JOHN MARSHALL

AP Sports Writer
Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) rns out of the pocket against Texas during the first half in the quarterfinals of a College Football Playoff, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)
Quarterback Sam Leavitt reaping the benefits of Arizona State’s return to national prominence
Sam Leavitt was a key cog in Arizona State’s run to the College Football Playoff and back into national prominence.
 
Phoenix Suns forward Cody Martin (17) shields the ball from San Antonio Spurs guard Blake Wesley during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Ryan Dunn scores 26, Suns end 8-game losing streak with 117-98 win over Spurs in home finale
Ryan Dunn scored 26 points, Bradley Beal added 21 and the Phoenix Suns ended an eight-game losing streak with a 117-98 win over the San Antonio Spurs in their home finale.
 
Baltimore Orioles' Jordan Westburg gets hit by the pitch against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning during a baseball game, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Merrill Kelly pitches into the 7th inning as the Diamondbacks beat the Orioles 4-3
Merrill Kelly pitched into the seventh inning after a shaky start, Corbin Carroll homered and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Baltimore Orioles 4-3.
 
Texas Tech guard Chance McMillian (0) shoots over Florida forward Alex Condon during the second half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Increasing number of teams using the floater in between the rim and the 3-point arc
The 3-point shot has changed basketball, creating a spread out game that in turn opens avenues to the basket. In between the arc and the rim is a shot that balances the floor and serves as an equalizer for smaller players: the floater.
 
This combo of filer photos show from left, St. John's coach Rick Pitino, left, and Auburn coach Bruce Pearl, the The Associated Press coaches of the year in men's college basketball. (AP Photo/File)
Auburn’s Pearl and St. John’s’ Pitino share AP coach of the year honors, 1st tie in history of award
Bruce Pearl of Auburn and Rick Pitino of St. John’s are The Associated Press coaches of the year in men’s college basketball. It is the first tie in the 58-year history of the award, with each receiving 20 votes. St.
 
Tennessee's Jordan Gainey, bottom, and Houston's Milos Uzan chase a loose ball during the second half in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
All about the D: Final Four teams have been locked in on defense all season
The Final Four will have four No. 1 seeds for the second time since seeding began in 1979. It also will have lots of defense. A big reason Auburn, Duke, Florida and Houston reached the Final Four is because of their defenses.
 
Auburn guard Tahaad Pettiford (0) during the second half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Power conferences fill this year’s Sweet 16 for the first time ever
Years of bracket chaos have given way to the year of the power conference. Cinderella is staying home this time.
 
McNeese State forward Christian Shumate (24) celebrates during the second half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Providence, R.I. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Missing madness: NCAA Tournament first round bereft of buzzer-beaters and major upsets
The calendar says it’s March. Most of the madness has been missing so far. There certainly have been upsets. Just ask the owners of the 99.9956% of brackets with at least one blemish.
 
UConn head coach Dan Hurley calls out to his team during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Villanova at the Big East basketball tournament Thursday, March 13, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Transfer portal and NIL are making it even more difficult to three-peat in college basketball
UConn has a chance to join very rare company as March Madness winds into full gear this week. The Huskies have won the last two national championships and could become only the second team to three-peat, joining John Wooden’s UCLA teams of the 1960s and ‘70s.
 
St. John's head coach Rick Pitino gestures during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Creighton in the championship of the Big East Conference tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
West Region will feature 3 Hall of Fame coaches, another with consecutive national titles
Rick Pitino’s latest rebuilding project will take him to Providence, where he pulled off one of the biggest surprises in NCAA Tournament history by leading the Friars to the 1987 Final Four. His road to another potential Final Four with St.
 
Florida guard Alijah Martin and team celebrate victory over Tennessee after an NCAA college basketball game in the final round of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Florida gets No. 1 seed in West Region, will open March Madness against Norfolk State
Florida is the No. 1 team in the West Region in its bid to erase last year’s early March Madness exit.
 
Former Phoenix Mercury player Diana Taurasi speaks during her retirement news conference, Thursday, March 13, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Diana Taurasi says goodbye to one of the greatest careers in women’s basketball history
Diana Taurasi wanted to take her time before deciding whether to retire. Once the Phoenix Mercury star made up her mind, the decision came with the same kind of decisiveness she displayed through one of the greatest careers in women’s basketball history.
 
Arizona State head coach Bobby Hurley is seen on the sidelines during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Kansas State in the first round of the Big 12 Conference tournament, Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley expected to return for 11th season, AP source says
Arizona State men’s basketball coach Bobby Hurley is expected to return for his 11th season, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.
 
Christopher Bell celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Phoenix Raceway, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
Christopher Bell takes a 3-race winning streak to Las Vegas with Adam Stevens in his corner
Nothing seemed to be going right at the start of Christopher Bell’s relationship with crew chief Adam Stevens. They struggled to get the right setups and results. It concerned Bell, but Stevens wasn’t worried.
 
Christopher Bell celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Phoenix Raceway, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
Christopher Bell holds off Denny Hamlin at Phoenix to win third straight NASCAR Cup Series race
Christopher Bell became the first NASCAR Cup Series driver to win three straight races in the NextGen car, holding off Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin by 0.049 seconds to win the second-closest race in Phoenix Raceway history.
 
Joey Logano speaks with crew with his wife Brittany and their daughter Emilia Love before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, in Hampton, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Joey Logano returns to Phoenix Raceway after winning Cup Series title a year ago
Joey Logano already had an affinity for Phoenix Raceway. The Team Penske driver had won on the mile oval three times, including the 2022 Cup Series title, and had 15 top-10 finishes in 31 races since 2009.
 
