CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Chardon High boys Division I sectional basketball game against Madison at Euclid, scheduled for Wednesday, has been moved to Thursday at 7 p.m. Glenville's game against Ashtabula Lakeside will be played Wednesday at Euclid at 5:30 p.m.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Chardon High boys Division I sectional basketball game against Madison at Euclid, scheduled for Wednesday, has been moved to Thursday at 7 p.m.

Glenville's game against Ashtabula Lakeside will be played Wednesday at Euclid at 5:30 p.m.

The sectional finals will be played Saturday at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.

After Rondo, Irving will face Jeremy Lin on Wednesday, Derrick Rose on Friday and the No. 1 pick in the 2010 draft, Washington's John Wall, on Saturday.

View full sizeAP fileThe Celtics were counting upon Rajon Rondo to make life more difficult for Cavaliers rookie Kyrie Irving on Tuesday night.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Despite splitting their first two games with Boston, the Cavaliers and rookie point guard Kyrie Irving faced the Celtics with All-Star Rajon Rondo for the first time Tuesday night.

Rondo has missed eight games with a sprained right wrist, including the first two matchups with the Cavs.

"We've grown over the break," Boston coach Doc Rivers said, referring to the return of Rondo as well as forwards Brandon Bass and Chris Wilcox from injuries. "Kyrie's been pretty good against us, so hopefully it changes."

Irving said he was up for the challenge, calling Rondo a great point guard.

"Everybody knows him," Irving said. "He's just going to be who he is. They're a much better team than when we played them. I'm looking forward to playing him."

Statistically, Irving dominated the matchup, outscoring Rondo, 24-0, in the 86-83 loss to the Celtics. Irving also had four rebounds, three assists and two turnovers. Rondo had 11 assists and three rebounds, plus five turnovers.

Doesn't Rondo's quickness make him tough to stay in front of?

"You have to be honest with his game," Irving said. "You have to show him different looks. He finds people so well. You have to be completely dialed in defensively. He causes fits for everybody. It will be interesting to see. I'm playing a few great point guards in the next week. I'm looking forward to it."

After warming up against Rondo, Irving will face New York sensation Jeremy Lin on Wednesday, MVP Derrick Rose of Chicago on Friday and the No. 1 pick in the 2010 draft, Washington's John Wall, on Saturday.

Renewal time: The Cavs started their renewal season ticket drive, and fans who renew early have a chance to win everything from an Apple iPad to a 50-inch flat screen TVs.

According to a Cavs spokesman, fans who renew their season tickets at this time will see no price increases. Every renewed season ticket holder will be entered for the chance towin player-worn apparel after each home game until April 11. Fans who renew by April 13 will receive an MVP Cavaliers track jacket.

Ratings boom: The Cavs rank fifth in the NBA in local television ratings with an average rating of 4.9. Last season, through 31 games, the rating was 4.77. As a whole, the league's local ratings are up 19 percent and four teams (Minnesota, Oklahoma City, the Clippers and Philadelphia) more than doubling last year's ratings, according to a recent story in Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Journal.

Nationally, ABC, ESPN, TNT and NBA TV are on pace to post their highest game ratings. Through four games, ABC is averaging 2.063 million viewers, up 10 percent. Through 21 telecasts, TNT is averaging 2.7 million viewers, up 25 percent from last season. ESPN is averaging 2.063 million viewers through 28 games, up 20 percent. And NBA TV is averaging 352,000 viewers through 52 games, up 52 percent.

The last word: From Cavs guard Anthony Parker, who missed the past 12 games with a sprained back, on returning in time to face Boston's Ray Allen, "You can't ever accuse me of ducking anybody."

Lisle, at 6-foot-6 and 265 pounds, is an offensive tackle rated as the No. 83 junior prospect in the country.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Evan Lisle, an offensive lineman from Centerville, said Tuesday night he would attend Ohio State, according to Rivals.com, Scout.com and other recruiting sites. He became the fifth pledge in the Buckeyes' 2013 recruiting class.

Lisle, at 6-foot-6 and 265 pounds, is an offensive tackle who is rated as the No. 83 overall junior prospect in the country by Rivals.com. He also had scholarship offers from Notre Dame, Alabama, Michigan and Oklahoma.

All of the Buckeyes' commitments are in the top 150 of the Rivals ratings: cornerbacks Cameron Burrows (No. 7) and Eli Woodard (No. 28), athlete Jalin Marshall (No. 41), Lisle (No. 83) and defensive lineman Billy Price (No. 130).

Irving led the Cavaliers with 24 points, but Cleveland couldn't make important shots in the final minutes of the loss

View full sizeTony Dejak, Associated PressKyrie Irving finds himself sandwiched between Ray Allen (left) and Rajon Rondo during the second quarter of Tuesday night's game at The Q.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Byron Scott knew this layup by Kyrie Irving wasn't going to beat the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night at The Q.

