The Shrine of Eternals celebrates ballplayers for their character, or for just being a character.

Indians' pitchers and catchers arrived in Goodyear, Ariz., on Sunday to open spring training. Expectations are high for the AL champion, but at this time of the year all teams have questions to answer. The Indians are no different. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians spring training complex in Goodyear, Ariz., has been filled with players for the last several days. Expectations are high.

Winning the American League pennant and reaching the 10^th inning of Game 7 of the World Series before losing to the Chicago Cubs will do that to a team. But it is time to forget the past and start anew.

"I'm anxious to get to spring training and see the team we've put together," said GM Chris Antonetti, before camp officially opened Sunday.

He is not alone. The Indians are favored to do big things this year, but preseason favorites or not, the Indians will use the next seven weeks in the desert trying to find an answer to every question facing this team.

Here are seven of them to consider.

1. How will the Indians handle the expectations of being favored to not only win the AL Central, but play deep into October?

Best-case scenario: They handle it like water rolling off a duck's back. No muss, no fuss, just complete faith in their talent and ability to win games.

Worst-case scenario: Life with a target on their back, along with all the other things that happen during a 162-game season - injuries, losing streaks, inconsistent play - sidetracks the Indians and keeps them from playing their best baseball.

What will probably happen: A baseball season isn't about perfection, it's about handling the grind. The Indians will go through good times and bad, but as long as they can stay healthy, there are enough veterans on the roster to deal with the expectations of success.

2. How will newcomer Edward Encarnacion fit in the Indians' lineup and clubhouse?

Best-case scenario: Encarnacion, who has averaged 39 homers and 110 RBI over the last five seasons with Toronto, steps right in and hits like his track record says he'll hit. He adds a good vibe to the clubhouse as well.

Worst-case scenario: Encarnacion, 34, comes to Cleveland and like prominent free agents Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn before him, does not age well. A poor start leads to him struggling to live up to the Indians' investment in him.

What will probably happen: Encarnacion goes through an adjustment period with his new team, while learning the quirks of Progressive Field. When the adjustment period ends, he starts to hit like he's done over the last five years.

3. How much will Michael Brantley be able to help the Indians this season?

Best-case scenario: Brantley is carefully monitored in spring training and opens the year on the disabled list. He returns to the team in late April and by mid-May, with his right shoulder tested and sound, becomes a productive everyday contributor.

Worst-case scenario: The problem that hounded Brantley last year with his right shoulder continues. He keeps getting to a point where he increases the velocity of his swing, but his right shoulder prevents him from moving beyond that point.

What will probably happen: Slowly, but surely Brantley's right shoulder responds. He has good days and bad days, but by late August and early September he starts to look like his old self.

4. Do the Indians have enough starting pitching depth?

Best-case scenario: The starting five of Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Danny Salazar, Trevor Bauer and Josh Tomlin, with proper rest, make it through the season with minimal damage. But when someone needs a break, or a quick trip to the new 10-day disabled list, Mike Clevinger, Ryan Merritt, Cody Anderson, Adam Plutko and Shawn Morimando give manager Terry Francona an array of attractive alternatives.

Worst-case scenario: The starting five proves to be brittle and the Tribe's pipeline runs dry. Antonetti faced with the prospect of falling out of the race, has to deal more prospects for an established starter.

What will probably happen: Few, if any, rotations go through the season without an injury. While Clevinger might prove to be more useful in the bullpen and Anderson is still a question mark because of his right elbow surgery, Merritt showed enough promise last season to instill confidence in the coaching staff that he could fill in in case of injury.

Plutko, Morimando and Rob Kaminsky might be able to help as well.

5. Is Tyler Naquin the answer in center field?

Best-case scenario: Naquin, third in the AL Rookie of the Year balloting in 2016, has a great spring and shows the Indians he's ready to be the fulltime center fielder. He improves his routes in the outfield and learns to just say no to the fastball at the top of the strike zone.

