The four coaches involved in the regional tournament at the Wolstein Center this week join us to discuss the tournament and more.

View full sizeLonnie Timmons III | The Plain DealerShaker Heights won the Solon District championship on Saturday and will join three other teams for the regional tournament this week at the Wolstein Center.

The boys high school basketball tournament has reached regionals, and this week four teams descend on Cleveland for a Division I regional tournament at the Wolstein Center for the right to move on to Columbus and play for a state championship.

Today live at noon on PD Sports Insider, brought to you by Ed Tomko Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram in Avon Lake, join The Plain Dealer's Tim Rogers along with special guests Mentor head coach Bob Krizancic, Shaker Heights head coach Danny Young, St. Edward head coach Eric Flannery, and Warren Harding head coach Steve Arnold as they talk about the regional tournament and answer your chat room questions.

Watch and chat live at noon.

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About the show: "PD Sports Insider" airs live every Monday and Thursday at noon. Co-hosted by Bud Shaw and Dennis Manoloff, the show features a timely and lively debate of the biggest sports topics of the day and gives readers a chance to interact directly with PD sportswriters and columnists.

Viewers have to the opportunity to ask questions and post comments in a live chat room during the show.

This year's bracket challenge has everything you need to fill out and track your brackets including; bracket predictions, team scouting reports, live scoring, instant standings, smack boards and, most importantly, a grand prize of $10,000

Fill out, print and track your brackets in our 2012 Bracket Challenge.

Plain Dealer sports columnist Terry Pluto tackled your questions and more during his weekly chat with fans earlier today on cleveland.com.

What will the Browns do in free agency? What's the plan at QB now that Robert Griffin III is out of the mix? What should the Cavaliers do at the trade deadline? Should the Indians count on Roberto Hernandez (Fausto Carmona) now that he's been cleared of the charges?

Plain Dealer sports columnist Terry Pluto tackled those topics and more during his weekly chat with fans earlier today on cleveland.com. Click on the play button to the right or download the MP3 file here. Among the other topics covered:

- Why is right tackle at the top of the Browns' shopping list

- How big of a risk is giving Matt Flynn a big contract?

- Do you expect the Browns to trade down in the draft?

Terry Pluto tackles your questions live every Tuesday at noon.

- What is the likelihood of Antawn Jamison and Ramon Sessions being traded at the deadline?

- Any chance the Cavaliers make a trade to get better and try to make the playoffs?

- At what point do the Indians get nervous about Ubaldo Jimenez?

- Who's winning the left field job?

Browns kicker Phil Dawson has signed his franchise tender of $3.8 million, a league source told the Plain Dealer.

Mark Duncan, Associated PressPhil Dawson will be back with the Browns for a 14th season in 2012.

CLEVELAND -- Browns kicker Phil Dawson has accepted his franchise tag, a league source told The Plain Dealer.

Dawson, heading into his 14th season, is set to make $3.8 million in 2012.

Browns General Manager Tom Heckert said last week that Dawson may have been unhappy about being tagged for the second straight year. His "ultimate goal'' was to sign Dawson to a multi-year deal.

Dawson has declined to comment.

He was franchised last season for $3.175 million. He played in all 16 games, converting 24 of 29 field goals, but with a block and deflection and one kick that sailed high above the goalpost, Dawson contends there was only one legitimate miss.

Dawson also hit seven field goals of 50 yards or more, which was one shy of the NFL record. Dawson's 199 games played are the fifth-most in Browns history.

His career field goal percentage of 83.1 is first in Browns history and 10th in NFL annals.

Syracuse center Fab Melo is out of the tournament due to eligibility issues.

Frank Franklin II, Associated PressFab Melo

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse center Fab Melo did not travel with the team to Pittsburgh and the university says he won't take part in the NCAA tournament due to an eligibility issue.

The school would not elaborate. Melo missed three games during the season because of an academic issue.

It's a big blow to the Orange (31-2), the top seed in the East Regional. They play 16th-seeded UNC Asheville (24-9), the Big South champion, on Thursday afternoon.

Melo, a 7-footer, was the Big East defensive player of the year and made coach Jim Boeheim's 2-3 zone defense a formidable one. He averaged 7.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and registered 88 blocks.

MENTOR, Ohio - Mentor wrestling coach Ken Skilton is stepping down after 13 seasons as head coach and an association with the program that spans nearly three decades. "It's been a year-to-year thing for the last couple years," Skilton said. "We'll still have a really good team next year with two returning state qualifiers coming back. It's just time....

Mentor wrestling coach Ken Skilton led the Cardinals to 10 league championships and a 229-14 record in dual meets as a head coach. - (Special to The Plain Dealer)

MENTOR, Ohio - Mentor wrestling coach Ken Skilton is stepping down after 13 seasons as head coach and an association with the program that spans nearly three decades.

"It's been a year-to-year thing for the last couple years," Skilton said. "We'll still have a really good team next year with two returning state qualifiers coming back. It's just time. I have a young daughter that I coach her soccer and softball teams, I'm head of the math department, and I'm very involved in my church. I want to be able to spend more time with those kinds of things."

Skilton, who wrestled at Mentor, has coached a total of 21 years there. As a head coach, his teams won 10 league championships and were 229-14 in dual meets.

He was promoted in 1999 to succeed Joe Hada, who also won more than 200 duals and coached 19 seasons. Before Hada, Jim Schonauer coached 14 years.

"We've had a nice run of stability in that program and that's what we want to continue," Athletic Director Jeff Cassella said.

