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Tampa Bay Rays catalyst Desmond Jennings hopes to create own identity

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 6, 2012

PORT CHARLOTTE — Desmond Jennings has created something of a quandary for himself.

He'd grown tired, coming up through the Rays minor-league system, of being called the next Carl Crawford. Then Jennings finally got the chance to play regularly in the majors the second half of last season and did so well people were comparing him to, well, Carl Crawford.

The pulsing speed, the game-changing defense, the flashes of power, the overall excitement were all somewhat similar to the Rays' former All-Star leftfielder. Plus, with the added elements of patience at the plate and a willingness to embrace the leadoff role, Jennings quickly has become just as important as Crawford was to the Tampa Bay attack.

"I think he's going to be pretty much the catalyst for the offense, and he showed that he has that ability last year," Rays third baseman Evan Longoria said.

"You hate to compare guys to Carl Crawford because it's so tough to compare someone both (in terms of) baseball talent and being athletically gifted. Carl was probably the most gifted player that I've ever played with, but Desmond is right up there. I think he's just a little bit more raw than Carl was when we had him, but I think that can be there. So it's really fun to watch him play.

"I think we're very blessed to have him fill that void that Carl left because those are huge shoes to fill, and I think he's done a great job doing it."

Jennings, 25, says he is flattered he hears such praise. Humbled. Honored.

But …

"Don't get me wrong, I'll take all the Carl Crawford compliments I can get," Jennings said. "If anybody wants to tell me I'm as athletic or as gifted as Carl, I'll take that all day. But that's just not me. … I respect CC — he was a great player. I love him and what he did for me when he was here. … I just want, I don't know, it's just like I hear it so much, I've heard it so much.

"I just want to be me."

The Rays will take that, at least the Jennings they saw for the first six weeks after his late July promotion, when he posted a .351 average in 35 games, with a .439 on-base and .634 slugging percentage for a 1.073 OPS. Then he cooled — or got tired, or was exposed by opposing pitchers — over the final 28 games, hitting just .150 with a .256 on-base, .230 slugging and .486 OPS.

Jennings said he didn't want to make excuses — "I just stopped hitting" — but felt he lost a bit of his aggressiveness and was taking too many strikes.

Manager Joe Maddon believes the dropoff was more fatigue — physical and mental — and that Jennings will be better for having gone through it.

"To play that many games under that kind of scrutiny, he's not used to that, combined with whatever he was feeling and having to be that catalyst for us, eventually that can wear you out if you've never done that before," Maddon said.

"Coming into this season, he's been stretched mentally. So when he gets to that moment this year he'll be more familiar with it and I think he'll handle it better."

Still, it was a solid start, and a good foundation for Jennings to build off of going into what will be his first full season in the majors.

Jennings finished at .259/.356/.449/.805, led the Rays in runs (44), hits (64) and steals (20) and was second in homers (10) from the time of his callup, and he became the first American League rookie since 2003 with 10 homers and 20 steals.

About those CC comparisons?

Crawford sees it, too.

"I thought Desmond had a good year once he got called up. He did pretty good," Crawford said at Red Sox camp. "That was about what I thought. He had some power and he stole a few bases. He's a good athlete, he just needs time to develop into a good player. I know what that is all about."

Marc Topkin can be reached at topkin@tampabay.com.


Stan Heath caps USF Bulls' turnaround with Big East coach of the year honor

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By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 6, 2012

NEW YORK — He has had teams accomplish much more, but as Stan Heath has watched USF make its improbable run to the verge of the NCAA Tournament, the ride has already been uniquely rewarding.

"I'm having a fantastic time with these guys," Heath said Tuesday, preparing for tonight's Big East tournament opener. "They come to work every day in practice. They don't mind being coached. We're just enjoying the ride. We want to continue, and we know we have work to do, but it's fun being part of this right now."

Heath, 47, whose team went 12-6 to tie for fourth in the league standings, on Tuesday was selected by his peers as the Big East's coach of the year. He guided the Bulls to the second-biggest improvement in conference history.

"The list of coaches that are Hall of Famers that have won an award like this, to be on that list, I'm very humbled," said Heath, who had his assistants in attendance as he was presented with the trophy. "I think it's a team award. My players did an unbelievable job of coming together, playing hard and winning games."

A year ago, Heath's Bulls went 10-23 and 3-15 in the conference, and the same coaches picked his team to finish 14th out of 16 teams this season. Accepting the award was the only thing Heath had to do at Madison Square Garden, having earned a first-round bye with his team's No. 6 seed.

"I think this is probably the most satisfying season he's had as a head coach," said Miami coach Jim Larranaga, who once had Heath as an assistant at Bowling Green. "One of the things that's very enjoyable is when you exceed everybody else's expectations."

USF has won with stifling defense, on course to reset the Big East record for fewest points allowed. That part of the Bulls' success is what Michigan State coach Tom Izzo — who had Heath as an assistant for a national title in 2000 — likes most about this team.

"I follow every game. We're big South Florida fans up here," Izzo said Tuesday by phone. "I'm really proud of him, really happy for him. … I was excited when he went to South Florida. In building that program, it's not an easy job. I think he's done a phenomenal job. What I really like is watching his defense. We pride ourself on that, and he's carried on what he helped me get straightened out here."

USF, playing its entire season off campus while the Sun Dome undergoes a $35 million renovation, went 14-2 at home, winning five games by three points or fewer. Needing signature wins to help their NCAA resume, the Bulls beat Cincinnati — now the No. 4 seed in the league — at home and a ranked Louisville team last week on the road, helping their position on the NCAA bubble.

Heath has been motivated by critics who have discounted the team's success, and he has been vocal in saying the Bulls need to "kick the door in" with a convincing close to the season.

"I just try to be honest. I try to say what I think," Heath said. "I don't want to go overboard. I don't want to be cocky. I don't want to be arrogant. But I think this team has proven, at least for the last two months, that it's a very good basketball team."

USF freshman point guard Anthony Collins missed the first five games but has since earned Big East All-Rookie honors. Guard Jawanza Poland missed the first 11 games, but the team hasn't had a bad loss since it has been at full strength.

"I love this team. I really do. I'm not sure I loved it in November, but I've grown to love it," Heath said.

The Bulls' improvement already has a place in Big East history, and games and goals remain, but Heath ranks this as the best progress he has ever seen one of his teams make.

"This would be No.  1, by far," Heath said. "From last year to this year, the transformation of our team, just buying in, the work ethic, setting aside egos and personal things for the betterment of the team, this has been No. 1 by far."

College basketball preview: St. Petersburg College in Florida Community College State Tournament

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By Rodney Page, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Florida Community College State Tournament

When/where: Today-Saturday, Chipola College, Marianna

Who: St. Petersburg College men's and women's teams, Hillsborough CC women's team

Online: Games will be streamed live on www.psblive.com

Opening round: Men: Today, SPC (19-7, 8-0) vs. Santa Fe CC (25-4), 1 p.m. Women: Thursday, Hillsborough (16-11, 8-4) vs. Pensacola State College (23-4), 1 p.m.; SPC (24-5, 7-3) vs. Daytona CC (15-14), 8 p.m.

Notes: The SPC men's team was undefeated in the Suncoast Conference and is making its third straight appearance in the state tournament. The SPC women finished second in the Southern Conference behind Palm Beach State College. HCC was the Mid Florida Conference runner up.

Rodney Page, Times staff writer

Tampa Bay Rays: Coaches split based on shopping, dining; Joe Maddon feels protected if wild pigs attack

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Dubious achievement of the day

The Rays are 0-4 in the spring for the first time in their 15-season history.

Who is this Ray?

