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LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Two of the top freshmen in the country wont have a whole lot of time to get acclimated to college basketball before squaring off in an early season showdown. Try just four days each. Canadas Andrew Wiggins is the headliner for the most heralded class at Kansas in years, while Jabari Parker is the biggest name headed to Duke. The two of them will face each other Nov. 12 at the United Center in Chicago as part of a doubleheader that also features Michigan State-Kentucky. Two more programs boasting a slew of stellar freshmen. In an era of one-and-done superstars, the first-year players hitting the hardwood this season may trump any other year. Along with Wiggins and Parker, theres Kentuckys class of Julius Randle, Dakari Johnson, James Young and the Harrison brothers, Aaron and Andrew. Theres also Noah Vonleh at Indiana, Aaron Gordon at Arizona and Kasey Hill at Florida. All of them have the potential to be the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft next year. In the meantime, all of them will be trying to deliver an NCAA title. "We can be great, the best team in the country," Wiggins told The Associated Press. "We have a young team, the chemistry is really good. The first couple weeks of practice were hard for the freshmen, but everything is coming easier now, more fluid. So the potential is there." Potential is a dangerous word in college basketball. There are no sure bets. Plenty of highly touted players have flamed out before they ever earned a dime. It happens every year. But perhaps never before has a group of freshmen promised to make such a statement on the national stage. Just about every program with a chance to compete for a national championship this season will be counting on at least one first-year player to make an immediate impact. In the case of Kansas, its more than one. Wiggins may be the most recognizable name, but combo guard Wayne Selden and raw 7-footer Joel Embiid have the potential to be lottery picks. Theyre joined by a group of freshmen that includes sharpshooters Conner Frankamp, Frank Mason and Brannen Greene. "Theres as much hype around this year as any," Jayhawks coach Bill Self said, "and I think its a large part because of the unknown. Weve had other good players and other good teams return and this team hasnt proven itself at all. But the unknown has everyone excited." Kansas opens the season against Louisiana Monroe on Nov. 8, the same day Duke opens its season against Davidson. The two blue bloods -- and their blue chippers -- collide four days later. On the same floor that night will be Kentucky coach John Caliparis latest bumper crop, which some pundits believe could be the best recruiting class in college basketball history. Randle is a bruising forward who can also play the wing. The Harrisons should form a dangerous backcourt. Johnson is a talented, athletic centre. Young is the quintessential wing scorer. Just like the newcomers at Kansas and Duke, though, theyll have to get accustomed to playing with each other in a hurry. The Wildcats play UNC-Asheville and Northern Kentucky before they head to Chicago for their high-profile date with the Spartans. "Let them get on the court," Calipari said. "Weve got some tough games early. Weve got one of the best schedules in the country. Weve got one of the most inexperienced teams in the country. So it will be interesting." Vonleh, a 6-foot-9 forward, should give the Hoosiers a bruising inside presence as they chase their second straight Big Ten title. Hell compete with Michigans Derrick Walton Jr., the heir to guard Trey Burke, among others for the honour of the leagues best freshman. Out in the desert, the 6-8 Gordon is already drawing comparisons to Blake Griffin -- much to the chagrin of Arizona coach Sean Miller, who is trying to temper expectations just a bit. "Hes extremely focused. Hes somebody that is tireless in his own approach to be great," Miller said. "But yet, at the same time, because of how he plays the game and conducts himself, hes a fun guy to have as a teammate. Hes a fun guy to have as part of your program." As high as expectations are for Gordon -- California coach Mike Montgomery called him "just a monster" -- theyre just as high for Hill, who is expected to take over for Kenny Boynton and run the point for Florida. Hell join a veteran team that includes forward Patric Young. "What you can do as a coach when you have an unknown -- youve never coached a guy, youve never been in a game with a guy, never been in a huddle with a guy -- I dont know how hes going to respond in certain situations," Florida coach Billy Donovan said. "Hes going to really have to be able to understand there is going to be a lot on him, but I dont need to overwhelm him." Good luck with that, Billy. Then again, considering all the touted freshmen wholl be playing important minutes for their teams this season, there are a whole lot of coaches worrying about the exact same thing. adidas zx 700 womens cheap . MORITZ, Switzerland -- Tina Weirather owes her immense skiing talent to her