Quantcast
Channel: Cleveland Sports News
Viewing all 53367 articles
Browse latest View live

Cleveland Browns: Trade up, trade down, or remain at No. 6? Poll

0
0

Should the Cleveland Browns trade up, trade down, or stand pat?

Mike Holmgren speaks to the mediaMike Holmgren will have some tough decisions to make on NFL Draft day.

The Cleveland Browns have the No. 6 overall selection in the NFL Draft. But what should they do? This isn't a draft with a can't miss quarterback who will have an immediate impact. Since that will come next year when Andrew Luck enters the draft, shouldn't the Browns wait till then to move up in the draft?

Or should the Browns trade down (and save some money) and get multiple picks like a wide receiver and a defensive lineman?

Or should the Browns just remain where they are at No.6 and get the best player available?




Cleveland Cavaliers A.M. Links: Ramon Sessions hangs in there; Cavs miss Baron Davis; Pistons can't close games

0
0

Ramon Sessions' time as starting point guard is almost over.

Cleveland Cavaliers lose to Hornets, 96-81Cleveland Cavalier Ramon Sessions goes for the basket.

Ramon Sessions knows his time as a starting point is numbered. Baron Davis will return to the lineup either tonight against the Detroit Pistons are in the following game.

Either way, Sessions will move aside for Davis. And Sessions, writes Jason Lloyd of Ohio.com, doesn't like it.

Sessions is the odd man out. 

''It's tough. I've been waiting to get a break my whole career,'' Sessions said. ''When Mo [Williams] was out, I feel like I did all I could do to finally get that break. But B.D. is a great player. If I have to come off the bench, I'm used to it. I'll go back to that role again.''

Sessions is only in his fourth year in the league. He has plenty of career in front of him, but his time will probably become even more limited next season when the Cavs draft another point guard.

 

Leadership

News-Herald reporter Bob Finnan writes how the Cavaliers are missing something with Baron Davis out. He calls it that "element" and Davis has that "element."  

When he's healthy and his head is on straight, Davis brings the total package. That's why Cavs coach Byron Scott is anxious to turn the reins of the offense over to him.

"He brings a different element to the game," Scott said. "The guys know that. We're almost going back to square one. They have to get reacquainted with each other."

He brings a leadership quality that has been vacant on the team, Finnan writes. Davis has the ability to score in many different ways.

Davis is also a good assist man.

"I can bring a consistent effort," he said. "Our team can use that. Our team can use some leadership, as well as more drive."

Jodie Valade also writes this about Davis on Cleveland.com. 

Pistons are coming

Detroit Pistons coach, and former Cavaliers assistant John Kuester, is not really living the high life in Detroit. Especially since his team has had issues closing out games. Most recently, the Pistons dominated their game against the Miami Heat. That was until the last few minutes. That's when the Heat took over and won the game.

In The Detroit News:

"I think it's a testament of what our season has been," Pistons guard Tracy McGrady said. "We played well for three and a half quarters against great teams and then we just can't really pull out the game.

"Even when we played them down in Miami we had the game won but we just can't really pull out these close games."

 

Garfield Heights boys basketball team defeated, 67-59, in Division I state semifinal

0
0

Columbus -- For the first time all season the Garfield Heights basketball team ran into an opponent that was just as big, just as physical, just as fast and just as talented.  Additionally, Columbus Northland has been here before.  Northland got coach Satch Sullinger's farewell weekend off to a rousing start on Friday as the Vikings ended Garfield Heights'...

Columbus -- For the first time all season the Garfield Heights basketball team ran into an opponent that was just as big, just as physical, just as fast and just as talented. 

Additionally, Columbus Northland has been here before. 

Northland got coach Satch Sullinger's farewell weekend off to a rousing start on Friday as the Vikings ended Garfield Heights' season, 67-59, in a Division I state semifinal game in Value City Arena. Sullinger, father of OSU star Jared Sullinger, will retire after Saturday's state title game against Cincinnati LaSalle. His 2009 team won the state title. 

Junior Devon Scott scored 17 points and had 10 rebounds and guard Jordon Pitts had 16 points as Northland improved to 26-1. 

Senior guard Trey Lewis led Garfield Heights with 28 points and sophomore Tony Farmer scored 11. The Bulldogs, playing in the state semifinals for the first time in 61 years, finish with a 24-2 record. Northland had a 40-30 edge in rebounds. 

 

 

Mount Union product Kurt Rocco gets two-game 'audition' with Cleveland Gladiators

0
0

Rocco, a rookie, is taking the place of injured starter John Dutton.

Kurt Rocco.JPGView full sizeKurt Rocco (14), shown during his playing days with Mount Union, will start for the Gladiators on Sunday.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Gladiators' scramble to replace quarterback John Dutton has brought them to a most familiar place: their practice facility in Warrensville Heights.

Gladiators coach Steve Thonn said Mount Union product Kurt Rocco, who earned the backup job out of training camp, will start Sunday at Tampa Bay and for the foreseeable future. Dan Whalen, formerly of Case Western Reserve, is expected to be Rocco's backup against the Storm.

"We've made inquiries about other quarterbacks -- we've told Kurt this -- but nothing's happened," Thonn said. "So Kurt is our guy right now. We haven't made any promises for down the road, but we're going full throttle with Kurt because we have a lot of confidence in him."

Rocco, a rookie, has thrown one pass in his Arena Football League career. It came last Saturday in Spokane, Wash., when he replaced Dutton late in the fourth quarter of Cleveland's season opener. Rocco threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Troy Bergeron in a 61-55 victory over the Shock.

Dutton, one of the league's all-time best at his position, suffered a torn left Achilles' tendon and will miss the rest of the season. The Spokane game was his 97th consecutive start, extending an AFL record.

"This is definitely not the way I wanted to get the starting position," Rocco said. "What happened to John is very unfortunate, and I feel just as bad as everybody else. But that's the game of football.

"Obviously, I have huge shoes to fill. I'm not going to be John Dutton right off the bat, but I hope the guys on this team can rally behind me and keep me comfortable and ready. I'm excited about this opportunity, and I'm going to put in extra work every day."

The Gladiators' front office has inquired about, among others, veterans Chris Greisen and Raymond Philyaw. Greisen threw 107 TD passes for Milwaukee last season. Philyaw excelled for the Gladiators in 2008 and played an injury-plagued season for Bossier-Shreveport in 2010.

Thonn said each is unavailable at the moment for various reasons. Based on the Gladiators' schedule, Thonn sees what amounts to a two-game audition taking shape for Rocco. After visiting Tampa Bay, the Gladiators play their home opener April 2 against Chicago, then have a bye.

"We're going to continue to see who might be out there, but, quite honestly, the best-case scenario is for Kurt to play great in those two games and become our guy for the rest of the year," Thonn said.

Rocco said he understands the situation but will not be looking over his shoulder.

"I can't worry about who might be coming in," he said. "My job is to help us win in Tampa Bay."

Thonn, who has a well-earned reputation as an arena football offensive guru, is not easily impressed by quarterbacks. Thonn has been impressed by Rocco.

"For a guy who's only been here for three weeks, he's done a very good job of picking up the offense," Thonn said. "He knows where to throw the ball, and his timing is getting better and better. I feel like he's ready to play a game."

The 6-5, 230-pound Rocco played for Mount Union from 2006 through '09.

He started his senior year and was the nation's most efficient Division III passer.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: dmanoloff@plaind.com, 216-999-4664

OHSAA boys basketball: Anton Grady's stunning effort leads Cleveland Central Catholic into Division III final

0
0

See a photo gallery from Friday's game here. COLUMBUS, Ohio — Anton Grady sent the historians scrambling for the record books Friday when he authored what is believed to be one of the best individual efforts in state tournament history.

Cleveland Central Catholic's Anton Grady goes up for two against Portsmouth's Dion McKinley on Friday in Columbus. - (Thomas Ondrey l PD)

See a photo gallery from Friday's game here.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Anton Grady sent the historians scrambling for the record books Friday when he authored what is believed to be one of the best individual efforts in state tournament history.

Unfortunately, the record books were inconclusive.

No one in Value City Arena could remember the most recent time a high school player put on a show to match the one Grady produced Friday in leading Cleveland Central Catholic to a come-from-behind 58-47 victory over Portsmouth in the Division III state semifinals in front of 10,614 fans.

