The Final Four is not all heroic shots. It is also luck. Ohio State has had a lot of it.

Susan Ragan, Associated PressStrange things that have happened at Final Fours in New Orleans include Michigan's Chris Webber (4) calling a timeout his team did not have late in a loss to North Carolina. Eric Montross of the Tar Heels celebrates in the background as a North Carolina teammate makes a free throw after Michigan was assessed a technical foul because of Webber's gaffe.

NEW ORLEANS, La. — In this city, where pirates once swaggered, where voodoo spells are still cast, and where the game of craps was invented, the mayhem of blunders and bounces in March can play as big a role as the magic of bracket busters and buzzer-beaters.

Here, where reportedly the good times roll, it often seems to be the dice instead. Strange things happen in Final Fours here.

Georgetown's Fred Brown threw the ball straight to North Carolina's James Worthy in 1982 in the waning seconds of the championship game. It ended the title game, often remembered for freshman Michael Jordan's go-ahead jump shot seconds earlier, with a ghastly gaffe.

Chris Webber called a timeout Michigan did not have against North Carolina in 1993, giving former Tar Heels coach Dean Smith another bizarre national title. "The score stands, doesn't it?" snapped Smith, after fielding one too many questions about luck.

"You need some luck," said another former coach, Bruce Pearl, as the coaches and media bus ground past the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, which glimmered in the floodlights near midnight.

Ohio State has been lucky in its draw this year. The Buckeyes were not in a loaded bracket containing North Carolina and Kentucky, as they were last season when they were the overall No. 1 seed. Cincinnati mud-wrestled ACC Tournament champion Florida State out early. Fab Melo's academic suspension removed the shot-blocker from Syracuse that enabled the Buckeyes to score inside in the East Regional final. Against Gonzaga, Kevin Pangos' pure-looking 3-pointer to tie a third-round game vs. OSU rattled in and out in the last 88 seconds.

Bounces and whistles, good or bad, are part of basketball, for better or worse. But memory will never let them part.

"Ohio State shot 29 free throws against us in the second half. They (referees) wouldn't let us guard the ball-screen," said Pearl.

The 5-year-old view from Ohio State would be that Tennessee was a 3-point shooting team that seldom ventured close enough to the rim to draw fouls. It would also be that Mike Conley Jr. did more in the paint than a lot of Old Masters, shooting 13 free throws, just in the second half, to the Vols' total of 17.

Pearl put Tennessee back on the map in basketball, then was fired last year for lying to NCAA investigators. The violations occurred during the recruiting of Aaron Craft, now Ohio State's sophomore starting point guard. Without photos of that cookout, Pearl is still at Tennessee, not on a bus late at night. Craft probably is too. And where would the Buckeyes be without their floor leader?

The only other time Ohio State coach Thad Matta reached the Final Four, in 2007, the most emotional game the Buckeyes played was not against Tennessee. It was in the previous round against Xavier. It was contested amid turncoat charges against Matta, previously Xavier's coach, which rivaled in southern Ohio the bitterness in Northeast Ohio about LeBron James.

OSU's Ron Lewis made a game-tying 3-pointer in the last four seconds, after Xavier's Justin Cage rimmed out the back end of a bonus situation on what easily could have been ruled an intentional foul. Conley dominated the overtime, even after Oden fouled out when he tossed Cage aside like rag doll under the basket.

"It does come down to the bounce a lot of times, the way the ball bounces for you," said Matta.

Bill Self's Jayhawks won the 2008 national championship over Memphis, 75-68, in overtime. The critical play came when the Jayhawks' Sherron Collins stumbled, either because of contact or, as referees ruled, not. He barely got the ball to Mario Chalmers, whose 3-pointer tied it in the last three seconds.

"I don't know what you're talking about. Are you from Memphis?" joked Self when asked about the non-call. "Every game has five plays that are judgment plays that could go either way. A guy will get a second foul in the first half. Really, was it a foul? Yet that impacts the whole rest of the half."

It was a veiled reference to the phantom second foul called on Jared Sullinger vs. Syracuse in the East Regional final.

All players can do is play through such moments, said Pearl, who noted the 2007 game still went to the last second.

In NCAA Tournament fact, OSU's Greg Oden blocked the Vols' Ramar Smith on a layup at the buzzer. In NCAA Tournament truth, television replays, which were not consulted because the shot missed and the result was moot, indicated Smith did not shoot in time. Internet stories of Oden's heroic block abound.

When the legend becomes fact, post the legend.

Irving has 29 points before leaving the game after the third quarter with a right shoulder sprain. There is no word on his status for Saturday's game at New York.

Asked Friday noon to describe the Milwaukee Bucks new backcourt of Brandon Jennings and Monte Ellis, Scott said, "Quick and fast and very dangerous. Both of those guys can flat out score, and they give them ample opportunities to do that. They get out on the break, they run a lot of set plays, a lot of pick and rolls and some isolations. Your perimeter defense has to be on point because those guys will take advantage of it if it’s not.''

He was not kidding. Jennings finished with 28 points, Ellis added 13 and Ersan Ilyasova had 20 points and 10 rebounds as the Bucks completely demolished the Cavs, 121-84, at The Q before an disgruntled crowd that booed early and often. The 121 points tied the Cavs opponent high this season, first scored by the Atlanta Hawks on Jan. 21.

Kyrie Irving had 29 points before leaving the game after the third quarter with a right shoulder sprain. There is no word on his status for Saturday's game at New York. Alonzo Gee added 19 points for the Cavs, who lost their sixth straight _ tying their season high. It was their ninth loss in 10 games, dropping their record to 17-32. Milwaukee improved to 24-27 by beating Cleveland for the sixth straight time.

After a defenseless first quarter, the Bucks led, 35-26. Milwaukee was shooting 61 percent. Cleveland was shooting 55 percent. But the game was over when the Bucks opened the second quarter on a 20-1 run. While Milwaukee continued to shoot the lights out, Cleveland hit just 7 of 22 shots in the second quarter (31.8 percent.)

By halftime, Milwaukee led, 71-44. It was the most points the Cavs have given up in any half this season, tying the 71 scored by the Knicks on Feb. 29 in Madison Square Garden.

Consider this fair warning. The Cavs will be there on Saturday.

As the Bucks built a 33-point lead in the third quarter, things got so bad that last year's debacle seemed liked the good old days. The half-time act featured lots of little kids dribbling two basketballs apiece. It was the most entertaining part of the evening.

With Daniel Gibson out indefinitely with a torn tendon in his left foot, Hudson could provide the Cavs second unit with some offense -- and some rest for Anthony Parker.

Tony Dejak, Associated PressBig man Anderson Varejao, out since Feb. 10 with a broken wrist, could be back in practice next week.

On Nov. 13, 2007, Hudson became the only player in NCAA history to record a quadruple double. He had 25 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 steals in Tennessee-Martin's 116-74 victory over Central Baptist.

"It was a great accomplishment for me," said Hudson, who signed a 10-day contract with the Cavaliers on Friday after averaging 33.6 points a game in China this season. "I don't know how I got it. I was just out there playing hard. I knew I had to get one steal. My coach and the media were telling me, and the guy who did stats said I needed one more steal and one more assist. I got the steal and assist on the same possession."

The phone started ringing the next day.

"Everybody was calling me -- ESPN and all the magazines," Hudson said. "It was good for me."

Hudson was a junior at the time, declared himself eligible for the 2008 NBA Draft and then decided to finish school and get his degree in physical education. He wants to be a basketball coach when his playing career is over. Thanks to the Cavs, that will be awhile longer. With Daniel Gibson out indefinitely with a torn tendon in his left foot, Hudson could provide the Cavs second unit with some offense -- and some rest for Anthony Parker.

"Lester is the type of guy who is a lot like Boobie [Gibson]," Cavs coach Byron Scott said. "He's probably an undersized 2-guard who can flat out shoot it. And he's a scorer.

"Defensively, I don't know a whole lot about Lester yet, but offensively, I know he can put it in the basket, which is something our second unit needs right now. I don't know when I'll get the chance to really throw him in the fire. It might be [Friday], it might be in a couple more games, but we needed a body as well.

