Conference Tournament Preview
GREENSBORO, N.C., March 14 (UPI) -- The biggest single day in conference tournament season unfolds Friday, with 40 games being played on the day.
The day began at 12 noon, with Wake Forest, the top seed in the Atlantic Coast Conference, easing past Florida State, 69-61, in the quarterfinals. The Seminoles had advanced with a 72-61 win over Clemson Thursday night in the play-in game.
Also, in the Big Ten, Ohio State shocked No. 18 Wisconsin, 58-50, in the Big Ten quarterfinals.
One more dance card to the NCAA Tournament will be decided in Worcester, Mass., where Holy Cross (25-4) entertains American (16-13) in the title game of the Patriot League, a rematch of last year.
The day's schedule is as follows:
Atlantic Coast Quarterfinals
At Greensboro, N.C.
Wake Forest 69; Florida St. 61
North Carolina St. vs. Georgia Tech, 2:30 p.m.
North Carolina vs. Maryland, 7 p.m.
Duke vs. Virginia, 9:30 p.m.
Atlantic 10 Semifinals
At Dayton, Ohio
Xavier vs. Temple, 7 p.m.
St. Joseph's vs. Dayton, 9:30 p.m.
Big East Semifinals
At New York
Boston College vs. Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.
Syracuse vs. Connecticut, 9:30 p.m.
Big Ten Quarterfinals
At Chicago
Ohio St. 58, Wisconsin 50
Michigan St. vs. Purdue, 2:30 p.m.
Illinois vs. Northwestern, 6:40 p.m.
Michigan vs. Indiana, 9:10 p.m.
Big 12 Quarterfinals
At Dallas
Kansas vs. Iowa St., 1 p.m.
Oklahoma St. vs. Missouri, 3:30 p.m.
Texas vs. Texas Tech, 7 p.m.
Oklahoma vs. Colorado, 9:30 p.m.
Big West Semifinals
At Anaheim
UC-Santa Barbara vs. Cal. Poly, 9 p.m.
UC-Irvine vs. Utah St. or Cal. St. Fullerton, 11:30 p.m.
Conference USA Semifinals
At Louisville
Memphis vs. Louisville, 5 p.m.
Ala.-Birmingham vs. St. Louis, 7:30 p.m.
Mid-American Semifinals
At Cleveland
Kent St. vs. Ohio, 6:30 p.m.
Northern Ill. vs. Central Mich., 8:30 p.m.
Mid-Eastern Semifinals
At Richmond, Va.
Howard vs. Hampton, 2:30 p.m.
South Carolina St. vs. Florida A&M, 9:30 p.m.
Mountain West Semifinals
At Las Vegas
BYU vs. Colorado St., 9 p.m.
Utah vs. UNLV, 12 a.m.
Pac-10 Semifinals
At Los Angeles
UCLA vs. Oregon, 9:15 p.m.
USC vs. California, 11:45 p.m.
Patriot Championship
American at Holy Cross, 4:30 p.m.
Southeastern Quarterfinals
At New Orleans
Mississippi St. vs. Mississippi, 1 p.m.
Florida vs. LSU, 3:30 p.m.
Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt, 7:30 p.m.
Auburn vs. Tennessee, 10 p.m.
Southland Championship
Stephen F. Austin at Sam Houston, 8 p.m.
Southwestern Athletic Semifinals
At Birmingham, Ala.
Prairie View A&M vs. Alcorn St., 6:30 p.m.
Texas Southern vs. Mississippi Valley, 9 p.m.
Western Athletic Semifinals
SMU vs. Nevada, 7 p.m.
Tulsa vs. Hawaii, 9:30 p.m.
Contract extension for Walsh
INDIANAPOLIS, March 14 (UPI) -- The struggling Indiana Pacers Friday renewed their faith in Donnie Walsh, signing the team president to a multi-year contract extension.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
Walsh was named general manager of the Pacers in 1986, and took over as president in 1988. The Pacers have made the playoffs 12 times in the last 13 years, including five trips to the Eastern Conference finals, one trip to the NBA Finals, and three Central Division titles.
"I'm very happy," Walsh said. "I love Indianapolis and Indiana and look forward to continued success there. I appreciate this opportunity because I really love this team, and even though we're going through difficult times, I want to stay and see them through because I really believe in them."
The Pacers (38-27) will try to avoid their first seven-game losing streak in a decade when they host the Utah Jazz on Friday. Indiana has lost 12 of its last 13 games.
Walsh also helped oversee the building of Conseco Fieldhouse, which opened in 1999, and is considered one of the NBA's premier arenas.
Report: Seau being dumped by Chargers
SAN DIEGO, March 14 (UPI) -- In a surprise move, the San Diego Chargers have given veteran middle linebackers Junior Seau permission to talk with other teams.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reported Friday that Seau is being released by the Chargers for salary cap purposes. He had signed a long-term contract in 2000.
Coach Marty Schottenheimer told the paper that he is not happy about the move.
