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"Sports Quote of the Day"
"The secret of concentration is the secret of self-discovery. You reach inside yourself to discover your personal resources, and what it takes to match them to the challenge." ~ Arnold Palmer, Generally Regarded As One Of The Greatest Players In Professional Golf History
Trending: Blackhawks clinch playoff berth with win over Canucks. (See the hockey section for Blackhawks updates).
Trending: McCaskey talks free agency, Cutler. (See the football section for Bears updates).
Trending: True to this wild season, Final Four favorite a mystery........... (See the college basketball section for 2016 NCAA March Madness updates).
Scott Darling stops Canuck's Emerson Etem as Trevor van Riemsdyk watches during the second period in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Sunday, March 27, 2016. (Photo/Darryl Dyck/AP)
Trending: McCaskey talks free agency, Cutler. (See the football section for Bears updates).
Trending: True to this wild season, Final Four favorite a mystery........... (See the college basketball section for 2016 NCAA March Madness updates).
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks? Blackhawks clinch playoff berth with win over Canucks.
By Tracey Myers
Scott Darling and his teammates celebrate the 3-2 win in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Sunday, March 27, 2016. (Photo/Darryl Dyck/AP)
The Blackhawks wanted Andrew Ladd back because of the impact he made during the 2010 Stanley Cup run and what he could do this postseason.
He certainly did his part to help them secure that playoff berth this weekend.
Ladd scored the game-winning goal with 2:27 remaining in regulation as the Blackhawks guaranteed another place in the playoffs with their 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday. Ladd had four points this weekend — his 23rd goal of the season tonight and two goals and an assist in a 4-1 victory over Calgary on Saturday night. It’s what the Blackhawks envisioned when they reacquired him at the deadline.
“Yeah, love the way he played the last couple of games,” coach Joel Quenneville said of Ladd. “He brings that presence, got some pace to his game, has some energy. He was rewarded with some huge goals for us.”
The Blackhawks remain in third place in the Central Division with 95 points. Nashville, idle tonight, is in fourth with 91 points.
Scott Darling collected his second victory in as many nights, stopping 26 of 28 shots. Teuvo Teravainen scored his 13th goal of the season and Tomas Fleischmann scored his fourth since the Blackhawks acquired him from the Montreal Canadiens. Trevor van Riemsdyk had two assists.
On Sunday, that top line of Ladd, Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa probably looked its best since being assembled. They, as well as the rest of the Blackhawks, got off to a strong start in this one. And Ladd was rewarded at the end, as he took the pass from Toews to give the Blackhawks the victory.
“I figured as soon as [Toews] got the middle there, probably open up a lane on the back side and I just tried to find a spot and get ready to shoot one,” Ladd said. "Luckily I got a pretty good shot off.”
The Blackhawks had two previous leads in this one, first thanks to Fleischmann and then to Teravainen, who was the beneficiary of a pretty tic-tac-toe from Patrick Kane to van Riemsdyk to him.
“I just found myself in a good spot there and I just gave it to Teuvo,” van Riemsdyk said. “He made a nice shot, just put it under the bar.”
Darling, meanwhile, was good once again. He was critical when the Blackhawks had to kill off Toews’ double-minor high-sticking midway through the third period and he later made a diving glove save on an Alex Burrows shot.
“He was our best player both games,” Ladd said of Darling. “A lot of times, especially in those big penalty kills, he has to come up with big saves. He’s played great for us the last little bit.”
The Blackhawks played better this weekend. They got four much-needed points and may be betting some confidence back. But the Blackhawks aren’t just happy with getting into the postseason. They want to hone their game down the stretch and continue to build off what they did in Western Canada.
“All of these games are valuable right now,” van Riemsdyk said. “We’re just working our way to playing the right way, kind of building momentum that way. We know the importance of every night and we’re trying to make use of every game.”
Five Things from Blackhawks-Canucks: Teravainen fills in well.
By Tracey Myers
The Blackhawks still weren’t playing their best hockey over this weekend. There are still some questions they need to answer, some things they have to shore up before the postseason begins.
Nevertheless, the Blackhawks reversed their negative trend and came away with four critical points, including two in their victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday. Now it’s on to Minnesota to face a Wild team the Blackhawks haven’t been able to solve this season. But before we head back to the U.S., let’s look at Five Things to take from the Blackhawks’ 3-2 decision over the Canucks.
1. They’re in. The Blackhawks wanted to get back in the win column, wanted to start playing better and hoped to clinch a playoff berth this weekend. They ended up doing all of those. The latter is the big one; as much as the Blackhawks have struggled recently and have lost ground in the Central Division, they can at least head to Minnesota knowing they’re headed to the playoffs once again.
2. Penalty kill comes up big. The Blackhawks were holding a one-goal lead when Jonathan Toews was called for a double-minor high-sticking midway through the third. While it had its anxious moments, the kill came through. Two reasons for that: Scott Darling’s stops and Marcus Kruger’s return to the kill. Coach Joel Quenneville was especially pleased with the latter. “That’s what Krugs brings, that intangible,” he said. “You have two penalty killers in the box and you’re down a four-minute kill, so you have to keep going to the well. Darls made a big save late in it, but Krugs out there takes a lot of pride in being in that situation and making sure the penalty kill takes care of business and does the right thing. It’s nice to see him back."
3. Power play is a liability. The Blackhawks only had one power play on Sunday but it wasn’t a good one. They recorded just one shot on that advantage, which came just 21 seconds into the second period. And just like that, the momentum the Blackhawks had built with their great first period seemed to disappear. That is something they saw happen too often when the advantage struggled in previous seasons.
4. No Artem Anisimov. The Blackhawks were without their second-line center, who was day-to-day with a lower body injury. Anisimov has struggled the last few weeks, so in his absence Teuvo Teravainen centered Patrick Kane and Artemi Panarin. It was actually a pretty nice combination, one that resulted in a goal (Teravainen’s) early in the third period. Still, the Blackhawks want their big center healthy and ready to go for the postseason, and it doesn’t sound like his injury is serious.
5. Tomas Fleischmann does it again. When the Blackhawks traded for Fleischmann and Dale Weise, the latter was expected to make the bigger impact sooner. Well, it’s been the reverse. Fleischmann has been great in his short time with the Blackhawks, and he scored his fourth goal with them on Sunday night. Listen, we realize the Blackhawks will have very little cash next season, and signing Andrew Shaw is likely at the top of the list. But if there’s a little change left over and Fleischmann is willing to stay for it… just thinking out loud here.
Blackhawks take care of business, earn big win over Flames. (Saturday night's game, 03/26/2016).
By Tracey Myers
Andrew Shaw’s slashing penalty in the second period had coach Joel Quenneville fuming.
“Yeah, he’s lucky he got a shift,” Quenneville said of Shaw going back out after that infraction. Shaw, however, made up for his gaffe in the best way possible.
Shaw scored the game winner, his third goal in as many games, and Scott Darling stopped 31 of 32 shots in the Blackhawks’ 4-1 victory over the Calgary Flames. The Blackhawks remain in third in the Central Division with 93 points, with the Nashville Predators lurking right behind them with 91.
Andrew Ladd had two goals — including an empty netter — and an assist and Teuvo Teravainen added an empty-net goal with 12 seconds remaining in regulation.
Marcus Kruger played his first game after missing more than three months with a wrist injury.
“It was a lot of fun being out there again,” he said. “I’ve been practicing for a long time and you’re always wondering how it’s going to be in a real game. It was good to get that going today and obviously it was nice to get a win.”
Still, it was tough to guess which way this one was going to go midway through the second, when it was tied 1-1. Shaw’s penalty was part of a rough few minutes in the second for the Blackhawks. They got through the short-handed time but Shaw knew his second penalty was ill-advised.
So a little more than a minute after leaving the penalty box, he redirected Michal Rozsival’s pass for a 2-1 Blackhawks lead they wouldn’t lose.
“I needed to make up for that dumb penalty I took, so I did what I could to get to the net,” said Shaw, who has been finding his game again lately. “I picked up my game. I started getting back to the nitty-gritty, going to the net, in your face, finishing checks, using my speed and good things have started coming my way.”
So did the Blackhawks overall. Most of the credit in this one goes to Darling, who was great from start to finish and probably earned Sunday’s start against the Vancouver Canucks, too. Dougie Hamilton got the Flames’ lone goal in the second period.
“He was huge,” Shaw said of Darling. “He had some big-time saves, fought through traffic to find pucks and he was lights out tonight.”
The Blackhawks were in a situation in which they needed points badly. They made some mistakes again on Saturday but they, Shaw included, made up for them with a necessary victory.