"AP has been playing a lot of big minutes -- we only have 11 healthy guys right now. We needed an extra guy and an extra perimeter guy, so I think he's going to fill that role pretty good right now."

Hudson, who will wear No. 14, appeared in five games (two starts) for the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League this season, averaging 17.6 points on 53.2 percent shooting, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.4 steals in 29.2 minutes per game. The 6-3, 190-pound guard was drafted in the second round with the 58th overall pick by the Boston Celtics in the 2009 draft.

Hudson played in 25 games for the Celtics and the Memphis Grizzlies as a rookie, averaging 2.3 points and 0.7 rebounds in 5.4 minutes per game. He also appeared in 20 D-League games for the Dakota Wizards and Maine Red Claws, averaging 16.0 points on 43.5 percent shooting, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 27.2 minutes per game.

During the 2010-11 season, Hudson appeared in 11 games for the Washington Wizards, averaging 1.6 points and 1.5 assists in 6.9 minutes per game.

Shooting star: Rookie power forward Tristan Thompson is shooting just 53.3 percent from the free-throw line, which makes the fact that he has hit 71.4 percent since becoming a starter at center seven games ago all the more amazing.

Asked about his improvement, Thompson bent over and rapped his knuckles on the wooden practice court.

"First and foremost, let's not jinx it, please," he said. "It's just getting in my rhythm, being confident when you go up, not thinking about it as much and doing so much practice it almost becomes second nature."

Scott had the left-handed Thompson line up with his left foot two or three inches to the left of the nail in the middle of the free-throw line, and it seems to have made all the difference.

"I do what I can," the coach said, laughing.

Thompson made improving his foul shooting a priority.

"Every day you want to make improvements in your game and get better," he said. "Me being an active forward, you get a lot of calls going for you and get to the free-throw line a lot. So to help your team and help yourself, you've got to go up there and knock them down. At least go one for two, or two for two. You've got to get something from the line, especially since they're free.

"I made it pretty important to myself. This year, I'm definitely shooting it better. That's one thing I've got to add to my goals, and I'm improving at it."

Looking good: Scott was thrilled to see injured center Anderson Varejao shooting on Friday for the first time since suffering a fractured right wrist Feb. 10. He could return to practice next week.

"Wasn't that a great sight?" Scott said, watching Varejao shoot a few 8-foot shots while wearing a soft cast.

"I loved it. It was just good to see him out there. I don't know if it means anything right now, but it was good to see him out there."

The last word: From the always energetic Thompson, when asked if he gets tired: "Machines don't get tired."

The end of spring training is always a hectic time managers and team executives as they try to cut the roster to 25 players. It has been even tougher for the Indians as they have seen three of their starting pitchers injured in the past two days.

Mark Duncan, Associated PressStarting pitcher Jeanmar Gomez had to leave Friday's game with a strained right hip.

The end of spring training is always a hectic time for managers. Players have been streaming in and out of Acta's office the past few days to hear the good news (you made the club) or the bad news (you didn't make the club). Standard operating procedure, right? SOP doesn't quite cover the Indians.

In the past three days, while Acta and General Manager Chris Antonetti have been trying to figure out their 25-man roster, they've seen three starting pitchers get injured. Jeanmar Gomez, trying to win the fifth spot in the rotation, left Friday's game against the Reds with a strained right hip. Derek Lowe (right ribs) and David Huff (right hamstring) were knocked out of split-squad starts against Colorado and Arizona on Thursday.

Gomez's hip strain was called "mild." Acta was supposed to pick a fifth starter today with Gomez and Kevin Slowey being his only choices after Huff went down Thursday. Gomez has had the best spring of any pitcher in camp, but if he's sidelined for any length of time, that leaves Slowey as the winner by default.

Lowe, 38, has never been on the disabled in his big-league career. So this had to happen in his first spring training with the Tribe, right?

The Indians and Lowe don't believe he'll open the year on the DL. He's scheduled to fill the third spot in the rotation behind Justin Masterson and Ubaldo Jimenez and face Toronto on April 8 at Progressive Field.

"I'm a durable cat," said Lowe. "I've got nine lives."

Huff, meanwhile, is almost certainly headed for the DL. He strained his right hamstring fielding a grounder from Willie Bloomquist on the first play of the game.

"The timing makes it frustrating," he said.

Acta believes the Indians have enough depth to handle the injuries. He said his top four starters (Masterson, Jimenez, Lowe and Josh Tomlin) will be ready for Thursday's season opener. If Gomez can't go, he'll turn to Slowey, who in an additional bit of discouraging news Friday allowed seven runs on seven hits in five innings while pitching for Class AAA Columbus. Scott Barnes and Zach McAllister are waiting in Columbus if needed.

Acta does need to do one thing, "We need to finish spring training quick so I can get out of here and have a rotation."

The Indians break camp Monday. They will play their new Class A Carolina team Tuesday in Zebulon, N.C. Lowe is scheduled to start the game, but said Friday morning that he may skip it to prepare for the regular season.

While Acta is trying to keep the rotation together, it was rumored Thursday night that the Indians were close to trading for veteran outfielder/DH Bobby Abreu of the Angels. The Indians and Angels definitely talked, but the deal has grown cold. Antonetti is still determined to improve the roster. If you've been following the Indians and their quest to score runs in the Arizona desert, you know why.

At one time this spring the Indians had 62 players in camp. They're down to 34.

On Friday, seven were sent to the minors as infielder/outfielder Russ Canzler and left-hander Nick Hagadone were optioned to Columbus and catcher Luke Carlin, infielder Andy LaRoche and relievers Chris Ray, Chris Seddon and Robinson Tejeda were re-assigned to minor-league camp.

Acta and Antonetti told utility man Jason Donald and veteran right-hander Dan Wheeler that they made the club. Wheeler promptly went out and allowed five runs on three homers to the Reds in the eighth inning of a 6-5 loss.

Wheeler's good news means there is just one remaining spot open in the pen. It will be decided among Jeremy Accardo, Jairo Asencio and Frank Herrmann. Asencio, acquired from Atlanta for cash Thursday, is out of options. He's considered the favorite and will pitch today and Sunday. "We're pretty close to finishing up on the bullpen," said Acta.

Here's how the rest of the roster is coming into focus:

• Antonetti said Shelley Duncan has made the club. Antonetti wouldn't say if Duncan will be the starting left fielder, but all signs point to him getting plenty of at-bats.

The Indians still have to pick a fourth outfielder. Aaron Cunningham, who is out of options, and Ryan Spilborghs are the only candidates unless the Indians make an Abreu-like acquisition.

• The Indians paid utility man Jose Lopez a $100,000 bonus, using a rule passed in the new basic agreement, to keep him for the next two months. Lopez must play in the big leagues or Class AAA during that time.

If he's not in Cleveland by June 1, he can request his release.

It appears Lopez will be on the Opening Day roster unless the Indians bring in another utility infielder.

• The Indians faced the same situation with Wheeler. They had to put him on their big-league roster or pay him the $100,000 bonus.

• Felix Pie, Matt Pagnozzi and Gregorio Petit were re-assigned to the minors, but will stay in big-league camp as extra players. It's likely they'll travel with the team to Zebulon.

The Milwaukee Bucks are becoming a real pain for the Cavaliers. It's six straight losses to Milwaukee and two major injuries _ Anderson Varejao's broken wrist and now Kyrie Irving's sprained right shoulder.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- First Milwaukee's Drew Gooden accidentally breaks Anderson Varejao's wrist in a game on Feb. 10. Then Friday night, Kyrie Irving crashes to the floor after running into a pick by Milwaukee's Ersan Ilyasova late in the second quarter and sprains his right shoulder.

These Bucks are becoming a real pain for the Cavaliers. It's six straight losses to Milwaukee and two major injuries.

The Varejao injury derailed what looked like a possible playoff push. But until their recent slide, the Cavs were hanging in there on the strength of the rookie's incredible season.

