Here is a look at the 2015 OHSAA boys basketball regional bracket.

The Solon girls basketball team is headed to state for the first time since 2006.

SOLON, Ohio – The Solon girls basketball program has had some very good teams, along with some extremely talented players the past few seasons.

Players like Kristen Confroy, Martha Thompson and Alexis Gray have put on the Solon jersey the past few years. These players have been extremely close to making it to state, but teams such as Twinsburg and North Canton Hoover have been there in a regional semifinal to prevent the Comets from making the trip to Columbus.

Heading into the year, the Comets were having to replace Confroy, who has went on to Maryland to play solid minutes for a Terrapins team that is one of the favorites to win the women’s national championship.

This is a team that is loaded with freshmen and sophomores, but having that much youth on a team can make it difficult to get everybody on the same page.

While coach Trish Kruse knew replacing the senior talent from last season’s team would be difficult, she also understood that there was still a lot of talent on this team.

“We knew that we had a lot of talent on this team, but it just took a little while to start clicking,” Kruse said. ‘We started a freshman, two sophomores and had a couple players transfer in, and it just took our kids a little to gel. Over the course of the season, our seniors and leaders stepped up and everybody just got it going.”

One of those players that has taken her game to the next level is sophomore Dee Bekelja, who led the Comets in scoring with 15.2 points.

While she has always had the talent to be a great scorer, coach Kruse said confidence has been a key for Bekelja’s improvement.

"You saw last year that she had talent and made big plays, but I think this year her confidence has taken to another level," Kruse said. "Her ability to finish around the basket is unbelievable, and I just think that her confidence in herself has played a huge reason in her having the year she has had."

With seniors on last season's team, Bekelja was more of a role player, but showed glimpses of being able to take it to the next level. Knowing that the seniors from last year's team were gone, Bekelja knew that she had to take on more of a leadership role.

 “I think that I have definitely had to step up and become more of a leader. Last year, we had great leaders with Alexis (Gray) and Kristen (Confroy), and I knew with them gone I would have to not only keep improving on my game, but also improve on my leadership abilities as well."

While Bekelja has improved on her leadership, she also talked about the entire leading being leaders, rather than counting on one player.

Last year, we had great leaders with Alexis (Gray) and Kristen (Confroy), but I think this year it has been where all of us have stepped up and become more of a leader,” Bekelja said. "Even though Valencia (Myers) is only a freshman, she is definitely a leader on this team."

While getting to the state tournament this year is a very impressive accomplishment, Bekelja said the Comets are nowhere satisfied with just making it to Columbus.

"It has been a great year for us, but we want to go down there and get the victory," Bekelja said. "We want to go down there and win it for the seniors. Having my sister being a senior on the team, it would be really special to win it for her."

The run to the state championship begins for Solon on Friday night at 6 p.m., as the Comets take on Toledo Notre Dame.

Everything you need to know about Friday and Saturday at the NCAA Tournament's South Regional and Midwest Regional games in Louisville, Kentucky.

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky - Welcome to Day Two at the Louisville's KFC Yum Center, site of second- and third-round games for the NCAA Tournament. Here are the South Regional and Midwest regional results, schedules, results, news and links.

The setup: On Friday, they will rest at the Louisville regional, and boy do they deserve it. The NCAA Tournament has never seen a day like Thursday, and it left everyone involved buzzing, spent and maybe a little bewildered. Welcome to March Madness, indeed.

For the first time in NCAA history, three games at one site were decided by one point. One went into overtime, one featured a 19-0 run by the losing team and was decided on a controversial goaltending 3-pointer, and another was a 14 seed knocking off a No. 3 seed.

And that was before Kentucky took the floor in what amounted to a home game.

As his players left the interview room at 12:30 a.m., Kentucky coach John Calipari said he's going to cut his players some slack. They don't have to be at breakfast until 10:30.

Friday's schedule

No games.

Teams can conduct closed practices between about noon and 5 p.m. Practices are closed to the public. Players and coaches will be available to the media throughout the afternoon.

Saturday

South Region

• No. 14 Alabama Birmingham (20-14) vs. No. 11 UCLA (21-13), Saturday, 12:40 p.m., CBS

Winner advances to South Regional at Houston

Midwest Region

• No. 8 Cincinnati (23-10) vs. Kentucky, Saturday, 2:40 p.m., CBS

Winner advances to Midwest Regional at Cleveland

Thursday's results and links

South Region

• No. 3 No. 14 Alabama-Birmingham upset No. 3 Iowa State, 60-59. For a recap, click here.
•  No. 11 UCLA 60, No. 6 SMU 59. For a recap, click here.

Midwest Region

• No. 8 Cincinnati 66, No. 9 Purdue (21-12) 65 (OT). For a recap, click here.
• No. 1 Kentucky 79, No. 16 Hampton 56. For a recap, click here.

