By RALPH D. RUSSO AP College Sports Writer

NEW YORK — Stories of New York City point guards have an almost mythical quality.

There are Hall of Famers and trailblazers such as Bob Cousy and Nate "Tiny" Archibald. In the 1980s, Kenny Smith and Kenny Anderson followed a similar path — from the same Catholic high school in Queens to the Atlantic Coast Conference to the NBA.

From Pearl Washington to Mark Jackson, Stephon Marbury to Sue Bird, tenacious players forged by rugged games played at the famous courts at Rucker Park and West Fourth Street are a part of basketball lore.

And while New York City high schools haven't been pumping out stars in recent years the way they used to, three of the four teams that have reached the NCAA Tournament's East Regional at Madison Square Garden have point guards with Big Apple backgrounds.

Michigan State's Tyson Walker and Kansas State's Markquis Nowell will renew their acquaintance in the Sweet 16 when the seventh-seeded Spartans (21-12) face the third-seeded Wildcats (25-9) on Thursday night.

"I grew up playing in parks with him," Nowell said. "I just want to give a big shoutout to New York City for breeding tough and gritty guards and just give him a shoutout."

The other point guard who's making a homecoming this week will only be able to watch his team at The Garden. No. 4 seed Tennessee managed to reach the second weekend of the tournament without the injured Zakai Zeigler, who blew out his left knee on Feb. 28.

"I had no doubt in my mind that we were going to be here in this situation," said Zeigler, who grew up on Long Island and finished his high school career in the Bronx. "So now that I'm back here and I can have some pizza, I feel great."

The Volunteers (25-10) face ninth-seeded FAU (33-3) in the late game of the doubleheader.

The 5-foot-8 Nowell became one of the breakout stars of this NCAA Tournament when he went off for 27 points in a second-round victory against Kentucky.

Nowell, whose Twitter handle is @MrNewYorkCityy and is @mr.newyorkcity on Instagram, grew up in Harlem, attended high school in the Bronx and went to college at Arkansas Little-Rock before transferring to Manhattan — Kansas, that is.

"I made a promise to myself back when I was in high school that I was going to do anything and everything in my power to be the best player that came out of New York," Nowell said. "So I kind of keep that edge and that kind of just reminds me every day that I wake up that I still have more work to do. Guys like Carmelo (Anthony), Bernard King and all the greats came out of New York, so that just keeps me grounded and keeps me working hard."

Ask Nowell about the New York City point guards he idolized in high school and he brings up the Mavericks' Kemba Walker, who led UConn to a national championship and was a first-round pick in the NBA draft in 2011, and the Pelicans' Jose Alvarado, who played at Georgia Tech.

Alvarado went to Christ the King High School in Queens, a power in both boys and girls basketball that also produced Bird and the Spartans' Walker.

Like Nowell, Walker started his college career at a mid-major (Northeastern) and transferred after two seasons to Michigan State in 2021.

According to 247 Sports rankings, the last top-30 national recruit to come from a New York City high school was Moses Brown, a 7-footer who went to UCLA from Archbishop Molloy, where Smith and Anderson starred in the '80s.

"Are we as good as we once was? Well, if you take away all the kids that grew up in New York that go to prep school outside of New York ... and consider them New York, yes, we are," said Cardozo High School coach Ron Neclario, the winningest NYC public school coach ever. "Do we have as many high, high, high majors? Maybe not, but we have plenty of low-majors. We have plenty of mid-majors."

Where Nowell leans into his New York roots, Walker takes a low-key approach.

"Just got to be tough. Got a different type of finesse with you," he said.

Walker was also a difference-maker in the second round of the tournament, scoring 23 points to lead Michigan State past second-seeded Marquette.

"I think sometimes the New York swagger is a very cocky swagger, and sometimes that's good," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. "He's kind of had the happy medium. He's got enough cockiness to be confident, and yet he's an unbelievable kid."

Izzo joked after beating Marquette about how Walker owed him cab ride and a slice of pizza for helping him earn a trip home.

"Got me my pizza last night," Izzo said. "I'm looking for the cab ride today."

Nowell is one of four Kansas State players from the New York area, along with Tykei Greene, Nae'Qwan Tomlin and Ismael Massoud. None has ever played at The Garden, only dreamed about it.

"I had my big brother, my father, my uncles working me out every day for a moment like this," Nowell said. "Standing here, being here at Madison Square Garden."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679536647349.jpeg" alt="Kansas State guard Markquis Nowell, front center, practices before the team's Sweet 16 college basketball game at the NCAA East Regional of the NCAA Tournament Wednesday in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas State guard Markquis Nowell, front center, practices before the team's Sweet 16 college basketball game at the NCAA East Regional of the NCAA Tournament Wednesday in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)</figcaption>
 </figure>By RALPH D. RUSSO AP College Sports WriterNEW YORK — Stories of New York City point guards have an almost mythical quality.There are Hall of Famers and trailblazers such as Bob Cousy and Nate "Tiny" Archibald. In the 1980s, Kenny Smith and Kenny Anderson followed a similar path — from the same Catholic high school in Queens to the Atlantic Coast Conference to the NBA.From Pearl Washington to Mark Jackson, Stephon Marbury to Sue Bird, tenacious players forged by rugged games played at the famous courts at Rucker Park and West Fourth Street are a part of basketball lore.And while New York City high schools haven't been pumping out stars in recent years the way they used to, three of the four teams that have reached the NCAA Tournament's East Regional at Madison Square Garden have point guards with Big Apple backgrounds.Michigan State's Tyson Walker and Kansas State's Markquis Nowell will renew their acquaintance in the Sweet 16 when the seventh-seeded Spartans (21-12) face the third-seeded Wildcats (25-9) on Thursday night."I grew up playing in parks with him," Nowell said. "I just want to give a big shoutout to New York City for breeding tough and gritty guards and just give him a shoutout."The other point guard who's making a homecoming this week will only be able to watch his team at The Garden. No. 4 seed Tennessee managed to reach the second weekend of the tournament without the injured Zakai Zeigler, who blew out his left knee on Feb. 28."I had no doubt in my mind that we were going to be here in this situation," said Zeigler, who grew up on Long Island and finished his high school career in the Bronx. "So now that I'm back here and I can have some pizza, I feel great."The Volunteers (25-10) face ninth-seeded FAU (33-3) in the late game of the doubleheader.The 5-foot-8 Nowell became one of the breakout stars of this NCAA Tournament when he went off for 27 points in a second-round victory against Kentucky.Nowell, whose Twitter handle is @MrNewYorkCityy and is @mr.newyorkcity on Instagram, grew up in Harlem, attended high school in the Bronx and went to college at Arkansas Little-Rock before transferring to Manhattan — Kansas, that is."I made a promise to myself back when I was in high school that I was going to do anything and everything in my power to be the best player that came out of New York," Nowell said. "So I kind of keep that edge and that kind of just reminds me every day that I wake up that I still have more work to do. Guys like Carmelo (Anthony), Bernard King and all the greats came out of New York, so that just keeps me grounded and keeps me working hard."Ask Nowell about the New York City point guards he idolized in high school and he brings up the Mavericks' Kemba Walker, who led UConn to a national championship and was a first-round pick in the NBA draft in 2011, and the Pelicans' Jose Alvarado, who played at Georgia Tech.Alvarado went to Christ the King High School in Queens, a power in both boys and girls basketball that also produced Bird and the Spartans' Walker.Like Nowell, Walker started his college career at a mid-major (Northeastern) and transferred after two seasons to Michigan State in 2021.According to 247 Sports rankings, the last top-30 national recruit to come from a New York City high school was Moses Brown, a 7-footer who went to UCLA from Archbishop Molloy, where Smith and Anderson starred in the '80s."Are we as good as we once was? Well, if you take away all the kids that grew up in New York that go to prep school outside of New York ... and consider them New York, yes, we are," said Cardozo High School coach Ron Neclario, the winningest NYC public school coach ever. "Do we have as many high, high, high majors? Maybe not, but we have plenty of low-majors. We have plenty of mid-majors."Where Nowell leans into his New York roots, Walker takes a low-key approach."Just got to be tough. Got a different type of finesse with you," he said.Walker was also a difference-maker in the second round of the tournament, scoring 23 points to lead Michigan State past second-seeded Marquette."I think sometimes the New York swagger is a very cocky swagger, and sometimes that's good," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. "He's kind of had the happy medium. He's got enough cockiness to be confident, and yet he's an unbelievable kid."Izzo joked after beating Marquette about how Walker owed him cab ride and a slice of pizza for helping him earn a trip home."Got me my pizza last night," Izzo said. "I'm looking for the cab ride today."Nowell is one of four Kansas State players from the New York area, along with Tykei Greene, Nae'Qwan Tomlin and Ismael Massoud. None has ever played at The Garden, only dreamed about it."I had my big brother, my father, my uncles working me out every day for a moment like this," Nowell said. "Standing here, being here at Madison Square Garden."

🏀 NYC guards lead Wildcats, Spartans to Sweet 16 in MSG

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. AP Pro Football Writer

The New York Jets and former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman agreed to terms on a one-year deal Wednesday, according to a person with knowledge of the contract.

The speedy and versatile Hardman gives the Jets and new offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett another playmaker on what could be a much-improved offense.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Jets hadn't announced the agreement. ESPN first reported Hardman and the Jets agreed to terms on a contract. Financial terms weren't immediately available, but NFL Network reported it could be worth up to $6.5 million.

The 25-year-old Hardman spent his first four seasons with the Chiefs after being a second-round draft pick out of Georgia in 2019. He has 151 catches for 2,088 yards and 16 touchdowns in his career and has rushed 20 times for 125 yards and two scores.

Hardman also adds value on special teams. He has averaged 9.0 yards on punt returns and 23.8 yards on kickoffs — with one touchdown return on each during his career.

With Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers saying last week he intends to play for the Jets this season and the teams continuing to work out details, New York has added a couple of playmaking pieces on offense.

Along with Hardman, the Jets also signed former Packers wide receiver Allen Lazard to a four-year, $44 million deal last week. The addition of Hardman made fellow wide receiver Elijah Moore expendable.

New York traded Moore and the No. 74 pick in this year's draft to Cleveland for the 42nd overall selection, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been finalized, but the Jets will have three of the top 50 picks in the draft next month: Nos. 13, 42 and 43.

One or more of those picks could factor in a potential trade for Rodgers.

The Jets still have a deep wide receiver room with AP Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson, Corey Davis and Denzel Mims on the roster, to go along with Hardman and Lazard.

Hardman played in only eight regular-season games last season because of an abdominal injury. He returned for the AFC championship game and had two catches for 10 yards and rushed twice for 7 yards before reinjuring his abdomen. Hardman sat out the Chiefs' Super Bowl victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

NOTES: The Jets announced they have re-signed FB Nick Bawden, who spent last season on injured reserve after being hurt in training camp. ... New York also made its signing of former Ravens OL Trystan Colon official.

AP Sports Writer Tom Withers contributed.

