Danny Salazar faces six minor leaguers in his fifst game of the spring. He struck out three and allowed one hit and one unearned runs.,

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Danny Salazar's spring training has officially started.

Salazar threw 1 2/3 innings against minor leaguers in an intrasquad game Friday morning with manager Terry Francona, pitching coach Mickey Callaway, GM Chris Antonetti and several other front office members watching.

The first pitch he threw turned into an unearned run because of an error on the shortstop.  Other than that, Salazar pitched well.

"It was good, very encouraging," said Callaway. "He was really good. We wanted him to ease into things. He hsould be ready for two innings in a real game now."

Salazar is scheduled to pitch two innings Tuesday against the Diamondbacks in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Salazar threw threw 21 pitches, striking out three and allowing one hit and one run.

"His slider and change up were there," said Callaway. "Obviously, his fastball command is the main concern this early in spring. Once he gets out there with a little more extended innings we'll see where he is with that."

Callaway said Salazar topped out at 95 mph to 96 mph, but mostly pitched at 93 mph.

"That's pretty good for the first time out in a B game," said Callaway.

Salazar's outing ended on a single up the middle by 16-year-old Willy Castro that almost hit him in the foot. Just before Castro's at bat, Francona asked Salazar if he had enough for one more hitter.

The Indians have been handling Salazar carefully to make sure he's ready for the regular season. There's a chance he open the year as the fifth start and not make his first start until April 8 against San Diego.

During the off season, Salazar was though to be the Indians No.2 starter behind Justin Masterson.

It's hard to believe the Buckeyes thought, after their last win on Feb. 22, "Our work is done."

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Is Ohio State in?

If the Buckeyes lose at home Saturday night to Michigan State?

If so, would they need a win in their first Big Ten Tournament game next week in Indianapolis in order to bust some Big Dance moves?

Would it really be right to put an Ohio State team that would be on a four-game losing streak, after a 9-9 regular season conference record, and before that non-conference victories against a string of cupcakes, eclairs and creampuffs?

From Matt Sylvester sinking the three-point shot that sank the previously unbeaten Illini on through the years, the Buckeyes have always had their own deranged little corner of March madness.

Sylvester’s shot on March 6, 2005 didn’t mean anything for the Buckeyes’ postseason hopes because they were already banned by school administrators from the NCAA Tournament because of past violations. But it set the tone for Thad Matta’s years as coach.

Many Ohio State fans and Internet websites already have Ohio State in the NCAAs as a sixth seed or maybe lower, saying the Buckeyes have done enough. Really? I don’t recall, after the last win against Minnesota on Feb. 22 at home, that the Ohio State players said, “Our work is done.”

Actually, it better be just beginning, at least on defense. Great play without the ball can keep you in games, but can it put you in the NCAA Tournament?

Effort and tenacity are the only ways the Buckeyes will get there because, with the ball, they are garble in motion. This is not a pretty picture. The Buckeyes with the ball sell a lot of Visine to viewers.

Tony Gerdeman of the Ozone.net tweeted recently, “I can watch long periods of Ohio State basketball and not remember anything. It’s my brain protecting me.”

Amnesia might not cover for a lame finish, though.

Putting the Buckeyes in “because they’re Ohio State” isn’t good enough. The 2008 team was 10-8 in the Big Ten and coming off a loss in the national championship game, and it went to the NIT.

So the precedent is there for getting the NCAA’s cold shoulder. In truth, the NIT is not the shameful tournament many believe it to be. The 2008 Buckeyes won the NIT, which caused at least a slight fever in March, if nothing like madness.

The high majors and the mid-majors are also judged by different standards. For mid-majors angling for an NCAA bid, much depends on games outside the conference, usually on the home floor of a power conference team. For teams in the Big Ten, the deciding factor is performance against their nationally-ranked, RPI-rich brethren.

It is all somewhat rigged. Being overrated early (see the Buckeyes) can bring RPI reches to the whole conference.

No MAC team would have a chance at an NCAA bid, absent winning the conference tournament next week at The Q, if it lost twice to the worst team in the league. Ohio State did just that against Penn State.

Much of Ohio State’s case rests on victories at Iowa and at Wisconsin.

The Badgers were in the dumpster at the time. Their one-point loss to OSU was their fifth in six games. Perhaps just the shock of losing to the team that can’t shoot straight brought about the Badgers’ turnaround. Anyway, they have not lost in their eight games since.

Even with a big victory over Michigan, Iowa is just 3-4 since losing to the scrappy, but talent-challenged Buckeyes. Michigan State trounced Iowa on Thursday night.

There are many reasons for Ohio State’s parlous state – the inability of 6-11 Amir Williams to pose a consistent threat for the offense to play off in the post; the recruiting misjudgment on Columbus native and last season’s national Player of the Year Trey Burke in favor of Shannon Scott; Aaron Craft’s struggles with the outside shot; and so on -- and on.

Could you see Ohio State in Dayton, as a member of the “First Four?” It would almost be the reverse of 2013, when Ohio State almost made the Final Four.

Last March, Ohio State buzzer-beat its way to the NCAA Elite Eight on the strength of three-pointers by Craft and LaQuinton Ross. It was a different season and a different tournament.

It seems like a different universe.

The tight end also played six seasons with the Browns from 2000-05.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Aaron Shea, the Browns’ director of player engagement, announced on Twitter he’s been fired.

The former Browns tight end had served as the club liaison since 2011. Prior to that, he also had worked three years as a sales associate in suite operations. Shea was believed to be in the final year of his contract.

The club confirmed the report late Friday night.

“The Browns would like to thank Aaron for his years of service to the team,” a team spokesman wrote. “The organization is going to be moving in another direction with the player-engagement role.”

After learning of the news, Browns guard Jason Pinkston tweeted: "Thank you for everything really helped out a lot over the years gonna miss ya boss man."

The Browns drafted the tight end in 2000. He caught 97 passes for 851 yards and seven touchdowns in six seasons. Shea spent his final NFL season on the injured list with the San Diego Chargers.

Jason Kipnis says the Indians don't want to be a one trick pony regarding their surprise drive to the postseason last year. He says they must keep moving forward.

MESA, Ariz. – When the subject is Jason Kipnis, the question people want to know is whether or not he’s going to sign a multiyear deal with the Indians sometime before the start of the regular season.

But asking the question and getting an answer are two different things.

“I’m not going there,” said Kipnis on Friday morning.

He said it with a smile before walking into the Indians clubhouse in Goodyear.

GM Chris Antonetti did what he always does when asked such questions.

“I’ll stay consistent and refrain from commenting on (negotiations) with specific guys,” he said.

