Murray State's basketball team took a nose dive in both major college basketball polls following their loss last week to Tennessee State.  The Racers are 14th in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll and 16th in the Associated Press poll.

Kentucky is still ranked first in both polls and Louisville made moves this week.  The Cardinals are 18th in the ESPN/USA Today poll and 19th in the Associated Press poll.

When Murray State hosts St. Mary's in the ESPN Bracketbuster game Saturday, it will have none other than Dick Vitale calling the game.  Vitale--who will make his first appearance at the CFSB Center--will be joined by Dave O' Brien for the 5 pm game, which will air on either ESPN or ESPN 2.

NFL

Randy Moss is talking about a comeback in 2012.  The wide receiver retired last August after 13 NFL seasons, but told an audience on UStream.TV he is considering a return.  Moss last played in 2010 with three different teams, the last being the Tennessee Titans.  Moss has 153 career touchdowns, second only to Jerry Rice and has caught 954 passes for 14, 858 yards in his career, mostly with the Minnesota Vikings.

Hopkinsville High golfer Dayton Jones will sign a letter of intent this afternoon to play for Rend Lake Junior College. The ceremony takes place at 2:30 at Hopkinsville High School’s library.

Weekend wrap

Union County won the Region One wrestling meet at Caldwell County High School. Christian County was second, Fort Campbell fourth, University Heights fifth and Hopkinsville ninth. Christian County had eight wrestlers qualify for the state meet, Hopkinsville and University Heights had three and Fort Campbell had four. The state tournament begins Friday in Frankfort.

Favorite Bowling Green won both the boys and girls Western Kentucky regional swim meet in Owensboro, with Hopkinsville’s boys finishing seventh and the Lady Tigers finishing eighth. Hopkinsville did have several swimmers make the state meet according to a story in today’s Kentucky New Era.

Christian County Little Lady Colonels 12U softball team went 3-1 and finished as runner ups at an indoor tournament held this weekend in Owensboro.

High School Basketball

Heritage Christian Academy’s Warriors are back in action this evening against South Haven, with the Heritage Bank pre game show from Warrior Gym at 6:30 on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP.

Other boys games:   Todd Central hosts Fort Campbell, Dawson Springs travels to Union County, Madisonville at Apollo, South Warren welcomes Grayson County, Murray at Heath, Reidland at Community Christian, Graves County hosts Carlisle County, Livingston Central entertains Hickman County.

Girls: Christian County at Apollo, Fort Campbell goes to Todd Central, Lyon County hosts Union County, Henderson County hosts Owensboro Catholic, Murray travels to Heath, Reidland at Community Christian, Bowling Green goes to Caverna.

College Basketball

23^rd ranked Louisville takes on Syracuse and in women’s action Murray State entertains Austin Peay and 7^th ranked Kentucky plays at 11^th ranked Tennessee.

Kentucky coach John Calipari’s weekly call in show and Sports Nightly move to Wednesday night this week, beginning at 5 on Lite 98.7. The top ranked Wildcats play against Ole Miss Saturday, with pre game coverage at 1:30 on Lite 98.7.

College Football

The Tennessean reports Vanderbilt University wants to host high school football games including the state championships once again. The school is installing a new artificial turf this summer according to Vice Chancellor of Athletics David Williams. Vanderbilt hosted the state high school football championship games in Tennessee from 1981-1999. The games are currently being played in Cookeville, with that contract not expiring until 2012.

PGA Tour

Paducah’s Russ Cochran finished tied for 10^th at seven under par 210 and Franklin’s Kenny Perry finished tied for 31^st at two under 214 at the Champions Tour Allianz Championship in Boca Raton, Florida Sunday. Corey Pavin defeated Peter Senior on the first playoff hole for his first Champions Tour title.

The brackets have been set for the 8th district boys and girls basketball tournaments to be played at Christian County High School.

BOYS

MONDAY FEB. 20TH

6:00 pm  Hopkinsville vs. Fort Campbell

7:30 pm  Christian County vs. University Heights

FINAL-- Friday Feb. 24th   8:00 pm

GIRLS

TUESDAY FEB. 21ST

6:00 pm  Hopkinsville vs. Fort Campbell

7:30 pm  Christian County vs. University Heights

FINAL-- Friday Feb. 24th     6:00 pm

Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students.