He has been the leading candidate for the Rookie of the Year award, and he likely will win his third straight rookie of the month award on Sunday. Even an injury likely won't change that result, but it certainly isn't the way he wants to finish the season, and the Cavs would be sunk without him. Last season will look like the good old days if the Cavs are forced to go forward without Varejao and Irving.

Varejao has talked about returning to practice, possibly as early as next week. If he's able to play before the season ends, he wants to do so, even though the Cavs are now playing for lottery position. While it's unclear how serious Irving's injury is at this point, nothing is worth risking his future health. The youngster talked Friday about not wanting to miss any games as the season winds down, but clearly the Cavs are not going to leave that decision up to him. Too much is at stake _ not this season but for many seasons down the road.

There will be several good players available at the No. 6 spot in the first round, and the Browns could use a deal to add some picks, hopefully a second-rounder.

View full sizeDave Martin, Associated PressRunning back Trent Richardson (3) of Alabama likely would be available at the No. 6 pick if the Browns decide to trade down.

About the Browns trading down . . .

If the Browns have a chance to trade their No. 4 pick to the St. Louis Rams -- and receive the No. 6 pick along with a second-rounder -- I'd do it.

I'd do it for the same reason the Rams are publicly saying they will probably stay at No. 6 -- there are several good players from whom to pick.

Supposedly, the Rams would be content with any of these players: offensive tackle Matt Kalil, defensive back Mo Claiborne, receiver Justin Blackmon and running back Trent Richardson.

I don't believe that.

I doubt they'd take Richardson at No. 6, because they have a superb running back in Steven Jackson.

Early reports are that the Rams want Blackmon, and early reports often have more validity than what you hear closer to the draft as teams want to confuse everyone. The Rams also could use Kalil, a franchise-type tackle, to plug a hole in a leaky offensive line.

So no matter what the Rams say, I bet they'd love to have the No. 4 pick.

And the Browns should accommodate them, but only if St. Louis adds a second-rounder. The Rams have their own (No. 33) and one that belongs to Washington (No. 39).

Consider these names: T.J. Ward, Montario Hardesty, Jabaal Sheard and Greg Little.

Those are the second-rounders drafted the past two years by Browns General Manager Tom Heckert. The miss was gambling on the injury-prone Hardesty. The other three players have been starters. Sheard is the team's top pass rusher, Little the best receiver.

So if I can add a second-round pick by dropping from No. 4 to No. 6, I'd do it. I love the idea of Heckert having four picks in the top 39: No. 6, No. 22 (from Atlanta), No. 37 and No. 39 (Washington from the Rams).

View full sizeAPRyan Tannehill's stock is way up, but taking him might be a mistake.

About Ryan Tannehill . . .

The Browns must take Ryan Tannehill.

Over and over, we hear that. Just as we heard the Browns must trade up for Robert Griffin III.

Now there's not supposed to be a big difference between Tannehill and RG3. That's according to ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay.

To be exact, McShay said on a conference call: "I don't think the difference between Robert Griffin III and Tannehill is all that big. I really don't. I'd have a very difficult time passing on him at that No. 4 pick. I just think he has everything you look for in a future franchise quarterback if you develop him properly and you're willing to be patient."

I have one comment . . . really?

Washington offered three first-rounders and a second-rounder to the Rams for the rights to take RG3. The Browns supposedly offered their No. 4 and No. 22 picks this season, plus a future first-rounder.

Does anyone believe Tannehill is worth anything close to that kind of package?

RG3 started 40 games at Baylor, completed 67 percent of his passes and had 78 touchdowns, compared with 17 interceptions. He's a terrific student who graduated early, has exceptional speed and coaches rave about his football acumen.

Tannehill started 19 games in the past two years at Texas A&M. He is a good athlete who played receiver early in his career. He threw 42 touchdowns, compared with 21 interceptions.

I tend to agree with ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr., who said: "He's being overdrafted. . . . We saw it last year with Christian Ponder. He should've been a second-round pick. Overdrafting is taking place at quarterback, and it's going to happen again with Ryan Tannehill."

If the Browns stay at No. 4, they probably will have a shot at three of these four players: the best tackle (Matt Kalil), the best running back (Trent Richardson), the best cornerback (Mo Claiborne) and the best receiver (Justin Blackmon). Only one of those will be gone.

Tannehill is the No. 3-rated quarterback and considered a quarterback not nearly as polished or NFL ready as Andrew Luck or RG3. He's not the player that the Browns should take at No. 4 . . . and perhaps not at No. 6, if they do indeed trade down with the Rams.

View full sizeMCTThe Cavs' Tristan Thompson.

About the Cavs . . .

1. The Cavs are expected to bring back Anderson Varejao at some point in April because A) He really wants to play. B) The Cavs want him to begin playing with Tristan Thompson. They think Varejao will have a significant impact on the Cavs' rookie big man. The front office also wants to watch how the team performs with Varejao.

2. Thompson is making progress, averaging 12.6 points and 8.3 rebounds in 33 minutes as a starter. That covers seven games. On the season, he's at 6.2 rebounds per game. Only Denver's Kenneth Faried (7.0) is a better rebounder as a rookie. Second overall pick Derrick Williams is averaging 8.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and shooting 43 percent.

3. There are only seven rookies averaging at least 10 points. Five are point guards: Kyrie Irving (18.7), Brandon Knight (12.6), Kemba Walker (12.2), Ricky Rubio (10.6) and Isaiah Thomas (10.5). The other two are shooting guards: MarShon Brooks (12.8) and Klay Thompson (10.5). So no big man is making a huge impact as a rookie.

4. On the year, Tristan Thompson is averaging 7.7 points and shooting only 43 percent from the field. His free-throw shooting is up to 53 percent. He'll never be an offensive force, but he can score near the basket with offensive rebounds, lobs and short hooks (if he works on it). The key for him is playing to his strength -- rebounding, shot blocking and sprinting down the court to catch passes for layups and dunks on the fast break.

5. The Cavs believe the combination of Varejao and Thompson can give the team excellent interior defense. They also believe the 6-9 Thompson will be more effective at his natural power forward position. He has been playing a lot of center since Varejao fractured his wrist.

6. The fact that big men tend to develop slower than guards is a reason the Cavs should be patient with Samardo Samuels. While this is his second year with the Cavs, he should be a senior at Louisville. He turned pro after his sophomore season, wasn't drafted, then signed with the Cavs. Most scouts thought he left school too early.

7. While Samuels shows promise, I just don't see much with Semih Erden -- he's a big guy who seems slow to react to most plays. He'll be 26 in July. Compare that to Samuels, who can be a bullish scorer inside. He turned 23 in January.

8. A year ago, it was thought the Cavs and most teams had Harrison Barnes in the top three of the draft. He decided to stay in school. This year, Barnes is being projected in the draft in the six-to-10 range, which may be where the Cavs draft. It's hard to warm up to Barnes, who came into the ACC with incredible hype -- being named a first team All-American before he played his first game at North Carolina.

9. Now it's fashionable to reject Barnes. He shot 20-of-61 in the NCAA Tournament, too often looking a bit lost and unable to create his own shot. He's supposed to be an elite athlete, but that's not the case. He's a pretty good outside shooter and certainly would benefit at small forward with Irving setting him up for open jumpers. And despite the rise of Alonzo Gee, the Cavs desperately need small forwards and shooting guards.

10. As a sophomore, Barnes shot 45 percent from the field, 38 percent on 3-pointers, while averaging 17.3 points and 5.2 rebounds. He's 6-9, 223 pounds. There's a reasonable chance Barnes may be a good pro in time, but not the instant franchise-changer many predicted when he was a senior in high school.

About the Tribe . . .

1. In 2011, the Tribe's farm system was ranked No. 7 by Baseball America. This year, it's No. 29. What happened? Here a list of the 2011 top 10 prospects: 1) Lonnie Chisenhall. 2) Alex White. 3) Jason Kipnis. 4) Drew Pomeranz. 5) Nick Weglarz. 6). Jason Knapp. 7) LeVon Washington. 8) Tony Wolters. 9) Joe Gardner. 10) Nick Hagadone.

