Live Video: 2 dead, 64 injured after explosions near Boston Marathon finish
Two bombs exploded near the finish of the Boston Marathon on Monday, killing two people, injuring 23 others and sending authorities rushing to aid wounded spectators, race organizers and police said. Early reports…
Braxton Miller making headway with Buckeyes
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Thrust into a starting role as a freshman, only now is Braxton Miller really getting an idea of what he can truly do as Ohio State’s quarterback. Not too surprisingly, Miller is clearly the centerpiece of the Buckeyes’ offense as they go through spring drills. Coach Urban Meyer says Miller’s progress as a quarterback was slowed because of the early responsibility thrown upon him while the Buckeyes labored through a miserable 6-7 season two years ago. Miller carried last year’s team, at least for the first half of the season, as Ohio State posted a surprising 12-0 record. Now the junior says he’s learning a lot and improving daily.
Ohio State beats Wisconsin for B10 title
CHICAGO (AP) — Ohio State is the champion of the Big Ten tournament – again. DeShaun Thomas scored 17 points and the 10th-ranked Buckeyes used their stout defense to beat No. 22 Wisconsin 50-43 for their conference-best fifth tournament title on Sunday.
Matta’s charge to Buckeyes: Have fun (but win)
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — After 18 grueling conference games – and before the one-then-done pressure of the NCAA’s big dance – Ohio State coach Thad Matta tells his players to just go out and have fun in the Big Ten tournament. To be clear, he didn’t say it would be fun, but just to try to have some. The 10th-ranked Buckeyes don’t have a lot to prove when they head to Chicago for what figures to be a wild tournament on the heels of a wild Big Ten race. But Matta wants his players to ”maintain” – play at the same level they have through the season while building momentum to take into the bigger tournament which starts next week. Now, if they were to win the Big Ten tournament trophy, all the better.
Buckeyes open practice, Meyer discusses team needs
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — In their first official act of the 2013 season, the Ohio State Buckeyes came in from the cold. Coach Urban Meyer began his second season with the Buckeyes by overseeing the first spring workout inside the team’s practice facility because of inclement weather. Meyer patrolled the field looking at different position groups. He is particularly interested in filling huge departures on the defensive line and at linebacker. Braxton Miller, on a regional cover of Sports Illustrated this week as a Heisman Trophy contender, went through his paces at quarterback. Among those participating in their first collegiate practice were four early enrollees from the 2013 recruiting class: cornerbacks Eli Apple and Cam Burrows and defensive linemen Tyquan Lewis and Tracy Sprinkle.
AP Source: NCAA found $170K in Shapiro benefits
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — The NCAA is alleging that former Miami booster Nevin Shapiro was responsible for providing about $170,000 in impermissible benefits to Hurricanes athletes, recruits, coaches and others between 2002 and 2010. Shapiro allegedly spent more than half that amount – at least $90,000 – in an effort to get NFL players Vince Wilfork and Antrel Rolle to sign with a sports agency he was involved with, said the person, who spoke to The Associated Press Wednesday on condition of anonymity because neither Miami nor the NCAA has publicly released the allegations. Also included in the allegations: That Shapiro spent at least another $56,000 on ”meals, entertainment, clothing, jewelry, travel, lodging and cash” on football players, recruits and others. The NCAA alleged that Shapiro spent that on 72 then-players, three recruits and 12 ”friends and family members” of those either on the team or being recruited by the school. Virtually all of the Hurricane players …
Short turnaround for both Buckeyes and Badgers (The Associated Press)
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Having just dispensed with their first losing streak – a meager two games – in the past three years, the 13th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes get little time to rest. For that matter, neither does their next opponent. After a closer-than-the-score-indicates 69-59 win over scrappy Northwestern on Thursday night, the Buckeyes hit the road this weekend to play at No. 20 Wisconsin. The Badgers were also busy the same time as Ohio State, losing 58-53 in overtime at Minnesota. With the schedule dwindling, the game will be a way of winnowing the Big Ten field for the stretch run: The Buckeyes and Badgers are each 8-4 in conference play and tied for third with Michigan, two games back of co-leaders Indiana and Michigan State.
Michigan-Wisconsin Preview (The Associated Press)
Michigan snapped a long losing streak to Wisconsin last year, and ending another in Madison could mean a quick return to No. 1 in the nation. The third-ranked Wolverines make their case to re-claim the top spot in the AP poll as they attempt to beat the Badgers on the road for the first time in 14 years Saturday morning local time. Michigan (21-2, 8-2) was ranked No. 1 just last week, but last Saturday’s 81-73 loss at then-No. 3 Indiana caused the Big Ten rivals to switch positions. Now, the Wolverines have a chance to quickly supplant the Hoosiers since they lost 74-72 at Illinois on Thursday. Second-ranked Florida also fell two days prior, losing 80-69 at Arkansas. Michigan bounced back from its loss to Indiana by edging No. 10 Ohio State 76-74 in overtime Tuesday. “Just to come out and grit it out all the way to the end of …
Ohio State raises ticket prices from $70 to $79
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Tickets to Ohio State’s home football games will cost more – more than twice as much for certain ”premium” games – after the school’s board of trustees approved an increase at its meeting on Thursday. Most home game tickets will rise in price from $70 to $79, with the board also voting to permit the athletic department to designate two premier games per season when tickets will cost at least $110 and as much as $175. The only game to be designated as a premium game this fall is Wisconsin, which will have a maximum cost of $110. Ohio State hosts archrival Michigan in even-numbered years. The athletic department asked for the increases so it could support 36 varsity sports – the most of any college in the country.
Buckeyes still trying to figure out who they are (The Associated Press)
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — With its season more than half over, No. 14 Ohio State is still trying to forge an identity. About the only thing coach Thad Matta knows about his Buckeyes (13-4, 3-2 Big Ten) heading into Tuesday night’s home game with Iowa is that night, in and night out, he can pretty much count on forward Deshaun Thomas to score 20 points. Beyond that, it’s like throwing darts from 30 paces. At times the post position has been a problem. So has shooting. There have been games where the defensive intensity wasn’t good. And in Saturday’s 59-56 loss at No. 13 Michigan State on Saturday an old bugaboo – no one other than Thomas scoring – haunted the Buckeyes.
