Friday Morning Sports Update-03/26/2021

daniel-theis-semi-ojeleye-nikola-vucevic
daniel-theis-semi-ojeleye-nikola-vucevic

NBA – National Basketball Association
Tonight
Brooklyn at Detroit, 7:00 p.m.
Indiana at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday
Detroit at Washington, 8:00 p.m.
Chicago at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.

NBA – Bulls take big step toward turnaround with deal for Vucevic
The Chicago Bulls showed they’re serious about becoming a contender and welcoming free agents. They pulled off their first major trade since Arturas Karnisovas was hired to lead their basketball operation last spring by acquiring two-time All-Star center Nikola Vucevic from Orlando. Karnisovas says teams “don’t get so many opportunities” to add a player like that. Vucevic gives the Bulls another go-to scorer to complement All-Star Zach LaVine in what could be a potent duo. He works well in the pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop and can stretch defenses. The trade also signals a commitment to LaVine with one more season left on the four-year, $78 million deal he signed in 2018. And it shows they are serious about establishing themselves as a destination for top free agents.

NBA – AP source: Pistons agree to trade Delon Wright to Kings
A person with knowledge of the deal says the Detroit Pistons have agreed to trade guard Delon Wright to the Sacramento Kings for guard Cory Joseph and two second-round draft picks. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced. The 6-foot-5 Wright has averaged 10.4 points a game this season for the rebuilding Pistons. They acquired the 28-year-old guard in an offseason deal. He has also played for Dallas, Memphis and Toronto. The 29-year-old Joseph is averaging 6.6 points this season. The deal was first reported by ESPN and comes hours before the NBA’s trade deadline.

NCAAMBB – 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament – Indianapolis
Sweet 16
Saturday
#8 Loyola Chicago vs. #12 Oregon St., 2:40 p.m.
#1 Baylor vs. #5 Villanova, 5:15 p.m.
#3 Arkansas vs. #15 Oral Roberts, 7:25 p.m.
#2 Houston vs. #11 Syracuse, 9:55 p.m.

Sunday
#1 Gonzaga vs. #5 Creighton, 2:10 p.m.
#1 Michigan vs. #4 Florida State, 5:00 p.m.  News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM 4:30
#2 Alabama vs. #11 UCLA, 7:15 p.m.
#6 USC vs. #7 Oregon, 9:45 p.m.

NCAAMBB – Michigan’s Howard relishing chance to play mentor Hamilton
Michigan’s Juwan Howard does not dismiss the meaning of the Sweet 16 coaching matchup against his old friend and mentor, Leonard Hamilton of Florida State. They are both Black, and this marks the only meeting between two African-American coaches in the regional semifinals this weekend. But Howard says he doesn’t consider the race element, or the fact that they’re going against each other Sunday, as the most important thing that ties him to Hamilton. Hamilton and Howard became close during a season they spent together with the Washington Wizards — Howard as a player and Hamilton during his one year there as head coach

NCAAMBB – Michigan, Villanova push past key injuries in Sweet 16 run
Villanova and Michigan have reached the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 despite major late-season injuries. The fifth-seeded Wildcats lost starting point guard Collin Gillespie to a serious knee injury in the final week of the regular season. The top-seeded Wolverines lost versatile senior forward Isaiah Livers to a foot injury during the Big Ten Tournament. Both teams have made adjustments and gotten contributions from teammates to help them overcome the injuries. Villanova faces No. 1 seed Baylor on Saturday in the South Region semifinal. Michigan plays Sunday against Florida State in the East Region.

NCAAWBB – 2021 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament – San Antonio
Sweet 16
Saturday

#1 UConn vs. #5 Iowa, 1:00 p.m.
#2 Baylor vs. #6 Michigan, 3:00 p.m.
#1 NC State vs #4 Indiana, 6:00 p.m.
#2 Texas A&M vs. #3 Arizona, 8:00 p.m.

Sunday
#1 South Carolina vs. #5 Georgia Tech, 1:00 p.m.
#1 Stanford vs. #5 Missouri State, 3:00 p.m.
#2 Louisville vs. #6 Oregon, 7:00 p.m.
#6 Maryland vs. #6 Texas, 9:00 p.m.