2. It became the Ubaldo Jimenez deal. Most fans know Pomeranz is set to be in the Rockies' starting rotation. White is battling for a spot in the bullpen. Gardner was 3-3 with a 2.48 ERA at Class AA Tulsa after the deal -- and he's expected to be at Class AAA for the Rockies. So three of the top nine were traded.

3. Kipnis is in the majors. Chisenhall and Hagadone are at Class AAA, but they are expected to be in Cleveland at some point this season. Wolters and Washington were picked in 2010 and are expected to play at Class A. Injuries wiped out Weglarz (knee) and Knapp (shoulder surgery). Who knows if either of these guys will remain healthy enough to arrive in Cleveland?

4. In 2012, the only ones still on the list are Hagadone and Wolters. Baseball America projected Chisenhall to start in Cleveland, so he wasn't on the list. The new top 10: 1) Francisco Lindor. 2) Dillon Howard. 3) Hagadone. 4) Chen Lee. 5) Luigi Rodriguez. 6) Zach McAllister. 7) Wolters. 8) Austin Adams. 9) Scott Barnes. 10) Zach Putnam.

5. Here we go again. After the list came out, Putnam was traded to . . . you guessed it . . . Colorado, for Kevin Slowey.

6. The good news is Lee, McAllister and Barnes may all be in Cleveland this season. Starters Barnes and McAllister were impressive in big-league training camp. Lee throws in the middle 90s and is a viable bullpen option.

7. Lindor was the No. 8 pick in the 2011 draft, and he's universally loved by the experts -- he is rated the Tribe's top prospect despite only five games at Mahoning Valley.

8. Vice President of Player Development Ross Atkins on Lindor: "What's not to like about him? He plays hard and has fun doing it. He has the skills to play shortstop in the big leagues. He can steal a base, he makes solid contact at the plate and he brings real energy."

9. The Indians also rave about Dorssys Paulino, an 18-year-old shortstop from the Dominican Republic who signed for $1 million. Wolters (a $1.4 million bonus in 2010) may move from short to second because the system is rich in shortstops at the lower levels. Not only is there Lindor and Paulino, but they also are high on shortstop Ronny Rodriguez.

10. No one with the Tribe talks about this, but with all the young shortstops, there is no reason to give Asdrubal Cabrera something like a five-year, $50 million deal as he approaches free agency after the 2013 season. That's especially true after Cabrera arrived in camp heavy again and may one day have to move to second or third base.

UPDATED story, with photo gallery: With a pair of D-League point guards running the offense, the Cavaliers keep it close deep into the fourth quarter before falling, 91-75, to the Knicks. The defeat extends the Cavs' losing streak to seven and 10 of the past 11 games.

NEW YORK — A night after embarrassing themselves on their home court and incurring their owner's wrath on Twitter, the Cavaliers came to Madison Square Garden with a lineup fortified by the Development League and performed better than anyone could have expected.

No, they didn't win Saturday. They have been doing little of that for weeks. They were, however, competitive enough without injured Kyrie Irving in the lineup to keep viewers back home from turning to Final Four games exclusively.

With a pair of D-League point guards running their offense, the Cavaliers kept it close deep into the fourth quarter before falling, 91-75, to the New York Knicks. The defeat extended their losing streak to a season-high seven games. They have dropped 10 of the past 11 games.

The 75 points tied a season-low, most recently set Wednesday against Detroit. It's what happens when a team shoots 40 percent or worse for six consecutive games as it did again Saturday. But in the hallway outside the visitor's dressing room, nobody needed to apologize for the effort.

"I thought we played hard," coach Byron Scott said. "We didn't know until we sat down and talked to Kyrie that he wasn't going to play, and the players didn't know that. . . . I thought we did a pretty good job, especially on the defensive end."

Irving watched the game from the bench with a sprained right shoulder suffered in Friday's brutal 121-84 loss to Milwaukee, a result that spurred owner Dan Gilbert to Tweet that Cavs fans deserve "much better."

They got it, relatively speaking, although the Knicks were without Amar'e Stoudemire (back) and Jeremy Lin, who will miss the next six weeks because of upcoming surgery on his left knee.

But at least the Knicks had 12-year veteran Baron Davis to quarterback their attack. The Cavs were relying on Donald Sloan and his backup, Lester Hudson, who within the past month had been battling the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and Fort Wayne Mad Ants.

The Cavs waited until 45 minutes before tipoff to scratch Irving, the presumptive NBA Rookie of the Year. Irving received treatment to the shoulder late in the afternoon and he took pregame warm-ups.

Irving wanted to play, but Scott overruled him.

"He said he was fine, he said it was a little 'sore' and I said 'That's the key word,'" Scott said. "I told him he was going to sit out the night and at the end I said 'Trust me,' and he said he did."

The fact the Cavaliers do not play again until Tuesday at home against San Antonio weighed into the decision, Scott said. It's their last two-day break between games for the balance of the season.

While Scott sat one rookie with an injury, he benched another for subpar play. Center Tristan Thompson earned just 15-plus minutes, including less than six minutes in the second half. Thompson finished with more fouls (four) than points (three) and rebounds (one).

The Cavaliers shot just 38.9 percent from the field, but were within four points (76-72) with 5:18 left. Part of it was because of the Knicks' struggles offensively. They shot 39.5 percent from the field, but pulled away down the stretch run on the strength of a 15-2 run.

The Cavaliers hung around thanks to a gritty effort from Sloan in his first NBA start. He finished with 10 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals. Sloan committed just three turnovers. Hudson had four points, three assists and four turnovers, playing well enough that Scott didn't even play Manny Harris.

The Cavs finished with 20 giveaways.

"I liked what I saw [of Sloan], I really did," Scott said. "I thought Donald did a real great job running the show, getting guys the ball when they needed it. . . . I was real happy with the way he played and very happy with the way Lester played."

Antawn Jamison led the Cavaliers with 13 points, while Alonzo Gee added 12points. Carmelo Anthony had 19 points for the Knicks, fighting to lock down the final Eastern Conference playoff spot. Center Tyson Chandler had 14 points and 12 rebounds.

Plain Dealer columnist Bill Livingston offers his thoughts from Saturday night's action in New Orleans.

View full sizePDKentucky's Anthony Davis.

1. Anthony Davis is the most dominant player in a generation in the Final Four. He had 18 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks for Kentucky. It took a great player to carry the Wildcats past a great coach in Louisville's Rick Pitino. Davis, 6-11 and longer than a TV timeout when the game is a good one, is just that.

2. The first semifinal was so emotional that John Calipari will have to pull his team by its jersey straps back to some kind of emotional plateau. It almost certainly can't be the peak of the Louisville game.

3. If Louisville could shoot, we would not be talking about Kentucky, Davis' greatness, or the Wildcats' place on the list of the school's finest teams. But we are, and they have already won more games (37) than any UK team in history. Expect almost two days of hosannas to the 'Cats in the national media.

4. When William Buford came out of wherever he had been hiding his stroke and scored eight points in the first half for Ohio State, he showed again why he is the unreliable, yet unexpendable wild card in their deck. Reports are Buford felt he wasn't following through smoothly. But he made both of his triples and all three shots overall to help stake OSU to a solid lead.

Plain Dealer sportswriter Doug Lesmerises offers his thoughts on Saturday night's events in New Orleans.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain DealerAn Ohio State fan shows his school spirit during Saturday's game in New Orleans.

1. Is there a chance Kentucky could start Monday night a little flat after playing a game that was closer than expected against its rival in the national semifinals? For a team that relies on a lot of freshmen and has been facing high expectations all year, yes, I think there's a chance.

2. The Ohio State-Kansas game was picked as the second game by CBS because the network thought the broad reach, and sheer number, of Ohio State fans would create better ratings in the game mostly in prime time. But inside the Superdome, it was clear that Kentucky-Louisville was the main attraction.

Judging by the crowd reaction, it was like putting on the junior lightweights after the heavyweight title fight.

3. Bon Jovi songs played by a pep band at the Final Four -- one of life's simple pleasures.

4. The single eyebrow of Kentucky freshman Anthony Davis took on a life of its own this season, and that continued at the Final Four, where the player of the year continued to take all the talk in stride and said he had no plans to change his look. He said he even saw a baby with a unibrow on Twitter.