Seven Browns are on the free agent market, including Peyton Hillis and Mike Adams.

John Kuntz, The Plain DealerTight end Alex Smith signed a one-year deal with the Browns, his agent Kevin Robinson announced on his twitter account.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns signed tight end Alex Smith to a one-year contract, his agent Kevin Robinson announced on Twitter and the team announced that it had extended offensive lineman John Greco.

Smith was one of eight Browns free agents to hit the market, but signed shortly thereafter. Smith started four of 14 games with the Browns last season, catching 14 passes for 131 yards and one TD.

The Browns also tendered wide receiver Jordan Norwood and defensive lineman Brian Schaefering as exclusive rights players. They did not tender linebacker Titus Brown, who's recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

The team also officially announced the release of offensive tackle Tony Pashos and punter Richmond McGee. They will not re-sign free agent punter Brad Maynard, and will turn the chore back over to Reggie Hodges, who sat out all last season with a torn Achilles tendon.

Kicker Phil Dawson also accepted his one franchise tender of $3.8 million.

Greco appeared in 15 games in a reserve role after being acquired in a trade with St. Louis on August 1, 2011.

Norwood saw action in 14 games with four starts in 2011, registering career-highs with 23 receptions for 268 yards and one touchdown.

Schaefering appeared in all 16 contests as a reserve in 2011, recording 29 tackles and a half sack.

The other Browns free agents that hit the market today are offensive linemen Oneil Cousins, Artis Hicks and Steve Vallos and cornerback Dimitri Patterson.

The Browns have said they'll try to re-sign several more of them, including Hillis and Patterson.

In other free agency news:

• Colts WR Pierre Garcon posted on his Facebook page that he's signing with the Redskins. The deal is worth five years, $42.5 million, according to various reports.

• Dallas WR Laurent Robinson is visiting with the Jaguars.

• Saints WR Robert Meachem is visiting with the Bills.

The Browns are set to make an offer for Green Bay backup Matt Flynn, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

View full sizeJoshua Gunter, The Plain DealerMatt Flynn is apparently being seriously courted by the Browns, although the backup Packers QB is also a prime target of the Dolphins as well.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Dolphins and Cleveland are negotiating with Packers backup Matt Flynn, and will be exchanging contract offers with his agent soon, Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel is reporting.

Flynn has started only two NFL games, but one of them was a 480-yard, six-TD game against the Lions on the regular-season finale. Flynn is well-versed in the West Coast offense run by the Browns. The Dolphins are also pursuing Peyton Manning, and will step up their efforts to sign Flynn if they don't get him.

If the Browns sign Flynn, he would replace Colt McCoy as the starting quarterback. General Manager Tom Heckert said the Browns most likely would not sign a big-name free agent quarterback, but apparently, he's trying to do just that.

Flynn was a seventh-round pick from Louisiana State in 2008 and has backed up Aaron Rodgers. In 2008, he was the BCS National Championship MVP. Flynn is 6-2, 225.

In Miami, Flynn would be reunited with head coach Joe Philbin, who was his offensive coordinator in Green Bay.

The Cavs could trade their backup point guard and still make the playoffs.

View full sizeScott Shaw, The Plain DealerRamon Sessions remains a logical piece of trade bait for the Cavaliers, says Terry Pluto, who adds that a deal involving the backup point guard doesn't preclude a playoff bid.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cavaliers never expected to be in this position -- a playoff contender. But that's where they found themselves Tuesday morning -- three teams within one game of the final playoff spot.

So now what?

Do the Cavs resist the temptation to trade Ramon Sessions for a low first-round draft pick, knowing the valuable backup point guard is likely to exercise his option to become a free agent this summer? Sessions has been the team's most underrated player, and one of their most valuable as he's played both guard spots and blended in nicely with phenom point man Kyrie Irving.

Yes, the Cavs can try to sign the 25-year-old Sessions to an extension, but why would he do that? Irving is 19. This is his team. Sessions would love to start and have his own team to lead. At this stage of his career, he's ready to find out if he can handle that responsibility.

Sessions started 38 games last season, averaging 14.5 points and 5.9 assists. In four starts this year, he's at 17.8 points and 11.0 assists. He is a weak outside shooter, but he can drive to the rim, sets up teammates well and has improved from being utterly frightening on defense to very acceptable.

So you can understand why Sessions would pass up his player option for 2012-13, and become a free agent.

Why Sessions should be traded

That's why General Manager Chris Grant must trade Sessions, especially if the Lakers offer a first-round pick along with a point guard such as Steve Blake. The goal is not the playoffs in 2012, it's constructing a team that can contend for several years starting in 2013 -- and you do that with lots of draft choices, along with wise trades and a few free agents.

The Lakers continue to look at other deals before deciding on Sessions. They have a trade exemption, and could take Sessions simply for the first-rounder and make it work with the salary cap. But it's doubtful that coach Mike Brown would want three point guards: Derek Fisher, Sessions and Blake.

Blake's contract runs through the summer of 2014 at $4 million annually. He's OK, and the Cavs will need a backup point guard if they deal Sessions.

Why would the Lakers do it? For all the complaining about Brown's stagnant offense, the Lakers still have the third-best record in the West. They remain a contender, albeit an aging and cranky one.

The other occasional rumor has the Cavs dealing for Marvin Williams from Atlanta. This surfaces for two reasons: a) The Hawks want to dump Williams; b) Grant was part of the Hawks' front office when they drafted Williams over Chris Paul.

