Associated Press
LAHAINA, Hawaii ó Three-time champion North Carolina and first-time participant Butler headline the field for the 2012 EA Sports Maui Invitational.
The rest of the teams that will play in the championship round at the Lahaina Civic Center announced Wednesday are Illinois, Marquette, Mississippi State, Southern California, Texas and Division II Chaminade, the host school.
North Carolina won tournament in 1999, 2004 and 2008. After their last two appearances, the Tar Heels went on to win the NCAA championship.
NORMAN, Okla. ó Oklahoma admitted Thursday that its men’s basketball program committed two major rules violations and asked the NCAA for leniency despite its second serious infractions case in the last five years.
IRABU DEAD
LOS ANGELES ó Hideki Irabu joined the New York Yankees 14 years ago in a swell of international excitement. The quirky, flamethrowing Japanese right-hander seemed destined to become a pioneering star for American baseball’s marquee franchise.
Irabu never reached those enormous expectations, and his career spiraled. On Wednesday, the 42-year-old was found dead, an apparent suicide in a home in Rancho Palos Verdes, a wealthy Los Angeles suburb.
SOCCER
NEW YORK ó Amid concerns that progress had stalled during his tenure, Bob Bradley has been fired as coach of the U.S. men’s national soccer team.
GOLF
TOLEDO, Ohio ó Olin Browne followed a record-tying 64 with a solid 69 on Friday, to take a one-shot lead in the rain-delayed second round of the U.S. Senior Open.
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. ó Brendon de Jonge shot a 3-under 67 and Webb Simpson had a 68 to share the lead at 7 under midway through the Greenbrier Classic.
Among those failing to advance to weekend play were Phil Mickelson, whose streak of making 17 straight cuts ended, and defending champion Stuart Appleby. Both finished 3 over.