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. AP Pro Football WriterThe New York Jets and former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman agreed to terms on a one-year deal Wednesday, according to a person with knowledge of the contract.The speedy and versatile Hardman gives the Jets and new offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett another playmaker on what could be a much-improved offense.The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Jets hadn't announced the agreement. ESPN first reported Hardman and the Jets agreed to terms on a contract. Financial terms weren't immediately available, but NFL Network reported it could be worth up to $6.5 million.The 25-year-old Hardman spent his first four seasons with the Chiefs after being a second-round draft pick out of Georgia in 2019. He has 151 catches for 2,088 yards and 16 touchdowns in his career and has rushed 20 times for 125 yards and two scores.Hardman also adds value on special teams. He has averaged 9.0 yards on punt returns and 23.8 yards on kickoffs — with one touchdown return on each during his career.With Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers saying last week he intends to play for the Jets this season and the teams continuing to work out details, New York has added a couple of playmaking pieces on offense.Along with Hardman, the Jets also signed former Packers wide receiver Allen Lazard to a four-year, $44 million deal last week. The addition of Hardman made fellow wide receiver Elijah Moore expendable.New York traded Moore and the No. 74 pick in this year's draft to Cleveland for the 42nd overall selection, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been finalized, but the Jets will have three of the top 50 picks in the draft next month: Nos. 13, 42 and 43.One or more of those picks could factor in a potential trade for Rodgers.The Jets still have a deep wide receiver room with AP Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson, Corey Davis and Denzel Mims on the roster, to go along with Hardman and Lazard.Hardman played in only eight regular-season games last season because of an abdominal injury. He returned for the AFC championship game and had two catches for 10 yards and rushed twice for 7 yards before reinjuring his abdomen. Hardman sat out the Chiefs' Super Bowl victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.NOTES: The Jets announced they have re-signed FB Nick Bawden, who spent last season on injured reserve after being hurt in training camp. ... New York also made its signing of former Ravens OL Trystan Colon official.AP Sports Writer Tom Withers contributed.

🏈 AP source: Jets, WR Mecole Hardman agree on 1-year deal

By JOHN MARSHALL AP Basketball Writer

Jerome Tang took his time finding the right players to fit into the program he wanted to build at Kansas State.

They meshed just right, taking Tang and the Wildcats to the Sweet 16 in a season that started with them being picked to finish last in the Big 12.

Anchored by fifth-year seniors Markquis Nowell, Desi Sills, Tykei Greene and Abayomi Iyiola, Kansas State is heading from the Little Apple to the Big Apple to face Michigan State at Madison Square Garden on Thursday.

"To have guys who have 100 college games under their belt, there are just certain things that you pick up that it doesn't matter how talented you are that you can't gain it except through experience," Tang said.

Super seniors have had a huge impact on the teams that have made it this far in March Madness.

Nine of the 16 remaining teams have players in fifth seasons granted by the NCAA due to the pandemic. They bring experience, leadership and presence with them on these deep runs into the bracket.

"There is no substitute for experience," Texas interim coach Rodney Terry said. "They understand what type of urgency you have to play with this time of year. They will help the young guys with that."

Terry has leaned on his "old" players since former coach Chris Beard was fired in December. Texas has six players 22 or older, including super seniors Marcus Carr, Sir'Jabari Rice, Timmy Allen and Christian Bishop.

Carr started his college career at Pittsburgh in 2017, had a three-year stint at Minnesota that included a redshirt year and is the Longhorns' leading scorer at 15.8 points per game. Rice, a New Mexico State transfer, chips in 12.8 points and hit seven 3-pointers against Colgate. Allen adds 10.3 points after transferring from Utah two years ago and Bishop has been a valuable role player in two seasons since leaving Creighton.

"We've been battle tested time and time again," Allen said.

Souley Boum is Xavier's leading scorer at 16.5 points per game, helping the Musketeers reach the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2017 after stints at San Francisco and UTEP.

Jordan Miller is Miami's second-leading scorer at 15.1 points and is making his second trip to the Sweet 16 after starting his career at George Mason. Rasir Bolton has given Gonzaga another scoring option, 3-point shooting and clutch shots in two seasons since playing at Penn State and Iowa State.

David Singleton has been UCLA's sharpshooter in his five seasons in Westwood, hitting 43% from the 3-point arc. He suffered a sprained ankle against Northwestern in the second round, though the Bruins are hoping he can play Thursday against Gonzaga.

Even teams that didn't advance to the Sweet 16 had huge impacts from super seniors.

Furman pulled off one of the biggest upsets of March Madness' first weekend, knocking off No. 4 seed Virginia after reaching the Tournament for the first time since 1980. Jalen Slawson and Mike Bothwell were a big part of the Paladins' success, averaging more than 33 combined points after deciding to play together for a fifth season.

"They weren't just scorers. They weren't just really good basketball players. They became leaders," Furman coach Bob Richey said. "They learned how to bear the burden of expectation. They learned how to bear the burden of people thinking, hey, is this story going to be written how it's supposed to be written?"

The Wildcats weren't given much of a chance this season. Tang took a calculated approach to building his roster after 19 seasons as an assistant at Baylor, searching for players who would be the right fit.

Nowell, a 5-foot-7 guard who plays well above his size, averaged 12.4 points under Bruce Weber last season. He upped it to 17.1 while finishing second nationally with 7.8 assists per game.

Sills arrived in Manhattan following stints at Arkansas and Arkansas State. Greene played two seasons at Manhattan — the one in New York — and Stony Brook before heading to Kansas State. Iyiola, a 6-9 forward from Nigeria, played at Stetson, Arkansas and Hofstra.

The quartet helped Tang navigate a successful first season.

"I feel like we're trying to set a standard, trying to build a legacy for the younger guys that that's what you want to play in, the best tournament in the country," Sill said. "So we're going to keep on working hard, just try to keep doing what we do so they know what the standards are when we leave."

AP Sports Writers Jim Vertuno, Fred Goodall and Aaron Beard contributed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679505528403.jpeg" alt="Kansas State guard Markquis Nowell celebrates after scoring against Kentucky during the second half of the second-round game in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday in Greensboro, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas State guard Markquis Nowell celebrates after scoring against Kentucky during the second half of the second-round game in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday in Greensboro, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN MARSHALL AP Basketball WriterJerome Tang took his time finding the right players to fit into the program he wanted to build at Kansas State.They meshed just right, taking Tang and the Wildcats to the Sweet 16 in a season that started with them being picked to finish last in the Big 12.Four have been downright super.Anchored by fifth-year seniors Markquis Nowell, Desi Sills, Tykei Greene and Abayomi Iyiola, Kansas State is heading from the Little Apple to the Big Apple to face Michigan State at Madison Square Garden on Thursday."To have guys who have 100 college games under their belt, there are just certain things that you pick up that it doesn't matter how talented you are that you can't gain it except through experience," Tang said.Super seniors have had a huge impact on the teams that have made it this far in March Madness.Nine of the 16 remaining teams have players in fifth seasons granted by the NCAA due to the pandemic. They bring experience, leadership and presence with them on these deep runs into the bracket."There is no substitute for experience," Texas interim coach Rodney Terry said. "They understand what type of urgency you have to play with this time of year. They will help the young guys with that."Terry has leaned on his "old" players since former coach Chris Beard was fired in December. Texas has six players 22 or older, including super seniors Marcus Carr, Sir'Jabari Rice, Timmy Allen and Christian Bishop.Carr started his college career at Pittsburgh in 2017, had a three-year stint at Minnesota that included a redshirt year and is the Longhorns' leading scorer at 15.8 points per game. Rice, a New Mexico State transfer, chips in 12.8 points and hit seven 3-pointers against Colgate. Allen adds 10.3 points after transferring from Utah two years ago and Bishop has been a valuable role player in two seasons since leaving Creighton."We've been battle tested time and time again," Allen said.Souley Boum is Xavier's leading scorer at 16.5 points per game, helping the Musketeers reach the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2017 after stints at San Francisco and UTEP.Jordan Miller is Miami's second-leading scorer at 15.1 points and is making his second trip to the Sweet 16 after starting his career at George Mason. Rasir Bolton has given Gonzaga another scoring option, 3-point shooting and clutch shots in two seasons since playing at Penn State and Iowa State.David Singleton has been UCLA's sharpshooter in his five seasons in Westwood, hitting 43% from the 3-point arc. He suffered a sprained ankle against Northwestern in the second round, though the Bruins are hoping he can play Thursday against Gonzaga.Even teams that didn't advance to the Sweet 16 had huge impacts from super seniors.Furman pulled off one of the biggest upsets of March Madness' first weekend, knocking off No. 4 seed Virginia after reaching the Tournament for the first time since 1980. Jalen Slawson and Mike Bothwell were a big part of the Paladins' success, averaging more than 33 combined points after deciding to play together for a fifth season."They weren't just scorers. They weren't just really good basketball players. They became leaders," Furman coach Bob Richey said. "They learned how to bear the burden of expectation. They learned how to bear the burden of people thinking, hey, is this story going to be written how it's supposed to be written?"Kansas State still has pen to paper.The Wildcats weren't given much of a chance this season. Tang took a calculated approach to building his roster after 19 seasons as an assistant at Baylor, searching for players who would be the right fit.One was already there.Nowell, a 5-foot-7 guard who plays well above his size, averaged 12.4 points under Bruce Weber last season. He upped it to 17.1 while finishing second nationally with 7.8 assists per game.Sills arrived in Manhattan following stints at Arkansas and Arkansas State. Greene played two seasons at Manhattan — the one in New York — and Stony Brook before heading to Kansas State. Iyiola, a 6-9 forward from Nigeria, played at Stetson, Arkansas and Hofstra.The quartet helped Tang navigate a successful first season."I feel like we're trying to set a standard, trying to build a legacy for the younger guys that that's what you want to play in, the best tournament in the country," Sill said. "So we're going to keep on working hard, just try to keep doing what we do so they know what the standards are when we leave."AP Sports Writers Jim Vertuno, Fred Goodall and Aaron Beard contributed.

Super seniors lead the way into March Madness Sweet 16

By RONALD BLUM AP Baseball Writer

MIAMI — Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout had dreamed of this moment, along with millions of fans throughout Japan and the United States: the two biggest stars on the planet, longtime teammates, facing each other at 60 feet, 6 inches, the world title at stake.

And then Ohtani got Trout to swing under a slider on the outside corner, sealing Japan's 3-2 win Tuesday night and its first World Baseball Classic title since 2009.

"This is the best moment in my life," Ohtani said through a translator.

Ohtani, the two-way star who has captivated fans across two continents, was voted MVP of the WBC after batting .435 with one homer, four doubles, eight RBIs and 10 walks while going 2-0 with a save and a 1.86 ERA on the mound, striking out 11 in 9 2/3 innings.

"I think every baseball fan wanted to see that. I've been answering questions about it for the last month-and a-half," said Trout, Ohtani's Los Angeles Angels teammate since 2018.

"Did you think it was going to end in any other way?"

Watching the eighth and ninth innings unfold, Japan first baseman Kazuma Okamoto was in disbelief.

"I thought it was like a Manga," he said through an interpreter, referring to a Japanese comic book.

U.S. manager Mark DeRosa savored the matchup — except for the ending.

"I just would have liked to have seen Mike hit a 500-foot homer," he said.

Ohtani had given a pregame pep talk in Japan's clubhouse.

"Let's stop admiring them," he said, according to a Los Angeles Times translation of the video posted on the website Samurai Japan. "If you admire them, you can't surpass them. We came here to surpass them, to reach the top. For one day, let's throw away our admiration for them and just think about winning."

Japan then joined the Dominican Republic in 2013 as the only unbeaten champions of baseball's premier national team tournament. The Samurai Warriors went 7-0 and outscored opponents 56-18, reaching the final for the first time since winning the first two WBCs in 2006 and 2009. No other nation has won the title more than once.