More Louisville links

• Kentucky begins its march to perfection, writes Plain Dealer columnist Bill Livingston.
• Livingston celebrates the beginning of March Madness and the two 60-59 South Region thrillers in the KFC Yum Center.
• Vermilion native and former Fox 8 reporter Allie LaForce is a force on the sidelines for NCAA Tournament broadcasts in Louisville.
• SMU coach Larry Brown recalls one of his earliest mentors, former Cleveland State pioneering coach John McLendon.
• Plain Dealer reporter Tim Warsinskey wonders what would happen if Jesus returned Hampton coach Edward Joyner Jr.'s call and the Pirates upset Kentucky?
• Plain Dealer columnist Bill Livingston compares Kentucky to Indiana's unbeaten 1976 team and UNLV's ill-fated 1991 team.
• The guy in the white hat at UAB practice? Former UAB football coach Garrick McGee  came to support the basketball team in Louisville. UAB's football program was eliminated by the university in December.
• UCLA coach Steve Alford defended his team being in the bracket. The Bruins trialed UK 41-7 at halftime in a December loss.
• The Dallas Morning News offered an interesting look at SMU coach Larry Brown's influences, pupils and career stops.

Butler looking forward to facing Notre Dame on Saturday in the 2015 NCAA Tournament Pittsburgh Region. Watch video

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Butler guard Kellen Dunham is all about his school advancing in the 2015 NCAA Tournament and the Bulldogs took that step with their second-round victory over Texas on Thursday.

But Butler's third-round opponent, Notre Dame, adds to the excitement of March Madness.

"It's been a goal that we set at the beginning of the season, to beat all of the Indiana schools that we possibly can," said Dunham, a native of Indiana. "We fell to the Hoosiers [earlier this season] but hopefully we can turn it around and get the Irish."

No. 6-seed Butler will get its chance at xxx on Saturday against No. 3-seed Notre Dame. The Irish (30-5) advanced when they squeaked by No. 14-seed Northeastern.

Notre Dame has had trouble in recent history against Butler. Notre Dame has lost six straight against the Bulldogs. The two teams last met in 2006.

But this Notre Dame team is different. The Irish came into the tournament 12th in the nation averaging nearly 79 points per game. Their 14.4 turnover percentage is third-lowest nationally.

"They can really shoot the ball," said Butler guard Alex Barlow. "It's going to be a tough challenge and we're looking forward to it. We don't always get a chance to play Notre Dame ... so I think it'll be fun."

How they advanced:

Butler overcame some poor shooting to pull away with a 56-48 victory over Texas on Thursday. Dunham led the Bulldogs with 20 points. Jonathan Holmes led Texas with 15.

Notre Dame regrouped from a sluggish first half and rallied for a 69-65 victory over Northeastern. Zach Auguste led Notre Dame with 25 points. Scott Eatherton led Northeastern (23-12) with 18 points. Stow's David Walker had 15 for Northeastern.

No. 1-seed Villanova shot an incredible 63 percent from the field and ran away with an easy victory over 16th-seed Lafayette.

North Carolina State won a thriller over LSU. The Tigers missed 12 straight shots and four straight free throws in the final 3:59. The Wolfpack scored with less than a second left.

Saturday's game times:

• No. 1 Villanova (33-2) vs. No. 8 N.C. State (20-13), 7:10 p.m., TBS
• No. 6 Butler (23-10)  vs. No. 3 Notre Dame (30-5), approx. 9:40 p.m., TBS

There are seven Northeast Ohio teams still alive.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Another round has concluded in the boys basketball postseason, and we are on to the regional finals. Northeast Ohio has seven teams still alive, and they all play on Saturday.

Here's a look back at everything you need to know from Thursday's action:

A LOOK BACK

Game of the night

Holy Name 65, Sandusky 57

Division II Bowling Green regional semifinal

On the biggest stage of his freshman season, Holy Name guard Dwayne Cohill rose to the occasion, as he scored 26 points to lead the Green Wave to a 65-57 regional semifinal win over Sandusky. The win puts Holy Name one win away from the state tournament.

"What we've talked about all along is we're really proud of what we've accomplished, but we're not satisfied," said Holy Name coach Jeff Huber. "We've got bigger goals."

On Thursday, the Green Wave were trailing with less than four minutes to play but went on a 9-0 run and never looked back for the win.

Reporter Tim Bielik was at the game and breaks down how Holy Name got itself on the verge of its first regional title in school history.

Three other things you need to know

1) St. Vincent-St. Mary cruises to 26-0 record

There wasn't much drama in the regional semifinal between St. Vincent-St. Mary and Poland Seminary, as the Irish cruised to a 67-44 victory. It was the second year in a row the Irish bounced Poland Seminary from the playoffs.

St. Vincent-St. Mary had 10 steals in the regional semifinal win.

“Defensively, that’s where it starts, defensively,” said senior Josh Williams. “Once everybody starts there it just feeds into offense and we pick it up.”

Reporter Scott Patsko was at the game and breaks down how the Irish used their defense to have an easy night.

2) Central Catholic sets up regional final showdown

Ever since a Jan. 6 loss to St. Vincent-St. Mary, Central Catholic has been working towards earning a rematch. On Thursday, the Ironmen secured that game with a 61-47 win over Chagrin Falls.

Central Catholic won a slow, ugly game and is where it wants to be right now.

"I wanted to play them this game," said junior Tervell Beck. "When they got us, that kind of hurt us, and we just want to get them back."

Reporter David Cassilo was at the game and discusses how Central Catholic turned away a pesky Chagrin Falls team.

3) Luke Kennard wins Gatorade Player of the Year for Ohio

With a scoring average of 38.4 points per game, Franklin senior Luke Kennard won Gatorade Player of the Year for Ohio. The Duke commit won 2014 Mr. Basketball.

