Ncaa Tournament

The Kentucky Wildcats withstood a late second-half rally by the Kansas Jayhawks to capture the program's eight NCAA championship with a 67-59 victory on Monday night at the Superdome in New Orleans. Kansas, which trailed by double digits for much of the game, had a chance to cut the lead to three points when guard Elijah Johnson elevated for a three-pointer. But a Kentucky defender forced him to pull the shot down, causing him to travel with 23.5 seconds left and Kentucky leading, 65-59.

The USC men's tennis team won its fourth consecutive NCAA championship Tuesday night, defeating Virginia, 4-2, at Athens, Ga. The Trojans (33-1) beat the Cavaliers (29-2) for the fourth year in a row in the NCAA tournament and the second consecutive year in the final. After losing the doubles point, USC won four singles matches. Freshman Yannick Hanfmann clinched the championship with a 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (4) victory over Justin Shane . USC's Steve Johnson beat Jarmere Jenkins , 6-3, 6-2, for his 66th consecutive victory in singles.

Kobe Bryant continues to encroach from below, but Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's perch still looks secure.? Bryant, up to sixth on the NBA's all-time scoring list after leapfrogging Moses Malone on Tuesday, probably will end the season still about 10,500 points shy of Abdul-Jabbar, the all-time leader with more than 38,000.? Even if Bryant were to maintain his career average of 25 points a game, it would take him more than five seasons to catch Abdul-Jabbar ? and that's if he plays in every game.

Third-seeded USC took a major step forward with a 12-10 victory over second-seeded UCLA in the NCAA women's water polo semifinals Saturday at San Diego. The victory marks the Trojans' first win over the Bruins in an NCAA tournament. In the final Sunday, USC (23-5) will take on top-seeded Stanford (25-2) at 5:15 p.m. at the Aztec Aquaplex. The Cardinal advanced Saturday with a 12-3 victory over fourth-seeded UC Irvine (25-7). USC's victory against UCLA (22-4) was led by four goals each from Monica Vavic and Patricia Jancso.

The USC men's tennis team won its fourth consecutive NCAA championship Tuesday night, defeating Virginia, 4-2, at Athens, Ga. The Trojans (33-1) beat the Cavaliers (29-2) for the fourth year in a row in the NCAA tournament and the second consecutive year in the final. After losing the doubles point, USC won four singles matches. Freshman Yannick Hanfmann clinched the championship with a 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (4) victory over Justin Shane . USC's Steve Johnson beat Jarmere Jenkins , 6-3, 6-2, for his 66th consecutive victory in singles.

The defining moment of the Pac-12 basketball season to date took place Dec. 17 at Wells Fargo Arena, Arizona State's home floor. The Sun Devils' opponent was Northern Arizona, which came into the game with a 2-7 record and a 70-year-old interim coach, Dave Brown, who had been announcing the team's games on the radio when coach Mike Adras quit "to pursue other interests. " The last time Brown had coached a game at any level was in 1990. Final score: Northern Arizona 69, Arizona State 68 as an unheralded freshman named Stallon Saldivar scored a career-high 24 points, including a three-pointer at the buzzer.

Thanks for the memories? The 31 players who spent only one season in college before becoming first-round NBA draft picks since the league changed its minimum-age requirements in 2005 have produced zero NCAA titles. Generating headaches for fans, coaches and teammates hasn't been quite as taxing. The unexpected departure of Jrue Holiday after one season at UCLA contributed to a rare losing season the following year for the Bruins. USC's O.J. Mayo sparked a NCAA investigation over improper benefits that led to self-imposed punishments that included a postseason ban and helped nudge coach Tim Floyd out of what he had long proclaimed would be his last job. Floyd now coaches at Texas El Paso.

By the end of the day Thursday, veteran reliever Jason Isringhausen will know whether he has secured a spot in the Angels bullpen or is headed for retirement. Isringhausen, the 39-year-old right-hander who signed a minor league contract in February, is scheduled to pitch the second of back-to-back games Thursday when the Angels face the Kansas City Royals in Tempe Diablo Stadium. After struggling with mechanics and command in two of his first four outings, Isringhausen looked sharper Wednesday when he retired the side in order in an inning against the Cincinnati Reds.

Writers from around the Tribune Co. discuss the 2012 NCAA tournament, offering their picks for the Final Four. Check back throughout the day for more responses and join the discussion with a comment of your own. Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel It's going to be a two-state affair in the Final Four: Duke and North Carolina and Florida State and Florida. And as Dickie Vee might say, “Watch out for the Sunshine State sizzler for the national title, bay-beeee!” The Seminoles have already beaten Duke and North Carolina twice each this season and have the capability of beating anybody in their bracket, including No. 1 seed Syracuse, which will be without its star big man, Fab Melo.

