Reuters U.S. Sports Schedule at 2 PM EDT on Thursday, March 20

Reuters

March 20 (Reuters) - Reuters U.S. sports schedule at 2 PM ET on Thursday: - - - - The duty editor is Steve Ginsburg, 202-898-8427 - - - - MARCH MADNESS NCAA Tournament South Region: Dayton (11) vs. Ohio State (6) BUFFALO, N.Y. - The first tip of the 2014 NCAA Tournament second round is a battle of Ohio with enigmatic Ohio State (25-9) taking on 11th-seeded Dayton (23-10). (BKC-OHIOSTATE-DAYTON-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU (PIX), expect ASAP after the 1615 GMT/12:15 PM ET game, The Sports Xchange, by Matt Michael, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - NCAA Tournament South Region: Pittsburgh (9) vs. Colorado (8) ORLANDO, Fla. - Bruising halfcourt-oriented Pittsburgh and pesky Colorado collide in a second round South Region matchup with the winner likely to face No. 1-seeded Florida before a partisan crowd Saturday. (BKC-COLORADO-PITTSBURGH-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU (PIX), expect ASAP after 1740 GMT/1:40 PM ET game, The Sports Xchange, by Bill Fay, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - NCAA Tournament South Region: Western Michigan (14) vs. Syracuse (3) BUFFALO, N.Y. - From undefeated and No. 1 in the nation last month to a sluggish finish to the regular season, Syracuse makes the three-hour trek to First Niagara Center to contend with Western Michigan and MAC leading scorer David Brown. (BKC-SYRACUSE-WESTERNMICHIGAN-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU (PIX), expect ASAP after the 1845 GMT/2:45 PM ET game, The Sports Xchange, by Matt Michael, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - NCAA Tournament South Region: Florida (1) vs. Albany (16) ORLANDO, Fla. -- The No. 1 NCAA Tournament seed Florida hasn't lost since Dec. 2 and opens in friendly environs with America East underdog Albany. (BKC-FLORIDA-ALBANY-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU (PIX), expect ASAP after the 2010 GMT/4:10 PM ET game, The Sports Xchange, by Bill Fay, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - NCAA Tournament West Region: Wisconsin (2) at American (15) MILWAUKEE, Wis. - Second-seeded Wisconsin and American, the grinding Patriot League champions who feature a Princeton-style offense, kick off the West Region with a lunchtime matchup at Bradley Center. (BKC-WISCONSIN-AMERICAN-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU (PIX), expect ASAP after the 1640 GMT/12:40 PM ET game, The Sports Xchange, by Andrew Wagner, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - NCAA Tournament West Region: BYU (10) vs. Oregon (7) MILWAUKEE, Wis. - High-scoring Oregon and West Coast Conference runner-up BYU meet for the second time this season. The Ducks outlasted the Cougars, 100-96 in overtime, in a December nonconference game in Eugene. (BKC-OREGON-BYU-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU (PIX), expect ASAP after the 1640 GMT/12:40 PM ET game, The Sports Xchange, by Andrew Wagner, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - NCAA Tournament West Region: Oklahoma (5) vs. North Dakota State (12) SPOKANE, Wash. - North Dakota State's Taylor Braun leads upset-minded North Dakota State against Oklahoma. (BKC-OKLAHOMA-NORTHDAKOTASTATE-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU (PIX), expect ASAP after the 2327 GMT/7:27 PM ET game, The Sports Xchange, by Howie Stalwick, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - NCAA Tournament West Region: San Diego State (4) vs. New Mexico State (13) SPOKANE, Wash. - San Diego State makes its fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance in the second round of the West Region against New Mexico State, which features a pair of 7-footers over 330 pounds. (BKC-SANDIEGOSTATE-NEWMEXICOSTATE-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU (PIX), expect ASAP after the 2327 GMT/7:27 PM ET game, The Sports Xchange, by Howie Stalwick, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - NCAA Tournament East Region: Cincinnati (5) vs. Harvard (12) SPOKANE, Wash. - Sean Kilpatrick and Cincinnati (27-6) meets 26-4 Harvard in the second round of the NCAA Tournament East Region. (BKC-CINCINNATI-HARVARD-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU (PIX), expect ASAP after the 1810 GMT/2:10 PM ET game, The Sports Xchange, by Howie Stalwick, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - NCAA Tournament East Region: Saint Joseph's (10) vs. Connecticut (7) BUFFALO, N.Y. - For a potential shot at Philadelphia rival Villanova in the second round, Saint Joseph's would have to knock off Connecticut in a second round NCAA Tournament game. (BKC-MICHIGANSTATE-DELAWARE-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU (PIX), expect ASAP after the 2277 GMT/6:55 PM ET game, The Sports Xchange, by Matt Michael, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - NCAA Tournament East Region: Milwaukee (15) vs. Villanova (2) BUFFALO, N.Y. - Villanova lost early in the Big East tournament but attempts to get back on the winning track against Horizon League tournament champion Milwaukee. (BKC-VILLANOVA-MILWAUKEE-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU (PIX), expect ASAP after the 0125 GMT/9:25 PM ET game, The Sports Xchange, by Matt Michael, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - NCAA Tournament Midwest Region: Wofford (15) vs. Michigan (2) MILWAUKEE, Wis. - Big Ten regular-season champion Michigan (25-8) sets out to return to the Final Four against the Wofford Terriers (20-12), who won the Southern Conference tournament. (BKC-MICHIGAN-WOFFORD-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU (PIX), expect ASAP after the 2310 GMT/7:10 PM ET game, The Sports Xchange, by Andrew Wagner, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - NCAA Tournament Midwest Region: NC State (12) vs. Saint Louis (5) ORLANDO, Fla. - First Four winner North Carolina State and All-American T.J. Warren look to knock off fifth-seeded Saint Louis. (BKC-SAINTLOUIS-NCSTATE-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU (PIX), expect ASAP after the 2320 GMT/7:20 PM ET game, The Sports Xchange, by Bill Fay, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - NCAA Tournament Midwest Region: Arizona State (10) vs. Texas (7) MILWAUKEE, Wis. - Longtime coaching counterparts Rick Barnes and Herb Sendek reunite in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. (BKC-TEXAS-ARIZONASTATE-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU (PIX), expect ASAP after 0140 GMT/9:40 PM ET game, The Sports Xchange, by Andrew Wagner, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - NCAA Tournament Midwest Region: Manhattan (13) vs. Louisville (4) ORLANDO, Fla. - Louisville head coach Rick Pitino and the defending champion Cardinals square off against former U of L assistant - and a Pitino ballboy with the Celtics turned player at Kentucky - Steve Masiello and Manhattan. (BKC-LOUISVILLE-MANHATTAN-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU (PIX), expect ASAP after the 0140 GMT/9:40 PM ET game, The Sports Xchange, by Andrew Wagner, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - - - NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION Thunder at Cavaliers CLEVELAND - Russell Westbrook is expected to rest in the second of a back-to-back for the Oklahoma City Thunder at Cleveland. The Cavaliers, already playing without All-Star Kyrie Irving, don't expect forward Luol Deng (ankle) to play. (BKN-CAVALIERS-THUNDER-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU (PIX), expect ASAP after the 2300 GMT/7 PM ET game, The Sports Xchange, by Mike Shalin, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - Timberwolves at Rockets HOUSTON - Dwight Howard will watch and rest his left ankle as the Houston Rockets go for back-to-back wins and 10 in a row at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves. (BKN-ROCKETS-TIMBERWOLVES-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU (PIX), expect ASAP after the 0000 GMT/8 PM ET game, The Sports Xchange, by MK Bower, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - NBA Wrap: Thunder visit Cavs with hopes of keeping pace in West The Oklahoma City Thunder, in a tight battle for top spot in the Western Conference, visit the Cleveland Cavaliers in one of four games on the NBA schedule. (NBA-HIGHLIGHTS/ (PIX), expect by 0330 GMT/11:30 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 450 words) - - - - NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE Sam, Ealy take field at Mizzou pro day Michael Sam's poor workout at the Scouting Combine in February left many wondering if he would be drafted. Sam and first-round pass-rushing prospect Kony Ealy are among the Tigers who worked out today in Columbia. (FBN-DRAFT/, expect by 2200 GMT/6 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 400 words) See also: Quarterback Jason Campbell and the Cincinnati Bengals come to terms on a one-year contract. (FBN-BENGALS-NEWS/) - - Only 17: Raiders re-sign vet Woodson Charles Woodson agrees to a one-year deal with the Oakland Raiders, who drafted him 17 years ago. (FBN-RAIDERS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 300 words) - - Allen takes second spin in Seattle Veteran free agent pass rusher Jared Allen will take a second visit to Seattle to discuss a contract with the Seahawks. (FBN-SEAHAWKS/NEWS, moved, The Sports Xchange, 225 words) - - Tracking free agents movers Tracking the bargain shoppers and under-the-radar additions in the second week of NFL free agency. (FBN-NEWS/, separates as needed, The Sports Xchange, 300 words) - - - - GOLF PGA Tour: Arnold Palmer Invitational Adam Scott shoots 10-under 62 in first round at Bay Hill Masters champion Adam Scott ties the course record with a 10-under-par 62 in the first round at the $6.2 million Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida. Defending champ Tiger Woods withdrew earlier this week with a bad back. (GOLF-PGA/, moved; expect next lead by 2100 GMT/5 PM ET, 450 words) - - Founders Cup First-round coverage of the Founders Cup LPGA tournament in Phoenix. (GLF-NEWS/, expect ASAP after completion of first-round play, The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - - - MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL Big-budget Dodgers hope 2014 is a smash hit We look ahead to the 2014 National League baseball season, which begins on Saturday, with a four-part package consisting of an overall preview, a look at the Los Angeles Dodgers, previews of all 15 NL teams and key dates for the season. (BASEBALL-NATIONAL/ (PREVIEW), expect by 2100 GMT/5 PM ET, by Larry Fine, 800 words) See also: (BASEBALL-DODGERS/, expect by 2100 GMT/5 PM ET, 600 words) (BASEBALL-PENPIX/NATIONAL, expect by 2100 GMT/5 PM ET, 1100 words) (BASEBALL-DATES/, expect by 2100 GMT/5 PM ET, 75 words) - - Cards holding extra aces JUPITER, Fla. - So deep are the Cardinals options for the starting rotation that Joe Kelly, who was 9-3 with a 2.28 earned run average during the regular season last year and who was in the rotation for all three postseason rounds, may wind up in the bullpen if manager Mike Matheny chooses to go with 22-year-old Carlos Martinez as his final starter. (BBO-CARDINALS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 500 words) - - Pirates crunching bullpen numbers Without player options to the minor leagues, the Pittsburgh Pirates are up against mathematics in trying to sort out their options for the bullpen. (BBO-PIRATES-NEWS/, expect by 2300 GMT/7 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 450 words) - - Cubs ponder five spot Jeff Samardzija is No. 1 in the rotation, but who will round out the rotation for the Chicago Cubs? Jake Arrieta is working off the effects of shoulder tightness, and James McDonald left a start this past week after only two pitches. It's possible lefty Chris Rusin could swoop in and take the job. (BBO-CUBS-NEWS/, expect by 0000 GMT/8 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 450 words) - - Tigers SS Igelsias likely out for 2014 Detroit Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias is likely to miss the entire 2014 season with stress fractures in both legs, general