Worst-case scenario: Naquin, whose overall game declined the longer last season went, can't stop that downward spiral. The Indians decide to go with a platoon of Abraham Almonte and veteran Austin Jackson in center. They could go with youngsters Bradley Zimmer or Greg Allen, but they're not ready to play untested players on a team that is supposed to win a division.

What will probably happen: Naquin takes a deep breath and starts to make the necessary adjustments that most second year players do. Almonte or Jackson proves to be a solid platoon partner.

6. Will relievers Andrew Miller, Cody Allen and Bryan Shaw be able to handle another season of industrial-strength usage?

Best-case scenario: Miller, Allen and Shaw show no wear and tear from making a combined 193 appearances and pitching 253 1/3 innings in the regular and postseason last year. Francona uses Allen and Shaw carefully early in spring training to make sure they're rested. Miller, however, is scheduled to pitch for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic in March. When he rejoins the Indians, Francona and pitching coach Mickey Callaway closely monitor him through late March and early April to make sure he's ready for the rest of the season.

Worst-case scenario: The Indians have depth in the bullpen, but an injury to Allen, Shaw or Miller would not go over well.

What will probably happen: Miller, Shaw and Allen know better than anyone how to get ready for a season. All three will have some spotty performances in April and May before zeroing in on what they usually do - retiring batters at an alarming rate.

7. Is Jose Ramirez the real deal or was last season a mirage?

Best-case scenario: Jose Ramirez, after his season-saving imitation of Michael Brantley last year, starts 2017 like he ended 2016. In other words, he hits everything in sight, plays a solid third base, hits in all nine spots in the lineup and rarely, if ever, leaves a runner in scoring position.

Worst-case scenario: Ramirez, named Man of the Year by Cleveland's chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America, reverts to the 2015 version of himself when he hit .219 in 97 games.

What will probably happen: Ramirez might not hit .312 (176-for-565) again this year, but he'll do well. Last year was more than a hot streak. It was Ramirez's way of showing he belongs in the big leagues.

See every Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star from the franchise's inception through the 2017 season.

Cleveland sports fans wonder about NFL top draft prospect Myles Garrett's sense of humor and Indians right hander Trevor Bauer's Twitter wars.

Like World Cup soccer, baseball eventually will change its tiebreaker because of the excessive length of games.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - On July 2, 1963, Juan Marichal of the San Francisco Giants outdueled Warren Spahn of the Milwaukee Braves, 1-0, in a 16-inning game.

The statistics were sedate for such a marathon struggle between great starting pitchers. Spahn gave up eight hits, struck out only two, but walked only one. Marichal gave up nine hits, struck out 10 and walked four. The Braves left 11 men on base in their inability to breakthrough against Marichal. The Giants stranded nine.

Willie Mays won the game with a walkoff home run with one out in the bottom of the 16^th at Candlestick Park.

Spahn was 42 and still a great star. Marichal was 25, just becoming a great star.

No one knows how many pitches the two starters threw. Pitch counts were irrelevant then. A man finished what he started if he had good stuff.

In all, 22 players took part in the game. They totaled 110 at-bats.

The entire 16-inning Iron Man duel took only 4 hours, 10 minutes.

When the Indians beat the Blue Jays in Toronto, 2-1, in 19 innings last July 1, the game took 6 hours, 13 minutes to play.

Four hours for a 5-1 game, even in the World Series?

In the 2016 World Series, the second game between the Cubs and the Indians, played at Progressive Field, took 4 hours, 4 minutes for the Cubs to win, 5-1. There were 68 at-bats. Chicago left 13 men on base, the Tribe eight.

The Cubs used three pitchers. The Indians, after starter Trevor Bauer lasted only 3 2/3 innings, used seven.

Some of the length was due to the television commercials added for the five mid-inning pitching changes, three of them by Terry Francona, spiritual descendant of Captain Hook, Sparky Anderson. Another consideration as the obvious importance of the game.

But that doesn't come close to explaining it all.

Three hours-plus, on average

The average Indians game last season lasted 3 hours, 3 minutes. The Cubs took two minutes longer.

If they had played 16 innings, as the Giants and Braves did, would it have seemed like the 108 years that had passed since Chicago last won?

