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|  Wys³any: 2019-01-05 06:25:45 Temat postu: Dayton, OH - The 2014 play No. 1 seed Flori
Dayton, OH - The 2014 NCAA Tournament tips off tonight at the University of Dayton Arena, as No. 16 seeds the Albany Great Danes and the Mount St. Marys Mountaineers face off in South Regions first round, with the winner advancing to play No. 1 seed Florida on Thursday. In the Midwest Region of the bracket, the ACCs NC State Wolfpack and Big Easts Xavier Musketeers will battle it out for the vacant position at UD Arena in Dayton. The winner advances through the first round and will clash with the fifth- seeded Saint Louis Billikens. You can watch live streaming coverage of both games tonight beginning at 6:40pm et/3:40pm pt, exclusively on TSN GO. Albany finished the regular season in fourth place in the American East Conference, but it blazed through the conference tournament with three straight wins, beating both top-seeded Vermont (67-58 in the semifinals) and second-seeded Stony Brook (69-60 in the championship) en route to the automatic bid. The Great Danes have played in the NCAA Tournament three previous times (2006, 2007, 2013) but have yet to earn a win. Mount Saint Marys also played the spoiler in its conference tournament. After entering the Northeast Conference Tournament as the No. 4 seed at just 13-16 overall, it pieced together three straight wins over St. Francis-Brooklyn (72-71), Wagner (77-72) and Robert Morris (88-71). The Mountaineers have also qualified for the Big Dance on three other occasions, having previously defeated Coppin State in the 2008 play-in game (69-60) before losing to top- seeded North Carolina (113-74). This marks the first-ever meeting between Albany and Mount St. Marys on the hardwood. The Great Danes lost control of a halftime lead in the America East Tournament title game but finished the game on a 23-8 run over the final 6:47 to punch their ticket. Sam Rowley led the way with 18 points on 9-of-11 shooting from the field. DJ Evans and Peter Hooley netted 16 and 15 points, respectively, while Gary Johnson tallied eight points and 10 rebounds. Scoring points hasnt been Albanys speciality this season, as it scores a mere 66.0 ppg on less than 44 percent shooting from the field, but it has excelled on the defensive end of the floor in yielding just 63.8 ppg on 41.9 percent shooting. Hooley pours in a team-best 15.7 ppg on 69-of-172 shooting from beyond the arc (.401). Rowley (11.5 ppg, 6.7 rpg) is a mainstay in the paint, while Evans (11.2 ppg) and Johnson (10.9 ppg) have also been solid. The Mountaineers made easy work of Robert Morris in the NEC championship bout, running out to a commanding 16-point lead at intermission before cruising to the easy double-digit victory. They shot a blistering 60.4 percent from the field in the triumph and had five players register in double figures, paced by Rashad Whacks 20 points. Julian Norfleet had 17 points, Taylor Danaher and Sam Prescott netted 15 apiece and Will Miller scored 11 off the bench. Mount St. Marys plays an opposite style of basketball as Albany, as it rarely has trouble filling up the scoreboard (76.2 ppg) yet leaves itself vulnerable on the defensive end of the court (78.0 ppg). The squad has a dynamic scoring duo in Whack (17.7 ppg) and Norfleet (17.5 ppg), with Norfleet also finding time to dish out 5.4 apg. Prescott rounds out the double-digit scorers by putting up 11.0 ppg. NC State made some waves in the ACC Tournament over the weekend by defeating Miami-Florida and then Syracuse to advance to the conferences semifinal round. The Wolfpack were taken down by Duke, 75-67, and were considered one of the most on-the-fence teams when it came to the tournaments selection. Xavier narrowly edged out Marquette in the Big East Tournaments quarterfinal round, but lost to Creighton, 86-78, in the semifinals. The Musketeers will need to prove their way into the field of 64. This will be the first-ever meeting between NC State and Xavier. Each team has a deep history in the NCAA Tournament, however. The Wolfpack own a 34-21 all-time record in the tournament, and were present in last seasons round of 64. Xavier comes in at 21-23 all-time, and made it to the Sweet 16 back in 2012. NC State and Duke had quite the battle going in Saturdays ACC Tournament semifinal, as the Blue Devils had just a one-point lead over the Wolfpack at the end of the first half. But Dukes defense stepped it up in the second frame by holding the Wolfpack to 35.5 percent shooting from the floor as the Blue Devils ended NC States quest for a conference title. T.J. Warren has been spectacular this season, and is now the programs all-time leader in a single season with 29 20-plus point contests. He had 21 with eight rebounds to lead the Wolfpack against Duke (his 17th consecutive 20-point game), while Lennard Freeman chipped in 13 points with nine boards and Anthony Barber scored 12 in the loss. N.C. State couldnt keep Duke from netting 57.1 percent of the teams shot attempts in the game. Warrens beastly