Unlike Jan. 29, when the Cavaliers rookie raced straight to the rim for the game-winner as time ran out in Boston, this time the 6-3 Irving found 6-7 Paul Pierce in his way with the Cavs down by one point with 27.9 seconds left.

The shot was off the rim, Kevin Garnett grabbed the rebound and the Celtics escaped with an 86-83 victory when Anthony Parker's 3-pointer at the buzzer came up just short. It was Parker's first game after missing 12 straight with a bad back.

Irving wasn't even sure he was going to be around at the end after taking a charge from Pierce late in the first half and banging his right elbow off the court.

"I thought I'd need my hand amputated," he said of what was eventually diagnosed as a bruised elbow. "There was numbness in my hand. I didn't know what to do. My elbow hit the floor. They settled me down. It was my first almost injury."

It wasn't his first almost game-winning drive, though. It just didn't win this time.

"It felt like it was going to be a routine play for me, just at a tough angle," said Irving, who led the Cavs with 24 points, including 13 in the third quarter. "In my head I was deflated after I did it. I could've done some other things than attack him. ... I've made tougher layups than that; it just didn't fall."

Like Irving, Scott said there was no contact by Pierce on the play.

"Nah, I thought Paul jumped straight up," the coach said. "Once I saw Paul come over, I thought Alonzo [Gee] or somebody was wide open in the corner. That's just the next step for Kyrie. Once he gets there, sometimes it's hard at 6-2, 6-3 ... sometimes it's hard to finish. Sometimes the easiest play is just to find the open guy. Alonzo would have had probably a 3 attempt, but it would have been a wide-open look.

"Again, I can't fault the kid, again being aggressive, trying to get to the basket at that particular time."

It has worked before, as Boston coach Doc Rivers can attest.

"He got to the basket, but I thought we defended the basket pretty well," Rivers said. "He had to rush it, there wasn't a lot of time on the shot clock. I thought that hurt him. Thank God he didn't have more time."

So the Celtics wound up winning two of the three games in the season series. A total of seven points separated the teams. Ray Allen had 22 points as Boston snapped a five-game losing streak and improved to 16-17, increasing its lead to 2.5 games over Cleveland in the race for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

Cleveland is 13-19 heading into Wednesday's game at New York, which is just ahead of Boston in seventh place.

Scott has stressed to his team that the playoff push starts now.

"It's right here," he said before Tuesday's game. "Obviously two big games against two teams looking at the second half of the season like we are. You want to make a run. This is the time to start."

Scott was hoping that his team would start the second half of the season quickly, but that didn't happen. It took the creaky old Celtics a little while to get going, but eventually they had a 28-12 lead.

"I thought the beginning of the game we just let them run around freely and run their offense and do what they wanted to do," said Scott, whose team has made this a habit. "Once we got engaged into the game and got more aggressive we were able to get stops.

"We've got to figure out a way to come out the beginning of the game that same way."

Rookie power forward Tristan Thompson had 13 points and 10 rebounds, Ramon Sessions added 13 points and two steals, and Gee had eight points and three steals as the reserves got the Cavs back into the game.

Scott loves the energy Thompson brings.

"If he plays 25 minutes, he's almost a walking double double," the coach said.

On Twitter: @pdcavsinsider

Sullinger said thinking about fouls has affected him and he's going to focus on his game while trying to get the Buckeyes back on track.

View full sizeTerry Gilliam, Associated PressOhio State's Jared Sullinger (trying to defend against Michigan State's Adreian Payne earlier this month) admitted Tuesday that he has let referees' calls -- or lack of same -- distract him on the court in recent weeks. "I'm constantly worried about the refs instead of how I was supposed to play."

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- To watch Jared Sullinger against Wisconsin on Sunday was to wonder what was wrong with Ohio State's All-American.

Was it physical? Was something still bothering him relating to the back injury that sidelined him for two games in December? Had he dropped too much weight in the off-season while getting in better shape and now wasn't able to establish position in the post?

Was it mental? Was Sullinger frustrated by his teammates sometimes taking quick jumpers and not feeding the post? Was he already thinking about life in the NBA, which could be the next step after this sophomore season?

Whatever it was, Sullinger wasn't himself while scoring eight points and grabbing six rebounds in Sunday's 63-60 loss to the Badgers. Tuesday, Sullinger said he thinks, he hopes, he's turned the corner.

He said it's not his back, his weight, his teammates or his professional future that's the issue.

He just needs to stop thinking about the refs.

