National Sports

UAB meets WKU in CUSA semis

Automated Insights

UAB (22-6, 14-5) vs. Western Kentucky (19-6, 12-3) Conference USA Conference Tourney Semifinals, Ford Center at The Star, Frisco, Texas; Friday, 12 a.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Western Kentucky is ready to take on UAB with a spot in the CUSA championship game on the line. Western Kentucky earned an 80-67 win over UTSA in its most recent game, while UAB…

Jackson St. faces Texas Southern in SWAC semis

Automated Insights

Texas Southern (14-8, 11-3) vs. No. 2 seed Jackson State (12-5, 12-0) Southwestern Athletic Conference Tourney Semifinals, Bartow Arena, Birmingham, Alabama; Friday, 3 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: A ticket to the SWAC championship game is about to be punched as Texas Southern and Jackson State are set to do battle. Jackson State earned a 74-62 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on…

Ohio State, Purdue meet in Big Ten quarters

Automated Insights

Ohio State (19-8, 13-8) vs. No. 4 seed Purdue (18-8, 13-6) Big Ten Tourney Quarterfinals, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis; Friday, 2 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Ohio State is set to face off against Purdue in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten tourney. In the regular season, Purdue won both of the head-to-head matchups. The teams last played on Jan. 19,…

Niagara faces Iona in MAAC semis

Automated Insights

No. 9 seed Iona (10-5, 8-3) vs. Niagara (9-10, 8-9) Metro Atlantic Conference Tourney Semifinals, Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey; Friday, 6 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: A spot in the MAAC championship game is on the line as Iona and Niagara are set to square off. Niagara earned a 67-62 win over Marist on Thursday, while Iona got a…

UConn, Creighton meet in Big East semis

Automated Insights

UConn (15-6, 12-6) vs. Creighton (19-7, 15-6) Big East Conference Tourney Semifinals, Madison Square Garden, New York; Friday, 9 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Creighton is set to face UConn with a spot in the Big East championship game up for grabs. In the regular season, Creighton won both of the head-to-head matchups. The teams last played each other on Jan….

UCSB faces UC Davis in Big West semis

Automated Insights

UC Davis (10-7, 8-5) vs. UC Santa Barbara (20-4, 16-3) Big West Conference Tourney Semifinals, Michelob Ultra Arena, Las Vegas; Friday, 9 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: A ticket to the Big West championship game is about to be punched as UC Davis and UC Santa Barbara are set to do battle. In the regular season, UC Santa Barbara won both…

Rutgers meets Illinois in Big Ten quarters

Automated Insights

Rutgers (15-10, 11-10) vs. No. 2 seed Illinois (20-6, 16-4) Big Ten Tourney Quarterfinals, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis; Friday, 6:30 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Rutgers and Illinois are set to do battle in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten tournament. The only regular season meeting came on Dec. 20, when Illinois made only 11 foul shots on 15 attempts while…

Update on the latest sports

AP

COLLEGE BASKETBALL-BIG 12 TOURNAMENT Bears, Cowboys reach semis KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Second-ranked Baylor and No. 12 Oklahoma State both survived close calls before earning the right to square off in the Big 12 semifinals. The Bears advanced by holding off Kansas State, 74-68. MaCio Teague scored 24 points and Davion Mitchell had 23, but Baylor couldn’t pull away…

Free agency an antidote for offensive fireworks, mobile QBs

By ARNIE STAPLETON - AP Pro Football Writer

Teams looking to counter the pass-happy offenses and mobile quarterbacks who rule today’s NFL won’t have to wait for the draft next month to find the antidote. This year’s free agent class promises to be deeper than normal because the salary cap went down 8% to $182.5 million. That’s a result of the league’s lost revenue from the 2020 season played largely without fans in the stands because of the coronavirus pandemic. The irregular college season and scuttling of the annual scouting combine also means the draft is more of a dice roll than ever before. 

Update on the latest sports

AP

COLLEGE BASKETBALL-BIG 12 TOURNAMENT Bears, Cowboys reach semis KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Second-ranked Baylor and No. 12 Oklahoma State both survived close calls before earning the right to square off in the Big 12 semifinals. The Bears advanced by holding off Kansas State, 74-68. MaCio Teague scored 24 points and Davion Mitchell had 23, but Baylor couldn’t pull away…