The Sporting News articles from March 2005

The Sporting News archives from March 2005

To know list: 6 empty seats at the bargaining table.(Know It All)(Calendar)
March 4, 2005... [1] MARCH 2005 All times Eastern WED 2 NFL free agents go on sale. Here's the thing about free agents. They aren't free. The question is: Who will roll out the dough-re-mi for Drew Brees, Drew Bledsoe and Drew--make that...

Caught on the fly.(Know It All)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2005... Thanks to exhaustive research throughout the publishing industry, a person has been identified who isn't writing a book on steroids. Irish fans are used to a silent count on game days In a meet-and-greet session with students, new Notre...

Bob Hille's starting 5.(Know It All)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2005... 1 The NHL. On the bright side, I saw Brendan Shanahan's game-improvement suggestions used in Disney On Ice's Finding Nemo. 2 The Nextel Cup. Some say competitive disadvantages render the season meaningless and its result a foregone...

Old times: Joe Montana is back on the attack--this time, to save his own life.(Know It All)
March 4, 2005... Football legends don't fade away--they simply become like the rest of us, with the same human frailties. A couple of years ago, Joe Montana went to his doctor for a routine physical and was given shocking news: He was a heart attack waiting...

The dominoes are tumbling.(The No Hockey League)
March 4, 2005... OK, so there won't be a 2004-05 NHL season. Now what? Players who haven't found other places to play will scramble to play wherever they can. Others will just wait. The league's schedule makers are looking at next season, and teams are...

A chance to make a difference: high school basketball isn't the big time, but it's a great training ground for life.(My Turn)
March 4, 2005... As a probation officer for 30 years on the hardscrabble streets of Jersey City, N.J., I mostly would spend my days immersed in the most hardened of souls and most shattered of lives. In too many cases, there were men beyond redemption once they...

Your turn.(Know It All)(Letter to the Editor)
March 4, 2005... * I'm getting sick and tired of the narrow-minded people, mainly fans, who are claiming that Tom Brady is a better quarterback than Peyton Manning. I'll admit that Brady is a good quarterback who performs his best under pressure, but he has...

Everybody rates in our book.(Ultimate Scouting Guide)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2005... Congratulations, Albert Pujols and Miguel Tejada. You can head to spring training knowing that you rank as two of the five best players in the game, at least according to the major league scouts who spent part of their offseason analyzing more...

Amazing races.(Exposure )
March 4, 2005... Michael Waltrip blew an engine in the really big race at Daytona, but he was on easy street in the Armchair Challenge--cruising at 40 mph--two days earlier. In New York, dogged competitors took part in the second annual Idiotarod, a knockoff of...

Deion Branch.(Character Of A Champion)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2005... Branch had a great Super Bowl 38, but heading into his second straight Big Game, there weren't a lot of people singling him out as a key player for the defending champion Patriots. In fact, the 5-9, 193-pound wide receiver could have been lost...

Back on track: Jeff Gordon's thrilling win at Daytona--the product of laser-sharp concentration and dazzling skill--is proof NASCAR's focus, thankfully, again is on the drivers.(NASCAR Daytona 500)(Cover Story)
March 4, 2005... While most cars are spinning practice laps at Daytona International Speedway, Jeff Gordon's No. 24 Chevy sits on jacks in its garage stall. The driver is nowhere to be seen. But even if he wants to get into his car. he can't--his crew has taped...

Rearranged Sox: after years of failing to slug their way into the playoffs, the White Sox have gone back to basics.(MLB)
March 4, 2005... Scouting reports on the White Sox used to tell the same old story: Keep them in the ballpark, and you have a chance. Those reports are about to undergo a major rewrite. The team that introduced the exploding scoreboard has lost its...

Going long--or not.(MLB)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
March 4, 2005... GOING LONG--OR NOT Thanks in part to stadium renovations that changed the wind patterns, U.S. Cellular Field was by far the majors' most active launching pad last season. Homer havens 1. U.S. Cellular Field, White Sox 272 ...

A center but not a centerpiece: the Rockets are winning, but Yao Ming isn't the main reason why. The former No. 1 overall pick is a solid big man but might never live up to inflated expectations.(NBA)
March 4, 2005... The Rockets are strolling off the court after a morning shootaround when Jon Barry playfully jabs a newspaper at Dikembe Mutombo. "Look at this, Dikembe," Barry blurts out. "It says here you're the third-most overpaid player in the league."...

