College Basketball
Wichita State can’t get past Gators’ grasp of No. 1
Florida, Wichita State and Arizona are the top three teams in The Associated Press college basketball poll for the second consecutive week.
The Gators (27-2), who are on a school-record 21-game winning streak, were a solid No. 1 Monday, receiving 46 first-place votes from the 65-member national media panel.
Wichita State (31-0), the first team since Saint Joseph’s in 2004 to enter its conference tournament undefeated, was No. 1 on 14 ballots, while Arizona (27-2), which was ranked No. 1 for eight weeks earlier this season, got the other five first-place votes.
You guessed it, UConn still No. 1 in AP women’s poll
Connecticut remained No. 1 in The Associated Press poll Monday after two easy wins last week.
UConn improved to 30-0 after routing Southern Methodist and Rutgers. The Huskies have won 37 consecutive games dating back to last season, the third-longest streak in school history. Connecticut visited No. 3 Louisville on Monday night and won 68-48.
Notre Dame remained unanimous at No. 2. The Irish finished off their regular season unbeaten after beating North Carolina and N.C. State.
Stanford and South Carolina flipped places to round out the first five.
MLB
First use of instant replay supports umpire’s call
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – The first spring training test of baseball’s expanded instant replay system got off to a smooth start.
Three calls were challenged Monday, and the umpire’s ruling was upheld each time.
Extra replay was in place for three games. Two calls were checked in the game between Minnesota and Tornoto, there was one review in the Angels-Diamondbacks game and none when the Chicago Cubs played Milwaukee.
In January, owners approved the use of additional video replay to review most calls other than balls-and-strikes. Previously, umpires could only go to replay to review home runs and boundary calls.
NBA
History! LeBron nets a new career-high 61 points
MIAMI – LeBron James scored a career-high 61 points, breaking Glen Rice’s franchise record, and the Miami Heat defeated the Charlotte Bobcats 124-107 on Monday night.
James made 22-of-33 shots from the field, including his first eight 3-point attempts. His career best had been 56 points, on March 20, 2005, for Cleveland against Toronto.
Rice scored 56 to set the Heat record on April 15, 1995, against Orlando.
James had 24 points at halftime, then added 25 in the third quarter. The record-breaker came with five minutes and 46 seconds left, when James spun through three defenders for a layup that fell as he tumbled to the court.
Tennis
Double Trouble: Bryans beat down McEnroe’s in exhibition
NEW YORK – Bob and Mike Bryan won an intergenerational matchup of doubles-playing brothers, beating John and Patrick McEnroe 8-3 in an exhibition at Madison Square Garden on Monday night.
John McEnroe added a little sizzle to the meeting a few months ago when he made some harsh comments about the current state of doubles, suggesting that top players today are the guys who weren’t athletic enough to make it in singles. While the Bryans insisted there were no hard feelings, they respectfully disagree with his opinion, and they played Monday with the seriousness of an ATP Tour match.
There was no aiming any slams toward John’s head. Instead, they picked on Patrick’s volleys – he doesn’t play as much these days as his more-successful older brother. The twins needed 44 minutes to win the single pro set.
Associated Press
