Times staff
Sunday, March 18, 2012

Times staff

Florida State took a big step forward last season as it sought to regain its past glory. With many starters returning, the Seminoles hope to move forward again this year, beginning with spring practice today. Here's what they hope to accomplish between now and the April 14 spring game.

1. Bolster the O-line

The Seminoles had shaky offensive line play last season and lose starters Andrew Datko, who missed time last year with an injury, and Jebrie Sanders. They've tried to supplement with transfers Daniel Glauser, from New Mexico Military Institute, who is on campus and will practice during the spring, and Menelik Watson, a junior college signee who joins the team this fall. Also, Cameron Erving moves over from defensive tackle. How the line comes together in the spring and fall could go a long way to determining the Seminoles' success.

2. Solidify the running game

The Seminoles had veteran running backs returning last year and talented incoming freshmen Devonta Freeman and former Plant High star James Wilder, but injuries and poor line play hampered FSU. If you take out sacks, it had the fewest true rushing yards since 2007. Despite the loss of Ty Jones and Jermaine Thomas, a stable of running backs returns, though Wilder's status is up in the air after his February arrest in an incident when police said he tried to prevent his girlfriend from being arrested. Early enrollee Mario Pender could make an early impact. The key could be improving the line play.

3. Get EJ Manuel healthy

Another area that could benefit from improved line play is quarterback. EJ Manuel came into last season with high expectations, but injuries and other factors kept his performance from being consistent. Despite a shoulder injury, he completed 203 of 311 passes for 2,666 yards. It's unclear how much action he'll see in the spring because he fractured his fibula in a bowl win against Notre Dame.

4. Evaluate the D-line

With all the hype surrounding the incoming defensive line recruits, little has been said about the prospects on campus.

Nile Lawrence-Stample was one of a small group of defensive linemen who redshirted last season, but he is probably the one redshirted class of 2011 standout who could be a factor for the Seminoles.

As a redshirt freshman, Lawrence-Stample could emerge as the unexpected tackle in the bunch who sees serious action in the rotation when the season starts. Near the end of last season, as the Seminoles prepared for their bowl game, Lawrence-Stample got his share of practice time alongside the starters on the defensive line.

5. Integrate Kelvin Benjamin

Wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin redshirted in the fall, but coaches and fans have high hopes for the player from Belle Glade. With only one receiver leaving the program off last season's team (Bert Reed, graduation) and the Seminoles adding only one in their latest recruiting class (speedster Marvin Bracy), Benjamin has a chance to come in and contribute. At 6 feet 6 and about 240 pounds, he presents a large target who can be lined up alongside 6-6 Rodney Smith at wideout.

Information from the Orlando Sentinel was used in this report.

Times wires
Sunday, March 18, 2012

CLEARWATER — The Phillies got some good news Sunday when X-rays on 3B Placido Polanco's left ring finger came back negative. The All-Star is listed as day to day with a sprain.

Polanco injured his hand diving back into first base on a pickoff play in the first inning of Saturday's win over the Blue Jays. Former Ray Ty Wigginton was in the starting lineup at third base against Toronto on Sunday.

The Phillies are missing three-fourths of their infield. 1B Ryan Howard and 2B Chase Utley haven't played this spring. Howard's return is uncertain after having surgery on his Achilles. Utley has a chronic knee condition but hopes to play in a game soon.

NO WORRIES: LHP Cole Hamels gave up five runs and seven hits in 31/3 innings during the Phillies' 10-2 loss to the Blue Jays but said he felt fine.

"I was very happy with what I was able to do," Hamels said.

"It's all about fine-tuning now, to be able to throw all of your pitches where you want to. It's nice to know you can go out there and be free and easy and build up the arm strength that you have to have. I feel I'm getting there."

Yanks: Reliever better

TAMPA — Yankees RH reliever David Robertson, sidelined with a foot injury, threw a 25-pitch bullpen session and barring complications could be ready to pitch by the end of the week, according to a radio report.

Robertson, who hurt his right foot when he fell down the stairs in his apartment March 7, hasn't thrown in a Grapefruit League game since making his debut March 5 against the Phillies.

An MRI exam showed that he had suffered a bone bruise, and he was shut down.

WFAN in New York said that Robertson, 26, felt "fine" after his session and added that he "expects to get back into a game by next weekend at the latest."

Robertson, the top setup man for veteran closer Mariano Rivera, had a 1.08 ERA in 70 relief appearances last season for the Yankees, striking out 100 and walking 35 in 662/3 innings.

Jays: Using caution

DUNEDIN — Blue Jays 3B Brett Lawrie was held out of action for the second straight day because of tightness in his left groin.

Lawrie, who is heading into his first full big-league season, was hurt while trying to score from second base during Friday's victory over the Rays. He already has been ruled out of Tuesday's game against the Red Sox, which follows today's off day for Toronto.

He said the injury isn't serious but didn't mind being cautious with more than two weeks of spring training left.

"Good, getting better every day," Lawrie said of his status. Sunday "feels a lot better just from mobility-wise, moving it around and stuff. Every day is a new day and just getting better."

Lawrie said there is no timetable for his return.

"It's just personal preference based on feel," he said.

ROSTER TRIMS: The Blue Jays returned RHPs Jerry Gil and Deck McGuire and C A.J. Jimenez to minor-league camp and optioned C Travis D'Arnaud and 1B Mike McDade to minor-league camp.

Times wires
Sunday, March 18, 2012

VIERA — Nationals manager Davey Johnson believes 19-year-old Bryce Harper has all the tools to be a big-time player in the major leagues.

Just not yet.

Harper was one of four cuts the team announced following Sunday's 11-7 loss to the Tigers. He will start the year at Triple-A Syracuse and get a lot of work in centerfield, which will ideally be his position if and when he is called up this year.

Harper acknowledged he was disappointed "but I'm just going to take it, and go down there and work hard and try to get up here as quick as I can. … Of course you want to come in here and make the team every year. Hopefully, that's the last time I'll get sent down. But it's what happened. I wasn't expecting it, but it's okay."

