The AAC is "poised to add Wichita State in all sports except football, which it dropped" in '86. AAC member school presidents in a conference call today "will vote on the proposal of the invitation." WSU is "considered certain to get the nine needed votes among 12 league presidents." Then, it "will have to be determined when the transition can take place" (HARTFORD COURANT, 4/7). The AAC "wants Wichita State to add NCAA Tournament bids and money, add more attractive TV matchups during the regular season and boost the conference’s reputation" (WICHITA EAGLE, 4/7). The COURANT goes with the header, "Embrace Wichita State, And Here's A Shocker – Invite Dayton and VCU."

In other realignment news, UC-San Diego was informed by the Big West Conference that its "application to join the league and thus begin its path to NCAA Division I status in all sports would not be happening at this time" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 4/7).

Boston is among four cities "expected to be named a host site" for an upcoming men's hockey Frozen Four when the NCAA Site Selection Committee "awards its next four venues on April 18." The bids are for '19-22, and the winning cities are "believed to be Detroit, Buffalo, Boston and Pittsburgh." L.A. "has also been rumored to be in the mix." Next year’s event will be held in St. Paul (BOSTON HERALD, 4/7).

Meanwhile, last night's Denver-Notre Dame and Minnesota-Duluth-Harvard games at United Center drew a crowd of 19,626, the "third highest attendance in Frozen Four history and second most" for the semifinals. The "only higher attendance" for Frozen Four games was in '10 at Detroit's Ford Field. Denver will play Minnesota-Duluth on Saturday in the title game at United Center (DENVER POST, 4/7).

San Jose State has signed a six-year deal with Adidas, which will begin "outfitting all the Spartans' intercollegiate teams with footwear, uniforms and practice gear." The agreement takes effect July 1, marking the "first all-sports partnership between SJSU and a major footwear and apparel company." Terms were not disclosed. SJSU will be the "first member of the Mountain West conference to partner with Adidas." Interim AD Marie Tuite said the deal "provides our 20 sports programs with a consistent look in a quality worldwide brand and first-class apparel that will increase the awareness of San Jose State" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 4/7).

The U.S. will face Canada tonight in the Gold Medal match of the IIHF women's hockey world championship in Plymouth, Mich., where a "standing-room-only crowd of nearly 4,000" is expected at USA Hockey Arena (ESPN.com, 4/6). Throughout the tournament, the U.S. team has "drawn energy and inspiration from the outpouring of support" that "helped push USA Hockey to increase team members' monthly stipends and performance bonuses and to provide the same kind of insurance and travel provisions" afforded the men's teams (N.Y. TIMES, 4/7).

The Univ. of Minnesota is in "discussions with a production company about a behind-the-scenes television show" featuring football coach P.J. Fleck, according to a UM athletic department source. The deal "has not yet been finalized, but the sides have discussed a four-part series that the production company could distribute to the ESPN networks or another station." Fleck "mentioned the TV series in a speech to Gophers corporate sponsors" this week (STARTRIBUNE.com, 4/6). 

Rutgers revealed that its upcoming on-campus sports practice complex will cost $115M and "require the university to borrow" at least $26M. The multi-sport facility, which "includes practice space and locker rooms for the basketball, gymnastics and wrestling teams," gained final approval yesterday from the school's BOG (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 4/7).

Meanwhile, the Univ. of Miami's Carol Soffer Football Indoor Practice Facility "will begin construction in May," thanks to more than $31M raised toward the project (MIAMI HERALD, 4/7).

It's official! Ground-breaking scheduled May 4. Thank U to all IPF donors but still remain $2.5M from $34M goal.https://t.co/aWNzjHniHm pic.twitter.com/8icymmYvz6

— Mark Richt (@MarkRicht) April 6, 2017

The Tigers' home opener today against the Red Sox will "have 3,000-4,000 beyond" Comerica Park's 41,299 capacity. Temperature at the 1:00pm ET game time is "projected to be 42 degrees" (DETROIT NEWS, 4/7).

U.S. Sens. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) "sent a letter to NCAA President Mark Emmert asking the organization to rethink its stance" on not holding championship events in Las Vegas (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 4/7).

Under Armour is "laying off about two dozen employees in its Connected Fitness Unit." The affected employees are "located mostly in Copenhagen, where the Baltimore-based company purchased the fitness app Endomondo" in '15 (BALTIMORESUN.com, 4/6).

