College Basketball: The final weekend of the season begins later today with the men’s National Semifinals in Atlanta. The Louisville Cardinals are a 10 ½ point favorite against Wichita State, a team that busted many brackets. The second semifinal has Michigan taking on Syracuse, with the Wolverines a two point favorite. Pre game coverage of today’s games begins at 2:30 this afternoon on News/Talk WHOP.

Louisville coach Rick Pitino was announced as one of this year’s class of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Friday. The 60-year-old Pitino has led three different schools to the Final Four and is making his 7^th Final Four appearance this weekend. The 2013 class will be introduced before Monday’s national championship game. Formal induction will take place in September.

Richard Pitino was introduced Friday as the new men's basketball coach at the University of Minnesota.  He takes over for Tubby Smith, who was fired last week after six seasons with the Gophers.  The 30-year-old Pitino was head coach at Florida International this past season, leading the Golden Panthers to an 18-14 record.

The Women’s Final Four National Semifinals take place tomorrow night in New Orleans, with Louisville facing California and Notre Dame taking on Connecticut. Coverage of both games begins at 5 on News/Talk WHOP.

High School Baseball- Friday scores: Christian County lost a pair of games, 3-0 to Avon, IN and to Ballard High 5-2. Trigg County also lost a doubleheader 9-6 to Caldwell County and 11-7 to Crittenden County.

Today’s game: Hopkinsville travels to West Creek.

High School Softball-Friday’s scores: No scores from the Christian County, Hopkinsville or Todd Central games from the Play It Again Sports Classic were available on the KHSAA website.

Today’s games: Christian County, Todd Central and Hopkinsville are all in action at the Play It Again Sports Classic in Clarksville. Russellville hosts Clinton County in the 4^th region All A Classic.

College Baseball: Austin Peay won its 6^th straight game with a 7-3 win over Tennessee Tech. The win also made Governors coach Gary McClure the winningest coach in Ohio Valley Conference history with 777 wins. The series continues this afternoon in Clarksville.

Murray State lost the opener of its OVC weekend series at Eastern Illinois 6-3. Game two of the series is this afternoon.

Western Kentucky fell in Sun Belt action at Arkansas State 6-0. Former Hopkinsville High pitcher Justin Hageman pitched 1 and 2/3 innings of relief allowing 1 hit, 1 run which was unearned, walked two batters and struck out one. Game two of the series is this afternoon.

Major League Baseball: The Cincinnati Reds had a big night in a 15-0 win against the Washington Nationals. The Reds clubbed six home runs in the game as Homer Bailey got his first win of the season.

Other National League games of note saw San Francisco slip by St. Louis 1-0, Atlanta beat the Chicago Cubs 4-1.

The Reds and Nationals play game two of their series this afternoon in Cincinnati, St. Louis plays at San Francisco this afternoon and Atlanta hosts Chicago this evening.

Minor League Baseball: The Bowling Green Hot Rods lost at South Bend 6-3. The teams play game three of their series this evening in South Bend.

The Nashville Sounds fell to the New Orleans Zephyrs 12-0. Game three of the series is this evening in Nashville.

NHL: The Nashville Predators wrap up a three game home stand this afternoon against the Chicago Blackhawks. First puck drops at 2 in Bridgestone Arena.

PGA Tour: Billy Horschel has the lead heading into today’s third round of the Valero Texas Open. Horschel stands at eight under par, leading a trio by two strokes which include Charley Hoffman who stand at six under par. Former world number one Rory McIlroy is among seven golfers that are tied for 5^th place at five under par.

LPGA Tour: Inbee Park had six birdies Friday en route to a 67 to take a one shot lead into the third round at the first major of the year, the Kraft Nabisco Championship. Park’s two day total of 137 is one shot better than Lizette Salas and two strokes ahead of two golfers.

NASCAR: Jimmie Johnson won the pole Friday for Sunday’s race at Martinsville Speedway. Johnson’s fastest lap was at 98.4 miles per hour. It marks the third time in 23 starts he has been on the pole at Martinsville. Brian Vickers will start second Sunday, with Joey Logano third, Kasey Kahne fourth and Jeff Gordon fifth.

College Football: ESPN has learned 12 Auburn University football players that were members of the 2010 national championship team failed a number of drug tests which were kept confidential.

