Division III basketball players sent to hospital after grueling workout

RIVER FOREST, Ill.>> A Division III suburban Chicago college postponed two men’s basketball games last week after a rigorous workout sent five players to a hospital.

Concordia University Chicago in River Forest also temporarily removed coach Steve Kollar, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Athletic director Pete Gnan sent a letter to parents Thursday, explaining what happened after a late December trip to California, where the team played two games. He said the team was put through a “particularly high-intensity, collegiate-level circuit training” on Dec. 31.

“It has been alleged by some that the intensity and difficulty of Saturday’s practice was a direct consequence” of players breaking curfew while in California, Gnan said.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether any players were still in the hospital.

Browns leave Clowney behind for Steeler finale

CLEVELAND>> Jadeveon Clowney’s season is officially over — not that there was much of a question.

The Cleveland Browns did not bring Clowney on their trip to Pittsburgh for the season finale.

Clowney effectively ended his second season with the Browns during an interview with cleveland.com this week when he said he felt the Browns undervalued him and were more focused on making Pro Bowl defensive end Myles Garrett look good at his expense.

Setién’s Villarreal beats Real Madrid 2-1

BARCELONA, Spain>> This will be one for Quiqué Setién to savor.

His Villarreal beat Real Madrid 2-1 in a victory that will help rehabilitate the credentials of a coach who spent more than two years away from soccer following his short and painful stint in charge of Barcelona.

Injured Djokovic advances to the final in Adelaide

ADELAIDE, Australia>> Novak Djokovic beat Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-4 on Saturday to advance to the Adelaide International final despite sustaining a leg injury during the match.

In the seventh game of the first set, Djokovic caught his left foot when sliding for a ball and immediately began stretching out his hamstring.

Swiss ace Marco Odermatt wins Cup giant slalom

ADELBODEN, Switzerland>> Marco Odermatt won the World Cup giant slalom in unseasonably warm weather.

Odermatt, the Swiss Olympic champion, protected his first-run lead in fading light and even extended it with the fastest second-leg time to finish 0.73 seconds ahead of Henrik Kristoffersen.

Deschamps extends contract as France coach

PARIS>> After leading France to another World Cup final, coach Didier Deschamps is signing up for another shot at the title, prolonging his contract to July 2026.

Deschamps, a World Cup winner as a player, took over as coach of Les Bleus in July 2012 and led France to the World Cup title in 2018 and the 2022 final where France just lost to Argentina.

Kaillie Humphries of U.S. keeps monobob series lead

WINTERBERG, Germany>> Kaillie Humphries of the U.S. remained in the World Cup monobob season points lead Saturday, after finishing second to Germany’s Laura Nolte in the first race of 2023.

Nolte got her second consecutive win, both times with Humphries finishing second.

— Denver Post wire services