Akron Zips coach Keith Dambrot took a chance on Nick Harney and Demetrius Treadwell, and they have become two of the team's most important players.

View full size Nick Harney averaged 11 points and three assists in the Mid-American Conference Tournament, helping to fill in for suspended point guard Alex Abreu. Lonnie Timmons III, The Plain Dealer  

AKRON, Ohio -- When Akron coach Keith Dambrot opened the door to Benedictine's Nick Harney and Euclid's Demetrius Treadwell, he knew the odds were against both players making an impact on the program.

Both were Prop 48s, meaning they lacked all the academic requirements to receive a basketball scholarship and play as freshmen. Nor were they allowed to practice with the team.

"We hung out together. We pushed each other," said Harney. "I don't know how many times we played against each other alone in the gym -- thousands, I bet."

They will be on the court again . . . this time, in the NCAA Tournament when the Zips play Virginia Commonwealth Thursday in Auburn Hills, Mich.

Prop 48s sometimes never make it through the first year, because not playing basketball takes away some of the structure that they need to succeed academically. But Harney and Treadwell survived that.

Then they faced even a tougher challenge than the first year of college -- that first taste of Dambrot.

"You have to learn how to take it," said Treadwell.

He meant the yelling. He meant a coach who pushed him harder than anyone before. He meant a program that is very demanding when it comes to defending, rebounding and the aspects of the game that aren't nearly as much fun as shooting.

Furthermore, Treadwell had played only one year of high school basketball at Euclid, where he averaged 22.9 points, 16.9 rebounds and 5.0 blocks. He has Big Ten talent, but the academic issues meant no big time programs were calling.

"Tree [his nickname] is smart," said Dambrot. "He's a good kid. It just is a matter of maturity."

More than talent needed In high school, the 6-7 Treadwell could dominate strictly on physical talent. Harney played one year (as a sophomore) at Glenville, and then averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds as a senior in his one season at Benedictine.

"Tree and I played against each other in the summers and we've known each other since the 10th grade," said Harney. "We were two Cleveland kids coming to Akron and we were going to make it."

Dambrot knew that this pair of 6-7 athletes could help his program remain among the elite in the Mid-American Conference. But he also knew that neither had much experience with long-term coaching, because they had played so little in high school.

Star center Zeke Marshall came to Akron from McKeesport (Pa.) High where he was a solid student and used to discipline.

"But I was shocked by Coach D," he said. "It's not just the yelling. He puts a lot of pressure on you to do things right. You sometimes wonder if it will pay off -- then it does. Over and over, he drills toughness into you."

Dambrot wasn't afraid to raise the volume when he coached LeBron James at St. Vincent-St. Mary to a pair of state titles -- so it made little sense to change.

The Zips showed that with victories over Kent State and Ohio to win the MAC Tournament, something that seemed like a long shot after starting point guard Alex Abreu was suspended indefinitely (facing drug charges) a week before the tournament opened.

"What helps is winning," said Marshall. "You see that he is right about things. He knows what he's talking about. . . ."

Even if the players don't always like how he says it.

"I know that I'm doing better this year because I don't get thrown out of practice that much," said Harney, laughing. "Not like last season."

In his second season on the team, Harney is averaging 9.7 points and 4.0 rebounds. Along with freshman Carmelo Betancourt, Harney filled in at point guard in the two tournament games. He joked about being the Zips' "Magic Johnson."

"He wasn't Magic, but he did a good job for us," said Dambrot. "That was a tough situation, to ask him to handle the ball that much."

In the MAC Tournament, Harney averaged 11 points and three assists.

Treadwell was the MAC Tournament MVP, averaging 13.5 points and 11 rebounds in the two games.

"Tree can be a tremendous force, you can see it on the court," said Marshall, the MAC's Defensive Player of the Year.

Aiming for a fourth year A senior, Marshall said he encouraged Harney and Treadwell -- especially last season -- to not take everything said to them by Dambrot so personally.

Harney said, "I've been learning to listen to the message, and not always get upset by the messenger."

Dambrot has won at least 22 games in each of his past eight seasons with the Zips. This was the seventh consecutive season that he led Akron to the MAC Finals -- and it's their third trip to the NCAA.

"Situations like this show you that Coach D knows what he's doing," said Marshall. "I don't think any coach in America could have got us prepared that fast [after losing Abreu]. When you win like we do, you know that going through all this is worth it."

Harney and Treadwell have the same opinion. Both are listed as juniors, despite this being only their second season on the court. But they can earn "a fourth year" to play if they are on the proper NCAA road to graduation at the end of next season.

"I'm ahead of schedule," said Treadwell. "I'll get the fourth year."

Dambrot said Harney also is progressing for a fourth year to play.

"That's what we want, these guys to graduate and to keep growing and maturing as people," said Dambrot. "At first, it's never easy, but they have come a long way."

Deshaun Thomas needs to get his shot back, but it isn't something the Ohio State Buckeyes are overly concerned about.

View full size Ohio State Buckeyes forward Deshaun Thomas has the right approach to a shooting slump -- keep shooting. Kyle Robertson, Columbus Dispatch, MCT  

Four things I think about Ohio State

1. Deshaun Thomas' shooting continues to be off, but maybe, maybe, OSU fans shouldn't be overly worried. Thomas was 6-of-19 both Saturday and Sunday. His solution? "Keep shooting," he said. Staffers think Thomas is pressing lately, and that seems to be the case, as he tries to match his hot March from a year ago. But coach Thad Matta and others said most of Sunday was just dead shooting legs from three straight games, for not just Thomas but everyone on both teams. And Thomas got a little tired in the second half Saturday as well. The plan for today is rest, ice and massage for the players, and Thomas could use it. And then the Buckeyes need him to get his shot back, which hasn't been completely right for a couple of weeks.

2. Lenzelle Smith Jr. was hugging the Big Ten Tournament trophy in the locker room after the game like he would never let it go. So the tournament gets quickly washed away by Selection Sunday, but it does mean something to the players and coaches.

3. Hollywood may not be ready for a rematch from Sunday, a big heaping of Big Ten ball in the Staples Center that is used to hosting Kobe Bryant and the Lakers and the Clippers' Lob City. But with Ohio State as the No. 2 seed in the West and Wisconsin as the No. 5 seed, it's not impossible. "A total of what? 87 points. Yeah," Matta said when I mentioned the potential show in a place used to Showtime. "Hopefully we can get a rematch, that would be fun," said Wisconsin center Jared Berggren, who admitted the Badgers were hoping for a 4 seed. "But there's a lot of games before then." Wouldn't it be cool to see whether Jack Nicholson would show up for a game that could be in the 40s?

4. The fact that, as the overall No. 8 team in the field, the Buckeyes avoided Kansas, Duke, Louisville, Georgetown and Miami (Fla.) is amazing.

The Akron Zips drew a rugged opponent in Virginia Commonwealth, coached by former Akron assistant Shaka Smart.

View full size Akron center Zeke Marshall talks to fans on Sunday. Teammate Brian Walsh is at left. Paul Tople, Akron Beacon Journal  

Four things I think about Akron's matchup with VCU

1. The Zips would have a better chance against Duke. Maybe now Akron coach Keith Dambrot will cut back on the bi- weekly phone calls to VCU head coach (and former Akron assistant) Shaka Smart, sharing strategies and the ups and downs of the season.