He was released by the Yankees after two seasons in the low minors. He played for six teams in three independent leagues over a five-year period. He made his big-league debut in July vs. the Yankees.

The dish

Rays at Yankees

When/where: 1:05 today; Steinbrenner Field, 1 Steinbrenner Drive (corner of Dale Mabry and ML King Blvd.), Tampa

Tickets: $17-33, available via yankees.com, via Ticketmaster, at stadium

TV: MLB Network

Rays information: Toll-free 1-888-326-7297

Pitchers: Rays — James Shields, Burke Badenhop, Dane De La Rosa, Alex Colome, Josh Lueke, Romulo Sanchez; Yankees — Hiroki Kuroda, TBA

Heads-up

Frontline RF Matt Joyce, CF B.J. Upton, 2B/RF Ben Zobrist and C Jose Molina are all scheduled to play.

On deck

Thursday: vs. Tigers, 1:05. Rays — David Price; Tigers — Doug Fister; and at Twins, 1:05. Rays — Chris Archer; Twins — Francisco Liriano

Friday: Orioles, 1:05. Rays — Alex Cobb; O's — Jake Arrieta

Saturday: at Red Sox, 7:05. Rays — TBA; Red Sox — TBA

Upcoming schedule

Rays tickets: $9/12-27, available at box office, via raysbaseball.com and Ticketmaster.

Info: Toll-free 1-888-326-7297 (FAN-RAYS)

All games 1:05 unless noted

MARCH

11: Pirates

12: Twins

13: at Orioles

14: Marlins

15: Phillies

16: at Jays

17: at Pirates

18: Red Sox

19: Off

20: at Marlins

21: Yankees

22: at Pirates

23: Jays (7:05)

24: at Twins (3:05)

25: Marlins

26: at Twins

27: at Red Sox (1:35)

28: Pirates (7:05)

29: at Phillies

30: at Pirates

31: Red Sox

APRIL

1: at Orioles

2: Twins*

3: at Twins

4: vs. Future Rays, 1:40 , at Trop.

* Value game, $2 off

Who is this answer: RHP Dane De La Rosa

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

Executive decision of the day

The Rays have two games Thursday, and manager Joe Maddon said he was "assigned" the home game vs. Detroit rather than the road game at the Twins. Why? Because they split the staff, and coaches Dave Martinez and Tom Foley want to stop on the way back from Fort Myers to eat at Blu Sushi and go to the Bass Pro Shops store. "It's kinda like a toy store for them,'' Maddon said.

Quote of the day

"If a wild boar shows up in our clubhouse, we're in good shape."

Manager Joe Maddon, in the hunting prowess of DH Luke Scott and other Rays

Santana sharp in mound return

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Times wires
Tuesday, March 6, 2012

PORT ST. LUCIE — To Johan Santana and the Mets, this was a most pleasant spring sight.

The left-hander returned to the mound for his first game against major-leaguers in 18 months and pitched two scoreless innings Tuesday as a Mets split squad beat the Cardinals 8-6.

Santana walked his first batter on five pitches. But a single marked the only other runner against Santana, who threw 17 of 29 pitches for strikes.

The two-time Cy Young Award winner last pitched to big-league hitters on Sept. 2, 2010, in Atlanta. Two weeks later he had surgery to repair a torn anterior capsule in his left shoulder.

"Finally I had an opportunity to go out there and finally get the first one out of the way," Santana said. "… I was excited about (Tuesday). Even as I was preparing myself prior to the game, I was anxious to go out there and do it.

"But, at the same time, it was all about how I feel. I know it is a game situation and you have to do your job out there, but I was just focused on making sure I do the mechanics the right way and feeling good and not feeling anything in my arm, and that's how I felt today. I felt good."

Santana threw fastballs on all 13 of his pitches in the first inning, mostly around 87-88 mph on the radar gun and topping out at 90 mph. But he broke out his signature changeup and a few sliders in the second.

"I didn't know what his velocity would be like having not pitched in a long time," Holliday said. "(Throwing) 89-90 at the beginning of spring training I would say is pretty good."

PIRATES STAR on board: Andrew McCutchen sounded a bit overwhelmed. "It all really hasn't sunk in for me yet," the All-Star centerfielder said after agreeing to a $51.5 million, six-year contract with the Pirates. "It like when you're getting remarried and you are renewing your vows. That's how I feel."

REYES DEBUTS: Shortstop Jose Reyes made his spring debut with the Marlins, going 0-for-3 in a 3-1 loss to the Tigers. "Spring training is all about feeling good at the plate and putting a good swing on the ball," the former Mets All-Star said.

ALL-STAR RETIRES: Three-time All-Star infielder Carlos Guillen, a 14-year veteran, announced his retirement. "It's a tough decision for me, for my family, for everybody because I tried to come back," said Guillen, 36, who was at the Mariners' spring camp as a non-roster invitee.

ASTROS: Backup catcher Humberto Quintero left for Houston to have his injured back examined by team doctors.

BRAVES: First baseman Freddie Freeman played four innings a week after dislocating his right kneecap and told the Atlanta Journal Constitution that the knee "feels great right now."

GIANTS: Closer Brian Wilson, who has been sidelined by inflammation in his right (pitching) elbow, is scheduled to make his spring debut Sunday.

NATIONALS: Outfielder Michael Morse was scratched with a strained lat muscle and is day to day.

RANGERS: Manager Ron Washington essentially ruled out the chance that Cuban defector Leonys Martin would make the team out of spring training. "If my guys stay healthy, my intention is he'll get a full year in the minors," Washington told the Dallas Morning News. "And my intention is for my guys to stay healthy." The centerfielder, 24, reached Triple-A Round Rock in his first season in the U.S.

RED SOX: A rotation with a big question mark in the No. 5 spot lost one candidate when veteran right-hander Carlos Silva, 32, was shut down with shoulder inflammation.

ROCKIES: Right-hander Alex White, who was charged with DUI Saturday, had a blood-alcohol level of 0.174 percent based on a breath test at the scene, according to arrest reports. He'll be charged with extreme DUI if blood tests confirm the result.

Report: Colts to part with Peyton

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Times staff, wires
Tuesday, March 6, 2012

INDIANAPOLIS — The Peyton Manning era in Indianapolis is expected to end today, according to a report.

ESPN reported Tuesday that the Colts plan to hold a news conference to announce the long-expected decision. Manning and team owner Jim Irsay are expected to attend, the network said.

Colts spokesman Avis Roper said he could not confirm the decision — or that a news conference would be held today — because Irsay was out of town and could not be reached for comment. Neither Irsay nor Manning's agent, Tom Condon, responded immediately to messages from the Associated Press.

Manning would become an unrestricted free agent, free to sign immediately with any team.

The four-time league MVP has said that all he wanted was to finish his career in a Colts uniform. But an injured neck forced him to miss the 2011 season, months after he signed a five-year, $90 million deal.

But he has a $28 million bonus payment due Thursday and the Colts own the No. 1 pick in April's draft and are likely to take Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck. So they seem to have deemed it too risky — and too costly — to keep their franchise quarterback, who turns 36 this month.

Manning has been cleared by doctors, and in 2010 he set a career high with 4,700 passing yards and threw for 33 touchdowns, second-most in his career.

The Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post reported that the Dolphins were interested in signing Manning should he become available.

Final Bucs staff official

The Bucs officially announced the hiring of Ron Turner as quarterbacks coach and Ben McDaniels as offensive assistant, completing the offensive staff under coach Greg Schiano.

Turner had been interviewed for the offensive coordinator's position. He has 11 seasons in the NFL, is a former offensive coordinator for the Bears and most recently coached quarterbacks and receivers with the Colts. McDaniels, the brother for former Broncos coach Josh McDaniels, last worked with Denver as the quarterbacks coach in 2010.

