BKC–NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP

ATLANTA — Rick Pitino tries to become the first coach to win national titles at two schools when he leads top overall seed Louisville into the championship game against Michigan, which reached the final for the first time in 20 years with another youthful team. By National Writer Paul Newberry. Game starts 9:28 p.m.

AP Photos.

BKC–NCAA-ROUGH SEASON

ATLANTA — This has been has been one ugly season. Scoring hasn’t been this low in decades and the same for shooting percentages. Foul calls are way down, which can turn games into unwatchable wrestling matches. Critics want to see the game opened up in the offseason. By National Writer Eddie Pells. Early story. Sent.

AP Photos.

BKO–NAISMITH HALL OF FAME

ATLANTA — Rick Pitino, who will coach Louisville in the NCAA championship game, is among seven people elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He is joined by Bernard King, Gary Payton, Jerry Tarkanian, Guy Lewis, Sylvia Hatchell and Dawn Staley. By Basketball Writer Jim O’Connell. Sent.

AP Photos.

— With:

— BKC–NCAA-Most Outstanding Player. By Eddie Pells. To be sent after game.

— BKC–NCAA-Louisville. By National Writer Nancy Armour. To be sent after game.

— BKC–NCAA-Michigan. By Noah Trister. To be sent after game.

— NCAA Finals Watch. Sent. Updated throughout day.

WOMEN’S FINAL FOUR

BKW–NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP

NEW ORLEANS — Geno Auriemma and his Connecticut Huskies are one win from an eighth national championship. To get that record-tying title they will have to beat the biggest surprise of the tournament — Louisville. By Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg. Sent.

AP Photos.

BKW–NCAA-LOUISVILLE

NEW ORLEANS — The Louisville Cardinals have pulled off upset after upset in the NCAA tournament. So why not one more? Coach Jeff Walz has his confident Cardinals believing they can do it again. By Brett Martel.

AP Photos.

— With:

— BKW–NCAA Championship Notebook.

MASTERS

Golf’s first major begins Thursday, with the big question whether Tiger Woods’ recent surge carries over to the Masters. He has won four times at Augusta National, but last in 2005. AP Sports Extra previews the Masters (SE-The Masters). It is available Monday via AP Exchange in full, half and tab formats.

GLF–MASTERS

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Guan Tianlang really is a boy among men at this Masters. The 14-year-old from China qualified by winning the Asia Pacific Amateur. The youngest player in Masters history, he is spending two days of practice with Ben Crenshaw and Tom Watson. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson.

AP Photos.

— With:

— GLF–Masters-Stricker. By Doug Ferguson. Sent.

— GLF–Masters-Colsaerts. By Pete Iacobelli. Sent.

— GLF–Masters-Favorite Sons. By Pete Iacobelli. Sent.

NEW/DEVELOPING

RUTGERS PRESIDENT

NEWARK, N.J. — Rutgers is commissioning an independent review of the conduct of fired basketball coach Mike Rice and the way the university handled the matter when it learned that he was kicking and shoving players and berating them with gay slurs in practice. By Katie Zezima. Sent.

AP Photos.

— With:

— NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — BKC–Rutgers-Pernetti-Settlement. Sent.

FBC–AUBURN PLAYERS-ROBBERY

OPELIKA, Ala. — Former Auburn defensive back Mike McNeil receives a 15-year split sentence after pleading guilty. He and three teammates from the 2010 national title team were charged with armed robbery. Antonio Goodwin is serving a 15-year sentence while Dakota Mosley and Shaun Kitchens are awaiting trial. By John Zenor. Sent.

AP Photos.

BBN–REDS-CARDINALS

ST. LOUIS — The Cardinals honor the late Stan Musial before their home opener, with Jaime Garcia opposing Mat Latos and the Reds. Cincinnati is coming off a 4-2 homestand while the Cardinals are 3-3 after punishing Giants ace Matt Cain while taking two of three from the World Series champs on the road. By R.B. Fallstrom. Game starts 4:15 p.m.

AP Photos.

OLY–SPONSORSHIP SEARCH

BRUSSELS — Two major Olympic sports have lost key sponsors in the midst of a global economic slump. The South Korean electronics giant Samsung is cutting ties with track and field’s Diamond League series. Speedskating must replace the Dutch energy supplier Essent after the 2014 Sochi Winter Games. By Raf Casert. Sent.

AP Photos.