His Franklin team is still alive in the postseason and plays Dayton Dunbar on Saturday with a trip to Columbus on the line.

The Buffalo Bulls get a chance to make their mark in the NCAA Tournament when they play West Virginia and coach Bob Huggins.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Today is the day for the Buffalo Bulls and coach Bobby Hurley to start making their brand, while the Valparaiso Crusaders and coach Bryce Drew look to add to theirs.

Both are low seeds, No. 12 Buffalo and No. 13 Valparaiso, looking to topple major conference powers in No. 5 West Virginia and No. 4 Maryland, respectively. The Bulls are up first at 2 p.m. Check back here during the day for updates.

The first order of business will be finding out if Mid-American Conference Player of the Year Justin Moss of Buffalo has fully recovered from the ankle injury that limited his play in the MAC Tournament.

Hurley said Moss is near 100 percent, which is what he will need to be against a West Virginia team that loves to push opposing big men out of their comfort zone.

Friday's schedule

Midwest Region

• No. 12 Buffalo (23-9) vs. No. 5 West Virginia (23-9), 2:10 p.m. TNT
• No. 13 Valparaiso (28-5) vs. No. 4 Maryland (27-6), 4:40 p.m. TNT

East Region

• No. 13 Albany (24-8) vs. No. 4 Oklahoma (22-10), 7:30 p.m. TruTV
• No. 11 Dayton (26-8) vs. No. 6 Providence (22-11), 10 p.m. TruTV

What to watch, Midwest Region

Buffalo vs. West Virginia: This one should be equal to the hype, considering WVU likes to pressure teams and make them play faster than they want, while Buffalo, offensively, is actually at its best playing on the run.

"They really try to play downhill downhill,'' West Virginia coach Bob Huggins said. "They do a great job of pushing tempo. They do a great job of creating numbers. But that's kind of what we like to do, too."

Hurley said his biggest challenge will be trying not to overcoach.

"This game comes down to me trusting my guys to make plays."

Both teams enter with an injury issue. Buffalo's 6-7, 240-pound Justin Moss (17.7 points, 9.3 rebounds) was just a shadow of himself in the MAC Tournament as he was slowed by a badly sprained ankle. Hurley said Moss is now nearly back to full health.

For WVU, point guard Juwan Staten (14.5 points, 4.6 assists) returns from a knee injury after missing the last four game. He said he is now good to go, full throttle.

Valparaiso vs. Maryland: Strangely, it is mid-major Valpo that enters this game with the bigger lineup as the Crusaders will tip-off with 6-10 Vashil Fernandez, 6-9 Alec Peters and 6-8 E. Victor Nickerson in the lineup and more size coming off the bench.

"I think our length, our size and our strength that we have on our team is really beneficial,'' Peters said. "It doesn't matter who we play."

That mentality has been key for Valparaiso all season, according to Drew.

"They have played with a lot of maturity, especially in big games,'' the coach said. "So I just kind of get out of the way and let them do their thing because they have played so well in big games so far this year."

What to watch, East Region

Albany vs. Oklahoma: Kind of the forgotten game here with so much attention on the teams, players and coaches in the afternoon matchups, and nearby Dayton playing in the nightcap. 

But don't sleep on Albany, as the 3-14 upset bug has already hit the 2015 NCAA Tournament hard. Also, Albany's junior swingman Peter Hooley (13.7 points a game) has already authored the quote of the tournament to date: "When you got angels watching, you can do anything."

He actually said that after hitting the game-winning 3-pointer with 1.6 seconds left to send Albany to the NCAA, so it still counts. And this came just six weeks after his mother died of cancer.

Dayton vs. Providence: Playing the last NCAA Tournament game of the night, and its sixth game overall in the last eight days, the question for the short-handed UD Flyers is do they have enough gas in the tank to pull out one more victory?

Providence doesn't care about Dayton's issues, however. Fatigued or not, the Friars want to make their presence felt, particularly forward LaDontae Henton who initially signed to play at Dayton, before switching to Providence after a UD coaching change.

"Coach (Brian) Gregory left Dayton (for Georgia Tech) and I opened it back up,'' Henton said of his recruiting. "And Providence came calling me. I think it's one of the best decisions I made in my life."

What's in the news

• Mountaineers get no respect
• Technically speaking, watch out for the Buffalo Bulls
• Justin Moss now says his ankle is not quite 100 percent
• It's got to be the hair for Maryland
• Terps getting no respect
• Albany wants to continue the trend
• Time for Providence to perform
• The NCAA Tournament by state
• Dayton Flyers land in Columbus

Tickets to Columbus will be punched this weekend.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Saturday is the biggest local day of the boys basketball season, as seven teams will try to book a trip to Columbus for the state tournament. The loaded day of action will include two games that feature a showdown between Northeast Ohio team.

Here's a scouting report of every local boys basketball regional final game:

DIVISION I

Shaker Heights vs. Garfield Heights

When: Saturday at 7 p.m.

Where: Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University.

How Shaker Heights wins: The Raiders have beaten Garfield Heights twice already this season and will likely try to use the same formula. On offense, look for Shaker Heights to get players other than Esa Ahmad involved early to create scoring balance. On defense, the Raiders will likely try to take Frankie Hughes out of the game and makes other players beat them.

