Nathan Fenno

Indiana befuddled by Syracuse’s 2-3 zone

The means of exit seemed especially painful for Indiana. The powerful offense that ranked among the country's top-10 teams in points, field goal percentage and 3-point shooting crumpled against Syracuse's fluid, adaptive 2-3 zone defense.

March 29, 2013

Nationals 2013: The goal: From good to great

White cinder block walls lead the way. Past the security guard in need of a cup of coffee just after 8 a.m. on a cool March morning. Through the makeshift clubhouse kitchen at Space Coast Stadium where three plug-in griddles serve up pancakes and eggs with toppings stored in plastic containers.

March 28, 2013

FENNO: Student-athletes’ cups run dry as NCAA fills up

March is played under the charade of amateurism, with enough shameless mentions of "student-athletes" to make you spit your beverage back into that NCAA-regulated cup while they further their university's educational mission hundreds of miles from campus classrooms.

March 28, 2013

FENNO: Adversity has slowed Indiana’s Maurice Creek, but love for game remains

Three serious injuries in 22 months transformed the one-time top-50 prospect from Oxon Hill who graduated from the Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va., into a role player scrounging minutes.

March 27, 2013

FENNO: RG3 may be an extraordinary human, but he’s not superhuman

Sure, Robert Griffin III wears Superman socks and stocks his locker with action figures from the Incredible Hulk to Captain America. But he's human, one whose right anterior cruciate ligament has been repaired twice since 2009.

March 25, 2013

FENNO: March disappointment shouldn’t obliterate all Georgetown accomplished

By now, sifting through the wreckage of another Georgetown early exit from the NCAA tournament is as much of a March tradition as hand-wringing over busted brackets, shrieking announcers and on-court dancing of questionable proficiency.

March 24, 2013

FENNO: Former VCU star Joey Rodriguez keeps Final Four run close

Six games follow Joey Rodriguez. Each day seems to bring another person asking about Virginia Commonwealth University's shock run to the Final Four two years later.

March 20, 2013

FENNO: Hoyas already have exceeded expectations, but they want more

Georgetown lost out on big-time recruit Nerlens Noel. Its leading scorer, Jason Clark, graduated. Another gifted contributor, Hollis Thompson, departed a year early to pursue professional basketball. And somehow Georgetown improved.

March 17, 2013

FENNO: Salary cap penalty an NFL fight Redskins can’t win

This used to be the time of year when Dan Snyder's Bombardier BD-700 jet with the Redskins helmet on the tail zipped across the country and scooped up big-name free agents. For better, but usually worse, the Redskins owned free agency.

March 13, 2013

FENNO: Nationals fans, hold off on Anthony Rendon fever

How quickly we forget the spring training sensation is just 22 years old with 133 professional at-bats to his credit, thanks to last season's serious ankle injury.

March 11, 2013

Nationals notes: Zimmermann’s difficult outing doesn’t raise alarm

Spring training statistics don't matter. Really, they don't. That's why Jordan Zimmermann stood in the Washington Nationals' cramped clubhouse Friday afternoon at Space Coast Stadium without a hint of concern on his face.

March 8, 2013

Nationals notes: Short stint for Gio Gonzalez before WBC

Caution over rules for the World Baseball Classic limited Gio Gonzalez to 42 pitches Thursday afternoon in his final Washington Nationals start before joining Team USA.

March 7, 2013

John Lannan moves on from Nats to new opportunity with Phillies

Lannan holds no grudges against the Nationals and insists baseball decisions can't be taken personally. Time has made those words easier.

March 6, 2013

Nationals notes: Roy Halladay, Phillies ‘slip’ message to rivals

A mini-kerfuffle unfolded between the Nationals and Phillies on Wednesday after Stephen Strasburg hit Chase Utley's back ankle with an errant fastball.

March 6, 2013

Nationals notes: Rafael Soriano makes quick work of spring debut

Soriano's first outing progressed with the same efficiency that prompted the Nationals to hand him a two-year, $28 million contract to bolster the back end of an already-strong bullpen.

March 5, 2013

Dan Haren welcomes spring training struggles

Extra work, even a few pitches Tuesday against the Houston Astros, means more to Haren this spring with twice-daily visits to the training room and a routine designed to avoid repeating his injury-riddled 2012 campaign.

March 5, 2013

FENNO: Catholic University excels with true student-athletes

In a city of monuments, Catholic's men's basketball team is tucked in a nondescript corner of the Brookland neighborhood in the midst of a season that's more anonymous than its surroundings. All the Cardinals seem to do is win.

March 4, 2013

FENNO: Georgetown star Otto Porter Jr. won’t go unnoticed much longer

Porter thrust himself into conversation for national player of the year honors, along with Michigan's Trey Burke and Indiana's Victor Oladipo, after depositing 33 points, eight rebounds and five steals against Syracuse last week.

February 27, 2013

FENNO: Beyond reproach? Mark Emmert’s NCAA really beyond repair

For all the high-minded talk of reform and accountability, a 19-member group of college presidents, athletics directors and conference commissioners went all-in with a failed president and, by association, a broken system.

February 25, 2013

FENNO: NCAA slaps ‘lack of control’ charge on wrong institution

The Miami debacle is the latest example of the NCAA's departure from reality, an organization founded to protect the on-field safety of athletes now bravely shielding them from evils like free tattoos and being paid to sign autographs.

February 20, 2013