Preparing to celebrate his 20th birthday on Sunday, Sullinger admitted the problem was in his head, and it related to thinking about fouls instead of playing his game.

"I'm always thinking about how can I play, is the ref going to call this foul or that foul?" he said in a 10-minute news conference, admitting his shortcomings and unburdening his worries. "So I'm constantly worried about the refs instead of how I was supposed to play."

Sullinger said talks with head coach Thad Matta and assistant Jeff Boals helped refocus him. Boals, in particular, showed Sullinger how he played in the Big Ten opener against Northwestern, when he had 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting and 14 rebounds in just 22 minutes of a 23-point win. The Buckeyes play at Northwestern Wednesday, and Boals showed Sullinger the difference between his style on Dec. 28 vs. two months later.

"He said I haven't been playing the same since. I haven't been as physical. I'm trying to not foul instead of playing defense, and on the offensive end I'm not being as physical as I used to be posting up because I'm scared of what the refs were going to call," Sullinger said. "He said I was playing timid."

Matta said he saw good energy from Sullinger in practice Monday, and that in his conversation, he wanted to remind the sophomore how the Buckeyes rely on him.

"We just talked about where we are, what we need to do and how important he is to this program," Matta said. "He's meant everything, when you stop to think about it, for the last two years. I just want him to play his best basketball and I think he does, too."

To do that, Sullinger will have to put the officials out of his mind. What bothered him the most was his feeling that he was getting called for defensive fouls that opponents weren't getting called while guarding him. The Northwestern game was the 12th of the season for Sullinger, and the second time in which he picked up four fouls. Since then, he's had at least four fouls in seven of 15 games -- in four of the last six.

But he can't think about that. Sullinger also said he had been distracted by his Twitter account, but he stopped interacting there seven weeks ago, and by what has been written and said about him. If he's ready to just play, that's all that Ohio State can hope for.

"It's strictly mental," he said. "I've got to get my mind back on winning basketball games. ... It's not the end of the world. We still have life."

Speaking Tuesday afternoon, Sullinger said the Big Ten title might be out of reach but the Buckeyes were still fighting for a good seed in the NCAA Tournament. But with first-place Michigan State's loss at Indiana on Tuesday night, the Spartans dropped to 13-4 in conference play. At 11-5, the Buckeyes now know they will share the Big Ten title if they beat Northwestern and win at Michigan State on Sunday. Michigan is also alive to be part of a three-way title at 13-5.

That should give Sullinger something else to think about -- anything other than fouls.

"I know I've probably been dogged by a lot of people who are saying I'm not as good as I used to be," Sullinger said. "But at the end of the day, it's not about what they think, it's about how we can win basketball games."

Huff will start the Cactus League opener for the Indians on Saturday against the Reds. The left-hander is competing for the fifth spot in the rotation.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain Dealer"I'm been working on being consistent with my fastball location," Indians lefty David Huff said Tuesday, as he prepares for Saturday's exhibition opener against the Reds. "Last year it was a little spotty."

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The last time word leaked that David Huff was making a start for the Indians, he never made it.

Two years ago, Huff was at Class AAA Columbus. The Indians informed him that he was going to come to Cleveland and start in a couple of days. A Tweet was sent out soon after that announcing the news and the Indians were not amused.

Huff stayed in Columbus and someone else made the start in Cleveland.

After throwing batting practice Tuesday, Huff said he was scheduled to start the Indians' Cactus League opener Saturday against the Reds.

"That's what I was told, but we better make sure before announcing anything," said Huff with a smile.

Point taken.

Manager Manny Acta, a few minutes later, confirmed that Huff would start and pitch two innings against the Reds. Huff, Kevin Slowey, Jeanmar Gomez and Zach McAllister are competing for the fifth spot in the rotation. Lefty Scott Barnes might get a look as well.

"I'm not making my mind up on anybody right now," said Acta. "Everybody is looking great throwing bullpens with nobody standing at the plate. Everyone is tied for first place."

Huff said this is the best he's felt in any spring training with the Indians.

"I'm been working on being consistent with my fastball location," said Huff. "Last year it was a little spotty. I'd throw the fastball in to a right-handed hitter and it would cut in for a ball.

"The hitters would were getting real comfortable sitting out over the plate because they knew I couldn't establish anything inside. This off-season I just tried to be real consistent pounding the ball inside to right-handers."

Huff said he's going to concentrate on throwing inside to both lefties and righties this year.

"I've worked on finishing my pitches," he said. "Not getting the pitch out there and falling off to the side and just letting it go. I'm finishing down through it. It's getting a good down plane, almost straight backspin and riding up on guys."

Last year, Huff was a combined 11-9 with the Indians and Columbus -- 2-6 with the Indians.