The daughter and Ann Meyers Drysdale have so much in common. They are both women. Ann is in something like eight Hall of Fames, a basketball superstar in high school and college, earning $50,000 and a three-day tryout with the NBA Indianapolis Pacers and a silver medal winner in the Olympics. The first time the daughter played basketball, she tripped over the half-court line and fell. Later she would stumble over one of those recessed cracks in a sidewalk, and fall on her face, which explains the scar on her forehead.

It remains to be determined whether UC Irvine is the best men's volleyball team in the nation. The Anteaters can probably already lay claim to being the most resilient. Just as they did in their semifinal victory over top-ranked USC, Irvine spotted Stanford a two-set lead and then came back to win the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation tournament championship Saturday night at the Galen Center. The Anteaters' 20-25, 25-27, 25-21, 25-21, 15-12 victory advanced them to the Final Four for the third time in six years.

UCLA will play San Diego State in the Wooden Classic on Dec. 1 at Honda Center. The event, founded in 1994, lost some luster this past season, when it was a Pac-12 Conference matchup between the Bruins and Arizona. Playing the Aztecs returns the game to a nonconference game between solid programs. The Aztecs have reached the NCAA tournament the past three seasons. San Diego State, which has won 25 or more games the past four seasons, returns four starters from a team that finished 26-8 and lost to North Carolina State in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

The Kentucky Wildcats withstood a late second-half rally by the Kansas Jayhawks to capture the program's eight NCAA championship with a 67-59 victory on Monday night at the Superdome in New Orleans. Kansas, which trailed by double digits for much of the game, had a chance to cut the lead to three points when guard Elijah Johnson elevated for a three-pointer. But a Kentucky defender forced him to pull the shot down, causing him to travel with 23.5 seconds left and Kentucky leading, 65-59.

NEW ORLEANS — It's no secret that Kentucky Coach John Calipari and Louisville's Rick Pitino are not the best of friends. Friday, though, they came together to tape a segment for Jim Rome's new television show. How did it go? "The table was flipped over and people were rolling around, but I'm not going to say more, and I'll let you guys watch it on CBS," Calipari said. He was kidding — we think. Kentucky and Louisville face each other Saturday in a Final Four semifinal.

Here's how Kansas and Ohio State match up in one of the Final Four games Saturday in New Orleans. SCOUTING REPORT: Ohio State's 78-67 loss at Kansas on Dec. 10 comes with a huge asterisk because the Buckeyes' best player, Jared Sullinger, missed the game due to back spasms. Sullinger has made 27 free throws in four NCAA tournament games, the most of any player in the field.  Sullinger's inside matchup with Kansas' Thomas Robinson may require...

By the end of the day Thursday, veteran reliever Jason Isringhausen will know whether he has secured a spot in the Angels bullpen or is headed for retirement. Isringhausen, the 39-year-old right-hander who signed a minor league contract in February, is scheduled to pitch the second of back-to-back games Thursday when the Angels face the Kansas City Royals in Tempe Diablo Stadium. After struggling with mechanics and command in two of his first four outings, Isringhausen looked sharper Wednesday when he retired the side in order in an inning against the Cincinnati Reds.

ABC's telecast of the World Figure Skating Championships on Thursday night drew a bigger audience than CBS' coverage of the tournament. ABC said the figure skating earned a 10.1 rating and 16 share. The basketball tournament drew an 8.8 rating and 14 share during the same time period, according to ABC.

Teams The favorite: Louisville (28-5) -- The Cardinals earned the overall top seeding in the tournament by winning both the regular-season and tournament championships in the Big East, which is widely considered the nation's most competitive basketball conference. Cinderella search: USC (21-12) -- The Trojans showed in winning the Pacific 10 Conference tournament title that they are plenty good when it comes to single-elimination situations.

Kentucky takes on Louisville and Ohio State faces Kansas in the Final Four of the NCAA men's basketball tournament. But which two will advance from Saturday's games to Monday's title game? And which team will emerge as the national champion? Writers from around the Tribune Co. will offer their best guesses. Check back throughout the day for their responses. And join the conversation by voting in the poll and leaving a comment of your own. Chris Foster, Los Angeles Times Watch out UCLA, Kentucky is gaining.

Tempe, Ariz. -- The Angels' Alexi Amarista has emerged as a leading candidate for a utility role with his speed, defensive versatility, .340 average and team-leading 13 runs batted in, but he won't make reserve infielder Maicer Izturis, a possible trade target of the Philadelphia Phillies, expendable just yet. Though Amarista can play three outfield and three infield positions, he has only three innings of big league experience at shortstop, and...