Celtics G Isaiah Thomas has signed an endorsement deal with Massachusetts-based Honey Dew Donuts, which will feature Thomas in advertising through the '17-18 season (Honey Dew Donuts).

USA Hockey has signed a multiyear partnership with online small business commercial insurance provider Insureon (USA Hockey).

The USWNT drew a "sellout crowd of 15,191 fans" for its 4-0 victory in an international friendly against Russia at Dallas' Toyota Stadium (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 4/7).

The Double-A Eastern League Akron RubberDucks have made the "switch from Pepsi to Coke" by signing a seven-year agreement to make Coca-Cola the official drink of Canal Park (OHIO.com, 4/6).

"That’s not what sports is about. That’s not how any of these guys got here. It’s not right" – Lakers coach Luke Walton, on fans who believe the team should have lost on Wednesday to improve its odds in the draft lottery (L.A. TIMES, 4/7).

"It’s very disappointing to me personally and professionally. Each of those markets has passionate fans, and each of those markets has the building blocks to support professional sports franchises and those building blocks didn’t get put together. And I was one of the people who tried, so it’s hard not to be disappointed to try in three places and not get any of them done" – NFL Exec VP/Business Ventures Eric Grubman, on the relocation of the Rams, Chargers and Raiders (MMQB.SI.com, 4/6).

"I do. My brother actually recently still suffers from concussion symptoms and he’s been out of the game for probably four years. So yeah, I worry about it. It’s definitely a scary part of the game for sure" – Bruins D Torey Krug, on whether he worries about repeated concussions (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/7).

"I just think it’s sad that Mr. Dolan treats the fans of the Knicks who are so passionate and dedicated with such aggression and disrespect" – Knicks ticket holder Michael Hamersky, on his confrontation with Knicks Owner James Dolan ("OTL," ESPN2, 4/6).

The BOSTON GLOBE writes the NCAA is "one of the most politically powerful organizations" in the U.S., as it has recently "forced legislatures to reverse course in ways that traditional political activists only wish they could." With a number of states now "considering bills similar" to North Carolina's HB2, how the NCAA will respond is "a major part of the political debate."

The SAN ANTONIO BUSINESS JOURNAL writes while some prominent people in the city have said that Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones "isn't a roadblock for San Antonio when it comes to the NFL," his actions "suggest otherwise." Now, while San Antonio "remains relegated to the sidelines, Jones and Legends will cash in their chips in Las Vegas."

Also:

• The Maple Leafs' current season is reminiscent of Brendan Shanahan's rookie year.
• The ACC has "been somewhat of a flag-bearer" in hiring female athletic administrators.
• Corporate sponsorships are "the root of all poorly named stadiums." Here's a list.
• How Accenture is handling technology for the Warriors' new facility.
• A behind-the-scenes look at the demise of the AFL L.A. Kiss.

Sources: The NBA has delivered teams a new salary cap projection for the 2017-18 season: $101M. The cap is $94.1M this season.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) April 7, 2017

I said, "Hey," and he jumps up and says he passed out from drinking too much. It's a festivus miracle!

— David Waldstein (@DavidWaldstein) April 7, 2017

Columbus is going to finish with the fourth-best record in the NHL and not have home ice in round one. That's some horse manure right there.

— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) April 7, 2017

YouTube video channels on its site must now have 10,000+ total views before the company will place ads on their videos #marketwatch

— Brad Adgate (@badgate) April 7, 2017

Villanova Univ.'s Jeffrey S. Moorad Center for the Study of Sports Law hosts the annual Sports Law Symposium from 9:00am-1:00pm ET. This year's symposium is "Sports, Media and Millenials."

Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski hosts new CBS analyst Tony Romo on his SiriusXM show at 4:00pm ET.

A 3-minute hit on the stories you need to know ... Subscribe on iTunes ... Check out our podcast home.

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Familiar Phrases.”

“Old circuses like ‘Gentry’s Equine and Canine Paradox’ gave rise to this idiom referring to any elaborate presentation.”

On last night's episode of "The Tonight Show," Jay Leno stood in for a portion of host Jimmy Fallon’s monologue. Leno said, “Quarterback Colin Kaepernick has done a complete 180. He now says he will stand for the National Anthem. He's now sitting for the games, but he's standing for the Anthem” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 4/6).

“What is a ‘dog and pony show’?”