But my understanding is the Cavs want a pure wing man -- a 6-foot-7 athlete who can score. Williams plays small forward at 6-9 and 245 pounds, and is mediocre. As for those rumors of the Hawks dealing Josh Smith, they want to be a factor in the playoffs. A team doesn't do that by dumping a guy who is averaging 17.4 points and 9.6 rebounds and is one of the NBA premier pure athletes when it comes to running and jumping.

Yes, Smith wants to be traded. He's a free agent in the summer of 2013 and wants a massive contract. But it's doubtful the Hawks will address that situation until after the season and the playoffs are over.

If the Cavs do make a move, it probably will be Sessions. There has been some conversation about Antawn Jamison, but so far no team has made a legitimate offer for the Cavs veteran.

Playoffs possible

Here's the deal if the Cavs do deal Sessions -- they still may make the playoffs.

It could be another two weeks before Anderson Varejao returns. The Cavs want to make sure his fractured wrist is completely healed, because he plays so recklessly and hits the floor so often that chances of a re-injury are a concern.

But with Byron Scott driving this -- and the Cavs have no intention of telling him to back off -- and Irving turning into one of the NBA's best closers, it's premature to write them off, even minus Sessions. Add in an energetic Varejao, along with the leadership of Jamison and the emergence of Alonzo Gee, and it could be interesting.

Their contender for the final spot, Milwaukee, is battling injuries. Then there's the Knicks, who were 7-1 with Jeremy Lin starting and Carmelo Anthony injured. Since Anthony returned, they are 2-8 and can't find enough shots to make everyone happy. A clashing of egos and mood of discontent and doom now hang over Madison Square Garden, where there are too many big names, massive contracts, exploding egos and mismatched parts.

The Knicks are exactly the kind of team that the Cavs -- and any other mid-market franchise -- should avoid becoming. They continually take short cuts that lead to expensive dead ends.

The Cavs have their own first-rounder this season, along with two second-rounders. One came from New Orleans, which has the NBA's third-worst record. Adding another first-rounder, even the Lakers, is exactly what should be done.

Texas rocks Josh Tomlin for seven runs, four earned, in a three-inning start.

View full sizeMark Duncan, Associated PressShin-Soo Choo singled and scored a run in Tuesday's 8-8 tie over 10 innings with Texas in Goodyear, Ariz.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Texas scored a run in the ninth inning Tuesday on Greg Michlat's one-out single off prospect Chen-Chang Lee as the Rangers and Indians played to a 8-8 tie in 10 innings at Goodyear Ballpark. 

It was Lee's second blown save of the Cactus League season.

The Indians, trailing 7-2 after three innings, scored twice in the sixth on sacrifice flies by Asdrubal Cabrera and Travis Hafner to take a 8-7 lead.

Japanese sensation Yu Darvish made his second start of the spring for the Rangers. He was wild, walking four in three innings, but allowed only two runs. The Rangers gave him a big lead to work by scoring six runs in the third inning off Josh Tomlin.

The Rangers hit for the cycle during the inning. Yorvit Torrealba had a two-run double and Yangervis Solarte hit a two-run homer.

Darvish, who cost the Rangers over $100 million, said his command and control were not good.

The Indians scored two runs in third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings to take the lead. Cabrera had an RBI single and another run scored on Shin-Soo Choo's double play to start the Tribe's comeback in the second. Lou Marson made it 7-4 in fourth with a two-run single. In the fifth, Jason Kipnis hit a two-run double.

Tomlin allowed seven runs, four earned, on eight hits in three innings. Jeanmar Gomez, competing for the fifth spot in the rotation, followed with three scoreless innings.

Browns running back Peyton Hillis will visit the Chiefs, a source said. He could sign a deal quickly with them.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns running back Peyton Hillis will visit the Chiefs, a source told The Plain  Dealer today.

In Kansas City, Hillis would play for former Browns coach Romeo Crennel. He'd also be reunited with offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, who helped coach Hillis to a 1,177 yard season in 2010. Daboll is undoubtedly pushing for a quick signing of his former star back.

If all goes well on his visit, Hillis could sign in the next day or two.

Hillis has said he'd like to remain in Cleveland, but it remains to be seen if the Browns will try to re-sign him.

. 

Browns are interested in defensive end Jeremy Mincey, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

CLEVELAND, Ohio --The Browns are interested in Jaguars free agent defensive Jeremy Mincey, a league source told Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.

The Jaguars, Bears and other teams are also pursuing Mincey, who led Jacksonville with eight sacks in 2011.

Mincey, 6-3, 270, was a sixth-round pick of the Patriots out of Florida in 2006. He was released by the Patriots and then signed with the 49ers, where the Jaguars plucked him off he practice squad late in 2006. Mincey got out to a slow start his first two seasons, then spent the 2009 season on injured reserve with a broken hand.

In 2010, Mincey started eight games and finished second on the squad with five sacks. Last season, he started all 16 games, finishing with career-highs in sacks (8),  tackles (57 and forced fumbles (4).

Mincey would provide the Browns with a pass-rush threat at right end to complement Jabaal Sheard on the left.

The Cavs travel to Milwaukee on Wednesday for a pivotal game against an opponent that mirrors them in many ways.

View full sizeMel Evans, Associated PressScott Skiles continues to be an intense coach determined to keep Milwaukee in the hunt for an Eastern Conference playoff berth.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Who is the hard-working Eastern Conference team fighting for the final post-season berth despite playing without its injured starting center and having trade rumors swirl around its veterans?

