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Ohio State Buckeyes drop to No. 8 in college basketball Top 25; Kentucky Wildcats stay No. 1

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Buckeyes are 22-5 after their 56-51 loss at Michigan on Saturday.

jared-sullinger3.jpgAll-American forward Jared Sullinger and the Ohio State Buckeyes host Illinois on Tuesday night, as they hope to begin a climb back up the national rankings.

The Kentucky Wildcats and the Syracuse Orange are 1-2 in The Associated Press Top 25 for a fourth straight week.

Ohio State's Buckeyes, 22-5 after their 56-51 loss at Michigan (20-7) on Saturday, dropped from sixth to eighth. The Wolverines moved up to No. 11.

Ohio State and Michigan are in a second-place Big Ten tie with a 10-4 record in league games. No. 6 Michigan State, which is 22-5, leads the Big Ten at 11-3.

In the USA Today/ESPN Coaches rankings, the Buckeyes dipped from sixth to ninth.

(The new AP, Coaches and RPI rankings)

The Buckeyes' next game is at home on Tuesday night, when they host Illinois (16-11, 5-9).

The Wildcats, who have been No. 1 for five consecutive weeks and seven overall, were again a runaway choice Monday with 63 first-place votes from the 65-member national media panel. Syracuse, which spent six weeks at No. 1, got the other first-place votes.

Missouri, Kansas and Duke stayed third through fifth and are followed by Michigan State, North Carolina, Ohio State, Georgetown and Marquette.

No. 18 New Mexico, winners of seven straight, and No. 22 Temple, which has won 10 in a row, are in the rankings for the first time this season. They replace West Coast Conference members Saint Mary's and Gonzaga.

 


Indians have plenty of holes to fill but it will be a fun season to watch - Comment of the Day

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"Starting pitching is always the first ingredient for a ML baseball team to be successful. Look at the Rangers, who for years, had a power packed lineup then failed to either make the playoffs , or made an early exit. Last year both the Red Sox and Yankees failed because of lack of starting pitchers." - rruss1

Cleveland Indians beat Oakland, 9-8One cleveland.com reader explains that the season will ride on the starting staff's arms, including Justin Masterson's.
In response to the story Cleveland Indians' 'contention' plans revolve around Ubaldo Jimenez: Bud Shaw, cleveland.com reader rruss1 states while the starting pitching is the key ingredient to the Indians winning, the season will be an exciting ride. This reader writes,

"Starting pitching is always the first ingredient for a ML baseball team to be successful. Look at the Rangers, who for years, had a power packed lineup then failed to either make the playoffs , or made an early exit. Last year both the Red Sox and Yankees failed because of lack of starting pitchers. Tampa and the Angels have not had power packed lineups yet they continue to contend annually. Can the Indians contend with their current starters? Success will depend on more than Masterson and Jimenez. A solid defense is a must. Offensively the tribe's younger players, i.e. Kipnis, Santana, Chisenhall, and maybe LaPorta must produce. Lots of maybe's there, but it will be fun to watch."

To respond to rruss1's comment, go here.

For more comments of the day, go to blog.cleveland.com/comments-of-the-day.

Nice to see Tristan Thompson get his first career double-double - Cavs Comment of the Day

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"Glad Reed wrote about Thompson as most on the national level only want to talk about Irving. While there's nothing wrong with Irving in the least, TT deserved the game ball last night. In fact... maybe Byron Scott deserved it. The Kings have more individual talent on that team, but they look like they're more interested in anything other than "Team" where as the Cavaliers are playing to the finish no matter what the score is. Gotta love that." - KingGeorge53

Cleveland Cavaliers lose to Raptors, 104-96Many cleveland.com readers were excited to see Tristan Thompson record his first double-double of his career against the Kings Sunday night.
In response to the story Tristan Thompson starts to get 'groove' back in Cavaliers' win over Kings: Days of Wine-n-Gold, cleveland.com reader KingGeorge53 was glad to see Tristan Thompson play well against the Kings Sunday night (15 points, 12 rebounds). This reader writes,

"Glad Reed wrote about Tristan Thompson, as most on the national level only want to talk about Irving. While there's nothing wrong with Irving in the least, TT deserved the game ball last night. In fact... maybe Byron Scott deserved it. The Kings have more individual talent on that team, but they look like they're more interested in anything other than "Team" where as the Cavaliers are playing to the finish no matter what the score is. Gotta love that.

None the less, it was an exciting game right down to the wire."

To respond to KingGeorge53's comment, go here.

For more comments of the day, go to blog.cleveland.com/comments-of-the-day.

Cleveland Browns P.M. links: Scouting combine starts the earnest 'process' of building for a season still more than 6 months away

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Combine, featuring most of the players eligible for April's NFL draft, begins on Tuesday and concludes on Feb. 28. Links to more Browns stories.

phil-taylor.jpgBaylor defensive lineman Phil Taylor runs a drill at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis last Feb. 28. About two months later, the Cleveland Browns drafted him in the first round.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Hey, the NFL season is only about 6 1/2 months away, but the league expertly stays in the news, and as part of that, comes the NFL scouting combine.

The combine, which will help form teams' assessments of various players, begins in Indianapolis on Tuesday and kicks into high gear on Wednesday. Featuring most of the top players who will be eligible for the April 26-28 draft, and including dozens and dozens of other prospects, the combine concludes on Feb. 28.

The Cleveland Browns, like the league's 31 other teams, will have a crew of representatives on hand to find out virtually everything they can about the draft prospects.

The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com will cover the event. PD reporters Mary Kay Cabot and Dennis Manoloff will file stories from Indianapolis, and Glenn Moore will file reports for cleveland.com.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Browns coverage includes Bill Lubinger's report on how the NFL might make changes in how they employ game officials through the year; a Starting Blocks report on NFL mock draft links; Mary Kay Cabot's story on prospects the Browns will keep a watch on during the NFL scouting combine; her "Hey, Mary Kay!;" answering readers' questions about the Browns; "Terry Pluto's Talkin;' " and much more.

Post patterns

The Browns could use some help on the offensive line, and Dave Kolonich of Scout.com's Orange and Brown Report examines whether the Browns could get OL help in free agency.

For the Browns, the scouting combine is about much more than Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III. By Jeff Schudel for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal.

It's the right move for the Browns to put the franchise tag on middle linebacker D'Qwell Jackson if they can't reach agreement on a multi-year contract with him, writes Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com, referring to a story about the Browns and Jackson by The Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot. 

In Tom Heckert, have the Browns finally found a general manager who should stay in Cleveland for years? By Don Delco for Scout.com's Orange and Brown Report.

The Browns and the cost of a franchise tag. By Craig Lyndall for the blog "WaitingForNextYear."

Will Colt McCoy remain the Browns quarterback? Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports that was one of the subjects on ESPN Radio's "Mike and Mike in the Morning." And, a link to the podcast during which ESPN's Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic talk about McCoy and the Browns.

There's no questioning the heart for wrestling of referee Santos Cageao: Tim Warsinskey's Take

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Cageao set a high standard for officiating long before he raised the bar by treating his triple bypass like a sprained ankle.

cageao-ref-wrestling-jg.jpgView full size"It felt so much better to be on that mat than to be in a hospital bed," says 76-year-old Santos Cageao in returning to his 49th season in refereeing Northeast Ohio high school wrestling.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- When I'm 76, I hope to be upright.

When I'm 76, I hope my heart doesn't require a hands-on restructuring.

When I'm 76, I hope to watch a wrestling match and still remember the object is to pin the other guy.

I hold no illusions I will be doing anything close to what Santos "Sandy" Cageao is doing this weekend -- officiating a high-school district wrestling tournament three months after open-heart surgery. But I am not discouraged, because comparing myself or anyone else to Cageao seems laughable. There is no measuring up to him.

Cageao set a high standard for officiating long before he raised the bar by treating his triple bypass like a sprained ankle. The 1955 Collinwood graduate is one of a handful of officials inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

"It's really astonishing that a guy has a love for the sport that he does. Any normal human would hang it up," marveled Madison coach Ryan Wirtzberger.

Astonishing is one word for Cageao's comeback.

"You could also use 'awesome' or 'crazy,' I'm not sure which," said Willoughby South coach Guy Trinetti Jr., whose father is an official. "It goes to show you how dedicated he is to the sport."

Cageao was back on the mat Dec. 29 at the Brecksville Holiday Tournament, 41 days after doctors at University Hospital repaired his heart, wired his breastplate back together and sewed up a 14-inch incision.

"It felt so much better to be on that mat than to be in a hospital bed," said Cageao, who is retired from Dominion East Ohio and lives in Munson Township.

Cageao's return isn't a fluke. He always has been in excellent shape, lifting weights and playing racquetball three days a week with fellow well-conditioned elder statesmen such as Aurora wrestling coach Dick Bliss and retired Euclid baseball coach Paul Serra.

Cageao hopes to resume that schedule next week. He's already full-go on the mat. In addition to being the head official at the Willoughby South Division I sectional tournament last Friday and Saturday, he spent nine hours at a middle-school tournament Sunday. All told, he pranced around mats 20 hours and officiated more than 50 matches in three days.

Despite the surgery, he has retained his barrel chest, strong forearms and youthful exuberance. The red hair and freckles that made him stand out in a family of Cuban and Spanish descent have long since been replaced by a bald top and close-cropped white hair, but Cageao always has appeared about 20 years younger than he is.

Cageao's comeback is another chapter in a career that has been without peer, and is part of Northeast Ohio's rich wrestling legacy. His 34 state tournaments is believed to be a record for officials. Though he has not been voted by coaches as a state tournament official since 2008, he was regarded as the state's top official for decades, and in 1987 was named Official of the Year by the U.S. Wrestling Officials Association. His knowledge, fairness and accuracy rarely are questioned.

This weekend's Mentor district tournament doesn't finish Cageao's comeback.

"This is my 49th year. I have one more year to go," he said. "I'm thinking about next year. I'll get the 50th year."

He'll be 77, and I'll still be amazed.

On Twitter: @TimsTakePD

Jeremy Lin, Norris Cole reveal college basketball's little secret: 'We do miss players' -- Terry Pluto

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Yes, the basketball experts can be wrong. Just ask Jeremy Lin and Norris Cole.

lin-fields-knicks-horiz-mct.jpgView full sizeJeremy Lin's explosive emergence in the NBA was belied by the modest assessments of his talents as a California high school star, says Terry Pluto. He's hardly the only player who had problems getting attention from college coaches.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- When Jeremy Lin was in high school, he led his Palo Alto team to the California state title.

