Blackhawks fire coach...Kansas begins regular season on top...Bucks in Portland

CHICAGO (AP) — The Blackhawks have fired three-time Stanley Cup winning coach Joel Quenneville. General manager Stan Bowman announced the startling dismissal of Quenneville and assistants Kevin Dineen and Ulf Samuelsson today and appointed Jeremy Colliton the new coach. Chicago was off to a 6-6-3 start and missed the playoffs last season.

UNDATED (AP) — Four of college basketball's top teams are in action tonight at the Champion's Classic in Indianapolis. Top-ranked Kansas steps on the floor for its first regular-season game of the season against Number-10 Michigan State. Second-ranked Kentucky then faces number-four Duke.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks bring an 8-and-1 record to Portland tonight to take on the 7-and-3 Trail Blazers. Tonight's other NBA action sees Atlanta at Charlotte, Washington at Dallas, and the Phoenix Suns hosting the Brooklyn Nets.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys have a difficult road to the playoffs, after their first loss in four home games. The Cowboys were defeated last night by the Tennessee Titans, 28-14, and are now 3-and-5. The Titans, at 4-and-4, ended a three-game losing streak.

CARLSBAD, Calif. (AP) — Brodie Van Wagenen has made his first public moves as New York Mets general manager, firing hitting coach Pat Roessler along with bullpen coach Ricky Bones and announcing manager Mickey Callaway will have a new bench coach. After meeting for two days with Callaway last week, Van Wagenen said bench coach Gary DiSarcina will replace third-base coach Glenn Sherlock, who will shift to first-base coach.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Related topics