UNDATED (AP) — A new set of rules for the block/charge call in college basketball has helped open up the game. Defenders can no longer slide in front of a driving player and expect to get a call. A charge now is only called if the defender is in position before the driving player has planted a foot to go airborne. After a bit of an early-season learning curve, players have gotten the hang of the new rule. Scoring so far is up more than two points per game across the sport and two teams are averaging more than 90. Officials also have remained relatively consistent with the calls, even into conference season.
UNDATED (AP) — The NCAA claimed that if a court barred it from enforcing rules against name, image and likeness compensation being offered to recruits it would make an unmanageable situation even worse. Those who work with the booster-funded organizations called collectives say lifting those rules will bring much-needed clarity. Last week, a Tennessee judge granted a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit against the NCAA. The association is still trying to sort out what exactly it means, but most who work on NIL deals for college athletes believes they will be able to operate more freely.
UNDATED (AP) — Iowa star Caitlin Clark says she will leave the Hawkeyes after this season and enter the WNBA draft. Clark made the announcement Thursday on social media. She is 18 points away from passing LSU’s Pete Maravich for the all-time NCAA Division I record for men or women with 3,650 career points. She broke Lynette Woodard’s major college scoring record on Wednesday. Clark is expected to be the top pick in the draft on April 15. The Indiana Fever, who have the first pick, indicated on social media shortly after Clark's announcement that they intend to select her.
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Iowa star Caitlin Clark is close to passing the late Pete Maravich as the all-time scorer in NCAA basketball history. Maravich's son Jaeson calls Clark a fantastic player who's been great for basketball. He says he will always consider her scoring mark separate” from his father's. Clark needs 18 points to eclipse Maravich's mark of 3,667 in what would he her 130th game over four seasons. Freshman couldn't play varsity basketball when Maravich arrived at LSU in 1966. He averaged 44.2 points over 83 games during three seasons in an era when there was no 3-point line or shot clock.
MADRID (AP) — Spain’s women’s soccer team is finally getting attention for its play on the field, rather than the behavior of its officials. Spain followed up its Women’s World Cup win in August with victory in the inaugural Women’s Nations League on Wednesday and this time the talk in Spain was about the great performances of the team and not about an unwanted kiss that ruined the team’s World Cup title celebrations. The kiss by former soccer federation president Luis Rubiales on the lips of player Jenni Hermoso during the World Cup awards ceremony sparked widespread outrage in Spain.
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Chad Ramey’s first two trips to PGA National as a professional were largely forgettable. He might have a chance to change that this week. Ramey shot a bogey-free round of 7-under 64 on Thursday in the opening round of the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches. He was tied with S.H. Kim for the 18-hole lead. Kim had an eagle and five birdies. They were both one stroke up on Cameron Young, Ryan Moore, Chesson Hadley, Austin Eckroat, David Skinns and Andrew Novak. No. 2-ranked Rory McIlroy opened with a 67.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies have scrapped their popular $1 hot dog nights for the 2024 season. The Phillies replaced dollar dogs on select dates with a two-for-one deal at two April games at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies BOGO nights this season are April 2 and April 16. The Phillies said the change was made based on the organization’s ongoing commitment to provide a positive experience for all fans in attendance. Some Phillies fans last season threw hot dogs throughout the ballpark.
THURSDAY SCORES
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final (17)Saint Mary's (Cal.) 83 Pepperdine 57
Final (19)Washington St. 75 Southern Cal 72
Final (23)Gonzaga 86 San Francisco 68
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Milwaukee 111 Charlotte 99
Final Orlando 115 Utah 107
Final Brooklyn 124 Atlanta 97
Final Golden State 110 New York 99
Final San Antonio 132 Oklahoma City 118
Final Phoenix 110 Houston 105
Final Denver 103 Miami 97
Final OT L.A. Lakers 134 Washington 131
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
INTERLEAGUE
Final Atlanta 5 Minnesota 0
Final Philadelphia 5 Toronto 0
Final Baltimore 9 Pittsburgh 8
Final Atlanta 12 Tampa Bay 9
Final San Diego 5 Oakland 3
Final Texas 7 Milwaukee 5
Final Houston 2 N.Y. Mets 1
Final Miami 0 N.Y. Yankees 0
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Boston 5 Detroit 2
Final L.A. Angels 4 Cleveland 1
Final Chicago White Sox 6 Seattle 5
Final Chicago White Sox 6 Kansas City 1
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Washington 3 St. Louis 1
Final Arizona 2 San Francisco 1
Final Colorado 10 Chicago Cubs 9
Final Cincinnati 5 L.A. Dodgers 4
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final Carolina 4 Columbus 2
Final N-Y Islanders 5 Detroit 3
Final Toronto 4 Arizona 2
Final OT Buffalo 3 Tampa Bay 2
Final Boston 5 Vegas 4
Final SO Florida 4 Montreal 3
Final Dallas 4 Winnipeg 1
Final Nashville 6 Minnesota 1
Final Colorado 5 Chicago 0
Final Los Angeles 5 Vancouver 1
Final Seattle 2 Pittsburgh 0