16 — The Bradford (Pa.) Era, Thursday, March 14, 2013 Atlantic 10 tournament hits big time in Big Apple NEW YORK (AP) — For these four days ing because some competitors lost. in March, the not-so-mid-major Atlantic 10 “At the end of the day, the people you’re on Conference will be dancing with the big boys. the bubble with, half win and half lose,” Giannini The league’s tournament moves into the spar- said. “It’s up to you to do your part.” kling new Barclays Center in New York City. Some tantalizing semifinal matchups are very Two of its members are ranked, and three others possible. How about Temple against No. 25 VCU are in good position to make the NCAA tour- (24-7, 12-4)? Butler or La Salle against 16th- ney. ranked Saint Louis (24-6, 13-3)? If the A-10 indeed earns five bids, that could “Looking at the bracket, it’s easy to see what possibly tie it for third among all conferences, everyone has been talking about all year: how behind just the Big East and Big Ten, based deep this league is,” said second-seeded VCU’s on some current (and of course ever-changing) coach, Shaka Smart. projections. Five would match the conference’s Those games are hardly guaranteed, though. record, set in 1997 and ’98. The top five teams have lost a combined 11 times “The talent level, the coaching level is com- to the squads that finished sixth through 16th in parable to anybody,” said analyst Bill Raftery, the standings. (Only 12 schools qualify for the who will call the final for CBS. “If you win that conference tournament.) conference, you’re ready for the NCAA. You “It’s wide open,” Saint Louis interim coach went through the mill.” Jim Crews said. “Every game in the A-10, you AP photo But this is college sports in the 21st century, had to play well, and you had to earn things and Mitch Seavey (left) holds one of his lead dogs, Taurus, as he poses for photogra- so just as much is happening off the court as on had to get a few lucky plays.” phers at the finish line of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog race in Nome, Alaska. Seavy it. With the breakup of the Big East — playing its Third-seeded Temple (23-8, 11-5), which was became the oldest winner and a two-time Iditarod champion. conference tournament 6 miles away at Madison .500 in conference play in mid-February, is the Square Garden — the A-10’s present, powerful hottest team heading into the tournament with configuration may be a one-hit wonder. seven straight wins. The Owls also bring the star Longtime stalwart Temple is headed to join most likely to thrill the Brooklyn fans with a 53-year-old musher becomes the Big East’s football-playing members. Butler, hot shooting day. Conference player of the year Xavier and possibly others could latch on to the Khalif Wyatt averaged 22.4 points against A-10 Big East’s basketball schools. opponents and has reached 30 points five times. oldest Iditarod champion “It’s bittersweet,” Temple coach Fran Dunphy Saint Louis, the regular-season champ, may said. “It’s been a great relationship.” not have a player break 20 during the tournament NOME, Alaska (AP) — A 53-year-old former Zirkle’s dogs wagged their tails as she praised But if, say, A-10 newcomers Butler and VCU — and still win the title. Five players average champion won the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race them. are reprising their historic 2011 NCAA semifinal between 9.8 and 12.9 points. They don’t need to become the oldest winner of Alaska’s grueling “My dog team is my heart,” she said. in Sunday’s title game, the here and now of the to score a whole lot in allowing 58.4 points per test of endurance. The pair jostled for the lead, with Zirkle basketball will overshadow all that. game. Mitch Seavey and 10 dogs crossed the Nome never more than a few miles behind in the final So deep is the conference this year that the Junior forward Dwayne Evans is a force at finish line to cheering crowds at 10:39 p.m. stretch. Alaska time Tuesday. “I just now stopped looking over my shoul- Bulldogs — who own wins over top-ranked 6-foot-5, averaging 14.5 points on 50.6 percent “This is for all of the gentlemen of a certain der,” Seavey said after crossing the finish line. Gonzaga and No. 3 Indiana — are