Brimming with confidence: Boston College doesn't need media affirmation to know it can go far this season.(College Basketball)
March 4, 2005... There are 10 seconds left in the basketball game, Notre Dame is ahead by five, and everybody in this building knows what is coming. Except those guys, the ones wearing uniforms the color of a nice cabernet. Their heads are held high. They are...

Marquee market: join us in an early viewing of the free-agent signing period, which will feature plenty of star power--particularly at wideout and running back--and uncertainty in Seattle.(NFL Free Agents Preview)
March 4, 2005... Fifteen unrestricted free agents, and what do you get? If you're an NFL owner, you get restless winter nights while your management team slurps Starbucks and staggers through a decision-making marathon. For the Seahawks, fresh off winning...

AFC east.(NFL)
March 4, 2005... BUFFALO BILLS MOVING ON: The Bills, who plan to release QB Drew Bledsoe, think second-year QB J.P. Losman will give the offense more flexibility. The Bills want to keep LT Jonas Jennings and DT Pat Williams but might have to choose....

AFC north.(NFL)
March 4, 2005... BALTIMORE RAVENS MOVING ON: The Ravens will lose two starters on the offensive line: LG Bennie Anderson and C Casey Rabach. Rabach played well last season, and the Ravens will miss his versatility and blocking ability. With the team...

AFC South.(NFL Free Agents Preview)
March 4, 2005... HOUSTON TEXANS MOVING ON: Only three starters are free agents--NT Seth Payne, WR Corey Bradford and FB Moran Norris--and Payne's hamstring injury in the season finale could hurt his marketability, so the Texans likely will re-sign him....

AFC West.(NFL Free Agents Preview)
March 4, 2005... DENVER BRONCOS MOVING ON: The club is shopping LE Trevor Pryce in hopes of saving enough money to retain unrestricted free-agent RE Reggie Hayward. But Hayward will attract a lot of suitors because of his pass-rushing ability. The Broncos...

NFC East.(NFL Free Agents Preview)
March 4, 2005... DALLAS COWBOYS MOVING ON: Three starters--QB Vinny Testaverde, SS Lynn Scott and DT Leonardo Carson--are free agents. Dallas will investigate its options-including starting Drew Henson or a veteran free agent, such as Drew Bledsoe--before...

NFC North.(NFL Free Agents Preview)
March 4, 2005... CHICAGO BEARS MOVING ON: The team has just four unrestricted free agents, none of whom is a starter. The biggest name is RB Anthony Thomas, who averaged a career-low 3.3 yards per carry and lost his starting job to Thomas Jones last...

NFC South.(NFL Free Agents Preview)
March 4, 2005... ATLANTA FALCONS MOVING ON: Backup CB Allen Rossum, the team's top return man, likely won't be back. The team can replace Rossum on punt returns with LCB DeAngelo Hall and on kickoff returns with WR Michael Jenkins. Rossum (5-8, 178)...

NFC West.(NFL Free Agents Preview)
March 4, 2005... ARIZONA CARDINALS MOVING ON: Four starters might depart as free agents, but only CB Renaldo Hill would be hard to replace. TE Freddie Jones never became a consistent part of the passing game and isn't a good blocker. The team probably will...

Childress' confidence is justified: Richard Childress Racing proved at Daytona that it is on the mend.(NASCAR)
March 4, 2005... Richard Childress has regained his swagger. Not that he ever lost it. But the suave R.C. greeting visitors at his winery is far from the hungry guy who used to sell hot dogs at Bowman Gray Stadium to subsidize his racing efforts. Early on race...

How have these teams adjusted their cars since they tested at Las Vegas and California?(Driver Reports)
March 4, 2005... Jeff Burton This crew tested at Las Vegas and California in search of balance and to gather information on the new tires. The team wasn't thrilled with the three aerodynamic packages that were tested, and Burton scraped the wall at...

A winter view of summer's best-laid plans: nothing is more refreshing for a team than a dip in the summer free-agent pool. But, a few months later, many teams find themselves in the deep end.(NBA)
March 4, 2005... Turns out, Carlos Boozer's biggest problem has nothing to do with lingering bitterness over his abrupt, controversial departure from Cleveland. Before the season began, that seemed to be the potential roadblock between Boozer and...

RPI changes make bracket guesswork tougher: by now, most fans know what the letters R-P-I stand for--but, after changes to the formula, does anyone know how the RPI will affect Selection Sunday?(College Basketball)
March 4, 2005... It is a simple, direct question. Chris Lowery might not prefer a simple, direct answer. This is his prerogative. It is ours to ask, anyway. "Do you feel like the coach of the 13th-best team in the country?" Well, OK, so maybe the...