Oh, there have been double doubles before, but few -- if any -- like the one that helped the Ironmen (19-8) advance to today's 4:30 p.m. state championship game against top-ranked Cincinnati Taft, which raised its record to 24-1 with a 63-50 victory over Columbus Africentric in the other semifinal.

Grady, a 6-8 senior who will attend Cleveland State in the fall, was as dominant as any player in recent memory, especially in the second half when Central Catholic held Portsmouth, the state's 10th-ranked team, to 19 points and erased what had been an 11-point deficit.

Over the final 16 minutes Grady scored 23 points, pulled down 14 rebounds, blocked five shots and had one assist. He finished with 26 points, 22 rebounds, seven blocks and two assists. He scored 15 of Central's 19 points in the third quarter when it took the lead for good at 35-33 on a pair of Grady free throws with 2:35 to go.

"I like to sit down and talk to myself and tell myself to calm down," said Grady, who sat in solitude on the bench for a few moments after the Ironmen returned for the second half. "At halftime, I wasn't hitting my shots. I told myself, 'Are you going to let this be your last game?' And I told myself, 'No.' "

After making just one of seven shots in the first half, the state's co-player of the year in Division III made seven of 12 shots in the second. After making one of two free throws in the first half, he made eight in a row in the second. His 22 rebounds tied the state record -- in any division -- set by Westerville North's Shaun Stonerook against Cleveland Heights in the 1994 state championship game. However, state tournament rebounding records only date to 1992. Still, it helped Central to a 40-26 advantage on the boards.

"What can you say from the big man?" said Central coach Kevin Noch, who has a team in the state title game for the second time in three years. "Words can't express the way he played. That type of energy just deserves respect."

When Grady and his teammates got off to a slow start -- the team missed 12 of its first 16 shots and fell behind, 20-9 -- Noch summoned Marcus Jones off the bench. The 6-3 senior responded with 14 points and five rebounds in 22 minutes. Eight of his points came in the first half and helped keep the Ironmen from falling too far behind.

"Marcus could be starting for us, and he did start at the beginning of the year," Noch said. "But he has accepted his role and gives us so much energy off the bench and he finished so well at the rim. His performance was one of his best of the year."

Central Catholic, which snapped Portsmouth's winning streak at 16, had a 39-36 lead at the end of three quarters and scored the first six points to open the fourth while holding the Trojans scoreless for the first 5:22. After shooting 54.5 percent from the floor in the first half, the Trojans were able to make just 24.1 percent in the second.

"It was the tale of two halves," Portsmouth coach Gene Collins said. "We got off to a good start. We tried to crowd the paint and keep Grady from getting shots where he wanted to get them. Going in at half at eight in front was a blessing for us. In second half, we just ran out of gas. Grady created matchup problems for us. He kept us from getting to the rim."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: trogers@plaind.com; 216-999-5169

Greg Mauldin's overtime goal lifts Lake Erie Monsters to victory over Rochester Americans

0
0

The Monsters win despite playing without two of their regular defensemen.

Greg Mauldin's goal with 33 seconds left in overtime led the first- place Lake Erie Monsters to their club-record seventh straight win -- six on the road -- with a 3-2 decision over the last-place Americans on Friday in Rochester, N.Y.

In American Hockey League North Division action at Blue Cross Arena, David Van der Gulik scored his 13th goal of the season for the Monsters in the first period with a shot through the pads of Rochester goalie Tyler Plante. Ben Walter and Mauldin got assists.

Michael Duco knotted matters for the Americans with 1:57 left in the first. Bill Thomas' shorthanded one-timer past Jason Bacashihua in the second period gave Rochester a 2-1 lead.

Walter, on assists from Mauldin and Van der Gulik, netted a shot past Plante to tie it, 2-2, with seven minutes left in the third.

The Monsters won despite playing without two of their regular defensemen. The Colorado Avalanche recalled rookie Cameron Gaunce on Wednesday and Shawn Belle on Friday.

Jim Tressel email saga just one layer of Ohio State football program's headaches: Analysis

0
0

The latest revelation doesn't help Tressel's reasoning that he didn't reveal the emails to others to protect the confidentiality of attorney Chris Cicero and a federal drug investigation.

jim tressel.JPGView full sizeJim Tressel already is facting a five-game suspension and $250,000 fine, but that could increase.
NEWARK, N.J. — The news revealed another layer to the Jim Tressel saga, but it wasn't news to Ohio State. And it didn't change the way the OSU administration viewed Tressel.

Ohio State was previously aware that Tressel had forwarded emails about potential NCAA violations to Ted Sarniak, a friend of quarterback Terrelle Pryor, so the news as reported by the Columbus Dispatch on Friday did not directly change the investigation into his NCAA violations. A source said though the information was known before the news conference on March 8 that announced Tressel's violations, it could not be revealed because it was part of an ongoing NCAA investigation.

Tressel is facing a five-game suspension and a $250,000 fine, imposed by Ohio State, because he did not report to his bosses or the OSU compliance office the potential violations about two of his players, Terrelle Pryor and DeVier Posey, selling memorabilia.

That is required by his contract and by NCAA rules.

But if Tressel was going to inform someone that Pryor had been named in the emails from former OSU football player and attorney Chris Cicero, it should be no surprise that it was Sarniak.

Sarniak, a businessman in Pryor's hometown of Jeannette, Pa., was one of the primary people Ohio State talked to during their recruitment of Pryor. And a source said that relationship was looked into by both Ohio State and the NCAA at the time and was found to be within NCAA guidelines.

Sarniak, whom the Dispatch reported is 67 years old, accompanied Pryor on his official visit to Ohio State. He was there in the stands at the Ohio State spring game in 2008 after Pryor signed with the Buckeyes. After Pryor scored the game-winning touchdown at Wisconsin in the final minute as a freshman in 2008, it was Sarniak who was there to congratulate him, standing with family members of other OSU players as the Buckeyes made their way to the team bus.

The revelation doesn't help Tressel's reasoning that he didn't reveal the emails to others to protect the confidentiality of Cicero and a federal drug investigation. The timetable remains the same, however, when it comes to Tressel's future.

The NCAA will conclude its investigation and discuss its findings with Ohio State. The school and the NCAA have been working together on the issue since February. If the school generally agrees with the facts, violations and sanctions as proposed by the NCAA, the final decision about sanctions should come this summer.

But if the school doesn't agree with potential sanctions, which could include vacating wins from 2010 and perhaps a longer suspension for Tressel, but is less likely to include anything as severe as lost scholarships, then the final NCAA ruling might not come until 2012.

So the next immediate step is figuring out how the football team will operate. Linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator Luke Fickell remains the No. 1 candidate to step in for Tressel during his five-game suspension. But he very likely will be more than a three-hour coach on Saturday, when Tressel will be banned from the stadium.

Though Tressel would retain the power over final decisions and remain the leader when it comes to the offensive game plan, Fickell could be expected to run practice. He also would serve as the face of the program during the week, conducting the head coach's meetings with the media on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and acting in the role of a true coach.

That would lend Fickell more authority on game days, if he'd been seen as the team's leader during the week, and it would help Fickell prepare for a future as full-time head coach somewhere.

As we've seen, there's a lot more to running a program than what happens on Saturdays.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: dlesmerises@plaind.com, 216-999-4479


Cleveland Cavaliers see positives in seemingly meaningless victory over Detroit Pistons

0
0

A few years ago, a 97-91 Cavaliers victory over Detroit would have meant more than just Cleveland's 14th win. Now the Cavaliers find smaller triumphs in J.J. Hickson's improvement and Baron Davis' big-shot capabilities.

Gallery previewCLEVELAND, Ohio — Not too long ago, a late-March game between the Cavaliers and the Detroit Pistons meant something. It meant playoff seeding and bragging rights and momentum in the lead-up to what would undoubtedly be another postseason clash between the two Eastern Conference powers.

Now it's another late-season game between two bottom-of-the-standings squads, a game in which both sides struggle to find meaning beyond who will earn the most pingpong balls in the NBA draft lottery.

So when the Cavaliers triumphed, 97-91, Friday at The Q, bumping their record to 14-57 and snapping a four-game losing streak, they found deeper meaning in the fact there is obvious improvement in J.J. Hickson's game at power forward, and they just might have found a big-game closer in Baron Davis.

