Sports Radio 1400 WSJM @wsjmsports wsjmsports.com Friday, January 23, 2015
NCAA Basketball – Men’s
Last Night
(8) Notre Dame 85, Virginia Tech 60
(8) Notre Dame 85, Virginia Tech 60 – Grant leads No. 8 Notre Dame past Virginia Tech 85-60
Jerian Grant scored 18 points to lead No. 8 Notre Dame to an 85-60 victory over Virginia Tech on Thursday night. Grant shot 6 of 9 from the floor, including two 3-pointers, as the Fighting Irish (18-2, 6-1 ACC) won their third straight game. Pat Connaughton added 17 points and hit five 3-pointers on a night when the Fighting Irish shot 12 of 26 from beyond the 3-point arc. Zach Auguste finished with 16 points and Demetrius Jackson had 12. The Irish led 38-28 at halftime and broke open the game with a 17-6 run to start the second half. Jackson hit two 3-pointers in that run, and a layup by Auguste gave Notre Dame a 55-34 lead _ its biggest lead of the game _ with 14:52 remaining. Ahmed Hill scored 13 points for Virginia Tech (8-10, 0-5), which lost for the fifth straight time, four by double figures.
Saturday
Akron at Western Michigan, 2:00 p.m.
Michigan State at Nebraska, 4:00 p.m. Super Hits 103.7 Cosy-FM
Eastern Michigan at Central Michigan, 4:30 p.m.
(6) Wisconsin at Michigan, 7:00 p.m. Sports Radio 1400 WSJM, 6:30
NBA – National Basketball Association
Last Night
Chicago Bulls 104, San Antonio Spurs 81
Bulls 104, Spurs 81 – Derrick Rose scores 22, struggling Bulls beat Spurs 104-81
Derrick Rose scored 22 points and the struggling Chicago Bulls beat the San Antonio Spurs 104-81 on Thursday night. The Bulls came away with a much-needed win after dropping six of eight and handed the defending champions their most lopsided loss of the season. The Central division leaders broke this one open in the third quarter, outscoring the Spurs 31-20, and snapped San Antonio’s four-game win streak. Rose, who called out his team after Monday’s loss at Cleveland, backed it up by going hard to the rim and hitting 9 of 16 shots. He led six Bulls in double figures. Pau Gasol added 12 points and 17 rebounds after being voted to his fifth All-Star game and first as a starter. The Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard scored all of his team-leading 16 points in the first half. Injured Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah and forward Mike Dunleavy Jr. were sidelined.
Tonight
Chicago Bulls at Dallas Mavericks, 8 p.m.
NCAA Football – Arkansas hires Central Michigan’s Dan Enos to run offense
Central Michigan coach Dan Enos has left the Chippewas to become offensive coordinator at Arkansas. Enos went 26-36 in five seasons at the Central Michigan, taking the Chippewas to bowl games in two of the last three seasons. He called plays as a head coach and Central Michigan passed for more than 3,000 yards four times. At Arkansas, Enos will replace Jim Chaney, who left the Razorbacks to become offensive coordinator at Pittsburgh. The 46-year-old Enos is a former Michigan State quarterback who worked as an assistant for the Spartans for four seasons before taking over at Central Michigan.
NHL – National Hockey League – All Star Weekend, Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH
Tonight
Team Fantasy Draft, 8:00 p.m.
Saturday
Skills Competition, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday
All Star Game – Team Toews vs. Team Foligno, 5:00 p.m.
NFL – 2015 NFL Pro Bowl – University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ
Sunday
Team Irvin vs. Team Carter, 8:00 p.m.
NFL – All 3 NFL games in London next season to have early kickoffs
All three NFL games in London next season will have early afternoon kickoffs in the U.K., meaning fans back in the U.S. will have to get up early to watch. The NFL announced Thursday that the Nov. 1 game between the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs at Wembley Stadium will start at 2:30 p.m. local time _ 9:30 a.m. on the U.S. East Coast. Early kickoffs had already been announced for the Oct. 4 game between the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins (2:30 p.m. local; 9:30 a.m. EDT) and the Oct. 25 game between the Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars (1:30 p.m. local; 9:30 a.m. EDT). NFL UK managing director Alistair Kirkwood says “our fan research has shown overwhelming support for early kickoffs.” The timing also allows the teams to fly home later the same day to begin their bye weeks.
NFL – Bears hire tight ends, strength and conditioning coaches
The Chicago Bears have hired Frank Smith as tight ends coach and Jason George as strength and conditioning coach. Smith spent the past five seasons on Sean Payton’s staff in New Orleans, assisting with the offensive line and helping with all aspects of game preparation. He has a connection to new Bears general manager Ryan Pace, who was hired out of the Saints’ front office. George is following new head coach John Fox from Denver. George spent the past three seasons as the Broncos’ assistant strength and conditioning coach. The Bears announced the moves on Thursday.
