Ranking the top 10 sports events Feb. 13-19 you won’t want to miss:
NO. 1: GOLF: PGA TOUR GENESIS OPEN
Details/TV: At Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Thursday-Sunday, Golf Channel, Ch. 2
In the beginning of this newly renamed Genesis Open, Tiger Woods seemed as if he was trying to move more heaven than Earth to get himself healthy enough to play in this field for the first time in more than a decade.
No longer able to compete for a while because of a faulty back, Woods will now serve as “ambassador” as his Tiger Woods Foundation benefits from the proceeds of this L.A. stop on the PGA Tour that goes back to 1926.
He’ll just watch, like the rest of us.
Bubba Watson comes in as the defending champ, having won it two of the last three years with a four-round total of 269 each time. Adam Scott, the 2005 winner, was runner-up last year, one stroke back and tied with Jason Kokrak.
Past champions of this event like Phil Mickelson, Steve Stricker and Ernie Els will return, and the field includes Jason Day, the world’s No. 1 ranked player, along with hot shots like Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson, Hideki Matsuyama, Sergio Garcia and Jim Furyk. Spieth just tore it up at Pebble Beach last weekend, and Garcia comes off a start-to-finish win in Dubai.
Then there’s Sam Saunders, in on an exemption. He’s the 29-year-old grandson of Arnold Palmer, who won this event three times in the 1960s.
“The Genesis Open is an event I have always wanted to play. It is an event that all of my peers rave about as one of the best of the year,” Saunders said. “The history that Riviera has speaks for itself, and I am excited to have an opportunity to be a part of that history. I hope to make my first start at the Genesis Open one to remember.”
More information on the event: www.genesisopen.com.
NO. 2: COLLEGE BASKETBALL: USC at UCLA
Details/TV: At Pauley Pavilion, Saturday, 7 p.m., Pac-12 Network
The Trojans benefitted from a sold-out home court, more than a dozen 3-pointers and Shaqquan Aaron scoring 23 points off the bench to pull away with an 84-76 win over the then-No. 8 Bruins at the Galen Center on Jan. 26. UCLA’s Lonzo Ball had 15 points and 10 rebounds, but also a season-worst seven of his team’s 17 turnovers. Again, Bennie Boatwright was missing from that meeting, but the Trojans (21-5, 8-5) have still won the last four meetings against the Bruins (24-3, 10-3).
Also this week nationally: West Virginia at Kansas, Monday at 6 p.m., ESPN; Villanova at DePaul, Monday at 6 p.m., CBSSN; Louisville at Syracuse, Monday at 4 p.m., ESPN; Tennessee at Kentucky, Tuesday at 4 p.m., ESPN; Texas at Oklahoma, Tuesday at 6 p.m., ESPN2; Ohio State at Michigan State, Tuesday at 6 p.m., ESPN; Duke at Virginia, Wednesday at 6 p.m., ESPN2; Wisconsin at Michigan, Thursday at 4 p.m., ESPN; Utah at Oregon, Thursday at 6 p.m., ESPN; San Francisco at Gonzaga, Thursday at 6 p.m.; Cal at Stanford, Friday at 7 p.m., FS1; Kansas at Baylor, Saturday at 10 a.m., Channel 2; Army at Navy, Saturday at 10:30 a.m., CBSSN; Colorado at Oregon, Saturday at noon, Channel 11; Michigan State at Purdue, Saturday at 1 p.m., ESPN; Pacific at Gonzaga, Saturday at 1 p.m.; Kentucky at Georgia, Saturday at 3 p.m., ESPN; Arizona at Washington, Saturday at 5 p.m., ESPN2; Xavier at Marquette, Saturday at 5 p.m., CBSSN; Virginia at North Carolina, Saturday at 5:15 p.m., ESPN; St. Mary’s at BYU, Saturday at 7 p.m., ESPN2; UC Riverside at UC Irvine, Saturday at 9 p.m., ESPNU; Maryland at Wisconsin, Sunday at 10 a.m., Channel 2.
NO. 3: NHL: KINGS vs. DUCKS
Details/TV: At Honda Center, Sunday, 6 p.m., FSW, Prime Ticket
A stat to consider: The Kings and Ducks are in the top seven among fewest goals allowed this season. Taking it further, the Ducks have allowed the fewest goals in the third period (38) all season, but they’ve given up the third-highest amount in overtime (8). The Ducks didn’t give up any third-period goals to the Kings when they defeated them Nov. 1 (4-0) or during the Kings’ 3-2 win in Anaheim on Nov. 20. This is the third of five meetings this season — the others are March 14 and the season finale on April 9.
Also this week for the Kings: vs. Arizona at Staples Center (Thursday at 7:30 p.m., FSW) and vs. Florida at Staples Center (Saturday at 7 p.m., FSW)
Also this week for the Ducks: at Minnesota (Tuesday at 5 p.m.), vs. Florida at Honda Center (Friday at 7 p.m., Prime Ticket)
NO. 4: 66th NBA ALL-STAR GAME
Details/TV: At New Orleans, Sunday, 5:30 p.m., TNT
Remember, this is the one that was supposed to be in North Carolina but … hold on a second … need to take a restroom break … OK, what were we talking about? Sorry, we got distracted by Mardi Gras. The Clippers’ lone representation will be reserve center DeAndre Jordan, while the Lakers again have no one in for the first time in 20 years without the automatic Kobe Bryant roster spot. The Warriors have 80 percent of their starting lineup on the West team, and Kevin Durant will likely get some court time with Russell Westbrook.
