East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, January 11, 2018, Image 10

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Newspaper Page TextPage 2B SPORTS East Oregonian Thursday, January 11, 2018 NFL Seahawks shake up coaching staff, fire Bevell, Cable By TIM BOOTH Associated Press RENTON, Wash. — What’s expected to be an offseason make- over for the Seattle Seahawks is starting with its coaching staff. The Seahawks fired offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and offensive line coach Tom Cable on Wednesday. Bevell was in charge of calling plays, while Cable was responsible for a run game and offensive line that failed to meet expectations. It was a stunning sweep for head coach Pete Carroll, who has been immensely loyal to his assis- tants during his tenure. Carroll’s only other significant firing was offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates following the 2010 season, Carroll’s first in Seattle. “We are challenged by change, but excited to attack the future with great purpose,” Carroll said in a statement. “I want to thank both Tom and Darrell for their role in helping take this program to a championship level. I will always be grateful for the opportunity to coach and compete alongside these great Southern men.” California Seattle has and during been back- his successful sliding since tenure in appearing in Seattle, there the Super Bowl was never three years ago. the need to The Seahawks completely missed the remodel the Cable playoffs for Bevell coaching staff. the first time If coaches left, since 2011 after going 9-7 this it was because they were getting season. It was clear there would better opportunities elsewhere, be significant personnel changes something Carroll has relished. going into 2018 and it started with Carroll hinted that changes the coaching staff. were likely when he recapped the Bevell and Cable had been with 2017 season last week. It may be the team since 2011, responsible his last chance to refashion the for developing an offense that Seahawks into a championship was good enough to appear in two contender. Carroll is the oldest straight Super Bowls but that had coach in the league at 66 — regressed since. Bevell was let go although he often acts like the on Tuesday night, according to youngest — and has two years ProFootballTalk.com, which first remaining on his contract. reported the move, and Cable was “I think a lot of respect is to be dismissed a day later. It seemed dealt to these guys,” Carroll said. unlikely Cable would be retained “They’ve got families and lives after Bevell was let go. and careers and dreams and hopes Making wholesale changes is as we all do, and we’ll see what a massive departure for Carroll. happens. I’ve always been here to Both in the college ranks at help our guys and I want them to Men’s College Basketball go and do what they’re capable of doing and meet their challenges of their lifetime as well, and I’m up for that. When it works out, I do everything I can to help them. We’ll see what happens, but other than that there’s not much to be said about that at this point.” While Bevell was able to develop Russell Wilson into a top quarterback and create an offense good enough to win a Super Bowl, he was never able to escape the shadow of the play call made at the conclusion of the Super Bowl against New England. Rather than a run from the 1-yard line in the final minute, Bevell called for a pass that was intercepted by Malcolm