WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2014 SPORTS Providence see light at the end of the tunnel NEW YORK: Providence has put itself in the Big East tournament. Providence isn’t over Pittsburgh was huge for their NCAA returned from his fan-shoving suspension, Arizona State, another team clawing for an position to make the NCAA tournament the only team hanging by the bubble this hopes. Florida State was shaky before that, including a had-to-have-it victory over at-large bid. The Cardinal have a tough fin- for the first time in a decade with a strong late in the season. The 68-team bracket losing six of eight games after an 8-2 fifth-ranked Kansas on Saturday night. A ish, too: Against Colorado and Utah, two late-season run. The Friars know there’s has 36 at-large bids, but there are likely stretch. The Seminoles have an early sea- loss to Kansas State on Monday night hurt other teams fighting for bracket spots. still some work to do if they’re going to only a dozen or so not all but spoken for son win over VCU on their resume, but a little, but the Cowboys could be in good LSU. The Tigers’ bubble may have get it. “We know anything we get, we at this point. nothing else that really pops out and an shape with a win over Iowa State and a popped. They had a big opportunity to get have to work for,” Providence senior guard In other words, there’s still quite a few average RPI of 57, so they’ll need to close solid run in the Big 12 tournament. a statement win against top-ranked Florida Bryce Cotton said. “This is no different. We teams sweating it out. Here’s some that strong. A loss to Boston College on on Saturday and were never really in the are right there, right at the cusp. We see have helped their cause recently and a Tuesday night could put a big dent in their FALLING BACK game to lose for the fifth time in eight the light at the end of the tunnel, but we few that stumbled: chances. Missouri closes out the regular Missouri. The Tigers may need to finish games. LSU (17-11, 8-8) still has games left have to keep climbing to get there.” season against Texas A&M and Tennessee. the season strong after dropping two of against Vanderbilt and Georgia, but even Providence opened the season with 10 MOVING UP Oregon. The Ducks appeared to be their past three games and going 4-6 over winning those isn’t likely to turn selection wins in its first 12 games, then started 5-2 Arkansas. The Razorbacks have played doomed after a five-game losing streak in their past 10. Missouri is 20-9, but is so-so committee heads. Winning those and a in the Big East. Four losses in five games their way back into the bubble over the January spoiled a 13-0 start and a top-10 8-8 in the SEC, which isn’t exactly the deep run in the SEC tournament could be threatened to derail the Friars’ NCAA past three weeks. Arkansas has won five ranking. Oregon (20-8) has bounced back strongest conference in the nation this the Tigers’ only shot. chances, but they have bounced back straight and six of seven, including a will- with five straight wins, including a double- season. The Tigers do have a win over Richmond. The Spiders are losing sight with three wins in four games. look-good-to-the-committee overtime overtime road victory over UCLA on UCLA, but there aren’t really any other of the bubble after three losses in four Providence has a so-so RPI of 56, but victory over then-No. 17 Kentucky in Thursday that will look pretty good on the marquee wins on the resume. games, including a 23-point setback does have wins over Xavier, Creighton Lexington to complete a season sweep resume. The Ducks face a big week to Stanford. We know, the Cardinal were against Rhode Island on Saturday that’s not and St. John’s in Big East play. The Friars over the Wildcats. The Razorbacks (20-9, close out the regular season, playing among the teams moving up last week going to look too good. Richmond (18-11, also helped their cause with a must-win 9-7 SEC) have four victories over teams in Arizona State on Tuesday night and No. 3 and now they’re here. That’s how quickly 8-6 Atlantic-10) is 4-3 since leading scorer victory over Seton Hall on Friday to the RPI’s top 50, but could still use a Arizona on Saturday, both at home. things can change on the surface of this Cedrick Lindsay injured both of his knees. avenge an earlier loss. Providence still has strong finish against Ole Miss and Oklahoma State. The return of Marcus bubble. How