season has led to much acclaim as he could very well enter the NBA after this season, earning ACC Player of the Year. The athletic forward is averaging an astounding 24.8 ppg for the Wolfpack, proving to be the go-to scorer when a basket is needed. He also leads the team with a 7.2 rpg average, and adds 57 steals to his season resume. Ralston Turner is the only other player on the Wolfpack roster to average a double-digit point total, netting 10.2 ppg. Barber tops the squad with 124 assists, and BeeJay Anya leads with 40 blocked shots. NC State averages 70.8 ppg through 33 games played, and gives up 69.5 ppg to opponents. Things looked bad for Xavier early on against Creighton in the Big East Tournament semifinals, as the Bluejays took a 45-33 lead into the intermission. But the Musketeers formed a comeback attempt in the second period, and started to cut into the lead as time went on. However, Creighton, behind the nations leading scorer Doug McDermott and his 32-point effort, was able to fend off Xavier down the stretch. Forward Isaiah Philmore scored a career-high 23 points for Xavier, while Semaj Christon chipped in 18 points with six assists in the loss. Justin Martin added 12 points before he fouled out of the contest. Christon, who has had his name mentioned in NBA talks as well, leads the Musketeers in scoring on the season with a 17.1 ppg average, netting 47.7 percent of his shots from the floor. He adds 138 assists on the year (second to Dee Daviss 147), and leads the team with 44 steals. Martin contributes 11.8 ppg for the Musketeers, and center Matt Stainbrook, who missed some time at the beginning of the conference tournament with a strained calf, adds 10.4 ppg with a team-leading 7.3 rpg mark. Xavier averages 72.2 ppg and allows 67.9 ppg to opponents Jim Brown Jersey . Walcott is available for Saturdays home match against Southampton as Arsenal looks to extend its two-point lead at the top of the Premier League. The Gunners are currently the second highest scorers in the league but Wenger insists Walcott will add something extra to his team. Myles Garrett Jersey . A lawmaker is hoping the buzz from California Chromes run for the Triple Crown might build support for a bill that would place the U. http://www.officialclevelandbrownsfootball.com/authentic-jarvis-landry-jersey-womens. The third-ranked Lewis, a three-time winner this year on the LPGA Tour, had a 9-under 135 total at Emirates Golf Course in the Ladies European Tours season-ending tournament. Cleveland Browns Jerseys . -- Patrick Kueng of Switzerland was nearly flawless as he captured his first World Cup and halted Aksel Lund Svindals streak of four straight super-G victories on Saturday. E.J. Gaines Jersey . -- Mississippi State was crushed twice by Florida last season, once by 35 points and the other by 25.MONTREAL - There was something special in the way that Montreal Canadiens fans embraced Saku Koivu.And the Bell Centre crowd showed it again on Thursday night with a standing ovation in a 30-minute pre-game tribute to the former Canadiens captain ahead of a game against the Anaheim Ducks.The nearly five-minute ovation brought tears to the 40-year-old Koivu, who retired after spending the last five years of his 18-year NHL career in Anaheim.I always felt that I was respected as a player and for the way I played the game, but what makes me feel humble was the way I was loved by the fans, Koivu said before the tribute. Sometimes you think about why it happened, why they took me as their own.You cant explain it, but there has been a real, unique bond between the fans in Montreal and myself. Theyve shown their passion and love and support throughout the years and really, its been amazing.The ceremony began with a scoreboard montage of photos and a mix of mostly fans and former teammates thanking him and saluting his hockey career.Koivus wife Hanna, daughter Ilona and son Aatos, his father Jukka and mother Tuire were on the ice as he gave a moving 15-minute speech without the help of written notes.Bonjour mes amis de Montreal (hello my Montreal friends), he began in French before switching to English to acknowledge another former captain, Jean Beliveau, who died Dec. 2 and who was the subject of a sombre pre-game ceremony only last week.He was the ultimate captain, Koivu told the crowd about Beliveau. When I think of the great legends that were here before my time I feel honoured and privileged to have served as captain of the Canadiens for nine years. I consider that my greatest achievement.The crowd roared when he said Montreal truly is the most exciting place to play hockey, and I will always be a Hab in my heart.The night had been planned since before the season for the night the Ducks visited the Bell Centre.He thanked every player, coach trainer and equipment man he worked with in Montreal. He thanked J.S.Tremblay, the former player and scout who convinced the Canadiens to draft him.But he choked up thanking the team of doctors who saved his life when he was struck by abdominal cancer ahead of the 2001-02 season.After