How Garfield Heights wins: Priority No. 1 will be to get Hughes in an early rhythm. It's why the Bulldogs beat East Tech, and in each Shaker Heights game, Hughes has struggled to get open looks. The Bulldogs must also have the superior bench. Marreon Jackson and Shawn Christian will need to give Garfield Heights two shooters that the Raiders must account for.

St. Edward vs. Lima Senior

When: Saturday at 7 p.m.

Where: Savage Arena at the University of Toledo.

How St. Edward wins: Throughout the last two seasons, St. Edward has been able to win big games as long as Kipper Nichols plays well. The Eagles can't rely on that on Saturday. Someone else will need to step up like Darien Knowles or Derek Funderburk. Knowles in particular has pushed the team to wins in big games. On defense, the Eagles will need to stay in front of Xavier Simpson and make it difficult for him to run the offense. 

How Lima Senior wins: The Spartans need to stay hot. On Thursday, they shot 61 percent in a regional semifinal win, and if they play like that, they are going to win. That game and the state title Simpson won with Lima Central Catholic will give the team confidence when playing the defending state champion. The key, though, will be doing something no team has been able to do in the postseason -- stop Nichols.

DIVISION II

St. Vincent-St. Mary vs. Central Catholic

When: Saturday at 1 p.m.

Where: Canton Memorial Civic Center.

How St. Vincent-St. Mary wins: An early run would be key, as it would take away Central Catholic's confidence. Elsewhere, the Irish need to do what they always do -- run with the ball, hit 3-pointers and eliminate costly turnovers. Keeping Jibri Blount and Henry Baddley out of foul trouble will be crucial, as the Ironmen do have an advantage down low. Mostly, the Irish can't play an average game to win this one.

How Central Catholic wins: The Irish are highly confident entering Saturday's game, so the Ironmen need to play well early to put some doubt and nerves in St. Vincent-St. Mary's mind. Senior Antown Lillard must have a big game. When he's on, he's the best player on the floor, but he's taken awhile to get going in some recent games. Most importantly, the Ironmen must limit turnovers that would allow the Irish to get easy baskets.

Holy Name vs. Defiance

When: Saturday at 4 p.m.

Where: Stroh Center at Bowling Green State University.

How Holy Name wins: The Green Wave are on a wave of emotion right now and need to have that carry over to Saturday. A fast start against Defiance will sway any momentum in their favor. Defiance plays great defense, so Holy Name will need to be patient and spend as much time as it needs to get the right shot. The difference is Dwayne Cohill. He's the best player on the floor and the best chance of a Holy Name win.

How Defiance wins: Like Holy Name, the Bulldogs have also never been to the state semifinals. Eliminating nerves is priority No. 1. Defiance knows its game plan -- slow the game down and make it a defensive battle. The Bulldogs are more likely to win a game with a style like that than Holy Name. Defiance should have a defensive strategy for Cohill, but it is its own offense that must make a few more plays than usual.

DIVISION III

Villa Angela-St. Joseph vs. Youngstown Ursuline

When: Saturday at 7 p.m.

Where: Canton Fieldhouse.

How Villa Angela-St. Joseph wins: The Vikings have a clear advantage in the frontcourt and must establish it early. If Carlton Bragg and Dererk Pardon come out with an early intensity, Villa Angela-St. Joseph is tough to beat. Senior Simon Texidor is also a key. A few early 3-pointers should open up the Vikings' offense and make them tougher to guard.

How Youngstown Ursuline wins: The Irish should have an advantage in the backcourt with David Collins and Mark Hughes. The two can hit big shots and should be counted on to have productive days. The difference will be on the inside. Youngstown Ursuline must establish an inside presence, whether it be offensively or defensively, to disrupt what the Vikings want to do.

Talk Cleveland sports with Dennis Manoloff live at 12:30.

Talk Cleveland sports with Dennis Manoloff during his weekly podcast today at 12:30 p.m.Allison Carey/The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Get your questions ready and join Dennis Manoloff today at 12:30 p.m. as he talks Cleveland sports.

DMan will talk with me about Browns free agency, Indians spring training and Cavaliers basketball.

You can jump in the comments section and ask your questions as well as interact with other users and respond to DMan's remarks, or you can just listen. The chat will also be made available shortly after its completion in MP3 format.

Joe Harris, again, is sent down to the D-League to get some quality basketball run.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland Cavaliers announced they have assigned rookie guard Joe Harris to the Canton Charge of the NBA Development League.

In recent months, the 6-foot-6 wing has been up and down to the team's D-League affiliate at a rapid pace.

Harris, 23, has played in seven games for the Charge and posted numbers of 17.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 32.2 minutes a game. He has appeared in 47 games for the Cavaliers, averaging 2.5 points in 9.2 minutes.

Cleveland continues to invest in his development.

The Cleveland Cavaliers will try to extend their home winning streak to 15 games on Friday night when the Indiana Pacers come to town. Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m. and the game will be shown on Fox Sports Ohio.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers will try to extend their home winning streak to 15 games tonight when the Indiana Pacers come to town. Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m. and the game will be shown on Fox Sports Ohio. On radio, it will be simulcast on WMMS-FM 100.7, 87.7 FM (ESP) and WTAM-AM 1100.

The Cavs (44-26) could be without leading scorer LeBron James, who is listed as questionable after missing Friday's shootaround with an illness. 

