The Palm Beach Post from West Palm Beach, Florida • C1

PAGELABELTAG The Palm Beach POSt Saturday, March 19,2016 Sports Panthers face tough test next four games Story, C2 Ravens player dies in Miami after accident Story, C3 Sports editor: Mark Bradley (561) On the web: palmbeachpost.com MIAMI DOLPHINS You won't believe what fans would be willing to give up to see their team win a Super Bowl. Check out the "Daily Dolphin" blog for the latest. MIAMI HEAT Whydid Joe Johnson pick the Heat as his new team? Read the full story in the "Heat Zone" blog. MIAMI HURRICANES Follow reporter Matt Porter on Twitter mattyports for live coverage of today's Miami-Wichita State game from Providence. ONLINE EXTRAS NFL DOLPHINS NBA HEAT Aponte accepts job's challenge with, is I'm someone who is power hungry and looking toward taking things over," Aponte told The Palm Beach Post on Friday in her first interview with the South Florida media since joining the Dolphins six years ago.

Aponte had just finished addressing the NFL's first Women's Career Development Symposium at the Boca Raton Resort and Club, site of the league's annual meetings Dolphins continued on C6 In sport ruled by men, VP has earned respect during her long career. By Hal Habib Palm Beach Post Staff Writer BOCA RATON She's the only woman among a hundred men on the Dolphins' practice field, so naturally eyes are cast her way. She has survived a couple of regime changes, climbing the ladder but also raising ques- Dawn Aponte, in a rare interview, talks about what it's like for her in the Dolphins' front office. tions of how and why. And the fact she has remained publicly silent her entire tenure with the Dolphins has only raised intrigue surrounding Dawn Aponte, who manages to keep both a high and low profile at MORE DOLPHINS INSIDE Ex-Colts receiver Whalen signed to add depth, C6 the same time.

Aponte was involved in the interview process that landed coach Adam Gase and is one of the most powerful women in the NFL, and the fact some don't like it, well she's well aware of that. "One of the things that I found being a perception, which I don't necessarily agree Next opponent not a After surviving a play-in, then ousting Arizona, Wichita State shock has UM's attention. By Matt Porter Palm Beach Post Staff Writer PROVIDENCE, R.I. Someone suggested to Jim Larranaga that Wichita State's previous opponents may have taken them lightly. Boy, did he find that idea distasteful.

"Why?" Larranaga asked incredulously, furrowing his brow, Bronx voice booming. "Because you looked at the seed? You don't look at the seed and say someone is good." His underlying message: We're well aware of Wichita State. The Hurricanes (26-7), who meet the Shockers at 12:10 p.m. today (CBS) in a second-round NCAA Tournament game, say their opponent's line on the bracket is utterly meaningless. Why? Look at the numbers, watch the tape they are way better than the selection committee believed.

"I don't have to convince my players of anything," Larranaga said. "This team is every bit as good as they were when they made it to the Final Four" in 2013. They are the No. 1 defensive team in the nation according to stats both traditional (59 points per game allowed) and modern (No. 1 in KenPom defensive efficiency).

On Selection Sunday, they were No. 11 in KenPom overall. And yet, the Shockers Hurricanes continued on C4 TODAY'S GAME No. 3 Miami vs. No.

1 1 noon, CBS ALSO INSIDE Middle Tennessee surprises No. 2 seed Michigan State, C5 Iowa wins thriller with Temple on last-second OT putback, C5 LeBron James took the night off when the visiting Cavaliers lost 99-84 to the Heat on Dec. 5. rick BOWMER ASSOCIATED PRESS LeBron likely to play tonight James still seeking first victory in Miami since returning to Cleveland. By Jason Lieser Pal Beach Post Staff Write MIAMI If LeBron James actually takes the court tonight against the Heat, it won't be to appease anyone.

James surely wasn't bothered by the uproar in Miami over him sitting out simply for rest when the Cavaliers came to town in December, just like he doesn't flinch when people run wild with his cryptic, passive-aggressive Twitter and Instagram posts. The most recent hullabaloo occurred when James came back to South Florida during a recent break in the schedule and spent part of that trip working out with Dwyane Wade. When James got back to Cleveland for practice later in the week, he brushed off the supposed controversy like it was nothing. "LeBron don't care," Wade Heat continued on C2 TODAY'S GAME Cavaliers at Heat, 7:30 p.m., Sun Sports BASEBALL MARLINS Realmuto is atypical at catcher Former three-sport star's athleticism and speed break mold. Miami Herald KISSIMMEE Most outfielders don't hurry as much to play a ball hit by a catcher into the gaps or down the lines.

But they're learning they have to when J.T. Realmuto does. Since earning the starting job behind the plate for the Marlins last season, Realmuto, a three-sport standout in high school in Oklahoma, has displayed a combination of athleticism and speed rare for catchers. "I'm sure a lot of these guys you see now in baseball now are multi-sport guys, but you don't see it as much at catcher," Marlins manager Don Mat-tingly said. "It's going that Marlins continued on C6 lr rr Guard Fred VanVleet's 1 6 points led Wichita State in the first-round victory over Arizona.

The Shockers struggled this season while VanVleet recovered from a hamstring injury, charles krupa associated press COLLEGE FOOTBALL FLORIDA STATE Troubled linebacker looking good, Fisher says ranked outside linebacker prospect in the country coming out of Miami's Booker T. Washington High School. "He can help us," defensive end DeMarcus Walker said. "He can help this team, not just the defense. A lot." Thomas was billed as one of those rare talents with size (he's 6-foot-3, 224 pounds), strength, speed and quickness.

He was one of the most sought-after players in the country following his senior season. Everybody believed he would make an immediate impact and blossom into a once-in-a-generation type of player. Seminoles continued onC4 Touted as freshman, Thomas has big chance to emerge as senior. ByTom D'Angelo Palm Beach Post Staff Writer TALLAHASSEE Matthew Thomas is nearly out of chances. The one-time can't-miss prospect has missed big time since arriving at Florida State in 2013, playing in 12 games in three years because of injuries and, more troubling, suspensions.

Now Thomas, who will be a senior in the fall, will have one more chance to show the potential he had as the top- Noles linebacker Matthew Thomas made this tackle against Bethune-Cookman early in his freshman season but wound up playing only four games because of a shoulder injury, stacyreveregetty images.