(6) Villanova Fends Off Xavier to Win Big East Championship Joe Robbins/Getty Images(CINCINNATI) -- JayVaughn Pinkston scored eight of his 15 points in the final 3:20 to help No. 6 Villanova fend off Xavier 77-70 Thursday night, clinching its first outright Big East Championship in 32 years. Darrun Hilliard led Villanova (27-3, 15-2, Big East) with 19 points, while James Bell scored 12 and Ryan Arcidiacono added 11 in the Wildcats' 11th win in 12 games. Xavier (20-11, 10-8) was playing its first game without starting center Matt Stainbrook, who st
Red Wings Retire Nicklas Lidstrom's Jersey Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images(DETROIT) --The No. 5 will not be in circulation any longer with the Detroit Red Wings. The Wings retired defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom's No. 5 jersey into the rafters of Joe Louis Arena before the team's 3-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche Thursday night. Lidstrom's No. 5 jersey joins Steve Yzerman's 19, Gordie Howe's 9, Ted Lindsay's 7, Alex Delvecchio's 10, Sid Abel's 12, and Terry Swachuk's 1, as the only numbers the Original Six team has retired. Lidstr
Frank Martin Suspended One Game Jared Wickerham/Getty Images Sport(NEW YORK) -- The University of South Carolina suspended its men's basketball coach Frank Martin one game on Thursday. The suspension is a result of Martin yelling and swearing at freshman Duane Notice during the Gamecocks loss to Florida Tuesday night. The situation was caught on video and went viral."The one-game suspension is a result of inappropriate verbal communication as it relates to the well-being of our student-athletes," South Carolina athletic d
Colts Sign LB D'Qwell Jackson Al Pereira/New York Jets/Getty Images(INDIANAPOLIS) -- The Indianapolis Colts signed linebacker D'Qwell Jackson on Thursday.ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reports it's a four-year, $22 million deal, with $11 million guaranteed. "We are pleased to announce the signing of inside linebacker D'Qwell Jackson," Colts general manager Ryan Grigson said in a statement. "He is a team-first guy that has been a very consistent producer on the field. The tempo, energy and determination he plays with are
Scoreboard Roundup - 3/6/14 Getty Images/Hemera(NEW YORK) -- NBA: San Antonio Spurs 111 (45-16) – Miami Heat 87 (43-16)Phoenix Suns 128 (36-25) – Oklahoma City Thunder 122 (46-16)Top 25 Men’s College Basketball: (6) Villanova 77 (27-3) – Xavier 70 (20-11)(15) Cincinnati 97 (25-5) – (20) Memphis 84 (22-8)(22) Michigan State 86 (23-7) – (24) Iowa 76 (20-10)NHL: Boston Bruins 3 (40-17-5; 85pts) – Washington Capitals 0 (29-25-10; 68pts)Los Angeles Kings 3 (36-22-6; 78pts) &
Sacramento Kings Sign Royce White To 10-Day Contract Nick Laham/Getty Images(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) -- The Sacramento Kings signed free agent forward Royce White to a 10-day contract on Thursday and assigned him to the Reno Bighorns of the NBA’s Development League.White was selected by the Rockets with the 16th overall pick in the 2012 draft. He never suited up with Houston after both sides couldn’t come to an agreement on how to handle his anxiety disorder.The Rockets suspended him in January 2013 after he refused to report to Rio Grande
Tony Stewart's Ready for Las Vegas Jared Wickerham/Getty Images for NASCAR(LAS VEGAS) -- Three-time Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart is hoping to carry over his success at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend.Stewart currently sits 20th in the Sprint Cup standings, but has one victory at Las Vegas to go along with six top-five finishes."Hopefully after today we'll have a little better idea of what we can do for the rest of the weekend," Stewart told ABC Sports Radio on Thursday before starting testing on the track.Stewart said h
Broncos Release CB Champ Bailey Doug Pensinger/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- The Denver Broncos released 12-time Pro Bowler Champ Bailey on Thursday.Bailey had a $1 million roster bonus due March 15, but the team will let Bailey go elsewhere, which gives the Broncos $10 million in cap space for other free agents.Bailey was entering the final year of his contract and witnessed his team get blown out by the Seahawks in the Super Bowl last month.He was drafted by the Redskins with the seventh overall pick of the 1999 draft and was tr
Adrian Peterson Encourages Vikings to Sign Michael Vick Andy Lyons/Getty Images(MINNEAPOLIS) -- Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is lobbying for the organization to sign Michael Vick once free agency begins next week.The six-time Pro Bowler believes Vick is the missing piece to the Vikings playoff chances."@MikeVick would intently make the vikings a playoff team!" Peterson wrote in a Twitter message late Wednesday night.Vick started six games for the Eagles last season and was beat out by Nick Foles for the starting job late in the seas
Devin Hester Won't Play for Bears in 2014 Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images(CHICAGO) -- Dynamic punt returner and wide receiver Devin Hester won't be back with the Chicago Bears in 2014.Hester will become an unrestricted free agent after eight seasons in the windy city."From my knowledge, I know that Chicago wants to go a different route with me," Hester told the NFL Network on Wednesday. "All I can say is thanks to the fans for their support. They've always been great to me. Always been loyal. I couldn't have played for a better city than