“We’ve lost a ton of ground here. Trying to get a win was the most important thing,” Quenneville said. “We found a way to win, which is nice. Darls was very instrumental in the win but scoreboard watching when you’re in this position is not what we need to be [doing.] We needed to get two points, take care of our own business.”
Just Another Chicago Bulls Session... Atlanta Hawks-Chicago Bulls Preview.
It's nearly as hard to find a team playing worse than the Chicago Bulls.
The visiting Hawks can punch their playoff ticket Monday night with a ninth win in their last 10 games as they try to complete a season sweep of a Bulls team that looks like it can make other mid-April plans.
The East's Nos. 3-9 teams were separated by 4 1/2 games in the standings on Feb. 26, a point at which the Hawks (44-30) were closer to finding themselves out of the postseason picture than the Bulls (36-36).
That's certainly not the case a month later. Atlanta beat Chicago 103-88 that night to kick off a 13-3 stretch that has it currently occupying the conference's third seed, while the Bulls have lost 10 of 16 to fall into the ninth spot.
A win Monday would ensure that the Hawks can't finish worse than Chicago, so they'd clinch a playoff berth.
The Bulls looked so inept during a stretch of three losses in four days - two to the New York Knicks and Saturday's 111-89 no-show in Orlando - that a certain dirty word keeps popping up surrounding the team.
"I don't think anybody's quit," guard Jimmy Butler said. "We've just hit adversity at the wrong time and we've got to fix it. It better carry over from in this locker room out to the court. That's the only way to get this thing fixed."
Chicago has allowed 108.5 points per 100 possessions over the last 16 games - 6.4 more than it gave up over its first 56. The Bulls' minus-7.0 net rating in this stretch is better than only New Orleans, Phoenix and Philadelphia.
"Obviously, we're really struggling right now," forward Mike Dunleavy said. "We look like a team that's lost in terms of doing the things you need to do. It's a lot of stuff. We have to find our way. We've had success in the past, but it's going to be tough right now."
It's going to be even tougher with seven of the next eight games against likely playoff clubs, starting with a Hawks team that's been arguably the best in basketball in this stretch. Starting with that Feb. 26 game against Chicago, Atlanta's plus-11.4 net rating is the NBA's best - just ahead of San Antonio and Golden State - and its 94.8 defensive rating is easily leading the league.
Eight Hawks posted double figures in Saturday's 112-95 rout at Detroit, with Paul Millsap becoming the fifth player in six games to lead Atlanta in scoring. He finished with 23 points, nine rebounds, five assists, four steals and four blocks, a line only four other NBA players have reached since 2000.
All that came in just over three quarters after Millsap needed 10 stitches above his eye. He's expected to play Monday.
"He's a heck of a player. We're very fortunate to have him," coach Mike Budenholzer said. "We actually want more. We're on him and think he could do even more for us. When he plays with great energy and great force, his impact on the game is huge, and he knows that."
Millsap has blocked 12 shots as the Hawks have won all three from the Bulls by an average of 17.7 points, while it's been Al Horford who's done the bulk of the scoring damage with 22.3 points per game on 69.8 percent shooting.
Atlanta has owned this series largely because of its defense, forcing a combined 62 turnovers that have led to 77 points.
Derrick Rose has eight in the two he's played while going 11 of 33 from the field.
Rock bottom: Bulls submit in blowout loss to Magic. (Saturday night's game, 03/26/2016).By Vincent Goodwill
Jimmy Butler sat with a towel draped around his face, as Pau Gasol muttered something unintelligible as the Bulls came out of a timeout.
Derrick Rose sat with a cold stare, alongside Taj Gibson, whose facial expressions drifted from anger to fury to resignation by the time 40 minutes had passed.
It didn’t take that long for the principle characters to see it wasn’t their night, hasn’t been their week, month or quarter.
The Orlando Magic was merely the latest team to feast on a Bulls team that looks like a dead carcass, a squad that can’t wait to get to April 14, when it’s time to clean out their lockers.
Beaten down, beaten up, fragile and frail, the Bulls look to have nothing left to give this season, as they fell behind by as much as 29 to a Magic team that came in losers of six in a row but left victors in a 111-89 drubbing Saturday night at Amway Center.
It left the question for Fred Hoiberg to answer afterwards, as he had to respond to the notion if his team has quit.
“I sure hope not,” the exasperated Bulls coach said. “Obviously, what I’m saying right now, the message isn’t getting across. We’re going to sit in a room and hopefully get it figured out tomorrow.”
The Bulls easily submitted, as has been their pattern, and there just appeared to be a lack of passion from the jump. Honest questions need to be asked and answered, and Butler didn’t disagree with the thought some confrontation is necessary.
“Maybe it’s more a generalization instead of me to you. I don’t know. Do we have sensitive guys? I guess we’re gonna find out come tomorrow,” Butler said. “We’ll find out if somebody has a problem with somebody or they don’t like the way somebody is doing something. Now is the time to speak up on it. We’ve been talking about it all year long. We don’t have much confrontation, maybe that’s a good thing, maybe that’s a bad thing. I hope things get changed because we all want to be in the playoffs.”
Without Victor Oladipo, without Nikola Vucevic, the Magic left Dewayne Dedmon—a prime candidate for everybody’s favorite game “Who he play for?” and made everyone wearing red know his name.
He feasted on the Bulls’ frontline, scoring a career-high 18 points with a career-high 13 rebounds—with the former statistic being achieved with four minutes remaining in the first half.
“Just a lack of competitiveness; All we talked about is getting off to a good start tonight, giving ourselves a chance,” Hoiberg said. “We win games, more often than not, when we win the first quarter. They came out and scored 36 on us in the first 12 minutes.”
The only Bull who appeared to be bringing it was Gibson, who made his first eight field goals, schooling young and gifted forward Aaron Gordon while trying his best to keep the Bulls engaged and motivated.
But apparently the Magic onslaught was too much for the Bulls to resist—as was the case on a back-to-back set against another lottery-bound franchise, the New York Knicks.
“Is the answer in the room? Hell, we all we got, it better be in this room,” Butler said. “And it better carry from this locker room to on the court. That’s the only way to get this fixed, nobody’s gonna play basketball for us.”
The Magic shot 70 percent early in the first and didn’t look back, as Rose and Butler each uncharacteristically missed pairs of free throws in the first half while the game was out of hand.
“It’s a lot. It’s not one thing here or there,” said forward Mike Dunleavy. “It’s not the offense or defense, it’s both. It’s a lot of stuff. To say one thing we’re not doing right and it’ll solve everything, that’s just not the case. It’s a bunch of stuff we’re struggling with. Effort, execution, discipline, continuity, you can go through the whole thing.”
Rose struggled with Elfrid Payton, who played maestro with 15 points and 10 assists in 30 minutes, as the Magic didn’t play terribly well, leaving an opening in the third quarter to cut the lead to nine.
But the Bulls weren’t up to task, shooting just 41 percent from the field and allowing 58 points in the paint to a team that didn’t have an active paint presence.
And even though the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons looked to be in a charitable mood Saturday, being on the way to losses that could’ve given the Bulls a little bit of life, the Bulls had other plans.
No resurrection on this Saturday or Sunday, or maybe any day this season.
Bear Down Chicago Bears!!!!! McCaskey talks free agency, Cutler.
Bears chairman George H. McCaskey discussed several topics concerning the team with reporters last week at the NFL owners meetings.
On the impact that general manager Ryan Pace and coach John Fox have had on the Bears since their arrival in January 2015:
"They've energized the building. They've surrounded themselves with positive and capable people, and now we've just got to keep moving forward. We've got the structure in place. We need to add players, guys that can make a difference in the fourth quarter."
On the energy that Pace and Fox have brought to Halas Hall:
"Energy is a good word. I don't know how to quite put a finger on it, but there's just a sense in the building of positive energy. It comes both from John, who's a force of nature, but as much so or more so from Ryan."
On how Pace approached free agency:
"We had some needs and he got what we hope are several starters out of it, and I think he took a good, measured approached, and we'll see if it bears fruit."
On whether a measured approach is good:
"We know that the foundation of our team has to be [built] through the draft, but if you see the right person in free agency, you go get him."
On the NFL Draft being held in Chicago last year and returning to the city this year:
"It was a great event. Chicago really knocked it out of the park as far as the Bears are concerned. It was a great host, very welcoming environment. We had fans in from all over the country, and I think that's one big advantage that Chicago has is that it's within driving distance of so many NFL cities. We got lucky with the weather, had three days of great weather. There seemed to be kind of a communal festival spirit to the whole thing, and my understanding is that the NFL told Chicago in 2016, ‘We want it bigger and we want it better,' and I think Chicago is going to do it."
