Union Rags works strong for Kentucky Derby

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Barbaro redux? Trainer Michael Matz, who saddled Barbaro to win the 2006 Run for the Roses by 6 ½ lengths, sent out Union Rags, his contender for Saturday’s 138th Kentucky Derby, for an eye-popping workout Saturday morning at Churchill Downs that had many observers recalling Barbaro’s sensational pre-Derby drill.

With jockey Julien Leparoux in the saddle, Union Rags powered through five furlongs in :59 4/5, galloping out a strong six furlongs in 1:13 4/5. His fractions were :12, :23 3/5 and :47 1/5.

That sent the backstretch buzzing, and now there’s a better-than-average chance that Union Rags, the future-wager favorite for the Derby all winter and spring, will go off the betting choice when the gates spring open about 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.

“We wanted a strong work here,” Matz said. “That was the plan all along, to do it a week ahead of time and give him some time to recover. The gods were good. It didn’t rain on us, so it’s up to him.”

Before his last start, when Union Rags could not overcome traffic trouble and finished third in the Florida Derby at 2-5, the towering son of Dixie Union recorded slow breezes of five furlongs in 1:04 1/5 and four furlongs in :49.

That’s a sharp difference from yesterday’s :59 4/5 work, the third fastest of 53 at the distance, and his :47 2/5 breeze a week earlier at Keeneland.

“Now is the time to turn the screws a little,” Matz said. “This is it.”

A few miles away at the Churchill Downs Trackside training center, 2-year-old champion Hansen, who beat Union Rags by a head in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, breezed five furlongs in 1:01 1/5, accompanied through the end of the work by his 4-year-old stablemate Derby Kitten.

Hansen, who set the pace last out in the Blue Grass before being run down late by Dullahan, went in splits of :12 1/5, :24 3/5, :36 3/5 and :49 1/5. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:15.

“We’re trying to harness the speed,” trainer Mike Maker said. “If we put a workmate with him from the starting point of the work, he has a tendency to be very aggressive. So we just sprinkled it in the last part.

“Basically, the plan was to try to get Hansen to go soft the first three-eighths, which he did, and then just finish up his last quarter, which he did.”

Back at Churchill Saturday morning, trainer Dale Romans’ Dullahan tuned up for the Derby with a five-furlong breeze in 1:01 1/5 under exercise rider Tammy Fox. He went in fractions of :11 4/5, :23 4/5 and :36, then shut down rather quickly, just as he did after the wire in the Blue Grass, with a six-furlong gallop out in 1:15 4/5.

Next >

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Union Rags, Kentucky Derby, Michael Matz, Churchill Downs, Florida Derby, LOUISVILLE, Ky., Dixie Union, furlongs, Churchill Downs Trackside, Julien Leparoux

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Local coaches react to hiring of Tartamella at St. John's

New York City girls basketball coaches are pleased with the hire of a familiar face at St. John’s.

On Friday, the school announced at a press conference that former associate head coach Joe Tartamella would take over the reins of a program coming off its first-ever Sweet 16 berth. The 32-year-old Long Island native is the same guy coaches have seen in area gyms for the last nine years representing the Red Storm.

“He deserves it because he buildt a strong relationship with New York City high school and AAU coaches and he will continue to build the [St. John’s] program,” said Anwar Gladden, the coach at South Shore who also has ties to the powerhouse Gauchos travel organization.

Courtesy of Vinny Dusovic, St. John's

Joe Tartamella was promoted to head women's basketball coach at St. John's on Friday.

Tartamella was known for his recruiting prowess while on the staff of Kim Barnes Arico, who left St. John’s for Michigan last week after 10 years. Barnes Arico took over a program that was just 3-24 the year before she arrived. And once Tartamella began making those recruiting inroads, the Red Storm became a nationally ranked squad.

They have made four NCAA tournaments with him on the bench, including the first one in for the program in 17 years back in 2005-06. This past season, St. John’s made the Sweet 16, finished second in the Big East, snapped UConn’s 99-game home winning streak and finished ranked No. 13 in the country. The Red Storm have made a national mark after once being a laughingstock in the Big East cellar.

“My comfort was I knew the terrain, knew the landscape, knew what we had done,” Tartamella said Friday at the press conference. “I didn’t want to see any steps taken backwards from where we had been. I can bring that continuity, trust that we need to stay where we are and maintain the level of our program right now.”

His strength over the years has been recruiting. St. John’s was once a place where local players never even considered. Tartamella helped change that by bringing in a top-10 recruiting class three years ago, led by current All-Big East players Shenneika Smith and Nadirah McKenith. Smith is a Brooklyn native who played at St. Michael Academy and McKenith a Newark native who played at University (N.J.). Also in that class was former North Babylon star Eugeneia McPherson, another starter on this year’s Sweet 16 team.

“He’s a native New Yorker and will and has done a great job in this area,” said Nazareth co-coach and Exodus travel program head Lauren Best, who coached Smith. “He relates well to players, their families and their coaches.”

Tartamella, a St. James, L.I., native, worked his way up from being a grad assistant, much in the same way St. John’s men’s basketball coach Steve Lavin did at UCLA. After earning his master’s degree in marketing management, Tartamella spent a year as an assistant on the Maritime men’s basketball staff before Barnes Arico hired him as a full-time assistant coach in 2005. He was named associate head coach in 2008.

“Joe was our top recruiter and the person on Kim’s right arm during games. He really had already done from A-to-Z running the program,” athletic director Chris Monasch said at the press conference. “Our program wouldn’t be where it was today without Joe. Joe pulled away from the rest of the field. He is the man we wanted to run our program.”

Local coaches seem to agree for the only high major Division women’s basketball program in the five boroughs.

“I think it’s a great keep for St. John’s,” Bishop Ford coach Mike Toro said. “Joe has worked with the other coaches to get St. John’s to where it’s at now and he’s the right man to keep it going. … I think he does a great job of helping kids be comfortable in staying local for college.”

mraimondi@nypost.com

Joe Tartamella, Barnes Arico, Barnes Arico, Tartamella, press conference, press conference, press conference, associate head coach, associate head coach ebook download, St. John, Red Storm, Kim Barnes Arico, John, John, coach

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Rutgers WR Sanu drafted, for real this time

Mohamed Sanu getting the last laugh gave the second day of the NFL Draft a heartwarming angle.

Tormented by an anonymous prankster who tricked the Rutgers wide receiver into thinking he had been drafted by the Bengals in the first round Thursday, Sanu ended up going to Cincinnati after all last night.

The Bengals took Sanu with the 83rd overall pick as the league got through the second and third rounds at Radio City Music Hall, setting up this afternoon’s four-round finale.

Sanu had been heartbroken Thursday when an unidentified Rutgers student called him just before Cincinnati’s first-round choice claiming to be a Bengals representative and telling him he was the choice.

AP

PRO DAY: Wideout Mohamed Sanu will trade in the Rutgers scarlet he wore in last season’s Pinstripe Bowl for the orange and black of the Bengals after getting drafted in the third round.

NFL DRAFT: ROUNDS 1-3

Cincinnati took Wisconsin offensive lineman Kevin Zeitler with that pick instead, but the Bengals made up for it last night by making Sanu the 11th wide receiver to come off the board. Sanu’s stock had fallen during the run-up to the draft because of concerns about his speed.

That was about it as far as drama for the second and third rounds, but then again, it would have been difficult — impossible, even — to top a slugfest of an opening round Thursday that featured more trades (19) than any draft since the 1970 merger.

One of the biggest questions of the entire draft — how far would Janoris Jenkins fall? — was answered quickly on Day 2. The talented but troubled North Alabama (via University of Florida) cornerback was grabbed by the Rams 39th overall with one of the picks St. Louis picked up in the Robert Griffin III trade.

Jenkins was considered such a liability because of positive drug tests and other off-field concerns that some scouts wondered if he would fall all the way to the sixth or seventh round.

Another major character concern, Ohio State offensive tackle Mike Adams, also found forgiveness on the second day of the draft. Adams, who reportedly tested positive for marijuana at the scouting combine, was taken 56th overall in the second round by the Steelers, a team in dire need of offensive linemen.

Jenkins’ selection followed the successive picks of a couple of names familiar to the Jets and Giants — Coby Fleener and Courtney Upshaw.

Fleener, a tight end from Stanford linked to the Giants, was reunited with Andrew Luck in Indianapolis with the 34th pick, while Upshaw, an Alabama linebacker high on the Jets’ list, went to the Ravens one spot later.

Last night also showed just how top-heavy this year’s class of quarterbacks was in the eyes of many scouts. The first round was filled with passers, but another wasn’t taken until Arizona State’s Brock Osweiler went to the Broncos 57th overall.

The biggest surprise of the night was turned in by the Jaguars, who finished 5-11 last year but took a punter — Cal’s Bryan Anger — with the seventh pick of the third round (70th overall). Even Anger seemed stunned to go that high.

“I guess they liked me more than I thought,” Anger told reporters in Jacksonville.

The second round also was notable for a run of offensive linemen, a seemingly natural response to the flurry of defensive tackles and ends gobbled up the day before. Seven blockers went in the second round, including three in a row starting with the Panthers’ choice of Midwestern State (Texas) guard Amini Silatolu at No. 40.

bhubbuch@nypost.com

Exclusive Super Bowl merchandise featuring New York Post front pages

Mohamed Sanu, Sanu, Bengals, Radio City Music Hall, Rutgers, Ohio State offensive tackle Mike Adams, Cincinnati, Rutgers student, Kevin Zeitler

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Seize the moment, beat Heat

Mike Vaccaro
Follow Mike on Twitter

MIAMI — The Knicks need to heed and paraphrase the mantra Frank Galvin would repeat to himself in “The Verdict,” in the tense moments of that movie when you almost believed Paul Newman wouldn’t have the happy ending written for him.

“There are no other cases. This is the case,” Galvin, the brilliant, troubled, alcoholic lawyer said to himself, his eyes closed, his fist tapping his head. “There are no other cases. This is the case.”

It wasn’t a perfect case for Galvin. He was fighting James Mason and his fancy white-shoe firm, the overwhelming favorites.

Galvin won anyway. It was Newman. It was Hollywood.

