• Slug: Sports-ACU Sweet 16, 1,130 words.
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By Hayden Cilley
Cronkite News

GLENDALE – Tough, smart and unselfish. 

That’s the motto the Arizona Christian University men’s basketball team has used to secure its spot in the Sweet 16 of the 2024 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics basketball tournament. 

The 25-7 Firestorm blazed through their fourth straight conference tournament in the first two rounds, capturing wins against the University of Saint Katherine and Huntington University in the ACU Events Center. They play against Indiana Wesleyan University Friday in Kansas City, Missouri. Continue reading “Faith over fear: Arizona Christian stands behind beliefs amid NAIA Sweet 16 appearance”

• Slug: Sports-Court-Storming Danger,  2,700 words.
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By Maxwell Williams
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Buzzer-beaters, upset victories, championship titles. Many circumstances exist that may result in fans storming the court, or field, depending on the sport, but for administrators and athletic department faculty members, a fan’s dream can be a safety nightmare. 

As a topic that has plagued the ecosystem of college athletics in recent months, arena safety remains all the more important now that March Madness has arrived, with the Final Four games slated to begin on April 6 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale. With so many eyeballs focused and brackets drawn up, the NCAA has plans in place to ensure the best chance at success on the biggest stage. 

“The national office works with host venue security and law enforcement to put necessary security plans into place,” said Michelle Brutlag Hosick, the NCAA’s director of external communications. Continue reading “Eye on the Storm: Recent events put court-storming under scrutiny”

• Slug: Sports-Arizona Long Beach State, 1,200 words.
• 2 photos available (thumbnails, captions below)

By Hayden Cilley
Cronkite News

SALT LAKE CITY – A tale of two halves.

That summarizes the No. 2 Arizona Wildcats’ 85-65 win over No. 15 Long Beach State in the first round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

Following the game, UArizona coach Tommy Lloyd joked about playing against one of his closest friends. Continue reading “A tale of two halves: Arizona leans on championship experience in first-round win over Long Beach State”

• Slug: Sports-Arizona NCAA Lloyd Monson, 1050 words.
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By Hayden Cilley
Cronkite News

SALT LAKE CITY – From best friends to soon-to-be first-round opponents, the bond between Arizona men’s basketball coach Tommy Lloyd and Long Beach State’s Dan Monson has roots much deeper than basketball.

On Thursday, Lloyd and Monson will square off against each other in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament in two very different scenarios. Lloyd led the Wildcats to a 28-5 record and a No. 2 seed.  On the contrary, Monson led the Beach to a 21-14 overall record before he was let go at the end of the regular season.

The school gave Monson the opportunity to continue coaching until the team was eliminated from its Big West Conference tournament. However, elimination never came, but the national attention sure did. Continue reading “‘Two genuine friends’: Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd, Long Beach State’s Dan Monson share near 30-year bond”

• Slug: Sports-Downtown Phoenix Bracket Reveal, 300 words.
• 4 photos available (thumbnails, captions below)

By Lucas Gordon
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – It takes a large team to put on an event as big as the NCAA Division I Men’s Final Four. After hosting the event in 2017, Phoenix is once again bringing the college basketball championship to State Farm Stadium in Glendale. 

As the 2024 NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament gets started Tuesday with the First Four in Dayton, Ohio, the city of Phoenix is finishing its preparations for the Final Four in 18 days. 

Jay Parry, CEO of the Phoenix Local Organizing Committee, marked the start of the NCAA Tournament Tuesday with the unveiling of the official Coca-Cola bracket.  Continue reading “Downtown madness: Final Four countdown kicks off with Coca-Cola bracket reveal outside Phoenix Convention Center”

• Slug: Sports-GCU WBB Loses, 700 words.
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By Jesse Brawders
Cronkite News

LAS VEGAS – In a record-breaking season for the Grand Canyon University women’s basketball team, one team in conference play proved unsolvable in two previous matchups: Stephen F. Austin.

The Ladyjacks won in the Valley 59-54 in late January, and most recently held down home court in an 85-77 bout in Nacogdoches, Texas.

