With the NCAA Tournament closing in finding teams playing at a high level is key for tournament success. Gonzaga, Arizona and UCLA all fit the bill. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- As fans and Associated Press Top 25 teams start to laser in on the upcoming start of the NCAA Tournament, the initial question becomes what team is hot?

Right now the place to look is out West.

No. 4 Arizona (25-3), No. 5 UCLA (24-3) and of course No. 1 Gonzaga (28-0) are all left coast teams playing at a high level right now. All three should be highly seeded and expect to play close to home, at least in the NCAA Tournament regionals.

Obviously Gonzaga has not lost all season. Arizona sits atop the Pac-12 standings with a no-complaints loss at No. 13 Oregon since the beginning of conference play. And UCLA, which has a game this week at Arizona, has arguably the best freshman in the country, Lonzo Ball, who leads one of the most potent offenses in the country.

And for those looking for a Cinderella team No. 20 Saint Mary's, Gonzaga's biggest rival in the West Coast Conference, fits that bill nicely. When you throw Oregon into that mix, suddenly it looks like the West Regional of the NCAA Tournament - normally a comfortable landing spot for a power team and top seed from East of the Mississippi - will be a place to avoid this season instead.

That team from the East, however, might be yet another team currently playing at a high level; the Duke Blue Devils. Floundering two weeks ago, since head coach Mike Krzyzewski has returned from back surgery, Duke has been tested but has not faltered.

How will the Indians cope without their primary leader from last year? They'll rely on their World Series experience. Watch video

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Mike Napoli was lauded for providing leadership in the Indians' clubhouse last season.

"Did he?" Jason Kipnis inquired, before peering into a TV camera, smiling, and adding, "Nap, I hope you're watching."

Napoli, a postseason participant eight of the last 10 years, returned to the Rangers this offseason on a one-year deal. During his lone season in Cleveland, he delivered 34 home runs, 101 RBI and that enchanted, spellbinding stuff known as "clubhouse presence."

"He did," Kipnis said, his tone more serious. "We learned from him throughout [the season]."

How, then, will the Indians cope without their primary lab assistant, the one with beakers full of clubhouse chemistry? It's simple, really. This is, after all, a club that appeared in the grand finale of the 2016 major-league season. That experience can compensate for any physical loss in the locker room.

"You ask [Napoli] what the ALCS is like. You ask him what the World Series is like," Kipnis said. "Now, all these guys have experienced [that]. We answer our own questions by going through the process on that run we had last year. We can ask each other the questions now. 'How would you handle this or that?' But, we have most of our answers of what it's going to be like. We know what to expect. We know what we need to do.

"The experience alone from last year's run fills that void of a veteran guy."

And just for some insurance, the Indians added a handful of veterans over the offseason, including Edwin Encarnacion, Boone Logan and Austin Jackson.

That's not to downplay the influence Napoli had during his lone year in Cleveland. He enjoyed a career year at the plate, with a plethora of scoreboard-threatening home runs. He made constant contributions to charities and other off-the-field ventures. And he helped guide the Indians to their first Fall Classic appearance in two decades.

When the Indians landed Encarnacion, Tribe manager Terry Francona immediately reached out to Napoli to wish him well. Kipnis did the same.

"I sent him a text," Kipnis said, "a sad emoji or something like that."

The two will cross paths this spring; the Indians and Rangers will square off on Monday at Goodyear Ballpark. The teams will also duel on Opening Day in Texas.

"We'll give him a hug the first day of the new season," Kipnis said. "As soon as that first pitch is thrown, he's on the other side now and it's go-time."

Related: The Party at Napoli's has relocated to Texas

Kings general manager Vlade Divac defended trading Demarcus Cousins, saying transaction "will allow [the Kings] to build the depth needed for a talented and developing roster moving forward."

The Sacramento Kings traded Demarcus Cousins -- arguably one of the best centers in the league -- for nothing. Kings general manager Vlade Divac defended the trade, saying transaction "will allow [the Kings] to build the depth needed for a talented and developing roster moving forward." Critics say the trade makes no sense and leaves the Kings worse off. What do you think?

PERSPECTIVES

This Sacramento Kings trade will go down as one of the worst in history because of its pure stupidity. Cousins is a three-time All-Star who's averaging 27.8 points and 10.6 rebounds. In return for Cousins, Sacramento is getting nothing of substance. 

The problem with trading Cousins right now is that over the past two seasons, the Kings have made deals to bolster the roster to win with Cousins. Those deals have deferred costs. It's now time to pay them off.Among those deferred costs: a pick swap option with the 76ers for this season and an unprotected 2019 pick due to those same 76ers. In other words, if the Kings are worse than the Sixers this season, Philly takes the better pick. No matter what happens -- no matter how bad the Kings are -- the Sixers get the Kings' 2019 pick.

Despite Cousins' skill, he just was not working out the way the Kings thought he would. The Kings sank a ton of resources into building a team around Cousins without any results. Instead of pursuing a losing strategy, the Kings are cutting their losses and starting fresh. 

"It was time for a change and I decided this was the best direction for the organization, Divac said in a press release. "Winning begins with culture and character matters. With the upcoming draft class set to be one of the strongest in a decade, this trade will allow us to build the depth needed for a talented and developing roster moving forward. We thank DeMarcus for his contributions and wish him all the best in New Orleans.

"I think the Sacramento Kings just might have made the worst trade in NBA history." -- @RealSkipBayless on the DeMarcus Cousins trade pic.twitter.com/bcKYDFaA23

-- UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) February 20, 2017

Vlade Divac may just have earned the title of worst GM in the NBA after this Boogie Cousins trade.

-- Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) February 20, 2017

@SacramentoKings TAKE THE L.... WORST TRADE EVER...... EVER. EVER

-- #1CousinsFan (@CousinsFan15) February 20, 2017

Like the trade for the kings, get a nice fresh start and can actually commit to rebuilding...Knicks should take notes lol

-- Kaneki (@Goodheel) February 20, 2017

You never were going to get a fair offer for Cousins, but you would get a fresh start, which the Kings desperately need.

-- Lucas Huerta (@LucasDHuerta) February 20, 2017

"The Kings hit the reset button because this wasn't working. A bad marriage. Reality is he was never going to win here." @GrantNapearshow

-- Matt George (@MattGeorgeKHTK) February 20, 2017

The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Digital, Inc. property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt or on Facebook, we'd love to hear what you have to say.

Retired U.S. soccer star Abby Wambach has announced her engagement to Christian writer Glennon Doyle Melton. Melton posted a photo of two hands flashing diamond rings on Facebook Saturday with the note, "Abby and I decided to hold hands forever. Love Wins."

Retired U.S. soccer star Abby Wambach has announced her engagement to Christian writer Glennon Doyle Melton. Melton posted a photo of two hands flashing diamond rings on Facebook Saturday with the note, "Abby and I decided to hold hands forever. Love Wins."

Wambach posted the same photo on Instagram on Sunday . She writes in the caption: "Happy."

Wambach announced last year that she was getting divorced from Sarah Huffman after three years of marriage.

Melton wrote on her Momastery blog in August that she was separating from her husband.

In addition to her blog, Melton has written a pair of best-selling memoirs.