It certainly looks like the Kentucky Wildcats mascot sports a unibrow itself. And when Davis threw down a nasty one-handed dunk off a lob against the Louisville, the Louisville Cardinal mascot was seen brushing the area where his eyebrows would be and giving a thumbs down. After another big Davis play soon after, the Cardinal was seen subtly shaking his head. And after the final horn against the Cardinals, Davis and his unibrow stalked the court yelling "My time!" or "My gym!" After his 18-point, 14-rebound, five-block performance, no one could argue.

"Anthony Davis is the No. 1 player [to be] picked in the draft," Louisville coach Rick Pitino said. "When you're playing against Bill Russell at the pro level, you realize why the Celtics won 11 world championships. When you see this young man at the collegiate level, you realize why they're so good."

-- Doug Lesmerises

UPDATED story at 3:23 a.m.: Kansas rallies from 13 points down to complete another comeback and dash the Buckeyes' hopes of returning to the national championship game. Watch video

NEW ORLEANS, La. — Ohio State's final chance ended with the ball in Aaron Craft's hands and the Buckeyes in disbelief.

The sophomore point guard, who had been stealing the ball from opponents all season, took a last swipe at keeping Ohio State's season alive. But after Craft caught his intentionally missed foul shot in the lane with 2.9 seconds to play against Kansas on Saturday night, ready to go up for the shot to tie the national semifinal, an official blew his whistle. Craft had moved across the foul line too soon while chasing Ohio State's last hope.

"I thought it was going to be the easiest way for us to get it back," Craft said. "He made the call and it was probably the right one. I should have had more patience on the line. That's not what lost us the game."

No, what lost the Buckeyes the game happened through the course of the entire second half, the Ohio State offense stagnating, the Kansas offense rolling behind All-American Thomas Robinson, the nine-point halftime lead evaporating in a 64-62 loss that sent the Jayhawks on to Monday's national title game and sent the Buckeyes back to Columbus. Ohio State is still searching for its first men's basketball national title since 1960.

"You come to the Final Four and you're one of the last four teams in it and you lose, it's tough," OSU big man Jared Sullinger said. "It was one turnover less, maybe one more basket, maybe one more defensive stop and we'd probably be playing against Kentucky in the national championship."

Plagued by foul trouble for forward Deshaun Thomas, whose offense became both consistent and indispensable in the past six weeks, the Buckeyes (31-8) reverted to the ways that had caused consternation at points during the season, forcing some shots inside and outside while gradually creating fewer shots for each other. Sullinger was 2-for-11 in the second half and Thomas 0-for-6, and the Buckeyes as a team shot 24 percent over the final 20 minutes.

"We just didn't have that edge that we needed," OSU coach Thad Matta said. "Missing Deshaun tonight hurt us. The biggest thing for us was our inability to make shots in the second half."

"Guys work so hard and they get tunnel vision a little bit and try to take over a game and do things on their own," OSU guard Lenzelle Smith Jr. said, "and it's definitely not going to work, especially at a point like this in the season."

The stubborn defense of the Jayhawks (32-6), led by 7-footer Jeff Withey, who had seven blocks, five in the second half, made nothing easy for the Buckeyes after halftime. On the other end, Robinson scored 11 of his 18 points in the second half.

"They threw the ball to Thomas Robinson and he scored," Smith said. "He pretty much won them the game in the second half. We tried to double him as much as possible, but he made so many buckets and then he kicked the ball out."

Kansas tied the game at 38 with 14:06 to play, but the Jayhawks still didn't take the lead until going up, 56-55, with 2:48 left. Ohio State went back ahead on two Thomas foul shots, then a Craft steal and layup put Ohio State up by three with 2:23 to go and seemed to swing the momentum again.

"Hopefully," Craft said. "But they called a timeout and they were a veteran group, and it didn't bother them."

Kansas scored the next six points, as Withey blocked Craft on a drive and blocked Buford from behind on a leaner. And in the final 17 seconds, down by three, Thomas missed two 3-pointers, one from the top of the key, the next from the wing after Withey saved the ball from going out-of-bounds and Craft was yelling "DT."

"The first one was wide open. I'll take that again," Thomas said. "Maybe the second one is kind of questionable. Sully was yelling for it on the inside but he had Withey behind him, so I had to shoot it. I think I would take it again, but the second one would be a better shot."

The misses were a reminder of Thomas' off-balance 3-point try in the final seconds of a loss to Wisconsin on Feb. 26, a loss that had been viewed as the turning point for the Buckeyes' late-season run.

For the first half, the Buckeyes looked like the team that had been playing more cohesive, sometimes dominant basketball for most of the past month.

In front of 74,361 fans, the Buckeyes made the game small in the first half in the expansive Superdome, locking onto Kansas defensively and forcing the Jayhawks into 37 percent shooting while taking a 34-25 halftime lead. The effort was led by Thomas, who was facing his toughest defensive test of the season against Robinson.

"They dominated us the first half," Kansas coach Bill Self said. "We were playing in quicksand, it looked like. The light came on and then we were much more aggressive the second half. That was not who we are at all the first half. I want our guys to be in attack mode and be aggressive. We did that the second half."

Kansas also cut the halftime lead to nine with a layup just before the horn after Craft was blocked by Withey on a drive, and Travis Relaford hit a layup at the other end. Matta left the court red-faced and screaming at the officials, a lead that had been 13 with 42 seconds left in the half now under 10 points.

It turned out to be a critical swing. But this last game of the season also was exactly who the Buckeyes were -- the team both in control and in trouble at times this season and against Kansas. In the end, there was a bit too much trouble and not enough control.

"It was the team that was going to crack and I think we cracked," Thomas said. "We had it. But the ball wasn't going our way."

In his final game as a Buckeye, senior William Buford led the way with 19 points and three rebounds after finding his rhythm early. But no other Buckeye found the range on offense. Sullinger was 5-of-19 for 13 points, Craft 4-of-11 for 11 points, Smith 2-of-5 for 10 points and Thomas 3-of-14 for nine points. It was Thomas' first time in 14 games in single digits, since his 2-for-12 game in a loss to Michigan State on Feb. 11.

"We needed one more guy to kind of put the ball in the basket," Matta said.

They needed one more something. After the final whistle on Craft, the Buckeyes, without a timeout, were too stunned to foul Kansas on the inbounds. And it was over. Buford took a seat on the court. Sullinger pulled his jersey over his face. And Craft still couldn't believe it.

"I don't know if it sunk in yet," Craft said. "You think you still have another practice to go to."

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

UPDATED: This was almost surely the last stop on the Road to the Final Four for the Buckeyes, the last one before traveling the golden path to the NBA for Sullinger.

View full sizeCharlie Neibergall, Associated PressOhio State forward Jared Sullinger sits on the court in disappointment after the Buckeyes' lost to Kansas, 64-62, on Saturday in New Orleans.

NEW ORLEANS, La. — A quarter-hour before tipoff, with teammates flicking shots at the basket at the far end of the court, Jared Sullinger sat in a chair, alone.

Ohio State's signature player gazed up at the Kansas Jayhawks, warming up in front of him and at the elevated court that was a four-step staircase above him. That was where the legacy awaited.

The Ohio State forward had sparked the resurgence of the program until it rose to the stage of the Final Four on Saturday night.

Now there was a championship to win over the long, basketball-crazed weekend, just as Sullinger had won championships at the AAU and high school levels.

Maybe Sullinger had found a quiet space for reflection, despite the Ohio State pep band blaring nearby, despite the student section members who stood behind it and who were draped in Buckeye necklaces and were waving outsized photos of his head.

Maybe he needed the introspection. Because this was almost surely the last stop on the Road to the Final Four for the Buckeyes, the last one before traveling the golden path to the NBA for Sullinger.

"You look towards this all your life," Sullinger had said before a 64-62 loss to Kansas Saturday night in the NCAA Tournament semifinals. "Me coming back was pretty much I wanted to make a statement, you know, that not everybody is using college basketball as a pit stop to go to the next level. That there's more than money and endorsements. There's championships that you got to win at every level. That's what I pride myself on."

