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6:05, Sports Talk
8:35, Reds-Cubs
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Big East-Catholic 7: What does it mean for UC and XU? What does it mean for your suport of your school?
World Baseball Classic
Off Beaten Path
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Bengals
The Bengals today re-signed LS Clark Harris and P Kevin Huber. Both players’ contracts had been set to expire Monday, and without new deals they would have become unrestricted free agents as of Tuesday.
Harris has not had an unplayable snap on a punt or place kick in 552 opportunities since joining the Bengals in 2009, and last season his consistent deliveries helped Huber post Bengals records for gross punting average (46.6) and net punting average (42.0).
“Clark and Kevin are key specialists for us, and it’s great to have them in the fold before free agency begins,” said head coach Marvin Lewis. “They have played well and are still young guys. They are entering what should be the prime years of their careers.”
Harris (6-5, 255; Rutgers) and Huber (6-1, 212; Cincinnati) are both fifth-year NFL players in 2013. Huber was a Bengals fifth-round draft choice in 2009, and Harris signed with Cincinnati as a free agent on Oct. 13 of ’09. Each has played in every Bengals regular season and postseason game since his arrival, and Harris has assisted Huber in also becoming the Bengals’ career leader in gross punting average (44.0) and net average (38.9).
Last season Huber ranked tied for sixth in the NFL with a plus-26 differential between inside-20 punts (33) and touchbacks (six). Huber is tied with Kyle Larson for the Bengals’ best all-time ratio of inside-20s to touchbacks (3.41-1). Huber also has been the team’s No. 1 holder for place kicks.
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Blunder
Shot at wrong basket gives Millwood stunning quarterfinals win
The Oklahoman
The Buffaloes led perennial state power Millwood 37-36 in the closing moments of Thursday night's Class 3A state quarterfinals. All they needed was an accurate inbounds pass to complete the wild upset. And they got it.
But what happened next, in one stunning moment filled with jubilation and arena-wide disbelief, flipped the end result on its head, leading to a 38-37 Millwood win and heartbreaking Hugo defeat.
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NCAAA
It's official: Big East, Catholic 7 announce split
ESPN
Three months after indicating they were leaving the Big East Conference to form their own league, the Catholic 7's departure date finally became official.
The Big East announced Friday it has agreed to allow the Catholic 7 schools to depart on June 30.
"I am pleased that this agreement has been reached," Big East commissioner Mike Aresco said. "With the long-term well-being of our outstanding institutions and their student-athletes of paramount importance, each group worked through a number of complex issues in an orderly, comprehensive and amicable manner marked by mutual respect. We part ways as friends and colleagues and look forward to the success of both conferences."
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What it could look like by 2014
(current RPI)
New Big East
7 teams: Marquette (11), Georgetown (12), Villanova (53), St John's (73), Providence (79), Seton Hall (116), DePaul (196).
+3 more: Xavier (82), Butler (30), likely Creighton (33)
+2 more for 2014 from: St Louis (32), Dayton (104), Richmond (84), Siena (299).
Yet to be named conference
10 teams: Cincinnati (49), Memphis (19), Connecticut (46), Temple (42), South Florida (133), Houston (208), SMU (215), Central Florida (103), East Carolina (93), Tulane (177).
+1 more: 2014 or '15: Tulsa (144)
+1 more: 2015: Navy football
CBS Sports: 5 questions about the movement
Cincinnati has lost everything it has known recently
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WBC
Everything you need to know about the WBC
The case for the WBC
SI
The World Baseball Classic gets more coverage here for what it is not than for what it is. The best American players don't sign on to play. The games don't get great ratings. They rarely sell out. It's held the wrong time of year. It's not a great betting opportunity. A Kardashian never has been seen at one. In other words, it's not American enough.
World Baseball Classic: It's not about America
Here's one way to get more stars to participate
Konerko floats idea of moving WBC to July
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Alcohol in MLB clubhouses
I was looking over notes before the Reds vs Angels earlier this week. I noticed a story indicating the Angels were not changing their policy on alcohol in the clubhouse, despite the presence of Josh Hamilton. They will continue to allow beer after games, but not hard liquor. Manager Mike Scioscia basically said he trusted his players, who are adults. Based on what I was able to dig up, 19 of 30 MLB teams have banned alcohol in their clubhouse. What do you think? Does you boss provide you with a beer after work?
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TV
The end of SportsCenter: ESPN's flagship show hits rock bottom
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College basketball
USA Today bracket: UC 11-seed...Joe Lunardi, ESPN: UC 10-seed
DeCourcy: Latest blow to Kentucky could be knockout punch
How the Catholic 7 should get on with their lives
USA Today
But here's the thing about the Catholic 7. Big names, big traditions, but not much in the way of tournament fireworks lately. Connecticut, a school left behind, has done most of the heavy lifting. The Catholic 7 haven't produced a national champion in 26 years. They have accounted for only three appearances in the Final Four in the past 23 springs — or five fewer than Duke.
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