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UPCOMING

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BKC--MARCH MADNESS

DESCRIPTION: Text coverage of the men’s NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament (times Eastern): Games: Midwest Region: No. 16 UMBC vs. No. 16 Howard at Dayton, Ohio, 6:40 p.m. By Jeff Wallner. Text, photos. West Region: No. 11 Texas vs. No. 11 NC State at Dayton, Ohio, 9:15 p.m. By Jeff Wallner. Text, photos. Previews/Features: BKC--NCAA-March Madness Gambling -- With the NCAA Tournament tipping off two months after federal prosecutors in Philadelphia announced criminal charges in a college basketball point-shaving scheme, sports wagering is top of mind for NCAA officials. They say they are well-equipped to keep games on the up-and-up, and they are taking steps to keep angry bettors from harassing players. By Eric Olson. Text, photos. BKC--NCAA-March Of The Freshmen -- The freshman class has been packed with stars all year like BYU’s A.J. Dybantsa, Kansas’ Darryn Peterson and Duke’s Cameron Boozer. Yet beyond those likely one-and-done NBA prospects, it’s a deep group that could be poised to have a March to remember in the NCAA Tournament. By Aaron Beard. Text, photos. BKC--NCAA-NBA Prospects: The cream of the crop in this year’s tournament that you should expect to see in the NBA soon. By Steve Megargee. Text, photos. BKC--NCAA-Dusty’s Rebuild: Michigan lost a school-record 24 games just two seasons ago and now has a chance to win a national title for just the second time in school history because new-school coach Dusty May intentionally does what it takes in this era of college athletics. By Larry Lage. Text, photos by 4 p.m. BKC--NCAA-Arizona Balance -- Freshman Koa Peat opened the season by scoring 30 points against reigning national champion Florida. Since then, six other players have scored at least 20 points, giving the Wildcats one of the most balanced teams in the NCAA Tournament. By John Marshall. Text, photos by 5 p.m. BKO--NCAA-Vanderbilt’s Time -- It’s been a long time coming for Vanderbilt to have both basketball programs rolling into the NCAA Tournament with high expectations. Credit the winning vibe on campus where football is coming off its best season in program history. Or the hiring of Mark Byington to take over the men less than two years ago and Shea Ralph to completely make over a moribund women’s program. With seeds secured, both Vanderbilt teams have very high expectations. By Teresa M. Walker. Text, photos. BKC--NCAA-Nebraska-The Curse -- Nebraska is the only school in a power conference that has never won a game in the NCAA Tournament. Is this the year the curse ends? By Eric Olson. Text, photos. BKC--NCAA-Virginia Drought -- The last time Virginia won an NCAA Tournament game, Tony Bennett and the Cavaliers were cutting down the nets after defeating Texas Tech 85-77 in an overtime thriller for the national championship. That was seven years ago. They’re back. By Steve Reed. Text, photos. BKC-NCAA-Akron’s Milestone -- Akron is the first Mid-American Conference program to win the league tournament three straight years. The Zips are hoping their next breakthrough can happen this year as they look for their first NCAA Tournament victory. By Joe Reedy. Text, photos by 5 p.m. BKC--NCAA-Florida-Chinyelu -- Florida center Rueben Chinyelu is as much a force in the classroom as he is in the paint — a double major and a walking double-double. By Mark Long. Text, photos.

UPCOMING: By 03/17/2026 2:00 p.m. EDT, Photo, DigitalPlans, Text

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BKW--MARCH MADNESS

DESCRIPTION: Text coverage of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament (times Eastern): Previews/features: BKW--NCAA-WNBA PROSPECTS: The cream of the crop in this year’s tournament that you should expect to see in the WNBA soon. By Steve Megargee. Text, photos. BKO--NCAA-Vanderbilt’s Time -- It’s been a long time coming for Vanderbilt to have both basketball programs rolling into the NCAA Tournament with high expectations. Credit the winning vibe on campus where football is coming off its best season in program history. Or the hiring of Mark Byington to take over the men less than two years ago and Shea Ralph to completely make over a moribund women’s program. With seeds secured, both Vanderbilt teams have very high expectations. By Teresa M. Walker. Text, photos. BKW--NCAA-Iowa-Heiden -- Ava Heiden has developed into one of the nation’s most imposing bigs as Iowa goes back to its pound-the-post offense two years after Caitlin Clark’s logo 3s were the Hawkeyes’ identity. 600 words, photos. BKW--NCAA-Oklahoma-Stars -- Oklahoma’s formidable duo of senior center Raegan Beers and freshman guard Aaliyah Chavez are about as different as could be. Coach Jennie Baranczyk has pulled their styles together and helped the Sooners emerge as a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. By Cliff Brunt. 500 words, photos.