Trea Turner put the U.S. ahead in the second against Shota Imanaga (1-0) with his fifth home run of the tournament, tying the WBC record set by South Korea's Seung Yuop Lee in 2006.

Munetaka Murakami tied the score on the first pitch of the bottom half off Merrill Kelly (0-1) driving an up fastball 432 feet into the right-field upper deck, a 115.1 mph bullet. Japan loaded the bases and Lars Nootbaar, the first non-Japanese-born player to appear for the Samurai Warriors, followed with a run-scoring groundout off Aaron Loup for a 2-1 lead.

Okamoto boosted the lead in the fourth when he sent a flat slider from Kyle Freeland over the wall in left-center for another solo homer. Kyle Schwarber pulled the Americans within a run when he went deep in the eighth off Yu Darvish.

Ohtani was Japan's designated hitter and first went to the bullpen ahead of the sixth inning. He returned to the dugout and beat out an infield single in the seventh before again walking down the left-field line to Japan's bullpen and warming up for his third mound appearance of the tournament.

He walked big league batting champion Jeff McNeil to begin the ninth, then got six-time All-Star Mookie Betts to ground into a double play.

That brought up Trout, the U.S. captain, a 10-time All-Star and a three-time MVP.

"I saw him take a big deep breath to try and control his emotions," DeRosa said. "I can't even imagine being in that moment, the two best players on the planet locking horns as teammates in that spot."

Ohtani started with a slider low, then got Trout to swing through a 100 mph fastball. Another fastball sailed outside and Trout missed a 99.8 mph pitch over the middle. A 101.6 offering, the fastest of Ohtani's 15 pitches, was low and way outside.

Ohtani stepped off the mound and blew on his pitching hand. He went back to a offspeed option, a slider.

Trout grimaced after his futile swing, his 12th strikeout of a tournament in which he hit .296 with one homer and seven RBIs. Ohtani raised both arms and threw his glove, then his cap, as teammates mobbed him.

Ohtani got his second career save, the first since a 2016 playoff game with the Pacific League's Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. He and Trout had hugged behind the batting cage during pregame workouts, then held their nation's flag while leading their teams toward home plate in single file during the introductions, Trout down the right-field line and Ohtani in left.

Several thousand fans had arrived hours early to watch Ohtani take batting practice and applauded when he hit a drive off the video board above the second deck in center.

"What he's doing in the game is what probably 90% of the guys in that clubhouse did in Little League or in youth tournaments, and he's able to pull it off on the biggest stages," DeRosa said. "He is a unicorn to the sport. I think other guys will try it, but I don't think they're going to do it to his level."

Japan gets $3 million in prize money and the U.S. $1.7 million. Half of each goes to players, the other half to the national baseball federaton.

MLB openers are March 30, the same day the season starts in Japan.

By RONALD BLUM AP Baseball WriterMIAMI — Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout had dreamed of this moment, along with millions of fans throughout Japan and the United States: the two biggest stars on the planet, longtime teammates, facing each other at 60 feet, 6 inches, the world title at stake.Of course, the count went full.And then Ohtani got Trout to swing under a slider on the outside corner, sealing Japan's 3-2 win Tuesday night and its first World Baseball Classic title since 2009."This is the best moment in my life," Ohtani said through a translator.Ohtani, the two-way star who has captivated fans across two continents, was voted MVP of the WBC after batting .435 with one homer, four doubles, eight RBIs and 10 walks while going 2-0 with a save and a 1.86 ERA on the mound, striking out 11 in 9 2/3 innings."I think every baseball fan wanted to see that. I've been answering questions about it for the last month-and a-half," said Trout, Ohtani's Los Angeles Angels teammate since 2018."Did you think it was going to end in any other way?"Watching the eighth and ninth innings unfold, Japan first baseman Kazuma Okamoto was in disbelief."I thought it was like a Manga," he said through an interpreter, referring to a Japanese comic book.U.S. manager Mark DeRosa savored the matchup — except for the ending."I just would have liked to have seen Mike hit a 500-foot homer," he said.Ohtani had given a pregame pep talk in Japan's clubhouse."Let's stop admiring them," he said, according to a Los Angeles Times translation of the video posted on the website Samurai Japan. "If you admire them, you can't surpass them. We came here to surpass them, to reach the top. For one day, let's throw away our admiration for them and just think about winning."Japan then joined the Dominican Republic in 2013 as the only unbeaten champions of baseball's premier national team tournament. The Samurai Warriors went 7-0 and outscored opponents 56-18, reaching the final for the first time since winning the first two WBCs in 2006 and 2009. No other nation has won the title more than once.Trea Turner put the U.S. ahead in the second against Shota Imanaga (1-0) with his fifth home run of the tournament, tying the WBC record set by South Korea's Seung Yuop Lee in 2006.Munetaka Murakami tied the score on the first pitch of the bottom half off Merrill Kelly (0-1) driving an up fastball 432 feet into the right-field upper deck, a 115.1 mph bullet. Japan loaded the bases and Lars Nootbaar, the first non-Japanese-born player to appear for the Samurai Warriors, followed with a run-scoring groundout off Aaron Loup for a 2-1 lead.Okamoto boosted the lead in the fourth when he sent a flat slider from Kyle Freeland over the wall in left-center for another solo homer. Kyle Schwarber pulled the Americans within a run when he went deep in the eighth off Yu Darvish.Ohtani was Japan's designated hitter and first went to the bullpen ahead of the sixth inning. He returned to the dugout and beat out an infield single in the seventh before again walking down the left-field line to Japan's bullpen and warming up for his third mound appearance of the tournament.He walked big league batting champion Jeff McNeil to begin the ninth, then got six-time All-Star Mookie Betts to ground into a double play.That brought up Trout, the U.S. captain, a 10-time All-Star and a three-time MVP."I saw him take a big deep breath to try and control his emotions," DeRosa said. "I can't even imagine being in that moment, the two best players on the planet locking horns as teammates in that spot."Ohtani started with a slider low, then got Trout to swing through a 100 mph fastball. Another fastball sailed outside and Trout missed a 99.8 mph pitch over the middle. A 101.6 offering, the fastest of Ohtani's 15 pitches, was low and way outside.Ohtani stepped off the mound and blew on his pitching hand. He went back to a offspeed option, a slider.Trout grimaced after his futile swing, his 12th strikeout of a tournament in which he hit .296 with one homer and seven RBIs. Ohtani raised both arms and threw his glove, then his cap, as teammates mobbed him.Ohtani got his second career save, the first since a 2016 playoff game with the Pacific League's Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. He and Trout had hugged behind the batting cage during pregame workouts, then held their nation's flag while leading their teams toward home plate in single file during the introductions, Trout down the right-field line and Ohtani in left.Several thousand fans had arrived hours early to watch Ohtani take batting practice and applauded when he hit a drive off the video board above the second deck in center."What he's doing in the game is what probably 90% of the guys in that clubhouse did in Little League or in youth tournaments, and he's able to pull it off on the biggest stages," DeRosa said. "He is a unicorn to the sport. I think other guys will try it, but I don't think they're going to do it to his level."MONEY MATTERSJapan gets $3 million in prize money and the U.S. $1.7 million. Half of each goes to players, the other half to the national baseball federaton.UP NEXTMLB openers are March 30, the same day the season starts in Japan.

Ohtani fans Trout; Japan tops US 3-2 for WBC championship

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Basketball Writer

Wichita State hired Paul Mills away from Oral Roberts on Wednesday to turn around its languishing men's basketball program, landing what has been one of the hottest names among mid-major coaches.

The 50-year-old Mills led the the Golden Eagles to two of the past three NCAA Tournaments, engineering upsets of Ohio State and Florida as a No. 15 seed in 2021 before going 30-5 this past season and losing to Duke as a No. 5 seed.

He replaces Isaac Brown, who was fired after three seasons as the Shockers slowly slipped toward mediocrity.

"My family and I are extremely excited about being a part of Wichita State," said Mills, who will be introduced during a news conference Thursday at Charles Koch Arena. "The rich history, winning tradition and unbelievable community support will keep us working on behalf of the greatest fans in all of college basketball."

Mills got his break in coaching when he joined Scott Drew's first staff at Baylor in 2003, working alongside future Kansas State coach Jerome Tang in helping to turn around a program that had been mired in controversy. Mills stayed for 14 years, helping to reach seven NCAA Tournaments, before replacing Scott Sutton at Oral Roberts before the 2017 season.

Mills went just 11-21 each of his first two seasons in Tulsa, but the seeds of a turnaround had been planted, and the Golden Eagles have not had a losing season since. The biggest step came two years ago, when Mills led Oral Roberts to the Sweet 16 of an NCAA Tournament played entirely within an Indianapolis "bubble environment" because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Golden Eagles slipped to 19-12 the following year before winning 30 games and the Summit League title this past season, when they were led by high-scoring guard Max Abmas, an honorable mention All-American selection.

"Paul Mills' heart for people, passion for life and approach to the development of young people and programs is energizing," Wichita State athletic director Kevin Saal said in a statement. "He aligns with Shocker Athletics' core values, facilitates a first-class student-athlete experience and fuels broad-based competitive excellence."

The hiring of Mills comes as the Shockers try to position themselves at the forefront of a new-look American Athletic Conference. Perennial powerhouse Houston is joining Central Florida and Cincinnati in leaving for the Big 12 after this season, and six new schools are due to arrive from Conference USA for the start of next season.

Wichita State, a power under Ralph Miller and Gene Smithson in the 1960s, returned to prominence when Mark Turgeon took over in 2000. But it was under Gregg Marshall, who resigned in November 2020 amid allegations of verbal and physical abuse of players, that it began to soar. The Shockers advanced to the Final Four in 2013, finished the regular season unbeaten the following year and at one point went to seven consecutive NCAA Tournaments.

Brown, who was Marshall's top recruiter, led them back to the NCAA Tournament in his first year. But the Shockers were just 15-13 last year and 17-15 this past season, leading Saal to decide that a coaching change was necessary.

Turns out the answer Saal was looking for was just a few hours south at Oral Roberts.

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Basketball WriterWichita State hired Paul Mills away from Oral Roberts on Wednesday to turn around its languishing men's basketball program, landing what has been one of the hottest names among mid-major coaches.The 50-year-old Mills led the the Golden Eagles to two of the past three NCAA Tournaments, engineering upsets of Ohio State and Florida as a No. 15 seed in 2021 before going 30-5 this past season and losing to Duke as a No. 5 seed.He replaces Isaac Brown, who was fired after three seasons as the Shockers slowly slipped toward mediocrity."My family and I are extremely excited about being a part of Wichita State," said Mills, who will be introduced during a news conference Thursday at Charles Koch Arena. "The rich history, winning tradition and unbelievable community support will keep us working on behalf of the greatest fans in all of college basketball."Mills got his break in coaching when he joined Scott Drew's first staff at Baylor in 2003, working alongside future Kansas State coach Jerome Tang in helping to turn around a program that had been mired in controversy. Mills stayed for 14 years, helping to reach seven NCAA Tournaments, before replacing Scott Sutton at Oral Roberts before the 2017 season.Mills went just 11-21 each of his first two seasons in Tulsa, but the seeds of a turnaround had been planted, and the Golden Eagles have not had a losing season since. The biggest step came two years ago, when Mills led Oral Roberts to the Sweet 16 of an NCAA Tournament played entirely within an Indianapolis "bubble environment" because of the COVID-19 pandemic.The Golden Eagles slipped to 19-12 the following year before winning 30 games and the Summit League title this past season, when they were led by high-scoring guard Max Abmas, an honorable mention All-American selection."Paul Mills' heart for people, passion for life and approach to the development of young people and programs is energizing," Wichita State athletic director Kevin Saal said in a statement. "He aligns with Shocker Athletics' core values, facilitates a first-class student-athlete experience and fuels broad-based competitive excellence."The hiring of Mills comes as the Shockers try to position themselves at the forefront of a new-look American Athletic Conference. Perennial powerhouse Houston is joining Central Florida and Cincinnati in leaving for the Big 12 after this season, and six new schools are due to arrive from Conference USA for the start of next season.Wichita State, a power under Ralph Miller and Gene Smithson in the 1960s, returned to prominence when Mark Turgeon took over in 2000. But it was under Gregg Marshall, who resigned in November 2020 amid allegations of verbal and physical abuse of players, that it began to soar. The Shockers advanced to the Final Four in 2013, finished the regular season unbeaten the following year and at one point went to seven consecutive NCAA Tournaments.Brown, who was Marshall's top recruiter, led them back to the NCAA Tournament in his first year. But the Shockers were just 15-13 last year and 17-15 this past season, leading Saal to decide that a coaching change was necessary.Turns out the answer Saal was looking for was just a few hours south at Oral Roberts.

