IN BRIEF

BASKETBALL

Wooden still improving, may leave hospital soon

John Wooden's condition improved again Thursday, and it appears the former UCLA coach will be released from the hospital soon.

The 97-year-old coaching great fell at his Los Angeles home Feb. 28, breaking his left wrist and collarbone. He was hospitalized the following day. His wrist is in a cast, and his arm will have to be in a sling when he leaves the hospital.

Wooden coached the Bruins to an unprecedented 10 NCAA championships in a 12-year span before retiring after the 1974-75 season.

Also: The NCAA imposed stiff penalties on the Long Beach State men's basketball program, including some sanctions that were self-imposed by the university.

Penalties against the 49ers include three years' probation, forfeiting their 18 victories from the 2005-2006 season, reduced recruiting and fewer scholarships.

The case involved improper benefits, improper transportation and phone contacts, unethical conduct by members of the coaching staff and a failure to appropriately monitor the program by the school, the NCAA said.

The Mountain West Conference reprimanded Utah coach Jim Boylen for comments he made about Wyoming's coach.

Boylen was outraged by a last-second dunk at the end of Wyoming's 72-64 win over Utah on Saturday in Laramie. Boylen had some heated words for Cowboys coach Heath Schroyer after the game.

Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko will miss today's game at Phoenix and is doubtful for Saturday's home game against Denver.

Kirilenko injured his right hip Monday when he was knocked down by Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki, who was called for a flagrant foul on the play.

GOLF

Bryant takes PODS lead before rain ends round

Bart Bryant birdied his last two holes for a 6-under-par 65, giving him a one-shot lead among early starters who were lucky to beat the rain in the PODS Championship in Palm Harbor, Fla.

Many golfers did not finish the first round because of a two-hour storm delay. It was scheduled to resume today.

Also: The Humane Society of the United States wants the PGA Tour to take action against player Tripp Isenhour, who is facing charges for hitting a hawk with a golf shot in Orlando, Fla., because it was making noise as he videotaped a TV show.

Isenhour was charged with cruelty to animals and killing a migratory bird, misdemeanors that carry a maximum penalty of 14 months in jail and $1,500 in fines.

MISCELLANEOUS

Roddick defeats Nadal after split with Connors

Andy Roddick used his strong serve to upset Rafael Nadal 7-6 (5), 6-2 and reach the semifinals of the Dubai Tennis Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, then announced he has split with coach Jimmy Connors.

Roddick said the eight-time Grand Slam champion resigned about a week ago because he wanted to spend more time with his family.

Roddick next will face third-ranked Novak Djokovic.

Also: Venus Williams and Jelena Jankovic reached the quarterfinals of the Bangalore (India) Open.

Williams beat Peng Shuai 6-2, 6-7 (6), 6-2, and Jankovic topped Sanda Mamic, 6-2, 6-2.

This year's Las Vegas Bowl will be played Dec. 20. The 5 p.m. game will be televised on ESPN.

The bowl pits the No. 1 choice of the Mountain West against the No. 4 finisher in the Pacific-10 Conference.

Brigham Young defeated UCLA 17-16 in last year's game, which was the bowl's third consecutive sellout.

World-record holder Paula Radcliffe withdrew from the London Marathon because of a toe tendon injury.

Radcliffe, a three-time champion in London who also won last year's New York Marathon, is expected to recover in time for this August's Beijing Olympics.