New Detroit Lions acquisition Za’Darius Smith channeled former Detroit Pistons star Rasheed Wallace in his stellar debut as he brought the same championship spirit the city felt 20 years ago.

Hunter Dickinson had 20 points and 10 rebounds for No. 1 Kansas, which blew a 20-point first-half lead against No. 9 North Carolina before holding on for a 92-89 victory when the Tar Heels’ Elliot Cadeau missed a 3-pointer as time expired.

Philadelphia coach Doc Rivers would probably need hours to explain everything that he’s learned from Miami President Pat Riley over the last three decades.

There are strong connections between North Carolina and Kansas.

Red Auerbach.

Penny Hardaway says the new name, image and likeness rules have helped him land another top recruiting class at Memphis.

Penny Hardaway has wanted Larry Brown to coach with him ever since he took over at his alma mater.

If Vince Budenholzer had his way, the Milwaukee Bucks would start guarding Chris Paul the minute he walked into the arena.

Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway has added Hall of Famer Larry Brown to the Tigers’ staff as an assistant.

The Philadelphia 76ers are trying to make quick work of the Washington Wizards as they open their first-round playoff series on Sunday.

FILE - In this March 27, 1993, file photo, Kansas coach Roy Williams raises his arms in victory after cutting a piece of the net after the NCAA Midwest Regional final in St. Louis. He was the guy that gave Roy Williams a chance, Williams told The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman, File)A Hall of Famer with three national championships and a familiar face at the Final Four, it would seem Roy Williams was destined for big things in basketball. He was the guy that gave Roy Williams a chance, Williams told The Associated Press. They wanted a high-profile coach and told Budig it would be a huge mistake to hire Williams.

NEW YORK Gene Budig, the self-effacing educator and baseball fan from small-town Nebraska who became the head of three major universities and the last president of the American League, died Tuesday. Mixing his passion for academics and athletics at Kansas, Budig oversaw a smart move in 1988. Budig became an assistant professor of educational administration at Nebraska in 1967 and rose to full professor, assistant vice chancellor and assistant vice president and director of public affairs. He moved to Illinois State in 1972 as a vice president, dean and professor of educational administration and its youngest full professor. Budig is survived by his wife, Gretchen Van Bloom Budig, and three children: Christopher Budig, Mary Frances Budig and Kathryn Budig; sister Mary Ann Myers; brother Richard Budig; and five grandchildren.

This story was transmitted in 2004 from the Athens Olympics. ___Bronze is the best the American mens basketball team can do, and the reason is simple: They were beaten by a better team, Argentina. NBA commissioner David Stern attended the third loss of the Athens Games for the Americans, who entered the tournament with a 109-2 record in prior Olympics. The Americans shot just 36 percent in the first half and didnt hit their first 3-pointer missing their first five until LeBron James made one 30 seconds before halftime. Argentina shot 54 percent overall and 11-for-22 from 3-point range, while the Americans finished just 32-for-77 (42 percent) and 3-for-11 on 3s.

FILE - In this May 11, 1994, file photo, Detroit Pistons guard Isiah Thomas announces his retirement from basketball at the Palace of Auburn Hills, Mich. Thomas' Olympic hopes were denied, not once but twice. Thomas was famously left off the U.S. Olympic team the first Dream Team that won a gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics with ease. Much still gets made of how Thomas was famously left off the U.S. Olympic team the first Dream Team that won a gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics with ease. I was definitely ready, and we all wanted to go and win and compete.So, Thomas missed his chance at Olympic gold. As someone who grew up impoverished on the west side of Chicago, hes not complaining about missed Olympic chances.

The ordeal, known as the "Malice at the Palace," is 14 years old, having taken place on Nov. 19, 2004. (Photo by Allen Einstein/NBAE via Getty Images)The brawl did not end in the stands, as players and fans continued the brawl on the court. ESPN's John Saunders infamously declared Pistons fans to be "a bunch of punks." An ESPN poll taken at the time showed that 46 percent believed fans were to blame for the brawl. On Dec. 8, 2004, five Pacers players and five fans were charged with assault and battery.