His hometown was just down the street from Stanford. The 2006 championship game was played at Arco Arena in Sacramento, home of the NBA Kings. Lin's Palo Alto team upset national powerhouse Mater Dei, 51-47.

As I read about Lin scoring 17 points in that game, about his team's 32-1 record and the guard being named to the All-State team -- I kept wondering, "Why did this guy who has become a star with the Knicks end up at Harvard?"

The 4.2 grade point average had a lot to do with it, but Lin wanted to play for Stanford or another Division I program. Along with his coach, he put together a highlight DVD and sent it to more than 25 coaches. I tried to think of a coach who I knew who must have had some knowledge of Lin in high school. I called Scott Duncan, an assistant coach at Wyoming.

"Not only did I know about Jeremy, I watched him play," said Duncan, who once was an assistant at Cleveland State after playing high school basketball at Westlake and college ball at Wooster.

In 2006, Duncan was an assistant at Oregon.

"I was at the state title game because Mater Dei was projected to have as many as six Division I players," said Duncan.

Palo Alto? They started a 6-1 center. Lin was their best player. No one considered them to be big time.

"[Palo Alto] had skinny kids who looked like little leaguers next to the imposing team from Santa Ana," wrote David Kiefer of the San Jose Mercury News in his game story.

Of Lin, Kiefer wrote: "The 6-foot-2, 175-pound senior point guard has become the symbol of this improbable season, a player who always believed Palo Alto was capable of such an achievement, and seemed to will it to happen."

"That day, Jeremy was the best player on the floor," said Duncan. "Not the best college prospect, but the best player. He was this skinny kid, looked about 160 pounds. Nice player."

That's what Duncan wrote in his notes: "A nice player, supposedly headed to the Ivy League. That's the right level for him."

A unanimous, if wrong, appraisal



To be fair to Duncan, he was not alone in that assessment.

"I was one of 20 Division I coaches at that game," he said. "None of us offered Jeremy a scholarship."

Stanford and California wanted him to walk-on. Duncan mentioned that even West Coast mid-majors such as Saint Mary's, San Francisco and Loyola Marymont didn't offer him a scholarship.

Lin scored 17 in that title game, but shot 6-of-19 from the field with eight rebounds and two assists. It was a sloppy, defensive game as Mater Dei shot 29 percent. As a senior, Lin averaged 15.1 points and 7.1 assists. His team was about defense, which is why those relatively modest numbers didn't prevent Lin from being named the San Francisco-area high school Player of the Year.

Recruiting service Rivals.com gave him zero stars.

Lin's Ivy League career began slowly as he averaged 4.2 points as a freshman, before becoming a starter for his final three seasons. Then he went undrafted by the NBA, was cut by Golden State and Houston before finally given a chance by the guard-desperate Knicks.

"The fact is, we do miss players," said Duncan.

He mentioned how Reverve's Larry Nance Jr. was lightly recruited despite being the son of a Cavs star and having a strong senior season. He is the sixth man for Wyoming's 18-8 team as a freshman. Only a few other schools such as James Madison showed an interest in the 6-8 forward.

The Cole Story

cole-dribble-heat-pacers-2012-ap.jpgView full sizeNorris Cole also took the less-traveled road to the NBA, with only NAIA Walsh University interested in him out of Dayton Dunbar before Cleveland State offered a scholarship late in Cole's senior year.

Then there's Norris Cole, the former Cleveland State star and sixth man with the Miami Heat.

"Norris was ready to play for us," said Jeff Young, coach at Walsh University in North Canton.

Just like Lin, Cole was no secret. He was the starting point guard for Dayton Dunbar's state title team. College coaches watched him for a few years in big games against major competition. They were more interested in his Dunbar teammate, 6-foot-9 Aaron Pogue (now with Cleveland State).

"Norris signed with us in December of his senior year," said Young. "He had no other real offers. I couldn't figure it out. He had good grades. He came a great family. Played quarterback, a real leader. I heard some Division I coaches saying they didn't know if he was a point guard or a shooting guard."

Young has a 220-44 record at Walsh, including 22-5 this year. He sustains that success by finding good players, not worrying about what positions they play.

"I just knew Norris was a very good guard," said Young. "I told him that because we were NAIA, if he received a Division I offer, we'd let him out of his scholarship."

As a senior, Cole led his team in scoring (15.5), shooting 49 percent and averaging 4.3 assists. He was in the National Honor Society. He played on two state title winning teams with a 50-6 record in his final two years at Dunbar. Young said Wright State showed some interest in Cole, but not enough to offer a scholarship.

"After the season, Gary [Waters] offered Norris," said Young. "We lost him, and look what he's done since."

The 6-foot Cole averaged only 4.9 points as a Cleveland State freshman, but then started the next three years. Like Lin, he was not an instant success in college. As a senior, he was the Horizon League Player of the Year. Miami obtained him in a draft-day trade after he was the 28th pick. He now averages 8.6 points for the Heat.

Like Lin, he has surprised a lot of basketball people -- and has been doing it for a long time.

Back from injury, Tristan Thompson proving his worth to Cleveland Cavaliers

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Rookie power forward is showing the skills that convinced the Cavs to take him with the No. 4 pick in the draft.

cavs-thompson-kings-thomas-overhead-ap.jpgView full sizeSacramento's Isaiah Thomas experienced the challenge of trying to get a shot off against the Cavaliers' Tristan Thompson, who posted his first NBA double double with 15 points and 12 rebounds in Sunday night's win at The Q.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Before Sunday's game between the Cavaliers and Sacramento Kings, it was only natural to revisit the trade that sent power forward J.J. Hickson to Sacramento for small forward Omri Casspi and a much-protected first-round draft choice last summer.

Both players have had similar struggles this season, although Casspi had the edge on Sunday with six points and 12 rebounds in 27 minutes, while Hickson went scoreless with four rebounds in 16 minutes.

Rookie power forward Tristan Thompson outplayed both, finishing with 15 points and 12 rebounds -- one short of his career high in each category -- in the Cavs' 93-92 victory. It was his first NBA double double, and it came in a season-high 30-minute stint. He also tied his season bests with seven offensive boards and three blocked shots.

In his last two games, he's averaging 13.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocked shots in 28 minutes, while shooting 58.8 percent. In his last four games, he's averaging 3.8 offensive rebounds and 7.3 total rebounds with 1.8 blocks and 7.8 points in 21.8 minutes per game.

Currently the leading rookie rebounder with 5.5 a game, it was this kind of potential that led the Cavs to select Thompson with the fourth pick in the draft and made it possible to move Hickson last summer. Although Thompson missed six games with a sprained left ankle earlier this month, he seems to be returning to form.

"Last night was one of his better games," coach Byron Scott said of Thompson after practice on Monday. "I thought the game against Miami [on Friday] you could see him starting to come back to where he was before he hurt the ankle. I still think he favors it just a little at times. But for the most part, especially last night, I thought he did a lot of good things for us, especially in the rebound department.

"He's just got to continue to be aggressive on that end of the floor. Offensively, he still has to understand where he needs to be at times, as far as our spacing is concerned. He's getting better. It's just a matter of repetition and getting him more comfortable."



There is, of course, that troublesome matter of free throws. Thompson made just 48 percent in his one season at Texas, and he's making 46 percent here -- 30 of 65. In his last five games, he has made 10-of-16, including 3-of-6 against Sacramento.

Asked about his free-throw shooting, Thompson smiled and said, "I feel good. Yesterday ... there were some good misses. You just go up to the line and shoot your shot. If it goes in, it goes in. If it doesn't, it doesn't -- 50 percent chance."

Scott was asked what's a good miss for Thompson.

"A good miss for him is hitting the back of the rim," the coach said, laughing. "A bad miss is hitting the front of the rim. If it's short, it has no chance of going in."

Thompson maintains that he's confident when he steps to the line, and although he has played considerable fourth-quarter minutes recently, no team has intentionally sent him to the line. Yet.

"Once it gets to the two- or three-minute mark, I might be a little more concerned about it," Scott said with a smile.

The Cavs have worked with him extensively, and they have changed his routine, trying to get him not to dribble.

"I think the more you dribble the ball at the free-throw line the more you think," Scott said. "Just go up there, get it, do your little routine and shoot the ball so there's less thinking. He's done better."

Scott also is working with him on what to do once he grabs an offensive rebound -- using the currently injured Anderson Varejao as an example.

"At times, especially early in the season, he was being surrounded by two or three guys and I told him 'most of the time when you're going back up, it's either getting blocked or stripped, so it's a wasted possession for us,'" Scott said. "I tried to tell him to be a little bit more like Andy. Andy gets a ton of 'em, but most of the time he just brings them back out unless he has a lay-up. I think he's done better at that, as far as understanding, 'If I just can't go right back up and dunk it, let's bring it out and value the ball a little bit more.'"

Scott is most comfortable when the rookie is on the box.

"But like I told him before when he's trying to back down these guys, most of these guys in this league that he's trying to back down are bigger and stronger," Scott said. "I love it when he catches it and he turns quick and goes quick, uses his speed. That's where we're trying to get him to.

"It's a work in progress. He's a very good student. He listens. He goes out there and tries to apply what you give him. So I think he'll be fine."

On Twitter: @pdcavsinsider

Lake Erie Monsters absorb 4-1 loss in Toronto

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Peter MacArthur's goal gives Lake Erie a first-period lead, but Toronto dominates the rest of afternoon game.

TORONTO, Canada -- Jerry D'Amigo scored two goals, and the Marlies downed the Lake Erie Monsters, 4-1, in American Hockey League play Monday.

Peter MacArthur put the Monsters on the board first, with a power-play goal 7:08 into the contest. Cameron Gaunce and Brad Malone earned assists for Lake Erie.

Then Toronto took over. Greg Scott netted the equalizer with 8:10 left in the first period, D'Amigo got his first goal in the second period, and Hamilton gave the Marlies some breathing room with a power-play goal early in the third period.

Monsters goalie Gerald Coleman allowed three goals and made 26 saves. Toronto goalie Ben Scrivens accumulated 28 saves.

D'Amigo recorded an empty-netter with 1:11 left.


