By DAVE SKRETTA AP Basketball Writer College basketball’s elite programs have stepped into the spotlight for next weekend’s Final Four in New Orleans. Duke, Villanova and Kansas will descend on the Big Easy next weekend for a chance to add another championship banner to their rafters. Duke will play either North Carolina or Saint Peter’s,
Continue Reading NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA has fined Minnesota Timberwolves forward Taurean Prince $15,000 for making an obscene gesture on the court. The fine stemmed from an incident that occurred at the end of the third quarter during the Timberwolves’ 116-95 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night. Prince and Dallas’ Luka Doncic both
Continue Reading By JEROME PUGMIRE AP Auto Racing Writer JIDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Formula One defending champion Max Verstappen overtook Charles Leclerc three laps from the end of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix for his first win of the season and 21st of his career. The race under floodlights was held two days after an attack
Continue Reading By JAY COHEN AP Sports Writer CHICAGO (AP) — Ochai Agbaji, David McCormack and Christian Braun powered a dazzling second half for Kansas, and the top-seeded Jayhawks pounded Miami 76-50 to advance to the program’s 16th Final Four. Agbaji scored 18 points, McCormack had 15 and Braun finished with 12, helping Kansas rally after a
Continue Reading By JAY COHEN AP Sports Writer CHICAGO (AP) — Ochai Agbaji, David McCormack and Christian Braun powered a dazzling second half for Kansas, and the top-seeded Jayhawks pounded Miami 76-50 to advance to the program’s 16th Final Four. Agbaji scored 18 points, McCormack had 15 and Braun finished with 12, helping Kansas rally after a
Continue Reading TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Yankees ace Gerrit Cole felt his first spring training start was better than his pitching line. Cole allowed four runs and four hits with five strikeouts and a walk over two-plus innings in New York’s 7-4 exhibition win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The right-hander gave up homers to Diego Castillo and
Continue Reading PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (AP) — Two-way prospect Brendan McKay is among five players the Tampa Bay Rays have optioned to the minor leagues. A rookie who hasn’t played in the majors since 2019 because of injuries, McKay was the fourth overall pick in the 2017 June amateur draft. He made one start at designated hitter
Continue Reading TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona State has hired Natasha Adair to coach women’s basketball. The school announced the former Delaware coach will replace Charli Turner Thorne, who retired earlier this month after 25 years leading the Sun Devils. A former player at South Florida, Adair spent the past five seasons at Delaware, where she went
Continue Reading By TIM REYNOLDS AP Sports Writer MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Paula Badosa was midway through an on-court interview after another victory at the Miami Open when a thought crossed her mind. And it made a lot of sense. The Spaniard was speaking English despite knowing that most of the fans watching her would probably
Continue Reading By Ben Morse, CNN Reigning world champion Max Verstappen won the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Sunday after a thrilling battle with Charles LeClerc. The Red Bull driver, second for most of the race, took the lead with just a few laps to go and never relinquished it. Just like in Bahrain last week, the
Continue Reading By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) — It’s been 24 years since North Carolina State has reached a Final Four and during that time UConn has been to 18 of them, including the last 13 straight. The top-seeded Wolfpack will try to end their drought and stop the Huskies’ streak when the
Continue Reading BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) — Florida Atlantic softball coach Joan Joyce, the only coach in the program’s 28-year history whose numerous claims to fame included once striking out Ted Williams, has died. The school announced her death Sunday. Joyce died Saturday, the school said, without disclosing the cause. She was 81. Joyce’s famed strikeout of
Continue Reading By MARK DIDTLER Associated Press TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton’s first managerial job as a 29-year-old was unlike any other in the rookie leagues: New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner was a regular at his home games. Talk about learning how to handle pressure. Shelton’s opportunity came in 2000 with the
Continue Reading TAMPA, Fla,. (AP) — The New York Yankees have signed right-hander Shelby Miller to a minor league contract and invited him to major league spring training. The 31-year-old Miller is 38-57 with a 4.19 ERA in 163 games, including 132 starts over parts of nine seasons. The 2015 NL All-Star split last season between the
Continue Reading By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Scottie Scheffler reached the championship round at the Dell Technologies Match Play for the second straight year. This time he has more at stake. A year ago, Scheffler was trying for his first PGA Tour victory. Now he is one win away from going to
Continue Reading By JEROME PUGMIRE AP Auto Racing Writer JIDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Formula One defending champion Max Verstappen overtook Charles Leclerc three laps from the end of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix for his first win of the season and 21st of his career. The race under floodlights was held two days after an attack
Continue Reading By JACK THOMPSON Associated Press GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — It didn’t take a serious ankle injury to ignite Josh Naylor’s love of baseball. But time away from the game definitely deepened his appreciation. Nine months after a frightening collision ended his season, the Cleveland Guardians outfielder-first baseman is resuming his career. The 24-year-old was in
Continue Reading TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona State has hired Natasha Adair as its next women’s basketball coach. The school announced the former Delaware coach will replace Charli Turner Thorne, who retired earlier this month after 25 years leading the Sun Devils. A former player at South Florida, Adair spent the past five seasons at Delaware, where
Continue Reading By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The 32 NFL team owners will deal with some significant issues at their meetings this week in Florida. Two proposals to change overtime rules are particularly intriguing. Tennessee has recommended that both teams possess the ball in overtime unless the team receiving the
Continue Reading By JACK MAGRUDER Associated Press SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — San Francisco Giants right-hander Logan Webb turned a heavy two-seam fastball and a new-found confidence into a breakout 2021 season. After he was dominant against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Division Series, the 25-year-old Webb is expected to play a leading role in a
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