Butler and cost Seattle its chance at a second straight title. While it’s not a direct correla- tion, Seattle’s drop from the top of the NFC started the moment that play happened. There was bitterness in the Seattle locker room that Marshawn Lynch didn’t get the ball on the play, and the stigma hung over Bevell even as Carroll tried to take blame for the call. Cable took nearly as much heat for his inability to develop an offensive line capable of properly protecting Wilson and establishing the power run game Carroll desired. Cable was given resources in the draft and occa- sionally in free agency, but the line never had the consistency for Seattle’s offense to perform at its best. The decision to remove both coaches may appease Seahawks fans who have grown frustrated with Seattle’s offensive woes — including using the (hash) FireBevell hashtag on Twitter — despite claims from players that the coaching staff was not to blame for the struggles. Wide receiver Doug Baldwin launched into a passionate defense of Bevell’s performance after the season. “We don’t execute as a team. Offensively that’s what we’ve seen time and time again is we do not execute the way that we should,” Baldwin said. “That’s on us as players. You guys can blame (Bevell) as much as you want to. Truth is (Bevell) is not the problem.” NHL Texas’ star guard Andrew Jones League-leading Lightning get 4 All-Stars as they play host diagnosed with leukemia By JIM VERTUNO Associated Press By STEPHEN WHYNO Associated Press AUSTIN, Texas — Andrew Jones flirted with leaving Texas for the NBA before returning to school for what he hoped would be a big sophomore season and a splash in the next draft. He was on his way. The shooting guard was the Longhorns’ leading scoring through the start of what looked like a big season. After a wrist fracture sidelined him for a few games, his return to the lineup was going to be big: the Big 12 season opener against Kansas. He hardly played. Same thing for the next game at Iowa State. Two games, 20 minutes total. The 20-year-old Jones had told his coaches he was tired. No energy. Texas sent him for tests. Then Jones didn’t travel to a game last Saturday just 90 miles away at Baylor. By Tuesday, coach Shaka Smart looked shaken and on the verge of tears when he said he couldn’t discuss what was ailing Jones out of “respect for the family.” On Wednesday, the school announced Jones has been diagnosed with leukemia and had started treatment. “Speaking for our entire team and staff, we love Andrew and will do every- thing we can to support his family and help him get back to health,” Smart said in the university statement, and no further details were released. “We hope everyone will keep him in your thoughts and prayers,” the Jones family said in the statement. “This is obviously a difficult situation for our family, and we hope The league-leading Tampa Bay Lightning’s top performers will be on full display when the city hosts NHL All-Star Weekend later this month. Top scorer Nikita Kucherov, goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy and defenseman Victor Hedman will join captain Steven Stamkos for the skills competition and 3-on-3 tournament Jan. 27 and 28 in Tampa, Florida. Kucherov has the most points in the league and Vasilevskiy the most victories in leading the Lightning to an NHL-best 65 points so far this season. “It’s going to be a great showcase of a hockey city,” Stamkos said. “To be able to share that moment with them is going to be special, especially in front of our home fans who greatly deserve something like this and I’m sure we’ll put on a great show.” With four players on the Atlantic Division team, Tampa Bay has the most representation for the show- case event. The Los Angeles Kings will send three players to Tampa: center Anze Kopitar, defenseman Drew Doughty and goalie Jonathan Quick. The league announced the full All-Star rosters on Wednesday as selected by the NHL’s hockey operations depart- ment. Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang of the defending Stanley Cup-champion Pittsburgh Penguins were added to the Metropolitan Division team that also AP Photo/Michael Thomas, File In this March 4, 2017, file photo, Texas guard Andrew Jones dribbles the ball during a game against Baylor, in Austin, Texas. everyone will respect our privacy at this time.” Athletic director Chris Del Conte said the school “will do everything in our power to provide all of the resources we can to assist Andrew and his family.” Jones, who is from Irving in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, averaged nearly 12 points as a freshman and considered leaving for the NBA draft after but returned to Texas after attending the scouting combine. His sister, Alexis, was a standout at Baylor and plays for the WNBA cham- pion Minnesota Lynx. Jones’ family has dealt with challenges in the past. Andrew was 7 in 2007 when his father was paralyzed in a car accident on an icy road. Jones was ejected from the car but escaped with only some bruising. The announcement of Andrew Jones’ illness prompted a wave of support on social media, including Twitter messages from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and ESPN reporter Holly Rowe, who has battled cancer. “Gut wrenching news for Andrew Jones. So much love & support for he & his family. We are here for you ,” Rowe wrote on Twitter. NHL All-Star Game • When: Jan. 28 • Where: Amalie Are- na, Tampa, Florida • TV: NBCSN includes Washington Capi- tals winger Alex Ovechkin and goalie Braden Holtby. New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist was selected to his fourth All-Star Weekend, and Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov will head to his first. “Sasha has earned the right to be counted among the league’s elite,” Panthers general manager Dale Tallon said. “A cornerstone of our franchise, he is among the game’s most exceptional two-way players and is incredibly deserving of this honor.” The surprise Vegas Golden Knights got two All-Stars: goalie Marc- Andre Fleury and winger James Neal. The expansion franchise is atop the Pacific Division with the most success so far of any NHL team in its inaugural season. “There could have been a lot of guys from this team that got to go,” Fleury said. “We’ve got so many guys stepping up throughout the season. (Jonathan Marchessault) has 40 points right now. That’s awesome. William Karlsson has scored so many important goals for our team. (Backup goalie Malcolm) Subban has been playing great in net, too. I wish the other guys could do this, too, and be a part of it.” Reigning Hart Trophy winner Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers is also on the Pacific Division roster along with Calgary Flames winger Johnny Gaudreau. Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne earned his third All-Star spot, all since 2015, and joins teammate P.K. Subban on the Central Division team. Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser, who’s tied for fifth in the NHL with 22 goals, is the only rookie and the youngest All-Star at age 20. Boeser said he’ll “be pretty quiet around those types of guys” at All-Star Weekend. “(It’s) deserving,” Canucks coach Travis Green said “He’s had a lot of good things happen to him this year. He’s a humble kid.” The two Eastern and Western Conference teams will play each other in the semifinals of the 3-on-3 tournament with the winners facing off for $1 million. “I kind of felt like it was not super intense the last time when we were doing it,” said Arizona Coyotes All-Star defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who will be making his second appearance but his first with the 3-on-3 format. “I watched this past year and it seemed like everybody was skating hard and was playing really hard. I’m super-excited. I kind of like playing 3-on-3 too, so I think it’ll be a good time.” All 31 teams must have at least one representative with the divisional teams limited to six forwards, three defensemen and two goalies. SCOREBOARD Local slate PREP BOYS BASKETBALL Friday Pilot Rock at Culver, 4:30 ap.m. Stanfield at Heppner, 6 p.m. Sunset at Hermiston, 7 p.m. Mac-Hi at La Grande, 7 p.m. Condon/Wheeler at Sherman, 7 p.m. Irrigon at Umatilla, 7:30 p.m. Horizon Christian at Ione, 7:30 p.m. Arlington at Dufur, 7:30 p.m. Echo at Powder Valley, 7:30 p.m. Nixyaawii at Helix, 7:30 p.m. Saturday Culver at Stanfield, 2:30 p.m. Weston-McEwen at Heppner, 4 p.m. Umatilla at Burns, 5 p.m. Wallowa at Echo, 5 p.m. Helix at Joseph, 5 p.m. Pine Eagle at Nixyaawii, 5:30 p.m. Ione at South Wasco, 5:30 p.m. Sherman at Arlington, 5:30 p.m. Dufur at Condon/Wheeler, 5:30 p.m. Hermiston at La Grande, 7:30 p.m. PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL Friday Mac-Hi at La Grande, 6 p.m. Irrigon at Umatilla, 6 p.m. Pilot Rock at Culver, 6 p.m. Arlington at Dufur, 6 p.m. Condon/Wheeler at Sherman, 6 p.m. Horizon Christian at Ione, 6 p.m. Echo at Powder Valley, 6 p.m. Nixyaawii at Helix, 6 p.m. Stanfield at Heppner, 7:30 p.m. Saturday Culver at Stanfield, 4 p.m. Ione at South Wasco, 4 p.m. Dufur at Condon/Wheeler, 4 p.m. Sherman at Arlington, 4 p.m. Helix at Joseph, 4 p.m. Pine Eagle at Nixyaawii, 4 p.m. Wallowa at Echo, 5 p.m. Weston-McEwen at Heppner, 5:30 p.m. Hermiston at La Grande, 5:45 p.m. Umatilla at Burns, 6:30 p.m. PREP WRESTLING Friday Hermiston, Pendleton, Mac-Hi, Riverside, Irrigon, Heppner at Oregon Classic (Redmond) Saturday Hermiston, Pendleton, Mac-Hi, Riverside, Irrigon, Heppner at Oregon Classic (Redmond) Echo at Bonanza Invite PREP SWIMMING Saturday Pendleton, Hermiston at Baker, Noon COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL Friday Multnomah at EOU, 7:30 p.m. Saturday BMCC at Columbia Basin, 4 p.m. Warner Pacific at EOU, 7:30 p.m. COLLEGE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Friday Multnomah at EOU, 5:30 p.m. Saturday BMCC at Columbia Basin, 2 p.m. Warner Pacifc at EOU, 5:30 p.m. COLLEGE WRESTLING Saturday EOU vs. North Idaho (at Missoula, MT) Prep Standings PREP BOYS BASKETBALL 5A COLUMBIA RIVER CONFERENCE Lg Ovr PF PA Rnk The Dalles 0-0 7-5 727 711 15 Pendleton 0-0 7-6 682 668 12 Hermiston 0-0 4-7 643 673 18 Hood River 0-0 4-9 739 783 33 4A GREATER OREGON LEAGUE Lg Ovr PF PA Rnk La Grande 1-0 8-6 854 782 7 Baker 1-0 8-7 905 881 18 Mac-Hi 0-1 10-5 720 652 23 Ontario 0-1 5-10 743 836 27 3A EASTERN OREGON LEAGUE Lg Ovr PF PA Rnk Irrigon 1-0 12-0 799 514 11 Nyssa 1-0 9-4 681 673 15 Umatilla 0-0 12-3 936 634 14 Burns 0-0 7-6 688 659 28 Riverside 0-1 7-7 642 672 25 Vale 0-1 4-9 547 639 26 2A COLUMBIA BASIN CONFERENCE Lg Ovr PF PA Rnk Pilot Rock 0-0 9-6 868 725 10 Stanfield 0-0 7-8 716 879 12 Heppner 0-0 5-6 543 583 17 Weston-McE. 0-0 5-10 747 843 30 Culver 0-0 4-12 683 868 39 1A BIG SKY CONFERENCE Lg Ovr PS PA Rnk Condon/Wheel. 