U.S./World Sports category, Page 369
Virginia overcomes Purdue in OT thriller, reaches Final Four
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — From embarrassment to exhilaration. From early exit to regional champ. From bracket busters to net cutters. Virginia, the first No. 1 seed to lose to a 16 seed a year ago, survived overtime and Carson Edwards’ staggering 3-point show Saturday night to make it to the Final...
Tiger Woods meets his match in Lucas Bjerregaard at Match Play
AUSTIN, Texas — Tiger Woods finally met his match Saturday, and it wasn’t Rory McIlroy. Lucas Bjerregaard delivered the clutch shots so often seen from Woods to tie the match on the 16th hole and beat him on the 18th hole in a shocking conclusion when Woods missed a 4-foot...
Texas Tech tops Gonzaga to earn 1st trip to Final Four
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Texas Tech is heading to its first Final Four thanks to a kid from Italy who made the big shots and a defense that refuses to rest. Davide Moretti opened up a late lead with the two most important 3-pointers of his life, Tariq Owens came up...
Super powers set to collide when Duke meets Michigan State
WASHINGTON — Zion Williamson watched in awe in 2015 when Duke and Michigan State met in the Final Four. When he steps on to the court for another Duke-Michigan State NCAA Tournament showdown Sunday with a Final Four spot at stake, the fabulous freshman will feel grateful to be a...
Jimmie Johnson looking for old Cup result in Texas to end droughtVideo
FORT WORTH, Texas — Maybe Jimmie Johnson can do something old at Texas and get back into Victory Lane. “I think the term ‘new’ is the thing that has hurt us the most this year. We know and acknowledge that what we were trying last year didn’t work,” Johnson said....
Auburn gives boot to No. 1 seed North Carolina
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Auburn insisted all along it wouldn’t change its style against up-tempo North Carolina. Turns out the SEC Tournament champs can run a bit, too. Auburn earned its second trip to the Elite Eight by coasting to a to a 97-80 victory over the No. 1 seed...
Freshmen lead Michigan State past LSU into Elite Eight
WASHINGTON — Matt McQuaid could not believe LSU was giving Michigan State freshmen Aaron Henry and Gabe Brown so much room at the 3-point line. “They were like 3 or 4 feet off Gabe on that one 3,” McQuaid said. “I was like, ‘Dang, do they know he can shoot?’...
Syracuse star Tyus Battle won’t come back for senior year
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse star Tyus Battle is not coming back for his senior year. In an open letter to fans published Friday in The Post-Standard of Syracuse, Battle made his decision after reports he’d leave surfaced when the Orange were eliminated in the first round of the NCAA Tournament....
Duke avoids upset, edges Virginia Tech to reach Elite 8
WASHINGTON — Zion Williamson soared for a two-handed, rim-rattling, crowd-thrilling alley-oop that gave Duke its biggest lead during a tight tussle against Virginia Tech in the East Region semifinals. He is known for his dunks, to be sure, but he can do more. So much more. And now Williamson and...
Purdue reaches Elite 8 with overtime win vs. Tennessee
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Carsen Edwards scored 29 points as Purdue advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2000, needing overtime to beat Tennessee, 99-94, on Thursday night after blowing an 18-point lead. The third-seeded Boilermakers (26-9) will play either top-seeded Virginia or No....
Gonzaga bests Florida State, advances to Elite 8
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Gonzaga is in the Elite Eight for the fourth time following a 72-58 victory over Florida State in the opening West regional semifinal on Thursday night. Rui Hachimura scored 17 points to lead the top-seeded Bulldogs, and Brandon Clarke had 15 points and 12 rebounds as Gonzaga...
Tiger Woods down but not out at Match Play
AUSTIN, Texas — The magical escape by Tiger Woods didn’t keep him from losing Thursday in the Dell Technologies Match Play. He just didn’t lose hope of playing on the weekend. The same couldn’t be said for defending champion Bubba Watson, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed and a host...
