Coaches weigh in on attacking the Syracuse zone

ATLANTA | Some get paid millions to try and solve the riddle facing the Michigan coaching staff at the Final Four this weekend.

UCLA hires Steve Alford as new basketball coach

LOS ANGELES | Steve Alford was hired as UCLA basketball coach on Saturday, spurning New Mexico days after he agreed to a new 10-year deal with the Lobos for a chance to run what he called "the premier basketball program in the country."

UCLA hires Steve Alford as new basketball coach

New Mexico coach Steve Alford directs his team against Colorado State in February. UCLA has hired New Mexico's Alford as its new head basketball coach.

Ohio St faces Wichita St for trip to Final Four

Ohio State's Deshaun Thomas celebrates a field goal against Arizona during the second half of a West Regional semifinal game Thursday in Los Angeles.

Ohio St. faces Wichita St. for trip to Final Four

LOS ANGELES | During Ohio State's journey to the Final Four last season, Aaron Craft learned the importance of focusing on the next 40 minutes, not the three-week trip.

Marquette-Syracuse means Big East in Final Four

WASHINGTON | When two teams from the same conference meet with a Final Four berth at stake, fans think it's great from a rivalry and bragging rights perspective. Conference administrators hear cash registers ringing as NCAA shares are earned.

Notre Dame women advance with win over Iowa

IOWA CITY, Iowa | Skylar Diggins hit the layup, drew the foul and pumped her fist as though she was playing in South Bend rather than Iowa City.

Louisville eliminates Purdue women in second round

LOUISVILLE, Ky. | Purdue matched the Louisville women on the Cardinals' home floor for 34 minutes. The final 5:33 of the first half proved to be too much.

Louisville-Purdue pits Cards' coach, ex -recruit

LOUISVILLE, Ky. | Louisville coach Jeff Walz has liked Purdue forward Drey Mingo's game since he recruited her back in high school. Now he hopes she misses every shot against his Cardinals.

Louisville-Purdue pits Cards' coach, ex -recruit

Purdue's Drey Mingo speaks with reporters before practice for a second round game in the women's NCAA tournament in Louisville, Ky., on Monday. Purdue will play Louisville on Tuesday.

Bears hire CFL coach Trestman to replace Smith

CHICAGO | The Chicago Bears hired Montreal Alouettes coach Marc Trestman on Wednesday to replace the fired Lovie Smith and gave him two basic tasks — fix the offense and lead the team to the playoffs on a consistent basis.

Will an international coach get a shot in the NBA?

The Dallas Mavericks were thought to be tip-toeing out on a shaky limb in 1998 when they traded for a skinny forward out of Germany named Dirk Nowitzki.

Will an international coach get a shot in the NBA?

Russia's coach David Blatt, left, instructs Vitaliy Fridzon during a semifinal basketball game against Nigeria in the Olympic qualifying tournament in Caracas, Venezuela. The growing influence of international players on the NBA is well known and not just a novelty anymore. So it begs the qu…

Colts give Bears permission to interview Arians

INDIANAPOLIS | The Colts want offensive coordinator Bruce Arians to stick around a little longer.

Texas Tech isn't distracted by coaching change

HOUSTON | Texas Tech quarterback Seth Doege has seen this before.

Pressure builds on Bears during another late swoon

LAKE FOREST, Ill. | Lovie Smith says he can't get caught up in any outside discussion about his job security as the Bears scuffle along, in danger of missing the playoffs after a 7-1 start.

Alvarez returns, readies Wisconsin for Rose Bowl

MADISON, Wis. | Barry Alvarez's birth certificate says he's about to turn 66. The bounce in his step on Wisconsin's practice field suggests differently.

Moments of silence around NFL for shooting victims

Two players who wear No. 26 joined hands with the coaches of the St. Louis Rams and Minnesota Vikings in tribute to the victims of the school massacre in Newtown, Conn., and New York Giants' players wore decals with the initials of Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Moments of silence around NFL for shooting victims

Makayla Ferfecki, of Kentucky, holds a sign honoring the victims of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., before the game between the Atlanta Falcons and the New York Giants on Sunday in Atlanta. A gunman walked into the school Friday and opened fire, killing 26 peo…