The Beverly Hill Sports Council, who represents Kipnis, has taken the same approach.

Is silence golden or have talks broken off for yet another year? It’s not like a hot button issue because the Indians control Kipnis for four more years. Still, if talks have gone by wayside this will be the second straight spring where the two sides have been unable to find a common ground.

Perhaps the rumored six-year $50 million deal that St. Louis and Matt Carpenter are talking about has clouded the issue. Carpenter played second base last season for the Cardinals, but is scheduled to move back to third this year.

Here’s the good thing about Kipnis. If you can’t talk contract, there’s plenty of else to talk to him about.

Starting with the state of the Indians this season.

“There’s no complacency here,” he said. “We had a huge turnaround last year and we don’t want it to be a fluke.”

The Indians went from 68 victories in 2012 to 92 last year. Those 92 wins were enough to gain a wild card spot in the postseason. The Tribe’s first playoff appearance since 2007 ended quickly in a 4-0 loss to Tampa Bay, but the experience of getting there left an impression on Kipnis and his teammates.

“We don’t want to be a one trick pony where we put all our eggs in the basket of 2013,” said Kipnis “We want to be on top and we want to stay there. We still have Detroit up and front of us.

“But last year was a step in the right direction. We don’t want to take one step forward and two steps backward. We want to keep moving forward.”

Kipnis feels the Indians have the team to do that, especially on offense. The pitching staff took some big hits through free agency, but the lineup pretty much stayed intact.

“When you look at playoff teams from years past that won, they almost had a recognizable guy at every spot in the lineup,” he said. “ There was no break in those lineups. I think we have one of those lineups. There are no easy outs in the lineup.

“Every guy brings speed to the table or power to the table or he’s a high average or contact guy. The pitcher is never really getting a break.”

Kipnis is a big part of that offense.

Last year he hit .284 (160-for-564) with 36 doubles, four triples, 17 homers and 84 RBI. He had a .818 OPS and drove in the most run by an Indians second baseman since Robbie Alomar had 100 in 2001.

Every player gets to his numbers in his own way. Here’s how Kipnis got his last year. He hit .200 in April, .261 in May .419 in June, .272 in July, .250 in August and .287 in September when the Indians went 21-6.

In hitting .419 in June, Kipnis collected 39 hits, including 12 doubles and four homers. He walked 20 times, stole nine bases and scored 17 runs. He had a .699 slugging percentage and a .517 on base percentage. When it was over, he was named AL Player of the Month.

“I’ll tell you what, that June was pretty special,” said manager Terry Francona. “Up to that point, everyone was asking me when are you going to move him down in the order? I didn’t think that was the right thing to do.

“Looking back on it, if we had moved him to No. 8, and based on what he did in June, we wouldn’t have got the production.”

It proved to Francona what he’s always believed.

“When you have a good player, you ride him out,” he said. “I think he can actually get better. He knows the league and he knows himself. As long as he stays healthy, I think he’ll get better.”

What could be better; one more thing to talk to Jason Kipnis about.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Monsters and Toronto Marlies repeatedly resorted to varying degrees of rough stuff Friday night at The Q. On the occasions when players didn't throw haymakers, they pushed and shoved and smashed and grabbed. The plexiglass portion of the boards got a workout. Oh, by the way: The Monsters won, 3-2, in front of an electric...

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Monsters and Toronto Marlies repeatedly resorted to varying degrees of rough stuff Friday night at The Q. On the occasions when players didn't throw haymakers, they pushed and shoved and smashed and grabbed. The plexiglass portion of the boards got a workout.

Oh, by the way: The Monsters won, 3-2, in front of an electric crowd of 13,034.

Center Brad Malone scored two goals in support of goalie Calvin Pickard as the Monsters rebounded from a 5-2 loss Sunday in Toronto. Stay tuned, because the Monsters and Marlies meet again Saturday afternoon in Toronto. The officials will need to have their skates sharpened and their heads on swivels.

The Monsters (24-26-0-6) improved to 3-2-0-1 in the eight-game season series. They have won three of four overall at home.

The Marlies (33-19-2-2) continue to lead the Western Conference North Division.

"That was a wild one, eh?'' Lake Erie coach Dean Chynoweth said.

The Monsters easily set a franchise record with 97 penalty minutes (on 17 infractions). The Marlies had 103 penalty minutes on 20 infractions. The 200 combined minutes tied the record for a game involving Lake Erie.

"They're a big, strong team,'' Pickard said of Toronto. "We didn't shy away at all. We took it to them. We stood up for ourselves.''

Lake Erie led, 3-0, before Toronto rallied late in the third period. The Marlies scored at 17:19 and 18:34 and continued to apply pressure until the final horn. As the clock read zeroes, Pickard pumped his fists and slammed his stick against the right post. Pickard made 38 saves.

"Emotions were running high,'' said Pickard, whose team had 47 shots. "The crowd was into it from the start."

The tone was set at opening faceoff, Monsters tough guy Daniel Maggio tangling with Toronto forward Frazer McLaren. Maggio, listed at 6-3, 210, later admitted to being a tad nervous against the 6-5, 235-pound McLaren.

Maggio vs. McLaren was the first of two fights in a period dominated by the Monsters, who held a 17-9 advantage in shots and led, 1-0. At 14:22, Malone redirected a Brett Clark blast for his seventh.

At 12:01 of the second, multiple fights occurred. They resulted in the ejections of three players, including Lake Erie's Mitchell Heard and David van der Gulik. Toronto defenseman Kevin Marshall, who received five for fighting, had seemed to be hunting Monsters.

Not long after the equipment had been picked up and blood scraped out of the ice, the Monsters made it 2-0 with a power-play goal. Toronto goalie Drew MacIntyre rejected Matt Hunwick's breakaway attempt, but Hunwick secured the rebound and found Malone in the left circle. Malone's one-timer squirted through MacIntyre.

Lake Erie out-shot Toronto, 16-11, in the second.

The third period brought more fights and the 3-0 lead for the Monsters. Paul Carey tipped in a blast from the point by Karl Stollery on the power play at 14:17.

Then the Marlies made matters interesting.

"I'm proud of our guys,'' Chynoweth said. "They stuck together. They played hard. That was a hard, hard game.''

The 20-year-old Davis scores the biggest win of her career, 6-0, 7-6(2), to advance to the third round.

Lauren Davis of the U.S. advanced to the third round at Indian Wells with her victory over Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.AP Photo/Andrew Brownbill 

Indian Wells, Calif. -- Gates Mills' Lauren Davis scored the biggest victory of her young career, upsetting third seed Victoria Azarenka, 6-0, 7-6(2), in the second round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif.