Cleveland is coming off a 117-92 win against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night. In the win, J.R. Smith and Timofey Mozgov scored 17 points apiece and led a balanced attack, with seven players in double figures.

Friday night marks the final meeting of the regular season between the Cavs and Pacers. After the Cavs won the first meeting at The Q on Nov. 29, the Pacers won two straight at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. It's been an up-and-down season for Indiana (30-37), which posted a league-best 13-2 record from Feb. 4 through March 12, but has lost three straight games.  

The Pacers' balanced attack is led by point guard George Hill, who is averaging 14.7 points in 28 games. He recorded his first career triple-double in Indiana's most recent win against the Cavaliers.

Northeast Ohio Media Group's Chris Haynes has the latest on Joe Harris being sent to the NBA Developmental League. Later, catch the coverage from before the game; join in the live chat starting at tipoff; and stick around for full postgame coverage.

Dwayne Bowe signed his two-year contract with the Browns on Friday and hopes his energy will help the team get back to winning.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Pro Bowl receiver Dwayne Bowe, who signed his contract with the Browns on Friday, is confident he's a great catch.

"The positive energy I'm going to bring to the locker room is definitely going to take the Dawg Pound to the next level,'' he said in a Browns news release. "The Browns were the perfect situation from the fan base to the style of offense and the way I'll be utilized to help the team go to the next level.''

Bowe, who signed a two-year deal -- terms of which have not been released -- had his ups and downs in eight years in Kansas City, but brings valuable experience to the Browns.

"After eight years, you're a pro's pro,'' he said. "I've had every style of coaching, every personality. I've been through a lot and it's going to make this transition a little easier because of what I've been through. The fan base is crazy just like Kansas City and is something I'm excited to be a part of.''

Browns general manager Ray Farmer, who spent six years with Bowe in Kansas City, praised Bowe (6-2, 222) for his ability to win contested balls, something the Browns wanted Gordon to improve on last season.

"Dwayne is a player that adds a big, tough and physical presence to our group," Farmer said. "His ability to play in high traffic areas of the field for contested catches is something we really like. We have talked about having a versatile group of wide receivers that can align and play from various positions, and he can do that. His position versatility to inside and outside numbers appeals to us in a variety of ways. We look forward to seeing how he will help our team."

Bowe's production has dropped off some in recent years, but he's still had at least 57 catches and 673 yards over the past three seasons. Last season, despite being suspended for the first game of the season for violating the league's substance abuse policy, he caught 60 passes for 754 yards. Like every other receiver on the team, however, he was held without a touchdown catch.

The Chiefs released him last week after they signed top-rated free agent wideout Jeremy Maclin.

"Dwayne brings a nice combination of size and speed to our wide receiver group," Browns coach Mike Pettine said. "He is a veteran player that has been productive and caught a ton of footballs in this league. His size and catch radius make him very quarterback-friendly, and we are happy to add him to our team."

Bowe, the No. 23 overall pick in 2007 out of Louisiana State, is the second longtime veteran receiver cast off by his only NFL team this offseason who was picked up by the Browns. The other was Brian Hartline, who was released by the Dolphins after six seasons. Together, they help upgrade a young receiving corps led by Andrew Hawkins last season and help ease the loss of Josh Gordon, who's suspended for at least all of 2015.

They also make unrestricted free agent Miles Austin, who excelled for the Browns last year before suffering a lacerated kidney at the end of the season, expendable.

"These guys just want to play football,'' Bowe said. "You don't have any ego guys on that team. You've got guys that just want to come in and do their job and make the organization successful, and that's all you ask for in a group, guys that want to come in and play their tail off. It doesn't matter if they're No. 1 or No. 2 as long as everyone is contributing. They just want to win. That's something the organization definitely needs now is winning, and they're putting in the right pieces to make that happen."

Bowe is also eager to play for new offensive coordinator John DeFilippo, who incorporates a variety of styles, including the West Coast offense.

"That's something I wanted to be a part of, getting more opportunities and being able to showcase my talent," Bowe said. "The way he brings the energy and that positive excitement is another reason why I made my decision to be here."

Bowe has been suspended twice by the NFL, including the one-game ban last year for a marijuana arrest, and four games in 2009 for violating the performance-enhancing drug policy. The 2014 suspension was handed down despite the fact a passenger in Bowe's car testified under oath that the marijuana was his, and Bowe's possession charge was dismissed.

As for the P.E.D. suspension, his agent Todd France told the Associated Press in 2009 that Bowe tested positive for using a diuretic and not a steroid. And despite a clash with former Chiefs coach Todd France, Andy Reid loved coaching him the past two seasons.

"Dwayne is one of my favorite guys that I've had a chance to coach,'' Reid told reporters in Kansas City. "He keeps it real out there every day and brings energy every day. You don't have big ups and downs in personality or anything else. He enjoys doing what he does.''

Wilson was a graduate of the school in 1998.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Al Wilson resigned from his positions as Benedictine boys basketball coach and Dean of Men on Friday. Wilson, who won a state title in 1997 and 1998 as a player with the Bengals, returned to his alma mater in 2011.

With Wilson as coach, the program was unable to recapture the success he had as a player there, and the coach decided to step aside on Friday.