NHL – National Hockey League
Last Night
Nashville Predators 7, Detroit Red Wings 1
Chicago Blackhawks, 3, Florida Panthers 0

Predators 7, Red Wings 1 – Grimaldi scores 4 goals as Predators rout Red Wings 7-1
Rocco Grimaldi scored four goals to tie a team record and lead the Nashville Predators over the Detroit Red Wings 7-1. Eeli Tolvanen, Mikael Granlund and Mathieu Olivier also scored, and Juuse Saros made 20 saves as the surging Predators won for the fifth time in six games. Erik Haula and Roman Josi each had a pair of assists. Bobby Ryan had the lone goal for Detroit, which has lost three straight. Grimaldi opened the scoring at 5:34 of a four-goal first period for the Predators. It was his first goal since Feb. 13. He capped his career night by converting a breakaway at 17:29 of the third. The four goals equaled a Predators record set by Eric Nystrom.

Blackhawks 3, Panthers 0 – Lankinen, Blackhawks beat Panthers 3-0 for 2nd straight win
Kevin Lankinen made 41 saves in his second career shutout, and the Chicago Blackhawks beat the short-handed Florida Panthers 3-0. Patrick Kane and Brandon Hagel each had a goal and an assist as Chicago earned its second straight victory against Florida after dropping their first four meetings this season. Pius Suter also scored. Led by Lankinen, the Blackhawks killed off each of the Panthers’ six power plays. The rookie goaltender also denied Jonathan Huberdeau on a rare 3-on-0 break with about three minutes left in the second period.

MLB – Spring Training
Yesterday
Detroit Tigers 3, Toronto Blue Jays 3 – TIE
Chicago White Sox 9, Cincinnati Reds 4
Los Angeles Dodgers 5, Chicago Cubs 2

Today
Detroit Tigers at Pittsburgh Pirates, 1:05 p.m.
San Francisco Giants at Chicago Cubs, 4:05 p.m.
Chicago White Sox at Milwaukee Brewers, 4:10 p.m.

MLB – White Sox slugger Jiménez out 5-6 months for ruptured tendon
Chicago White Sox slugger Eloy Jiménez is expected to be sidelined for five to six months because of a ruptured left pectoral tendon.  Jiménez was hurt trying to make a play in the outfield during an exhibition game Tuesday and the injury has put his season in jeopardy. The 24-year-old Jiménez needs surgery and general manager Rick Hahn says the team will know when he begins the rehab process. Hahn says Jiménez’s injury is “a difficult loss.”  Jiménez batted .296 with 14 homers and 41 RBIs in 55 games during the pandemic-shortened season.

NCAAHKY – 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament
Tonight
#3 Minnesota-Duluth vs. #2 Michigan, 4:00 p.m.               (Fargo Region)
(winner will face North Dakota/American International winner Saturday at 6:30 p.m.)

NCAAHKY – Notre Dame out of NCAA Hockey Tournament
Notre Dame is out of the NCAA Division I men’s hockey tournament due to multiple positive COVID-19 test results and contact tracing within its Tier I testing group.  The decision announced Thursday was made after consulting with local health department officials at one of the regional sites in Albany, New York, and the NCAA Medical Advisory Group.  After losing in the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament, the school said the team remained in conference testing protocols through last Saturday and began additional PCR testing on campus. The university said the team went through seven rounds of testing in the seven days leading up to its departure for Albany on Wednesday.  The Fighting Irish were the fourth seed in the Albany Regional and were slated to take on top-seeded Boston College on Saturday at the Times Union Center.  BC now advances to the next round.

NASCAR – NASCAR to play in the dirt for the first time since 1970
Bristol Motor Speedway will host NASCAR’s first Cup race on dirt since 1970 when the series races at the East Tennessee track on Sunday. The bullring was filled with 23,000 cubic yards of native red Tennessee dirt to transform the track. The race will be a true wild-card because of the varying levels of experience throughout the field. Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell are among the winningest dirt racers in the country, but others in the field have never raced on a dirt track at all. Seven Cup drivers are entered in the Truck Series race to gain experience.