If the answer is the Cavaliers, you are half right.

The Cavs travel to Milwaukee on Wednesday for a pivotal game against an opponent that mirrors them in many ways. The Bucks remain in the race without center Andrew Bogut or assurance that some of their valuable players such as Brandon Jennings, Stephen Jackson and Bogut will be there after Thursday's trade deadline.

In fact, Yahoo Sports reported Tuesday night that Bogut and Jennings were being sent to Golden State in a deal that would net the Bucks Monta Ellis, among others.

The Bucks and Cavaliers will meet three more times before season's end as they battle with the New York Knicks for the eighth and final playoff spot. They are a pair of starless, small-market teams whose best attribute might be their sweat glands.

"We are a similar team to them," said Cavs guard Ramon Sessions, whose name is frequently mentioned in trade speculation. "They get out and play hard every night. We don't have the so called 'big-name superstar.' We're both fighting and both in the hunt ...

"It just lets you know you have to come out and play hard every night no matter what the name is on the back of the jersey or the front of the jersey."

The Cavaliers have been without center Anderson Varejao, who fractured his right wrist in a Feb. 10 game against the Bucks. The Cavs blew a 15-point lead on that night and lost, 113-112, in overtime. Some opponents might have rolled over when faced with such a deficit, butcoach Scott Skiles pushes the Bucks relentlessly. Skiles got himself intentionally ejected from the first meeting, an act that seemed to spur the comeback. Sessions, who played under Skiles in Milwaukee, likens him to Byron Scott for his demanding approach.

"The key word is demand," Sessions said. "Coach Skiles demands something and if you don't do it you are going to be sitting down."

Sessions said one difference is that Scott smiles more frequently.

Scott also sees the similarities in the personnel and coaching staffs.

"One thing is both teams play so hard," he said. "Andy being out, Bogut being out, two guys very important to the teams' success, but they keep rolling and keep winning games a lot of people didn't expect them to win."

The Bucks have beaten the Miami Heat twice this season. The Cavaliers own victories over Dallas, the Los Angeles Clippers and became just the second team to win in Oklahoma City this season on Friday. The Thunder coaching staff complimented the Cavaliers on how hard their players compete. Power forward Antawn Jamison, another player rumored to bedealt, said he's hear similar comments from referees this season.

"Some [teams] can get away with it talent wise," Sessions said, referring to not playing consistently hard. "But for us it's such a small margin for error and we have to grind every night."

Rumor mill: Internet reports out of Portland claim the Cavaliers have interest in guard Armon Johnson, waived by the Trail Blazers on Feb. 27.

The 23-year-old Johnson averaged 2.9 points and 1.2 assists and 7.2 minutes in 39 games over two seasons for the Blazers. He appeared in only one game this season. The club chose the 6-3 Johnson as the 34th overall pick in the second round of the 2010 draft.

Johnson's agent declined to comment on the Cavs' rumored interest, citing office policy. The club could sign the guard to a 10-day deal after the trade deadline.

Bracketology: Scott is picking Kentucky to win the NCAA title. His final four teams are Kentucky, Kansas, Missouri and Vanderbilt.

Cavaliers Alonzo Gee (Alabama), Tristan Thompson (Texas), Jamison (North Carolina) and Samardo Samuels (Louisville) all picked the schools where they played to win the tournament.

The last word: Luke Harangody, who's playing for the Canton Charge, attended Tuesday's game at The Q. Harangody was named the Development League player of the week, a fact that caused Anthony Parker to say: "Thing I like about him is he hasn't changed a bit."

Jeanmar Gomez pitched three scoreless innings as the Indians and Texas played to a 8-8 tie Tuesday. Gomez is making an early run at the fifth spot in the rotation.

View full sizeAP fileJeanmar Gomez has worked seven scoreless innings so far this spring, giving a solid first impression in his bid to win the Tribe's No. 5 spot in the starting rotation.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- When Manny Acta says Jeanmar Gomez is pitching the best of the four candidates competing for the fifth spot in the Indians' starting rotation, it should be taken as momentary praise -- not as a long-term endorsement.

There are still 21 Cactus League games to play. Who knows what the coming weeks will bring? There is also the potentially imminent presence of Roberto Hernandez to consider. Still, Gomez's performance in three appearances this spring is hard to ignore. He has not allowed a run in seven innings, striking out four, walking two and allowing three hits.

The thin right-hander, who always thanks God before he talks to reporters, restored order to an unruly game Tuesday at Goodyear Ballpark with three scoreless innings against the hard-hitting Texas Rangers. After Josh Tomlin was rocked for seven runs on eight hits in three innings, Gomez allowed one hit in facing nine batters.

"Gomez is throwing the ball the best out of all those guys," said the Indians manager. "It's still very early, but he's not hurting his chances."

Acta has been impressed because Gomez's three appearances have come out of the bullpen. He has been a starter his whole career.

"He came out of the bullpen and showed good composure on the mound," said Acta. "Once again, he was able to get hitters out pretty easily."

Acta said Gomez continues to have good movement on his fastball and has improved his slider from when he made his big-league debut in 2010. Gomez is competing with Kevin Slowey, David Huff and Zach McAllister.

Can't go four: Tomlin was scheduled to go four innings Tuesday, but lasted only three. Three of the seven runs he allowed were unearned because of an error by Jack Hannahan.