"We have plenty of talent within the program, but we're not looking at district championships and regional appearances," Wilson said. "We want the ultimate goal. It's time for me to step aside and let some one else lead the charge."

Just shortly prior to Wilson's tenure, Benedictine reached the state tournament in 2010 but has not returned since. This past season, Benedictine lost its sectional semifinal playoff game to Tallmadge. The school had not won a playoff game since its regional semifinal appearance in 2013.

This season, the Bengals struggled early because of injuries and waiting for football season to end. The result was an 8-14 record with losses in six of the team's last seven games.

They did a win over Walsh Jesuit, which had two losses the entire regular season, in February. Point guard Justin Layne would be the team's returning leading scorer next season.

Wilson is 12th all-time in scoring at Benedictine. He graduated from the University of Toledo and played professional basketball in Switzerland and Lithuania. Prior to coaching at Benedictine he was the head coach at Indianapolis Metropolitan School in Indianapolis.

Contact high school sports reporter David Cassilo by email (dcassilo@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@dcassilo). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff talks Browns, Cavaliers and Indians.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Are the Pacers a real threat to the Cavaliers? Is the Browns' approach to free agency prudent?

The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff tackled those questions and more in his weekly podcast on Friday.

Among the other topics discussed:

- Is David Blatt ready to coach in the playoffs?

- What positions should the Browns address in the draft?

- What does Lonnie Chisenhall need to do offensively to compensate for his glove at third?

You can download the MP3 or listen with the player above.

Be sure to follow DMan on Twitter.

As the draft nears, the speculation and rhetoric gets turned up as it does every year.

BEREA, Ohio -- To cynics among us, Chip Kelly's news conference on the heels of the bold Nick Foles-for-Sam Bradford trade smacked of real life imitating art.

The Eagles coach sounded like Pinocchio the motivational speaker from the Geico commercial as he trumpeted Bradford's potential and spoke of not gambling away the franchise's future in an effort to trade up from No. 20 overall for Marcus Mariota.

"Let's dispel that right now," Kelly told reporters. "I think that stuff is crazy. You guys have been going with that stuff all a lot. I think Marcus is the best quarterback in the draft. We will never mortgage our future to go all the way up to get somebody like that because we have too many other holes that we are going to take care of."

Perhaps, Kelly is telling the truth about Mariota, a quarterback he recruited at Oregon and has likened to Peyton Manning. Maybe a coach who covets mobile quarterbacks is satisfied with Bradford, who's rebounding from his second torn ACL in as many years.

And the fact Kelly volunteered he'd been offered a first-round pick the morning of the impromptu presser (perhaps from the Browns?) wasn't the coach's way of setting a market for Bradford, right?

"We did not bring Sam in here to be a chip," Kelly said. "I'm the only Chip here."

Good line. If you believe it let Colt McCoy tell you about the time the Browns reportedly assured him they weren't taking a quarterback in the first round of the 2012 draft.

Welcome to the NFL's version of silly season, that time of year between the end of the playoffs and the start of the draft when just about everything coming out of decision-makers' mouths are lies, deception, misdirection and half truths.

Straight answers are never plentiful in the NFL, but as the draft approaches honesty gets battered more than Tim Couch behind the Browns' 1999 offensive line.

This isn't a matter of national security or nuclear disarmament. It's much more important to a football-mad, draft-loving culture. That's why we're willing to play along and suspend disbelief. We succumb to speculation, clicking links that transport us to possible scenarios, however far-fetched, involving our favorite teams.

It's especially true - there's that word - this year for a segment of Browns fans that can't fathom their team heading into next season with 36-year Josh McCown as quarterback. Will the club trade up for Marcus Mariota? Will it move a first-round pick for Bradford? What if Chargers veteran Philip Rivers, a free agent after 2015, becomes available?

Click, click, click.

The beauty of this cottage industry is that anything is possible because no teams want to tip their hands. It's why reputable coaches and general managers engage in the time-honored practice of subterfuge.

No one knows it better than Bradford. The Rams went to great lengths to quash rumors the club was shopping him. They let it be known the quarterback had input in hiring the club's new offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti.

At the NFL combine, coach Jeff Fisher was asked about reports of Bradford allowing the team to seek a trade.

"I was surprised to hear that," the coach said. "That's inaccurate. No, I mean. We talked about what our plans are for him."

In fairness, Fisher said they might look to add another quarterback. Rams GM Les Snead also was grilled on the topic:

"I did say deleting (Bradford) is not our answer," Snead said. "I don't know that that solves our riddle. That's breaking news is what that is -- you know what I mean? Do you want to trade for Sam? Do you have a deal? He's a good player. If some team was interested I certainly don't blame them. But I'll stick to what I said earlier: deleting him is not the answer." 

Two weeks later, the Rams pressed Control, Alt, Delete and rebooted their system with Foles at quarterback. Crazy thing is they might still be one of the teams interested in Mariota.

It's not to pick on the Rams, who are building a competitive side in the rugged NFC West. Many clubs want to keep the opposition guessing, and the rhetoric figures to ramp up next week at the owners meetings when reporters ask pointed questions to coaches and general managers about draft strategies looking to uncover a kernel of truth.  

Browns coach Mike Pettine, a straighter shooter than most, said recently he would be comfortable with McCown as his quarterback, but that all options remain open. 