Game time: The Indians will play intrasquad games Wednesday and Thursday. Wednesday's pitchers will be Jeremy Accardo, Nick Hagadone, Frank Herrmann, Chen Lee, Chris Seddon, Tyler Sturdevant, Robinson Tejeda and Josh Tomlin.

Testing, testing: Acta said center fielder Grady Sizemore is still undergoing tests on his strained back. The Indians announced last week that the injury will likely put Sizemore on the disabled list for opening day.

"We're very concerned about Grady," said Acta. "We'll know more in the next couple of days. We feel bad for the kid because he's such a dynamic player and a big part of what we're trying to do here. He just doesn't seem to catch a break."

Sizemore has been on the disabled list in each of the last three years.

Finally: Austin Adams, who hit 101 mph last year at Class AA Akron, is down with a sore right shoulder. ... Carlos Santana and Lou Marson are the Indians' first two catchers, but Acta is looking for a third catcher in case of injury. Luke Carlin, Chun Chen, Michel Hernandez and Matt Pagnozzi are all in camp as spring training invitees.

On Twitter: @hoynsie

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cavaliers and Celtics have a long, fierce rivalry, from the days of the Richfield Coliseum to the more recent heated battles in the Eastern Conference playoffs. While most of those battles have been for conference supremacy, here they are, fighting it out for the eighth and final spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs. At this...

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cavaliers and Celtics have a long, fierce rivalry, from the days of the Richfield Coliseum to the more recent heated battles in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

While most of those battles have been for conference supremacy, here they are, fighting it out for the eighth and final spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

At this point, the two teams are on totally different paths. The aging Celtics are just trying to hold it together long enough for one more shot at an NBA championship they last won in 2008.

The Cavs, meanwhile, are on their way up, thanks to their brilliant rookie point guard Kyrie Irving. They have come farther faster than anyone expected in the wake of the departure of LeBron James, but once again, it's the Celtics blocking their way.

There are 34 games left for the Cavs in the sprint to the end of the season, 33 for the Celtics, and it's impossible to tell how either of these teams will meet the challenges that arise between now and then. Although the two teams will not face each other again this season, nobody in either city will be the least bit surprised if one determines the playoff fate of the other.

Again.

A Texas agency has turned down a request by an Orthodox Jewish school in Houston to reschedule a championship game potentially involving its boys' basketball team because the game time falls during the Sabbath.

Mayra Beltran, Houston ChronicleSenior Isaac Mirwis, 18, shoots a 3-pointer during basketball practice at Beren Academy on Tuesday in Houston. A Texas state agency has turned down a request by the Orthodox Jewish school to reschedule a championship game potentially involving the team because the game time falls during the Sabbath.

HOUSTON -- A Texas agency has turned down a request by an Orthodox Jewish school in Houston to reschedule a championship game potentially involving its boys' basketball team because the game time falls during the Sabbath.

The Beren Academy advanced to the semifinals in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools' 2A tournament with a 23-5 record and was scheduled to play Dallas Covenant at 9 p.m. on Friday.

Beren players observe the Sabbath between Friday night and Saturday night and won't play basketball during those hours.

The academy appealed to TAPPS to have the game time moved, but the agency's nine-member board unanimously voted it down.

Dallas Covenant will instead play Kerrville Our Lady of the Hills, the team that Beren defeated in the regional final. The Beren team, meanwhile, will continue practicing this week, hoping that TAPPS moves the game time to earlier Friday.

"They say the inconvenience of rescheduling the games outweighs any other factors," Beren coach Chris Cole said Tuesday. "I don't know where that decision goes. That's a decision for people who are a little higher than I am. The main thing for us is to do the best we can, keep working hard and just be hopeful. We feel like it's still Tuesday, and things can still happen."

TAPPS director Ed Burleson said Tuesday that he doesn't expect the agency to reverse course. He said he has received hundreds of emails and phone calls, some from as far away as Canada, accusing him of bigotry and anti-Semitism since word spread of the agency's decision.

Burleson said the decision had nothing to do with religion, but rather has to do with the organization's longstanding policy not to change the playoffs date -- a rule that has been in place since TAPPS' inception in 1978.

Beren joined TAPPS last year, and Burleson said the school was told then to not expect TAPPS to adjust its postseason schedule.

"We think it's clear-cut," Burleson said. "They were advised, up front, that TAPPS would not change that, and they chose to join TAPPS anyway. There was never any indication from TAPPS that their appeal would be approved."

Cole, the coach since the 2002-03 season, acknowledged that he was aware of the possibility of such scheduling conflicts but was still hoping TAPPS would make an exception.

