NCAAWBB – Stanford tops NCAA women’s field; NC State gets No. 1 seed
North Carolina State, Connecticut, South Carolina and Stanford are the No. 1 seeds for the women’s NCAA Tournament. The Cardinal are the No. 1 overall seed. N.C. State is a No. 1 seed for the first time in school history. The Wolfpack won the ACC conference tournament and will play North Carolina A&T in the opener. A record seven Big Ten teams will be in the NCAA tournament. Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern and Rutgers. Michigan is a 6 seed and will face Florida Gulf Coast, on March 21 at 3:00 p.m. Michigan State is a 10 seed and face 7th seed Iowa State, on March 22 at 6:00 p.m.
NCAAWBB – Tennessee’s NCAA run continues, Notre Dame’s ends
Tennessee’s run of NCAA Tournament appearances that seemed certain the end a year ago has continued this year as the Lady Vols made the field for the 39th time. That’s each season since the NCAA started a women’s tournament. Tennessee’s streak was in jeopardy a year ago, but COVID-19 canceled the event. The 13th-ranked Lady Vols are seeded third and will meet No. 14 seed Middle Tennessee on Sunday in the first round. Tennessee coach Kellie Harper would like to end a streak that Lady Vols fans can’t stand _ getting back to the Final Four for the first time in 13 years.
NCAAWBB – UConn coach Geno Auriemma tests positive for coronavirus
UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma has tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss at least the first two rounds of the the NCAA Tournament. UConn says the Hall of Famer received a positive result from a test taken Sunday and isn’t experiencing any symptoms. The team’s head physician says contact tracing protocols revealed that Auriemma didn’t have close contact with any other team member since Friday. The rest of the team, which has tested negative, plans to leave Tuesday for the tournament in San Antonio, where they are scheduled to take on 16th-seeded High Point on Sunday.
NBA – National Basketball Association
Last Night
San Antonio Spurs 109, Detroit Pistons 99
Denver Nuggets 121, Indiana Pacers 106
Spurs 109, Pistons 99 – Murray leads Spurs to bounce-back win over Pistons
Dejounte Murray had 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead a balanced attack as the San Antonio Spurs beat the Detroit Pistons 109-99. Detroit’s leading scorer, Jeremi Grant, left the game in the third quarter after falling hard on his hip while trying to drive between Drew Eubanks and Rudy Gay. Jakob Poeltl had 14 points and 12 rebounds for San Antonio, which had six players in double figures. The Spurs had lost three of four, including a 35-point loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday. Josh Jackson had 15 points for the Pistons, who have lost four straight, while Grant scored 14.
Nuggets 121, Pacers 106 – Jokic, Nuggets beat travel-weary Pacers 121-106
Nikola Jokic notched his 35th double-double with 32 points and 14 rebounds, leading the Denver Nuggets over the travel-weary Indiana Pacers 121-106. Michael Porter Jr. and Will Barton had 20 points apiece for the Nuggets, who used a big fourth quarter to get the win. Malcom Brogdon led Indiana with 24 points and Justin Holiday had 19. Domantas Sabonis finished a rebound shy of a triple-double with 10 points and 10 assists. The start of the game was moved back an hour because the Pacers were unable to fly from Phoenix into Denver until Monday afternoon. A snowstorm that officially dropped 27 inches at Denver International Airport closed the runways from late Sunday morning.
Tonight
Oklahoma City Thunder at Chicago Bulls, 8:00 p.m.
WNBA – WNBA rolls out plans for 25th season celebration
The WNBA hopes to be back in home arenas for its 25th season this summer The league announced a series of plans for the anniversary season, including a new marketing campaign “Count It,” as well as celebrations of the league’s milestones throughout its history. When the new season will start is still being finalized because of the coronavirus pandemic. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said that she expects it to begin in May.
NHL – National Hockey League
Last Night
Florida Panthers 6, Chicago Blackhawks 3
Panthers 6, Blackhawks 3 – Barkov’s short-handed goal leads Panthers over Blackhawks
Aleksander Barkov scored a tiebreaking short-handed goal in the third period, and the Florida Panthers beat the slumping Chicago Blackhawks 6-3. Barkov poked in a loose puck from right in front with 6:34 left. It was the Panthers’ first short-handed goal this season. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 26 shots and won his sixth straight start. Down 3-1, the Panthers scored five unanswered goals to win their fourth straight game. Patrick Kane, Philipp Kurashev and Brandon Hagel scored for the Blackhawks, who lost for the fourth time in five games. Kevin Lankinen made 30 saves.
