National Sports - The Morning Sun

A fan holds up a get well sign for Kansas head coach Bill Self during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against West Virginia in the second round of the Big 12 Conference tournament Thursday, March 9, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. Self was not at the game after being hospitalized. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Bill Self to miss Kansas' NCAA game against Arkansas

Bill Self will miss top-seeded Kansas’ second-round NCAA Tournament game against Arkansas. The school made the announcement about six hours before tipoff. Self underwent a heart procedure on March … more

3/18/23

Switzerland's Marco Odermatt holds the alpine ski, men's World Cup giant slalom discipline trophy, in Soldeu, Andorra, Saturday, March 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

Swiss skier Odermatt wins GS, sets World Cup points record

Swiss skier Marco Odermatt broke the 23-year-old men’s record for most World Cup points in a single season after dominating the giant slalom at the World Cup Finals. Odermatt won the race by a … more

3/18/23

UConn's Azzi Fudd, Paige Bueckers, Jana El Alfy, Amari DeBerry and Caroline Ducharme, from left, react after Dorka Juhasz (14) blocked a Creighton shot during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, in Storrs, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Paige Bueckers's AP Diary: getting ready for March Madness

UConn star Paige Bueckers is checking in periodically from the NCAA Tournament as told to AP Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg. In the first installment, Bueckers talks about her March Madness … more

By PAIGE BUECKERS | 3/18/23

Dallas Mavericks forward Maxi Kleber (42) makes the game-winning 3-point basket over Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) as time expires during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 17, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Maxi Kleber hits 3 at buzzer, Mavericks stun Lakers 111-110

Maxi Kleber drilled the winning 3-pointer at the buzzer on a pass from Kyrie Irving in the Dallas Mavericks’ stunning 111-110 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. Irving scored 38 points before he … more

By GREG BEACHAM | 3/18/23

Fairleigh Dickinson guard Grant Singleton (4) celebrates after a basket against Purdue in the second half of a first-round college basketball game in the men's NCAA Tournament in Columbus, Ohio, Friday, March 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

March Madness: Where and what is Fairleigh Dickinson?

Add Fairleigh Dickinson to the list of giant-killing New Jersey colleges in March Madness. The Knights pulled off a mammoth upset by upsetting Purdue 63-58 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. … more

By The Associated Press | 3/17/23

Purdue center Zach Edey (15), guard Fletcher Loyer (2) and forward Caleb Furst (1) walk off the court after loosing to Fairleigh Dickinson 63-58 in a first-round college basketball game in the men's NCAA Tournament in Columbus, Ohio, Friday, March 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Purdue, Painter lament another early March Madness exit

It’s become a disturbing pattern in March for Purdue. Another promising season. Another putrid NCAA Tournament. For the third straight year, the Boilermakers were bounced by a double-digit seed, … more

By TOM WITHERS | 3/17/23

Elena Rybakina, of Kazakhstan, returns a shot to Iga Swiatek, of Poland, during a semifinal match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Friday, March 17, 2023, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Rybakina routs Swiatek 6-2, 6-2 to reach Indian Wells final

Elena Rybakina routed top-ranked Iga Swiatek 6-2, 6-2 to advance to the BNP Paribas Open final. She'll play Aryna Sabalenka, who beat Maria Sakkari 6-2, 6-3, in Sunday's title match in the Southern … more

3/17/23

Iona head coach Rick Pitino works the bench in the first half of a first-round college basketball game against Connecticut in the NCAA Tournament, Friday, March 17, 2023, in Albany, N.Y. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Pitino on St. John's: 'You don’t buy houses without looking'

Rick Pitino insists he doesn’t know his next move. He did give a pretty good hint about what’s under consideration. After the 70-year-old Hall of Famer’s 13th-seeded Iona team was knocked out … more

By RALPH D. RUSSO | 3/17/23

Adam Schenk tees off on the fifth hole during the second round of the Valspar Championship golf tournament Friday, March 17, 2023, at Innisbrook in Palm Harbor, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)

Schenk getting results in 10th straight week, leads Valspar

Adam Schenk is leading the Valspar Championship and no one can accuse him of being rusty. Schenk is playing for the 10th consecutive week, a stretch that began in Honolulu with the Sony Open. His … more

3/17/23

Sanogo, UConn send Pitino, Iona packing from March Madness

Adama Sanogo scored 10 of his 28 points in the first five minutes of the second half as fourth-seeded UConn took control and beat Rick Pitino’s Iona Gaels 87-63 in the first round of the NCAA … more