2. This is one team that will defensively exploit the loss of Akron point guard Alex Abreu for 40 minutes. VCU's relentless style of defense would be a pain even with Abreu. Without him, there could be nightmares.

3. OK, the one-in-a-hundred chance for the Zips is a lights-out shooting night and double-digit blocks by center Zeke Marshall. It will take 50 percent shooting, 40 percent on 3-pointers, 75 percent from the line . . . plus 35 great minutes from Zeke. Good luck.

4. On second thought, maybe Akron has a better chance than I think. And the second-round matchup with Michigan is what the Zips are really looking forward to.

--

DOUG LESMERISES' PREDICTIONS: The Final Four Duke, Ohio State, Kansas, Miami The championship game Kansas 73, Duke 68: I've loved the Jayhawks since they won at Ohio State in December, and their February swoon, losing three straight, wasn't a worry. With a 13-3 record against top 50 RPI teams, and a Final Four trip last year, the Jayhawks have...

View full size Kansas celebrates after winning the Big 12 Tournament. At least one Plain Dealer writer thinks the Jayhawks will be celebrating again after the national championship game on April 8. Charlie Riedel, Associated Press  

DOUG LESMERISES' PREDICTIONS:

The Final Four

Duke, Ohio State, Kansas, Miami

The championship game

Kansas 73, Duke 68: I've loved the Jayhawks since they won at Ohio State in December, and their February swoon, losing three straight, wasn't a worry. With a 13-3 record against top 50 RPI teams, and a Final Four trip last year, the Jayhawks have been tested, and their four seniors around freshman star Ben McLemore is a winning formula. Duke beats Ohio State in a Final Four rematch because while the Buckeyes are hot, they still aren't quite elite.

Two teams that could rise up

No. 8 Pitt: The No. 8 seed in the Midwest could strike No. 1 seed Gonzaga with their depth after battling through the Big East, and a regional title run, or even a Final Four, isn't out of the question in what is the weakest bracket.

No. 5 UNLV: The Mountain West is for real and, with five bids, it could get a couple of teams into the Sweet 16. The Rebels should be one of them, and they could push Indiana in the Sweet 16. Push them to the wall, or over it.

Two teams that could fall early

No. 4 Kansas State: The Wildcats get to play near home, but either of the play-in teams, Boise State or LaSalle, could take them down in their first game.

No. 4 Syracuse: The Orange isn't getting to the Sweet 16. If Montana doesn't get them, UNLV will.

ELTON ALEXANDER'S PREDICTIONS:

The Final Four

Louisville, New Mexico, Georgetown, Indiana

The Championship Game

Louisville 76, Georgetown 68: Hey, you are going to love Otto Porter for the Hoyas. But he will see too many players like himself against the Cardinals. Unless Louisville struggles shooting, this game will only be mildly competitive as Rick Pitino smiles for the cameras once again.

Two teams that can steal some upsets

No. 7 Creighton: Strictly based on seed, look for Creighton to make a long run if it can get past rugged Cincinnati in the opener. The Blue Jays have a pure scorer in Doug McDermott, but don't look past 6-10, 260-pound Greg Echnique inside.

No. 11 Bucknell: The unheralded Bison in the East Region will catch a Butler team running out of gas, then likely Marquette where 6-11, 240 pound Bucknell center Mike Muscola should shine.

Two teams that could have their pockets picked early

No. 4 St. Louis: Like many I believe the Billikens are not only hot, but on a mission in the Midwest Region for late head coach Rick Majerus. But if the magnitude of the game and the opportunity overcomes the Billikens, No. 13 New Mexico State and massive 7-5, 350-pound center Sim Bhullar could take advantage.

No. 6 Arizona: Be afraid, be verrry afraid, against No. 11 Belmont in the West Region. The Bruins are the prototypical pick and pop, cut and shoot, pester and press team that looks a lot better walking out the door -- after pulling the upset -- than walking in. Wildcats better come to play.

BILL LIVINGSTON'S PREDICTIONS:

The Final Four

Ohio State, Louisville, Kansas, Miami

The championship game

Ohio State 60, Kansas 58. I really like the toughness, defense, and ball-sharing of this Ohio State team. It's hard to imagine a championship after all that NBA defector Jared Sullinger meant to this team, but Tennessee won a football championship with Tee Martin the year after Peyton Manning was graduated, and the Cincinnati basketball dynasty in the 1960s began after Oscar Robertson. There are no great stars on the OSU team, but all of college basketball is sort of that way. It's just a hunch, anyway.

Two teams that could rise up

No. 14 Davidson: The Wildcats are always a thorn in someone's side. It's Marquette's side this year.

No. 12 Akron: It's hard to see Akron keeping its run going, but Keith Dambrot did a masterful job in retooling after the suspension of Alex Abreu. He faces former aide Shaka Smart of VCU in the traditional upset-heavy 12 vs. 5 matchup. A mere 38 other 12 seeds have won in this match-up.

Two teams that could fall early

No. 4 Syracuse: The Orange get Boeheim-ed again. Poor free-throw shooting could get them bitten by a bear -- the Grizzlies from Montana.

No. 4 Michigan: The Wolverines' free throw woes cost them a share of the Big Ten regular season championship. Point guard Trey Burke has much for which to atone after being outplayed by Ohio's D.J. Cooper in his only NCAA Tournament game thus far.

This is believed to be one of the most wide-open fields in recent NCAA memory. We need your analysis!

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The brackets are out and the matchups set, and now we want to hear from you.

As you're pondering your brackets, who are your favorites? Who are the Cinderellas and the dancers destined for quick exits? We've got a page for every team in the NCAA Tournament this season, and we want basketball fanatics off every stripe to give us insight on as many teams as pique your curiosity.

The bracket is below, with links to take you to any team. Check out our quick analysis, vote in our poll and leave comments on what the eventual fate is of that team.

This is believed to be one of the most wide-open fields in recent NCAA memory. We need your analysis!

First Round

Tuesday, March 19

16. Liberty (15-20) vs. 16. N.C. A&T (19-16), 6:40 p.m.

11. Middle Tennessee State (28-5) vs. 11. Saint Mary's (Calif.) (27-6), 9:10 p.m.

Wednesday, March 20

16. LIU Brooklyn (20-13) vs. 16. James Madison (20-14), 6:40 p.m.

13. Boise State (21-10) vs. 13. La Salle (21-9), 9:10 p.m.

East Regional

Second Round

Thursday, March 21

3. Marquette (23-8) vs. 14. Davidson (26-7)

6. Butler (26-8) vs. 11. Bucknell (28-5)

4. Syracuse (26-9) vs. 13. Montana (25-6)

5. UNLV (25-9) vs. 12. California (20-11)

Friday, March 22

1. Indiana (27-6) vs. LIU Brooklyn-James Madison winner

8. N.C. State (24-10) vs. 9. Temple (23-9)

2. Miami (27-6) vs. 15. Pacific (22-12)

7. Illinois (22-12) vs. 10. Colorado (21-11)

South Regional

Second Round

Thursday, March 21

4. Michigan (26-7) vs. 13. South Dakota State (25-9)

5. VCU (26-8) vs. 12. Akron (26-6)

Friday, March 22

2. Georgetown (25-6) vs. 15. Florida Gulf Coast (24-10)

7. San Diego State (22-10) vs. 10. Oklahoma (20-11)

1. Kansas (29-5) vs. 16. Western Kentucky (20-15)

8. North Carolina (24-10) vs. 9. Villanova (20-13)

3. Florida (26-7) vs. 14. Northwestern State (23-8)

6. UCLA (25-9) vs. 11. Minnesota (20-12)

Highlights include Indians vs. Milwaukee exhibition game and the Cavaliers' home game against Indiana.

