T25-SCHEDULE
Wildcats try to keep it going
UNDATED (AP) —Insisting there is no pressure being undefeated entering the last week of February, the top-ranked Kentucky Wildcats say they just hope to keep improving ahead of the upcoming SEC and NCAA tournaments. The top-ranked Wildcats, the only undefeated Division I men’s college basketball team, return to Rupp Arena for a date against Auburn tonight. The Wildcats are trying to go to 27-0.
Elsewhere in the AP Top-25, third-ranked Gonzaga, fresh off its 86-74 rout of Pacific Thursday night when Kyle Wiltjer poured in 45, return home tonight for a West Coast Conference game against St. Mary’s. The ‘Zags are 27-1, trying for their 21st straight victory.
Fourth-ranked Duke is home against Clemson. The 23-3 Blue Devils are coming off a 92-90 overtime thriller against North Carolina Wednesday night, winning a game they trailed by 10 points with less than four minutes left.
In the Big Ten, fifth-ranked Wisconsin takes its lofty 24-2 record into today’s home game against Minnesota. The Badgers defeated Penn State 55-47 Wednesday night in their last outing.
Sixth-ranked Villanova is at Marquette in Big East play. The Wildcats trounced Seton Hall 80-54 Monday night, turning the tables on one of the two teams that has beaten Villanova this season.
Seventh-ranked Arizona, fresh off its 87-57 rout of Southern California Thursday night, hosts UCLA. The Wildcats are 23-3 overall, and 11-2 in the Pac-12.
Eighth-ranked Kansas will try to get back on track as the Jayhawks host TCU. The Jayhawks fell to 23rd-ranked West Virginia 62-61 Monday night.
Rounding out the Top-10, tenth-ranked Notre Dame travels to Boston College in ACC play. The 23-4 Irish are coming off an 88-75 victory over Wake Forest Tuesday night in a game the Irish made 27 of 28 free throws.
Elsewhere in the AP Top-25, 11th-ranked Northern Iowa guns for its 15th straight victory when it hosts Bradley. Louisville, ranked 12th in the AP poll, tries to rebound after its 69-59 loss at Syracuse Wednesday night, returns home to play Miami. No. 14 Iowa State is at Texas, No. 15 North Carolina hosts Georgia Tech in the ACC, No. 17 Oklahoma is at Texas Texas, 18th-ranked Arkansas plays at Mississippi State, 19th-ranked Butler is at Xavier, 20th-ranked Baylor hosts Kansas State, No. 22 Oklahoma State is at No. 23 West Virginia and 25th-ranked VCU hosts UMass.
NBA-SCHEDULE
Thunder hit road at Charlotte
UNDATED (AP) — A handful of games are on the NBA schedule following a busy Friday night of action. The Oklahoma City Thunder, who are battling the Phoenix Suns for the final playoff berth in the Western Conference, are on the road at Charlotte. The Thunder began their post-All-Star game push for the playoffs by beating Dallas 104-89 Thursday night.
Elsewhere in the NBA, Miami is home against New Orleans, Chicago hosts Phoenix, Toronto visits Houston and the L.A. Clippers are home against Sacramento.
NHL-SCHEDULE
2 matinees today…Stadium Series game tonight in Santa Clara
UNDATED (AP) — Two day games are on the 11-game NHL card. First up the Metropolitan Division-leading New York Islanders travel to Washington to play the Capitals, who are fourth in the conference. The Islanders are coming off a 5-2 thrashing of the Nashville Predators.
Nashville, with the best record in the NHL despite their loss to the Islanders Thursday night, takes its show on the road at Philadelphia. The Predators come in with a Western Conference-leading 39-13-6 record.
Tonight, Edmonton hosts Anaheim, Winnipeg is at Toronto, Florida is at Ottawa, Montreal hosts Columbus, Carolina is at New Jersey, Dallas hosts Detroit, Arizona is home against Tampa Bay, St. Louis hosts Pittsburgh and the L.A. Kings are at San Jose. That last game is part of the NHL’s outdoor stadium series games, to be played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara where the San Francisco 49ers play.
PGA-NORTHERN TRUST OPEN
Goosen in unfamiliar territory
LOS ANGELES (AP)— Retief (reh-TEEF’) Goosen takes a one-shot lead over Ryan Moore, Graham DeLaet and 21-year-old rookie Justin Thomas into today’s third round of the PGA Tour stop in Los Angeles at storied Riviera Country Club. The 46-year-old Goosen hasn’t won since 2009 on the PGA Tour.
LPGA-AUSTRALIAN OPEN
Ko, Jutanugarn level after 3 rounds
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — World No. 1 Lydia Ko of New Zealand and Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn both shot 1-under 72 on Saturday to share the lead after the third round of the Women’s Australian Open at Royal Melbourne.
Ko and Jutanugarn had 54-holes totals of 7-under 212, one better than South Korea’s Amy Yang, who shot 70.
Julieta Granada of Paraguay and Australia’s Katherine Kirk, also with 70s, were tied for fourth, three behind the leaders.
England’s Charley Hull shot 76 and dropped back into a group tied for seventh with Jessica Korda (75), the 2012 champion at Royal Melbourne.
It was a tough day at Royal Melbourne, particularly on the back nine. Only one player broke 70 — first-round leader Ilhee Lee with a 69. She’s tied for 13th and seven strokes behind.
