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Indiana spent much of last season as the favorite to at least make the Final Four -- if not win it all. But a rough outing against Syracuse in the Sweet 16 put an end to those hopes, and a number of key contributors are now on their way out. What can we expect from the Hoosiers in 2013-14?

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The Cleveland Indians are in first place in the American League Central and may be a club that looks to add to their roster to make a deep run for a playoff spot this season. They could use some starting pitching, and perhaps another reliever, too. Adding a quality starter such as Chicago Cubs right-hander Matt Garza, who just returned from the disabled list and looked sharp in his first outing, could give the rotation the boost it needs to sustain their early-season success.

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Los Angeles Dodgers skipper Don Mattingly says the club has discussed calling up prospects Yasiel Puig and Joc Pederson, both outfielders, who both are playing at Double-A Chattanooga right now, as tweeted by Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times. In other news, Mattingly adds that veteran Andre Ethier is not in the lineup Wednesday because he wants to field the team that will compete the best, Hernandez adds via Twitter.

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ESPN Watch List running back Nick Chubb (Cedartown, Ga./Cedartown) was once considered a Georgia lean, but South Carolina came into the picture and developed into a legitimate option. A third SEC program will also get one more opportunity to make an impression before Chubb announces his decision.

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Tarik Black's decision this week to transfer to Kansas will force another one of his suitors, Duke, to go with a small lineup this season.

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This isn't much of a surprise but it appears the Boston Red Sox have not discussed a new contract for centerfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, who is slated for free agency following this season. Ellsbury is a client of Scott Boras, who typically -- almost exclusively, actually -- prefers to work against the market rather than signing extensions.

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So much attention regarding LSU basketball these days is on its incoming class of talented big men and the expectations that it'll help replenish an under-manned frontcourt. Perhaps overlooked is the news Tuesday that two members of the backcourt have decided to remain in Baton Rouge after rumors of their departure in recent weeks.

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We could see a plethora of trades in the first 14 selections of the 2013 NBA draft due to a lack of top talent in the lottery. With that said, half the teams can't do anything until after they officially make the picks.

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San Jose State was falling behind in college football's arms race otherwise known as recruiting. The Spartans were only able to sign a single two-star recruit in this year's class despite finishing 11-2 with a win in the Military Bowl. Part of the the Spartans' recruiting problems stem from sub-par facilities. That is starting to change.

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Three-star offensive lineman Natrell Curtis (Phoenix, Ariz./Mountain Pointe) has offers from multiple programs residing in four of the five major conferences. Curtis isn't ready to make a decision or narrow his list, but he has five programs that he certainly wants to visit.

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Miami Marlins manager Mike Redmond says his club will "use everybody" at closer, so if you're hoping for eventual fantasy value from right-hander Steve Cishek, you may have to wait a little while.

Cishek has struggled this season -- 4.91 ERA, four losses and 26 runners allowed in 18 1/3 innings -- so the Fish will give more chances to veteran Chad Qualls and left-hander Mike Dunn.

Cishek, who saved 15 games and posted his second straight ERA under three a year ago, has been the subject of potential summer trade talks, but if he's not closing games his value isn't likely to be optimal.

Stay tuned.

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Tiny 2014 point guard Ahmaad Rorie committed to the Cal Bears as a sophomore playing at Clover Park High in Lakewood, Wash. (home of the best donut shop in the world, by the way). Since then, he transferred across town to play at Lincoln High as a junior, and now there's news that the 6-foot, 150-pounder will finish his prep career in Florida.

We have to wonder how this could impact the future for Rorie, who has been on Cal's commit list since March of 2012.

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The Cleveland Cavaliers own the No. 1 selection in the 2013 NBA draft after winning the lottery draw on Tuesday night. They are expected to select Kentucky’s Nerlens Noel, but they could also trade down or completely out of the top half of the draft, reports ESPN.com’s Brian Windhorst.

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Conferences are now in the business of creating bowls instead of just trying to negotiation bowl tie-ins. The Big Ten Conference is reportedly working hand-in-hand with Ford Field to start a new bowl game in Detroit. The American Athletic Conference may be the next league in line to develop a new bowl game.

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