The Designated Runner

This is why Major League Baseball eventually will make good on its threat to place a runner on second base at the start of every half-inning of games longer than nine innings.

Attention spans resemble those of puppies these days. If many people don't have the time to read a book or a newspaper, they don't have time watch a baseball game decided by four runs for over four hours.

The Designated Runner (DR) or whatever they're going to call him, is a shiny object for some fans' debatable powers of concentration, which offers the possibility of a quick outcome.

But it strips away the layers upon layers of accumulated tension that makes baseball special.

Other tiebreakers

College football overtime is red zone football, not full-field football. It takes away the entire concept of field position by eliminating the punt. Yet it is much more exciting than the NFL version and fairer too. Both teams are guaranteed at least one possession.

Only the stodgy old U.S. Open in golf stages a full, mostly anti-climactic 18-hole playoff on Monday. The other majors use Sunday playoff formats, either sudden death (Masters) or lingering death, in the form of a three-hole (PGA Championship) or four-hole (British Open) aggregate score.

Tennis uses a seven-point tiebreaker if sets reach six games, although final set rules can differ.

Penalty kicks decide World Cup games in the most popular sport on the planet, soccer.

I'm not sure the DR is what the doctor ordered, but it's the way of the world today.

The MLB is testing a new rule that would automatically place a runner on second base during extra innings.

The MLB is testing a new rule that would automatically place a runner on second base during extra innings. The rule is designed to speed up the game and help avoid over-taxing players. Supporters of the rules say change can be a good thing. Baseball purists are up in arms against the proposed rule because they see the "so-called problem" part of what makes baseball beautiful. It's not a bug, it's a feature. What do you think? 

PERSPECTIVES

The new rule tries to speed up games by having overtime periods play under different rules, similar to the NFL and NHL. Right now, extra innings tend to drag on and become grueling as exhausted players try to end the game. The move would speed this process up and inject much needed drama as baseball struggles to compete with more action-filled sports like football and basketball.

In addition to the increase in action a forced runner would create, so too would a philosophical element enter the game: to bunt or not to bunt. The other advantages are not quite as Shakespearean but certainly pragmatic. Amid concern about fatigue and travel, the presumption of shorter games with the new rules could save players from the rigors of extra-innings affairs that slog into the night. Further, the taxation on young arms - especially those in the minor leagues - would be mitigated.

Some fans welcome the change. They think baseball is being dragged down by its obsession with statistics and orthodoxy. Baseball games keep getting longer and efforts to speed up the game have not been successful. The key is to keep on trying and tinkering--things don't need to stay the same forever.

So try this idea, then try the next one. Tinker in the minors and in spring training, but don't fear changing the game at the major league level. The best plan may be one gigantic overhaul, a line in the sand for the purists who can talk about the game before the change and after. But the focus for the switch would be for entertainment and interest and fun and watchability, not a middle reliever's stat line or the ability to debate Corey Kluber vs. Catfish Hunter.

Baseball purists don't see long extra innings and weird things they cause as a problem. It's what makes baseball magical--the unpredictability and weirdness only add to baseball. Besides that, this is a solution in search of a problem. The situation it tries to address is very specific and doesn't really happen all that often in practice.

But there's a reason the Pos Players Pitching Twitter account exists; those occasions ought to be celebrated as a manifestation of baseball's wondrous ability to give fans something they've never seen before. You can't look at a line like Chris Davis's from the Orioles' 17-inning game in 2012 -- 0-for-8 batting with five strikeouts and a double-play; two innings pitched, no runs allowed, one win -- without also appreciating the potential of a sport that creates that little bit of magic on an otherwise nondescript May afternoon.Moreover, just as making intentional walks automatic won't have any tangible effect on the sport's purported timing problem, lengthy, extra-inning games occur so rarely that their elimination won't matter on a meaningful scale.

@Drew4Bristol

Baseball has a lot of pace of play probs. And anything within reason to speed up the play needs to be done.