"He couldn't finish guys with two outs," said Acta.

Take a turn: Left-hander Scott Barnes has a deceptive delivery, turning his back to the hitter before releasing the ball. He throws a fastball, slider and change. His velocity ranges from 90-94 mph.

Dave Miller, the Indians' new bullpen coach, suggested the turn to Barnes in the Arizona Fall League in 2010. Miller was the minor-league pitching coordinator at the time.

"I felt comfortable doing it and it just stuck with me," said Barnes, 24, who has made two appearances this spring, pitching four scoreless innings. He's not going to break camp in the rotation, but he does have a chance to help them this season.

He spent the winter in Goodyear rehabbing a torn left ACL suffered while fielding a bunt at Class AAA Columbus last year. He missed the second half of the season.

Injuries: Felix Pie, who strained his neck when he hit center field fence Sunday in Surprise, Ariz., is ready to play. ... First baseman Casey Kotchman (back) is close to returning to the lineup after missing three days. ... Rafael Perez (left shoulder) will throw to hitters Thursday.

Baseball breakfast: The Plain Dealer is holding its annual Opening Day breakfast to talk Indians baseball. It's $25 a person from 7:30-9 a.m. at The Plain Dealer. There will be a breakfast buffet with door prizes.

Terry Pluto, Dennis Manoloff and Paul Hoynes will take questions. To register go here. For questions, call 216-999-4028.

Finally: Derek Lowe will face the Giants in Scottsdale on Wednesday at 4:05 p.m. ET. ... X-rays were negative on Texas outfielder Craig Gentry's left wrist after he injured it diving for a Hannahan double in the third.

On Twitter: @hoynsie

The Raptors won without point guard Jose Calderon (sprained ankle), who was dominant in the first two games against the Cavs.

View full sizeAmy Sancetta, Associated PressIt was another difficult night of dealing with Raptors for Cavaliers rookie Kyrie Irving, who had the ball stripped away in this first-quarter play by Amir Johnson (left) and Jerryd Bayless.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- To the rest of the NBA, the Toronto Raptors are a low-scoring, draft-lottery bound opponent that wins a couple games a month.

To the Cavaliers, they are an unconquerable foe from north of the border.

The Raptors beat the Cavaliers for the third straight time this season, 96-88, at The Q on Tuesday night. The loss snapped the Cavs' three-game winning streak.

Rookie Kyrie Irving finally had a decent stat line against the Raptors -- 14 points, seven rebounds, seven assists -- but was 5-of-17 from the field. He is a combined 10-of-42 in three meetings. His last shot at the buzzer was swatted away by James Johnson.

The Raptors (14-28) played without point guard Jose Calderon (sprained ankle), who was dominant in the first two games. It didn't matter. His replacement, Jerryd Bayless, registered 20 points and seven assists. Andrea Bargnani added 19 points and eight rebounds, while reserve Leandro Barbosa had 17 points.

The Raptors out-rebounded the Cavs, 45-34, and collected 14 offensive boards.

Antawn Jamison finished with 20 points and no rebounds. Alonzo Gee and Ramon Sessions had 16 points each for the Cavaliers, who shot 38.2 percent

Since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, the Big Ten has maxed out at four teams among the final 16, in both 1989 and 1999.

View full sizeMichael Conroy, Associated PressKeith Appling and the Spartans will figuratively carry the Big Ten's largest banner into this week's NCAA Tournament opening rounds, but fellow high seeds Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin and Indiana will also be expected to deliver on the conference's high aspirations.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Now that the six Big Ten teams in the NCAA Tournament are done pounding on each other -- Ohio State coach Thad Matta said "we did a nice job beating each other up" -- there's a simple way to prove if the Big Ten really is the best conference in college basketball.

Just send more Big Ten teams to the Sweet 16 than any other conference and more than the Big Ten has ever sent before.

Since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, the Big Ten has maxed out at four teams among the final 16, in both 1989 and 1999. Last year two Big Ten teams -- Ohio State and Wisconsin -- reached the Sweet 16. In 2010, three teams made it. The last time the Big Ten did not have a team that far was 2006.

Now the Big Ten has five of the top 16 seeds -- No. 1 Michigan State, No. 2 Ohio State and fourth seeds Michigan, Wisconsin and Indiana -- which is more than any other conference.

Statistically, through the conference RPI rating, and anecdotally, the Big Ten has been considered the top conference this season. But if too many high seeds fall in the first weekend of games, expect chatter about the league being a fraud. All season, the league hasn't been defined by its elite teams, but by depth. So while a national title or a couple Final Four appearances would be nice, the proof will be in the quantity of its relative quality.

If conference teams can take advantage of getting away from each other and the typical Big Ten style of play, they should have a shot. The league really is that much more physical during the year, and the NCAA Tournament can be a taste of freedom from the sticky defenses and constant fouling -- called and uncalled -- that's part of the regular season.

"I would say without a doubt the physicality is a whole lot different," Wisconsin forward Ryan Evans said. "You've got to play every possession in the Big Ten. You watch other teams and it's up and down, and in the Big Ten you've got to grind it out and really focus every possession."

Ohio State backup big man Evan Ravenel would know, having played in the ACC at Boston College before transferring to Ohio State, and he swears the difference in the Big Ten is real.

"It was almost a culture shock when I came in," Ravenel said. "The Big Ten is a way more physical league from the ACC. It's a lot different."