In Hickson's second straight game starting at power forward, he approached career highs with 24 points and 15 rebounds. And in Davis' return to the lineup since sitting out three games with a back injury, in only his fifth appearance with the Cavaliers, the point guard embraced the opportunity to hit the big shot for Cleveland in the game's waning moments.

Davis' 3-pointer with 9.9 seconds remaining secured the outcome, one play after guard Daniel Gibson's 17-foot jumper gave the Cavaliers a 94-91 edge.

"That's the beauty of the game," Davis said. "The opportunity to take the pressure shot, the opportunity to be the hero or the goat. It's something I've always been able to do in my career, and something I've always wanted to do."

The 3-pointer gave Davis 16 points for the game on 6-of-13 shooting, and it came in his 24th minute on the court when he said he'd already "lost [his] legs." He is still struggling with left knee and back injuries.

Cavaliers coach Byron Scott called Davis the kind of player who has "guts" when he's willing to even attempt that shot.

"What separates good players from great players is not only that willingness to be the hero, but also willing to be the goat," Scott said.

Hickson also is beginning to show flashes of becoming the kind of player who can be counted on regularly. Though he struggled earlier this season when moving between center to power forward, he logged his second straight double-double in his second start forward. His 12 points on 5-for-7 shooting in the first quarter helped the Cavaliers shoot 55 percent and get a fast start.

"He's in a good place," Scott said. "He really is. He's playing with a lot of confidence."

He's even changed his approach to the game so that he's focusing more on securing rebounds than sinking baskets.

"I'm the kind of guy that would take 15 rebounds over 15 points any day," Hickson said.

Four years ago, when these same two teams battled for a trip to the NBA finals, Hickson's improvement and Davis' return might have meant more to the Cavaliers. Now, with the two teams combining for 39 victories, with Detroit owning the NBA's worst defense in allowing opponents to shoot 48.5 percent, the Cavaliers must embrace the smaller triumphs.

There was the Cavaliers jumping to an early lead and holding on to the advantage throughout the game. There was reserve forward Luke Harangody's 10 points and nine rebounds off the bench, and even Ryan Hollins' 10 points in his second start at center.

And there were Davis' guts and Hickson's steady improvement, and while it won't matter much in the final standings or at all in the postseason -- a Cavaliers victory.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: jvalade@plaind.com, 216-999-4654


OHSAA boys basketball: Garfield Heights' run comes to an end against Northland in Division I semifinal

0
0

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Guard Trey Lewis won the battle of the stars, but Garfield Heights lost the battle of No. 1 vs. No. 2. Lewis, the Bulldogs' all-time leading scorer, won his duel with Columbus Northland's Mr. Basketball Trey Burke, but for the first time all season the top-ranked Bulldogs ran into a team that was just as big,...

Garfield Heights' Trey Lewis had 33 points and six rebounds for the Bulldogs in a Division I semifinal Friday against Northland in Columbus. - (Thomas Ondrey l PD)

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Guard Trey Lewis won the battle of the stars, but Garfield Heights lost the battle of No. 1 vs. No. 2.

Lewis, the Bulldogs' all-time leading scorer, won his duel with Columbus Northland's Mr. Basketball Trey Burke, but for the first time all season the top-ranked Bulldogs ran into a team that was just as big, just as strong, just as fast and just as skilled.

Northland, ranked second in the state, took an early lead, wilted a little on two occasions but had enough to defeat Garfield Heights, 67-59, on Friday in a Division I state semifinal in front of a disappointing crowd of 9,727 fans in Value City Arena.

Lewis, the 6-1 senior who will attend Penn State, had 33 points and six rebounds. He scored 21 of those points in the second half but it wasn't enough.

"We didn't play our style of basketball until later in the game," Lewis said. "We're usually a defense-first team, and we came out flat. And they got too many inside buckets, too many easy plays. We didn't get a rhythm."

Burke, a Michigan recruit, scored 15 points and had five assists but it was the inside play of 6-8 juniors Jalen Robinson and Devon Scott, and the unexpected scoring of junior guard Jordon Potts that won the game for the Vikings.

Scott finished with 17 points, a game-high 10 rebounds and three blocked shots. While Robinson only had seven points, he had eight rebounds and two blocks.

Potts, who came into the game averaging 8.5 points, scored 16 to go with four assists.

It was not the best game that Garfield Heights -- in the state semifinals for the first time in 61 years -- has played this season. In fact, coach Sonny Johnson said it was the worst.

"I haven't seen us play like this all year," said Johnson. "I'm shocked, to be honest. We always fight and make good decisions to get back into the game. You have to bring it at this stage, the final four. Trey Burke didn't have a good game, but everyone else around him did."

Northland (26-1) got coach Satch Sullinger's farewell weekend off to a rousing start as it played its way into today's state championship game against Cincinnati LaSalle, which defeated Toledo Central Catholic in the other semifinal.

Sullinger, father of OSU star Jared Sullinger, has announced he will retire after the title game.

Burke made just four of 17 field-goal attempts and seven of nine free throws, while Lewis made 11 of 21 field-goal attempts -- including 8-of-13 on 3-pointers -- and three of five free throws.

Northland, state champs in 2009, had a 38-30 advantage in rebounds.

Garfield Heights fell behind early as it missed its first six shots and Scott and Jalen controlled play. The 6-8 juniors combined to score all 14 of Northland's points and get four rebounds, helping the Vikings to a six-point lead at the end of the quarter.

Junior Mike Davis came off the bench to help the Bulldogs cut the deficit to two points, but Scott scored on a slam dunk and Potts made a 3-point shot that quickly got the lead back to seven. Davis finished the half with six points.

Lewis came back from a bloody nose and scored 12 of his 33 points in the first half. Scott led Northland with 13 points and Pitts had eight in the first 16 minutes. The Bulldogs got to within five points in the third quarter but Burke scored two quick buckets to boost the lead back to nine. The closest it got after that was 61-55 in the final minute.

Garfield Heights struggled from the field in the first half, making just eight of 22 shots, while the Vikings made 12-of-27.

Sophomore Tony Farmer came on in the later stages and finished with 11 points and eight rebounds, and Mike Davis came off the bench to score nine.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: trogers@plaind.com, 216-999-5169

OHSAA boys basketball roundup: Cincinnati Taft, Cincinnati LaSalle reach finals

0
0

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Adolphus Washington scored 15 of his 22 points in the second half Friday to stave off a rally by Columbus Africentric as Cincinnati Taft advanced to the Division III state title game with a 63-50 semifinal victory. Taft plays Cleveland Central Catholic today at 4:30 p.m.

Cincinnati Taft's Adolphus Washington, left, looks to get past Columbus Africentric's Antonio Thomas during the third quarter of a Division III semifinal Friday in Columbus. - (Paul Vernon l AP)

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Adolphus Washington scored 15 of his 22 points in the second half Friday to stave off a rally by Columbus Africentric as Cincinnati Taft advanced to the Division III state title game with a 63-50 semifinal victory.

Taft plays Cleveland Central Catholic today at 4:30 p.m.

Africentric (18-8) opened the third quarter with a 7-0 run to cut its deficit to five, but Washington scored seven straight points to make it 45-33 at the 4:50 mark.

The Nubians got to within 52-50 early in the fourth quarter. Three defensive stops by top-ranked Taft (25-1) sparked an 11-0 spurt to finish the game, with five points from Washington, who shared Division III Co-Player of the Year honors with Cleveland Central Catholic's Anton Grady.

Cincinnati LaSalle, 48, Toledo Central Catholic 46 Matt Woeste's rebound and basket with four seconds left gave LaSalle a spot in the Division I title game.

Brandon Neel, who had a game-high 23 points, drove the lane but missed a short jumper before Woeste came in from the left side for the quick put-back. Central Catholic (20-5), which was out of timeouts, threw the ball down court but was unable to get a shot off before the buzzer.

Central Catholic tied the score at 46 with 19 seconds left when Benjamin Dent made the second of two free throws.

Ryan Fleming had 11 points, and Woeste scored seven for LaSalle (25-2). Central Catholic's Andrew Lehman had 13 points, and substitute Cliff Bussey scored 11.

LaSalle won the championship in 1996.

Ohio State men's basketball team off-target, on its way home after NCAA Tournament loss to Kentucky

0
0

Poor shooting brings an end to Ohio State's hopes of winning its first men's basketball title in 51 years.

