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Gonzaga, Arizona seek next big step; FSU loses Bacon

 
Gonzaga center Przemek Karnowski fights for a rebound against Northwestern on Sunday.
Gonzaga center Przemek Karnowski fights for a rebound against Northwestern on Sunday.
Published March 23, 2017

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Getting to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament is nothing new for Gonzaga and Arizona.

The task this weekend for the Bulldogs and Wildcats will be trying to make it out of the West Region and take that next step to the Final Four. The process starts tonight when top-seeded Gonzaga (34-1) faces No. 4 West Virginia (28-8), and No. 2 Arizona (32-4) faces No. 11 Xavier (23-13).

"We're in the spotlight now, and we have to make the most of it," Gonzaga guard Jordan Mathews said.

This is the third straight trip to the Sweet 16 for the Bulldogs and fifth in seven years for the Wildcats. But like the rest of their brethren based out west, they haven't made a Final Four in that span. Gonzaga is looking for its first trip ever and Arizona seeks its first since 2001.

No western team has made it to the Final Four since UCLA had three straight from 2006-08. But with the top two seeds in San Jose, as well as Pac-12 contenders Oregon in the Midwest Region and UCLA in the South, this could be the year that drought ends.

In the Midwest Region at Kansas City, Mo., two national player of the year frontrunners, Frank Mason of Kansas (30-4) and Caleb Swanigan of Purdue (27-7), lead their teams against each other tonight. In the other Midwest semifinal, third seed Oregon (31-5) and star forward Dillon Brooks will try to end the postseason run of seventh-seed Michigan (26-11).

UCF TO NYC: B.J. Taylor scored 17, 7-foot-6 Tacko Fall had a double double and UCF (24-11) beat visiting Illinois 68-58 to advance to the NIT semifinals in New York. The Knights had the first sellout crowd in 10,000-seat CFE Arena history to move within one win of tying for the most in school history.

HEADING TO NBA: Florida State sophomore Dwayne Bacon and Duke freshman Jayson Tatum are leaving to enter the draft. Both said they are hiring agents. Bacon led FSU in scoring the past two years. Tatum was second for the Blue Devils in scoring and rebounding. Guard Donovan Mitchell, who led Louisville in scoring this season, said he will "test the waters" and enter the draft pool but not hire an agent, leaving open the possibility of returning for his junior season.

CALIPARI DEAL: Kentucky signed coach John Calipari to a two-year extension, keeping him through 2024. Calipari's base salary increases $500,000 to $7.75 million next season and rises to $8 million annually for each year after under the amended deal. Football coach Mark Stoops also signed a two-year extension. He will earn $3.5 million this year with $250,000 annual increases.

GOTTLIEB TO OKLA. STATE? Former Oklahoma State star Doug Gottlieb will interview for the head coaching job today, according to multiple reports. Gottlieb, who has worked for CBS and ESPN, recently agreed to a deal with Fox. He has no college coaching experience.

Football: Kiffin sued

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BOCA RATON — Florida Atlantic coach Lane Kiffin, the university and the state of Florida are defendants in a fraud lawsuit filed Tuesday by Antonio "A.C." Carter in Shelby County, Ala.

Carter alleges that Kiffin misled him to believe he had a job on FAU's staff in order to leverage his relationship with a recruit. The lawsuit was first reported by the website SEC Country.

Carter, a former Alabama receiver, claims in the suit that Kiffin and FAU strength and conditioning coach Wilson Love offered him a position as an assistant receivers coach and assistant strength and conditioning coach, before revoking it after two misdemeanor criminal charges surfaced. Carter levied six counts against Kiffin, FAU and the state, including reckless fraud, breach of contract and unjust enrichment.

FAU declined to comment.

According to the lawsuit, the job offer was made Jan. 25 without contingencies and revoked Feb. 3. During that time, Kiffin allegedly tasked Carter with the recruitment of three prospects, including a four-star junior college prospect from Carter's hometown who once signed with the University of Florida. No recruits were named in the lawsuit, but D'Anfernee McGriff is from Carter's hometown of Tallahassee, signed with Florida out of high school and attended Iowa Western Community College last year.