COLLEGE BASKETBALL-NCAA TOURNAMENT
Regional title games in Memphis and Anaheim
UNDATED (AP) — Can the Dayton Flyers continue their great run in the NCAA tournament with an upset win over Florida to advance to the Final Four? Can Wisconsin’s Badgers beat Arizona’s Wildcats? Those are the big questions today as play in the South and West Regionals take center stage in the men’s basketball tournament tonight.
In the first game of the evening, being played in Memphis, Tenn., the surprising Flyers are squaring off with top seed and AP No. 1 Florida. The Gators have won their last 29 games and are 35-2 on the season. After beating Stanford to advance to tonight’s game, the Flyers are 26-10. The last time Dayton was in the Elite Eight was 1984, while Florida has been eliminated from the tournament in the Elite Eight the last three years.
The West Regional championship game is in Anaheim, Calif., this evening with the Wisconsin Badgers playing Arizona’s Wildcats. Wisconsin advanced with a win over Baylor while the Wildcats beat San Diego State. Record-wise Arizona gets the nod with 33 wins in 37 games this season while Wisconsin is 29-7. The Badgers haven’t been to the Final Four since retired coach Dick Bennett got them there in 2000. Arizona’s last trip to the Final Four came just one year later.
By the way the coach at Arizona is Sean Miller, the older brother of Dayton coach Ryan “Archie” Miller.
NBA-SCHEDULE
Can the Sixers win one?
UNDATED (AP) — Tonight could be the night the Cleveland Cavaliers have been waiting for since the 2010-11 season. It was during that season that the Cavs lost an NBA-record 26 straight games. Tonight, in Philadelphia, the 76ers will attempt to snap their current record-tying 26-game losing skid. If they fail to beat the visiting Pistons, Cleveland would get the monkey off its back as the team with the longest losing streak in NBA history. If the Sixers lose they’ll get another chance to snap the streak next Monday in Atlanta.
In games that have bearing on the playoff picture, the Clippers are at Houston, Miami plays in Milwaukee and the Spurs are hosting the Pelicans. The Clippers, Rockets, Heat and Spurs are all involved in the battle for high seeds in the conference standings.
The remaining games tonight have the Hawks in Washington and the Kings at Dallas.
NHL-SCHEDULE
Matinee hockey in Washington and Denver
UNDATED (AP) — The NHL schedule started in Washington today as the Capitals are playing host to the Bruins this afternoon. Boston tops the Eastern Conference with 106 points while the Caps are one of several teams vying for one of the lower-seed playoff spots. The other day game has San Jose, the top team in the Pacific Division with 103 points, playing at Colorado. The Avs are enjoying a successful season as well with 98 points.
On tap this evening the Canadiens are on the road for a game with the Panthers, Detroit is at Toronto, Buffalo is hosting Tampa Bay, Columbus is playing at Carolina, the Islanders are home to the Devils, Dallas is skating at St. Louis, Phoenix is home to Minnesota, Anaheim is at Vancouver and the Kings are hosting the Jets.
MLB-BRAVES
Another Atlanta injury
ROME, Ga. (AP) — General manager Frank Wren says right-hander Cory Gearrin has a “significant” injury to his right elbow. The reliever will be examined by Dr. James Andrews next week and will open the season on the disabled list. The possibility Gearrin could face season-ending surgery is another blow to a Braves staff that already has lost starting pitchers Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy this spring to their second Tommy John surgeries.
GOLF-TEXAS OPEN
Aussie Bowditch has the lead
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Australian Steven Bowditch was the leader when the third round of the Texas Open began in San Antonio. Bowditch fired a 5-under-par 67 yesterday for an 8-under total, one shot ahead of Chad Collins and Andrew Loupe.
Phil Mickelson made the cut despite opening with a 5-over 77. He opened today’s round at plus-3 following a 2-under 70 yesterday.
GOLF-KIA CLASSIC
Carter vaults into lead
CARLSBAD, Calif. (AP) — Dori Carter was the pace-setter heading into the third round of the LPGA’s Kia Classic. Carter was 10-under par through 36 holes, two shots in front of Stacy Lewis and Cristie Kerr.
FORMULA 1
Qualifying in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Talk of Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel (VEHT’-ehl) being washed up are apparently a bit premature. The four-time defending world champion was the second-fastest qualifier for Sunday’s Malaysian Grand Prix. Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton took the pole to tie the record for most qualifying wins by a British driver in Formula One. Nico Rosberg, the winner of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, was the third-fastest qualifier.
INDYCAR
Season-opener in Fla.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The IndyCar season gets going today with qualifying for tomorrow’s Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. The race marks the return of Juan Pablo Montoya to IndyCar after 12 seasons in Formula One and NASCAR. The Colombian won seven races and the old CART championship in 1999 and took the Indianapolis 500 and two other races in 2000 for Chip Ganassi racing. The winner of this race a year ago was James Hinchcliffe.