did they get here? A sweep The Spiders have tough games against VCU a tough road left, though; the Friars close Alabama to avoid a pressure-filled SEC Smart has done the Cowboys a world of by the Arizona schools. Losing to No. 3 and Dayton left on the regular-season out the regular season against Marquette tournament. good. Oklahoma State (19-10, 7-9 Big 12) Arizona on the road isn’t too bad, but the schedule and will need to make some and No. 13 Creighton before playing in Florida State. The Seminoles’ road win has won three straight since the star guard Stanford could have used a win over noise in the A-10 tournament. —AP Djokovic defeats Murray at Madison Square Garden NEW YORK: Novak Djokovic beat four days in Acapulco last week. Murray in high-top canvas sneak- and Mike Bryan insisted there Andy Murray 6-3, 7-6 (2) in an There were the obligatory exhi- ers that were more fashion than were no hard feelings, they one-off match at Madison Square bition shenanigans: between-the- function. respectfully disagree with his Garden on Monday, with the pair legs shots, pulling a kid from the The BNP Paribas Showdown opinion, and they played Monday mixed the usual exhibition hijinks crowd to play a point. In a bit of a opened with the Bryan brothers with the seriousness of an ATP with some long rallies reminiscent twist, Djokovic invited reigning beating the McEnroe brothers 8-3 Tour match. of their epic Grand Slam meet- Wimbledon champion Marion in doubles. John McEnroe added There was no aiming any slams ings. A born showman, Djokovic always has fun with the New York crowd at the U.S. Open. When on a game point Monday he shanked an overhead into the net, the Serb HH The Amir Grand Prix Higher Organizing Committee during the meeting did push-ups in penance. It was the first time playing at the Garden for both. “I was amazed by the size of it,” Djokovic said. “With the history in the world of sports and entertainment and music, it’s probably the most impressive and most important indoor facility in the world.” Murray grimaced more than once after an unforced error as if he were a few miles away at Flushing Meadows. But he also high-fived a fan after hooking in a winner down the line. And the Brit provides plenty of entertainment value simply with his ability to run down nearly every ball. Chasing a drop shot in the first set, Murray wound up all the way on Djokovic’s side of the court, bumping into a TV camera along the way. Djokovic went over and jokingly massaged Murray’s quad, lest he need a medical timeout. Eng. Duaij Al-Otaibi Mariam Irzouqi seen in this file photo During one changeover, they pulled their phones out of their bags and met at the net to take a Kuwait on target for couple of selfies. Both tweeted them during the next break. NEW YORK: Novak Djokovic stretches to return against Andy Murray in the BNP Paribas shooting tourney “We might never get the Showdown Tennis Tournament. —AP chance to play here again,” Murray By Abdellatif Sharaa to receiving delegations and training said. “Wanted to enjoy it. Hope Bartoli, who has since retired, a little sizzle to the meeting a few toward John’s head. Instead, they programs are set, and that Sheikh everyone who came along had a from the stands to briefly take his months ago when he made some picked on Patrick McEnroe’s vol- KUWAIT: The Higher Organizing Sabah Al-Ahmad Shooting Complex is good time as well. That was the place. Murray welcomed her by harsh comments about the cur- leys - he doesn’t play as much Committee of HH the Amir Sheikh hosting camps of six countries who whole point today.” launching a serve as hard as he rent state of doubles, suggesting these days as his more-successful And he’s in a good mood after could that had the Frenchwoman that top players today are the older brother. The twins needed Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah will participate in both champi- his surgically repaired back held ducking. Bartoli then ably guys who weren’t athletic enough 44 minutes to win the single pro Third Annual International Grand onships. up well following four matches in exchanged groundstrokes with to make it in singles. While Bob set. —AP Prix held a meeting to discuss the lat- Meanwhile Kuwait shooters have est developments three days before intensified their preparations and the start of the championship, along daily training to come out with the Federer adds to Indian Wells buzz with the Asian.