Wichita State hires ORU's Paul Mills to lead hoops program

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679503357433.jpeg" alt="Salina Liberty asks fans to pack the bus.jpeg" />
 <figcaption>Salina Liberty asks fans to pack the bus.jpeg</figcaption>
 </figure>

Salina Liberty wants fans to pack the bus for game in Topeka

MANHATTAN –&nbsp;K-State used a pair of decisive runs in the first half to down Wyoming, 71-55, on Tuesday night in the second round of the 2023 Postseason WNIT at Bramlage Coliseum.

The Wildcats have won 21 straight home games against non-conference opponents.

K-State (19-16) was led by the trio of Serena Sundell, Gabby Gregory and Brylee Glenn as the group combined for 49 of K-State’s 71 points. Sundell led all scorers with 20 points on 5-of-6 shooting and a 9-of-10 effort from the foul line. Sundell’s nine made free throws were the second-most in a WNIT game in school history. The sophomore from Maryville, Missouri, also tallied five assists and three steals.

Gregory notched 19 points on 6-of-11 shooting and a 5-of-7 performance from the free throw line to go along with five rebounds and four assists.

Brylee Glenn recorded 10 points including a 7-of-8 effort from the charity stripe and also hauled in five rebounds.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679451619371.png" alt="Serena Sundell. Photo courtesy&nbsp;<a href="http://kstatesports.com">kstatesports.com</a>" />
 <figcaption>Serena Sundell. Photo courtesy&nbsp;<a href="http://kstatesports.com">kstatesports.com</a></figcaption>
 </figure>K-State SportsMANHATTAN –&nbsp;K-State used a pair of decisive runs in the first half to down Wyoming, 71-55, on Tuesday night in the second round of the 2023 Postseason WNIT at Bramlage Coliseum. The Wildcats have won 21 straight home games against non-conference opponents.K-State (19-16) was led by the trio of Serena Sundell, Gabby Gregory and Brylee Glenn as the group combined for 49 of K-State’s 71 points. Sundell led all scorers with 20 points on 5-of-6 shooting and a 9-of-10 effort from the foul line. Sundell’s nine made free throws were the second-most in a WNIT game in school history. The sophomore from Maryville, Missouri, also tallied five assists and three steals.Gregory notched 19 points on 6-of-11 shooting and a 5-of-7 performance from the free throw line to go along with five rebounds and four assists.Brylee Glenn recorded 10 points including a 7-of-8 effort from the charity stripe and also hauled in five rebounds.

K-State powers past Wyoming into WNIT Super 16

KANSAS CITY&nbsp;— The Kansas City Current have signed three of the team’s 2023 NWSL Draft selections to their first professional contracts as the first week of the regular season begins. 

Defender Gabrielle Robinson, selected in the second round (No. 15 overall), signed through 2023 with an option for 2024, while fellow second-round pick (No. 18 overall) Jordan Silkowitz is signed through 2024. Midfielder Rylan Childers (fourth round, No. 42 overall) is signed through the 2023 season.

“We have been impressed with what all three players have done so far in preseason,” said general manager Camille Ashton. “They are a great fit culturally and we are excited to see how they continue to develop in KC.”

No. 24 Gabrielle Robinson, defender –&nbsp;Robinson was the first selection for the Current in the second round of the 2023 NWSL draft. She was a four-year starter at the University of West Virginia, playing and starting in 78 games for the Mountaineers from 2019-2022. The 2019 WVU Defensive Player of the Year helped lead her team to a Big XII Championship in 2022. In four years anchoring the West Virginia backline, Robinson also added two goals and three assists to the score line.

No. 29 Jordan Silkowitz, goalkeeper –&nbsp;The first player to be drafted into the NWSL out of Iowa State, Silkowitz is the first goalkeeper ever drafted by the Current. Although she started her collegiate career as a Big 10 All-Freshman Team goalkeeper at Ohio State University, she transferred to Iowa State in 2020 where she started all 43 games she was available for over the next three years. Silkowitz finished with 324 career saves for the Cyclones, fifth all-time for the school.

No. 6 Rylan Childers, midfielder –&nbsp;Childers grew up in Grain Valley, Missouri, just outside of Kansas City. Originally starting her collegiate career at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, she set a school record with 11 goals and 14 assists as a freshman, then followed that up by being named the WAC Offensive Player of the Year. Childers transferred to the University of Kansas for her Junior season and made an immediate impact, leading the Jayhawks in goals that first season. She started every game (52) for Kansas over the next three seasons and finished her time in Lawrence with 14 goals and 11 assists.

The full Kansas City Current roster that will begin the 2023 season features 24 players, including 14 from the 2022 roster that advanced to the NWSL Championship match in Oct. Midfielders Claire Lavogez, Sam Mewis and defender Mallory Weber remain on the Season Ending Injury (SEI) list from last season, although their status is subject to change as their recovery progresses.

2023 Kansas City Current Roster&nbsp; Goalkeepers (3):&nbsp;Adrianna ‘AD’ Franch, Cassie Miller, Jordan Silkowitz

Defenders (9):&nbsp;Elizabeth Ball, Kate Del Fava, Hanna Glas (INT), Alex Loera, Hailie Mace, Addisyn Merrick, Gabby Robinson, Izzy Rodriguez, Mallory Weber (SEI), Jenna Winebrenner&nbsp;

Midfielders (7):&nbsp;Rylan Childers, Chardonnay Curran, Debinha, Vanessa DiBernardo, Morgan Gautrat, Lo’eau LaBonta, Claire Lavogez (SEI), Sam Mewis (SEI), Desiree Scott

Forwards (5):&nbsp;Michelle Cooper, Kristen Hamilton, Cece Kizer, Mimmi Larsson (INT), Alexa Spaanstra&nbsp;

SEI – Season Ending Injury list INT – International Player

Kansas City CurrentKANSAS CITY&nbsp;— The Kansas City Current have signed three of the team’s 2023 NWSL Draft selections to their first professional contracts as the first week of the regular season begins. Defender Gabrielle Robinson, selected in the second round (No. 15 overall), signed through 2023 with an option for 2024, while fellow second-round pick (No. 18 overall) Jordan Silkowitz is signed through 2024. Midfielder Rylan Childers (fourth round, No. 42 overall) is signed through the 2023 season.“We have been impressed with what all three players have done so far in preseason,” said general manager Camille Ashton. “They are a great fit culturally and we are excited to see how they continue to develop in KC.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679449499777.jpeg" alt="Gabrielle Robinson. Photos courtesy Kansas City Current" />
 <figcaption>Gabrielle Robinson. Photos courtesy Kansas City Current</figcaption>
 </figure>No. 24 Gabrielle Robinson, defender –&nbsp;Robinson was the first selection for the Current in the second round of the 2023 NWSL draft. She was a four-year starter at the University of West Virginia, playing and starting in 78 games for the Mountaineers from 2019-2022. The 2019 WVU Defensive Player of the Year helped lead her team to a Big XII Championship in 2022. In four years anchoring the West Virginia backline, Robinson also added two goals and three assists to the score line.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679449589841.jpeg" alt="Jordan Silkowitz" />
 <figcaption>Jordan Silkowitz</figcaption>
 </figure>No. 29 Jordan Silkowitz, goalkeeper –&nbsp;The first player to be drafted into the NWSL out of Iowa State, Silkowitz is the first goalkeeper ever drafted by the Current. Although she started her collegiate career as a Big 10 All-Freshman Team goalkeeper at Ohio State University, she transferred to Iowa State in 2020 where she started all 43 games she was available for over the next three years. Silkowitz finished with 324 career saves for the Cyclones, fifth all-time for the school.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679449663773.jpeg" alt="Rylan Childers" />
 <figcaption>Rylan Childers</figcaption>
 </figure>No. 6 Rylan Childers, midfielder –&nbsp;Childers grew up in Grain Valley, Missouri, just outside of Kansas City. Originally starting her collegiate career at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, she set a school record with 11 goals and 14 assists as a freshman, then followed that up by being named the WAC Offensive Player of the Year. Childers transferred to the University of Kansas for her Junior season and made an immediate impact, leading the Jayhawks in goals that first season. She started every game (52) for Kansas over the next three seasons and finished her time in Lawrence with 14 goals and 11 assists.The full Kansas City Current roster that will begin the 2023 season features 24 players, including 14 from the 2022 roster that advanced to the NWSL Championship match in Oct. Midfielders Claire Lavogez, Sam Mewis and defender Mallory Weber remain on the Season Ending Injury (SEI) list from last season, although their status is subject to change as their recovery progresses.2023 Kansas City Current Roster&nbsp; Goalkeepers (3):&nbsp;Adrianna ‘AD’ Franch, Cassie Miller, Jordan SilkowitzDefenders (9):&nbsp;Elizabeth Ball, Kate Del Fava, Hanna Glas (INT), Alex Loera, Hailie Mace, Addisyn Merrick, Gabby Robinson, Izzy Rodriguez, Mallory Weber (SEI), Jenna Winebrenner&nbsp;Midfielders (7):&nbsp;Rylan Childers, Chardonnay Curran, Debinha, Vanessa DiBernardo, Morgan Gautrat, Lo’eau LaBonta, Claire Lavogez (SEI), Sam Mewis (SEI), Desiree ScottForwards (5):&nbsp;Michelle Cooper, Kristen Hamilton, Cece Kizer, Mimmi Larsson (INT), Alexa Spaanstra&nbsp;SEI – Season Ending Injury list INT – International Player

KC Current sign three draft picks; season to begin Saturday

STERLING – The Kansas Wesleyan men's tennis team was not going to let weather get in the way of a third straight Kansas Conference match. For the first time in three tries, the Coyotes played their KCAC opener, coming away with a 5-2 win over Sterling on Monday.

The Coyotes tried to play the conference opener twice last week, against McPherson and Oklahoma Wesleyan, but both matches were postponed due to inclement weather.

