T25 MEN’S BASKETBALL-SCHEDULE
Duke vs UNC in Coach K’s home finale…No. 5 Auburn leads 4-way battle for SEC top seed
UNDATED (AP) — Retiring Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski (shuh-SHEF’-skee) knows the focus for Saturday’s latest North Carolina-Duke rivalry game will be on his last sideline appearance at Cameron Indoor Stadium. But he wants to see his fourth-ranked Blue Devils maintain the momentum they have built with only one loss since mid-January. Krzyzewski says his team has shown more maturity in recent weeks. UNC coach Hubert Davis says he’s not focusing on the emotion and extra attention with Krzyzewski’s home finale. He’s also trying to get the Tar Heels to have a better showing than in a 20-point home loss in last month’s first meeting.
Third-ranked Baylor has gone on a late-season charge to forge a tie atop the Big 12 heading into its regular-season finale against Iowa State on Saturday night. The Bears will know what they need to do by the time they tip off because sixth-ranked Kansas, which is also 13-4 in the league, plays No. 21 Texas about two hours before at Allen Fieldhouse. No. 21 Texas Tech is one game back, but swept the Bears and split with Kansas, giving the Red Raiders an outside shot at the No. 1 seed in the league tournament heading into their game at Oklahoma State.
Auburn begins the final weekend of the regular season with a chance to win the Southeastern Conference regular season title outright. Three other teams are vying for a share. The fifth-ranked Tigers will claim the No. 1 SEC Tournament seed if they can beat South Carolina. No. 7 Kentucky, No. No. 13 Tennessee and No. 14 Arkansas are all just a game back. If three teams are tied, the first tiebreaker for the top seed in Tampa, Florida, will be the best winning percentage among the deadlocked trio.
WNBA-RUSSIA-GRINER ARRESTED
WNBA’s Brittney Griner arrested in Russia on drug charges
UNDATED (AP) — WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner was arrested last month at a Moscow airport after Russian authorities said a search of her luggage revealed vape cartridges. The Russian Customs Service said Saturday that the cartridges were identified as containing oil derived from cannabis, which could carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
The customs service identified the person arrested as a player for the U.S. women’s team. Russian media reported the player was Griner, and her agent did not dispute those reports. Agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas says she is in contact with Griner’s legal representation, the WNBA and the NBA.
Griner, who plays for the Phoenix Mercury, has played in Russia for the last seven years in the winter, earning over $1 million per season — more than quadruple her WNBA salary. She last played for her Russian team UMMC Ekaterinburg on Jan. 29.
More than a dozen WNBA players were playing in Russia and Ukraine this winter. The WNBA confirmed Saturday that all players besides Griner had left both countries.
F1-HAAS-RUSSIAN DRIVER OUT
F1 team Haas terminates Russian driver Mazepin’s contract
KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (AP) — The Haas Formula One team has terminated Russian driver Nikita Mazepin’s contract “with immediate effect” following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The decision follows F1′s decision to terminate its contract with the Russian GP.
Haas also ended its sponsorship with Russian company Uralkali, owned by Mazepin’s father. Haas said in a statement Saturday that “the team is shocked and saddened by the invasion of Ukraine.”
Mazepin posted on Twitter that he was disappointed in Haas’ decision. He added that: “I have treasured my time in F1 and genuinely hope we can all be together again in better times.”
No replacement was announced for the 23-year-old Mazepin, who did not score a point in his debut F1 season last year alongside Mick Schumacher, the son of seven-time F1 champion Michael Schumacher.
WORLD CUP-WOMEN’S SUPER G
LENZERHEIDE, Switzerland (AP) — Mikaela Shiffrin has taken a clear lead over Petra Vlhova in the World Cup overall standings. She placed second today in a tricky super-G in Switzerland won by the unheralded Romane Miradoli.
It was an impressive return to form on a steep, twisting course for the American star in her first race after a tough Beijing Olympics. She said Saturday that “I finally just enjoyed skiing for a day.”
Olympic champion Lara Gut-Behrami was third.
Vlhova finished 18th and dropped 67 points behind Shiffrin in the overall standings. Federica Brignone (feh-deh-REE’-kah breen-YOH’-nay) sealed the season-long super-G title despite finishing more than two seconds back in ninth place.
TENNIS-FEDERER
Federer says his comeback won’t happen before late summer
LENZERHEIDE, Switzerland (AP) — Roger Federer says any tournament comeback from his knee surgery last year won’t be before late summer.
The 40-year-old tennis great gave an update on his lengthy rehabilitation to Swiss broadcaster SRF. He was attending the women’s World Cup ski race in the Swiss town where he has a home.
Federer confirmed his comments from last November that he would not return in time for Wimbledon in June. He did not specify Saturday his plans for the U.S. Open, which starts Aug. 29.
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