Abby and I decided to hold hands forever. First, fiercely, and forever @abbywambach https://t.co/oowX6RP6L2 pic.twitter.com/e7k96JLMdP

-- Glennon Doyle Melton (@Momastery) February 19, 2017

And then one day it all makes sense. Every bit of it. And you can finally see your past a... https://t.co/fFLwZXJmNP pic.twitter.com/IQ7AmNebNu

-- Glennon Doyle Melton (@Momastery) February 14, 2017

Price, a fifth-year senior, is moving from guard to center for the 2017 season. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Pat Elflein made it look easy.

Making the change from a two-plus year starter at guard for Ohio State to the starting center is no small feat. Of course, Elflein went out and won the Rimington Award, given to the nation's best center, in 2016 and he'll get drafted at that position in two months.

No pressure, Billy Price.

Elflein set the bar high. And now Price is making a similar move.

Price has been a starting guard since his redshirt freshman season in 2014. He's coming back for a fifth year with intentions of making the same move Elflein did, sliding over to center for his final season.

With Ohio State starting spring football exactly two weeks from today, we're exploring a burning question for the Buckeyes every day leading up to March 7. First up is Price: Can he make this move to center and be as good as Elflein was in 2016?

It's a big ask: Can you be the best center in the country?

Ohio State would certainly love if Price matches that level of play, but he doesn't need to win the Rimington to have a successful season.

The line as a whole needs to make a jump, and Price will be its most important player. He's coming off a season where he was a first-team All-American, and he'll be joined up front by left tackle Jamarco Jones, another All-American candidate.

Beyond that there are real questions: How much of a jump can Michael Jordan make after starting as a true freshman at guard? Will Isaiah Prince take a step forward and keep the right tackle spot? Will junior college transfer Malcolm Pridgeon or someone else take the open starting spot?

But we're starting with Price. Watch the video here to hear more on what Bill Landis thinks about Price heading into 2017 spring practice.

The Browns left tackle for the last decade is a future Hall of Famer. But is be a building block for the future of the Browns right now, at age 32?

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Before the Browns can build the foundation of a winning franchise, they must identify which players will be part of that foundation. Who are the building blocks?

Cleveland.com is trying to figure that out, and we'd like your help. This series will take a look at veterans and rookies alike to see if they will be Cleveland Browns building blocks. Your feedback will help us determine who is in and who is out.

TODAY: Joe Thomas

Pro

This discussion is far different than any we've had so far about potential building blocks. Thomas has been the best football player in Cleveland for a decade and has consistently ranked among the best players in the league.

This season, he was the only Brown listed among the Pro Football Focus 101 top players. He made his 10th straight Pro Bowl and missed being selected first-team All-Pro for the eighth straight year by single vote. He's a sure-fire future Hall of Famer, the jovial yet blunt leader of the locker room and the man Hue Jackson, when trade talks came up, said he can't live without.

Only three players have made PFF's Top 101 each year since we began it (2010)
Drew Brees, @Saints
Tom Brady, @Patriots
Joe Thomas, @Browns pic.twitter.com/DRysZkwI10

-- Pro Football Focus (@PFF) February 10, 2017

Yearly trade talks are a part of Thomas' existence with the Browns, as he gets older and the team doesn't get any better. But he wants to be here - a future Hall of Famer who wants to be here.

"It feels good to be loved," Thomas said in October. "I'm hoping that they stick to their word on that. Obviously, I really want to be here. It's important for me to be part of the turnaround."

So nothing about this discussion is about what Thomas is now. You couldn't ask any more of him.

The Joe Thomas Hour featuring Cleveland native Travis Kelce (@tkelce)!@joethomas73 [?] https://t.co/ruF1I4lo0B

-- Cleveland Browns (@Browns) February 7, 2017

Con

But ... he's 32. 

Here's what to consider. In this Browns plan, 2016 was the bottom, 2017 is the year to start being competitive (think five to eight wins) and 2018 is the year to contend for the playoffs. 

Our building blocks have to be thought of that way. Can these players be part of a playoff contender in 2018? Thomas would be 33 for most of the 2018 season (he'd turn 34 in December.) That's what you need to think about in this vote.

Is Thomas in year 12 at age 33, then year 13 at age 34, then year 14 at age 35, a player this franchise could still build around and count on?

Consider other great tackles of the modern era.

Orlando Pace played for 13 seasons and turned 34 in the midst of his last year.

Jonathan Ogden played for 12 seasons and played his last year at age 33.

Walter Jones played for 12 seasons and played his last year at 34.

Willie Roaf played 13 seasons and was 35 during his last year.

Anthony Munoz played for 13 seasons and was 34 during his last year.

Jason Peters, a nine-time Pro Bowler, will play his his 14th season in the fall in Philadelphia and is still expected to be the Eagles' left tackle at age 35.

And Bruce Matthews played 19 seasons, and until age 40, but he was primarily a center and guard. Could Thomas move inside as he gets older?

So consider that when you vote on Thomas, who hasn't missed a snap in his entire career. Peters, for instance, missed the the entire 2012 season due to injury and has missed 23 other games in his career. On one hand, that's proof of the resiliency of Thomas and the way he keeps himself in shape. On the other hand, he's played a lot more than Peters over the same period of time.

So will Thomas, at some point, be traded before the turnaround? Will he retire before the turnaround? Or will he still be one of the best left tackles in football in 2018 at age 33.

That's your building block question.

Players need to receive 67 percent of the yes vote to be labeled as a building block. Only four players have reached that mark so far. So vote now and offer your Thomas opinions in the comments. We'll come back with the results and the most interesting fan analysis on Friday.

Accepted Browns Building Blocks

* Terrelle Pryor

* Jamie Collins

* Danny Shelton

* Christian Kirksey

Rejected Browns Building Blocks

* Cameron Erving

* Joe Haden

* Isaiah Crowell

* Cody Kessler

* John Greco

* Corey Coleman

* Duke Johnson

If it were based on luck one statistical basketball website, Kenpom, might easily view the MAC as a two-bid league.

CLEVELAND,Ohio -- If making the NCAA Tournament were based on luck, Kenpom suggests the Mid-American Conference could be a two-bid league.

Kenpom is one of a myriad of statistical sites that rank every Division I team in the nation based on a myriad of analytics. Those analytics can include many things, including offensive and defensive efficiency, strength of schedule, and luck.

Among the AP Top 25 teams only Kansas checks in among the top 15 in Kenpom's luck list. Arizona is the only other AP ranked team in the top 30 by Kenpom. USC, a team that has been in and out of the AP Top 25 this season, is considered the luckiest team in the country.

According to Kenpom's metric, after the past weekend's games, Akron from the MAC began the week as the No. 2 luckiest team in the nation. Central Michigan is No. 47 and Miami is No. 64. Even with luck, the RedHawks record (10-17) leaves them out of the discussion.

But with four games to play, Central Michigan (16-11), behind the nation's leading scorer, Marcus Keene (29.8 ppg), would be a solid NCAA bubble team based on luck. And Akron (22-5) would not only be a NCAA Tournament lock, but quite possibly a top-line seed.