Cleveland State, Kent State facing important road tests on Tuesday

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Vikings and the Golden Flashes still chasing first-round byes in their postseason tournaments.

waters-csu-point-2012-lt.jpgView full size"We have tried some combinations and they haven't worked," CSU coach Gary Waters said of the slumping Vikings. "We're not going to quit. We're going to keep fighting until we get it right."

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- This college basketball season has boiled down to the inevitable jockeying for position in conference tournaments. For both Cleveland State and Kent State, that continues on the road Tuesday with the Vikings at Green Bay and the Golden Flashes at Miami.

CSU (20-8, 10-5) is battling to hold on to the No. 2 seed in the Horizon League, which is good for a first-round bye. But the current four-game losing streak has everyone searching for answers with only three games left to the regular season, starting with the Phoenix (12-14, 7-8).

"There's a combination of things that are going wrong," CSU head coach Gary Waters said after Saturday's home loss to Drexel. "We're struggling, and playing back to back to back to back. We don't have a chance to clear our heads. We need to come up with something to keep teams at bay."

The Vikings also play Thursday and Saturday of this week, all Horizon League games. A loss to Green Bay would put CSU in a three-way tie with Detroit and Butler for second place, with Detroit holding the advantage via a sweep of the Bulldogs. That means Thursday's game with the Titans, even with a Green Bay victory, would still be for second place.

Over and above the loss of senior swingman D'Aundray Brown (groin), Cleveland State's shooting has gone south in a big way. During a five-game winning streak that preceded the current woes, the Vikings shot 50 percent or better in four games. In three of the four setbacks CSU has shot 25.9 percent, 37.5 percent and 27.0 percent. In all three, the Vikings failed to score 50 points.

Along with the shooting woes is the sudden demise of the bench. Injuries have played a big part, but the goal to have the most heralded freshman class in school history primed for the stretch run just has not materialized. After freshman Anton Grady (8.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg), the rookies have provided little more than giving the starters a breather.

"We have tried some combinations and they haven't worked," Waters said. "We're not going to quit. We're going to keep fighting until we get it right."

As for Kent (19-7), the Flashes have to regroup quickly from a home loss to the College of Charleston that snapped a seven-game winning streak. The immediate challenge is getting the first road win in divisional play against the RedHawks (4-9, 8-17). That would keep KSU no worse than two games behind first-place Akron, but also maintain a hold on one of four first-round byes to the upcoming MAC Tournament.

Kent senior center Justin Greene, who missed the Charleston game with a sprained ankle, is probable against the RedHawks, pending how he recovers from Monday's practice. "No matter what, he won't be 100 percent," KSU coach Rob Senderoff said. "So we have got to find a way to get it done."

Carlos Santana's 'rest' from catching could focus on DH duties for Cleveland Indians

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Manny Acta said when Carlos Santana isn't catching, he could be seeing more time at DH than first base. Watch video

santana-bp-ariz-2012-horiz-cc.jpgView full sizeA group of Indians minor leaguers got an up-close of Carlos Santana in the batting cage during Monday's workout at Goodyear, Ariz.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Spring training almost always begins with smiles and hope. Along with that can come a revelation or two.

Hector Ambriz provided the smiles Monday when Indians pitchers and catchers reported to open camp. Ambriz missed all of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.

Manager Manny Acta provided the revelation when he said the signing of first baseman Casey Kotchman could lead to Carlos Santana seeing more time at designated hitter, especially against left-handers. That could mean a drop in playing time for DH Travis Hafner, who will make $13 million in the final year of his contract.

Last year, Santana started 88 games at catcher and 63 at first base. He'll still see time at first to rest his legs, but probably not as much as in 2011 because the Indians see Kotchman as an everyday player. DH is the next alternative for Santana, who made one start there last year.

In the past Acta has been reluctant to use Santana at DH and Lou Marson at catcher in the same game because an injury to Marson would cost the Indians the DH and force their pitchers to bat.

"It's a risk we're going to have to take more often," said Acta. "We're going to have to work Lou in there more, especially against left-handed pitchers, because he had a lot of success against them.

"Kotchman comes in and he's going to be our first baseman. We see him as a very important part of our club."

Against lefties, here's how the four players produced:

• Hafner .233 (24-for-103), four homers, 19 RBI;

• Kotchman .298 (43-for-149), two homers, 13 RBI;

• Santana .318 (57-for-179), five homers, 25 RBI; and

• Marson .297 (27-for-91), one homer and nine RBI.

Hafner and Kotchman hit lefty, Santana is a switch-hitter and Marson hits right-handed.

This could be one way for Acta to balance his left-handed heavy lineup against opposing left-handers. It might also be a way to phase Hafner out of the lineup in preparation for 2013 and beyond. The Yankees, before they traded A.J. Burnett to Pittsburgh, were talking to the Indians about a Burnett-Hafner deal.

Santana spent the winter working with strength coach Nelson Perez in the Dominican Republic. He reported to camp at about 208 pounds, a drop from about 220 last year.

Gallery preview

"I worked out with Nelson and Ubaldo Jimenez," said Santana. "My body feels great and I feel great."

Santana doesn't care where he plays. "I'll play anywhere they tell me as long as I can help the team win," he said.

Ambriz, who made 34 appearances for the Indians in 2010 with his elbow on borrowed time, says he's strong and healthy. There just so happen to be two empty spots in the bullpen this spring along and a long line of challengers.

"I went a year without playing baseball for the first time since I was four years old," said Ambriz, 27. "I'm looking forward to being able to show them what I can do when I'm healthy."

The final bit of information Acta supplied wasn't as big a surprise as the first. The top four spots in the rotation are all but guaranteed to Justin Masterson, Jimenez, Josh Tomlin and Derek Lowe. The fifth spot will come down to a competition between several pitchers, led by Kevin Slowey and Jeanmar Gomez.

The Indians acquired Slowey from Colorado after he went 0-8 for the Twins last year. Gomez went 5-3 for the Tribe last year, with his wins coming consecutively after being recalled on Aug. 30.

David Huff, Zach McAllister and Scott Barnes are expected to compete as well. Jon Garland could be as well if he takes and passes a physical.

"All those guys are pretty close to each other," said Acta. "If there was a favorite, we wouldn't be having this competition."

On Twitter: @hoynsie

Greg Oden, former Ohio State Buckeye and No. 1 overall NBA draft pick, has another microfracture knee surgery: Update

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Earlier report said Oden would have arthroscopic surgery, but surgeon saw there was more damage and microfracture surgery was done. Portland made Oden the No. 1 pick in 2007 draft, but he's played just 82 games because of multiple knee surgeries.

greg-oden.jpgPortland's Greg Oden (52) during a game on Jan. 19, 2009. This is the fifth NBA season since Portland drafted Oden first overall, and because of knee problems, he has played just 82 games -- the equivalent of one full NBA regular season.

UPDATE at 10:08 p.m.:



PORTLAND, Oregon -- There appears to be no end in sight for Greg Oden and his troublesome knees.



The Portland Trail Blazers said Monday that a procedure to clear debris out of Oden's left knee resulted in another microfracture surgery. Oden had the surgery in Vail, Colo. It was originally expected to be an arthroscopic procedure to clean out the 7-foot center's knee, but the surgeon determined there was additional damage.



The former No.1 pick in the 2007 NBA draft has now had two microfracture surgeries on his left knee, and one on his right. He has also undergone surgery for a fractured left kneecap.



The Blazers say Oden will not play this season.



"It's hard to put into words the heartbreak for everyone involved, but especially for Greg. He's a young man who has experienced a great number of physical challenges in his playing career and today is yet another significant setback for him," Trail Blazers President Larry Miller said in a prepared statement. "We have a lot of empathy for Greg and his family during this difficult time."



Oden, who has not played in an NBA game since Dec. 5, 2009, has appeared in 82 career games for the Blazers, averaging 9.4 points and 7.3 rebounds.



It was expected that he might be able to play this season, but a checkup before the start of training camp in December reportedly revealed concerns about a non-weight-bearing ligament in the left knee, further setting back his rehabilitation.



Oden was a restricted free agent heading into this season. The Blazers and Oden initially agreed to an $8.9 million qualifying offer for this year, but when the setback was announced the two sides restructured the deal, which was dropped to $1.5 million. He will become an unrestricted free agent following this season.



Oden has turned down several interview requests this season.



The former Ohio State star was selected over Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant with the top pick in the 2007 draft. Debates raged over who should be the No. 1 selection, and the Blazers eventually went with Oden in the hope that he would lead the team — along with Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge — to an NBA championship.



But Oden's rookie season was postposed when he required microfracture surgery on his right knee that forced him to miss the 2007-08 season.



Oden's repeated knee problems have drawn comparisons to Sam Bowie, the injury-plagued big man the Blazers selected ahead of Michael Jordan in the 1984 draft.



While Bowie played in 76 games his rookie season, averaging 10 points and 8.6 rebounds, he appeared in just 63 games over the next four seasons because of injuries. He missed the entire 1987-88 season. In all, he had five operations.



(The earlier Associated Press report, when it was thought Oden's surgery would be arthroscopic):



PORTLAND, Oregon -- There appears to be no end in sight for Greg Oden and his troublesome knees.


The Portland Trail Blazers center was scheduled to have arthroscopic surgery to "remove debris" from his left knee. The team announced that the former No. 1 pick in the 2007 draft was to have the surgery Monday in Vail, Colo. The often-injured 7-footer had the same procedure on his right knee earlier this month.


Over the course of his NBA career, Oden has had microfracture surgeries on both knees, surgery to repair a fractured left kneecap and now the two procedures this month.


Oden, who has not played in an NBA game since Dec. 5, 2009, has appeared in 82 career games for the Blazers, averaging 9.4 points and 7.3 rebounds.


It was expected that he might be able to play for the Blazers this season, but a checkup before the start of training camp in December reportedly revealed concerns about a non-weight-bearing ligament in the left knee, further setting back his rehabilitation. Since then, he has turned down repeated interview requests.


Oden was a restricted free agent heading into this season. The Blazers and Oden initially agreed to an $8.9 million qualifying offer for this year, but when the setback was announced the two sides restructured the deal, which was dropped to $1.5 million. He will become an unrestricted free agent following this season.


It was not known when Oden might be able to play again.