Previous offensive coaches announced were Mike Sullivan (coordinator), Jimmy Raye (senior assistant), Brian Angelichio (tight ends), Bob Bostad (line), Earnest Byner (running backs), P.J. Fleck (wide receivers) and Steve Loney (line assistant).

CHIEFS: The team cut linebacker Demorrio Williams, saving about $2 million in cap space.

FALCONS: Free safety Thomas DeCoud said he plans to sign a new contract. No terms were announced.

49ERS: A judge said the issue of building a stadium cannot go before Santa Clara voters a second time. A group had opposed city officials' approval of $850 million in bank loans. … Safety C.J. Spillman signed a three-year extension through 2014.

OBITUARY: Former 49ers and Giants defensive lineman Roland Lakes died Monday in California, the 49ers said. He was 72.

Tampa Bay Lightning not concerned about GM Steve Yzerman spending time on Canada's Olympic effort

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By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 6, 2012

TAMPA — Steve Yzerman said he has no concern dividing time between his jobs as Lightning GM and executive director of Team Canada for the 2014 Olympics.

Tampa Bay owner Jeff Vinik said he has none, either.

"It never occurred to my mind that there would be a distraction," Vinik said Tuesday.

"I just have no doubt he'll be able to put full effort behind the Tampa Bay Lightning like he has, and do a great job with Team Canada, too. I think it's great for him and great for us, too."

Vinik said Yzerman was "respectful" when he brought up the idea.

"We talked about it," said Yzerman, who had the same post when Canada won gold at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. "He was comfortable with me doing it and I'm comfortable doing it."

"I just know Steve is as competitive a guy as you will ever meet," Vinik said. "He, like all of us, is on a mission here to have a great hockey team year in and year out. … He'll do that despite heading up Team Canada. It will not stop him from doing what he needs to do with us."

HEDMAN RETURNS: D Victor Hedman, back after missing four games with an undisclosed upper-body injury, said he was not worried he had a concussion and his trip last week to an Ann Arbor, Mich., hospital was precautionary.

"My head hasn't been the big issue in this case, just some other stuff that was bothering me," said Hedman, who in January missed 13 games with a concussion. "I just made sure about a couple of things I was concerned about."

LECAVALIER STILL HURTING: Coach Guy Boucher backtracked on his Feb. 28 statement C Vinny Lecavalier might be ready in 10 days, saying Lecavalier "is not ready at all."

Lecavalier, out eight games with a fractured right hand, was supposed to miss three to four weeks. That would put his return between Saturday and March 17 against the Blues.

"I couldn't say," Boucher said. "As much as I would love to spend time waiting for Vinny … we have to focus on the guys that are here."

MORE MEDICAL MATTERS: D Marc-Andre Bergeron will have surgery today in New York for a bulging disc that is causing sciatic nerve irritation. The surgery might end his season. Bergeron has played one of Tampa Bay's past 24 games. … D Bruno Gervais sat out with an upper-body injury. He has been seen with ice packs on a shoulder.

ODDS AND ENDS: RW Ryan Shannon played his 300th NHL game. … RW Brandon Segal was scratched.

Pirates' NCAA hopes get early boost

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By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Round 1Round 2QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinalSemifinalsQuarterfinalsRound 2Round 1
TUESDAYTOdayThursdayFridaySaturdayFridayThursdayTOdayTUESDAY
9 UConn 811 Syracuse2 Marquette10 SHU 79
9 UConnNoon, ESPN7, ESPN10 SHU
16 DePaul 67Noon, ESPN7, ESPN15 Prov. 47
8 W. Virginia7 Louisville
7, ESPN9, ESPN9, ESPN
5 G'town6 USF
12 SJU 592, ESPN9, ESPN11 Rutgers 49
13 Pitt2, ESPN9, ESPN14 'Nova
13 Pitt 734 Cincinnati3 Notre Dame14 'Nova 70


NEW YORK — Tenth-seeded Seton Hall, which stumbled into the week wobbly on the NCAA Tournament bubble, picked up a much-needed win Tuesday night, routing 15th-seeded Providence 79-47 in the opening round of the Big East tournament at Madison Square Garden.

The Pirates (20-11) bounced back from a loss to last-place DePaul on Saturday, trailing 9-0 before they opened up a 26-5 run on the Friars (15-17), who took their most lopsided loss in 32 Big East tournament games.

Seton Hall senior Jordan Theodore had 13 points and 13 assists, the latter one off the Big East tournament record. The Pirates went 9-for-19 on 3-pointers and held Providence to 4-for-21 beyond the arc.

Seton Hall advances to face seventh-seeded Louisville, pitting Pirates coach Kevin Willard against his mentor and friend, Louisville's Rick Pitino, whom he worked with as an assistant for 10 seasons and continues to learn from.

"The greatest thing about Coach Pitino is, it doesn't matter what time you call, he'll pick up (the) phone," Willard said. "He has been tremendous. He was great this year when we were struggling, lost a couple of games in a row. He called me twice during that stretch, which is unheard of in this league.

"I'm very lucky to have him, not only as a mentor, but as a father figure."

UCONN 81, DePAUL 67: The defending national champion Huskies, who won five games in five days last year as the Big East's No. 9 seed, started with an easy win against the league's bottom seed. UConn (19-12) went 7-for-9 on 3-pointers in the first half and was led by sophomore Jeremy Lamb's 25 points.

Counting last year's Big East and NCAA runs, UConn has won 12 consecutive postseason games. Today the Huskies will face an NCAA bubble team in eighth-seeded West Virginia. Connecticut won 64-57 at home when the teams met in January.

"We needed our first-team Big East player to show up," coach Jim Calhoun said of Lamb, "and he got us started."

PITTSBURGH 73, ST. JOHN'S 59: The 13th-seeded Panthers, who had dropped six of seven games entering the tournament, got 20 points from senior guard Ashton Gibbs.

For all of Pitt's regular-season success in recent years, Tuesday was the first Big East tournament win for the Panthers seniors, who had lost their opening game in the tournament the previous three years despite being seeded No. 2 or No. 1 each year.

"It's definitely a little weird … but it was a good win for us" Tuesday, Gibbs said of the Panthers' past tournament struggles. "We did a good job of moving the ball, and it's something we've got to continue to do throughout the tournament."

St. John's (13-19) got 25 points from forward Moe Harkless, who was honored after the game as the Big East rookie of the year. Pittsburgh (17-15) advances to face fifth-seeded Georgetown, and the Panthers knocked off the Hoyas 72-60 in their only regular-season meeting.


Bulls to try to extend roll vs. 'Nova

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By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Round 1Round 2QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinalSemifinalsQuarterfinalsRound 2Round 1
TUESDAYTOdayThursdayFridaySaturdayFridayThursdayTOdayTUESDAY
9 UConn 811 Syracuse2 Marquette10 SHU 79
9 UConnNoon, ESPN7, ESPN10 SHU
16 DePaul 67Noon, ESPN7, ESPN15 Prov. 47
8 W. Virginia7 Louisville
7, ESPN9, ESPN9, ESPN
5 G'town6 USF
12 SJU 592, ESPN9, ESPN11 Rutgers 49
13 Pitt2, ESPN9, ESPN14 'Nova
13 Pitt 734 Cincinnati3 Notre Dame14 'Nova 70


NEW YORK — A year ago, USF had never beaten Villanova, but tonight the Bulls will try to beat the Wildcats for the fourth time in a row after 14th-seeded Villanova knocked off 11th-seeded Rutgers 70-49 in Tuesday's opening round of the Big East tournament at Madison Square Garden.