Maybe what the Knicks need is a screenwriter. Or maybe they simply can embrace the possibilities that lay before them starting today, when they renew their longtime rivalry with the Heat and try to channel some of the heat and the heartbreak their forebears brought unto this city years ago.

“We have a keen sense of what we have to do to win this series,” Amar’e Stoudemire said yesterday. “But we also know that our goal is to win 16 more games.”

Are the Knicks an absurd long shot to do that? Of course they are. But the more you look at who the Knicks are as a team right now, and what they may be in the years to come, it makes you wonder if maybe Frank Galvin shouldn’t be giving the pregame pep talk.

There are no other seasons. THIS is the season.

“Enjoy the moment, seize the moment,” interim coach Mike Woodson said, echoing the message he has sent his team. “Because you may not ever get there again.”

For the Knicks that is an especially salient point. The Big Three aren’t going anywhere. Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler — under the weather yesterday with flu-like symptoms — will be the franchise foundation for at least three more years. But beyond that core, it is hard to imagine the Knicks being able to replicate what has become a solid supporting corps.

Forgetting Jeremy Lin for a second — whom the Knicks almost surely will move heaven and earth to resign in the offseason, because of the marketing windfall just uttering his name still brings, even in his injury exile — the Knicks will have some serious realities staring them in the face once this season ends.

It will be impossible to keep both J.R. Smith and Steve Novak, for instance, assuming neither player has an epiphany in the offseason and decides to stay with the Knicks either for the love of the game or the proximity to Broadway and Carnegie Hall and Radio City. In a lot of ways, the Lin-Novak-Smith trifecta was as brilliant a parlay as any NBA executive pulled off this year, and for that alone Glen Grunwald deserves to keep his job.

It may well be a fleeting triumph. It is hard to imagine the Knicks being quite as good at the start of next year as they are at the end of this one. And yes: All this year yielded was a seventh seed and a perilous postseason path. But it also may provide the Knicks with as golden an opportunity as they will ever have to make a serious push.

It would have been nice to finish with a higher seed, have a better regular season, set themselves up with a more comfortable place. But at some point, the Knicks still would have had to beat the Heat (or the Bulls, or the Celtics)four out of seven. They just have to do it earlier.

Can they?

Well, we have seen stretches when the full capabilities of this team have been on display, the second half of the Celtics game last week being the best example. They have one of the NBA’s premier defensive players in Chandler. And in Anthony they have a player who will draw key whistles when the Knicks need them most, and who showed in the last month why he was always considered an elite closer in Denver.

It’s why we can even have this conversation. Will the Knicks beat the Heat? You probably wouldn’t want to go to Vegas with that pick. Can they? It wouldn’t be a bad idea to start chanting to yourself in order to talk yourself into it. There are, after all, no other seasons.

This is the season.

michael.vaccaro@nypost.com

Frank Galvin, Frank Galvin, Knicks, Paul Newman, Mike VaccaroFollow Mike

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Pitching Form

(Game time)

2012

'11 vs OPP

CAREER

LAST 3 STARTS

LINE

W-L

ERA

*REC

W-L

ERA

vs OPP

W-L

IP

ERA

*AHW

Tigers

Verlander (R)

6-7

2-1

1.72

3-1

0-0

4.50

4-3

2-1

23.1

2.31

8.5

Yankees

Nova (R)

(7:05pm)

3-0

3.79

3-0

—

—

0-0

3-0

19.0

3.79

12.8

Mets

Schwinden (R)

(8:40pm)

---

----

---

—

—

0.0

---

----

----

----

Rockies

Pomeranz (L)

7-8

0-1

6.75

0-2

—

—

0-0

0-1

9.1

6.75

15.4

Cubs

Maholm (L)

(7:05pm)

1-2

8.36

1-2

—

—

3-2

1-2

14.0

8.36

14.1

Phillies

Halladay (R)

11-13

3-1

1.50

3-1

1-1

2.45

1-4

2-1

22.0

2.05

10.2

D'Backs

Saunders (L)

(7:10pm)

1-1

1.29

1-2

1-1

6.75

1-1

1-1

21.0

1.29

9.0

Marlins

Zambrano (R)

11-13

0-1

2.84

0-3

—

—

3-2

0-1

19.0

2.84

8.5

Astros

Rodriguez (L)

(7:10pm)

1-2

1.42

1-3

0-2

4.74

7-9

1-2

19.0

1.89

8.5

Reds

Leake (R)

7-8

0-2

6.50

1-2

1-2

8.18

2-3

0-2

18.0

6.50

13.5

Pirates

Burnett (R)

(7:35pm)

1-0

0.00

1-0

—

—

5-9

1-0

7.0

0.00

6.4

Braves

Hanson (R)

8-9

2-2

3.38

2-2

0-0

4.50

0-1

2-1

19.0

3.79

10.4

Brewers

Gallardo (R)

(8:15pm)

1-1

3.65

2-2

1-3

5.70

1-8

1-0

21.0

1.71

9.4

Cardinals

Westbrook (R)

Even-6

2-1

1.31

2-1

1-3

4.13

1-3

2-1

20.2

1.31

9.1

Nationals

Detwiler (L)

(10:10pm)

2-0

0.56

2-1

0-0

0.00

0-0

2-0

16.0

0.56

8.4

Dodgers

Kershaw (L)

8 1/2-10

1-0

1.61

4-0

—

—

2-2

1-0

19.1

1.86

9.3

Padres

Luebke (L)

(10:15pm)

2-1

2.52

3-1

1-1

3.72

1-1

2-0

20.1

0.89

8.4

Giants

Hacker (R)

Even-6

---

----

---

—

—

0.0

---

----

----

----

Angels

Weaver (R)

7-8

3-0

2.43

3-1

1-1

3.46

5-2

2-0

21.2

3.32

7.9

Indians

Masterson (R)

(7:05pm)

0-2

6.65

1-3

0-0

1.29

2-0

0-2

13.2

9.88

21.1

Athletics

McCarthy (R)

(7:05pm)

0-3

3.38

1-4

1-0

6.00

1-1

0-2

20.0

4.05

14.4

Orioles

Arrieta (R)

6-7

1-1

4.01

2-2

—

—

0-1

0-1

17.2

5.60

11.7

Mariners

Beavan (R)

(7:07pm)

1-2

3.26

1-2

0-1

9.00

0-1

1-2

19.1

3.26

9.8

Blue Jays

Romero (L)

8 1/2-10

3-0

3.29

4-0

0-1

3.52

1-1

3-0

22.1

2.42

9.3

Rays

Shields (R)

(8:05pm)

3-0

2.76

4-0

2-0

0.53

5-2

3-0

24.1

1.11

7.4

Rangers

Harrison (L)

5 1/2-6 1/2

3-0

1.66

3-0

0-0

0.00

1-0

3-0

21.2

1.66

8.7

Red Sox

Bard (R)

Even-6

1-2

4.38

0-2

0-0

0.00

1-0

0-2

11.2

4.63

15.4

White Sox

Danks (L)

(8:10pm)

2-2

5.11

2-2

—

—

3-4

2-1

18.2

5.30

14.5

Royals

Teaford (L)

(8:10pm)

0-1

3.86

0-0

0-0

0.00

0-0

---

----

----

----

Twins

Pavano (R)

6-7

1-2

4.72

2-2

2-2

3.37

9-7

1-1

19.2

4.58

11.0

* REC: Won-lost record of pitcher's team in games he has started.

* AHW: Average total of hits and walks yielded per nine innings.
Nypost.com

Hondo’s the prince of the Citi

The Metamucils rallied for their old pal Hondo yesterday, coming up with a delightful deuce in the ninth, but the Nats weren’t so helpful last night, so the debt grew slightly to 535 ditmars.

Tonight, Mr. Aitch can’t pass up the long odds on Saunders and Detwiler – 10 units apiece on the Diamondbacks and Nationals.

-$

Hondo is guessing the Secret Service’s sexual hijinx went unnoticed during the Clinton Administration because all the attention was focused on the sexual hijinx of the man the agents were protecting . . . By the way, word is the Clinton Global Initiative intends to name Dr. Adam Ostrzenski, who claims to have located the G-spot, its Man of the Year. Bill feels strongly about honoring the achievement in an area so near and dear to his heart . . . Speaking of the Clintons, Page 6 reports that at the Time 100 Gala this week, Hillary was seen talking to the founder of Spanx, the snug body-shaping undergarment for women. Sources say the Secretary of State loves the product not only for its contouring benefits but also because it reduces the horrific chafing caused by her double-wide woolie pantsuits.

hondo@nypost.com

Clinton Global Initiative, Clinton Administration, Adam Ostrzenski, Diamondbacks, Detwiler, hijinx

Nypost.com

Yonkers Results

FIRST-1 mile; pace; $8,500; cl.

3

LdyYchtsmn(GBrnnn)

2.30

2.20

2.10

5

Ladybones (C Manzi)

8.10

4.10

1

Marie The Artist (L Stalbaum)

2.60

* Exacta (3-5) $14.00 * Triple (3-5-1) $35.60

Winner picked by Smith

SECOND-1 mile; trot; $14,000; cond.

2

Orange Bigi (C Manzi)

4.80

2.60

2.10

7

Big Sky Storm (J Stratton)

3.30

2.60

6

For YouAlmostfree(MMacDonald)

5.50

* Exacta (2-7) $12.00 * Triple (2-7-6) $98.00 * Daily double (3/2) $6.00

THIRD-1 mile; pace; $8,500; cl.

3

PlayOfTheDy(JBrtlett)

19.40

6.70

3.50

2

Wicked N Rude (S Smith)

13.80

6.70

5

Red Mile Road (L Stalbaum)

2.50

* Exacta (3-2) $163.50 * Triple (3-2-5) $365.00 * Superfecta (3-2-5-4) $4,781.00

FOURTH-1 mile; pace; $8,500; cl.

1

WnNtInVgs(SBuchrd)

4.10

2.80

2.40

5

Bordeaux (J Stratton)

6.30

4.10

7

M K G (G Brennan)

3.60

* Exacta (1-5) $43.00 * Triple (1-5-3) $302.50 * Pick 3 (2/3/1) $221.50

FIFTH-1 mile; pace; $11,000; cond.

