Robinson leads cast of All-Americans
Men’s basketball: Kansas forward Thomas Robinson is a unanimous pick for the Associated Press All-America team, while Ohio State forward Jared Sullinger is a repeat selection.
Draymond Green of Michigan State, freshman Anthony Davis of Kentucky and Creighton’s Doug McDermott rounded out the team Monday.
Robinson received first-team votes from all 65 members of the national media panel that selects the weekly Top 25. He is the first unanimous pick since Blake Griffin of Oklahoma in 2009.
Sullinger is the first repeat All-American since Tyler Hansbrough of North Carolina in 2009. He is the first to do it as a freshman and sophomore since Chris Jackson of LSU in 1989 and 1990.
With Davis’ selection there has been at least one freshman on the first team five of the last six years.
• Wooden team announced: Anthony Davis of Kentucky, Jared Sullinger of Ohio State and Thomas Robinson of Kansas are among players chosen for the John R. Wooden Award All-America team.
The others are Isaiah Canaan of Murray State, Jae Crowder of Marquette, Marcus Denmon of Missouri, Draymond Green of Michigan State, Kevin Jones of West Virginia, Doug McDermott of Creighton, and Tyler Zeller of North Carolina.
All 10 members have maintained at least a cumulative 2.0 grade-point average and are making progress toward graduation, two components of the award that were insisted upon by the late UCLA coach, whose name is on the award.
The Wooden winner will be announced on Saturday.
Stuckey’s late jumper gives Pistons victory
NBA: Rodney Stuckey scored half of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, including the winning 20-foot jumper with 0.2 seconds left, and the Detroit Pistons ended a five-game losing streak by erasing a 13-point deficit to defeat the Wizards 79-77 at Washington.
Detroit managed to win despite being held below 80 points for the third game in a row; that last happened to the Pistons in December 2003.
After Detroit’s Ben Wallace made one free throw, Washington’s Nene tied it at 77 on a hook shot with 5.8 seconds to go. That left enough time for Stuckey to get up court and pull up for the decisive shot that capped a comeback against the no-lead-is-safe Wizards.
Stuckey missed the past three games with a sore left big toe.
Red Wings keep playoff streak alive
NHL: Tomas Holmstrom scored two goals and the Red Wings earned a postseason berth for a team-record 21st consecutive year with a 7-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets in Detroit.
Detroit broke its team record of 20 straight years of reaching the playoffs set from 1939-58.
Detroit’s playoff streak is the longest active run in professional sports.
• Canucks confirm Sedin had concussion: Vancouver Canucks coach Alain Vigneault says injured winger Daniel Sedin has a concussion.
The team remains mum on the left wing’s condition, or if he will be able to return to action before the playoffs.
Sedin was sidelined Wednesday by an elbow to the head from Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith that resulted in a five-game suspension.
Cabrera prepared to play on opening day
MLB: Detroit Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera says his vision is fine and that he will be ready to play on opening day.
Cabrera rejoined his teammates for the first time since a bad-hop grounder broke a bone below his right eye a week ago.
The Tigers open the season on April 5 at home against Boston.
Cabrera led the majors in hitting last year with a .344 batting average and had 30 home runs and 105 RBIs for the A.L. Central champions.
• Atlanta’s Jones out three week: Braves third baseman Chipper Jones has undergone successful arthroscopic surgery to repair a tear in his left knee and is expected to be out about three weeks.
Jones will start the season on the disabled list. The Braves hope he can return in time for their home opener, April 13 against Milwaukee.
• Cardinals expect Carpenter to play this season: St. Louis general manager John Mozeliak is optimistic Chris Carpenter will pitch for the Cardinals this season. He just doesn’t know when.
Carpenter, who has yet to appear in a spring training game, returned to the Cardinals’ camp after four days of tests last week in St. Louis to determine the cause of a nerve ailment that has weakened his throwing shoulder.
Payton might coach Saints if appeal made
NFL: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell might allow Sean Payton to coach the Saints if he appeals his season-long suspension for his role in the team’s bounties program.
Goodell said at the league meetings in Palm Beach, Fla., that should Payton appeal, he “probably” would let him continue coaching after April 1, when the suspension is to begin. Goodell says he would expedite the hearing and his decision on an appeal.
The Saints have yet to announce their coaching plans, and Payton’s agent, Donald Yee, said “no decisions have been made about an appeal.”
Payton is still trying to figure out his next move, and has reached out to his mentor and former NFL coach Bill Parcells for advice.
Parcells said he has spoken to Payton about how to handle the season – but nothing more. Asked if anyone in the Saints organization had talked to him about coaching the team in 2012, Parcells said, “No.”
Roddick notches rare victory over Federer
Miscellany: Andy Roddick beat Roger Federer for only the third time in their 24 meetings, dominating with his serve to win 7-6 (4), 1-6, 6-4 in the third round at the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Fla.
Roddick broke serve only once but held every service game in the first and last sets. After falling behind 15-30 in the final game, he closed out the victory with an ace and two service winners, all at more than 130 mph.
Serena Williams matched a career high with 20 aces and whacked enough thunderous groundstrokes to beat Samantha Stosur 7-5, 6-3 and advance to the quarterfinals.
She avenged a loss to Stosur when they last met in the U.S. Open final in September. • Palmer released from hospital: Arnold Palmer is out of the hospital and back at work in Orlando, Fla.
A spokesman for the tournament that bears his name says Palmer was released Monday morning. The 82-year-old Palmer had been hospitalized overnight in Florida as a precaution because of high blood pressure from new medication.
Palmer was absent at the 18th green at Bay Hill on Sunday when Tiger Woods won the Arnold Palmer Invitational.