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TOP STORIES:
BKC--NCAA-HARVARD-MICHIGAN ST
SPOKANE, Wash. — To make its first Sweet 16, Harvard will have to get past a team that gets there regularly. The Crimson take on Michigan State in the third round of the NCAA tournament Saturday. By National Writer Eddie Pells. Game starts approximately 8:45 p.m.
BBN--DODGERS-DIAMONDBACKS-GAME 2
SYDNEY — Left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu, moved up in the Dodgers' rotation because Zack Greinke injured his right calf, faces the Diamondbacks' Trevor Cahill in the second game of the MLB season-opening series on Sunday, with the Diamondbacks trying to bounce back after a 3-1 loss in the opener Saturday. By Dennis Passa. UPCOMING 600 words, sidebars, photos. Game starts 10:15 p.m.
NCAA TOURNAMENT:
BKC--NCAA-BILLION BRACKET BUSTER
The billion-dollar dream is over. A second day of upsets ended any chance of someone having a perfect NCAA tournament bracket in Warren Buffett's $1 billion challenge. It was a favorite that provided the first blemish on the final three people's brackets in the Quicken Loans contest on the Yahoo! Sports website. By Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg. SENT: 310 words, photos.
Saturday's games:
BKC--NCAA-DAYTON-SYRACUSE
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Third-seeded Syracuse meets No. 11 Dayton in the South Region of the NCAA tournament with a berth in the round of 16 at stake. By John Kekis. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos. Game starts 7:10 p.m.
BKC--NCAA-CONNECTICUT-VILLANOVA
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Second-seeded Villanova faces former Big East rival Connecticut in the East Region of the NCAA tournament with a berth in the Sweet 16 at stake. By John Wawrow. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos. Games scheduled to start at 9:40 p.m.
BKC_NCAA-TEXAS-MICHIGAN
MILWAUKEE — Nik Stauskas and No. 2 seed Michigan try to advance to the Sweet 16 for the second straight year when they take on Cameron Ridley and seventh-seeded Texas in the third round of the NCAA tournament. The Wolverines advanced with a 57-40 victory over Wofford, and the Longhorns needed a buzzer-beating layup from Ridley to down Arizona State 87-85 late Thursday night. By Jay Cohen. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos. With hometown story. Game starts 5:15 p.m.
BKC--NCAA-PITTSBURGH-FLORIDA
ORLANDO, Fla. — Scottie Wilbekin scored 21 points and top-seeded Florida beat Pittsburgh 61-45 in the NCAA tournament Saturday, advancing to the Sweet 16 for the fourth consecutive year. By Mark Long. SENT: 150 words, photos. UPCOMING: 700 words by 3:45 p.m.
BKC--NCAA-N DAKOTA ST-SAN DIEGO ST
SPOKANE, Wash. — The upstarts from North Dakota State look for another 12-seed stunner when the Bison face No. 4 seed San Diego State in the third round of the NCAA tournament on Saturday. Winner gets a spot in the round of 16. By Tim Booth. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos. Game starts 6:10 p.m.
BKC--NCAA-OREGON-WISCONSIN
MILWAUKEE — A matchup worthy of a Rose Bowl takes place in the third round of the NCAA tournament when up-tempo Oregon faces gritty Wisconsin. The Badgers figure to have a huge following playing barely 80 miles from home. By Genaro C. Armas. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos. Game starts approximately 7:45 p.m.
BKC--NCAA-SAINT LOUIS-LOUISVILLE
ORLANDO, Fla. — Defending national champion Louisville, seeded fourth in the Midwest Region, faces fifth-seeded Saint Louis in the third round of the NCAA tournament. By Fred Goodall. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos. Game starts at 2:45 p.m.
Women:
BKW--NCAA-ROBERT MORRIS-NOTRE DAME
TOLEDO, Ohio — Undefeated Notre Dame, coming off three straight Final Fours, opens its NCAA tournament against 16th-seeded Robert Morris. By Noah Trister. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos. Game started 1:30 p.m.
BKW--NCAA-NORTHWESTERN STATE-TENNESSEE
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 1 seed Tennessee, which has failed to advance beyond the second round just once in the history of the NCAA tournament, hosts No. 16 seed Northwestern State in a first-round game. By Steve Megargee. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos. Game starts 4 p.m.
BKW--NCAA-W KENTUCKY-BAYLOR
WACO, Texas — Odyssey Sims and No. 2 seed Baylor take the court for their first-round NCAA tournament game without suspended coach Kim Mulkey. The Lady Bears are at home to play Sun Belt champ Western Kentucky, which has a 10-game winning streak. By AP Basketball Writer Stephen Hawkins. UPCOMING. 750 words, photos. Game starts approximately 5:30 p.m.
BKW--NCAA-OKLAHOMA-DEPAUL
DURHAM, N.C. — Sent to Duke's subregional for a second straight year, seventh-seeded DePaul and 10th-seeded Oklahoma engaged in a high-scoring affair in the first round of the NCAA tournament. By Joedy McCreary. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. Game started 1:30 p.m.