"It was our feeling that we could complete the playoffs," Cole said. "There was no reason we saw (not to compete), other than changing the game times. We felt like we could make those changes, and the request was reasonable."

Cole argued that there was a precedent to Beren's request. Last year, the soccer team at Arlington Burton Adventist Academy reached the TAPPS semifinals and faced a similar conflict with the Sabbath.

Burleson said the logistics were much easier for the soccer tournament, which has one classification and is played on a single field. The basketball tournament involves five classifications for both boys' and girls' teams for a total of 40 teams playing 30 games in two days.

"It's a big affair and requires a lot of planning and scheduling and coordination to play that many games in that narrow amount of time," Burleson said. "We have to rent facilities and we're limited in the amount of time we have to rent those facilities."

TAPPS is comprised of 220 schools, and Cole said the benefits of joining outweighed the drawbacks when Beren decided to apply for membership. He says most schools have been "very understanding and accommodating" in adjusting game times to allow the Beren players to observe the Sabbath.

Only now, they realize they'll have to watch others vie for a championship that could've been theirs.

"I will feel disappointed, and I think it'd be silly to feel something different," senior guard/forward Isaac Buchine said.

The lure of championship glory, though, isn't enough to uproot the players' deep-seeded beliefs. The enrollment at Beren is only 274, and most of the students have grown up together, in a culture where faith and religion trump virtually everything else.

"There's nothing in the Jewish religion that doesn't want us to play basketball," Beren senior point guard Isaac Mirwis said. "But it's tradition, it's principle, and we stick true to our principles and that's what makes an identity . . . God doesn't take a week off from us, so we can't take a week off from God."

Harry Sinoff, the Beren headmaster and a rabbi, thinks that his school's request is reasonable and he doesn't understand why TAPPS remains so rigid.

"It's good for basketball, it's good for sports," Sinoff said. "Inclusion is good for sports."

-- Chris Duncan, AP Sports Writer

Chief operating officer Kevin Demoff said Tuesday that the team would make a deal under the right circumstances, but has not made any commitments despite a report late Monday that a trade had already been decided.

Associated PressNew Rams coach Jeff Fisher, here at a press conference during the NFL scouting combine, will certainly have some say-so on what St. Louis does with the No. 2 overall pick in the draft.

The St. Louis Rams are willing to trade the second overall pick of the April draft.

Chief operating officer Kevin Demoff said Tuesday that the team would make a deal under the right circumstances, but has not made any commitments despite a report late Monday that a trade had already been decided. He said new coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead went to the NFL combine with an open mind.

"I think coach Fisher and Les have been upfront that we will listen to offers for the (hash)2 pick," Demoff said in an email to The Associated Press. "I didn't see anything in the report that differed from their statements."

Quarterbacks Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III are expected to go 1-2 in the draft, with Indianapolis holding the top pick. The Rams need plenty of help but are set at quarterback with Sam Bradford, the first overall pick in 2010.

(A Starting Blocks poll asking if you'd rather the Browns have a chance to draft Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III if they make a trade with the Rams; or, if you'd rather the Browns not make that trade)

Among a group of perhaps 50 or 60 players that the Rams are believed to have interviewed at the combine are Southern California offensive tackle Matt Kalil and Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon, a pair who would fill obvious holes.

While the Colts are widely expected to take Luck as the eventual heir to Peyton Manning, it is Griffin who has sparked the speculation. Last year's Heisman Trophy winner from Baylor is seen as a good fit with a number of teams, increasing the likelihood of the Rams dealing the second pick in a bid to stock up.

But the draft is still two months away and free agency has not begun.

Fisher, hired in January, has consistently maintained he has a high regard for Bradford and believes he can become a star. Fisher dismissed last season's performance to a large extent because of injuries to Bradford and his offensive line, plus a time shortage getting accustomed to offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels' system because of the lockout.

Bradford missed six games with a high left ankle sprain playing behind an injury riddled line. Tackles Rodger Saffold and Jason Smith, and guard Jacob Bell ended the season on injured reserve.

The defense also needs help after threatening the franchise record for yards allowed.

Fisher and Snead were hired after the Rams' 2-14 season tied for the NFL's worst. They were just 10-38 in three seasons under coach Steve Spagnuolo, who was fired along with general manager Billy Devaney. McDaniels is also gone.

Belle's slugging helped the Indians launch one of the most successful eras in team history. He often did it amidst controversy.

Dale Omori, The Plain DealerAlbert Belle watches his home run, hit off the Atlanta Braves' Greg Maddux, sail toward and over the right field wall during Game 5 of the 1995 World Series. The Indians won the game, 5-4, in Cleveland.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Outfielder Albert Belle was as feared as any hitter in baseball during the prime of his career, much of it spent with the Cleveland Indians.