Wesleyan (3-5, 1-0 KCAC) won the doubles point taking two of three matches. At No. 1,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/24/8/13541">Bryce Ware</a>&nbsp;(SO/Amarillo, Texas) and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/24/8/13543">Garrison Wright</a>&nbsp;(SO/Maize, Kan.) beat Antonio Paredes and Angel Marin 6-2; and at No. 3&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/24/8/13984">Collin Phelps</a>&nbsp;(FR/Salina, Kan.) and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/24/8/13991">Jack Hanson</a>&nbsp;(FR/Edmond, Okla.) beat Zack Hash and Jayce Blede 6-4. Sterling got a win at No. 2 as Pedro Filipoff and Esteban Rocha beat&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/24/8/13542">Alex Sherer</a>&nbsp;(SO/Rossville, Kan.) and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/24/8/13992">Adam Hanson</a>&nbsp;(FR/Edmond, Okla.) 7-6 in a tiebreak that went 8-4 in favor of Sterling.

The Coyotes claimed four of six singles matches.

Ware beat Paredes 6-4, 6-2; Wright beat Marin 7-6, 6-0; Phelps beat Santiago Quintero 6-3, 2-6, 6-3; and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/24/8/13545">Luke Craft</a>&nbsp;(SO/Manhattan, Kan.) beat Hunter Lee 6-1, 6-3.

Sterling got wins as Felipoff beat Sherer 6-3, 6-2; and Rocha beat&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/24/8/13992">Adam Hanson</a>&nbsp;6-4, 7-6.

The Coyotes are back in action on Saturday, heading to Wichita to take on Friends.

KWU Sports InformationSTERLING – The Kansas Wesleyan men's tennis team was not going to let weather get in the way of a third straight Kansas Conference match. For the first time in three tries, the Coyotes played their KCAC opener, coming away with a 5-2 win over Sterling on Monday.The Coyotes tried to play the conference opener twice last week, against McPherson and Oklahoma Wesleyan, but both matches were postponed due to inclement weather.Wesleyan (3-5, 1-0 KCAC) won the doubles point taking two of three matches. At No. 1,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/24/8/13541">Bryce Ware</a>&nbsp;(SO/Amarillo, Texas) and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/24/8/13543">Garrison Wright</a>&nbsp;(SO/Maize, Kan.) beat Antonio Paredes and Angel Marin 6-2; and at No. 3&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/24/8/13984">Collin Phelps</a>&nbsp;(FR/Salina, Kan.) and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/24/8/13991">Jack Hanson</a>&nbsp;(FR/Edmond, Okla.) beat Zack Hash and Jayce Blede 6-4. Sterling got a win at No. 2 as Pedro Filipoff and Esteban Rocha beat&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/24/8/13542">Alex Sherer</a>&nbsp;(SO/Rossville, Kan.) and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/24/8/13992">Adam Hanson</a>&nbsp;(FR/Edmond, Okla.) 7-6 in a tiebreak that went 8-4 in favor of Sterling.The Coyotes claimed four of six singles matches.Ware beat Paredes 6-4, 6-2; Wright beat Marin 7-6, 6-0; Phelps beat Santiago Quintero 6-3, 2-6, 6-3; and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/24/8/13545">Luke Craft</a>&nbsp;(SO/Manhattan, Kan.) beat Hunter Lee 6-1, 6-3.Sterling got wins as Felipoff beat Sherer 6-3, 6-2; and Rocha beat&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/24/8/13992">Adam Hanson</a>&nbsp;6-4, 7-6.The Coyotes are back in action on Saturday, heading to Wichita to take on Friends.

KWU men's tennis opens conference play with win over Sterling 

ATLANTA&nbsp;–&nbsp;Kansas redshirt junior Jalen Wilson has been named one of four finalists for the 2023 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Tuesday. Wilson is looking to become the third Jayhawk to win the Naismith Trophy, joining Danny Manning (1988) and Frank Mason III (2017). Joining Wilson as finalists are Zach Edey (Purdue), Trayce Jackson-Davis (Indiana) and Drew Timme (Gonzaga). The Naismith Trophy will be announced Sunday, April 2, at a brunch in Houston along with the Naismith Coach of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards. Also honored at the awards brunch will be the Outstanding Contributor to Women’s Basketball, which will be Chris Plonsky of Texas, and Outstanding Contributor to Men’s Basketball, which will be former Kansas men’s basketball coach Roy Williams.&nbsp; Wilson will be Kansas’ 32nd&nbsp;all-time Consensus All-America First Team honoree. The unanimous Big 12 Player of the Year and All-Big 12 First Team selection, Wilson leads the Big 12 in scoring at 20.1 points per game, rebounds at 8.3 and double-doubles with 12. The Denton, Texas, forward posted three 30-point performances and had 22 games of 20 or more points scored this season, including each of his last seven contests. Wilson is the seventh player in Big 12 history to lead the league in scoring and rebounding in the same season, including the fourth Jayhawk to earn the distinction. On nearly every national player of the year watch list, Wilson is just the 10th player in Kansas men’s basketball history to record 1,400-plus career points and 800-plus career rebounds and the first since Perry Ellis (2013-16). Wilson’s 1,475 points rank 27th on the KU career list and his 802 rebounds are 14th in school history. Wilson’s 28 career double-doubles are ninth on the KU all-time list. Under head coach Bill Self, Wilson marks the ninth time a Kansas player to be named a Naismith Trophy finalist joining Wayne Simien (2004 and 2005), Sherron Collins (2010), Thomas Robinson (2012), Mason (2017), Devonte’ Graham (2018), Udoka Azubuike (2020) and Ochai Agbaji (2022). Once again, this year fans will have a say in the determining the Naismith Trophy winner. Starting March 21 fans can visit&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3846a6408b9536a51afeabac1&amp;id=92423dbb60&amp;e=42e2e56024" target="_blank">www.naismithfanvote.com</a>&nbsp;or on Twitter (@MarchMadness) and @naismithtrophy) to cast their ballot for one of the four Naismith Trophy finalists. Voting ends at 12 p.m. EDT on March 28 and fans are limited to one vote per day.&nbsp;The fan vote will account for 5% of the total vote. Kansas concluded its season with a 28-8 (13-5 Big 12) record. KU won its 21st Big 12 and its NCAA record 64th all-time league regular-season title. Under Self, the Jayhawks have won 17 Big 12 titles in his 20 seasons on the KU sidelines. Additionally, Kansas was ranked in the Associated Press Top 10 in every poll in 2022-23 and ended No. 4 in the AP final poll of the season. Over the last two seasons, Kansas has been ranked in the AP Top 10 in each of the last 38 polls. Jalen Wilson 2022-23 Honors Naismith Men’s College Player of the Year finalist (1 of 4) Consensus All-America First Team (to be named, meets all criteria) USBWA All-America First Team NABC All-America First Team Associated Press All-America First Team USBWA All-District VI Player of the Year USBWA All-District VI Team NABC All-District 8 First Team Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team Julius Erving Award Finalist (1 of 5) The Sporting News All-America First Team Big 12 Player of the Year (unanimous selection) All-Big 12 First Team (unanimous selection) Wooden Award Final Ballot (1 of 15) Oscar Robertson Trophy Late Season Watch List (1 of 15) Big 12 Player of the Week (12.5.22) Battle 4 Atlantis All-Tournament Team Preseason All-Big 12 Team NABC Division I Player of the Year Watch List (1 of 20)&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679447601907.jpeg" alt="Jalen Wilson. Photo courtesy <a href="http://kuathletics.com">kuathletics.com</a>" />
 <figcaption>Jalen Wilson. Photo courtesy <a href="http://kuathletics.com">kuathletics.com</a></figcaption>
 </figure>KU AthleticsATLANTA&nbsp;–&nbsp;Kansas redshirt junior Jalen Wilson has been named one of four finalists for the 2023 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Tuesday. Wilson is looking to become the third Jayhawk to win the Naismith Trophy, joining Danny Manning (1988) and Frank Mason III (2017). Joining Wilson as finalists are Zach Edey (Purdue), Trayce Jackson-Davis (Indiana) and Drew Timme (Gonzaga). The Naismith Trophy will be announced Sunday, April 2, at a brunch in Houston along with the Naismith Coach of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards. Also honored at the awards brunch will be the Outstanding Contributor to Women’s Basketball, which will be Chris Plonsky of Texas, and Outstanding Contributor to Men’s Basketball, which will be former Kansas men’s basketball coach Roy Williams.&nbsp; Wilson will be Kansas’ 32nd&nbsp;all-time Consensus All-America First Team honoree. The unanimous Big 12 Player of the Year and All-Big 12 First Team selection, Wilson leads the Big 12 in scoring at 20.1 points per game, rebounds at 8.3 and double-doubles with 12. The Denton, Texas, forward posted three 30-point performances and had 22 games of 20 or more points scored this season, including each of his last seven contests. Wilson is the seventh player in Big 12 history to lead the league in scoring and rebounding in the same season, including the fourth Jayhawk to earn the distinction. On nearly every national player of the year watch list, Wilson is just the 10th player in Kansas men’s basketball history to record 1,400-plus career points and 800-plus career rebounds and the first since Perry Ellis (2013-16). Wilson’s 1,475 points rank 27th on the KU career list and his 802 rebounds are 14th in school history. Wilson’s 28 career double-doubles are ninth on the KU all-time list. Under head coach Bill Self, Wilson marks the ninth time a Kansas player to be named a Naismith Trophy finalist joining Wayne Simien (2004 and 2005), Sherron Collins (2010), Thomas Robinson (2012), Mason (2017), Devonte’ Graham (2018), Udoka Azubuike (2020) and Ochai Agbaji (2022). Once again, this year fans will have a say in the determining the Naismith Trophy winner. Starting March 21 fans can visit&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3846a6408b9536a51afeabac1&amp;id=92423dbb60&amp;e=42e2e56024" target="_blank">www.naismithfanvote.com</a>&nbsp;or on Twitter (@MarchMadness) and @naismithtrophy) to cast their ballot for one of the four Naismith Trophy finalists. Voting ends at 12 p.m. EDT on March 28 and fans are limited to one vote per day.&nbsp;The fan vote will account for 5% of the total vote. Kansas concluded its season with a 28-8 (13-5 Big 12) record. KU won its 21st Big 12 and its NCAA record 64th all-time league regular-season title. Under Self, the Jayhawks have won 17 Big 12 titles in his 20 seasons on the KU sidelines. Additionally, Kansas was ranked in the Associated Press Top 10 in every poll in 2022-23 and ended No. 4 in the AP final poll of the season. Over the last two seasons, Kansas has been ranked in the AP Top 10 in each of the last 38 polls. Jalen Wilson 2022-23 Honors Naismith Men’s College Player of the Year finalist (1 of 4) Consensus All-America First Team (to be named, meets all criteria) USBWA All-America First Team NABC All-America First Team Associated Press All-America First Team USBWA All-District VI Player of the Year USBWA All-District VI Team NABC All-District 8 First Team Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team Julius Erving Award Finalist (1 of 5) The Sporting News All-America First Team Big 12 Player of the Year (unanimous selection) All-Big 12 First Team (unanimous selection) Wooden Award Final Ballot (1 of 15) Oscar Robertson Trophy Late Season Watch List (1 of 15) Big 12 Player of the Week (12.5.22) Battle 4 Atlantis All-Tournament Team Preseason All-Big 12 Team NABC Division I Player of the Year Watch List (1 of 20)&nbsp;&nbsp;

KU's Jalen Wilson named Naismith Trophy finalist

STERLING –&nbsp;After having last week's conference opening matches postponed due to weather, the Kansas Wesleyan women's tennis team finally opened conference play with a match against the Sterling Warriors on Monday.

Sterling would come away with the 4-3 win in the match.