Tonight
Carolina Hurricanes at Detroit Red Wings, 7:30 p.m.
MLB – Spring Training
Yesterday
Toronto Blue Jays 4, Detroit Tigers 0
Chicago Cubs 4, Chicago White Sox 4 – TIE – F/10
Today
Detroit Tigers at New York Yankees, 1:05 p.m.
Chicago White Sox at San Diego Padres, 4:10 p.m.
Cubs are off
MLB – Michigan poised to raise 1,000-fan limit at Comerica Park
Michigan appears poised to amend a 1,000-patron limit so more Detroit Tigers fans can attend home games on Opening Day and after. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s office said Monday the state health department has had talks with the team “to find a safe path forward to expand capacity limits at the stadium." The team says it will soon announce details on increased ticket availability. It has been coordinating with the health department, medical experts others. A state order says outdoor entertainment facilities can have no more than 1,000 customers. Critics say that’s too low since Comerica Park holds more than 41,000.
NCAAMBB – March Madness: 68 teams punch ticket; the hard part awaits
The 68-team NCAA Tournament field is set, but it’s the next few days that could be the most nerve-wracking. Gonzaga has the top overall seed, trying to become the first team since the 1976 Indiana Hoosiers to finish a season undefeated. The other top seeds are Baylor, Illinois and Michigan. The tournament will be held entirely in the Indianapolis area. And here’s the nerve-wracking part: No player can show up for a game without seven negative test for COVID-19. There are deadlines for teams to be replaced, too. The first games are set for Thursday.
NCAAMBB – Big Ten – Minnesota and Indian fire head coaches
Minnesota has fired men’s basketball coach Richard Pitino. The Gophers went 14-15 this season after losing lost 11 of their last 14 games. The university will owe Pitino a $1.7 million buyout of his contract that had three years remaining. He was hired to replace Tubby Smith at age 30, with one prior year of experience as a head coach at Florida International. One NIT championship and two NCAA Tournament appearances followed. Indiana has fired coach Archie Miller after four mediocre seasons. The move was confirmed Monday by a person with knowledge of the decision who spoke to The Associated Press. Miller was 67-58 with the Hoosiers. His teams never made the NCAA Tournament.
NCAAMBB – Indiana snapshot: Basketball temples take center stage
Indiana’s basketball cathedrals tell all sorts of tales. Some offer Hollywood-like memories, like Hinkle Fieldhouse. Indiana University’s Assembly Hall is home to the last perfect team in Division I men’s basketball. John Wooden’s retired number hangs from the rafters of Purdue’s Mackey Arena. The Indiana Pacers won three ABA titles while playing at the coliseum at the state fairgrounds. Gordon Hayward’s half-court heave nearly gave Butler a national championship at Lucas Oil Stadium. Kobe Bryant’s first NBA title run went right through Bankers Life Fieldhouse. All six will be venues for this year’s NCAA Tournament.
NFL – Brees joins NBC Sports after retiring from NFL
Drew Brees is headed from the Superdome to the Golden Dome. The quarterback great joined NBC Sports on Monday, a day after announcing his retirement from the NFL. He will serve as an analyst for Notre Dame games as well as work from the studio during “Football Night in America” on Sunday nights. Brees will be a part of NBC’s coverage of next year’s Super Bowl as well as have a role in the network’s coverage of other events, including the Olympics. Brees is expected to work the Notre Dame games with Mike Tirico, but that booth could be calling NFL games down the line. Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth have been a team since 2009, but Michaels could retire after the Super Bowl in Los Angeles in February.
NFL – AP Source: Lions agree to deal to retain DE Romeo Okwara
A person familiar with the situation says defensive end Romeo Okwara has agreed to stay with the Detroit Lions. The person spoke Monday on condition of anonymity because the team had not announced the deal. Reports say the unrestricted free agent landed a $39 million, three-year contract. Okwara had a career-high 10 sacks last season in his third year with the Lions and fifth in the NFL. The former Notre Dame standout played in 16 games for the New York Giants in 2016 as an undrafted rookie. Detroit claimed him off waivers after the Giants cut him in 2018.