The challenge for teams like Ohio State, Michigan State and Wisconsin, three of the best defensive teams in the country, is to continue to lock down on that end of the court while hoping for some more breathing room offensively. That should especially be true for big men such as Indiana's Cody Zeller, Michigan State's Adreian Payne and Derrick Nix and Ohio State's Jared Sullinger.

"There's a lot of good big guys in this league," Zeller said. "The Big Ten is slower-paced, and sometimes we like to turn up the pace."

"In the Big Ten, there's a lot of banging in the post, so you've got to stay in the weight room and keep your body strong," Payne said. "I think it'll be different now because teams have scouted us as well."

They've heard about the Big Ten. Probably heard the league is pretty good. Time for the Big Ten to prove it.

The Browns keep saying they're going to build through the draft. OK, but answering their needs will require hard work and a rabbit or five pulled from a hat, Bud Shaw writes in his Spin column.

View full sizeScott Shaw, Plain Dealer file photoBrowns President Mike Holmgren, left, and General Manager Tom Heckert keep saying they're going to build a winning team through the draft. Hmm, what's the hurry?

Don't come to Berea looking for playoff tickets or big-time free agents touring the facility.

The Browns are operating on their own schedule.

They keep telling you that before each free agency period. And you keep looking at quarterback and receiver and praying they're blowing smoke like the CIA did in passing off Agent Hillis as an NFL running back worthy of the Madden '12 cover.

They're not blowing smoke. Whether they're blowing Randy Lerner's money is another matter, but Mike Holmgren and Tom Heckert are getting the benefit of the doubt as it pertains to the owner's traditionally low reservoir of patience.

In the meantime, put Holmgren's or Heckert's mug on a magazine above the words, "What, me hurry?"

Based on the anger and frustration in a town financially and emotionally invested in soul-depleting football for so long, "Mad" still works as a magazine title in capturing the general mood.

Here's the thing about free agency. If you don't occasionally jump into it with both feet, maybe even make a cannonball splash or two, then you can't miss at all in the draft let alone miss after trading up (Montario Hardesty).

The Browns won't participate in free agency until signing one or two players will make a difference. And how could they become good enough in our lifetime for free agency to make a difference?

The draft, for sure.

And, well, free agency.

View full sizeAP fileHey, NFL free-agents, the Browns want you ... just not yet.

Free agency might help them become good enough for free agency to make a difference, in other words, but only if they participate in it.

This kind of conundrum sounds familiar, perhaps because Joseph Heller wrote about it and called it "Catch 22."

The long wait for contention, the playoffs and a Super Bowl won't matter if the Browns get it right. But it has to be exactly right. It has to be 12-4 right one of these years, AFC title game right.

While they're working on that, it's not too much to ask for proof they're heading in the right direction at quarterback and wide receiver. And don't let them make you feel ignorant or impatient for thinking the third year of Holmgren's tenure is high time. The passing game is supposedly what his teams knew best.

Can it work the way the Browns are going about it? Surely. Will it? It had better.

Let's put it this way. If things don't work out for the regime in Berea, we can probably scratch certain occupations from Holmgren's and Heckert's next job search.

Like pit crew.

And emergency room doctor.

And 9-1-1 operator.

And team president.

And GM.

Spinoffs

• The lack of quality wideouts stunted Colt McCoy's development last year. The lack of a quality quarterback stunted the wide receivers last year. The Browns don't seem to be any closer to figuring out which was which.

• Tim Tebow is considered the favorite to make the Madden '13 cover. After what happened to Peyton Hillis last season, that sounds about right.

View full sizePD fileUrban Meyer

• Urban Meyer will hold Competition Days at OSU in which winners will drink Gatorade and losers will drink water from a hose and run extra laps. He also plans a Championship Dinner, in which some will dine on white linens and some will eat like peasants. Or, to modernize the reference in 2012 terms, like most all of us.

"When you get away from Mommy and Daddy," Urban Meyer said, "it's a tough world out there. People who work in corporations who do a really good job have corner offices and trips to Cancun and bonuses. And if not, you don't."

Remind me not to suggest The PD put Meyer in charge of the games at the next company picnic or something tells me I'm going to be tasting garden-hose rubber for a month.

• Bulls' guard Derrick Rose complained that he's "got to be the only superstar in the league that's going through what I'm going through right now." I assumed he meant because the third Mercedes is in the shop, but am told apparently he felt obvious fouls on him aren't being called. That's never happened to Dwight Howard after all, except for always happening to Dwight Howard.

• Dick Vitale said he gives the NCAA selection committee an "A" for its seedings. And it should be pointed out that his grading system on college basketball goes all the way from "A-plus" to "A-minus."

• Ozzie Guillen got thrown out of a spring training game and opposing manager Bobby Valentine waved goodbye to him. Guillen didn't see it but said he would've had some profanities for Valentine if he had. Two questions: How would he have recognized Valentine in the fake nose and glasses? And if I switched those names around, would it surprise you any less?

He Tweeted it

"Just finished bein mic'ed up for the MLB network . . . Should have some new vocal masterpieces comin your way tomorrow!! #dontquitmydayjob" -- Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis, after being heard singing Adele's "Someone Like You" during an MLB telecast two Wednesdays ago.

It's easy to say that baseball today isn't what it used to be. But that's only because the available technology didn't allow for hearing Bob Feller sing Merman.

He said it

"I believe in first-pitch strikes, catching the ball and people hitting doubles with the bases loaded." -- Manny Acta, in admitting he was taken aback by a fortune cookie that read, "Your sports team will be very successful."