Azarenka, ranked No. 4 in the world, has been recovering from a foot injury since the Australian Open. This was her first tournament back since a quarterfinal exit to Agnieszka Radwanska in Melbourne. She said earlier this week that she was trying to speed her recovery to play at Indian Wells.

Davis, ranked No. 66, took advantage of Azarenka's rustiness throughout the match. Azarenka tossed in an uncharacteristic 12 double-faults in the match.

The 20-year-old Davis had beaten Yung-Jan Chan of Taiwan, 6-4, 6-3, in the first round. She'll face Varvara Lepchenko in the third round.

Davis has been off to a good start to her season, having reached the quarterfinal of a tournament in New Zealand and the third round of the Australian Open. 

Despite shoddy seasons, the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers still have a chance to make the playoffs in the inferior Eastern Conference.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- (AP) Despite shoddy seasons, the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers still have a chance to make the playoffs in the inferior Eastern Conference.

Bryan Shaw throws for the Tribe today against the San Diego Padres in spring training action.

MESA, Ariz. (AP) — Edwin Jackson allowed three runs and four hits in three innings for the Cubs while Carlos Carrasco struck out six of his 12 batters in leading the Cleveland Indians over a Chicago split-squad 7-2 Friday.

Here's a look at the big matchups and top storylines from around the nation as we begin another busy weekend of college basketball action.

Here's a look at the big matchups and top storylines from around the nation as we begin another busy weekend of college basketball action:

The Big Buzz: Rivalry and revenge

No. 25 Kentucky at No. 1 Florida, Saturday at 12 p.m. ET

No. 14 North Carolina at No. 4 Duke, Saturday at 9 p.m. ET

No. 22 Michigan State at Ohio State, Sunday at 4:30 p.m. ET

Amidst all the NCAA tournament and conference championship hullabaloo, the last batch of regular season games can sometimes be overlooked. That's a shame, because there are some great matchups this weekend that should keep even the most impatient March Madness fans at bay for a few more days.

This weekend's biggest game finds North Carolina traveling across town to take on Duke in a battle of struggling giants. The Blue Devils have dropped two of their last four games while the Tar Heels, who have recovered from a midseason slump to win their last 12, barely squeaked by the likes of Notre Dame, Virginia Tech and North Carolina State.

A win over rival Duke, coupled with a Syracuse loss, would push the Tar Heels to a No. 2 seed in the ACC Tournament, while the Blue Devils have a possible No. 3 tournament seed on the line.

For Duke to win, writes FoxSports.com's Lauren Brownlow, the Blue Devils have to rely on more than their perimeter shooting, which has been awful from long range in their last half-dozen contests:

Over that six-game stretch, Duke has made just 29.7 percent of its 3-pointers. And that includes a 10-of-18 performance against Georgia Tech. Duke is just 16-of-60 in the last two games from beyond the arc.

"We can't be a team that relies on perimeter jump shots," Duke assistant coach Steve Wojciechowski said after the [Wake Forest] game.

Not when you have a Jabari Parker on your team, certainly. The freshman finished with 19 points, but he finished just 26 percent of Duke's possessions when he was on the court (per Ken Pomeroy), his lowest percentage since a Dec. 19 win against UCLA.

Another game to keep an eye on is Sunday's rematch between Michigan State and Ohio State. The last time these teams met, Michigan State forced overtime with Keith Appling's huge 3-pointer and went on to claim a 72-68 victory.

Since that loss, the Buckeyes have fallen apart, dropping seven out of their last 14, including two losses to Big Ten cellar-dweller Penn State. This time around, expect to see a lot more from Aaron Craft, including his famous team huddles, writes Cleveland.com's Doug Lesmerises:

If and when you remember Craft ("Will they remember you?" Long pause. "I don't know. I don't know,"), think of the huddles.

He has not called them as much recently. Maybe once or twice the last few games. There were times in the past when he must have hit double-digits in games.

"The last couple games, I think there have been a couple times where I've fallen short on that," Craft says, "and it's hurt our team."

Speaking of disappointing squads, Kentucky hopes to silence some critics by pulling off an upset win over top-ranked Florida. Perhaps the biggest surprise of all is that it's Kentucky -- and not Florida -- coming into this game as the underdog. Kentucky spoke in the preseason of its desire to achieve a 40-0 record, a dream that quickly disappeared. Still, expect the Wildcats to turn up the intensity now that it's March, writes CBSSports.com's Jon Rothstein.

This is the classic case of two teams with two different mindsets. The Gators operate like a pro team with a professional approach. Kentucky? It's a group that seems to play to the ability of its competition and has yet to reach the level that many expected this season. Florida has yet to lose a game this year when it has had a fully healthy roster and will be one of the favorites to win the national title at the start of the NCAA Tournament. College basketball is a better sport when Kentucky has a chance to do damage in March and we'll all have a better idea if that is possible after we see how the Wildcats perform on the road in Gainesville.

Top games

Here's a look at some of this weekend's other don't-miss matchups involving teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25:

• No. 19 Connecticut at No. 11 Louisville, Saturday at 2 p.m. ET

• No. 3 Arizona at Oregon, Saturday at 4 p.m. ET

• Indiana at No. 12 Michigan, Saturday at 6 p.m. ET

• No. 21 New Mexico at No. 10 San Diego State, Saturday at 10 p.m. ET

• No. 17 Saint Louis at UMass, Sunday at 2 p.m. ET

• No. 22 Michigan State at Ohio State, Sunday at 4:30 p.m. ET

Headlines

Syracuse's Jerami Grant, left, talks with Baye Moussa Keita during a time out against Georgia Tech during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Syracuse, N.Y., Tuesday, March 4, 2014. Georgia Tech won 67-62. Grant sat out with a back injury. (AP Photo/Kevin Rivoli)

 • Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim hasn't yet decided if sophomore Jerami Grant will return from a lower back strain to play in Sunday's tilt with Florida State. (via Syracuse.com)

• Southern Methodist coach Larry Brown voiced his disagreement with Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who said recently that elite NBA prospects would be better served going straight to the NBA's Developmental League rather than spending one year playing college ball. (via ESPN.com)

• Michigan State sophomore NBA draft prospect Gary Harris hasn't yet made up his mind on whether or not he'll be back for the Spartans next season. (via MLive.com)

• Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski had a bit of scare on Wednesday after being hospitalized for dizziness following a loss to Wake Forest. He returned to the team the next day. (via Yahoo! Sports)

What they're saying

• Syracuse desperately needs 3-point ace Trevor Cooney to get out of a funk that includes a 1-for-8 performance from beyond the arc in Tuesday's loss to Georgia Tech, writes Syracuse.com's Mike Waters:

The game continued Cooney's recent shooting slump. In Syracuse's last eight games, Cooney is 15-for-58 (25.8 percent) from 3-point range.