Johnson told reporters last season he expects Harper to have quality at-bats at the major-league level at the age of 19, and he said Sunday he still feels like that will happen.

"The timing to me just wasn't quite right," Johnson said. "It's close. Real close. I'd like to have his bat in this lineup, I've made no secret of that. As far as I'm concerned, he doesn't really need to work on a whole lot."

Harper went 1-for-5, striking out four times against the Tigers. The No. 1 pick in the 2010 draft drilled a double to centerfield in the ninth inning and finished 8-for-28 (.286) with two walks and 11 strikeouts this spring.

By sending Harper out now, the Nationals can get a longer look at veteran outfielders Rick Ankiel, Roger Bernadina, Brett Carroll and Jason Michaels.

ACE HEALING: Cardinals right-hander Chris Carpenter threw batting practice for the first time since a neck injury.

The 2005 NL Cy Young Award winner threw 40 pitches, two days after throwing off a mound for the first time in two weeks. He has been limited since March 3 because of a bulging disc.

"I was excited to get back out there and throw a little bit," Carpenter said. "Now we move on to the next step. I think if I wake up good enough (today) we can go out and do that again maybe sometime soon."

ANGELS: First baseman Kendrys Morales, who hasn't played since May 2010 because of a broken ankle, is scheduled to make his spring debut Tuesday.

A'S: Right-handed reliever Joey Devine is expected to open the season on the 15-day disabled list because of lingering soreness in his right biceps muscle.

CUBS: Manager Dale Sveum told the Chicago Tribune that right-hander Jeff Samardzija, primarily a reliever in his four seasons, is a "near lock" for a spot in the starting rotation.

NATIONALS: Outfielder Xavier Nady agreed to a minor-league contract.

ORIOLES: Japanese left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada, who had been sidelined by a sore elbow, allowed a hit and a run in two innings against the Braves in his spring debut.

PADRES: Leftfielder Carlos Quentin is scheduled to have arthroscopic surgery today to repair inflammation in his right knee and is expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks.

ROYALS: Closer Joakim Soria left the game against the Indians with soreness to his right (pitching) elbow after retiring one of the five batters he faced.

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, March 18, 2012

PORT CHARLOTTE — Left-hander Jake McGee's winter in Reno, Nev., was a little more laid-back this year.

That's because, for the first time, McGee, 25, didn't take a second job.

McGee usually had kept himself busy after baseball seasons by working for a friend's courier service company. From 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., five days a week, McGee would cram his 6-foot-3, 230-pound frame into a Saturn, delivering papers to real estate brokers.

"It was pretty easy," he said, smiling. "Just drove around all day."

But the fact that McGee instead relaxed this offseason was fitting, considering the hard thrower was coming off a rookie year in which he established himself in the Rays bullpen.

McGee shook off a rocky start in which he was being too fine and instead trusted his stuff — specifically a mid to high 90s fastball — down the stretch in picking up four confidence-building September wins.

"He believes he belongs," manager Joe Maddon said. "Last year, I think he was more in survival mode, Stage 2 — 'I like this, I really want to stay here, I want to please people,' never the thought about winning that night. The thought was more about not looking bad as opposed to doing something to help us win. That's the dangerous stage of development that never helps you as a team or organization to really win. You have to get them to Stage 3."

McGee's ability has rarely been questioned. He emerged as one of the team's top pitching prospects after getting drafted in the fifth round in 2004, converted from starter to reliever and even overcoming Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery in 2008. But McGee, upon making his first opening day roster last year, was too tentative early and got sent down to Triple-A Durham after posting a 5.14 ERA in the first month.

"I was trying to aim the ball and not letting the stuff I have do its work," he said.

When McGee returned in mid July, he had a different look — and approach. Figuring he had nothing to lose, McGee decided that if he was going to get beat, "they'd have to beat me with my best stuff."

He finally believed he belonged during a three-game stretch at the end of the season. On Sept. 18 at Fenway Park, McGee earned the win after throwing 22/3 innings, retiring Jacoby Ellsbury, Adrian Gonzalez, Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz.

McGee also was the winning pitcher in the Rays' final two victories, including Game 162, against the Yankees, when, before Evan Longoria hit his walkoff homer in the 12th, he got himself out of a first-and-third, no-out situation in the top half of the inning.

"I felt like I could get any big-league hitter out if I had my best stuff," McGee said. "It's helped a lot confidence-wise, and I feel like I'm part of the team, a little more settled in."

McGee's camp didn't start so smoothly when he hurt his elbow in a "freak accident," a foul ball hitting him while he was leaning against a batting cage. "Never going to do that again," he quipped.

But McGee feels he's even more prepared for this season, with his fastball velocity close to where it should be. And he says he's throwing his slider harder than he has in his life.

"This year," McGee said, "I'm ready to go."

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@tampabay.com

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, March 18, 2012

TAMPA — It wasn't exactly a postmortem at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on Saturday night.

But Lightning players, after their fifth loss in six games, 3-1 to the Blues, acknowledged for the first time there likely will not be a fairy tale ending to their season.

In fact, after the Hurricanes' win over the Jets on Sunday night, Tampa Bay (32-32-7) is last in the Southeast Division, and it is two points from the bottom of the Eastern Conference.

"It's tough. It's mentally tough," coach Guy Boucher said.

What makes the free fall tougher to take is that just two weeks ago the team was in the thick of the playoff race. But losing No. 1 goaltender Mathieu Garon to a torn groin was the start of the downward spiral, and it continued a plague of injuries that has worn out the team by forcing some players to play more minutes and take more responsibilities than they can comfortably handle.

That ramped up again Saturday with the loss of wing Ryan Shannon to an upper-body injury. If he does not play tonight against the Sabres, Tampa Bay will be without seven regulars, only a small improvement over a season-high nine at one point in January.

Add the loss of defensemen Pavel Kubina and Matt Gilroy and right wing Steve Downie through trades and general manager Steve Yzerman is loathe to blame anyone for a disappointing season.

