Kaminsky named nation’s top player

INDIANAPOLIS — Frank Kaminsky, the 7-footer who anchored Wisconsin’s run to a second straight Final Four, is the runaway choice as The Associated Press’ player of the year.

Kaminsky averaged 18.7 points and 8.0 rebounds while shooting 54.9 percent from the field and 41.5 percent from 3-point range as the Badgers ran up a 35-3 record and won the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles.

“Frank the Tank”’ is the first Wisconsin player to win the award, which started in 1961. He is the third from the Big Ten in the last six seasons, joining Ohio State’s Evan Turner in 2010 and Michigan’s Trey Burke in 2013.

Kaminsky received 58 votes Friday from the 65-member national media panel that selects the weekly Top 25. Duke freshman Jahlil Okafor received five votes and Kentucky’s Willie Cauley-Stein and Notre Dame’s Jerian Grant had one each.

Texas hires Smart as next coach

AUSTIN, Texas — Shaka Smart finally received an offer he couldn’t resist.

Smart was introduced as the new basketball coach at Texas on Friday, leaving Virginia Commonwealth for the Longhorns after turning down several suitors, including UCLA, since taking VCU to the NCAA Final Four in 2011.

He also reportedly received offers from Southern California, North Carolina State, Maryland, Marquette, Illinois and Wake Forest over the years.

MLB suspends pitcher 80 games

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Minnesota Twins pitcher Ervin Santana has been suspended for 80 games by Major League Baseball after testing positive for the performance-enhancing substance Stanozolol.

MLB announced the punishment Friday.

This is the third penalty for a positive Stanozolol test reported by MLB in the last eight days, following Seattle pitcher David Rollins and Atlanta pitcher Arodys Vizcaino.

Santana must sit out the first half of the season. This is his first season with the Twins after signing a four-year, $55 million contract.

From wire reports