Sportshorts for Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Russell added to Final Four Watch List
Jamie Russell, a Rock Falls graduate and a senior guard at Illinois State, was added the 2013 Final Four Watch List last week. The list is made up of seniors eligible for the WNBA draft at end of 2013 season.
Thirty finalists will have the opportunity to attend the Women’s Final Four Combine in New Orleans in April to showcase their talents. A final roster for the combine will be sent out in February.
Russell averaged 13.1 points and 5.3 rebounds as a junior in 2011-12 after transferring from Wisconsin.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Ross scores five
in opener
Dixon graduate Matt Ross scored five points in 21 minutes for Chicago State University on Saturday in a 72-67 season-opening loss to Green Bay.
Ross, who played at Sauk Valley Community College the last two seasons, also had seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block in the loss. Chicago State plays Concordia Chicago today at 7:05 p.m. in Chicago.
Illini land forward from New Jersey
Illinois coach John Groce’s recruiting class just got even better.
The Illini landed Austin Colbert, a 6-foot-9 forward from New Jersey. He will sign a letter of intent on Wednesday.
Colbert, who is rated a 3-star recruit by Scout.com, also considered Miami, Seton Hall and Villanova.
MLB
Trout, Harper named Rookies of the Year
Angels center fielder Mike Trout and the Nationals’ Bryce Harper were crowned MLB’s Rookies of the Year on Monday.
The 21-year-old Trout led the AL in steals (49) and runs scored (129) while batting .326 with 30 home runs and 83 RBIs. A’s outfielder Yoenis Cespedes was a distant second while Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish was third.
Harper also had a brilliant rookie campaign but faced some stiff competition for the award from Diamondbacks pitcher Wade Miley.
NFL
Packers place
Bulaga on IR
Right tackle Bryan Bulaga was placed on injured reserve by the Green Bay Packers with a hip injury suffered in the team’s Week 9 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.
He became the seventh Packers player to be placed on IR this season.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Six bowls in pool for 2014 playoff
The college football playoff system that will be implemented for the 2014 season will consist of six rotating access bowls, with the champions of the five major conferences getting an automatic berth and the highest rated champion from the “Group of Five” conferences also receiving an automatic berth.
Three of the six access bowls have been determined – Rose, Sugar and Orange – and the other three have yet to be named, although the Fiesta, Cotton and Chick-fil-A bowls are the leading contenders.