Of course, following the MAC Tournament (March 9-11 at Quicken Loans Arena), the MAC will probably not be that lucky when it comes to tournament selections. Projections are Ohio University, Akron or Bowling Green will advance to the NCAA with the automatic bid.

The luck of the league after the NCAA Selection Committee does its work will predictably fall in line with the luck of the rest of the MAC, leaving it once again a one-bid league.

Half of the conference ranks well inside the bottom 100 teams in the nation when it comes to Kenpom's luck. That might explain why some of these anticipated strong MAC teams are sitting where they are.

Eastern Michigan (13-14), a team expected to be one of the best in the MAC, began the week at No. 336 out of 351, and losers of six straight. Toledo (14-13), a team that has played seven overtime games (3-4) this season, is No. 297. Ohio (17-8), which lost reigning MAC Player of the Year Antonio Campbell at midseason (knee), is at No. 282. Kent State (15-12), a team that has lost three overtime games at home, is No. 280.

Buffalo (15-12), even though it began the week with a six-game winning streak, is at No. 271. And Western Michigan (11-15), which is now on a four-game winning streak, is No. 270. The remaining three teams fall in the general range of average -- Northern Illinois (No. 202), Bowling Green (No. 164) and Ball State (No. 150).

When the MAC tournament begins, the good teams will likely rise to play in the title game. But perhaps a bit of luck could ultimately determine the winner.

The NBA trade deadline is fast approaching. The big-splash deal isn't likely for the Cavs who can still improve the roster after the deadline passes. Nor is it necessary -- Bud Shaw's Sports Spin.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - If the status quo rules the day at the trade deadline, there are worse developments for a Cavaliers team that:

 * Already added Kyle Korver and Derrick Williams.

 * Has good reason and sufficient time to expect Kevin Love and J.R. Smith to return close to form.

* Played some of its best basketball this month.

* Hasn't lost any ground to the Celtics. Or significant ground to a scuffling Toronto team despite its acquisition of Serge Ibaka.

* Has even better reason to believe David Griffin will still improve the roster after the deadline passes.

* Oh, and still has LeBron James the last time we checked.

Not Sheriff LeBron. This LeBron:

"For me, as the leader of the team, I'm fine with what we have, and we'll continue to push forward," James said during the All-Star break.

Very possibly the push forward will come without any significant changes in the East.

The biggest deal happened in the Western Conference where San Antonio or Golden State might now have to deal with DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans.

Sacramento Kings GM Vlade Divac said he didn't wait until the final hours before the trade deadline because he suspected the return on Cousins might be as good. To back up that assertion, he said he turned down a better deal two days earlier than what New Orleans offered.

If some Cavs fans weren't already happy to have David Griffin, they at least won't be pining for Divac to replace him anytime soon. 

The Cavs path to the NBA Finals is not significantly more difficult withToronto' s addition of Ibaka. The Raptors haven't played like the same team that beat the Cavs twice in the postseason. Ibaka should help but his presence hardly equates to a power shift.

The Celtics are well-coached. But failing a major acquisition, does anyone see Boston as the Cavs' most serious challenge?

If Griffin's work wasn't obvious the minute the Cavs acquired Korver -- he "fit out" through no fault of his own and LeBron was preparing his soliloquoy on the need for roster help - it became apparent recently.

The Korver who hit his stride leading into the All-Star break is a player who can not only complement J.R. Smith when he returns (best case) but make up for him offensively if Smith struggles and his primary contribution is limited to perimeter defense.

We should be more cautious in projecting Derrick Williams as a difference maker in the postseason. But if all he does is ease the offensive load on James and Kyrie Irving over the next six weeks that's no small thing.

Griffin has done another good job, considering the contstraints he's faced.

And even if there's no trade-deadline splash, the Cavs at 39-16 are hardly treading water.

"I learned a lot about myself," Brantley said Tuesday. "You have to be mentally tough. You're going to have good days and bad days, but just stick to the course, stick to the plan, don't try to do too much too early, and it will all come together in the end." Watch video

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- After a pair of soggy mornings over the weekend, the sky has finally cleared in the desert. One ominous cloud, however, continues to hover over the Indians' spring training complex.

For as bright as the Indians' immediate future might appear, the outlook for Michael Brantley remains murky.

Uncertainty has become the new norm for the Tribe's outfielder, who has spent much of the last year and a half slogging his way along the recovery trail. It's a mystery whether the hard work will eventually earn him a full bill of health and a chance to contribute to a team with championship aspirations.

Last season, Brantley occupied the observer role while the Indians marched to the World Series. For a former All-Star and MVP award finalist, that was far from ideal. And while Brantley excels at masking his emotions when discussing his rehab and the mental and physical rigors of frequent setbacks and start-overs and surgeries.

"Even a two-week [disabled list] stint makes you get that edge and miss the game," said teammate Jason Kipnis, "so you can relate to the mindset, the roller-coaster that he's gone through."

Brantley endured plenty of sharp, downhill plunges last season. He appeared in only 11 games before his surgically repaired right shoulder begged for mercy in mid-May. Three months later, after another series of starts and stops and stumbling blocks, Brantley underwent a season-ending operation.

He questioned why it was unfolding the way it was. He wondered what more -- or less -- he could do. He attempted to piece together his path back to the lineup before he knew whether his body could handle the onus.

"I learned a lot about myself," Brantley said Tuesday. "You have to be mentally tough. You're going to have good days and bad days, but just stick to the course, stick to the plan, don't try to do too much too early, and it will all come together in the end."

At least, that's the hope.

"I wouldn't be standing here in front of you if we didn't have a good game plan going forward," Brantley said. "I know I said it last year. I'm stronger than I was last year. A lot of things are looking positive."

And though that sounds encouraging, Brantley understands that the cloud will hover until he can participate in spring training games and report back a lack of fatigue or soreness.

If he can do that, a certain weight will be lifted. That weight has fluctuated over the last 17 months, since Brantley's ill-fated dive at Target Field in Minnesota.

"You'll have bad days in the sense where, it might hurt one day," Kipnis said, "and he's going to be like, 'Oh, no. Not again. Another setback coming.' But he stays as upbeat as he can. He doesn't let it get too deflating if he has a setback, and the guy just keeps moving forward. That's the only thing he can do."

Related: Michael Brantley stands in for live batting practice

After attending Vinnie Pestano's wedding in Ohio in December, Kipnis drove to Cleveland for a week to provide Brantley with a welcome diversion during his monotonous daily rehab workouts.

"I knew this offseason was going to be a long one [for him]," Kipnis said.

Brantley said Tuesday he hopes he'll find his name in Terry Francona's Opening Day lineup. But that's six weeks away. He's following the "one day at a time" cliche in the truest sense. There's no other option at this point.

"He's had to fight that thought that this injury can win," Kipnis said. "Every time you get injured like that, have something you go on the DL for, you battle that, mentally, and say, '[This] isn't going to dictate how my career goes or change the type of player I am.' You see the work he puts in every day. He is in there every single damn day. You knew he would be. I almost want to say he's going to come out of it, too. Knock on wood.

"Sometimes injuries get the best of people and there's nothing you can do about it. The work he's put in, he'll get back there. He's not taking 'no' for an answer."