Here's the whole truth: Nobody knows what will happen April 30, which is what makes the run-up so entertaining. Read everything, parse all the comments and believe nothing.  

It says here the Browns will make a run at another starting quarterback via trade or in the draft. 

That's just pure speculation, but I see the potential.

LeBron James was absent for shootaround on Friday and is questionable versus Pacers.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio - LeBron James did not attend shootaround Friday morning due to an illness and is questionable for tonight's home game against the Indiana Pacers.

Coincidentally the last game James missed was in Indiana on Feb. 27, a game Head Coach David Blatt chose to rest him and the Cavaliers ended up losing 93-86.

James has been sidelined for 11 games this year and the Cavaliers are 2-9 in those contests. Indiana leads the season-series 2-1 and always presents a physical challenge.

Cleveland (44-26) could potentially meet up with Indiana (30-37) in the first round of the playoffs. They're a difficult team James is so familiar with.

"They're a team that's equipped for the payoffs, for sure," James said after Thursday's practice. "Just going up against them the last few years I know for sure what they're all about and it's a good style of play in the postseason."

The All-Star forward has appeared in 59 games this season and is averaging 25.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 7.4 assists. Cleveland has a 14-game home winning streak on the line.

Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin, sidelined by a medical condition, is hoping to be in Cleveland next week for the NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional after a Bearcats win against Kentucky and a clean bill of health from his doctors. Watch video

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- If Cincinnati shocks No. 1 Kentucky today in the NCAA Tournament, the happiest person on the planet likely will be Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin. He just won't be able to show it, and we probably won't see it.

Cronin is in Louisville with the team and he is not expected to be in the KFC Yum Center for the 2:40 p.m. scheduled tipoff (CBS). He watched Thursday's overtime win against Purdue in the team's Louisville area hotel, which in itself is good news for Bearcat Nation because it means he's traveling with the team now.

He has been sidelined since by Dec. 20 by arterial dissection, a non-life threatening condition caused by persistent headaches. He said he no longer suffers from the headaches and will undergo tests next week, the results of which he hopes will allow him to return to the team.

So if Cincinnati wins, he might be in Cleveland on the sidelines.

"I'm close,'' he said in the locker room Friday. "I've got some more tests and knock on wood, God willing, I'll pass them.''

Cronin, 43, has had to limit his activity level and stress. He said that is easier during the NCAA Tournament than one might think.

"It's been easier because I'm close to being cleared. My health has been diagnosed as decidedly better and I've just got more practice with them,'' he said. "It was harder for me when we struggled and I was worried about our season going the wrong way, and I couldn't go back and stop that from happening.

"That was my first time in my life I had a feeling of inadequacy. The people outside my family that I care about the most, my coaches, my players, I couldn't help them. I could talk to them, but I couldn't go be their leader. I couldn't do my job."

Cronin, a Cincinnati native and UC grad, is in his ninth year as head coach. The Bearcats were 7-2 when he fell ill, and are 16-8 since then under associate head coach Larry Davis.

Cronin said he's gained new insight while being away from the team, especially during the thriller against Purdue.

"I learned more of a player's perspective," he said. "Talent is the most important thing. Sometimes we think as coaches we can control everything, and we can't. This tournament is more of a player's tournament. We had some guys who refused to give up Thursday night, Kevin Johnson, Troy Caupain, and Coreontae DeBerry stepped up and said I'm not going give up. Give me the ball.

"That's been my perspective, probably because I'm at home watching. Larry's done a great job, but kids have got to make plays."

The No. 11-seed Dayton Flyers are defying the odds, their depth, their size and their fatigue to continue winning in the NCAA Tournament.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- It looks almost like a setup for the Dayton Flyers. A good one. The scheduling premise for the NCAA Tournament is that early-round games are not to be played on your home court, and highest seeds are to get the best/closest scheduling advantage whenever possible.

Yet No. 11-seed Dayton won a first-round game on its true home court to advance to Friday's matchup against No. 6 Providence, 70 miles away from its campus doors. After a very late finish, after 1 a.m., the Flyers prevailed in Nationwide Arena, 66-53.

The next step on Sunday is against the No. 4 Oklahoma Sooners, and the near home court advantage will have to supersede the fact that UD will be playing its sixth game in 10 days with basically a seven-man roster with no player taller than 6-6.

"Really proud of our guys,'' Dayton coach Archie Miller said after the Providence win. "They continue to not only defy a lot of odds but they just have an incredible toughness about them.''

This is the second straight season the Flyers have picked up NCAA Tournament wins and Miller said that has been a big key to advancing.

"Our experience, especially with the five core guys that have played in the NCAA Tournament now have won five games in two years. I think it is the big reason why we are able to continue to play the way we are is because they know how to do it."

Indeed, the players have become almost oblivious to what has happened behind them, exclusively looking forward.

"We feel fine,'' swingman Dyshawn Pierre said. "We have a good opportunity ahead of us right now. We're not focused on how much games we've played, really, we're just focused on the next one."

How did this happen

What a wild Friday, even though three of the four top seeds advanced. In the Midwest games, No. 5 West Virginia got a late 3-pointer to top stubborn No. 12 Buffalo, which had a critical layup off a late-game inbounds play roll off the rim and into the hands of a Mountaineer.