Prior to the loss of his jumper, Cooney was making 43.5 percent of his 3-point attempts. In the last game before his current slump, Cooney scored a career-high 33 points on 9-for-12 shooting from 3-point range in a win over Notre Dame on Feb. 3.

Louisville coach Rick Pitino yells instructions to the team during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against SMU on Wednesday, March 5, 2014, in Dallas. Pitino has ashes on his forehead for Ash Wednesday. (AP Photo/John F. Rhodes)

 • We all look foolish now for sleeping on Louisville and coach Rick Pitino, writes Grantland's Shane Ryan, who points out that the Cardinals' easy early-season schedule is partly to blame for the team's lack of national notice:

Things began to turn in January, and the 12-2 record in the season's second half has included all the quality wins it was missing -- road wins at UConn, Cincinnati, and SMU. More importantly, the statistical profile is starting to look awfully similar to a year ago. The Cardinals now boast the seventh-best defense and 12th-best offense in the nation, numbers that very few teams can match. And while others like Duke and Syracuse are dipping with February fatigue, Lousiville seems to be peaking.

• With a Big Ten regular-season championship already in the bag, Wolverines fans shouldn't expect to see Michigan leaving everything on the conference tournament floor, writes MLive.com's Brendan F. Quinn:

While I don't anticipate Michigan sleepwalking into the tournament, I also don't expect to see the Wolverines storm into games with the fervor seen in regular-season against Michigan State, Wisconsin, etc. In any high-major conference tournament, there's a different between playing hard and playing as hard as those who are desperate. Michigan isn't desperate.

• A loss in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament might actually help Wichita State in the long run, says Pat Forde of Yahoo! Sports, making the case than an undefeated record will be a burden on this upstart Shockers team: 

As accustomed as the Shockers have become to national attention over the course of the last year, since the unexpected Final Four run of 2013, they are not Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky, Kansas or Louisville. Being a big deal doesn't come naturally to them - which is part of the reason they've been so successful. From coach Gregg Marshall on down, this is a program more comfortable in the role of spunky striver than entitled blueblood.

So winning three games in St. Louis and reaching 34-0 is asking to be placed in an uncomfortable position. If that's the record entering the Big Dance, the spotlight will be so hot it could melt the Shockers. They will be the biggest story in college basketball, at the time when college basketball is the biggest thing on the sporting calendar. That's a lot to throw on a team from the mid-major Valley.

Tourney Talk

• After Thursday's win over Memphis, Cincinnati looks like a lock for a No. 4 seed, writes Syracuse.com's Patrick Stevens.

• Despite its loss to Memphis last week, Louisville moved up to a No. 4 seed in ESPN.com's Joe Lunardi's NCAA tournament projections.

• UCLA's win at Washington should move it up to a No. 6 seed, says Jerry Palm of CBSSports.com, and bump Kentucky down.

• Yahoo! Sports' Brad Evans lists Illinois, Marquette, Utah, N.C. State and West Virginia as his five sleepers for the NCAA tourney.

• Though not a Top 25 team, the University of Massachusetts is making headlines as it will (likely) end a 17-year NCAA tourney drought, writes MassLive.com's Daniel Malone.

Hall's agent has told him to stop signing photos of his Michigan moment, but when NFL teams ask, Hall tries to not make excuses. And there's a chance they'll see that as showing a nasty edge.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - If you can't escape it, sign it. At least until your agent tells you to stop.

Marcus Hall's road to the NFL involves navigating the double-bird highway. Ohio State's senior right guard from last season must both embrace and reject, acknowledge and ignore and profit from and put behind the double middle-finger salute he gave Michigan fans after his ejection from the Buckeyes' rivalry game on the last day of the 2013 regular season.

He also might have to protect his royalty rights as it pertains to the use of his image in regards to the incident -- because there may be lot of OSU fans who wouldn't mind some flipping Michigan in their closets.

For now, Jeff Chilcoat, one of his agents at Sterling Sports Management, said Hall is done signing photos of the ejection farewell, which he was doing in the last several weeks as part of the regular state-wide autograph tour that many Buckeyes take part in right after their playing days end. To be fair, when you're the right guard, people don't typically ask you to sign photos of that great block you made on a Carlos Hyde 5-yard run.

But a moment that may become one of the iconic moments in college football's greatest rivlary? There's room for that on the basement wall.

"That's what the fans want," Hall said after Ohio State's Pro Day on Friday. "I love the Buckeye fans and they love me. You know they love it and that's what it's all about."

Or was all about. Chilcoat told cleveland.com on Friday that Hall's double-bird signing days are behind him. The agent has told the client to stop.

"I would rather not have those items out there," Chilcoat said. "But I don't think it's significant."

The biggest deal for the 6-5, 313-pound Glenville grad is not what autograph seekers think of him and his Michigan moment. It's what future employers think. Hall said all the NFL teams he's talked to have asked about it. He already expressed his remorse to cleveland.com in an interview after the Orange Bowl, the first game he played after his Michigan ejection led to him staying on the sideline for the Big Ten Championship against Michigan State. But now the NFL wants to know.

"I just tell them I got caught up in the moment. I don't try to give them this sob story or anything," Hall said. "I just lost it. I feel like my love for this university and the game came out in the wrong way."

"Everyone knows about it," Chilcoat said. "It's early in the process, but I think people will wash over it. It's not indicative of who he is."

Unless it is. Kind of. In a good way.

"When you talk to him, he doesn't have that normal edge," Chllcoat said. "He's a good person. The NFL wants a bit of that nastiness."

And that's how the incident can be pitched. Chilcoat, as Hall's advocate in the process, views it as a sign of Hall's super competitiveness. Hall can project as a gentle giant, so beyond a couple bucks off autographs, maybe this thing can be spun in his favor. 

You can't get ejected. But you can have such (hopefully controlled) anger on the field that maybe you cross the line on a rare occasion.

"I don't want anybody to think I'm proud of it," Hall said. "I'm more trying to take a negative thing and turn it into a positive."

Hall wasn't invited to the NFL Combine, so Friday was his moment to make teams notice. But Chilcoat said that in talking to teams when he attended the combine as an agent, he has "the utmost confidence" that Hall will wind up on an team and believes Hall has a solid chance to be drafted in the later rounds.