parents, who were both Alpine world champions. nike roshe run slip on womens . -- Road victories dont come easily for the Atlanta Hawks. http://www.nikecheapsaleuk.com/nike-roshe-run.html . The second-year big man and 2012 top overall draft choice was diagnosed with a non-displaced fracture of the fifth metacarpal of his left hand after Sunday nights victory over the Knicks in New York. cheap nike air max trainers . The German Football Federation says Bender was injured in training in the teams camp in northern Italy. Benders injury increases problems for coach Joachim Loew in central midfield. nike air max 2015 cheap price . Stephens, who beat Serena Williams en route to the 2013 Australian Open semifinals, won nine of the last 10 games in a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Anabel Medina Garrigues in the womens singles before Isner beat Daniel Munoz-de La Nava 6-3, 6-4.TURIN, Italy -- Penalty specialists Sevilla beat Benfica 4-2 in a shootout to win the Europa League after a 0-0 draw in the final on Wednesday, claiming another international title for Spanish football. Sevilla goalkeeper Beto saved two spot kicks from Benfica forwards Oscar Cardozo and Rodrigo who failed to deceive with stutter-step approaches to the ball. Substitute Kevin Gameiro stepped up to score the decisive kick as the drama played out at the end housing Sevilla fans who have seen this story before. Sevilla had ousted city rival Real Betis on penalties in the last-16 round, and also won this competition in 2007 in a shootout. The Portuguese champion had dominated regulation time yet failed to score, and extended its streak of losing European finals to eight matches over 52 years. "The best team did not win," Benfica coach Jorge Jesus said. "Benfica players should be congratulated," Jesus said. "There is nothing I can criticize." Sevilla had seemed destined to win a competition it entered only after UEFA denied two Spanish clubs places because of financial problems. It had also been seconds from elimination in the semifinals against another Spanish team, Valencia. "We know how to suffer and we know how to fight. I think the result was fair," said Sevilla coach Unai Emery. "Its a very special evening." Sevilla, which won the competition for the third time in nine seasons, ensured Spain will sweep the season-ending European club competitions, with Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid meeting in the Champions League final on May 24. Next month Spain will defend its World Cup crown in Brazil and seek to clinch a record fourth straight major international trophy after winning the European Championship in 2008 and 2012. Benfica, however, has not won a continental trophy since its greatest player, Eusebio, inspired two straight European Cup titles in 1961 and 62. Four months after Eusebio died aged 71, the Lisbon club missed another chance to end the unwanted record. Benfica returned to the scene of its semifinnals triumph against Juventus and the match kicked off with patches of empty sets in the Italian champions stadium.dddddddddddd Three early opportunities for Sevilla broke down for Carlos Baccas lack of finishing. The Colombia forward failed to shoot when collecting a pass across the goalmouth, drifted offside in a fast break started by captain Ivan Rakitic, and then could not connect with Rakitics angled low cross. A testy spell midway through the half lacked creativity, and even Rakitics shot from the centre circle drifted well wide of goal. Benfica ended the half strongly, aided by loose play in the heart of Sevillas defence. Sevilla relied on Beto for a double save, swatting away Maxi Pereiras looping shot from close range and then parrying Rodrigos low drive. Benfica claimed a penalty when Nicolas Gaitan fell under pressure from defender Federico Fazio who poked the ball barely wide of his own goal. Poor positional play by Sevilla defenders in the 48th was redeemed by three crucial blocks in the goalmouth as Lima, twice, and Rodrigo fired shots from 10 metres (yards). German referee Felix Brych rejected repeated Benfica penalty claims, with one clean tackle on Lima bringing a shower of flag sticks thrown by Portuguese fans behind Sevillas goal. At the other end, former Arsenal forward Jose Antonio Reyes twice tested Jan Oblak around the hour mark with rising shots straight at the Benfica keeper. Sevilla needed another saving tackle in the 72th, when Coke denied Lima as the Brazilian shaped to connect with Maxi Pereiras lateral pass. Benfica again finished the half on top, and Beto leaped to tip over Limas shot in the 84th. When Beto then lost a deep cross, defender Ezequiel Garay headed over an empty Sevilla goal as the scoring chances continued to go begging. Bacca could have won it for Sevilla when breaking clear in the 101st minute but his rising shot flashed just wide. But Bacca, like his teammates, made no such mistake in the shootout - as Sevilla repeated its success on spotkicks in the 2007 UEFA Cup final against Espanyol. Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China Cheap MLS Soccer Jerseys ' ' '
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