In the second Midwest game, No. 13 Valparaiso had its chances against No. 4 Maryland right down to the last shot, but the Crusaders' 3-point attempt to send the game into overtime never made it to the rim as the Terrapins survived and advanced.

In the first East Regional game, superior size and athleticism was evident as Oklahoma went about its business smoothly over Albany. Then it was the nightcap as Dayton closed out the night with the Friars.

Sunday game times:

• No. 4 Oklahoma vs. No. 11 Dayton, 6:10 p.m., TNT.
• No. 4. Maryland vs. No. 5 West Virginia, 8:40 p.m., TNT.

News you can use:

• Buffalo is not fast enough.
• Maybe WVU win was a fluke.
• Maryland rookies like dancing.
• Oklahoma makes the grade.
• Not a good night for the Friars.

Listen live tonight as Shaker Heights plays Garfield Heights for a trip to Columbus.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A trip to Columbus is on the line tonight as Shaker Heights and Garfield Heights meet for the third time this season. This matchup will determine the regional champion and the winner will advance to the Division I state Final Four.

Shaker Heights won the first two meetings and is led by West Virginia commit Esa Ahmad. Garfield Heights is led by Willie Jackson and Frankie Hughes, two highly-recruited players. Chris Fedor and Dan Labbe will have the game live with tip-off set for 7 p.m. Our pregame begins at 6:30 with the OHSAA Tournament Tipoff Show.

Click play below when the red on-air button appears at the bottom of the player.

Chuck Bednarik, a Pro Football Hall of Famer and one of the last great two-way NFL players, died early Saturday, the Philadelphia Eagles said. He was 89.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Chuck Bednarik, a Pro Football Hall of Famer and one of the last great two-way NFL players, died early Saturday, the Philadelphia Eagles said. He was 89.

Known as "Concrete Charlie," Bednarik epitomized the tough-guy linebacker and also was an outstanding center for the Eagles from 1949 to 1962. He is best remembered for a game-saving tackle at the 9-yard line on the final play of the 1960 title game, and it was typical Bednarik. He threw Green Bay running back Jim Taylor to the ground and refused to let him up while the final seconds ticked off as the Eagles held on for a 17-13 win.

"Everybody reminds me of it and I'm happy they remind me of it," Bednarik once said. "I'm proud and delighted to have played in that game."

He died at an assisted living facility in Richland, Pennsylvania, following a brief illness, the Eagles said in a statement.

Bednarik, who frequently criticized modern athletes, said he played on all but two kickoffs against the Packers and could have kept playing if he needed to, unlike today's players who "suck air after five plays." He missed only three games in his 14-year career.

The tackle on Taylor actually was the second hit that season that drew headlines. Earlier in 1960, he knocked out New York Giants running back Frank Gifford with a blow so hard that Gifford suffered a concussion and didn't play again until 1962.

An iconic photograph captured Bednarik pumping his fist over Gifford's prone body, though the linebacker insisted he wasn't gloating. He said he didn't notice what happened to Gifford after the hit and only saw that he had fumbled and another Eagle recovered the ball.

Bednarik was the last NFL starter to play regularly on both offense and defense until Deion Sanders did so for Dallas in 1996. Sanders' achievement hardly impressed Bednarik.

"The positions I played, every play, I was making contact, not like that ... Deion Sanders," Bednarik said. "He couldn't tackle my wife. He's back there dancing out there instead of hitting."

Born May 1, 1925, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Bednarik flew 30 combat missions over Germany as a gunner during World War II. He then played center for Penn from 1945 to 1948, and was selected first overall in the 1949 NFL draft by the Eagles.

In 1950, he was All-NFL as a center, then he was voted All-NFL as a linebacker in 1951 through 1957, and again in 1960.

Bednarik, whose gnarled fingers in retirement stood as a reminder of the ruggedness of his profession, said he never made more than $27,000 in a season and supplemented his income by selling concrete, earning his nickname. At one point, he pawned his championship ring and his Hall of Fame ring.

In early 2005, when the Eagles won the NFC championship and had Philadelphia in a Super Bowl frenzy, Bednarik was bitter enough to root for the Patriots in the Super Bowl. He later apologized to owner Jeff Lurie and was a welcomed visitor at training camp and other alumni functions.

"Philadelphia fans grow up expecting toughness, all-out effort and a workmanlike attitude from this team and so much of that image has its roots in the way Chuck played the game," Lurie said in a statement released by the team.

The Maxwell Football Club presents an award in Bednarik's honor to the defensive player of the year in college football.

Bednarik is survived by his wife, Emma, and five daughters --Charlene Thomas, Donna Davis, Carol Safarowic, Pam McWilliams, and Jackie Chelius, as well as 10 grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

Ohio has more schools in the Round of 32 of of the NCAA Basketball Tournament than any other state. Here are the rankings.

Ohio has a national-leading four schools in the Round of 32 of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament - Cincinnati, Dayton, Ohio State and Xavier.Associated Press 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It might be called a national tournament, but better than half the teams advancing to the Round of 32 in this year's NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament are from just seven states.

Leading the way is Ohio, with four schools in the final 32 of the tournament -- Cincinnati, Dayton, Ohio State and Xavier.

North Carolina has three schools left -- Duke, North Carolina and North Carolina State.

And five other states have two schools left. They are California, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas and Kentucky.

These seven states account for 17 of the final 32 teams.

Here's the breakdown by state.