"I've got to give our players and coaching staff credit for their resiliency to battle all year long with the injuries and shortcomings and in terms of trades," Yzerman said. "They just kept plugging away and competed hard."

Said Boucher: "We're at the top of what we can give. Our guys are competitors, and they're fighters, and right now they're showing all the fight they can. The players are giving everything they've got."

The real test will come in the final 11 games as the players prepare for the likelihood of golf in April instead of the playoffs.

"Packing the tent wouldn't be anything like this group," defenseman Brendan Mikkelson said. "We're always going to fight to the end. We've got to take it a day at a time and a game at a time. If you get extended too far along the negatives and things like that, things can snowball even more."

NOTES: An announcement is expected today concerning the Lightning's signing of goalie Sebastien Caron. ... Though he said he wasn't obsessing over it, Mikkelson described his first NHL goal in his 116th game Saturday against the Blues as "a relief."

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, March 18, 2012

. Tonight

Lightning vs. Sabres

When/where: 7:30; Tampa Bay Times Forum, Tampa

TV/radio: Sun Sports; 970-AM

Key stats: The Sabres are on a 14-5-5 streak, with seven wins coming in overtime or by shootout. … Buffalo G Ryan Miller is on a 9-1-3 streak with a 1.94 goals-against average, .938 save percentage and two shutouts. … The Lightning is 0-for-7 on the power play and 7-for-7 on the penalty kill in three games, all wins, against the Sabres.

Times wires
Sunday, March 18, 2012

PALM HARBOR — Charlie Wi literally went backward at the Transitions Championship on Sunday — three times.

Three straight shots caromed off a tree and went behind him onto the practice range at Innisbrook. It led to octuple bogey 13 on the par-5 fifth and came a week after Sergio Garcia's octuple bogey 12 at Doral.

"It was pretty easy," said Wi, able to laugh about his 13.

Wi's tee shot landed in the rough. There was a wood chip next to the ball. That caused his shot with a 6-iron to land behind a trunk about 3 feet high until it split into two limbs, leaving a 4-foot gap. Wi hit 5-iron twice and 6-iron once, the ball ending up on the range each time.

"The range just stopped," Wi said. "Everybody was looking at me."

The divots created kept him from trying again. He chipped sideways toward the fairway. But he didn't hit it far enough and was behind another tree. He chipped out sideways again, hit 5-iron to 12 feet and missed a putt. Wi had to ask the scorer what he made. ("It was hard to count," Wi said.)

Wi shot 7-over 78 for the day and finished 77th (last among those making the cut) at 8-over 292, 21 off the lead. He said he probably would have chipped out if he were in contention instead of 10 shots behind. If he had made par, he would have won only about $2,000 more.

Times wires
Sunday, March 18, 2012

RENTON, Wash. — Quarterback Matt Flynn agreed to sign with the Seahawks on Sunday.

A Packers backup for all four of his NFL seasons, he will make $26 million ($10 million guaranteed) over three years, ESPN.com and the NFL Network reported.

Flynn has started only two games during his career. In his second, the 2011 regular-season finale for resting star Aaron Rodgers, he threw for 480 yards and six touchdowns in a victory over the Lions. Overall, he has attempted 132 passes.

Seattle also has Tarvaris Jackson at quarterback. Last offseason, he signed a two-year, $8 million deal. He started 14 games last season, throwing for 3,091 yards, 14 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

"We are really excited to bring Matt in here to compete with Tarvaris," Seattle coach Pete Carroll said.

The Seahawks hope Flynn follows the path of Matt Hasselbeck. He was a longtime backup quarterback for Green Bay, getting few chances behind star Brett Favre. Before 2001, Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren, the former Packers coach, traded for him. Hasselbeck played a decade for Seattle and led it to its only Super Bowl appearance.

Seattle's current general manager, John Schneider, previously worked in Green Bay's front office.

Smith visits Dolphins

MIAMI — Quarterback Alex Smith, a free agent who helped lead the 49ers to last season's NFC title game, met with the Dolphins for about 51/2 hours.

The 49ers have been working to re-sign Smith, the No. 1 pick in 2005 who enjoyed his best season in 2011. But they also are a finalist, with the Titans and Broncos, to sign Peyton Manning.

The Dolphins previously tried to sign Manning, and Flynn visited them Saturday.

"This is the NFL. I guess nothing surprises me anymore," Smith said. "I never thought a year ago Manning would be a free agent either."

Dolphins officials were not available for comment.

Meanwhile, the Associated Press and NFL Network reported David Garrard will visit the Dolphins today. The Jaguars starting quarterback from 2005-10 was released five days before the season opener then had back surgery in October.

The Florida Times-Union reported Garrard will visit the Rams this week.

Bengals: Safety Reggie Nelson re-signed, ESPN.com reported. Terms were not disclosed. The former Gator started every game last season and had four interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) and two sacks.

Cardinals: Right guard Rex Hadnot, who started every game last season, was released.

49ers: Receiver Mario Manningham agreed to a two-year contract. Financial terms were not disclosed. Last season for the Giants, he had 39 catches for 523 yards and four touchdowns. Then in the playoffs, he had 13 catches, including a 38-yarder on the winning Super Bowl drive, for 189 yards and three touchdowns.

Patriots: ESPN.com reported receiver Brandon Lloyd's contract, agreed to late Saturday, is for three years and $12 million.

Steelers: Nose tackle Casey Hampton signed a restructured deal that reduces his salary from $4.89 million to $2.8 million and saves $3.09 million against the salary cap.

Times wires
Sunday, March 18, 2012

COLUMBUS, Ohio — With Michigan State's season in peril, Draymond Green turned to teammate Keith Appling during a timeout and told him to be ready. His moment was near.

When it arrived, Appling delivered and helped save the Spartans' season.

Appling's 3-pointer with 1:34 left, a 20-foot jumper set up by Green's drive and marvelous pass, gave Michigan State a 65-61 win Sunday over Saint Louis and thrust the top-seeded Spartans into the Sweet 16 after they survived a 90-foot tug-of-war and wills with the scrappy Billikens.