manager Dave Dombrowski confirms. (BBO-TIGERS-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 150 words) - - Reds spring training report The latest news and notes from spring training with the Cincinnati Reds. (BBO-REDS-NEWS/, expect by 0000 GMT/8 PM ET, The Sports Xchange, 450 words) - - - - NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE *The Sports Xchange covers all NHL games. Key matchups highlighted below - - Penguins at Red Wings DETROIT - Pittsburgh beat Detroit 4-1 at Joe Louis Arena in December and the Penguins go for two in a row with the Red Wings in the midst of four games in six nights. (HKN-REDWINGS-PENGUINS-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU (PIX), expect ASAP after the 0000 GMT/8 PM ET game, The Sports Xchange, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - Ducks at Sharks SAN JOSE - Losses in five of seven games by the Anaheim Ducks allowed the San Jose Sharks to slide up the standings and create a race in the Pacific Division. (HKN-SHARKS-DUCKS-FIRSTLEDE/WRITETHRU (PIX), expect ASAP after the 0230 GMT/10:30 PM ET game, The Sports Xchange, 400-word first lede, 700-word writethru) - - NHL Wrap: Ducks visit Stars, streaking Flyers battle Stars The Anaheim Ducks visit the San Jose Sharks in a matchup of teams tied atop the Pacific Division while the Philadelphia Flyers look to make it four consecutive wins when they host the Dallas Stars in two of the nine games on the schedule. (NHL-HIGHLIGHTS/ (PIX), expect by 0330 GMT/11:30 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 950 words) - - - - OLYMPICS Hockey becomes a game of four quarters LONDON - Hockey will no longer be a game of two halves at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics, with the sport announcing a change to a four-quarter format to broaden its appeal to broadcasters and fans. (OLYMPICS/HOCKEY, moved, 225 words) - - - - JURISPRUDENCE Pistorius to sell home where he killed girlfriend to pay legal expenses JOHANNESBURG - Oscar Pistorius will sell the luxury Pretoria home in which he shot and killed his girlfriend to pay his legal expenses due to an unexpected delay in the trial, his lawyer says. (US-SAFRICA-PISTORIUS/ (PIX), moved; will be led, by Tosin Sulaiman, 375 words) - - Navy football player not guilty in sex assault case WASHINGTON - A judge finds a Naval Academy football player not guilty of sexually assaulting a female midshipman, in one of a spate of sexual misconduct cases roiling the U.S. military.(USA-MILITARY/SEXUALASSAULT, moved; will be led by 1900 GMT/3 PM ET, by Tom Ramstack, 450 words) - - - - TENNIS Serena Williams launches bid for seventh Miami title MIAMI - World No. 1 Serena Williams launches her bid for a seventh Sony Open title when she faces Kazakhstan's Yaroslava Shvedova in a second round clash at Crandon Park. Maria Sharapova, who lost to Williams in last year's final, will also see her first action while Australian Lleyton Hewitt goes for his 600th career win against Dutchman Robin Haase. (TENNIS-MIAMI/ (PIX), expect first story by 2000 GMT/4 PM ET, by Steve Keating, 500 words) - - - - AUTO RACING Stewart back to his old way Three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart missed 15 weeks and then faced a three-month offseason before getting back into his No. 14 Chevrolet SS. The first three races of 2014 didn't go exactly as he had hoped. Last week at Bristol? That was more like it. (CAR-SPRINT-NEWS/, moved, NASCAR wire service special to The Sports Xchange, 400 words) - - NASCAR driver capsules Capsule looks at the top 25 drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings. (CAR-SPRINT-NEWS/, moved, The Sports Xchange, 300 words per driver) - - - - ALPINE SKIING Hoefl-Riesch hangs up the skis Olympic champion Maria Hoefl-Riesch of Germany ends her Alpine skiing career, quitting a month after adding a third gold medal to her collection. (ALPINE SKIING/HOEFL (UPDATE 2), moved, 400 words) - - - - NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (Expect by 0000 GMT/8 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words)