MORNING ROUNDUP
Coach K to return Saturday
Mike Krzyzewski is returning this weekend to coach his Duke Blue Devils.
The Hall of Fame coach made the announcement Thursday night on his weekly radio show that he will make his return Saturday against Pittsburgh after back surgery kept him out for four weeks.
His return falls in line with the four-week timeline the school projected when his leave of absence was announced on Jan. 2.
Duke (17-5, 5-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) went 4-3 with associate head coach
Jeff Capel running the team in Krzyzewski’s absence.
Krzyzewski stepped away from the team to have a fragment of a herniated disk removed from his lower back, the fifth surgery since the end of last season for the coach who turns 70 on Feb. 13.
Magic returns to Lakers in advisory role
Magic Johnson returned to the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday as an adviser to owner Jeanie Buss, possibly signaling a change in the power structure of the 16-time NBA champion franchise. Johnson, one of the most beloved players in franchise history, will assist Buss “in all areas of basketball and business,” according to the team’s news release.
Kansas defeats Baylor to take control of Big 12
Kansas took a big step toward keeping its streak of Big 12 titles intact Wednesday night.
The third-ranked Jayhawks leaned on star freshman Josh
Jackson, who responded with 23 points and 10 rebounds, and some stingy defense in the final minute to knock off No. 2 Baylor 73-68 and take a one-game lead over the Bears at the midway point of the Big 12 race.
The Jayhawks (20-2, 8-1) are aiming for their 13th consecutive Big 12 title, but there are still huge hurdles standing in their way. More immediately, the win was their 51st straight at Allen Fieldhouse and ninth in a row over the Bears (20-2, 7-2), who have never won in 15 tries at the Phog.
The game was tied 64-all with 2:23 left when Jackson went baseline for a dunk. And after Frank Mason III made a couple of foul shots moments later, the teams began trading baskets down the stretch in a matchup that lived up to its billing — and the lofty rankings of both teams.