The team had an epidemic of synthetic marijuana—better known as “Spice”—use. The school did not implement drug testing policies until after winning the 2010 title. The findings were part of a six month investigation done by ESPN The Magazine. Auburn officials are denying the allegations.

College Basketball: Rutgers Athletic Director Tim Pernetti is the latest casualty in the school's men's basketball coaching scandal.  Multiple sources report he's been fired.  The school terminated head coach Mike Rice earlier this week in connection with a video obtained by ESPN, which showed Rice abusing players.

Meanwhile, ESPN reports school president Robert L. Barchi is likely to remain with the school. There have been calls this week for Barchi to resign his position in the wake of the scandal.

Reports indicate Louisville coach Rick Pitino will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame later this year. Pitino is coaching in his 7^th Final Four this weekend as the Cardinals meet Wichita State in the National Semifinals tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Pitino’s son Richard was introduced this morning as the new basketball coach at the University of Minnesota. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports the 30-year-old Pitino signed a six year contract worth $1.2 million annually. Pitino would owe the school $1.5 million to get out of his contract before May 1, 2016.

MLB: National League action includes Cincinnati opening a weekend series with the Washington Nationals. Pre game coverage begins at 5:40 this afternoon on News/Talk WHOP.

The St. Louis Cardinals open a weekend set at San Francisco and Atlanta continues its opening week home stand hosting the Chicago Cubs.

High School Baseball-Thursday’s scores: Webster County over Hopkinsville 8-6, Ballard edged Christian County 4-3, Murray over Crittenden County 6-4, Henderson County edged Evansville Memorial 7-6.

Today’s games: Christian County meets Avon, IN and Ballard, Trigg County plays a doubleheader against Caldwell County and Crittenden County, Webster County meets Bell County in a twin bill.

High School Softball-Thursday’s scores: Webster County defeated McLean County 11-9.

Today’s games: Christian County, Todd Central, Livingston Central, Lone Oak, Union County, Webster County, St. Mary, Paducah Tilghman, Graves County are all participating in the Play It Again Sports Classic in Clarksville.

College Basketball

Western Kentucky University’s director of men’s basketball operations Jake Morton resigned Thursday. A school spokesman says Morton resigned to “pursue coaching opportunities”. Morton was named along with other University of Miami assistants in the NCAA’s probe of the Hurricanes athletic program. The NCAA says Morton committed three recruiting violations as an assistant basketball coach in 2008 and 2009 and took $6,000 from a convicted felon and Miami booster.

The Louisville Cardinals are working out today in the Georgia Dome ahead of their appearance in the Final Four against Wichita State tomorrow, with Syracuse and Michigan to play in the other semi final. Coverage of both games begins at 2:30 on News/Talk WHOP.

College Baseball: Austin Peay opens a three game series hosting Tennessee Tech this evening in Clarksville, Murray State opens a three game set at Eastern Illinois and Western Kentucky opens a three game Sun Belt series at Arkansas State.

Minor League Baseball:   The Bowling Green Hot Rods opened the Midwest League season with a 8-2 win at South Bend, with game two in South Bend this evening.

The Nashville Sounds opened Pacific Coast League play with a 5-4 win over New Orleans, with game two at Greer Stadium this evening.

NHL: The Nashville Predators fell to the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-1 last night at Bridgestone Arena. The Preds close out their three game homestand tomorrow afternoon against Chicago at 2 pm.

College Basketball: The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports a news conference to introduce Richard Pitino as the University of Minnesota’s new coach will likely be held tomorrow. The newspaper also reports terms of Pitino’s Minnesota contract are not yet known, but the buyout of his five year deal at Florida International is $250,000.  The 30-year-old Pitino replaces Tubby Smith who was fired last week, but was hired Monday at Texas Tech.

ESPN New York reports 13 faculty members at Rutgers University are demanding the removal of president Robert Barchi for his “inexcusable handling” of the mistreatment of players under former coach Mike Rice. Rice was fired Wednesday after a videotape appeared on ESPN Tuesday showing Rice pushing players and berating them in practices.

The championship game of the NIT takes place in New York this evening as Baylor takes on Iowa, with pre game coverage at 7:45 on News/Talk WHOP.

College Football: A report by a former Sports Illustrated writer says Auburn University changed player’s grades to secure eligibility, offered money to potential NFL draft picks to return for their senior years and violated NCAA recruiting rules.