6

Three To Five(TButer)

33.60

11.20

7.50

2

Stratus (J Stratton)

4.60

3.30

4

Best Business (G Brennan)

3.30

* Exacta (6-2) $210.00 * Triple (6-2-4) $529.00 * Superfecta (6-2-4-1) $1,395.00

SIXTH-1 mile; pace; $11,000; cond.

2

WzzrdQuen(LStlbum)

6.30

3.70

2.60

7

Sold Out (P Lachance)

9.40

5.50

3

Searchfortheshark (J Stratton)

4.00

* Exacta (2-7) $71.50 * Triple (2-7-3) $293.00 * Pick 4 (3/1/6/2) $7,896.00

SEVENTH-1 mile; pace; $14,000; cond.

1

Ms Rush (G Brennan)

4.70

3.40

2.10

5

Legerdepan (J Bartlett)

11.00

5.60

4

Collage (P Lachance)

2.20

* Exacta (1-5) $30.80 * Triple (1-5-4) $90.50 * Pick 3 (6/2/1) $545.00

Winner picked by Smith

EIGHTH-1 mile; pace; $12,000; cl.

2

Bolder (J Bartlett)

31.80

8.10

5.10

3

MdnghtGambol(GBrennan)

2.50

2.50

4

Cry For Cash (J Stratton)

4.30

* Exacta (2-3) $101.50 * Triple (2-3-4) $502.00 * Superfecta (2-3-4-5) $1,629.00

NINTH-1 mile; pace; $13,000; cl.

6

Space Walk(JBartlett)

16.40

6.20

3.70

2

Very Upset Richie (CManzi)

4.00

2.40

5

Oyster Bay (T Buter)

3.00

* Exacta (6-2) $87.00 * Triple (6-2-5) $296.00

TENTH-1 mile; trot; $14,000; cl.

1

Tgr'sTooGod(JGrgry)

12.80

7.30

5.50

5

Lord Darby (C Manzi)

10.20

7.90

8

Benns Sure Thing (J Bartlett)

11.80

* Exacta (1-5) $112.00 * Triple (1-5-8) $1,517.00 * Superfecta (1-5-8-3) $7,599.00 * Pick 3 (2/6/1) $1,793.00 * Pick 4 (1/2/6/1) $4,854.00

ELEVENTH-1 mile; pace; $14,000; cond.

3

FromThStrt(JStrtton)

7.00

3.60

2.20

4

Britash Redcoat (T Buter)

4.20

2.50

2

Jimmy The Terror (G Brennan)

2.10

* Exacta (3-4) $27.80 * Triple (3-4-2) $60.50 * Superfecta (3-4-2-7) $307.50 * Late double (1/3) $52.50

Winner picked by Smith
Attendance: Unavailable
Total Handle: $715,370

J Stratton, C Manzi, C Manzi, L Stalbaum, G Brennan, G Brennan online, pace, P Lachance, J Bartlett, cond.2Orange Bigi

Nypost.com

Cards a model for Mets in post-Reyes spending

Joel Sherman
Blog: Hardball

HARDBALL

I was chatting with a general manager recently who, unsolicited, said, “The Cardinals are a good organization.”

And Jose Reyes returned to Citi Field last night.

Let’s see if I can connect those dots.

The Cardinals won the World Series last year without a pitch from ace Adam Wainwright, who underwent Tommy John surgery prior to the season. This season they are arguably the best team in the NL despite losing their iconic player, Albert Pujols, manager Tony La Russa and pitching coach Dave Duncan; plus Chris Carpenter — Wainwright’s ace fill-in last year — has been out since the start of the year with a shoulder ailment.

Reuters (inset); Neil Miller

CITI BANKING: Giving a contract extension to David Wright (above) would be a shrewd use of the money the Mets did not spend on departed free agent Jose Reyes, a move in the pattern of the depth-building spending the Cardinals did after Albert Pujols.

But, as the GM said, “the Cardinals are a good organization.” St. Louis has a winning culture that has survived the exits of La Russa and Pujols. And the front office has found answers. They used money not spent on Pujols — so much more vital to Cardinal history than Reyes is to the Mets’ lore — to extend catcher Yadier Molina, re-up first baseman Lance Berkman and shortstop Rafael Furcal and import right fielder Carlos Beltran. Their farm system has delivered, among others, David Freese, Jon Jay, Jason Motte and Lance Lynn, whose spectacular transition from the pen to the rotation has helped the Cardinals compensate for Carpenter’s absence and Wainwright’s early struggles.

“To have sustained success, it is about being deep in all areas,” St. Louis GM John Mozeliak said by phone yesterday. “So you are not reliant on any one person or one area of strength.”

The Mets, for too long, have had tunnel vision in addressing needs while ignoring overall organizational depth, a philosophy that hurts them more today than the absence of Reyes.

They determined their 2007 collapse was due to lack of starting pitching and added Johan Santana. It was the bullpen’s fault in 2008, so Francisco Rodriguez and J.J. Putz were obtained. It was lack of power in 2009, and that is how Jason Bay became a Met.

Yes, Omar Minaya’s farm system has proven more fertile than initially thought. Still, the Mets have been woefully under-supplied to weather a 162-game season. This is how Miguel Batista ends up the sixth starter and the losses of Bay and Mike Pelfrey feel more gut-wrenching then they should.

That is not just Minaya’s fault any more. Sandy Alderson, in Year 2 as GM, used what little funds were allocated to concentrate on healing the bullpen. Sound familiar?

But Alderson’s administration is still in its infancy. This front office is going to be judged if — like the Cardinals — it can build something strong and diverse enough to withstand any absence. A huge part of that is what happens post-Reyes.

Next >

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Jose Reyes, Albert Pujols, The Cardinals, the Cardinals, Adam Wainwright, Cardinals, Cardinals, Tony La Russa, GM, GM, Chris Carpenter, The Mets, Mets, Lance Berkman, Yadier Molina, David Freese online, Carlos Beltran, David Wright, Rafael Furcal, Jason Motte, Johan Santana

Nypost.com

Parx Racing Charts

April 24th, 2012 Rain And Fast.

©2012 Equibase. All Rights Reserved

FIRST-1m; $22,000; mdn cl(15,000); 3up; (f&m)

Off: 12:26. Good. bid, clear, held sway

Time: 24.29, 48.3, 1:13.75, 1:28.42, 1:43.08.

Trainer: Michael Pino

Winner: DK B/ F, 3, by After Market-Amura

Horse

Wt.

PP

1/4

1/2

Str.

Fin

Jockey

Odds

Wall Street Miss

117

7

3

2

1 3

1 1/2

Carmche

1.80

Beautiful Gal

112

6

7

7

5 4

2 1

Esquilin

3.00

Sheltowee Trace

115

2

4

6

4 2

3 3/4

Rivera

15.10

Seeking the Lilies

122

3

6

4

2 1

4 9

HerneOe

2.80

Ivy Girl

111

4

1

1

3 hd

5 2

Villanev

16.90

Harts for Meme

116

5

5

5

6 2

6 4

Chiappe

5.20

Quiet Liveing

115

1

2

3

7

7

Bowmn

13.70

7-Wall Street Miss

5.60

3.00

2.40

6-Beautiful Gal

3.80

3.00

2-Sheltowee Trace

5.20

* Exacta (7-6) $19.80 * Trifecta (7-6-2) $155.40 *

Exacta picked by Affrunti

SECOND-1m&70y; $25,000; str alw; 3up

Off: 12:54. Good. drifted and lasted

Time: 24.05, 48.54, 1:13.33, 1:4.22, 1:44.54.

Trainer: F. Hunter

Winner: B C, 4, by Toccet-Moorestown

Horse

Wt.

PP

1/4

1/2

Str.

Fin

Jockey

Odds

Moorestown Jackie

119

5

1

1

1 2 1/2

1 1/2

Chaves

2.50

Tin Pan Indy

117

4

6

6

2 1

2 1 1/2

Carmche

0.80

I'm Broke

119

7

7

7

4 3

3 4 1/4

Montnez

3.60

Waterfall

112

2

2

3

3 1

4 3

Villanev

22.00

Gorgeous Weather

114

6

4

4

6 2

5 1/2

Orm

70.10

Wise Jane

119

3

5

5

5 hd

6 4

Bracho

28.90

Maritime Magic

115

1

3

2

7

7

Flores

13.10

5-Moorestown Jackie

7.00

3.40

2.60

4-Tin Pan Indy

2.40

2.10

7-I'm Broke

2.20

* Daily Double (7-5) $32.80 * Exacta (5-4) $18.00 * Trifecta (5-4-7) $27.40 *

THIRD-6f; $17,000; mdn cl($10,000); 3up; (f&m)

Off: 1:20. Good. circled 5 wide,driving

Time: 22.99, 46.98, 59.73, 1:12.76.

Trainer: Robert Swentkowski

Winner: CH F, 3, by Indian Ocean-Doc's Honey

Scr: Jesk.

Horse

Wt.

PP

1/4

1/2

Str.

Fin

Jockey

Odds

Brush Creek Honey

116

7

5

1

1 5

1 8 3/4

Pennngtn

0.90

Kiwi Mistress

122

3

1

5

2 hd

2 4

McMngel

3.40

Alyphillie

115

1

3

3

3 2 1/2

3 1 3/4

Villanuev

4.30

Don'tmessw'louisa

122

4

6

6

6 15

4 1 1/2

Rivera

41.40

Wave of Energy

122

5

4

4

4 1

5 3

Garcia

63.60

Lexi's Crowd

109

6

2

2

5 1/2

6 12

Suarez

4.30

Irishdancedforfree

116

2

7

7

7

7

Bermde

18.40

8-Brush Creek Honey

3.80

2.40

2.20

3-Kiwi Mistress

3.00

2.40

1-Alyphillie

2.60

* $1 Pick 3 (7-5-4/8) 3 Correct $32.50 * Exacta (8-3) $13.40 * Trifecta (8-3-1) $23.40 *

Winner picked by Affrunti

FOURTH-7f; $23,000; cl($7,500); 3up

Off: 1:48. Good. something left

Time: 23.22, 46.05, 1:11.39, 1:24.54.

Trainer: Richard Dutrow, Jr.

Winner: CH C, 4, by Pleasantly Perfect-Minister Thatcher

Scr: Jessie's Boy, Buzzards Roost.

Horse

Wt.

PP

1/4

1/2

Str.

