Final Four

With nearly every eye at Pimlico fixated on either the uncatchable leader, Oxbow, or the Kentucky Derby winner and heavy betting favorite, Orb, Itsmyluckyday cruised under the radar to earn a little bit of redemption in Saturday's Preakness. After failing to challenge Orb on the muddy track at Churchill Downs two weeks ago and finishing near the back of the pack, Itsmyluckyday finished in second place in the middle jewel of the Triple Crown. "We did run our race, but we just weren't lucky enough to win," trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. said.

Between 1983 and 2004, Syracuse advanced to the NCAA tournament semifinals every year, a remarkable accomplishment that may never be matched again. What makes Duke's seven consecutive appearances in the Final Four nearly as impressive is that the Blue Devils have achieved that in a four-round tournament, which was expanded from 12 to 16 teams for the 2003 season. But seventh-seeded Duke (14-5), which will tangle with Cornell (14-3) in the first of two national semifinals this Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, is just 2-4 in the Final Four, advancing to the title game in 2007 (losing to Johns Hopkins)

The Orange are gelling By Shannon Ryan, Chicago Tribune The one team everyone dissed could be the best bet to land in the Final Four. Syracuse, which started the season unranked, looks primed to find itself in Indianapolis along with Kansas, Kentucky and Texas. The Orange have a star in Wesley Johnson. They have power in the post with Arinze Onuaku and Rick Jackson. They have a strong perimeter shooting from Andy Rautins and Brandon Triche. And they have solid reserves in Scoop Jardine and Kris Joseph.

Dominic Lamolinara's journey from Arnold to Philadelphia - the site of this weekend's Final Four at Lincoln Financial Field - has gone a circuitous route, graduating from St. Mary's to spending one year at Maryland to transferring to Syracuse to emerging as the Orange's starting goalkeeper. The path has been long and meandering, but the wait has been worth it for Lamolinara, who is part of a Syracuse program that is back in the NCAA tournament semifinals for the first time since 2009.

Ravens looking good Ken Murray Baltimore Sun In the absence of any truly dominant teams — no, the Saints don't qualify with their defense — the race is wide open. Starting in the AFC, the Colts probably aren't going to flirt with perfection again, and the Patriots still are clearing the rubble from a wicked playoff loss to the Ravens. Because of all their upgrades, I like the Ravens to challenge the Chargers in the AFC title game.

As "The Bachelorette" winds down, we're already looking forward to the next batch of hopeless romantics ("Bachelor Pad" starts July 23 featuring Kalon and his butt chin). We got a sneak peak last Thursday at the Bachelor/Bachelorette casting call. Though I don't think anyone from Baltimore made the cut, it was a sight to see: hundreds of girls in their smallest dresses and highest heels, and a handful of guys with no clue. I think a few of them thought they were auditioning for "My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding.

Whew! The final four contestants on “The Voice” were busy-sy-sy last night, performing three times each. It's getting down to the wire for Jermaine Paul, Juliet Simms, Chris Mann and Tony Lucca, and Monday was their last shot at wooing America before the season finale tonight. For some of them, it worked. Now, since each finalist performed three times - once in tribute to their coach, once with their coach, and once solo - America can only vote on their solo performance.

Prior to Sunday night's NCAA tournament semifinal against No. 4 Stevenson, No. 12 and reigning national champion Salisbury had advanced to nine of 10 Final Fours and won every single one to advance to the title game. That did not happen against the Mustangs, who registered a convincing 12-6 victory over the Sea Gulls at Mustang Stadium in Owings Mills. While the Stevenson players and coaches celebrated with their fans, Salisbury (17-6) huddled in front of the net on its side of the field and got some words of wisdom from coach Jim Berkman.

If you have any extra respect lying around the house, could I borrow it for the weekend?I'm going to be heading up to the Meadowlands for the Final Four, and I don't think I have enough respect in my personal cache to satisfy those who will be asking for it up there.None of the four teams headed for the Meadowlands thinks it gets enough respect.Syracuse doesn't. Mississippi State doesn't. Massachusetts doesn't. Even the favored Kentucky Wildcats don't think the world understands their pain.

Between 1983 and 2004, Syracuse advanced to the NCAA tournament semifinals every year, a remarkable accomplishment that may never be matched again. What makes Duke's seven consecutive appearances in the Final Four nearly as impressive is that the Blue Devils have achieved that in a four-round tournament, which was expanded from 12 to 16 teams for the 2003 season. But seventh-seeded Duke (14-5), which will tangle with Cornell (14-3) in the first of two national semifinals this Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, is just 2-4 in the Final Four, advancing to the title game in 2007 (losing to Johns Hopkins)

Of the four teams left in the NCAA tournament semifinals, it is top-seeded Syracuse - the architect of a Division I-best 10 national championships - that is bringing up the rear in the offense department. The Orange are averaging 11.7 goals this season, which ranks 13th in the country - a still healthy number that many other programs would love to boast. But unlike previous Syracuse incarnations that dared opponents to keep up with them as they galloped up and down the field like a pack of unbridled thoroughbreds, this year's current squad is viewed as a more patient outfit, a group that prides itself on locking down opponents on defense and exhibiting patience on offense.