CLEVELAND, Ohio

Today's TV and radio sports listings

BASEBALL

4 a.m. San Diego vs. L.A. Angels (tape), MLBN

7 a.m. Minnesota vs. Baltimore (tape), MLBN

10 a.m. Milwaukee vs. L.A. Dodgers (tape), MLBN

1 p.m. Philadelphia vs. Atlanta, ESPN

4:05 p.m. CLEVELAND INDIANS vs. Milwaukee, SportsTime Ohio

9 p.m. WBC semi, Netherlands vs. Dominican Republic, MLBN

1 a.m. (Tuesday) Kansas City vs. Texas (tape), MLBN

NBA

7 p.m. Indiana at CLEVELAND CAVALIERS, Fox Sports Ohio; AM/1100

8 p.m. Miami at Boston, ESPN

10:30 p.m. New York at Utah, ESPN

NHL

7:30 p.m. Philadelphia at Tampa Bay, NBCSN

SOCCER

Noon MLS, San Jose at COLUMBUS CREW (tape), Fox Sports Ohio

2 p.m. Premier League, Man U vs. Reading (tape), Fox Sports Ohio

Browns receiver/returner Josh Cribbs flew to Arizona Sunday night to visit with the Cardinals and take a physical. If all goes as he hopes, a source said, he'll be a Cardinal by Monday.

Josh Cribbs sacrificed his body on every play for the Browns and might now do so for the Cardinals. Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer  

Browns receiver Josh Cribbs flew to Arizona Sunday night to visit with the Cardinals, take a physical and possibly sign with the club, a league source said.
 
 If all goes as Cribbs hopes, he'll be a Cardinal by Monday, the source said.

 Cribbs, an eight-year veteran of the Browns and three-time Pro Bowler, knew Wednesday that he was gone, and sent a message to his fans via his Twitter and Instagram accounts. On Twitter, he wrote, "It's been a blessing to be in Cleveland, wishing the best to the city and the team.''

 On Instagram, he posted photos with the following captions:
 
 * "I proved I would die for this...''

 * "That I would give 110% every game.''

 * "That the community was just as important as the field.''

 * "So if it's my time to go, at least it's in good hands.''

 Cribbs, 29, wanted to finish his career in Cleveland, but the new regime wasn't serious about re-signing him.
 
 During his time with the Browns, Cribbs returned eight kickoffs for touchdowns, which is tied for first in NFL history with Leon Washington. He also amassed 12,169 combined kickoff and punt return yards, becoming just the sixth player in NFL history to reach the 12,000-yard plateau. In the season finale against Pittburgh, he surpassed Dennis Northcutt to become the Browns' all-time leader in punt return yardage with 2,154 yards.

 Cribbs, originally signed as an undrafted free agent out of Kent State in 2005, was known for sacrificing his body on every play and for dishing out hits on kick coverage as well as he could absorb them.

Fill out and track your brackets online for a chance to win $10,000! Challenge your friends and co-workers or compare your bracket with other users with our bracket challenge game. You can create groups for your office pool or your friends or just create your own bracket.

Fill out, print and track your brackets in our 2013 Bracket Challenge.

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 more.  

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2013 Bracket Challenge features:

    * Quick Pick: Just like a lottery ticket, players can instantly "Quick Pick" their own bracket
 
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Go here now to learn more and get started. Be sure to get your friends and co-workers together and manage your pool online.

Don't want to register? Get a printable bracket here in form

By Andrew Koob and Garrett Miley | National Desk There have been Cinderella teams busting brackets in the NCAA tournament for almost 50 years now. The 1966 Texas Western Minors were the first team to really be considered a Cinderella team after overcoming powerhouse schools to win the big dance. In 1985, the No. 11 seeded Villanova Wildcats shocked...

By Andrew Koob and Garrett Miley | National Desk

Colorado State's Jonathan Octeus plays defense against UNLV during the first half of a Mountain West Conference tournament NCAA college basketball game on Friday, March 15, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)  

There have been Cinderella teams busting brackets in the NCAA tournament for almost 50 years now. The 1966 Texas Western Minors were the first team to really be considered a Cinderella team after overcoming powerhouse schools to win the big dance. In 1985, the No. 11 seeded Villanova Wildcats shocked the nation when they cut down the nets. More recently, Butler and VCU (both in this year’s field of 68) have made Final Four runs, seemingly out of the blue.

Mid-majors have a loveable quality to them come March because of their role as the underdog. That is, unless they knock off one of the Final Four teams in your bracket for the office pool. Here are five candidates to be the Cinderella of the 2013 NCAA tournament:

1. Colorado State

The Rams are fourth in the nation in rebounding the basketball. The frontline duo of senior Colton Iverson (9.8 rebounds per game) and Pierce Hornung (9.2 rebounds per game) could create problems for almost any team in the country. However, to make a fairy-tale run in this year’s tournament, the Rams will have to get past Missouri. The Tigers are second in the nation in rebounds per game, which should make for an intense battle.

If they can outmuscle Missouri, Colorado State will almost certainly draw the top-seeded Louisville Cardinals in the next round. While facing coach Rick Pitino and the Cardinals is a daunting task this season, Colorado State has the pieces to hang with Louisville. Iverson, a transfer from Minnesota, has Big 10 experience and has played against quality opponents his entire collegiate career. The 6-foot-10 forward nearly averaged a double-double this season. The Rams took No. 3 seed New Mexico to the wire earlier this season and could be wearing a glass slipper this year if they manage to beat Louisville.

2. South Dakota State

The Jackrabbits did what Colorado State almost did early in the season: they took down the Lobos. Back on Dec. 22, South Dakota State defeated New Mexico 70-65 and turned a few heads nationally. Now that they’re in the field of 68, the Jackrabbits should be seen as dangerous to anyone in their path.

Senior guard Nate Wolters is one of the most gifted scorers in the country, and averaged 22.7 points per game this season. Wolters is capable of taking over any game, and he proved it on Feb. 7 against IPFW when he scored 53 points and shot 9-for-14 from behind the arc. Wolters is not the only dangerous Jackrabbit, however. As a team, they are shooting 47 percent from the field (28th in the nation).

The Jackrabbits could be catching the No. 4 seed Michigan Wolverines at just the right time. Michigan has gone 6-6 in their final 12 games after looking like a candidate for a No. 1 seed just weeks ago.

3. Belmont

Belmont guard Ian Clark, right celebrates with teammates after their 70-68 overtime win in an NCAA college basketball game against Murray State in the Ohio Valley Conference tournament championship on Saturday, March 9, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)  

The Bruins got one of the luckiest draws for a second-round matchup when they landed a pairing with the Arizona Wildcats, who don’t defend the three well at all. Belmont is, by all accounts, a great shooting team from anywhere on the floor. They are ranked fourth in the nation, making shots at a 49.4 percent clip from the field and hitting 38.6 percent of their attempts from deep.