Gallery preview

NEWARK, N.J. -- The shots hadn't fallen all night -- the balanced offense that had carried Ohio State to the No. 1 ranking in the nation and into the Sweet 16 failing the Buckeyes.

And now the ball was in the air again, with the hopes of continuing the drive for Ohio State's first national title in 51 years on the line. On other nights, William Buford's 3-pointer in the final seconds might have gone down.

On this night against the Kentucky Wildcats, it hit the front rim with 0.9 seconds on the clock, and the Buckeyes were done.

No. 4 seed Kentucky upset the No. 1 Buckeyes, 62-60, in an East Regional semifinal on Friday night as Ohio State suffered through one of its worst shooting nights of the season, the Buckeyes making just 19 of 58 shots, 32.8 percent from the field. Their only worse offensive games this season came against Florida State and Northwestern, when they shot 32.2 percent, but still found a way to win.

Kentucky (28-8) was too good for that.

"With how we've been shooting lately, this is especially frustrating," OSU senior Jon Diebler said. "It hurts when you lose by two points, because you can go back to any possession through the game. And then you just kind of feel that emptiness inside, because everything you worked for to get to this point, it didn't end the way we wanted it to, or the way we believed it could."

The Wildcats took the lead with 5.4 seconds to play on a jumper by guard Brandon Knight, and the Buckeyes never hesitated before racing up the court without calling a timeout. Diebler, who made a 3-pointer off the dribble with 21.2 seconds to play to tie the game at 60, clearly had the look of a man who wanted the ball, who wanted the last shot.

But the ball wound up in the hands of Buford, who suffered through one of the worst nights of his three-year career. When the last shot was short from the left side of the top of the key, he finished 2-of-16 from the field with just nine points.

It was the shot the Buckeyes wanted. OSU coach Thad Matta said after the game that the chances of scoring are lowered when a team calls a timeout in that situation. And though Buford was so cold, the Buckeyes would take that shot again.

"Aaron [Craft] got the ball and pushed it up, gave me the ball and I just didn't knock it down," Buford said. "We had great expectations for ourselves, and last year we got put out early and we didn't want to get put out early this year. It doesn't feel good."

The final result was too similar. The Buckeyes (34-3) once again fell short against a team from the Southeastern Conference. They were eliminated in St. Louis last season, losing a regional semifinal to Tennessee, 76-73.

But that Buckeyes team was a No. 2 seed and had most of its players coming back, with a great freshman class led by forward Jared Sullinger and Craft. This was much different. Diebler, Buford, center Dallas Lauderdale (Solon) and fifth-year senior David Lighty (Villa Angela-St. Joseph) played their last games as Buckeyes.

The game contained 11 ties and nine lead changes, with big man Josh Harrellson leading the Wildcats with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while guard DeAndre Liggins added 15. Sullinger led the Buckeyes with 21 points and 16 rebounds, while Diebler had 16 and Lighty 12.

After a 30-30 tie at the half, Ohio State eased to a 36-32 lead before the Buckeyes started missing shots they made most of the season. Buford missed a runner, the Buckeyes turned it over, Sullinger threw down a dunk after an offensive rebound on a Lighty miss, and two possessions later, Lighty missed a double-pump layup on a 3-on-2 fast break when the Buckeyes needed points with the game tied at 41.

The lead changed hands four times before another tie was forged at 47, with the Buckeyes shooting less than 30 percent as a team.

Then Sullinger scored in the post to put the Buckeyes up by two, and Kentucky forward Terrence Jones answered with a 3.

Lighty hit a jumper in the lane for another lead, Harrellson came back with a 3-point play, leaning in for a layup as he drew a blocking foul on Craft.

Craft came back with two free throws to tie it at 53 with 5:38 to play, but the Wildcats grabbed another lead on a Knight 3-pointer after some great ball movement.

Ohio State had to answer with its go-to move on this night -- letting Sullinger go to the offensive glass, which he did after Craft air balled a 3-pointer. Sullinger grabbed it and laid it in to cut the Kentucky lead to one. Ohio State then grabbed its first lead in almost five minutes as Lighty drove to the basket for a layup with 2:10 to play, putting Ohio State ahead, 57-56.

But the Buckeyes couldn't get the defensive stops they needed, Matta saying he kept waiting for two big stops in a row.

Though Sullinger saved the Buckeyes on the glass, grabbing eight offensive rebounds, Harrellson was a star for Kentucky.

Harrellson more than held his own inside, putting up 12 points and seven rebounds in the first half compared to 10 and seven for Sullinger. The OSU freshman didn't dominate in the post, though Harrellson often covered him one-on-one. With 3:33 left in the half, Harrellson jumped and saved a ball heading out of bounds, firing it off Sullinger's chest.

The sound echoed across the court as Sullinger looked down at his chest and wrinkled up his face. In the ensuing timeout, Sullinger put his elbows on his knees, folded his hands together and stared out into space, thinking about something.

Now all the Buckeyes have a long time to think, and a lot to think about.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: dlesmerises@plaind.com, 216-999-4479

Ohio State men's basketball team lives up to Newark's 'Brick City' nickname: Bill Livingston

0
0

When it matters most, the Buckeyes shoot 19-for-58 and get bounced from the NCAA Tournament by Kentucky.

ohio state 3.JPGView full sizeOhio State's Jon Diebler was 4-for-7 on 3-pointers Friday and 5-for-10 overall, one of the few Buckeyes with a decent shooting effort as the team was 19-for-58 overall.

NEWARK, N.J. — Unfortunately, the "Brick City" was host to Friday night's NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 game between top-ranked Ohio State and fourth-seeded Kentucky.

That nickname for Newark supposedly comes from the big brick buildings of the housing projects, although some say it originated in neglected corners where bricks of crack cocaine are for sale here and in inner cities across the country.

The official version is that it has nothing to do with jump shots trampled out of mud and straw, then baked until they menaced backboards.

Can't prove it by the evidence of Ohio State's shooting, though, as Kentucky ended the Buckeyes' season, 62-60, at the Prudential Center.

Both Ohio State and Kentucky's players gave a rebuke to such thoughts coming into the game. Can't prove that by the Ohio State statistics after it, though.

Ohio State came into the game with two players shooting better than 40 percent from the arc -- David Lighty and William Buford -- and another, the sometimes-surreal Jon Diebler, at an even 50 percent.

Overall, the Buckeyes were shooting an around-the-rim-and-out ball below 50 percent (49.9) on the season.

But when it mattered most, Ohio State shot 19-for-58 (32.8 percent). The touch of the Buckeyes might have been down da shore, as Snooki and the gang say. More likely, though, it was lost in the reach of the longer and more athletic Kentucky defenders, deterrents the Buckeyes were unused to seeing in the Big Ten.

Kentucky blocked a stunning 11 shots, altered many others, and discouraged Buford (2-for-16, including the last, off-the-rim 3-pointer at the buzzer) and Aaron Craft (0-for-5) from looking to shoot at all. When a team is playing offense three-on-five, it is very beatable.

"We were able to get good looks at the basket, but their length bothered us," Buford said.

Freshman Brandon Knight, one of the Big Blue chippers who make Kentucky sort of a national clearinghouse for prodigies, broke the last tie, swishing a midrange jump shot with 5.4 seconds remaining.

Craft raced the ball down the floor and found Buford running free along the left wing. He rose one last time, with literally a long shot to win it. "I thought it was good," Buford said.

He may have been the only one who thought that.

It went off the rim, and the team that dominated the national college basketball conversation all season followed it out of the tournament at the same stage at which Tennessee ended the Buckeyes' season last year.

That team was made up of national Player of the Year Evan Turner and four guys orbiting around him, like a little scarlet-and-gray solar system. This one was supposed to have more weapons, answers to more questions, no chink in the armor but lack of depth. So this loss stung more.

Freshman big man Jared Sullinger was the most capable weapon for OSU. He finished with 21 points and 16 rebounds. He is a power player, who barges and bulls to the basket, who rams and (literally, with a capacious backside) butts for position. But one of Sullinger's shots, as he lunged beneath the basket for an angle that was not there, crashed off the underside of the rim. His first two were blocked. The second was smothered, strangled, stuffed and virtually mounted on a wall as a trophy by 6-10, 275-pound senior Kentucky center Josh Harrellson.

Sullinger has had shots blocked before, but never like this. The idea was to intimidate him. That clearly did not succeed, but Sullinger worked very hard for what he got.