By RALPH D. RUSSO | 3/17/23

Furman guard JP Pegues (1) celebrates while leaving the court after their win against Virginia in a first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament, Thursday, March 16, 2023, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Pegues, Furman hoping to extend March Madness stay

Furman's JP Pegues has watched the shot over and over. In Pegues’ wildest dreams, he never imagined himself becoming an instant star. But the 6-foot-1 sophomore rocketed into notoriety when his … more

By FRED GOODALL | 3/17/23

Pittsburgh forward Guillermo Diaz Graham (25) reacts after scoring during the second half of a first-round college basketball game against Iowa State in the NCAA Tournament on Friday, March 17, 2023, in Greensboro, N.C. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Pitt holds Iowa State to 23% shooting in 59-41 1st-round win

Nelly Cummings scored 13 points and No. 11 seed Pittsburgh held sixth-seeded Iowa State to 23% shooting in a 59-41 victory in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Jamarius Burton added 11 points … more

By STEVE REED | 3/17/23

South Carolina forward Aliyah Boston directs teammates in the first half of a first-round college basketball game against Norfolk State in the NCAA Tournament, Friday, March 17, 2023, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)

No. 1 Gamecocks cruise past Norfolk State in March Madness

Zia Cooke scored 11 points as No. 1 South Carolina moved five wins away from a perfect season after opening the women's NCAA Tournament with a 72-40 victory over No. 16 seed Norfolk State on Friday. … more

By PETE IACOBELLI | 3/17/23

St. Louis City SC players celebrate after midfielder Eduard Lowen scored off a penalty kick in their first home MLS soccer match, against Charlotte FC, Saturday, March 4, 2023, in St. Louis. (Jordan Opp/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)

Expansion St. Louis City goes for 4th win in MLS start

Major League Soccer's newest team has won its first three matches -- matching the Seattle Sounders' 2009 record for best start by an expansion team. St. Louis City will have a chance to top the … more

By ANNE M. PETERSON | 3/17/23

Houston guard Marcus Sasser brings the ball up duirng the first half of the team's first-round college basketball game against Northern Kentucky in the men's NCAA Tournament in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, March 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Houston's March Madness hopes may come down to Sasser health

For top-seeded Houston, any hope of winning a national title may come down to Marcus Sasser’s ailing groin. The All-American guard pulled himself out of a hard-fought victory over 16th-seeded … more

By PAUL NEWBERRY | 3/17/23

Xavier guard Colby Jones passes away from Kennesaw State guard Kasen Jennings during the first half of a first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament on Friday, March 17, 2023, in Greensboro, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Nunge's block seals Xavier's win over Kennesaw St in NCAAs

Jack Nunge blocked Terrell Burden’s driving attempt at a go-ahead layup in the final seconds, and Xavier dug out of a 13-point hole against surprising Kennesaw State to escape with a 72-67 victory … more

By AARON BEARD | 3/17/23

Michigan State guard A.J. Hoggard (11) celebrates in the second half of a first-round college basketball game against Southern California in the men's NCAA Tournament in Columbus, Ohio, Friday, March 17, 2023. Michigan State defeated Southern California 72-62. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Michigan State muscles past USC 72-62 in March Madness

Joey Hauser scored 17 points and No. 7 seed Michigan State clamped down defensively on No. 10 seed Southern California in the second half for a 72-62 win in the first round of the NCAA Tournament’s … more

By TOM WITHERS | 3/17/23

Mississippi State's Jessika Carter (4) and JerKaila Jordan (2) celebrate the team's win over Illinois in a First Four game in the NCAA women's college basketball tournament Wednesday, March 15, 2023, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Michael Caterina)

Women's March Madness finds foothold on national TV

Ratings for women's college basketball are at their highest levels in years. ESPN is putting the women's NCAA Tournament national title game on network television for the first time since 1995. The … more

By JOE REEDY | 3/17/23

FILE - Green Bay Packers wide receiver Allen Lazard (13) looks on during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, in Philadelphia. The New York Jets signed former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Allen Lazard to a four-year contract Friday, March 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola, File)

Wide receiver Allen Lazard signs 4-year deal with Jets

The New York Jets have signed former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Allen Lazard to a four-year contract. Lazard reunites with Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, who worked with the … more

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. | 3/17/23

Iowa guard Caitlin Clark celebrates after making a 3-point basket at the end of an NCAA college basketball game against Indiana, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023, in Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa won 86-85. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

On the rise, Big Ten eyes women's NCAA tourney breakthrough

The Big Ten has been a big disappointment when the women's NCAA Tournament has rolled around the past few years. Only once since 2005 has the league gotten a team to the Final Four, and that was … more

By DAVE SKRETTA | 3/17/23