The road to Atlanta certainly doesn’t get any easier, as Belmont would most likely have to face a defensive-minded New Mexico team that only allows teams to shoot 38.8 percent from the field (22nd in the nation). The Lobos, however, do not shoot a high percentage, shooting only 42.5 percent from the field (218th in the nation), while the Eagles allow opponents to shoot 40.6 percent, a mark that leaves the Eagles as the 72nd best team in opposing field goal percentage.

4. Florida Gulf Coast

A No. 15 seed upending a No. 2 seed in the second round is something that is hardly predictable. But after Lehigh and Norfolk State did the unthinkable last year, it doesn’t seem quite as crazy for those small conference tournament champs to dream.

The Eagles feature three players with double-digit scoring averages in Sherwood Brown (15.3 points per game), Bernard Thompson (14 points) and Chase Fieler (12.2 points). Those three help Florida Gulf Coast to 73.1 points per game, a mark that gives the Eagles the 49th-best scoring attack in the nation. The Eagles marquee win of the season? An impressive 63-51 victory over Miami in which Florida Gulf Coast held the Hurricanes to 29.1 percent shooting from the field.

5. NC State

The Wolfpack came into the season with high expectations, but failed to reach them while grabbing an No. 8 seed in the NCAA tournament. The seeding may benefit NC State, as they get matched up with a Temple team that made an early exit from the Atlantic 10 tournament with a loss to UMass.

If NC State advances to the round of 32, they get the arduous task of going toe-to-toe with a Final Four favorite in the Indiana Hoosiers. The Wolfpack had plenty of opportunities against Top 25 foes in ACC play, but only went 1-4 against those teams, with the lone win a January 12 victory against then-No. 1 Duke. But if NC State can get past Indiana, they’ll most likely set a date with a poor free-throw shooting team in Syracuse.

Need another opinion before you start filling out your bracket? Here's what some national voices are saying about this year's crop of Cinderella candidates:

• Pat Forde of Yahoo! Sports also sees Belmont and Colorado State as potential sleeper teams.

• ESPN.com’s Andy Katz puts it simply: "Beware of Belmont."

• Josh Harris of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writes that Western Kentucky could be a bracket buster.

• After earning at-large bids, Boise State and Middle Tennessee State are on Cinderella watch, according to Huffington Post's Jon Krawczynski.

"He was a good guy but basically a non-factor here the last 2 years. Our problem is we have had such crappy football the last 12 years we hate to see even marginally good players leave, especially ones with a connection to the fans. But, time to move on and free up a roster spot. Thanks for the memories, good luck Josh." - yothere

One cleveland.com reader says good luck to Josh Cribbs. (Joshua Gunter/ The Plain Dealer)  

"He was a good guy but basically a non-factor here the last 2 years. Our problem is we have had such crappy football the last 12 years we hate to see even marginally good players leave, especially ones with a connection to the fans. But, time to move on and free up a roster spot. Thanks for the memories, good luck Josh."

Ohio State beat Wisconsin for the Big Ten championship, earned a No. 2 seed in the West Region, and got a draw that will make members of the top-seeded OSU team of two years ago jealous. Watch video

CHICAGO – The 2011 Ohio State basketball team, the two-loss, No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament that wound up in a bracket with North Carolina, Syracuse and Kentucky, should be jealous. Or maybe happy.

Because the bracket the 2013 Buckeyes got Sunday night might make up for that season, which ended in a Sweet 16 loss to the Wildcats.

There are plenty of things in Ohio State's recent history that can work for or against them and their tournament chances, but as the No. 2 seed in the West Region, with West Coast Conference champ Gonzaga as the No. 1 seed and Mountain West champ New Mexico as the No. 3 seed, the Buckeyes, with a path that would take them through Dayton and the Staples Center in Los Angeles, are going to be a popular Final Four pick,

"That's good," junior Deshaun Thomas. "We were there last year."

And they were nowhere less than two weeks ago.

Before winning at Indiana on March 5, the Buckeyes were looking like a 4 or 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament, having struggled in February, lacking a major road win and generally looking like a solid top 20 team, but nothing more.

Now they are the Big Ten Tournament champs after Sunday's 50-43 win over Wisconsin, which gave the Buckeyes their fourth Big Ten title in Thad Matta's nine years; on an eight-game winning streak; in the mix for national title talk; and starting the tournament 70 miles from Columbus against No. 15 seed Iona on Friday at 7:15 p.m on WOIO Channel 19.

Matta told the crowd at the United Center after accepting the tournament trophy from Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany that he'd never been more proud of a team, and when you think of how far the Buckeyes have come in two weeks, you have to shake your head.

"They're all special," Matta said of another Big Ten crown. "This one is amazing."

Coming off a Final Four run last year, Matta has talked often about how hard it is to get the next group to not assume that will happen again. After his other Final Four run, with Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr. in 2007, the young Buckeyes came back in 2008 with some chemistry issues, went 10-8 in the Big Ten and missed the NCAA Tournament before winning the NIT.

For a while, this team looked like that team. Matta said he never saw a similarity.

"There were maybe a couple moments, but these guys were so tight as a team," Matta said. "And we were very, very young that year. I think that I've loved this team the whole way through. I didn't know how talented we were going to be, and I didn't know how many games we could win, but I loved going to practice with them."

They wound up winning 26 games so far with their 26-7 mark landing them as the overall No. 8 team in the selection committee's ranking, the last No. 2 seed. The Buckeyes looked as if they might have had a chance to be near home in the Midwest Region in Indianapolis, but that would have meant inclusion with top overall seed Louisville. Instead, the Buckeyes got Gonzaga, the last No. 1 seed.

So they'll face the Gaels, who tied for fourth during the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference regular season but won the conference tournament. The last time the Buckeyes started the tourney in Dayton, in 2009, they also played a MAAC team . . . and lost in overtime to Siena in an 8-9 game.

The other time the Buckeyes started in Dayton, in 2006, they won their first game as a No. 2 seed, then lost to No. 7 seed Georgetown in the second round.

Matta knows the Dayton record. This year the second-round opponent would be No. 7 Notre Dame or No. 10 Iowa State.

But the Buckeyes like the idea of an Atlanta return. Thomas said Matta has a chair from that Final Four.

And Ohio State has come so far, and bettered their seeding so much, that anything is now in play.

"It feels good, but seeding doesn't mean a ton once you get there," said junior Aaron Craft, who was named the Big Ten Tournament's Most Outstanding Player, while Thomas also made the All-Tournament team.

The Buckeyes found that out two years ago, when Craft was so young, as the freshman sixth man, and the Buckeyes so good, finishing 34-3 after their loss, that winning was taken a bit for granted.

This year, nothing has been taken for granted. For too long, the Buckeyes weren't so good.

"You want to win every game, and I hate to say you have to lose to learn a lesson," Craft said, "but it seems we've had to do that, and we did a good job of sticking with it."

Now, it might be time to win.

Lou Marson and Ezequiel Carrera singled home runs in the sixth inning Monday to put the Indians ahead to stay against Milwaukee.

View full size Ezequiel Carrera's RBI single was part of a two-run sixth inning that sparked the Indians to a 4-2 victory over Milwaukee on Monday in Goodyear, Ariz. Chuck Crow, PD file  

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Ubaldo Jimenez pitched into and out of trouble for 5 1/3 innings and the Indians scored twice in the sixth inning Monday to beat Milwaukee, 4-2, in a Cactus League game at Goodyear Ballpark.