Joe Robbins/Getty Images(CINCINNATI) -- JayVaughn Pinkston scored eight of his 15 points in the final 3:20 to help No. 6 Villanova fend off Xavier 77-70 Thursday night, clinching its first outright Big East Championship in 32 years. Darrun Hilliard led Villanova (27-3, 15-2, Big East) with 19 points, while James Bell scored 12 and Ryan Arcidiacono added 11 in the Wildcats' 11th win in 12 games. Xavier (20-11, 10-8) was playing its first game without starting center Matt Stainbrook, who st
Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images(DETROIT) --The No. 5 will not be in circulation any longer with the Detroit Red Wings. The Wings retired defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom's No. 5 jersey into the rafters of Joe Louis Arena before the team's 3-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche Thursday night. Lidstrom's No. 5 jersey joins Steve Yzerman's 19, Gordie Howe's 9, Ted Lindsay's 7, Alex Delvecchio's 10, Sid Abel's 12, and Terry Swachuk's 1, as the only numbers the Original Six team has retired. Lidstr
Jared Wickerham/Getty Images Sport(NEW YORK) -- The University of South Carolina suspended its men's basketball coach Frank Martin one game on Thursday. The suspension is a result of Martin yelling and swearing at freshman Duane Notice during the Gamecocks loss to Florida Tuesday night. The situation was caught on video and went viral."The one-game suspension is a result of inappropriate verbal communication as it relates to the well-being of our student-athletes," South Carolina athletic d
Al Pereira/New York Jets/Getty Images(INDIANAPOLIS) -- The Indianapolis Colts signed linebacker D'Qwell Jackson on Thursday.ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reports it's a four-year, $22 million deal, with $11 million guaranteed. "We are pleased to announce the signing of inside linebacker D'Qwell Jackson," Colts general manager Ryan Grigson said in a statement. "He is a team-first guy that has been a very consistent producer on the field. The tempo, energy and determination he plays with are
Getty Images/Hemera(NEW YORK) -- NBA: San Antonio Spurs 111 (45-16) – Miami Heat 87 (43-16)Phoenix Suns 128 (36-25) – Oklahoma City Thunder 122 (46-16)Top 25 Men’s College Basketball: (6) Villanova 77 (27-3) – Xavier 70 (20-11)(15) Cincinnati 97 (25-5) – (20) Memphis 84 (22-8)(22) Michigan State 86 (23-7) – (24) Iowa 76 (20-10)NHL: Boston Bruins 3 (40-17-5; 85pts) – Washington Capitals 0 (29-25-10; 68pts)Los Angeles Kings 3 (36-22-6; 78pts) &
Nick Laham/Getty Images(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) -- The Sacramento Kings signed free agent forward Royce White to a 10-day contract on Thursday and assigned him to the Reno Bighorns of the NBA’s Development League.White was selected by the Rockets with the 16th overall pick in the 2012 draft. He never suited up with Houston after both sides couldn’t come to an agreement on how to handle his anxiety disorder.The Rockets suspended him in January 2013 after he refused to report to Rio Grande
Jared Wickerham/Getty Images for NASCAR(LAS VEGAS) -- Three-time Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart is hoping to carry over his success at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend.Stewart currently sits 20th in the Sprint Cup standings, but has one victory at Las Vegas to go along with six top-five finishes."Hopefully after today we'll have a little better idea of what we can do for the rest of the weekend," Stewart told ABC Sports Radio on Thursday before starting testing on the track.Stewart said h
Doug Pensinger/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- The Denver Broncos released 12-time Pro Bowler Champ Bailey on Thursday.Bailey had a $1 million roster bonus due March 15, but the team will let Bailey go elsewhere, which gives the Broncos $10 million in cap space for other free agents.Bailey was entering the final year of his contract and witnessed his team get blown out by the Seahawks in the Super Bowl last month.He was drafted by the Redskins with the seventh overall pick of the 1999 draft and was tr
Andy Lyons/Getty Images(MINNEAPOLIS) -- Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is lobbying for the organization to sign Michael Vick once free agency begins next week.The six-time Pro Bowler believes Vick is the missing piece to the Vikings playoff chances."@MikeVick would intently make the vikings a playoff team!" Peterson wrote in a Twitter message late Wednesday night.Vick started six games for the Eagles last season and was beat out by Nick Foles for the starting job late in the seas
Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images(CHICAGO) -- Dynamic punt returner and wide receiver Devin Hester won't be back with the Chicago Bears in 2014.Hester will become an unrestricted free agent after eight seasons in the windy city."From my knowledge, I know that Chicago wants to go a different route with me," Hester told the NFL Network on Wednesday. "All I can say is thanks to the fans for their support. They've always been great to me. Always been loyal. I couldn't have played for a better city than
