AP Sports Digest

Mon, Feb 15, 2021
AP Sports

The highlights of the AP Sports report. An up-to-the minute listing of all stories planned, including games and events, is available in Coverage Plan on AP Newsroom, http://newsroom.ap.org/coverageplan. You can also find a link to Coverage Plan on the left navigation of the Newsroom home page, http://newsroom.ap.org

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The AP's Ralph Russo hosts the latest AP Top 25 College Football Podcast. https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/idhttps-podcasts-apple-com-us-podcast-ap-top-25-college/id1138957862

TOP STORIES

CAR--NASCAR-DAYTONA 500

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Michael McDowell stunned NASCAR by scoring his first career victory in the Daytona 500. McDowell charged through a crash scene when Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano wrecked racing for the win. McDowell claimed his first win in 358 career starts. By Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer. SENT: 800 words, photos. With CAR--NASCAR-Daytona 500-Wallace; CAR-NASCAR-Daytona 500-Hamlin; CAR-NASCAR-Daytona-Penske-Problems (sent).

BKN-LAKERS-DAVIS HURT

DENVER - Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis will undergo an MRI on Monday after re-aggravating a sore right Achilles late in the first half of a loss to the Denver Nuggets. By Pat Graham. SENT: 400 words, photos. With BKN-Lakers-Nuggets (sent).

TEN--AUSTRALIAN OPEN

MELBOURNE, Australia - Jessica Pegula has reached her first Grand Slam quarterfinal at the Australian Open by earning her first victory over an opponent ranked in the Top 10. Rafael Nadal has advanced to the quarterfinals for the 13th time. By John Pye. SENT: 750 words, photos. UPCOMING: 1,000 words, photos. With Latest, Notebook, sidebars on merit.

BKC--THE NEW BLOODS

College basketball's new bloods have continued to play well while the bluebloods have struggled during the coronavirus pandemic. By Basketball Writer John Marshall. SENT: 760 words, photos.

HKN--NHL'S FIRST MONTH

The first month of the NHL season has been a bumpy one with eight teams placed on pause, 35 games postponed and 120 players landing on the COVID-19 list since Jan. 13. By Hockey Writer John Wawrow. SENT: 860 words, photos.

GLF--PEBBLE BEACH

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. - For all the stunning views at Pebble Beach that can be so soothing, Daniel Berger couldn't escape the tension when he arrived at the final hole Sunday in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. SENT: 910 words, photos.

BBO--SPRING TRAINING PREVIEW

Against the backdrop of a still raging coronavirus pandemic, pitchers and catchers are reporting to spring training this week, the first step in a 2021 season that will take many of the complexities from 2020's 60-game sprint and stretch them over an additional four months. By AP Baseball Writer Jake Seiner. SENT: 900 words, photos.

COMMENTARY

FBN--TIM DAHLBERG-URBAN MEYER

If nothing else, Urban Meyer should know by now that he's not in college anymore. That he didn't seem to grasp that before his ill-advised hire of controversial strength coach Chris Doyle, however, doesn't bode well for Meyer's chances of long-term success in the NFL. By Sports Columnist Tim Dahlberg. UPCOMING: 840 words, photos by 4 a.m.

GLF-ON GOLF-BERGER'S MOMENTUM

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. - Daniel Berger believes he is among the best in golf. At least he stopped short of assigning his own ranking. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. UPCOMING: 830 words, photos by 4 a.m.

NOTABLE

TEN--AUSTRALIAN OPEN-RUNNING THE SHOW

MELBOURNE, Australia - The Australian Open will take a massive financial hit this year. Organizers were forced to spend A$80 million (US$62 million) in cash reserves that had been built up over 10 years and take out a loan on top of that. Planning a Grand Slam tournament in the middle of a pandemic was also a logistical nightmare. Yet canceling the Australian Open this year was only briefly considered and then immediately ruled off the table by tournament director Craig Tiley. By Justin Bergman. SENT: 1,050 words, photos.

BKC-BUBBLE WATCH

The NCAA Tournament bubble is typically populated with teams from small conferences and middle-of-the-pack big conference schools. A pandemic that has wreaked havoc on the college basketball season is also reshaping the bubble. By Basketball Writer John Marshall. SENT: 670 words, photos.

BKC--T25-MICHIGAN-WISCONSIN

MADISON, Wis. - Michigan only needed 20 minutes or so to shake off the rust from a three-week layoff. By Steve Megargee. SENT: 730 words, photos.

BKN--TRAIL BLAZERS-MAVERICKS

DALLAS - Portland star Damian Lillard didn't wait until just before the buzzer for another game-defining shot, or get anywhere close to the career high he tied in the previous meeting with Dallas. The dynamic guard still carried his team late. SENT: 760 words, photos.

SOC--ENGLISH ROUNDUP

LONDON - Manchester United's Premier League title hopes took another blow in a 1-1 draw at West Bromwich Albion. SENT: 480 words, photos.

SKI--WORLDS

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy - Vincent Kriechmayr matched two legends of Alpine skiing at the world championships by adding downhill gold to the super-G title he won three days ago. The Austrian became only the third man to complete the so-called speed double at a worlds after Hermann Maier did it in 1999 and Bode Miller in 2005. By Eric Willemsen. SENT: 780 words, photos. With SKI-Worlds-Stairway To the Top (sent).

WESTMINSTER DOG SHOW-MEMORIES

NEW YORK - Doggone it, no Westminster Kennel Club show around Valentine's Day this year. It's been moved to mid-June, out of Madison Square Garden because of the coronavirus pandemic. So rather than cuddling up on the couch to watch the pooches, let's stroll down memory lane as AP Baseball Writer Ben Walker and wife Ginger Tidwell share their fondest memories from 20 years of covering the dogs. SENT: 1,100 words, photos.

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Monday Time Schedule (EST)

NBA

Chicago at Indiana, 7 p.m.

Houston at Washington, 7 p.m.

Atlanta at New York, 7:30 p.m.

Philadelphia at Utah, 9 p.m.

Brooklyn at Sacramento, 10 p.m.

Cleveland at Golden State, 10 p.m.

Miami at L.A. Clippers, 10 p.m.

NHL

St. Louis at Arizona, 4 p.m.

Columbus at Carolina, 7 p.m.

Florida at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.

N.Y. Islanders at Buffalo, 7 p.m.

Ottawa at Toronto, 7 p.m.

Chicago at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.

Nashville at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

Winnipeg at Edmonton, 9 p.m.

Calgary at Vancouver, 10 p.m.

Anaheim at San Jose, 10:30 p.m.

College Basketball (Top 25)

Men

No. 9 Virginia at No. 17 Florida St., 7 p.m.

Women

No. 5 Stanford at No. 11 Oregon, 7 p.m.

No. 20 Kentucky at Florida, 7 p.m.

No. 22 DePaul vs. Seton Hall, 7 p.m.