NFL – Pats’ Belichick, Brady deny how balls got deflated
The New England Patriots did little to deflate the NFL’s latest controversy. New England coach Bill Belichick and Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said Thursday they have no explanation for how footballs used in the AFC championship game were underinflated by 2 pounds per square inch. Brady said he has not been contacted by the NFL, even as league officials investigate whether the team cheated against the Indianapolis Colts. Belichick said he almost never thinks about football pressure and doesn’t know what happened, either. Both said they were unaware of any issue with the balls until reports surfaced Monday morning. Brady indicated he inspected the balls before the game, and they appeared fine. He says he forgot about them once the game started and didn’t notice any issues with them.
NCAA Basketball – Women’s
Last Night
(6) Notre Dame 89, Georgia Tech 76
(7) Maryland 85, Michigan State 56
(20) Iowa 76, Michigan 70
(6) Notre Dame 89, Georgia Tech 76 – Loyd scores 29, No. 6 Notre Dame beats Georgia Tech 89-76
Jewell Loyd scored 29, Taya Reimer added 19 and eight rebounds and sixth-ranked Notre Dame repeatedly attacked Georgia Tech inside en route to an 89-76 victory Thursday night. The Irish (18-2, 5-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) outscored Georgia Tech (12-8, 2-4) 54-40 in the paint, including 14-0 on fastbreak points, to win their fourth straight.
(7) Maryland 85, Michigan State 56 – Mincy scores 17 as No. 7 Maryland beats Michigan State 85-56
Laurin Mincy scored 17 points as No. 7 Maryland breezed past injury-riddled Michigan State 85-56 last night for its 10th straight victory. The Terrapins opened the second half with a 10-2 run to extend their 11-point halftime lead to 47-28. The margin swelled to 24 with 14 minutes left.
(20) Iowa 76, Michigan 70 – No. 20 Iowa women use balance to top Michigan 76-70
Melissa Dixon scored 12 of her 16 points in the second half in No. 20 Iowa’s 76-70 win over Michigan yesterday. Samantha Logic had 13 points, 11 assists and 7 rebounds for the Hawkeyes. Cyesha Goree had 26 points and 13 rebounds for the Wolverines.
NASCAR – Jeff Gordon to downshift after 2015 season
Four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon will retire as a full-time driver after the 2015 season. Gordon did not call his decision a retirement, leaving open the option of competing in selected events. But it is clear that he is ready to step away after spending his entire 23-year career in the No. 24 car with Hendrick Motorsports. The 43-year-old Gordon is coming off one of his best seasons in years. He won four times in 2014, including the Brickyard 400. Gordon has 92 career Sprint Cup wins and championships in 1995, 1997, 1998 and 2001. Gordon is third in career victories, trailing Hall of Fame drivers Richard Petty and David Pearson. He has three Daytona 500 victories and a record five Brickyard 400 wins.
MLB – Tigers say they weren’t shocked by Scherzer’s departure
Yes, the Detroit Tigers will miss Max Scherzer, one of the game’s top right-handers. But his exit via free agency was by no means a shock. Scherzer signed with the Washington Nationals this week after a five-year run in Detroit that included four division titles and a Cy Young Award in 2013. Now the Tigers will try for a fifth straight AL Central championship with a retooled rotation that also lost Rick Porcello. This may be the first time in a while that Detroit isn’t a solid favorite to win the division. Right-hander Justin Verlander says he knows he needs to pitch better than last year, and the Tigers will also rely quite a bit on left-hander David Price, whom they acquired at least season’s trade deadline.
MLB – White Sox agree to minor league deals with Soto, Penny
Former NL Rookie of the Year Geovany Soto and two-time All-Star pitcher Brad Penny have agreed to minor league contracts with the Chicago White Sox. Soto, the NL Rookie of the Year with the Cubs in 2008, appeared in just 24 games with Texas and Oakland last season. He was limited by knee and foot injuries and was also arrested on a marijuana possession charge. Penny, an All-Star with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2006 and 2007, was 2-1 with a 6.58 ERA in four starts and eight appearances with Miami last season.