Oden was selected over Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant with the top pick in the 2007 draft. The Blazers hoped the former Ohio State star could lead the team — along with Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge — to an NBA championship.


But Oden's rookie season was postposed when he required microfracture surgery on his right knee that forced him to miss the 2007-08 season.


Oden's repeated knee problems have drawn comparisons to Sam Bowie, the injury-plagued big man the Blazers selected ahead of Michael Jordan in the 1984 draft.


While Bowie played in 76 games his rookie season, averaging 10 points and 8.6 rebounds, he appeared in just 63 games over the next four seasons because of injuries. He missed the entire 1987-88 season. In all, he had five operations on his legs.

For Ohio State to have its best shot at winning, William Buford needs a better shot

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With four games left in the regular season, a lot regarding the Buckeyes is all about Buford's shot.

osu-buford-what_-msu-vert-mct.jpgView full sizeAgainst Michigan State -- and this past Saturday at Michigan -- William Buford has been a frustrated and unproductive shooter for the Buckeyes. "There's nobody in this world that wants Will Buford to play better than I do," says OSU coach Thad Matta.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- At a timeout four minutes into the second half of Saturday's loss to Michigan, Thad Matta met William Buford before he could get to the bench. The Ohio State coach got right in the senior's face to try to pump him up.

"At that moment, I was just trying to get his undivided attention and [get him] to listen to what I was saying without going for the jugular," Matta said Monday. "It was all about his shot and what he needs to do to shoot the ball correctly."

With four games left in the regular season, including Tuesday's home game with Illinois, a lot regarding the Buckeyes is all about Buford's shot.

At No. 8 in the nation, after a two-spot drop in the AP poll, 22-5 overall and 10-4 and tied for second in the Big Ten, one game behind Michigan State, there's still a lot right about the Buckeyes. But following losses in the last 10 days to the Spartans and Wolverines, there's a trend to what's wrong, and it centers around their shooting, and Buford in particular.

The senior was 2-for-12 for four points against Michigan State and 3-for-12 for six points against Michigan, performances from the team's second-leading scorer that are nearly impossible to overcome. Following his 2-for-16 performance in the Sweet 16 loss to Kentucky last season, which Buford vowed to learn from, there are nagging questions about whether Buford will be there when he's needed.

To emphasize his inconsistency, Buford's latest two off nights followed games in which he scored 29 and 24.

In an attempt to evaluate Buford's tendency to shoot a lot and miss a lot, consider the made-up statistic Really Off Shooting Nights, or ROSNs. Those are games in which a player takes at least 10 shots and shoots 25 percent from the field or worse.

Buford has three this season, against the Wolverines and Spartans and a 3-for-14 effort in a win over Iowa. That is tied for the most in the Big Ten with Michigan's Tim Hardaway Jr. and Nebraska's Bo Spencer. It is also tied for the most among teams in the AP top 10, with North Carolina's Reggie Bullock and Georgetown's Henry Sims.

For his career, Buford has eight ROSNs, including the Kentucky loss. In comparison, among recent players under Matta, Jon Diebler and David Lighty each had four ROSNs in their careers, Jamar Butler had three, Evan Turner had two in his three seasons, Kosta Koufos had two in his one year in Columbus, and Jared Sullinger and Deshaun Thomas each have one.

Buford does it more than most. The Buckeyes are 4-4 in his ROSNs, but handling a talented opponent is nearly impossible when Buford misses that often.

Asked if there is anything the Buckeyes can try with Buford at this point in his career, with just two home games remaining for the senior, Matta said, "Yeah, we're trying everything we can to get him to be consistent. And we don't need him to play great, but to play well.

"But I don't want to hang on Will that we lost the game because of him. We didn't lose the Kentucky game because of him. But there's nobody in this world that wants Will Buford to play better than I do."

There are other parts of the offense to fix. The Buckeyes were outscored 8-0 on fast-break points against the Wolverines and have talked a lot about getting easier baskets, both in transition and from the halfcourt offense.

"We definitely haven't gotten as many easy baskets as we usually do off transition or off putbacks," point guard Aaron Craft said. "I think I can push the ball a little bit more and put a little more pressure on the defense."

There are simple fixes in the set offense. The Buckeyes seemed lax on a lot of their screens Saturday, which sometimes forced shooters, Buford included, into contested shots.

"When we're supposed to screen, we've got to screen," Matta said, "when we're supposed to have the ball at certain spots we've got to have it as certain spots."

Matta said the Buckeyes shot for 15 minutes of their 90-minute practice Sunday, with players shooting on their own for another 40 minutes before and after practice. Sophomore Deshaun Thomas said the team worked a lot full court, on both their offense and fast-break game.

"We worked on our offensive flow, what easy baskets we can get instead of jacking up a three," Thomas said.

The fundamentals still matter. Craft said the Buckeyes think they're set when they shoot, and then find on film that sometimes they aren't. For Buford, it's his leg drive that's most important, according to Matta. But there's not much time to work on it.

"I think you can sense a little bit more sense of urgency with him. I think he understands he has 80 minutes left in this gym, and that's definitely eye-opening for him," Craft said of Buford. "But he understands that there's something bigger than him, and it's more about the team and what he can help us do to get back on track."

He may not have to do much more than avoid another ROSN.

District wrestling pairings for Divisions I, II and III

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Wrestling District tournament pairings

Wrestling

District tournament pairings

Division I

ASHLAND

106: Bentley (Eds) vs. Cole (Maum); Irvine (Sfde) vs. Collica (Nord); Davis (Cla) vs. Gray (Wads); Mayer (Avl) vs. Mezinger (Fros); Assad (Brec) vs. Ruiz (Ssou); Dickson (NR) vs. Sarreshteh (Find); Diaz (Lor) vs. Merrell (Msen); Thomas (Brun) vs. Torres (Ely). 113: Jolliff (Find) vs. Taylor (Brun); Moore (Whi) vs. DuPratt (Ofal); Yates (Away) vs. Spreng (Wesl); Sholl (Maum) vs. Assad (Brec); Screptock (Cla) vs. Kopp (Lor); Probert (Clov) vs. Hornack (Medi); McAfee (Fros) vs. Krumheuer (Midp); Lough (Ste) vs. Moore (Eds). 120: Pruchinski (Brec) vs. Edwards (Lor); Henneman (Cla) vs. Staschiak (Find); Matos (Ste) vs. Gibson (Ashl); Coyne (Nord) vs. Heffernan (Eds); Canon (Ely) vs. Lewis (Fros); Zollinger (Wads) vs. Vedda (NR); Getto (Medi) vs. Armstrong (NO); Ibarra (Ssou) vs. Marietta (Msen). 126: Screptock (Cla) vs. Carosella (NR); Lucas (Brec) vs. Stebbins (Woos); DeCesare (Nord) vs. Arroyo (Maum); Enis (Snor) vs. Heil (Eds); Herhold (Perr) vs. Koenig (Medi); Spinkston (Lor) vs. DeRuchie (Ste); Asadorian (Ofal) vs. Johnson (Ely); Hrynciw (Fros) vs. Jones (Wads). 132: Carter (Ashl) vs. Miller (Sjje); Strnad (Brec) vs. Abdel-Salam (Lkw); Kunzler (High) vs. Biggs (NO); Werner (Clov) vs. Conine (Cla); Bright (Eds) vs. Perez (Stro); Waltermeyer (Perr) vs. Egnor (Ely); Marquez (Fros) vs. Gearig (Spr); Edwards (Lor) vs. Squire (Wads). 138: Barber (Eds) vs. Bishoff (Maum); Schmidt (Brun) vs. Funderburg (Ste); Walker (Copl) vs. Zastrow (Ssou); Pappas (Wesl) vs. Grine (Fros); Hammer (Medi) vs. Schenk (Sfde); Roth (Perr) vs. Garcia (Lor); Carter (Ashl) vs. Ahern (Ofal); Warstler (Wads) vs. Amenta (Cla). 145: Opial (Whi) vs. Gabyak (High); Ballinger (Mhar) vs. Scheidel (Eds); Weissinger (Fros) vs. Brunner (NO); Henry (Away) vs. Baran (Brec); Newton (Perr) vs. Harris (Lor); Williams (Ste) vs. Nedolast (Copl); Stencel (Cla) vs. Baughman (Wads); Womack (Find) vs. Zeman (Avon). 152: Hickerson (Maum) vs. Glenn (Nord); Emerson (Avl) vs. Basinski (Ste); Sommer (Ofal) vs. Dominique (Cla); Geary (Fros) vs. Rininger (High); VanCuren (Eds) vs. Ruiz (Spr); Hoffman (Perr) vs. Barr (Brec); Kupferberg (Find) vs. Gordon (Wads); Plas (Midv) vs. Price (Ely). 160: Dominique (Cla) vs. Brown (Fros); Lebrun (Stro) vs. Paul (Wesl); Hiles (Brec) vs. Kokitka (Ofal); Evans (Sfde) vs. Llewellyn (Perr); Davis (Eds) vs. Edwards (Wads); Workman (Ely) vs. Hilkert (Find); Wearsch (Ste) vs. Palser (Msen); Shoman (NO) vs. Vilimonovic (High). 170: Kluk (High) vs. Ellis (Whi); Opp (Find) vs. Belaia-Marti (NO); Morse (Perr) vs. Rojek (Avl); Lang (Brec) vs. Kamczyc (Ely); Martin (Eds) vs. Wick (Lsen); Silva (Cla) vs. Hughes (Brun); Kohlhofer (Spr) vs. Knipl (Wads); Findley (Lor) vs. Caywood (Maum). 182: Abounader (Eds) vs. Musci (Fire); Ellis (Ely) vs. Dickerson (Msen); Amenta (Cla) vs. Kozma (Clov); Linville (Ofal) vs. Wheeler (Copl); Lonsway (Spr) vs. Carpenter (Maum); Kirresh (Avon) vs. Aziz (Midp); Medina (Lor) vs. Carrell (Wads); Uram (Sfde) vs. Boff (Perr). 195: Schoen (Sjje) vs. Al-Najjar (NO); Arroyo (Maum) vs. Blessing (High); Chavez (Fros) vs. Claren (Nord); Rank (Cla) vs. Suvak (Eds); Carter (Perr) vs. Lewarchick (Copl); Stoychev (Snor) vs. Peyton (Lor); Jones (Ely) vs. Frambach (Midv); Silette (Find) vs. Murphy (Brec). 220: Woicehovich (Nord) vs. Topolski (Ssou); Davis (Lor) vs. McCarroll (Find); Zunis (Midv) vs. Grzegorzewski (Maum); Kopacz (Medi) vs. Gray (Cla); Jenkin (Clov) vs. Lee (Ofal); Linden (Brec) vs. LaPoint (Whi); Asrayan (Stro) vs. Krull (Sjje); Hines (Mhar) vs. Walz (Eds). Hvy: Belford (Eds) vs. Stout (Ssou); Rainey (Brec) vs. Bonner (Perr); Reagan (Brun) vs. Chapman (Woos); Mustafa (Wesl) vs. Gray (Cla); Tavanello (Wads) vs. Knox (Find); Bailey (NR) vs. Halstead (Ely); Hill (Lor) vs. Burns (Sfde); Sherman (Fire) vs. Dolton (Fros).

