By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, March 26, 2011

NEW ORLEANS

When they have been at their best this season, the Florida Gators relied heavily on the sharp outside shooting of their guards, Erving Walker and Kenny Boynton, with help from forward Chandler Parsons.

But Saturday afternoon, on the biggest stage of their season, with a trip to the Final Four on the line, the outside shots wouldn't fall. The Gators mysteriously went away from the inside game that was so effective for 31 minutes. And for only the second time in six tries this season, overtime wasn't in Florida's favor.

The Gators squandered a double-digit lead in regulation, then went 2-of-5 from the field and missed 3 of 8 free throws in overtime in a 74-71 loss to Butler in the NCAA Southeast Region final at the New Orleans Arena.

It was Walker, who had played brilliantly down the stretch last week to get the Gators to the Sweet 16, who missed Florida's final shots — both 3-pointers — at the end of regulation to win it and with 13.9 seconds remaining in overtime to tie it.

Tied at 60 in regulation, Florida took possession with 30.7 seconds remaining after a timeout then held for the final shot. With six seconds on the clock, Walker set up for a 3-point jumper that missed as time expired.

"We just wanted to get the last shot," he said. "We didn't want to give them any opportunity to score and we let the clock run down, and coach called a play and the shot. I got a good look at it, but the shot just didn't go down."

That's how it went for the Gators (29-8). Florida's guards struggled to get open looks: Walker and Boynton combined to go 0-for-6 from 3-point range and 4-of-15 from the field in regulation. Parsons was 2-of-9 from the field and had five points and seven rebounds in the game. The Gators shot 3-of-14 from 3-point range.

What did work for Florida was the inside play of center Vernon Macklin and forward Alex Tyus. Macklin had a career-high 25 points, dominating Butler inside. Tyus added 14 points and 10 rebounds. The two combined to shoot 17-for-26 from the field. The rest of the team? 8-for-31.

The Gators took a 51-40 lead with 9:25 remaining. But with Macklin in foul trouble and the Florida guards struggling, Butler went on a 17-6 run to tie the score at 57 with 3:03 remaining. The Gators went a good portion of the second half without Macklin, who picked up his fourth foul with 9:02 remaining in regulation.

And for Butler (27-9), every loose ball and rebound fell its way down the stretch. Butler outrebounded Florida 41-34 and scored 18 second-chance points, five in overtime.

"We just kind of stayed together, stayed the course, figured it out, and just played resiliently," Bulldogs coach Brad Stevens. "I'm incredibly proud of these guys. They carried their coach in a big way. … Our players did a great job, and (they are) just a special group. We're really lucky that they're Butler Bulldogs."

Shelvin Mack had 27 points for the Bulldogs, who reached the Final Four for the second year in a row, the first team from outside the six power conferences to reach consecutive Final Fours since UNLV in 1990-91.

"This is a huge deal," said Zach Hahn, whose two 3s helped Butler stay close in the first half. "I don't know that any other mid major has ever done this."

Close games had been Florida's strength this season. The Gators entered 9-3 in games decided by six points or fewer and 4-1 in overtime. It was not to be on Saturday as Butler won its first overtime game this season in four tries.

"There was a lot of talk about close games and us winning close games and how many overtime games we've played," coach Billy Donovan said. "But you know what, you also realize when you play in enough of those games, there are some that can go the other way. So maybe we'd like to trade one of those SEC overtime games for a game like today. But we can't do that."

By Jim Tomlin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, March 26, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — This time last year, Will Power's victory at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, the third in his IndyCar career, helped mark him as an emerging star.

Going into today's edition of the downtown street race, he has to be called the odds-on favorite.

Power took the pole Saturday with a lap of 104.579 mph (1 minute, 1.9625 seconds) around the 14-turn course, the only driver with a lap better than 1:02.

Last March the 30-year-old Australian won from the pole here, the first of his five victories in 2010. This weekend he led every practice but one and topped all three segments in qualifying.

He held off Chip Ganassi Racing teammates Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon, who qualified second and third, respectively.

"Would have been a perfect day without Will, I guess," Dixon joked.

Power's Penske Racing Dallara-Honda was more than three-10ths of a second faster than Franchitti in the final 10-minute, six-car session (13 cars were eliminated in the first qualifying segment, six more in the second). That's a considerable margin in a 25-car field separated by fewer than 2 seconds.

"It was a good session, a lot of waiting around to see what other people would do," Power said. "I'm looking forward to the race, I think these double-file restarts, if you happen to get shuffled back it gives you an opportunity to race hard on restarts. It's going to be great for the fans."

The two-wide restarts are new to IndyCar road and street circuits, starting today.

Franchitti clipped the wall in Turn 11 and lost his rear wing in a crash in practice. He was uninjured and his team went to work to get him back in contention in qualifying.

"It was a good recovery ... because I screwed up (Saturday) morning and stuck the thing in the fence," Franchitti said. "So we're happy to get through into the (final segment)."

The two-time defending series champion cited the softer, optional Firestone tires, called "reds" for their sidewalls, as a reason for the increased speeds in qualifying from practice.

"There was so much grip and it's a lot of fun to drive it," Franchitti said. "My bravery was kind of coming up as grip of the tire was going away because it was the second run on the tires. So I needed to be a bit braver a bit earlier."

Mike Conway, in his debut for Andretti Autosport, will start fourth. The 2009 St. Petersburg champion, Penske's Ryan Briscoe, and Justin Wilson of Dreyer & Reinbold round out the first three rows.

Power said that since last year a bump in the back straightaway, between Turns 3 and 4, has been smoothed out and the wall in Turn 11 — where Franchitti had his problem in practice — is slightly closer to the track.

"That's not really a track thing," Power said, "but if you come off it is."

Other than that?

"Everything's the same," Power said. "It's all very good."

Just like he has been here for two years.

Jim Tomlin can be reached at tomlin@sptimes.com.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, March 26, 2011

Lightning coach Guy Boucher has worked very hard to take the pressure off his players during their recent struggles.

You can hear it in his voice, which was understated and measured the day after Tuesday's brutal loss to the Islanders when questions arose about panicking.

You can decipher it in his rhetoric, which regularly includes references to how difficult it has been with top-six forwards Steve Downie and Ryan Malone out of the lineup because of injuries.

To explain Tampa Bay's annoying habit of losing to teams it should stomp, Boucher chalks it up to bottom-feeding teams playing loose because they do not feel the pressure of a playoff chase.

It all is true, but it also is a smokescreen. It is a crafty way for a coach with a degree in applied psychology to divert some attention from his players, who, for the most part, just haven't played very well lately.