being presented with a painting by the remaining Canadiens from his time in Montreal, he ended his speech in French, saying he will love the Montreal fans forever.Koivu, a gifted centre from Finland, lived through soaring highs and terrible lows in his 13 seasons with the Canadiens from 1995 to 2009.Never moreso than in 2001-02, when he was diagnosed with abdominal cancer at the start of training camp. After a season of debilitating treatments, he shocked the hockey world by returning with three games left in the regular season.At his first game back, fans stood and cheered for several minutes.Then Koivu helped the Canadiens make the playoffs as the eighth and final seed, and knock off the first-place Boston Bruins in the first round.That year, the lows I went through and then being able to come back and be a factor in the series, it was a dream come true, he told reporters earlier in the day. Its like the whole story was written before.I dont want to use the word regret, but probably the only thing (missing), and Im not only even talking about winning a Stanley Cup, is really, genuinely competing and maybe being in the finals. Because we saw that a few times, winning in the first annd second round, how this city reacts when you win.dddddddddddd That year was special.The following season, Koivu had his best campaign with 71 points, but what won the fans over even more was how he started a foundation to raise $7 million for a PET scan machine to help in cancer diagnosis for others.The story of Koivus career was great talent but terrible luck.Koivu was selected 21st overall in the 1993 draft and looked to be a scoring star in the making until his career was slowed by a series of knee and shoulder injuries. He was named captain in 1998, a job he held for 10 years.He joined the Canadiens in 1995, just in time to see the storied franchise come apart with the replacement of general manager Serge Savard and coach Jacques Demers with the inexperienced Rejean Houle and Mario Tremblay.Three months later, star goalie Patrick Roy was traded to Colorado and the team went into a downward spiral that took years to stop.That first few months, and then having the last game at the Forum and first game at the Bell Centre, I pretty much saw everything that can happen all in that first year, said Koivu. And I realized fairly quickly how big hockey is in this city and this province.There were a tough few years not making the playoffs, but in the early 2000s, I think everybody saw a complete change and turnaround. Winning the Eastern Conference one year and having talented players coming up pretty much every year. It made a difference. I think the franchise is on that path now and their future is really bright.It was frustrating and hard but at the same time Im really happy I stayed here and I was able to see the other side as well, a successful team.Another scary moment followed in the 2006 playoffs, when he was high-sticked by Carolinas Justin Williams and suffered damage to his left eye.The setbacks, and the grace and determination with which he fought back and handled them, had much to do with the affection fans developed for the first European ever to wear the C for the Canadiens.On his first game at the Bell Centre as an Anaheim Duck in 2011, he got another long ovation instead of the boos departed Habs often get on their return.I really didnt know what to expect because Id seen some former players that played somewhere else come here and the reception wasnt always as good, he said. It was a pleasant surprise.It was like coming home, and when I got the reaction from the fans, I really felt the love and respect.After the 2008-09 season, the Koivu family decided they needed a change. He signed a one-year deal as a free agent with Anaheim and ended up staying for five. It gave him a chance to play for a contender, even if the Ducks fell short of winning a Cup.He ended his career with 255 goals and 832 points in 1,124 games.He also played in four Olympics for Finland, winning a silver and three bronze medals. And he led Finland to silver at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.He and his family havent decided whether to stay in California or return to Finland. He expects to stay in hockey in some capacity, coaching perhaps, but hasnt worked that out yet either.For now, hes getting used to being a retired player, while acting as assistant coach of Aatos team.I havent lost the passion for the game, he said. I just didnt have that push, mentally, any more to play and compete and thats why I retired. But I wish that one day Ill still be part of it, in a significant role, somewhere in hockey. China NFL Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap Basketball Jerseys Online Stitched Hockey Jerseys Wholesale Baseball Jerseys Football Jerseys Outlet College Jerseys For Sale Cheap MLB Jerseys Wholesale Soccer Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys For Sale Wholesale NFL Jerseys ' ' ' |
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Dayton, OH - The 2014 play No. 1 seed Flori