Tuesday, Belle visited the Indians spring training camp in Goodyear, Ariz., and was greeted by some of the other stars -- center fielder Kenny Lofton, second baseman Carlos Baerga, catcher Sandy Alomar and manager Mike Hargrove -- who helped him build the Indians into a powerhouse in the 1990s.

It was a milestone moment, for Belle has had virtually nothing to do with the Indians since he left them to sign as a free agent with the Chicago White Sox following the 1996 season.

The Plain Dealer's Paul Hoynes wrote about Belle's reunion with old teammates, and how a good time seemed to be had by all.

As you link to the story, you see that Hoynes notes how much respect today's Indians' players have for the kind of player Belle was. Hoynes mentions, too, a few of the incidents that made Belle such a controversial personality; moments back then when Belle's mean streak could overshadow his wondrous abilities.

Regarding what Belle does now, though, Hoynes quotes him as saying:

"I'm a stay-at-home dad," said Belle. "I'm Mr. Mom. My wife and I have four girls. I waited until I was done playing to get married and settle down and start a family."

The Indians first brought Belle to the major leagues in 1989. In the six-year stretch from 1991-96, Belle's numbers were spectacular, even though baseball missed nearly three total months of playing time during the strike-shortened 1994 and 1995 seasons.

During those six years, Belle played in an average of 140 games, with 533 at bats per season. He hit .300, and averaged 95 runs scored, 36 doubles, two triples, 39 home runs and 119 RBI. Opposing pitchers would tell you his impact was even greater than the numbers would indicate. No pitcher wanted to walk a batter with Belle about to stride to the plate. Usually, Indians ahead of Belle in the lineup could count on getting something to hit.

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

Associated PressThe Cavaliers visit New York tonight, for the first time playing a Knicks team with Jeremy Lin (17) as its starting point guard. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Ohio and broadcast on WTAM/1100-AM.

CLEVELAND, Ohio

Today on the air

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

HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL

7:30 p.m. Avon Lake vs. Magnificat, WDLW/1380-AM

MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

6:30 p.m. Penn State at Purdue, Big Ten Network

7 p.m. Buffalo at AKRON, WSLR/1350-AM

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

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

7 p.m. Marquette at Cincinnati, ESPN2 (preview)

7 p.m. Maryland at North Carolina, ESPN (preview) 

7 p.m. Saint John's at Pittsburgh, ESPNU

8 p.m. Tulsa at UAB, CBS Sports Network

8:30 p.m. OHIO STATE at Northwestern, Big Ten Network; WKNR/850-AM (preview)

(Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Ohio State coverage)

9 p.m. Iowa at Nebraska, ESPNU

9 p.m. Oklahoma at Texas, ESPN2

10 p.m. UNLV at Colorado State, CBS Sports Network

NBA

7:30 p.m. CAVALIERS at New York, Fox Sports Ohio; WTAM/1100-AM (preview)

(Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Cavaliers coverage) 

9 p.m. Chicago at San Antonio, ESPN

NHL

7:30 p.m. Pittsburgh at Dallas, NBC Sports Network (preview)

SOCCER

2:30 p.m. Men, Italy vs. United States, ESPN2

The Ohio State Buckeyes must turn a few things around if they want a long dance in the NCAA Tournament.

Terry Gilliam / Associated PressThad Matta

The Ohio State Buckeyes lost to Kentucky Wildcats in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament last season.

The Buckeyes were the No. 1 seed. The Buckeyes entered the tournament with plenty of expectations.

But what are the expectations now? Especially since the Buckeyes fell to Wisconsin at home last Sunday. And what is wrong with Jared Sullinger? Doug Lesmerises of The Cleveland Plain Dealer is not sure what was wrong with Sullinger against Wisconsin. But Lesmerises writes how Sullinger wasn't himself.

But if the Buckeyes plan to advance far in the tournament, Sullinger has to turn things around. But will it really matter?

Will the Buckeyes enter the NCAA Tournament as the No. 1, No. 2 or No. 3 seed?

APOhio State's Jared Sullinger.

So it doesn't look like the Ohio State Buckeyes will be a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Who knows, the Buckeyes may not even earn a No. 2 seed, writes Bill Rabinowitz of The Columbus Dispatch.

The Buckeyes can only blame themselves. That loss at home on Sunday against Wisconsin put them in their current questionable position.

As of now, I don’t believe it’s warranted. Duke, North Carolina and Missouri are more deserving, and at this point, so is Marquette. The Golden Eagles have won 11 of 12 games. Their only loss after Jan. 7 was at Notre Dame.

Victories tonight over Northwestern and at Michigan State on Sunday would probably give enough juice for the Buckeyes to earn a No. 2 seed.