Hall said he hoped to show teams Friday that he's more flexible and in better shape than maybe they believed. Draft analyst Tony Pauline told cleveland.com on Friday that Hall shows good athleticism on film, and he was surprised that Hall wasn't asked to the combine.

That lack of an invite Hall can move past. That Michigan moment? Hall may not get away from that.

"Like it or not," Hall said. "I feel like yeah, I can't ignore it, because when I see the fans they make this big deal. And I'm like nah, man, it's not supposed to be like that. But it happened, so I accept it."

He just may not sign it anymore.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Get live updates during the state hockey championship game between St. Ignatius and Sylvania Northview, beginning today at 2 p.m.  Reporter Robert Rozboril will keep you posted on all of the action at Nationwide Arena in Columbus as it happens. Updates will be posted in the comments section of this post. 

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Get live updates during the state hockey championship game between St. Ignatius and Sylvania Northview, beginning today at 2 p.m. 

Reporter Robert Rozboril will keep you posted on all of the action at Nationwide Arena in Columbus as it happens. Updates will be posted in the comments section of this post. 

St. Ignatius defeated Lake Catholic, 7-0, during Friday's state semifinals and Northview beat St. Charles, 3-1, prior to that. Read more about how St. Ignatius and Northview matchup against each other here. 

Feel free to leave your own comments about the game from your cleveland.com account as well. 

Registering for an account is free and takes just a few minutes (click here for an account). Once you register you will have the ability to comment on all posts.

Contact high school sports reporter Robert Rozboril by email (rrozboril@cleveland.com), Twitter (@rrozboril) or Facebook (www.facebook.com/rrozboril). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas -- not the Cavaliers -- invited LeBron James to his jersey retirement ceremony. Hey, Mary!

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Got a question about the Cavs? Send it in. Submit your question at cleveland.com/heymary and Plain Dealer Cavs beat writer Mary Schmitt Boyer will choose at least one to answer each week.

Hey, Mary: I have been a fan of the Cavs my entire life, and I happen to be fan of LeBron James, also. But I feel what the Cavaliers organization is doing is pathetic. Of course, we know LeBron and Z are very close. So how about having LeBron send Z a video message congratulating him? There is no need for LeBron to be in the building. This is just another desperate attempt to try to bring him back. I wouldn't be surprised to see a LeBron and Ilgauskas highlight reel.

I feel sorry for Z. This is the second time the Cavs used him as a pawn since the Wizards trade. I think the league needs to forbid him from coming. They at least owe that to Cavs fans, as well as Heat fans. -- Chris Taylor, Columbus

Hey, Chris: You are missing the point entirely. Zydrunas Ilgauskas -- not the Cavaliers -- invited LeBron James to Saturday night's festivities because he wanted him there on his special night. James accepted Ilgauskas' invitation to show support for his friend, knowing the sort of reception he'd get. Frankly, we'd all be lucky to have a friend willing to extended himself or herself in this manner.

Hey, Mary: I was wondering whether keeping the injury status as "day-to-day" even when it's clear that a certain player will be out for weeks (Andy / Waiters) is an exclusive Cavs thing? Why do they do this, especially since the trade deadline is already over (if the purpose is to maintain trade value of injured players)? -- Micky Daniels, Bahan, Israel

Hey, Micky: It's not strictly a Cavs thing, and there actually is a logic to it. It's not random, as it seems. Day-to-day essentially means there is no timeline for the player's return, and the injury is not expected to be long term in nature. The NBA uses four terms with regard to injury status for a given game. Out means there's no chance the player will appear in the game. Doubtful means he has a 25 percent chance of playing. Questionable means he's 50-50 and probable means there's a 75 percent chance he'll play. The Cavs have been listing Varejao as out (as opposed to day-to-day) for some time with his bad back because there is no timetable for that kind of injury.

Hey, Mary: Why does Kyrie wear his dark-colored shoes with his white jersey and his white shoes with the dark-colored jerseys? I know this should not be a big deal but it bothers me. Please ask him and find out. Thank you in advance. -- Mike Sturdivant, Canton

Hey, Mike: I think you have a little too much time on your hands. According to Irving, and this is pretty much a direct quote, he says he does it because it looks good.

The Cavaliers head out on a make-or-break three-game West Coast trip.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The weather may be easing up for the Cavaliers, but the opponents are not. Their toughest three-game trip of the season awaits, one that could determine whether their playoff aspirations are real -- or finished.

It starts on Wednesday at Phoenix, old stomping grounds of acting general manager David Griffin. The Suns are one of the biggest surprises of the season, and coach Jeff Hornacek has to be considered a leading candidate for Coach of the Year. The Suns already beat the Cavs on Jan. 26 in Cleveland, 99-90.

The trip continues on Friday at Golden State. The Warriors also have beaten the Cavs this season, 108-104 in overtime, on Dec. 29 at The Q.

If those two aren't tough enough, the trip concludes on Sunday against the Los Angeles Clippers. The Cavs actually beat the Clippers, 88-82, on Dec. 7 at The Q.

Sacramento's Ray McCallum: Rookie watch

Sacramento rookie guard Ray McCallum, shown in a game against the L.A. Lakers last month, has seen his minutes increase and is stealing the thunder from fellow rookie Ben McLemore. AP

At least someone in the McCallum family had a good night last week.

Sacramento guard Ray McCallum made seven of 10 shots for a career-high 15 points in the Kings' 116-102 victory at Milwaukee on Wednesday.

McCallum, a 6-3, 190-pound point guard who was the No. 6 pick in the second round -- No. 36 overall -- of the 2013 draft, outscored rookie teammate Ben McLemore, the No. 7 pick, who had four points that night.

McCallum entered the draft after playing three seasons for his dad, Ray Sr., at the University of Detroit Mercy. His father and mother were at Wednesday's game, one day after Detroit Mercy's season ended in the Horizon League tournament, which also was in Milwaukee.

McCallum Jr. is averaging 3.0 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists and has seen his minutes increasing since the Kings bought out Jimmer Fredette.

"Obviously, he's a coach's son, his father did a hell of a job with him,'' Sacramento coach Mike Malone told reporters. "But whether it's our system or somebody else's system, Ray McCallum is a good defensive player no matter what system you put him in."

By the numbers

127

Kyle Korver's NBA-record streak for games in which he made at least one 3-pointer ended in Atlanta's 102-78 loss at Portland on Wednesday. The Hawks guard was 1-for-9 from the field, including 0-for-5 from 3-point range.

"I'm a little bummed, for sure, but it was good while it lasted,'' Korver told reporters. "Some day, we'll look back and be proud. But it was a tough game all-around for us, and that was part of it."