MENTOR

106: Ferritto (St. Ignatius) vs. Smith (Washington); Clement (Solon) vs. Hoberney (North); Connick (Chardon) vs. Post (Madison); Bonacci (North Royalton) vs. Bavery (Perry); Kramer (Mentor) vs. Ague (Austintown Fitch); Lowery (Shaker Heights) vs. Schaub (Green); Workman (Parma) vs. Burns (Hoover); Elbagory (Euclid) vs. Mancini (Boardman). 113: Cotton (Lake) vs. McLaughlin (North); White (Hudson) vs. Bartinelli (North Royalton); Oldham (Cuyahoga Falls) vs. Csongedi (Parma); Doyle (Green) vs. Montgomery (Madison); Thompson (Solon) vs. Louis (Garfield Heights); Fausnight (Hoover) vs. Gallageher (South); Miller (Canton) vs. Molder (Mentor); Newsome (Lakeside) vs. Zeigler (St. Ignatius). 120: Lasko (Madison) vs. Workman (Parma); Smith (Twinsburg) vs. Shump (Barberton); Duran (Solon) vs. Carson (Lake); Adkins (Euclid) vs. DiCamillo (St. Ignatius); Gregory (Hudson) vs. Phillips (Perry); Barich (Mentor) vs. Peskar (Normandy); Ducsay (South) vs. Shorts (Shaker Heights); Rich (Boardman) vs. McClay (Washington). 126: Szoch (Hudson) vs. Moss (Maple Heights); Farnsworth (Madison) vs. Wakser (Hoover); Bishop (Mayfield) vs. Flagg (Jackson); Liggett (Chardon) vs. Levitsky (Parma); Fehr (Barberton) vs. Dixon (Brush); Williams Jr. (Bedford) vs. Williams (Solon); Trunzo (North Royalton) vs. Anderson (Twinsburg); Robinson (Timken) vs. Boggs (Riverside). 132: Bast (Perry) vs. DiRosa (Chardon); Rigsby (Riverside) vs. Docherty (Parma); Victor (Mentor) vs. Benedetti (North Royalton); Steed (GlenOak) vs. Mickovic (Twinsburg); Johnson (Maple Heights) vs. Sharp (Jada); DeGroff (Lake) vs. Roff (Kenston); Blain (Barberton) vs. McCaffrey (Sfal); Zawicki (Normandy) vs. Montgomery (Madi). 138: James (Bedford) vs. Parker (GlenOak); Hunter (John Adams) vs. Taylor (Cuyahoga Falls); Dwyer (North) vs. Restifo (Solon); Morgan (North Royalton) vs. Newhouse (Perry); Ransom (Madison) vs. DiSanto (Kenston); Coblentz (Lake) vs. Robertson (Maple Heights); Ratay (Hoover) vs. Lynch (St. Ignatius); Springfield (Shaw) vs. Labry (Twinsburg). 145: Collica (Solon) vs. Knight (Madison); Dailey (Perry) vs. Banko (Garfield Heights); Rice (Barberton) vs. League (North Royalton); Gambatese (Kenston) vs. Ashton (Mentor); Marcelli (Jackson) vs. Mocniak (Parma); Coleman (Hudson) vs. Denman (Riverside); McGuniea (Twinsburg) vs. Porter (South); Burrows (Canton M) vs. Johnson (Maple Heights). 152: Dailey (Perry) vs. Bolden (North); Celinski (Garfield Heights) vs. Hawkins (Solon); Lees (St. Ignatius) vs. Hiller (Twinsburg); Carneal (Lake) vs. Iverson (Madison); Robertson (Maple Heights) vs. Massy (Stow); Keeler (Hoover) vs. Smith (Brush); Fitzgerald (Green) vs. Henry (Mentor); Juhn (Parma) vs. Severino (Kenston). 160: Graziani (Boardman) vs. Maloy (Hoover); Schiemann (Madison) vs. Toth (Parma); Henderson (Shaw) vs. Stafford (Maple Heights); Wilson (Cuyahoga Falls) vs. Arrendale (Perry); Janesz (St. Ignatius) vs. Ely (Riverside); Kresevic (Solon) vs. Harvey (Barberton); McMahon (Stow) vs. Nagy (Lake); Tolliver (Shaker Heights) vs. Styles (Glenville). 170: Murray (Mayfield) vs. Spurney (Kent Roosevelt); Millin (Perry) vs. Glasko (Normandy); Hymes (Barberton) vs. McLaughlin (St. Ignatius); Rosko (Mentor) vs. Olson (Kenston); Shephard (Garfield Heights) vs. Boswell (Canton M); Cordova (Boardman) vs. Roper (Euclid); Repasky (Cuyahoga Falls) vs. Noble (South); Zeck (Parma) vs. Howell (Timken). 182: Halaska (Parma) vs. Phillips (Mentor); Moorehouse (Solon) vs. Thornton (Barberton); Doyle (Hudson) vs. Dear (Jackson); Chase (St. Ignatius) vs. Drake (Brush); Baker (Twinsburg) vs. Spangler (Perry); Sloan (Garfield Heights) vs. Cassidy (Madison); Towns (Maple Heights) vs. Austin (Glenville); Paster (Cuyahoga Falls) vs. Louive (Washington). 195: Campbell (Twinsburg) vs. Lykins (Parma); Cuenot (GlenOak) vs. Torok (North); Tschantz (Barberton) vs. Skerkavich (Madison); Finegan (Stow) vs. Revels (Maple Heights); Tayse (Perry) vs. Wank (Mentor); Braun (Kenston) vs. Corales (Rhodes); Conel (Lakeside) vs. Bendokaitis (St. Ignatius); McKinney (Canton) vs. Rosborough (Riverside). 220: Ransom (Madison) vs. Trommer (Hudson) Baughman (St. Ignatius) vs. Rowe (Barberton); Morgan-Cunningham (Bedford) vs. Millin (Perry); Gilmore (North) vs. Garner (Stow); Cuenot (GlenOak) vs. Varro (North Royalton); Giunta (South) vs. Ware (Cuyahoga Falls); Sullens (Mentor) vs. Lewis (Kenston); Dahlman (Green) vs. Patrick (Maple Heights). Hvy: Pipkins (Maple Heights) vs. Demand (Cuyahoga Falls); Ross (Euclid) vs. Maylor (Perry); Phillips (JFK) vs. Crawford (Ellet); Patton (Cleveland Heights) vs. McGeachy (Austintown Fitch); Thomas (Brush) vs. Kreinbrink (Green); Musleh (Rhodes) vs. Williams (Twinsburg); Hunter (Bedford) vs. Morgan (Lakeside); Saleh (Riverside) vs. Everrett (GlenOak).