So it became Sullinger's last stand. But at least he was here to make it.

He missed the regular-season loss at Kansas with back spasms, one of a series of ailments that included a bad foot that made this year a trial and dimmed rosy projections of his NBA future. All season, the scouts who project potential and not production worried that Sullinger was "tweener"-sized with no NBA position.

This is typical. All levels of basketball have been accelerated by the around-the-clock coverage and the need for "projections" of a player's talent to a higher level. From high school (more accurately, AAU ball) to college to NBA rookie to star to superstar to Hall of Fame to myth and legend -- the lure of what's next captivates us.

Most of us will not see today's college players the way they really were at Ohio State -- determined kids, even when their will was not enough, desperate strivers who came up short after reaching for so much.

The Sullinger who came out of that pregame space in the first half was a player comfortable with the battering he would have to take to play his game. It was not the Sullinger of February's funk, nor the Sullinger who sometimes seemed ground down by the erosive effects of the Big Ten schedule and the corrosive effects of sharpened criticism and unfulfilled expectations.

Coach Thad Matta said Sullinger wasn't fully "engaged" in a loss to Wisconsin on Senior Day in late February. That struck at the very reason the sophomore returned in the first place. It undermined the whole idea of Sullinger leaving a "stamp" on the program. In February, all of it seemed compromised by not caring enough.

In the first half, Ohio State took as much as a 13-point lead. Sullinger was playing aggressive, active defense. He hit a jump hook quicker than Kansas' 7-foot center Jeff Withey could raise his arms to obstruct it. Sully once drove and then dished to Aaron Craft for a layup. Another assist came on a crisp pass to Lenzelle Smith Jr. for a 3-pointer out of a double-team.

Sullinger was again the bedrock, the effort player whose desire could not be questioned. He had an eyesore statistical line if this was his farewell game, but the ungainly shots and the strength around the rim were how he validated himself.

In the second half, however, Kansas would prove to have more players. There would not be enough of a buttress from a revived William Buford to make up for Deshaun Thomas' missed shots and foul trouble. A struggling Sullinger whose shot was repeatedly blocked, missed nine of 11 attempts in the second half. He missed 14 of 19 in the game. His final box score line would be 13 ugly points and 11 scuffling rebounds.

"To see all the pain and struggle and progress end like this hurts me," said Sullinger. "William [Buford, the Buckeyes' lone senior] can't come back, but I have that option. To see all these guys with tears in their eyes and blank looks on their faces hurts me."

At the final horn, Sullinger sank to his knees, pulling his scarlet jersey up to hide his face. Then he rolled over on his back, as if curling up in agony. When the space was only occupied by his dreams, he never saw it ending this way.

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

The Cavaliers will have the right to match any offer for Gee.

View full sizePDAlonzo Gee

Q: Hey, Tom: I have read conflicting reports on Alonzo Gee's contract status at the end of the season. Some say he is an unrestricted free agent. Others say he is restricted and the Cavs have the right to match any offer. Which is it? -- John Lamb, Fairfield, Conn.

A: Hey John: Gee is a restricted free agent, meaning the Cavaliers would have the right to match any offer. Both General Manager Chris Grant and coach Byron Scott have talked about Gee being part of the team's future. I'd be surprised if he were playing elsewhere next season.

Q: Hey, Tom: Whatever happened to Jamario Moon? Though he wasn't a classic shooting forward, he was athletic and could help this team. His overall stats were better than his shooting stats. Did he have a falling-out with the Cavs? Why has he not been considered to come back? -- Howard Katz, Greensboro, N.C.

A: Hey, Howard: At last check, Moon was playing for the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA Development League. He was part of the deal that landed the first overall pick from the Los Angeles Clippers that became Kyrie Irving. How much more do you want from Moon?

-- Tom

Lake Erie has five games remaining in the regular season.

View full sizeLake Erie Monsters

Lake Erie (33-38-3-7, 76 points) entered Saturday one point out of the eighth and final spot in the Western Conference playoffs.

Texas (30-35-2-2), at the bottom of the Western Conference standings, scored three goals in the first period and one in the third. The Stars' Matt Fraser potted two goals and has 33 on the season, good for second in the AHL. (Cory Conacher of the Norfolk Admirals leads the AHL with 34 goals.)

Both teams were 0-for-5 on the power play.

Lake Erie goalie Calvin Pickard, 19, made his professional debut during the third period, replacing Cedrick Desjardins, who stopped 25 of 29 shots. Pickard, who stopped all eight shots he faced, was a second-round pick (49th overall) of the NHL's Colorado Avalanche in 2010.

Lake Erie has five games remaining in the regular season and plays its last road game of the season tonight at 6 at Texas.

Justin Masterson, in his final start before pitching the season opener Thursday at Progressive Field, allowed six runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings. The Indians are 6-21-3 in Cactus League play.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerJustin Masterson was worked over by the Rangers on Saturday night.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- It's not easy to lose 21 games in a Cactus League season, but the Indians have managed to do it.

Loss No.21 arrived Saturday night as the Indians fell to Texas, 7-4, at Goodyear Ballpark.  Justin Masterson, in his final start before pitching Thursday's season opener at Progressive Field,  allowed six runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings. He struck out three and allowed two homers.

The Indians have lost 10 straight and 11 of their last 12 games. Overall, they are 6-21-3 this spring.

"Hey, I guess it's our turn to say spring training doesn't count," said manager Manny Acta. "Every year there is a team that says that."

Michael Brantley gave the Indians a 1-0 lead with a leadoff homer in the first off Neftali Feliz, who is moving from closer to starter this year. The Rangers responded with three straight doubles in the second to take a 2-1 lead. Mike Napoli, Nelson Cruz and David Murphy opened the inning with doubles. Murphy's double to right center brought home Napoli and Cruz.

The Indians tied the score, 2-2, in the second as Lou Marson draw a bases loaded walk. But with the bases loaded and one out, the Indians failed to put a big inning together. Feliz struck out Brantley and retired Asdrubal Cabrera on a fly ball to right.

The Rangers, who have reached the World Series the last two years, came back to take a 3-2 lead on Ian Kinsler's leadoff homer in the third. Mitch Moreland added a three-run homer that bounced off the roof of the party center in right field in the fourth for a 6-2 lead.

"Masterson's pitches were a little flat," said Acta. "You can tell when they elevate the ball off him like they did. But he's ready to go. He threw 90 pitches and he's ready for the opener."

Newcomer Jairo Asencio made his Indians debut by pitching a scoreless seventh and eighth inning. Outfielders Ryan Spilborghs and Felix Pie saved him with great catches.

The Indians acquired Asencio from Atlanta on Thursday. He's out of options and the Indians will decide Sunday if Asencio or Jeremy Accardo win the last bullpen spot.

"It was a good first impression for him," said Acta.

Acta and GM Chris Antonetti will also name a fourth outfielder Sunday. The competition is down to  Spilborghs and Aaron Cunningham.

"It's a tough decision because ideally you wanted them to make the decision for us," said Acta. "It's a tough one, but we'll make it. Unfortunately, they didn't make it easier for us."

Jason Kipnis homered to start the fourth to cut the Rangers lead to 6-3. The Tribe's final run came on an RBI grounder by Jose Lopez in the eighth.

The 35-year-old Boykins, a graduate of Cleveland Central Catholic, is the kid at the amusement park forever being told he's too small to ride the coasters, but who always finds his way into the front car.

View full sizeAPEarl Boykins

Earl Boykins received a call from his agent late last Sunday telling him there was a 10-day contract waiting for him in Houston if he could be there early the next morning and pass conditioning and stress tests.

The 35-year-old Cleveland native arrived at the Rockets' training facility Monday ready to run 40 length-of-the-court sprints. One minor problem: Boykins was wearing Nike cross-training shoes, not exactly ideal footwear for timed drills on hardwood. But the 5-5 guard knew better than to ask the Rockets for basketball shoes.

The NBA doesn't do size 9 1/2.