On quarterback
"I've said for a long time I'm a big fan of Jay on and off the field. I don't think he gets enough credit for everything that he does off the field. He established himself in 2015 again as a leader of our team, had a great year statistically and really solid play, cut down the turnovers, and we're looking forward to even more from him in 2016."
On the ESPN "30-for-30" documentary on the 1985 Super Bowl champion Bears:
"I was very impressed. It was a very compelling story. I thought it was well told. I was especially impressed with the guys that they interviewed that acted pretty much as the spokesmen for the team: [Mike] Singletary, [Dan] Hampton, [Gary] Fencik, [Steve] McMichael, [Jim] McMahon. When McMichael was playing, he would say the outrageous thing and now he's almost like an elder statesman; he's eloquent, he's verbose, he's insightful. I thought it was a very compelling story. I loved to hear about the letter that the defensive players wrote to George Halas about Buddy Ryan and I thought it was especially touching Buddy's letter back to the guys."
On how his mother, Virginia McCaskey, is treated at the owners meetings:
"I would say with reverence and respect. She doesn't sit in the meeting rooms, but she's present. She's around. I understand that in the family program she was acknowledged by Jane Goodell for her contributions to the league over the years and got a nice reception from the families. It's fun to watch people approaching her and expressing their appreciation to her for what she's done for the league."
Denied: Saints match Bears' offer sheet for tight end Josh Hill.
By Scott Krinch
(Photo/csnchicago.com)
Bears GM Ryan Pace will not be reunited with New Orleans Saints tight end Josh Hill.
Saints executive vice president/general manager Mickey Loomis announced on Friday that the team has retained the restricted free agent after excising right of first refusal on the Bears' offer sheet for Hill.
Hill, 25, visited Halas Hall last week and signed an offer sheet with the Bears on Tuesday. Hill was originally signed as an undrafted free agent out of Idaho State in 2013 when Pace was working in the Saints' front office. He has recorded 36 receptions for 340 yards and eight touchdowns in 46 career games with New Orleans.
After losing out on Hill, the Bears will likely continue to search all avenues to bolster the tight end position, especially have trading former Pro Bowl tight end Martellus Bennett to the New England Patriots this offseason.
Pace hinted at Tuesday's NFL owners meetings at the possibility of adding another tight end.
"We’re still entertaining some other options that are out there. So that’s sort of an ongoing, fluid process as we speak."
Saints executive vice president/general manager Mickey Loomis announced on Friday that the team has retained the restricted free agent after excising right of first refusal on the Bears' offer sheet for Hill.
Hill, 25, visited Halas Hall last week and signed an offer sheet with the Bears on Tuesday. Hill was originally signed as an undrafted free agent out of Idaho State in 2013 when Pace was working in the Saints' front office. He has recorded 36 receptions for 340 yards and eight touchdowns in 46 career games with New Orleans.
After losing out on Hill, the Bears will likely continue to search all avenues to bolster the tight end position, especially have trading former Pro Bowl tight end Martellus Bennett to the New England Patriots this offseason.
Pace hinted at Tuesday's NFL owners meetings at the possibility of adding another tight end.
"We’re still entertaining some other options that are out there. So that’s sort of an ongoing, fluid process as we speak."
Where things stand with Javier Baez and Cubs roster.
Javier Baez — the player who generated so much debate between manager Joe Maddon and Theo Epstein’s front office at this time last year — might be the final piece to the roster puzzle facing the Cubs now.
This time, it’s a question of health with Baez, who jammed his left thumb while diving headfirst into first base and hasn’t played in a Cactus League game since March 20.
“He came in, shook my hand this morning, wished me Happy Easter,” Maddon said Sunday at Sloan Park. “I know he’s feeling pretty good.”
Maddon is sold on Baez, a natural shortstop who can play multiple positions and an aggressive swinger with some all-or-nothing tendencies. Baez has taken 30 Cactus League at-bats — hitting .200 with eight strikeouts — but spring training performance doesn’t really matter at this point.
“We just have to really nail down the fact that Javy’s well,” Maddon said. “We’ll figure it out. As long as he feels well, we’ll get him out there. I just got to verify with the training staff.”
The uncertainty leaves infielder Munenori Kawasaki — who’s shown he’s much more than a karaoke singer — on the roster bubble. But assuming Baez is healthy and the Cubs carry an eighth reliever — Neil Ramirez is out of minor-league options and appears to have the inside track — then a 25-man Opening Day projection would look like this:
C: Miguel Montero
1B: Anthony Rizzo
2B: Ben Zobrist
SS: Addison Russell
3B: Kris Bryant
LF: Kyle Schwarber
CF: Dexter Fowler
RF: Jason Heyward
Bench
David Ross
Jorge Soler
Tommy La Stella
Javier Baez
Rotation
Jake Arrieta
Jon Lester
John Lackey
Jason Hammel
Kyle Hendricks
Bullpen
Trevor Cahill
Adam Warren
Clayton Richard
Travis Wood
Neil Ramirez
Justin Grimm
Pedro Strop
Hector Rondon
A team that reported to Arizona in February with World Series expectations really just needed to stay healthy and essentially focus on the 24th and 25th spots on the roster.
Maddon lobbied hard for Baez to make the team last year, seeing a fundamentally flawed defensive team and believing his range, strong arm and baseball IQ could help win low-scoring cold-weather games in April.
Maddon also wondered if the speed of the major league game — and working directly with his coaching staff — would force Baez into making adjustments at the plate.
“Just watching the kid last year,” Maddon said, “based on everything else that we had at that time, compared to what you have (here), it’s two different worlds right now based on offseason acquisitions, the ascension of different players.
“I’m coming in for the first time — I can see Javy making that team better. But then they’re relating to me different things that they had seen before that — and the fact that a lot of folks thought he needed more seasoning. That’s all you got to tell me. I didn’t see enough of him to really make that call. So it’s not a hard argument to have with me.”
Maddon’s fresh eyes could only see so far, and it became a difficult personal/professional transition for Baez, whose sister died last April. Baez also missed almost two months at Triple-A Iowa after fracturing his left ring finger on a headfirst slide into second base.
In a sense, Maddon and Epstein’s staff both had the right idea last spring. Baez did need more time to develop — and he did contribute as a September call-up for a playoff team.
Baez helped knock the St. Louis Cardinals out of the divisional round with one huge swing, a delirious crowd at Wrigley Field chanting “LAC-KEY! LAC-KEY!” after that go-ahead three-run homer in Game 4.
“I gave the boys my side of things,” Maddon said. “And then I know at the end of the day it’s up to them to make the call. I prefer that, but you always tell people what you think.
“The greatest line ever (came from) Colin Powell talking about the president of the United States when he operated in government: ‘I give him my best advice and I give him my strongest loyalty.’
“In other words, (if) you go to a meeting like that – and then whatever you suggest is not followed – there’s a lot of meetings after meetings and water-cooler stuff where you tear people down.
“The loyalty’s not there. So if you disagree with somebody, you tell him straight up you disagree. But if you’re a part of a group and you come to a conclusion, then you all get on board with that conclusion. And that’s how it works.”
Cubs say Jake Arrieta is all systems go for Opening Day,
Patrick Mooney
(Photo/Ron Chenoy - USA TODAY Sports)
We’re talking about blisters. That’s how it goes when Jake Arrieta is coming off a Cy Young Award-winning season and the Cubs have a World Series-or-bust attitude.
“Yeah, but it’s a nonissue,” pitching coach Chris Bosio said. “A complete nonissue.”
The Cubs now say Arrieta is all systems go for Opening Day.
Bosio and manager Joe Maddon watched Arrieta zip through a 46-pitch bullpen session on Easter Sunday morning at Sloan Park, showing no lingering effects from the blister on his right thumb that abruptly ended his last start in the first inning.
“There was no restriction whatsoever,” Maddon said. “He felt great. It was like it never happened. He was very good today and I anticipate no problems.”
Arrieta’s next test will be a Cactus League start against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday in Mesa.
Arrieta threw only 34 pitches last week — and got one out and gave up five runs to the San Francisco Giants — but he believes his arm strength is built up to the point where he will be ready for April 4 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.
Maddon also confirmed Jon Lester will start Game 2 against the Angels, with John Lackey, Jason Hammel, Kyle Hendricks and Arrieta lined up for the Arizona Diamondbacks (April 7-10) in the final leg of that road trip. The Cubs see Trevor Cahill as their sixth starter in case an injury happens late in camp.
But it’s not a nonstory when the entire rotation — and by extension the whole plan to play deep into October — revolves around Arrieta.
“There’s nothing holding him back right now,” Maddon said.
Todd Frazier has found niche in White Sox clubhouse.