Rabinowitz has a few predictions when it comes to seeding in the tournamnet. He lists five teams in the Big Ten to get into the tournamnet. Rabinowitz lists Michigan State as a No. 1 seed, Ohio State and Michigan as No. 3 seeds, Wisconsin No. 4 and Indiana No. 5.

More Ohio State Buckeyes

Jared Sullinger is now the mystery man (MansfieldNewsJournal.com)

The Buckeyes sign another top high school lineman (Columbus Dispatch).

Ohio State has some big shoes to fill (ESPN).

Preview of the Ohio State Buckeyes and Northwestern game (Chicago Tribune).

More upsets in the Big Ten (Big Ten Network).

Northwestern looks to exploit Sullinger (The Daily Northwestern).

Former St. Edward High School wrestling standout Gray Maynard – the only other UFC fighter to defeat Frankie Edgar, who now stands 14-2 in the lightweight division – said Bendo's win could mean another chance at a title shot for him.

Special to The Plain DealerGray Maynard's UFC record stands at 10-1-1.

Frankie Edgar's loss to Benson Henderson in UFC 144 this past Saturday just might have some local ramifications.

Former St. Edward High School wrestling standout Gray Maynard – the only other UFC fighter to defeat Edgar, who now stands 14-2 in the lightweight division – said Bendo's win could mean another chance at a title shot for him.

“I haven't had a chance to watch it yet,” said Maynard, who was reached via email. “I was traveling. I heard it was a great fight, and [I] should be able to watch in the next couple days.”

Maynard's path back to a title shot should begin with a fight sometime in June, he said.

He might have to wait his turn, though. UFC President Dana White said after Edgar's loss to Bendo that he should consider dropping to 145 pounds and fighting in the featherweight division.

However, Ali Abdel-Aziz, Edgar's manager, told mmaweekly.com that while his fighter eventually might drop from the 155-pound lightweight division, he's focused on getting a rematch with Henderson.

Henderson beat Edgar on all three judges' cards. In his post-fight comments, however, White said he thought Edgar won the match. It's true Edgar landed more strikes than Bendo (16-2), but Henderson's shots were harder and more effective.

Anthony Pettis (15-2) also has been mentioned as the next opponent for the new champion.

Maynard, whose UFC record stands at 10-1-1, decisioned Edgar in UFC Fight Night in April 2008. The two fought to a controversial draw in UFC 125 on New Year's Day 2011. He lost to Edgar on a solid blow to the jaw that knocked him out in the fourth round of UFC 136 last October.

To contact this Plain Dealer reporter: cyarborough@plaind.com, 216-999-4534

Opting to play a game on a Wednesday for the first time in more than 60 years, the NFL will open the regular season on Sept. 5, to avoid conflicting with Obama's speech at the Democratic National Convention the next night, the league announced.

AP Eli Manning and the Giants kick off the NFL season on Sept. 5 against an opponent to be named.

New York – Powerful as the NFL is, it's making way for President Barack Obama.

Opting to play a game on a Wednesday for the first time in more than 60 years, the NFL will open the regular season on Sept. 5, to avoid conflicting with Obama's speech at the Democratic National Convention the next night, the league announced.

The Super Bowl champion New York Giants will host the Wednesday night season opener starting at 8:30 p.m. Their opponent hasn't been announced yet.

According to the league, it hasn't played a game on a Wednesday since Sept. 22, 1948, when the Rams faced the Lions.

The NFL regular season has started on a Thursday since 2002.

Kyrie Irving Tweets about EA Sports' future basketball game.

Associated PressCleveland Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving to the hoop.

Is a career in journalism in Kyrie Irving's future?

Well during All-Star Weekend, Irving was by EA Sports to visit their Florida development studio, showing off the latest of what the company is calling "the future of basketball" video games, writes Jon Robinson on ESPN.com.

Rookie Kyrie Irving not only got his hands on the new game before anybody else outside of EA, he even Tweeted the official name, "NBA Live 13," before the video game publisher had the chance to make an official announcement.

Yes, Irving actually broke a story with:

Irving Tweeted: "In Orlando for #AllStar checking out the #FutureOfBasketball with @EASPORTSNBA. Get to see the new #NBALIVE13!"

In 2011, the company decided against shipping a basketball simulation, adding another full year to the development cycle of "NBA Live 13" in hopes of turning the once great franchise back into a winner, writes Robinson.

More Cleveland Cavaliers

Rookie point guard Kyrie Irving tried, but the Cleveland Cavaliers couldn't pull off the victory over the Boston Celtics, writes Mary Schmitt Boyer on Cleveland.com.

Jason Lloyd writes on Ohio.com how the Cavaliers stumbled late and fell to the Celtics.