CAR–INDYCAR-IN THE PITS

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — For a variety of reasons, Ryan Hunter-Reay did not receive the proper accolades for winning last year’s IndyCar championship. More runs like Sunday’s win in Alabama will make it impossible to overlook Hunter-Reay. By Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer.

AP Photos.

FEATURES

RAC–RUN TO THE ROSES

NEW YORK — Verrazano will attempt to break a longstanding Kentucky Derby jinx — win the race without having run as a 2-year-old. It’s been done before, but only once in 138 previous runnings, and that occurred in 1882 when Apollo won the Run for the Roses. By Richard Rosenblatt. Sent.

AP Photos.

BRITAIN-THATCHER-SPORTS

LONDON — Margaret Thatcher barely concealed her distaste for sports while prime minister of Britain. Instead, she tried to use the athletic arena as a political weapon of sorts during the Cold War, and even took on the soccer establishment as violence at matches damaged the nation’s image. By Rob Harris. Sent.

AP Photos.

FIG-LYSACEK’S COMEBACK

NEW YORK — Evan Lysacek hasn’t competed since the last Olympics, yet is confident he will represent the United States at the next Olympics. And he believes he’s fully capable of winning another gold medal. By Barry Wilner. Sent.

AP Photos.

BBA–TIGERS-HUNTER

DETROIT — Torii Hunter is off to a good start with the Detroit Tigers, hitting .393 and giving them a dependable defender in right field. By Larry Lage.

AP Photos.

BKN–JAZZ-FAVORS

SALT LAKE CITY — Derrick Favors is fast becoming Utah’s defensive master. The 21-year-old is a big reason the Jazz have reclaimed the Western Conference’s final playoff spot after their win Sunday night in Golden State coupled with the Lakers’ loss to the Clippers. By Lynn DeBruin.

AP Photos.

HKN–FIRST-PLACE CAPITALS

WASHINGTON — From big disappointment to big comeback, Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals are back to their familiar spots atop the pecking order. Ovechkin has found comfort in a new position and is tied for the league in goals, while the Capitals are in first place in the Southeast Division. By Joseph White.

AP Photos.

HKN–SHARKS-STRETCH RUN

SAN JOSE, Calif. — A near perfect homestand vaulted the Sharks from the fight just to get into the playoffs to the battle for home-ice advantage in the first round. Now they need to see if they can bring that improved play out on the road where they have struggled all season. By Josh Dubow.

AP Photos.

OTHER NEWS

— HOUSTON — FBO–Pardee Funeral. Funeral for Jack Pardee, one of Bear Bryant’s “Junction Boys” at Texas A&M who became a star NFL linebacker and coach. By Kristie Rieken. Sent.

— BALTIMORE — FBN–Flacco-Unitas Movie. Joe Flacco to portray Johnny Unitas in movie. Sent.

— BKW–Clemson-Coach. Clemson hires UAB’s Audra’s Smith as women’s basketball coach, the AP is told. By Pete Iacobelli. Sent.

— RALEIGH, N.C. — BKW–NC State-Moore. North Carolina State hires Chattanooga’s Wes Moore as women’s basketball coach. By Aaron Beard.

— SOC–Euro Rdp. Manchester United, holding a 15-point lead in the Premier League with eight games left, hosts defending champion Mancheser City (3 p.m.); Roma hosts city rival Lazio in the Italian league (2:45 p.m.).

CAPSULES

— BBA–AL Capsules

— BBN–NL Capsules

— HKN–NHL Capsules

Monday’s Time Schedule (EDT)

Men’s NCAA Tournament

Championship

Louisville vs. Michigan, 9:28 p.m.

Baseball

Baltimore at Boston, 2:05 p.m.

Milwaukee at Chicago Cubs, 2:20 p.m.

N.Y. Yankees at Cleveland, 4:05 p.m.

Minnesota at Kansas City, 4:10 p.m.

Cincinnati at St. Louis, 4:15 p.m.

N.Y. Mets at Philadelphia, 7:05 p.m.

Atlanta at Miami, 7:10 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Texas, 8:05 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Arizona, 9:40 p.m.

Houston at Seattle, 10:10 p.m.

Colorado at San Francisco, 10:15 p.m.

NHL

Carolina at Boston, 7 p.m.

N.Y. Rangers at Toronto, 7 p.m.

Calgary at Colorado, 9 p.m.

Phoenix at Vancouver, 10 p.m.

Edmonton at Anaheim, 10 p.m.