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DOWN THE LINE

OF THE YEAR:

Rich Husted

B Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Here are 32 reasons to watch the NCAA tourney ere come 32 firstround NCAA Tournament games. Maybe you need 32 reasons to watch. Louisville vs. Alabama State-Morehead State winner. Last time the Cardinals were No. 1 during the season? Never. Ohio State vs. Siena. So Siena, how do you like drawing the Buckeyes in Dayton? Utah vs. Arizona. You’re on, Arizona. Prove you deserved the big kiss the

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COACH

Section

THE DAILY JOURNAL

Mike Lopresti selection committee gave you. Wake Forest vs. Cleveland State. When last seen, Cleveland State was in the 1986 Sweet 16. Four years later, the coach gets arrested driving away from a crack house. Long road back.

West Virginia vs. Dayton. Dayton’s Chris Wright is the best dunker you’ve never seen. Kansas vs. North Dakota State. When Kansas won the national championship last spring, North

Dakota State wasn’t even a Division I school. Boston College vs. USC. This stat always amazes. USC, within two hours of a gazillion high school prospects, has not been to the Final Four since 1954. Michigan State vs. Robert Morris. Spartans can’t lose to a guy who signed the Declaration of Independence on the 30th anniversary of Magic Johnson beating Larry Bird, can they? Connecticut vs. Chat-

tanooga. Could be worse, Chattanooga. You could be playing the UConn women. BYU vs. Texas A&M. Right out of the movie “Groundhog Day.” They played the same firstround game last year. Texas A&M won 67-62. Purdue vs. Northern Iowa. One opinion: Purdue will be the last Big Ten team standing. Washington vs. Mississippi State. Mississippi Please see LOPRESTI on B3

Cumberland Reg. Boys’ swimming 8th season (82-32) Husted was behind the resurgence of the Cumberland Regional boys’ swimming program this season, leading the Colts to an 11-4 record and their first playoff win in school history, a victory over Woodstown. Husted also helped his relay team of Philip Quick, Jeff Ritter, Brad Hawkins and Billy Freitag advance to states, the first time a Colts relay team has made it that far since the 1992-93 season.

Stockton men head to Final Four

Pittsgrove Twp. to take on Eagles B &B Poultry and the Schalick Track Booster Club will be sponsoring a basketball game featuring the staff of Pittsgrove Twp. schools against the Eagles. The game will be played on April 3 at 7 p.m. Contact Mark Boyle at (856) 358-8529. — From staff reports

MARCH MADNESS

ONLINE The latest college basketball scores, news and photos thedailyjournal.com/ section/marchmania

Staff graphic/Joe Moore; staff photos/Craig Matthews

Oliva realized his potential Vineland senior came of age during his final season By JOSH FRIEDMAN Staff Writer [email protected]

For two seasons, Mike Oliva was plagued by “potential.” The Vineland High School senior swimmer showed an extraordinary raw ability to fly from one end of the pool to the other during his sophomore and junior years. But this season, Oliva wanted to

WINTER

➤ Check out all the boys’ swimming all-stars, and what made them the best of the best. ➤ The Daily Journal announces its boys’ swimming team of the year. ■ The schedule Monday: Boys’ and girls’ indoor track; TODAY: Boys’ swimming; Wednesday: Girls’ swimming; Thursday: Wrestling; Friday: Girls’ basketball; Saturday: Boys’ basketball.

show he had ability and maturity, and not just pure speed. He succeeded by taking third in at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions in the 50-yard freestyle (21.37) and 10th in the 100 free (48.05), swim-

2008-09 of the

YEAR ming career bests in both. Add that to his trio of Cape-Atlantic League Championships in the 50- and 100meter freestyles and 200 free relay, and you have the 2008-09 Daily Journal Boys’ Swimmer of the

Year. “It sounds like a crutch word,” Oliva said of potential. “People always tell me about my potential and stuff. I try not to let people look at me like that. I want to show them what I have and what I have the ability to do. I think I finished my season with the word ability.” Oliva took fourth in the 50 at last year’s MofC, but his time was hampered by poor fundamentals. This year, he dedicated himself to improving his training as well as his starts and turns. “Going into winter break I really tried to become a different trainer,” he said. “(My teammates and Please see OLIVA on B3

Phillies ace Hamels to have his sore elbow examined By The Associated Press

Comments or questions? Call Sports Editor Tom McGurk at 563-5260 or e-mail [email protected]; fax your news to 563-5288

INSIDE, page B3

CLEARWATER, Fla. — World Series MVP Cole Hamels left training camp Monday and flew to Philadelphia to have his left elbow examined by Phillies team physician Dr. Michael Ciccotti. “He’s had a little bit of a persistent soreness in his elbow. We do not believe it’s serious,” Phillies general manager Ruben

TAG N E E R G OUT W O L B

World Series MVP Cole Hamels flew back to Philadelphia on Monday to have his sore pitching elbow looked at.

Amaro Jr. said. “But at least at this time we thought it was important for Dr. Ciccotti to check him out and see if there’s anything more serious than we think it is.” The 25-year-old left-hander made his first Grapefruit League start Wednesday. He pitched in an intrasquad game

AP photo

Please see HAMELS on B2

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Five players scored in double figures a Stockton College beat Farmingdale State, 103-60, as the Ospreys advanced to the Division III Final Four in men’s basketball. No. 6 Stockton won its 17th straight game while reaching its first Final Four since 1987. Forward Chad Davis, a Millville native and Sacred Heart High School graduate, scored 11 points in the victory. The Ospreys face Franklin & Marshall at 7 p.m. Friday in Salem, Va.

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