Jimenez, bailed out by good defense from Michael Brantley and Lonnie Chisenhall, allowed two runs on seven hits. He struck out five, walked one, hit a batter and threw a run-scoring wild pitch.

Trailing 2-1, Lou Marson and Ezequiel Carrera hit consecutive RBI singles in the sixth to put the Indians ahead, 3-2. Relievers Jerry Gil, Vinnie Pestano, Joe Smith and Scott Barnes followed Jimenez with 3 2/3 scoreless innings. Barnes pitched the ninth for the save.

Cord Phelps put the game away with an RBI triple in the eighth. Carrera, who was hit by a pitch and stole second, scored. He has nine steals in 11 attempts this spring.

In the fourth, the game was delayed for 12 minutes after Mark Reynolds hit plate umpire Patrick Mahoney in the back of his head with his back swing. Mahoney left the game and was replaced by Jordan Baker.

Brantley ended the second with a diving catch in left field with runners on the corners after Jimenez wild-pitched a run home to tie the score at 1.

Chisenhall ended the fourth by reaching into the Brewers' dugout to catch a foul pop with runners on first and second.

The Indians took a 1-0 lead in the first when Reynolds drew a bases-loaded walk against Marco Estrada.

The Indians are 14-8-2 in Cactus League play.

The Zips have averaged fewer turnovers in the three games since losing point guard Alex Abreu, but have suffered in assists.

View full size Saint Louis' Dwayne Evans feels the vaunted pressure of Virginia Commonwealth's Havoc defense -- on this occasion from Treveon Graham, left, and Juvonte Reddic -- during the Atlantic 10 tournament. How will Akron fare against the Rams' defense on Thursday? Seth Wenig, Associated Press  

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Psssssst! I've got a secret for you.

The Akron Zips are in the NCAA Tournament, and they are playing without their starting point guard. So most pundits expect their first-round opponent, Virginia Commonwealth, to take advantage pretty easily in their South Region opener (9:45 p.m., Thursday, in The Palace at Auburn Hills, Mich.).

But get this. Nobody has done it yet.

True enough, the Zips lost their first game in the post-Alex Abreu era, to Kent State. But that was 24 hours after Abreu's arrest on drug charges. Since then, the Zips defeated Kent in a rematch and dispatched Ohio to win the Mid-American Conference Tournament.

In those three games, the Zips committed nine, 17 and 14 miscues. Certainly more than they want, but not insurmountable for victory.

No. 12 Akron (26-6) and No. 5 VCU (26-8) are all too familiar with each other, considering VCU head coach Shaka Smart and Akron's Keith Dambrot are close friends who talk almost daily. They run practically the same offense and defense, right down to the names for plays. Might as well line up Kent State or OU one more time.

"It's a league game, exactly," Dambrot said.

In the three games this season vs. Kent, one with Abreu and two without, all were close. In three games with the Bobcats, two with Abreu and one without, the Zips staged comebacks to win. Apparently Dambrot has this point guard issue covered, and being so familiar with the Rams becomes a positive, not a negative.

Following Akron's MAC Tournament victory over the Bobcats, 6-7 Nick Harney stood, smiling, with a rain of confetti coming down. He's been in the point guard mix and, with a smile that belied Akron's entrance to the NCAA Tournament, said: "I'm going to take this position over. The next Magic Johnson."

Dambrot only smiled at that one. "He's Tragic Johnson, that's who he is."

Perhaps a bit of both. Fact is, the Zips have averaged fewer turnovers in the three games post-Abreu, 13.6 to 13.3. The real hit has come in assists. Akron is averaging 15.0 assists on the season, but only 12.7 since their junior point guard went astray.

While the focus is on Akron dealing with VCU's defensive pressure, the undersized Rams have their issue, too, with Akron's size in 7-0 Zeke Marshall and 6-7 Demetrius Treadwell.

"If we can get post touches, we win," Dambrot said.

Still in play: Beyond the Zips, three other MAC teams landed in postseason tournaments. Ohio is on the road at Denver in the NIT; Kent State hosts Fairfield in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament Wednesday; and Western Michigan hosts North Dakota State in the College Basketball Invitational on Wednesday.

Kent (20-13) finished fourth in the MAC and Fairfield (19-15) finished sixth in the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference. The game was originally scheduled for Tuesday but postponed a day because of travel issues for Fairfield. The Golden Flashes defeated the Stags, 72-68, in Bridgeport, Conn., in the second round of the 2011 NIT. Randal Holt led Kent with 22 points.

"They are a great, great defensive team, with very, very good guard play," Kent head coach Rob Senderoff said. "This is really going to be a test for us, for sure, because they are also a very deep team, too."

The Bobcats (24-9) travel to play Denver (21-9), the No. 2 team out of the Western Athletic Conference. WMU (20-12), the MAC's No. 3 team, hosts the second-place Summit Conference team, North Dakota State (24-9). NDSU lost to Akron in its BracketBusters matchup, 68-53.

The Bison played that game without leading scorer Taylor Braun (15.7 points), who is back in the lineup and has scored at least 20 points in every game but one since his return.

By DOUG FEINBERG | AP Basketball Writer Brittney Griner and Baylor's path to a second straight national championship will have a familiar feel. Then again, so will the whole NCAA women's basketball tournament. For the first time ever, the top four seeds are the same for consecutive seasons. Baylor, Connecticut, Notre Dame and Stanford all earned No. 1 spots...

By DOUG FEINBERG | AP Basketball Writer

In this Jan. 27, 2013, file photo, Stanford's Bonnie Samuelson (41), Taylor Greenfield (4), Sara James (21) and Erica Payne (25) celebrate in the closing seconds of their 69-56 win over Colorado in an NCAA college basketball game in Stanford, Calif. Stanford was announced Monday, March 18, to join Connecticut, Notre Dame and Baylor as a No. 1 seed in the women's tournament, marking the second straight season those four schools were the top seeds. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)





 

Brittney Griner and Baylor's path to a second straight national championship will have a familiar feel.

Then again, so will the whole NCAA women's basketball tournament. For the first time ever, the top four seeds are the same for consecutive seasons. Baylor, Connecticut, Notre Dame and Stanford all earned No. 1 spots when the field was announced Monday night.

Unlike the men's side, where it was a topsy-turvy season with major upsets seemingly every week, women's basketball hasn't seen the same parity. The top six teams in the final Associated Press poll only had two losses outside of each other, the fewest by far since writers began voting for the AP's No. 1 in the 1994-95 season.

The women's basketball madness gets started Saturday — the first step en route to the Final Four, which begins April 7 in New Orleans.

Baylor coach Kim Mulkey hopes to make it there with her Lady Bears, who will be trying to become the fourth different school to win consecutive national championships, joining Southern California, UConn, and Tennessee. Mulkey grew up in Louisiana.

Last season, Baylor was trying to becoming the first team to win 40 games in a season. Now they are just focused on the title.

"Nothing's different this year," Griner said. "Our goal is to win the six games and win the national championship."

Standing in the way could be Tennessee. The Lady Vols, who have made every NCAA tournament since it began in 1982, are the No. 2 seed in Baylor's region. This will be the first time that coach Pat Summitt won't be on the sidelines. Summitt stepped down after last season because she had been afflicted with early onset dementia, Alzheimer's type.