Fin

Jockey

Odds

Perfection Plus

118

3

1

1

1 hd

1 3/4

Luzzi

0.50

Mr. Ventura T

120

4

6

4

2 1 1/2

2 2 1/4

HereOe

16.10

Bona Fide

118

2

7

7

4 1

3 1/2

Bracho

3.40

Gentleman Jim

118

5

3

3

3 1 1/2

4 1 1/2

Hmpse,J.

7.80

Distinct Honor

114

6

2

2

6 4

5 1/2

Castillo

9.90

Triple Vision

114

7

4

5

5 hd

6 2

Hiraldo

21.00

Caylee's Song

118

1

5

6

7

7

Bisono

26.30

Next >

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Michael PinoWinner, Trifecta

Nypost.com

‘Unacceptable’ loss for playoff-bound squad

Mike Vaccaro
Follow Mike on Twitter

CLEVELAND — Well, then. So this is the kind of effort we see from the Knicks when they clinch a spot in the 16-team NBA playoff tournament, when they qualify for the right to play either Chicago or Miami, when they achieve the bare minimum of their seasonal goals.

Perish to think what will happen if they should ever win their first playoff game since 2001. Or their first playoff series since 2000. What will we get then? Champagne? Parades? Holidays? Because this was the thing that was impossible to escape if you grinded your way through all 48 minutes of this indifferent 98-90 loss to the 21-41 Cavaliers:

This is a team that sure acts like it’s accomplished something.

“Disappointing,” was the word that Carmelo Anthony used but his coach, Mike Woodson, opted for a more appropriate adjective.

“Unacceptable,” Woodson said. “Completely unacceptable.”

It was that. It was unacceptable and uninspired and unfulfilling, and if it doesn’t completely wash away all this team has done in rallying from 8-15 to the postseason, it doesn’t exactly lay the groundwork for any kind of belief that these lockout Knicks can make any kind of noise resembling the 1999 lockout Knicks. They didn’t just play poorly, they mailed the game in.

And this team simply hasn’t done enough, hasn’t achieved enough, to earn the right to put a postage stamp on anything.

What’s worse, of course, is the fact that the Knicks aren’t a typical team who can argue that a comp day is ample reward for the playoff grind to come. If they want to actually become a basketball team worthy of anyone’s attention, they’re going to have to learn to incorporate Amar’e Stoudemire back into the rotation.

And make no mistake: What last night proved most of all was just how far Soudemire has to go between now and next weekend, when the Knicks will either be in South Beach or Chicago’s West Side, severe underdogs no matter the dateline.

Stoudemire’s numbers were colored by the rust that was all over his game: 15 points (on 5-for-11 shooting) but only three rebounds, five fouls — he struggled defensively from the go — and three turnovers that sure felt like generous scorekeeping by the Cavaliers’ stat crew. Truthfully, that’s about all you could expect following a three-week sabbatical.

But it looked worse. Much worse. Part of that was the step-slow play by just about everyone wearing a blue uniform. Anthony, universally brilliant for almost all of the 13 games Stoudemire missed, only scored 12 points and only played 29 minutes and never seemed to get his rhythm. Tyson Chandler only took three shots, only grabbed eight rebounds. The Knicks were outrebounded by the sinful total of 52-32.

And they just didn’t look ... well, right.

Do you want to give them a mulligan? If you want. But as Woodson said: “We only have so many games to get this right.”

And he’s correct about that; tomorrow in Atlanta, Wednesday against the Clippers and Thursday at Charlotte; that’s all that stands between them and a postseason they suddenly don’t look ready for.

Not unless they show something, and soon. Tomorrow in Atlanta would be a splendid place to start.

“I feel great,” Stoudemire reported at night’s end, and that’s wonderful, and it was the only piece of good news that greeted the Knicks on yet another empty trip to Quicken Loans Arena, where they have now lost 10 straight games — the last four against some woeful Cavs teams across the last two seasons.

The Knicks can’t feel great, not after this calamity, not looking at what they’re staring at across the next few days. Over the past couple of days there seemed to be legitimate concerns brewing around this team that adding Stoudemire to the mix could alter the delicate chemistry that had developed in his absence.

That should be a foolish concern, the same as re-inserting Melo in the mix post-Linsanity should have been a foolish concern. But until proven otherwise, it’ll be hard to quell that discontent. And should be.

Knicks, Mike Woodson, Carmelo Anthony, Mike VaccaroFollow Mike, Stoudemire, Chicago

Nypost.com

Private baseball roundup: Dalton hands Fieldston first loss

Zach Rosh had a big game at the plate and on the mound as Dalton shocked Fieldston, 7-6, Friday afternoon in Ivy Prep League baseball.

Rosh struck out two in two innings of work for the save and had two hits and three RBIs, Zach Kotin allowed four earned runs in five innings for the win and Nick Dyja had two RBIs for the Tigers (4-3, 3-3), who take on St. Ann’s Monday at 4:15 p.m. on Randall’s Island.

Fieldston (6-1, 4-1), which is now tied atop the Ivy League with Horace Mann and Poly Prep, faces Rye Country Day School Saturday at 1 p.m. in non-league action.

Horace Mann 10, Collegiate 1: Elias Wacht fanned seven and scattered six hits in a complete-game performance, he also had three hits and two RBIs, Jesse Roth had two hits and two RBIs and Brad McCandless and Eric Mass also had two apiece for Horace Mann. The Lions (6-2, 5-1) face Loyola in a non-league contest Saturday at 2 p.m. Collegiate (2-4, 2-3) takes on Hackley next Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.

Hackley 4, Riverdale 3: Coley Dreyfuss had an RBI triple and Alec Silverman fanned six in four innings for Riverdale (1-5, 1-4), which will face Upper Room Christian Monday at 4:30 p.m. at Van Cortlandt Park. Hackley (3-5, 2-4) meets Browning Saturday at noon.

Poly Prep 22, Trinity 2: Matt Zapata picked up the win, Matt Coposio had a three-run triple and Christian Pellegrino had two hits for Poly Prep, which scored 11 times in the first inning and has now won three straight after dropping two in a run. The Blue Devils (6-3, 4-1) face PSAL powerhouse George Washington Saturday at noon while Trinity (0-7, 0-6) meets

ACIS

St. Ann’s 5, Packer Collegiate 1: Willis Cohen needed just 85 pitches to go the distance, struck out five and allowed three hits for his first win, Graham Dietz drove in two runs, shortstop Gideon Davidson stole home and Sam Premutico added two hits for St. Ann’s (4-1, 4-0), which meets Dalton Monday at 4:15 p.m. on Randall’s Island. Henry Butler had two hits and an RBI and Brian Maloney took the loss after allowing four earned runs in three innings for Packer (7-3, 1-3), which faces Staten Island Academy Monday at 4 p.m. in Red Hook.

zbraziller@nypost.com

Horace Mann, Ivy Prep League, Poly Prep, Zach Kotin, Zach Rosh, Nick Dyja ebook download, Christian Pellegrino, Fieldston, Matt Coposio, Matt Zapata, the Ivy League, Alec Silverman, innings, Brad McCandless, Elias Wacht, Coley Dreyfuss

Nypost.com

Rangers will lose if they keep getting outmuscled

Larry Brooks
Follow Larry on Twitter
Blog: Slap Shots

Five of the last six Stanley Cup champions have been extended to at least six games in the opening round of the playoffs, with only the 2007 Ducks since the lockout able to quickly dispatch their first opponent.

In other words, there is no need to jump off the Rangers’ bandwagon simply because they have done no better than split the first four games of the tournament against the Senators.

They have maintained home ice with Game 5 coming up tomorrow night at the Garden and a Game 7 on Broadway on Thursday if one is necessary and if they can get there.

Brandon Dubinsky, getting checked during the Rangers’ 3-2 overtime loss in Game 4 Wednesday, and the Rangers need to start to play tougher if they want to advance in the playoffs." title="GET PHYSICAL: Brandon Dubinsky, getting checked during the Rangers’ 3-2 overtime loss in Game 4 Wednesday, and the Rangers need to start to play tougher if they want to advance in the playoffs." width="300" height="300" src="/rw/nypost/2012/04/20/sports/web_photos/20.1s089.Rangers--300x300.jpg" />

Getty Images

GET PHYSICAL: Brandon Dubinsky, getting checked during the Rangers’ 3-2 overtime loss in Game 4 Wednesday, and the Rangers need to start to play tougher if they want to advance in the playoffs.

Ah, but that’s the rub, isn’t it? Because though the Rangers have not trailed Ottawa for so much as a second, they have yet to demonstrate they are capable of taking control of the series.

They’re the team that somehow always seems to be in jeopardy. They’re the team that’s pinned in its own end for shifts at a time, out-attempted by a mind-bending 235-146 over the last three games, though the third period of Wednesday’s Game 4, 3-2 overtime defeat didn’t quite fit that mold.

Ottawa is quick, fast, skilled and dangerous in open ice. But that’s no surprise.

It has however been a surprise, and troubling, that the Senators have been able to outmuscle the Rangers all over the ice and thus win far too many of the battles along the boards, in the corners and in Henrik Lundqvist’s crease that’s as jammed as the left turn lane onto 30th Street off 12th Avenue.

The Rangers’ literal strength in puck battles was one of their singular team strengths during the season. But not in this series and certainly not over the last three games, during which the Blueshirts have been forced back time and time again after failing to win the puck, get it in, or clear the zone.

It’s one thing for Jason Spezza or Kyle Turris to shine. It’s another for Chris Neil and Zenon Konopka to dominate.

He’s not the only one, but Brandon Dubinsky has to be stronger on the puck. Ryan Callahan needs to rediscover his Game 1 effectiveness in the dirty areas. Brandon Prust needs to be greasier.

And Marian Gaborik, hounded and marked and forced outside and to the top, needs to get to the high traffic areas from where he scored so many big goals the way he did during the regular season.

The Rangers have scored two even-strength goals in the last 201:30 and both of them were scored by Brian Boyle. That’s just not acceptable.

And because pretty goals are so difficult to come by in the playoffs, never mind the pair the Senators scored in Game 4, the Rangers must create the degree of difficult against the outstanding Craig Anderson as the Senators have been able to create against Lundqvist.