Here is how Rick Noland of The Chronicle-Telegram graded the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Cleveland Cavaliers try, but fall short in rally, writes Bob Finnan of The News-Herald.

The Celtics get help from Kevin Garnett in victory over Cavaliers, writes Steve Bulpett of The Boston Herald.

The Boston Celtics snap their losing streak with a victory over the Cavaliers, writes Frank Dell'Apa of The Boston Globe.

Asdrubal and Kipnis are using the spring to develop a bond on and off the field.

The Plain DealerCleveland Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis.

Jordan Bastian of MLB.com writes how the on-field relationship between a second baseman and shortstop is an important dynamic, and Jason Kipnis and Asdrubal Cabrera are using this spring to strengthen their bond up the middle.

"That's what's great about spring," Kipnis said on Tuesday. "You have time to work with each other and get to know each other."

Last season, the pair of infielders had to learn to work with one another on the fly when Kipnis was promoted to the big leagues in July, when Cleveland was still in the division race. With that experience under their belts, combined with six weeks of Spring Training, they are confident that they will build a strong partnership.

This is Kipnis' second full season as a second baseman. He can go to Cabrera for advice.

"He's a good guy to play with," Cabrera said. "I think if we pull everything together, we're going to be a good middle infield this year. ... He listens. He's a good guy. He tries to get better every day."

More Tribe

Yes, that's a Paul Hoynes story on Cleveland.com about Albert Belle yucking it up with the Tribe.

Shelly Duncan is still a part-time player despite a hot finish last season, writes Sheldon Ocker on Ohio.com.

The Indians can't afford a down season by Asdrubal Cabrera, writes Jim Ingraham of The News-Herald.

The Tribe react to the shooting in Chardon, writes MLB.com.

Ranking the backup center fielders (Lets Go Tribe blog).

A fan's reaction to Chris Perez's injury (Yahoo.com).

Will the Cleveland Browns make a deal with St. Louis to get RG3?

APBaylor quarterback Robert Griffin III.

Jeff Schudel of The News-Herald writes how the Cleveland Browns, Redskins and Dolphins have begun preliminary talks with the Rams when it comes to acquiring the No. 2 pick to acquire Robert Griffin III.

Schudel writes how the Redskins are the favorite to make the deal happen, the Browns have more to offer because they have the fourth pick and 22nd pick in the first round of the 2012 draft. The Redskins draft sixth in the first round and the Dolphins draft eighth.

Former Browns general manager Phil Savage used to call the months leading up to the draft ‘the silly season" because of all the rumors floating about concerning trade possibilities and reports about players being moved up or down draft boards — usually down — because of perceived weaknesses that suddenly crop up.

Silly or not, if the Browns want Griffin badly enough, they might have to give up both first-round picks this year plus a fourth-round pick this year and their first-round pick next year, writes Schudel.

It beats hunting for another quarterback every year or watching Colt McCoy compete with Seneca Wallace for the starting job.

More Cleveland Browns

Marla Ridenour writes on Ohio.com how Notre Dame's Michael Floyd is dealing with some off the field issues.

CantonRep.com's Steve Doerschuk writes about several issues including Mike Holmgren, RG3 and the NFL.

The Cleveland Browns are talking with the St. Louis Rams, writes Mary Kay Cabot on Cleveland.com.

Is it a surprise that ESPN's Jamison Hensley rates the Cleveland Browns' receivers last in the AFC North?

A fan on Yahoo.com takes a look at the Cleveland Browns lineup for 2012.

Tom Heckert underwent heart surgery to remove blockage.

Here are a few notes and tidbits on the Dawgs By Nature blog.

The NFL Scouting Combine's final session Tuesday featured defensive backs. Here are the players who impressed and those who struggled.

View full sizeAP Photo/Michael ConroyLSU defensive back Morris Claiborne makes a catch as he runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis.

For more Cinesport video, go here.

Coach also talks about how Zips have put it together, and gives a quick preview of next week's MAC Tournament at The Q. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Welcome to a special edition of Starting Blocks TV.

On this show, Plain Dealer reporter Elton Alexander spends a few minutes talking with Akron Zips men's basketball coach Keith Dambrot, whose team can clinch the first Mid-American Conference regular-season title in program history with a home win tonight against Buffalo.

Elton and coach Dambrot also talk about our recent Starting Blocks poll on what should be the right number of teams in the NCAA Tournament; why this season has been so special for the Zips; three players who have helped bring the Zips together after a rough start; and some names to watch in the MAC Tournament, which will be held next week at The Q.

Check back later for another edition of SBTV with Plain Dealer Ohio State reporter Doug Lesmerises, who is in Chicago to cover tonight's basketball game at Northwestern.