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UCLA routed by Wisconsin in Big Ten tournament quarterfinal

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UCLA routed by Wisconsin in Big Ten tournament quarterfinal

If this was a practice test for the NCAA tournament, then UCLA left half the answers blank and smudged its fingerprints over the rest.

The best grade the Bruins could hope for, given the way they played Friday against No. 18 Wisconsin, was incomplete. That’s because they barely showed up.

They struggled to defend screens. They were slow to close out on three-pointers. Twice, when they finally did, they committed fouls leading to four-point plays.

A few days after UCLA coach Mick Cronin suggested that he was conflicted about a deep run in the Big Ten tournament, his players showed they had no such reservations. They played as if they were ready to get home and sleep in their own beds as soon as possible.

Their dreams might be strewn with visions of Wisconsin making more three-pointers after the fifth-seeded Badgers shredded the fourth-seeded Bruins from long range during an 86-70 rout in a quarterfinal at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

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The Badgers (25-8) made 19 of 32 three-pointers (59.4%) in advancing to play top-seeded Michigan State in a semifinal Saturday. John Tonje was a perfect six for six from beyond the arc and nine for 10 overall in scoring 26 points.

UCLA forward William Kyle III grabs a rebound above Wisconsin guard Kamari McGee during the second half Friday.

(Michael Conroy / Associated Press)

Meanwhile, the Bruins (22-10) had trouble making shots from inside or outside the arc, leaving them to contemplate where they might be seeded for the NCAA tournament. UCLA entered the day as the top No. 6 seed on Bracketmatrix.com, which aggregates NCAA tournament projections, but its prospects of staying relatively close to home might have taken a major hit.

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UCLA’s five starters combined for 30 points on 27.5% shooting, with sophomore forward Eric Dailey Jr. going scoreless while missing all six shots. Sebastian Mack’s 18 points off the bench weren’t nearly enough for a team that made 32.4% of its shots and 30% of its three-pointers.

Cronin shook up his lineup to start the second half, going with reserves Mack, Trent Perry and William Kyle III alongside regulars Skyy Clark and Kobe Johnson (14 points). The Bruins rolled off seven straight points before Wisconsin countered with its second four-point play after Johnson fouled John Blackwell (18 points) on a three-pointer.

UCLA arrived here somewhat torn about its best path forward. Should the Bruins try to win the tournament and earn a protected seed in the NCAA tournament, reducing the travel burden on a team tired of cross-country trips? Or should they lose as quickly as possible so they could get home and remain rested for the only tournament that really matters?

The answer was almost immediately forthcoming.

In a sign of the pain to come for UCLA, the Wisconsin band played “Tusk” — a staple of its counterpart from USC — in a pregame trolling endeavor.

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Then the Badgers began a conquest of the Bruins by making seven of their first eight three-pointers on the way to building an early 10-point lead. It would have been eight of nine had a three-pointer by Xavier Amos not rolled off the rim after looking like it was going to go down.

On one play, Mack stumbled out of position while trying to defend Tonje beyond the arc. After regaining his footing, Mack scrambled back toward Tonje, only to commit a foul that led to a four-point play.

A deep dive into the record books was necessary after the Badgers made 12 of 19 three-pointers (63.2%) on the way to building a 48-29 halftime lead. That was better than the 50% Wisconsin shot from long range when these teams first met nearly two months ago.

Wisconsin had awoken a sleeping giant on UCLA’s roster that late January day at Pauley Pavilion. Dominating the Badgers in a breakthrough performance, sophomore center Aday Mara made all seven shots on the way to a career-high 22 points in what at the time was a season-high 21 minutes.

Mack was equally irritating to Wisconsin in that meeting, scoring 15 of his 19 points in just a touch over the game’s last 10 minutes on an array of drives toward the basket. The Bruins gave up 83 points and won, a first for the team under defensive-minded Cronin during his six seasons in Westwood.

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None of those trends held up 2½ months later halfway across the country. Mara threw down a couple of pretty lobs but had just four points in 11 quiet minutes. Mack’s barrage of points came with his team already down big. And the Bruins gave up even more points in a blowout loss.

If ever there was a wakeup call going into the NCAA tournament, it just left the Bruins’ ears ringing.

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Growing forfeits in soccer because of ineligible players could spur change to CIF bylaw

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Growing forfeits in soccer because of ineligible players could spur change to CIF bylaw

Forfeits by high school boys’ soccer teams in the City Section and Southern Section playoffs continued Friday as both sections try to deal with violations of CIF Bylaw 600, which prohibits players from participating in outside leagues during their sports season.

Calabasas pulled out of the Southern Section Division 3 championship because of an ineligible player. Chavez became the sixth City Section school eliminated from the playoffs for using an ineligible player and was replaced by Chatsworth for the City Division I final.