Portland coach Terry Stotts challenged Wesley Matthews to stop Korver's streak.

"Wes was like his boyfriend,'' Portland's Nicolas Batum told reporters. "They were hugging each other. … Wes did a great job."

The last word

"There are special nights, particularly during the regular season … you have to be able to sit back and allow those moments to happen. There was probably a four-minute stretch where literally, not only myself, but the rest of the staff and the rest of the players on the bench, were just sitting back and watching LeBron go on that run. It’s the beginning of March, and it makes life a lot less ordinary in the league.''

-- Erik Spoelstra, Miami's coach, talking about James' 61-point night in a 124-107 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats last Monday.

Terry Francona met with reporters on Saturday morning and discussed a variety of topics, including the health of Ryan Raburn, the ability of Corey Kluber and progression from Vinnie Pestano.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Terry Francona met with reporters on Saturday morning and discussed a variety of topics, including the health of Ryan Raburn, the ability of Corey Kluber and progression from Vinnie Pestano.

Raburn suffered a left knee contusion when he collided with the wall during Friday's win against the Cubs. Francona said he hoped to get Raburn back in the lineup in a couple of days.

"He's got a bruise," Francona said. "We'll keep him inside today and let him get some treatment. I don't think we'd play him [Sunday]. He's OK. Structurally, he's fine. He just whacked it."

Francona likes what he has seen out of right-hander Corey Kluber, who tossed three scoreless innings on Friday.

"You can win with guys like [Kluber]," Francona said. "He just doesn't have a big track record yet. He will. He's awesome. He loves to pitch. He doesn't get flustered. He likes to compete. As you get to know him -- there's a fire there. It's just not very loud. That's OK."

Pestano said Saturday -- one day after he threw a scoreless inning -- that he hasn't checked the velocity on his pitches this spring. He is more focused on the results, and thus far, the reliever has logged two perfect frames.

"That's the challenge sometimes with a guy coming back, like Vinnie," Francona said. "Until he's throwing 93, everybody's going to say, 'Where is it?' When, in reality, this is how he's always built up. Again, by the end of March, he'll be looking for more. But this is how he's done it in the past."

Ryan Raburn suffered a cut lip, bruised left knee and bruised right hand in Friday's collision with the right field wall against the Cubs.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. – Ryan Raburn says he’s never going to make fun of Matt "Crash" Carson again.

Carson earned his nickname for running face first into an outfield fence while playing for Oakland. Raburn followed Carson’s footsteps Friday at Cubs Park in the second inning while chasing a home run during the Tribe’s 7-2 victory over Chicago. He kissed the right field wall and left the game the next inning with a bruised left knee, cut lip and sore right hand.

“They were all worried about my head,” said Raburn, Saturday morning. “I said there’s nothing up there to hurt. I was more worried about my knee and hand.”

Raburn, who had an elastic wrap around his knee, said he’ll probably miss a couple of days.

“It’s pretty sore,” he said. “I don’t think it’s anything major. The doc is looking at it. Were trying to get it calmed down so I can function on it.”

Manager Terry Francona said, “Structurally the knee is good.”

Raburn was chasing a homer by Kris Bryant when he got turned around right before the fence at the Cubs' new spring-training ballpark. When he turned around, he ran right into the fence.

“It was one of those low liners that just kept going on me,” said Ryan. “Things happen when you’re playing the game. People asked me, “What were you thinking?’ I’m playing. I play hard. I get after it. I’m just not going to let up.”

Raburn says he’s run into outfield fences several times ... and they always win.

“I think I took the brunt of it,” said Raburn with a laugh. “But I think I put a little hurtin’ on it, too, hopefully. Maybe it will move out of the way the next time.”

Raburn is hitting .600 (6-for-10) with two doubles, two homers and four RBI in the Cactus League.

D'Angelo Russell and Keita Bates-Diop are scorers on the way for next season, and Russell should slide right into the starting lineup. So the scoring should improve.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Hey back at you. We haven't done Hey Dougs around here in a while, but I know people want to yell at me, so we threw it back open and you guys provided us with a good round of opening questions. I'll deal with Ohio State basketball in this version and come back with football questions and answers on Monday.

You can continue to ask questions about anything related to football, basketball or recruiting, and we'll do our best to answer everything. And even if our answers fail you, sometimes it just feels good to shout Hey at someone. Hey Doug!

Hey Doug: How many more offensively-challenged recruits does Thad Matta have coming in this new year?

-- Ric McElroy, Travlers Rest, S.C.

Hey Ric: Fewer, he hopes. Garfield Heights big man David Bell is a project but a good guy to develop inside. The other three members of the 2014 class are scorers, so things should change next season.

Jae'Sean Tate of Pickerington Central, a 6-foot-5 guard, tore his labrum and saw his senior season end, and he should still be rehabbing when he gets to Ohio State. But 6-5 D'Angelo Russell and 6-7 Keita Bates-Diop should jump into the rotation right away next year. Russell, a top 20 recruit, would probably be the No. 2 scorer on this team if he was in Columbus right now. The class was ranked among the top 10 in the country and best in the Big Ten by Rivals.com, and with Aaron Craft, Lenzelle Smith and maybe LaQuinton Ross leaving, there will be immediate opportunity.

Russell should be the starting two guard in 2014-15 and score in double figures and Bates-Diop will play.

Hey Doug: When you have a team that can't shoot from outside, wouldn't it make sense to try and run offense through a McDonald's All-American center? Amir Williams has been a massive underachiever and does this not call into question the ability of Thad Matta and his staff to coach up big men and adapt to the talent they have?

-- Greg Schwartz, San Diego, Calif.

Hey Greg: Questioning the Ohio State big man situation is a completely fair point. Trey McDonald was more of a project, but Williams was a high school All-American and neither provides consistent play that you might expect from juniors. Ohio State isn't the only NCAA-bound team in the country without a post presence, but I think Williams' slow development is one of the more problematic issues of Thad Matta's tenure. It hurt the Buckeyes inside last year, this year and will again next year when those two are seniors and there aren't any other big men options on the roster.

Big man recruiting and development is a priority for the Buckeyes and they've missed on some guys they've tried to bring in here. For now, the only answer is to work the offense through LaQuinton Ross as much as they can inside, either in the low post against man-to-man defenses or in the high post against zones. He has shown lately he can be effective in there at times, even if it's not his strong suit, but even when he doesn't shoot, the Buckeyes have to get a little inside-outside flow to their offense to get moving in the half-court.

