COLLEGE BASKETBALL
BUFFS ROBBED IN REGULATION, LOSE TO CATS IN OT
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) – Kevin Parrom scored five of his 16 points in overtime after No. 3 Arizona staged an improbable late rally in regulation and the Wildcats escaped with a 92-83 victory over Colorado in their Pac-12 opener on Thursday night. Colorado’s Sabatino Chen banked in a 3-pointer at the end of regulation but officials waved it off after reviewing the video, saying the ball was on his fingertips as the backboard lights went on to show time had expired. Arizona (13-0, 1-0) outscored the Buffaloes 10-2 over the final 1:35 of regulation to force the overtime. The Wildcats were down by 17 points in the first half and 16 with 12:40 to go in regulation. It was the third close win for the Wildcats, who beat Florida 65-64 and San Diego State 68-67. Askia Booker led Colorado (10-3, 0-1) with 18 points.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
NEW CU COACH BRINGS IN STAFF FROM SAN JOSE STATE
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) – Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre has brought in a few familiar assistant coaches from San Jose State, hiring Kent Baer to run the defense and Brian Lindgren to direct the offense. In all, six of MacIntyre’s former coaches will join him in Boulder.
Baer served as the interim head coach for the Spartans once MacIntyre left and led the team to a win over Bowling Green in the Military Bowl. Baer wanted to stay at San Jose State, but was passed over for the full-time job in favor of San Diego’s Ron Caragher. So now Baer joins MacIntyre at Colorado as they try to turn around a program that has had seven straight losing seasons, including a 1-11 record this year that was the worst in the 123-year history of the program.
NFL/BRONCOS
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR McCOY SOUGHT AFTER
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) – Welcome to the Denver Broncos 2013 job fair. Offensive coordinator Mike McCoy has interviews for vacant head-coaching jobs set up all weekend. If a few things fall a certain way, defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio could be next up on a few teams’ lists. Such is life as an assistant coach of a winning team when there are plenty of losing teams out there looking for a turnaround. Executives from up to four teams – Cardinals, Bills, Eagles and Bears – could be traveling to Denver to visit with McCoy over the weekend for what will essentially be a get-to-know-you interview for both the coach and the interested suitors.
McCoy has become as coveted an interview as there is since “Black Monday,” the day seven NFL teams fired their coaches.
WORLD CUP SKIING
VAIL SKIER BURNS UP COURSE IN CROATIA
ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) – American teenager Mikaela Shiffrin posted the fastest time in the first leg of a slalom Friday, beating overall World Cup leader Tina Maze of Slovenia by 0.35 seconds. The 17-year-old Shiffrin from Eagle-Vail who won her first race last month to briefly lead the slalom standings, came down the Crveni Spust course in 59.26 seconds. Maria Pietilae-Holmner of Sweden was third. Defending overall champion Lindsey Vonn, who returned to training Thursday after a monthlong break from the circuit, skipped the race. Slalom world champion Marlies Schild of Austria had been ruled out for three months after knee surgery in December. The course was in excellent condition despite rising temperatures in the last few days.
Elsewhere in sports…
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) – A couple of 10-2 teams on five-game winning streaks are preparing for this evening’s Cotton Bowl. Led by Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Johnny Manziel (man-ZEL’), Texas A&M takes on Oklahoma in the first bowl matchup between former Big 12 rivals. Oklahoma’s two losses this season are to top-ranked Notre Dame and No. 7 Kansas State, while Texas A&M lost to No. 4 Florida and No. 9 LSU.
UNDATED (AP) – L.A.’s pro basketball teams meet head to head tonight for one of 11 games on the NBA schedule. The Pacific Division-leading Clippers have dropped two in a row following a franchise-record 17-game winning streak. The struggling Lakers are 15-16 and nine games behind their city rival.
UNDATED (AP) – The Oklahoma City Thunder will be out to improve their 24-7 record when they host Philadelphia, Charlotte is at Cleveland and looking for a second straight W following a 17-game losing streak, Sacramento plays at Toronto, league door mat Washington entertains Brooklyn, Detroit is home to Atlanta, Portland plays at Memphis, Boston will be out to snap a four-game losing streak when it hosts Indiana, Eastern Conference leader Miami hosts Chicago, Milwaukee is home to Houston and Utah is at Phoenix.
KAPALUA, Hawaii (AP) – The PGA gets under way today with the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii, although the top four in the world ranking are taking the week off. Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Luke Donald and Justin Rose didn’t make the trip to Kapalua. Ernie Els is playing next week in South Africa, while Sergio Garcia and Phil Mickelson also opted not to come.
NEW YORK (AP) – The NHL and the players’ association are expected to meet again today following a very brief negotiation session. The two sides met face-to-face for about an hour in New York before breaking into separate groups. The sides have moved closer to one another while swapping proposals, but key issues remain, including salary cap and pensions.