In the final 3 1/2 minutes of the first half, Harrellson got an offensive rebound, teetered off-balance near the baseline and threw the basketball at Sullinger as hard as it can be propelled, absent artillery being legalized on the court. It hit Sullinger in the chest with a thump heard clearly from the floor to the dim, dark seats high above the court.

Glares were exchanged, Sullinger nodding his head up and down during the ensuing timeout, as if accepting the burden, the challenge and the harsh code of a game.

Often in Ohio State's inside-out offense, he is a facilitator as much as finisher. He had no assists and four turnovers vs. Kentucky.

He should have had more assists. But no one could finish. No one could make a shot. Brick City.

To reach Bill Livingston: blivingston@plaind.com, 216-999-4672

Ohio State men's basketball star Jared Sullinger promises he will return to Buckeyes: NCAA East Regional Insider

0
0

Sullinger says he's not caught up in the emotion of the moment and has no intent on changing his mind and entering the NBA draft. "I'm a man of my word," he says. Junior William Buford says he also plans to return.

Jared Sullinger.JPGView full sizeJared Sullinger says he wants to return to the Buckeyes next season for another shot at a national title.
NEWARK, N.J. — Ohio State freshman Jared Sullinger promised he will return for his sophomore season, and Ohio State coach Thad Matta was not surprised by that promise in the shadow of the Buckeyes' 62-60 loss to Kentucky.

"I'm going to be an Ohio State Buckeye next year," Sullinger said. "Winning is that important to me. I don't like losing. This is not what I came here to do. This is not what I came here for, to sit here and see my seniors crying. I came here to win a national championship, to see them celebrate. I wanted to tears of joy with these guys."

Four years ago, OSU freshman point guard Mike Conley promised to return after the Buckeyes lost the national title game, and then, with good reason, changed his mind and was the No. 4 pick in the NBA draft. Sullinger said he was not caught in the emotion of the moment, though he said he only made the decision after the loss, when he knew a national title was gone.

"I'm a man of my word," Sullinger said. "I won't change my mind for nobody. This is what I want. This is where I'm happy. I'm happy being an Ohio State Buckeye and playing for coach Matta."

And Matta is just as happy.

"He told me from Day One he'd be back for two years," Matta said. "He said, 'Draw me up a contract, whatever you want me to do, I'll sign it.' With him, his freshman year was as good as I've ever seen a freshman have. I think all the things he learned this year, with a great off-season, I have no doubt he'll be the best player in college basketball."

Sullinger is projected as a top-five pick in the draft. Junior William Buford, who has a chance to be a first-round pick, said he also would return next year as a senior.

"From the way it just ended, I don't want it to end. I'll be back. I want to get better so when I do go to the next level, I can make an impact, not just be another player," Buford said.

Tar Heel resurgence: A year after the Tar Heels lost in devastating fashion to Dayton in the NIT championship, Roy Williams' players are a win away from the NCAA Final Four with Friday night's 81-63 victory over Marquette.

How far the Tar Heels had fallen last year, since winning their sixth national championship in 2009. After losing four starters from that title team, they went 5-11 in the ACC and lost 17 games, their worst season since 2002.

They nervously watched the NIT selection show, hoping for a chance to salvage a season that had spiraled out of control.

Now North Carolina has the chance to pen one of the best comeback stories in recent NCAA Tournament history.

Gone are 2009 national title heroes Ty Lawson, Tyler Hansbrough and Danny Green. But these current Tar Heels are talented beyond their young years.

There have been bumps along the way. North Carolina started the season 1-2, were pummeled by 20 points against Georgia Tech, lost twice to Duke, including the ACC Tournament final, and also lost starting point guard Larry Drew II, who transferred midseason. But these Tar Heels have proved their resilience could be on the cusp of making their 19th Final Four appearance in the program's history.

"It's been a huge turnaround," Zeller said. "Last year, we were just trying to fix what we were doing. . . . It definitely wasn't the season we wanted. But now that we're in the Elite Eight, it's a great feeling."

Marquette flops again: Jimmy Butler missed a free throw early in the second half, and rather than racing back to stop North Carolina on the fast break, he simply hung his head.

It was that kind of night for Marquette during their regional semifinal loss.

The Golden Eagles had twice as many turnovers as field goals in the first half, went nearly 10 minutes without scoring, and found themselves in such a deep hole that not even Dwyane Wade could have dug them out. By the time Marquette finally got going, the game was 30 minutes old and the Tar Heels were already coasting toward the Elite Eight.

The final score was 81-63.

It seemed much worse.

The game probably conjured up memories -- or nightmares -- of when Marquette was on an even bigger stage, playing Kansas at the Final Four in 2003. The Jayhawks beat a team featuring Wade, Steve Novak and Travis Deiner, 94-61, to reach the national title game.

Lower seeds falter: These are the teams everybody roots for in the early rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The double-digit seeds. The underdogs. The teams that win a couple of heart-stopping games but just don't have enough to play for a national championship.

In the past four tournaments, double-digit seeds have a 2-9 record in the Sweet 16. What makes it worse is they've been blown out in most of the games.

"At this point, a seed is a seed. It shouldn't affect the way a team plays," Marquette guard Junior Cadougan said. "We weren't playing the North Carolina program tonight. We played North Carolina players. It shouldn't have mattered if we came out and played. We didn't do that."

Does a double-digit seed team get worn down, facing what most people consider a superior team for three games in a week?

"I think we've been the underdog the last 24 games, to be honest with you. I do think that it's part of our perspective. I think it's part of how we work. I think it's part of how I coach," Marquette coach Buzz Williams said. "I just think that's how we function, is we are the underdog.

"So, I don't know that it wears on you. I think it becomes just a part of who we are, and I don't think that is negative, I just think that is kind of how demented I am."

Since the field expanded to 64 in 1985, double-digit seeds have gone 13-45.

"Numbers like that don't matter to me at all and don't mean anything," Marquette's Jimmy Butler said. "As long as you play hard, that should be all that matters. The No. 11 seed had nothing to affect this team today. A loss is a loss, no matter how you take it."

NCAA men's basketball tournament: Today's matchups

0
0

No. 8 Butler faces No. 2 Florida; No. 5 Arizona plays No. 3 Connecticut

butler coach.JPGView full sizeCoach Brad Stevens' Butler squad plays Florida today.

Southeast Regional

No. 8 Butler vs. No. 2 Florida

Tipoff: 4:30 p.m., McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz.

TV: WOIO Channel 19.

Notable: Florida (29-7) can't be as sloppy offensively as it was against BYU if it wants to beat Butler. The Gators need to be patient against a smart Butler team on both ends of the court. Offensively, the Gators have more size up front and need to take advantage, not jack up 3-pointers. Defensively, Butler (26-9) runs a lot of screens, and Florida especially has to worry about Bulldogs G Shelvin Mack from beyond the arc. Look for Butler's guards to have success applying defensive pressure against Florida's backcourt. Mack, Ronald Nored and Shawn Vanzant (a Florida native from Tampa) should be able to force some turnovers from Erving Walker and Kenny Boynton. Walker, especially, has to play smart basketball; he makes too many ill-advised trips into the paint and can be prone to wild passes. When he plays under control, Florida is difficult to beat. Keep an eye on the boards.

West Regional

No. 5 Arizona vs. No. 3 Connecticut

Tipoff: 7:05 p.m., Honda Center, Anaheim, Calif.

TV: WOIO Channel 19.

Notable: Both teams rely heavily on one player, UConn on junior G Kemba Walker and Arizona on sophomore F Derrick Williams. Williams is the only Arizona player who averages in double figures, while Walker and freshman swingman Jeremy Lamb are the only Huskies who average more than 10 points. Thus, it's important for both teams to limit the complementary players. The Wildcats love to get the ball inside to Williams, who is proficient at getting the ball back to open shooters on the perimeter. Arizona is coming in off a dominating second-half performance in its victory over Duke, and if the Wildcats can somehow carry that over, they will win this. But playing at that high a level for a second game in a row is going to be difficult.