The Wildcats (13-18) trailed 34-30 at halftime but outscored Rutgers 40-15 in the second half, holding the Scarlet Knights to 12 percent shooting (3-for-25) from the field. USF (19-12) upset Villanova on March 8 of last year in the first round of the tournament and swept the Wildcats this season on the way to a 12-6 Big East record. A win tonight would solidify USF's position for its first NCAA Tournament bid in 20 years.

Guard Maalik Wayns led Villanova with 28 points, including 13-of-14 on free throws, and the Wildcats dominated Rutgers in rebounding 43-29. Forward Mouphtaou Yarou had 13 points and 12 rebounds.

Rutgers (14-18) trailed 46-41 with 12 minutes left and collapsed the rest of the way. Freshman guard Eli Carter led the Scarlet Knights with 23 points.

SETON HALL 79, PROVIDENCE 47: Tenth-seeded Seton Hall, which stumbled into the week wobbly on the NCAA Tournament bubble, picked up a much-needed win, routing 15th-seeded Providence.

The Pirates (20-11) bounced back from a loss to last-place DePaul on Saturday, trailing 9-0 before they opened up a 26-5 run on the Friars (15-17), who took their most lopsided loss in 32 Big East tournament games.

Seton Hall senior Jordan Theodore had 13 points and 13 assists, the latter one off the Big East tournament record. The Pirates went 9-for-19 on 3-pointers while holding Providence to a 4-for-21 effort beyond the arc.

Seton Hall advances to face seventh-seeded Louisville, pitting Pirates coach Kevin Willard against his mentor and friend, Louisville's Rick Pitino, whom he worked with as an assistant for 10 seasons.

UCONN 81, DePAUL 67: The defending national champion Huskies, who won five games in five days last year as the Big East's No. 9 seed, started with an easy win against the bottom seed Blue Demons (12-19). UConn (19-12) went 7-for-9 on 3-pointers in the first half and was led by sophomore Jeremy Lamb's 25 points.

Counting last year's Big East and NCAA runs, UConn has won 12 consecutive postseason games, and today it will face an NCAA bubble team in eighth-seeded West Virginia. Connecticut won 64-57 at home when the two teams met in January.

PITT 73, ST. JOHN'S 59: The 13th-seeded Panthers, who had dropped six of seven entering the tournament, got 20 points from senior guard Ashton Gibbs. St. John's (13-19) got 25 points from forward Moe Harkless, who was honored after the game as the Big East rookie of the year. Pittsburgh (17-15) advances to face fifth-seeded Georgetown. The Panthers knocked off the Hoyas 72-60 in their only regular-season meeting.

Sports in brief: Power fights car fire himself during Sebring testing

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Times wires
Tuesday, March 6, 2012

autos

power fights car fire himself

SEBRING — A fire inside Will Power's race car ended his first day of testing at Sebring International Raceway on Monday, and the Australian grabbed an extinguisher to battle the blaze himself.

Photos of Power playing fire marshal caused many fans on Twitter to wonder why he was in position to fight the fire himself.

"The safety worker was across the track and he was an older gentleman, kind of struggling to get across, so I ran and grabbed it myself," Power said Tuesday, the second day of IndyCar testing at Sebring.

Power had a second fire in his car Tuesday afternoon, but said he managed to get the car back to pit road and his Penske crew put it out.

"This time I jumped out and ran away," Power said.

Rahal team fields second car: Italian driver Luca Filippi will race for Bobby Rahal's team beginning with the Indianapolis 500.

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing will run a full season with Takuma Sato, and said it will field a second car for Filippi in 12 races.

It will be Filippi's first season in an American-based racing series. He spent the past six seasons in the GP2 Series.

Filippi, 26, won three races last season in GP2, the European equivalent of the second-tier Indy Lights series. He finished second in the series standings.

Indy Lights standout joins Andretti: Sebastian Saavedra will enter the Indianapolis 500 with Andretti Autosport/AFS Racing.

Saavedra, 21, will also drive this season in the Indy Lights Series, and be the official test and reserve driver for Andretti's three IndyCar entries.

Saavedra was the 2009 Indy Lights rookie of the year. He made his IndyCar debut with Bryan Herta Autosport at the 2010 Indianapolis 500, and ran a partial IndyCar season last year with Conquest Racing.

et cetera

Colleges: Deanna Henriott, a former St. Petersburg Catholic standout, threw her second career softball perfect game and eighth no-hitter as Tampa beat Post University 4-0 in Clermont.

Golf: Japan's Ryo Ishikawa received a special invitation to the Masters for the second time. Ishikawa, 20, also received an invitation in 2009 when he was 17. He was the second-youngest player to compete in the Masters and has won nine times on the Japan Golf Tour.

Iditarod: Aliy Zirkle, who finished 11th in the trail sled dog race last year, was first into the checkpoint in Nikolai, Alaska, followed 22 minutes later by defending champion John Baker.

Times wires

Three Gators named All-SEC

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Times wires
Tuesday, March 6, 2012

GAINESVILLE — Three Florida players were All-SEC selections, and sophomore forward Patric Young was honored as the SEC scholar-athlete of the year.

Junior guard Kenny Boynton and freshman guard Bradley Beal were named first-team All-SEC, and senior guard Erving Walker was a second-team selection. Boynton and Beal are the first Florida teammates to receive first-team honors in the same season since Al Horford, Corey Brewer and Joakim Noah in 2007. Beal was also named to the All-Freshman team, the first Gator named first-team All-SEC and SEC All-Freshman in the same season.

Young is the third Gator to earn SEC scholar-athlete of the year honors, joining two-time winner Lee Humphrey (2006 and 2007) and Ray Shipman (2010). Young holds a 3.37 GPA in telecommunications.

Kentucky's John Calipari is the SEC coach of the year and freshman Anthony Davis is player of the year and defensive player of the year.

ACC HONORS: North Carolina's John Henson, the former Sickles standout, was defensive player of the year for the second straight year. Teammate Tyler Zeller was named player of the year, and Duke's Austin Rivers was the unanimous freshman of the year.

BIG EAST HONORS: In addition to USF coach Stan Heath (see 1C), Marquette senior forward Jae Crowder was selected player of the year and St. John's Moe Harkless the rookie of the year.

COLLEGE HALL: Georgetown great Patrick Ewing and former Kansas star Clyde Lovellette lead a 10-member class that will be inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in November. North Carolina's Phil Ford, Wyoming's Kenny Sailors, Grambling's Willis Reed and Winston-Salem State's Earl Monroe will join them along with Joe B. Hall, who followed Adolph Rupp as coach of Kentucky, and Dave Robbins, who won more than 700 games at Virginia Union.

NO. 6 DUKE: Forward Ryan Kelly will miss this week's ACC tournament after spraining his right foot during practice.

STANFORD: Top associate head coach and former longtime Santa Clara coach Dick Davey is retiring after the season. Davey, 69, is in his fourth season coaching under Johnny Dawkins.

Conference tourneys

SUN BELT: Teeng Akol scored 23 and Western Kentucky rallied for a 74-70 win over North Texas in the championship game of the Sun Belt conference tournament in Hot Springs, Ark. The win caps a stunning run for the Hilltoppers (15-18), who earned their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2009 by winning four games in as many days.

Women

BIG EAST: No. 4 Connecticut (29-4) beat third-ranked Notre Dame (30-3) 63-54 in Hartford, Conn., to win its fifth straight tournament championship. The Huskies' Geno Auriemma became the sixth Division I women's coach to reach 800 career victories, reaching the milestone in fewer games (928) than anybody else.