By Dan Hayes
Todd Frazier said he feels right at home with the White Sox just in time for a visit with his old friends.
He’s only been with the club for a month, but the White Sox third baseman is comfortable in his new surroundings. When he arrived in camp, Frazier -- who was acquired from the Cincinnati Reds in December -- said he’d take his time figuring out his place in the White Sox clubhouse. But that process has been smoother than Frazier expected, he said after Saturday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds at Camelback Ranch.
“It’s come very easily,” Frazier said. “Finding a niche is tough to do. But when you have professionals that come in here, new guys and old, you talk to the guys who have been here before. You have to know your ins and outs of Chicago, the team, how we go about things and what the staff wants. Then you’ve got the new guys, veterans like Jimmy Rollins. He brings his prowess in. It’s been a fun spring.
Everybody is ready to go. Everybody was ready to go last week. It’s going to be a lot of fun to see the different attitudes and the different way we go about things this year. I can’t wait.”
Frazier was equally excited to face his old team for the first time. He went 2-for-3 with a run scored and has one more chance to face the Reds on Wednesday. He spent part of the game talking with third-base coach Billy Hatcher, who has moved over from first base this season. Frazier said he also joked around with some of his former teammates, too.
But Frazier isn’t looking back.
“It was fun to see the familiar faces,” Frazier said. “The guys were nice. It was one of those fun games to see the guys you used to play with. It looks like they’re doing pretty well, so I’m happy for them. At the end of the day, I’m a White Sox. It was good to see them, but I’m trying to get ready for the season.”
How Frazier prepares is one of the reasons why he has become so popular among his new teammates. Frazier is lively, energetic and focused in the team’s practice sessions. He’s had a role in team competitions in fielding drills where the losing squad serves lunch or an energy drink to the winners, things to keep it loose. Players and coaches appreciate the way Frazier and Rollins and others have kept things lively so late in camp.
“He likes to have fun, but he’s all business when he comes down to it,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “He’s been a good addition for us, not only playing third base and the talent he has to play the game, but all of the intangibles that come with him. He’s a good piece. He fits in any part of the clubhouse, whether it’s English or Spanish. He fits in any realm of that clubhouse.”
He’s only been with the club for a month, but the White Sox third baseman is comfortable in his new surroundings. When he arrived in camp, Frazier -- who was acquired from the Cincinnati Reds in December -- said he’d take his time figuring out his place in the White Sox clubhouse. But that process has been smoother than Frazier expected, he said after Saturday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds at Camelback Ranch.
“It’s come very easily,” Frazier said. “Finding a niche is tough to do. But when you have professionals that come in here, new guys and old, you talk to the guys who have been here before. You have to know your ins and outs of Chicago, the team, how we go about things and what the staff wants. Then you’ve got the new guys, veterans like Jimmy Rollins. He brings his prowess in. It’s been a fun spring.
Everybody is ready to go. Everybody was ready to go last week. It’s going to be a lot of fun to see the different attitudes and the different way we go about things this year. I can’t wait.”
Frazier was equally excited to face his old team for the first time. He went 2-for-3 with a run scored and has one more chance to face the Reds on Wednesday. He spent part of the game talking with third-base coach Billy Hatcher, who has moved over from first base this season. Frazier said he also joked around with some of his former teammates, too.
But Frazier isn’t looking back.
“It was fun to see the familiar faces,” Frazier said. “The guys were nice. It was one of those fun games to see the guys you used to play with. It looks like they’re doing pretty well, so I’m happy for them. At the end of the day, I’m a White Sox. It was good to see them, but I’m trying to get ready for the season.”
How Frazier prepares is one of the reasons why he has become so popular among his new teammates. Frazier is lively, energetic and focused in the team’s practice sessions. He’s had a role in team competitions in fielding drills where the losing squad serves lunch or an energy drink to the winners, things to keep it loose. Players and coaches appreciate the way Frazier and Rollins and others have kept things lively so late in camp.
“He likes to have fun, but he’s all business when he comes down to it,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “He’s been a good addition for us, not only playing third base and the talent he has to play the game, but all of the intangibles that come with him. He’s a good piece. He fits in any part of the clubhouse, whether it’s English or Spanish. He fits in any realm of that clubhouse.”
Golf: I got a club for that..... Day beats Oosthuizen for Match Play title.
(Photo/Golf Central Blog)
Plagued by a back injury throughout the week, Day showed no signs of struggle over the weekend as he overpowered Austin Country Club. The Australian built a 3-up lead at the turn, then won Nos. 13 and 14 to close out the match one week after capturing the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Day was already assured of returning to world No. 1 when the newest rankings are published, but his back-to-back wins ensure that he'll be No. 1 entering the Masters regardless of Jordan Spieth's performance next week at the Shell Houston Open.
"It’s been an amazing week. I’ve really enjoyed this golf course," said Day, who beat Victor Dubuisson to win this event in 2014. "I’ve been able to not only utilize the great short game that I’ve had from last week to this week, but to be able to play the way I did from tee to green on top of it, to make the clutch shots, it’s been really fantastic."
Oosthuizen notched his fifth career runner-up finish, although three of those prior finishes came in majors. His lone PGA Tour win remains the 2010 Open Championship, but Oosthuizen was pleased with his play this week with the Masters looming.
"I couldn't buy a break, really. I played OK but nothing spectacular, and I couldn't make a birdie," Oosthuizen said. "Up against a guy like Jason, you need to go 3 or 4 under to have a chance."
In the consolation match, Rafael Cabrera-Bello defeated Rory McIlroy, 3 and 2, as the Spaniard recorded his best career finish on the PGA Tour during a week that saw him earn his first trip to the Masters.
Tony Finau wins 1st PGA Tour event in 3-hole Puerto Rico playoff.
Ryan Ballengee
(Photo/Golf Central Blog)
Tony Finau is a winner on the PGA Tour.
The 2015 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year runner-up got his maiden Tour title on Sunday, defeating Steve Marino on the third hole of a sudden-death playoff to win the Puerto Rico Open at Coco Beach (formerly Trump International Golf Club Puerto Rico).
Marino and Finau were tied at 12-under 276, one clear of 54-hole leader Ian Poulter and Mexico's Rodolfo Cazaubon. The duo would play the par-5 finishing hole at Coco Beach over and over until a winner was crowned.
On the first playoff hole, both players had lousy drives but managed to have decent third shots into the green. First, Marino hit a sand shot from about 40 yards to approximately 8 feet. Finau, in the neck in front of the green, chipped up to just a few feet for certain birdie. Marino quickly stepped up and drained his birdie.
The pair again tied in birdie the second time around, again with Marino making the birdie first.
On the third try, Marino and Finau went long of the green on the severely downwind hole with their second shots. Marino found the fringe, while Finau was in the back left bunker. Finau hit an excellent bunker shot to about 3 feet, giving Marino an eagle putt for the win. However, the University of Virginia product poorly judged the speed of the putt, leaving 5 feet for birdie. Marino powered that putt through the break. Finau made his putt for birdie and the win.
"I think I'm still a little bit overwhelmed," Finau said. "It probably hasn't all sunk in."
Also searching for his first win and a complete comeback after losing his PGA Tour card, Marino was disappointed with the finish.
"I finally played the hole like you're supposed to," Marino said. "I hit the fairway and then hit it on the back fringe. I didn't think that putt was going to be that slow and then I just hit a poor putt on the second putt. Pretty disappointing, played really well."
For the Utah native Finau, he had a chance to win in regulation, missing a 6-foot birdie putt. Whereas a season ago, that may have fazed him, Finau knew he was still in it after Marino birdied the 72nd hole ahead of him to tie.
"You've got to focus on the here and now. I did a really good job of that today even though that putt slipped by in regulation for the win, I knew I still didn't lose the tournament," Finau said. "I needed to refocus and get ready to play 18 again. That's what it takes out here I feel like to win."
By Ryan Ballengee
Despite signing a one-year extension as PGA Tour commissioner, Tim Finchem plans to step down after 2016. (Photo/yahoosports.com)
PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said Sunday at the WGC-Dell Match Play that he expects to step down from the post at the end of 2016.
Perhaps it's confusing, then, that Finchem was given a one-year contract extension, also announced Sunday, through June 1, 2017.
Finchem, who has been the PGA Tour commissioner since 1994 and been with the Tour since signing on as part of the management team in 1987, said he wanted to have the flexibility to remain on a little bit longer as he is working on several major projects he wants to see through before calling it a career.
PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said Sunday at the WGC-Dell Match Play that he expects to step down from the post at the end of 2016.
Perhaps it's confusing, then, that Finchem was given a one-year contract extension, also announced Sunday, through June 1, 2017.