TSN power poll.(College Basketball)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2005... The TSN Power Poll is determined by TSN writers and editors. +, - rise or fall in rankings 1. Illinois (27-0) Even 2. Wake Forest (22-3) +1 3. Boston College (22-1) +1 4. North Carolina (22-3) +2 5. Oklahoma State...

Brandon Bass PF, LSU.(Player Of The Week)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2005... What might have been the biggest week for LSU basketball in five years largely was the work of Bass. The sophomore blew away NCAA contenders Mississippi State and Florida with an average of 24.0 points and 11.0 rebounds. He shot 71.4 percent...

March to the arch.(College Basketball)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2005... Iowa State. The Cyclones began the Big 12 season with five straight losses. Now they've won seven straight and have a favorable schedule before heading to the conference tourney. Saint Joseph's. Remember the Hawks? Last year's darlings had...

Mike DeCourcy's 3 questions.(College Basketball)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2005... 1 Can Arizona be a No. 1 seed? There is no reason the Wildcats should not be in the debate. Their visit to Washington on Saturday should determine the Pac-10 title. If Arizona wins, it will have a 3-1 record against the RPI top 25 and a 7-2...

Don't overlook the Pac-10.(Point Forward)
March 4, 2005... While maybe not on the level of Carnac the Magnificent, Arizona coach Lute Olson is proving to be pretty good at this prognostication business. Before the season started, he called this year's Pac-10 the most competitive he has seen in a long...

Even with testing offenses will be pumped up: much as MLB would like its new steroid policy to eliminate the use of performance-enhancing drugs, only a fool would believe it's going to happen.(Baseball)
March 4, 2005... The silliest assumption I've heard in spring training is that offense will decline because Major League Baseball is adopting tougher steroid testing. Home run and scoring rates increased during the first two years of testing, feeble though the...

Canseco isn't helping anyone but himself by hanging the game out to dry.(The Closer)
March 4, 2005... Well, Jose Canseco, oh doer of good, oh knight in shining armor, thanks for saving the day. Your tell-all book will sell, because it breaks the clubhouse's code of silence and violates an unwritten rule of the game. You aired the dirty...

New power at shortstop shouldn't devalue Larkin's achievements.(Baseball)
March 4, 2005... Barry Larkin's career statistics are better than Alan Trammell's, but not dramatically better. Both belong in the Hall of Fame--baseball historian Bill James rates Larkin sixth all-time among major league shortstops and Trammell ninth. It will...

A.L. report.(Baseball)
March 4, 2005... The ATHLETICS have been short on righthanded power in recent years, which is good news for Keith Ginter, who hit 19 homers with the Brewers last season. The A's hope Ginter, who will battle 2B Mark Ellis for a starting job, can develop into a...

N.L. report.(Baseball)
March 4, 2005... The ASTROS are uncertain about who will bat cleanup while RF Lance Berkman (knee) is on the D.L. Manager Phil Garner is leaning toward dropping 1B Jeff Bagwell from third to fourth, but he also might put CF Jason Lane or 3B Morgan Ensberg there...

Sifting for value in the recycling bin labeled QB: what's most unsettling about Bledsoe is his inability to step up his performance against premier defenses.(NFL)
March 4, 2005... Recyclables should be separated into five bins: glass, paper, plastic, aluminum and quarterback. This season, several quarterbacks will go the way of so many soda cans, turning up in another part of the country. What Drew Bledsoe is: a...

Auburn takes a wrong turn with directionals: those who fail to learn from history are doomed to ... schedules another patsy for an easy 'W'.(College Football)
March 4, 2005... The e-mails came pouring in from the Plains the day after Southern California disposed of Oklahoma and secured the national title. Auburn was robbed. Auburn would've given the Trojans a better game. Auburn this, Auburn that. Auburn, Auburn,...

Fantasy source.
March 4, 2005... SQUEEZE PLAY BY CHRIS BAHR Congratulations. You've agreed to be the commissioner of your fantasy league. Or, more likely, you were forced into the role against your will. Sucker. It's a thankless job with plenty of headaches, but it...

I never thought I'd be the fall guy: ok, wise guys, you get one guess on what you see in a sportwriter's head.
March 4, 2005... One afternoon in February, rising to debate with striped-shirted incompetents, the Duke University basketball master Mike Krzyzewski fainted. He did it casually, almost as if bending down to tie his shoes, then curled up for a nap on the...