seeded fifth shooting with 8.6 rebounds in A-10 play. age,” he said on a live stream posted to the Also trailing by a dozen or so miles was four- and failed to clinch a bye. They’ll open Thursday Butler would need to win four games in four Iditarod website after completing the race in time champion Jeff King, who was followed by against 12th-seeded Dayton. days for a title, but the Bulldogs are finally temperatures just above zero. His race time in a cluster of contenders, including Seavey’s son, With a win, Butler (24-7, 11-5) will face healthy after leading scorers Rotnei Clarke and the 1,000-mile race was nine days, 7 hours and Dallas. fourth-seeded La Salle (21-8, 11-5), which could Andrew Smith missed time because of injuries. 39 minutes. Last year at age 25, he became the youngest use another impressive victory to ensure the “That’s what you really want to have going Seavey’s victory came after a dueling sprint Iditarod winner, beating Zirkle to the finish line Explorers aren’t sweating on Selection Sunday. into these tournaments in March,” coach Brad against Aliy Zirkle, last year’s runner-up, along by one hour. La Salle coach John Giannini doesn’t pretend Stevens said. the frozen, wind-whipped Bering Sea coast. Mitch Seavey first won the Iditarod in 2004. to ignore all the bubble banter. But he reminds One of the biggest stars of the weekend will Zirkle crossed the finish line 24 minutes after her Before Seavey’s win on Tuesday, King had been himself of one recent night when the Explorers be the venue itself, home of the NBA’s Nets. rival, who later greeted her. the oldest Iditarod champion, winning his fourth won, yet their status suffered because two other A-10 officials have looked back in their records “You did a good job,” Seavey told Zirkle as a race at 50 in 2006. NCAA hopefuls posted big victories. The next and can’t find another tournament that had more camera crew filmed them. “You’re going to win The oldies were still stellar performers in a day, La Salle gained in projections without play- media credential requests. this thing, probably more than once.” race that ended last year with a top field featur- At a news conference after the race, Zirkle ing many finishers in their 30s, said Iditarod race gave credit to her rival’s strategy. spokeswoman Erin McLarnon. “Mitch has this ability to sit on the sidelines “Last year, we saw a lot of those youngsters in and refuel because he knows he needs to refuel, the top 10,” McLarnon said. “Some of those 45- while everyone else is zooming by,” she said. plussers are taking back the lead this year. They “It’s smart, and that’s probably why you won.” are showing the young ’uns what they can really For reaching Nome first, Seavey wins $50,400 do out there on that trail.” and a 2013 pickup truck. The rest of the $600,000 Zirkle, 43, had hoped to be only the third purse will be split among the next 29 mushers to woman to win the race and the first since Susan cross the finish line under the famed burled arch Butcher won her fourth Iditarod in 1990. Before on Front Street, a block from the sea. this year’s race, Zirkle noted the long time since At the finish, both mushers rushed to pet their a woman won. dogs, with Seavey singling out his main leader, “This is my 13th year, and I’ve wanted to 6-year-old Tanner. He posed for photos with the win every year,” she said before the race, which dog and another leader, Taurus, wearing yellow began March 2 with 66 teams at a ceremonial garlands. start in Anchorage. Reggie Bush to Lions, Welker to Broncos By BARRY WILNER offense,” coach Jim Schwartz DeVito, and quarterback Chase AP Pro Football Writer said. Daniel on Tuesday, when they “That was really the basis of also finalized the trade with San Wes Welker sure knows how our interest in Reggie.” Francisco for starting QB Alex to pick his quarterbacks. The Lions also landed safety Smith. The star receiver, Tom Glover Quin and defensive end After hiring Andy Reid as Brady’s favorite target, is leav- Jason Jones and retained cor- coach and John Dorsey as gen- ing New England and heading to nerback Chris Houston. eral manager, the Chiefs signed Denver, where he’ll join Peyton All-Pro safety Goldson gets a wide receiver Dwayne