There’s also an allegation about another Southern Section team that could result in another forfeit in the final.

Some high schools thought they had found a solution by not allowing players to play until after their club seasons ended in early December. Cathedral had several players miss its first three games because of several big club tournaments in November and early December.

“You communicate to students and parents,” Cathedral coach Arturo Lopez said. “Unfortunately, there’s more and more academies now.”

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Ron Nocetti, the executive director of the CIF, said, “I think we have to have conversations with our sections.”

CIF membership repeatedly has rejected the proposal of getting rid of Bylaw 600. Schools don’t want to have their coaches battling it out weekly with club coaches, which also would place additional pressure on athletes dealing with school work and then having to do double workouts.

The balancing act for students already is tough enough, with the amount of club teams growing in a lot of sports because it’s a lucrative business. The CIF briefly suspended the rule during the pandemic in 2020 but quickly reinstated it.

The problem is club soccer programs are holding competitions in the middle of the high school season, and players, knowing the rule that you can’t play high school and club at the same time, apparently have decided to try to do both with the hope of not getting caught.

This year, they are getting caught. Emails alleging violations started arriving to City Section commissioner Vicky Lagos before the semifinals. If a player is found to have played club, the high school team has to forfeit, and if it happens during the playoffs, the team is eliminated.

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Usually the pressure is on schools to make sure rules are not violated, but for Bylaw 600, schools can do everything right and still be punished for a player violating the rule on their own.

Several leagues are expected to present proposals to get rid of Bylaw 600. Nocetti said membership might be open to adopting changes.

“Maybe this is a tipping point for schools saying maybe it’s time to make a big change with the rule,” he said.

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Anthony Richardson free to seek trade after injury setbacks amid Colts’ shift to Daniel Jones

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Anthony Richardson free to seek trade after injury setbacks amid Colts’ shift to Daniel Jones

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Anthony Richardson Sr.’s future in Indianapolis faces more uncertainty than ever. 

The Indianapolis Colts granted Anthony Richardson, the team that used the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft on the quarterback, permission to explore a trade. His agent, Deiric Jackson, confirmed the latest development in the 23-year-old’s tumultuous career to ESPN on Thursday.

Veteran quarterback Daniel Jones beat out Richardson in a preseason competition for the starting job. Jones made the most of another opportunity as an NFL starter, helping the Colts win eight of their first 10 games of the 2025 regular season. 

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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson heads off the field after an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

However, his season was ultimately derailed by an Achilles injury. The setback came two years after he tore an ACL with the New York Giants. The Colts appear ready to move forward with Jones, clouding Richardson’s future in Indianapolis.

Jones is set to become a free agent in March, meaning the Colts must either use the franchise tag or sign him to a new deal. Richardson has started just 15 games in three seasons with the Colts, his tenure largely shaped by injuries. 

A shoulder surgery limited Richardson to four games during his rookie campaign, while a series of setbacks cost him four games in 2024. 

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) looks for an open receiver during the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. (Troy Taormina/Imagn Images)

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Richardson suffered what was described as a “freak pregame incident” during warmups last season, landing him on injured reserve after attempting just two passes in two games in 2025. He has thrown 11 touchdowns against 13 interceptions in his NFL career. 

Colts general manager Chris Ballard said Tuesday that the vision problems stemming from Richardson’s orbital fracture last October are “trending in the right direction.” He added that Richardson has been “cleared to play.”

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) celebrates his touchdown against the New York Jets during the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Brad Penner/Imagn Images)

Riley Leonard, a sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, is expected to return to the Colts next season.

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When asked about Richardson’s standing with the Colts moving ahead, Ballard replied, “I still believe in Anthony.”

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Prep talk: Freshman golfer William Hudson of St. John Bosco wins Servite Invitational

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Prep talk: Freshman golfer William Hudson of St. John Bosco wins Servite Invitational

William Hudson, a 14-year-old freshman golfer, shot 71 on Monday at Western Hills Country Club in Chino Hills to win the Servite Invitational.

“It was very important to me and my school,” Hudson said.

Some think it’s the first time a St. John Bosco student won an invitational title.

Hudson is a straight-A student who picked up his first golf club when he was 3. He has a daily routine involving practicing at 6 a.m. before heading to school. He’s also enrolled in a school entrepreneur program that involves taking classes at a junior college that will qualify for college credits.

“They are long days, but I get through it,” Hudson said.

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He comes from a family that enjoys golf. His great-grandfather played until his death at 98 last year.

“I love how it can take me to interesting places and meet interesting people,” Hudson said. “I can play for the rest of my life. It’s a lifelong sport.”

It’s looking like another strong year for golfers in Southern California, with several individual champions returning, including Jaden Soong of St. Francis and Grant Leary of Crespi.

Now Hudson has thrust himself into the conversation.

This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.

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