To know list: 7 candidates for an at-large bid.(Know It All)(NCAA)(college basketball player of the year)(PGA Tour)
March 11, 2005... [1] THE BEST TEAMS... Forward, March There is no debating Illinois' position as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. But when the selection committee meets next Sunday, there might be some arguments about the other three spots. ...

Caught on the fly.(Know It All)(sports trivia)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2005... A tall tale, then a short film The documentary The Year of the Yao will be released in U.S. theaters this spring, when viewers can get an all-access look at Yao Ming's rookie season with the Rockets. There also are plans for a film that...

Bob Hille's starting 5.(Know It All)
March 11, 2005... 1 Free agents. It's the NFL's world; we just live in it. I ask my wife for $20 last week. She slaps the franchise tag on me, and now I only get the average weekly allowance of the top five husbands on my block. 2 Barry Bonds. He has a...

Jose, I can see: the great author Canseco sure is deep--deeply jealous, bitter and hypocritical.(My Turn)(Jose Canseco)(Column)
March 11, 2005... It is in this period of time between football and baseball that I rest. Consider it my gift to you, the television sports fan. If you are tired of hearing me talk, as I am, feel free to take a pass on this article--because my voice will...

Your turn.(Know It All)(Letter to the Editor)
March 11, 2005... * Ken Rosenthal asks, "Is Mark McGwire a Hall of Famer?" (TSN, February 25). Real sports fans remember McGwire entering the big leagues with a bang in 1987. He shattered the rookie home run record, long before he was accused of taking steroids...

More ESPN? U got it.(Programs! Get Your Programs!)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2005... Ah, college. The only place on earth where it's completely accepted, encouraged even, for guys to slack off as much as humanly possible while dancing around half-naked with enormous letters painted on their chests. Now, you can relive...

The old ball game.(Under Review)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 11, 2005... Old Century Baseball just whispers tradition. It's a solid-wood pinball game made to look like an early-1900s ballyard--complete with outfield bleachers, a hand-operated scoreboard and a playing surface that looks as if it has been banging...

Sports talk with ... Tim McGraw: country superstar, actor, father.(Fanscape: a lifestyle guide for the dedicated nonathlete)(Brief Article)(Interview)
March 11, 2005... Q: What was the biggest challenge of making your big-screen debut in Friday Night Lights (Universal, now available on DVD)? A: In my music videos, I was used to looking into the camera, but when you're acting, you almost have to forget...

Mr. Jockularity.(Fanscape: a lifestyle guide for the dedicated nonathlete)(NCAA Tournament)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2005... Some friends and I are thinking of crashing Vegas during the NCAA Tournament. Good idea?--Liz, Stuck in the Midwest Uh, yes. But if your goal is to immerse yourselves in the tourney--watch till your eyes bleed, bet till it hurts--know that...

Jason Phillips springs to life at Mets Camp.(Exposure)
March 11, 2005... I'm telling you, if I can't have spikes, chew or gum, I'm going to: a) Show off the alternate fight pose from The Karate Kid. b) Try to touch both foul poles without leaving my feet. c) Juggle these six invisible balls. d)...

Will steroids be the story all season in baseball?(Counterpoints)
March 11, 2005... YES--They loom like a cloud over the sport Often when I'm interviewed on talk radio, the host apologizes for asking questions about steroids, saying, "I know you would much rather talk about baseball." Well, we'd all rather talk about...

Willie's new world: a crosstown move from the Yankees to the Mets presents all sorts of challenges for a rookie manager.(MLB)(Willie Randolph)
March 11, 2005... Willie Randolph makes a point of running from diamond to diamond to watch his players work out in spring training. That's the first-year Mets manager's style. It's also an appropriate approach for someone trying to energize a franchise that has...

Meet market: say hello to Larry Brackins, the only junior college player among the 332 invited to to the NFL Combine. He needed more than good interviews and a favorable weigh-in--he needed to get noticed.(NFL)(Biography)
March 11, 2005... His wakeup call comes at 5:30 a.m. Good morning--and oh, by the way, please provide us with a specimen for the mandatory drug test. After breakfast, he goes across the street to the RCA Dome to run the physical gantlet. Eight different rooms,...

Tailgate party: two rookies experienced a wild ride of highs and lows in their first truck race at Daytona.(NASCAR)(Brad Keselowski, Deborah Renshaw)(Interview)
March 11, 2005... Every year, wily veterans, eager rookies and everyone in between gather at Daytona International Speedway to kick off the Craftsman Truck Series season. Two of those drivers, competing at the track this year for the first time in a truck race,...

