THIS DAY IN SPORTS 1973 — Ron Blomberg of the New York Yankees becomes UMBERS AME the first major league designated hitter, in an opening-day N G game against Boston. Antelope Valley Press, Monday, April 6, 2020 C3 Morning rush UConn’s ’99 win vs. Duke was program changer Valley Press news services By AARON BEARD a brand name yet. … I kept say- Player sentenced to 3 months at home Associated Press SCRAMBLING ing: ‘If we keep knocking on the for flouting curfew Khalid El-Amin remembers In this March 29, 1999, door, it’ll open.’ And in ‘99, it did.” BELGRADE, Serbia — Serbian soccer player Alek- Connecticut’s resolve to win file photo, Duke’s Chris Burgess tries sandar Prijovic has been sentenced to three months a program-changing national VILLANOVA OVER of home detention for flouting a curfew imposed to curb to keep the ball from championship. NORTH CAROLINA the spread of coronavirus. going out of bounds (2016) The 29-year-old striker who plays for Saudi Arabian The last hurdle to transforming as Connecticut’s It’s hard for any title game to Edmund Saunders club Al-Ittihad pleaded guilty at a video link trial in the Huskies into a national power? top this one. Belgrade on Saturday. (51) watches in the Edging a dominant Duke team in a Villanova led by 10 with 5:29 Police had arrested Prijovic and 19 others for classic title game 21 years ago. NCAA championship game. left before the Tar Heels rallied gathering at a hotel lobby bar in Belgrade on Friday and “We thought and we knew violating the country’s 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. lockdown orders. Associated Press to set up an exchange of all-time He is the second Serbian soccer player to be caught that if we ever had an opportu- great tournament shots. Marcus nity to play Duke, then we could eventual top-15 NBA draft picks. travel on a spin in the lane with 5.4 violating the stay-at-home orders after Real Madrid The Huskies were mature Paige hit the first, a double-clutch striker Luka Jovic flouted the state of emergency play with them and it wouldn’t be seconds left and UConn up one. and tough, 33-2 behind the 3-pointer against a closing Ryan decree when he attended his girlfriend’s birthday party a doubt about that,” El-Amin told El-Amin hit two free throws, backcourt of El-Amin and AP Arcidiacono to make it 74-all with at a Belgrade cafe last month. The Associated Press. “But we then Langdon couldn’t get up a Those who violate the restrictive measures could first-team All-American Richard tying 3-pointer before the ball 4.7 seconds left. did want to just be that team to “We believed that if we went face up to three years in jail. Hamilton. El-Amin said Calhoun was knocked loose on a desper- get over the hump.” into overtime, we would have won Kentucky point guard Ashton Hagans told them for the first time “the ate final possession — prompting Connecticut’s 77-74 win in that game because of the momen- team we were going to play was El-Amin to shout: “We shocked will enter NBA draft 1999 capped the breakthrough tum,” guard Joel Berry II said. LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky point guard Ashton actually better than us.” the world!” run after three regional-final “There was just a laser focus Instead, after a timeout, Ar- Hagans will enter the NBA draft and forego his final The win vaulted the Huskies losses under Jim Calhoun, in- from that point on,” El-Amin said. cidiacono pushed upcourt and two seasons of eligibility. into college basketball’s top tier, He said Sunday the “time is now” to pursue his cluding in 1990 to Mike Krzyze- Trailing 39-37 at halftime, found a trailing Kris Jenkins – dream of playing professionally. wski’s Blue Devils on Christian Connecticut went up six and with three titles — two under who buried a 3 to unleash con- The 6-foot-3 Hagans was named Southeastern Laettner’s buzzer-beater. tenaciously held the lead before Calhoun — following in the next fetti from the rafters in Houston. Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a freshman They met again in St. Peters- 15 seasons. Villanova coach Jay Wright and became one of the country’s best point guards this Duke tied it twice — the last near burg, Florida, as the only teams the 4-minute mark. But the Hus- “I just think (Duke) had a said he’s only watched a replay past season. However, his time at Kentucky ended in great team,” said Calhoun, now controversy as he argued with forward Nick Richards to reach No. 1 in the Top 25 that kies came up big at both ends. just once with family, calling and coach John Calipari and reportedly refused to season. The Blue Devils were the First El-Amin drove past coach at Division III Saint Jo- Jenkins’ shot “a great memo- re-enter in the second half of a home loss to Tennessee. clear title favorite all year, going Brand for a leaner and a 75-72 lead seph in Connecticut. “They were ry.” It was more painful for the Calipari downplayed the incident afterward. 37-1 behind AP national player of with 65 seconds left. Then Ricky the name, they were the brand Tar Heels, though it fueled their Hagans then requested time away from the team for the year Elton Brand among five Moore forced Trajan Langdon to name. We were a good name, not championship run a year later. personal reasons and did not travel to the season finale at Florida. He was expected to return for the Wildcats at the SEC Tournament in Nashville, but that event MLB GOLF NBA NHL MOTORSPORTS and the NCAA Tournament were canceled last month WESTERN CONFERENCE Spring Training Glance PGA Tour schedule WESTERN CONFERENCE NASCAR Cup because of the coronavirus pandemic. AMERICAN LEAGUE Jan. 2-5 — Sentry Tournament of Pacific Division Pacific Division Champions (Justin Thomas) W L Pct GB Schedule-Winners W L Pct. GP W L OT Pts GF GA Feb. 9 — x-Busch Clash at DAYTONA (Erik Hagans said in a statement Sunday he was disap- Jan. 9-12 — Sony Open (Cameron Smith) x-L.A. Lakers 49 14 .778 — Toronto 12 6 .667 Vegas 71 39 24 8 86 227 211 Jones) Jan. 16-19 — Desert Classic (Andrew L.A. Clippers 44 20 .688 5½ pointed not to be able to pursue a national title but Oakland 13 8 .619 Edmonton 71 37 25 9 83 225 217 Feb. 13 — x-Bluegreen Vacations Duel 1 at Landry) Sacramento 28 36 .438 21½ Texas 12 8 .600 Calgary 70 36 27 7 79 210 215 DAYTONA (Joey Logano) added that he understands why. Jan. 23-26 — Farmers Insurance Open Phoenix 26 39 .400 24 Chicago 10 7 .588 Vancouver 69 36 27 6 78 228 217 Feb. 13 — x-Bluegreen Vacations Duel 2 at (Marc Leishman) Golden State 15 50 .231 35 “It’s time for me to live out my lifelong dream and New York 11 8 .579 Arizona 70 33 29 8 74 195 187 DAYTONA (William Byron) Jan. 30-Feb. 2 — Waste Management Southwest Division declare for the NBA draft,” Hagans said. “It’s been my Baltimore 9 7 .563 Ducks 71 29 33 9 67 187 226 Feb. 16 — DAYTONA 500 (Denny Hamlin) Phoenix Open (Webb Simpson) W L Pct GB Tampa Bay 9 8 .529 Kings 70 29 35 6 64 178 212 Feb. 23 — Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy No. 1 goal since I first picked up a ball to take this step Feb. 6-9 — AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am Houston 40 24 .625 — San Jose 70 29 36 5 63 182 226 Kansas City 9 9 .500 Lube (Joey Logano) (Nick Taylor) Dallas 40 27 .597 1½ and I know my time is now.” Boston 9 10 .474 Central Division March 1 — Auto Club 400 (Alex Bowman) Feb. 13-16 — Genesis Invitational (Adam Memphis 32 33 .492 8½ GP W L OT Pts GF GA Detroit 8 9 .471 March 8 — FanShield 500 (Joey Logano) He also thanked coaches, teammates and fans and Scott) New Orleans 28 36 .438 12 St. Louis 71 42 19 10 94 225 193 Minnesota 7 8 .467 March 15 — Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 Feb. 20-23 — WGC-Mexico San Antonio 27 36 .429 12½ Colorado 70 42 20 8 92 237 191 added, “the last two years have been some of the best Houston 7 11 .389 (Postponed) Championship (Patrick Reed) Northwest Division Dallas 69 37 24 8 82 180 177 Angels 6 10 .375 March 22 — Dixie Vodka 400 (Postponed) of my life.” Feb. 20-23 — Puerto Rico Open (Viktor W L Pct GB Winnipeg 71 37 28 6 80 216 203 Cleveland 7 12 .368 March 29 — O’Reilly Auto Parts 500, Fort Hovland) Denver 43 22 .662 — Nashville 69 35 26 8 78 215 217 Hagans was born and raised in Georgia. He had 351 Seattle 6 12 .333 Worth, Texas (Postponed) Feb. 27-March 1 — Honda Classic Utah 41 23 .641 1½ Minnesota 69 35 27 7 77 220 220 NATIONAL LEAGUE April 5 — Food City 500, Bristol, Tenn. assists at Kentucky — ranking 12th in school history — (Sungjae Im) Oklahoma City 40 24 .625 2½ Chicago 70 32 30 8 72 212 218 W L Pct. (Postponed) and 119 steals.