The Coyotes would win the doubles point as KWU won two of the three matches in doubles.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/24/15/13208">Michaela Crowe</a>&nbsp;(JR/Overland Park, Kan.) and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/24/15/13213">Kaitlyn Wrye</a>&nbsp;(SO/Olathe, Kan.) beat Ana Alvarez and Camila Castro 7-5 at No. 1, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/24/15/13942">Kira McGrown</a>&nbsp;(FR/Wichita, Kan.) and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/24/15/13937">Ania Bonner</a>&nbsp;(FR/Midwest City, Okla.) got a 6-1 win at No. 3 over Brooklyn Kuhn and Kaylie Fenwick. Rachel Carlson and Aubrey Anderson beat&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/24/15/13210">Eliza Camp</a>&nbsp;(SO/Winfield, Kan.) and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/24/15/13944">Kyra Nolan</a>&nbsp;(FR/Tribune, Kan.) at No. 2 6-0 for Sterling.

Wesleyan would only win two of the singles matches as Crowe beat Carlson in three sets 4-6, 6-1, 10-8; and Bonner beat Fenwick 6-1, 6-2.

Sterling would win the other four singles flights to take the match. Alvarez beat McGrown 6-1, 6-0; Castro beat Camp 6-4, 6-1; Kuhn beat Nolan 6-1, 6-1;&nbsp; and Anderson beat Wrye 6-4, 6-2.

The Coyotes will be back in action on Saturday in search of their first win of the season taking on&nbsp; Friends University at 10 a.m. in Wichita.

KWU Sports InformationSTERLING –&nbsp;After having last week's conference opening matches postponed due to weather, the Kansas Wesleyan women's tennis team finally opened conference play with a match against the Sterling Warriors on Monday.Sterling would come away with the 4-3 win in the match.The Coyotes would win the doubles point as KWU won two of the three matches in doubles.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/24/15/13208">Michaela Crowe</a>&nbsp;(JR/Overland Park, Kan.) and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/24/15/13213">Kaitlyn Wrye</a>&nbsp;(SO/Olathe, Kan.) beat Ana Alvarez and Camila Castro 7-5 at No. 1, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/24/15/13942">Kira McGrown</a>&nbsp;(FR/Wichita, Kan.) and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/24/15/13937">Ania Bonner</a>&nbsp;(FR/Midwest City, Okla.) got a 6-1 win at No. 3 over Brooklyn Kuhn and Kaylie Fenwick. Rachel Carlson and Aubrey Anderson beat&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/24/15/13210">Eliza Camp</a>&nbsp;(SO/Winfield, Kan.) and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/24/15/13944">Kyra Nolan</a>&nbsp;(FR/Tribune, Kan.) at No. 2 6-0 for Sterling.Wesleyan would only win two of the singles matches as Crowe beat Carlson in three sets 4-6, 6-1, 10-8; and Bonner beat Fenwick 6-1, 6-2.Sterling would win the other four singles flights to take the match. Alvarez beat McGrown 6-1, 6-0; Castro beat Camp 6-4, 6-1; Kuhn beat Nolan 6-1, 6-1;&nbsp; and Anderson beat Wrye 6-4, 6-2.The Coyotes will be back in action on Saturday in search of their first win of the season taking on&nbsp; Friends University at 10 a.m. in Wichita.

Coyote women's tennis drops conference opener to Sterling

CONCORDIA - Allowing big innings in the fourth and fifth innings to fall into a 7-1 hole, the Cloud County Community College baseball team would see free passes allow visiting Highland Community College to come away with an 8-6 victory at Lee Doyen Field in Concordia on Tuesday. Dropping the only scheduled contest between teams this season, Cloud County falls to 14-10 overall while Highland bounces back from their weekend series against Butler to improve to 8-16 overall. A rather quiet start to the game would see Highland retired in order before the T-Birds would turn a leadoff&nbsp;<a href="http://cloudtbirds.com/services/go.ashx/8994f2ca-847c-481f-85fb-32f9aff948bc?elinkdata=45320" target="_blank">Paul Schuyler</a>&nbsp;double into what would amount to the only run of the game through three innings with a&nbsp;<a href="http://cloudtbirds.com/services/go.ashx/275311b9-696c-4755-861e-6dcf7209f73f?elinkdata=45320" target="_blank">Gavin Roy</a>&nbsp;sacrifice fly bringing home the Bellevue, Nebraska native. Both teams would strand runners in their respective ends of the second before seeing a one-two-three top of the third by Highland as the Scotties would only be able to record one hit through the first three innings. Drawing a leadoff hit batter to begin the bottom of the third, CCCC would put Roy in motion to steal second and third over the course of the next at-bat to put a runner just 90 feet from scoring with just one out following a strikeout. Continuing their aggressive style on the base paths, Roy would try tagging up on a fly ball into shallow right field and be cut down at the plate as part of an inning-ending double play that would flip momentum in favor of HCC heading to the fourth. The one-run Cloud County lead would be erased by the Scotties in the top of the fourth as three-straight one-out walks and a hit batter would tie things at 1-1 before seeing a two-RBI single give Highland a 3-1 lead with two runners still on-base and just one out. Continuing their rally with another walk and sacrifice fly, HCC would cap off a four-run inning with just one hit to take control of the game after being held to just base runner the previous three innings combined. Finally able to work with a lead on the mound, Highland starter Ben Laird would work his first clean inning in the bottom of the fourth to allow the Scotties to get back up to the plate where back-to-back extra-base hits to begin the inning would extend the HCC lead to 5-1 and put a runner at second on an RBI double. After a walk and wild pitch that would put two runners in scoring position for Highland, the Scotties would hit an RBI groundout before drawing two walks and a hit batter with a run coming home to score on a throwing error to give HCC their largest lead of the game at 7-1. Unable to do anything with a leadoff double from&nbsp;<a href="http://cloudtbirds.com/services/go.ashx/9da1bfae-919d-4f42-a935-872104433480?elinkdata=45320" target="_blank">Karson Green</a>&nbsp;in the bottom of the fifth, the deficit for Cloud County would remain at six until the bottom of the sixth when the T-Birds would be able to take advantage of a Scottie pitching change to draw two walks that would be followed by a fielder's choice and a sacrifice fly to bring home&nbsp;<a href="http://cloudtbirds.com/services/go.ashx/47450af3-def4-46dd-916f-34d157164880?elinkdata=45320" target="_blank">Demitri Shakotko</a>&nbsp;and get CCCC back on the board. Neither team would be able to record a hit in the seventh which would keep things at a 7-2 margin in favor of Highland heading into the eighth where two-straight one-out base hits would put runners on the corners for HCC. A passed ball would bring home an unearned run and give Highland an insurance run to go up 8-2 that would loom large as the T-Birds would get out of the inning over the next two batters with back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning. With the number of opportunities starting to become more and more limited offensively, Cloud County would put together an eighth-inning rally as Roy would draw a leadoff walk that would be followed by a Shakotko single and&nbsp;<a href="http://cloudtbirds.com/services/go.ashx/c9b44af5-47b7-4896-92bb-1d27ece910cc?elinkdata=45320" target="_blank">Danny Infante</a>&nbsp;fielder's choice that would see all three base runners advance due to an HCC error to put two runners on with a run home and still no outs. Delivering a game-changing hit would be freshman&nbsp;<a href="http://cloudtbirds.com/services/go.ashx/8e5cc9e4-8ceb-4638-843c-1eed81048f0a?elinkdata=45320" target="_blank">Landon Meyer</a>&nbsp;by turning on a pitch and sending it down the left field line and over the fence for a three-run home run as the once six-run Highland lead would suddenly be down to just two at 8-6. Following a flyout and walk that would force a Scottie pitching change, Highland would manage to induce a fielder's choice and flyout to end the inning without any more damage and strand two runners for CCCC that would have potentially tied the game. Needing to keep the deficit at two to have a chance at continuing their comeback in the bottom of the ninth, Cloud County would get a perfect top of the ninth from reliever&nbsp;<a href="http://cloudtbirds.com/services/go.ashx/8add809c-e418-4cf8-bac3-63e6d106244d?elinkdata=45320" target="_blank">Cole Askew</a>&nbsp;with a pair of strikeouts and a groundout keeping Highland from putting together any kind of offensive momentum as the T-Birds would still have an opportunity to try and tie the game. A fielding error on a fly ball would allow Cloud County to put their leadoff batter aboard before a strikeout that would be followed by a game-ending double play as CCCC would never put together a true threat at finishing the comeback in the bottom of the ninth. Limited offensively to just six hits in 31 at-bats, Cloud County would see Shakotko and Green record two hits each to account for four of the six hits while Meyer would drive home a game-high three on his lone hit of the game. Seven stranded base runners and seven strikeouts would be detrimental for CCCC as Highland would only record seven hits of their own but take advantage of eight walks and two hit batters to score their eight runs despite stranding nine runners. Seven different pitchers would be seen by Cloud County on Tuesday, with sophomore&nbsp;<a href="http://cloudtbirds.com/services/go.ashx/05356628-b343-416e-8ad1-a40b2c295d84?elinkdata=45320" target="_blank">Brayden Mackey</a>&nbsp;getting the start and taking a no-decision after throwing three scoreless innings while allowing one hit and striking out two.&nbsp;<a href="http://cloudtbirds.com/services/go.ashx/45338c38-e9a9-4655-8548-ada780f1be8c?elinkdata=45320" target="_blank">Scott Rienguette</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://cloudtbirds.com/services/go.ashx/b3d5b0fd-8670-46f2-9f21-37f2ca603e61?elinkdata=45320" target="_blank">Mason Munz</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://cloudtbirds.com/services/go.ashx/4b7bf334-ef2e-44c6-8f22-3094fe4997d7?elinkdata=45320" target="_blank">Carson Latimer</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://cloudtbirds.com/services/go.ashx/1744d97a-60c9-4048-96c0-cbbbc7db7cbf?elinkdata=45320" target="_blank">Lucas O'Keefe</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://cloudtbirds.com/services/go.ashx/c6b34779-85d2-4f5c-9780-64784be85ec1?elinkdata=45320" target="_blank">Luke Schmedding</a>, and Askew would also throw on the mound for the T-Birds, with Munz, O'Keefe, and Askew combining to throw 4.1 innings of shutout baseball in their relief appearances. What's Next? Cloud County will finish off a stretch of five-straight home games with a 2 PM doubleheader to resume Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference action against Butler Community College on Thursday, March 23rd. The Grizzlies have won seven straight games dating back to March 11th following a 4-3 road victory over Coffeyville Community College on Tuesday afternoon.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Cloud County Sports InformationCONCORDIA - Allowing big innings in the fourth and fifth innings to fall into a 7-1 hole, the Cloud County Community College baseball team would see free passes allow visiting Highland Community College to come away with an 8-6 victory at Lee Doyen Field in Concordia on Tuesday. Dropping the only scheduled contest between teams this season, Cloud County falls to 14-10 overall while Highland bounces back from their weekend series against Butler to improve to 8-16 overall. A rather quiet start to the game would see Highland retired in order before the T-Birds would turn a leadoff&nbsp;<a href="http://cloudtbirds.com/services/go.ashx/8994f2ca-847c-481f-85fb-32f9aff948bc?elinkdata=45320" target="_blank">Paul Schuyler</a>&nbsp;double into what would amount to the only run of the game through three innings with a&nbsp;<a href="http://cloudtbirds.com/services/go.ashx/275311b9-696c-4755-861e-6dcf7209f73f?elinkdata=45320" target="_blank">Gavin Roy</a>&nbsp;sacrifice fly bringing home the Bellevue, Nebraska native. Both teams would strand runners in their respective ends of the second before seeing a one-two-three top of the third by Highland as the Scotties would only be able to record one hit through the first three innings. Drawing a leadoff hit batter to begin the bottom of the third, CCCC would put Roy in motion to steal second and third over the course of the next at-bat to put a runner just 90 feet from scoring with just one out following a strikeout. Continuing their aggressive style on the base paths, Roy would try tagging up on a fly ball into shallow right field and be cut down at the plate as part of an inning-ending double play that would flip momentum in favor of HCC heading to the fourth. The one-run Cloud County lead would be erased by the Scotties in the top of the fourth as three-straight one-out walks and a hit batter would tie things at 1-1 before seeing a two-RBI single give Highland a 3-1 lead with two runners still on-base and just one out. Continuing their rally with another walk and sacrifice fly, HCC would cap off a four-run inning with just one hit to take control of the game after being held to just base runner the previous three innings combined. Finally able to work with a lead on the mound, Highland starter Ben Laird would work his first clean inning in the bottom of the fourth to allow the Scotties to get back up to the plate where back-to-back extra-base hits to begin the inning would extend the HCC lead to 5-1 and put a runner at second on an RBI double. After a walk and wild pitch that would put two runners in scoring position for Highland, the Scotties would hit an RBI groundout before drawing two walks and a hit batter with a run coming home to score on a throwing error to give HCC their largest lead of the game at 7-1. Unable to do anything with a leadoff double from&nbsp;<a href="http://cloudtbirds.com/services/go.ashx/9da1bfae-919d-4f42-a935-872104433480?elinkdata=45320" target="_blank">Karson Green</a>&nbsp;in the bottom of the fifth, the deficit for Cloud County would remain at six until the bottom of the sixth when the T-Birds would be able to take advantage of a Scottie pitching change to draw two walks that would be followed by a fielder's choice and a sacrifice fly to bring home&nbsp;<a href="http://cloudtbirds.com/services/go.ashx/47450af3-def4-46dd-916f-34d157164880?elinkdata=45320" target="_blank">Demitri Shakotko</a>&nbsp;and get CCCC back on the board. Neither team would be able to record a hit in the seventh which would keep things at a 7-2 margin in favor of Highland heading into the eighth where two-straight one-out base hits would put runners on the corners for HCC. A passed ball would bring home an unearned run and give Highland an insurance run to go up 8-2 that would loom large as the T-Birds would get out of the inning over the next two batters with back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning. With the number of opportunities starting to become more and more limited offensively, Cloud County would put together an eighth-inning rally as Roy would draw a leadoff walk that would be followed by a Shakotko single and&nbsp;<a href="http://cloudtbirds.com/services/go.ashx/c9b44af5-47b7-4896-92bb-1d27ece910cc?elinkdata=45320" target="_blank">Danny Infante</a>&nbsp;fielder's choice that would see all three base runners advance due to an HCC error to put two runners on with a run home and still no outs. Delivering a game-changing hit would be freshman&nbsp;<a href="http://cloudtbirds.com/services/go.ashx/8e5cc9e4-8ceb-4638-843c-1eed81048f0a?elinkdata=45320" target="_blank">Landon Meyer</a>&nbsp;by turning on a pitch and sending it down the left field line and over the fence for a three-run home run as the once six-run Highland lead would suddenly be down to just two at 8-6. Following a flyout and walk that would force a Scottie pitching change, Highland would manage to induce a fielder's choice and flyout to end the inning without any more damage and strand two runners for CCCC that would have potentially tied the game. Needing to keep the deficit at two to have a chance at continuing their comeback in the bottom of the ninth, Cloud County would get a perfect top of the ninth from reliever&nbsp;<a href="http://cloudtbirds.com/services/go.ashx/8add809c-e418-4cf8-bac3-63e6d106244d?elinkdata=45320" target="_blank">Cole Askew</a>&nbsp;with a pair of strikeouts and a groundout keeping Highland from putting together any kind of offensive momentum as the T-Birds would still have an opportunity to try and tie the game. A fielding error on a fly ball would allow Cloud County to put their leadoff batter aboard before a strikeout that would be followed by a game-ending double play as CCCC would never put together a true threat at finishing the comeback in the bottom of the ninth. Limited offensively to just six hits in 31 at-bats, Cloud County would see Shakotko and Green record two hits each to account for four of the six hits while Meyer would drive home a game-high three on his lone hit of the game. Seven stranded base runners and seven strikeouts would be detrimental for CCCC as Highland would only record seven hits of their own but take advantage of eight walks and two hit batters to score their eight runs despite stranding nine runners. Seven different pitchers would be seen by Cloud County on Tuesday, with sophomore&nbsp;<a href="http://cloudtbirds.com/services/go.ashx/05356628-b343-416e-8ad1-a40b2c295d84?elinkdata=45320" target="_blank">Brayden Mackey</a>&nbsp;getting the start and taking a no-decision after throwing three scoreless innings while allowing one hit and striking out two.&nbsp;<a href="http://cloudtbirds.com/services/go.ashx/45338c38-e9a9-4655-8548-ada780f1be8c?elinkdata=45320" target="_blank">Scott Rienguette</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://cloudtbirds.com/services/go.ashx/b3d5b0fd-8670-46f2-9f21-37f2ca603e61?elinkdata=45320" target="_blank">Mason Munz</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://cloudtbirds.com/services/go.ashx/4b7bf334-ef2e-44c6-8f22-3094fe4997d7?elinkdata=45320" target="_blank">Carson Latimer</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://cloudtbirds.com/services/go.ashx/1744d97a-60c9-4048-96c0-cbbbc7db7cbf?elinkdata=45320" target="_blank">Lucas O'Keefe</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://cloudtbirds.com/services/go.ashx/c6b34779-85d2-4f5c-9780-64784be85ec1?elinkdata=45320" target="_blank">Luke Schmedding</a>, and Askew would also throw on the mound for the T-Birds, with Munz, O'Keefe, and Askew combining to throw 4.1 innings of shutout baseball in their relief appearances. What's Next? Cloud County will finish off a stretch of five-straight home games with a 2 PM doubleheader to resume Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference action against Butler Community College on Thursday, March 23rd. The Grizzlies have won seven straight games dating back to March 11th following a 4-3 road victory over Coffeyville Community College on Tuesday afternoon.&nbsp;&nbsp;