Coach John Tortorella either has to devise a more effective plan to stop Erik Karlsson from wheeling out of his own end up the ice as if he’s a latter-day Paul Coffey or the Rangers have to do a far better job of executing the strategy in place.

It’s not merely that Karlsson, so slippery, seems to be able to gain good ice at will through the neutral zone, it’s that the Rangers appear completely frustrated at their inability to contain the rover, who has unleashed 43 attempts and 27 shots over the last three games.

The Rangers have home ice. It’s there for them the way it was there for the Bruins last year, taken to seven in the first round by the Canadiens before the run to the Cup.

But the Rangers have to be better, they have to be stronger. They won’t get by playing this way.

larry.brooks@nypost.com

Brandon Dubinsky, Brandon Dubinsky, Rangers, Senators, Senators

Nypost.com

Mets could use Nieuwenhuis against Giants left-hander

Kirk Nieuwenhuis has done it all for the Mets in two weeks on the job in center field. His next test could be playing against lefty starters.

Manager Terry Collins is toying with the idea of giving Nieuwenhuis the start tonight against Giants lefty Barry Zito. Bolstering Nieuwenhuis’ case is the fact lefties hit .294 against Zito last season.

The rookie Nieuwenhuis raised his batting average to .375 with a homer and three RBIs with his 3-for-4 performance against the Braves on Wednesday that included his first stolen base.

“When you’re a rookie in the big leagues, one of the things you have to gain is some confidence,” Collins said. “I think with every game Kirk is believing he belongs here and he can play here.”

N.Y. Post: Charles Wenzelberg

NIEUW’ DEAL: Kirk Nieuwenhuis, who has turned heads in center field for the Mets, may get a chance to face Barry Zito tonight.

Nieuwenhuis is 2-for-7 (.286) against lefties this season. The Giants also have a lefty, Madison Bumgarner, scheduled to start on Monday. Scott Hairston has played in Nieuwenhuis’ place against most lefties.

* According to a club official, Darryl Strawberry might appear at Citi Field during this homestand to honor David Wright, who needs one RBI to become the franchise’s all-time leader. Wright drove in three runs on Wednesday against the Braves to tie Strawberry’s club record of 733 RBIs. The team official said a celebration involving Strawberry won’t come until after Wright moves alone into first place.

* The first 25,000 fans attending Sunday’s game at Citi Field will receive a free Tom Seaver bobblehead as part of the franchise’s 50th anniversary celebration. The Mets will have bobblehead giveaways later in the year depicting Rusty Staub, Keith Hernandez, Edgardo Alfonzo and Mike Piazza.

* R.A. Dickey will join former knuckleballers Tim Wakefield and Charlie Hough at tomorrow’s free screening of the documentary “Knuckleball!” The movie will be shown at 8:15 p.m. at the Tribeca Film Festival.

Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Giants lefty Barry Zito, Barry Zito, Terry Collins, Nieuwenhuis, Darryl Strawberry, the Mets, David Wright, Madison Bumgarner, Scott Hairston, center field, the Braves, The Giants

Nypost.com

Sports Shorts

NCAA: Summitt steps aside at Tennessee

Pat Summitt, 59, is stepping aside as Tennessee’s women’s basketball coach and taking the title of “head coach emeritus” with long-time assistant Holly Warlick being promoted to replace the sport’s winningest coach.The move comes less than a year after Summitt’s diagnosis with early onset dementia-Alzheimer’s type.

Larry Brown said he hasn’t yet been offered the SMU coaching job, but had spoken again with athletic director Steve Orsini since they first met on Monday.

Zachary Tomaselli, who Tuesday said he lied when he accused former Syracuse assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine of molesting him, said yesterday he was telling the truth.

MLB: Dykstra gets more jail ‘exposure’

Former Mets outfielder Lenny Dykstra has been sentenced to nine months in jail after pleading no contest to charges he exposed himself to women he met on Craigslist and assaulted one.

Several outlets reported last night catcher Ivan Rodriguez has decided to retire. An announcement is expected Monday.

Bartolo Colon (3-1) threw 38 consecutive strikes at one point and pitched four-hit ball for eight innings to help the A’s beat the Angels 6-0 in Anaheim. Colon struck out five and walked none. He has walked only two batters in his first 27 1/3 innings.

Melky Cabrera had an RBI single in the 11th inning as the Giants beat the Phillies 1-0. Cliff Lee pitched 10 scoreless innings for the Phils and Matt Cain pitched nine for the Giants.

NBA: Sixers win to maintain 8th spot in East

Jrue Holiday scored 19 of his 24 points in the third quarter as the visiting 76ers kept their hold on the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot with a 103-87 win over the Cavaliers.The Sixers lead the Bucks, who lost at Washington, 121-112, by 2 1/2 games.

In Miami, LeBron James scored 28 points before taking the fourth quarter off and the Heat beat the Raptors 96-72.

ETC.: Tebow, Lin honored by TIME

TIME magazine named Jets backup quarterback Tim Tebow and Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin as two of the Top 100 Most Influential People in the World.

Nazareth principal P rovidencia Quiles announced at a press conference last night the school’s board of trustees had voted unanimously to keep the Brooklyn Catholic high school open for at least the next four years.

Beth Bader shot a 4-under 68 to take a one-stroke lead over top-ranked Yani Tseng and three other players in the LPGA LOTTE Championship in Kapolei, Hawaii.

Holly Warlick, Syracuse assistant basketball coach, basketball coach, Summitt, Steve Orsini, Former Mets outfielder Lenny Dykstra, Ivan Rodriguez, Bernie Fine, Jeremy Lin

Nypost.com

Knicks defeat Nets; Anthony scores 33

The Knicks will miss this place.

Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks ransacked and pillaged the sold-out Prudential Center last night with virtually all of the 18,711 fans reveling in the Knicks’ wire-to-wire 104-95 romp over the Nets in their last visit to Jersey.

It better be different in Brooklyn next season.

Anthony, who nearly became a Net last season, scorched Newark early, racking up 21 points in the first quarter and finished with 33 amid “MVP” and “Me-lo’’ chants across the Hudson River. In making the Nets look like Jersey Turnpike roadkill, The Knicks (33-29) moved 3 1/2 games ahead of the ninth-place Bucks and they can clinch a playoff berth with one more victory.

Paul J. Bereswill

TONGUE SANDWICH: Carmelo Anthony reacts after scoring a basket in the first half of last night’s 104-95 win over the Nets, who were without Deron Williams for the second straight game.

AP

TONGUE SANDWICH: Carmelo Anthony reacts after scoring a basket in the first half of last night’s 104-95 win over the Nets, who were without Deron Williams (above) for the second straight game.

“On the road, I haven’t had this much fun in a long time,’’ Anthony said. “It was nice to see all those Knicks jerseys in the stands. It was a great Knicks atmosphere tonight.’’

Nearly 95 percent of the crowd were Knicks supporters and rose out of their seats to roar after every Anthony 3-pointer. He was 5 of 5 in the first half.

“I thought I was at the Garden,’’ Jersey native J.R. Smith said. “I was looking for Spike Lee.’’

The Knicks lead the Sixers for the seventh seed by 1 1/2 games with four games to play and will line up with Miami in Round 1 if the standings don’t change. The Celtics clinched the Atlantic Division title last night with a win over Orlando. The Knicks can finish with the same record, but Boston owns the second tiebreaker with a better conference record (the two teams split the season series).

Last night’s win was likely their last without Amar’e Stoudemire, who is expected to return tomorrow in Cleveland after missing 13 straight games. The Knicks were 9-4 in his absence and Anthony has averaged 31 points since he became the starting power forward. Chemistry could be an issue from here on in.

Anthony hit for 15 of the Knicks’ first 24 points last night. He finished the first quarter with 21 points in 12 minutes, making 8 of 10 buckets and drilling all four of his 3-point attempts.

“I haven’t felt like this in a while,’’ said Anthony, whose season turned around under interim coach Mike Woodson’s direction. “Everything is clear. I have a lot of clarity right now.

“My shot was falling, especially in the first quarter,’’ Anthony added. “Everything just fell into place.’’

Anthony’s back-to back 3-pointers midway through the first quarter put the Knicks up 24-11 as Prudential Center was a sea of noise. After Anthony knocked in the second 3-pointer from Jersey City, he ran downcourt with his tongue hanging out. There was a brief “MVP” chant in the first as the Knicks ended the quarter with a 38-22 lead and 64-47 bulge at halftime. When Anthony stepped to the free-throw line with 4:22 left, the “MVP’’chant resounded.

“He’s playing unbelievable,’’ Tyson Chandler said. “He’s playing if not the best, one of the best basketball in the league right now.’’

None of this could have sat well with Nets superstar Deron Williams, who sat out with a sore calf. He was fastened to the bench, bespectacled and in gray blazer, stone-faced during the first-quarter rout. Williams wants to go through the free-agent process in July and last night’s show of devotion toward the Knicks must have been hard to take.

After drilling 19 3-pointers vs. Boston Thursday, the Knicks racked up 9 of 17 in the first half. Anthony was 5 of 5 — finishing with 27 points in the half.

“Our offense has been flowing pretty nicely the last couple of games,’’ Woodson said.

Anthony was all over the place. He hustled downcourt and blocked a fastbreak layup by Sundiata Gaines in the second quarter.

“That’s what we need from him, with STAT out, [Jeremy] Lin out, Baron out,’’ Smith said.

The Knicks didn’t miss a beat despite starting point guard Baron Davis missing the game with a stomach virus. Veteran Mike Bibby started in his place and had 8 points and 8 assists.

The Nets closed to within five points late in the third. But the Knicks built the lead back up as Steve Novak drilled a big 3-pointer in the final seconds of the quarter to boost the Knicks to a 81-71 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Smith, who scored 15 points on 6-of-16 shooting, hit a step-back jumper for a 88-78 lead and Novak punished the Nets further with a 3-pointer from the corner to put them up 91-78 with 7:24 left.

Asked before the game if he will miss the trip to New Jersey, Anthony said, “No.’’

The Nets won’t either.

marc.berman@nypost.com

Knicks, Deron Williams, Deron Williams, Carmelo Anthony, The Knicks, Nets, Prudential Center, Prudential Center

Nypost.com

Not sweet music

Heading into the critical summer season, concert promoter Live Nation is feeling the heat following a dramatic drop in album sales for Madonna, one of its biggest headliners.