Longtime assistant Holly Warlick took over this season and guided the Lady Vols to a SEC regular season title.

While Tennessee has set the standard in women's basketball, Stanford has been one of the most dominant teams lately.

The Cardinal will try and reach the Final Four for a sixth straight season and end Hall of Fame coach Tara VanDerveer's 21-year drought without a national championship.

Led by junior star Chiney Ogwumike, Stanford may already have the most impressive win this season, ending Baylor's 42-game winning streak in November. That's the only loss that the defending national champion Lady Bears suffered this season.

The Cardinal, who will open up against Tulsa at home on Saturday, could face No. 2 seed California in the regional final. The Golden Bears shared the Pac-12 title with Stanford this season after ending the Cardinal's 81-game conference winning streak in January.

Notre Dame will be trying to make it back to a third straight national championship game. The Irish, led by senior guard Skylar Diggins, have already had an incredible season losing only to Baylor. Notre Dame won its first Big East tournament championship last Tuesday and also went undefeated in the conference in the regular season.

Unlike the other three No. 1 seeds, who are playing at home, the Irish will open up on the road against Tennessee-Martin. Potentially they could face host Iowa in the second round.

The Irish swept all three meetings with Connecticut and have dominated the series recently, winning seven of the past eight meetings, including the past two in the Final Four.

To get to a third straight title game they'll likely have to beat UConn again. The Huskies will open on Saturday against Idaho, which will be making its first trip to the NCAA tournament since 1985. It's been a somewhat disappointing season for the Huskies, who didn't win either the Big East conference regular season or tournament title for the first time in 19 years.

UConn lost four of its five games against the other top seeds, faltering down the stretch in each of the losses.

One intriguing storyline for UConn before a potential rematch with Notre Dame could be if Elena Delle Donne and Delaware can advance to the regional finals in Bridgeport, Conn. Delle Donne was originally enrolled at UConn before transferring to Delaware before her freshman season. She's put her team on her back, leading the nation in scoring the past two seasons.

The sixth-seeded Blue Hens will be hosting the first two rounds and the games are already sold out. Delaware is one of 15 sites that have host teams in the tournament. The only one that doesn't is Columbus. Besides Ohio State, perennial NCAA tournament team Rutgers also missed out on the field. The Scarlet Knights had been to the last 10 NCAA tournaments.

While Rutgers and Ohio State will be missing, three schools — Wichita State, Quinnipiac and Cal Poly — are making their first appearance in the field.

The Big East, which is set to be reimagined next season, led all conferences with eight bids.

The United States heads into World Cup qualifiers against Costa Rica and Mexico with an inexperienced defense after dropping captain Carlos Bocanegra and learning eight players are injured or ill.

In this Feb. 28, 2012 file photo, U.S. soccer team defender Carlos Bocanegra answers a question during a press conference prior to a training session ahead of their friendly soccer match against Italy in Genoa, ItalyAt left is U.S. soccer team German coach Jurgen Klinsmann. U.S. captain Bocanegra has been dropped from the roster for World Cup qualifiers against Costa Rica and Mexico. AP File Photo  

Already without goalkeeper Tim Howard, the shaky U.S. back line got even weaker Monday when coach Jurgen Klinsmann said Timmy Chandler, Fabian Johnson and Danny Williams will miss the matches.

The 33-year-old Bocanegra, the American captain since 2007, has lost his starting job with Racing Santander, a Spanish second-division team on its fourth coach of the season. Bocanegra, on loan from Glasgow Rangers, and has not appeared in a game since Feb. 2.

"He has no flow. He has no rhythm, and he understands that situation," Klinsmann said. "Carlos is still in our picture. This is not the end of his national-team career, but he understands that he is right now behind other players."

With Bocanegra dropped after 110 international appearances and Howard recovering after breaking two bones in his back on Feb. 26, Michael Bradley and Jermaine Jones become the leading candidates to take over as captain. Klinsmann planned to announce his choice Tuesday, after telling the team.

The U.S., which lost 2-1 at Honduras last month in its opener of the 10-game final round, plays Costa Rica on Friday at Commerce City, Colo., then is at Mexico City on March 26. The group also includes Panama and Jamaica, and the top three teams qualify for next year's tournament in Brazil, with the fourth-place finisher advancing to a playoff.

"Every home game in a hexagonal is a must-win situation," Klinsmann said.

Among those missing from the 23-man roster are Edgar Castillo (triple facial fracture March 2), Chandler (injured hamstring Saturday), Steve Cherundolo (knee surgery Feb. 6), Johnson (sidelined by hip injury since March 3), Jonathan Spector (injured ankle Saturday), Jose Torres (injured hamstring Saturday) and Williams (stomach virus).

Brad Guzan takes over in goal in his first qualifying appearance since 2009. The new central defense tandem of Omar Gonzalez and Geoff Cameron was shaky in the Honduras loss on Feb. 6, and the Americans have no experienced options at outside back.

"Definitely a challenge," Klinsmann said.

Just six defenders are on the roster, with Cameron and Gonzalez joined by Tony Beltran, Matt Besler, Clarence Goodson and Justin Morrow. Cameron has played right back for Stoke, DaMarcus Beasley has played left back at times and Edu played in central defense in last summer's exhibition win at Mexico, where the Americans had been 0-23-1 against El Tri in 75 years.

Beltran, Besler and Morrow made their national team debuts during a January exhibition against Canada.

In addition, Landon Donovan remains on an extended offseason break before rejoining the Los Angeles Galaxy in late March.

"If he will be become part of our plans again, that depends on how he comes back and how I look at the whole picture and how I look at the development of this team," Klinsmann said. "The door is always open."

Clint Dempsey, who has been sidelined by a calf strain since Feb. 21, returned Sunday to play the second half in Tottenham's 1-0 loss to Fulham. Bradley has struggled for playing time of late for Roma and has not gone a full 90 minutes since Feb. 24, three weeks after Aurelio Andreazzoli replaced coach Zdenek Zeman.

"I'm just curious to hear his side of it," Klinsmann said.

Beasley, a 30-year-old midfielder who is veteran of three World Cups, rejoins the team for the first time since the Mexico exhibition. Midfielder Brek Shea also was picked despite being limited to two appearances, both as a substitute, since joining Stoke in January.

"We want to see where he is right now," Klinsmann said. "We are pretty confident that he can add another element to our group here."

___

The roster:

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa, England), Sean Johnson (Chicago), Nick Rimando (Salt Lake)

Defenders: Tony Beltran (Salt Lake), Matt Besler (Kansas City), Geoff Cameron (Stoke, England), Omar Gonzalez (Los Angeles), Clarence Goodson (Brondby, Denmark), Justin Morrow (San Jose)

Midfielders: DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla, Mexico), Kyle Beckerman (Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Roma, Italy), Joe Corona (Tijuana, Mexico), Maurice Edu (Bursaspor, Turkey), Jermaine Jones (Schalke, Germany), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht, Belgium), Brek Shea (Stoke, England), Graham Zusi (Kansas City)

Forwards: Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar, Netherlands), Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna, Austria), Clint Dempsey (Tottenham, England), Herculez Gomez (Santos Laguna, Mexico), Eddie Johnson (Seattle)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- St. Edward track coach Steve Stahl was fired Monday, two days after his team won its third state championship in a year. "I was let go. That's the politics of St. Eds," Stahl said. "One [assistant] coach complained and some parents about the way their kids were running, and it's politics.

