Basketball

PHILADELPHIA — Less than an hour before the 8 p.m. tipoff, Philadelphia 76ers employees are scurrying around the Wells Fargo Center, hoping this Saturday night unfolds as planned. It's late March, and the team is handing out Allen Iverson bobblehead dolls. Iverson himself is scheduled to attend, a rare public appearance for the 37-year-old former NBA superstar. He'll be introduced during a pregame ceremony and then watch the game from Sixers chief executive Adam Aron's suite.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — It's not unusual for a cat to get a hairball, but a 400-pound tiger needed help from veterinary surgeons in Florida when he couldn't hack up a basketball-size hairball by himself. The 17-year-old tiger named Ty underwent the procedure Wednesday at a veterinary center in the Tampa Bay area community of Clearwater. Doctors said in a statement that they safely removed the 4-pound obstruction from Ty's stomach. The tiger, which is cared for by Wildlife Rescue and...

I first recall seeing Dylan Collins years ago on the basketball court of my son's junior high school, 6-feet-plus of gangly adolescence with a wild head of hair and an easy, impish grin. Among my son and his friends at the Georgetown Day School, any mention of Dylan invariably brought a knowing smile as they recalled some recent bit of derring-do of which he invariably was the ringleader. Twelve years later, I am sitting next to Dylan in a nondescript office in one of those new town centers that have sprouted along Florida's gold coast.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — UConn will be well-represented at the U19 World Championship. Breanna Stewart, Morgan Tuck and Moriah Jefferson all made the team which will compete in Lithuania from July 18-28. The trio just completed their freshman season at Connecticut and helped the Huskies win their eighth national championship in April. Stewart was the NCAA tournament's most outstanding player. Stewart, Tuck and Alexis Jones (Duke) all helped the Americans win the U19 title two years ago. They are the...

To say that President Obama loves basketball understates the role of the sport in his life. He has been devoted to the game for 40 years now, ever since the father he did not know and never saw again gave him his first ball during a brief Christmastime visit. Basketball is central to his self identity. It is global yet American-born, much like him. It is where he found a place of comfort, a family, a mode of expression, a connection from his past to his future. With foundation roots in the Kansas of...

Women YESTER DAY'S QUARTERFINALS United States 104, South Korea 60 China 77, Belarus 62 Hosts in medal round for first time since 1992 Australia 79, Czech Republic 46 Lauren Jackson has 17 points and 12 rebounds Russia 84, Spain 65 19 points for Tatiana Shchegoleva Men TODAY'S QUARTERFINALS United States vs. Australia, 10:15 a.m. ...

Archbishop Carroll has named Tim Fudd as its new boys' basketball coach. Fudd replaces Reggie Williams, the former Georgetown standout who resigned in February after clashing with parents and administrators. Fudd will take over a team that went 3-24 last season, including a 1-17 mark in Washington Catholic Athletic Conference play. The Lions will also graduate their two top scorers in Antwan Haskins and Mauri Winfree. "I look at coaching at Carroll as a unique opportunity in that you get to go up against some of the...

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — National champions Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis and Bria Hartley headline the U.S. women's basketball team that will compete in July at the World University Games. The two UConn stars were among the 12 chosen to play in Kazan, Russia, from July 8-15. Shoni Schimmel, who helped Louisville make a surprising run to the NCAA championship game this past season, is also on the squad. Joining them are Odyssey Sims (Baylor), ReShanda Gray (California), Cassie Harberts (USC)

MISSOULA, Mont. — Montana men's basketball coach Wayne Tinkle has announced the signing of 6-foot-8 forward Martin Breunig (BROY'-nig), who is transferring from the University of Washington. Breunig, who is originally from Germany, will sit out next year due to NCAA transfer rules. Breunig played in 21 games as a freshman at Washington, but saw action in just nine games and scored one point as a sophomore. He competed on the German Under 18 national team at the FIBA European...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Belmont has found its new women's basketball coach in Cameron Newbauer, who reached the NCAA championship game this past season as an assistant at Louisville. Newbauer was introduced as Belmont's new coach on Monday. Newbauer replaces Brittney Ezell, who took over East Tennessee State's program earlier this month. In his only year on Louisville's staff, Newbauer helped with recruiting, scouting, on-court instruction and player development....

Mike Krzyzewski is no longer ruling out a return as coach of the U.S. Olympic men's basketball team. Though the Duke coach had repeatedly said he wouldn't be back after last summer, USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo says they spoke about a week ago and there has been "movement" toward a return. Krzyzewski told Sports Illustrated in a story Saturday that "there's a chance" he would lead the United States in 2016 for an attempt at a third gold medal. Krzyzewski, 66,...

NEW YORK — Half-moon hoops, double rims, chain-linked fences for out-of-bounds lines and no net that anyone can recall. Such is the imperfect urban landscape of playground basketball, what many consider the truest expression of the sport. It's basketball without referees, coaches or sneaker deals. Anyone can play, so long as they call "Next. " A new documentary, "Doin' it in the Park," is a loving ode to the blacktop world of New York City pickup. With more than...

Tom Sheahin stepped down as the Seneca Valley boys' basketball coach last year, but he didn't wait long to get back on the sideline. Sheahin had never had the chance to coach his 13-year-old son Jordan, always too busy with his own team to take a hands-on role. With no high school team to steal his attention, he took over the squad at Urbana Middle School and spent a rewarding season drilling a group of youngsters in the fundamentals. "That's priceless to coach your own...