Player critical of coach’s tweet poised to transfer

Mississippi State redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Fabien Lovett entered the NCAA transfer portal after criticizing Bulldogs coach Mike Leach’s tweet that showed a meme of a woman knitting a noose for her husband during self-quarantine. Leach removed the tweet Thursday and apologized on Twitter.

■ The Southeastern Conference is exploring whether the Crimson Tide can continue using Apple watches to monitor their players during the league-mandated shutdown.

Alabama:

Udoka Azubuike has been a wrecking ball in the paint for Kansas throughout the top-seeded Jayhawks’ run to the Final Four in the Review-Journal’s What If Tournament.

Michigan State finally found a way to neutralize him and the No. 2 Spartans were rewarded with a trip to the championship game, where they will face fourth-seeded Oregon, a winner over No. 3 Villanova.

Azubuike picked up two fouls in the first five minutes, another when he was reinserted late in the first half and eventually fouled out in just 21 minutes as Michigan State held on for an 89-84 win in the national semifinals.

Xavier Tillman had 12 points, nine rebounds and three blocks for the

Spartans and played a major role in getting Azubuike to the bench. Both of Azubuike’s early fouls were on strong moves to the rim by Tillman. A the fifth came on an offensive foul when Tillman held his ground and drew a charge with five minutes remaining and the game tied at 74.

Cassius Winston took over from there for Michigan State.

Winston had 11 of his game-high 24 points over the final five minutes, making all six free throws in the final 52 seconds.

Azubuike had nine points and six rebounds in his limited action.

Aaron Henry added 16 points in the win for Michigan State in the first of two hypothetical games on Saturday.

■ The Wildcats did everything they could

Oregon 81, Villanova 77 —

Mike Leach