Basketball

Aide: Pitino gave $3K to pregnant woman (AP)
Rick Pitino asked a longtime aide to give $3,000 to a woman now accused of trying to extort millions from the Louisville men's basketball coach after she claimed Pitino got her pregnant in a one-night fling at a restaurant, the aide testified. Tim Sypher told jurors on Thursday that Pitino asked him to take his now ex-wife Karen Cunagin Sypher to get medical aid and counseling in August 2003.
Arizona forced to vacate 19 wins (AP)
The NCAA added to self-imposed sanctions by Arizona's men's basketball program on Thursday, vacating 19 wins from the 2007-08 season and removing an additional scholarship for violations involving Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson. The university announced its sanctions in February, including the loss of a scholarship for 2011-12 and numerous cutbacks in recruiting visits over the next two...

Police: Lorenzen Wright was shot to death
Former NBA big man Lorenzen Wright, whose body was found in the woods outside Memphis, was shot to death and the case is being investigated as a homicide, police said Thursday.
Stoudemire in Israel to explore his 'Hebrew roots'
NBA star Amare Stoudemire says he has come to Israel to explore whether he has Jewish heritage.
Bosh 'put his heart and soul' into the Raptors
After being called out as a quitter by his former general manager, Chris Bosh says he "put his heart and soul" into the Toronto Raptors organization and never gave up on his team.

Defending champ UConn in Maggie Dixon Classic (PA SportsTicker)
By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer
Colorado's Barry to chair NCAA women's committee (AP)
Ceal Barry, associate athletic director at Colorado, has been chosen to chair the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Issues Committee for the coming year. The appointment was made by the committee and confirmed by the NCAA Division I Championships/Sports Management Cabinet on Thursday. Barry, in her fourth year as a committee member, will succeed North Caroilina's Janet Cone, who has...