It is a fine strategy. John Tortorella used it brilliantly during the 2004 Stanley Cup playoffs when he told Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock to "shut your yap." Instantly, Tortorella was the story, and his players got a break from the media scrutiny of a hard-fought series.

Think about it. Was the real story during the weekend series with the Hurricanes about finally facing a team that is feeling the same playoff-chase pressure as the Lightning, or that Steven Stamkos entered with just three goals in 19 games and the team had allowed three shorthanded goals in its previous two?

Yes, it has been tough without Downie and Malone. But every team deals with injuries.

The Penguins have been without superstars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, and they still might chase down the Flyers in the Atlantic Division.

Perhaps bigger issues for the Lightning are that Simon Gagne hasn't scored, Stamkos and Marty St. Louis were a combined minus-29 in 19 games entering the Carolina series and the team simply hasn't shown enough urgency or work ethic.

The Lightning has been a great story and has created expectations higher than they should be.

But whatever has been ailing the team will not be solved by the opponents it plays. It will be solved by the players, something of which we shouldn't lose sight.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, March 26, 2011

5 questions | G Dwayne Roloson

Are you a golfer?

My wife and I are avid golfers, and both my boys are.

How good are you?

I'm all over the map right now. I usually play better at the beginning of the year, when I'm not so stiff.

What's your handicap?

I've had it down to a 3. Now I'm probably 8 or 9.

Any holes in one?

None.

How close?

An inch. I lipped out a couple times, too.

Starting line

In case you hadn't heard, Lightning captain Vinny Lecavalier is the grand marshal of today's Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Lecavalier is a fine choice given his love of open-wheel racing, particularly Formula One. "I'm like a kid in a candy store when it comes to that stuff," Lecavalier said.

Lecavalier's main responsibility today will be to say before the race, "Drivers, start your engines."

He even practiced last week in the trainer's room at the St. Pete Times Forum. "The guys were laughing at me," he said.

Subway series

Lightning D Mattias Ohlund played his 900th NHL game last week. He played his first two in 1997 as a member of the Canucks in a series against the Ducks in Japan. "The people treated us great," he said.

But it's not like the players blended in.

"Everyone took the subway to get to practice and the games," Ohlund said. "You had 22 tall white guys clearly standing out in a packed subway with a lot of smaller Asian people. They didn't know who we were. A lot of stares. They obviously knew we were not from there."

Quote to note

"If we're going to panic at the first real adversity we had this season, what kind of organization are we going to be?" Coach Guy Boucher, on the team's March slump

Number of the day

20 Most shorthanded goals Lightning allowed in a season (1993-94), five more than this season entering Saturday

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, March 26, 2011

Best of College Basketball: 1 p.m. on Ch. 10. An hour show looking at the top moments of the college hoops season.

30 Clubs in 30 Days: 8 p.m. on MLB Network. The Yankees are featured in the network's spring training tour previewing the 2011 season.

Sports Connection: 11 p.m. on BHSN (Ch. 47). Racing analyst Buddy Pittman breaks down the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, March 26, 2011

PORT CHARLOTTE — There has been plenty of chatter about Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg in New York, where the tabloids offer repeated speculation that he would be interested in buying the financially troubled Mets.

There has been very little public discussion anywhere, meanwhile, about Sternberg's efforts to get a new stadium for the Rays in the Tampa Bay area.

And that's probably not a good sign.

Sternberg suggests there has been some slight progress, "nothing dramatic," but "a larger circle of acceptance that something should be done." But there seemingly won't be any real movement until either St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster allows the Rays to look at sites outside the city limits, as they've requested, or, conceivably, a plan is presented that works in the city and they accept it.

As the A's, the other team with a stadium issue, work toward a resolution, and baseball heads into negotiations for a new labor agreement, there is a sense that a clock, somewhere in MLB's New York offices, is ticking.

"It seems clearer to me by the day that we're going to be the last man standing," Sternberg said. "And everything I know, and talking to these guys, baseball is just not going to stand for it anymore. And they'll find a place for me. They won't find a place here though. So it's up to us, to everybody, to figure out how to get it right. …

"We've come so far with this, with all the people who are interested and watching. I do believe we've grabbed into (them) a little bit, and to say it's a good thing, it's fun, it's good for your kids, it's a nice sport. … And that's my real concern, that we won't get to finish the job that I know we were right there to do."

As for the Mets, Sternberg does not appear too concerned. He has said repeatedly he has no interest if they became available and now says, admittedly possibly naively, that he expects the Wilpons to retain ownership. "There's no reason," he said, "for me to be focused on it."

RAYS RUMBLINGS: 3B Evan Longoria is the fifth most marketable player in baseball according to rankings by the Nielsen Company, behind Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Josh Hamilton and Albert Pujols. … The Rays dropped from first in 2010 to second in Baseball America's overall rankings of organizational talent, behind Kansas City. … Ex-Ray/new Red Sox LF Carl Crawford is writing a diary for ESPNBoston.com, and in the first installment said he was glad to play against the Rays this spring because he got "to see how they're going to do things against me." … Based on the Forbes magazine estimates, the value of the franchise has increased from $176 million to $331 million since Sternberg took over after the 2005 season. … To have more retired veteran players around camp, like former Cubs All-Star Glenn Beckert, who visited Saturday, manager Joe Maddon suggested an "Adopt-A-Legend" program. … Asked if there were a certain number of homers Manny Ramirez could hit to have a day in his honor, Foster told 97X radio: "You've got to love ManRam. You know he's going to do something crazy. I think he deserves a day just for being ManRam."

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, March 26, 2011

PORT CHARLOTTE — There is so much they talk, text and e-mail about, be it favorite television shows Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Office and Entourage, a new Pat Conroy book, old music, funny movies, their love of sushi and even, at times, a fine wine.

So when Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman and manager Joe Maddon have to get down to the business of baseball, the sharing of ideas and information tends to come easily.

And as they enter their sixth season together — somehow, stunningly, among the four-longest tenured tandems in the game — it seems clear that the depth of their relationship is a key reason the Rays have reached the heights they have.

"It's probably the similarities we share in terms of being open-minded and our strong belief in communicating," Friedman said. "It's certainly evolved over the years to a point where it's as good of a working relationship both on and off the field you could ask for."

That's not always the case in baseball, nor in other sports, where the marriage between a general manager and a manager/coach can — in good times and bad — become adversarial, controversial or worse as they battle over credit and control, currying favor and covering their own behinds.