Division II

ALLIANCE

106: Chell (SVSM) vs. Dejulius (Field); Petersen (Aurora) vs. Taton (Lake Catholic); Scianna (Revere) vs. Zappitella (Conneaut); Davis (Fairless) vs. Zemaitis (Crestwood); Dees (Perry) vs. Kuklisin (Streetsboro); Kapper (Northwest) vs. Gibson (Southeast); Fagan (Coventry) vs. Oliver (Louisville); Elliot (Geneva) vs. Bennett (CVCA). 113: Frost (Canfield) vs. Stokes (Collinwood); Whites (Buchtel) vs. Armstrong (Aurora); Shields (Coventry) vs. Plevris (Walsh Jesuit); Bradley (Louisville) vs. Tutolo (Lake Catholic); Tomasello (CVCA) vs. Mairs (Triway); Pidgeon (West Branch) vs. Maple (Jefferson Area); Nemec (Crestwood) vs. Chieffe (University School); Lovejoy (Ravenna) vs. Schoeppner (Canton South). 120: Gessic (Perry) vs. Midock (Tallmadge); Nagy (Alliance) vs. Gunter (Coventry); Kubitza (Field) vs. Morrison (Northwest); Brown (Harvey) vs. Stainbrook (Walsh Jesuit); Rix (SVSM) vs. Anderson (West Branch); Baitt (Jefferson Area) vs. Dobben (CVCA); King (Lake Catholic) vs. Dynowski (Streetsboro); Catlett (Canton South) vs. Perry (Howland). 126: Kostandaras (Walsh Jesuit) vs. Strobelt-McCann (Buchtel); Sansalone (Perry) vs. Cornicelli (Howland); Dickey (Edgewood) vs. Jones (Alliance); Simonelli (CVCA) vs. Gibson (SVSM); Hillier (Crestwood) vs. Brininger (Geneva); Baratko (Streetsboro) vs. Smith (Norton); Lieberth (Aurora) vs. Lake (Coventry); Byelene (Marlington) vs. Fee (Lake Catholic). 132: Skonieczny (SVSM) vs. Obrien (Louisville); Peterson (Revere) vs. Shannon (Geneva); Skonieczny (Walsh Jesuit) vs. Williamson (Edgewood); Casperd (Fairless) vs. Kager (Crestwood); Wrobel (Lake Catholic) vs. Levan (Aurora); Dolph (Canton South) vs. Shields (Poland Seminary); Smith (Northwest) vs. Hamilton (Howland); Loxterman (Perry) vs. Decatur (CVCA). 138: Stark (Howland) vs. Cross (Geneva); Cropper (Coventry) vs. Dobben (CVCA); Belknap (Archbishop Hoban) vs. Smosny (Streetsboro); Williams (Canfield) vs. Ludwig (Lake Catholic); Skonieczny (Walsh Jesuit) vs. Flechler (Triway); Ladich (Field) vs. Sherman (Conneaut); Estock (West Branch) vs. Stolfer (Edgewood); Dickinson (Woodridge) vs. Harris (Northwest). 145: Turner (Harvey) vs. Gildar (Orange); Faulkner (West Branch) vs. Harper (Canton South); Klose (Howland) vs. Easton (Kenmore); Alcorn (West Geauga) vs. Hojnacki (CVCA); Shephard (Fairless) vs. Lodge (Salem); Yanesh (Lake Catholic) vs. Minns (Woodridge); Schenk (Perry) vs. Whitely (Walsh Jesuit); King (Northwest) vs. Fox (Field). 152: Reaser (Ravenna) vs. Perkins (Kenmore); Rose (Conneaut) vs. James (Southeast); Eippert (West Geauga) vs. Gerardi (Crestwood); Paonessa (Tallmadge) vs. Rang (Coventry); Whisler (Howland) vs. Franco (Geneva); Downs (Woodridge) vs. Nunez (Norton); Ward (Walsh Jesuit) vs. Carr (Springfield); Gonzalez (Marlington) vs. Cash (Jefferson Area). 160: Mongold (Coventry) vs. Paynter (West Branch); Khatib (Revere) vs. Kochert (Chagrin Falls); Maclellan (CVCA) vs. Struna (Lake Catholic); Arnold (Fairless) vs. Poyser (Louisville); Sill (Perry) vs. Burgins (Woodridge); Pawlyk (Northwest) vs. Brokaw (Southeast); Dyer (Norton) vs. Audi (Poland Seminary); Stitt (Jefferson Area) vs. Scarberry (Walsh Jesuit). 170: Thomas (Marlington) vs. Kremiller (Perry); Willoughby (Kenmore) vs. Bollas (Aurora); Hofer (Springfield) vs. Smith (Benedictine); Drass (Howland) vs. Huelskamp (Geneva); Gray (CVCA) vs. Brown (Norton); Conway (Alliance) vs. Squire (Lake Catholic); Page (West Branch) vs. Tripodi (Jefferson Area); Rumple (Walsh Jesuit) vs. Miller (North). 182: Deming (Perry) vs. McNamara (Aurora); Jackson (Crestwood) vs. Rutherford (Norton); Puharich (Howland) vs. Headrick (Coventry); Perry (Jefferson Area) vs. Ashburn (Streetsboro); Adkins (SVSM) vs. Lias (Hubbard); Brace (Lake Catholic) vs. Suglio (Revere); Bucci (Conneaut) vs. Havener (CVCA); Mays (Kenmore) vs. Karlen (West Branch). 195: Auletta (Orange) vs. Yoder (Fairless); Hunt (Geneva) vs. Oringer (Southeast); Nichols (Perry) vs. Grodesky (Howland); Carrasco (Aurora) vs. Zody (Triway); Hettick (Field) vs. Goebel (Chagrin Falls); Tiley (CVCA) vs. Hunt (Canton South); Kyer (Ravenna) vs. Haramis (Norton); Whitacre (Hubbard) vs. Szep (Lake Catholic). 220: Stone (SVSM) vs. Rolfe (Howland); Totten (Revere) vs. Wilson (Edgewood); Baker (Streetsboro) vs. Post (Conneaut); Hodge (Canton South) vs. Watson (Alliance); Miller (Perry) vs. Hilling (Woodridge); Wadkins (Triway) vs. Bates (West Branch); Vinson (Kenmore) vs. Burns (Canfield); Sowers (Lake Catholic) vs. Meadows (CVCA). Hvy: Sharp (West Branch) vs. Burch (Edgewood); Cox (Northwest) vs. Nawalaniec (Benedictine); Fields (Kenmore) vs. Biben (Aurora); Norkus (Salem) vs. Miller (Perry); Hawkins (Ravenna) vs. Glas (Norton); Krauss (Southeast) vs. Severino (Jefferson Area); Hutchins (Howland) vs. Parrish (University School); Creque (Streetsboro) vs. Brumley (SVSM).

MARION HARDING

106: Kopp (Colu) vs. Nadeau (IL); Petras (Pfra) vs. Pool (Ccat); Tepper (Bay) vs. Duron (Bgre); Avalon (Clyd) vs. Stickley (Gra); Martin (Wapa) vs. Coopwood (Mcom); Fetzer (Shel) vs. Rogers (NW); Moore (Will) vs. Armstrong (KR); Sluder (Waus) vs. Michel (Edis). 113: Maurice (Bel) vs. Kuhlman (Shaw); Becker (Pfra) vs. Estrella (Will); Tepper (Bay) vs. Leynaud (Lexi); Berry (M-U) vs. Hodges (Waus); Howard (Edis) vs. Sargent (Perk); Townsend (KR) vs. Mossing (Ccat); Seipel (Gra) vs. Gonzales (Defi); Stepp (Buck) vs. Bergman (Ohar). 120: Hagan (Ccat) vs. Cummings (Will); Bickerstaff (Norw) vs. Booher (M-U); Inman (Buck) vs. Cochran (KR); Morrow (Waus) vs. Campbell (Lexi); Cheek (Edis) vs. Phlipot (NW); Villarreal (Defi) vs. Minnick (Clyd); Plaugher (Shaw) vs. Bowlick (Ohar); Foster (Hnam) vs. Taylor (Gra). 126: Mason (Pfra) vs. Veliz (Bell); Plaugher (Shaw) vs. Bowshier (KR); Burk (Vwer) vs. Wallbrown (IL); Chambers (Edis) vs. Miller (Clyd); Jordan (Gra) vs. Ambos (Wapa); Correll (Colu) vs. Montana (Norw); Hicks (Cfor) vs. Tomko (Verm); Callicoat (Tip) vs. Pontious (Waus). 132: Lange (IL) vs. Verhiley (Hnam); Pauff (Elid) vs. Salmon (Perk); Mossing (Ccat) vs. Balboa (Ohar); Cochran (KR) vs. Fickel (Pfra); Cheek (Bell) vs. Frost (Waus); Wasson (Tip) vs. Lang (Norw); Henkle (Gra) vs. Alexander (Fire); Flores (Clyd) vs. McDermitt (Shaw). 138: Campbell (Perk) vs. Patzek (Tip); Padilla (Ccat) vs. Fasnacht (Pfra); Valentine (Wapa) vs. Kisiday (Buck); White (Lexi) vs. Sowards (KR); Nicely (Waus) vs. Shaffer (Hnam); Crabtree (Gra) vs. Cramer (Ohar); Newland (Ben) vs. Hupp (Bell) Struble (Brya) vs. Majoy (Edis). 145: Klosz (Hnam) vs. Dunlap (Elid); Henderson (IL) vs. Flores (Clyd); Ryan (KR) vs. Radabaugh (East); Coffman (Edis) vs. Viengmany (Ccat); Kastl (Gra) vs. Schaub (Shel); Doughty (Norw) vs. McCarthy (Defi); McNulty (Pfra) vs. Yarnell (Waus); Blair (Ben) vs. Faust (Lexi). 152: Jordan (Gra) vs. Romero (Defi); Caris (East) vs. Davis (Norw); Berman (Ohar) vs. Ruma (Bay); Epps (Mea) vs. Green (Elid); Williams (Colu) vs. Campanalie (Rriv); Davis (IL) vs. Spencer (Bgre); Francis (Bel) vs. Stewart (Waus); Didion (Perk) vs. Burns (Edis). 160: Rutherford (Edis) vs. Rindfleisch (Bel); Murrey (Ccat) vs. Johnson (Shel); Schuette (Waus) vs. Welch (East); Kubinski (Bay) vs. Jordan (Gra); Metz (Lexi) vs. Funchion (Napo); Anthony (Verm) vs. Robbins (Tip); Sherman (Buck) vs. Golden (IL); Chambers (Ohar) vs. Walter (Brya. 170: Hengstler (Wapa) vs. Silmi (Norw); Thomas (Gra) vs. Moore (Clyd); Scott (Urb) vs. Kasper (Lexi); Reier (Memo) vs. Mancuso (Edis); O'Neill (Cfor) vs. Weekly (NW); Hartman (Pfra) vs. Shull (Bgre); Thayer (Buck) vs. Schroeder (Waus); Adkinson (Bell) vs. Mounts (KR). 182: Smith (Clyd) vs. Dukehart (Elid); Keating (Fair) vs. Rogers (NW); McCullough (Pfra) vs. Felty (Ben); Hermes (Perk) vs. Jacobs (Bgre); Cole (Edis) vs. Dodd (Tip); Patterson (East) vs. Vonier (Waus); Margheim (Sand) vs. Perry (Memo); Veltre (Hnam) vs. Evans (Gra). 195: Alexander (Norw) vs. Mazzaro (Bell); Cayot (Bel) vs. Sackinger (Elid); Day (KR) vs. Brown (Wapa); Dzurnak (Pfra) vs. Lehner (Lexi); Harris (Urb) vs. Lockwood (Celi); Berry (Edis) vs. Overfield (Pcli); Taw (Broo) vs. Workman (Perk); Baker (Ben) vs. King (Kent). 220: Krall (Waus) vs. Singler (Rriv); Brooks (East) vs. Swank (Ben); Babisak (Perk) vs. LeMaster (IL); Thomas (Vwer) vs. Carrow (Buck); Oakes (NW) vs. Spearman (Will); Carroll (Elid) vs. Price (Mcom); Allen (Bgre) vs. Lloiyd (Norw); Rose (Bel) vs. Ward (Clyd). Hvy: Brown (Sand) vs. Lear (Verm); Warner (Wapa) vs. Bovey (Gra); Contreras (Vwer) vs. Cash (Urb); Moyer (Bell) vs. Amburgey (Broo); Pickerel (Ccat) vs. Escamilla (Bel); Lawrence (Ohar) vs. Cox (Mcom); Eppse (Perk) vs. Dewitt (Fire); Newland (Celi) vs. Harmon (Ben).