Hey Doug: Amir Williams is not a force inside, we all know that. Are we stuck with this guy for the next three years? Did Matta bet the farm that Amir would be the next Sully for OSU? Do you see Amir being challenged to up his game in the off season or find somewhere else to play?

-- Al Richards, Genoa, Ohio

Hey Al: Williams isn't going anywhere, but as a junior, he only has one year left. He is a better player as a junior than he was as a sophomore - 8.3 points, 5.3 rebounds compared to 3.5 points and 3.9 rebounds. The hope for the Buckeyes is that he makes a similar step next year. But he has to get more consistent rather than flashing a dunk or a block here or there and then fading into the background or getting into foul trouble.

Hey Doug: Aaron Craft is an easy player to like and cheer for with his strong defense and all-around hustle. But after four years, he still does not score the ball well particularly from outside and the 3-point line. This has been a fixable problem as it takes long hours in the offseason practicing your shot. Why hasn't Craft been able to become a reliable shooter for OSU? Why does a determined athlete like him not put in the off season practice time?

-- Tim Corbett, Ladera Ranch, Calif.

Hey Tim: He's been too busy studying. No, just kidding. Basically, it's not what the guy does best. As I wrote in my large profile on Craft on Friday, his shooting is the same it has been his whole career. His numbers are exactly the same - he shot 34.1 on threes entering this year, he's shooting 34.1 on threes this year. And he's not forcing 3-pointers - he's only 15 of 44 this year. He has worked so much on his shot, his form has changed, but the change looks more uncomfortable than how he started at Ohio State.

He's a defense-first, pass-first point guard on a team that desperately needs scoring, and that has been a tough fit this year. What can change is this - he needs to be under control and smart about his drives. He can get into the lane at times to score or create, but against Indiana last Sunday, he was out of control too often. And he knows that. He's upset with himself for how much he pressed and forced things. That he can fix. If he could have made himself a great shooter just with extra shots, it would have already happened by now.

View full sizeGreg Paulus, right, was Ohio State's video coordinator last season, but now he is a first-year full-time assistant with the Buckeyes, basically as the team's offensive coordinator.Joshua Gunter, The Plain Dealer

-- Bob Amenta, Indianapolis

Hey Bob: Former Buckeye player Chris Jent was the guy who filled that role for Ohio State the previous two seasons. As a coach who had previously served as an NBA assistant and coached LeBron James on his shooting, he was a pretty good assistant to have in that role. Jent left for the NBA's Sacramento Kings before this season and former Duke guard Greg Paulus, who was already on the Buckeyes' staff, was promoted into a full-time assistant role to fill Jent's spot. He's not exactly a shooting coach, but he's more or less the offensive coordinator while Jeff Boals is the defensive coordinator and Dave Dickerson works with the big men.

Thad Matta has been asked if the Buckeyes miss Jent and he said that everyone helps with shooting, so it's no big difference. And it's not like these same players were snipers last season - Deshaun Thomas just happened to be around. But when you lose an assistant who had NBA experience and replace him with a young guy like Paulus who is in his first full-time assistant gig, it makes sense that you might lose a little something.

Hey Doug: Have you ever seen a team that can't shoot a lick pump fake as much as the Buckeyes do? This is more statement than question.

-- Kyle Mauk, Bowling Green, Ohio

Hey Kyle: I have to say I like the pump fakes, and so does Thad Matta. Not that defenders are exactly flying at these shooters, but I think whenever possible, the Buckeyes at the 3-point line should pump fake, take a dribble or two inside the line and shoot a 15-footer. But no one shoots mid-range jumpers anymore.

Texans running back Ben Tate was linked to the Browns last season after the Trent Richardson trade.

This is part two of a five-day look at the Browns’ free agent needs by position group. Today’s focus is running backs and quarterbacks.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – There’s little question quarterback and running back are two of the Browns’ biggest off-season needs.

But will they find a starter at either position in free agency? Probably not, although the possibility is more likely at running back. Instead, they almost certainly will draft players at both positions, with a chance of taking each in the first three rounds.

Even in a league dominated by passing, new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan likes to run the ball behind his zone-blocking scheme. The Washington Redskins ranked among the league’s top-5 running teams the past two years, while helping to contribute to the growing belief that you can find quality runners later in the draft. Sixth-rounder Alfred Morris has totaled more than 2,800 yards in two years and earned a trip to the Pro Bowl.

“One thing we can really hang our hat on and stay true to is that Kyle has demonstrated in a variety of places that he’s been, he’s taken a variety of different people and found success,” General Manager Ray Farmer said. “So for us it’s a matter of finding a young man who has talent, has the work ethic and the drive and the things we’re looking for to have that success and finding a way to get them.”

The Browns' rushing attack produced more frustration than yards last season, finishing tied for 27th at 86.4 yards per game. After the Trent Richardson deal, the team’s best back emerged late in the season in the form of Edwin Baker. The 22-year-old Baker is the best of a bunch that includes Chris Ogbonnaya and Fozzy Whittaker. Dion Lewis, 23, will return from a broken leg suffered in preseason.

Should the Browns consider free agency -- remember, many of the top draft prospects come with question marks -- here are some choices:

Ben Tate (25), Houston Texans – The backup to Arian Foster rushed for 771 yards and caught 34 passes before broken ribs slowed him late in the season. Tate was linked to the Browns last season after the Richardson deal. He’s looking for a multi-year, multi-million payday and likely will get it from someone. In an ESPN conference call, former NFL GM Bill Polian cautioned about overspending in free agency.

“The best players are signed,” he said. “So these are essentially ‘B’ players whose agents are looking for ‘A’ money.” Tate had a salary cap hit of $899,250 last season.

Knowshon Moreno (26), Denver Broncos – He helped the Broncos reach the Super Bowl by rushing for 1,038 yards while catching 60 passes from Peyton Manning for 548 yards. The concern with Moreno (and Tate) is wear and tear. NFL halfbacks age like U.S. presidents. It’s why teams prefer to draft running backs – they're younger, fresher, cheaper. Moreno had a cap hit of $3.28 million last year.

The Browns have been looking for a franchise quarterback since the moment Tim Couch’s very first pass was intercepted in 1999. It’s hard to imagine they find one in this free agent class, but it’s worth noting their best two quarterbacks a year ago, Brian Hoyer and Jason Campbell, were free-agent signings. Of course, that was in the Brandon Weeden era.

Hoyer, Campbell, Weeden and Alex Tanney remain on the roster, but that will change in the coming weeks. Hoyer, returning from a torn knee ligament, is the only one certain to be on the roster as training camp opens.