"It's got to be straight up," Maddon said. "He trusts me and I trust him, and there's nothing withheld either way. If I have to say something crappy, I do, and if he has to, he does, too. And there's a lot of respect about that, too. …

"As he'll say often times, our priorities are perfectly aligned right here, and the thing I like to say is that our intentions are perfectly pure. There are no hidden agendas. There are not.

"It's not about him. It's not about me. It's about the Rays, period."

They have their moments, of course, where one or the other gets animated, even irritated, but like any loving couple they claim they don't stay mad. Maddon may want to keep or cut a different player than Friedman, or Friedman may ask why Maddon did something — good or bad — in a game, but they insist any discourse is for the good of the cause.

"We share a very common philosophy on how to achieve success in this division, and when we disagree, it's always a very productive debate," Friedman said. "Not once have we walked out of a room still (ticked off) because I think both of us appreciate that we both have the purest of intentions with how to sustain the success that we've built up, and that every suggestion, idea and thought has to do with that.''

And they have their fun, including an ongoing thread from the clubhouse that they look more like father/son, what with Maddon's gray hair and the 5-foot-9 Friedman's even more youthful looks, that they put their own twist on.

"I often make the joke that I'm the father figure in the relationship," Friedman said. "I would say, and I'm saying this as much of a compliment as I can, that he's by far the most immature 57-year-old I've every met."

"I take that as the highest praise anyone could give me," Maddon said. "It's always nice to have Dad around to keep you on the straight and narrow. He dresses older than I do, he has much older hair. He's got to be the oldest 34-year-old there is."

They certainly wouldn't seem like a match: Maddon the baseball lifer who coated his hard-scrabble Hazleton, Pa., background with California cool, and Friedman the Wall Street whiz kid who hadn't worked in the game until coming to the Rays two years ahead of Stuart Sternberg's takeover.

"They do seem like an odd couple," third baseman Evan Longoria said. "It's funny to see them interact sometimes."

"Like mixing two entirely different worlds together," starter James Shields said.

They impressed each other when they met for Maddon's first interview in late 2005, and Sternberg liked their differences as much as the similarities and how he thought they'd mesh. Enough that he was willing to risk pairing a first-time manager with a first-time GM under a new owner, a formula that hadn't worked before — see Larry Roths­child, Chuck LaMar and Vince Naimoli.

"They each bring to the table precisely what you'd want in both of the positions, and they complement each other very well," Sternberg said, admitting he watched closely the first year for signs of acrimony. "They probably didn't realize it at first, but they did afterward, how Joe is able to do things that are not Andrew's best skills necessarily, and how Andrew does many, many things that Joe is open to."

Team president Matt Silverman said it's obvious to him how they've grown — and grown together.

"One of the keys is intellectual curiosity and their openness to ideas," Silverman said. "They're both very good communicators with each other and with others, and they're aggregators of ideas — they don't impose their thinking first. And I think that's allowed them to work well together and with everyone in the organization."

That includes the players, as both Friedman and Maddon not only make themselves accessible but make an effort to fit in with them. Which is why J.P. Howell can poke fun at the color of Maddon's hair, and David Price can openly joke about Friedman wearing lifts in his shoes and being the most help if he needs something off the bottom shelf.

Maddon raves about Friedman's intellect, his ability to incorporate statistical analysis and break down the game, and his innate sense of knowing when to, and when not to, challenge him. Friedman, in turn, lauds Maddon's always-on optimism, empathetic nature and great motivational skills. Both have mutual respect, an acknowledgement of the other's strengths, broad interests and extensive vocabularies that they'll use to challenge each other.

"It couldn't be," Maddon said, "more perfect."

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

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, March 26, 2011

TAMPA — Free agency has been more of a placebo than a panacea for the Bucs in recent years.

For every hit like C Jeff Faine, there have been three or four misses like RB Derrick Ward. And when the Bucs purged most of their 30-something veterans in 2009 to build the youngest team in the NFL, signing free agents was counter to their philosophy.

But after a 10-6 season in which the Bucs narrowly missed the playoffs, and given the production of young stars such as Josh Freeman, Mike Williams and LeGarrette Blount, coach Raheem Morris says it could be time to add free-agent pieces to push Tampa Bay back over the top, especially with about 500 players scheduled to become unrestricted free agents when the lockout ends.

"We wanted to accumulate talent throughout the draft, and it was no different in 2002 and 2001, when our ownership went out and got a Simeon Rice, a Brad Johnson or a Keenan McCardell (in free agency) in order to push that team over the top and help the draft classes of Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp, John Lynch and Ronde Barber," Morris said at the owners meetings last week in New Orleans. "We may be nearing that plateau. As soon as the free agency season is able to be open, some of those discussions will be more realistic. You're talking about adding components, getting the right guy, a good fit."

Rice, a defensive end who was signed in 2001, averaged 13.5 sacks over the next five seasons, including 15.5 during the Bucs' Super Bowl run in the 2002 season. Morris also pointed to other free agents who have helped teams to titles, such as the Patriots' Rodney Harrison and the Saints' Darren Sharper.

"You've got a good idea who you want to target," he said. "You can't close the door on free agency."

KICKOFF RULE CHANGE: The Bucs rely heavily on kick returner Micheal Spurlock for good field position. Last year he averaged 25.65 yards per kickoff return, and he has two career touchdowns.

But with the rule implemented last week to move kickoffs up to the 35-yard line, designed to reduce the number of returns and the associated collisions, touchbacks are bound to increase.

Last year about 16 percent of kickoffs resulted in touchbacks. Bucs K Connor Barth has 11 career touchbacks in 162 attempts, about 6.8 percent. With a career average for kickoffs of 61.3 yards, moving the kickoff up 5 yards won't necessarily guarantee more touchbacks for him.

"Clearly there are some teams that have good returners that look and say, 'Hey, what if there is 10 percent less returns? You are affecting our team in some way,' " said Falcons president and former Bucs GM Rich McKay, chairman of the competition committee. "We don't have an answer to that other than to say, 'Yes, that is probably true.'

"But when it comes to player safety, we are always going to have player safety trump the competitive aspects of the game, period. There is no issue. That is what we are going to do."

MEMORIES: A bit of a Bucs family reunion was held at USF's pro day Thursday. Among those in attendance were Bears GM Jerry Angelo, coach Lovie Smith, defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli and Assistant GM Tim Ruskell, all of whom have strong ties to the Bucs.

Marinelli said he drove to the site of the original One Buc Place, which is now a slab of concrete on a patch of grass along Tampa International Airport's Runway 36, directly across from the International Plaza mall.