High School Basketball

Boys: Heritage Christian Academy rolled over Glasgow Christian 57-38. The Warriors were led by Alex Walker with 18 points and Kenneth Morris scored all 10 of his points in the third period. HCA improved to 21-2 on the season and plays at Bluegrass Baptist Saturday.

Elsewhere: Hopkins Central defeated Fort Campbell 88-62, Crittenden County over Dawson Springs 60-39, Todd Central over Clarksville Academy 62-55, Union County over Community Christian 68-44, South Warren defeated Franklin Simpson 48-38.

Girls: Hopkinsville defeated Ohio County 58-40, Fort Campbell over Caldwell County 52-48, Todd Central defeated Clarksville Academy 56-27, Henderson County over McLean County 56-30, Franklin Simpson over South Warren 50-35.

Tonight’s games

Hopkinsville holds Senior Night activities as the Tigers and Lady Tigers host Lyon County. Coverage of both games with the Heritage Bank pre game show at 5:45 on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP and whopam.com.

Boys: University Heights at Shelby County, Todd Central at Russellville, Fort Campbell hosts Madisonville, Trigg County at Caldwell County, Logan County at South Warren, Henderson County at Webster County, Murray entertains Livingston Central, Calloway County at Marshall County, Graves County at Mayfield, Crittenden County at St. Mary, Lone Oak at Paducah Tilghman, Franklin Simpson at Allen County Scottsville, Warren East at Bowling Green, Greenwood at Warren Central.

Girls: Christian County at Hopkins Central, University Heights entertains Dawson Springs, Fort Campbell hosts Madisonville, Trigg County at Caldwell County, Russellville hosts Todd Central, Logan County at South Warren, Crittenden County at St. Mary, Lone Oak at Paducah Tilghman, Murray hosts Livingston Central, Calloway County at Marshall County, Graves County at Mayfield, Franklin Simpson at Allen County Scottsville, Warren East at Bowling Green, Greenwood at Warren Central.

Pairings for the 8^th district basketball tournaments being hosted by Christian County are being announced this morning. We will have a full report on air and online on the WHOP family of stations later this morning.

High School Wrestling/Swimming

The Region 1 wrestling meet begins this evening at Caldwell County, with Union County the favorite to repeat as regional champions. The Western Kentucky regional swim meet takes place today in Owensboro with Bowling Green the favorite to take both the boys and girls titles.

College Basketball

There are no more unbeatens in the nation after Tennessee State upset 7^th ranked Murray State 72-68. The Racers got 31 points from Isaiah Cannan, but TSU matched Cannan shot for shot in getting the win. Murray State is now 23-1 and 11-1 in the OVC and will host Austin Peay Saturday night at 7:30.

Middle Tennessee defeated Western Kentucky 72-64 and Fairfield defeated Manhattan 60-54, with former Christian County standout Donovan Kates scoring two points and grabbing one rebound.

Women’s action saw number 25 Vanderbilt upset number 11 Tennessee 93-79.

Top ranked Kentucky returns to action tomorrow night at Vanderbilt, with pre game coverage at 6:30 on Lite 98.7.

Hopkinsville native and Oklahoma State assistant basketball coach Tommy Wade was on Sports Weekly presented by Toyota of Hopkinsville Wednesday night. He says the Cowboys have had a tough season. After holding off Iowa State Tuesday night, OSU travels to play at Kansas Saturday.

The Lexington Herald Leader reports two Kentucky men’s basketball signees and one women’s signee were named McDonald’s All Americans Thursday. Clarksville Northeast standout Alex Poythress and Archie Goodwin of Little Rock were selected to play in the game along with women’s signee Janee Thompson. The McDonald’s All American game will be played March 28^th in Chicago.

The Memphis Commercial Appeal reports the University of Memphis wants to end its basketball series with the University of Tennessee. Coach Josh Pastner says playing Tennessee gives the Vols an unfair recruiting advantage in Memphis. Memphis athletics director R.C. Johnson had been negotiating to continue the series. Memphis is set to become a member of the Big East in 2013.

