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ByJoshDubow The Associated Press OAKLAND If anyone still doubted whether the Golden State Warriors were truly going to push for a record 73 wins in- stead of saving energy for the playoffs, that thought should now be put to rest for good. Playing on the back end of a back-to-back on the road against a hungry team fighting for the playoffs, Stephen Curry played his most minutes since before Christmas, Draymond Green crashed hard to the floor in overtime and the Warriors (68- 7) conceded nothing in a 103-96 win at Utah on Wednesday night that left them five wins away from breaking Chicago's record of 72 wins with seven games left to play. "It is something we want to do," Green said. "We've spoken on this. It is no secret." After spending much of the season deflecting talk of break- ing the mark set by the Bulls in 1995-96, the Warriors are now embracing it. Never was that more appar- ent than in Utah, when Curry played more than 42 minutes for his most playing time since a double-overtime win in Boston on Dec. 11, Green played nearly 43 minutes and Klay Thompson played nearly 39. The combined 124 minutes for Golden State's three biggest stars were their most in any game this season. Coach Steve Kerr, a member on the Bulls team that set the record, was a latecomer to the cause. After stressing the im- portance of rest for much of the season, he recently changed his NBA Warriors embrace chase of wins record GoldenStategaveitallinOTvictoryover Jazz on Wednesday, pushing for 73 wins RICKBOWMER—THEASSOCIATEDPRESS Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry celebrates during overtime against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday in Salt Lake City. The Warriors won 103-96. By Janie McCauley The Associated Press OAKLAND At 26, Sonny Gray has a tough time considering himself the face of the Oakland Athletics. That's a lot to carry for an ace starter who pitches every five days. "I'm still going to be the same guy when it comes to ev- erything," Gray insists. "That's how you can have that consis- tency on and off the field. It's just being you, whether people like it or don't like it, it's not re- ally your call. You don't want to change your personality or try to change anything that you do." Yet ask anyone around the A's and Gray certainly has the abil- ity to lead a franchise in dire need of a big bright spot. The right-hander has won 14 games in each of his first two full major league seasons. "I've always had high expec- tations for myself," Gray said. "Come in maybe being a little more vocal with the younger guys, but as far as for myself, don't look too far ahead, like I've always said stay healthy and get out there on the mound. Be- cause if you can get out there ev- ery fifth day, the work and tal- ent and everything should take over." He plans to pitch at about five pounds heavier this season, closer to 185. Gray, manager Bob Melvin and the low-budget A's are pro- jected to not only be at the bot- tom of the AL West but also among the worst in the entire American League. "I like our team," Melvin said. "We feel like we're in much bet- ter shape than we were last year." Oakland finished last in the AL West at 68-94 after three straight playoff berths. "We have a bunch of new guys. The year didn't work out as a team," designated hit- ter Billy Butler said. "It's one of those things in different ar- eas we have a whole new look, we have a whole new bullpen, whole new basically team. The optimism's there. We have the talent to do it we just have to go out there and do it." Here are some things to watch for with the A's: DAVIS' CHANCE Khris Davis is eager for a new start out West after his trade from Milwaukee just before spring training be- gan. He provides some pop, too. Davis hit 49 home runs and has driven in 135 runs over the past two seasons. "I'm here for a reason," he said. DETERMINED BUTLER Butler batted .251 with 15 home runs and 65 RBIs in his first season with Oakland. "I always have better second halves, I just had a really bad first half," Butler said. While he hit well down the stretch, Butler wants to bring his steady bat from opening day. "Hopefully he comes out this year and performs well," Gray said. "There's no doubt in my mind, I think he will. He's go- ing to be a big part of this team if we're going to be where we SEASON PREVIEW A'scarryingfarhigher goalsthancellarofAL Ace starting pitcher Gray considered by many as face of Oakland's franchise PHOTOS BY MATT YORK — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Oakland A's pitcher Sonny Gray throws against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning of a spring training game Tuesday in Mesa, Ariz. Gray is the A's No. 1starter. The Oakland Athletics' Billy Burns can't make the catch on a base hit by the Chicago Cubs' Miguel Montero during the second inning of a spring training game Tuesday in Mesa, Ariz. REGULARSEASONOPENER Monday: Chicago White Sox at Oakland Athletics, 7:05p.m., TV on CSNCA, MLB.TV. TUNEIN By Janie McCauley The Associated Press SANTA CLARA After months of trade talk and speculation, Colin Kaepernick is still on San Francis- co's roster and due a hefty payday. Not many figured on this out- come in recent months. The 49ers could have released him or traded him. Instead, the quarterback's $11.9 million 2016 contract be- came guaranteed at 1 p.m. local time Thursday when San Fran- cisco kept him on the roster. While potential new teams for Kaepernick might ask him to re- structure his current deal, Kae- pernick wouldn't have to accept anything less than the $11.9 mil- lion. Denver had been considered a serious suitor for a trade given the retirement of Peyton Manning and backup Brock Osweiler's de- parture to Houston in free agency, but nothing got done. Kaepernick has been recover- ing from surgeries on his right thumb, his left knee, and on his non-throwing left shoulder to re- pair a torn labrum, which landed him on season-ending injured re- serve after he lost his job last fall to 2011 first-round pick Blaine Gabbert. NFL Kap's $11.9M contract becomes guaranteed 49ers quarterback still has uncertain future BEN MARGOT — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick's $11.9million 2016contract became guaranteed at 1p.m. local time Thursday when the 49ers kept him on the roster. DAVID J. PHILLIP — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim answers questions at a news conference for the NCAA Tournament Final Four on Thursday in Houston. By Eddie Pells The Associated Press HOUSTON Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim doesn't like using the term "clean" to describe a college sports program, because the op- posite of that would mean "dirty." Nothing is that black and white in the NCAA. For proof, check out the Final Four, where Boeheim's team will play North Carolina in a semifinal pitting one program serving sanctions for lack of in- stitutional control against an- other that's dealing with one of the biggest academic scandals in the history of college sports — a case that could be resolved soon after the nets are cut down. It's a story line that speaks to the almost mandatory detach- ment of coaches from certain parts of their programs, in part to give them some "plausible de- niability" when something goes amiss. It's about the impenetra- ble rulebook of college sports, and how hard it is to keep a program from running afoul of anything in that book's 405 pages. And, it's about the realities of a sport that concludes each season with NCAA TOURNAMENT 2 teams afoul of NCAA meet in Final Four despite issues A'S PAGE 2 49ERS PAGE 2 WARRIORS PAGE 2 NCAA PAGE 2 SPORTS » redbluffdailynews.com Friday, April 1, 2016 MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS B1