"What got to me is how small it looked," Marinelli said. "They should have kept something there, a marker of some kind. I still have tape of those practices where you can see the weight room that was outside. What I remember is the speed. Man, we were fast."

Times wires
Saturday, March 26, 2011

TAMPA — The Yankees completed their rotation Saturday, tabbing RHPs Ivan Nova and Freddy Garcia as starters and putting RHP Bartolo Colon in the bullpen.

Nova and Garcia will join LHP CC Sabathia and RHPs A.J. Burnett and Phil Hughes in the rotation, manager Joe Girardi said.

Nova, 24, went 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA in 10 games, including seven starts for the Yankees last season. He went 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA in five spring games, including four starts.

"We didn't know what Nova was going to do," Girardi said. "Obviously, we had expectations for Nova."

Garcia was 12-6 with a 4.64 ERA in 28 starts for the White Sox last season. He'll be the fifth starter.

"Finally," a smiling Garcia said. "Of course I'm happy. I've worked really hard this spring. We'll go from here."

RELIEVER HURT: LHP Pedro Feliciano, a key offseason acquisition, could begin the season on the disabled list with triceps soreness in his throwing arm, MLB.com reported.

Jays: Sense of relief

CLEARWATER — Blue Jays OF Corey Patterson said he felt no major aftereffects a day after being beaned in a spring game against the Red Sox.

Patterson was hit in the back of the helmet Friday by a high 90s fastball from RH reliever Daniel Bard. He fell immediately and remained on the ground for several minutes.

A CT scan showed no damage.

"I seem to be doing okay," Patterson told MLB.com Saturday. "I got checked out at the hospital (Friday) night and the doctor said everything looked fine. There weren't any concussion symptoms, but it doesn't mean that it can't evolve into that. Just have to keep an eye on it and make sure I'm in regular contact with our trainers."

FEELING BETTER: Blue Jays RHP Jesse Litsch, the former Dixie Hollins standout, was back in camp and feeling well a day after being hospitalized because of dehydration.

Phils: Pen clarified

CLEARWATER — The Phillies appear close to finalizing their bullpen.

Philadelphia optioned RHP Scott Mathieson and LHP Mike Zagurski to Triple-A Lehigh Valley to leave seven healthy relievers in camp, with RHPs Brad Lidge and Brian Schlitter expected to open the season on the disabled list. The Phillies are likely to start the season with seven relievers but may still look outside the organization for help.

"We've still got a few things in the works," pitching coach Rich Dubee said. "We're not done yet. This isn't our club yet."

Still in camp are RHPs Ryan Madson, Jose Contreras, Danys Baez, Kyle Kendrick and David Herndon; and LHPs J.C. Romero and Antonio Bastardo

HEATING UP: Former Mets 2B Luis Castillo, in the midst of a weeklong tryout, went 2-for-4 with a walk and two runs in a 7-6 loss to the Blue Jays. After going 0-for-8 in his first two games, Castillo has reached base in six of nine plate appearances.

By Bryan Burns, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, March 26, 2011

Boys player of the year

C Tyler Bergantino, Jr., Nature Coast

Why we picked him: For the second year in a row, Bergantino was the immovable object in the North Suncoast's post. A skilled offensive player who used his wide, 260-pound frame and 6-foot-9 height to create space for himself in the paint and shoot over defenders, Bergantino averaged 18.3 points a game for 27-4 Nature Coast. On the glass, he was just as tenacious, grabbing 12.8 rebounds a game. The Sharks wisely made Bergantino's skills the focus of their defense, funneling ball handlers toward the basket, where the block machine (4.9 a game) was waiting to swat it away. A two-time recipient of the St. Petersburg Times' North Suncoast player of the year award, Bergantino fueled the Sharks' second straight run to a berth in the region finals.

Most impressive accomplishment: Bergantino shot 63 percent from the field during the regular season and increased his productivity in the postseason by scoring at a 69 percent rate. In 26 of his 31 games, Bergantino recorded a double double.

Future plans: Bergantino has helped Nature Coast advance to the region finals each of the past two seasons and looks to go further in his senior season. With only one starter graduating, the Sharks again figure to be a one of the favorites in the region. As for his plans after high school, Bergantino already holds offers from USF, Ohio University, Virginia Tech, Buffalo and Georgia Southern, and he is sure to receive more during the summer AAU circuit.

Did you know? In games that Bergantino has played in during his three-year Nature Coast career, the Sharks have compiled a 61-13 record. For the second straight season, Nature Coast finished with a 27-4 record. … Bergantino, who continued developing his offensive game during the season and was automatic in the paint by the postseason, had 20 or more points in 11 games this season. Only two teams — Plant and Zephyrhills, both early season games — were able to hold Bergantino to single digits in scoring.

First team

G Tanner Carey, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch: The Bulls' career 3-point leader averaged 12.9 points and 4.5 rebounds to help his team win a district title.

G Jake Driscoll, Jr., Mitchell: Missed eight games with mono but still led the North Suncoast in scoring at 23.2 points a game. Also contributed 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists a game.

G Richey Williams, Sr., Hudson: Versatile scoring threat averaged 19.4 points a game and led the Cobras to their first-ever district title.

F, Matt Dennis, Sr., Nature Coast: Broke a school record for most steals in a season and nearly averaged a double double at 9.6 points and 9.3 rebounds a game.

F Scott Kujak, Sr., Ridgewood: Talented, multisport athlete was a scorer (13.3 points a game), rebounder (10.0 a game) and facilitator (4.3 assists a game) for Rams.

Second team

G Jamal Branco, Jr., Hudson; G Chris Gregory, So., Gulf; G Brandon McWhorter, Jr., Anclote; G Christian Parra, So., Wesley Chapel; C Michael Chase, Sr., Wiregrass Ranch

Honorable mention

Academy at the Lakes: Evan Gordy; Anclote: Sevy Galati; Bishop McLaughlin: Jordan Betancourt; Central: Joey Stokes; Gulf: Rohan Blackwood; Hernando: Terrance Owens; Hudson: Andrew Disanto, Skyler Pryor; Land O'Lakes: Darrell Warren; Mitchell: Troy Blyden; Nature Coast: Donovan Ingram, Blake Lowman, Caleb Martin; Pasco: Hakeeme Ishmar, Donald Simmons; Ridgewood: Marcus Green, Mike Wood; River Ridge: Richard Rodriguez; Springstead: Will Hall, Naquan Inniss; Sunlake: Andrew Banks, Pedro Pabon; Wesley Chapel: Erik Thomas; Wiregrass Ranch: Rico Kerney, Antwan Prince, James Tringali; Zephyrhills: Devin McLeod

Coach of the year

Jason Vetter, Hudson

Despite graduating half of his scoring production from a team that finished below .500 the previous season, Vetter molded an underclassmen-heavy lineup into a district champion. In one of the deepest districts (4A-7) in the bay area, the Cobras lost just once. Under Vetter, Hudson advanced to the postseason for the third time in four seasons. Before his arrival, the Cobras had never made the playoffs.