SUMMIT: Jill Young made the go-ahead free throws with 7.1 seconds left in overtime, and South Dakota State (24-8) overcame a 17-point deficit to beat UMKC 78-77 in Sioux Falls, S.D., and win the tournament championship for a fourth straight year.

SUN BELT: Taylor Ford hit a layup with 11 seconds left in overtime to send Arkansas-Little Rock (26-6) to its third straight NCAA Tournament with a 71-70 win over Middle Tennessee in Hot Springs, Ark.

Times staff writer Antonya English contributed to this report.

Magic crumbles vs. NBA's worst

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Times wires
Tuesday, March 6, 2012

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Bobcats gave Magic coach Stan Van Gundy a stress test he really didn't need Tuesday night.

Van Gundy, released from a Toronto hospital after experiencing chest pains Monday night, watched his team lose to the league's worst team, 100-84, blowing a 20-point second-quarter lead.

The Magic led 37-17 early in the second quarter before the 5-31 Bobcats clawed back on a 12-0 run to trail 48-43 at halftime.

The theme for the rest of the night: Orlando's shooting cooled off, their turnovers multiplied and their defense caved.

Corey Maggette scored a season-high 29 for the Bobcats, who had lost 21 of their previous 22.

"Our guys are satisfied that we came in with the third-best record in the East and the fifth-best record in the league," Van Gundy said. "They're satisfied with that. I don't think there's any push to be better or any push to be great. If there is, it doesn't show up in games."

Added Van Gundy: "This is who are. Whether we change that or not, I don't know."

On Monday, Van Gundy experienced mild chest pains but kept coaching during a victory against the Raptors. Van Gundy, 52, continued to have pain after the game and remained in Toronto. He was sent to the emergency room at Mount Sinai Hospital as a precaution and tests determined he did not suffer a heart attack.

game highlights: Rodney Stuckey scored 34 and the host Pistons beat the Lakers 88-85 in overtime. Kobe Bryant's shot at the buzzer forced OT. … Kevin Garnett had 13 rebounds to pass Shaquille O'Neal and move into 12th on the NBA's career list, and Paul Pierce scored seven of his 30 in overtime to lead the host Celtics past the Rockets 97-92. … LeBron James scored 21 and banked in a halfcourt shot as the host Heat routed the Nets 108-78. Miami's Dwyane Wade turned his right ankle late in the first half and did not return; the team said he could have continued playing if needed.

around the league: Bryant was reportedly fined $40,000 and Celtics Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo were fined $20,000 each for missing appearances during All-Star weekend in Orlando. … The Timberwolves sent video to the league seeking to illustrate that defenders are playing rookie guard Ricky Rubio too physically and that fouls have been uncalled. In his past six games, Rubio shot 20 percent (9-for-45), averaging 5.8 points and 7.3 assists. Before that, he was averaging 11.5 points and 8.4 assists, shooting 35.6 percent. … Bulls guard Richard Hamilton is day to day because of a bruised and mildly sprained right shoulder. Hamilton has been limited to 16 games this season because of nagging injuries. … Pacers reserve center Jeff Foster is expected to miss at least a week with a sore lower back.

Bobcats 100, Magic 84

ORLANDO (84): Turkoglu 2-10 0-0 6, Anderson 5-15 2-2 14, Howard 6-13 3-8 15, Nelson 3-8 0-0 7, J.Richardson 3-10 2-3 9, Q.Richardson 3-4 0-0 8, Davis 3-8 2-4 8, Duhon 1-1 0-0 3, Redick 5-11 0-0 14, Clark 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 31-80 9-17 84.

CHARLOTTE (100): Maggette 9-17 10-11 29, White 4-8 0-0 8, Biyombo 2-4 6-10 10, Augustin 3-7 0-0 8, Henderson 7-16 2-4 16, Brown 1-3 0-0 2, Carroll 1-1 0-0 2, Thomas 0-2 0-0 0, Mullens 3-5 2-2 8, Walker 5-12 0-0 10, Najera 3-5 0-0 7. Totals 38-80 20-27 100.

Orlando 25 23 23 13— 84

Charlotte 15 28 29 28— 100

3-Point GoalsOrlando 13-35 (Redick 4-7, Q.Richardson 2-3, Turkoglu 2-6, Anderson 2-10, Duhon 1-1, Nelson 1-3, J.Richardson 1-5), Charlotte 4-10 (Augustin 2-3, Maggette 1-1, Najera 1-3, Henderson 0-1, Walker 0-2). Fouled OutNone. ReboundsOrlando 50 (Howard 17), Charlotte 56 (Biyombo 15). AssistsOrlando 18 (Nelson 4), Charlotte 25 (Walker, Augustin 8). Total FoulsOrlando 25, Charlotte 17. TechnicalsOrlando defensive three second, Charlotte Coach Silas 2. Ejected— Charlotte coach Silas. A13,110 (19,077).

Heat 108, Nets 78

NEW JERSEY (78): Stevenson 2-8 2-3 7, Humphries 3-10 3-4 9, She.Williams 0-0 0-0 0, D.Williams 7-13 0-0 16, Brooks 5-11 0-0 12, Green 1-7 0-0 3, Petro 4-9 2-2 11, Morrow 3-8 0-0 6, Farmar 1-4 0-0 3, Gaines 3-8 1-3 7, J.Williams 2-5 0-0 4. Totals 31-83 8-12 78.

MIAMI (108): L.James 9-11 2-2 21, Bosh 9-14 2-2 20, Anthony 1-2 0-0 2, Chalmers 3-8 0-0 8, Wade 6-8 1-1 13, Pittman 4-7 2-2 10, Battier 4-7 0-0 11, Haslem 0-1 0-0 0, Miller 2-6 0-0 6, Cole 5-7 1-2 13, Jones 0-1 0-0 0, Howard 1-3 0-0 2, Curry 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 45-77 8-9 108.

New Jersey 17 20 19 22— 78

Miami 30 34 24 20— 108

3-Point GoalsNew Jersey 8-22 (Brooks 2-4, D.Williams 2-5, Petro 1-1, Farmar 1-2, Green 1-2, Stevenson 1-6, Gaines 0-2), Miami 10-17 (Battier 3-5, Cole 2-3, Chalmers 2-3, Miller 2-4, L.James 1-1, Jones 0-1). Fouled OutNone. ReboundsNew Jersey 39 (Petro 8), Miami 50 (L.James 9). AssistsNew Jersey 14 (D.Williams 4), Miami 30 (Chalmers 7). Total FoulsNew Jersey 12, Miami 13. A19,600 (19,600).

Pistons 88, Lakers 85 OT

L.A. LAKERS (85): World Peace 2-9 0-0 4, Gasol 8-14 4-4 20, A.Bynum 13-18 4-5 30, Fisher 1-2 0-0 2, Bryant 8-26 4-6 22, Barnes 0-3 2-2 2, Murphy 0-2 0-0 0, Blake 0-2 0-0 0, Goudelock 2-5 0-0 5. Totals 34-81 14-17 85.

DETROIT (88): Prince 5-15 0-0 10, Maxiell 5-11 0-0 10, Monroe 1-10 0-0 2, Knight 0-6 0-0 0, Stuckey 13-20 7-7 34, Gordon 7-15 1-1 15, Jerebko 3-8 2-2 10, Wilkins 2-6 1-2 5, Wallace 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 37-93 11-12 88.

