Allgemein » Hurl; Taman has used both the draft and free agency

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- It was turkey time at the Charleston Classic for Wake Forest ??? and not just because its November.Demon Deacons coach Danny Manning said assistant coach Randolph Childress challenged their players to get three defensive stops in a row. We called it a turkey, Manning said.Wake Forest picked up several turkeys Sunday night in a 78-61 victory over College of Charleston to finish third in the eight-team tournament.Manning said he wanted his players focused on defense and Childress found a catchy way to do that. We had three turkeys in the first half, Manning said. Not sure how many we had in the second half, but the guys kind of rallied around that. I think were going to try and use that all year long.Especially if it leads to more defensive efforts like Wake Forest (4-1) had in beating the Cougars (3-2).The Deacons held Charleston to 33.3 percent shooting overall and 27.8 percent on threes. They had five blocks and out-rebounded their opponents 36-30 in finishing 2-1 at TD Arena.Bryant Crawford scored 12 of his 17 points in the second half and John Collins added 15 points for Wake Forest.The Demon Deacons took control against the home-standing Cougars with a 15-6 run over the final six minutes of the opening half. They kept the pressure up after the break as Crawford had a 3-pointer and a three-point play to build a 62-42 lead midway through the period.College of Charleston (3-2) sliced that margin in half with 10 straight points, but could get no closer to lose for a second straight game.The shots were just falling, Crawford said. Coach gets on me a lot about missing layups, but today I made them.Crawford ended 7 of 12 from the field and had two of Wakes eight 3-pointers.Joe Chealey led Charleston with 19 points.Wake Forest closed an up-and-down event on a high note. It opened by hitting the 100-point mark for the first time eight years with a 103-81 victory over UTEP, then fell 96-77 to No. 3 Villanova despite shooting 50 percent from the field.This time, the Deacons mostly clicked throughout against the pesky Cougars. They finished over 50 percent (28 of 54) from the field, the fourth time in five games with such a high percentage.BIG PICTUREWake Forest: The Demon Deacons have a large group of athletic young players like sophomores Bryant Crawford, Keyshawn Woods and John Collins and freshman Brandon Childress who all saw extensive action at the Charleston Classic -- minutes that will serve them well once Atlantic Coast Conference play starts in five weeks or so. The 6-foot-10 Collins has led the Demon Deacons in four of five games this season, including all three at TD Arena this week.College of Charleston: The Cougars have to find their scoring touch if they hope to make a run in the Colonial Athletic Association this winter. Charleston shot less than 29 percent in a loss to UCF on Friday night and was struggling to make shots once more against Wake Forest.LOTS OF DEACONSWake Forest coach Danny Manning used 11 players, in part because of early foul trouble for starters Dinos Mitoglou and John Collins. Still, the team got solid showings from players not typically in the rotation. I really like our balance, Manning said. For us to get a win with John only playing 14 minutes and Dinos only 17, I think that speaks volumes to the balance we have on our team.COLD CHARLESTONCollege of Charleston struggled with its shooting throughout the tournament, something the Cougars know must improve in a hurry. Its early, Charleston guard Joe Chealey said. Its only the first five games of the season. Weve got to trust the process.UP NEXTWake Forest returns home to play Coastal Carolina on Wednesday night.College of Charleston travels to No. 3 Villanova on Wednesday night.---More AP college basketball: www.collegebasketball.ap.org John Brooks USA Jersey . James, who turned 29 on Monday, injured his groin Friday during the Heats overtime loss at Sacramento. He sat out the following game, a 108-107 win Saturday in Portland, before coming back to help send the Nuggets to their seventh consecutive loss. Graham Zusi USA Jersey . The Americans, skipped by John Shuster, seized the advantage in the eighth end by scoring five points for a 7-3 lead. The Czechs pulled two back in the ninth, but Shusters team of third Jeff Isaacson, second Jared Zezel and lead John Landsteiner ended with another point to secure the last Olympic berth on offer. http://www.usasoccerauthority.com/bill-hamid-usa-jersey/ . Arsenal failed to take full advantage of its main rivals stumbles on Saturday as substitute Gerard Deulofeu levelled with a hard shot from a tight angle in the 84th minute to give Everton a deserved point. Ahead of a crucial fortnight that will see them play against Napoli in the Champions League, Manchester City and Chelsea, Arsenal leads by five points ahead of Liverpool and Chelsea. Eric Lichaj USA Jersey . The Canadian squad, skipped by Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg, got on the board first with two in the second end, and followed that with two more apiece in the fourth and sixth ends. Justin Morrow Jersey .ca! Hi Kerry, Heres an interesting one. I know its common knowledge that all players are responsible for their sticks. We witnessed that when Zack Kassian hit Edmontons Sam Gagner in the face after a missed check.The pressure is on for the 2013 Saskatchewan Roughriders; and it comes in two distinct forms. First and most obvious, to have a great season; one that generates sold out stadiums and propels them to the Grey Cup. Second is to win the Grey Cup at home; just like the BC Lions did in 2011 and the Toronto Argonauts in 2012. Throughout CFL history hosting a Grey Cup used to be a detriment to the host team, proven by the fact that so few of them won the game. Obviously that hasnt been the case recently. In both the Lions and Argos wins, the atmosphere was what I remember most. There were between 55,000 and 65,000 people, all in a good mood - as you know, the Grey Cup is a party with a football game, not necessarily the other way around! The same atmosphere can be created at Mosaic Stadium, Taylor Field. And if the Roughriders can make it to the Grey Cup, I will say this: it will be even more of a home field advantage then what the Argonauts and Lions experienced in 2012 and 2011. The Riders did only finish 8-10 last season, but at the risk of sounding too optimistic, it was a good 8-10. I thought Cory Chamblin did a good job as a first year head coach, they found a running back in Kory Sheets, and defensively the only team that allowed fewer points was BC. The Riders were also second in total yards against, second in passing yards against, and third in rushing yards against. Offensively, they had the second fewest two and outs and were second best in the red zone. After those positive points there is a lot to improve upon. Priority one is pass offence (seventh in the league). I thought the turning point off the season was the injury to Jock Sanders.dddddddddddd He has an acceleration/power balance that was a difference maker last year; the Riders need him for all 18 games this year. So far this year the best person in the organization is not a player, but rather General Manager Brendan Taman. He is on a roll in terms of finding and signing effective personnel. From Brendon LaBatte to Xavier Fulton, Geroy Simon to Sam Hurl; Taman has used both the draft and free agency very effectively. The defensive line for the Riders could be special this year; Tearrius George and Keith Shologan at tackles, and new defensive ends Ricky Foley and the returning John Chick. Rey Williams will also make a difference at linebacker with leadership and commitment to winning. The way the season ended was nothing short of heart-breaking for Rider faithful. They had Calgary beat but one combination of hesitation and a poor angle and it was the Stampeders with a six-point win instead of a one-point loss. It is easy to make a solid argument for any of the four teams to finish first in the West: Edmonton has a true quarterback in Mike Reilly, BC dominated in 10 of the top statistical categories in the league last year; Calgary will return with the a team that finished 12-6 and made it to the Grey Cup; and the Riders, in Chamblins second year, have better personnel at defensive end and a proven running back. And yes, they also have the best fans in the country; it makes a difference. I like Toronto to win the East and the team that stays the hungriest over the next 21 weeks will win the West. Could that be Saskatchewan? ' ' '