Brantley's best-case scenario

Brantley's worst-case scenario

Well-preserved Rajai Davis, who led the American League last season with 43 steals for the Indians, now plays for Oakland. Who will replace Davis as the Indians' top thief this year? Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Do you have a question that you'd like to have answered in Hey, Hoynsie? Submit it here or Tweet him at @hoynsie.

Hey, Hoynsie: With Rajai Davis out the mix after signing with Oakland, and Terry Francona's desire to run with men on base, is the Tribe concerned about replacing Davis' stolen base total? Who do you predict leads the Indians in steals this year? - Matt Karl, Frederick, Md.

Hey, Matt: Francona told reporters last week that the Indians' stolen base total is going to take a hit without Davis. Francona added that the loss of Davis, who led the AL with 43 steals last year, doesn't mean the Indians can't be as good a baserunning teams as they were last year when it comes to advancing on balls in the dirt, going from first to third and second to home.

The Indians led the AL with 134 stolen bases last year. The top three thieves behind Davis were Jose Ramirez with 22, Francisco Lindor with 19 and Jason Kipnis with 15. As for who will lead the Tribe this year, I'm going with Ramirez.

Hey, Hoynsie: It seems as if every player on the Indians has expressed a level of selflessness that seems so unusual in modern baseball. Do you agree and where does it come from? Secondly, do you think that our superstar Edwin Encarnacion will fit into this team first, sacrificing to win ethos?  -- D. Starke, Chesterland.

Hey, D: When things go bad on a team, it's said that it starts at the top and rolls down hill. Well, when things go good, it has to work the same, right?

I think owner Paul Dolan, Chris Antonetti, president of baseball operations, GM Mike Chernoff and the rest of the front office set a great example. Manager Terry Francona, the coaching staff and support staff work hard to pass that along to the players.

All of that wouldn't mean a thing if the players don't buy in. From the results last year you can tell they did.

I think Encarnacion will fit in fine. I talked to former Tribe third baseman Brook Jacoby about Encarnacion. He was his hitting coach in Cincinnati and Toronto and he gave him high marks for his leadership ability and clubhouse presence.

With the new replay rules, I've noticed that a lot of runners are called out stealing second because they slide over the base. I've noticed that Francisco Lindor holds the tag on the player throughout the slide to get the out via replay. Will Terry Francona have his base stealers practice sliding "to the base" rather than "thru the base" in spring training? -- Joe Nagy, North Ridgeville.

Hey, Joe: Francona is one of the managers who says baserunners being tagged out because they momentarily come off the bag at second or third base doesn't really fit the spirit of the replay rule. But it is what it is and players have to adjust, just like middle infielders like Lindor, who hold the tag on a runner after he's been called safe.

The Indians do take sliding practice in spring training, but even if you slide straight into second base -- as the new second base rule states -- it's hard to keep your momentum from carrying you off the bag.

Hey, Hoynsie: For years the advance stat guys were saying that the best way to use a top reliever was in high leverage situations like Terry Francona used Andrew Miller last year. Why are are people still clamoring for Miller to close? The Indians have an ideal situation. -- John Sharp, Aurora.

Hey, John: The Indians are set up well in the bullpen. Francona said last week he's going to stay with Cody Allen at closer and continue to use Miller to get out of trouble earlier in the game.

If you remember, he used Allen in much the same way when John Axford was closing for the Tribe. I think people probably look at Miller's stuff and think he's perfect for the closer's role. It's hard to say they're wrong, but Allen has done a great job there as well.

A manager's job it to put a player in the best position possible to have success. That's easy to do with relievers such as Miller, Allen and Bryan Shaw.

Hey, Hoynsie: Suppose Yandy Diaz, the infielder from Cuba, has an awesome spring. Why not play him at third, move Jose Ramirez to second and Jason Kipnis to the outfield. I watched Francisco Lindor and Ramirez two seasons ago and they reminded me of Omar Vizquel and Robbie Alomar. Kipnis would solve any potential outfield problems? -- Dan Wilson.

Hey, Dan: I understand where you're coming from, but I don't think a team that reached the 10th inning of Game 7 of the World Series in November is going to change three starting positions -- third base, second base and wherever you think Kipnis would play in the outfield in one spring training -- just to play a rookie at third base.

Francona, and most managers I've covered, say spring training is a terrible time to evaluate players. So even if Diaz had a great spring at third, I still don't think that would be enough to convince the Indians to make the changes you're suggesting. Some people disagree with me, but right now it looks like the Indians are trying to make Diaz a utility player to take advantage of his offensive talents.

Hey, Hoynsie: What if Roberto Perez picks up where he left off and demonstrates some pop with his bat? Will Terry Francona continue to keep Perez on the bench and play Yan Gomes? And why not let these two fight for the job before announcing who is going to be your No. 1 catcher? -- Bill Lucey.

Hey, Bill: Francona, in one of his first press conferences of the spring, said there would be no competition between Gomes and Perez. He said Gomes was the team's starter, but added that as manager he would have to work hard to find playing time for both catchers because of how well Perez did in the postseason.

Gomes has struggled to stay healthy for the last two years. Perez suffered a serious thumb injury last year. If they can avoid injuries this year, we'll get a truer sense of who's No.1.

Who will be the next big name to move? Will the Cavaliers get involved or have they already made their move, landing Kyle Korver from the Atlanta Hawks a little more than a month ago?

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It's that time of year.

With the trade deadline fast approaching -- Thursday afternoon at 3 p.m. ET -- the rumor mill continues to churn.

One blockbuster deal has already been consummated, as New Orleans landed perennial All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins from the Sacramento Kings.

Who will be the next big name to change teams? Will the Cavaliers get involved or have they already made their deal, landing Kyle Korver from the Atlanta Hawks?

Here are the latest rumors from around the NBA:

Cavs staying aggressive

After letting a pair of trade exceptions expire Monday, the Cavs remain busy.

That's likely to continue up until Thursday -- perhaps even beyond that, as they will be one of the teams eyeing the buyout market, hoping to land a gem like they did with Derrick Williams recently.

I'd be shocked if the Cavaliers didn't make a trade before the deadline. They have aggressively pursued win-now moves.

-- Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) February 21, 2017

With the Dallas Mavericks on the outside of the playoff mix, they could end up agreeing to a buyout with big man Andrew Bogut. The NBA champion has reportedly been on the Cavs' radar, but is far too pricey for a straight-up trade. The Mavericks could also opt to move forward without free-agent-to-be Deron Williams. 

With limited assets, the buyout market has always looked like Cleveland's best chance to add another quality player.

Detroit shakeup?

With the league's third-highest payroll, committing more than $115 million to a roster currently eighth in the Eastern Conference, the Pistons have been involved in a plethora of trade discussions while searching for the best route out of mediocrity.

It started with point guard Reggie Jackson, who has been linked to the Orlando Magic.

ESPN's Marc Stein mentioned a different name Monday: Andre Drummond.

Hearing more and more teams say today they believe Detroit will NOT discourage trade inquiries for center Andre Drummond this week.

-- Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 21, 2017

Drummond is the Pistons' third-leading scorer (14.6 points) and defensive anchor. He is owed nearly $100 million over the next four years and has a $29 million player option following the 2019-20 season.