L.A. Lakers 24 17 20 17 7— 85

Detroit 17 28 9 24 10— 88

3-Point GoalsL.A. Lakers 3-22 (Bryant 2-9, Goudelock 1-3, Fisher 0-1, Blake 0-2, Barnes 0-2, World Peace 0-5), Detroit 3-10 (Jerebko 2-3, Stuckey 1-1, Knight 0-2, Gordon 0-2, Prince 0-2). Fouled OutNone. ReboundsL.A. Lakers 55 (A.Bynum 14), Detroit 52 (Monroe 15). AssistsL.A. Lakers 22 (Bryant 7), Detroit 17 (Gordon 5). Total FoulsL.A. Lakers 15, Detroit 19. TechnicalsL.A. Lakers defensive three second. A22,076 (22,076).

Celtics 97, Rockets 92 OT

HOUSTON (92): Parsons 5-8 2-2 12, Scola 6-11 6-8 18, Dalembert 4-11 3-4 11, Lowry 4-17 8-10 18, Martin 4-10 2-2 11, Patterson 2-9 0-0 4, Dragic 5-11 0-0 11, Lee 2-6 2-3 7. Totals 32-83 23-29 92.

BOSTON (97): Pierce 9-21 11-12 30, Bass 4-8 0-0 8, Garnett 4-7 5-8 13, Rondo 4-12 1-4 9, Allen 7-15 4-5 21, Wilcox 1-4 2-2 4, Stiemsma 4-6 0-0 8, Pietrus 0-2 0-0 0, Dooling 0-2 0-0 0, Bradley 2-4 0-0 4. Totals 35-81 23-31 97.

Houston 28 12 28 16 8— 92

Boston 21 25 17 21 13— 97

3-Point GoalsHouston 5-19 (Lowry 2-8, Lee 1-1, Dragic 1-2, Martin 1-6, Parsons 0-2), Boston 4-14 (Allen 3-8, Pierce 1-3, Dooling 0-1, Pietrus 0-2). Fouled OutDalembert. ReboundsHouston 64 (Dalembert 17), Boston 47 (Garnett 13). AssistsHouston 18 (Lowry 7), Boston 26 (Rondo 12). Total FoulsHouston 25, Boston 21. TechnicalsHouston defensive three second, Garnett. A18,624 (18,624).

Hawks 101, Pacers 96

ATLANTA (101): Smith 12-19 1-2 27, Williams 4-11 2-2 12, Pachulia 4-7 4-4 12, Teague 3-10 3-6 9, Hinrich 1-5 0-0 2, Dampier 1-2 0-0 2, Pargo 6-13 0-0 16, McGrady 2-5 1-2 5, I.Johnson 3-5 3-3 9, Radmanovic 2-2 0-0 4, Stackhouse 0-4 3-3 3. Totals 38-83 17-22 101.

INDIANA (96): Granger 6-17 5-8 19, West 10-13 4-5 24, Hibbert 3-6 7-10 13, Collison 2-7 0-0 5, George 3-11 4-6 11, Hansbrough 1-4 5-5 7, Hill 5-10 4-4 15, Amundson 1-1 0-2 2, Price 0-1 0-0 0, Jones 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 31-70 29-40 96.

Atlanta 29 29 18 25— 101

Indiana 22 32 17 25— 96

3-Point GoalsAtlanta 8-19 (Pargo 4-7, Smith 2-4, Williams 2-5, Stackhouse 0-1, Teague 0-2), Indiana 5-15 (Granger 2-7, George 1-2, Collison 1-3, Hill 1-3). Fouled OutNone. ReboundsAtlanta 53 (Pachulia 10), Indiana 47 (Hibbert, Granger 8). AssistsAtlanta 23 (Teague 9), Indiana 13 (Collison 4). Total FoulsAtlanta 28, Indiana 23. TechnicalsIndiana defensive three second. A11,393 (18,165).

Tampa Bay Lightning falls 7-3 to Ottawa Senators; Mathieu Garon leaves with injury

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By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 6, 2012

TAMPA — The Lightning's season-long goaltending saga erupted in a crazy amalgam of circumstances in Tuesday night's game with the Senators.

And that made Tampa Bay's 7-3 loss at the Tampa Bay Times Forum a bit of an afterthought.

Goalie Mathieu Garon, 12-3-2 during the Lightning's playoff push, left the game 3:54 into the first period with a lower body injury after he did a bit of a split stopping an Erik Karlsson wrist shot.

There was no immediate word on what the injury is or its severity. But it sparked speculation that if Garon is seriously hurt Tampa Bay could put in a waiver claim for Marty Turco. The 36-year-old free agent was signed by the Bruins to a one-year, $600,000 deal because of the injury to Tuukka Rask but has to first clear waivers.

A lesser injury could mean a temporary call-up of Dustin Tokarski from AHL Norfolk.

And all this while Ben Bishop, whom the Lightning decided against obtaining from the Blues at the trade deadline, was stopping 25 of 28 shots in his Ottawa debut.

Steven Stamkos scored his league-best 48th goal 5:41 into the third period on the power play to make the score 4-3. But Milan Michalek scored on the power play (with Stamkos in the penalty box after a weak goaltender interference call) with 7:48 left to re-establish the two-goal margin, and Ottawa got two empty-net goals by Michalek to close it out.

Tampa Bay (31-29-6) lost its four-game winning streak and five-game streak at home and remained 10th in the Eastern Conference, four points behind the Jets for the eighth and final playoff spot.

Bishop was staked to a 3-0 first-period lead against a sluggish Lightning team and goalie Dwayne Roloson, who had played just five games since Jan. 17 and stopped eight of 11 shots.

Second-period goals by Ryan Shannon and Tim Wallace closed the gap to 3-2, but Karlsson's power-play goal with 8:02 left made it 4-2.

The game got off to an inauspicious start for the Lightning as Garon left, skating slowly off the ice under his own power.

Roloson had no chance at 9:38, when the Lightning got caught chasing in its own end and left defenseman Sergei Gonchar alone at the left post. Gonchar scored his first goal in 44 games off a pass from Colin Greening.

Greening scored with 2:23 left after he was left alone in the slot, and Kyle Turris made it 3-0 with 1:30 remaining with a shot from the slot that deflected in off defenseman Brett Clark.

Senators3137
Lightning0213

First Period1, Ottawa, Gonchar 3 (Greening, Cowen), 9:38. 2, Ottawa, Greening 13 (Michalek, Kuba), 17:37. 3, Ottawa, Turris 7, 18:30. PenaltiesTampa Bay bench, served by Connolly (too many men), 1:43; Konopka, Ott (holding), 11:50.

Second Period4, Tampa Bay, Shannon 3 (Pyatt, Connolly), 1:24. 5, Tampa Bay, Wallace 2 (Wyman, Pyatt), 7:12. 6, Ottawa, Karlsson 16, 11:58 (pp). PenaltiesGreening, Ott, major (fighting), 10:57; Aulie, TB, served by Connolly, minor-major (roughing, fighting), 10:57.

Third Period7, Tampa Bay, Stamkos 48 (Purcell, Malone), 5:41 (pp). 8, Ottawa, Michalek 30 (Alfredsson, Kuba), 12:12 (pp). 9, Ottawa, Michalek 31, 18:33 (en). 10, Ottawa, Michalek 32, 19:53 (en-sh). PenaltiesKarlsson, Ott (tripping), 5:11; Stamkos, TB (goaltender interference), 11:16; Gonchar, Ott (holding), 18:56. Shots on GoalOttawa 14-7-14—35. Tampa Bay 8-9-11—28. Power-play opportunitiesOttawa 2 of 3; Tampa Bay 1 of 3. GoaliesOttawa, Bishop 1-0-0 (28 shots-25 saves). Tampa Bay, Garon (3-3), Roloson 8-13-2 (3:54 first, 30-25). A18,967 (19,204). T2:32. Referees—Paul Devorski, Frederick L'Ecuyer. LinesmenRyan Galloway, Pierre Racicot.