Michigan State guard Jase Richardson, center, goes to the basket between Michigan center Vladislav Goldin, left, and center Danny Wolf, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Feb. 21, 2025, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
College hoops is full of versatile big men who could bust brackets in March Madness
Michigan’s Danny Wolf moves with the freedom of a guard in a 7-footer’s body, bursting off screens for catch-and-shoot 3-pointers, beating defenders off the dribble, using his vision to find open teammates over smaller players.
 
Arizona guard Caleb Love (1) knocks the ball out of the hand of Arizona State guard Joson Sanon (3) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Tucson, Ariz., March 4, 2025. (Kelly Presnell/Arizona Daily Star via AP)
Henri Veesaar scores 22 points, No. 24 Arizona pulls away to beat rival Arizona State 113-100
Henri Veesaar scored 22 points, Caleb Love added 21 and No. 24 Arizona pulled away for a 113-100 win over rival Arizona State.
 
Auburn's Johni Broome (4), Tahaad Pettiford (0), Miles Kelly (13) and Chaney Johnson (31) pause in the closing moments of the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Kentucky in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/James Crisp)
Rivalry games highlight final week of college basketball’s regular season
The college basketball season has wound down toward the end, with some conference tournaments already starting. The major conferences still have a week left in the regular season and that means rivalry games — and some big ones.
 
St. John's guard RJ Luis Jr. celebrates with teammates after winning the Big East Conference regular season title after they defeated Seton Hall in an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, March 1, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
Auburn atop AP Top 25 for 8th straight week; No. 6 St. John’s has highest ranking in 34 years
Auburn and Duke remain atop the AP Top 25. The rest of the poll was a jumble. Auburn was the unanimous pick at No. 1 for the second straight week, receiving all 61 votes from a media panel.
 
Indiana guard Anthony Leal (3) reacts after being called for a foul during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Purdue, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, in Bloomington, Ind. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
Big Ten hoping to close in on getting double-figure teams into NCAA Tournament
The Big Ten has eight teams that should be locks to reach the NCAA Tournament. For the league to hit double figures, teams on the bubble will have to have a strong finish to the season.
 
Arizona guard Caleb Love reacts after scoring against Utah during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Caleb Love hits six 3s and scores 23 points as No. 22 Arizona thumps Utah 83-66
Caleb Love hit six 3-pointers and scored 23 points, leading No. 22 Arizona to an 83-66 blowout over Utah in the Utes’ first game since coach Craig Smith was fired. Utah fired Smith on Monday and named assistant Josh Eilert as interim coach.
 
Phoenix Mercury's Diana Taurasi smiles during the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Atlanta Dream, Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)
Diana Taurasi of the Phoenix Mercury retires after 20 WNBA seasons, 3 titles and 6 Olympic golds
Diana Taurasi is retiring after 20 seasons, ending one of the greatest careers in women’s basketball history.
 
Houston forward J'Wan Roberts (13) drives on Arizona State forward Basheer Jihad during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
L.J. Cryer scores 18, No. 5 Houston dominates Arizona State 80-65
L.J. Cryer scored 18 points, Emanuel Sharp added 17 and No. 5 Houston dominated Arizona State 80-65. The Cougars moved up a spot in the latest AP Top 25 after grinding out a 62-58 win over No. 19 Arizona on Saturday.
 
Houston forward Joseph Tugler dunks over Arizona forward Henri Veesaar (13) and forward Trey Townsend during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
No. 6 Houston remaining on an even keel during run to top of Big 12 standings
Kelvin Sampson has spent the past 11 years instilling a culture of discipline and consistency at Houston. No matter what happens, the Cougars are going to play the same, never getting too high or low.
 
Houston guard Milos Uzan (7) drives past Arizona guard Caleb Love during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Milos Uzan scores 19 as No. 6 Houston grinds out 62-58 win over No. 13 Arizona
Milos Uzan scored 19 points, L.J. Cryer added 15 and No. 6 Houston took firm control of the Big 12 Conference race with a 62-58 win over No. 13 Arizona.
 
Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl, right, reacts after a call during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Florida, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Auburn and Alabama to play first game between No. 1 and No. 2 in SEC history
The basketball version of the Alabama-Auburn rivalry has heated up as both programs have risen into national prominence.
 
Auburn guard Miles Kelly, left, and Florida center Rueben Chinyelu (9) battle for a rebound during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Auburn edges Alabama atop AP Top 25 despite loss, Duke and Florida tied at No. 3; UConn drops out
Auburn is still No. 1 in the AP Top 25 men’s basketball poll despite a loss to Florida. The Tigers received 34 first-place votes from a 61-person media panel. No. 2 Alabama moved up a spot and received 23 first-place votes.
 
Thomas Detry, of Belgium, celebrates after winning the Phoenix Open golf tournament at TPC Scottsdale, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Thomas Detry gets his first PGA Tour victory, a 7-shot romp at the Phoenix Open
Thomas Detry nearly aced the rowdy 16th hole in a stretch of four closing birdies, shooting a 6-under 65 to win the Phoenix Open by seven shots for his first PGA Tour victory.
 
Thomas Detry, of Belgium, hits his tee shot at the 13th hole during the second round of the Phoenix Open golf tournament at the TPC Scottsdale Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Thomas Detry nearly aces 16, shoots 64 to take 2-shot lead in Phoenix Open
Thomas Detry nearly aced the par-3 16th hole and shot a 7-under 64 in the second round to take a two-shot lead lead in the Phoenix Open. Detry had eight birdies and a bogey to reach 12 under on another day of perfect conditions at TPC Scottdale.
 
Load More