Finchem, who has been the PGA Tour commissioner since 1994 and been with the Tour since signing on as part of the management team in 1987, said he wanted to have the flexibility to remain on a little bit longer as he is working on several major projects he wants to see through before calling it a career.
“The length of the contract really is just a placeholder in terms of giving me a little more time to do some of the projects I'm engaged in now and I want to bring those forward," he said Sunday. "I wouldn't anticipate I'm going to stay that long.”
Finchem, 68, has overseen the Tour's dramatic growth in pretty much every facet of the business, from reaching the $2 billion mark in total charitable giving, to the creation of the FedEx Cup, to increasing the Tour's total annual purse by a factor of five.
Deputy commissioner Jay Monahan was promoted this week to add the title Chief Operating Officer. Finchem said Monahan more or less handles the day-to-day operations of the Tour. Finchem reiterated this is part of a long-term succession plan -- one he orchestrated for the future of the Tour.
"I could probably go on another five or six years," he said. "But I don't think that is best for the organization. I don't consider myself old. But I'm getting old."
NASCAR: Fun with numbers to tide you through the off weekend.
By Nick Bromberg
(Photo/yahoosports.com)
Having NASCAR withdrawals? The first off weekend of the year is always a tough one. Just when you think you're in the groove of the season, Easter brings it to an abrupt halt as none of NASCAR's three series is racing this weekend.
We're not sure we're going to be able to help much with those withdrawal symptoms. But we're going to try anyway with some statistics through the first five races of the season.
• Kevin Harvick has led 413 laps. The next three drivers in terms of laps led (Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin) have led 412 laps. As we noted Wednesday, Harvick is the only driver with five top-10 finishes in the first five races. And it may not be a good omen for his title chances.
• Harvick's 413 laps led are more than he led in all but two of his 13 seasons at Richard Childress Racing before moving to Stewart-Haas Racing in 2014.
• Six drivers – Harvick, Busch, Kurt Busch, Austin Dillon and Johnson – have completed every lap.
• Harvick could sit out the April 3 race at Martinsville and would be no worse than sixth in the points standings. If he sat out two races, he'd still be in the top 20 in points.
• While the gap between 1st and 10th in the points standings is 56 points, the gap between 21st and 30th is 28 points.
• 14 different drivers have two or more top-10 finishes.
• Denny Hamlin is the best qualifier so far in 2016. His average starting position is 7.6.
• Kyle Larson has completed the fewest miles (1801.58) of any driver who has started all of the first five races.
• Sprint Cup Series drivers have led 776 of the 833 laps the Xfinity Series has completed in 2016. Kyle Busch has led 626 of those laps.
• The Xfinity Series driver with the most laps led is Justin Allgaier. He's led 15 laps. Ty Dillon has led 13 laps.
• Daniel Suarez and Elliott Sadler are the only two Xfinity Series drivers with top 10s in each of the first five racs. 11 Xfinity Series drivers have scored a top 10 (31 total) through the first five races.
• 21 drivers have started all five Xfinity Series races. The drivers among those 21 with the fewest points per race are Joey Gase and Ray Black Jr. They each have 52 points.
SOCCER: Ronaldinho reportedly weighing MLS or China, says agent.
(Photo/Alfredo Estrella/AFP/Getty Images)
After a stellar European career ended in 2011 following his exit from AC Milan, Ronaldinho has bounced around between various clubs in native Brazil and Mexico.
The former Barcelona star could find a new home soon though.
According to the Brazilian’s agent, Ronaldinho’s next destination is likely to be either Major League Soccer or the Chinese Super League.
Ronaldinho is represented by his older brother, Roberto Assis, who also spent time playing in Brazil and Europe throughout his career.
Assis told UOL:
“The probable destination for him is Major League Soccer in the U.S. or the Chinese Super League,” Assis said.Now 36, whichever team the Brazilian decides on will likely be his last after a significant decline in form over recent seasons. Ronaldinho featured for Fluminese in 2015, before having his contract terminated in December.
While the news of Ronaldinho joining MLS is nothing new, it would be an exciting prospect to say the least, even if he is a shell of what he once was. In his five seasons with the Blaugrana, the former Brazil international recorded four years with double-digit goals across all competitions, including three of which where he notched over 20 finishes.
The growth of MLS is undeniable, as shown by the arrivals of superstars David Villa, Kaka and Sebastian Giovinco in recent seasons. The one aspect that could prevent Ronaldinho from arriving in America though would be money.
China has shown over the past several months that they aren’t playing around when it comes to the transfer market. High-profile moves for Jackson Martinez from Atletico Madrid and Ramires, formerly at Chelsea, display the league’s intentions for seeking relevance.
Nonetheless, it would be fantastic to see a guy that used to do this (below) play in MLS before his career officially ends.
In desperation mode, U.S. Soccer calls on teen phenom.
By Sebastian Salazar
(Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports)
Pulisic, who recently made his first-team debut for German powerhouse Borussia Dortmund, was added to the U.S. roster on Sunday - along with former University of Maryland star Graham Zusi.
The duo replace Matt Besler and Fabian Johnson in the U.S. camp. Bessemer (concussion) and Johnson (groin) were sent back to their respective clubs due to injury.
Pulisic has enjoyed a meteoric rise since signing with Borussia Dortmund early last year. The Pennsylvania native has appeared for the United States at various youth levels, and captained the U.S. Under-17’s at last summer’s U-17 World Cup.
This winter, Pulisic made multiple appearances for Dortmund’s first team - including his first Bundesliga start in a 1-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen on February 21. Dortmund are currently second place in Germany’s Bundesliga, five points back of Bayern Munich.
Dortmund’s positive standing is a far cry from where U.S. Soccer finds itself these days. After a shocking 2-0 loss to Guatemala on Friday, the United States are in some danger of being from eliminated from World Cup qualifying.
With three of six matches played, the U.S. sit third in CONCACAF’s Group C. Only the top two teams from the group will advance to the final round of World Cup qualifying.
The United States has qualified for every World Cup since 1990 - with the exception of 1994, when the U.S. played host to international soccer’s marquee event and was granted an automatic berth.
Klinsmann's USMNT hits rock bottom in loss to Guatemala. (Friday's game, 03/25/2016).
Goal.com; By Ives Galarcep
(Photo/Johan Ordonez)
Jurgen Klinsmann's tenure as U.S. national team coaches has had its ups and downs, which can happen with a coach trying to transform a program, but there was something different about Friday's stunning loss to Guatemala that feels like rock bottom.
In the past nine months, U.S. fans have watched their team finish fourth at the Gold Cup and lose in the CONCACAF Cup to archrival Mexico. As painful as those results were, it was Friday's embarrassing defeat against Guatemala — which hadn't beaten the U.S. since 1988 — that felt like it just might be the beginning of the end for the charismatic and enigmatic German coach.
Guatemala — a country ranked 95th in the world — made the U.S. look like amateurs. Guatemala — a national team that barely got by Bermuda and Antigua and Barbuda to even reach this round of World Cup qualifying — came within a crossbar of hanging a 3-0 on the Americans. Guatemala — a team whose most prominent player is a 37-year-old forward closer to being his federation's president than an effective professional player — beat the U.S. for the first time in nearly three decades and it was by no means a fluke.
The first clue Friday night could be a disaster for the U.S. was Klinsmann's starting lineup, which felt more like the result of darts being thrown at a board than a team created by careful consideration. Klinsmann playing players out of position isn't new, but he took it to a new level.
DeAndre Yedlin? Never mind that he's a starting right back in the English Premier League — play him on the right wing, where his technical deficiencies are exposed. Geoff Cameron? He's versatile enough to play a multiple positions, but why not put him where he has the least influence? Michael Orozco? So what if he can't even make the bench for Club Tijuana — start him at left center back, a position he hasn't played much for the national team before, if at all.
The perplexing decisions go on and on, and taken together, they make it impossible to have much sympathy for Klinsmann, even if he did lose Matt Besler and John Brooks to injuries this week, and Fabian Johnson to a club injury last weekend.
For what definitely isn't the first time, Klinsmann responded to injuries by trotting out an inexplicable lineup, almost as if he honestly believes it doesn't matter how disastrous a team he uses as long as he has the excuse of key players being injured.
Perhaps more damning than his mind-boggling lineup was how his team played. Past U.S. squads have had struggles in Guatemala — managing just a 1-0-4 record in qualifiers in the Central American country before Friday — but none of those U.S. teams was so thoroughly outplayed. The Americans came out flat and zombie-walked through the first half. They did create chances in the second half, but must were thwarted by relatively easy saves. Guatemala, in turn, toyed with the U.S. at times, even drawing ole chants from the Guatemala City crowd.