Point guard shuffle

Speaking of the Pistons, Jackson also finds his name at the center of the chatter. And he's not the only point guard drawing interest.

According to ESPN, the Minnesota Timberwolves have reached out to the Knicks to discuss a potential Derrick Rose deal. The report indicates that the Timberwolves aren't the only team to reach out to New York about Rose, who will be a free agent at the end of this season.

The Knicks, currently four games out of the East's final playoff spot, have not become the "super team" Rose envisioned at the beginning of the season.

The Timberwolves' interest certainly makes sense. Rose spent seven seasons in Chicago with Minnesota head coach Tom Thibodeau and the Wolves have been shopping Ricky Rubio.

Wolves' pursuit of Derrick Rose still very strong--"Thibs wants to do this," says league source w/knowledge--but MIN absolutely keeping Dunn.

-- David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) February 21, 2017

According to Sports Illustrated, the Wolves have also been one of the teams to pursue Detroit's Jackson and would be willing to attach 24-year-old Shabazz Muhammad as a trade sweetener to help facilitate a Rubio deal.

Brook Lopez price has dropped

Brook Lopez being at the center of trade deadline speculation has become an annual tradition.

But given the latest ESPN report, one that states the Nets have lowered the asking price for the 7-footer, this could be the year Lopez finally leaves Brooklyn.

Initially wanting two first-round picks for the team's leading scorer, Brooklyn is now willing to take a first and a second.

Lopez, signed through the 2017-18, would be a huge boost to any team in need of a low-post scorer. The only question is whether there's much of a market.

The Pelicans filled that void with Cousins. The Nuggets acquired Mason Plumlee from the Blazers. The 76ers have been dangling Jahlil Okafor, hoping someone will take a chance on the 2015 third-overall pick and the Pacers are reportedly showing interest. The Bucks have been trying to move Greg Monroe, but aren't having much luck.

It's just not a desired position. 

Lopez is, no doubt, a talented offensive-minded big. But in this era of pace and space, it's fair to wonder how many teams get involved in the sweepstakes.

Teams interested in #Nets center Brook Lopez include: Pacers, Celtics, Lakers and Blazers

-- Tim Bontemps (@Tim_Bontemps) February 21, 2017

Sweet Lou

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Lakers made a stunning shakeup in the front office, naming Magic Johnson president of basketball operations and removing general manager Mitch Kupchak.

Hours later, the Lakers reportedly traded leading scorer, Lou Williams, to the Houston Rockets. 

The Rockets are sending Corey Brewer and a first-round pick to the Lakers for Lou Williams, league source tells @TheVertical.

-- Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) February 22, 2017

Johnson, shortly after being put in charge, even admitted in an interview that Williams was the player opposing teams had been inquiring about most, increasing the chances that something got done quickly.

The Wizards, Jazz, Pelicans and Hornets were all interested in Williams, who ranks top 20 in 3-pointers made this season. 

This deal could also make Corey Brewer a potential buyout candidate. 

Will Butler stay in Chicago?

There has been plenty of chatter lately about the Boston Celtics' desire to add a star. In the past, they had shown interest in Kevin Love. But after not being involved in the Cousins talks, could they have their sights on someone else?

Butler seems to be one guy to fit the profile. The Celtics have a treasure trove of picks, including a couple first-rounders coming from Brooklyn, both of which would likely get Chicago's attention. Adding Butler would also make things a bit more interesting in the East, pushing the Celtics closer to the Cavaliers.

However, according to the Chicago Tribune, the Bulls aren't inclined to trade their lone All-Star.

Takes 1 blockbuster offer to change, but Bulls are rebuffing Butler inquiries/have told teams they have no plans to trade him, per source.

-- K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) February 21, 2017

It would take a shift in thinking, with seventh-seeded Chicago throwing in the towel and looking to rebuild through the draft.

Pelicans audition

Remember that point guard audition the Cavaliers held a few weeks back? 

Well, the Pelicans are having their own tryout.

ESPN reports that Mario Chalmers, Reggie Williams, Hollis Thompson, Wayne Selden and Canton's Quinn Cook will be working out for New Orleans, as it looks to add backcourt depth after the recent Cousins trade that led to Buddy Hield, Langston Galloway and Tyreke Evans going to Sacramento.

Cook, not under team control despite playing for the Charge, was named to his second straight D-League All-Star Game, selected as the MVP of this year's game in New Orleans.

P.J. Tucker on the move?

Another name that continues to draw trade interest seemingly every year is P.J. Tucker. With the Suns lottery bound once again and Tucker's impending free agency, he could be the ideal rental for a contender.

According to Basketball Insiders, Tucker is garnering plenty of interest from the Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Clippers, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics and Utah Jazz are said to be in hot pursuit.

Tucker is the kind of feisty, versatile defender that playoff teams covet, especially given his ability play a few different positions in a small-ball lineup.

Sergio Garcia is in the field of Honda Classic 2017.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Adam Scott, Danny Willett, Sergio Garcia and Justin Thomas are among the notables competing at Honda Classic 2017 this week in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

The first round is Thursday.

HONDA CLASSIC TEE TIMES

Scott of Australia is defending champion and ranked No. 7 in the world. Willett of England is the 2016 Masters champion. Thomas of the United States won in back-to-back weeks in Hawaii in January. Garcia of Spain won the Dubai Desert Classic three weeks ago.

HONDA CLASSIC
Site: Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Course: PGA National (Champions Course). Yardage: 7,140. Par: 70.
Purse: $6.4 million (First prize: $1,152,000).
Television: Thursday-Friday, 2-6 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 1-3 p.m. (Golf Channel), 3-6 p.m. (NBC Sports).
Defending champion: Adam Scott.
Previous week: Dustin Johnson won the Genesis Open to reach No. 1 in the world.
Notes: What used to be the "can't miss" start of the Florida swing suddenly is missing plenty of star power. Defending champion Adam Scott at No. 7 in the world is the highest-ranked player. Rory McIlroy would have been there except for his rib injury. Tiger Woods, the biggest gallery attraction, withdrew because of back spasms. ... Masters champion Danny Willett is making his American debut this year. He has not played in the United States since the Ryder Cup. ... This is the 11th straight year at PGA National, matching the longest streak of any course to host the Honda Classic since an 11-year run at Inverrary from 1972-83 (Inverrary hosted The Players Championship in 1976). ... PGA National has hosted the PGA Championship twice (Jack Nicklaus in 1971 and Larry Nelson in 1987) and the Ryder Cup (1983). ... Rickie Fowler is in the field. The Californian played two events on the West Coast swing, missing the cut at Torrey Pines and tying for fourth in Phoenix. ... Dustin Johnson, who lives in West Palm Beach, has played the Honda Classic only three times. He missed the cut twice. ... Because of the World Golf Championship moving to Mexico, South Florida has just one PGA Tour event for the first time since 1970. ... Thirty-six players in the field already are eligible for the Masters.
Next week: WGC-Mexico Championship.
Online: www.pgatour.com

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

K'Waun Williams, who signed a one-year deal with the 49ers on Tuesday, will have his grievance against the Browns heard May 16 in Cleveland.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Former Browns cornerback K'Waun Williams' grievance against the club will be heard May 16 in Cleveland, a league source told cleveland.com.