This was supposed to be the year that Salisbury fell from the top of the Division III mountain - hard. After graduation had sapped the team of six starters, two more 20-goal scorers and two short-stick defensive midfielders, the team limped to a 1-2 start and suffered its first losing streak since 2009 and dropped below .500 for the first time since 1989. The Sea Gulls rebounded with nine consecutive wins, but was stunned, 7-6, by Washington College on April 17 in their final contest before the Capital Athletic Conference tournament and then upended, 13-11, by St. Mary's in the conference tournament final.

It took two unexpected turn of events for former Gilman lacrosse standout Gordie Koerber to end up playing at the University of Denver, one of four teams left in this year's Division I NCAA men's lacrosse tournament. Until seventh grade, Koerber was the goalie for his lacrosse team before suffering two injuries made him change his mind about the position. After taking two close range shots to his chest just days apart, Koerber's parents, Bryan and Gillian, were fearful of additional injuries, especially as he faced larger, stronger players.

Prior to Sunday night's NCAA tournament semifinal against No. 4 Stevenson, No. 12 and reigning national champion Salisbury had advanced to nine of 10 Final Fours and won every single one to advance to the title game. That did not happen against the Mustangs, who registered a convincing 12-6 victory over the Sea Gulls at Mustang Stadium in Owings Mills. While the Stevenson players and coaches celebrated with their fans, Salisbury (17-6) huddled in front of the net on its side of the field and got some words of wisdom from coach Jim Berkman.

For the third time in the last four seasons, Stevenson and Salisbury will meet in the NCAA Division III tournament semifinals and at stake is a spot in the championship final at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on May 26. Both sides took different paths to the same destination. The No. 4 Mustangs (20-2) have been ranked in top five for pretty much the entire year and collected a program-record 20th victory with Wednesday night's 13-7 victory over No. 13 Lynchburg. The No. 12 Sea Gulls (17-5)

In February, Duke coach Kerstin Kimel said she wasn't sure any women's lacrosse team was better than Maryland. After Saturday's NCAA quarterfinal, she seemed pretty well convinced. The No. 1 Terps (21-0) had their lethal offense rolling and also forced 15 turnovers en route to a 14-9 victory and a berth in their fifth straight NCAA final four. Looking for their 12th national title and their first since 2010, the Terps are in the final four for a record 21st time. Taking their second win this season over their Atlantic Coast Conference rival at Maryland's Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex, the Terps continue to make it difficult for defenses to contain an attack that always has seven players ready to score.

After losing to Maryland on Saturday at Cole Field House, Florida State coach Pat Kennedy made his point about as simply as it could be made: "That team is a Final Four team."How sweet. How simple.And how correct.No, that doesn't mean Maryland's fans should run out and buy nonrefundable plane tickets to Seattle. The Terps will have to keep playing well up until the NCAA tournament, avoid the inevitable tumble of early-round upsets and probably beat at least one opponent that is every bit their equal in a regional final.

Boy, these are interesting times for CBS producer Bob Dekas.Not only will he be in charge of the production end of things when the network presents the men's Final Four this weekend, but Dekas, a lifelong Chicago Bulls fan, also is in a state of perpetual celebration now that You Know Who is back in the NBA."I grew up in Chicago and I am a huge Bulls fan. I took my kids to [Michael] Jordan's last game at the Stadium. I'm thrilled to have him back," said Dekas. "It's only when you've followed a team for that long when they start doing well do you appreciate what you've got. We've struggled for so many years with the Chicago Cubs being losers.

When Salisbury opened the 2013 season in defense of the national championship it had captured last May, the team limped to a 1-2 start and the thought of advancing to the NCAA tournament semifinals appeared to be remote. At least that was the way coach Jim Berkman saw it. “It was definitely a distant possibility at that time,” he said Thursday after recalling a 13-12 setback to Lynchburg on Feb. 16 and a 7-6 double-overtime decision to Washington and Lee four days later. “But by the same token, they were both one-goal losses and in both games, we had a one-on-one to win the game.

Salisbury is the torchbearer for NCAA tournament semifinals, making 10 of the last 11 Final Fours. But Stevenson is beginning to establish itself as a regular in the semifinals. The No. 4 Mustangs (20-2) will be making their fourth Final Four appearance in the last five years when they play host to the reigning national champion and No. 12 Sea Gulls (17-5) this Sunday night at Mustang Stadium in Owings Mills. It is a badge of honor for a program that had not qualified for the NCAA tournament until 2009.