As many as nine players grades were changed before the Tigers win in the 2011 BCS National Championship game. The allegations occurred under former coach Gene Chizik, who was fired after four seasons following a 3-9 record last year. Auburn officials have denied the allegations.

Major League Baseball: Afternoon games include Cincinnati closing out its series with the LA Angels and Chicago at Pittsburgh, with Atlanta hosting Philadelphia this evening.

Golf: The PGA Tour’s Valero Texas Open is underway today and the first LPGA major of the season, the Kraft Nabisco Championship is underway in California.

High School Softball: The Christian County-University Heights game scheduled for this afternoon at UHA has been postponed.  The game will be played Monday April 29th.

Other games have Hopkinsville hosting Todd Central, Livingston Central at Jo Byrns, TN, Webster County hosts McLean County.

High School Baseball:   Christian County is at Ballard, Hopkinsville hosts Webster County, Fort Campbell meets East Robertson, TN, Murray at Crittenden County, Henderson County at Evansville Memorial, Hopkins Central meets East Carter.

Christian County baseball coach Grayson Crawford notified WHOP Sports late Wednesday night that senior shortstop and pitcher Logan Patterson has committed to play college baseball for Milsaps College in Jackson, MS.

Patterson has a 1-0 pitching record with two saves on the season allowing only one unearned run. Patterson is also hitting .200 with 7 hits and 5 RBI on the season. Four of Patterson’s seven hits are for extra bases.

College Basketball: The Louisville Cardinals left for their Final Four appearance in Atlanta this weekend Wednesday. Guard Kevin Ware, injured in Sunday’s win over Duke, made the trip back to his hometown.

Louisville faces Wichita State Saturday, with Syracuse and Michigan in the other semi final game. Pre game coverage begins at 2:30 on News/Talk WHOP.

It looks like a Pitino will be coaching in the Big 10 next season. Multiple reports Wednesday indicated Richard Pitino has agreed to become the new coach at the University of Minnesota. The 31-year-old son of Louisville coach Rick Pitino spent last season as head coach at Florida International, leading the Golden Panthers to an 18-14 record. Richard Pitino would replace Tubby Smith who was fired last week.

Ole Miss guard Marshall Henderson posted a letter on the school’s athletic website Wednesday, apologizing to fans for some of his actions during a successful, but turbulent season.

Henderson wrote he plays the game with “a lot of passion and sometimes it boils over”. He apologized to any fans he might have offended. Patterson averaged more than 20 points a game in leading the Rebels to their first NCAA appearance since 2002.

The championship game of the NIT takes place this evening as Iowa meets Baylor at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Pre game coverage begins at 7:45 on News/Talk WHOP.

The McDonald’s All American games took place last night in Chicago. Owensboro Catholic’s Becca Greenwell—who’s headed to Duke—has eight points for the West team in its 92-64 victory. Kentucky signee Makayla Epps had 13 points in a losing effort for the East team.

Six University of Kentucky signees or commitments participated in the boys contest, with twins Andrew and Aaron Harrison leading the West to a 110-99 victory over the East.  Andrew Harrison had 10 points and four assists, while Aaron Harrison had six points and five assists. Julius Randle had 11 points for the East, while UK commitment Dakari Johnson had 12 points, with signee James Young scoring six points and grabbing four rebounds.

College Baseball: Austin Peay scored three times in its last two at bats in winning at Western Kentucky 3-1. The Governors improved to 24-5 on the season and gave coach Gary McClure his 776^th career win, tying the Ohio Valley Conference record held by former Murray State coach Johnny Reagan. Austin Peay begins a three game Ohio Valley Conference series hosting Tennessee Tech Friday evening.

Minor League Baseball: The Bowling Green Hot Rods open Midwest League play at South Bend this evening, while the Nashville Sounds open Pacific Coast League play hosting New Orleans at Greer Stadium.

NHL: The Nashville Predators traded forward Martin Erat and minor leaguer Michael Latta to the Washington Capitals in exchange for 2012 first round draft pick Filip Forsberg. Erat has played all 763 of his NHL games with Nashville and is second in goals scored with 163.

The Predators continue their home stand this evening hosting the Columbus Blue Jackets. First puck at Bridgestone Arena drops at 7 pm.