Tuesday, March 27, 2018 | Section 3

WHITE SOX

Cornerstone of rebuild SOX OPENER

White Sox (Shields)
at Royals (Duffy)
Yoan Moncada strives to look ahead, not get swallowed by hype 3:15 p.m. Thursday,
NBCSCH
By Dan Wiederer | Chicago Tribune baseball on the South Side might be headed.
< Yoan Moncada
Hahn had his son with him at that July 19

G
ARMANDO L. SANCHEZ/
LENDALE, Ariz. — Even now Rick game against the Dodgers. Both of them, of CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Hahn can’t help but smile and shake course, were locked in and enlivened by the
his head. The White Sox general energy pulsing around the ballpark.
manager is sitting in an office at Camelback Moncada’s first plate appearance came
Ranch, thinking back to that electric night in the second inning. Standing ovation.
last summer at Guaranteed Rate Field. The Naturally. CUBS OPENER
anticipation. The excitement. Hope at its Behind 0-2, Moncada eventually turned a Cubs (Lester)
purest. nine-pitch plate appearance into a base on at Marlins (Urena)
Close to 25,000 fans were craving that balls. 11:40 a.m. Thursday,
first glimpse into the crystal ball, that first WGN-9
look at Yoan Moncada as a symbol of where Turn to Moncada, Page 7 ■ Cubs, Back Page

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NCAA TOURNAMENT

The final furlong

After winning what was coined the Kentucky Derby over the weekend — with favored UK pulling up lame —
Loyola moves up in class but remains in a comfortable position — the biggest long shot on the board
By Shannon Ryan | Chicago Tribune

More NCAA,

11 3 Pages 2-3
1B 1A

BELMONT FINAL
SNARK FOUR
Steve FACTS
Rosenbloom Site
I assume San
Marvel and Antonio
DC Comics Track
are fighting Firm
over the Length
rights to the Eighty
Sister Jean minutes
superhero over two
franchise. nights
More, KU For
Page 2 Winners
of four
games
over two
weeks,
including
a regional
final
Stakes
Highest

Spirit of ’63 Maize and True Self Made Men Just Say Nova
PREP RACE PREP RACE PREP RACE PREP RACE
Won by 16 over Won by 4 over Won by 4 over Won by 12 over
Kansas State Florida State Duke in overtime Texas Tech
ODDS TO WIN IT ALL ODDS TO WIN IT ALL ODDS TO WIN IT ALL ODDS TO WIN IT ALL

9-1 5-2 3-1 1-1

JOCKEY JOCKEY JOCKEY JOCKEY
GAME 1 Senior point guard Moritz Wagner, at Senior guard Jalen Brunson, a GAME 2
Loyola vs. Clayton Custer makes 6-foot-11, has grown into Devonte’ Graham junior point guard from Kansas vs.
Michigan everything run smoothly the leader of Michigan’s finally has his team on Stevenson, is the heart of Villanova
5:09 p.m. on Loyola’s remarkably offense — a skilled big the big stage. He averages the team and plays with a 7:49 p.m.
Saturday, efficient offense. who can pass and shoot. 17.3 points and 7.4 assists. cool determination. Saturday,
TBS TRAINER TRAINER TRAINER TRAINER TBS
In his seventh season at John Beilein, in his 11th In 15 seasons at Kansas, Jay Wright, Villanova’s
Loyola, Porter Moser season at Michigan, has Bill Self has made it to coach since 2001, can
has built the program the Wolverines in the Final at least the Sweet 16 cement his legacy with
with locals and transfers Four for the first time on 10 occasions — a second championship.
who have invested in his since 2013, when they lost with this being his This is his third Final Four
idea of Loyola “culture.” to Louisville in the final. third Final Four. in the last 10 seasons.
KEY STAT KEY STAT KEY STAT KEY STAT
When the Ramblers tip When the Wolverines tip It has been 10 years The Wildcats have won
off Saturday, it will be off Saturday, it will be since Kansas’ lone title all four games by at least
59 days since their last loss. 52 days since their last loss. under Self, when they 12 points. They’re in
They have won 14 in a row. They have won 13 in a row. beat Memphis in 2008. the driver’s seat.
WHY THEY CAN WIN IT WHY THEY CAN WIN IT WHY THEY CAN WIN IT WHY THEY CAN WIN IT Bovada
They have the best They have the best They’re resilient, facing They have the nation’s odds
shooting percentage defense left, fourth skeptics all season as most efficient offense
of any Final Four team overall in KenPom.com’s this Jayhawks team was and have looked like
at 50.9 percent. efficiency rankings. compared to great ones. the best team since Day 1.