A new kind of Blue: yes, Duke is in a familiar spot near the top of the polls. But this season's Blue Devils are in the unusual position of having to do more with less.(College Basketball)(Mike Krzyzewski)
March 11, 2005... Mike Krzyzewski is talking his way toward the end of a fairly ordinary postgame press conference, ordinary save for the fact that this one is after a Duke victory and those have been in shorter supply the past month. He is saying the typical...

In a game of inches, being too tall isn't to good: the red-flag treatment often greets pro prospects who are long on height.(NFL)
March 11, 2005... They called Ed Jones "Too Tall," but at 6-9, really he wasn't. It was a joke really, kind of like calling Donald Trump "Too Rich," or Pamela Anderson "Too Shapely." That isn't to say players can't be too tall, however. Take it from a guy...

QB Alex Smith: Utah, 6-3 7/8, 208.(Scouting Reports)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2005... Arm strength: Is adequate but not good. Can make most NFL throws but can't deliver the ball into tight spots. Accuracy/delivery: Has sound mechanics. Has a quick delivery and a high release point. Shows great timing and touch. Deep balls...

RB Ronnie Brown: Auburn, 6-0 1/4, 233.(Scouting Reports)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2005... Inside running: Has a terrific combination of size, power and speed. Runs with good body lean and pad level. Doesn't always plant and drive quickly through cutback lanes. Outside running: Shows elite top-end speed for his size. Shows a...

NFL focus: draft buzz.(NFL)
March 11, 2005... Regardless of whether Tedy Bruschi is able to play after suffering a mild stroke, the Patriots need to get younger at inside linebacker. Florida's Channing Crowder (6-2 1/2, 241) and Georgia's Odell Thurman (6-1,239) have the size and athletic...

Changing co-pilots.(NFL)(Illustration)
March 11, 2005... Teams use the free-agent market and the draft to reshape their rosters, but don't overlook the importance of a new coordinator. There has been an inordinate number of new coordinator hires this offseason as teams try to mesh the right...

Inside the AFC.(NFL)
March 11, 2005... The JAGUARS weren't expected to place a franchise tag on SS Donovin Darius for a third time, but they did because of the lobbying of coach Jack Del Rio, who considers the hard-hitting Darius an integral part of the team's defense, especially...

Pressing for corners.(NFL)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2005... With both of their starting cornerbacks gone, the Titans have no choice but to go after help for the secondary. But replacing Samari Rolle and Andre Dyson will be difficult. Andre Woolfolk will take over one spot, but there will be competition...

Vertical threat broadens Raiders' horizons.(NFL)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2005... With coach Norv Turner's desire to throw it deep often and QB Kerry Collins' strong arm and nice vertical touch, the Raiders appear to be a great fit for Randy Moss, who is expected to join the team this week after the completion of a trade...

Shopping for returns.(NFL)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2005... The Chargers and Jets are in the market for return men. The Chargers released Tim Dwight, who is fearless but injury-prone. Eric Parker was their primary punt returner last season, but the Chargers would like to use him exclusively as the No. 3...

Inside the NFC.(NFL)
March 11, 2005... With a strong coach such as Bill Parcells, new COWBOYS QB Drew Bledsoe will be more likely to follow his progression of reads instead of trying to make the big play every time he drops back to pass. Bledsoe has been sacked 140 times in the past...

Life after Randy.(NFL)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2005... The trade of WR Randy Moss will dramatically affect the Vikings' makeup. None of the Vikings' remaining receivers has the kind of downfield discipline, hands and speed Moss displays when healthy. Nate Burleson, who led the team with 1,006...

The Saints were able to complete a key piece of offseason business, signing SS Jay Bellamy to a three-year contract.(Scouting Report)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2005... The Saints were able to complete a key piece of offseason business, signing SS Jay Bellamy to a three-year contract. Bellamy, 32 isn't the most athletic player at this stage of his career, but he's smart, competitive and understands coordinator...

More than a passing problem.(NFL)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2005... The Redskins' passing game is in deeper trouble than it was when the season ended. WR Rod Gardner has been told he's not in the team's plans, and WR Laveranues Coles has told the team he no longer wants to be in its plans. Coach Joe Gibbs says...