MHSAA – High School Sports
Last Night
Boys Basketball – District Semifinals
Division 1 at St. Joseph

Portage Northern 49, Kalamazoo Central 47
Portage Central 58, St. Joseph 48

  • Portage Central took an eight point lead into the half and made it stand in the end.  Connor Wright scored 13 points in the loss for St. Joe, Joseph Brown added 10.  Portage Northern will face rival Portage Central Saturday at 6:00.

Division 2 at Coloma
Holland Christian 68, Coloma 55
Benton Harbor 75, Allegan 27

  • Javaughn Kuykendoll scored 14 points in leading Benton harbor to the convincing win.  After taking a 21 point lead after the first quarter, Benton Harbor 36 point lead into the half.  Benton Harbor also got 12 points from Chris Moore, and ten apiece from Kentrell Pullian and Kyle Booth.  They advance to face Holland Christian Friday night at 6:00 in Coloma for the district championship.

Division 2 at Niles
Buchanan 51, Edwardsburg 44
Lakeshore 70, Niles 50

  • The lancers ran out to a 17-9 lead after one quarter and never looked back as they advanced to the district finals.  Grant Gontrezick poured in 25 points for Lakeshore, TJ Mitchell added 13 points, and JJ Bushu finished with ten.  The Lancers will face Buchanan Saturday afternoon at 3:00 in Niles for the district championship.

Division 1 at Sturgis
Coldwater 73, Sturgis 69 – OT
Battle Creek Central 48, Gull Lake 43
Championship Game, Saturday 76:00 p.m.

Division 2 at Paw Paw
Paw Paw 69, Vicksburg 62 – OT
Parchment 39, Three Rivers 35
Championship Game, Saturday 7:00 p.m.

Division 2 at Hopkins
Wayland 54, Plainwell 49
Hopkins 62, Otsego 61
Championship Game, Saturday 6:00 p.m.

Division 3 at Bridgman
Schoolcraft 77, Decatur 31
Brandywine 60, Marcellus 51
Championship Game, Saturday 3:00 p.m.

Division 3 at Lawton
Watervliet 45, Hartford 35
Lawton 52, Gobles 21
Championship Game, Saturday 2:00 p.m.

Division 3 at Comstock
Kalamazoo Christian 54, Kalamazoo Hackett 37
Comstock 67, Delton-Kellogg 40
Championship Game, Saturday 1:00 p.m.

Division 3 at Centreville
Reading 64, Bronson 54
Centreville 61, Union City 57 – OT
Championship Game, Saturday 7:00 p.m.

Division 3 at Fennville
Covenant Christian 62, Calvin Christian 54
Fennville 67, Saugatuck 37
Championship Game, Saturday 7:00 p.m.

Division 4 at River Valley
New Buffalo 66, Lake Michigan Catholic 36
Countryside Academy 73, River Valley 68
Championship Game, Saturday 6:00 p.m.

Division 4 at Wyoming Tri-Unity
Tri-Unity Christian 83, West Mich. Lutheran 22
Martin 61, Heritage Christian 43
Championship Game, Saturday 6:00 p.m.

Saturday
Division 4 at Eau Claire
Howardsville Christian vs. Climax-Scotts, 5:00 p.m.

Tonight
Girls Basketball – District Finals
Division 1 at Kalamazoo Central
Portage Central vs. Kalamazoo Central, 6:00 p.m.

Division 1 at Coldwater
Gull Lake vs. Battle Creek Lakeview, 6:00 p.m.

Division 2 at Benton Harbor
South Haven vs. Buchanan, 6:00 p.m.

Division 2 at Dowagiac
Three Rivers vs. Edwardsburg. 6:00 p.m.

Division 2 at Allegan
Plainwell vs. Otsego, 7:00 p.m.

Division 3 at Hartford
Hartford vs. Brandywine, 6:00 p.m.

Division 3 at Bangor
Gobles vs. Bloomingdale, 7:00 p.m.

Division 3 at Galesburg-Augusta
Kalamazoo Christian vs. Kalamazoo Hackett, 7:00 p.m.

Division 3 at White Pigeon
Schoolcraft vs. Bronson, 7:00 p.m.

Division 4 at New Buffalo
New Buffalo vs. Michigan Lutheran, 6:00 p.m.News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM

Division 4 at Martin
Martin vs. Zion Christian, 6:30 p.m.

Division 4 at Colon
Colon vs. Mendon, 7:00 p.m.