NCAA

Randy Bennett isn’t happy the Saint Mary’s men’s basketball team didn’t get an invite to the NCAA Tournament. But he could’ve taken steps to avoid that fate before the season began. (Tod Fierner/ Saint Mary's Athletics)

Saint Mary’s can only blame itself for tourney snub

Saint Mary’s is stuck in the NIT with a 28-5 record. And…

 

The NBA is well-positioned to fix the problems surrounding the NCAA and college basketball. Hopefully it takes necessary action. (Stan Olszewski/Special to S.F. Examiner)

NBA should kill the NCAA, fix basketball

The NCAA is in the news for the same two reasons the…

 

Randy Bennett's team is performing better than ever despite his lofty standard. (Courtesy Tod Fierner/ Saint Mary's Athletics)

Best in the West: Randy Bennett’s Gaels quietly delivering strongest season yet

MORAGA — Tucked into the far corner of McKeon Pavilion, the home…

 

College basketball is an ugly product, and it’s up to the NCAA to fix that with some prodding from the consumer. (Phoebe Sheehan/Centre Daily Times/TNS)

Won’t anyone think of the children?

When most people say something is “for the kids,” they actually aren’t…

College basketball is an ugly product, and it’s up to the NCAA to fix that with some prodding from the consumer. (Phoebe Sheehan/Centre Daily Times/TNS)

USF stumbles against BYU

The 2017 University of San Francisco men’s basketball home finale was one…

This season's Michigan/Ohio State game has enormous implications. There's no reason to force West Coasters out of bed for it, though. (MGoBlog/Flickr)

Early morning start times for Michigan games must end

Ed. note: This is a guest column, pertinent because the most important…

This season's Michigan/Ohio State game has enormous implications. There's no reason to force West Coasters out of bed for it, though. (MGoBlog/Flickr)
Efrain Sizemore, center, marches down Market Street during the 46th annual LGBT Pride Parade in San Francisco on June 26, 2016. (Joel Angel Juárez/Special to S.F. Examiner)

Standing up against anti-LGBT hate laws

Earlier this year, we began to see laws passed in states like…

Efrain Sizemore, center, marches down Market Street during the 46th annual LGBT Pride Parade in San Francisco on June 26, 2016. (Joel Angel Juárez/Special to S.F. Examiner)
Vegas is accepting bets on the Olympics this summer for the first time. (John Locher/AP)

Amateurism in elite sports is dead — let’s gamble

The Olympics aren’t what they used to be: Most notably, the defining…

Vegas is accepting bets on the Olympics this summer for the first time. (John Locher/AP)
University panel adopts expanded student-athlete protections

University panel adopts expanded student-athlete protections

A policy that would nearly triple the number of University of California…

University panel adopts expanded student-athlete protections
Stanford head coach David Shaw, left, gestures next to Denver Broncos general manager and executive vice president of football operations John Elway as they watch Broncos players during an NFL football practice in Stanford in February. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Stanford men care not for NCAA silliness

The NCAA killed a favorite recruiting tool of former 49ers and current…

Stanford head coach David Shaw, left, gestures next to Denver Broncos general manager and executive vice president of football operations John Elway as they watch Broncos players during an NFL football practice in Stanford in February. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Count Rick Barry as a former player who thinks the current Warriors team is one of the greatest of all time. (Sal Veder/1974 AP)

Barry goes off, puts Warriors haters in their place

The NBA has an acute CTE problem. Seems that whenever a former…

Count Rick Barry as a former player who thinks the current Warriors team is one of the greatest of all time. (Sal Veder/1974 AP)
Kendall Graveman overcame a bout with the flu, losing 12 pounds in the process, to return to the mound. He threw well on Thursday, but the A's still lost. (Ben Margot/AP)

A’s pitcher beats the flu, not the White Sox

The flu bug is flying around Major League Baseball. The list of…

Kendall Graveman overcame a bout with the flu, losing 12 pounds in the process, to return to the mound. He threw well on Thursday, but the A's still lost. (Ben Margot/AP)
Bettors love the even-year theory, making the Giants the team with the most money wagered on it to win the World Series. (Jeff Chiu/AP)

Gamblers love the Giants in even years, too

GIANT EXPECTATIONS They’re no sure thing with a cast of new faces…

Bettors love the even-year theory, making the Giants the team with the most money wagered on it to win the World Series. (Jeff Chiu/AP)
Stanford's Kaylee Johnson (5) is tied up by Washington's Kelsey Plum, left, and Alexus Atchley during a regional final women's college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament in Lexington, Ky., Sunday, March 27, 2016. (AP Photo/James Crisp)

Stanford upset by Washington in Elite Eight

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The seventh-seeded Huskies secured an 85-76 victory over No.…

Stanford's Kaylee Johnson (5) is tied up by Washington's Kelsey Plum, left, and Alexus Atchley during a regional final women's college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament in Lexington, Ky., Sunday, March 27, 2016. (AP Photo/James Crisp)
Washington guard Dejounte Murray is all alone for a dunk against Stanford during the second half of their game on Saturday. Murray had 25 points to lead Washington to a 64-53 win over Stanford. (Ted S. Warren/AP)

Stanford can’t contain UW freshman, loses 64-53

SEATTLE — Dejounte Murray carried Washington with 25 points, Marquese Chriss added…

Washington guard Dejounte Murray is all alone for a dunk against Stanford during the second half of their game on Saturday. Murray had 25 points to lead Washington to a 64-53 win over Stanford. (Ted S. Warren/AP)
Stanford forward Rosco Allen (25) and Utah forward Jordan Loveridge (21) battle for position under the boards during the second half of their game Saturday. (Rick Bowmer/AP)

Stanford stumbles against Utah, loses by 22

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah was on the verge of disaster after…

Stanford forward Rosco Allen (25) and Utah forward Jordan Loveridge (21) battle for position under the boards during the second half of their game Saturday. (Rick Bowmer/AP)
California guard Jabari Bird (23) shoots as Utah forwards Jakob Poeltl (42) and Chris Reyes (20) defend during the first half of their game on Wednesday. (Kim Raff/AP)

Cal follows big win with loss to Utah

SALT LAKE CITY — Jakob Poeltl had 21 points and nine rebounds…

California guard Jabari Bird (23) shoots as Utah forwards Jakob Poeltl (42) and Chris Reyes (20) defend during the first half of their game on Wednesday. (Kim Raff/AP)
California's Jordan Mathews celebrates the 74-73 defeat of Arizona on Saturday. (Ben Margot/AP)

Cal finally makes statement behind Jordan Matthews’ 28

BERKELEY — Cal was desperate for a signature victory that could set…

California's Jordan Mathews celebrates the 74-73 defeat of Arizona on Saturday. (Ben Margot/AP)
Stanford forward Rosco Allen (25) goes up for a dunk against California during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Thursday in Stanford, Calif. Stanford won 77-71. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)

Stanford schools struggling Cal

Marcus Allen scored 10 of his 16 points over the final 5 1/2…

Stanford forward Rosco Allen (25) goes up for a dunk against California during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Thursday in Stanford, Calif. Stanford won 77-71. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)
California coach Cuonzo Martin, left, speaks with forward Jaylen Brown during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Richmond on Nov. 27 in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Cal shows burden of great expectations

From size to athleticism to starpower, this Cal basketball team just about…

California coach Cuonzo Martin, left, speaks with forward Jaylen Brown during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Richmond on Nov. 27 in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)