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TOP STORY
BKN--KNICKS-JACKSON
NEW YORK — Phil Jackson has control of the New York Knicks, along with complete power to do what is necessary to fix them. His work starts Wednesday, when he visits his new players and coaches and watches them host the Indiana Pacers, the type of franchise he might like the Knicks to become. The Pacers have the best record in the Eastern Conference and carry real championship hopes. By Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney. UPCOMING: 790 words by 5 a.m.
With:
— BKN--Tim Dahlberg. By Sports Columnist Tim Dahlberg. SENT: 806 words.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Men's NCAA Tournament
BKC--BRACKETRACKET-031914
Welcome to BracketRacket, your one-stop shopping place for all your NCAA tournament needs. Today we have how the NCAA is bad for America, Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow, small-town brothers coaching in the tournament, and one-time tournament foes as players facing each other as coaches.By Sports Columnist Jim Litke. SENT: 1,375 words.
BKC--NCAA-DAYTON
DAYTON, Ohio — In his second try, T.J. Warren became an NCAA tournament star. The ACC's player of the year put on a show Tuesday night, scoring 16 of his 25 points in the second half of North Carolina State's 74-59 victory over Xavier on the opening day of the NCAA's First Four. Warren made up for his forgettable tournament showing a year earlier on the same floor. In the opening game, Albany got its first NCAA tournament victory, holding on for a 71-64 win over Mount St. Mary's. By Joe Kay. UPCOMING: 744 words by 5 a.m.
BKC--NCAA-OKLAHOMA-KRUGER'S WAY
NORMAN, Okla. — While demonstrative coaches fill the highlights and grab headlines, Oklahoma's Lon Kruger remains in control. The 61-year-old is the only coach to take five different schools to the NCAA tournament, and he has done it the same way each time — by using his calm demeanor, deep basketball knowledge and knack for cultivating relationships to get the most out of his teams. By Cliff Brunt. UPCOMING: 795 words by 5 a.m.
Also:
— LINCOLN, Neb. — BKC--NCAA-Nebraska Breakthrough. By Eric Olson. UPCOMING: 650 words by 5 a.m.
— MADISON, Wis. — BKC--NCAA-Wisconsin-Hayes. By Genaro C. Armas. UPCOMING: 683 words by 5 a.m.
— GAINESVILLE, Fla. — BKC--NCAA-Florida. By Mark Long. SENT: 823 words.
— STORRS, Conn. — BKC--NCAA-UConn's Return. By Pat Eaton-Robb. SENT: 633 words.
— TEMPE, Ariz. — BKC--NCAA Tournament-Arizona St. By John Marshall. SENT: 707 words.
— MANHATTAN, Kan. — BKC--NCAA-Familiar Faces. By Dave Skretta. SENT: 785 words.
— DAYTON, Ohio — BKC--NCAA-Cal Poly-Texas Southern. By Rusty Miller. SENT: 573 words.
— DAYTON, Ohio — BKC--NCAA-Iowa-Tennessee. By Joe Kay. SENT: 697 words.
Women's NCAA Tournament
BKW--BRACKET BREAKDOWN
Clearly it's not going out on a limb to predict UConn and Notre Dame meeting in the national championship game with history at stake. There's a bunch of other games in the women's basketball tournament that may not be so obvious. A look at what could happen over the next three weeks. By Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg. UPCOMING: 2,250 words by 5 a.m.
Also:
— KANSAS CITY, Mo. — BKW--Kansas St-Mittie. By Dave Skretta. SENT: 547 words.
— SOUTH BEND, Ind. — BKW--NCAA-Underappreciated Irish. By Tom Coyne. SENT: 507 words.
— KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — BKW--NCAA-Tennessee-High Hopes. By Steve Megargee. SENT: 672 words.
— COLUMBIA, S.C. — BKW--NCAA-S Carolina's Challenge. By Pete Iacobelli. SENT: 753 words.
NEW/DEVELOPING
GLF--BAY HILL-WOODS
ORLANDO, Fla. — Tiger Woods withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Tuesday because of persistent pain in his back, creating even more uncertainty for golf's No. 1 player with the Masters only three weeks away. And that's if Woods can even play in the Masters. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. SENT: 809 words.
BKC--AUBURN-PEARL
AUBURN, Ala. — New Auburn coach Bruce Pearl wasted no time making an impression— and some bold promises. The former Tennessee coach told a couple thousand fans at Auburn Arena: "We will play for championships." The Tigers turned to Pearl to revive a struggling basketball program that hasn't made the NCAA tournament since 2003. Athletic director Jay Jacobs landed his top target with a 6-year deal starting at $2.2 million annually, less than a week after firing Tony Barbee. By John Zenor. SENT: 929 words.
BKN--HEAT-CAVALIERS
CLEVELAND — As shot after shot dropped through the net, it became clear LeBron James was going to have one of those special nights. The kind he has every so often. The kind he has when Dwyane Wade sits. James scored 43 points — 25 in a bewildering first-quarter shooting display — and Chris Bosh added 21, leading the Miami Heat to a 100-96 win Tuesday night over the Cleveland Cavaliers. By Tom Withers. SENT: 944 words.