The Material Girl’s latest album, “MDNA,” fell to 15th place, selling just 19,000 copies in its third week after debuting at No. 1, with 359,000 copies in its first official week, according to Nielsen Soundscan figures.

The first-week figure was goosed by a promotion that included the album at no additional cost with the purchase of concert tickets, as well as a deal offered by Amazon that bundled the physical and digital versions of the album for $5.

WireImage

The summer concert season is off toaslowstart for touring giant LiveNation with sales of Madge’s “MDNA” album sagging and interest in her world tour less than scintillating.

The sharp fall-off in album sales is a setback for Live Nation as it seeks to deliver on the $120 million deal it inked with Madonna in 2007. The so-called 360 deal — which encompasses albums, touring and merchandise — was hailed as revolutionary, but it has come back to haunt Live Nation.

Securing strong album sales is critical to moving concert tickets.

Madonna’s 66-date global tour kicks off in Tel Aviv, Israel, on May 29, and arrives in Philadelphia on Aug. 28. Her concert pricing is aggressive, with the most expensive tickets costing more than $300 a pop.

“Sales were brisk for the first few days and then they tapered off,” said a source close to the tour. “It doesn’t mean she won’t sell out, but it may take longer than they expected.”

Madonna’s website reports that four tour dates in North America are sold out.

“The word is that ticket sales have been good in North America, but the question about Europe is whether ticket prices are too high,” Gary Bongiovanni, who heads concert publication Pollstar, told The Post.

One source added that Madonna’s long-time manager and business partner, Guy Oseary, is putting pressure on Live Nation to boost ticket sales.

Live Nation’s reported cut of ticket sales is only 10 percent, while Madonna reaps the other 90 percent. Meanwhile, the concert promoter agreed to pay Madonna in the ballpark of $30 million to $40 million in cash and stock for each album as part of their deal, which includes a three-album commitment.

“MDNA” was released through Universal Music’s Interscope label under an agreement with Live Nation.

Live Nation only makes money on the album if it sells more than 15 million copies — a tough feat in today’s shrinking music business.

While Live Nation’s stock is up 3.3 percent year-to-date, it’s off 11.8 percent over the past year. The company has lost money in five of the last eight quarters while sales were down in each of the past two quarters.

Although Live Nation’s 360 deal with Madonna was done by prior management, this concert season is crucial for CEO Michael Rapino, who has been on the job since 2010 and needs to start bringing in the revenue.

catkinson@nypost.com

Live Nation, Madonna, album sales, concert tickets, Nielsen Soundscan, Tel Aviv, Israel

Nypost.com

Yonkers Graded Entries

Post Time: 7:10 p.m.

Best Bet: Dan Chaz (8th)

FIRST: mile pace; $8,500; claiming

3 Tevenay Hall

(LStalbaum)

2-3-4

5-1

6 Arts Fav' Won

(GBrennan)

5-8-1

8-5

8 Kid Cruiser

(BHolland)

2-6-5

10-1

1 Forte Blue Chip

(DDube)

8-2-4

12-1

2 Butn Your Shirt Ed

(JBartlett)

8-3-2

8-1

4 Lockridge

(CManzi)

1-4-1

8-1

5 Whydidigetitall

(EGoodell)

6-4-6

6-1

7 Rolled Up Aces

(JStratton)

5-3-6

12-1

SECOND: mile trot; $14,000; claiming

4 Ringside Lauryn

(GBrennan)

6-6-6

8-5

7 TsmlilOrphnAndy

(MMcDnld)

2-1-3

4-1

6 Benns Sure Thing

(JBartlett)

4-5-6

3-1

1 Cc Mister C

(DDube)

2-5-1

8-1

2 Distinct Victory

(JStratton)

1-3-8

12-1

3 Flashy Lady

(BHolland)

1-1-4

10-1

5 Commander K

(EGoodell)

3-4-5

SCR

8 Lord Darby

(CManzi)

1-3-5

8-1

THIRD: mile pace; $8,500; claiming

3 Multiple Choice

(LStalbaum)

3-5-3

3-1

2 Activator

(EGoodell)

6-3-9

6-1

6 Play Of The Day

(JBartlett)

7-1-7

5-1

1 One On Each Lap

(JStratton)

7-8-1

10-1

4 Medoland Mac

(BHolland)

3-5-2

6-1

5 Berry Berry Fast

(DDube)

8-8-9

4-1

7 Snacker Backer

(GBrennan)

6-4-7

12-1

8 Spank Me Frank

(CManzi)

3-8-7

8-1

FOURTH: mile pace; $8,500; claiming

2 Bambina's Sorella

(JBartlett)

1-2-3

8-5

4 Lady Yachtsman

(GBrennan)

8-4-2

3-1

1 Our Girls Chance N

(SSmith)

2-3-4

5-1

3 Marie The Artist

(LStalbaum)

4-7-5

6-1

5 TemptationQueen

(EGoodell)

8-5-4

10-1

6 Ladybones

(CManzi)

1-3-3

8-1

7 Stratus

(JStratton)

3-3-2

8-1

8 Little Mermaid N

(DDube)

3-8-8

20-1

FIFTH: mile pace; $8,500; cond

1 Late Flyin N

(CManzi)

5-5-5

8-5

8 Skyway Hanover

(GBrennan)

1-3-2

3-1

7 Sad Tune

(MMacDonald)

4-4-4

12-1

2 Little Miss Henry

(DDube)

8-2-6

8-1

3 Carrie Ann

(JStratton)

7-3-8

6-1

4 Girls LuvDiamnds

(JBartlett)

3-7-8

30-1

5 Matt's Wolfey

(EGoodell)

5-3-1

12-1

6 Hally

(LStalbaum)

4-3-8

10-1

SIXTH: mile pace; $11,000; cond

3 Make A Bundle N

(CManzi)

1-6-4

9-5

2 So Confusing

(GBrennan)

7-2-2

3-1

1 FancyPantsSandy

(EAbbtell)

7-2-1

8-1

4 Delightful Syd

(EGoodell)

5-1-1

5-1

5 Sold Out

(PLachance)

3-4-2

4-1

6 Britash Redcoat

(TButer)

1-3-2

8-1

7 Carnivalocity

(JBartlett)

8-5-8

30-1

8 Cosmo Madness

(BHolland)

7-5-7

15-1

SEVENTH: mile pace; $14,000; cond

1 RocknrollPrncess

(MMcDnld)

1-1-2

3-1

4 Dinah Ross

(JBartlett)

1-1-4

4-1

2 Legerdepan

(GBrennan)

7-7-8

5-1

3 Searchfortheshark

(CManzi)

1-4-4

8-1

5 Boots Place

(LStalbaum)

4-4-5

6-1

6 From The Start

(JStratton)

1-4-1

6-1

7 Lizzie's Dream

(DDube)

6-4-2

12-1

8 Collage

(PLachance)

3-7-5

10-1

EIGHTH: mile pace; $12,000; claiming

3 Dan Chaz

(CManzi)

1-4-2

3-1

5 Tiger Williams

(DDube)

7-1-5

6-1

7 Real Mystical

(AMiller)

8-3-2

4-1

1 Windsong Fortune

(JBartlett)

6-5-6

5-1

2 Don't Let Down

(LStalbaum)

4-3-5

10-1

4 FirebreathnDrgn

(MMcDnld)

6-7-5

12-1

6 Box Car Johnnie

(JStratton)

2-5-4

8-1

8 Philanthropist

(GBrennan)

4-4-3

6-1

NINTH: mile pace; $14,000; claiming

4 Baccarat Stena

(JBartlett)

8-4-1

3-1

5 Space Walk

(CManzi)

4-2-4

8-1

1 Mixed Media

(EGoodell)

2-7-2

5-1

2 Western Edge

(AMiller)

8-5-7

12-1

3 White Ruler

(GBrennan)

2-7-4

4-1

6 Oyster Bay

(TButer)

3-3-5

5-1

7 Kandi Chip

(JStratton)

2-4-4

10-1

8 Track My Desire

(LStalbaum)

1-1-2

6-1

TENTH: mile trot; $14,000; cond

6 Orange Bigi

(CManzi)

1-1-2

4-1

4 Sevruga

(AMiller)

1-4-2

5-1

3 Friendly Amigo

(JBartlett)

3-4-6

3-1

1 Gotabgoodtblcky

(MMcDnld)

2-7-1

5-1

2 Labirinto Sas It

(DDube)

6-6-7

8-1

5 Ipo Blue Chip

(EGoodell)

1-1-4

6-1

7 Buck I D

(GBrennan)

6-5-8

12-1

8 Big Sky Storm

(JStratton)

2-2-1

5-1

ELEVENTH: mile pace; $14,000; cond

1 Itstimeformetofly

(TButer)

2-5-7

8-5

3 Sir Jillian Z Tam

(PLachance)

1-1-1

4-1

4 Jimmy TheTerror

(GBrennan)

2-1-3

3-1

2 Look Siera

(DDube)

1-3-6

6-1

5 Gordys Filly Yenta

(JBartlett)

7-2-7

6-1

6 FiestaCamcun

(MMacDonld)

1-5-6

12-1

7 Best Business

(JStratton)

8-1-7

10-1

8 Fashion Majorette

(AMiller)

6-7-1

20-1

Dan Chaz, Dan Chaz, Forte Blue Chip, mile pace, Ringside Lauryn, Berry Berry Fast

Nypost.com

Cautela racks up wins in busy week for Vikings

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Jackie Cautela found a way to dominate on both sides of the ball during a busy week for St. Joseph by the Sea.

The Vikings played six games in seven days and Cautela, the team’s ace, was in the circle for three of them. She turned in three superb and overpowering performances against Bishop Ahr (N.J.), St. John Villa and Moore Catholic. Cautela allowed just three runs, 11 hits and struck out 20 in those starts.

The week concluded with a 4-1 victory over the rival Mavericks, giving Sea a win in the first meetings between the two rivals. She gave up just one hit after the first inning. The Vikings, ranked No. 2 in the city by The Post, didn’t lose a game last week.

Denis Gostev

Sea's Jackie Cautela won three games last week.

“I just worked with my pitches that were working best, moving inside out and I felt pretty good,” Cautela said. “My defense was behind me once again.”