Bowe Manning and the Broncos. five-year contract worth $41.25 and punter Dustin Colquitt to Also getting new deals were million. long-term deals and franchised Reggie Bush in Detroit and He receives $8.25 million left tackle Branden Albert. Dashon Goldson in Tampa Bay. per year and $22 million in Also Wednesday: Day 2 of the NFL’s free guaranteed money. He spent the —Chicago released tight agency frenzy was highlighted past two seasons on one-year end Kellen Davis after sign- by Welker grabbing a two-year contracts with the 49ers, includ- ing Martellus Bennett away deal with the Broncos, who had ing last year with the franchise from the Giants on Tuesday to the AFC’s best regular-season tag for $6.2 million. replace him. record last year. “Hard work really pays off. —The Giants signed 11- He gives Manning one of the I remember signing up to play year veteran place kicker Josh steadiest targets the four-time football, hiding it from my Brown, who joins former league MVP ever has had. mom,” as a youngster grow- Cowboys kicker David Buehler Broncos boss John Elway ing up in Harbor City, Calif., on the roster and apparently said on Twitter: “Excited to Goldson said. “My journey, I indicating free agent Lawrence have Wes join the Broncos. His wouldn’t say it was rough, but Tynes won’t be back. Tynes has production & toughness will be it was a little rocky.” made winning field goals in two a great asset!” Cleveland remained active, NFC championship games in The best slot receiver in the agreeing to terms with line- overtime and the Giants went league, Welker caught 118 pass- backer Quentin Groves and on to win the Super Bowl in es for 1,354 yards and six TDs tackle Desmond Bryant to fur- those seasons. last season. ther bolster a defense that added —Arizona, in dire need of Denver added defensive Ravens linebacker Paul Kruger help in the backfield, agreed tackle Terrance Knighton, too. hours after free agency began. on a one-year contract with Bush agreed to a four-year “With the additions of Paul former Steelers starter Rashard deal and could fill a huge hole and Desmond, we believe that Mendenhall. For three of his at running back. The Lions we have significantly improved seasons, Mendenhall’s offensive haven’t been able to count on our defense overall, particularly coordinator was new Cardinals 2010 first-round draft pick our front seven,” Browns CEO coach Bruce Arians. Jahvid Best, whose career is Joe Banner said. —The Cardinals also cut free in doubt because of concussion Kruger is one of many Super safety Kerry Rhodes, a move issues. Bowl winners to leave the that cleared $6 million in sal- “It’s a running back’s Ravens, including hard-hitting ary cap space, and added cor- dream,” Bush said. “One of the safety Bernard Pollard, who nerback Jerraud Powers, safety reasons I wanted to come here was released Wednesday. Yeremiah Bell, linebacker is to be able to bring a balanced Baltimore signed defensive Lorenzo Alexander and quarter- attack.” lineman Chris Canty, offensive back Drew Stanton. Bush adds to a strong offense lineman Ramon Harewood and —Jacksonville released led by record-setting All-Pro running back Damien Berry. receiver Laurent Robinson, the receiver Calvin Johnson. The Kansas City added corner- latest high-priced player let go second overall pick in 2006 by back Dunta Robinson, receiver as part of the team’s rebuilding New Orleans, Bush rushed for Donnie Avery and offensive project. Robinson signed a five- 986 yards for Miami last sea- lineman Bryan Mattison to the year, $32.5 million free agent- son after gaining 1,086 yards three free agents it signed the contract last season before in 2011, his first year with the previous day when the market- missing considerable time with Dolphins. place opened. concussions. “The thing that was impor- The Chiefs, who have the “It’s unfortunate, but it’s part tant to us was not just the talent No. 1 pick in next month’s draft of the business,” Robinson said. of Reggie Bush, but also the after a 2-14 season, agreed to “Got to keep your head up and way those talents complement- deals with tight end Anthony keep moving. Can’t ever be sur- ed the other players we have on Fasano, defensive tackle Mike prised in this league.”