St. Petersburg, race officials dedicate part of Honda Grand Prix to Dan Wheldon

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By Marissa Lang, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 7, 2012

ST. PETERSBURG — City and IndyCar racing officials want to ensure the memory of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon lives on.

That's why they're dedicating Turn No. 10 in the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, at the corner of Bayshore Drive and Albert Whitted Park, to Wheldon, who died in a fiery October crash during a race in Las Vegas.

The ceremony will take place at noon Wednesday, officials said.

Mayor Bill Foster and City Council members will be joined at the dedication by officials from the grand prix, IndyCar Series and Honda.

This is not the first honor the city has bestowed on Wheldon, a native of England who lived since 2005 off Coffee Pot Bayou in Snell Isle with his wife, Susie, and the couple's two children. June 7 was declared Dan Wheldon Day last year, after the 33-year-old won his second Indianapolis 500.

St. Petersburg pays tribute to Dan Wheldon by renaming street after him

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By Jim Tomlin, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 7, 2012

ST. PETERSBURG — The spot where Dan Wheldon made the crucial pass to win IndyCar's inaugural Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg is now named for the city's adopted son.

The city paid tribute to the late two-time Indianapolis 500 champion on Wednesday, renaming a stretch "Dan Wheldon Way" on part of the circuit used for the downtown street race.

Wheldon's widow, Susie, spoke at a brief public dedication ceremony, which included Mayor Bill Foster and several City Council members as well as series CEO Randy Bernard and most of the drivers.

"I am so proud and blessed to be part of this community and to be able to call St. Petersburg home," Susie Wheldon said. "(Sons) Sebastian and Oliver will be so proud to know the impact that their father had on this community and on the world of motorsports."

Wheldon, 33, was killed in October in an IndyCar crash at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. His car took off after touching the rear wheel of another car, went into the catch fence and struck a pole. The race was not completed.

"We ended (last season) unfortunately with Dan's tragedy," driver Ryan Hunter-Reay said. "I think everybody is still wearing that scar a little bit. We're opening up in his hometown. No better way to celebrate it than going out and having a great event, a huge event, a competitive one."

Wheldon won his second Indianapolis 500 last year, driving for Bryan Herta Motorsports. That Indy deal was announced last year at the Mahaffey Theater, just a few hundred yards from where Wednesday's ceremony occurred.

The portion of the race course named Dan Wheldon Way is near the Dali Museum where Bay Shore Drive connects along the waterfront to the runway at Albert Whitted Airport. It begins in Turn 10 where Wheldon passed Ryan Briscoe and Tony Kanaan for good in his 2005 Grand Prix of St. Petersburg victory.

"It's so fitting this corner down here now being named after Dan," Briscoe said. "He won the race. It was after a midrace collision between myself and Kanaan down in this corner. This corner named after Dan … is perfect."

The series will run its first race since Las Vegas on March 25 in St. Petersburg to open its 2012 season. Many drivers had Wheldon in mind Wednesday as they spoke at media day.

"I think it will be emotional, maybe for some more than others," Scott Dixon said. "It's going to be tough, but I think it's also a nice way to start the season, almost like it was written."

Race vice president and general manager Tim Ramsberger said that, in addition to the street name, there would also be two plaques erected later this year in the area of Turn 10. One will be dedicated to Wheldon, and the other will include the race logo and names of the previous race winners in St. Petersburg.

"The number of ideas and suggestions that have come to us on ways to pay tribute to Dan has just been overwhelming," Ramsberger said.

With the memorial site dedicated, the series and the city will try to start moving on from the tragedy when the drivers return to race again.

"It's been the longest offseason of my life," said Marco Andretti, Wheldon's teammate at Andretti Green in 2006. "We're all going to be driving St. Pete with heavy hearts. The way I persevere and keep going is I look at Dan as a competitor. So we're going to show up and compete.

"Just coming here, every time I come here I think of Dan. I know he was very proud of this city and this race."


Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Mathieu Garon out 3-4 weeks with groin tear

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By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Mathieu Garon is out three to four weeks with a groin tear sustained during Tuesday night's 7-3 loss to the Ottawa Senators.

Dustin Tokarsi will be called up from AHL Norfolk and join the team for Thursday's game in Washington.

Claiming Marty Turco off waivers is not an option for the Lightning because of NHL bylaw 12.4, which states that any player claimed off waivers after the trade deadline is ineligible to play at all for the claiming team.

Mathieu Garon's injury leaves Tampa Bay Lightning with a dilemma at goaltender

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By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 7, 2012

WASHINGTON — For the time being, the Lightning's playoff hopes are in the hands of goaltenders Dwayne Roloson and Dustin Tokarski.

Call them the Odd Couple.

Roloson, 42, is the NHL's oldest player with statistics near the bottom of the league. Tokarski, 22, called up Wednesday from AHL Norfolk, has 44 minutes of NHL experience.

Not exactly the way Tampa Bay drew it up but a necessity with No. 1 goalie Mathieu Garon likely out for the rest of the regular season — three to four weeks, officially — with a torn right groin muscle sustained 3:54 into Tuesday's 7-3 loss to the Senators.

General manager Steve Yzerman said he will look in Europe for a free agent, but the pickings probably are slim.

"(Roloson) and Dustin will get an opportunity to play in the next few weeks," Yzerman said. "Which one gives us the better chance to win will play."

The first chance will be against the Capitals tonight at the Verizon Center.

Games don't get much bigger. Tampa Bay is 11th in the Eastern Conference, two points behind Washington — tied for ninth with Buffalo — and four out of the eighth and final playoff spot.

Does coach Guy Boucher go with Roloson, whose 3.82 goals-against average is 81st of 83 listed goalies and .878 save percentage 78th?

Or does he give a shot to Tokarski, who hasn't played an NHL game since 2009-10, when he mopped up twice, but is on an 8-0-0 run with Norfolk with a 1.75 goals-against average, .927 save percentage and two shutouts?

"It is a possibility," Boucher said. "It's probably the best time to bring him up."

Over time, though, "both goaltenders will see the net," said Boucher, who summed up Garon's injury with this:

"It just leaves an open space for someone to go out and make a difference."

•••

After Garon was hurt doing a split to stop Erik Karlsson's shot, speculation was the Lightning would claim Marty Turco off waivers.

Turco, 36, was signed by the Bruins after the injury to Tuukka Rask. Because Turco was playing in Europe, he first had to clear waivers, and Yzerman had intentions of making a claim.

But a conversation with the NHL turned up bylaw 12.4, which says players such as Turco, signed after the trade deadline, cannot play if claimed off waivers.

The rule apparently was adopted to stop teams from stockpiling players. Yzerman said he had been under the impression claimed players were ineligible only for the playoffs.

•••

No one, it seems, feels worse than Garon, who said he felt a pop in his groin and his right leg go numb when he stopped Karlsson's shot.

"It's terrible," he said. "You get hurt. It's never good timing, but this one is probably the worst timing. I felt like I let the team down. But I know they will keep battling and play hard."

Garon was 12-3-2 during Tampa Bay's current 14-6-2 run that got it back in the playoff chase.

On the other hand, Roloson hasn't allowed fewer than three goals in a start since Nov. 17. And in relief Tuesday, he allowed five goals on 30 shots.

"Every player, the goal is to get more responsibility," Roloson said. "You've just got to focus on what you've got to do to help the team win. You can't worry about anything else."

"He's a battler and one of those guys with a short-term memory," right wing Teddy Purcell said. "We have faith in him."

And Tokarski?