MHSAA – High School Sports
Tonight
Boys Basketball
New Buffalo 58, Lake Michigan Catholic 49
Heritage Christian 53, Michigan Lutheran 50
Decatur 55, Gobles 42
Three Rivers 58, Dowagiac 41
Edwardsburg 66, Vicksburg 54
Plainwell 59, Paw Paw 49
Mattawan 40, Kalamazoo Christian 36
Loy Norrix 74, Portage Northern 51
Gull Lake 61, Portage Central 45
Girls Basketball
Watervliet 59, Berrien Springs 15
Battle Creek Central 62, Benton Harbor 24
New Buffalo 40, Lake Michigan Catholic 23
Coloma 24, Bridgman 23
Three Rivers 56, Dowagiac 34
Edwardsburg 45, Vicksburg 41
Bangor 51, Fennville 19
Schoolcraft 36, Gobles 13
Plainwell 48, Paw Paw 25
Portage Northern 28, Loy Norrix 22
Otsego 42, Allegan 30
Tonight
Boys Basketball
St. Joseph at Niles, 7:00 p.m. News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM
Benton Harbor at Pewamo-Westphalia, 5:30 p.m.
Lake Michigan Catholic at Countryside, 6:00 p.m.
Michigan Lutheran at South Haven, 7:00 p.m.
Brandywine at Buchanan, 7:00 p.m.
Bridgman at Eau Claire, 7:30 p.m.
Coloma at Lawton, 7:00 p.m.
Martin at Watervliet, 7:00 p.m.
Constantine at Kalamazoo Hackett, 6:00 p.m.
Delton-Kellogg at Parchment, 7:00 p.m.
Fennville at Saugatuck, 7:30 p.m.
Galesburg-Augusta at Kal. Christian, 7:00 p.m.
Howardsville Christian at Lawrence, 7:30 p.m.
Decatur at River Valley, 7:30 p.m.
Mattawan at Gull Lake, 7:00 p.m.
Cassopolis at Bangor, 6:00 p.m.
Mendon at Centreville, 7:30 p.m.
Bloomingdale at Marcellus, 7:30 p.m.
Hartford at White Pigeon, 7:30 p.m.
Portage Central at Portage Northern, 7:00 p.m.
Kalamazoo Central at Loy Norrix, 7:00 p.m.
BC Lakeview at BC Central, 7:00 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Michigan Lutheran at South Haven, 5:30 p.m.
New Buffalo at Berrien Springs, 7:00 p.m.
Comstock at Niles, 5:45 p.m.
Howardsville Christian at Lawrence, 6:00 p.m.
Lawton at Coloma, 7:00 p.m.
Watervliet at Martin, 7:00 p.m.
Kalamazoo Hackett at Constantine, 6:00 p.m.
Parchment at Delton-Kellogg, 7:00 p.m.
Saugatuck at Fennville, 5:30 p.m.
Kal. Christian at Galesburg-Augusta, 7:00 p.m.
Cassopolis at Bangor, 7:30 p.m.
Mendon at Centreville, 6:00 p.m.
Bloomingdale at Marcellus, 6:00 p.m.
Hartford at White Pigeon, 6:00 p.m.
Decatur at River Valley, 6:00 p.m.
Gull Lake at Mattawan, 7:00 p.m.
Portage Northern at Portage Central, 7:00 p.m.
BC Central at BC Lakeview, 5:30 p.m.
Lowell at Kalamazoo Central, 7:00 p.m.
Note: The St. Joe vs. Lakeshore games tonight have been cancelled and will not be made up. The boys game was to be at Lakeshore and the girls game was supposed to be at St. Joseph. St. Joe boys will play at Niles tonight, Niles was supposed to host Comstock, but that game was also cancelled.
MHSAA – High School Basketball Rankings
Boys Basketball
Division 1
1. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (5) (10-0) 75
2. Ann Arbor Huron (11-0) 68
3. Detroit U-D Jesuit (6-1) 66
4. Detroit King (12-2) 57
5. Flint Carman-Ainsworth (10-1) 54
6. GR Forest Hills Northern (12-2) 47
7. Grand Blanc (8-2) 41
8. Warren De La Salle (8-2) 39
9. Hamtramck (12-2) 38
10. Zeeland East (13-0) 28
Others receiving 12 or more votes: Detroit Cass Tech 20.