The U.S. looked flat-out lost and Klinsmann must shoulder the blame. Whether or not he is giving his team what he considers proper instructions, his days as U.S. coach have to be numbered if his players aren't playing for him.
Not because the U.S. is in any real danger of being eliminated from World Cup qualifying, but because once a coach loses his team it is near impossible to get it back. Friday's match was the first time a Klinsmann-coached U.S. team looked like it simply didn't have the desire to play for its boss. Klinsmann had to see that too, and he responded much the way so many struggling managers in the same situation have — by placing the blame on his players.
As much as Klinsmann has never met a buck he wouldn't pass, his post-match remarks after Friday's loss sounded particularly ominous. He placed the blame on Guatemala's opening goal on a blown assignment he insisted he went over beforehand, then Klinsmann fired a clear shot at his team when asked why the U.S. started so poorly.
"That's a good question for the players," Klinsmann told reporters in Guatemala City.
Another good question for U.S. players would be whether they still believe in their coach, and if they think they can win with Klinsmann in charge. Chances are none of them will criticize Klinsmann publicly, but if some or all of them want him fired, their performance Friday did more to make that a possibility than any words could.
This isn't the first time Klinsmann has faced adversity after a World Cup qualifying loss in Central America. The loss was to Honduras three years ago, and Klinsmann appeared to be on shaky ground before his team responded with a snow-covered win against Costa Rica that provided the impetus for the best stretch of Klinsmann's time in charge of the U.S.
As tough as that Honduras defeat was, it didn't feel anywhere near as disastrous as Friday's loss in Guatemala. It will be up to U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati to decide whether Klinsmann's time has coach has reached a breaking point, and whether waiting any longer to make a change could have terrible consequences.
Gulati made it clear in November that Klinsmann doesn't have ironclad job security. Friday's loss will put that notion to its toughest test yet.
NCAABKB: 2016 NCAA "March Madness" Tournament Scores. Friday, March 25 (Sweet Sixteen) (Advances to the Elite Eight).
SB Nation
NCAABKB: 2016 NCAA "March Madness" Tournament Scores. Friday, March 25 (Sweet Sixteen) (Advances to the Elite Eight).
SB Nation
No.4 Iowa State 71, No. 1 Virginia 84
No. 7 Wisconsin 56, No. 6 Notre Dame 61
No. 11 Gonzaga 60, No. 10 Syracuse 63
No. 5 Indiana 86, No. 1 North Carolina 101
No. 7 Wisconsin 56, No. 6 Notre Dame 61
No. 11 Gonzaga 60, No. 10 Syracuse 63
No. 5 Indiana 86, No. 1 North Carolina 101
2016 NCAA "March Madness" Tournament Scores. Saturday, March 26 (Elite Eight) (Advances to the Final Four).
SB Nation
No. 2 Villanova 64, No. 1 Kansas 59
2016 NCAA "March Madness" Tournament Scores. Sunday, March 27 (Elite Eight) (Advances to the Final Four).
SB Nation
No. 10 Syracuse 68, No. 1 Virginia 62
No. 6 Notre Dame 74, No. 1 North Carolina 88
True to this wild season, Final Four favorite a mystery...........
By Jeff Goodman
Sure, there’s no Duke or Kentucky in the Final Four. But we’ll still have a couple of bona fide villains in North Carolina and Jim Boeheim.
No, there’s no Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram. But there will still be an electrifying, lovable star in Houston with Oklahoma’s Bahamian senior, Buddy Hield.
There may not be John Calipari or Mike Krzyzewski, but we’ll have a couple of Hall of Famers in Boeheim and Roy Williams.
And we won’t have what many praised as the best “team” in the country with Kansas, but we’ll have the group that also plays multiple point guards and also doesn’t boast a true superstar.
We’ve said it all season long. Parity. Wide open. Not much disparity, and no powerhouse teams as was the case a year ago.
No one truly had a clue who was going to get to Houston.
North Carolina was one of the preseason favorites, ranked No. 1 prior to the start of the season, and the Tar Heels have finally shaken the “soft” label they were well aware of by winning four straight games to get to the sport’s final weekend. Big man Brice Johnson has been the go-to guy, but fellow senior Marcus Paige has started to find his swagger and also his perimeter touch of late.
Oklahoma and Villanova were both considered second-tier teams heading into the season. No one had a clue that Hield would be this dominant of a scorer, become the front-runner for the Wooden Award and lead the Sooners to a No. 1 ranking in the middle of the season. He was leaning toward leaving for the NBA draft last year at this time, but decided to return to boost his draft stock and leave Norman with a national championship. He has already accomplished one of those goals, and is two games shy of the other.
Jay Wright’s team was never given much of a chance, not with the program’s track record of not advancing past the first weekend for the past six seasons -- and certainly not after being lambasted by Oklahoma back in early December in Pearl Harbor. The Wildcats have a nice group, but let’s face it: There’s no household name, and these guys played in the new Big East, which hasn’t been taken all that seriously.
And Syracuse? The Orange weren’t even ranked after self-imposing a postseason ban a year ago following the academic scandal. They have a point guard in Michael Gbinije, who is only there because there was no alternative, and don’t have any legitimate depth.
Sure, it won’t be a carbon copy of last season’s Final Four -- when we had an undefeated Kentucky ride into Indy, Frank The Tank Kaminsky and the Wisconsin Badgers pull off the upset over Calipari’s Cats and then the Duke frosh cut down the nets before bolting for the NBA.
Indy was insane a year ago -- and the Final Four was can’t-miss television.
This year in Houston we’ll have a couple of big boy fan bases with North Carolina and Syracuse. We’ll have two Hall of Famers who are often criticized for their lack of actual X’s and O’s, and two more in Jay Wright and Lon Kruger who could change their legacy by hanging a banner.
This year has plenty of storylines. Could Roy Williams do what Jim Calhoun didn’t after winning the national title, and flip off the NCAA while calling it a career? UNC is still awaiting the final ruling from the NCAA on its academic fraud investigation, and while it certainly appears as though the men’s basketball program won’t get hammered, there’s never any certainty when it comes to the sport’s organizing body.
Could Hield leave his mark on the sport with a national title to go with the personal national accolades? Hield could become the first player to win the Wooden Award and also a national championship since former Kentucky star Anthony Davis.
Could Wright, who has endured a roller-coaster ride in his tenure on the Main Line, bring a national title to the new Big East?
Or could Boeheim do the improbable and win his second national title in a season in which little was expected from the Orange? This is a thin group that doesn’t have a front-line big man in the middle of the famed 2-3 zone, lacks a superstar and wasn’t even regarded as a lock to make the NCAA tournament on Selection Sunday.
The season will end one week from tonight -- and no matter what happens, it will be a surprise.
Final Four Pertinent Data.
1. The 2016 NCAA Tournament Final Four will begin on Saturday, April 2 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
2. Tip-off for the first national semifinal game is scheduled for 6:09 ET. The second semifinal game is scheduled to start 40 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.
3. No. 2 seed Oklahoma and No. 2 seed Villanova will play in one half of the bracket, while No. 1 seed North Carolina and No. 10 seed Syracuse will play in the other.
4. The first semifinal game of the 2016 NCAA Tournament Final Four will take place on Saturday, April 2 at 6:09 ET on TBS. The second semifinal game is scheduled to begin 40 minutes after the conclusion of the first game. The order of the games has not been announced yet.
5. All 2016 NCAA Tournament Final Four games will be played at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
6. The championship game of the 2016 NCAA Tournament will be played on Monday, April 4 at 9:18 ET. The national championship game will be broadcast on TBS.
NCAAFB: Auburn's first black football player, James Owens, dies.
By Tom Fornelli
James Owens played for Auburn from 1969-1972. (Photo/USATSI)
James Owens, the first black football player at Auburn, died Saturday. He was 65.
"We always looked upon him as a trailblazer and a fighter," Owens' wife, Gloria, told the Opelika News . "He fought until the end. He remained upbeat until the end."
Owens' wife also said that her husband had been dealing with health issues for years. Owens died of heart and renal failure.
Owens became the first black student to earn a football scholarship to Auburn in 1969. He spent four seasons with the Tigers at fullback, as Auburn went 28-5 during his time there. After graduating, Owens was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the 11th round of the 1973 NFL Draft, though he did not play in the NFL.
"Saddened by the passing of James Owens. He was a trailblazer, a true legend and great Auburn man. Thoughts and prays are with his family," Auburn coach Gus Malzahn wrote on Twitter.
Will the SEC QBs mystery be solved in 2016? Experts answer.
By Brad Crawford
Peep at the magazine rack at your nearest Barnes & Noble a few months from now and what will you see?