Tennis – Australian Open – Day 5 at Melbourne
Sara Errani was the first upset victim during Day 5 of the Australian Open. The 14th-seeded Errani won the opening set in her third-round match before falling 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 to Yanina Wickmayer. The unseeded Wickmayer could face No. 3 and French Open finalist Simona Halep in the next round. Other winners on the women’s side include seventh seed Eugenie Bouchard, 10th seed Ekaterina Makarova and No. 21 Peng Shuai. Men’s seventh seed Tomas Berdych breezed into the fourth round with a straight-sets victory. No. 10 Grigor Dimitrov trailed two sets to one against Marcos Baghdatis before pulling out a 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory.
Golf – PGA – Wilson vaults to lead
Michael Putnam carded nine birdies in an 11-hole stretch en route to a 9-under 63 and a one-stroke lead in the PGA’s Humana Challenge in California. Mark Wilson, Blake Adams, John Peterson, Francesco Molinari and Scott Pinckney were tied for second. Phil Mickelson shot a 71 in his first event since the Ryder Cup.
NCAA Hockey – College Hockey
Tonight
Ohio State at Michigan State, 7:00 p.m.
Notre Dame at Northeastern, 7:00 p.m.
Western Michigan at St. Cloud State, 8:37 p.m.
Michigan at Wisconsin, 9:00 p.m.
AHL – American Hockey League
Tonight
Utica Comets at Grand Rapids Griffins, 7:00 p.m.
Chicago Wolves at Texas Stars, 8:30 p.m.
ECHL – East Coast Hockey League
Tonight
Kalamazoo Wings at Toledo Walleye, 7:15 p.m.
MHSAA – High School Sports
Last Night
Boys Basketball
Buchanan 60, Lake Michigan Catholic 42
Buchanan came away with a 60-42 BCS Conference win over Lake Michigan Catholic. Down by 17 at the half, Catholic came out firing in the third quarter to pull to within six, but couldn’t get any closer. The Bucks got 18 points from Tyler Flynn and 12 from Christian Catalano. DeKurtis Murphy led the Lakers with 11.
Cassopolis 58, Mendon 45
White Pigeon 62, Centreville 48
Girls Basketball
Michigan Lutheran 63, Countryside Academy 15
Every Michigan Lutheran player scored as the Titans defeated Countryside Academy 63-15. Hailey Maas had 16 to lead the Lady Titans and Erika Rosenbaum added 12. Danyelle Bell had 11 points to lead Countryside
Boys Swimming
Portage Central 120, Bridgman/Lakeshore 66
Tonight
Boys Basketball
SMAC (Boys at 7:15)
Lakeshore at Niles Sports Radio 1400 WSJM
Portage Central at St. Joseph
Benton Harbor at Portage Northern
Kalamazoo Central at Mattawan
Battle Creek Lakeview at Gull Lake
Loy Norrix at Battle Creek Central
Wolverine (all games at 7:15)
South Haven at Dowagiac Super Hits 103.7 Cosy-FM
Coloma at Berrien Springs
Paw Paw at Edwardsburg
Vicksburg at Plainwell
Allegan at Sturgis
Otsego at Three Rivers
SAC (Boys at 7:00)
Watervliet at Lawton
Decatur at Lawrence
Hartford at Marcellus
Bangor at Gobles
Martin at Saugatuck
Bloomingdale at Fennville
BCS
Bridgman at New Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.
Brandywine at River Valley, 7:30 p.m.
Red Arrow
Barry County Christian. at Watervliet Grace Christian, 7:30 p.m.
Michigan Lutheran at Countryside, 7:30 p.m.
Eau Claire at Howardsville Christian, 7:30 p.m.
Independent
Covert at South Bend Washington (IN), 7:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball
SMAC (Girls at 5:45)
Lakeshore at Niles Sports Radio 1400 WSJM
Portage Central at St. Joseph
Benton Harbor at Portage Northern
Kalamazoo Central at Mattawan
Battle Creek Lakeview at Gull Lake
Loy Norrix at Battle Creek Central
Wolverine (all games at 7:15)
Dowagiac at South Haven
Berrien Springs at Coloma
Edwardsburg at Paw Paw
Plainwell at Vicksburg
Sturgis at Allegan
Three Rivers at Otsego
SAC (Girls at 5:30)
Watervliet at Lawton
Decatur at Lawrence
Hartford at Marcellus
Bangor at Gobles
Martin at Saugatuck
Bloomingdale at Fennville
BCS
Bridgman at New Buffalo, 6:00 p.m.
Lake Michigan Catholic at Buchanan, 7:30 p.m.
Cassopolis at Mendon, 7:30 p.m.
Red Arrow
Barry County Christian at Watervliet Grace Christian, 6:00 p.m.
ISHSHL – High School Hockey
Tonight
Lakeshore/St. Joseph vs. Mishawaka-Penn (IN), 7:30 p.m. at The Ice Box (South Bend)