UPCOMING: By 03/17/2026 2:00 p.m. EDT, Photo, DigitalPlans, Text

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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GLF--ON THE FRINGE-YOUNG

Cameron Young wants to be ready for big moments. He delivered one at The Players Championship

SUMMARY: Cameron Young used to have wild expectations for how good he should be in golf. He’s stopped doing that and is getting some great results. The latest was his victory in The Players Championship. And he did have some expectations on one shot. Tied for the lead, Young said he was thinking only about hitting the best shot of his career. His 375-yard drive on the 18th was the longest ever on that hole. Young is an example of youth starting to emerge, such as Chris Gotterup and Jacob Bridgeman. But given how often he contends, Young is worth watching.

WORDS: 950 - MOVED: 03/17/2026 1:33 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:783aa822af5857a86500a4c40bd5d111&mediaType=text

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SOC--WCUP-IRAN-MEXICO

Iran wants to move its World Cup matches from US to Mexico. FIFA is sticking to its schedule

SUMMARY: Iran’s Embassy in Mexico has suggested the country is negotiating with FIFA to move Iran’s World Cup matches from the U.S. to Mexico after President Donald Trump discouraged the team from attending the tournament, citing safety concerns. FIFA says it is in regular contact with the Iran soccer federation and it is not changing the match schedule announced last December. Iranian officials have previously said it is up to FIFA and the U.S. to keep the team safe during the World Cup. The embassy posted a statement attributed to Iranian Football Federation President Mehdi Taj saying Iran wants to move its group stage matches from the Los Angeles metropolitan area and Seattle to ensure the safety of players and officials.

WORDS: 912 - MOVED: 03/17/2026 1:16 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:43f56d6047fb340672dbe64583214228&mediaType=text

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FBN--DOLPHINS-BRONCOS TRADE

Broncos get star wide receiver Jaylen Waddle from Dolphins in a blockbuster trade, AP sources say

SUMMARY: The Denver Broncos have acquired standout wide receiver Jaylen Waddle in a blockbuster deal that sends three draft picks to the Miami Dolphins, including a first-rounder, according to two people with knowledge of the trade. Both spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn’t been announced. The Dolphins will receive the 30th overall pick in next month’s NFL draft along with picks in the third and fourth rounds. Denver will get Miami’s fourth-rounder along with Waddle. Waddle gives Bo Nix another main playmaker along with Courtland Sutton, boosting a passing offense that finished 11th in the NFL last season.

WORDS: 312 - MOVED: 03/17/2026 12:44 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:0b385d35183ba6cad8a8ec83fa51bc54&mediaType=text

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BKC--AP ALL-AMERICA TEAM

Freshman stars Cameron Boozer, AJ Dybantsa and Darius Acuff Jr. picked for AP All-America first team

SUMMARY: Duke forward Cameron Boozer is a unanimous first-team All-American in college basketball in voting released by The Associated Press. He was joined on the first team by fellow freshmen AJ Dybantsa of BYU and Darius Acuff Jr. of Arkansas, Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg and JT Toppin of Texas Tech. Braden Smith of Purdue headlined the second team after he was a first-team choice last season and an honorable mention pick in 2023-24. Graham Ike of Gonzaga was a third-team pick after he was honorable mention two years ago. Jaden Bradley and Brayden Burries gave Arizona two honorable mention picks this season.

WORDS: 849 - MOVED: 03/17/2026 11:30 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:7bf9bc1f285621d8e66325fd4186d884&mediaType=text

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OLY--WADA-TRUMP BAN

WADA is weighing a rule to bar Trump and US officials from major events. Can it really do that?