She shook off an RBI triple by Maxine Jasko in the first inning and settled down after that against Moore. From there on out Cautela, who pitched on the varsity as a freshman, masterfully worked her curve and screwball along the corners to keep the Mavericks hitters off balance.

“When I get it I try to go a little more out or in and see what I keep getting,” she said.

Added Sea coach Mike Ponsiglione: “Once she gets in a groove and she’s around the plate all the time you are going to get those borderline pitches."

Cautela didn’t just produce in the circle. She got it done at the plate as well. The Vikings No. 3 hitter dunked a single over third to drive in a run against the Mavericks. Her best performance in a week where she drove in seven runs came against Notre Dame Academy in a 9-0 win where she collected three hits, three RBIs and scored three runs for a Vikings team that has relied on small ball at times.

“We use a lot of small ball and it usually works for us,” Cautela said. “We are going to keep doing it.”

Her teammates hope she keeps doing what she is doing as well.

jstaszewski@nypost.com

St. John Villa, Vikings, Jackie Cautela, The Vikings, Cautela, Mavericks, Moore Catholic, Bishop Ahr, St. Joseph, the Mavericks

Nypost.com

Post experts pick the winners

DaSilva

Fountaine

Affrunti

Debbie L.

Vic C.

Consensus

54/167 $343.40

48/167 $247.90

47/167 $316.60

40/167 $201.70

51/167 $332.60

50/167 $231.90

1

Good Prospect

East of Danzig

Good Prospect

Talk Therapy

Hangover Kid

Good Prospect

14

Talk Therapy

Good Prospect

Hangover Kid

East of Danzig

East of Danzig

East of Danzig

11

Hangover Kid

Talk Therapy

Talk Therapy

Good Prospect

Jeter

Talk Therapy

10

2

Hughesdatgirl

My Every Wish

Stay Composed

My Every Wish

Rough Winter

My Every Wish

17

Star Compsed

Stay Composed

My Every Wish

Swimmer

My Every Wish

Stay Composed

11

My Every Wish

Rough Winter

Hughesdatgirl

Hughesdatgirl

Swimmer

Hughesdatgirl

7

3

Eye On Jacob

Eye On Jacob

Eye On Jacob

Eye On Jacob

Eye On Jacob

Eye On Jacob

26

Person of Interest

Rein King

Person of Interest

Person of Interest

Person of Interest

Person of Interest

13

Rein King

Person of Interest

Rein King

Inflation Target

Rein King

Rein King

6

4

Malibu Red

Stella Girl

Stella Girl

Bluegrass Rumor

Bluegrass Rumor

Bluegrass Rumor

17

Bluegrass Rumor

Bluegrass Rumor

Malibu Red

Princess Malia

Stella Girl

Stella Girl

14

Stella Girl

Malibu Red

Bluegrass Rumor

Chat Me Up

Malibu Red

Malibu Red

10

5

Nolita

Nolita

Nolita

Nolita

Thunder Princess

Nolita

24

Elle's Vision

Elle's Vision

Valuable Friend

Elle's Vision

Nolita

Elle's Vision

10

Valuable Friend

Brownsteins

Legions Star

Brownsteins

Elle's Vision

Thunder Pirncess

5

6

Sweet Lil Cherokee

My Dreamy Mimi

Hoopskirt

Wise Choice

Sweet Lil Cherokee

Hoopskirt

19

Hoopskirt

Hoopskirt

Honey Mou

Sweet Lil Cherokee

Hoopskirt

Sweet Lil Cherokee

14

Justleavemealone

Honey Mou

Sweet Lil Cherokee

My Honey Laurie

Reproduction

My Dreamy Mimi

5

7

Wildcat Aly

Twice the Lady

Joonbi

Lindz Winz

Wildcat Aly

Lindz Winz

12

Lindz Winz

Lady Vi

Lady Vi

Twice the Lady

Lindz Winz

Wildcat Aly

10

Twice the Lady

Joonbi

Lindz Winz

Promise Me a Cat

Joonbi

Twice the Lady

9

8

Full of Gut

Natalie Victoria

Natalie Victoria

Naughty Or Nice

Natalie Victoria

Natalie Victoria

20

Ballistic Sue

Victoria Lynn

Full of Gut

Natalie Victoria

Full of Gut

Full of Gut

13

Natalie Victoria

Full of Gut

Victoria Lynn

Full of Gut

Ballistic Sue

Naughty Or Nice

5

9

Digby B

The Thinker

The Thinker

The Thinker

The Thinker

The Thinker

24

The Thinker

Digby B

Digby B

Without Regard

Stonecoldsteamer

Digby B

12

Suave Sailor

Captain Goodenough

Forty Rock

Digby B

Without Regard

Without Regard

4

Moves Like Jagger

Forty Rock

Dreamalot

Suave Sailor

Forty Rock

Stonecoldsteamer

3

Records reflect winners, starters and $2 win-bet total on top selection
Consensus is based on 5-3-1 point system. Extra point given for BEST BET.
Nypost.com

Parx Racing Charts

April 17th, 2012 Clear And Fast.

©2012 Equibase. All Rights Reserved

FIRST-1m&70y; $25,000; str alw; 4up

Off: 12:26. Good. turned back challenge

Time: 23.45, 47.97, 1:12.28, 1:37.89, 1:42.07.

Trainer: Alan Goldberg

Winner: DK B/ G, 4, by Smart Strike-Mythical

Horse

Wt.

PP

1/4

1/2

Str.

Fin

Jockey

Odds

Blown Save

119

3

1

1

1 1 1/2

1 1 1/2

Elliott

0.50

Doublethestyle

117

5

7

7

3 1

2 3/4

Uske

9.50

Asfatewouldhaveit

112

6

6

6

4 5

3 3 3/4

Pellot

16.30

Dance With Bull

119

1

3

3

2 1/2

4 6

Arroyo

7.50

Yes Its Mine

119

7

4

2

5 hd

5 no

Chaves

9.90

Wils Reward

119

2

5

5

6 4

6 4

Montnez

5.50

Bellhouse

119

4

2

4

7

7

Frey

14.90

3-Blown Save

3.00

2.60

2.40

5-Doublethestyle

3.80

3.00

6-Asfatewouldhaveit

5.80

* Exacta (3-5) $22.40 * Trifecta (3-5-6) $133.80 *

Exacta picked by DaSilva, Vic C., Winner picked by Debbie L.

SECOND-5 1/2f; $25,000; cl($12,500); 4up

Off: 12:53. Good. clear, strong handling

Time: 22.6, 45.73, 58.17, 1:04.62.

Trainer: Jose Nunez

Winner: DK B/ G, 5, by Stormin Fever-Biding Time

Horse

Wt.

PP

1/4

Str.

Fin

Jockey

Odds

Hammering Buckeye

110

7

1

1

1 1 1/2

1 2

Esquilin

22.80

Thebes

120

1

2

2

2 2 1/2

2 1/2

Pennngtn

7.40

Serendipper Moon

118

5

3

3

3 3

3 5

Bisono

2.50

Mine for Love

120

2

7

7

7

4 3/4

Bermdez

2.30

Three o'Clock Rock

118

6

6

6

6 hd

5 1 1/4

Arroyo

4.50

Grandad Bud

118

4

4

4

5 1/2

6

Flores

5.90

Mentidoso

113

3

5

5

brk

_dwn

Villanuev

5.90

7-Hammering Buckeye

47.60

18.40

7.00

1-Thebes

9.80

5.00

5-Serendipper Moon

2.80

* Daily Double (3-7) $102.40 * Exacta (7-1) $361.20 * Trifecta (7-1-5) $1,461.40 *

THIRD-1m; $22,000; mdn cl($15,000); 3up

Off: 1:20. Good. bid, going away

Time: 23.59, 48.76, 1:14.68, 1:27.41, 1:4.06.

Trainer: Cathal Lynch

Winner: DK B/ G, 4, by Rock Slide-Singing Sword

Scr: Neon Tan.

Horse

Wt.

PP

1/4

1/2

Str.

Fin

Jockey

Odds

Rock Ptarmigan

123

5

7

6

1 2

1 5 3/4

Arroyo

0.80

Deputy Dillon

123

4

4

3

2 2 1/2

2 1 1/4

Cruz

12.20

Belle's Big Boy

116

7

9

9

5 4

3 1 1/2

Castillo

16.20

Magical Dreamer

123

2

3

4

3 1/2

4 1 1/2

Carmche

7.20

Dark Invader

123

6

2

2

4 1

5 5

Flores

6.90

Truly a Champ

116

3

6

7

6 2

6 nk

Montnez

7.00

Special Energy

123

9

8

8

7 1

7 5

McMngel

8.10

Cash Sale

109

1

1

1

8 3

8 3

Suarez

30.70

Daydreamin Boy

119

8

5

5

9

9

Bermde

87.50

5-Rock Ptarmigan

3.60

2.60

2.40

4-Deputy Dillon

8.80

5.80

8-Belle's Big Boy

6.80

* $1 Pick 3 (3-7-5/7) 3 Correct $104.50 * Exacta (5-4) $30.20 * Trifecta (5-4-8) $250.40 *

FOURTH-7f; $23,000; cl($7,500); 3up; (f&m)

Off: 1:48. Good. drop whip, drew off

Time: 22.94, 46.6, 1:11.32, 1:24.47.

Trainer: Eberd Estrada

Winner: GR/RO F, 4, by Imperialism-Isola Mia

Horse

Wt.

PP

1/4

1/2

Str.

Fin

Jockey

Odds

Seastrike

111

7

1

1

1 3 1/2

1 4

Suarez

2.20

Landlash

118

2

2

2

2 1

2 3/4

Curatolo

4.10

Easy Virtue

120

8

3

3

4 2

3 2 3/4

Arroyo

4.40

Fluxo de Caixa

118

6

6

5

5 1

4 1/2

Flores

44.60

Judiane's Jubilee

118

1

8

6

3 1 1/2

5 3 1/4

Carmche

5.60

Hula Party

115

4

5

7

7 12

6 no

Pellot

3.00

Thereisgoldahead

111

5

7

4

6 2

7 17

Bowmn

29.30

Rule the Day

118

3

4

8

8

8

Flores

14.10

Next >

1

2

3

Alan GoldbergWinner, Trifecta

Nypost.com

It’s payback at Hostess

This is a delicious irony.