Green had 16 points and 13 rebounds, but it was his sixth assist, a two-handed, overhead pass across the floor to Appling that allowed the Spartans (29-7) to advance.

"I don't need to be a hero trying to make some scoop layup," Green said of his decision to pass up a shot. "If I see a guy open, I'm going to hit him. He was wide open in the corner, and I knew once he caught the ball, it was going in. I didn't try to get the rebound. I ran down the court. I already knew it was going in."

Sitting a few feet away on the podium, Tom Izzo gave his star an incredulous look.

"Why didn't you tell me?" the coach said.

"Wasn't enough time," Green replied.

The Spartans had to scrap their way past the ninth-seeded Billikens (26-8), who controlled the tempo but never got a complete handle on Green, the senior who even grabbed a mop and helped wipe some sweat off the floor in the final minute.

Kwamain Mitchell scored 13 and Brian Conklin 11 for Saint Louis, which gave the Spartans all they could handle. "We made them earn every shot that they took," Conklin said.

Times wires
Sunday, March 18, 2012

Soccer

Premier League midfielder remains in critical condition

LONDON — Bolton's Fabrice Muamba remained in critical condition and in intensive care Sunday night, a day after the player collapsed due to cardiac arrest during an FA Cup quarterfinal. The 23-year-old midfielder's heart only started beating on its own when he arrived at a London hospital from Tottenham's ground, medics said, and he remained anesthetized.

"Everybody is praying for Fabrice, which is very important, and that has been a real source of strength to the family," Bolton manager Owen Coyle said. "It's great to be talented at football, but it is more important to be a genuinely nice man, and Fabrice is that."

Muamba collapsed near the midfield line in the 41st minute, and paramedics immediately began trying to revive him, using a defibrillator and pumping his chest. The match was halted and has not been rescheduled yet.

Meanwhile, Fernando Torres ended a 26-game goal drought as Chelsea reached the FA Cup semifinals, and Liverpool ensured a second trip to Wembley Stadium this season. Torres scored twice in a 5-2 win over Leicester, and Chelsea faces the winner of the abandoned Tottenham-Bolton quarterfinal. Liverpool beat Stoke 2-1 and awaits either Everton or Sunderland.

Skiing

Dropped pole costs Vonn shot at history

American Lindsey Vonn lost her right pole in Schladming, Austria, and finished 24th in the last women's giant slalom, falling 21 points short of setting the record for the most World Cup points scored in one season.

Hermann Maier's 12-year-old mark of 2,000 points will stand for at least another year.

"I have never lost a pole in my life and I have been skiing since I was 2 years old," said Vonn, who still won her fourth overall crown. "I am disappointed. … But I am very proud of what I did achieve this season."

She won 12 races and scored 1,980 points and defended her discipline titles in downhill, super-G and super-combined.

Tennis

Federer downs Tampa's Isner

Roger Federer beat John Isner 7-6 (9-7), 6-3 for his record fourth BNP Paribas Open title in Indian Wells, Calif., avenging a Davis Cup loss to the Tampa resident. Victoria Azarenka routed Maria Sharapova 6-2, 6-3 for the women's title in the WTA Tour's first final between the Nos. 1 and 2 players since 2008. Azarenka improved to 23-0 this year, the best start to a season since Martina Hingis' 37-0 to open 1997. Federer and Azarenka each earned $1 million, the richest winner's checks in the tournament's history.

Et cetera

Running: Ethiopian-born Fatuma Sado, 20, won the Los Angeles Marathon in 2 hours, 25 minutes, 39 seconds, the fourth-best women's finish in race history. Simon Njoroge became the 11th different Kenyan to win the men's race (2:12:12).

Softball: Stephanie Medina's walkoff homer hit the top of the rightfield fence and bounced over, giving host USF (24-5), ranked No. 24 in the coaches poll, a 2-1 victory over No. 21 FSU. "Going into the at-bat, I was just trying to put the ball in play," the former Chamberlain High standout said. "Then when I saw it hit the fence, I was praying it wouldn't bounce back onto the field."

Baseball: Preston Tucker (Plant) and Casey Turgeon (Dunedin) each homered as top-ranked Florida (19-1, 3-0 SEC) beat visiting Vanderbilt 8-2 for a school-record 17th straight win.

Times wires

Times wires
Sunday, March 18, 2012

MELBOURNE, Australia — McLaren driver Jenson Button won the Formula One season-opening Australian Grand Prix on Sunday, taking the checkered flag Down Under for the third time in four years.

Button beat reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull by 2.1 seconds after the race turned into a 17-lap shootout after Vitaly Petrov stopped on the main straight, bringing out the safety car.

Pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton of McLaren was third, just ahead of Mark Webber of Red Bull.

With a strong performance, McLaren showed it had closed the gap on the Red Bull team that dominated 2011.

"It was an amazing day," Button said. "Starting the year strong for this team is really important. The past two years for us have been tricky for us coming into the first race. It points us in a great position for the next few races."

Fernando Alonso of Ferrari was fifth, with Williams' Pastor Maldonado crashing hard into a wall on the final lap while on the tail of the Spaniard.

Button got off the line better than Hamilton and immediately took the lead, which eventually grew to 11.8 seconds on Lap 23 of 58. That lead was negated when Petrov stopped.

Button mastered the restart, opening a 3.5-second lead on Vettel after one lap.

"He was too quick; two corners and he was gone," Vettel said.

Mercedes' Michael Schu­macher was third for the first nine laps but ran wide over the grass at Turn 1 under pressure from Vettel, and soon after retired with a gear problem.

Audi owns Sebring: Though the Audi R18 team of Allan McNish, Tom Kristensen and Dindo Capello finished four laps clear of the second-place car at the 12 Hours of Sebring, the victory in the American Le Mans Series' season opener was not guaranteed until late Saturday.

The winners gained control in the second half of the race as gearbox problems beset the pole-winning No. 1 Audi and the second-place R18 of Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Loic Duval made contact with a slower car in the last hour.