T-Bird baseball falls in contest against Highland

WICHITA —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/24/33/13680">Brianna Hernandez-Silva</a>&nbsp;(SR/Las Vegas) and Shayna Murape have&nbsp;earned the KCAC Women's Flag Football Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week honors, respectively, the conference office announced Monday. The two student-athletes&nbsp;were&nbsp;selected for their&nbsp;performances from March 13-19 by a vote of conference sports information directors.&nbsp;All KCAC Player of the Week honors are presented at the conference level by&nbsp;Equity Bank.

Brianna Hernandez-Silva Hernandez-Silva was huge for the Coyotes in their 20-18 win over Midland, as she threw a 16-yard touchdown pass as time expired to give the Coyotes their second KCAC win of the season and hand Midland its first loss of the year. Hernandez-Silva was instrumental in helping KWU rally several times in the game, and led the Coyotes down the field on the final drive that started with 36 seconds left. She was 20 of 28 passing&nbsp;for 212 yards and two touchdowns, and added 73 yards rushing and a score as well. This is the second time this season that Hernandez-Silva has been named the KCAC Women's Flag Football Offensive Player of the Week.

Defensive&nbsp;Player of the Week

Shayna Murape Murape was a big part in helping KWU win 20-18 over Midland. KWU's defense held Midland to only three first downs and 211 yards of total offense. She had six flag pulls to lead the KWU defense. This marks the second time Murape has been named the KCAC Women's Flag Football Defensive Player of the Week.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679444546937.jpeg" alt="Image courtesy <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com">kwucoyotes.com</a>" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com">kwucoyotes.com</a></figcaption>
 </figure>KWU Sports InformationWICHITA —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwucoyotes.com/roster/24/33/13680">Brianna Hernandez-Silva</a>&nbsp;(SR/Las Vegas) and Shayna Murape have&nbsp;earned the KCAC Women's Flag Football Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week honors, respectively, the conference office announced Monday. The two student-athletes&nbsp;were&nbsp;selected for their&nbsp;performances from March 13-19 by a vote of conference sports information directors.&nbsp;All KCAC Player of the Week honors are presented at the conference level by&nbsp;Equity Bank.Offensive Player of the WeekBrianna Hernandez-Silva Hernandez-Silva was huge for the Coyotes in their 20-18 win over Midland, as she threw a 16-yard touchdown pass as time expired to give the Coyotes their second KCAC win of the season and hand Midland its first loss of the year. Hernandez-Silva was instrumental in helping KWU rally several times in the game, and led the Coyotes down the field on the final drive that started with 36 seconds left. She was 20 of 28 passing&nbsp;for 212 yards and two touchdowns, and added 73 yards rushing and a score as well. This is the second time this season that Hernandez-Silva has been named the KCAC Women's Flag Football Offensive Player of the Week. Defensive&nbsp;Player of the Week Shayna Murape Murape was a big part in helping KWU win 20-18 over Midland. KWU's defense held Midland to only three first downs and 211 yards of total offense. She had six flag pulls to lead the KWU defense. This marks the second time Murape has been named the KCAC Women's Flag Football Defensive Player of the Week.

KWU sweeps KCAC flag football weekly honors

MANHATTAN — Jerome Tang was tearing around his property on an unseasonably warm spring day not long ago, just before Kansas State headed down Interstate 70 for the Big 12 Tournament, when he noticed his four-wheeler was running out of fuel.

So, the Wildcats' coach did what anyone would do in a small town: He steered that bad boy onto the road, conveniently forgetting that it wasn't exactly street legal, and headed off for the service station.

"So I'm zooming down and the college kids are outside. They're hollering at you, happy to see you. I mean, how great is that?" Tang recalled. "My wife was upset. She's like, 'You're going to get arrested. It's going to be on the news!'"

Tang glances around furtively, his ever-present smile growing just a bit wider.

"I can't, like, get in trouble for something that already happened, right?"

Not these days. Not in Manhattan, Kansas.

One year after taking over a downtrodden program coming off three straight losing seasons, Tang and his upstart Wildcats are preparing to play Michigan State in the Sweet 16 on Thursday night. They've already taken down mighty Kentucky and its roster of NBA prospects, and now they will face Tom Izzo and the Spartans — a program synonymous with NCAA Tournament success — under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden.

The fan apathy that reached a nadir last spring? Forgotten after eight straight sellouts to end the regular season. Chants of "Eff K-U" during home games, the epitome of a long-standing inferiority complex toward their bitter rival, replaced by pride-filled shouts of "K-S-U," much to the relief of a coach who demands 10 pushups every time his players swear.

This is a coach who can be found posted up on a purple sofa delivered to random spots around campus, from dining halls to the engineering building, so that he can chat with students going about their everyday lives.

"I mean, I'm just happy to see Coach Tang and our team having so much success," says Markquis Nowell, their All-American guard. "He's the reason we play with so much love and joy. And you know, we still have a lot to prove."

Tang kept using the term "elevate" when he was hired to replace Bruce Weber a year ago. But not even the longtime Baylor assistant could imagine how quickly, and how high, he would have the Wildcats soaring.