-- Peter Ciacci (@theuncle29) February 10, 2017

It's intent is to end games quicker. No matter what folks say, that's its end game. Now, will it do it? Unclear, but worth looking at.

-- Samuel Hale (@thesamuelhale) February 10, 2017

There is no reason to play 14+ inning regular season games. But oh, the "baseball purists" are against it. Stop. I hope this rule gets in!

-- Joe 'Baboots' Curci (@JoeCurciWOR) February 10, 2017

This idea is pure trash. https://t.co/hdIIjgPeeG

-- (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) February 10, 2017

@NYTSports why not have them throw underhand and start with a 1-1 count too?

-- James (@JSants20) February 10, 2017

@NYTSports Why not just a beer chugging contest between the teams? That's just as absurd as your suggestion.

-- Darrell Pitzer (@d_pitz) February 10, 2017

The commissioner of @MLB needs to let baseball be baseball and quite trying to change every rule or speed stuff up. It's baseball!

-- Cory Stiefel (@CoryStiefel21) February 10, 2017

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The move opens a roster spot for Cleveland to add another player through free agency or trade.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cavs traded injured center Chris "Bird Man" Andersen to the Charlotte Hornets on Monday for a protected second-round draft pick.

The move opens a roster spot for Cleveland to add another player through free agency or trade.

The Cavs announced the trade at noon Monday. Charlotte also will receive cash in the deal. A league source said the Hornets would immediately waive Andersen. 

The pick the Cavs are supposed to get they'll likely never see -- it's a top-55 protected pick in this year's draft. This move was all about creating a roster spot, as cheaply as possible. Cavs general manager David Griffin succeeded.

Andersen, 38, lost his season when he tore the ACL in his right knee at practice on Dec. 16, but was still attending Cavs home games. He was on the bench for Cleveland's 125-109 win Saturday over the Denver Nuggets, in a blazer with skulls and roses stitched on it.

Andersen rehabbed his knee Saturday before the game with Cavs trainers at The Q and said he didn't want to discuss whether his contract would be used in a deal. 

"I'm gonna leave that in house," Andersen told cleveland.com Saturday. "It is a championship-caliber team and they need certain players to be out there on the floor. It's unfortunate that I'm not able to come back this season (air quotes),  We'll see. They gotta do what they gotta do to make sure they push the team into that position where they can repeat, then that's what they've gotta do.

"I'm aware of it, they're aware of it, we're all on the same page. We're all trying to accomplish the same goal, and that's getting them to win another championship and me be a part of it."

The Cavs were able to trade the dead contract of Mo Williams last month in the deal that brought Kyle Korver to Cleveland, but the Hawks accepted Williams' $2.2 million contract because they wanted the Cavs' 2019 first-round pick.

Andersen had played two seasons previously with LeBron James in Miami, winning one championship. He fit in with new teammates in Cleveland, accompanying them to World Series games and hanging out when the whole team went to the Ohio State-Michigan football game.

His tattoos, his energy, his prowess on the glass made him attractive to fans and to teams.

Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported that the Cavs will receive cash as part of the trade. Charlotte will receive cash.

The promotion of Brian Barren as president of business operations establishes a clear hierarchy in the Indians' front office.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians have promoted Brian Barren as President of Business Operations.

Barren's promotion establishes a clear hierarchy in the team's front office. Chris Antonetti is president of baseball operations with Barren in charge of the business side of the team.

When Mark Shapiro left in 2015 to take over the Toronto Blue Jays, he ran the baseball and business side of the Indians in the role of president. After Shapiro left, owner Paul Dolan took over the business operations.

The Indians hired Barren in January of 2014 as Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Barren joined the Indians after spending 24 years at Proctor & Gamble in Cincinnati.

Barren graduated from Princeton University in 1989 where he spent four years playing football. Shapiro was a teammate. Upon graduation, he served as a tank commander in the U.S. Army.

"I have worked closely with Brian during his time with us and am confident his leadership will guide our business operation in a very positive direction," said Dolan, in a statement. "Under his leadership to date we have experienced strong growth and capability building to ensure our success as sustainable as possible."