It was just another obstacle for Boykins to overcome. He is the kid at the amusement park forever being told he's too small to ride the coasters, but who always finds his way into the front car.

Boykins entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 1998. Of the 58 players chosen that year, just 16 have appeared in more games than Boykins.

The Cleveland Central Catholic product had a shot at appearing in his 645th game after successfully completing his conditioning test. But he still needed to drive to a Houston hospital to walk on an inclined treadmill to gauge his heart rate before earning a jersey for that night's game against Sacramento.

The second-shortest player in league history has a long list of past teams: New Jersey, Cleveland, Orlando, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State, Denver, Milwaukee, Charlotte. The NBA keeps getting larger, stronger, swifter, yet Boykins keeps finding work. He appeared in 57 games last season with the Bucks.

When he's out of the league he's still playing pick-up games in Cleveland and Denver, coaching his son's AAU teams and checking his cellphone for calls from agent Mark Termini. There's always been another club willing to take a flier on the cagey guard who has averaged 8.9 points and 3.2 assists in his career.

Boykins sailed through the stress test, but tipoff was less than two hours away as he sat in traffic -- still with no basketball shoes. He spotted an off ramp that led to a mall. Boykins was sprinting again, this time to FootLocker.

"I grabbed a pair of old-school Nike Huarache, you know, the kind the Fab Five at Michigan made famous," Boykins said.

He signed his 10-day contract about 45 minutes before tipoff, introduced himself to his new teammates and did some minor alterations to his ill-fitting No. 6 Rockets jersey.

"I can't tell you what kind of alterations or the NBA fashion police might fine me," he said.

The Rockets, already without guards Kyle Lowry and Kevin Martin, lost Goran Dragic to a sprained ankle. Coach Kevin McHale, planning to use Boykins sparingly, played him 20-plus minutes that first night.

The guard didn't know the plays that first game with Houston. There were times coach Kevin McHale had to tell him where to run. Boykins just kept putting one Huarache in front of the other and ending up at the foul line. He sank four critical free throws in overtime, finished with 10 points and five assists and helped the Rockets win, 113-106, to keep their playoff hopes buoyant.

"What a day," Boykins said.

He understands there are no promises beyond Tuesday, when his deal expires. In basketball, as in life, nothing is guaranteed. Michael Olowokandi, the top overall pick in the 1998 NBA Draft, played just 500 games. Robert "Tractor" Traylor, the No. 6 overall pick, is dead.

Earl Boykins, the undrafted free agent from the streets of Cleveland, is still hoopin,' still showing the league there's a little bit of tread left in those size 9 1/2 feet.

-- Tom Reed

The Cavaliers continue to fall as their losing streak grows. Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder moves into the No. 2 spot.

View full sizeRich Pedroncelli, Associated PressTony Parker, left, Kawhi Leonard, center, and the fourth-ranked San Antonio Spurs will be at The Q to play the Cavs on Tuesday.

(Through Friday's games)

1. Chicago Bulls Last week: 1

Could coach's contract status destabilize a team on a roll?

2. Oklahoma City Thunder Last week: 3

Thunder makes statement in road win over Lakers.

3. Miami Heat Last week: 2

LeBron shows no ill effects of finger injury in blowout win over Raptors.

4. San Antonio Spurs Last week: 4

As if the Cavs needed another quality opponent coming into The Q . . . the Spurs drop by Tuesday.

5. Orlando Magic Last week: 5

Magic lose two straight to teams fighting for playoff lives.

6. Los Angeles Lakers Last week: 6

Does anyone believe the Lakers would win more than two games in a seven-game series against the Thunder?

7. Los Angeles Clippers Last week: 10

Can you imagine a Clippers-Lakers first-round series? Home court certainly wouldn't be an issue.

8. Atlanta Hawks Last week: 12

The Hawks are 7-3 in their past 10.

9. Memphis Grizzlies Last week: 8

Grizzlies are 17-7 on their home floor.

10. Indiana Pacers Last week: 9

Pacers earn a rare win over quality opponent with home victory over Heat.

11. Dallas Mavericks Last week: 11

The Mavericks are 0-2 against the Heat, but a Finals rematch appears unlikely.

12. Boston Celtics Last week: 15

The Celtics have won four straight to vault to top of Atlantic table.

13. Houston Rockets Last week: 13

Rockets are 2-1 in the Earl Boykins era.

14. Philadelphia 76ers Last week: 7

Sixers are sinking like a stone and the prospect of winning a playoff series is becoming unlikely.

15. Denver Nuggets Last week: 19

Nuggets' 8-17 road record is the worst among NBA teams in playoff position.

16. Utah Jazz Last week: 14

Team Streak follows a six-game winning run with two straight losses.

17. New York Knicks Last week: 16

The Knicks entered Saturday's game against Cavs with a seven-game home winning streak.

18. Milwaukee Bucks Last week: 18

The Bucks and Drew Gooden have worn out the Cavs this season.

19. Phoenix Suns Last week: 17

Steve Nash's statements about a desire to possibly play elsewhere next season makes the decision not to move him at the deadline all the more puzzling. Don't care if they were playing better.

20. Minnesota T'wolves Last week: 20

Kevin Love continues to shine on a mediocre team.

21. Portland Trail Blazers Last week: 21

J.J. Hickson has at least one highlight this season -- a spectacular dunk on DeAndre Jordan.

22. Golden State Warriors Last week: 22

Fans have reason to boo more than just the owner these days.

23. Detroit Pistons Last week: 24

The Pistons hadn't broken 90 points in previous five games.

24. New Jersey Nets Last week: 27

The Nets are 7-19 at The Rock.

25. Sacramento Kings Last week: 26

Kings are a dreadful 5-22 on the road.

26. Toronto Raptors Last week: 25

Cheer up Raptors fans, the Cavs come calling Friday.

27. Washington Wizards Last week: 28

Wizards blow out Sixers and continue to show signs of mild improvement.

28. Cleveland Cavaliers Last week: 23

Owner Dan Gilbert's Tweet after Friday night's loss to Milwaukee was spot on.

29. New Orleans Hornets Last week: 29

Hornets continue to keep that Cavaliers' second-round pick very high.

30. Charlotte Bobcats Last week: 30

National beer-pong tournaments don't have as many pingpong balls as the Bobcats right now.

Mary Schmitt Boyer's rookie rankings

Note: From now until the end of the regular season, these rankings will reflect the leaders for the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. Even a sprained right shoulder won't hurt Kyrie Irving's chances. (Statistics through Friday's games.)

1. Kyrie Irving, No. 1 pick by Cleveland, G

Stats: 18.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists.

Ranking last week: 1.

2. Klay Thompson, No. 11 by Golden State, G

Stats: 10.6 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists.

Ranking last week: 3.

3. Isaiah Thomas, No. 60 pick by Sacramento, G

Stats: 10.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists.

Ranking last week: 2.

4. Brandon Knight, No. 8 pick by Detroit, G

Stats: 12.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists.

Ranking last week: Unranked.

5. Iman Shumpert, No. 17 pick by New York, G

Stats: 9.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists.

Ranking last week: Unranked.

The veteran's shooting woes mirror those of his team as the Cavs' continue to slide

View full sizeAntawn Jamison had another tough shooting night in a 91-75 loss to the New York Knicks

In the case of quarterback Ryan Tannehill, never has doing so little been so greatly rewarded: Bud Shaw's Sports Spin.

Dave McDermand, Bryan-College Station Eagle After throwing a few passes in shorts against no defenders, Ryan Tannehill was a "must-have player'' for the Browns in the upcoming NFL Draft. His resume when playing against other teams isn't nearly as impressive.

Golf has its Silly Season. The NFL's is the month before the draft.

Ryan Tannehill wasn't a sure-fire first-round pick when his college season ended.

As best as Spin can tell, here's what he's done since to suddenly become what some draft experts are calling a must-have for the Cleveland Browns at No. 4 overall.

Beat Northwestern.

Didn't work out at the NFL Scouting Combine because of a foot injury.

Had surgery in January.

Got measured and weighed.

