Sports category, Page 1355
North Carolina survives, knocks off defending champion BaylorVideo
FORT WORTH, Texas — So much for the idea North Carolina is soft against top-tier competition. These Tar Heels are going to the Sweet 16 after knocking off the defending champions. No, it wasn’t easy. The Tar Heels blew a 25-point second-half lead after Brady Manek was ejected for a...
Big East ‘statesman’ Jay Wright says transfer portal, NIL, covid lead to better basketball
Jay Wright has been Villanova’s basketball coach for 21 years, winning two national championships and averaging more than 29 victories per season since 2014. Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann called Wright the “statesman” of the Big East. His voice carries more weight than most coaches. When Wright was asked about...
Ohio State meets Villanova in Pittsburgh with Sweet 16 berth on the line
After two victories at the outset of the 2017 NCAA Tournament, Chris Holtmann and his Butler players were on their way to the school’s first Sweet 16 berth in six years. His phone was buzzing, as victors’ phones often do after a big win. A text message caught his eye...
‘Full-blown chaos:’ NASCAR preps for wild racing at AtlantaVideo
HAMPTON, Ga. — Atlanta Motor Speedway billed its striking changes as a “reimagining” of the venerable track. During a 40-minute practice session, the drivers dealt with the reality of what they’ll be facing Sunday in the NASCAR Cup race. “Full-blown chaos,” Christopher Bell said, sounding like he was finally able...
Free agent additions James Daniels, Mason Cole beef up interior of Steelers offensive line
For the second year in a row, the Pittsburgh Steelers will begin offseason workouts next month not certain about the identity of their starting center. Unlike 2021, it won’t be because of a shortage of veteran options. Thanks to the organization’s efforts in free agency, there will be candidates aplenty...
Chattanooga’s tourney appearance turns out to be Klimchock family affair
As Laura Klimchock left the Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh Friday afternoon with her father, Rick, she told him she felt sick. The No. 13-seeded University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, coached by Laura’s longtime boyfriend, Lamont Paris, was about to take on heavily favored No. 4 seed Illinois in a first-round...
Mitch Keller leaves 1st spring start with left thigh bruise; Pirates hit 4 homers to top Tigers
BRADENTON, Fla. — After an offseason when Mitch Keller’s four-seam fastball touched triple digits in a bullpen session, there was anticipation he could top 100 mph in his first start of spring training. Instead, Keller was on the receiving end of one. The Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander was removed with two...
Upper St. Clair’s Doug Whaley, 2 others, interview for Steelers’ GM position
In addition to being active in free agency, the Pittsburgh Steelers continue to be busy interviewing candidates for the general manager position that Kevin Colbert will vacate after the NFL Draft. The Steelers announced Saturday that they interviewed three additional candidates in the past week: Jerry Reese, Rick Spielman and...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Say goodbye to the Steelers’ showbiz era
JuJu Smith-Schuster is a testament to the power of self-promotion via social media. He was one of the most popular Steelers in recent memory. But Smith-Schuster wasn’t really that good. He had one great season in five: 2018, when he caught 111 passes for 1,426 yards as Antonio Brown absorbed...
Mitch Keller leaves game against Detroit Tigers after taking comebacker off right leg
BRADENTON, Fla. — Mitch Keller’s first start of spring training ended early, as the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander left in the top of the second inning after a comebacker ricocheted off his left leg. After Detroit Tigers left fielder Daz Cameron lined a shot off Keller’s thigh with two outs in...
After up-and-down seasons, Cole Tucker searching for stability in swing, role with Pirates
BRADENTON, Fla. — Cole Tucker didn’t want to count on what clicked for him last season to carry over. So the Pittsburgh Pirates switch-hitting shortstop sought professional advice from former switch-hitting All-Star, former MLB hitting coach Chili Davis. It started after a conversation with Pirates manager Derek Shelton and bench...
Longtime NFL journalist John Clayton dies at age 67
SEATTLE — Longtime NFL journalist John Clayton died Friday following a short illness. He was 67. The Seattle Seahawks, through Clayton’s family, announced the death in a statement. Clayton worked for the team in recent years as a sideline reporter on radio broadcasts. Nicknamed “The Professor,” Clayton spent more than...
