AP Sports

Jack Gohlke makes 10 3s as Oakland delivers first true shock of March Madness, beating Kentucky

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jack Gohlke made 10 3-pointers and 14th-seeded Oakland delivered the first true shock of this year’s March Madness, beating third-seeded Kentucky 80-76 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Grizzlies sent the Wildcats and coach John Calipari to another early March exit behind Gohlke and some late shot-making by his teammates. The graduate transfer finished with 32 points. Antonio Reeves led Kentucky with 27 points. The Wildcats fell to 1-4 in their last five NCAA Tournament games. Oakland picked up the second NCAA Tournament win in school history.

The IRS is investigating Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter and an alleged bookmaker. Here’s what we know

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter is being criminally investigated by the IRS, and the attorney for his alleged bookmaker said Thursday that the ex-Los Angeles Dodgers employee placed bets on international soccer — but not baseball. The IRS confirmed Thursday that interpreter Ippei Mizuhara and Mathew Bowyer, the alleged illegal bookmaker, are under criminal investigation through the agency’s Los Angeles Field Office. IRS Criminal Investigation spokesperson Scott Villiard said he could not provide additional details. Mizuhara, 39, was fired by the Dodgers on Wednesday following reports from the Los Angeles Times and ESPN about his alleged ties to an illegal bookmaker and debts well over $1 million.

Jayhawks get friendly late whistle to advance in March Madness with 93-89 victory over Samford

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Kansas got a kind whistle at the end and Nicolas Timberlake made both his free throws to help the Jayhawks hold off Samford for a 93-89 victory in the NCAA Tournament. The 13th-seeded Bulldogs were trapping after trimming a 22-point deficit to one when Timberlake got the ball as he was streaking alone toward the basket. Timberlake went to dunk and Samford’s A.J. Staton-McCray came from behind and blocked the shot, touching nothing but ball. The whistle blew and Timberlake calmly made both free throws to give KU a three-point lead. The Jayhawks will play Gonzaga on in the second round of the Midwest Regional.

DaRon Holmes II and Dayton rally from 17 points down to beat Nevada 63-60 in March Madness

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — DaRon Holmes II and seventh-seeded Dayton staged a huge March Madness rally, closing with a 24-4 run to erase a 17-point deficit and beat 10th-seeded Nevada 63-60 in the West Region. Holmes, the Atlantic 10 player of the year, finished with 18 points, including a three-point play with 2:01 remaining that gave Dayton its first lead since the first half. Koby Brea scored 15 points for the Flyers, including three 3-pointers during a 17-0 run that tied the game. Dayton won in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015 and will face Arizona on Saturday. Jarrod Lucas scored 17 points for Nevada.

March Madness is on: How to watch and what to watch for in the 2024 NCAA Tournament

March Madness is on. The beloved annual tradition that is the NCAA Tournament has begun. Who will win it all? UConn is a trendy pick to claim a sixth overall title and become the first team to repeat as NCAA champion since Florida in 2006-07. But there are no obviously dominant teams this year.

Another early exit for Kentucky, Calipari shows his program is far removed from its heyday

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Kentucky and coach John Calipari didn’t get through the first round of the NCAA Tournament again. For the second time in three years, the Wildcats were bounced by a double-digit seed. Oakland’s Jack Gohlke made 10 3-pointers and Oakland shocked Kentucky 80-76 in the opening round of the Midwest Region at Pittsburgh. Two years ago, Saint Peter’s knocked out the Wildcats. Calipari has lost four of his past five NCAA Tournament games. While his legacy as one of his era’s greatest coaches is secure, he’s far removed from his early-2010s heyday, when he took Kentucky to four Final Fours in five years and won the 2012 national title.

NCAA Tournament Latest: NC State delivers another Day 1 upset

The first round of the 2024 NCAA men’s tournament is underway as 32 teams take the court today. The first round began Thursday, with Michigan State coach Tom Izzo getting his 56th career NCAA Tournament victory with a win over Mississippi State. Also, Marcus Domask had the 10th triple-double in men’s tournament history as No. 3 Illinois rallied for a win.

FAU’s Dusty May enters March Madness eyeing return to Final Four as speculation swirls about future

NEW YORK (AP) — Florida Atlantic’s Dusty May has been dealing with the chatter and speculation about where he might coach next since last season, when he led the Owls on a surprising Final Four run. He says it can be a distraction. But coaches need to compartmentalize. Never more so than during NCAA Tournament time. The 47-year-old May is one of the hottest commodities in coaching. His name is been linked to openings at Louisville, Ohio State, Michigan and Vanderbilt. And his eight-seeded Owls start NCAA play Friday in New York against ninth-seeded Northwestern.

Former soccer star Robinho starts 9-year prison sentence in Brazil for 2013 rape in Italy

SAO PAULO (AP) — Former soccer star Robinho has started serving a nine-year prison sentence in his native Brazil more than 10 years after he was first accused of raping a woman in Italy. The 40-year-old Robinho left his apartment building in the beachfront city of Santos, outside Sao Paulo, in a black police car after losing a bid to remain free pending appeals. A Brazilian high court ruled Wednesday that Robinho must serve his sentence in his home nation as a result of his 2017 rape conviction in Italy.

NFL retirees who say the league’s disability plan is a sham can proceed to trial

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A judge says a federal lawsuit against the NFL’s disability plan can proceed to trial. The potential class action on behalf of retired players accuses the league of routinely denying valid injury claims so that it won’t have to make disability payments. The judge said the plan’s six-member board will remain as defendants but she’s removed individual board members and Commissioner Roger Goodell. The lawsuit says the disability board favors doctors who are more likely to deny claims. It says one neuropsychologist who was paid more than $800,000 examined 29 former players and found none were disabled. An NFL spokesman didn’t immediately comment on Thursday.