A litany of preseason content dedicated to playoff predictions, depth chart projections and juicy features centered around who’s who in college football, not limited to Nick Saban covers, in-your-face Deshaun Watson art and Leonard Fournette superimposed with bold headlines.
One item that won’t receive much glitz and glam during “talking” season leading into fall practice is SEC quarterback play, a mixed bag of success and major disappointment — see Jeremy Johnson’s premature Heisman buzz — over the last couple years since the departure of the last elite class of passers in 2013.
Unless you’re in Oxford or Knoxville, mediocrity is worrisome with more than half of the league’s teams replacing their starting quarterback. It’s out with the old and in with the new at many stops where coaching staffs are banking on the next crop of highly-touted players enjoying more success than their predecessors.
No matter how you slice it from analytics to eye-test, SEC quarterback play has fallen short of expectations — perhaps too lofty considering recent Heismans from Tim Tebow, Cam Newton and Johnny Manziel — over the last couple seasons. Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott, an exception to the rule as one of the most decorated passers in league history, could be the only league signal caller selected in April’s NFL Draft unless Brandon Allen (Arkansas) and Jake Coker (Alabama) are picked up late.
Last season, no SEC quarterbacks were drafted after four were selected in 2014. One SEC draft pick at the position over a two-year stretch has only happened once before (2012-13) since the turn of the century. The league’s simply not spitting out as many pro-ready prospects as it once was, but those times could be changing.
RECRUITING
The SEC’s inconsistent play at quarterback certainly isn’t due to a recruiting downgrade at the position. Since 2011, six cycles have produced 137 four- or five-star quarterbacks according to the 247Sports Composite and the SEC has signed 43 of them, the highest percentage of any Power 5 conference in the country.
The next wave of SEC signal callers could certainly change national perception concerning the league’s strength under center if these guys are as talented as recruiting rankings suggest. The SEC signed three of the top five pro-style passers in the 2016 cycle, highlighted by Shea Patterson and Jacob Eason — the only two five-stars in this class at the position. Add several other top-flight players on the dual-threat side and you’re looking at future starters with star potential, some who may even win jobs this season.
Many of the SEC’s new faces at quarterback received the stamp of approval from Barton Simmons, 247Sports’ Director of Scouting who’s seen all of them in action during all-star games, combines and practice workouts several times over the last few years.
There could be a couple All-Americans in this group down the road.
“There were two no-doubt quarterbacks in the class of 2016 nationally and they're both heading to the SEC,” Simmons said. “I’ll be surprised if Eason isn't a three-year starter at Georgia, and Patterson is the most starter-ready quarterback in the country.
“I also see guys like Jalen Hurts at Alabama, Micah Wilson at Missouri and Brandon McIlwain at South Carolina as low bust players while Feleipe Franks at Florida and Jarrett Guarantano at Tennessee have immense ceilings given a year or two to develop.”
WHO’S THE SEC BEST QB IN 2016?
There’s a reason Ole Miss and Tennessee are legitimate dark-horse national championship contenders this season.
Judging by the way both of their junior campaigns ended, no one’s going to argue dual-threats Chad Kelly and Josh Dobbs are the SEC’s top returning passers and it’s not close in comparison across the rest of the league. Dobbs accounted for 10 touchdowns during the Vols’ six-game winning streak over the second half of 2015 while Kelly passed for an SEC-leading 4,402 yards and 31 touchdowns in his first season with the Rebels.
Could the encore for both in their final seasons make for a showdown in Atlanta? The debate for most talented at year’s end will be exciting to watch.
“I think comparing quarterbacks in this era is akin to comparing apples and oranges, and what you need from the position depends on what you do offensively,” says Wes Rucker of GoVols247. “I think Kelly is a better runner than Dobbs is a passer, and I don’t think there’s any doubt that Kelly is the SEC’s top quarterback heading into 2016. If Dobbs can develop more as a passer in his second season under offensive coordinator Mike DeBord and start making all the throws he needs to make from the pocket, though, he should make the debate about the league’s best quarterback a much better one this season.”
A litany of preseason content dedicated to playoff predictions, depth chart projections and juicy features centered around who’s who in college football, not limited to Nick Saban covers, in-your-face Deshaun Watson art and Leonard Fournette superimposed with bold headlines.
One item that won’t receive much glitz and glam during “talking” season leading into fall practice is SEC quarterback play, a mixed bag of success and major disappointment — see Jeremy Johnson’s premature Heisman buzz — over the last couple years since the departure of the last elite class of passers in 2013.
Unless you’re in Oxford or Knoxville, mediocrity is worrisome with more than half of the league’s teams replacing their starting quarterback. It’s out with the old and in with the new at many stops where coaching staffs are banking on the next crop of highly-touted players enjoying more success than their predecessors.
No matter how you slice it from analytics to eye-test, SEC quarterback play has fallen short of expectations — perhaps too lofty considering recent Heismans from Tim Tebow, Cam Newton and Johnny Manziel — over the last couple seasons. Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott, an exception to the rule as one of the most decorated passers in league history, could be the only league signal caller selected in April’s NFL Draft unless Brandon Allen (Arkansas) and Jake Coker (Alabama) are picked up late.
Last season, no SEC quarterbacks were drafted after four were selected in 2014. One SEC draft pick at the position over a two-year stretch has only happened once before (2012-13) since the turn of the century. The league’s simply not spitting out as many pro-ready prospects as it once was, but those times could be changing.
RECRUITING
The SEC’s inconsistent play at quarterback certainly isn’t due to a recruiting downgrade at the position. Since 2011, six cycles have produced 137 four- or five-star quarterbacks according to the 247Sports Composite and the SEC has signed 43 of them, the highest percentage of any Power 5 conference in the country.
The next wave of SEC signal callers could certainly change national perception concerning the league’s strength under center if these guys are as talented as recruiting rankings suggest. The SEC signed three of the top five pro-style passers in the 2016 cycle, highlighted by Shea Patterson and Jacob Eason — the only two five-stars in this class at the position. Add several other top-flight players on the dual-threat side and you’re looking at future starters with star potential, some who may even win jobs this season.
Many of the SEC’s new faces at quarterback received the stamp of approval from Barton Simmons, 247Sports’ Director of Scouting who’s seen all of them in action during all-star games, combines and practice workouts several times over the last few years.
There could be a couple All-Americans in this group down the road.
“There were two no-doubt quarterbacks in the class of 2016 nationally and they're both heading to the SEC,” Simmons said. “I’ll be surprised if Eason isn't a three-year starter at Georgia, and Patterson is the most starter-ready quarterback in the country.
“I also see guys like Jalen Hurts at Alabama, Micah Wilson at Missouri and Brandon McIlwain at South Carolina as low bust players while Feleipe Franks at Florida and Jarrett Guarantano at Tennessee have immense ceilings given a year or two to develop.”
WHO’S THE SEC BEST QB IN 2016?
There’s a reason Ole Miss and Tennessee are legitimate dark-horse national championship contenders this season.
Judging by the way both of their junior campaigns ended, no one’s going to argue dual-threats Chad Kelly and Josh Dobbs are the SEC’s top returning passers and it’s not close in comparison across the rest of the league. Dobbs accounted for 10 touchdowns during the Vols’ six-game winning streak over the second half of 2015 while Kelly passed for an SEC-leading 4,402 yards and 31 touchdowns in his first season with the Rebels.
Could the encore for both in their final seasons make for a showdown in Atlanta? The debate for most talented at year’s end will be exciting to watch.
“I think comparing quarterbacks in this era is akin to comparing apples and oranges, and what you need from the position depends on what you do offensively,” says Wes Rucker of GoVols247. “I think Kelly is a better runner than Dobbs is a passer, and I don’t think there’s any doubt that Kelly is the SEC’s top quarterback heading into 2016. If Dobbs can develop more as a passer in his second season under offensive coordinator Mike DeBord and start making all the throws he needs to make from the pocket, though, he should make the debate about the league’s best quarterback a much better one this season.”
Kelly was the perfect fit for Hugh Freeze’s “get it out and get it out quickly” mindset last fall and was exactly what the Rebels had envisioned but didn’t necessarily receive with Bo Wallace under center for the three previous seasons. Dobbs showed noticeable progress at times, but still struggled in certain spots with accuracy.
“Dobbs isn’t just a good athlete playing quarterback … he’s an outstanding athlete playing quarterback,” Rucker said. “But Dobbs has to become as good a passer from the pocket as he is on the run, or Kelly will remain the SEC’s top quarterback and the top 2017 NFL Draft prospect at the position.”
SEC WEST QUARTERBACKS
For SEC fans across the league, life after Dak is going to be an unfamiliar feeling - but Mississippi State’s not the only West squad facing uncertainty tasked with replacing its starter this fall.