The blame game is ramping up as Hostess — the maker of Twinkies, Ding Dongs and other popular snack cakes — and its unions headed to bankruptcy court today to square off over whether the company can scrap its labor agreements.

Teamsters Vice President Ken Hall is pointing the finger of blame at hedge fund Silver Point — one of Hostess’ biggest secured creditors — saying the firm would rather force the bakery to liquidate than restructure in bankruptcy.

“I believe they want to make their money and run — unfortunately, with little regard to the 19,000 workers,” Hall told The Post yesterday in an interview.

That’s rich, considering the unions blocked Silver Point from backing a management-led buyout of Hostess in 2008, when it landed in bankruptcy for the first time.

The Teamsters instead threw their weight behind investment firm Ripplewood Holdings, which drove the business into Chapter 11 for a second time in January.

This time around, Silver Point is providing Hostess with bankruptcy financing, giving it more say over the fate of the business.

In what is a double irony, the Teamsters are now being advised by Harry Wilson, a former Silver Point partner who was forced out of the firm in 2008 because of a string of bad investments.

A source close to Hostess also said the senior creditors, including Silver Point and Monarch Capital, are the biggest obstacle to a deal.

However, Silver Point denies any suggestion that this is some sort of payback.

“The lending group, of which Silver Point is one of many members, has provided tremendous support to the company over many years, and any suggestion that it desires to liquidate the company is completely unfounded,” according to a statement from Silver Point.

Silver Point and other secured creditors have provided Hostess with $104 million in emergency loans.

If the two sides can’t reach a compromise before the judge rules following the two-day trial, there is a high risk of liquidation.

In that scenario, the world’s biggest bakery, Grupo Bimbo, may pay more than $200 million for Hostess’ snacks business — potentially enough to give Silver Point a significant recovery, according to one banker.

Meanwhile, Hostess CEO Greg Rayburn said the proposal Hostess made Saturday to its unions that would cut pension liabilities by 75 percent was approved by Silver Point and the other secured creditors. He said the Teamsters’ counteroffer yesterday, which called for a 40 percent cut, was unsatisfactory.

“We’re far apart on pensions, which is the primary critical issue,” he said.

jkosman@nypost.com

Silver Point, secured creditors, secured creditors, Hostess, bankruptcy court, Silver Point.Silver Point, the Teamsters, Ken Hall

Nypost.com

Former Knicks coach Brown favored for SMU job: report

DALLAS — Hall of Famer Larry Brown has emerged as the leading candidate for the vacant head coaching position at Southern Methodist University, The Dallas Morning News reported.

The 71-year-old former Knicks coach met with university officials at the Dallas school over the weekend, telling the paper Monday that the visit went “great” and was “more than I ever imagined.“

According to Yahoo! Sports, the sides are so far along that Brown has already started reaching out to potential assistant coaches.

Kentucky coach John Calipari, an assistant under Brown at Kansas in the 1980s, is reportedly helping in the process, along with William Wesley, a top agent for Creative Arts Agency.

Kentucky assistant coach Rod Strickland is seen as a possible candidate to serve on Brown’s staff if a deal is completed.

Brown last coached in the NBA with the Charlotte Bobcats in 2010, and has not coached in college since 1988, when he guided Kansas to the national title. He then moved on to coach seven NBA teams over the next two decades, compiling a career record of 1,098-904

Brown, who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002, reached the NBA Finals with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2001, and won an NBA title with the Detroit Pistons in 2004. Brown signed a five-year contract with the Knicks in 2005, but was fired after one tumultuous season when the team 23-59.

SMU has been in search of a coach for more than a month after firing Matt Doherty, who failed to reach an NCAA tournament in six seasons.

The university is set to spend $40 million renovating its basketball arena this summer, and will move to the Big East for all sports in 2013.

Larry Brown, Southern Methodist University, The Dallas Morning News, Knicks, John Calipari, NBA, Basketball Hall of Fame, William Wesley, Rod Strickland, Charlotte Bobcats, Dallas school, Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers, Kansas, Yahoo! Sports

Nypost.com

Yankees lose to Twins, Pavano

On a night when Carl Pavano continued to kill the Yankees, Freddy Garcia let an early lead vanish and inched closer to pitching himself out of the rotation when Andy Pettitte returns.

During his four miserable years as a Yankee, Pavano killed the club that dropped $40 million on him and pitched in a paltry 26 games due to injuries his teammates publicly doubted were all legitimate.

BOX SCORE

Last night at Yankee Stadium, Pavano surfaced as a Twin and after Derek Jeter and Curtis Granderson homered leading off the first inning, the right-hander was sensational and the winner in a 7-3 Minnesota victory that was witnessed by 40,218

Anthony J. Causi

FREDDY TO GO: Yankees starter Freddy Garcia (above) grimaces as he’s lifted from last night’s game in the sixth inning after staking the Twins and former Bomber Carl Pavano to a 5-3 lead in a game they went on to win, 7-3.

Anthony J. Causi

Carl Pavano

“I better make better pitches or this is going to be a real short night,’’ Pavano said when asked about giving up back-to-back homers on four pitches to start the game.

He did better and more, providing seven innings in which he allowed three runs (all in the first) and seven hits.

The same can’t be said for Garcia, who has been shaky in two outings.

He gave up two runs in the first inning after two outs and two more in the fifth when Joe Mauer rifled an RBI double with two outs.

“The 0-2 to Mauer, I should have thrown a better pitch,’’ Garcia said. “It’s tough to let it happen. Bounce the pitch, that’s the bottom line and I wasn’t able to do that.’’

In two starts, the veteran righty is 0-1 with a 6.97 ERA and has given up 13 hits in 10 1/3 innings.

“We had a lead, 3-2, and they tied the game with two outs,’’ said Garcia, who gave up an RBI single to Jamey Carroll before Mauer’s double put the visitors on top.

An inning later, Justin Morneau smoked a homer to center off Garcia that hiked the bulge to 5-3. Two more runs in the eighth put the game out of reach for a Yankees lineup that didn’t score after Jeter and Granderson homered and Mark Teixeira delivered an RBI single in the first.

Pavano refused to make a big deal out of returning to The Bronx or facing the Yankees in the regular season for the first time since 2009 with the Indians.

“No, it wasn’t about coming in here and putting anything behind me,’’ said Pavano, whose contributions after signing his four-year Yankees deal put him in the argument as to who is the biggest pinstriped bust of all time. “Everything I went through is behind me.’’

And that’s where Garcia can find Pettitte. The veteran lefty’s breath can’t be felt on the necks of Phil Hughes and Garcia, but Pettitte is progressing at a pace that could have him a Yankee by the second week of May.

“Today I felt better [than his first start last week]. Hopefully, the next one will be better,’’ said Garcia, who is slated to pitch Saturday against the Red Sox at Fenway Park.

As for Pavano, Jeter was impressed.

“He knows how to pitch, he mixes it up and doesn’t throw many pitches over the plate,’’ said Jeter, who went 2-for-4. “He pitched well ... The only problem he has ever had was his health. He throws whatever he wants to whoever he wants. He pitched well. You can’t take anything away from him. He left a couple of balls up in the first but he settled down. He deserves a lot of credit.’’

george.king@nypost.com

Carl Pavano, Freddy Garcia, Andy Pettitte, Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson, Joe Mauer, Yankee Stadium

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The Post's All-Staten Island boys basketball honors

Curtis took back the SIHSL tournament title, which it has now won two of the last three years and a record nine times overall, despite losing arguably its best player, Hassan Martin, to injury. But it wasn’t just all about the Warriors on Staten Island.

St. Peter’s stunned Mount St. Michael in the regular season and later advanced to the CHSAA Class AA intersectional quarterfinals, Moore Catholic made the CHSAA Class A semifinals and CSI/McCown had its best season ever. Monsignor Farrell and McKee/Staten Island Tech remained contenders in the competitive borough.

Denis Gostev

Curtis' Dashawn Richmond is The Post's All-Staten Island boys basketball Player of the Year.

Denis Gostev

Curtis' Richard Buckheit is The Post's All-Staten Island boys basketball Coach of the Year.

All-Staten Island boys basketball Player of the Year: DaShawn Richmond, Curtis

There was no better showcase for the rugged 6-foot-3 wing than the SIHSL tournament. Richmond displayed why he was so important to Curtis for three seasons. He hit long jump shots, banged inside for rebounds and putbacks, handled the ball on the perimeter and played lockdown defense. Most importantly, he finished games strong, leading the Warriors to their second Island crown in three years.

In the semifinal win over McKee/Staten Island Tech, Richmond had 10 of his team’s 20 points in the fourth quarter and in the finals rout of St. Peter’s, he poured in 18 of his 23 points after halftime.

“He’s the go-to guy,” Curtis coach Rich Buckheit said of Richmond, who will attend junior college. “It’s the same old ‘Day-Day’ – he definitely shows up when we need him.”

All-Staten Island boys basketball Coach of the Year: Rich Buckheit, Curtis

He lost his most talented player – junior forward Hassan Martin – to a torn finger ligament in mid-December, yet still guided Curtis to another PSAL Staten Island A division title, its second SIHSL crown in three years and a near upset of citywide power Lincoln in the PSAL Class AA quarterfinals.

The demanding, intense and yet easy-to-deal-with fourth-year coach has turned the St. George program into more than just Staten Island’s best – he’s made them omnipresent in New York City by raising the expectations and venturing off the Island to face elite foes. Curtis isn’t just Staten Island’s best anymore. It is a threat to the PSAL’s elite from Brooklyn, Queens and The Bronx, a goal of Buckheit’s when he took over.

FIRST TEAM

G Andrew Cannon, St. Peter’s

The 6-foot-3 sharpshooter was thrust onto the city scene when he dropped 22 points on Mount St. Michael and beat the Mountaineers with a 3-pointer at the buzzer. Cannon led St. Peter’s to the SIHSL final and the CHSAA Class AA intersectional quarterfinals.

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CHSAA Class AA intersectional, Hassan Martin, Hassan Martin, Staten Island, Rich Buckheit, Richard Buckheit, SIHSL, Monsignor Farrell, the Warriors, Richmond, Curtis

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