3-0 9-4 859 699 13 Sherman 2-0 10-1 726 455 2 Horizon Christ. 1-1 7-4 567 551 14 Arlington 1-1 5-6 593 568 27 Dufur 1-1 4-7 505 522 35 Ione 0-1 2-9 486 653 52 Mitch./Spray 0-2 2-8 333 593 50 South Wasco 0-2 2-10 410 690 49 1A OLD OREGON LEAGUE Lg Ovr PS PA Rnk Nixyaawii 4-0 11-2 928 628 8 Powder Valley 3-1 8-4 810 656 17 Echo Wallowa Joseph Cove Pine Eagle Helix 3-1 2-2 2-2 2-2 0-4 0-4 6-9 7-6 6-4 4-9 3-8 1-13 729 575 559 583 355 433 813 597 485 694 546 746 30 40 20 46 51 63 PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL 5A COLUMBIA RIVER CONFERENCE Lg Ovr PS PA Rnk Pendleton 0-0 8-5 656 669 12 Hood River 0-0 8-5 554 597 12 The Dalles 0-0 4-7 449 469 29 Hermiston 0-0 2-10 468 572 22 4A GREATER OREGON LEAGUE Lg Ovr PS PA Rnk Baker 1-0 13-1 822 520 4 La Grande 1-0 6-7 614 602 23 Ontario 0-1 6-10 641 638 33 Mac-Hi 0-1 2-13 447 801 25 3A EASTERN OREGON LEAGUE Lg Ovr PS PA Rnk Nyssa 1-0 7-6 571 493 8 Vale 1-0 4-8 414 526 9 Irrigon 1-1 12-2 702 473 14 Burns 0-0 8-5 622 520 16 Umatilla 0-0 3-11 430 627 35 Riverside 0-2 11-4 624 450 17 2A COLUMBIA BASIN CONFERENCE Lg Ovr PS PA Rnk Pilot Rock 0-0 10-5 666 527 16 Culver 0-0 9-5 578 510 22 Heppner 0-0 8-3 558 455 10 Weston-McE. 0-0 8-6 728 654 20 Stanfield 0-0 2-11 390 629 34 1A BIG SKY LEAGUE Lg Ovr PS PA Rnk South Wasco 2-0 9-3 575 443 9 Horizon Christ. 2-0 5-6 437 460 29 Condon/Wheel. 2-1 2-11 415 631 51 Dufur 1-1 5-6 428 478 23 Sherman 1-1 3-7 325 533 33 Ione 0-1 1-10 363 583 40 Mitch/Spray 0-2 5-5 265 386 55 Arlington 0-2 1-4 119 169 58 1A OLD OREGON LEAGUE Lg Ovr PS PA Rnk Nixyaawii 4-0 13-0 964 363 3 Powder Valley 3-1 13-1 715 482 2 Joseph 3-1 9-2 554 355 8 Helix 3-1 9-5 617 537 15 Echo 1-3 6-9 606 662 31 Cove 1-3 5-8 452 519 32 Wallowa 1-3 3-10 523 634 43 Pine Eagle 0-4 2-9 261 453 53 Basketball NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W L Pct GB Boston 33 10 .767 — Toronto 28 11 .718 3 Philadelphia 19 19 .500 11½ New York 19 22 .463 13 Brooklyn 15 26 .366 17 Southeast Division W L Pct GB Miami 24 17 .585 — Washington 23 18 .561 1 Charlotte 15 24 .385 8 Orlando 12 30 .286 12½ Atlanta 11 30 .268 13 Central Division W L Pct GB Cleveland 26 14 .650 — Detroit 22 18 .550 4 Milwaukee 22 18 .550 4 Indiana 21 20 .512 5½ Chicago 15 27 .357 12 WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Division W L Pct GB Houston 29 11 .725 — San Antonio 28 14 .667 2 New Orleans 20 20 .500 9 Dallas 15 28 .349 15½ Memphis 13 27 .325 16 Northwest Division W L Pct GB Minnesota 27 16 .628 — Portland 22 19 .537 4 Denver 21 20 .522 5 Oklahoma City 22 20 .524 4½ Utah 17 24 .415 9 Pacific Division W L Pct GB Golden State 33 9 .786 — L.A. Clippers 19 21 .475 13 Phoenix 16 26 .381 17 Sacramento 13 27 .325 19 L.A. Lakers 13 27 .325 19 ——— Wednesday’s Games Dallas 115, Charlotte 111 Miami 114, Indiana 106 Utah 107, Washington 104 Chicago 122, New York 119, 2OT Detroit 114, Brooklyn 80 Houston 121, Portland 112 Memphis 105, New Orleans 102 Milwaukee 110, Orlando 103 Minnesota 104, Oklahoma City 88 Atlanta 110, Denver 97 L.A. Clippers 125, Golden State 106 Thursday’s Games Boston vs. Philadelphia (at London), Noon Cleveland