Also this week:
Friday: Celebrity Game (4 p.m., ESPN); Rising Stars Challenge (6 p.m., TNT)
Saturday: Hall of Fame announcement (8 a.m., NBA TV); D-League All Star Game (11:30 a.m., NBA TV); All-Star Saturday Night skills completion and dunk contest (5 p.m., TNT)
More info: www.allstarweekendneworleans2017.com
NO. 5: NBA: LAKERS vs. SACRAMENTO
Details/TV: At Staples Center, Tuesday, 7:30 p.m., Spectrum SportsNet
Never a good idea to start whipping around the Kiss Cam on Valentine’s Day. Unless you’re next to Jeanie Buss.
Also this week: at Phoenix (Wednesday at 6 p.m., SSN)
NO. 6: NBA: CLIPPERS vs. ATLANTA
Details/TV: At Staples Center, Wednesday, 7:30 p.m., Prime Ticket
The Clippers have been staging a contest to see who wants to win two courtside seats next to team owner Steve Ballmer. They can be had for $10,000 each or participate in the online bidding. And prepare to be embarrassed. Prior to this, the Clippers’ five-game road trip ends with a contest in Utah (Monday, 6 p.m., Prime Ticket).
NO. 7: COLLEGE BASEBALL OPENERS
USC vs. COPPIN STATE
Details/TV: At Dedeaux Field, Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m., Sunday at 1 p.m.
UCLA vs. SAN JOSE STATE
Details/TV: At Jackie Robinson Stadium, Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m., Sunday at 1 p.m.
After watching Coastal Carolina go all the way and win the national championship last spring, who doesn’t think they have a chance in college baseball to, at the very least, reach the eight-team College World Series? Even better, in a composite of all the major preseason rankings, only Long Beach State got enough attention to be listed just out of the Top 25 as far as Southern California programs go, so there’s the blindside factor in play. Oregon State, Arizona (last season’s runner-up), Stanford and Washington are ranked among Pac-12 schools, and Cal State Fullerton and UC Santa Barbara meriting attention from the Big West. The last Southern California program to win the national title was UCLA in 2013, and considering the Bruins (25-31, 12-18) and Trojans (28-28, 15-15) are coming off not-so-stellar performances, it seems realistic to see UCLA picked for a fifth-place finish and USC tabbed 10th in the conference preseason poll.
Also this week:
Cal State Northridge: vs. Portland: Friday at 2 p.m.; Saturday at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. (DH)
Long Beach State: vs. Oklahoma: Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m., Sunday at 11 a.m.
Loyola Marymount: at UC Santa Barbara, Friday at 2 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m., Sunday at 1 p.m.
Pepperdine: vs. Saint Joseph’s: Friday at 2 p.m., Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m.
NO. 8: PEPPERDINE at LOYOLA MARYMOUNT
Details/TV: At Gertsen Pavilion, Saturday, 3 p.m., Spectrum SportsNet
Pepperdine’s Chris Reyes scored the game-winning putback with 1.5 seconds left for a 71-70 win over LMU at Firestone Fieldhouse in Malibu on Jan. 5. Pepperdine (9-17, 5-9) has 99 wins in its history over LMU (12-13, 5-9) in 165 meetings.
Also this week for Pepperdine: at Santa Clara, Thursday at 7 p.m.
Also this week for Loyola Marymount: at St. Mary’s, Thursday at 8 p.m., Spectrum SportsNet
Also this week in Southern California:
Long Beach State: vs. UC Davis, Walter Pyramid, Thursday at 7 p.m., ESPN3; at UC Santa Barbara, Saturday at 4 p.m.
Cal State Northridge: vs. Cal Poly at the Matadome, Wednesday at 7 p.m., ESPN3
NO. 9: WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL:
UCONN vs. SOUTH CAROLINA
Details/TV: At Storrs, Conn., Monday, 6 p.m., ESPN2
The 24-0 Lady Huskies are attempting something simply ridiculous: A 100-game winning streak. Which would be 10 more than the 90 that the program ran off from 2008-10. The closest they’ve had to a defeat this season was winning by two at No. 12 Florida State in the season opener on Nov. 14 and then by six at No. 4 Maryland on Dec. 29.
NO. 10: 141st WESTMINSTER KENNEL CLUB DOG SHOW
Details/TV: At Madison Square Garden, Monday and Tuesday, 5 p.m., FS1
Last year, it was a German shorthaired pointer named CJ from Temecula that left 2,751 others behind to win Best in Show. This year, just to make it tougher, they’ve introduced three new dog breeds: the Pumi, the sloughi and the American hairless terrier.
More info: www.westminsterkennelclub.org
ALSO:
BASKETBALL: HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS
Details/TV: At Honda Center, Saturday at 1 p.m.; at Staples Center, Sunday at 12:30 p.m. and 5:45 p.m.
They’ve got three touring teams, four female players, and “El Gato” Melendez, the first and only Puerto Rican-born player ever with the franchise. Maybe you’ll also see 6-foot-5 guard Wun “The Slot” Versher, out of Compton and Arizona State. Also keep in mind – 6-foot-3 guard “Thunder” Law set a Guinness World Record with the farthest basketball shot made backward at 82 feet, 2 inches.
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