"It looks easy if you watch the gap in the last 30 minutes," said Capello, whose team completed 325 laps on the 3.74-mile Sebring International Raceway. "But until they got the problem, it was not easy."

Audi won the P1 class for the first time since 2009 and swept the first two spots for the first time since 2005.

EAST BAY RACEWAY: Bobby Dixon outdueled Buzzie Reutimann to win the Open Wheel Modifieds late Saturday. Scotty Williams won the Limited Late Models.

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, March 18, 2012

Worst schedule

There are 68 teams in the NCAA Tournament. The second round features 32 games over two days. The third round has 16 games over two days. That's 48 games in four days. And often, several teams from the same general area of the country are in the tournament.

For example, North Carolina, N.C. State, Duke and UNC-Ashville made the tournament. There was Cincinnati, Xavier, Ohio State and Ohio. Then there was USF, Florida and Florida State. The point is, there are bound to be TV broadcasting conflicts.

But still, you would think CBS and its broadcast partners would do its best to avoid conflicts like we saw in the second and third rounds. Florida and Florida State played at almost the same time Friday. USF and Florida overlapped Sunday.

Maybe it's more complicated than I'm making it, but I looked at the schedule and in about 10 seconds noticed how a couple of starting times could have been altered to make sure the Florida teams were not playing at the same time. And unlike CBS and the NCAA, I have no incentive to make sure the ratings for the games are as high as possible.

Best NCAA studio crew

CBS and Turner Sports have offered a slew of intermission, pregame and postgame NCAA Tournament shows with a variety of studio crews, but you know which crew is stealing the March Madness show? ESPN's Trey Wingo, below, Kara Lawson and Carolyn Peck, who are hosting the women's tournament. ESPN's whip-around coverage is a smart way to cover that tournament as the network whirls around from one game to another, keeping casual sports fans interested in an event they might not normally follow.

But the only way the whip-around coverage works is if the studio crew is knowledgeable and personable, and that's what Wingo; Lawson, a WNBA and former Tennessee star; and Peck, a former Gators and Purdue coach, are.

Best point

During Sunday's Penguins-Flyers game on NBC, Pens star Sidney Crosby gave a gracious interview to Pierre McGuire, but studio analyst Mike Milbury made an excellent (and funny) point when he was asked if Crosby could do anything to improve his game.

"Yeah,'' Milbury said, half joking, "take the hat off when you're doing an interview. We want to see your face, Sid. You're the face of the National Hockey League. Let's see it."

Best homework

Want to know what makes a good television analyst in any sport? Homework and hustle. Case in point: Gary Koch, who was lead analyst during NBC's coverage of the Transitions Championship at Innisbrook.

Instead of sleeping in Saturday morning or lounging in the air-conditioned trailer, Koch was out on the driving range watching the pros. Later, on the air, he mentioned that he noticed first-day leader Padraig Harrington on the range looking "fidgety and not at all comfortable.'' This was before Harrington went out and shot 1-over 72 to drop four shots out of the lead. Outstanding instincts by Koch.

Best guest

St. John's coach Steve Lavin has been stellar as a guest analyst on CBS's NCAA Tournament coverage, and that should come as no surprise. Lavin worked as an analyst between his stint at UCLA, which ended in 2003, and his new gig at St. John's, which began in 2010.

His strongest point of the weekend was addressing some of the controversial lane-violation calls we've seen in the tournament. Lavin correctly pointed out that though the calls weren't popular, they were correct. Furthermore, Lavin said, the officials are under orders from their bosses to make such calls.

"Hey, these guys have babies to feed,'' Lavin said. "If they don't make these calls, they're not going to be working.''

Best analyst

Moments into Saturday night's Sergio Martinez-Matthew Macklin middleweight fight on HBO, longtime analyst Larry Merchant started ripping Martinez, saying the 37-year-old looked unsure of himself and nothing like one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. To the novice, it might have seemed as if Merchant had something personal against Martinez and was being unfairly critical because of it.

But son of a gun, Merchant was right on the money. The following rounds proved Merchant was on to something as Martinez struggled mightily until snapping back to life in the later rounds. Martinez ended up scoring a TKO at the end of the 11th round, but he was in trouble for much of the night. It was one of Merchant's best nights on HBO.

Best announcing team

Bay area basketball fans caught a nice break over the weekend when CBS's Ian Eagle, below, and Jim Spanarkel were assigned to call the NCAA Tournament games from Nashville, which featured USF and FSU. For my money, Eagle and Spanarkel, in their 15th year together calling NCAA Tournament games, are the best duo calling tournament games. They're the Thinking Man's announcers.

Eagle might be the most underrated broadcaster in sports, and Spanarkel doesn't have an overwhelming personality but an intelligent one. I'll take intellect over outrageous any day.

Biggest difference

Fabrice Muamba, a soccer player for Bolton in the English Premier League, had a heart attack Saturday against Tottenham in an English FA Cup match televised by English television and picked up by the Fox Soccer Channel. It was interesting to see how it was covered. Cameras momentarily focused on Muamba but quickly pulled back so vieweo viewers could not see him clearly. There were a few long-distance shots of medical personal surrounding Muamba, but most of the shots were of the crowd. No replays of him collapsing were shown.

It would not have been unusual for an American network to cover Muamba's collapse in more detail.

There's a very fine line between covering the event and being disrespectful. American television rarely hesitates to show grotesque injuries. Think of Joe Theismann's leg being snapped in that 1985 game with the Redskins. When it comes to life-and-death situations such as crashes in auto races or boxers left unconscious, U.S. networks have to walk that fine line. Remember when NBC showed replays of a luger who was killed in the 2010 Winter Olympics?

Ultimately, the network is there to cover an event. That means reporting on all aspects, even unpleasant situations. However, if a network is going to err, wouldn't we rather have it err on the side of showing too little than showing too much?

Three things that popped into my head

1. The NCAA is so quick to show commercials celebrating the "student'' part of student-athletes, and that's great. But let's go a step farther. How about it runs the grade point averages of the teams in the NCAA Tournament bracket. That would motivate everyone, don't you think?