Times staff
Saturday, March 26, 2011

The poll

Whom do you blame for the NFL lockout?

Both players and owners 43 percent

Owners 36 percent

Players 20 percent

Neither 1 percent

Total: 601 votes

Another poll

Of the most likely playoff matchups, who would you prefer the Lightning play in the first round?

Rangers: 33%

Sabres: 18%

Canadiens: 15%

Penguins: 14%

Flyers: 12%

Capitals: 5%

Bruins: 3%

Total: 381 votes

This week's question

Where will the Rays finish in the AL East this season?

Vote at rays. tampabay.com

By Dave Mistretta, Times Correspondent
Saturday, March 26, 2011

Springtime: Options seem endless as warmer weather brings more fish our way. Kingfish are not prevalent yet, but we have high hopes for a decent run any day. The boats at our marina got a few last week.

Bait fish coming: We did notice migrations of big schools of sardines offshore. Diving seabirds known as "gannets" made spotting bait schools easy. We found them in 70 feet in the morning and 50 feet in the afternoon. This eastward migration is typical for the spring. Expect the schools to settle on artificial reefs about 10 miles from shore.

Pleasant surprise: While jigging baitfish, a giant cobia swam toward us. Spring offers huge cobias, particularly this one of 60-plus pounds. These curious fish have been spotted on many locations. It's common for cobia to show up under your boat. This time of year, we always have a rod ready.

Big bull shark: Sharks are showing up at many locations, too. We got a 300-pounder Friday while fishing over a wreck in 80 feet. These aggressive fish love to hang around wrecks and will eagerly attack your fish while being reeled in.

Dave Mistretta captains the Jaws Too out of Indian Rocks Beach. Call (727) 439-2628 or see www.jawstoo.com.

By Jim Tomlin and Bob Putnam, Times Staff Writers
Saturday, March 26, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — Mike Conway could be excused if he had sounded overly excited Saturday.

Nearly 10 months after a savage accident in the Indianapolis 500 left him with multiple fractures in his lower left leg and a fractured vertebra, he continued an excellent weekend by qualifying fourth for today's Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

And on top of that, this is his first race with Andretti Autosport.

Yet the 28-year-old kept cool after qualifying, in which his best lap of 103.629 mph (1 minute, 2.5306 seconds) put him in the second row. He said he didn't have a problem keeping his adrenaline in check.

"Yeah, I feel good," Conway said. "Full of energy, so ready to go."

In one and a half seasons with Dreyer & Reinbold, the native of Bromley, England, had a best finish of third at Infineon Raceway in California in 2009. Last year he had three top-10s in five races and was running well at Indy — running out front for 15 laps, his first laps led in the series — before the crash on Lap 199.

Now he has his second-best IndyCar starting spot and is looking for more.

"Great to come back and be straight up there," Conway said.

Reaching out: Takuma Sato is helping victims devastated by the earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan.

Sato, the only Japanese driver competing full time in IndyCar this season, started a fundraising campaign called "With You Japan."

At this weekend's event, drivers have donated a pair of gloves for auction with the proceeds going to children affected by the disaster.

Sato has the "With You Japan" logo on the side of his helmet and his car.

"It is just so devastating and heartbreaking what has happened," Sato said. "Japan is suffering. People there are suffering so much. Children are going through a terrifying situation. I am personally supporting a few campaigns, but since I am competing in the IndyCar series, I want to do something to support Japan from America.

"Now is the time that we need to walk and support hand in hand. This 'With you Japan' campaign is going to do several projects and hopefully make a difference."

KANAAN RISING: Tony Kanaan qualified eighth just five days after signing with KV Racing.

"We changed it a lot," he said of his car, which he said was understeering. "I've been driving the same type of setup for the past eight years (with Andretti Autosport). Although the cars are the same the setups are not.

"The good thing is, we got together before the session started and we decided a top-10 was going to be good."

TROUBLE TIMES THREE: Kanaan's and Sato's teammate, EJ Viso, crashed in each of Friday's two IndyCar practices and wrecked again in Saturday's session. Saturday, the Venezuelan hit the barrier coming out of Turn 11 and spun. He stayed clean in qualifying and will start 21st today.

PIT STOPS: Danica Patrick qualified 19th. She has never qualified better than 11th in seven starts here but has finished in the top 10 four times. ... Sebastien Bourdais and Sebastian Saavedra got in an accident at the end of their qualifying session and Saavedra hit a tire barrier in Turn 3. Bourdais will start 18th, Saavedra 25th.

By Bob Putnam, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, March 26, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — Esteban Guerrieri will start today's Indy Lights race from the pole after leading a 1-2-3 finish for Sam Schmidt Motorsports in qualifying Saturday.

Guerrieri, a rookie, moved to the front by saving his best for last.

He had the fastest lap of 1 minute, 7.6903 seconds on the 1.8-mile course on the final lap.

Guerrieri is the eighth driver to win a pole in his Indy Lights race debut and the first since Graham Rahal in 2006.

"We've had competitive cars all weekend," Guerrieri said. "Our last lap was our best lap, so we ended up where we needed. It will be great to start my first race from P1, and I hope our race day goes well."

Conor Daly, another rookie, appeared to lock down the pole with a qualifying lap of 1:07.7009 in the final 10 minutes of the 45-minute session. But Guerrieri stole his thunder. Josef Newgarden was third with a lap of 1:07.8731.

"It's a bit depressing, really," Daly said. "I was strongly P1 the whole session, but just at the end, Esteban got me with a good lap. But it's good for Sam Schmidt Motorsports to be 1-2-3. I'm just looking forward to the race now. I think we've got a really fast consistent car, and I think we'll be okay for (today)."

This is the 14th time Sam Schmidt Motorsports has started a race 1-2 and the fourth time it has claimed the top two qualifying spots for a race.

Shifting gears: Patrick Long has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring.

Now the Belleair resident is trying to win in the SCCA World Challenge sportscar series.

Long, the two-time defending American Le Mans Series GT champion, was a late addition to the GT class. He arrived from a prior commitment in Germany in time for Friday's qualifying race.