Here are some free-agent alternatives:

Josh McCown (34), Chicago Bears – He did a nice job replacing an injured Jay Cutler last season. But was he the product of Marc Trestman’s system, which included an outstanding pair of receivers, Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffrey? Polian stressed the importance of system fit during his conference call. McCown had a $580,000 cap hit last season.

Rex Grossman (34), Washington Redskins – The veteran knows Shanahan’s system very well, having spent the past five years in it. He had a $575,000 cap hit.

Matt Schaub (32), Houston Texans – He isn’t a free agent yet, but is due to make $11 million next season. Schaub enjoyed his best seasons (2008-09) when Shanahan was the Texans’ coordinator.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Check out a scouting report of the Division IV boys basketball Canton Regional tournament. Games begin on Tuesday. Click here to see a bracket.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Check out a scouting report of the Division IV boys basketball Canton Regional tournament. Games begin on Tuesday.

Click here to see a bracket.

Where: Canton Fieldhouse, 1815 Harrison Ave. NW, Canton. Call (330) 705-5014.

When: Regional Semifinals on March 11, regional final on March 14 at 7 p.m.

Matchups: No. 1 Cornerstone Christian vs. No. 4 St. Thomas Aquinas, March 11, 6:15 p.m. No. 3 Malvern vs. No. 1 Richmond Heights, March 11, 8 p.m.

Keys to victory

Cornerstone Christian will win if...Bryan Gee is the best player on the floor. Gee is a Division I college point guard and can do so many different things on the court. He can shoot, pass and defend, making him a problem for many opponents. If he can do all those things in one game, Cornerstone Christian is tough to stop.

St. Thomas Aquinas will win if...the Knights keep doing what they're doing. St. Thomas Aquinas blew through its district, outscoring its opponents by almost 200 points combined during the postseason. Led by senior guard Austin Hill's 16.6 points per game, the Knights have emerged from their tough schedule as a force to be reckoned with in Division IV. They lost to Beachwood in the Division III regional semifinal last year and want to take the next step after dropping down to Division IV.

Malvern will win if...it refuses to listen to the doubters. The Hornets pulled one of the biggest upsets of the postseason by shocking Division IV powerhouse Berlin Hiland to get to the regional round. Malvern's combination of Mitch Loomis and Trey Tucci has been very effective and allowed the Hornets to make a surprise trip to Canton.

Richmond Heights will win if...Mike Parks owns the paint on both ends of the floor. At 6-foot-8, Parks is one of the biggest players in Division IV and creates a presence few teams can handle. That presence has allowed the Spartans to hold three of its postseason opponents to less than 30 points on its way to the regional semifinal. Dontez Lockett and Christian Wilcox are both good offensive options as well to add more dimensions to the team.

Players to watch

Bryan Gee, Cornerstone Christian: The Longwood signee was the Division IV Lakes District Player of the Year. Gee does so many different things with his ability to score and distribute the ball on offense. Cornerstone Christian coach Dan Selle has often said that Gee is the best point guard in Ohio.

Austin Hill, St. Thomas Aquinas: Hill averages 16.6 points per game and shoots nearly 50 percent from the field. He also has great three-point range, shooting 39 percent from behind the arc and averaging nearly three make threes per game.

Mitch Loomis, Malvern: At 6-foot-7, Loomis is a shot-altering presence in the paint and creates problems that most Division IV teams don't have an answer for. In the win against Berlin Hiland, Loomis had a double-double, scoring 25 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.

Mike Parks, Richmond Heights: Parks is 6-foot-8 and 230 pounds, which makes him tough for any team to deal with. He is the Spartans' leading scorer at almost 16 points per game.

cleveland.com pick

Cornerstone Christian over Richmond Heights: Cornerstone Christian likes to play a more up-tempo type of game than Richmond Heights, although the Spartans do have the ability to clog the lane defensively with the work of Mike Parks. If Bryan Gee, R.J. Spaller and the Patriots can shoot well from the outside, they are a tough task for most teams. The Patriots just seem to have a few more weapons and should be able to win the regional title and make it down to Columbus.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- For the first time in five years, Hathaway Brown's girls basketball team is not one of the last team's standing. The five-time Division II state champion in the last five years, Hathaway Brown didn't even make the regionals. 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- For the first time in five years, Hathaway Brown's girls basketball team is not one of the last team's standing.

The five-time Division II state champion in the last five years, Hathaway Brown didn't even make the regionals. 

The four Final Four teams in Div. II are Toledo Rogers, Kettering Archbishop Alter, Millersburg West Holmes and St. Vincent-St. Mary.

The last time Hathaway Brown wasn't raising a state trophy was when the current seniors were in sixth grade.

Does that mean this year makes the Final Four teams feel like this is more of a wide-open race? We asked. They answered.

Toledo Rogers coach Lamar Smith

"They had a great run," Smith said, "but I think this year it is wide open with the teams that are here. It’s going to be who wants it the most. Everyone has a shot to win a state championship this year. I think it’s wide open.

"Our kids are very aware. We lost to Hathaway Brown when they were freshman. ... We're definitely very familiar with all that they’ve done. It’s remarkable, but I feel like it’s another school’s time.

"Everyone has their run and we’re going to take this opportunity to see what we can do. It’s time to share the crown a little bit."

Kettering Archbishop Alter co-coach Christina Hart

"It's very strange (to not have them in the final four)," Hart said. "We played them three different times. I think we were the last team to beat in them in the state championship game. They've kind of been there for so many years in a row that it's different to not have them."

Millersburg West Holmes coach Lisa Patterson

"Yeah we’ve played Hathaway Brown a played number of times over the last few years," Patterson said. "They had their run and they’re tremendous and currently in the rebuilding mode.

"It leaves the field wide open but four very good teams are playing down there. Hats off to them.

"And I’m sure we’ll see Hathaway Brown again in the future."

St. Vincent-St. Mary coach Joe Jakubick

"We just saw them in the district finals all the time," Jakubick said. "I think a team like West Holmes might have a stronger opinion of that. When we played them in the regular season and we played at Hathaway Brown. When I saw them come out to take the court, I was just so ecstatic that I didn’t see (former Hathaway Brown player) Vanessa Smith. I was a happy camper. I told (HB coach) Paul over and over I thought she was the most difficult person we’ve ever had to guard.

"Obviously when you have one team that won it for five years in a row, and for the last seven years in the row they've been a part of it the finals, I think there are a lot of people who probably think the field is wide open.

"I think you have four teams in there that if one team catches fire and plays really well, you have one team being able to walk away with a championship."

Contact high school sports reporter Stephanie Kuzydym (skuzydym@cleveland.com) or on Twitter (@stephkuzy). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.