Also:
— Game stories on all 16 of Saturday's games.
Sunday's previews:
— STORRS, Conn. — BKW--NCAA-Storrs. By Pat Eaton-Robb. UPCOMING: 600 words by 4 p.m.
— COLLEGE PARK, Md. — BKW--NCAA-College Park. By David Ginsburg. SENT: 130 words. UPCOMING: 700 words by 5 p.m.
— CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — BKW--NCAA-Chapel Hill. By Steve Reed. UPCOMING. 750 words, photos by 7 p.m.
— IOWA CITY, Iowa — BKW--NCAA-Iowa City. By Luke Meredith. UPCOMING. 700 words, photos by 6 p.m.
— SEATTLE — BKW--NCAA-Seattle. UPCOMING: 700 words by 9 p.m.
— COLLEGE STATION, Texas — BKW--NCAA-College Station. By Kristie Rieken. UPCOMING: 650 words by 6 p.m.
— BATON ROUGE, La. — BKW--NCAA-Baton Rouge. By Brett Martel. UPCOMING, 700 words, photos by 6:30 p.m.
— STATE COLLGE, Pa. — NCAA-State College. By Dan Gelston. UPCOMING. 750 words, photos by 7 p.m.
BASEBALL
BBN--OPENING DAY DOWN UNDER
SYDNEY — Bob Wardle came ready to root for the Arizona Diamondbacks on opening day Down Under, all dressed in his Paul Goldschmidt jersey. Wardle and his daughter were having a fun time as the most quintessential of American sports took top billing at the symbolic home of Australia's national game when the 2014 Major League Baseball season got started. By Keiran Smith. SENT: 540 words.
BBN--DODGERS-DIAMONDBACKS
SYDNEY — Opening day turned out to be a pretty g'day for the Los Angeles Dodgers and ace Clayton Kershaw, who opened the Major League Baseball season with a 3-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night at Sydney Cricket Ground. By Dennis Passa. SENT: 930 words, photos.
AUTO RACING
CAR--NASCAR-FONTANA
FONTANA, Calif. — Denny Hamlin is back at the track where he broke a vertebra in his back last year in a last-lap crash with Joey Logano. Both drivers downplay their rivalry in their return to Fontana, where NASCAR could have a fifth race winner of its young season. By Greg Beacham. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos by 8 p.m.
CAR--NASCAR-FONTANA-NATIONWIDE
FONTANA, Calif. — Kyle Busch is the defending champion in NASCAR's Nationwide Series race at the 2-mile oval east of Los Angeles. By Greg Beacham. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. Starts 5 p.m.
GOLF
GLF--BAY HILL
ORLANDO, Fla. — Masters champion Adam Scott had a seven-shot lead going into the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. Upcoming: 750 words, photos, by 6:30 p.m.
GLF--LPGA TOUR
PHOENIX — Mirim Lee took a two-stroke lead over 16-year-old Lydia Ko into the third round of the LPGA Tour's JTBC Founders Cup. By John Nicholson. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos by 9:30 p.m.
GLF--CHAMPIONS TOUR
SAUCIER, Miss. — Fred Couples takes a two-stroke lead into the second round of the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic at Fallen Oak. Couples shot a 6-under 66 in the first round on Friday. By David Brandt. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos by 8 p.m.
NEW/DEVELOPING
TEN--SONY OPEN
KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. — Rafael Nadal faces Lleyton Hewitt in the second round at the Sony Open, while Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova play third-round matches. By Steven Wine. UPCOMING: 350 words, photos by 4 p.m. Nadal-Hewitt scheduled to begin not before 8 p.m.
RAC--TURFWAY-SPIRAL STAKES
FLORENCE, Ky. — Tamarando is the 3-1 morning line favorite for the $550,000 Grade 3 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park, a prep race in the road to the Kentucky Derby. UPCOMING: 150 words. Post time 6:28 p.m.
SWM--NCAA WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIPS
MINNEAPOLIS — The final day of competition in the NCAA women's swimming and diving championships at the University of Minnesota. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. Finals start at 8 p.m.
WRE--NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
OKLAHOMA CITY — Penn State tries to hold off Minnesota and Oklahoma State in its quest for a fourth consecutive title. By Cliff Brunt. UPCOMING: 650 words, photos. Championship round starts at 8 p.m.
SOCCER:
MLS-EARTHQUAKES-SPORTING KC
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Sporting Kansas City tries to extend its home winning streak to eight straight over the San Jose Earthquakes when they both return from Champions League action for an MLS game. UPCOMING: 150 words. Game starts 8:30 p.m.
NBA
BKN--76ERS-BULLS
CHICAGO — The freefalling Philadelphia 76ers have lost 23 in a row, including once to the Bulls earlier this week as they attempt to avoid gaining sole possession of the second-longest losing streak in NBA history. By Andrew Seligman. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos. Game starts at 8 p.m.
NHL
HKN--PANTHERS-KINGS
LOS ANGELES — Jonathan Quick could become the winningest goalie in franchise history when the Los Angeles Kings host Roberto Luongo and the Florida Panthers. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos. Starts 1 p.m. PDT.
