AP Sports Digest
Sat, Feb 13, 2021
AP Sports
The highlights of Friday's 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
TEN-AUSTRALIAN OPEN
MELBOURNE, Australia - Daniil Medvedev finally worked out how to a win a five-setter. In earlier Australian Open matches, Jessica Pegula continued her best career showing at a major with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Kristina Mladenovic. Pegula's next match will be against No. 5-seeded Elina Svitolina. Karolina Muchova beat Karolina Pliskova 7-5, 7-5. SENT: 600 words, photos. Will be updated.
FBN-JAGUARS-HIRING CRITCIZED
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Jacksonville Jaguars and embattled strength coach Chris Doyle parted ways a few hours after a respected diversity group blasted the team and called the recent hiring "simply unacceptable." Coach Urban Meyer said Doyle resigned and he accepted. SENT: 650 words, photo.
FBN-ON FOOTBALL-SELF-DESTRUCTING TEXANS
HOUSTON - J.J. Watt is gone from the Houston Texans and Deshaun Watson wants out, too. The Texans have been making plenty of headlines this offseason. Not one has been good. Watt was released Friday, ending the tenure of the face of the franchise, and things could get even worse in the coming months with a possible standoff looming with Watson. By Kristie Rieken. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos by 2:30 a.m.
CAR--NASCAR-DAYTONA-PANDEMIC PARTY
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - NASCAR is welcoming some 30,000 fans to the Daytona 500 this weekend in the middle of a pandemic that has killed more than 475,000 people in the U.S. It is expected to be the largest sporting event in the country since the coronavirus shut down much of the sports world 11 months ago. By Dan Gelston. SENT: 900 words, photos.
NOTABLE
BKN-PELICANS-MAVERICKS
DALLAS - Luka Doncic couldn't miss from 3-point range during a brief, sizzling stretch in the third quarter - the same way Zion Williamson was perfect the entire first half. Dallas was just a little bit hotter overall. Doncic scored a career-high 46 points, and the Mavericks overcame Williamson's career-best 36 points in a 143-130 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. By Schuyer Dixon. SENT: 800 words, photos.
BBN-CUBS-ARRIETA
CHICAGO - Jake Arrieta is returning to the Chicago Cubs, agreeing to a $6 million, one-year contract. Arrieta can earn $1 million in performance bonuses, according to a person familiar with the situation who confirmed the deal on condition of anonymity because it is pending a physical. The 34-year-old Arrieta won the NL Cy Young Award with Chicago in 2015 and helped the Cubs win the 2016 World Series for their first championship since 1908. By Baseball Writer Jay Cohen. SENT: 400 words, photo.
GYM--MAKING A STATEMENT
PITTSBURGH -- The social justice movement in college sports comes to an unlikely spot: gymnastics. From UCLA to Pittsburgh, Black gymnasts and the programs they represent are using their platform to empower and uplift. By Will Graves. SENT: 1,000 words, photos.
SKI-WORLDS-WOMEN'S DOWNHILL
Super-G gold medalist Lara Gut-Behrami and American racer Breezy Johnson are among the favorites for the downhill title in the second women's race at the world championships. By Eric Willemsen. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos by 7:30 a.m.
COMMENTARY
FBO--PAUL NEWBERRY-MORE FOOTBALL
ATLANTA -- Are you ready for some (more) football! No need to take a break from the gridiron just because the NFL season is over. Lower-division college teams are ready to kick off their seasons -- snow-covered fields and all -- after sitting out the fall because of the pandemic. By Sports Columnist Paul Newberry. SENT: 800 words, photos.
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Saturday Time Schedule
College Basketball (Top 25)
Men
No. 1 Gonzaga at San Francisco, 6 p.m.
No. 4 Ohio St. vs. Indiana, Noon
No. 5 Villanova at No. 19 Creighton, 5 p.m.
No. 9 Virginia vs. North Carolina, 6 p.m.
No. 10 Missouri vs. Arkansas, 4 p.m.
No. 11 Alabama vs. Georgia, 3:30 p.m.
No. 12 Oklahoma at No. 14 West Virginia, 1 p.m.
No. 13 Texas vs. TCU, 2 p.m.
No. 15 Iowa at Michigan St., 2:30 p.m.
No. 16 Tennessee at LSU, 2 p.m.
No. 17 Florida St. vs. Wake Forest, Noon
No. 20 Southern Cal at Washington St., 8 p.m.
No. 22 Loyola (IL) at Drake, Noon
No. 23 Oklahoma St. vs. Kansas St., Noon
No. 25 Rutgers vs. Northwestern, 5 p.m.
Women
No. 5 Stanford at Oregon St., 11 p.m.
No. 14 South Florida vs. Tulsa, 4 p.m.
No. 17 Gonzaga vs. Santa Clara, 5 p.m.
No. 23 South Dakota St. at Oral Roberts, 3 p.m.
No. 25 Missouri St. at Illinois St., 5 p.m.
NBA
Philadelphia at Phoenix, 3 p.m.
Indiana at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Houston at New York, 8 p.m.
Brooklyn at Golden State, 8:30 p.m.
Miami at Utah, 9 p.m.
NHL
Ottawa at Winnipeg, 3 p.m.
Vegas at San Jose, 4 p.m.
Boston at N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m.
Montreal at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Florida, 7 p.m.
Carolina at Dallas, 8 p.m.
Columbus at Chicago, 8 p.m.
Detroit at Nashville, 8 p.m.
St. Louis at Arizona, 8 p.m.
Calgary at Vancouver, 10 p.m.
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