AP Sports Digest

Tue, Feb 16, 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

TEN--AUSTRALIAN OPEN

MELBOURNE, Australia - For Naomi Osaka, the tournament buzz at the Australian Open spoiled the surprise: She might face Serena Williams next. Osaka overpowered Hsieh Su-wei 6-2, 6-2 to reach the semifinals, and will meet the winner of the quarterfinal match between Williams and No. 2-seeded Simona Halep. SENT: 370 words, photos. UPCOMING: 1,000 words, photos. With Latest, sidebars on merit.

BKN-76ERS-JAZZ

SALT LAKE CITY - Even without Joel Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers were scoring every time down the court. But the Utah Jazz didn't blink in the matchup of East and West conference leaders. They just gave the ball to Jordan Clarkson. SENT: 970 words, photos.

SKI--WORLDS-COMBINED

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy - Mikaela Shiffrin wins the combined to top U.S. records set by Lindsey Vonn and Ted Ligety at the world championships. Marco Schwarz takes the men's combined. giving Austria its third straight gold medal in men's events. By Andrew Dampf. SENT: 880 words, photos.

BKN--STRUGGLING BUCKS

MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Bucks knew when they overhauled their roster that they might pay a short-term price for their attempts to improve their postseason fortunes. By Steve Megargee. SENT: 730 words, photos.

BKW--T25-NCAA TOP 16 REVEAL

UConn, South Carolina, Stanford and Louisville are in line for the top seeds of the women's NCAA Tournament. The women's basketball selection committee revealed the top 16 teams to this point. By Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg. SENT: 420 words, photos. With BKW--T25--Overlooked Aggies (sent).

OLY-TOKYO-Q&A

TOKYO - Yoshiro Mori's replacement as the president of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee is expected to be named very quickly. The 83-year-old former prime minister was forced to step down last week after making demeaning remarks about women. There is pressure to name a woman to the post. By Stephen Wade. SENT: 710 words, photos.

COMMENTARY

BKN-AROUND THE NBA

The Detroit Pistons and Blake Griffin are going to be splitting up sometime in the coming weeks, after the sides revealed that they've decided it best to go their separate ways. For now, much of the talk is about seeking a trade. But, eventually and not surprisingly, it will come down to money. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. UPCOMING: 850 words, photos.

CAR-NASCAR-IN THE PITS

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Only 11 cars reached the finish line of the Daytona 500. The race was marred by a pair of spectacular crashes, including a fiery last-lap pileup that caused the so-called "Great American Race" to end under caution. By Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer. SENT: 850 words, photos.

AP POLLS

BKC--T25-COLLEGE BKB POLL

Gonzaga, Baylor, Michigan and Ohio State remain the top four in the AP men's basketball poll, with Illinois completing the starting five. Kansas returns to the Top 25, with Arkansas and San Diego State the other additions. By Basketball Writer Aaron Beard. SENT: 650 words, photos.

BKC--T25-TOP 25 THIS WEEK

Third-ranked Michigan and fourth-ranked Ohio State meet to headline the AP Top 25 national schedule this week. The Wolverines and Buckeyes each were picked as No. 1 seeds in the first rankings from the committee that will select the NCAA Tournament field. By Basketball Writer Aaron Beard. UPCOMING: 560 words, photos by 3 a.m.

BKW-T25-WOMEN'S BKB POLL

NEW YORK -- UConn is back at No. 1, the ninth straight season the Huskies have held the top ranking in the women's AP poll. UConn jumps a spot after beating then-No. 1 South Carolina in overtime a week ago. The Gamecocks drop to No. 2, followed by Louisville, North Carolina State and Texas A&M. By Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg. SENT: 450 words, photos.

NOTABLE

TEN--AUSTRALIAN OPEN-DISCLOSING INJURIES

Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and other players at the Australian Open get to decide whether they want to disclose injuries before they compete. Some are forthcoming, some go back and forth. By Tennis Writer Howard Fendrich. SENT: 750 words, photos.

BKC-DUKE-JOHNSON

Highly touted Duke freshman Jalen Johnson is forgoing the rest of the Blue Devils' season and declaring for the NBA draft. By Basketball Writer Aaron Beard. SENT: 400 words, photos.

BKC--BOSTON COLLEGE-CHRISTIAN FIRED

BOSTON -- Boston College fired basketball coach Jim Christian with three weeks left in his seventh season. The team is 3-13 and has struggled to fill out a lineup as COVID-19 protocols chipped away at the roster.By Jimmy Golen. SENT: 660 words, photos.

FBC--UCF-MALZAHN

Central Florida hires Gus Malzahn as its coach a little more than two months after he was fired by Auburn. Malzahn was 68-35 in eight years with the Tigers, never having a losing season. UCF lost both its athletic director and football coach to Tennessee last month. By College Football Writer Ralph D. Russo. SENT: 620 words, photos.

BKN-VIRUS OUTBREAK-NBA

Tuesday's game between the San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons has been postponed, marking the second time this month that the NBA has called off a game because of coronavirus-related issues. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. SENT: 400 words, photos. With BKN-NBA-All-Star Game (sent).

BKN-LAKERS-DAVIS

LOS ANGELES - Forward Anthony Davis' injured Achilles tendon is not ruptured, and he will be reevaluated when the Los Angeles Lakers return from their road trip. Davis had an MRI exam on Monday, and he is out indefinitely. SENT: 220 words, photos.

BKN--CAVALIERS-DRUMMOND

CLEVELAND - Andre Drummond, a two-time All-Star center, will be inactive for upcoming games for the Cavaliers. Cleveland, struggling badly after a solid start, is pursuing a trade for him, the AP is told. By Tom Withers. SENT: 400 words, photos.

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Tuesday Time Schedule (EST)

NBA

Denver at Boston, 7 p.m.

New Orleans at Memphis, 7:30 p.m.

L.A. Lakers at Minnesota, 8 p.m.

Portland at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.

Toronto at Milwaukee, 8 p.m.

Brooklyn at Phoenix, 10 p.m.

NHL

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

New Jersey at N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m.

Washington at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.

Nashville at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

Colorado at Vegas, 10 p.m.

Minnesota at Los Angeles, 10 p.m.

College Basketball (Top 25)

Men

No. 5 Illinois vs. Northwestern, 9 p.m.

No. 20 Missouri at Georgia, 7 p.m.

No. 24 Arkansas vs. Florida, 7 p.m.

Women

No. 11 Michigan vs. Michigan St., 4:30 p.m.