Williams is seeking his entire $600,000 base salary for 2016 and the cost of his ankle surgery.

Williams is signing a one-year deal Tuesday with the 49ers, where he'll be reunited with his new head coach Kyle Shanahan and his former Browns defensive backs coach Jeff Hafley. It was Hafley who brought him to Cleveland as an undrafted rookie in 2014 through their Pitt ties.

Williams, who was waived by the Browns Aug. 29, underwent surgery to remove bone spurs from his ankle after he failed a physical with the Bears on Aug. 31.

The Browns waived Williams while he was serving a two-game suspension for refusing to play a preseason game in Green Bay. The Browns say he told them he didn't want to play, and retired instead. Williams' agent, Evan Krakower, told cleveland.com his client didn't want to play the game on his injured ankle, and informed the Browns of that.

The Williams saga turned ugly and he was ultimately waived.

He sat out all of 2016 while recovering from the ankle surgery, but made five team visits in the past week or so, including to the Lions, Jets and Vikings. Other teams made offers, but Williams opted to rejoin the coach in Hafley who believed in him most and gave him his first chance.

Shanahan was also Browns' offensive coordinator in 2014.

The grievance, filed through the NFLPA, includes an injury complaint and a non-injury complaint for the suspension and fine.

Naz Bohannon scored 16 points, six Titans reached double figures and Lorain rallied from a 10-point deficit to win their boys basketball tuneup for the OHSAA postseason.

LORAIN, Ohio – Central Catholic coach Jordan Duke said his school scheduled Lorain with a purpose.

Duke wanted matchups toward the end of this boys basketball season to push his team and prepare it for the rigors of tournament play. Lorain, currently fourth in the cleveland.com Top 25, obliged — and both teams left their game Tuesday night confident this meeting made them better.

Lorain just had the 84-71 victory to show for it.

“I’m excited. Maybe not after tonight, but I’m excited,” said Duke, whose 15th-ranked Ironmen (13-8) are the third seed in the Division II Stow District and still have Friday’s regular-season finale against Youngstown Valley Christian.

Duke knew what his team faced Tuesday on the road.

Lorain (19-2) has not lost since Jan. 17 to No. 3 St. Edward. The Titans are the top seed in the Division I Elyria Catholic District, poised to make a third straight run to regionals and have won 11 games in a row.

Yet Central Catholic walked into Lorain’s gym and began to run up and down the court with some ease.

The Ironmen scored the first seven points, built a 14-6 lead on Tyler Golphin’s dunk and were ready to shock their hosts. The difference grew to 32-22 before Lorain closed the first half on a 13-point run, taking the lead on senior guard Daesean Brooks’ leaner and never trailing again.

Six players scored in double figures for the Titans, led by senior forward Naz Bohannon’s 16. Sophomore Taevon Pierre-Louis added 15 off the bench. Brooks had 13, while senior guard Jalil Little (12 points), sophomore Devon Grant (14) and senior forward Octavius Wilson (12) all factored into the blitz.

“We have five guys averaging double figures,” Lorain coach John Rositano said. “When we do that, we’re tough to defend.”

Look in early. First quarter from @NextUp440. pic.twitter.com/fIsVvlnbPD

— Matt Goul (@mgoul) February 22, 2017

Rositano’s Titans also took better care of the ball.

They committed 10 first-half turnovers, but just one in the third quarter.

Until Lorain’s decisive run, Central Catholic’s guards dictated the flow. Junior twins Delshawn and Dyshawn Jackson prevented their foes from finding passing lanes. Point guard Alex Heath pounced on loose balls created by his teammates.

The combination boiled into an up-and-down affair.

Central Catholic’s last basket of the first half exemplified that. Just as Delshawn Jackson broke away on a steal, Bohannon pinned his layup off the backboard. Following a battle for the rebound, Dyshawn Jackson corralled it for a 32-22 lead.

Watching @Deljack21 and @NextUp440 go at it: worth price of admission. And @Dyjack4 got his brother's back. pic.twitter.com/0bJx1a1TW3

— Matt Goul (@mgoul) February 22, 2017

The Jackson brothers combined for 22 points, while Golphin and senior forward Miryne Thomas each provided 15.

“We were motivated by what they were doing,” Bohannon said. “They got to talking, went up 10 and we were like that’s not us. When you talk to us, we get fueled by that.”

Lorain’s lead grew to double digits quickly in the third quarter, and the second of two dunks from Bohannon pushed it to that point.

Central Catholic never recovered, but Duke did not think he will mind in the coming days.

“For me, it’s not about wins and losses at this point,” he said. “We have to be battle-tested. That’s why we put together the schedule we put together.”

Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on Twitter (@mgoul) or email (mgoul@cleveland.com). Or log in and leave a message below in the comments section.

The MAC race tightened up considerably Tuesday night as Bowling Green earned a 66-65 victory over the Akron Zips, leaving room for Ohio University to at least get a share of the MAC title.

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -- The Akron Zips lost their second straight game, 66-65, to Bowling Green on Tuesday night in the Stroh Center, leaving their Mid-American Conference title in jeopardy.

The little things have been key for the Zips (22-6, 12-3) all season but in the back-to-back losses the opposition has held the upper hand. For the second straight game, for example, the Zips had more turnovers than the Falcons, 14-8.

And even while holding BG to 30.3-percent shooting in the second half, and 41.0-percent for the game, Akron was even worse. The Zips finished at 35.9-percent in part going 9-for-30 behind the arc.

The Falcons (12-16, 6-9) were better in the paint than Akron (30-26), and outscored Akron 18-7 off turnovers and 18-4 on fast breaks. All season long that has been Akron's strength, but not against Bowling Green.

This now makes Akron's upcoming road trip to Buffalo a must-win, even with the Bulls coming off an upset loss at home to Kent State.

Dylan Frye led BG with 22 points and Zach Denny had 20. Jimond Ivey led Akron with 13 points.

The first half: The Zips began the game short of firepower as sophomore guard Josh Williams, who suffered a twisted ankle against Kent State, was in sweats, but not in uniform. He's averaging 7.4 points a game.

Akron still took a quick 11-5 lead, but just as quickly turned cold. Two extended stretches of more than four scoreless minutes combined with a 14-0 run by the Falcons put the Zips into a 6-29 hole at halftime.

Missing the bulk of that half was power forward Kwan Cheatham who asked out of the game after badly missing a 3-point attempt, playing just nine first-half minutes. The Falcons took advantage as guards Zach Denny and Dylan Frye already had 11 and 12 points respectively.

By the numbers: Akron freshman Daniel Utomi entered the Bowling Green game on a sizzling 3-point shooting streak. Overall in his previous three games, Utomi, a 6-6 forward from Houston, made 9-of-11 3-pointers; 4-for-4 against Kent State, 0-for-2 against Toledo and 5-for-5 against Eastern Michigan. He entered the game shooting 50-percent on the season (22-of-44) including 18-of-33 on the season behind the arc (54.5-percent) in MAC play.

