le Gibson starts the series opener against Detroit on Tuesday. Gibson threw a complete-game Wednesday at Atlanta.Royals: RHP Yordano Ventura starts the series opener at

Alabama players and fans both made some noise in Avery Johnsons first season as coach.The Crimson Tide knocked off four Top 25 teams, dramatically surpassed expectations and set Coleman Coliseum attendance records.Now, Johnsons challenge is to try to improve on that promising start with a blend of newcomers and transfers and only one returning player who averaged double figures in scoring last season , forward Shannon Hale.Then again, the former NBA head coach and player is also not having to get used to coaching a college team for the first time.This second year I am much more comfortable, but my wife says I work much harder, Johnson said.The Tide must replace leading scorer Retin Obasohan, top 3-point shooter Arthur Edwards and Michael Kessens. Johnson has beefed up the roster with transfers, plus point guard Dazon Ingram is back after breaking his left foot early in his freshman season.The transfer group includes former Memphis guard/forward Nick King and point guard Avery Johnson Jr., who played for Texas A&M as a freshman before joining his fathers team. Both sat out last season after transferring. Graduate transfers Corban Collins (Morehead State) and Bola Olaniyan (Southern Illinois) also joined the team.Alabama made it to the NIT in Johnsons first season despite being picked to finish 13th in the Southeastern Conference. The 18-15 record matched Wimp Sanderson (1980-81) for the most wins in a coachs Tide debut despite replacing the Tides top three scorers.Alabama is picked to finish seventh in the SEC this season.---Some other things to know about Alabamas 2016-17 team:KEEPING `EM COMING: Johnsons hiring and subsequent courtship of fans definitely paid off. Alabama set a school record with an average of 13,110 fans at Coleman Coliseum and the five home sellouts represented the most since 2006-07. The challenge will be keeping that excitement level high.FINDING SCORERS: Hale (10.8 points per game) is the only returning player who averaged more than eight last season. Obasohan carried the load with 17.6 points on average for a team that only scored 66.5 an outing. We dont have Retin in terms of one guy thats going to get us 17-25 (points), but we think we have eight guys that might be able to get us 15, Johnson said.INGRAMS BACK: The 6-foot-5 former high school Mr. Basketball in Alabama was an immediate starter, but only played in seven games before breaking his left foot. Ingram was leading the team in rebounding and shooting 54 percent from the floor when he was hurt.OUTSIDE SHOOTING: ArMond Davis, one of the nations top junior college recruits, could replace Edwards productivity as a perimeter threat. He averaged 17.1 points and 6.8 rebounds at College of Southern Idaho while hitting 38.5 percent from 3-point range. Every shot is a good shot for him, Johnson said. I think he took me literally when I said he could take and make shots from Southern Idaho, so he actually believes that. Maybe hell take and make some shots from western Alabama.GRABBING BOARDS: Alabama has beefed up in rebounders with the return of a big guard in Ingram and arrival of King and Olaniyan, who averaged 8.8 boards last season. The Tide ranked 242nd nationally with 9.9 offensive rebounds per game.---Online:AP College Basketball: www.collegebasketball.ap.orgCustom Jazz Jerseys . The Australian is competing in his final season in Formula One and still looking for his first win this year. He will look to end Vettels run of six straight race wins on Sunday. Webber, who is fifth in the championship, earned his second pole from the past three races and 13th of his career. Custom Jazz Jersey China . PETERSBURG, Fla. http://www.customjazzjersey.com/ . Ouellette, from Montreal, already has three Olympic gold medals since joining the team in 1999. Custom Adrian Dantley Jersey . The defending champion beat Gael Monfils of France 7-6 (6), 6-3, while second-seeded Andy Murray of Britain dispatched Edouard Roger-Vasselin, also of France, 6-3, 6-3. Making his first appearance since injuring his wrist a month ago, Del Potro had difficulty with his service games in the first set. Custom Jazz T-shirts . Kozun faked to the forehand and beat Monsters starter, Calvin Pickard, pad side in the second round for the winner. Spencer Abbott also scored in the shootout for the Marlies (25-13-4).KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Danny Duffy won his 10th straight decision, Eric Hosmer doubled in the go-ahead run and the Kansas City Royals beat the Minnesota Twins 2-1 Sunday for their eighth consecutive win.The Royals swept a four-game series from the Twins for the first time since 1999 and have their longest winning streak since an eight-game run Aug. 3-11, 2014.Duffy (11-1), unbeaten since June 6, improved to 5-0 with a 1.18 ERA in August. His 2.66 ERA ranks second in the American League, while his .917 winning percent tops the majors.Duffy left after 6 2/3 innings, allowing one run and a season-high eight hits while walking two and striking out four.He outpitched Twins right-hander Ervin Santana (6-10), who allowed two runs and five hits while striking out 10 and walking one over seven innings.Duffy worked out a no-out bases loaded jam in the second inning with the help of a couple of fielding gems. After Eddie Rosario struck out, Alex Gordon made a sliding catch of Kurt Suzukis fly to shallow left. Third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert snagged Danny Santanas hard hit grounder and threw out Eduardo Escobar at second base.Hosmers two-out double in the sixth over the head of center fielder Rosario scored Lorenzo Cain, who had an infield single.Hosmer singled in the second, moved to third on Kendrys Morales double and scored on Alcides Escobars ground out for the first Kansas City run.Santana has a 1.91 ERA in his past 11 starts after beginning the season 1-7 with a 5.10 ERA.Robbie Grossman and Trevor Ploufffe doubled in the third to produce the only run off Duffy.ddddddddddddKelvin Herrera pitched a perfect ninth to log his seventh save in nine chances.MOLITORS BIRTHDAYTwins manager Paul Molitor turns 60 Monday. Theres some plans being made for me, Molitor said. Ill be a willing participant. Itll be nice to have an off day and do some things with the family. But not celebrate, Im past that point.NO MAUER1B Joe Mauer, who is a career .326 hitter with 14 home runs and 111 RBI against the Royals, went 0 for 12 in the series and was not in the lineup Sunday. He grounded out as a pinch hitter in the ninth.SEEING THE LIGHTThe Twins recalled RHP Pat Light, who was acquired from Boston on Aug. 1, from Triple-A Rochester, where he had a 2.57 ERA in six outings. He appeared in two games for the Red Sox this season, giving up seven runs in 2 2/3 innings.TRAINERS ROOMRoyals: RHP Kris Medlen (rotator cuff inflammation) made a Saturday rehab start for Triple-A Omaha, allowing three runs and two hits, including a home run, and a walk in 1 2/3 innings against Nashville. He threw 22 strikes in 34 pitches.UP NEXTTwins: RHP Kyle Gibson starts the series opener against Detroit on Tuesday. Gibson threw a complete-game Wednesday at Atlanta.Royals: RHP Yordano Ventura starts the series opener at Miami on Tuesday. Ventura is 0-2 in two interleague starts, yielding 11 runs over eight innings. ' ' '