PISTORIUS TRIAL
PRETORIA, South Africa — A police ballistics expert says Oscar Pistorius' girlfriend was standing up in a toilet cubicle when she was hit in the right hip by the first of four bullets fired by the double-amputee athlete. Capt. Christiaan Mangena says Reeva Steenkamp then fell back onto a magazine holder in the toilet before she was hit by the last two bullets fired by Pistorius through the wood door, one in the arm and one in the head. SENT: 135 words. UPCOMING: Will be updated.
BASEBALL
BBN--DODGERS-DIAMONDBACKS-AUSTRALIA
SYDNEY — Suspensions to eight players and a controversial NL West-clinching swimming pool incident last season helped expand a growing rivalry between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks. But Dodgers manager Don Mattingly says he doesn't expect any serious animosity to carry over from last year when the teams meet to open the major league season Saturday and Sunday at the Sydney Cricket Ground. But he couldn't rule it out either. By Dennis Passa. SENT: 604 words.
Also:
— SARASOTA, Fla. — BBA--Orioles-Hunter. By David Ginsburg. SENT: 710 words.
___
ALSO
— MIAMI — FBN--Incognito Tweets. By Steven Wine. SENT: 282 words.
— CANTON, Ohio — FBO--Hall of Fame Stadium. SENT: 142 words.
— GLF--US Open-Torrey Pines. By Doug Ferguson. SENT: 738 words.
— BKC--Washington State-Bone Fired. By Tim Booth. SENT: 693 words.
— ATLANTA — FBC--Georgia-Arrests. By Charles Odum. SENT: 680 words.
— ALPHARETTA, Ga. — FBN--Falcons-Youth Football Safety. By George Henry. SENT: 403 words.
— CHARLOTTE, N.C. — FBN--Panthers-Newton. By Steve Reed. SENT: 436 words.
— CHARLOTTE, N.C. — FBN--Panthers-Harper. By Steve Reed. SENT: 519 words.
— CHARLOTTE, N.C. — CAR--NASCAR-Stenhouse Shines. By Jenna Fryer. SENT: 521 words.
— KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. — TEN--Key Biscayne. SENT: 105 words.
— KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. — TEN--Key Biscayne-SWilliams. SENT: 361 words.
— TOKYO — OLY--Tokyo 2020. SENT: 297 words.
— CHICAGO — SOC--WCup-US-Green. SENT: 331 words.
___
Wednesday's Time Schedule
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Men's NCAA Tournament
First Round
At Dayton, Ohio
Cal Poly vs. Texas Southern, 6:40 p.m.
Iowa vs. Tennessee, 30 minutes following
NIT Tournament
Men
First Round
Illinois at Boston University, 7 p.m.
Iona at Louisiana Tech, 7:30 p.m.
Vermont at Georgia, 8 p.m.
Toledo at Southern Miss, 8:30 p.m.
UC Irvine at SMU, 9 p.m.
LSU at San Francisco, 10 p.m.
Utah Valley at California, 10:30 p.m.
Women
First Round
Quinnipiac at Villanova, 7 p.m.
East Carolina at George Washington, 7 p.m.
Green Bay at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
TCU at Colorado, 9 p.m.
Washington State at Montana, 10 p.m.
NBA
Chicago at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
Charlotte at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m.
Miami at Boston, 7:30 p.m.
Utah at Memphis, 8 p.m.
Toronto at New Orleans, 8 p.m.
Indiana at New York, 8 p.m.
Minnesota at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Detroit at Denver, 9 p.m.
Orlando at Phoenix, 10 p.m.
San Antonio at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m.
NHL
Tampa Bay at Toronto, 7 p.m.
St. Louis at Chicago, 8 p.m.
Colorado at Winnipeg, 8 p.m.
Nashville at Vancouver, 10 p.m.
EXHIBITION BASEBALL
Minnesota vs. St. Louis at Jupiter, Fla., 1:05 p.m.
N.Y. Yankees vs. Atlanta at Kissimmee, Fla., 1:05 p.m.
Tampa Bay vs. Baltimore at Sarasota, Fla., 1:05 p.m.
Philadelphia vs. Toronto at Dunedin, Fla., 1:05 p.m.
L.A. Angels vs. Chicago White Sox at Glendale, Ariz., 4:05 p.m.
Milwaukee vs. Seattle at Peoria, Ariz., 4:05 p.m.
Oakland vs. Cleveland at Goodyear, Ariz., 4:05 p.m.
Houston vs. Washington at Viera, Fla., 6:05 p.m.
Pittsburgh vs. Boston at Fort Myers, Fla., 7:05 p.m.
Cincinnati vs. Kansas City at Surprise, Ariz., 9:05 p.m.
Chicago Cubs vs. Colorado at Scottsdale, Ariz., 9:40 p.m.
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