Willkommen » ge of it.Its very important for our team, Lue

Oregon coach Dana Altman is preparing his team for the high expectations that have come with last seasons success.Oregon won a school-record 31 games while claiming the Pac-12 regular-season and tournament titles. The Ducks earned a first-ever No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and they advanced to Elite Eight for the first time since 2007.The Ducks finished the season ranked No. 5 in the nation and theyre likely to be high in the APs preseason poll. Oregon was already selected to finish atop the league in the Pac-12s annual media poll for the first time in school history.I think its something that our guys will have to learn to adjust how hard people are going to come after them. Not only within the league, but the projections on a national scale. Well have our non-conference opponents fired up to play against us, Altman said about the expectations. So, it will be an adjustment our team will have to make. Im interested to see how theyll handle it.Guard Tyler Dorsey, who averaged 13.4 points and 4.3 rebounds in 35 starts as a freshman last season, said the key will be preparation.We have to take one game at a time, be mentally prepared and focus on the opponent were going to play that night, and just come in prepared, Dorsey said. We are going to have a target on our back, so we have to be ready.The Ducks are certainly in good shape to handle the pressure. They return four of five starters from last seasons team, including junior forward Dillon Brooks, who led the team with 16.7 points per game. The only regular starter to graduate was Elgin Cook.I like our depth, Altman said. So those are the kind of things that can help you meet expectations because even if one or two players is off, we have players that have the ability to step up.FEET AT THE FOREFRONT: Brooks is expected to miss a few games at the start of the season following offseason foot surgery. Hes champing at the bit, Altman said. Hes ready to go. If it were up to him, hed be practicing right now. But well listen to the doctors.The Ducks expect to have senior guard Dylan Ennis, who missed all but two games last season because of a stress fracture in his left foot. The NCAA approved his waiver for an extra year of eligibility this summer. A transfer from Villanova prior to last season, Ennis had already used a redshirt year.GOING SMALL: Because of Brooks absence, the Ducks could go with a three-guard lineup early in the season, Altman said. But I think our guys will look at that as a challenge. Weve got good depth at the guard spots, and I think those guys will look at that as a challenge to pick up the areas that Dillon would generally do, he said.HIGH PRAISE: Arizona coach Sean Miller was complimentary of the Ducks at the Pac-12s media day in San Francisco earlier this month.There is no question with who they have returning and Dana as a coach and the success they had one year ago. We have gone through that. When you get to that level in March, you are hungry to return and get a lot of confidence. I think Oregon has all the pieces to be one of college basketballs brightest teams this year, Miller said.TOUGH NONCONFERENCE SCHEDULE: Oregon opens the season at home against Army on Nov. 11, then plays Baylor (ranked No. 21 at the end of last season) and Valparaiso before heading off to the Maui Invitational, where the Ducks join a field that includes North Carolina (No. 3 last season), Wisconsin, UConn, Georgetown, Tennessee, Oklahoma State and host Chaminade.Wholesale NFL Jerseys Free Shipping .R. Smith realized how easily basketball can be taken from him, and he wasnt going to take his place in the NBA for granted anymore. Cheap NFL Jerseys For Sale .C. -- Rodney Hood connected from all over the court while freshman Jabari Parker was busy swatting shots and scoring in transition. http://www.cheapjerseyswithwholesale.com/ . Thats not a comment on the suspension that banished the Portland Winterhawks general manager and coach from his Western Hockey League teams bench for most of the 2012-13 season. Cheap NFL Authentic Jerseys . - Levi Browns tenure at left tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers is over before it even began. Cheap Jerseys From China . Vaives lawyer Trevor Whiffen claims the former 50-goal man wasnt provided with a copy of the claim beforehand and that he would not have agreed to the allegations made against the NHL had he been asked to review its contents.CLEVELAND -- Kyrie Irving had a big game. LeBron James returned to the court. And the Cleveland Cavaliers put it all together Friday night.Irving scored 25 points and James, returning to the lineup after sitting out a game, added 21 to help the Cavaliers rolled past the Detroit Pistons 104-81.Offensively and defensively it was the best weve played all year, as far as close to 48 minutes, said James, who rested Wednesday night in a loss at Indiana.James, made 9 of 14 shots and played only 28 minutes. Irving was 11 of 15 from the field with 11 assists -- one short of his career high -- in 29 minutes.Following a slow start that saw Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue call a timeout less than 2 minutes into the game after the Pistons hit a pair of wide-open 3-pointers.Lue only smiled when asked for specifics about what he told the players, but he was clearly unhappy.He didnt like our effort to start the game, James said. We got the message and we were able to change it around.He didnt need to tell us much, Irving said. We all understood.Cleveland led by 11 at the end of the first quarter, took a 56-39 lead into halftime and continued to dominate. The Cavaliers built the lead to 33 points in the fourth quarter, allowing Lue to rest his starters for the entire final period. The defending NBA champions dont play again until Wednesday night.J.R. Smith, who returned after missing three games with a sprained right ankle, hit three 3-pointers and moved past the Mavericks Dirk Nowitzki into 15th place on the NBAs career list for 3s.Detroit coach Stan Van Gundy, who was unhappy with his teams defense and rebounding in Wednesdays loss to New York, benched his starters for the fourth quarter.There is no takeaway from tonight, we got crushed, Van Gundyy said.dddddddddddd We were just awful.Cleveland was 11 of 25 on 3-pointers and has reached double figures in all 12 games, an NBA record to start the season.Kevin Love scored 12 points and had 14 rebounds, and Tristan Thompson also had 14 rebounds.Lues early timeout paid off when Smith hit three 3-pointers, and James and Tristan Thompson scored on dunks.Jon Leuer led Detroit with 15 points. The Pistons starting five of Tobias Harris, Marcus Morris, Andre Drummond, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ish Smith combined for only 37 points.Their guys all played really, really hard, Van Gundy said. We need to find people that play that hard.TIP-INSPistons: Harris was hit with a technical foul in the second quarter. ... Van Gundy plans on sticking with a nine-man rotation until his team is at full strength. G Reggie Jackson is still rehabbing from surgery on his left knee and hasnt played this season.Cavaliers: James had three assists and is four away from passing Guy Rodgers for 17th on the career list. .... Cleveland blocked eight shots, including four by Thompson. .... G Mike Dunleavy, who didnt play against Indiana, entered the game in the second quarter. He scored five points.TAKE A BREAKThe Cavaliers wont practice the next two days, which will provide a much-welcome rest.I cant remember when I had it like this in a season, James said. Were going to take full advantage of it.Its very important for our team, Lue said. Guys should feel refreshed and healthy.UP NEXTPistons: Host Celtics on Saturday night. Detroit is 5-0 at The Palace of Auburn Hills this season.Cavaliers: Host Trail Blazers on Wednesday night. ' ' '