at Toronto, 5 p.m. L.A. Clippers at Sacramento, 7 p.m. San Antonio at L.A. Lakers, 7:30 p.m. NCAA Men’s Basketball Top 25 Schedule Wednesday No. 1 Villanova 89, No. 10 Xavier 65 No. 4 Michigan St 76, Rutgers 72, OT No. 7 Duke 87, Pittsburgh 52 Louisville 73, No. 23 Florida State 69 Texas 99, No. 16 TCU 98, 20T Thursday No. 19 Clemson at NC State, 6 p.m. (ESPN) Portland at No. 15 Gonzaga, 6 p.m. (ESPN3) No. 5 Wichita State at ECU, 6 p.m. (ESPN2) Oregon St at No. 17 Arizona, 6 p.m. (PAC12) Oregon at No. 11 Arizona State, 7 p.m. (FS1) Pac-12 Schedule Wednesday USC 70, Colorado 58 Thursday Oregon St at No. 17 Arizona, 6 p.m. (PAC12) Oregon at No. 11 Arizona St., 7 p.m. (FS1) Stanford at Washington St., 6 p.m. (ESPNU) Cal at Washington, 8 p.m. (PAC12) Utah at UCLA, 8 p.m. (ESPN2) NCAA Women’s Basketball Top 25 Schedule Wednesday No. 15 West Virginia 74, Kansas 54 No. 23 Michigan 84, Indiana 79 Purdue 47, No. 21 Rutgers 33 TCU 79, No. 7 Texas 77 Thursday Auburn at No. 9 South Carolina, 4 p.m. No. 6 Tennessee at No. 17 Texas A&M, 4 p.m. Miami at No. 13 FSU, 4 p.m. No. 2 Notre Dame at No. 3 Louisvile, 4 p.m. (ESPN) No. 16 Duke at Wake Forest, 4 p.m. No. 12 Missouri at Vanderbilt, 5 p.m. Michigan State at No. 11 Maryland, 5 p.m. Youngstown St. at No. 25 Green Bay, 5 p.m. Ole Miss at No. 4 Miss. St., 6 p.m. Pac-12 Schedule. Wednesday-Thursday No games scheduled. Friday USC at Colorado, 5 p.m. No. 18 Arizona St at No. 22 Oregon St, 6 p.m. (PAC12) Washington St at Stanford, 6 p.m. No. 14 UCLA at Utah, 7 p.m. Arizona at No. 8 Oregon, 8 p.m. (PAC12) Hockey NHL EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division GP W L OT Tampa Bay 43 31 9 3 Boston 40 23 10 7 Toronto 45 25 17 3 Florida 42 18 18 6 Detroit 41 17 17 7 Montreal 42 18 20 4 Ottawa 42 15 18 9 39 117 149 Buffalo 43 10 24 9 29 96 150 Metropolitan Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Washington 43 27 13 3 57 135 121 Columbus 44 25 16 3 53 121 121 New Jersey 41 22 11 8 52 130 125 N.Y. Rangers 42 22 15 5 49 128 117 Pittsburgh 44 22 19 3 47 126 138 Philadelphia 42 19 15 8 46 123 122 Carolina 42 19 15 8 46 119 131 N.Y. Islanders 43 21 18 4 46 146 158 WESTERN CONFERENCE Central Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Winnipeg 44 26 11 7 59 151 121 Nashville 42 25 11 6 56 131 114 St. Louis 46 26 17 3 55 134 122 Dallas 43 24 16 3 51 132 118 Chicago 42 21 15 6 48 133 116 Minnesota 43 22 17 4 48 125 126 Colorado 41 22 16 3 47 135 124 Pacific Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Vegas 41 29 10 2 60 143 113 Los Angeles 42 24 13 5 53 126 99 San Jose 40 21 13 6 48 110 106 Calgary 42 22 16 4 48 118 121 Anaheim 43 19 15 9 47 117 120 Edmonton 44 18 23 3 39 119 143 Vancouver 43 16 21 6 38 111 143 Arizona 43 10 27 6 26 98 150 ———— Wednesday’s Games Ottawa 4, Toronto 3 Minnesota 2, Chicago 1 Thursday’s Games Carolina at Washington, 4 p.m. Columbus at Buffalo, 4 p.m. Calgary at Tampa Bay, 4:30 p.m. Football NFL Divisional Round Saturday’s Games Atlanta at Philadelphia, 1:35 p.m. (NBC) Tennessee at New England, 5:15 p.m. (CBS) Sunday’s Games Jacksonville at Pittsburgh, 10 a.m. (CBS) New Orleans at Minnesota, 1:40 p.m. (FOX) Golf Pts 65 53 53 42 41 40 GF GA 160 107 131 102 146 131 120 137 112 127 108 129 PGA TOUR Sony Open Site: Honolulu. Course: Waialae CC. Yardage: 7,044. Par: 70. Purse: $6.2 million. Winner’s share: $1,116,000. Television: Thursday-Saturday, 7-10:30 p.m. (Golf Channel); Sunday, 6-10 p.m. (Golf Channel). Defending champion: Justin Thomas.