Took the Wonderlic. (Also, since he's smart enough to someday want to be an orthopedic surgeon, we're guessing he probably held his own in a few games of Words With Friends, though this is unconfirmed.

Held a pro day this past week in which he completed lots of passes while wearing shorts and throwing to familiar receivers against no rush.

"We're getting a little picky now," Chris Weinke, Tannehill's personal coach who scripted Thursday's workout, told reporters. "Here's a guy who threw 60-something balls and missed probably one throw. That's what type of competitor he is, and it says a lot about who he is. He's a very detailed guy."

The last time I heard anybody react so glowingly to a prospect's pro day was every pro day I've ever read about.

Pro days are like surgeries. Ever hear a team announce an "unsuccessful" one?

In fact, here's another report from another pro day gone by.

"Being away from these receivers and to come back and throw as well as he did shows who he is. . . . Dropping nine pounds knowing this was his big day shows his commitment and shows that his mind is in the right place."

That was Lane Kiffin talking.

About JaMarcus Russell, whom Kiffin's Raiders took No. 1 overall.

Tannehill probably won't be Russell.

But it's at least a cautionary pro day tale. Here's one, as remembered (somewhat) by NFL draftnik Mike Mayock.

"The best pro day I ever saw as a quarterback was JaMarcus Russell. . . . I've never seen a quarterback throw the football like that in my life, but I still couldn't take him in the first round -- the guy doesn't care about football," Mayock told Dan Patrick a few years ago.

Last year, Mayock watched Missouri's Blaine Gabbert go through his pro day and said he should be the first quarterback off the board. Carolina felt differently and took Cam Newton. Tennessee went for Jake Locker. Jacksonville took Gabbert No. 10 overall, two picks before Minnesota took Christian Ponder.

Mayock is now saying Tannehill makes total sense for the Browns. And Mayock is not alone.

"I think Cleveland has to take him at No. 4 and maybe even three," Mayock told reporters last week.

Trade up?

If the Browns trade up to take Ryan Tannehill, they better hope the train traffic in Berea delays the pitchfork-carrying villagers because they're on their way.

Tannehill played 19 games at quarterback and lost four of five to end Texas A&M's regular season. He threw three picks against Oklahoma State, three against Oklahoma and then proved three-pick games also happen in threes by doing the same against Texas.

I get that there's rampant quarterback inflation in the draft. Six went in the first two rounds last year. It's become a quarterback's league.

But a Top Five pick ought to have a great arm or a great college resume, preferably both. Tannehill has neither.

A Top Five pick hopefully beat out his college competition at QB early in his career. Tannehill had to move over and play wide receiver the first two seasons.

They used to call guys like Tannehill "projects." Now they call 'em "potential franchise quarterbacks."

Nobody is saying he can't become one. But bigger misses have happened in drafting quarterbacks when teams had a lot more information to work with than the Browns have on Tannehill. Not to mention fewer holes to fill.

Spinoffs

The only way to top off the fan experience featuring a 121-84 loss to Milwaukee and an injury to Kyrie Irving Friday at The Q would've been an announcement that everyone in attendance would receive two tickets to see "John Carter."

PredictionMachine.com has already played the 2012 MLB season 50,000 times. The Texas Rangers win the World Series a league-high 16.4 per cent of the time. After the Philadelphia Phillies (15.8 percent), Boston Red Sox (11 percent), Milwaukee Brewers (9.2 percent), New York Yankees (8.4 percent) and Los Angeles Angels (8.1 percent) no team has a greater than 5 percent chance of winning it all.

The Indians? It's 100 percent certain they won't win the World Series, according to the computer projections, and 99 percent certain they won't win the AL pennant.

I believe that makes us the unprivileged 1 percent.

ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay said via a conference call Friday, "At quarterback, I've got [Stanford's] Andrew Luck a solid No. 1, then a little drop to Robert Griffin III, and the difference from Griffin to Tannehill is not that great."

If you were looking for a reason to feel better about missing out on Robert Griffin III, the opinion that he could possibly rank a coin toss better than Ryan Tannehill may be as close as it gets.

ProFootballTalk reports that eight of nine teams have Arizona State quarterback Brock Osweiler as a fourth-round pick. With three weeks remaining until the draft, there's still time for the Browns to be told they absolutely must trade up to No. 3 to draft him.

Troubled former quarterback Ryan Leaf was arrested on burglary charges Friday in a case totally unrelated to previous evidence that he fleeced the San Diego Chargers.

In other police blotter news, Florida guard Erving Walker was charged with stealing a taco from a street vendor and running away.

Had Walker played football instead of basketball, ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay would have a 40-time on his sprint adjusted for the aerodynamic drag of a taco shell.

James Perez, the street vendor, called police. He told the local media: "Finally, the cops tackled him and arrested him. And [Walker] looked at me and said, 'Come on man, for $3?' -- Like I [shafted] him."

And at every NCAA press conference they still referred to Walker as a "student-athlete."

Jamie Moyer made the Colorado Rockies' starting rotation at age 49. Don't know how young Moyer feels but Derek Lowe now looks like Doogie Howser.

Omar Vizquel, who will be with Toronto at Progressive Field on Opening Day, turns 45 later this month. He could become the oldest player in Major League history to appear at shortstop.

Even Jose Mesa, who never forgave Vizquel for writing about Mesa's "vacant eyes" in Game 7 of the 1997 World Series, would have to be impressed by that.

And by impressed I mean that if he were still pitching in the American League he'd finally have to let bygones be bygones and honor Vizquel by hitting him on the second pitch instead of the first.

He said it

"Nobody has been criticized as much as I have." -- Donovan McNabb, responding to a statement on ESPN's First Take that Tim Tebow is the most unfairly criticized quarterback in history.

Yes, Donovan, but at least you don't carry the hurt around with you.

You said it (The Expanded Sunday Edition)

Dear Bud: I see that Senators Portman and Brown have joined forces to fast track Roberto Hernandez's return to the Indians. Just another example of politicians giving away jobs that Americans are willing to do. -- Vince G., Cincinnati

Is your real name Josh Mandel?

Hey Bud: Do you foresee in your future at The PD that you'll get the opportunity to make a retire-rehire deal like some occupations get to do? -- Doug, Westlake

Yours is the first suggestion that I do indeed have a future at The PD.

Hey, Bud: When Roberto Hernandez goes to the bank to cash his paychecks, will he forever be required to show two forms of identification? -- Tim, Twinsburg

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

Bud: Do you think LeBron James' dislocated ring finger is permanent? -- Joe S

Repeat winners are doomed to wishful thinking.

Bud: I was at the Cavs' game Friday. Is it a bad sign that with 7:20 left in the second quarter, the Cavs were not only losing to the Bucks, they were also losing to the diff? -- Jim Lefkowitz, Pepper Pike

Repeat winners receive addition by subtraction.

Watch these videos from CineSport and The Plain Dealer following the Buckeyes' 64-62 loss to Kansas in an NCAA semifinal in New Orleans. Watch video

Watch these videos from CineSport and The Plain Dealer following the Buckeyes' 64-62 loss to Kansas in an NCAA semifinal in New Orleans.

The No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes blew a big lead & dropped Saturday's Final Four matchup with No. 2 Kansas. CineSport's Noah Coslov & The Plain Dealer's Doug Lesmerises discuss what went wrong.

Ohio State sophomore Aaron Craft on the end of the Buckeyes' season in a 64-62 national semifinal loss to Kansas on March 31, 2012, and the final officials' call on his missed free throw and attempted rebound. Video by Doug Lesmerises.

The two winningest college basketball programs will meet for the NCAA championship. CineSport's Noah Coslov and Mike DeCourcy of Sporting News discuss Saturday's wins for Kentucky and Kansas.

For more Cinesport video on cleveland.com, go here.

The Buckeyes would lose three of their starters if two sophomores turn pro, with senior William Buford already finished at Ohio State.

Marvin Fong/ The Plain DealerOhio State Buckeyes forward Jared Sullinger (0) walks off the court with OSU video coordinator Greg Paulus after Saturday's loss to Kansas. Sullinger has a decision to make about his NBA future.