On Saturday, Long started on the pole and won the first of two races in his class this weekend. For most of the race, Long battled Mike Skeen for the lead. Long took control on the final lap after Keen was involved in a collision.

Each of the three World Challenge classes (GT, GTS and TC) raced together. Jason von Kluge took the GTS class, and Lawson Aschenbach won TC.

Highs and lows: Pinellas Park High graduate Nick Andries had the second-fastest lap (1:10.921) during qualifying in the Star Mazda series.

But a start near the front of Saturday's race was quickly derailed when he ran into trouble within the first eight laps and finished 17th. Another local driver, Walt Bowlin of Tarpon Springs, finished 16th.

Connor De Phillippi won the opening round race by 2.261 seconds over Martin Scuncio.

From pole to podium: Spencer Pigot, who earned the pole, won the USF2000 opening race Saturday. Shannon McIntosh, who moved from Ohio to St. Petersburg in December to race for St. Petersburg's Cape Motorsports, finished eighth.

By Bryan Burns, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, March 26, 2011

Girls player of the year

G Shanel Sweet, Sr., Land O'Lakes

Why we picked her: A point guard who could score equally well driving to the basket or pulling up for a jumper, Sweet averaged 18.1 points a game to lead the region finalist Gators in scoring. At 5.1 assists per contest, she proved she knew how to distribute the ball to her teammates as well. She carried a 3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio throughout the season and was a tenacious defender, averaging 3.6 steals a game. With Sweet in the lineup, Land O'Lakes went 23-1, its only loss coming in the region finals to Leesburg. Without Sweet — she missed two early games with a sprained ankle — the Gators were 0-2, losing by 24 to West Port and by three to sub-.500 Largo.

Most impressive accomplishment: With Sweet, Land O'Lakes went undefeated in regular-season district play and won its first district title since 2004. Sweet scored a team-high 15 in the Gators' demolition of Mitchell in the region quarterfinals, then took over a tight region semifinal against Gulf, scoring 18 of her game-high 32 in the fourth quarter to send the Gators to their first-ever region final. Before Sweet's arrival at Land O'Lakes, the Gators had a total of four playoff wins in the program's history.

Future plans: Sweet has already taken an official visit to St. Catharine College, an NAIA school in Kentucky, and is planning to visit Division II Queens University of Charlotte this weekend and New Mexico Highlands University next weekend. Sweet, who got a late start in the recruiting process, hopes to make her college decision soon. "It's been on my mind for a while now, trying to figure out where I'm going," she said. "It's going to be a huge relief off my shoulders."

Did you know? Sweet, who carries a 3.8 grade-point average taking mostly Advanced Placement courses, is a natural athlete who excels at virtually every sport she plays. Before transferring to Land O'Lakes, she was a receiver and quarterback for Gaither's flag football team and won a district championship as a junior. Currently, she plays shortstop for the Gators' softball team since Land O'Lakes doesn't offer flag football.

First team

G Nicole Adams, Sr., Gulf: Arguably the best pure shooter the North Suncoast has ever produced, The Winthrop signee averaged 28.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.7 steals.

G Simone Brown, So., Land O'Lakes: Wing player averaged 13.5 points, 12.3 rebounds and 3.9 steals.

F Raqurra Ishmar, Sr., Central: A double-double lock each time she stepped on the court, Ishmar averaged 22.7 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and had 4.2 steals a game.

F Kelly McCaffrey, Jr., Wiregrass Ranch: Consistent performer who did a bit of everything. She averaged 15.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.7 steals and 2.9 assists.

F Leighlani Paselio, Sr., Gulf: Physical post player with a sweet jumper, Paselio gave the Bucs a second scoring option behind Adams with 14.1 points a game and a strong defensive presence.

Second team

G McKenzie Burns, Sr., Central; G Hannah Kotzen, Sr., Gulf; G Hannah Noble, Sr., Wesley Chapel; G Marjorie Rivera, 8th grade, Academy at the Lakes; C Nicole Woodard, Sr., Land O'Lakes

Honorable mention

Academy at the Lakes: Andrea Mauger, Vanessa Vincent; Central: Tikiera Relaford; Fivay: Alicia Artley, Rael Raskovich; Gulf: Caitlin Corbitt; Hernando: Courtney Crawford, Brittany Flowers, Stefanie White; Land O'Lakes: Julia Della Penna; Mitchell: Nina Argento, Caitlin Baggarly, Danielle O'Connor; Nature Coast: Alexis Helfand; Pasco: Nia Henderson, Bri Roberts; Ridgewood: Mary Kujak, Natasha Morris; River Ridge: Vashoula Kostogiannes; Springstead: Sasha Spalding; Sunlake: Amelia Oliver; Wesley Chapel: Tiffany Echevarria; Wiregrass Ranch: Kayla Deloach, Jeileen Mas Rodriguez; Zephyrhills: Lindsay Warner

Coach of the year

Karim Nohra, Academy at the Lakes

Nohra engineered one of the greatest turnarounds ever seen on the North Suncoast. Taking a program that went winless the year before and had never qualified for the postseason, Nohra guided the Wildcats to a 19-5 record and the school's only district title. The Wildcats advanced to the Class A region finals, also a program first, and Nohra made his seventh trip with his fourth different team to that round of the postseason.

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, March 26, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG

Dario Franchitti strides toward the first turn on the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg street course and stops suddenly, frustrated that a truck is parked in his path.

The two-time defending IndyCar series champion asks the truck driver to move, backs up about 100 feet and resumes his walk Thursday evening. It's among the first of many laps he'll make on the 1.8-mile course preparing for today's 100-lap race, and it's among the most important, even though it might take 45 minutes or more to complete.

Franchitti, 37, studies the rough, cracked runway at Albert Whitted Airport with a focus and intensity normally reserved for recovering a lost contact lens. His expert eyes see cracks and bumps that wouldn't enter an average driver's thoughts.

"The surface has its own character," said Franchitti, arguably IndyCar's most accomplished driver with two Indy 500 wins, three series championships and career U.S. earnings topping $15 million (not including endorsements).

The "track walk" is unique to Franchitti. Most drivers confine themselves to a few laps in a golf cart, which Franchitti and three crew members had done minutes earlier.

As another cart whizzes past at about 20 miles an hour, Franchitti scoffs, saying you can't learn much at that speed. The local track is unusual because it moves from the flat, even airport runway surface to First Street S. Franchitti points out how the road, by comparison, crowns in the middle. He calls it the camber, and steps back and squats down, exactly like a golfer trying to read the slope of an unfamiliar green.