There are currently five fierce competitions during spring practice, most notably at Alabama, Texas A&M and Arkansas. For Saban’s team, it’s a three-player race between Blake Barnett, Cooper Bateman and David Cornwell to see who’s going to be Lane Kiffin’s leading man.
Saban’s post-AJ McCarron picks of Blake Sims and Coker have worked out beautifully for the Tide, who have won consecutive SEC titles. While each candidate possesses a slightly different skill set, Kiffin’s balanced offense will undoubtedly cater to the winner’s strengths. SEC Network analyst Marcus Spears weighed in on Alabama’s situation at QB earlier this week.
For the Razorbacks, they’re still trying to get over the hump and plow through the doors of the SEC’s top tier in Bret Bielema’s fourth season. Arkansas went 5-3 against league competition and finished tied for third in the West last season, but will have do it on offense without dual All-SEC rushers Alex Collins, Jonathan Williams and - most importantly - veteran quarterback Brandon Allen this fall.
“Arkansas' problem is not just replacing a senior, but also must do it with a quarterback who has very little or no experience,” says Otis Kirk of Hawgs247." Arkansas has some talented quarterbacks to choose from. All were four-star recruits coming out of high school, but junior Austin Allen has the only game experience of the four. Bret Bielema likes what Allen brings to the table.”
For the Aggies, Kevin Sumlin’s hoping the acquisition of offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone brings some stability to a unit mired by inconsistency throughout the 2015 season. With two former five-star signees Kyle Allen and Kyler Murray gone and Oklahoma transfer Trevor Knight in, Texas A&M will look much different at its most important position within the Air Raid.
“It’s hard to say right now who the starter is going to be as Music City Bowl starter Jake Hubenak and Knight have both had their moments and have different strengths as players,” says Jeff Tarpley of GigEm247. “Knight is a dual threat who is strong physically as well as a strong presence in the locker room and Hubenak is more of a pocket passer who earned the respect of the players with his demeanor under fire in the bowl game.
“It’s probably going to take the remainder of the spring for one of them to establish themselves as the best 11-on-11 performer.”
Gus Malzahn’s dilemma at Auburn will likely determine his future on the Plains after last season’s dreadful finish that began with a preseason ranking inside the Top 10.
Later benched for Sean White, Johnson never recovered after his confidence was shaken early and wasn’t anywhere near the player many were expecting after the success he displayed in minimal time leading up to last season.
Newcomer John Franklin III reportedly has the “wow” factor and could leap Johnson and White on the depth as spring drills wind down. He’s a lot like former Tigers quarterback Nick Marshall in the way he can feel the zone-read and use his elusiveness outside the pocket. For what Malzahn and the Auburn offense wants to do, Franklin III could be the best option but the battle’s far from over.
SEC EAST QUARTERBACKS
Following Will Grier’s unexpected one-year suspension in October, Florida won the East without a reliable quarterback over the second half of the season, an indictment on a weak division as much as it was the Gators going 3-1 against SEC competition without him.
Florida nearly lost to Vanderbilt and Florida Atlantic during Grier’s absence, fell face first in games with major postseason implications against Florida State and Alabama (SECCG) and went out with a whimper vs. Michigan in the Citrus Bowl.
Who’s playing quarterback is a major question for the Gators this spring.
“There’s no doubt Florida can be better under center than they were at the end of the 2015 season, when Treon Harris struggled to even complete simple passes, but can Florida be as good as they were when things were starting to click for Will Grier? That remains to be seen,” said Thomas Goldkamp, 247Sports’ Florida beat reporter for Gator Bait. “Luke Del Rio is the clear favorite to win the job thanks to his knowledge of the system, but he lacks the arm Grier had.
“That said, at this point in the spring, he has a much better overall command of the offense than Grier had at the same point last year. It’s unlikely Florida has a Heisman candidate type player at quarterback next fall, but Jim McElwain’s system doesn’t really need that – it just needs a competent game manager, and Del Rio appears capable of being that guy,” Goldkamp said. “That alone should lead to significant improvement on offense.”
Florida’s one of three East programs without a clear-cut starter, since you can probably pencil in Kentucky’s Drew Barker, Drew Lock at Mizzou and Vanderbilt’s Kyle Shurmur as QB1s. All three of those guys have starting experience but are entering the 2016 campaign with immense pressure as leaders on offense for the first time, expected to reverse fortunes on teams that will be projected at the bottom of the division.
At Georgia, all eyes have been locked on the arrival of Eason, the five-star true freshman many are expecting to stiff-arm Greyson Lambert at the top of the depth chart and rise to a starting role. Two weeks into spring practice however, first-year coach Kirby Smart’s making Eason take his licks as a third-teamer behind Lambert and Brice Ramsey, expected given the circumstances.
Georgia should have a front-runner by G-Day in April.
Gun Runner wins Louisiana Derby.
Associated Press
Gun Runner reaffirmed his status as a Kentucky Derby contender, pulling away for a 4 1/2-length victory Saturday in the Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds.
Ridden by Florent Geroux, the Steve Asmussen-trained Gun Runner ran the mile in 1:51.06 and earned 100 Kentucky Derby entry points to push his total to 151. He won the Risen Star last month at the Fair Grounds, but was the 7-2 third-choice behind local favorite Mo Tom and Champagne Stakes winner Greenpointcrusader.
''We don't care about any of that other stuff,'' Asmussen said about the odds. ''We just care about our horse.''
Owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farms, the winner paid $9.80, $5.60 and $3.60 and earned $600,000.
''We're fortunate and thankful to the Winchells for the opportunity to train this horse,'' Asmussen said. ''Gun Runner is very talented, so we're really looking forward to his next race. The Derby is what we're all dreaming about.''
The trip to the Derby will be the first for Geroux, who had Stanford last year, only to see the horse scratched two days before the race.
''It's great to have a Derby horse,'' Geroux said. ''Hopefully, we can make a nice run the first Saturday in May. ... The good thing is he's very easy to manage. He's got so many gears and settles real nicely. Then when you ask him to go, he has a nice turn of foot.''
Tom's Ready, one of two entries owned by Gayle Benson, wife of New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson was second, and Dazzling Gem third. Tom's Ready earned 40 points, and Dazzling Gem 20.
The other Benson entry, Mo Tom, was fourth, picking up 10 points to go along with the 22 he earned in earlier races.
Mo Tom recovered enough to nip Risen Star runner-up Forevamo by a head to get the 10 points that will get him in the Derby, but trainer Tom Amoss blasted jockey Corey Lanerie for the ride.
''I'm just puzzled why Corey went down to the rail,'' Amoss said. ''It's so hard to watch something like that with all of the preparation we do.''
Forevamo was fifth, followed by Candy My Boy, Greenpointcrusader, Conquest Windycity, Uncle Walter and Battery.
On
emoriesofhistory.com
1945 - Maurice "Rocket" Richard (Montreal Canadiens) became the first NHL player to score 50 goals in a season. Richard scored 50 goals in 50 games.
1963 - Sonny Werblin announced that the New York Titans of the American Football League was changing its name to the New York Jets. (NFL)
1990 - Jesse Owens received the Congressional Gold Medal from U.S. President George Bush.
1999 - In Cuba, the Orioles beat the Cuban National Team 3-2. It was the first time since the 1950's that a U.S. team had played in Cuba.
2002 - Former NFL player Dexter Manley was sentenced to two years in jail for evidence tampering. He had been convicted for attempting to swallow cocaine he was carrying and then failed to meet with his probation officer.
2002 - Greco Roman wrestler Rulon Gardner had the middle toe on his right foot amputated due to frostbite. He had been stranded overnight in Wyoming on February 14.
2002 - Eric Cairns (New York Islanders) was suspended by the NHL for two games. The previous night Cairns had punched Radek Bonk (Ottawa Senators).
1963 - Sonny Werblin announced that the New York Titans of the American Football League was changing its name to the New York Jets. (NFL)
1990 - Jesse Owens received the Congressional Gold Medal from U.S. President George Bush.
1999 - In Cuba, the Orioles beat the Cuban National Team 3-2. It was the first time since the 1950's that a U.S. team had played in Cuba.
2002 - Former NFL player Dexter Manley was sentenced to two years in jail for evidence tampering. He had been convicted for attempting to swallow cocaine he was carrying and then failed to meet with his probation officer.
2002 - Greco Roman wrestler Rulon Gardner had the middle toe on his right foot amputated due to frostbite. He had been stranded overnight in Wyoming on February 14.
2002 - Eric Cairns (New York Islanders) was suspended by the NHL for two games. The previous night Cairns had punched Radek Bonk (Ottawa Senators).
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