Pete. By Mark Long.
- TEMPE, Ariz. – BC-WRE–Robles Triumphant. By Bob Baum.
- SOC–Womens World Cup. By National Writer Nancy Armour.
- APELDOORN, Netherlands – BC-CYC–McQuaid-Contador, By Mike Corder.
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Saturdays EDT Time Schedule
BASKETBALL
NCAA Tournaments
Men
Regional Championships
Southeast Regional: Florida vs. Butler at New Orleans, 4:30 pm
West Regional: Connecticut vs. Arizona at Anaheim, Calif., 7:05 pm
Women
Regional Semifinals
Dayton Regional: Tennessee vs. Ohio State, noon
Dayton Regional: Oklahoma vs. Notre Dame, 2 pm
Spokane Regional: Gonzaga vs. Louisville, 9 pm
Spokane Regional: Stanford vs. North Carolina, 11:30 pm
National Basketball Association
New Jersey at Atlanta, 7 pm
New York at Charlotte, 7 pm
Indiana at Detroit, 7:30 pm
Chicago at Milwaukee, 8:30 pm
Dallas at Utah, 9 pm
Toronto at LA Clippers, 10:30 pm
BASEBALL
Exhibition
St. Louis vs. Florida at Jupiter, Fla., 1:05 pm
Baltimore vs. Tampa Bay at Port Charlotte, Fla., 1:05 pm
Washington vs. Houston at Kissimmee, Fla., 1:05 pm
Pittsburgh vs. NY Yankees at Tampa, Fla., 1:05 pm
Philadelphia (ss) vs. Detroit at Lakeland, Fla., 1:05 pm
Toronto vs. Philadelphia (ss) at Clearwater, Fla., 1:05 pm
Atlanta vs. NY Mets at Port St. Lucie, Fla., 1:10 pm
Chicago Cubs vs. Texas at Surprise, Ariz., 4:05 pm
Seattle vs. Milwaukee at Maryvale, Ariz., 4:05 pm
LA Dodgers vs. San Diego at Peoria, Ariz., 4:05 pm
LA Angels vs. Chicago White Sox at Glendale, Ariz., 4:05 pm
Kansas City vs. Arizona at Scottsdale, Ariz., 4:10 pm
Cincinnati vs. San Francisco (ss) at Scottsdale, Ariz., 6:10 pm
Minnesota vs. Boston at Fort Myers, Fla., 7:05 pm Colorado vs. Oakland at Phoenix, 10:05 pm
San Francisco (ss) vs. Cleveland at Goodyear, Ariz., 10:05 pm
HOCKEY
National Hockey League
NY Rangers at Boston, 1 pm
Colorado at Los Angeles, 4 pm
New Jersey at Buffalo, 7 pm
Toronto at Detroit, 7 pm
Tampa Bay at Carolina, 7 pm
Washington at Montreal, 7 pm
Philadelphia at NY Islanders, 7 pm
Dallas at Nashville, 8 pm
St. Louis at Minnesota, 8 pm
Anaheim at Chicago, 8:30 pm
San Jose at Phoenix, 9 pm
Calgary at Edmonton, 10 pm
SOCCER
Major League Soccer
Portland at Toronto FC, 2 pm
Vancouver at Philadelphia, 4 pm
New York at Columbus, 4 pm
Sporting Kansas City at Chicago, 4 pm
DC United at New England, 4:30 pm
Los Angeles at Real Salt Lake, 9 pm
San Jose at FC Dallas, 9 pm
Colorado at Chivas USA, 10:30 pm