2. Rays radio announcer Dave Wills made a good point during Sunday's broadcast of the Rays-Red Sox game on 620-AM. He said, "If you think (Rays rookie pitcher) Matt Moore is a finished product, you're mistaken.'' Wills is right. Let's not forget this kid is 23 and has pitched fewer than 20 innings in the bigs.

3. Dwight Howard has done nothing but jerk around Magic fans for the past year with all his flip-flopping, and it appears as if he is going to continue to toy with their emotions for another year.

tom jones' two cents

Tampa Bay Times staff writer Tom Jones offers up the best and worst from a weekend of televised sports.

By Rodney Page, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, March 18, 2012

Transitions Championship

Number of the day

12 Consecutive rounds under par on the Copperhead Course for Jim Furyk, left. His last round over par was 74 in 2009.

Hole of the day

No. 17, par 3, 218 yards: Not only did the hole yield a hole-in-one by Kris Blanks, it damaged the title hopes for two contenders. Ken Duke bogeyed the hole to drop to 12 under, and Ernie Els did the same to drop to 13 under. If both par the hole, they are in the playoff.

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, March 18, 2012

NASHVILLE — It would have hurt no matter how or when it ended, but for USF, the painful part of falling 62-56 to 13th-seeded Ohio in the NCAA Tournament's third round on Sunday night was the way its strengths weren't there in the end.

The Bulls' signature defense, which carried them to the first two NCAA Tournament wins in the program's history, let the Bobcats go 9-for-18 on 3-pointers, and Ohio scored 41 in the second half to eliminate the Bulls at Bridgestone Arena.

Twelfth-seeded USF saw its Cinderella run trumped by an even bigger underdog. Ohio is just the second team seeded 13th or lower to advance to the Sweet 16 in the past 12 years.

"Of course, I was upset we lost, but I'm not disappointed," said guard Victor Rudd, who had 13 points and 10 rebounds. "I know this is going to set the tone for our team next year, but I'm just sad to see our seniors leave on this note."

USF (22-14) saw momentum swing twice in the second half on five-point possessions by Ohio (29-7), first on an intentional foul called on Rudd for grabbing a Bobcats player jersey, which resulted in two free throws then a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession.

That erased a five-point lead, and the same thing happened when Jawanza Poland dunked the ball for a 42-37 lead with 9:23 left only to be called for a technical for hanging on the rim. Ohio's Nick Kellogg hit both free throws then hit a 3-pointer, erasing USF's lead and sparking a 17-4 run that had the Bobcats up 54-46 with 3:28 to play.

"I don't want to blame one play … (to say it) decided the game. It certainly changed momentum," Bulls coach Stan Heath said. "I don't think we handled … the response was not normal for us. In games like this, 30 seconds can change, and it did."

Ohio, which had upset fourth-seeded Michigan on Friday right before USF upset fifth-seeded Temple, retook the lead at 47-46 on a 3 by Walter Offutt, who went 4-for-4 beyond the arc and had a game-high 21 points. Offutt entered the game having missed 14 of 18 3-pointers over his previous six games.

Then even the sure things went away. USF had been 11-for-12 at the line, but Ron Anderson and Poland both missed front ends of one-and-ones, and Shaun Noriega, an 85 percent free-throw shooter, missed both his attempts, allowing Ohio to extend its lead to eight.

USF had gone 1-for-12 on 3-pointers, but the Bulls cut the lead to three when Toarlyn Fitzpatrick hit a 3 with 49 seconds left. But D.J. Cooper hit both his free throws, and USF missed on the other end, allowing the Bobcats to pull away for the victory.

The Bulls matched a school record with 22 wins and earned the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament victories after making the NCAAs for the first time in 20 years. Those accomplishments were momentarily overshadowed by the finality of a surprising run that ended too soon for the Bulls players.

"Right now, we probably don't appreciate how blessed we are to get this far when no one picked us to go this far in preseason," said freshman point guard Anthony Collins, who had 13 points and six assists. "I'm sure when we look back, everyone will appreciate it and enjoy the time that we had with each other."

Times wires
Sunday, March 18, 2012

OMAHA, Neb. — Bill Self leaped to his feet on the Kansas sideline, the typically restrained coach finally unloading with a moment of sheer exuberance.

After trailing almost the entire way against Purdue, his Jayhawks are moving on.

Elijah Johnson scored 18, including the go-ahead basket in the final minute, and No. 2 seed Kansas rallied to beat Robbie Hummel and the No. 10 seed Boilermakers 63-60 on Sunday night.

Thomas Robinson fought through double-teams all night for 11 points and 13 rebounds, and the Jayhawks (29-6) got enough production from everyone else to erase a 10-point second-half deficit and reach the region semifinals in St. Louis.

Purdue was clinging to a 60-59 lead and had the ball with less than a minute left when Lewis Jackson, the shot clock winding down, lost control at the top of the key. Johnson picked it up and went the other way for the go-ahead lay-in with 23.3 seconds left.

Hummel missed an open 3-pointer and Tyshawn Taylor scored a transition dunk for the Jayhawks with 2.5 seconds left, giving the roughly 15,000 fans who had made the three-hour drive from the Kansas campus reason to let out a roar for one of the first times all night.

After a timeout, Purdue sharpshooter Ryne Smith managed to get a decent look at a long, potential tying 3-pointer. It hit off the backboard, clanked off the rim and fell away.

Hummel finished with 26 points and nine rebounds for the Boilermakers (22-13), who were trying to reach the Sweet 16 for the third time in four years.

The Jayhawks' biggest lead was their final one. They overcame Robinson's rough night by getting 10 points each from Taylor and Travis Releford.

N.C. STATE 66, G'TOWN 63: Lorenzo Brown hit three free throws in the final 10.6 seconds, and the Wolfpack held on in Columbus, Ohio, to reach its first Sweet 16 since 2005.

"When I went to Alabama as the head coach at the age of 33, John Wooden told me one time, he said, 'Coach, don't give them too much too fast. They might start expecting that every year,' " first-year North Carolina State coach Mark Gottfried said with a grin.