Division III

GARFIELD HEIGHTS

106: Orr (Chei) vs. Young (Nort); Mast (Card) vs. Tikkanen (Jmil); Maccartney (Gval) vs. Sigmund (Moga); Downs (Well) vs. Vidika (Briv); Bowen (Manc) vs. Jahnke (Kirt); Meehan (Broo) vs. Ullman (Loud); Mecklenburg (Lwes); Tschiegg (Orrv); Stanovcak (Libe) vs. DeMarco (Hawk). 113: Gross (Beac) vs. Corcino (Clea); Britton (Norw) vs. Hilliard (Root); Hozan (Briv) vs. Seka (Jmil); McKinley (Hawk) vs. Frye (Chei); Chase (Gira) vs. Hostetler (Smit); Deblock (Lwes) vs. Malkus (Berk); Spino (Inde) vs. Francis (Kirt); Rediger (Manc) vs. Durbin (Mapl). 120: Johns (Card) vs. Thrasher (Well); Pucci (Chei) vs. Gregan (Nort); Stiner (Keys) vs. White (Briv); Sweigert (Wick) vs. Ferguson (Manc); Roginsky (Broo) vs. Dunn (Tusl); Tatsuoka (Hawk) vs. Taylor (Root); Friedman (Beac) vs. Jamieson (Broo); Harsar (Ecat) vs. Nelson (Wayn). 126: Perez (Tusl) vs. Miller (Pval); Robertson (Manc) vs. Hollingsworth (Clea); Hermann (Wate) vs. Rusnak (Lwes); Berry (Nort) vs. Charvat (Berk); Knepper (Garf); Provoznik (Well); Staggs (Wayn) vs. Peters (Card); Weber (Loud) vs. Davidson (Kirt); Lowell (Root) vs. Spangler (Keys). 132: Spangler (Keys) vs. Grahovac (Sran); Marthey (Tusl) vs. Kitay (Beac); Wardell (Wayn) vs. VanderMass (Berk); Jenny (Colu) vs. Chew (Moga); Grier (Norw) vs. Roach (Card); Montague (Inde) vs. Johntony (Gira); Chuha (Chei) vs. Brasiel (Manc); Everett (Dalt) vs. Campbell (Pval). 138: Nelson (Wayn) vs. McKenzie (Keys); Pelles (Gval) vs. Palomba (Staq); Kaser (Berk) vs. Skaggs (Jmil); Marthey (Tusl) vs. Lambert (Colu); Diven (Wate) vs. Conger (Pval); Moore (Norw) vs. Huey (Lwes); Dupont (Nort) vs. Angersola (Spch); Bass (Gira) vs. Harris (Beac). 145: Bishop (Broo) vs. Hong (Beac); Martin (Smit) vs. Sayer (Cres); Fortune (Nort) vs. Oliver (Root); Foster (Clea) vs. Benedict (Pval); Moore (Norw) vs. Jeffries (Jmil); Schill (Ecat) vs. King (Hawk); Coghlan (Spch) vs. Baldwin (Gval); Stanley (Wayn) vs. Horning (Wate). 152: Jethrow (Libe) vs. Potter (Orrv); Kitko (Well) vs. Szitas (Gval); Eavns (Spch) vs. Gallagher (VASJ); Zoller (Root) vs. Stanley (Wayn); Blumenthal (Beac) vs. King (Keys); Deal (Gira) vs. Heldenbrand (Hill); Caskey (Manc) vs. Blair (Tusl); Monturi (Wick) vs. Filiaggi (Ecat). 160: Beam (Wayn) vs. McKeon (Ledg); Liese (Lwes) vs. Brookes (Sran); Waked (Colu) vs. Cupan (Gira); Meek (Nort) vs. Shapiro (Beac); Washington (Ecat) vs. Hanzel (Manc); Finley (Hill) vs. DiDonato (VASJ); Elliott (Tusl) vs. Shirkey (Card); Fisher (Keys) vs. Yonker (Garf). 170: Linton (Root) vs. Alspach (Well); Calvert (Kirt) vs. Reed (Norw); Stotter (Hawk) vs. Fortune (Nort); Skye (Moga) vs. Ball (Ecat); Zaller (Gval) vs. Maund (Briv); Hardenbrook (Cres) vs. Worthington (Keys); Bontrager (Garf) vs. Clouse (Colu); Flowers (Beac) vs. White (Orrv). 182: Brettrager (Kirt) vs. Chizmadia (Keys); Slaughter (Root) vs. Eberly (Hill); Youngblood (Wate) vs. Miller (CCC); Byler (Gval) vs. Heidinger (Colu); Hilty (Smit) vs. Edmonds (Libe); Haavisto (Wick) vs. Sutherland (Well); Ellis (Pval) vs. Daniels (Clea); Schaefer (Nort) vs. Stock (Garf). 195: Linton (Root) vs. Gingerich (Wayn); Jackson (VASJ) vs. Lo (Clea); Feydo (Pval) vs. Gossick (Colu); Anderson (Garf) vs. Hilty (Smit); Zaller (Gval) vs. Dendinger (Well); Eiesenhauer (Chip) vs. Dies (Manc); Weber (Loud) vs. Gregory (Cres); Blankenship (Kirt) vs. Barrett (Spch). 220: Smith (Spch) vs. Jamieson (Broo); Shank (Mapl) vs. Baker (Wick); Wiley (Smit) vs. Takacs (Gval); Cooper (Clea) vs. Moore (Root); Cary (Loud) vs. Basemore (VASJ); Scotton (Inde) vs. Brenes (Wate); Kuchta (Ecat) vs. Bloor (Well); Badertscher (Hill) vs. Fry (Card). Hvy: Rodgers (Well) vs. Hiner (Broo); Brickman (Rhts) vs. Srock (Chip); Booth (Wick) vs. Lehtomaki (Orrv); Arnold (Clea) vs. Dressler (Garf); Kelbly (Smit) vs. Cassel (Pval); Hanzel (Manc) vs. Villegas (Spch); Clark (Libe) vs. Bustance (Keys); Miller (Dalt) vs. Zuberer (Kirt).

 

Sports TV and radio listings for Northeast Ohio, Tuesday, Feb. 21

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Here's today's and tonight's sports listings for TV and radio for the Cleveland area.

randal-holt5.jpgKent State guard Randal Holt (3) and the Golden Flashes play at Miami (Ohio) tonight at 7 in a game televised by SportsTime Ohio and broadcast on WNIR/100.1-FM.

CLEVELAND, Ohio

Today on the air

(Click on to links for more team or event information)

MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

7 p.m. Illinois at OHIO STATE, ESPN; WKNR/850-AM (preview)

(Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Ohio State coverage)

7 p.m. KENT STATE at Miami (Ohio), SportsTime Ohio; WNIR/100.1-FM

(Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Kent State, Akron and MAC coverage)

7 p.m. Kansas State at Missouri, ESPN2 (preview)

8 p.m. CLEVELAND STATE at Green Bay, WHKW/1220-AM

(Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Cleveland State coverage)

9 p.m. Kentucky at Mississippi State, ESPN (preview)

NBA

7 p.m. Detroit at CAVALIERS, Fox Sports Ohio; WTAM/1100-AM (preview)

(Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Cavaliers coverage)

NHL

8 p.m. Detroit at Chicago, NBC Sports Network (preview)

SOCCER

8 p.m. Champions League, Chelsea at Napoli (tape), Fox Sports Network

WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

7:30 p.m. Ohio Athletic Conference Tourney, BALDWIN-WALLACE at Capital, WBWC/88.3-FM

(Plain Dealer and cleveland.com local Divisions II and III and NAIA coverage)

One player won't fix the Browns - Comment of the Day

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"Don't get me wrong as I am a huge RGIII fan.I have seen him play live four times and every time just went, 'Wow!'That being said, the Browns have so little talent right now that they need impact players on both sides of the ball. With three picks in the top 37, Heckert should be able to deliver three starters right now. One player will not fix this mess. Don't blow this draft!"

Robert Griffin III, Josh ShirleyView full sizeSome fans want the Browns to do whatever they can to get Robert Griffin III. Other fans? Not so much.
In response to the video posted earlier today, Cleveland Browns: Trading No. 4 and No. 22 is not too steep a price to move up for RG3, says Dennis Manoloff (SBTV), cleveland.com user texasbrown thinks that the Browns could find three starters with their top three picks without trading up for RG3.

"Don't get me wrong as I am a huge RGIII fan.I have seen him play live four times and every time just went, 'Wow!' That being said, the Browns have so little talent right now that they need impact players on both sides of the ball. With three picks in the top 37, Heckert should be able to deliver three starters right now. One player will not fix this mess. Don't blow this draft!"

Do you agree that RG3 isn't worth trading up to get?


Sign Manny Harris for the rest of the season - Cavaliers Comment of the Day

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"Sign him for the rest of the season. Parker is old and ofter banged up. Boobie is an injury waiting to happen. Harangody could be released if you need to make space." - Scott Player

Cleveland Cavaliers lose to Orlando Magic, 97-86View full sizeManny Harris is back with the Cavaliers - for now.
In response to the story posted earlier today, Cleveland Cavaliers sign Manny Harris to a 10-day deal, cleveland.com reader Scott Player would like to see Harris given more than just 10 days.
"Sign him for the rest of the season. Parker is old and ofter banged up. Boobie is an injury waiting to happen. Harangody could be released if you need to make space."

Do you agree that Manny Harris should be on the roster for the rest of the season?

Key for Jimenez is attacking hitters early - Indians Comment of the Day

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"Watching Jimenez fall behind played right into the hitters' hands. Not being aggressive and challenging hitters early hurt him as well as not throwing quality first-pitch strikes. He has a lot of honing of skills to do." - ncarolinafan

Cleveland Indians lose to White Sox, 8-4View full sizeThe Indians badly need the Ubaldo Jimenez of 2010 to show up in 2012.
In response to this story posted yesterday, Ubaldo Jimenez one of many pitchers on the spot in 2012, cleveland.com reader ncarolinafan thinks the key for Jimenez will be attacking early.
"Watching Jimenez fall behind played right into the hitters' hands. Not being aggressive and challenging hitters early hurt him as well as not throwing quality first-pitch strikes. He has a lot of honing of skills to do."

Do you agree that one of Jimenez's biggest problems last season was throwing quality pitches early? Can he turn it around in 2012?

Sizing up Robert Griffin III among key combine questions

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How will Robert Griffin III measure up? Which players must show speed during the Combine? Here are 10 questions to ask heading into this year's combine.

By Clifton Brown
Sporting News

The NFL Scouting Combine is like a smorgasbord for those who eat up the draft.