NFL

The Tennessee Titans have agreed to terms on a multi year deal with offensive tackle Mike Otto. Otto had been set to become a free agent March 13^th. Otto was selected in the seventh round out of Purdue in 2007 and has played in 41 games in five seasons with the Titans.

NHL

The Ottawa Senators edged the Nashville Predators 4-3 Thursday night. The Predators play at defending Stanley Cup champion Boston tomorrow, with coverage at noon on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP.

PGA TOUR

Kentuckians Steve Flesch and JB Holmes stand at even par after the first round of the AT and T National Pro Am at Pebble Beach. Dustin Johnson is among three golfers tied for the lead at nine under par. Tiger Woods—making his PGA Tour debut—is at five under, four shots off the lead.

Franklin’s Kenny Perry and Paducah’s Russ Cochran are playing in the Champions Tour’s Allianz Championship which begins today.

High School Basketball

University Heights Academy defeated Louisville Holy Cross in boys action 69-66.

Tonight’s games: Heritage Christian Academy’s Warriors are back in action this evening hosting the Glasgow Christian Warriors. Coverage with the Heritage Bank pre game show around 5:30 on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP.

Other boys games:   Fort Campbell at Hopkins Central, Todd Central at Clarksville Academy, Dawson Springs goes to Crittenden County, Union County hosts Community Christian and South Warren hosts Franklin Simpson.

Girls: Hopkinsville hosts Ohio County, Fort Campbell at Caldwell County, Todd Central at Clarksville Academy, Union County hosts Community Christian and South Warren welcomes Franklin Simpson.

Pairings for the upcoming 8^th district basketball tournament will be announced during a meeting to be held Friday morning at 7:30 at Christian County High School. Christian County will host both tournaments this year. The 2^nd region girls tournament will also be played at Christian County, with the boys set to be played at Madisonville.

Christian County has named a new tennis coach. The Kentucky New Era reports David Chase was named to the position Wednesday. Chase played tennis for the Colonels from 1999-2001. Chase was the assistant coach for the last two years.

College Basketball

Vanderbilt snapped a two game losing skid in defeating LSU 76-61. Former Christian County standout Anthony Hickey, Jr. scored 12 points in the loss for the Tigers, who fall to 13-10 and 3-6 in the SEC.

Tennessee defeated South Carolina 69-57 and in women’s action, Middle Tennessee got by Western Kentucky 67-64.

Tonight’s games:   7^th ranked Murray State entertains Tennessee State, Western Kentucky at Middle Tennessee, former Christian County standout Donovan Kates and Manhattan meet Fairfield.  

Women’s game: Number 11 Tennessee meets number 25 Vanderbilt.

The Courier Journal reports University of Louisville coach Rick Pitino said on his radio show Wednesday night, heralded freshman Wayne Blackshear has been medically cleared to play. However, Pitino says he won’t use Blackshear right away. Blackshear suffered a torn labrum in practice last October and had surgery in November.

Former University of Kentucky basketball player Jim Dinwiddie is dead at 63. The Lexington Herald Leader reports Dinwiddie was found dead Tuesday in his home above his law practice office in Leitchfield. The Grayson County coroner Joseph Brad Hudson says Dinwiddie was found with a single gunshot wound in an apparent suicide. Dinwiddie grew up in Grayson County and returned there after his UK career. He played for the Wildcats from 1968-1971.

College Football

The University of Tennessee plans to mix up its defenses during the 2012 season. The Knoxville News Sentinel reports new defensive coordinator Sal Sunseri says there will be elements of the 3-4, along with 4-3 looks, multiple fronts, and a pro style approach.

College Softball

The University of Kentucky—featuring former Christian County standout Griffin Joiner—opens its season today. The Wildcats—ranked 13^th and 18^th in two national polls—meet UCLA at 8 pm this evening in the Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament in Los Angeles. Kentucky plays its second game against Pacific at noon Friday.

NHL

The Nashville Predators are back in action this evening at the Ottawa Senators. It’s a homecoming for Mike Fisher, who played 13 seasons in Ottawa before being traded to the Predators last season. First puck drops at 6:30 this evening.