Briefly: College basketball teams open up with Midnight Madness

The college basketball season has begun.

From North Carolina's "Late Night With Roy" event in Chapel Hill, N.C., to Kentucky's "Big Blue Madness" that drew a packed crowd to Rupp Arena, Friday night featured a busy schedule of Midnight Madness-style events around the country that stand as the ceremonial kickoff to the 2016-17 season.

Similar events took place at Michigan State, Arizona, Maryland, Iowa State and Connecticut, among other schools. The rules used to require a midnight start. No more. Heck, Kansas had MidnightMadness on Oct. 1.

Coming off a loss in the NCAA championship game, the Tar Heels held their "Late Night" event in front of a crowd of more than 15,000 fans at the Smith Center. Hall of Fame coach Roy Williams drew a standing ovation, of course.

In Lexington, Ky., Kentucky coach John Calipari found himself amazed at the enthusiasm as he introduced his latest class of high school All-Americas. But first famed announcer Michael Buffer intoned, "Let's get ready for roundball."

"Wow," Calipari said. "You people are crazy. Look at this place. Only you, only here."

Opened a loser: Bob Bradley, the first American coach in the 24-year history of the Premier League. His Swansea team lost 3-2 to Arsenal in his first game.

Regained status: Caroline Wozniacki, former No. 1 player in the world who reached the Hong Kong Open final by beating Jelena Jankovic 6-3, 6-4. She's 14-3 since making the U.S. Open semis.

Signed on: Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith, whose absence from preseason because of contract talks had become contentious. He signed a four-year, $57 million deal and is expected to be a starter.

Goalkeeper Hope Solo says she's received offers to play overseas and could even continue her career in Sweden, where fans were enraged when she described their national team as "cowards."

Talking on Swedish television network SVT, Solo said she was still reeling from being kicked out by the U.S. Soccer Federation and suggested it was partly because of her advocacy for women's rights.

"I don't really know where I'm going with my life right now," she said. "It is still very painful.

And about that "cowards" line?

"It wasn't very Olympic-spirited," Solo said.

Bernhard Langer birdied the final four holes for his second straight 5-under 67 and a two-stroke lead in the PGA Tour Champions' SAS Championship in Cary, N.C.

Langer had a bogey-free round in the regular-season finale. The 59-year-old German star leads the tour with four victories this season.

Alison Lee took a three-stroke lead in the LPGA KEB HanaBank Championship in Incheon, South Korea, putting the 21-year-old UCLA student in position for her first victory.

NBA: Washington Wizards center Ian Mahinmi is expected to miss four to six weeks after undergoing knee surgery. He was hurt in Thursday's exhibition game against Philadelphia.

Auto racing: Kyle Busch led 150 of the 200 laps and won the Xfinity Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway. It was his ninth Xfinity win of the season. Eliott Sadler finished second and Daniel Suarez third; each is in the playoffs' three-race round of eight.

NFL: Carolina quarterback Cam Newton was cleared from the NFL's concussion program and can play Sunday when Carolina visits New Orleans.

3The first two times he touched the ball Saturday, Lionel Messi didn't score. But that third time, he indicated that there's no rust after three weeks out of action because of a right groin strain. Messi scored inside of four minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute, propelling Barcelona to a 4-0 rout of Deportivo La Coruna in the Spanish La Liga.