It will be crowded in Indianapolis this week with coaches, execs and scouts from all 32 teams, more than 300 invited players, agents and media. Players begin reporting to the Combine on Wednesday, with workouts running from Thursday through Tuesday.

Everyone will be seeking answers. But here are 10 questions to ask heading into this year's Combine:

Q: How will Robert Griffin III measure up?

RG3.jpgRobert Griffin III's abundance of talent is making quarterback-needy teams drool.

A: The Heisman Trophy winner from Baylor is the X-factor of this Combine, and of the 2012 NFL Draft, which begins April 26. With Andrew Luck of Stanford the favorite to go No. 1 to the Indianapolis Colts, Griffin's abundance of talent is making quarterback-needy teams drool.

Griffin is unlikely to slip past the No. 4 pick, where the Cleveland Browns currently sit. The St. Louis Rams are sitting pretty at No. 2, willing to trade with teams that covet Griffin. Both the Browns and Washington Redskins, with the No. 6 pick, might be willing to trade up for the chance to make Griffin their franchise guy.

Griffin is leaning toward not throwing at the Combine, and waiting until his March pro day. Still, there is intrigue about him heading into the week.

Example: It will be interesting to hear Griffin's official height at the Combine. He says he's 6-2, but scouts fear he is closer to 6-1. Height is a big deal with quarterbacks, and the taller Griffin stands, the better for his draft resume.

"Outside of Drew Brees, how many 6-foot quarterbacks are playing at a high level, and the answer is what?" NFL draft analyst Mike Mayock asked during a conference call. "Probably none. The NFL is big on those kind of comparisons."

— More from Sporting News: After No. 1, it's all a matter of luck in mock draft

However, Mayock also said Griffin is a special talent regardless of height.

"When a kid has this kind of game and this kind of natural ability, he kind of destroys those kinds of stereotypes," Mayock said. "He's not just a runner. I think people are getting hung up on that. He's a gifted thrower too."

Griffin will try to wow teams during interviews with his leadership skills, personality and football knowledge. The Combine will be Griffin's up-close, speed dating chance to make interested teams fall in love. If Griffin succeeds, he could become part of a mega-deal on draft night.

Q: After Luck and Griffin, what other quarterbacks are trying to make a first-round case?

A: At least two more—Ryan Tannehill of Texas A&M and Brandon Weeden of Oklahoma State. Tannehill won't throw at the Combine as he recovers from a broken foot. Neither is he expected to take part in skill tests, drills and sprints. However, he will try to impress teams during the interview process.

— More from Sporting News: Tannehill on Redskins' radar

Tannehill had surgical repairs to his broken foot and is reportedly ahead of schedule in his recovery. If all goes well, he will throw during his March 29 on-campus workout.

The biggest knock on Weeden is that he's already 28 years old. However, Weeden might convince a team that he is ready to start right away.

Q: What position will produce the stiffest competition?

A: Defensive tackle might be the draft's deepest position. At least six could go in the first round — Michael Brockers of LSU, Fletcher Cox of Mississippi State, Dontari Poe of Memphis, Kendall Reyes of Connecticut, Devin Still of Penn State and Jerel Worthy of Michigan State. The Combine will help separate the best from the rest.

Q: Which teams face the toughest decisions?

A: The Browns and Redskins are struggling franchises that need a solid draft. Ditto for the Rams, who can't afford to mess up the leverage they own with the No. 2 pick.

Do the Browns stick with Colt McCoy at quarterback? If not, they will likely push hard for Griffin, or pursue someone like Green Bay Packers backup Matt Flynn. Or perhaps the Browns would better to stick with McCoy, while drafting another offensive player like Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon or Alabama running back Trent Richardson.

Mike Shanahan has no franchise quarterback after two miserable seasons coaching the Redskins. He'll be taking a hard look at Griffin, but the Redskins have many holes. Maybe the Redskins draft a cornerback at No. 6 like Morris Claiborne of LSU, and address their quarterback needs by signing a free agent like Kyle Orton.

Whatever the Browns, Redskins and Rams do, they badly need to make the right moves.

Q: If Griffin is not the No. 2 pick, who has the best chance to be?

A: Probably two players—left tackle Matt Kalil of Southern Cal, or Blackmon. If the Rams keep the No. 2 pick, either Kalil or Blackmon would fill a need.

Q: Which players must show speed during the Combine?

A: Times in the 40-yard dash could be very important for wide receivers Michael Floyd of Notre Dame and Alshon Jeffery of South Carolina. Ditto for linebacker Luke Kuechly of Boston College, a possible first-round pick who must show enough speed and agility to excel in pass coverage.

Q: Which small college player could make big noise?

Trent RichardsonTrent Richardson is the head of the class among running backs, but there are few elite prospects heading into the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine.

A: Amini Silatolu of Midwestern State is among top guards and could be a second-round pick, at worst.

Q: Will tight ends be helped by the impact that star NFL players are having?

A: Probably, but no tight end is a guaranteed first-round pick. Dwayne Allen of Clemson, Orson Charles of Georgia and Coby Fleener of Stanford must all prove they are worthy of being first-round picks.

Q: Which position has the biggest boom or bust potential?

A: This year's top defensive ends have talent, but some have question marks. Quinton Coples of North Carolina and Whitney Mercilus of Illinois must prove they have the intensity to be elite pass rushers.

Q: What are the odds that Alabama's Trent Richardson is the lone running back taken in Round 1?

A: It's possible. But Lamar Miller of Miami (Fla.) and David Wilson of Virginia Tech could move up with a solid Combine showing.

Cleveland Cavaliers face surging Detroit Pistons at The Q

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Pistons have won seven of the last nine games to climb back into playoff picture.

Cleveland Cavaliers face Detroit PistonsView full sizeThe Detroit Pistons are a much-improved team from the one the Cavaliers beat on December 28 in Auburn Hills.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cavaliers have been hovering around the edges of the Eastern Conference playoff picture for weeks.

Nobody expected Tuesday night's opponent to get anywhere near the frame. The Detroit Pistons were left for dead after opening the season with a 4-20 record. But the Pistons hit town winners of three straight and seven of the past nine games.

The Pistons (11-22) finally have gained traction after a miserable start under new coach Lawrence Frank. Detroit's backcourt is leading the way. Rodney Stuckey and rookie Brandon Knight make for a solid tandem. The Pistons also get help off the bench from Will Bynum and Ben Gordon.

Stuckey is averaging 25 points over his last four games, but second-year center Greg Monroe leads them in scoring (16.2) and rebounding (9.7).

These last two games before the All-Star break are big ones for the Cavaliers, who trail the eighth-place Boston Celtics by only one game in the loss column. Wins over the Pistons and New Orleans Hornets would give the Cavs (12-17) momentum heading into the break with games against Boston and New York awaiting them on the other side.

The Cavaliers won the season's only meeting with the Pistons, 105-89, in Detroit on Dec. 28. Backup center Samardo Samuels has not been much of a factor this season, but has played well against Detroit. It will be interesting to see if coach Byron Scott gives him some meaningful minutes tonight.

Probable starters: Cavs -- PG Kyrie Irving, SG Daniel Gibson, SF Omri Casspi, Antawn Jamison, C Semih Erden. Pistons -- PG Brandon Knight, SG Rodney Stuckey, SF Tayshaun Prince, PF Jason Maxiell, C Greg Monroe.

NFL Combine 2012 links: Questions to answer, such as who is the best QB after Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III?

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If the Browns decide to draft a QB at some point, it's important who surfaces behind Luck and Griffin, especially if -- as one pundit thinks -- the Browns aren't convinced they should go for Griffin. Links to more combine stories.

ryan-tannehill.jpgIf the Browns draft a quarterback but don't use their first pick -- No. 4 overall -- to do it, they might consider Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill. That is, if he is still available.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The NFL scouting combine, which goes a long way toward determining draft plans for the Cleveland Browns and the league's 31 other teams, begins on Wednesday in Indianapolis.

The Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot and Dennis Manoloff will begin filing stories from Indianapolis for the PD and cleveland.com on Thursday.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Browns coverage includes Manoloff's interview on Starting Blocks TV, during which he says it would not be too steep a price for the Browns to trade their two first-round draft picks -- Nos. 4 and 22 overall -- to the St. Louis Rams for the second overall pick, and use that pick to draft Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III; a Starting Blocks poll, asking which player you are most excited to see at the combine; Terry Pluto's podcast; and more.

Stanford's Andrew Luck and Griffin are regarded by virtually everyone as the top two quarterbacks available in the April 26-28 draft. The Indianapolis Colts are expected to take Luck with the No. 1 pick, although there's a chance Griffin could pass him by.

The St. Louis Rams and Minnesota Vikings draft second and third, respectively, and neither is expected to consider taking a QB. Both have promising youngsters at the position: the Rams' Sam Bradford and the Vikings' Christian Ponder.

Dan Pompei writes for the National Football Post and Yahoo! Sports about some of the questions going into the combine, including:

Who is the third quarterback? After Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III, nothing is set in stone. If either Ryan Tannenhill of Texas A&M, Brandon Weeden of Oklahoma State or Brock Osweiler of Arizona State can make a great impression in Indy, they can lay claim to that third QB spot. That’s significant because the third quarterback chosen very well could be the last quarterback taken in the first round.

And, Peter Schrager writes for FoxSports.com about the things to watch for at the combine, including five teams to keep a watch on, one of them being the...

Cleveland Browns: It’s a commonly held belief around the league’s media circles that the Browns are going to make an aggressive move for Griffin. I’m not so sure about that. Brad Childress was just hired as offensive coordinator, Pat Shurmur’s a West Coast offense guy and Griffin’s not that kind of quarterback. With the Browns holding the fourth pick and Atlanta’s selection at 22nd overall, it’ll be interesting to see the moves they make in the first round. A guy to watch for the Browns? Ryan Tannehill, the Texas A&M quarterback prospect.

About the combine

Pre-combine position rankings, by Mike Mayock for NFL.com.

The National Football Post's top 15 prospects going into the combine. And, NFP's 16th through 30th top prospects.

Analyzing the Browns' needs as the combine begins. By Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal.

Even if he doesn't throw at the combine, Robert Griffin III is looking to be the No. 1 draft pick. By Len Pasquarelli for The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.com.

"Small-school" prospects get a chance at the combine. By Chad Reuter for NFL.com.

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