Penn State closes in on title, sends 5 wrestlers to NCAA finals
DETROIT — Penn State moved closer to its ninth NCAA wrestling championship in 11 years Friday night, widening its lead in the team race as five of its six semifinalists advanced. The Nittany Lions had 108 points after the semis. Michigan, trying for its first title 45 minutes away from...
Houston knocks off UAB, marches into NCAA Tournament 2nd round
There was plenty for Houston coach Kelvin Sampson to like Friday night when his Cougars rolled to an 82-68 victory against UAB in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. • There was the 18-point lead (34-16) in the first half that got everything started. UAB rallied to within nine...
NCAA Tournament roundup: Coach K guides Duke to no-fuss win over Cal State FullertonVideo
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Duke began retiring Hall of Famer Mike Krzyzewski’s final NCAA Tournament with minimal stress, beating Cal State Fullerton, 78-61, on Friday night. Freshman Paolo Banchero scored 17 points to lead the Blue Devils (29-6), who jumped to a double-digit lead in the first 4 1/2 minutes and...
Minor league report: Penguins shut out by CrunchVideo
Goaltender Louis Domingue made 32 saves on 33 shots for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 1-0 home loss to the Syracuse Crunch at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday. It marked the fourth time this season that Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (25-23-4-4) has been shut out. Highlights: The Penguins’ next game is...
No. 4 Illinois avoids upset, rallies past No. 13 Chattanooga for thrilling 1st-round victory
Illinois coach Brad Underwood was in disbelief Friday night at PPG Paints Arena following the fourth-seeded Illini’s 54-53 victory over No. 13 Chattanooga in an NCAA Tournament South Region first-round game. Believe it, coach. In the end, the final score is all that matters. “We live to play another day,”...
NeSmith ties course records at Innisbrook for 2-shot lead at Valspar Championship
PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Matthew NeSmith has been working so hard and getting so little out of his game that he tried to get out of his own way. He wound up in the record book Friday at the Valspar Championship. No more worrying about whether his drives would find...
James Washington becomes 3rd Steelers receiver to depart, signs with Cowboys
James Washington is going back to his home state. Washington is leaving the Pittsburgh Steelers after four seasons, agreeing to a one-year contract Friday with the Dallas Cowboys. Washington was born in Stamford, Texas, and he attended college at Oklahoma State and was the Steelers’ second-round pick in the 2018...
Why are the Penguins scoring so many empty netters?Video
There was a time not long ago (2018, to be precise) when an empty net was something of a curse for Bryan Rust. The Penguins forward often would miss the cage with a shot from the neutral zone. And seemingly the only time his shot didn’t miss the net, it...
After losing Ray-Ray McCloud, Steelers sign return specialist Gunner Olszewski
The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t waste any time finding a replacement for returner Ray-Ray McCloud. Less than a day after McCloud agreed to terms on a two-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers, the Steelers are signing Gunner Olszewski. Olszewski, who was with the New England Patriots, will get a two-year...
NCAA fans enjoy March Madness in Pittsburgh, except a few from Cleveland
It was one of those scenes that can make a person yearn for the carefree days of youth — when a few cold ones, some tunes, and tickets to a couple of NCAA Tournament games are enough to make your day. And so it was for a couple of guys...
No. 2 Villanova ousts No. 15 Delaware in NCAA Tournament
Delaware gave fans at PPG Paints Arena an early thrill Friday afternoon, but Villanova’s talent, experience and pinpoint perimeter shooting proved too much to overcome. The No. 2-seeded Wildcats used a strong inside-outside game to finish the first half and were solid at both ends of the floor in the...
Greg Allen homers off his ex-team as Pirates beat Yankees in Grapefruit League opener
BRADENTON, Fla. — Greg Allen sidestepped the chance to call it a revenge game but couldn’t suppress a smile about hitting a home run for the Pittsburgh Pirates against his former team. The outfielder hit a two-run blast off Braden Brito in the fifth inning to give the Pirates a...
JuJu Smith-Schuster agrees to 1-year contract with Chiefs, leaves Steelers after 5 seasons
Kansas City, here JuJu Smith-Schuster comes. The 25-year-old wide receiver and fan favorite since his arrival in 2017 ended his five-year career with the Pittsburgh Steelers when he agreed to a contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. Smith-Schuster is getting a one-year, $10.75 million deal from the Chiefs, who courted...