ESPN’s Keith Olbermann: Sorry for threatening hunter for rare kill
JACKSON, Miss. — ESPN broadcaster Keith Olbermann has apologized for insulting and threatening a Mississippi turkey hunter who killed a rare white turkey. The Clarion Ledger reports the former MSNBC political commentator tweeted Wednesday that he was sorry for his earlier tweet that threatened 22-year-old Hunter Waltman. The threatening tweet...
NASCAR’s winners/losers from radical schedule changes
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — An entire generation of NASCAR has spent its life tuned to a schedule so predictable events could be planned years in advance and race dates marked milestones. Daytona meant the beach — a week out of school in February, the Fourth of July for vacation — and...
Cameron Reddish coming up clutch for Duke
DURHAM, N.C. — When Duke needs a clutch 3-pointer, the best option might be Cameron Reddish. The freshman has been solid overall, hitting one-third of his 3s, but that number jumps to 42 percent in the second halves of games that are either tied or within a possession. And as...
Tiger returns to Match Play with a win
AUSTIN, Texas — Tiger Woods made a successful return to Dell Technologies Match Play with a victory. Jordan Spieth found some success with a tie. The most unpredictable tournament in golf began Wednesday with only a few surprises as only four of the top 16 seeds in group play failed...
Houston’s resurgence rekindles memories of Phi Slama Jama
HOUSTON — When the Houston Cougars were last in the Sweet 16, Hakeem Olajuwon starred and coach Guy V. Lewis stalked the sideline in his trademark plaid jackets. Thirty-five years later, a new generation of Cougars led by Houston native Galen Robinson Jr., Armoni Brooks and Corey Davis Jr. finally...
Phil Cofer on minds of Florida State players, coach
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Phil Cofer is not with Florida State, but he was very much on the minds of his teammates as they practiced Wednesday. The Seminoles are in the Sweet 16 for the second straight year, but the senior forward is in Georgia preparing for his father’s funeral Saturday....
Get ready for a Sweet 16 filled with favorites, star players, great matchups
Last year’s NCAA Tournament was an epic ride for the underdogs, from UMBC’s historic takedown of No. 1 Virginia to Loyola-Chicago’s march to the Final Four. This year, Cinderella stayed home to get some beauty sleep. Top seeds and power programs only, please. The top three seeds are still alive...
Ohio man takes perfect NCAA Tournament bracket into Sweet 16
COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio man has made history with a March Madness bracket that’s perfect through 48 games on the NCAA.com’s “Bracket Challenge,” according to the NCAA. Gregg Nigl of Columbus told the Columbus Dispatch he almost didn’t fill out his bracket last week, saying he was home sick...
Deal helps Gonzaga earn more money for NCAA Tournament success
When leaders at Gonzaga were looking to sweeten the pot for their basketball team in exchange for staying in the West Coast Conference, they knew where the money might come from. NCAA Tournament payouts. With the perennially contending Zags being courted by the Mountain West, athletic director Mike Roth sought...
NASCAR makes major changes to 2020 Cup Series schedule, including a new championship track
After repeated cries from fans and drivers alike for a renovated NASCAR schedule, the sanctioning body announced Tuesday that it finally has made some substantial changes. NASCAR released its 2020 Cup Series schedule Tuesday, confirming reports that it had shifted its schedule for the first time in several years. Among...
Conor McGregor announces retirement on social mediaVideo
LOS ANGELES — UFC superstar Conor McGregor announced his retirement on social media Monday night, abruptly ending his remarkable fighting career. In a post on his verified Twitter account, the former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion said: “I’ve decided to retire from the sport formally known as ‘Mixed Martial Art’...
NASCAR In the Pits: Schedule may not be overhaul fans soughtVideo
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway will not be part of next year’s NASCAR schedule, so come to terms with that now. Fans have a wish list of changes for NASCAR’s stale and stagnant schedule, and they have been led to believe series leadership heard their desires. The highly anticipated...
Big 12 a bust with early NCAA Tournament flameouts
Bill Self stood in a room just off the court in Allen Fieldhouse on Selection Sunday and lamented the Big 12 managed to squeak only six schools into the NCAA Tournament. The Hall of Fame coach of Kansas pointed to the impressive nonconference wins the league racked up in November...
