Sports Briefs November 30, 2010
Football
To hear him tell it, Josh McDaniels won't be dwelling on whether the Broncos' problems on and off the field will cost him his job.
Denver's second-year coach said his only focus is on trying to salvage a 3-8 season sullied by a videotaping scandal that cost him and the team $50,000 each and resulted in a subordinate's firing over the weekend.
"It's not, you know, not my decision, not something that's in my control," McDaniels said of his job status. "I'm just going to worry about what I can focus on and try to control the things that I can control."
McDaniels has two years and nearly $7 million left on his contract, and team owner Pat Bowlen is still on the hook for millions more he owes Mike Shanahan, whom he fired last year.
• Steve Sarkisian and Washington accomplished their goal of giving the Apple Cup relevance.
The Huskies did so thanks to their late dramatics in their 16-13 win over California, capped by Chris Polk's 1-yard touchdown run on the final play of the game.
Now the Huskies know that a victory over rival Washington State will mean a bowl game for the first time since the 2002 season.
• Hawaii running back Alex Green has been named the Western Athletic Conference player of the week following his record-breaking performance at New Mexico State.
The WAC also named Fresno State linebacker Travis Brown as the defensive player of the week and Louisiana Tech returner Phillip Livas earned special teams honors.
Top 25 Men
Duke (6-0) received all 65 first-place votes from the national media panel in The Associated Press college basketball poll, and Connecticut (5-0) made the second-most impressive jump into the rankings in the last 21 years, moving in at No. 7.
A loss to No. 5 Kansas State last week has knocked Gonzaga out of The Top 25.
The Zags fell from 22nd to third among teams also receiving votes.
No. 5 Kansas State 85, Emporia State 61: At Manhattan, Kan., Jacob Pullen scored 20 points to lead the Wilcats (6-1) over Division II Emporia State (3-3).
No. 11 Baylor 90, Prairie View 45: At Waco, Texas, LaceDarius Dunn had 20 points to help the Bears (5-0) beat Prairie View (1-7).
Virginia 87, No. 15 Minnesota 79: At Minneapolis, Mustapha Farrakhan scored a career-high 23 points to lead Virginia over Minnesota (6-1).
The win gave the Cavaliers and coach Tony Bennett, a former Washington State coach, a 4-3 record.
Heat 105, Wizards 94: LeBron James scored 30 points and host Miami pulled away steadily to beat Washington.
Thunder 95, Hornets 89: Russell Westbrook scored 25 points to help host Oklahoma City past New Orleans.
Mavericks 101, Rockets 91: Caron Butler scored 19 points and host Dallas beat Houston.
Jazz 109, Bucks 88: At Salt Lake City, Al Jefferson had 22 points to lead Utah over Milwaukee.
Penguins 3, Rangers 1: Sidney Crosby extended his point streak to 13 games and visiting Pittsburgh beat New York.
Stars 4, Hurricanes 1: At Raleigh, N.C., James Neal scored twice to lift surging Dallas over Carolina.
Oilers 4, Senators 1: Andrew Cogliano had a goal and an assist to lead visiting Edmonton past Ottawa.
Flames 3, Wild 0: Miikka Kiprusoff made 32 saves in host Calgary's win over Minnesota.
Ducks 2, Kings 0: At Anaheim, Calif., Jonas Hiller made 27 saves and Anaheim beat slumping Los Angeles.
- The Associated Press