Begging the question about whether he also believes in the hanging curve ball, high fiber, the sweet spot, opening your presents Christmas morning rather than Christmas Eve and accidental parodies of Crash Davis' soliloquy in "Bull Durham."

You said it (The Expanded Midweek Edition)

Bud: Do you regret your RG3 tattoo? -- Kelly G.

Not as much as the one that reads "Kokinis: The time is now."

Dear Bud: Do PD writers get paid bounties for taking cheap shots at NFL players? -- Jim O., Chardon

When the Browns get some, I'll let you know. (Or just take that as a yes.)

Bud: If Mike Holmgren had captained the Titanic, do you think he simply would have waited for global warming to take care of the iceberg? -- Jeff, Westlake

After informing complaining passengers not to come to him for tickets to the champagne toast upon a safe return.

Hey, Bud: When NBC was showing aerial shots of Tiger driving his car away from Doral after injuring his Achilles, did anyone else have that feeling of OJ-vu all over again? -- Wayne

I had a funny feeling about Tiger at Doral when I saw Al Cowlings on his bag.

Bud: A note fell out of my morning PD, "You will profit from a spin." Is it referring to a casino visit or an insightful column? -- James D, Richmond Heights

Beating the house and finding insight here carry the same long odds.

Bud: Is there any truth to the rumor that -- regarding the battle for the left field job this spring -- Felix Pie confidently declared, "Nobody wants a piece of me"? -- Jeff, Westlake

I would correct your pronunciation of his name but I don't want to throw a wrench into what is clearly a burgeoning career in standup.

Dear, Bud: Two years ago I had a fortune cookie that said "Pay no attention to your last fortune." No more Chinese for Manny Acta. -- Robert Garrett Jr., Avon Lake

First-time "You said it" winners get a T-shirt from the mental_floss collection.

Hi, Bud: Who says that an owner cannot build a championship team through the draft. Look at Daniel Snyder and the St. Louis Rams. -- Big Al

Repeat winners get disappointed.

Hey, Bud: You recently referred to me as a 'shut-in' and were surprised that 'You said it' readers had cable TV? I'm really offended. My mom's basement has windows AND she has a satellite dish. Now, I have to go tend to my butterfly larva. -- Devin, Concord

Repeat winners sometimes get an imaginary friend.

To reach Bud Shaw: bshaw@plaind.com, 216-999-5639

On Twitter: @budshaw

For a team nicknamed the Greyhounds, that's typically part of the game plan, with No. 15 seed Loyola (Md.) matching an up-tempo style with an aggressive pressing defense.

View full sizeGene J. Puskar, Associated PressOhio State's Jared Sullinger, left, signs autographs after practice Wednesday in Pittsburgh. The Buckeyes play Loyola today in an NCAA Tournament game.

"They're not very deep," Loyola senior forward Shane Walker said Wednesday as his team prepared to open the NCAA Tournament today against the Buckeyes. "I feel like we can run them."

For a team nicknamed the Greyhounds, that's typically part of the game plan, with No. 15 seed Loyola (Md.) matching an up-tempo style with an aggressive pressing defense.

"We're a pressing team and we like to run. We'll try to drag them down and make them tired," Walker said. "We've got a lot of experience doing it. Hopefully, it'll work out this time."

Loyola coach Jimmy Patsos said his goal with the pressure and tempo is primarily to speed the game up from a strategic perspective, not to use it to tire out the Buckeyes. He noted that the extra-long, two-and-a-half minute timeouts in the NCAA Tournament give everyone longer breaks throughout the game.

"They're used to playing minutes," Patsos said of the Buckeyes starters. "They've done it."

And that will continue. Expect the Buckeyes to go to their bench for any real significant playing time -- other than Sam Thompson sharing the two-guard sport with Lenzelle Smith Jr. -- only during blowouts in the tournament or in cases of foul trouble. This is on the starters, with the bench averaging just 6.2 points per game in the 16 games Ohio State played this season against NCAA Tournament teams. The bench averaged 18.8 points in the 18 games against teams not in the tournament.

The starters say they're ready for it.

"I feel great," starting OSU big man Jared Sullinger said Wednesday. "When you get a couple of days off and then you don't have to play against a Big Ten opponent with Big Ten officials, I think it's going to be tremendous."

The weight Sullinger lost in the off-season allows him to recover more quickly between games, he said. At this point in the season, OSU strength and conditioning coach Dave Richardson said, the goal with Sullinger is to just keep him going, with "damage control" for all of the players one of the priorities.

Smith dropped weight since his arrival in Columbus and continues to get stronger. Deshaun Thomas continues to work on making fluid movements on the court, but is strong enough to fight inside. Aaron Craft goes hard enough that Richardson's main concern is pulling back on his workouts. And senior William Buford watches his legs, knowing his jump shot may flatten out if they're tired, though he's playing fewer minutes than he did as a sophomore.

"I feel rejuvenated," Buford said, extolling the virtues of Monday's day off. "I'm so excited, I'm not even thinking about getting tired. If I don't take a day off for the next three weeks, I'll be fine. I'm just trying to take full advantage of this."

While OSU coach Thad Matta certainly could use his bench more, he's not on the extreme end among tournament teams. According to basketball statistician Ken Pomeroy's numbers, the Buckeyes have played their bench 24.8 percent of the time this season. Sixteen teams in the NCAA Tournament have played their benches less.