HKN--CAPITALS-SHARKS
SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Sharks can clinch the playoffs with a win over the Washington Capitals and some help. By Josh Dubow. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos. Game starts at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday's Time Schedule
NCAA TOURNAMENT
Men
Third Round
At Buffalo, N.Y.
Syracuse (28-5) vs. Dayton (24-10), 7:10 p.m.
Villanova (29-4) vs. UConn (27-8), 9:40 p.m.
At Orlando, Fla.
Florida (33-2) vs. Pittsburgh (26-9), 12:15 p.m.
Louisville (30-5) vs. Saint Louis (27-6), 2:45 p.m.
At Milwaukee
Michigan (26-8) vs. Texas (24-10), 5:15 p.m.
Wisconsin (27-7) vs. Oregon (24-9), 7:45 p.m.
At Spokane, Wash.
San Diego State (30-4) vs. North Dakota State (26-6), 6:10 p.m.
Michigan State (27-8) vs. Harvard (27-4), 8:40 p.m.
Women
First Round
At Durham, N.C.
Duke vs. Winthrop, 11 a.m.
DePaul vs. Oklahoma, 1:30 p.m.
At Toledo, Ohio
Vanderbilt vs. Arizona State, 11 a.m.
Notre Dame vs. Robert Morris, 1:30 p.m.
At Lexington, Ky.=
Kentucky vs. Wright State, 11 a.m.
Syracuse vs. Chattanooga, 1:30 p.m.
At Knoxville, Tenn.
Tennessee vs. Northwestern State, 4 p.m.
St. John's vs. Southern Cal, 6:30 p.m.
At West Lafayette, Ind.
Oklahoma State vs. Florida Gulf Coast, 11 a.m.
Purdue vs. Akron, 1:30 p.m.
At Ames, Iowa
Iowa State vs. Florida State, 4 p.m.
Stanford vs. South Dakota, 6:30 p.m.
At Waco, Texas
California vs. Fordham, 4 p.m.
Baylor vs. Western Kentucky, 6:30 p.m.
At Los Angeles
Nebraska vs. Fresno State, 4 p.m.
N.C. State vs. BYU, 6:30 p.m.
NATIONAL INVITATION TOURNAMENT
Men
Louisiana Tech at Georgia, 11 a.m.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Arizona vs. L.A. Dodgers at Sydney, Australia, 4 a.m.
NBA
Portland at Charlotte, 7 p.m.
Houston at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
Indiana at Memphis, 8 p.m.
Philadelphia at Chicago, 8 p.m.
Miami at New Orleans, 8 p.m.
Orlando at Utah, 9 p.m.
Detroit at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
San Antonio at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.
NHL
St. Louis at Philadelphia, 1 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.
Detroit at Minnesota, 2 p.m.
Ottawa at Dallas, 3 p.m.
Florida at Los Angeles, 4 p.m.
Carolina at Winnipeg, 7 p.m.
Montreal at Toronto, 7 p.m.
N.Y. Rangers at New Jersey, 7 p.m.
Boston at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
Calgary at Edmonton, 10 p.m.
Washington at San Jose, 10:30 p.m.
EXHIBITION BASEBALL
N.Y. Mets vs. Miami (ss) at Jupiter, Fla., 1:05 p.m.
Miami (ss) vs. Washington at Viera, Fla., 1:05 p.m.
Boston vs. Atlanta at Kissimmee, Fla., 1:05 p.m.
St. Louis vs. Houston at Kissimmee, Fla., 1:05 p.m.
Detroit vs. Toronto at Dunedin, Fla., 1:05 p.m.
Philadelphia vs. Pittsburgh at Bradenton, Fla., 1:05 p.m.
Baltimore vs. Tampa Bay at Port Charlotte, Fla., 1:05 p.m.
N.Y. Yankees vs. Minnesota at Fort Myers, Fla., 1:05 p.m.
Seattle (ss) vs. Oakland at Phoenix, 4:05 p.m.
Cincinnati vs. Chicago Cubs at Mesa, Ariz., 4:05 p.m.
LA Dodgers vs. Milwaukee at Phoenix, 4:05 p.m.
Colorado (ss) vs. Cleveland at Goodyear, Ariz., 4:05 p.m.
San Francisco vs. Chicago White Sox (ss) at Glendale, Ariz., 4:05 p.m.
Chicago White Sox (ss) vs. San Diego at Peoria, Ariz., 4:05 p.m.
Texas vs. Kansas City at Surprise, Ariz., 4:05 p.m.
Seattle (ss) vs. Colorado (ss) at Scottsdale, Ariz., 4:10 p.m.
Arizona vs. LA Dodgers at Sydney, Australia, 10 p.m.
MLS
Vancouver at New England, 2 p.m.
Los Angeles at Real Salt Lake, 4 p.m.
D.C. United at Toronto FC, 4:30 p.m.
Portland at Colorado, 6 p.m.
Philadelphia at Columbus, 6 p.m.
Chivas USA at FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
San Jose at Sporting Kansas City, 8:30 p.m.
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