"We surpassed the epectations I had," Tang said in a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press. "But like, you don't enjoy this, you shouldn't be doing it, right? Our guys, our young people, our community deserves to have someone that really appreciates them and desires to be around them. They deserve this."

The first thing to understand about Tang's winding road to the heartland of America is fortunate to be here. Not here, as in Kansas State. Here, as in alive.

Born in San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago, Tang moved to St. Croix with his mother and three siblings while his father chased work in the oil industry. He was about 5 years old and playing marbles beneath a car in his aunt's driveway when his cousin, not knowing he was there, got behind the wheel and drove away.

"Drove right over him," remembers Tang's older sister, Kim. "He's lucky. He was in the hospital for weeks."

Perhaps that brush with death somehow infused in Tang his profoundly deep faith — "I believe my gift is ministry," he explains, "and my passion just happens to be basketball." Or perhaps it somehow led to a preternaturally optimistic outlook on life, which has served him well as he tries to resurrect Kansas State's basketball program.

"He treats people the right way," says Baylor coach Scott Drew, his longtime friend. "He just always sees the good in people."

Tang grew up playing cricket and soccer, and when his family moved to the Houston area, it became baseball and football — this was Texas, after all. But in 1979, while watching Magic Johnson and Michigan State beat Larry Bird and Indiana State in the title game that truly gave birth to March Madness, Tang fell in love with basketball.

It was a bible scholarship that got him to North Central College. He later attended junior college before dropping out, partly because of money, partly due to immaturity. (He would earn his degree from Charter Oak State College years later.)

Tang returned to Texas, intent on becoming a youth pastor. But when the founder of Heritage Christian Academy, Dr. Jennifer Cooper, was searching for a basketball coach, she turned to Mike Allard, Tang's own youth pastor at Green's Bayou Assembly of God. He recommended this energetic kid with a devout faith in both Jesus and basketball.

"We drove around in, like, a Cheech-and-Chong van to get places," Tang says. "It was the best place in the world."

Tang soon built the small school into a national power, pumping out prospects such as Von Wafer, who played at Florida State and in the NBA. And he was still there in 2002 when Drew was hired to clean up an inconceivable mess at Baylor.

Drew needed someone with an unflinchingly positive attitude who could recruit in Texas, and over dinner one night, Tang won him over, earning a job that Drew had very nearly given to someone else.

Nearly two decades later, inside a quiet football stadium at the end of an NCAA Tournament played entirely inside a COVID-19 bubble, Drew and Tang celebrated the Bears winning the 2021 national championship.

"Scott allowed us to make mistakes," says Tang, who has Drew's book, "The Road to Joy," prominently displayed above his otherwise haphazard desk. "I mean, we were young, so we could make mistakes. And sometimes in this business, you're not allowed to make mistakes. I'll never be able to thank him for that."

Gene Taylor remembers a moment last year when the Wildcats still had just five players on their roster, and he was rightfully nervous. The athletic director had hired Tang after a pair of lengthy linterviews, one in Kansas City and one at Tang's home in Waco, Texas, and entrusted him with a program long on tradition but short on recent success.

"I asked, 'Are we OK?'" Taylor recalled, "and he said, 'Gene, we're fine. I don't just want guys; I want the right guys.'"

The right guys turned out to be a motley crew carefully assembled during that hot summer in the Flint Hills.

Nowell is the 5-foot-8 sparkplug that Kentucky coach John Calipari couldn't get himself to call by name — "That little guy," coach Cal said — after he'd minced up his own Wildcats in last weekend's second-round tourney game.

Keyontae Johnson, voted an All-American alongside Nowell, was playing for Florida when he collapsed on the court during a game in December 2020. Most schools were unwilling to clear Johnson to play, due to his underlying heart condition, but Tang was willing to take every step and precaution necessary to get him back on the court.

Cam Carter came from Mississippi State, David N'Guessan from Virginia Tech. Desi Sills arrived from Arkansas State, Abayomi Iyiola from Hofstra. Nae'Qwan Tomlin, who never even played basketball in high school, signed out of junior college, and a pair of freshmen were sold on Tang's unwavering vision for the future.

"Nobody," Kansas coach Bill Self said, "has done a better job of assembling talent in a short amount of time."

Picked to finish last in the Big 12, the Wildcats finished third. The reward was a No. 3 seed in March Madness, where the Wildcats knocked off Montana State in the first round before toppling Kentucky last weekend.

Now, they're just two more wins away from their first Final Four in nearly 50 years.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679443663983.jpeg" alt="Kansas State Head Coach Jerome Tang celebrates with members of the pep band after his team defeated Kentucky in the second round&nbsp; of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday in Greensboro, N.C. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas State Head Coach Jerome Tang celebrates with members of the pep band after his team defeated Kentucky in the second round&nbsp; of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday in Greensboro, N.C. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVE SKRETTA AP Basketball WriterMANHATTAN — Jerome Tang was tearing around his property on an unseasonably warm spring day not long ago, just before Kansas State headed down Interstate 70 for the Big 12 Tournament, when he noticed his four-wheeler was running out of fuel.So, the Wildcats' coach did what anyone would do in a small town: He steered that bad boy onto the road, conveniently forgetting that it wasn't exactly street legal, and headed off for the service station."So I'm zooming down and the college kids are outside. They're hollering at you, happy to see you. I mean, how great is that?" Tang recalled. "My wife was upset. She's like, 'You're going to get arrested. It's going to be on the news!'"Tang glances around furtively, his ever-present smile growing just a bit wider."I can't, like, get in trouble for something that already happened, right?"Not these days. Not in Manhattan, Kansas.One year after taking over a downtrodden program coming off three straight losing seasons, Tang and his upstart Wildcats are preparing to play Michigan State in the Sweet 16 on Thursday night. They've already taken down mighty Kentucky and its roster of NBA prospects, and now they will face Tom Izzo and the Spartans — a program synonymous with NCAA Tournament success — under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden.The fan apathy that reached a nadir last spring? Forgotten after eight straight sellouts to end the regular season. Chants of "Eff K-U" during home games, the epitome of a long-standing inferiority complex toward their bitter rival, replaced by pride-filled shouts of "K-S-U," much to the relief of a coach who demands 10 pushups every time his players swear.This is a coach who can be found posted up on a purple sofa delivered to random spots around campus, from dining halls to the engineering building, so that he can chat with students going about their everyday lives."I mean, I'm just happy to see Coach Tang and our team having so much success," says Markquis Nowell, their All-American guard. "He's the reason we play with so much love and joy. And you know, we still have a lot to prove."Tang kept using the term "elevate" when he was hired to replace Bruce Weber a year ago. But not even the longtime Baylor assistant could imagine how quickly, and how high, he would have the Wildcats soaring."We surpassed the epectations I had," Tang said in a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press. "But like, you don't enjoy this, you shouldn't be doing it, right? Our guys, our young people, our community deserves to have someone that really appreciates them and desires to be around them. They deserve this."The first thing to understand about Tang's winding road to the heartland of America is fortunate to be here. Not here, as in Kansas State. Here, as in alive.Born in San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago, Tang moved to St. Croix with his mother and three siblings while his father chased work in the oil industry. He was about 5 years old and playing marbles beneath a car in his aunt's driveway when his cousin, not knowing he was there, got behind the wheel and drove away."Drove right over him," remembers Tang's older sister, Kim. "He's lucky. He was in the hospital for weeks."Perhaps that brush with death somehow infused in Tang his profoundly deep faith — "I believe my gift is ministry," he explains, "and my passion just happens to be basketball." Or perhaps it somehow led to a preternaturally optimistic outlook on life, which has served him well as he tries to resurrect Kansas State's basketball program."He treats people the right way," says Baylor coach Scott Drew, his longtime friend. "He just always sees the good in people."Tang grew up playing cricket and soccer, and when his family moved to the Houston area, it became baseball and football — this was Texas, after all. But in 1979, while watching Magic Johnson and Michigan State beat Larry Bird and Indiana State in the title game that truly gave birth to March Madness, Tang fell in love with basketball.Except, well, he wasn't very good.It was a bible scholarship that got him to North Central College. He later attended junior college before dropping out, partly because of money, partly due to immaturity. (He would earn his degree from Charter Oak State College years later.)Tang returned to Texas, intent on becoming a youth pastor. But when the founder of Heritage Christian Academy, Dr. Jennifer Cooper, was searching for a basketball coach, she turned to Mike Allard, Tang's own youth pastor at Green's Bayou Assembly of God. He recommended this energetic kid with a devout faith in both Jesus and basketball."We drove around in, like, a Cheech-and-Chong van to get places," Tang says. "It was the best place in the world."Tang soon built the small school into a national power, pumping out prospects such as Von Wafer, who played at Florida State and in the NBA. And he was still there in 2002 when Drew was hired to clean up an inconceivable mess at Baylor.Drew needed someone with an unflinchingly positive attitude who could recruit in Texas, and over dinner one night, Tang won him over, earning a job that Drew had very nearly given to someone else.Nearly two decades later, inside a quiet football stadium at the end of an NCAA Tournament played entirely inside a COVID-19 bubble, Drew and Tang celebrated the Bears winning the 2021 national championship."Scott allowed us to make mistakes," says Tang, who has Drew's book, "The Road to Joy," prominently displayed above his otherwise haphazard desk. "I mean, we were young, so we could make mistakes. And sometimes in this business, you're not allowed to make mistakes. I'll never be able to thank him for that."Gene Taylor remembers a moment last year when the Wildcats still had just five players on their roster, and he was rightfully nervous. The athletic director had hired Tang after a pair of lengthy linterviews, one in Kansas City and one at Tang's home in Waco, Texas, and entrusted him with a program long on tradition but short on recent success."I asked, 'Are we OK?'" Taylor recalled, "and he said, 'Gene, we're fine. I don't just want guys; I want the right guys.'"The right guys turned out to be a motley crew carefully assembled during that hot summer in the Flint Hills.Nowell is the 5-foot-8 sparkplug that Kentucky coach John Calipari couldn't get himself to call by name — "That little guy," coach Cal said — after he'd minced up his own Wildcats in last weekend's second-round tourney game.Keyontae Johnson, voted an All-American alongside Nowell, was playing for Florida when he collapsed on the court during a game in December 2020. Most schools were unwilling to clear Johnson to play, due to his underlying heart condition, but Tang was willing to take every step and precaution necessary to get him back on the court.Cam Carter came from Mississippi State, David N'Guessan from Virginia Tech. Desi Sills arrived from Arkansas State, Abayomi Iyiola from Hofstra. Nae'Qwan Tomlin, who never even played basketball in high school, signed out of junior college, and a pair of freshmen were sold on Tang's unwavering vision for the future."Nobody," Kansas coach Bill Self said, "has done a better job of assembling talent in a short amount of time."Picked to finish last in the Big 12, the Wildcats finished third. The reward was a No. 3 seed in March Madness, where the Wildcats knocked off Montana State in the first round before toppling Kentucky last weekend.Now, they're just two more wins away from their first Final Four in nearly 50 years."I like doing first stuff, you know?" Tang says, leaning forward in a purple wingback chair in the corner of his office, where boxes still remain unpacked a year after moving in. "Players, you ask them, do you remember your first dunk? They all remember their first dunk. Do you remember your third dunk? They don't. Do you remember your first girlfriend? My first girlfriend was Pam Hubbard. My last was Careylyen, and I married her."You remember your firsts and your lasts," Tang says, "and I like firsts."