CHICAGO (AP) - The BCS commissioners are backing a playoff plan with the sites for the national semifinals rotating among the major bowl games and a selection committee picking the teams. The plan will be presented to university presidents next week for approval, which is expected, with the four-team playoff starting in 2014.
MIAMI (AP) - The Miami Heat can secure their second NBA title in six seasons with a victory tonight at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who trail the NBA Finals three games to one. If the Thunder break their three-game losing streak, the series will return to Oklahoma City for Game 6 Sunday night.
NEW ORLEANS (AP)- The Washington Wizards and New Orleans Hornets swung a trade ahead of next Thursday night's NBA draft. The Hornets send forward Trevor Ariza (ah-REE'-zuh) and center Emeka Okafor (eh-MEH'-kuh OH'-kuh-fohr) to Washingtons for forward Rashard Lewis and a second-round draft pick.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - The Charlotte Hornets tabbed former St. John's and Denver Nuggets assistant Mike Dunlap as their next coach to succeed Paul Silas, who went 7-59 for the worst winning percentage in NBA history. Dunlap's only NBA experience was as an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets in 2006-08, but apparently that was enough to sway Hornets team owner Michael Jordan.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -Three-time defending national champion Connecticut was one of a record 10 schools banned by the NCAA in next year's basketball postseason because of poor rates of academic progress for their athletes. Joining UConn on the sideline next March will be Arkansas-Pine Bluff, California-Riverside, Cal State Bakersfield, Jacksonville State, Mississippi Valley State, North Carolina-Wilmington, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Toledo and Towson.
