Sports Roundup: Pistons lose 11th straight road game

The Detroit Pistons opened a four game road trip with a loss in Denver, 118-109. Greg Monroe led Detroit with 22 points to lead Detroit.  Forward Josh Smith was ejected in the third quarter after picking up two technical fouls.  Rodney Stuckey added 18 and Kyle Singler and Charlie Villanueva each had 13.  The Pistons, who have lost their last 11 games on the road, will be in Phoenix to play against the Suns tomorrow night.

NCAA Tournament

Number 2 seed Michigan will play 15^th seed Wofford tonight....6:30 Broadcast time on Sports 930 the Score.

Fourth seed Michigan State plays 13th-seeded Delaware today.   President Barack Obama has pegged the Michigan State Spartans to beat defending champ Louisville Cardinals in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. The hoopster in chief revealed his “Barack-etology” on ESPN’s “SportsCenter.” “Tom Izzo is a great tournament coach,” Obama said. “I’ve got Michigan State going all the way. … He knows how to motivate folks and he knows how to coach.” “My pick: Michigan State. Bring it home for me,” said Obama, an avid basketball player.  Broadcast time is 3:30 on WBCK-FM.

MAC Champion and 14th-seed Western Michigan tips off first against number-three Syracuse at 2:45 p.m.

Yesterday, Tennessee sent Iowa packing and Cal Poly beat Texas Southern.

The NCAA Championship game is set for Sunday, April 6th in Arlington, Texas.

Red Wings

The Red Wings host the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight. Detroit will be without defenseman Jonathan Ericsson for at least the next month after he underwent surgery on the middle finger of his left hand.  The team called up defenseman Adam Almquist from the Grand Rapids Griffins. The Wings go for two in a row at home, after Tuesday’s win over Toronto at the Joe.  Detroit is one point out of the final playoff spot in the standings.

Tigers

The Tigers visit the Washington Nationals after an off day on Wednesday. Max Scherzer gets the start.  Meanwhile, shortstop Jose Iglesias, who says he has been diagnosed with stress fractures in both shins, met with a specialist in Colorado Tuesday.   No word on the results yet. One possibility at shortstop for the Tigers, Phillies veteran Jimmy Rollins, has been ruled out because Rollins won’t waive his no-trade clause.

Reds Pitcher Hit in Head by Line Drive

The Cincinnati Reds and Kansas City Royals spring game was called after Reds closer Aroldis Chapman was hit in the forehead by a line drive. Chapman was carted off the field after he was surrounded by players, his father and Reds general manager Walt Jocketty. He never lost consciousness and suffered a laceration and possibly fractures above his left eye.  He was kept in the hospital overnight for observation.