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Here are the varsity games on tonight's schedule for the Gahr High Boys Spring Basketball League (only players with 2010-11 eligibility compete):
MAIN COURT
5:15, Artesia vs. Tustin; 6:05, Canyon (Anaheim) vs. Compton; 7, Brea vs. Bellflower; 7:50, Gahr vs. Poly.
EAST COURT
5, Cerritos vs. La Habra; 5:50, La Mirada vs. Huntington Beach; 6:45, Servite vs. Downey; 7:40, Los Alamitos vs. Lakewood.
The Long Beach State women's water polo team, which suffered a 15-14 "sudden victory" loss to UC Santa Barbara Friday night in the Big West Conference Tournament, closes its season Sunday at noon.
The 49ers (8-20) play the UC Davis Aggies (15-17) for fifth place in the tournament at the 49er Pool at noon.
Someone at the Final Four with some insight into the matter -- his initials are "D" and "G" -- insisted to me that an NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament expansion to 96 teams "was not a done deal" with most, myself included, figured it was.
Well, Thursday he was proven right when it was announced that the NCAA Men's Championship Committee had recommended (unanimously) that the field being expanded to 68 next year.
It was part of the announcement that CBS and Turner Broadcasting had agreed to a 14-year agreement, worth $10.8 billion, with the NCAA for the multimedia rights to its Men's Basketball Championships.
The NCAA's Board of Directors is expected to rubber stamp the 68-team expansion next Thursday.
NCAA officials said Thursday that machinations of the new format will be discussed and decided upon in the summer.
I vote for have the final eight at-large teams (and the the at-large field will be expanded to 37) play in four "opening round" games on Tuesday before the first-round games are played on Thursday and Friday.
The NCAA, in conjunction with CBS and Turner Broadcasting, just announced a new television partnership for coverage of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, as well as an expansion of the tournament field.
But, apparently, the expansion of the tournament field -- beginning in 2011 -- will be from 65 to 68 and not to 96, as had been discussed by the Men's Championship Committee and widely panned by many in the media.
The 14-year, $6 million deal the NCAA and CBS agreed to 1999 had an opt-out clause on July 31 of this year and, after negotiations (a bid was reportedly also submitted by ESPN), the NCAA agreed to determinate the old deal and agree to a new one with CBS and TNT which will pay the NCAA $10.8 billion over the life of the new 14-year deal.
The expansion to 68, unanimously agreed upon by the 10-member Men's Basketball Championship Committee Wednesday night and it will be reviewed -- and, presumably -- approved by the NCAA's Board of Directors next Thursday at NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis.
The joining of Turner Broadcasting -- by way of its TBS, TNT and truTV networks -- with CBS means that every game of the tournament (which would number with a field of 68) would be televised nationally for the first time in tournament history.
CBS has offered ``select'' games, broadcast regionally with emphasis on the games involving schools located in a particular region. Those wanting the option to see any game of their choosing have been able to purchase the "Direc-TV Mega March Madness" package.
How long is the tournament field to be locked in at 68 teams?
Still to be determined . . .
CBS and Turner will split coverage of regional semifinals with CBS broadcasting regional finals, Final Four semifinals and the national title game through the 2015 season.
Starting in 2016, the coverage of the regional finals will be divided between CBS and Turner Broadcasting; the Final Four coverage will alternate every year between the two.
Barring the unforeseen, it sounds like a pretty good day for college fans -- especially those firmly against seeing a watered-down field of 96 anytime soon.
The Long Beach State 49ers will play host to the Big West Conference Women's Water Polo Championship Tournament, beginning Friday afternoon and concluding next Sunday.
Coach Gavin Arroyo's 49ers (8-19 overall and 0-5 in conference), as the No. 6 seed in the field of six teams, will play No. 3 seed UC Santa Barbara (17-10 and 3-2) Friday evening at 5:45 at the 49ers Aquatic Complex.
At 4 o'clock that afternoon, No. 4 seed UC Irvine (12-14 and 3-2) faces No. 5 seed UC Davis (15-16 and 1-4).
The winner of the 4 o'clock game plays No. 1 seed Pacific (22-9 and 4-1) Saturday at 4 p.m.,, while the winner off the 5:45 contest faces No. 2 seed Cal State Northridge (22-9 and 4-1) Saturday at 5:45.
The fifth place, third place and championship games will be played at noon, 2 and 3:45 p.m., respectively, next Sunday afternoon.
General admission is $10 per day, for adults. Students and children are admitted free.
The Clippers just announced that Kim Hughes -- who served as their interim coach when Mike Dunleavy resigned as coach on Feb. 4 -- had been relieved of his coaching duties with the franchise.
The Clippers knocked off the Lakers (minus Kobe Bryant) Wednesday night, 107-91, to finish 29-53 -- including 8-25 under Hughes.
This has been a much tighter game than many suspected it would be.
Duke 33, Butler 32.
The Bulldogs were able to stay close despite point guard Ronald Nored picking up his second foul and going to the bench with 11 minutes to go in the first half.
Butler has done a reasonably good job, defensively, and hasn't allowed the Blue Devils to pound the offensive glass quite as relentlessly as Duke has during the tournament.
It will be an interesting second half.
And, by the way, I don't recall a championship game with a crowd quite this loud.
We're 20 minutes away from the Duke and Butler teams getting after it . . .
Butler center Matt Howard (who suffered what was deemed a "slight" concussion Saturday night vs. Michigan State) has been cleared to play.
And he will have to do more than just "play" if the Bulldogs have any chance at an upset tonight. He is going to have to play very well and keep Duke from playing volleyball under the offensive glass.
Monday night's national championship game's participants are set!
The Duke Blue Devils, following their surprisingly lopsided (78-57) victory over West Virginia, takes on the Butler Bulldogs for all of the college hoops marbles.
I just read that Las Vegas odds makers have set the line at Duke-6 points (meaning the Blue Devils are six points favorites to beat the Bulldogs).
The "Frank Line" is more apt to have it at Duke-12 to 14 points.
I just don't see how the Bulldogs are going to manage much in the way of offense against a Duke team that plays very good defense -- and will be taller, and stronger, at nearly every position Monday night.
. . . with a 10-point advantage over West Virginia, with 11 minutes to go in regulation.
Was it a great "defensive struggle"? Or just plain "ugly"?
You be the judge -- I lean toward a little of both.
But the Butler players and coaches and their legion of followers aren't complaining following their 52-50 win over Michigan State.
The Bulldogs will be substantial underdogs on Monday night, be it vs. Duke or West Virginia.
After 20 minutes of sometimes sloppy "action", the Butler and Michigan State teams are tied at intermission (at 28) in tonight's first Final Four semifinal in Lucas Oil Stadium.
If you're of the mind that the winner of tonight's second game (Duke vs. West Virginia) is going to be the national champion . . . nothing you saw in this first half gave cause for you to change that thinking.
Someone other than sophomores Gordon Hayward (13 points) and Shelvin Mack (12) is going to have to start knocking in shots or Michigan State is going to be playing in a national title game for the second year in a row.
Check my math: In my "look back at 24 FFs" column today, I alluded to UCLA winning eight consecutive titles ... of course, it was SEVEN in a row (1967-73) and eight of nine (miss 74, got 75 in Coach Wooden's final season).
Those interested in applying for the head coaching positions for varsity football and boys' basketball at Jordan High should contact the schools' athletic director, Ron Massey.
Massey said this afternoon that ``as of now, there are no teaching positions available (to go with the coaching jobs).''
Potential applicants should contact Massey at (562) 423-1471, extension 2162.