Fired St. Edward track coach Steve Stahl. - (PD file)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- St. Edward track coach Steve Stahl was fired Monday, two days after his team won its third state championship in a year.

"I was let go. That's the politics of St. Eds," Stahl said. "One [assistant] coach complained and some parents about the way their kids were running, and it's politics.

"I'm not sure why. There's no rational reason, other than parents and politics."

St. Edward athletic director Paul Michalko confirmed the firing and said assistant coach Bill Menz will be interim head coach. Michalko cited school policy in declining to give a reason for the move.

In response to Stahl's comment, Michalko said: "We've had this same conversation when other coaches have moved on. Parents do not run our programs, and Steve is just expressing his opinion, I guess."

The Eagles won their second straight state indoor boys title Saturday. Last June, St. Edward captured its first outdoor championship and Stahl was named Plain Dealer Boys Coach of the Year. This was his third season as head track coach after seven years as an assistant. He has been St. Edward's cross country coach for 10 years and said he does not plan to return in that capacity.

"I'm very grateful for the years I was there and all the people I met," he said.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: twarsinskey@plaind.com, 216-999-4661

On Twitter: @TimsTakePD

The short-handed Cavaliers offer no resistance in a 111-90 loss to the Indiana Pacers, who were playing without David West (back) and Danny Granger (knee).

View full size Dion Waiters works to complete a reverse layup during the second quarter of Monday night's game against Indiana at The Q. Waiters managed just four points in the 111-90 Cavaliers loss. Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer  

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cavaliers have 15 games left. Nine of those games will be against teams that were in the playoffs as of Monday night.

What's to prevent a repeat of Monday night's 111-90 manhandling by the Indiana Pacers nine more times, starting Wednesday night against Miami, which has won 23 straight games?

"Heart," said C.J. Miles who led the Cavs with 21 points on his 26th birthday. "Toughness.

"Either you're going to lay down, or you're going to swing back. It's plain and simple."

It would seem to be plain and simple, but how many times have the Cavs said the same thing after yet another double-digit loss? After another third-quarter meltdown? After another team pushes them around another time?

Monday's loss was the Cavs third to the Pacers this season, and all of them have been by 10 points or more. In fact, with the loss, their third straight, the Cavs dropped to 22-45, and 21 of those losses have been by 10 points or more.

Too many of them have been like Monday night's, where the Cavs are out of it almost from the opening tip. Too many times, the Cavs seem to take them in stride. They're young, they say. They're learning, they say.

Asked if he was embarrassed by his team's performance on Monday, coach Byron Scott said, "No, not really. We played a very good team that's playing for something special, [that] came out and took it to us right from the get-go. We're going to face that in the next 10 games probably eight more times. It's more of how we react to it."

So react already. Shouldn't somebody blow a gasket in the locker room once in a while? Break a chalkboard? Throw a sandwich?

The closest anybody got to being testy after Monday night's debacle was Tristan Thompson, who finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds.

Asked if the Pacers were just that much better than the Cavs, he snapped, "Are they that much better? No. Were they the better team tonight? Yes. We play them again soon. We'll see who's the better team."

Thompson did own up to the fact that the Pacers, without David West (back) and Danny Granger (knee), dominated inside. They outrebounded the Cavs, 57-45, and outscored them in the paint, 42-26, and on second-chance points, 22-15. Tyler Hansbrough, starting for West, finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Gerald Green had 20 points, including four 3-pointers, as the Pacers improved to 41-26.

"We got our . . . kicked tonight," Thompson said. "Tyler Hansbrough got 18 and 10. He's not that kind of player."

Of course, the Cavs were without All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving, who is expected to miss two to three more weeks with a sprained left shoulder. Rookie Dion Waiters left after the second quarter because his left knee hurt. Then Marreese Speights was thrown out near the end of the third quarter after putting a horse collar on Indiana's Paul George. He received a flagrant 2 foul, which could carry a fine and possible suspension -- both at the discretion of the commissioner.

"I didn't think it was that bad," Scott said of the foul, but then he relented. "The fouling part was the correct thing to do," he said. "The way he did it wasn't the smartest thing in the world to do."

Of course the game was over long before that. The Cavs trailed after one quarter, 27-24, then were outscored in the second, 33-21, and the third, 27-17.

Miles was willing to give the Pacers their due, but he insists the Cavs are not done.

"What have we got to lose?" he said of the rest of the season. "Everybody thinks we're going to lose those games anyway, so why not come out swinging? Why not come out and try to break Miami's win streak? Why not come out and try to make some teams go back to the drawing board before they go to the playoffs? It's about us trying to get better. It's not about what they're doing. Our biggest thing is we want to compete. We've got to get some more fight in us.

"I believe in every single one of my teammates. Every single one of them wants to win basketball games and wants to get better. Right now, we're together. Right now, we can get better. Right now, we can compete. I feel like that's all that matters."

After telling veteran right-handers Daisuke Matsuzaka and Matt Capps they would not make the opening-day roster, Matsuzaka has said he'd like to stay with the organization, while Capps is mulling a reply.

View full size "The life on my breaking pitches needs to improve," Indians pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka said Monday, adding that he will accept being sent to the minors to start the season. "More importantly, my velocity can improve." Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer  

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The race for the fifth spot in the starting rotation just lost another contestant.

The Indians told Daisuke Matsuzaka that he would not make the opening day roster on April 2 in Toronto. GM Chris Antonetti and manager Terry Francona told Matsuzaka that they'd like to keep him in the organization and he's agreed to start the season in the minors.

"I have told the Indians that my intentions are to stay in the organization," said Matsuzaka, 32, through interpreter Jeff Cutler.

Scott Kazmir, Carlos Carrasco, Corey Kluber and Trevor Bauer are still competing for the last spot in the rotation.

Antonetti and Francona delivered the same message to veteran closer Matt Capps. Matsuzaka and Capps were on minor-league deals. Capps was recovering from a sore right shoulder that bothered him last season and has yet to regain his former velocity.

Capps told the Indians he needs time to consider his next move. "We expect to have a resolution in the near future," said Antonetti.

In other moves, the Indians told catchers Omir Santos and Brian Jeroloman, infielder Luis Hernandez and outfielder Matt Carson that they would not be on the 25-man roster, but they will stay in big-league camp for the time being. Shortstop Juan Diaz, outfielder Cedric Hunter and relievers Matt Langwell and Preston Guilmet were sent to the minors. Diaz was optioned to Class AAA Columbus, while the others were re-assigned to minor-league camp.

If the Indians offered Matsuzaka and Capps a $100,000 retention bonus by March 26, and they accepted, they would open the season in the minors with an out clause in June. Antonetti said there's also the possibility that they will renegotiate the two players' contracts. Matsuzaka would have made $1.5 million if he'd made the club out of spring training.

Like Capps, velocity is the big problem with Matsuzaka. The Indians have clocked him at 88-91 mph. When he left Japan in 2007 to pitch for Francona's Red Sox, he was hitting 96.

"The life on my breaking pitches needs to improve," said Matsuzaka. "More importantly, my velocity can improve. It's not where I know it can be. That was probably one of the reasons why the front office decided to make this decision."

