Never one to lack confidence, it has not been the easiest of seasons for Jairus Lyles. The DeMatha junior has seen his spot in the starting lineup and minutes in the rotation vary as Coach Mike Jones seeks ways to motivate the shooting guard with plenty of potential.

After a scintillating week that included what could be one of the final chapters of the Syracuse-Georgetown rivalry and another memorable finish in the Duke-North Carolina series, college basketball finds itself one month away from unveiling its 68-team NCAA tournament field.

Washington likes nothing better than a quarterback controversy, or a quarterback debate, or a quarterback scandal — even in an election year.

That’s why the very words “Peyton Manning” have the same effect on Redskins fans as that of dangling a drool-soaked tennis ball over a Labrador’s head right before tossing it in the yard.

Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky stated his request for loosened bail restrictions that would enable visits from his grandchildren during a Friday hearing in Bellefonte, Pa.

Sandusky, who is awaiting trial on 52 criminal counts for alleged child sexual abuse, is currently under house arrest.

CHARLOTTESVILLE — George Huguely V sobbed in court Friday, his shoulders shaking as he watched videotaped images of his statement to police the day he was charged with murdering Yeardley Love.

His wail sounded from the TV screen. “She’s not dead!” “There’s no way she’s dead!” he cried over and over to a detective who accused him of killing Love.

Tiger Woods wants to work his way back to the top of the golf world.

Tony Romo wants to guide his team back to prominence in the NFL.

Call ‘em Tiger and Tony (or Tony the Tiger?), but together they make the perfect pair for this weekend’s AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

Former Maryland defensive coordinator Todd Bradford agreed to a $300,000 buyout when he resigned from his position Jan. 12.  

Per the terms of his separation agreement, a copy of which was obtained via a public records request, Bradford temporarily assumed a non-football administrative position in the athletic department until Jan. 31, his final day of employment at Maryland.

After nearly two months of frequently contentious dialogue that included accusations of impropriety from one camp following their championship fight, Lamont Peterson and Amir Khan are set for a rematch, the sides announced late Thursday afternoon.

CHARLOTTESVILLE —With a 68-44 win over Wake Forest safely in hand midway through the second half Wednesday night, Virginia Coach Tony Bennett began to pull his starters. Such rest was a luxury for the 19th-ranked Cavaliers, who have relied largely on six players for the past three weeks because of injury and attrition.

This wasn’t something as simple as mere joy. Carmelita Jeter looked to be hyperventilating on the track in Thessalonika, Greece, back in the summer of 2009. With eyes bulging in disbelief, she gasped and sobbed and screamed, then fell to the track.

Linsanity shows no signs of letting up as Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin scored 38 points as New York beat Kobe Bryant and the Lakers, 92-85. Lin’s 89 points in his last three games are the most by any NBA player in his first three starts the NBA-ABA merger in 1976-77.

LeBron James was making one mistake after another in the third quarter on Friday night, from missing two easy layups to an air ball of a three-point attempt. Then when he kicked the ball out of bounds, it was all but certain at least he was paying nominal regard to the Washington Wizards, who entered as losers of five of their last six.

By the time Good Counsel star wide receiver-cornerback Stefon Diggs rolled in the door at Looney’s Pub in College Park at 7:20 p.m. on Friday night, the bar had been packed for hours.

Fans had come as early as noon to watch the five-star recruit, the All-Met Defensive Player of the Year, announce his decision to play for Maryland. By 5 p.m. it was standing room only in the main room of the bar, located just a 40-yard dash away from campus.

Stefon Diggs made official what was expected on Friday night, announcing that he will play football for Maryland. Terrapins Coach Randy Edsall, suffice to say, is happy.

More on Diggs signing with Maryland:

It is now official: five-star prospect Stefon Diggs has chosen Maryland. And the school officially announced the addition of Diggs to its recruiting class at 8:01 p.m. Friday.

Much more from colleagues Josh Barr and Paul Tenorio, but I’ll include the comments from Maryland Coach Randy Edsall.

The U.S. Soccer Federation announced Friday that the U.S. Development Academy, the top level of youth soccer, will be extended to a 10-month season from seven and not allow players to compete for high school programs. Officials say the changes are necessary to develop players of a higher caliber and move forward the growth of the sport.

Thursday night was a big one for Sidwell Friends guard Josh Hart. The 6-foot-3 junior made a game-tying shot at the end of regulation, then picked up a scholarship offer from Villanova Coach Jay Wright after the game.

Maryland athletic department officials have reached a compromise with the group leading the drive to prevent the Terrapins men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams from being eliminated. While it’s no assurance the teams will be spared, it gives boosters more time to raise the $11.57 million that the university says is required for them to do so.

In addition to having lost six in a row this season, the Washington Wizards have lost their last four consecutive games against Miami, which has lost two of its last five games, including 109-95 to Orlando on Wedensday.

With Stefon Diggs set to announce his college choice Friday night during an announcement celebration from 6 to 9 p.m. at a College Park restaurant/watering hole – an event that feels more like an NFL draft-day party than anything else – perhaps it is time to take a look back at other recent local recruiting circuses.