-- Rivals.com

Four Things I Think ... about Ohio State vs. Kentucky: Doug Lesmerises

0
0

Ohio State probably will miss the defense of David Lighty next season.

david lighty.JPGView full sizeOhio State's David Lighty chases for a loose ball against Kentucky's Terrence Jones in the first half Friday.
1. David Lighty (Villa Angela-St. Joseph) is an All-American defensive player. The Ohio State senior talked Thursday about the necessity to play team defense, with every Buckeye needing to keep an eye on Kentucky stars Brandon Knight and Terrence Jones while guarding their own men. In the first half Friday, Lighty slid into the gaps on help defense to take charges on both Knight and Jones. And at the end of the first half, Kentucky isolated Jones on Lighty, and Lighty gave him no space on his drive, finally getting a small piece of the ball on Jones' shot.

That was great individual defense, but it's hard to quantify how much Lighty makes the Buckeyes' team defense better with the help he gives. Next season, if you notice the Buckeyes giving up more drives, it will be because Lighty isn't there to slide over and lend a hand.

2. The Nuthouse continues to grow in strength. The Ohio State student section was located in the upper level for the first two games of the NCAA Tournament at The Q, their noise lost in the roof. So one of the students emailed the OSU athletic department. The students were rewarded with seats in the lower bowl on Friday, with 31 members of The Nuthouse making the trip. The only problem? The ushers kept telling them to sit down.

3. Kentucky's NCAA Tournament record against Ohio State coming into Friday night's game was one of the more remarkable stats in the tourney. The Wildcats were 0-5 against the Buckeyes, and they were 43-29 in their tournament history against all the other teams in this year's field. The Buckeyes beat the Wildcats in the tournament in 1945, 1961, 1962, 1968 and 1987.

4. Two point guards is never a bad thing, but it's always intriguing. Ohio State recruit Shannon Scott, the son of former North Carolina and NBA player Charlie Scott, was named Mr. Georgia Basketball on Friday. Scott is a 6-2 point guard and may be the most prepared of the five players in the Buckeyes' incoming class to contribute next season. Scott is the reason the Buckeyes didn't recruit Columbus Northland point guard Trey Burke, who was named Ohio's Mr. Basketball.

But, as you may have noticed this season, Aaron Craft is a pretty fair point guard himself. Remember when Mike Conley arrived at Ohio State, the Buckeyes played Conley and former point guard Jamar Butler on the floor together, with Butler sliding to the two guard. This time, it may be the younger player, Scott, who slides, but expect the Buckeyes to have plenty of ballhandlers on the floor next season.


J.J. HIckson knows his future is at power forward: Cleveland Cavaliers Insider

0
0

J.J. Hickson's move to back to his natural power forward position is necessary for his growth in the league, but is taking some adjustment.

jj hickson.JPGView full sizeJ.J. Hickson (21) says he doesn't have the size and height to play center in the NBA.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — J.J. Hickson has seen the measuring tape up close, so he knows exactly how tall he is. He's not 7 feet, or even 6-11.

He's 6-9, and he knows at that height his future in the NBA is not as a center, but as a power forward. Too many centers in the league are much bigger and stronger for him to consistently compete at that position.

So while Cavaliers coach Byron Scott admitted the move to start 7-0 Ryan Hollins at center the past two games was more about adding length to the rotation, it also allowed Hickson to move back to his natural spot at power forward.

And while Hickson's play at that position has been up-and-down this season, he realizes it's an adjustment he must make. In his first game moving back to power forward, Hickson had 17 points and 17 rebounds against New Jersey on Wednesday.

It took concentration to focus on crashing the boards for rebounds, he said.

"A lot of the plays we run for the four-man are on the perimeter," Hickson said. "I have to make a conscious effort to position myself by the basket."

Hickson said he learned much of what he knows about grabbing rebounds from former teammate Ben Wallace, now with the Detroit Pistons. At 6-9, Wallace also was an undersized center who was a dominant rebounder in his prime.

"The main thing I learned from Ben is how to position my body and knowing that it's a battle of feet to get the rebound," Hickson said. "It's a mix of technique and will to get the ball."

The fact Hickson is so focused on gathering rebounds now, after starting the season with low totals, is encouraging to Scott.

"He's come a long way in a short period of time," Scott said. "To the point where we were butting heads earlier, to now where he listens to everything I say. He's matured a lot in less than a year, and I think he'll continue to grow."

Tait to return: Joe Tait, the Cavaliers' legendary radio broadcaster, will return to the airwaves Sunday when the Cavaliers host Atlanta. Tait has missed all of this regular season after undergoing cardiac surgery and rehabilitation.

Tait will broadcast the final five home games for the Cavaliers, his final season behind the microphone.

Tait has been the play-by-play announcer for the Cavaliers since 1970, and can be heard on WTAM AM/1100. In his absence this season, Mike Snyder has done play-by-play and Jim Chones was the color analyst. Chones will stay on as color analyst for Tait.

Cavs vs. Miami, Round 2: The first time LeBron James returned to Cleveland after defecting to Miami, the game garnered a bit of national attention. Miami returns Tuesday for its second game this season, and while there is much less focus on this game, there is still interest.

Fans selected Tuesday's game against the Heat to be broadcast on NBA TV as the Tuesday Fan Night game.

That game also will allow Fox Sports Ohio viewers to receive a free ticket for the final home game of the season, April 13 against Washington. During the telecast, viewers will receive instructions on how to get the buy-one, get-one-free deal. The deal will be offered only during Tuesday's game.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: jvalade@plaind.com, 216-999-4654

Cleveland Indians' Josh Tomlin beats out David Huff, Jeanmar Gomez for spot on starting rotation

0
0

Josh Tomlin, Shelley Duncan and Travis Buck are told Friday that they made the Indians 25-man roster. The news isn't so good for David Huff, Jeanmar Gomez and others.

josh tomlin.JPGView full sizeJosh Tomlin made the Indians' major-league roster Friday and will be the No. 4 starter.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The Indians' starting rotation is set and the rest of the 25-man roster isn't far behind.

The rotation was completed Friday morning when manager Manny Acta told right-hander Josh Tomlin he'd made the club. Acta's rotation will be Fausto Carmona, Carlos Carrasco, Justin Masterson, Tomlin and Mitch Talbot. Acta threw a few wrinkles into the all right-handed rotation by having Carrasco, a power pitcher with a good breaking ball, pitch between sinkerballers Carmona and Masterson. Tomlin's strong spring earned him the fourth spot ahead of Talbot.

After Tomlin received the good news from Acta, David Huff and Jeanmar Gomez were told they were being optioned to Class AAA Columbus. The competition for the last spot in the rotation came down to those three with Tomlin winning by a wide margin.

"Josh just never relented," GM Chris Antonetti said.

Huff and Gomez had their best performances of the spring in Thursday's 7-1 victory over the world champion Giants, but it wasn't enough after inconsistent springs. They probably rank No. 1 and No. 1a when the Indians need a sixth starter during the season.

In other moves, Antonetti said that outfielders/first basemen Travis Buck and Shelley Duncan and third baseman Jack Hannahan had made the team. He also said Orlando Cabrera would "likely" be the starting second baseman.

Along with Huff and Gomez, outfielder Ezequiel Carrera, who had a good camp, was optioned to Columbus. Non-roster right-hander Doug Mathis, who had a 2.98 ERA, but walked 10 in 91/3 innings, and Anthony Reyes were reassigned to the minors. Reyes, coming back from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, had a setback early in camp and made just one Cactus League appearance.

After Friday's 7-4 loss to Milwaukee, infielder Cord Phelps was reassigned to the minors.

Outfielders Jordan Brown and Chad Huffman were told they probably wouldn't make the club unless something unexpected happened. They'll stay in big-league camp and travel with the Indians to Columbus for their exhibition game against the Clippers on Thursday.

Huffman, claimed on waivers from the Yankees during the off-season, has been impressive this spring. He entered Thursday's game against Milwaukee hitting .361 (13-for-36) with five doubles, three homers and 11 RBI.

"Huffman clearly had a good camp, maybe the best," Acta said. "So it's tough. But at the same time Shelley Duncan hadn't done anything not to be on the club. He's played well in camp, too, and contributed to this club last year. We're very happy to have a guy like Huffman down there that we can grab at anytime."

Tomlin, a 19th-round pick of the Indians in 2006, said he wouldn't believe he'd made the club "until I'm on the mound in Cleveland."

At every level the 6-1, 190-pound Tomlin has had to prove he can pitch and win. He doesn't throw 95 mph and he isn't built along the lines of the classic right-handed starter -- 6-5 and 225 pounds.