Notre Dame returns to the Top 25 ranks and Butler remains among the elite despite losing three of its last four games.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Gonzaga, the only undefeated team in Division I, once again remained in the No. 1 spot in the Associated Press Top 25 men's basketball poll announced Monday.

Rounding out the Top 5 are Kansas, Baylor and Arizona, none of which received any No. 1 votes.

Back this week to the Top 25 ranks is Notre Dame. Butler remained on the list despite losing three of its last four games.

Top 25 breakdown: Just completed one of the quietest weeks in the Top 25 this season. And still 12 teams suffered a loss in the ranks, although none went down twice. The big riser this week was Duke. Sitting on the edge of their season going south, the Blue Devils took down North Carolina at home, then Clemson, barely, on the road. Duke has had a resurgence since head coach Mike Krzyzewski returned from back surgery.

Kansas continues to win by a thread - two games by a combined four points - but win just the same. Gonzaga has seemingly crossed its biggest hurdle to go undefeated for the season, at St. Mary's. Now that the NCAA has released its projected Top 16 seeds, with Villanova, Kansas, Baylor and Gonzaga on the top line, it will be interesting to see how many hold up a month from now.

AP Top 25 Poll

By The Associated Press

Elton's Top 25 ballot

1. Gonzaga
2. Villanova
3. Kansas
4. Baylor
5. Arizona

6. Louisville
7. UCLA
8. Oregon
9. West Virginia
10. North Carolina

11. Wisconsin
12. Kentucky
13. Duke
14. Cincinnati
15. Purdue

16. Virginia
17. Florida State
18. Florida
19. Creighton
20. SMU

21. South Carolina
22. St. Mary's
23. Xavier
24. Monmouth
25. Maryland

Last year the Buckeyes led the way with 14 invites.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- It won't be a total Ohio State takeover like it was last year, but the 2017 NFL Combine will still have a strong Buckeye presence.

Eight former Ohio State football players have received invitations to the annual scouting combine, which will be held Feb. 28-March 6 in Indianapolis. Last year, the Buckeyes had 14.

This year's invitees include:

* Receiver Noah Brown

* Cornerback Gareon Conley

* Center Pat Elflein

* Safety Malik Hooker

* Punter Cameron Johnston

* Cornerback Marshon Lattimore

* Linebacker Raekwon McMillan

* Running back/receiver Curtis Samuel

Hooker won't participate in any combine drills due to recent surgery for a torn labrum and a sports hernia, but he can still go through the interview and physical examination portions of the combine.

Hooker, Lattimore, Conley and McMillan are players you can find in first rounds of various mock drafts, with Hooker and Lattimore cracking the top-10 of most.

In total, the Big Ten had 51 players invited to the combine, including 13 from Michigan.

Ohio State mock draft roundup 2.0

Cleveland.com sports columnists Bud Shaw and Doug Lesmerises discuss the key factors for the Indians in 2017 as part of their video debate series Prepare for List Off. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland Indians open spring training with more answers than questions.

The defending American League champs added a power bat (Edwin Encarnacion) and bullpen help (Boone Logan) to a team that came within an extra-innings game of winning the World Series.

I know what you're thinking. So what could go wrong?

That's an old Cleveland attitude. The new Cleveland attitude should be to embrace any preseason prediction of a World Series championship for the Indians, even it that includes a Sports Illustrated cover.

There are things to watch during spring training that will decide whether the Indians make another long playoff run. We talked about those in our video debate series, Prepare for List Off.

Cleveland.com sports columnist Doug Lesmerises thinks two of the more intriguing questions involve the newcomers, Encarnacion and Logan.

My choices involve a starter who plays with drones, a bullpen arm with a lot of miles on it and a certain player whose return could make the Indians outfield look much better than it did for most of last season.

You can probably guess the guy I mean and it's not Abraham Almonte.

Hear us out and come back and tell us which list makes more sense.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- OneUp Sports called to ask about the UConn women's basketball team and its historic winning streak. No. 1 UConn, coached by Geno Auriemma, seeks the program's 100th straight victory tonight (Feb. 13) against No. 6 South Carolina in Storrs, Conn. I can't wrap my brain around 39 consecutive victories, let alone 99. What Auriemma and the...