"Look, this is not easy for me," Schottenheimer told the paper. "Junior Seau embodies everything you want in a player -- work ethic, dedication, passion. But we felt this was something we needed to do, and we wanted to do it right. That's why we extended the courtesy to Junior and his representative to try to see if there's a trade that can be reached."
Seau, 34, told the paper he already spoken with two teams, and that he and his agent are pressing forward.
"Marvin and I are going to be proactive," Seau said, referring to his agent, Marvin Demoff. "No matter what's being said, I'm here to say that we have a deal where we have permission to seek the market, and that's great. We're going to do that. All I want to do is put on another hat and carry on and do what I do best -- on two healthy ankles. That's where we are."
The 6-3, 250-pounder is scheduled to hold a news conference at his restaurant in Mission Valley on Friday afternoon to discuss his plans for the future.
"It's definitely good and bad," Seau told the paper after speaking to Schottenheimer by phone on Thursday. "It's time for us to part ways. There will be some disgruntled people and disgruntled fans, but it was time. I have so many great memories from my time in San Diego, but I look forward to the challenge ahead. I have no regrets about what was done. I wish everyone the best."
The native of Oceanside, Calif., who played collegiately at Southern California, is a 12-time Pro Bowler. He was the No. 1 pick, and fifth overall, of the Chargers in the 1990 draft.
In his career, he has played in 200 games, and has 1,481 tackles, caused 11 forced fumbles, and made 15 interceptions.
Pritchett re-signs with Detroit
ALLEN PARK, Mich., March 14 (UPI) -- The Detroit Lions have re-signed veteran defensive tackle Kelvin Pritchett to a one-year contract.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
Pritchett, 33, has spent eight of his 12 NFL seasons with the Lions. Last year, he started three games and rotated at the tackle positions with Shaun Rogers and Travis Kirschke.
The 6-3, 319 pounder started three games last year, and has 550 career tackles, six fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles, one interception, and 30 ½ sacks.
A first-round pick in 1991, Pritchett spent his first four years with Detroit, recording 200 tackles and 17 1/2 sacks. He signed as a free agent with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995, and had a career-high 101 tackles in the team's inaugural season.
His play declined over the next three seasons before he returned to the Lions in 1999.
Ravens re-sign Brooks
OWINGS MILLS, Md., March 14 (UPI) -- The Baltimore Ravens have re-signed right tackle Ethan Brooks to a two-year contract.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
Brooks, 25, joined the Ravens in training camp last season and ended up starting 13 of the last 14 games, although he was considered by many to be the weak link of Baltimore's offensive line.
"I think Ethan did a nice job for us last year," said Baltimore Coach Brian Billick. "I know a lot of people were semi-critical of Ethan last year, but I think you have to look at the circumstances. When we brought Ethan back in, it wasn't with the idea of starting, but after a couple of weeks, it was like 'OK Ethan, you're the guy.' That's a lot to ask. I think he gained a lot of ground this year, and I think he'll show even more next year."
Last month, the Ravens re-signed starting left guard Edwin Mulitalo to a seven-year contract.
Report: Sabres being bought -- again
BUFFALO, N.Y., March 14 (UPI) -- The NHL has called a news conference Friday afternoon, when it is expected to introduce Tom Golisano as the new owner of the financially- troubled club.
The Buffalo News reported Friday that Golisano, a 61-year-old billionaire, reached an agreement in principle with Adelphia Communications, the Sabres' main creditor, late Thursday night, with Golisano paying off loans still owned to Adelphia.
"I believe the attorneys are finalizing the nits and gnats," Erland E. Kailbourne, Adelphia's interim CEO, told the paper.
The paper reported that Golisano's commitment will exceed $80 million, plus future operating losses, and include a payment of more than $50 million in cash.
Even if the agreement is signed, there will remain a 30-day period in which someone else could put in a higher bid through U.S. Bankruptcy Court, but that is considered unlikely.
Golisano, the founder of Rochester, N.Y.-based Paychex, the nation's second-largest payroll-processing company, failed last fall in his third bid to become governor of New York.
He had earlier set his sights on the Sabres, but his initial bid was rejected by the NHL in November, and instead was given to a group headed by Buffalo businessman Mark Hamister.
Hamister, however, was unable to land the necessary funding and assistance from New York State. He then surrendered his offer and the NHL again re-opened the bidding process.
Hamister's reported bid of $65 million included the Sabres, Buffalo Bandits of the National Lacrosse League, the relating companies associated with the two teams, and the rights to HSBC Arena.
The Sabres, who joined the league in 1970, have been run by the NHL since June, after John Rigas and his two sons were indicted on fraud charges following the collapse of Adelphia Communications.
Rigas has been accused of stealing hundreds of millions of dollars from Adelphia, leaving the team in financial ruin and despair.
In 1969, brothers Seymour and Northrup Knox were awarded the expansion franchise and controlled it for the next 30 years.
Seymour Knox died in 1996, and Northrup Knox arranged the sale of the Sabres to the Rigas family just before his death in 1998.