Tomlin, in his most recent appearance, retired 15 straight batters. Yes, it was against Class AAA Columbus, but it was still impressive.

This spring Tomlin has a 1.12 ERA (one run in eight innings) in three Cactus League games.

Huff went 2-1 with a 5.82 ERA (11 earned runs in 17 innings) and Gomez went 0-1 with a 5.50 ERA (11 earned runs in 18 innings) with one save in six appearances.

Regarding Buck, who made the club as a non-roster player, Acta said: "I think we got him at the right time. I think he's a major-league player. He's athletic and can play the three outfield spots. He's had some great at-bats against lefties and righties."

Buck is hitting .420 (21-for-50) with five doubles, four homers and 12 RBI. He leads the team in homers and is tied for the lead in RBI.

Hannahan, like Buck, made the club as a non-roster player. When Jason Donald broke a bone in his left hand March 5, it cleared the way for Hannahan to win the starting job. He's hitting .386 (17-for-44) with four RBI this spring and has played solid defense.

There are still questions to be answered.

The Indians must pick a reserve catcher among Lou Marson (.143), Luke Carlin (.158) and Paul Phillips (.407). They are still considering starting Marson at Columbus to try to get his bat going.

The Indians must name a utility infielder among Jayson Nix (.167), Luis Valbuena (.239) and Adam Everett (.324). Everett, who seems recovered from a sprained left thumb, is believed to be the favorite.

The bullpen still has three openings. Vinnie Pestano (0-1, 1.35 ERA, one save), Justin Germano (seven scoreless innings), Frank Herrmann (2.08, one save) and Jess Todd (1.35) are the only relievers left in camp. Antonetti said Joe Smith, who came to camp with a job in the pen all but secured, is likely to open the season on the disabled list with a strained abdominal muscle.

Buck and Hannahan must be added to the 25-man roster by Thursday. Everett and Germano are non-roster players as well.

Smith, Grady Sizemore, Donald and Trevor Crowe are expected to start the year on the disabled list.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158

Tribe's payroll shrinks for a third straight season: Cleveland Indians Insider

0
0

The Indians will open the season next week with a payroll that has declined for the third straight year. While the average payroll in the AL Central is an estimated $91.2 million, the Indians will start the year at $48.4 million.

travis hafner.JPGView full sizeTravis Hafner is the highest-paid player on the Indians' roster.

PHOENIX, Ariz. — The Indians' payroll for their projected 25-man roster on Opening Day at Progressive Field will be $48,402,400. It's the third straight year the payroll has declined and the lowest it has been since 2005 when the Indians opened with a $41.5 million payroll.

This year's payroll includes four players expected to open the season on the disabled list. Grady Sizemore, who at $7.5 million is the second-highest-paid player on the team, heads the list.

Jensen Lewis' $650,000 salary is not included in this year's payroll because he's not on the 40-man roster even though the Indians guaranteed his contract.

The Indians have seen their payroll drop from $81.6 million in 2009 to $61.5 million in 2010 to this year's total of $48.4 million. Over the past two seasons, they've lost 190 games. In 2010, they finished last in attendance in the big leagues.

The Opening Day total could change slightly depending on the roster's final makeup. This projected roster has Adam Everett making the club as the utility infielder, Lou Marson winning the backup catcher's job and relievers Vinnie Pestano, Frank Herrmann and Justin Germano being named to the three open spots in the bullpen.

Baseball-reference.com projected the average salary for the five teams in the AL Central this year will be $91.2 million. Chicago, Detroit and Minnesota will open the season with payrolls exceeding $100 million. Kansas City will be the only team with a payroll lower than the Indians.

The Indians are expected to rank somewhere between 26th and 28th in payroll among MLB's 30 teams.

Travis Hafner remains the highest-paid Indian at $13 million a year. He's followed by Sizemore at $7.5 million, Fausto Carmona at $6.1 million, Shin-Soo Choo at $3.975 million and Chris Perez at $2.225 million.

Only nine Indians make a salary of $1 million or higher. Last year the average salary per player on the Yankees and Red Sox was $8.3 million and $5.6 million, respectively.

Good show: David Huff and Jeanmar Gomez were optioned to Class AAA Columbus on Friday, but not before making their best appearances of the spring. Huff went five scoreless inning against the Giants on Thursday night. Gomez relieved and went the final four, allowing a solo homer, while striking out six and earning the save.

"Huff was better," pitching coach Tim Belcher said. "Gomez was good. He attacked the strike zone and used his secondary pitches very well."

Buck's change: One of the reasons Travis Buck made the Indians as a non-roster player is that he changed his swing. The left-handed-hitting Buck stopped trying to pull the ball and started using the whole field.

Tip of the hat: Ezequiel Carrera, like Buck, made a good impression. He just didn't get to stay.

The center fielder was optioned to Columbus after hitting .286 (12-for-42) with one double, one homer and eight RBI. He scored eight runs, drew 11 walks and stole four bases.

"He raised some havoc once he got on base," manager Manny Acta said.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158

With Cleveland Indians home opener days away, tickets are a steal this season: Michael K. McIntyre's Tipoff

0
0

The Indians this week unveiled a lot of new features for this year's Indians season at Progressive Field. We know, we know, a winning team would be a nice new feature. They're apparently working on that, too.

adams-bleachers-tribe-vert-cc.jpgSeason-ticket packages for bleacher seats, where you can feel John Adams beating his drum, are a steal at Progressive Field this year.

The Indians this week unveiled a lot of new features for this year's Indians season at Progressive Field. We know, we know, a winning team would be a nice new feature. They're apparently working on that, too.

Tickets are cheaper. All bleacher seats will be ten bucks and upper reserved $8. And they're giving away the store to get fans to come back to the ballpark.

For $1,485 – not pocket change but not in the millionaire's tax bracket either – a fan can get two bleacher seats to all 81 home games, Terrace Club membership, a suite for one game and club seats for one game.

For $500, you can trot out with the grounds crew and literally steal second base during the fifth inning spruce up of the infield. The Indians say, "You can do your best Kenny Lofton impersonation."

But that might be too painful. Last we remember, Kenny Lofton was slamming on the breaks rounding third at the insistence of coach Joel Skinner in the ALCS against Boston in 2007, you know the one the Indians lost despite a three games to one lead?

Blatz 'n bats: There are many new ways for Tribe fans to either drown sorrows or toast victory starting Friday at the home opener.

The best? The "Your Dad's Beer" stand, made up to look like the den that served as Dad's lair back in your wonder years. On the menu are Dad-era beers such as Blatz, Pabst Blue Ribbon and Schaefer.

blatz-beer.jpgYour dad's beer, featured at "Your Dad's Beer" stand.

A 12-ounce can is $4.50 and you'll have to put aside for a moment the fact that your Dad would crawl dry-throated through the Sahara before he'd pay nearly five bucks for a can of beer. (Bring him on one of the half dozen "dollar dog nights" and all will be right.)

Also on the menu: Andy Capp Fries, pork rinds and Beer Nuts.

Familiarize yourself with the location. It's in the main concourse in right field corner near the Kids Team Shop. If it's anything like when you were a kid, you'll be the one who has to go get Dad's beer for him.

Sugar fix: Former Cuyahoga County Auditor Frank Russo – convicted of corruption charges and soon to start a two-decade federal jail stint – delivered the quote of the week during his testimony in the trial of former Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Bridget McCafferty, who was found guilty Friday of lying to FBI agents. It was ordered stricken from the official court record, but not Tipoff's.

Russo, who said he called McCafferty repeatedly to ask her to "look out" for his friends who came before her in court, described his relationship with the judge this way:

"If you took your kids or grand-kids out for ice cream and there were two windows, and you knew someone at one of the windows, you would go to them. That way you might get an extra scoop or some extra sprinkles on an ice cream cone."

Isn't that sweet?

Wrong show: Phil Donahue, the Lakewood native and St. Ed's grad, was the star

merv.jpgThis is not Phil Donahue

 attraction during a fundraiser for U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown at the Shoreby Club in Bratenahl Sunday.

He got the crowd rolling when he talked about how happy he was to be back in his hometown. He knew he'd been gone too long, he said, when the valet greeted him with: "Nice to see you, Merv."

A sweet tribute: The "Candy Lady" of Erieside Church on the Boulevard in Willowick earned her name by always bringing a satchel of sweets to Sunday services. Congregants made a bee-line to Rosemary David after the sermon for a piece of candy, a kind word and, always, a sweet smile.

