March 2006 in Sports - March 5, 2006 (Sunday)

March 5, 2006 (Sunday)

• Dogsled racing: The Iditarod XXXIV restarts in Willow. This marks the beginning of the competitive portion of the race.
• NCAA Men's College Basketball
  • (4) Villanova 92, Syracuse 82: In the first advance sellout for basketball ever at the Carrier Dome, Allan Ray scores 28 points and Randy Foye adds 21 for the Wildcats to spoil Gerry McNamara's last regular-season game. McNamara led all scorers with 29.
  • Conference championship games (winners, in bold, advance to the NCAA tournament):
    • Davidson 80, Chattanooga 55: The Wildcats exorcised the demons of last season, in which they went 16–0 in the Southern Conference but lost in the conference tournament, by crushing the Mocs.
    • Southern Illinois 59, Bradley 46: The Salukis eased to the Missouri Valley Conference title.
• Baseball: World Baseball Classic
  • Pool A: Korea defeats Japan 3–2, both advance to round two
• Baseball Hall of Fame center fielder Kirby Puckett, a superstar of the Minnesota Twins from 1984–1995, suffers a stroke in his Scottsdale, Arizona home.
• Football (soccer): Sydney FC defeats the Central Coast Mariners 1–0 in the inaugural A-League Grand Final to become 2005–06 Champions. (Fox Sports)