Division 2
1. GR Catholic Central (5) (13-0) 75
2. Benton Harbor (12-2)70
3. Frankenmuth (13-0) 57
4. GR Christian (8-2) 54
5. Croswell-Lexington (13-0) 51
6. GR South Christian (12-2) 49
(tie) Ferndale (8-3) 49
8. Williamston (9-2) 41
9. Muskegon Orchard View (14-1) 35
10. Detroit Edison (9-2) 34
Others receiving 12 or more votes: Battle Creek Pennfield 14.
Division 3
1. McBain (2) (12-0) 66
2. Hanover-Horton (13-0) 64
3. Iron Mountain (1) (10-0) 60
4. Oscoda (1) (15-0) 57
5. Hemlock (13-0) 56
6. Schoolcraft (13-1)53
7. Flint Beecher (1) (8-1) 51
8. Pewamo-Westphalia (10-1) 45
9. Reese (10-1) 29
(tie) Bark River-Harris (14-0) 29
Others receiving 12 or more votes: Charlevoix 23, Beaverton 22, Elk Rapids 17.
Division 4
1. Southfield Christian (2) (10-1) 71
2. Detroit Douglass (3) (10-4) 68
3. Ewen-Trout Creek (13-1) 59
4. Hillsdale Academy (11-1) 58
5. Webberville (11-1) 50
6. Wyoming Tri-unity Christian (8-2) 47
(tie) Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (12-1) 47
8. Bellevue (9-2) 29
9. Clarkston Everest Catholic (11-1) 27
10. Munising (12-1) 22
Others receiving 12 or more votes: Petersburg Summerfield 21, Posen 15, Dryden 15, McBain Northern Michigan Christian 14, Rudyard 13.
Girls
Division 1
1. Hartland (4) (13-0) 72
2. East Lansing (10-0) 65
3. Hudsonville (14-2) 62
4. East Grand Rapids (1) (12-2) 60
5. Saline (12-1) 55
6. Midland Dow (15-0) 50
7. West Bloomfield (9-3) 43
8. East Kentwood (10-2) 34
9. Byron Center (11-2) 31
10. Detroit Renaissance (7-4) 28
(tie) Kalamazoo Central (6-2) 28
Others receiving 12 or more votes: Wayne Memorial 27, Macomb L’Anse Creuse North 19.
Division 2
1. Detroit Edison(DEPSA) (5) (10-0) 84
2. Grand Rapids West Catholic (12-0) 79
3. Harper Woods Chandler Park (11-2) 64
4. Frankenmuth (13-1) 61
5. Buchanan (10-0)48
6. Sault Ste Marie (12-0) 47
7. Bay City John Glenn (13-2) 45
8. Montague (12-0) 40
9. Lake Fenton (10-1) 34
10. Cadillac (9-1) 29
Others receiving 12 or more votes: Portland 15.
Division 3
1. Grass Lake (4) (11-0) 73
2. Ypsilanti Arbor Preparatory (1) (12-1) 69
3. Kent City (13-0) 63
4. McBain (12-0) 62
5. Byron (10-0) 51
6. Adrian Lenawee Christian (8-3) 46
7. Menominee (10-0) 43
8. Maple City Glen Lake (13-1) 34
9. Reese (11-0) 32
10. Rochester Hills Lutheran NW (8-0) 32
Others receiving 12 or more votes: Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest 29, St. Charles 25, Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Central 14, Erie-Mason 12.
Division 4
1. Saginaw Nouvel (4) (13-0) 74
2. Carney-Nadeau (1) (15-0) 71
3. Waterford Our Lady (8-2) 60
4. Athens (11-1) 50
5. Ewen-Trout Creek (13-1) 48
5. Hillsdale Academy (10-1) 48
7. Mackinaw City (13-1) 34
8. Fowler (8-3) 31
9. Bellaire (11-2) 30
10. Kingston (12-1) 28
(tie) Posen (5-1) 28
Others receiving 12 or more votes: Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart 25, Plymouth Christian Academy 20, Camden-Frontier 14.