Both Thomas and Smith, in their first seasons as starters, have seen huge increases in their minutes from a year ago -- Smith going from 82 minutes entering the tournament to 835 this year, and Thomas jumping from 482 to 1,048.

"Last year, I didn't get the minutes I wanted, so this year I got those minutes, so I feel pretty good," Thomas said.

Craft and Buford have both seen small increases in minutes -- Craft from 1,002 at this point last year to 1,064 now, and Buford from 1,070 to 1,146. And Sullinger, who missed two full games and part of a third with injury, is down 120 minutes, from 1,083 to 963.

Early bedtimes and lots of water and massages on nongame days is ahead for the Buckeyes. And today, there should be running. They should be up to it, however, and ready again for whatever comes Saturday if they win.

Admittedly, Ohio State's players were drained after playing three straight days in the Big Ten Tournament. But that ended four days ago.

"At this time of year, to play one game and rest another game and wait another week," Richardson said, "that's no problem at all."

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

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

Joshua Gunter, The Plain DealerGuard William Buford and the Ohio State Buckeyes hope to begin a long NCAA Tournament run tonight, when they play the Loyola (Md.) Greyhounds. The game will be televised by TNT at 9:35.

Cleveland, Ohio

Today's TV and radio sports listings

(Click onto links for more team or event information)

AUTO RACING

1:30 a.m. (Friday morning) Australian Grand Prix practice, Speed

Thursday 

BASEBALL

4 p.m. INDIANS vs. Chicago White Sox, SportsTime Ohio; WTAM/1100-AM*

*-radio broadcast at 8:05 p.m. (tape)

(Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Indians coverage) 

EXTREME SPORTS

Noon X Games, slopestyle men's final, (tape) ESPN2

1:30 p.m. X Games, superpipe men's final, ESPN2

GOLF

9:30 a.m. Open de Andalucia, Golf Channel

3 p.m. Transitions Championship, Golf Channel

6:30 p.m. Founders Cup, Golf Channel

HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL

7 p.m. Medina vs. Elyria, WOBL/1320-AM

MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Tournament games

(Plain Dealer and cleveland.com March Madness coverage)

(LINKS TO PREVIEWS FOR EVERY GAME) 

12:15 p.m. NCAA, Murray State vs. Colorado State, WOIO

12:40 p.m. NCAA, Kansas State vs. Southern Mississippi, TRUTV

1:40 p.m. NCAA, Louisville vs. Davidson, TBS

2:10 p.m. NCAA, Wisconsin vs. Montana, TNT

2:30 p.m. NCAA, Marquette vs. BYU, WOIO

2:55 p.m. NCAA, Syracuse vs. UNC-Asheville, TRUTV

3:55 p.m. NCAA, New Mexico vs. Long Beach State, TBS

4:25 p.m. NCAA, Vanderbilt vs. Harvard, TNT

6:50 p.m. NCAA, Kentucky vs. Western Kentucky, TBS

7 p.m. CIT, KENT STATE at South Carolina-Upstate, WNIR/100.1-FM

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

7:15 p.m. NCAA, Wichita State vs. Virginia Commonwealth, WOIO

7:20 p.m. NCAA, Gonzaga vs. West Virginia, TNT

7:27 p.m. NCAA, Baylor vs. South Dakota State, TRUTV

9:05 p.m. NCAA, Iowa State vs. Connecticut, TBS

9:30 p.m. NCAA, Indiana vs. New Mexico State, WOIO

9:35 p.m. NCAA, OHIO STATE vs. Loyola (Md.), TNT (preview)

(Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Ohio State coverage) 

9:42 p.m. NCAA, UNLV vs. Colorado, TRUTV

NBA

9 p.m. Minnesota at Utah, NBATV

NHL

7 p.m. Pittsburgh at New York Rangers, NHLN (preview)

You can cross off Lamar and Cal on your brackets.

Vermont guard Sandro Carissimo (12) drives past Lamar guard Devon Lamb during the second half of an NCAA first-round college basketball tournament game, Wednesday, March 14, 2012, in Dayton, Ohio. Vermont won 71-59. (AP Photo/Skip Peterson)

Dayton — Seven games ago, Pat Knight ripped his seniors.

After a bitter 71-59 loss to Vermont in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Wednesday night, however, the first-year Lamar coach could barely contain his emotions of pride and gratitude toward the very same players.

“These guys did a heck of a job of leaving their legacy,” Knight said, fighting back tears. “I don’t know. If there are people that disagree about that, they’re morons. These guys just made Lamar relevant again. And it gives us something to build on from here on out and it puts pressure on the team next year to get something done.”

After a 10-point loss to Stephen F. Austin on Feb. 22, Knight famously said his seniors were “stealing money being on scholarship.” It didn’t stop there. He also called it the worst group of seniors he’d ever been around and added that his players had problems “off the court, on the court, classroom, drugs.”

The diatribe became a YouTube standard, with some calling it the best postgame meltdown ever by a college coach.

South Florida 65, Cal 54

The Bulls introduced the NCAA Tournament to the Big East’s nastiest defense, putting more than just a chill into a California team that had never seen anything like it. South Florida allowed only 13 points in the first half and brushed its way to victory.

South Florida (21-13) plays No. 5 seed Temple in Nashville, Tenn., on Friday, a matchup of teams known for gritty defense. Few have been better than this one for the first 20 minutes on the NCAA stage.

California (24-10) didn’t score in the last 8:55 of the first half, missing 10 shots and turning it over twice, as South Florida pulled ahead, 36-13.