Daily Jolt: March 28
Thursday, March 28
Today's must-see content delivered straight to you.
The next big name on UCLA's list
Of course VCU coach Shaka Smart was atop UCLA fans' collective wish list, but he's out. [Smart] and VCU have agreed in principle to a deal to keep the coach at the school, it was reported on Wednesday. In an Associated Press story, VCU athletic director Ed McLaughlin says the details are still being finalized, but the majority of changes involve "program enhancements for the student-athletes and coaches." ... [With] news of Smart returning to VCU, the Bruins' list of possibilities will, more than likely, be one name shorter. Expect Butler's Brad Stevens to be the next big name -- aside from Louisville's Rick Pitino and Florida's Billy Donovan -- tossed around in conversation about UCLA's coaching search. (Orange County Register)Comment
Lattimore leaves scouts ... inspired?
It isn't every day scouts treat someone this way. Marcus Lattimore ran football drills indoors Wednesday at the University of South Carolina for representatives of all 32 NFL teams, his agent, Michael Perrett, told USA TODAY Sports. And when he was done showing off the progress in his surgically repaired knee, the room burst into applause. So says Lattimore, the former Gamecocks running back who tore the anterior cruciate, lateral collateral and posterior cruciate ligaments in his right knee Oct. 27 in a game vs. Tennessee. "It was crazy," he told USA TODAY Sports. "I did not expect that at all. Pretty much every scout came up to me and said that was amazing and inspiring." (USA Today)Comment
Panic move coming for Red Sox?
As the regular season draws near, it appears more likely that Jackie Bradley Jr. will open on Boston's roster. The most compelling reason not to put Bradley on the Opening Day roster is to prevent him from reaching six full seasons of service time by the end of the 2018 season. If the Red Sox send Bradley to Triple-A Pawtucket for the first nine games of the season, he wouldn't be eligible for free agency until 2019. It appeared at first that a Red Sox team getting back to a long-term approach to team-building would prioritize that extra season over those first nine games. But a Red Sox team that lost 93 games last season and looks to be in the periphery of the playoff race this season appears to feel some urgency to win now. (Providence Journal)Comment
Must-See Photo
The front page of Thursday's Calgary Herald after the Flames traded Jarome Iginla to the Penguins.
Must-See Video
A fan tries to take LeBron James' headband after the Heat's loss to the Bulls.
Game To Watch
No. 4 Syracuse vs. No. 1 Indiana, 9:45 p.m. ET, CBS
- Syracuse Orange
- Indiana Hoosiers
SI Vault: Christian Laettner
This Day in Sports
- 1992 -- Christian Laettner hits his famous turnaround jumper at the buzzer to life Duke past Kentucky 104-103 in overtime and into the Final Four.
- 1995 -- Michael Jordan, wearing No. 45, scores 55 points to lift the Bulls past the Knicks 113-111 in his fifth game since coming out of retirement.
- 1996 -- Twins outfielder Kirby Puckett is taken to the hospital with vision problems. He would never play baseball again.