SUMMARY: Leaders at the World Anti-Doping Agency are considering adopting a rule that could bar President Donald Trump and all U.S. government officials from attending major international events — even if they take place on American soil. A few coming up are as big as they get: this summer’s World Cup; the LA Olympics in 2028; the Winter Games in Utah in 2034. The rule is on the agenda for WADA’s executive-committee meeting Tuesday. This is not a fight of Trump’s choosing, but rather one being pursued by WADA itself, which has been the subject of bipartisan and virtually universal disapproval in Congress, both the Trump and Biden administrations and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for most of this decade.

WORDS: 1265 - MOVED: 03/17/2026 11:02 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:624d1e60db9189340d772c4602123998&mediaType=text

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BKC--NCAA-MARCH MADNESS GAMBLING

March Madness wagering set to tip off with the games just 2 months after federal gambling charges

WORDS: 933 - MOVED: 03/17/2026 9:33 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ee0f626a21959effc0d877d4c045c7ee&mediaType=text

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BKC--NCAA-ALABAMA-HOLLOWAY ARRESTED

Alabama’s Aden Holloway, the Tide’s No. 2 scorer, is arrested on a felony drug charge

SUMMARY: Alabama guard Aden Holloway has been arrested on a felony drug charge just days before the start of the NCAA Tournament. A Tuscaloosa County police spokesperson says the 21-year-old Holloway was arrested Monday after agents with the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force searched a residence near Alabama’s campus and recovered more than a pound of marijuana, paraphernalia and cash. The Crimson Tide’s No. 2 scorer, Holloway was arrested on a first-degree charge of marijuana possession. The charge carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $15,000. The university says it’s aware of the allegations and Holloway has been removed from campus pending further investigation.

WORDS: 543 - MOVED: 03/17/2026 9:15 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:89f891e293e02a7a57dfc28dbee3bf84&mediaType=text

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BKN--AROUND THE NBA

The Southeast got hot, with Hawks, Magic, Heat and Hornets all surging as playoff chase intensifies

SUMMARY: Atlanta is on a 10-game winning streak, its best stretch in more than 11 years. Orlando and Miami just ran off seven straight victories. Charlotte might be playoff-bound for the first time in a decade. The Southeast Division is ... good? Seems so. At least, it’s not historically bad as was the case last season when the Hawks, Magic, Heat, Hornets and Washington Wizards combined for the worst record by any division in NBA history. And it’s possible the division could send four teams to the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

WORDS: 822 - MOVED: 03/17/2026 6:00 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:0a8234245c8c3e10da4b803ed2052157&mediaType=text

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SOC--CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ROUNDUP

Champions League: Real Madrid, PSG and Bodø/Glimt protect 3-goal leads in round of 16

SUMMARY: Tournament heavyweights Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain and tiny Norwegian club Bodø/Glimt are protecting three-goal leads as they look to clinch their places in the Champions League quarterfinals. There’s a one-sided look to the first batch of second-leg matches to be completed in the round of 16. Madrid leads Manchester City 3-0 and and PSG leads Chelsea 5-2. This could be a tough week for the much-hyped Premier League as all six of its round-of-16 representatives failed to win across the first legs. Arsenal looks best placed to advance and takes on Bayer Leverkusen in London with the score at 1-1. Champions League debutant Bodø/Glimt leads Sporting Lisbon 3-0 to continue its amazing run.

WORDS: 228 - MOVED: 03/17/2026 5:30 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:a67076a316ce609ad00c989cae8b5fc2&mediaType=text

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BKL--WNBA-CBA

Another marathon WNBA CBA negotiation drags past 3:30 a.m. with no deal done

SUMMARY: Another marathon negotiating session between the WNBA and its players union didn’t end with a new collective bargaining agreement. For the seventh consecutive day the two sides met for over 12 hours and while they said progress was being made heading into Monday’s negotiationing session, there was still work that needed to be done when the sides ended discussions for the night around 3:30 a.m. EDT Tuesday morning. Revenue sharing continues to be the big sticking point between the sides.

WORDS: 899 - MOVED: 03/17/2026 4:06 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:cec75d071499221196687748fda4e1dd&mediaType=text

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MOVING TOMORROW

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BKC--MARCH MADNESS

Coverage of the men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament.

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BKW--MARCH MADNESS

Coverage of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament.

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SOC--CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ROUNDUP

Coverage of the second leg of the round of 16 in the Champions League.

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