Next up: Bowling Green plays two of its final three games on the road starting Saturday at Miami and next Friday at Buffalo with a senior night game on Feb. 28 against Kent State in between. The Zips stay on the road, 8 p.m. Friday at Buffalo, then the last home game of the season on Tuesday vs. Miami, then next Friday at Kent State.

The Cavs intend to sign forward Derrick Williams to a second 10-day contract Wednesday before the team returns to practice following the All-Star break, a source told cleveland.com. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cavs intend to sign forward Derrick Williams to a second 10-day contract Wednesday before the team returns to practice following the All-Star break, a source told cleveland.com.

Williams, whom the Cavs signed as a free agent Feb. 9 and is averaging 9.8 points in 22.8 minutes per game, re-tweeted a picture taken of him and a cashier at the Panera in Independence, near the team's practice facility, Tuesday night.

The Cavs' first practice since beating the Pacers Feb. 15 is Wednesday in the afternoon.

When Williams signs, he'll get a 10-day deal for $67,700. If the Cavs need his roster spot to complete a trade by Thursday's deadline, they could just terminate the contract and then re-sign him. If he were to sign for the rest of the season and Cleveland needed room to make a trade, the club would have to consider waiving him -- and losing him.

fun fact: Derrick Williams likes cinnamon rolls[?] @DWXXIII @cavs pic.twitter.com/htdmuKUG3A

-- Danielle Kershner (@danielle_kersh) February 22, 2017

Williams' first 10-day contract expired over the weekend. By waiting a few days -- the Cavs don't play until Thursday against the Knicks -- they gave themselves more time before having to sign him for the rest of the season.

Check out Tuesday's boys basketball scores from around the OHSAA, courtesy of The Associated Press.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Check out Tuesday's boys basketball scores from around the state, courtesy of The Associated Press.

Adams Central, Ind. 50, Rockford Parkway 46

Akr. Buchtel 71, Tallmadge 65

Akr. Coventry 67, Youngs. Mooney 43

Akr. Hoban 61, Youngs. Ursuline 49

Akr. Kenmore 59, Mogadore 47

Akr. SVSM 79, N. Can. Hoover 68

Alliance Marlington 64, Can. Glenoak 60

Alliance Marlington 54, Austintown Fitch 51

Ashland Crestview 58, New Washington Buckeye Cent. 56

Ashland Mapleton 92, Jeromesville Hillsdale 90, OT

Avon 75, Medina Highland 53

Bristol 86, Youngs. Liberty 54

Caledonia River Valley 89, Bucyrus Wynford 80

Carey 70, Fostoria 55

Cols. Grandview Hts. 77, Gahanna Christian 51

Copley 86, Wooster 53

Cory-Rawson 64, Ridgeway Ridgemont 42

Cuyahoga Falls 51, Barberton 46

Defiance Ayersville 58, Liberty Center 45

Dover 64, Can. South 40

Elyria Cath. 92, Lorain Clearview 68

Fostoria St. Wendelin 57, Waynesfield-Goshen 54

Garfield Hts. 98, Akr. North 48

Garrettsville Garfield 52, Newton Falls 43

Girard 59, New Middletown Spring. 50

Gnadenhutten Indian Valley 76, Uhrichsville Claymont 50

Green 89, Akr. Firestone 58

Groveport Madison Christian 92, Cle. Collinwood 60

Hanoverton United 100, Mineral Ridge 76

Hubbard 70, Ravenna SE 39

Huron 64, Bellevue 48

Kinsman Badger 59, Conneaut 45

Leavittsburg LaBrae 56, Canfield S. Range 50

Lewis Center Olentangy 68, Marysville 59

Lima Perry 77, Lima Bath 41

London 51, Milford Center Fairbanks 45

Malvern 84, W. Lafayette Ridgewood 46

Massillon Tuslaw 60, Lodi Cloverleaf 52

Mt. Gilead 87, Bucyrus 66

N. Baltimore 61, New Riegel 57

Navarre Fairless 40, Can. Heritage Christian 37

New Albany 49, Westerville Cent. 46

Oberlin 64, Wickliffe 47

Oregon Clay 60, Elmore Woodmore 50

Oregon Stritch 60, Swanton 45

Peninsula Woodridge 88, Akr. Garfield 68

Port Clinton 60, Tiffin Columbian 56

Racine Southern 58, Glouster Trimble 56

Rocky River 66, Rocky River Lutheran W. 56

Rootstown 54, Berlin Center Western Reserve 51

Rossford 54, Maumee 32

Salem 81, Niles McKinley 61

Strongsville 83, Berea-Midpark 54

Tol. Ottawa Hills 67, Pemberville Eastwood 55

Uniontown Lake 68, Louisville 44

Wadsworth 51, Kent Roosevelt 46

Warren Harding 100, Maple Hts. 88

Warren JFK 71, Warren Howland 67

Waterford 82, Wahama, W.Va. 46

Wellsville 96, E. Palestine 65

Youngs. Boardman 60, Massillon Perry 58

Greenfield McClain 47, Hillsboro 40

Washington C.H. 53, Circleville 48

Ironton 45, Chesapeake 28

Minford 69, Crooksville 58

Portsmouth 67, Lucasville Valley 47

Seaman N. Adams 56, W. Union 36

Green 59, Reedsville Eastern 50

Manchester 55, Latham Western 52

Van Buren vs. Bloomdale Elmwood, ppd. to Feb 22.

John Carroll basketball coach Mike Moran is retiring after 25 years, leaving while still on top of his game.

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Mike Moran said, "Let's go to lunch."

So I walked with the John Carroll basketball coach to his Buick. It's a 2001 Buick. It's a Buick with 120,000 miles on it.

"It's better than my other vehicle," said Moran.

What's that?

"A 1977 pickup," he said. "Hey, I've spent my life working in Catholic schools."

This is Moran's last season as John Carroll's basketball coach. He has had two hip replacement operations.

As we walked into the restaurant, Moran joked, "Sometimes, you can hear my hips squeak."

He will be 66 years old in May. He beat prostate cancer a few years ago. Sometimes, his body is a bit cranky.

"I'm an old football player," said Moran, who played at Xavier University.

And the most popular man in University Heights. Or that seemed to be the case at the Pizzazz on the Circle, a few blocks from JCU.

Virtually everyone in the place knew Moran. A few showed him articles in newspaper and John Carroll Magazine about his impending retirement.

He was gracious. He thanked people. He kept telling them, "Keep smiling," his special greeting.

His Blue Streaks had a 17-7 record heading into the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament, which opened Tuesday. JCU is the No. 2 seed after finishing second (14-4) to Marietta in the regular season.

Last season, JCU was 26-4 and went to the the NCAA Division III tournament, where it lost in the second round. So, it's not as if Moran has lost his touch as a coach.

"It's time to go," he said. "I feel it. (Former Mount Union football coach) Larry Kehres told me that it's good to leave while they still want you to keep coaching. I wanted to go out on top, or at least close to the top."

How it changed

Moran recalls his early days of coaching at John Carroll.

He won two state championships at St. Joseph (now Villa Angela-St. Joseph), where he amassed a 224-53 record.

He was hired by John Carroll in 1992 for $33,000. He had no full-time assistants. He had a family business painting stripes in parking lots to help make extra money.