The first turn — at the end of the runway — is wide enough to, well, land a plane on, but Franchitti focuses on one swath of track, saying that after a few laps, the rest of the width of the turn is "all marbles," for the tiny bits of tire that accumulate on a hard turn.

Fans watching from a fourth-floor apartment across the street recognize him and wish him luck, and Franchitti said he prefers walking the course later at night, when it's quieter. He has done his night walks since he started racing road courses, and despite his success, nobody else has picked up the tactic.

"I've never seen anybody else do it," he says. "It works for me. Everybody has different things that work for them. You're picking out details sometimes, kind of figuring out stuff. It's nice."

Even in an informal setting like this, Franchitti still showcases his sponsors, with a black ballcap showing the No. 10 he drives and a red polo showing not only his primary sponsor, Target, but the "H" logo of Honda, which provides engines and sponsors the race in St. Petersburg. He's in jeans and Pumas, and the oversized watch on his right wrist is a model he designed himself for Dutch watchmaker TW Steel, which lists him as an "ambassador." His name is on the face of the watch, which runs about $850 if you can find one.

His is not the only well-branded team making its way around the downtown course. Curiously, another group is plodding its way down pit road, though come race day, they likely won't go much faster: the Budweiser Clydesdales.

Franchitti isn't just walking the course out of self-interest — he's also the driver safety representative for the race, and he calls over a track official, asking about a tire barrier that will go up on the inside of one of the first turns. There are a half-dozen tiny holes in the road where the barrier has been anchored in past races, and Franchitti seems to have a preference for which exact set should be used.

The city streets make for a bumpy ride, even on foot, with crevices wide enough to slip a pen into, and uneven paving easily felt under your shoes. On the left side as the track enters First Street, there's a large, lighter-colored slab of concrete, a coarser surface that creates an entirely different sound for the cars that don't weave around it, much like a minivan slaloming around a speed bump in a parking lot.

Avoiding that patch too severely makes a "funny line," Franchitti says, noting that the natural path of the car is on the left side, anticipating the next turn. "Some guys kind of … what's the word … exaggerate it," he says.

Franchitti found his first success on road and street courses and likes the nuances of each city's streets — Toronto, he says, has one corner with three different surfaces in a span of just seconds, each with its own grip as the cars fly past.

"You can see how the winters here are not bad by any means, but you can see how the surface is cratering," he says. "You go to Detroit or Toronto and their winters are very, very harsh. The surface gets harder, more bumps."

He stops to point out two nearly invisible parallel lines running perhaps 2 feet apart across the width of the street — they're time lines, one of several pairs embedded on the street that can relay signals to show how fast the cars are going.

Franchitti toes another crack in the road and wants to make it clear that he doesn't want to drive on a perfectly paved surface, that the thrill of a street course is the wear of the road, the tiniest bumps that are important enough to bring him out in the middle of the night, walking along and inching his way through a path he'll later follow in his mind, only at more than 100 mph.

"It's not like Toronto's bad," he clarifies. "I like the fact that Toronto's bumpy. Detroit's bumpy. That's the challenge."

Greg Auman can be reached at auman@sptimes.com.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, March 26, 2011

PORT CHARLOTTE — The Rays saw enough this spring to give INF Elliot Johnson and OF Sam Fuld spots on their bench, and to keep 1B Dan Johnson in the everyday job they had planned.

But the Rays felt they needed to see more during the minor-league season before making room for 1B Casey Kotchman.

The former Seminole High star was among eight players cut on Saturday as the Rays all but set their opening day roster — pending the acquisition of a reliever or two before Friday's opener.

Also sent to the minors were INFs Felipe Lopez, Joe Inglett and Ray Olmedo; Cs Jose Lobaton and Craig Albernaz; and OFs Justin Ruggiano and Chris Carter. The roster stands at 27, pending the expected trade or waiving of Rule 5 pick LHP Cesar Cabral and placement of LHP J.P. Howell on the disabled list.

Kotchman made a strong case, hitting .354 with five doubles and a homer, but after his abysmal 2010 season in Seattle (hitting .217 with a .616 OPS) and previous struggles, the Rays clearly wanted to see more than spring training performance.

"We like him a lot," manager Joe Maddon said. "We want to see him on a more consistent basis provide that kind of offense and continue to play that kind of defense."

It was not clear Saturday if they would get that opportunity. Kotchman, who left the complex without talking to the media and didn't respond to a text message, signed a minor-league contract, but the Rays likely would let him go if he had a major-league opportunity elsewhere.

Lopez, an eight-year big-league veteran, likely would be given the same opportunity.

Elliot Johnson, 27, who has been in the organization for 10 years and appeared in seven big-league games, was thrilled to get the news. "I'm very happy, very excited," he said. "And I'll take full advantage of whatever opportunity they give me."

Dan Johnson, 31, had a similar take on his first everyday job since 2007 with Oakland: "I feel ready for this opportunity, and you know when you get this opportunity you have to make the most of it."

Fuld, 29, was acquired from the Cubs in the Matt Garza trade.

The Rays seemed to settle on their bullpen by keeping RHP Juan Cruz and LHPs Jake McGee and Cesar Ramos, but Maddon said, "There's still some stuff on the table potentially that may impact that."

CATCHING ON: John Jaso caught three innings and got three at-bats in a minor-league game and said he would be ready to start the season, having overcome the effects of being struck in the groin by a foul tip on March 19. The Rays waited to see how he felt then optioned Lobaton to the minors.

PITCHING IN: RHP Jeremy Hellickson worked 41/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits (including a long Brian Roberts homer), pleased with everything but his fastball command. "It's struggling a little bit right now but I'll get that back," he said. Hellickson will pitch in a minor-league game Thursday then take the No. 5 spot in the rotation.

THINKING THROUGH: Maddon complimented the players on their work in camp but also cautioned them about making too many mental mistakes, as they did Friday. "We cannot be the team that makes mental mistakes," he said. "We cannot be that team."

GAME DETAILS: A 2-2 eighth-inning tie turned into a 7-2 loss for the Rays (14-13-1) as Ramos had a rough outing, including a two-run homer to Vladimir Guerrero, a right-handed hitter he wouldn't face in the regular season. … Cruz had his eighth scoreless outing in nine games. … Ben Zobrist led off with an opposite-field homer. … Dan Johnson made several sharp defensive plays.

MISCELLANY: Tickets for Wednesday's 4:10 exhibition at the Trop are $10 and general admission, with all lower level areas open expect the Home Plate and Whitney Bank Clubs. … RHP Jonah Bayliss was released from minor-league camp. … Most of the starters will play 8 or 9 innings on Monday in Tampa.

