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Sports 1B Monday April 5, 2010 INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Brad Stevens is clamp- ing down on all the talk about defense. Now, he’s all about the offense. One day after a dread- ful shooting performance in the national semifinals, the 33-year-old Butler coach walked into Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday and quickly tossed aside any notion that defense will win Monday night’s championship game against Duke. ‘‘If we go 15 for 49, we can call it a heck of a sea- son and say it’s nice to be the runner-up,’’ Stevens said. ‘‘We’ve got to shoot better and score more points because they’re going to score some points — we just can’t let it be easy.’’ The disparity between Butler’s shooters and Duke’s shooters was painfully obvious in the semifinals. Duke tied a Final Four record with 13 3-pointers against West Virginia. The Blue Devils made 52 percent from beyond the arc, shot 52.7 percent from the field and got 63 of their 78 points from their Big 3 — Kyle Sin- gler, Nolan Smith and Jon Scheyer. Butler, meanwhile, had to overcame its second- worst shooting perfor- mance of the season. It Butler must find touch vs. Duke Giants place Burriss, Lewis, Sanchez on DL SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — John Bowker won the job to be San Francisco’s starting right fielder. Bowker beat out Nate Schierholtz after a big spring, and manager Bruce Bochy made the announcement Sunday as the Giants set their roster for opening day Monday at Houston. ‘‘I worked hard this spring training and felt I put myself in good position,’’ Bowker said. ‘‘I’m ready for the season to start. I was able to go out there and drive in some runs and help the team win some games, and I think that’s what they were looking for.’’ Second basemen Freddy Sanchez and Emmanuel Burriss and outfielder Fred Lewis were placed on the 15-day disabled list. While Schierholtz was considered the frontrunner heading into spring training, Bowker’s steady bat earned him the right field job. He was in the lineup for Sunday’s exhibition finale with the Seattle Mariners See GIANTS, page 2B MCT photo Stanford tops Oklahoma, Butler celebrates a 52-50 victory over Michigan State in an NCAA Final Four semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday made only one basket in the final 12:18 and failed to hit a 3-pointer in the second half, but still held off Michigan State 52-50. That’s not typical But- ler basketball. From the days when former coach Barry Col- lier started rebuilding the program in the 1990s, Butler coaches searched Indiana’s cities and small towns to find the purest long-distance shooters. They brought them in from places like Browns- burg and New Castle and Switz City, and now Stevens needs his current players to start making shots. ‘‘We just need some shots to fall,’’ forward Gordon Hayward said. ‘‘Those were shots that I’ve seen everybody hit any other day of the week, so I’m confident that will be back Monday night.’’ It’s a delicate balanc- ing act for a team that prides itself on defense. The Bulldogs are play- ing for a title because they are the first NCAA final- ist in the shot-clock era to reach the championship game by holding all five opponents to fewer than 60 points. Though Stevens would like to see Butler make it six straight, he knows that’s unlikely — which means Butler has to start scoring. The good news is that confidence has never been an issue for Butler (33-4). The bad news: Depth is the new concern. Center Matt Howard, See TOUCH, page 2B reaches women’s title game SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Stanford’s Nnemkadi Ogwumike was having one of the greatest perfor- mances ever at a women’s Final Four, yet her team was ahead by only three points with 16 seconds left. So how in the world did she break free for an uncon- tested layup? Slipping away from the Oklahoma defenders she’d befuddled all night, Ogwumike took a long inbounds pass near midcourt and strolled in for an easy basket that sent the Cardinal to a 73-66 victory Sunday night and into the national championship game. ‘‘I didn’t think I would actually be open,’’ Ogwu- mike said. ‘‘I thought it was an awesome play to run. It was definitely spur of the moment. A great coaching decision. We executed it right and it worked.’’ Ogwumike scored Stanford’s first eight points and the final seven — in the last 51.3 seconds — on the way See TITLE, page 2B Tseng wins Kraft Nabisco for second major title RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (AP) — The only time all day that Yani Tseng wasn’t in con- trol was when she took the tra- ditional leap into the water at the 18th green after winning the Kraft Nabisco Championship. With her mother, caddie and several friends also taking the plunge Sunday, Tseng jumped as far into the pond as she could, then remembered that she can’t swim. ‘‘I told my caddie, ’I don’t know how to swim, can you help me to get on the top?’ It was a little scary,’’ she said. Everything else about Tseng’s day had her smiling. She eagled the second hole and pulled ahead of a star-studded field with a 4-under 68 for her second major title. Tseng, from Taiwan, fin- ished at 13-under 275 at Mis- sion Hills to hold off Suzann Pettersen by a stroke. Two of Tseng’s three LPGA Tour vic- tories have been majors — she won the 2008 LPGA Champi- onship as a rookie, beating Maria Hjorth in a four-hole playoff. During her news conference, while still bundled in a white robe after her plunge, a strong earthquake south of the U.S.- Mexico border rattled the Coachella Valley. Tseng reached up to steady her trophy, which was on a pedestal behind her. ‘‘We have a lot in Taiwan, but this was big,’’ she said. ‘‘I like it. Cool. It’s like my big week. I hope nobody gets hurt.’’ Tseng started the day tied with Pettersen (69), one stroke behind Karen Stupples. Tseng took control of the tournament by chipping in for eagle on the 521-yard, par-5 second, then getting a birdie on the par-4 No. 3 that put her at 12 under. ‘‘I had an eagle on the sec- ond hole, and I know today is going to be my day. I just kept telling myself, ’Commit to the shot and keep my tempo right, and just keep smiling all 18 holes,’ ‘‘ she said. On No. 2, Tseng pushed a 3 wood onto the fringe, then chipped in. ‘‘I just wanted to get close to the pine, and I chipped and I Tiger arrives at Augusta AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Tiger Woods arrived without warning on a lazy Sun- day afternoon at Augusta National, as quiet as it will get for him the rest of the week at the Masters. For a while, it looked as though noth- ing had changed. He greeted two reporters whom he had not seen in five months with a play- ful jab. When he strolled onto the new practice range, no one stopped what they were doing. He chatted with Paul Casey before hitting balls, Jim Furyk when he was done. But when he was looking for a game and ran into Mark O’Meara, the enormity of the week began to sink in. They have never shared such a long embrace before playing nine practice holes. ‘‘I haven’t seen him since July,’’ said O’Meara, whom Woods once leaned on as a 20-year-old rookie trying to find his way. ‘‘Listen, I love the kid. I understand what happened and it’s not a good thing that has happened,’’ O’Meara said. ‘‘It doesn’t take away from the fact that he’s my friend and I care for him. It’s like I told him out there, ’This is the place where you belong. This is what you love to do.’ And he does. He loves to compete and play. So it’s good to have him back. ‘‘The game needs him back, and it’s good for him to be back.’’ Woods has not been seen in public, except for a televised apology, since his middle-of-the-night car accident Nov. 27 that set off explosive revelations of a sor- did life hardly anyone knew existed. More than a four-time Masters champion and the No. 1 player in golf, he now is famous worldwide for a sex scandal that made him a regular in tabloids. Woods played the back nine, then met with Masters chairman Billy Payne before leaving the club. It all changes when he returns. The gates open at 8 a.m., sending some 30,000 people onto the grounds at Augusta National. For Woods, the tough- est part of the week might be at 2 p.m. Monday when he holds his first press conference. Interest is so high that the club has limited seating to one reporter for each news outlet, with only a few exceptions. ‘‘He’ll figure it out,’’ O’Meara said. ‘‘He’s pretty tough.’’ O’Meara was surprised to see Woods on Sunday at the Masters, and he wasn’t alone. There was no commotion on the range when he arrived, and Casey was stunned to see Woods standing behind him. ‘‘It’s where I’m used to seeing him,’’ Casey said, choosing to keep their con- versation private. ‘‘All of a sudden he appeared behind me. He was all business as usual — hit 10 balls and go play.’’ Most of the players have not seen him since he won the Australian Masters on Nov. 15, or played in Shanghai the week before. Furyk had not seen him since they celebrated a Presidents Cup victory on Oct. 11. ‘‘He’s probably here a little earlier than normal,’’ Furyk said. ‘‘I’ve never seen him here on a Sunday. Generally, it’s nice to have him back and I can’t wait until he’s out here and I don’t have to answer any more questions about him.’’ Sunday at Augusta National is unlike any other at a major. The course is closed except to employees, media and mem- bers. It is the only major where club See TIGER, page 2B ROUND-UP Red Bluff Weekend - Events Itinerary and Guide - 7,000 copies Published as an insert to The Daily News Wednesday, April 14 2,000 additional local distribution through Sunday April 18: Restaurants ★ Hotels ★ Weekend Event Sites Participating Local Businesses ★ Fairgrounds This magazine-size special section will reach and excite those folks already planning to attend Red Bluff’s “crown jewel” event – and the final Community events leading up to it; the mixer, the parade and more. Distribution will be through the Daily News, with additional freestanding distribution to reach non-subscribers and visitors. Here’s a low-cost, last minute option to “brand” your business with the Round-Up, and let folks from out of town know that you’re here – particularly valuable for restaurants, hotels and western-oriented retail businesses. Deadline for Space Reservations: Monday, April 5 at 5 PM ! Contact your Daily News Advertising Rep TODAY! 527-2151 D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY don’t know if it’s good, and then three feet before the hole, I know it’s going to make it,’’ she said. ‘‘Yani got off to a flying start,’’ said Pettersen, who won the 2007 LPGA Championship. ‘‘She played great today and she deserved to win.’’ Pettersen’s eagle chip on 18 stopped just a few inches from the hole, and Tseng tapped in for par on the final hole to win the tournament. ‘‘Geez that was a big chip,’’ Tseng said. ‘‘I was scared to look. I’m happy that missed, because you know, that was for eagle, and I have to make that putt for win.’’ Tseng two-putted for the win, then jumped into the water. Tseng played even par on the back nine, yet no could catch her. Pettersen had several chances to reel in her friend on the back nine with birdie chances on Nos. 13 through 16. The only birdie putt that fell in the stretch was at 16, leaving her two shots behind Tseng. ‘‘I mean, one of those drops, of course there’s a little differ- ent pressure on Yani playing those last four or five holes,’’ Pettersen said. ‘‘I gave myself a lot of good chances, and it was- n’t really that I hit a lot of bad putts. The one on 15 we proba- bly misread a little bit, but the other ones were as close as you can possibly get them, and then it finally dropped on 16.’’ DEADLINE TONIGHT! HURRY!