History reared its head yet again during the WAC women’s basketball tournament, as the No. 2 Lopes fell to the No. 3 Ladyjacks 66-63 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. Continue reading “GCU women’s basketball upset in the WAC semifinals by Stephen F. Austin comeback in Las Vegas”

• Slug: Sports-Cardinals Free Agents, 1,040 words.
• 2 photos available (thumbnails, captions below)

By Aaron Decker
Cronkite News

TEMPE – The Arizona Cardinals have been active participants in the free agency process this NFL offseason, and Thursday, the team officially signed six players to their roster.

Most of the newest players will fill holes on the defensive side of the ball. Cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting, outside linebacker Mack Wilson Sr., and defensive linemen Justin Jones and Bilal Nichols were all signed to three-year deals.

The new offensive additions include running back DeeJay Dallas, who inked a three-year deal, and offensive lineman Jonah Williams, who signed a two-year contract. Continue reading “Arizona Cardinals sign six free agents with defensive upgrade a priority”

• Slug: Sports-University of Arizona Pro Day, 700 words.
• 2 photos available (thumbnails, captions below)

By John Busker
Cronkite News

TUCSON – After a 10-3 season and a victory in the Alamo Bowl over Oklahoma, Arizona football has some highly regarded talent in April’s NFL draft. And it seems NFL teams agree, with almost every team sending coaches and scouts to view the talent on display run drills and test Thursday at Arizona Stadium for the University of Arizona’s Pro Day.

Personnel from 31 of 32 NFL teams attended, as well as scouts from two CFL teams. The only team not in attendance was the LA Rams.

The prize of this UArizona class is offensive tackle Jordan Morgan. Morgan was First-Team All-Pac-12 this past season at left tackle for the Wildcats, only allowing two sacks in his 787 snaps played this season. Continue reading “Arizona Pro Day draws in scouts, coaches from 31 NFL teams for final in-person evaluation of promising prospects”

• Slug: Sports-Brewers Rhys Hoskins, 1,000 words.
• Photo available

By Scott Sandulli
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – The nickname “Pee Wee” is often used to describe those of short stature in a playful way. Such a moniker is no stranger in the history of baseball, most famously associated with Hall of Fame shortstop Harold “Pee Wee” Reese. The de facto captain of the great Brooklyn Dodgers teams through the 1940s and 50s, the 5-foot-10 Reese made five trips to the Fall Classic before making the final out to lift his first trophy in 1955.

Fast-forward almost 70 years, and there is another player with the nickname “Pee Wee” searching for a championship, only this one is no small marble. At 6-foot-4, Rhys Hoskins is a mammoth of a man at first base, one the Milwaukee Brewers believe could anchor their power-deprived lineup, which has fallen short in the playoffs five out of the past six years.

“The winning that the Brewers have done speaks for itself,” said Hoskins, who sat out the entire 2023 season due to an ACL injury. “Exciting clubhouse. I try to surround myself with really good players if I can, and there’s a ton of that here in this clubhouse.” Continue reading “‘Pee Wee’s a pillar in there’: Rhys Hoskins brings new dimensions to hopeful Milwaukee Brewers”

• Slug: Sports-ASU Football Pro Day, 830 words.
• Photo available

By John Busker
Cronkite News

TEMPE – With the 2024 NFL Draft fast approaching, all eyes are turning to the next generation of talent. And at Arizona State’s Pro Day, the players were not only focused on their own success, but they wanted to see their teammates put on a show for the scouts and coaches in attendance.

ASU football held its annual pro day Wednesday in front of NFL scouts and coaches, as well as a few representatives from Canadian Football League teams. As Sun Devil players set out to showcase their skills and prove they have what it takes to play at the next level, they felt they were prepared for the event.

“It was pretty much everything I thought it was,” said Ro Torrence, former ASU cornerback. “A lot of emotion going around, but I was just staying loose, having fun, staying relaxed. But it was pretty much the experience I thought it would be.” Continue reading “ASU Pro Day recap: Football prospects show their skills in front of NFL, CFL coaches and scouts”

• Slug: Sports-NASCAR Phoenix Raceway, 1,000 words.
• 5 photos available

By David Bernauer
Cronkite News

AVONDALE – Christopher Bell came into the Shriners Children’s Phoenix 500 “sad,” as he put it.

He had finished 34th and 33rd, respectively, in his last two NASCAR Cup Series races, and the last time he was at Phoenix Raceway in the Championship 4 race, the right-front brake rotor on his No. 20 Toyota exploded, ending his championship hopes.

