GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — UConn delivered the latest of its suffocating basketball beatdowns, smothering Purdue for a 75-60 victory to become the first team since 2007 to capture back-to-back national championships. Tristen Newton scored 20 points for the Huskies, who won their 12th straight March Madness game — not a single one of them decided by fewer than 13 points. UConn was efficient on offense but won this with defense. The Huskies limited the country’s second-best 3-point shooting team to a mere seven shots behind the arc, and Purdue only made one. Meanwhile, UConn allowed Zach Edey to go for 37 points on 25 shot attempts.
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Purdue's Zach Edey finished with 37 points and 10 rebounds in a huge individual effort in Monday night's loss to UConn in the national title game. But Edey's big night wasn't enough to stop UConn's run to becoming the first repeat men's champion in 17 years. The 7-foot-4 Edey is the two-time Associated Press national player of the year. And he had powered Purdue to its first trip to the NCAA title game since a 1969 loss to UCLA. But Edey was largely single-handed in this one, with only Braden Smith hitting double figures with 12 points.
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — UConn left Donovan Clingan on the loneliest island, stuck deep in the paint to wrestle Purdue center Zach Edey. Even when Edey bulled his way to shots at the rim, the Huskies refused to give their big man help, knowing the two-time national player of the year would get his points. UConn had a much bigger concern than the 7-foot-4 man in the middle: Purdue’s perimeter shooters. And, boy, did the Huskies shut them down. UConn held one of the nation’s best 3-point shooting team to one made 3 and became the first team in 17 years to repeat as national champions with a 75-60 win.
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — NCAA President Charlie Baker says prop betting on college athletes for their individual performances is “enormously problematic.” Baker spoke to reporters shortly before the men's NCAA championship game between UConn and Purdue in Glendale, Arizona. The NCAA has already pushed for states with legal wagering to ban the practice. But he pointed to hearing concerns from athletes about harassment from bettors angry with their performances. Baker says the NCAA is “kind of in the top of the first inning” on trying to find ways to manage the issue.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Forget the azaleas and dogwoods at Augusta National. Players are marveling over firm and fast conditions for the Masters. How long it lasts depends on one day of rain expected later in the week. Xander Schauffele says shots into par 5s are bouncing across the turf. Tony Finau played a chip on the 11th hole he couldn't keep on the green. Tiger Woods was out early with Will Zalatoris for nine holes. Among those who used Monday as a day of rest was Akshay Bhatia. And for good reason. He just got into the Masters by winning the Texas Open.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — If anybody knows what Will Zalatoris has gone through as he tries to return from back surgery to play competitive golf again, it just might be his playing partner during Monday’s practice round for the Masters. Five-time Masters champion Tiger Woods has undergone the same procedure several times to alleviate pain caused by a herniated disc. Zalatoris says most of Woods' advice has been about the rehabilitation process and how to be patient in the recovery. But it was somehow fitting that the two were first off the tee together one year to the day that Zalatoris was on the operating table.
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Alec Bohm had an RBI double in the 10th inning and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-3. Bohm’s hit off Ryan Helsley (1-1) drove in automatic runner Cristian Pache, and Bryson Stott followed with a sacrifice fly for the insurance run as the Phillies won for the third time in their last four games. Gregory Soto got the last three outs for his first save. The Cardinals rallied for two in the bottom of the ninth off Jeff Hoffman (1-0) to tie it. Jordan Walker scored the first with a sacrifice fly and Mason Winn’s two-out single tied it 3-all.
CLEVELAND (AP) — Shane Bieber held it together as long as he could. Cleveland’s ace became emotional when discussing the upcoming Tommy John elbow surgery that will end his season. Bieber's voice cracked before the Guardians' home opener as he talked about the decision to have the operation. The 2020 Cy Young winner was dominant in two starts before he succumbed to pain. The 28-year-old is in his final season under contract with Cleveland, which has offered him a long-term deal in the past. Bieber understands there are no certainties about his future, but he is more focused on recovering and getting back on the mound.
UNDATED (AP) — The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics has announced a policy that all but bans transgender athletes from women’s sports. The NAIA is the governing body for mostly small colleges, covering about 83,000 athletes across the country. The NAIA’s Council of Presidents approved the policy in a 20-0 vote. The NAIA is believed to be the first college sports organization to take such a step. The NCAA responded by saying it remains committed to “fair competition for all student-athletes in all NCAA championships.”
MONDAY SCORES
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final (1)UConn 75 (3)Purdue 60
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
INTERLEAGUE
Final N.Y. Yankees 7 Miami 0
Final Pittsburgh 7 Detroit 4
Final L.A. Dodgers 4 Minnesota 2
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Cleveland 4 Chicago White Sox 0
Final Toronto 5 Seattle 2
Final Houston 10 Texas 5
Final L.A. Angels 7 Tampa Bay 1
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Cincinnati 10 Milwaukee 8
Final Philadelphia 5 St. Louis 3
Final N.Y. Mets 8 Atlanta 7
Final Colorado 7 Arizona 5
Final Washington 8 San Francisco 1
Final San Diego 9 Chicago Cubs 8
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final OT Toronto 3 Pittsburgh 2