"It's a different game in the AHL," Purcell said. "But if he gets an opportunity, we'll be just as confident in him. We're excited to see what he can do."

Damian Cristodero can be reached at cristodero@tampabay.com. Follow him on Twitter at @LightningTimes.

Senior first baseman bounces back for Riverview Sharks softball

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By Brandon Wright, Times Correspondent
Wednesday, March 7, 2012

RIVERVIEW — Taylor McCoy's softball career at Riverview has seen plenty of ups and downs.

McCoy burst onto the scene as a freshman, pitching the Sharks into the region finals. But despite a 13-5 record and a sparkling 1.42 ERA, McCoy suddenly found herself struggling with a pitcher's best friend.

"I lost my confidence," she said. "I didn't handle the pressure very well from all the expectations. It was a really hard time."

She scuffled on the mound as a sophomore before settling in at first base as a junior. McCoy was tearing the cover off the ball last season before what she called "personal issues" led to a conflict with veteran Riverview coach Angela Slater.

In the middle of her junior season, McCoy left the team.

"Because of some personal things I had a fallout with Coach Slater and I quit in the middle of the season," McCoy said.

After watching the Sharks fail to make the playoffs, McCoy reached out to Slater in hopes of returning for her senior season.

"(Leaving the team) kind of bit me in the butt," McCoy said. "I went to see her and we talked about a lot of things. I'm just really thankful she gave me the opportunity."

McCoy said the rift strengthened their relationship.

"I don't know if any other coach around here would have had me back," McCoy said. "I think our fallout made the bond between us tighter."

And Sharks' fans are glad McCoy is back. The senior first baseman, who signed with Hampton before the season, is off to a sizzling start for the Sharks. She leads Riverview in all major offensive categories, including hitting over .500 average and two home runs.

"She's a big kid with tremendous plate coverage," Slater said. "She's improved every year at the plate and does a great job going with the pitch no matter where it is."

McCoy is one of four seniors on a young Sharks team. Eight of Riverview's 14 players are underclassmen.

"I've enjoyed coaching this young group and we've struggled a bit, but I think that's a good thing," Slater said. "We're nowhere near where we need to be, but we have a chance to be pretty good."

And a lot of that optimism starts inside the circle. Junior Emily Gaitan, who transferred before last season from Academy of the Holy Names, has already committed to the University of Mississippi.

"(Gaitan) has all the tools and all the pitches," Slater said. "She's pitched well but I think you're going to see her get better because she's capable of it."

Slater said picking a college early, especially a Southeastern Conference school like Ole Miss, brings about a number of new challenges.

"It's a huge relief, in some ways, for kids because they're getting the decisionmaking out of the way now," she said. "But it also means you're a measuring stick for every hitter you face. The expectation level is raised."

As midseason approaches, Slater is looking forward to facing the Sharks' district slate for the second time. The Sharks' lone district loss came against Plant City, a team Slater said "just had a little more experience."

"We have a legitimate shot in this district but I don't want the team to think they can finish second because then they'll feel like a shoe in," she said. "I want them to keep working to get better each day, working harder each day, and see where that takes us."

And even though so much has happened since, McCoy said she sees a lot of similarities between this season and four years ago.

"Everyone gets along on this team, and it's like 2009 for the second time," she said. "There's just a great vibe about it."

Brandon Wright can be reached at hillsnews@tampabay.com.

Off to a good start: the University of Tampa lacrosse program

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By Paul Driscoll, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 7, 2012

TAMPA — The sound of construction on the Bob Martinez Athletics Center echoes across the campus on this clear, sunny day.

Look past the center to the Art and Polly Pepin Stadium and you see something else being constructed: a lacrosse team.

After several years of being a club sport, the University of Tampa now has a collegiate lacrosse team. The Spartans compete in the Deep South Conference, a Division II lacrosse-only league composed of nine teams: UT, Catawba, Florida Southern, Florida Tech, Lenoir-Rhyne, Mars Hill, Rollins, St. Leo and Wingate.

The Spartans (4-2, 3-0 in Deep South play) host Pennsylvania's Misericordia University at 7 p.m. today in the first of seven consecutive home games this month. Admission is $5; children 10 and younger are free.

The Spartans are in good hands with head coach Rory Whipple, who launched his fourth startup college lacrosse program with UT.

"I've been involved with lacrosse since I was 5," Whipple said with a smile. "After college, I got right into college coaching."

Whipple attended Cortland State (New York) and played on the Cortland State 1975 NCAA Division II championship lacrosse team. He is currently the all-time winningest coach in NCAA Division II lacrosse.

Whipple entered the Spartans' inaugural game against Florida Southern on Feb. 10 unsure of what kind of team he would guide. But the game proved memorable as UT pulled out a 7-4 win against the Mocs, a program he started and coached prior to being named UT's head coach.

"After 30 years of college coaching, that's probably in my top five quality wins," Whipple said. "I was pretty elated. We beat a competitive team in its fourth year. That was a big win for our program."

He also said that Florida Southern was their most difficult opponent to date.

"They were second in the conference last year. There was a lot of emotion going into that game."

Whipple isn't tempering his goals just because this is the school's inaugural year of play.

"We're trying to challenge for a Deep South Conference Championship and right now we're undefeated (in conference play)," Whipple said. "We're going to take each game one by one and try to win the conference championship. It would be pretty exciting and a great accomplishment for our players and our program."

Greg Khanzadian is one of the players trying to bring that conference championship to Tampa. Khanzadian is a senior transfer from Roanoke College (Virginia), where he played for two years. He's one of the UT captains and a faceoff specialist.

"We knew we were a young team and it would be an uphill challenge to develop a team attitude and team chemistry," Khanzadian said. "All things considered, it's still early in the season and I think we've come a good bit. We have a long ways to go, but I am pleased with the way things are going and the way things are being handled thus far."

Khanzadian has been involved with lacrosse and playing since he was in the eighth grade, when he got tired of baseball. I picked up a lacrosse stick and found out it was pretty similar to football — "a lot of fast-paced excitement."

Even with more than seven years of experience, nothing compared with playing in Tampa's inaugural game. UT president Ronald Vaughn and Tampa mayor Bob Buckhorn were among the crowd of 2,100.

"It was something else," Khanzadian said. "I've never been involved with a game quite like that. Between the amount of people that showed up, the marching band, all the fans — it made it very exciting and like nothing I had been a part of before. It was amazing."

Khanzadian shares the same optimism that his coach shares. He thinks a Deep South Conference title is well within reach and says it would be very special to him.

"I'm not sure if there are many teams that can say they've ever accomplished something like that," Khanzadian said. "We definitely have the tools and skill and knowledge to do it. We have experience and a lot of older guys that have been in those types of games before. It's well within our grasp. If it's something we're able to accomplish, it's definitely something I will cherish.

"What we do after that is certainly up to us. We definitely have some work to do, but I'm looking positively at the postseason."

Paul Driscoll can be reached at hillsnews@tampabay.com.

Temple joining Big East Conference for football this fall

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By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 7, 2012

The Big East has called a 5:30 p.m. press conference at Madison Square Garden where they'll formally welcome Temple back into the league, joining as a football member in 2012 and in all other sports in fall 2013.

The move offsets the early exit of West Virginia to the Big 12 and brings the league back to eight football schools this fall -- USF is expected to play at Temple in Philadelphia, replacing what would have been a trip to Morgantown.

Temple was a perennial doormat in its first run in the Big East, losing its first 25 conference games and finishing 14-80, but the Owls have won 25 games in the last three years. Former Florida assistant Steve Addazio will be here as part of the Temple announcement, as will be USF President Judy Genshaft as chair of the league's executive committee.

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