But after driving to victory Sunday for his seventh Cup Series win and breaking his own record for the largest margin of victory in the Next Gen-car era, Bell was finally having fun. Continue reading “‘I drove a rocketship today’: Christopher Bell surges to victory at Phoenix Raceway”

• Slug: Sports-GCU Hockey Nationals 800 words.
• Photo available

By Connor Manning
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – The road to St. Louis started out bumpy for Grand Canyon University’s men’s hockey team. The potholes were deep and ragged, and by the time the Antelopes steadied themselves and found direction, they had dropped eight of their first 10 games of the season.

But now here they are, riding a nine-game winning streak to finish the regular season as one of the hottest club teams in the country and on the precipice of the American Collegiate Hockey Association’s National Championships. After earning their first invite to the tournament, the Lopes, seeded No. 17, face 16th seed Illinois State University Thursday night at St. Louis’ Maryville University Hockey Center in a first round Division 1 game.

The Antelopes, in their fifth season since joining the Division 1 level, secured an at-large bid this year by virtue of finishing 17th in the final rankings. Continue reading “Remarkable turnaround by Grand Canyon men’s hockey club team earns Lopes first ACHA nationals appearance”

• Slug: Sports-ASU Pac-12 Women’s Basketball, 700 words.
• 2 photos available

By Tia Reid
Cronkite News

LAS VEGAS – Following her team’s season-ending loss to Utah in the Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Tournament, Arizona State coach Natasha Adair sat in front of the media and answered questions as she had done so many times before.

With sophomore guards Jalyn Brown and Trayanna Crisp beside her late Wednesday night, there were no somber sentiments from any of them but rather hope and anticipation for next season and what Adair is hoping to build with Brown and Crisp by her side on the court.

“For me, this is my fourth rebuild,” Adair said. “So I have done it several times. And I know what it looks like. And it doesn’t happen overnight, as much as we wish that it does. But you have to see the growth, and the players have to see the growth, and you have to celebrate everything. Continue reading “ASU women’s basketball hopeful for future despite quick exit in Pac-12 tournament”

• Slug: Sports-Football Player Drowning Lawsuit, 600 words.
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By Maxwell Williams
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – The family of the Cesar Chavez High School student who drowned during a football camping trip filed a lawsuit Monday claiming four counts of gross negligence and wrongful death of their son.

On July 17, Christopher Hampton, 15, was reported missing to authorities after the team traveled to Show Low Lake. The following day, the Navajo County Sheriff’s office revealed on social media that his body was found, and his death was confirmed to be an “accident” on Oct. 19.

Although the Phoenix Union High School District is named as the primary defendant, the Blue Ridge Unified School District, the City of Show Low and Recreation Management of America are also named for negligence/gross negligence. Continue reading “‘Pain of losing him is unbearable’: Family of Cesar Chavez football player who drowned files lawsuit”

• Slug: Sports-NFL Combine Cardinals, 1,100 words.
• File photo available.

By John Busker
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – When the Arizona Cardinals and DeAndre Hopkins parted ways last offseason, coach Jonathan Gannon said he was pleased with the wide receiver corp entering the 2023 season.

Fast forward almost nine months, and the organization has yet to find a replacement for Hopkins. The Cardinals leading receiver last season was tight end Trey McBride, who had 825 yards on the year. No wide receiver for the Cardinals had 600 yards. Marquise Brown led all Cardinals wideouts with 574.

While that was in part due to quarterback Kyler Murray missing over half the season, it’s clear the Cardinals will be looking for someone to fill the role that was occupied by Hopkins and Larry Fitzgerald before him – and the team’s scouts and decision-makers will take their first in-person look this week at the annual 2024 NFL Combine. Continue reading “On the hunt: Arizona Cardinals strategize for upcoming NFL draft with pressing need at receiver”

• Slug: Sports-Dodgers Yamamoto Debut, 660 words.
• 2 photos available.

By James Lotts
Cronkite News

SURPRISE — Surprise Stadium experienced a sea of Los Angeles Dodgers fans roll in Wednesday to witness new Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s MLB debut.

Dodgers fans have waited to see the 25-year-old right hander pitch in a game since the team signed him to a 12-year, $325 million contract in December, and he didn’t disappoint in his first outing.

Yamamoto threw two scoreless innings with three strikeouts and only gave up one hit against the defending champion Texas Rangers. Continue reading “Yoshinobu Yamamoto wows Los Angeles Dodgers fans in Cactus League debut”