David, who once served as finance director and treasurer for Pepper Pike and treasurer of Moreland Hills, was volunteer treasurer and headed the 5th and 6th grade youth program there for two decades.

When the Candy Lady died March 17th just two weeks shy of her 86th birthday, a tribute to her appeared in the form of a white basket during Sunday services, filled to the brim with candy and placed on the aisle next to her customary seat.

Said one worshipper: "God must have wanted a piece of candy."

What is the question? The ensemble that performs "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)" makes a number of local references that get big laughs.

Some also bring a little pain.

Hamlet is famous for asking "To be, or not to be." In the local production at the Hanna Theater, the brooding Dane also asks, "What should I do?"

School kids at a matinee Wednesday roared as the script included the rest of the text from the former Chosen One's Nike commercial following "The Decision" to leave the Cavaliers.

"Should I admit that I've made mistakes? Should I remind you that I've done this before?" says Hamlet.

Not that we want the former Number 23 to suffer Hamlet's fate, but word is the Cavs are scouting a young forward in the French league. Danish kid by the name of Laertes.

The last shot, Kentucky's length, Jared Sullinger's offensive rebounds and more: 10 final thoughts on Ohio State-UK

0
0

This team was a lot like the 2007 Ohio State squad, but Ron Lewis made his last-second shot, and William Buford missed his.

Ohio State falls to Kentucky, 62-60Kentucky's Josh Harrellson stuffs the shot attempt of Ohio State's Jared Sullinger.

1. Ron Lewis made his shot. William Buford didn't make his.

We all judge Ohio State by the final result, which is the way it works, and the 2007 freshman class with Greg Oden and Mike Conley reached the national championship game and the 2011 class with Jared Sullinger and Aaron Craft lost in the Sweet 16.

Both wound up living or losing on a 3-point try by a veteran.

With the game in the balance Friday night, Buford missed a tough 3-pointer that would have won the game for the Buckeyes in the last second, while the miss allowed Kentucky to pull out a 62-60 win. Four years ago, Lewis drained a long 3-pointer with four seconds to play that forced overtime against Xavier in the second round of the tournament.

Buford's shot was better-defended. Lewis' shot was longer. Both were pretty good looks given the circumstances, and an inch or two is what made the difference between a tournament that continued and one that ended.

If Lewis had missed that shot, we would have been talking all season about that 2007 team, how it only made the second round of the tournament, and what did Sullinger's team have to do to avoid a similar fate? Instead, the 2007 team did what the 2011 team couldn't.

2. Before the game, I thought either Brandon Knight or Terrence Jones, Kentucky's two leading scorers as freshmen, would need a huge game to give the Wildcats a chance. Instead, Knight was held to nine points on 3-of-10 shooting and Jones was limited to eight points on 3-of-10 shooting as well.

It was the FIRST time this season that both freshmen were held to single digits in a game, and yet Kentucky still won. Jones only had five previous games of fewer than 10 points, and Knight had just two. They were averaging a combined 33.5 points per game and scored just over half that.

"Most definitely," Ohio State's David Lighty said when asked if he liked the Buckeyes' defense in the game. "But they made plays when they needed it."

3. One of Kentucky's best plays was a pick-and-roll with big man Josh Harrellson, and you could see OSU point guard Aaron Craft overplayed that just a bit as Harrellson set a high screen on Kentucky's final possession. Instead of using the screen, Knight dribbled the other way, getting one step on Craft, who still played very good defense to take away Knight's ability to drive to the basket, forcing him into a pullup jumper with Craft's hand in his face.

Buford was 2-for-15 from the field when he released Ohio State's final shot, and he finished 2-for-16.

Knight in that moment wasn't much better. He was 2-for-9 when he took the shot, and 3-for-10 when it went in.

Ohio State falls to Kentucky, 62-60Kentucky's Brandon Knight hits the game-winning shot over Ohio State's Aaron Craft.

"We didn't get the stop we needed," Craft said. "I didn't guard him the way I needed to. He made a good shot. It's devastating the way it ended."

"He made a heck of a shot," OSU coach Thad Matta said. "Aaron, you know he is a tremendous defender. He had his hand in his face and he just rose up and made a great shot. And, you know, those are the type of shots that we said we wanted them to make, were challenged twos. To his credit, he made a big-time play."

4. OSU big man Jared Sullinger said it of Harrellson.

"He's the reason why they won," Sullinger said.

Harrellson led Kentucky with 17 points, as one of only two players in double figures, and he worked that pick-and-roll, hit the offensive boards (reaching over Sullinger to grab at least two of those rebounds, which almost never happened this season) and playing good defense to prevent Sullinger from getting to his spots on offense.

That really showed up on Ohio State's possession with 1:09 to play and the Buckeyes down by a point. With the shot clock ticking down, Harrellson wouldn't let Sullinger get deep post position and after Sullinger the got the ball further out of the lane, he spun baseline and was forced into a jumper that hit the side of the backboard.

"He got in pretty good position," Matta said. "And we have seen him score well down there on that block. And the guy did a great job bodying him up and preventing him from getting the ball to the follow-through."

I didn't think Harrellson would be able to handle Sullinger as effectively one-on-one as he did, and he truly did win the game for the Wildcats.

"I think Harrellson is probably the most underrated player in college basketball," Matta said. "He's a tremendous player and knows his role and does it well."

5. Sullinger finished with 21 points and 16 rebounds, his 10th game of the year with at least 20 points, his 19th game with at least 10 rebounds and his 18th double-double. But he was not dominant offensively. However, he was dominant on the offensive boards.

He tied his season-high with eight offensive rebounds, and he scored 11 of his 21 points directly off those rebounds - four baskets and three free throws after getting fouled following the rebounds.

Take away those made putbacks, many of which were dunks, and Sullinger was 3 of 10 from the field. It's hard to argue with a freshman putting up 21 and 16 in a Sweet 16 game during his freshman year, but Harrellson deserves a lot of credit for defending Sullinger on his own much of the night and not letting Sullinger do more damage.

6. Length, again, was an issue, as it was against Tennessee in the Buckeyes' Sweet 16 loss last season. Kentucky blocked 11 OSU shots, the most blocks against the Buckeyes this season, and that had an effect. A lot of the shots the Buckeyes missed, and they missed 39 of the 58 they took, went back to that length, with the big Wildcat wing players offering Ohio State something they didn't see every week in the Big Ten. Just the threat of a block changed some shots.

"They're pretty long and they were blocking some of the shots we usually get off on teams," Buford said.
   
7.
That's true, but the Buckeyes have to get over that. They have skilled offensive players who should be able to deal with tall, long defenders. Really, the shooting came down to two players - Buford (2 of 16) and Craft (0 of 5). They shot a combined 9.5 percent from the field. The rest of the Buckeyes combined (17 of 37) shot 45.9 percent.

Ohio State falls to Kentucky, 62-60Ohio State's David Lighty walks off the court for the last time Friday after the Buckeyes' loss to Kentucky.

8. Still, I am shocked the Buckeyes went down shooting that way. In only two games out of 37 had the Buckeyes had a lower shooting percentage, going 19 for 59 against both Northwestern and Florida State, while they were 19 of 58 on Friday.

Buford had four other games in which he made less than 30 percent of his shots: 3 for 11 against Minnesota on Jan. 9; 2 for 8 at Illinois on Jan. 22; 1 for 5 at Purdue on Feb. 20; and 3 for 14 against Northwestern in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament on March 11.

9. Sullinger and Buford both said they'll be back next season, though Buford also told some other reporters, when asked the same question, that he needed to evaluate things.

I stood in the locker room after the national title game loss to Florida four years ago and heard Mike Conley Jr. promise to return, and then he went pro, with good reason, chosen as the No. 4 pick in the draft. I am always very skeptical of what players and parents say during, or right after, a season when it comes to discussing their futures. But I will say I believe Sullinger this time. I will be very surprised if he goes out, even though he'd be a top three or top five pick. I'd guess Buford will be back, too, but I think there's a greater chance he changes his mind.

10. What were Matta's words to his team after the loss?

"It was more of a thank you," Matta said. "Thanking the guys for everything they have given to the program. It's life. It doesn't always go the way you want it to. The hard part is this is one of the great runs Ohio State has ever had and it's over."

Viewing all 53367 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images