Then, with impeccable timing, he added: "Well, we failed in that category already."

The 11th-seeded Wolfpack (24-12) survived a furious comeback by the Hoyas (24-9) that ended when Jason Clark's hurried 3-point attempt from the right wing was off the mark at the buzzer.

UNC 87, CREIGHTON 73: John Henson proved he's healthy enough to help the Tar Heels' latest push for the Final Four.

The former Sickles High standout had 13 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks in his return from a wrist injury, leading North Carolina in Greensboro, N.C.

However, UNC point guard Kendall Marshall broke his right wrist. For details, see notebook, on left.

North Carolina built a 15-point lead in the first half then pushed the margin to 19 after the break on the way to its second straight double-digit victory. The top-seeded Tar Heels (31-5) reached the Sweet 16 for a record 25th time.

The eight-seeded Bluejays (29-6) shot 41 percent.

By Rodney Page, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, March 18, 2012

PALM HARBOR — Ernie Els did not leave the Transitions Championship in a good mood.

After missing a short birdie putt on the 16th hole Sunday, the Hall of Famer bogeyed Nos. 17 and 18, going from a one-shot lead to falling one shot short of the playoff.

Els, who began the day three off the lead, sent his tee shot on the par-3 17th to the right, landing in a hard-packed area where fans stand. His chip went well past the hole, and he two-putted for bogey.

"There was a bit of a wait, and I lost my rhythm," Els, 42, said.

At the par-4 18th, he missed a 4-footer to drop to 12-under 272. With Robert Garrigus already in at 13 under, Els was out.

"I was just trying to jam it in there, and I pulled it," Els said.

Els is not eligible for the Masters because he is outside of the top 50 in the world rankings (68th). A win would have earned him a spot.

Piercy goes low: Scott Piercy teed off at 10:04 a.m. Sunday, almost four hours before co-leaders Jim Furyk and Retief Goosen. By the time he finished his round, he gave the leaders something to look at.

Piercy shot 9-under 62 and vaulted to 12-under overall. It was the best final round in tournament history and one off the course record set Thursday by Padraig Harrington.

For about 20 minutes, Piercy had the outright lead. And for much of the afternoon, he had the luxury of watching players try to beat his score. When Garrigus finished his round 21/2 hours later, Piercy could go home.

It was a far cry from his third-round 73 that left him nine back.

"I hit it so far in the trees (Saturday)," said Piercy, who now has eight top-10s in 107 starts. "(Sunday), I was hitting from the middle of the fairway and actually putting for birdies instead of pars."

Piercy, whose only win came at the Reno-Tahoe Open in August 2011, had 23 putts over 18 holes. He made six birdies on the front nine and shot 29.

"Toward the middle of the round, it's kind of like a guy who has a no-hitter," playing partner Kris Blanks said. "You don't try to do anything that will disrupt his rhythm."

Ace: Blanks recorded the second hole-in-one of the tournament and first of his career on the par-3, 218-yard 17th with a 4-iron. Stewart Cink aced the par-3, 190-yard eighth on Saturday.

"I knew it was going to be good once it cleared the bunker, but I didn't see it go in," Blanks said. "Then I heard the crowd go wild."

Goosen backs up: Goosen, dealing with a sore back, shot 3-over 75 to tie for 20th: "(Saturday), I hit a lot of bad shots and got away with it. (Sunday), I didn't. I played like a dog."

Chip-ins: Ken Duke, who tied for second, is now 0-for-147 on the tour. … There were 13 players who finished 10 under or better, the most in tournament history.

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, March 18, 2012

OMAHA, Neb. — When the NCAA selection show concluded last week, much of the talk around Florida centered on whether the Gators had been given a raw deal with a No. 7 seed, and the difficult task of advancing out of the first weekend with No. 2 Missouri in the same region.

One week later, the Gators have survived, advanced and are on their way to the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive season.

Florida outplayed 15th-seeded Norfolk State from the start Sunday on the way to an 84-50 victory in the West Region third-round game.

The Gators (25-10) play No. 3 seed Marquette (27-7) on Thursday in Phoenix after winning their first two games of the tournament by a combined 155-95.

Trailing 6-4, Florida guard Kenny Boynton hit his first 3-pointer in the past three games, which started a 25-0 run that Norfolk, which had upset Missouri on Friday, never recovered from.

The goal? Take the Spartans out of the game quickly.

"All our really bad losses this year were when we let teams that weren't as talented as us, we let them hang into the game," UF center Patric Young said. "When you allow luck to come into play, anything can happen. We just had to go out from the gate and let them know that we're not here to play around, we're not going to underestimate you at all, we're going to take you seriously."

The 34-point win is UF's second-largest in the tournament, behind a 43-point victory over Jackson State in 2007.

Against Missouri, Norfolk State shot 54.2 percent from the field and 52.6 percent from 3-point range, but the Gators held the Spartans to 27.3 and 16.7 percent, respectively. Senior center Kyle O'Quinn, who had 26 points Friday night, was held to four points and four rebounds after early foul trouble.

"The ball didn't go in the hoop as smoothly as it did (Friday against Missouri)," O'Quinn said. "That's always frustrating. When your season is on the line and your college career is on the line, it gets frustrating. That's what it did (Sunday)."

Florida's major concern was Norfolk's size — every starter is at least 6 feet 5. But Florida outrebounded the Spartans 48-31, outscored them inside the paint by 10 and had eight more second-chance points. It was the largest rebounding margin of the season for the Gators.

"The two ways they beat Missouri was rebounding and getting loose balls," said Boynton who had 20 points and eight rebounds. "It was a focus on everyone boxing out and going in and getting rebounds."

The Gators, who had shot less than 34 percent from 3-point range in five of their previous six games, shot 35 percent, including 7-of-10 in the first half. The Gators got 19 points from their bench, including forward Casey Prather who earlier in the day had a 101-degree temperature and flulike symptoms.

