Sports

By AARON BEARD AP Basketball Writer HOUSTON (AP) — The saying goes that defense wins championships. But it’s largely been top-tier offenses winning the NCAA championship in March Madness. This weekend’s Final Four in Houston features two highly rated offenses in Connecticut and Miami. It also features a defensive-heavy approach in San Diego State. According

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas sharpshooter Gradey Dick is entering the NBA draft after one season with the Jayhawks. The 6-foot-8 guard announced his decision in a social media post. Dick started all 36 games for the Jayhawks and averaged 14.1 points while shooting better than 40% from 3-point range. He made 83 3-pointers, a

NEW YORK (AP) — Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Israel Mateo was suspended for 55 games under the minor league drug program following a positive test for the performance-enhancing substance Boldenone. The 21-year-old right-hander is on the roster of the rookie-level Florida Complex League Rays. He was 0-1 with a 2.84 ERA over 10 appearances for

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Former Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo is joining UCLA’s football coaching staff as director of leadership. The school says that Niumatalolo will serve as an advisor to the Bruins’ football staff and players. Niumatalolo led Navy for 15 years and was the winningest coach in school history at 109-83. The Midshipmen finished

MARSEILLES, France (AP) — Marseille has missed the chance to put pressure on French league leader Paris Saint-Germain after being held at home by in-form Montpellier to 1-1. Matteo Guendouzi’s first-half penalty was all Marseille had to show for dominating possession and chances as the visitors stayed unbeaten in the seventh game since coach Michel

By JOSEPH WILSON Associated Press BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Mallorca has drawn 0-0 with Osasuna in the Spanish league while playing the final 20 minutes with 10 men. The stalemate leaves Osasuna in ninth place and Mallorca in 11th. Defender José Copete received a direct red card in the 69th minute for fouling Osasuna’s Rubén

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — MLB is looking into an interaction caught on video that appears to show Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon grab a fan by the shirt through the bleacher guardrails. A league spokesperson says MLB is aware of the video, which shows Rendon grabbing the fan’s shirt and exchanging words with

By MARK BERMAN Associated Press MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Daniil Medvedev has beaten fellow Russian Karen Khachanov 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-3 in the semifinals of the Miami Open. It came on the day that Wimbledon announced Russians will be allowed back in the event with conditions. The other men’s semifinal is Friday night between

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan center Hunter Dickinson has entered the transfer portal. Wolverines coach Juwan Howard said Friday that Dickinson’s decision was bittersweet. The 7-foot-1, 260-pound Dickinson led the Wolverines with 18.5 points and nine rebounds per game last season as a junior. He entered the NBA draft and withdrew his name two

By JOHN MARSHALL AP Basketball Writer HOUSTON (AP) — Getting a team through to the Final Four is a major boost for mid-major conferences financially, promotionally and for visibility on a national scale. The deeper a team goes in the bracket, the more money goes to their conference. The conferences use the money to upgrade

By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — A.J. Foyt Racing started the IndyCar season with a new driver lineup and high expectations for improved performance. It came to a crashing halt in the third turn of the season-opener on March 5. Santino Ferrucci and Benjamin Pedersen were part of the

LONDON (AP) — Tottenham’s attempts at identifying a long-term successor to fired manager Antonio Conte have been thrown into more chaos after the club’s managing director of football agreed to take an immediate leave of absence. Fabio Paratici’s 2 1/2-year ban for his part in a false accounting scandal involving former club Juventus was extended

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills upgraded their secondary depth by signing free agent safety Taylor Rapp to a one-year contract. Rapp is listed at 6-feet and has nine interceptions in 57 career games, including 48 starts, during four seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. He was selected by the Rams in the

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — The Chicago Bears have re-signed backup quarterback Nathan Peterman to a one-year contract. Peterman played in three games last season and made one start, completing 14 of 25 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown and an interception. He threw for 114 yards and a TD in a season-ending loss

By JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer Cinderella teams make for great stories and busted brackets. They don’t necessarily make for great television ratings, though. After getting a dream Final Four field last year, CBS and Turner Sports have something very different this weekend with Florida Atlantic, Miami, San Diego State and Connecticut making it to

NEW YORK (AP) — LaMarcus Aldridge has announced he is retiring again from the NBA. The 37-year-old initially retired in 2021 after experiencing an irregular heartbeat in the last of five games he played for the Brooklyn Nets that season. He rejoined the Nets five months after announcing his retirement. Aldridge was among his era’s

PARIS (AP) — A fencing World Cup in France has been called off after the international governing body voted to let Russians compete. The French Fencing Federation says it will not host the men’s Challenge Monal epee tournament near Paris in May following the International Fencing Federation’s decision this month to end the year-long exclusion

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid has been sidelined indefinitely with a broken left wrist. The injury is a blow to the team’s depth during the stretch run of the regular season. Reid has a fracture of the scaphoid bone. It’s between the hand and forearm on the thumb side of the wrist.

By STEPHEN HAWKINS AP Sports Writer Grant McCasland is Texas Tech’s new men’s basketball coach. The announcement Friday came a day after North Texas won the NIT title to wrap up the school’s first 30-win season. North Texas was 135-65 in six seasons under the 46-year-old McCasland, who has a master’s degree from Texas Tech.