He'd go to a game to scout and find only one or two other D-III coaches in the stands.

Now, he'll see more than a dozen.

"Back then, you'd have only a few game films (of an opponent) to study," he said. "Now, you have everything with all the streaming and internet stuff.

"It was a watch what you wish for thing .  . . you can go blind studying all the game tapes."

That is part of the reason Moran is leaving basketball.

"It takes incredible energy to do this job right now," he said. "I don't know how the guys in Division I who are my age keep doing it."

Moran would like this son (Pete Moran) to take over. Pete Moran has been a JCU assistant coach. He has extensive high school coaching experience.

But this also is an attractive job and the Blue Streaks are expected to have some very good candidates.

Golf coach, no clubs

When Moran was hired by JCU, he was expected to coach more than one sport.

"It was like that at most D-3 schools back then," he said. "It was basketball and something else."

The choices were soccer or golf.

"Hey, it was 25 years ago," he said. "I thought soccer was communist or something. So I picked golf."

He has coached the team to six NCAA tournament appearances, three appearances in the top 10. Not bad for guy who really doesn't golf.

"I talk a good game of golf," he said.

Moran said he last played golf six years ago. He gave his clubs to a friend and hasn't played since.

"I gotta get them back," he said. "I'm going to stay on as golf coach.

Love of flea markets

Moran likes to shop at yard sales and flea markets.

"We raised six kids on a Catholic school salary," said Moran. "You learn to shop smart."

Moran doesn't reveal his salary, but I heard it's in the $65,000 range. Very few Division III coaches make more than $75,000.

"I go out with buddies and we brag about finding something for two bucks," he said. "We talk about it as we have burgers and a few beers, spending 30 bucks."

Moran said he has 18 grandchildren.

"How long have you and JoAnne been married?" I ask.

"Let's see," he said. "Forty-some years. . . why are you doing this to me?"

Moran makes some calls. His oldest daughter, Bridgette, has the answer.

"It's 44 years," he said.

He has basketball camps in Willoughby, Elyria and at John Carroll.

I asked him about giving private lessons.

"I read about these private trainers charging 70 or 100 bucks an hour." he said. "I have nothing to say worth 100 bucks an hour."

Doing it over

Out of nowhere, Moran asked, "Ever wish you had learned to play a musical instrument?"

I said I did . . . the piano. I never tried to learn.

"When I was in the third grade," he said. "I took guitar lessons for a while."

What can he play?

"I learned the theme from Bonanza," he said. "I still take my guitar out and play once in a while. I wish I had stuck with it."

What really matters

Much like College of Wooster basketball coach Steve Moore, Moran has won about everything at the Division III level except a national title.

Twelve times, his teams have gone to the NCAA tournament. He has won 14 OAC titles.

For decades, Moran has played a two-platoon style of basketball: Five players in, five out. They alternate every few minutes.

Part of it is to make sure a lot of his athletes see the court. It also is to teach true team values. No one piles up huge point totals.

It's a purist notion of how the game should be played at the Division III, non-athletic scholarship level.

"It would be nice to win one (a national title)," he said. "But not winning one doesn't bother me. You strive for that, but this is D-3.

"You look at what your players have become -- the doctors, lawyers, teachers, accountants, coaches, businessmen. That's what it's about."

"I think they fall into the group of younger guys trying to make a good first impression," Francona said. "Crazy things happen in this game, I get that. But I think we all feel like it would be in their best interest to play in Triple-A." Watch video

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- It was a straightforward drill.

The hurler tosses a pitch to the plate, where the catcher squeezes the baseball, pops to his feet and fires a throw to either second or third base. There were no batters or runners, just an imaginary threat on the basepaths.

Josh Tomlin complicated the procedure when he missed his target and buried a pitch in the dirt, the baseball whizzing past the catcher.

"You trying to hit the batter?" Francisco Lindor jokingly yelled from his shortstop position.

"That's that nasty cutter," Yan Gomes quipped.

Here are a handful of thoughts and observations from the desert.

1. Young guy: Last spring, the Indians informed Tyler Naquin that an impressive showing in camp could land him an Opening Day roster spot. Naquin sizzled at the plate, Michael Brantley remained sidelined and Abraham Almonte received an 80-game suspension. That combination earned Naquin a ticket to the big leagues.

2. Younger guys: That isn't the case this spring, with Yandy Diaz, Bradley Zimmer and Greg Allen. Barring something unforeseen, none of those prospects will break camp with the major-league club. Certainly, injuries and attention-grabbing performances can alter the Indians' line of thinking. But Francona said Tuesday that those three players did not receive the same message that Naquin heard last year.

"I think they fall into the group of younger guys trying to make a good first impression," Francona said. "Crazy things happen in this game, I get that. But I think we all feel like it would be in their best interest to play in Triple-A."

Diaz batted .325 with an .860 OPS in 95 games for Triple-A Columbus last season. Zimmer didn't find as much success in his first stint at the level, as he hit .242 with a .654 OPS and only one homer and 56 strikeouts in 37 games.

Allen advanced to Double-A Akron last summer. Overall in 2016, he logged a .416 on-base percentage, with 45 stolen bases and nearly as many walks (77) as strikeouts (78).

While Francona's suggestion makes sense, if Brantley isn't ready for Opening Day, Diaz deserves strong consideration for a roster spot. He has excelled at the plate in each of his three year's in Cleveland's system.

3. Utility guy: The utility man battle, for now, is between three players: Michael Martinez, Erik Gonzalez and Ronny Rodriguez. Francona noted, though, that the final roster decisions will depend on what the team needs. Much of that could hinge on the health of Michael Brantley.

"You want guys to fit," Francona said.

Rodriguez, 24, batted .258 with a .693 OPS last season for Triple-A Columbus. He totaled 10 home runs, 24 doubles and five triples. He appeared at every defensive position except catcher and left field.

4. Busy guy: Francona indicated that Carlos Carrasco would likely lead the Indians in innings this spring. Carrasco missed the end of last season because of a broken hand, suffered on a line drive by Detroit's Ian Kinsler.

5. Lucky guy: Lindor opened a package filled with new gear in the Indians' clubhouse on Tuesday afternoon. As one clubhouse staffer walked past, he quipped: "It's good to be Frankie Lindor."

"It's not bad," Lindor replied.

6. Action Jackson: Veteran outfielder Austin Jackson, working his way back from knee surgery, participated in live batting practice on Tuesday. He isn't restricted at the plate, but the Indians are being cautious with his fielding. Francona said Jackson needs to prove he can stop and start and make cuts in the outfield without any hesitation before he'll have free reign in center.

Cleveland Cavaliers' All-Star guard Kyrie Irving and flat-earth theory

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Before the NBA All-Star Game last weekend, Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers went old-school in science by several centuries proclaiming that the earth is flat.

While Kyrie could be considered old-school in some ways -- his mastery of just-the-right touch off the glass for one -- it turned out that he had his tongue firmly planted in his cheek to make a point.

That point having to do with making people think, kind of an old-school goal in itself.

Crowquill, by Plain Dealer artist Ted Crow, appears three times a week in The Plain Dealer and on cleveland.com.