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- OneUp Sports called to ask about the UConn women's basketball team and its historic winning streak.

No. 1 UConn, coached by Geno Auriemma, seeks the program's 100th straight victory tonight (Feb. 13) against No. 6 South Carolina in Storrs, Conn.

I can't wrap my brain around 39 consecutive victories, let alone 99. What Auriemma and the Huskies -- 24-0 this season -- have done is absolutely incredible. Among the nuggets: During the streak, they have defeated 27 ranked opponents by an average of 23.6 points.

Kevin Love is getting a second opinion on his ailing left knee; Iman Shumpert questionable to play against Timberwolves. Watch video

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Cavs All-Star forward Kevin Love will get a second opinion on his ailing left knee Tuesday, and there is concern team wide that he could be in line for an extended absence.

"I would love to be able to tell you that he'll miss three games and be back, but I can't right now because we don't know," general manager David Griffin said.

The Cavs have already ruled Love out for Tuesday's game in Minnesota. They play again Wednesday at home against Indiana, and then Love is supposed to play in the All-Star Game Sunday in New Orleans.

Love already underwent an MRI on Sunday, after complaining of pain during and after Cleveland's 125-109 win over the Denver Nuggets Saturday night. The Cavs did not announce the results of the MRI, nor would they share with whom Love would consult Tuesday.

Obviously, the need for more tests and more sets of eyes suggests whatever the Cavs' doctor saw Sunday in Love's knee wasn't optimal.

Sources said Love likely suffered the injury -- whatever it is -- at some point during the Cavs' recent four-game swing. It's unclear when he hurt the knee or when team officials learned of the injury, but Love played in Thursday's loss to Oklahoma City.

It was the Cavs' third game in four nights, fourth in six, and the night before coach Tyronn Lue said Love, Kyrie Irving, and LeBron James "probably" wouldn't play. All three of them played against the Thunder, and again in Saturday's win.

Love scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds against the Nuggets.

Lue said he was "definitely concerned" about Love's knee.

"Always concerned when guys are going down," Lue said. "And we're already limited as it is. Definitely concerned, but gotta see how he feels. Just, get evaluated tomorrow and see how he feels."

Starting shooting guard Iman Shumpert (sprained left ankle) is listed as questionable to play against the Timberwolves, and J.R. Smith (the original starting shooting guard) will have his surgically repaired right thumb re-examined during the All-Star break to establish a timeline for his return.

On Monday, the Cavs traded Chris "Bird Man" Andersen and freed up a roster spot, but the team is not expected to immediately sign a free agent.

Love is averaging 20 points and 11.1 rebounds in 46 games (so he's missed seven). This was his fourth All-Star selection. He's already battled food poisoning and a lower back issue.

Lue said Channing Frye would start for Love against the Timberwolves.

James, Irving, and Tristan Thompson were all given the day off from practice Monday, Lue said, but will play against Minnesota.

Check out printable brackets for both local districts in the 2017 OHSAA state hockey tournament.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The 2017 OHSAA state hockey tournament gets underway on Monday with all teams in the state trying to get to Nationwide Arena in Columbus for the state final on March 12.

Teams throughout the cleveland.com seven-county coverage area are competing for two of the spots in the Brooklyn and Kent Districts.

Check out brackets for both districts. They will be updated nightly throughout the postseason.

Brooklyn

Kent

Myles Garrett is projected to be selected by the Cleveland Browns as the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft . He said he wants to play in Dallas. Is that a problem? Watch video

Cleveland, Ohio -- Does Myles Garrett really want to play for the Dallas Cowboys?

You bet.

He did make a video saying he wanted to play for his hometown team. So he had to be serious, even though he later insisted it was "a joke."

How should Browns fans view that?

And what is the real question about the pass rusher from Texas A&M?

I talk about this with Ginger Christ, a Plain Dealer reporter and sports fan in this video.