Matsuzaka had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in 2011 and has been slow to recover. Matsuzaka said he did not consider playing in Japan or signing with another team.

"In speaking with Tito and Chris this morning, they told me they want me on this club and see me in this club," said Matsuzaka. "They see me as someone who can contribute to this club."

Thumbs up: Among the players sent down Monday, Francona gave positive reviews to Diaz, Langwell and Guilmet.

On Diaz: "He's been fun to watch play shortstop. He's a big, tall, lanky kid who is growing into his swing."

On Langwell and Guilmet: "To be quite honest, I'm still not sure they deserved to be sent down. But we're out of innings and other people are ahead of them, but today was not a demotion because they both had an unbelievable camp."

Langwell allowed two runs on eight hits in 9 2/3 innings. He struck out eight, walked one and posted a 1.86 ERA. Guilmet didn't allow a run in five appearances, covering 4 1/3 innings. He struck out two and allowed one hit.

Ouch: In the fourth inning of the 4-2 Cactus League victory over Milwaukee, Mark Reynolds hit plate umpire Patrick Mahoney in the head with his backswing. Mahoney, after being examined by an Indians trainer, left and was replaced by Jordan Baker. The game was delayed for 12 minutes. There was no word on Mahoney's condition.

Finally: Catcher Yan Gomes (right hamstring) could return to the lineup by the end of the week. ... The Indians have an off day Tuesday, but not Kluber. He's scheduled to pitch five innings in a minor-league game.

On Twitter: @hoynsie

Chris Perez, with the smallest of disclaimers, believes he'll be ready for opening day on April 2 in Toronto despite missing most of spring with a strained right shoulder.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Last spring training, closer Chris Perez said he was a bull in china shop while recovering from a strained left oblique muscle. This year the bull is coming back from a strained right shoulder, and says he's handling it in a much calmer fashion.

But the bull still has horns and some dishes are probably going to get smashed before we find out if he's ready to pitch by opening day.

Perez threw his first full bullpen session Monday since straining his right shoulder against Kansas City on Feb. 26. He threw every pitch he had, 35 in total, and said he should be ready to open the season April 2 in Toronto.

He did leave some wiggle room, which could mean he really did learn something last spring.

"As of right now, it's not even a question," said Perez. "I'll be there. There's no pain, there's no nothing, but stuff can happen. Anybody can have something pop up on them, but the initial injury is gone."

What head trainer Lonnie Soloff says about Perez's prediction has not been heard. Manager Terry Francona said, "When the medical staff says we can pitch him, we'll be glad to pitch him. The good news is, regardless of what CP proclaims, he obviously feels good if he's saying that. So that's good news."

In the last two years, Perez has converted 90 percent (75-for-83) of his saves. He went 39-for-43 in 2012 after making only three Cactus League appearances before the regular season.

"Yeah, for you guys I was fine with only three spring-training appearances," Perez told a group of reporters Monday. "I got the job done, but I said a couple of times that I was still going through spring training in April even though I got off to a good start."

On March 1, the Indians announced that Perez had a strained shoulder and would be shut down for seven to 10 days before starting a three- to four-week throwing program before playing games.

View full size "I wasn't worried," Chris Perez told reporters Monday of his shoulder strain. "You guys were. It was only a story because we had to let Team USA know that I wouldn't be pitching in the World Baseball Classic." Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer  

"I wasn't worried," said Perez. "You guys were. It was only a story because we had to let Team USA know that I wouldn't be pitching in the World Baseball Classic. If not, you guys would have had no idea. I would have just been day to day for a week and a half."

Perez threw his first bullpen session Saturday. It appears the bull forced the issue.

"They didn't even want me to go out there," said Perez. "That was just me putting in my two cents and saying I feel fine. ... It was a good test, I passed it and I was able to do a full bullpen [Monday]."

Perez said he'll come to the training facility on Tuesday, an off day for the rest of the team, and play catch to test the shoulder. Then the plot thickens.

"I think as we stand right now, I want to face hitters Saturday," he said. "I want to. I don't know if they'll let me, but as soon as possible. I need start to get stuff rolling."

The pull of the regular season has already taken hold of the Indians. Opening day is 15 days. There's a sign on the clubhouse bulletin board when the first equipment truck leaves for Cleveland.

After more than a month and a half in the desert, reality is calling.

"I'm ready," said Perez. "I want to face hitters again. I'm tired of them walking by me in the clubhouse and laughing at me. It's getting to be that time of the year. You see the light at the end of the tunnel."

Perez has been with the Indians since the middle of the 2009 season. He is intrigued by what they could do after adding free agents Nick Swisher, Michael Bourn, Mark Reynolds, Brett Myers and trading for outfielder Drew Stubbs and relievers Matt Albers and Brian Shaw.

"We definitely have a different vibe," he said.

In years past, Perez was always waiting for something bad to happen even when things were going well.

"When were the young guys going to start playing like young guys?" he said Monday. "When we're the injuries going to hit? I remember last season. Every city we went to people would ask how are you guys winning? Your pitching stinks, your offense stinks, your defense stinks.

"We'd say 'I don't know. We're up in the ninth and we win.' It was not the type of baseball you could sustain for six months and win."

Perez isn't worried about the inevitable devouring this year's team. He's just trying to get back in time to enjoy the ride.

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

On Twitter: @hoynsie

Attorney tells Miami Herald his client was "holding on for dear life."

A week after being awarded a $34 million contract, new Browns defensive lineman Desmond Bryant is being sued for trying to barge into a North Miami house a month ago, according to a report.

Isaac Bakar filed a lawsuit against Bryant on Monday, claiming his family was “terrified” as the 6-foot-6, 311-pound player attempted to force his way into the home, the Miami Herald reported. Bakar’s attorney said family members are receiving psychological counseling.

Police arrested the intoxicated Bryant for criminal mischief on Feb. 24, an incident perhaps best remembered for the lineman’s shirtless, tongue-exposed mug shot that went viral on the Internet.

The embarrassing episode did not prevent Bryant, who majored in psychology at Harvard, from receiving a five-year, $34 million contract from the Browns.

“I obviously made a mistake,” said Bryant at his introductory news conference in Berea last week. “I apologize for everything that happened, but I feel like I've learned from it and moved on.

“I think I've done enough over the years I've been in the league to exhibit that's really not the kind of person I am. I think in time I'll be able to show you guys and whoever else wants to know that's really not indicative of me. It was an accident. I've moved beyond that and hopefully everybody else will be able to.”

Bakar's attorney said his client tried to keep Bryant from bursting through the door around 5:30 a.m., as the player was returning from a nightclub, according to a suit filed in Miami-Dade circuit court.

“My client was holding on for dear life,” attorney Robert Fiore told the Herald.

The 43-year-old paving contractor, who stands 5-11 and weighs 170 pounds, held the door shut as he instructed his wife to call police, the report said. Bryant was still banging on the door as cops arrived. The Bakars have three children.

The lineman thought he was at his own home, the police report said, even though Bryant lives in a condo.

Contrary to initial reports, the attorney said the men did not know each other and are not neighbors.

“We allege that Mr. Bryant made more than a simple, inconsequential mistake,” Fiore told the paper. “And that Mr. Bryant’s conduct has significant legal consequences.”

The Plain Dealer learned of the suit late Monday night and has not been able to contact Bryant or his agent.