By Andy Villamarzo, Times Correspondent
Saturday, March 26, 2011

WESLEY CHAPEL — It wasn't too long ago that Wesley Chapel was one of the bottom dwellers among North Suncoast baseball teams. But four years ago Chuck Yingling took over the program with the aim of changing the perception that Wesley Chapel was merely a football and basketball school.

The foundation was laid in the 2006-07 season when the Wildcats finished 10-15 and reached the Class 4A playoffs. Yingling credits the players for buying into a new system and helping build the program to where it is today — riding a 15-0 start.

The core of the team is its seven seniors, including pitchers Brandon Mumaw and Matt Wynne.

"It's been a great change in philosophy," Yingling said. "We were always very fortunate that when we first got here that everyone bought into what we were doing. …

"But people know coming in, they know where we stand and they see the success that we have had, especially the past two years. And I think it's great that these seniors have worked very hard on their skills."

Wesley Chapel's senior aces lead a pitching staff that has allowed only 28 runs. Mumaw, who has committed to Saint Leo University and is 6-0 with a 1.12 ERA and 45 strikeouts, is more of a location pitcher. At 5-foot-8, he doesn't dominate batters with fastballs but has a knack for keeping hitters off balance.

"I'm definitely not an overpowering pitcher so I really have to study my opponents and keep batters guessing," Mumaw said. "I always try to remember when I face a hitter, what I threw to him the last time and what worked.

"Preparation and technique are big factors, and Coach Yingling and my dad have really helped me with all that the past four years."

Wynne (4-0, 0.64 ERA, 30 strikeouts) uses a lot of fastballs and at 6-3, 200 pounds brings an intimidation factor to the mound. Yingling has tabbed his fireballer as more of a closer.

In three innings at last week's Pasco County Spring Varsity tournament, Wynne allowed only one hit in games against Land O'Lakes and tournament runnerup Wiregrass Ranch.

"He's been most valuable as a closer for us," Yingling said. "He's a luxury to have on the pitching staff, knowing we can throw him out that late in a game and he can get the job done."

One thing is missing from the senior class' resume: a trip to the final four.

"The younger guys really do look up to guys like me and Matt, knowing that we have been through it all," Mumaw said. "I'll be heading over to the bullpen to throw and the younger catchers always say they want to catch for me. It's just been a great time this season, but we want to finish off strong and get to states."

Times wires
Saturday, March 26, 2011

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Mike Anderson couldn't contain his emotions as he was introduced as Arkansas' coach before about 5,000 fans in Bud Walton Arena on Saturday.

With "Welcome Home" signs all around, a smiling Anderson did what came naturally: He started calling the Hogs, much to the delight of the crowd.

Anderson appeared in public for the first time since leaving Missouri on Wednesday to become the Razorbacks' coach. The hiring ended an 11-day search after the firing of John Pelphrey and marked a homecoming for Anderson, an assistant coach for 17 seasons at Arkansas under Nolan Richardson.

"I'm happy to be back," he said. "This is home, this is home for Mike Anderson."

As recently as last week, Anderson said he planned "on being at Missouri." However, several former Arkansas players contacted him about the opening.

D-II FINAL: Chris Dowe and Jeremy Kendle had 16 points apiece and Bellarmine (33-3) held on to defeat BYU-Hawaii (22-9) 71-68 to win the NCAA Division II championship in Springfield, Mass.

Times wires
Saturday, March 26, 2011

FONTANA, Calif. — One breath Carl Edwards says there's no rivalry between him and Kyle Busch. But the next one he's insinuating payback is still coming for their wreck at Phoenix.

No matter what Edwards says, it seems this little dustup isn't quite over.

"The deal is, I am just going to race how I need to race," Edwards said. "It's nothing personal. That deal in Phoenix cost me 28 points, at least in my opinion. So the least he can give up is one spot."

The incident at Phoenix on Feb. 27 came early in the race, when Busch drove up the track and sent Edwards into the wall.

Edwards was the pole-sitter and thought he had a car that could win the race but was never in contention after the contact, finishing 28th. He was alternately angry and accepting of Busch's apology after the race before the two seemed to work out their differences the following week at Las Vegas.

The issue emerged again two weeks later at Bristol, where Edwards got close to Busch with about 30 laps left but chose not to get into him. Busch went on to win the race and Edwards finished second, again bringing up the owe-him-one sentiment.

So as the two drivers prepared for today's 400-mile race at Auto Club Speedway, their just-won't-go-away discord was a big topic.

Edwards said he looked back at the Bristol race and felt as if he made the right decision to stay out of Busch's bumper because it wasn't late enough in the race and he didn't have a car that could keep up with the No. 18.

Even so, the idea crossed his mind.

"If I could have got to him with one or two laps to go, then maybe I could have made something happen," Edwards said. "I know that's what all the fans wanted to see. Trust me, nobody wanted to see it more than me. I would have loved to be in that position. As it went, I wasn't even in position to consider that."

Busch, as is often the case, just shrugged, more concerned about what he needs to do than worrying about Edwards.

"If Carl wants to continue saying he owes me one, whatever, I don't care," Busch said. "I'm racing my race and how I should be racing and racing all my competitors and not worried about all that stuff."

Still, Edwards thinks he has put a seed of worry in Busch's mind, has him looking in the mirror when the No. 99 is near, which could give him an advantage.

"I can tell by the way he drove his car on those restarts (at Bristol) that he knew I was there and he was worried about me. That's good," Edwards said. "You want a guy to be in that position."

This isn't the first feud for Edwards, who's known as congenial off the track, ultra competitive on it. During the past few years, he has gotten into a shoving match with teammate Matt Kenseth, an altercation with Kevin Harvick — and his motorcoach driver — and wrecked Brad Keselowski on multiple occasions.

In taking on Busch, he's up against one of NASCAR's brashest drivers, someone who's not afraid to get into someone on the track or say what he's thinking.

Busch has suggested Edwards get his payback at the All-Star at Charlotte in May. Edwards seems to be open to the idea, but given his competitiveness, not to mention his comments during the past couple of weeks, he might not be able to wait that long.

"Maybe that's how it will go, but this is racing, guys," Edwards said. "You go to Bristol and are on the guy's back bumper and you have a chance, you start thinking of all the little reasons behind everything. Really, it is fine. Hopefully him and I get to race a bunch this year, and hopefully it is good, clean racing. It might get exciting, you never know."