Lyle missed Saturday's game against Maryland due to a family emergency.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Thad Matta got through a couple rounds of questions about the status of Ohio State guard JaQuan Lyle when Lyle decided to set the record straight himself.

Lyle missed Saturday's game against Maryland, and had been away from the team since last Thursday while dealing with a family emergency in Indiana. Matta said he wasn't sure on Monday afternoon whether or not Lyle had returned to Columbus yet.

Adam Jardy of the Columbus Dispatch tweeted Matta's comments, and Lyle responded with news that he was back with the team.

"I haven't seen (Matta) yet," Lyle wrote on Twitter before Monday's practice. "Tell him I'm getting taped and ready for practice now."

So that solves that.

Lyle is back with the team after returning home to be with his younger sister, who was dealing with serious complications stemming from childbirth. Reports from Matta were that Lyle's sister is doing much better now.

"My first and foremost is that he's there for his sister," Matta said. "He was there when she came out of a coma, which is a great thing. We'll deal with that issue (of Lyle playing) when he gets here."

Lyle is back now, but there's still some question of his availability for Tuesday night's game at Michigan State (9 p.m., ESPN).

Lyle hasn't played or practiced since last Wednesday's win over Rutgers. If Matta wanted to give Lyle a game to get back into the swing of things, that would make sense. But Ohio State is also at a critical time in its schedule and could use Lyle back in the lineup with C.J. Jackson as the only other full-time point guard on the roster.

"I'm looking forward to talking to him just to see what he's been doing, and that sort of thing," Matta said.

Before hearing that Lyle was back in Columbus, Matta said the Buckeyes were preparing to face the Spartans without him.

"We're gonna prepare like he's not playing, just like we did the other day and did yesterday," Matta said.

I haven't seen him yet..tell him I'm getting taped and ready for practice now https://t.co/lX50Fw203H

-- JaQuan Lyle (@JMamba13) February 13, 2017

Ohio State lost 86-77 at Maryland on Saturday with Jackson logging a career-high 34 minutes at point guard. Lyle is third on the team in scoring with 11.4 points per game, and leads the team in assists with 4.9 per game.

Note: Matta added on Monday that forward Keita Bates-Diop is also back with the team after tending his own family emergency last week. Bates-Diop is out for the season after having surgery for a stress fracture in his leg, but left the team last Thursday after his younger brother, Kai, suffered a heart attack during his high school practice. Matta said Kai is doing well, and will undergo surgery soon. "All great news," Matt said.

One of Jerry Sandusky's sons was arrested Monday on multiple sexual offense charges involving children, more than five years after the former Penn State assistant coach was himself first arrested.

Jeffrey Sandusky (Centre County Correctional Facility via AP) 

BELLEFONTE, Pa. -- One of Jerry Sandusky's sons was arrested Monday on multiple sexual offense charges involving children, more than five years after the former Penn State assistant coach was himself first arrested.

Jeffrey S. Sandusky, 41, a stalwart supporter who attended many of his father's court proceedings, was charged with 14 counts, according to court records. He was jailed on $200,000 bail.

His defense lawyer, Lance Marshall, declined to comment on the allegations.

Marshall said the charges were statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, six counts of unlawful contact with a minor and two counts each of photographing or depicting sexual acts, sexual abuse of children and corruption of minors.

The Centre County district attorney's office said it planned to issue a statement later Monday.

The state Corrections Department said that because of the charges, Jeffrey Sandusky was suspended without pay Monday from employment as a corrections officer at Rockview State Prison, near State College. He had been hired in August 2015.
Jerry Sandusky is serving a lengthy prison sentence for sexual abuse of 10 boys. Jeffery is one of Jerry Sandusky's six adopted children.

On Sunday, the Browns announced the passing of former NFL and college football coach Dave Adolph at 79 years old.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Mogadore football coach Matt Adorni said the memory of community native Dave Adolph will continue to live on after the longtime NFL assistant coach passed away Sunday at the age of 79.

Adorni has a picture hanging in his office of Adolph coaching the Browns, and he hopes the image will inspire his players.