"It was a great win," coach Billy Donovan said. "I was proud of the effort these guys put in over the last 24 hours."

Times wires
Sunday, March 18, 2012

BRISTOL, Tenn. — Brad Keselowski used Bristol Motor Speedway in the fall to cement his spot in NASCAR's championship race.

Back at the track Sunday, Keselowski again made his way to Victory Lane. And he again began to think about a Sprint Cup title.

Keselowski led a career-best and race-high 232 laps at the half-mile concrete oval, then held off Daytona 500 winner Matt Kenseth on a late restart for his first win this year.

"What can I say? I love Bristol, and Bristol loves me," said Keselowski, who began taking pictures in Victory Lane to post to Twitter.

"The goal at Penske Racing is to win a Sprint Cup championship, and one win certainly doesn't achieve that, but it's a great step."

The Chase for the Championship has a wild-card provision for the winningest driver not other­wise eligible. Keselowski's win at Bristol in August was his third of the year and gave him the provisional that allowed him in the title chase last year.

Now, just a month into the season, he's focused on collecting victories. "One win is good; two wins is really good," Keselowski said. "If we run like we have the last few weeks, we've got as good a shot as anybody else."

Keselowski escaped an early seven-car accident, worked to the front, then settled in for a battle with Kenseth over the final third of the race. Kenseth beat Keselowski on one of their restarts — fans complained on Twitter that Kenseth had jumped the start — and Keselowski had to run him down to reclaim the lead. But a late caution when Tony Stewart hit the wall put Keselowski's win in jeopardy.

"I've got no clue what to do here," he radioed crew chief Paul Wolfe, who decided not to bring Keselowski into the pits under caution.

Then Keselowski had to decide which lane to choose for the final restart; he chose outside.

"I knew as long as I could beat him on the first lap, I knew I had a good enough car and I'm a good enough driver to win," Keselowski said. "Matt didn't make it easy."

Kenseth, who took second in his Roush Fenway Racing Ford, denied jumping the earlier restart.

"I knew it was close, but here is the thing: When you get to the second line, they say that the race is on," he said. "I didn't even floor it until we got to the start-finish line. I don't know if he was trying to let me beat him on purpose or what was going on."

Keselowski said judging the restarts was "too subjective" and that a no-call "was the right call."

Three Toyotas from Michael Waltrip Racing rounded out the top five and marked a strong return to racing for Brian Vickers.

Martin Truex led the MWR contingent with a third-place finish. He was followed by Bowyer and Vickers, who had been out of work since Red Bull Racing closed at the end of last season, Vickers was tabbed last week to run six of the races that Mark Martin sits out this season.

Vickers led a career-high 125 laps. In 14 previous races at Bristol, he had led only one lap and never finished in the top 10.

"When it's your only one, you have to make it count," Vickers said. "This was pretty good, and it felt really good when we were out there leading."

Jimmie Johnson finished ninth in what is likely his last race for some time with crew chief Chad Knaus. Hendrick Motorsports goes before NASCAR's chief appellate officer Tuesday, trying to get Knaus' six-race suspension overturned. Johnson's Chevy failed inspection at the Daytona 500.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, March 18, 2012

Norfolk sets mark

Ken Young owns the Lightning's AHL affiliate in Norfolk, Va., but lately, he said, he has been more like a fan.

It all came pouring out of Young on Sunday after the Admirals won their 18th straight game — 5-0 over Charlotte — to set the season AHL record.

"It's been amazing," said Young, 61, a Tampa resident who has owned the team for eight years. "The pride that all of us have. It's just neat to have something like that take place. It ranks at the top with the fun I've had on the hockey side."

Norfolk (45-18-3), the AHL's No. 1 team, needs one more victory to set the overall record. Syracuse won 18 straight over two seasons, 15 to end 2007-08 and three to open 2008-09.

Young, in Tampa for a Minor League Baseball board of trustees meeting — he owns four teams — watched on his computer as Norfolk beat Charlotte. Cory Conacher, with an AHL-best 34 goals, scored twice. Richard Panik had a goal and two assists, and Tyler Johnson a goal and an assist. Jaroslav Janus' 20 saves made it all stand up.

Young said he will be in Norfolk for Friday's game against Albany. "It's real exciting," he said. "I'm just like every other fan. I have the pride of those fans."

Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer

Times wires
Sunday, March 18, 2012

PHOENIX — Yani Tseng two-putted for par from 40 feet in fading light to hold off Ai Miyazato and Na Yeon Choi by a stroke Sunday at the LPGA Founders Cup.

The third-round co-leader from Taiwan, ranked No. 1 in the world, shot 4-under 68 to finish at 18-under 270. It was her 14th tour title and second in four events this year.

The second-ranked Choi also shot 68. And Miyazato, the other third-round leader, shot 69.

Because of lightning, play was delayed three times for a total of three hours. Tseng made her winning 2-foot putt at 6:45 p.m. — 8 hours, 4 minutes after she teed off and seven minutes after sunset.

"I couldn't see much of a distance," Tseng said. "So I tried to say to myself, 'Okay, just finish these few holes, just hit a good shot, good contact.' "

After temperatures in the mid 80s Thursday and Friday and high 70s Saturday, it plunged into the low 40s Sunday morning and only got up to the mid 50s. And for a few minutes, hail fell.

Three strokes behind Miyazato at the turn, Tseng birdied five of the first six holes on the back nine and closed with three pars.

"It rained so hard, and it was really cold," Miyazato said "And my hands didn't have (much) feeling. So it was really tough."

Roberts wins Toshiba

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif — Loren Roberts shot 69 to win the Champions Tour's Toshiba Classic by two strokes over Mark Calcavecchia, Tom Kite and Bernhard Langer.

Roberts began the day two behind Calcavecchia but birdied three of his first four holes. He bogeyed Nos. 7, 14, 16 and 17 before making a 5-foot birdie at 18 to finish at 8-under 205.

"We did make it interesting," he said.

Calcavecchia (73) and Kite (69) also bogeyed Nos. 16 and 17. Langer (70) made double bogey at No. 17.