5 sports storylines to watch this week

CBI, Dayton: The College Basketball Invitational returns to the Nutter Center tonight as Wright State (22-12) hosts Richmond (19-14) in the quarterfinals. WSU attempts to build on momentum from its first postseason victory (excluding league tournaments), a 72-52 win over Tulsa. Richmond advanced with a 76-71 win against Bryant. Keeping junior guard Cedrick Lindsay in check is key for the Raiders. He went for a career-high 25 points in the first round and has scored at least 19 points in seven of his last 10 games. The Spiders, who finished eighth in the Atlantic 10 standings, have four wins against teams in the top 100 RPI. Wright State, which received15 points from Kendall Griffin and 14 points and eight rebounds from Jerran Young in the first round, is 11-4 at home this season.

Madness continues for UD: The seventh-seeded Dayton Flyers women's basketball team (28-2) takes on the No. 2 Kentucky Wildcats (28-5) in the second round of the NCAA tournament. The game is 7 p.m. Tuesday in Jamaica, N.Y. Dayton basketball fans tuning in to ESPN2 will see a familiar face. Chaminade Julienne product Samarie Walker is a junior forward/center averaging 9.0 points and 8.3 rebounds for the Wildcats. Dayton, making its fourth straight trip to the tournament, improved to 2-3 in the NCAA tournament following its 96-90 double-overtime win against St. John's on Sunday.

Net goal: Despite falling in the CCHA semifinals, the Miami RedHawks hockey team is still a contender for the national title. The RedHawks were expected to receive a high at-large bid to the 16-team NCAA tournament. The selection show was 9 p.m. Sunday night. The CCHA regular-season champions were also ranked No. 3 in the nation. Miami lost to No. 20 Michigan 6-2 in the CCHA tourney.

Changing seasons: The weather may suggest otherwise but high school baseball, softball and track and field are permitted to start their seasons on Saturday. Boys tennis starts on April 1. Area teams hope its the first step toward state titles. For those feeling confident enough to make reservations, here are the championship dates: Baseball plays in Columbus on June 6-8, softball in Akron from June 6-8, tennis on May 31 and June 1 in Columbus and track June 7-8 in Columbus.

Play ball: Cincinnati Reds fans will have to wait a day later, and two days for Cleveland Indians fans, but the major league season throws out its first pitch Sunday. The now-American League Houston Astros host the Texas Rangers Sunday at 8:05 p.m. in the MLB opener.

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