"I keep it up there because it shows you can go anywhere even outside of tiny little Mogadore," said Adorni.

Longtime Browns defensive coach and coordinator Dave Adolph has passed away.

Remembering his legacy >> https://t.co/ecoZHCbPfl pic.twitter.com/Dp20dkc4BF

-- Cleveland Browns (@Browns) February 13, 2017

The Mogadore native spent 55 years serving a football coach and analyst. That run included 21 years as an NFL defensive coordinator with the San Diego Chargers (1985, 95-96), Kansas City Chiefs (92-94, 99), and the Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders (89-91, 97-98).

Adolph, along with head coach Marty Schottenheimer, led the Browns to the AFC Championship game twice during his three years in Cleveland from 1986-1988. The Browns were the NFL's second-best scoring defense in 1987 and ended with a loss to the Broncos in the AFC title game. It was Adolph's second tenure with the Browns, after working on Sam Rutigliano's staff in 1979 and staying with the Browns until 1984.

He appeared in the AFC Championship twice with other teams and made 12 career playoff appearances.

"The Adolph family has roots in Ohio and deep roots with the Cleveland Browns," Adolph's son, Mark stated in a release from the Browns. "We really appreciate the Browns fans and players for all the support and love they've given him and the outpouring of condolences through this difficult time as a family."

Before coaching in the NFL, Adolph spent his previous years at Akron (1963-1964), Connecticut (1965-1968), Kentucky (1969-1972), Illinois (1973-1976) and Ohio State (1977-1978). Adolph spent his final 12 years working with University of San Diego, Ohio State and Michigan.

He started his coaching career at Shaw High in 1961 and 1962.

A member of the 1954 state football championship team at Mogadore, Adolph went on to become an all-conference guard Akron and an Air Force officer. He spent his later years an analyst at the University of Michigan.

Adolph is survived by five children -- Michael, Mark, Thomas, Shane and Heather -- and many grandchildren.

Dave Adolph: Native son of Mogadore, University of Akron HOFer, NFL coaching great...you will be sorely missed. pic.twitter.com/rmiTyZsMS3

-- MogadoreFootball.com (@MogadoreFootbal) February 13, 2017

LeBron James garnered Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors for the fourth time this season and 57th in his career.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James is the NBA Eastern Conference Player of the week for games played Feb. 6-12.

It's the 57th time James has won the award, adding to his NBA record in that category. It's also the fourth time James has won the award this season, most recently for games through Dec. 12, 2016.

James set a career high with 17 assists and scored 32 points in a 140-135 overtime win against the Wizards on Feb. 6. His fadeaway three-pointer with 0.3 seconds left to force overtime.

He followed that with with 25 points, nine assists and six rebounds in a 132-117 win over the Pacers. On Feb. 11, he posted 27 points, 12 assists and five rebounds in a 125-109 win over the Nuggets.

In the three games combined, James shot 58.0 percent from the field and 60.0 percent from three-point range.
 
Along the way, James recorded his 800th career block at Indiana, moved past Lenny Wilkens for 13th all-time in assists against Washington and passed Magic Johnson for 20th all-time in steals.

Other nominees for the NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week were Boston's Isaiah Thomas, Miami's Goran Dragic and James Johnson, Philadelphia's Dario Saric, and Washington's Bradley Beal. Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers won the award in the Western Conference.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio - It has been a little over a month since Kyle Korver joined the Cleveland Cavaliers and the adjustment of his addition to the roster continues. Korver spoke about his first month here after practice at Cleveland Clinic Courts in Independence, before heading to Minnesota for a one-game road trip. "It's probably been more of the other...

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio - It has been a little over a month since Kyle Korver joined the Cleveland Cavaliers and the adjustment of his addition to the roster continues.

Korver spoke about his first month here after practice at Cleveland Clinic Courts in Independence, before heading to Minnesota for a one-game road trip.

"It's probably been more of the other guys having to adjust to me, than me having to adjust to them," Korver said.

Defensively, the game plans he has played before joining Cleveland were more structured than that of the Cavs.

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