Produce--or proceed to the unemployment line: it's one thing to make it to the big time in NASCAR--and another to stay there.(NASCAR)
March 11, 2005... With the exception of the pit crew, the cast of characters in Reed Sorenson's pit stall during the Busch race last Saturday looked very similar to the support staff for Sterling Marlin's Cup effort on Sunday. There were owner Chip Ganassi,...

On the road in Mexico.(NASCAR)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2005... What you need to know about Sunday's first NASCAR Busch Series race in Mexico: * No regulars have turned a lap in a stock car at the Mexico City track Jeff Burton, who drives the No. 31 in Nextel Cup for Richard Childress Racing, was the...

No bowl of cherries.(NASCAR)(Brief Article)(Interview)
March 11, 2005... Imagine you and 42 other drivers are attempting to parallel park at 55 mph in 43 adjacent spaces that are 29 feet long and 16 feet wide--while legions of people in firesuits dash around you and the others. Most of us are not professional...

Kings' Petrie deserves the benefit of the doubt: Geoff Petrie always managed to stay one step ahead of his fellow general managers. By trading Chris Webber, he has done it again.(NBA)
March 11, 2005... If your mind keeps stumbling over this Kings-trade-Chris-Webber-for-who? development, consider this: In the 13 years before Geoff Petrie took over the decision making in Sacramento, the Kings went 391-675 (a .367 winning percentage), made just...

Trade tally: who made hauls and who took falls on a busy deadline day.(NBA)
March 11, 2005... Last Thursday marked the most active day of deadline dealing in the NBA since 1987, with 29 players involved in trades and 15 teams making roster renovations. And yet one of the players who came out of the NBA swap meet in the sweetest shape...

76ers g/f Kyle Korver: in his second season, Kyle Korver has established himself as a potent perimeter threat. Korver is shooting 40.1 percent on 3-pointers and averaging 11.5 points.(Q&A)(Interview)
March 11, 2005... TSN: Did you think you had the 3-point shooting contest won at All-Star weekend? KORVER: I was buttoning up my shirt, getting ready to go out because I figured I'd be interviewed and all. I wasn't happy with my score, but I was watching...

Top 5 toughest schedules among playoff contenders.(NBA)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2005... 1 Bulls. It's a good thing they have young legs: Sixteen of their final 28 games are on the road, and they still must play nine back to backs and 13 games outside the Central time zone. By contrast, the Pistons have only one game outside their...

Arizona needs a smiling Stoudamire: Salim Stoudamire is the best shooter in the nation. Keep telling him that--he might believe you.(College Basketball)
March 11, 2005... The door to the Arizona locker room is closed. Nothing unusual about that. Having lost on the road at Washington, the Wildcats have completed the ritual postgame handshakes. It is time to talk a little about what went wrong, then shower off the...

TSN Power Poll: lingering questions edition.(College Basketball)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2005... The TSN Power Poll is determined by TSN writers and editors. +, - rise or fall in rankings 1. Illinois (28-0) Even 2. North Carolina (23-3) +2 3. Wake Forest (23-4) -1 4. Boston College (23-2) -1 5. Kentucky (22-3) +5...

Antoine Wright SF, Texas A&M.(Player Of The Week)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2005... It was safe to assume A&M was bound for the NIT--until Wright scorched two Big 12 first-division opponents. The junior averaged 25.0 points and 6.0 rebounds and shot 19-of-28 from the field as A&M beat Iowa State and Texas Tech. A&M's...

March to the arch.(College Basketball)
March 11, 2005... Charlotte. The 49ers went unbeaten in February and are staying with Louisville in C-USA. Curtis Withers, Eddie Basden and Brendan Plavich average 46.7 ppg combined. LSU. The Tigers enter the week having won five of six games. But without a...

Mike DeCourcy's 3 questions.(College Basketball)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2005... 1 What would an undefeated regular season mean for Illinois? Those advocating a loss before the NCAA Tournament don't appreciate what an achievement this would be. Since 1990, two teams entered conference tournaments undefeated: 1990-91 UNLV...

Tournament watch.(College Basketball)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2005... In the field: Southern Illinois Season to date: The Salukis clinched their fourth straight Missouri Valley regular-season title last week against Wichita State. Down the stretch: Rated No. 12 by CollegeRPI.com, Southern Illinois could...

Illinois is a perfect challenger.(Point Forward)
March 11, 2005... The last team to go undefeated for an entire season was the 1975-76 Indiana Hoosiers. Per their custom, members of that team phone one another whenever the last college team fails from the unbeaten ranks. Last year, it was St. Joseph's that...