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LAWRENCE, Kan. -- The expectations at Kansas begin with conference championships.They hardly end there.The Jayhawks have rattled off a dozen of those in a row, and Big 12 coaches unanimously predicted Thursday that they will add another to the streak this season. But they havent been to the Final Four since 2012, an eternity for a blue-blood program like Kansas, and are seeking their first national championship since 2008.Those are the expectations now.Any team Ive played on has always had high expectations, said five-star recruit Josh Jackson, perhaps the leading candidate to be the No. 1 overall pick in next years NBA draft. And I love to win, so Im always going to have high expectations for myself and my teammates.Just how high? How about a perfect record to go along with that national championship.Were not predicting a 40-0 season, thats just what were striving for. Thats what were trying to get to, Jackson explained. If you dont believe it, youll never get to it. That is what every team is shooting for. You dont want to lose. I dont think any team wants to lose this year.Kansas coach Bill Self shook his head at the thought of a perfect record, especially considering a non-conference schedule that includes Indiana in Hawaii followed by Duke in New York -- four days apart.But he also believes the Jayhawks have a legitimate chance to compete for a national title.Young kids havent been through it enough. They dont know how hard it is to win in Ames or Morgantown or other places, Self said during the programs annual media day. But I will say this: I really think this teams goal when they play that night, their goal should be to win every game. I dont think thats an unrealistic goal.There are plenty of reasons for such optimism.Start with the returning one-two guard combination in Frank Mason and Devonte Graham that gives Kansas perhaps the best backcourt in college basketball, then throw in another returning starter in big man Landen Lucas who can provide some leadership to the frontcourt.Now, blend in returning role players Carlton Bragg, Svi Mykhailiuk and Lagerald Vick, and the loss of veteran stalwart Perry Ellis and slashing scorer Wayne Selden Jr. is a bit more palatable.Finally, add Jackson and fellow five-star recruit Udoka Azubuike to the mix.I do think having old guys who can teach young guys, and having talented young guys in every respect, and having an unknown X-factor that can take you to a place you werent capable of going the year before is the right combination, Self said, and I think we have that.The X-factor is Jackson, who arrived carrying all the plaudits that accompanied previous one-and-dones such as Josh Selby and Andrew Wiggins. But there are some very real differences in the 6-8 forward and his predecessors, including his demeanor when hes on the court.Its not that Selby and Wiggins didnt want to win. Its just that it seems Jackson wants it more.Honestly, being in practice around Coach Self, he knows that Im kind of a special player, Jackson said, and he still never takes it easy on me. He never kisses me on my butt. Hes really hard on me and sometimes I think I need that.Bragg acknowledged he didnt know much about the tradition of Kansas before joining the program prior to last season. But he quickly learned about the great players to come before him, the tradition of winning laid out by Wilt Chamberlain and others going back decades.He needs to only gaze to the rafters of Allen Fieldhouse for a reminder.It starts to come to you, he said.Bragg also understands the weight that comes with that history. The expectations of winning the Big 12 title, which would be reasonable at just about any other school, are no longer enough.You could say that, the sophomore forward said, but everybody has a team goal and our team goal is to try to win a national championship. Until then, we just have to work hard toward it.Tommy McDonald Womens Jersey . Speaking to the Chicago Tribune at baseballs Winter Meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Boras called the former home of the Expos a "tremendous environment" for baseball. Reggie White Youth Jersey . -- Arizona knocked off some quality opponents, rolled over a few overmatched ones and grinded out victories even when things didnt go so well. http://www.theeaglesshoponline.com/Youth-Mike-Quick-Eagles-Jersey/ . - After leading the Saints to a fourth playoff appearance in five seasons, Drew Brees expressed confidence in the direction of his team and, perhaps more importantly, showed a willingness to listen to contract proposals if the team needs his help getting under the NFLs salary cap. Andre Dillard Jersey .35 million, one-year contract that avoided salary arbitration. Plouffe batted .254 with 14 home runs and 52 RBIs in 477 at-bats last season, his second as a regular in the lineup. Nick Foles Womens Jersey . -- If this was Aaron Gordons final home game at Arizona, and it almost certainly was, then he went out in style.CHICAGO -- Anthony Rizzo caught the ball for the final out and Wrigley Field erupted.Im sleeping with this thing tonight, the Chicago Cubs first baseman told the pulsating crowd moments later, kissing the prized souvenir. Are you kidding me? Were going to the World Series.Cubs ... World Series? Yes, the Cubbies!Next up, Game 1 in Cleveland.With fans chanting, singing and waving those Ws, shaking the century-old ballpark and jamming the streets of Wrigleyville, the Cubs celebrated a moment many of their faithful wondered whether they would ever see.Kyle Hendricks outpitched Clayton Kershaw, Rizzo and Willson Contreras homered early and the Cubs took their first pennant since 1945, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-0 Saturday night to win the NL Championship Series in six games.Listen to them. Outside before the game was crazy. Inside the game was crazy, Cubs pitcher Jon Lester said.These guys have done nothing but support us from Day One. Its been unbelievable to be here and be part of this. Words cant really describe where Im at right now, he said.Cursed by a Billy Goat, bedeviled by Bartman and crushed by decades of disappointment, those Lovable Losers now have a chance to win it all.Trying to win their first crown since 1908, manager Joe Maddons team opens the World Series against Cleveland on Tuesday night.The Indians havent won it all since 1948 -- Cleveland and Cubs have the two longest title waits in the majors.This city deserves it so much, Rizzo said. We got four more big ones to go, but were going to enjoy this. Were going to the World Series. I cant even believe that.All-everything Javier Baez and Lester shared the NLCS MVP. Baez hit .318, drove in five runs and made several sharp plays at second base. Lester, a former World Series champion in Boston, was 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA in two starts against the Dodgers.The drought ended when Aroldis Chapman got Yasiel Puig to ground into a double play , setting off a wild celebration. And if they bring home the elusive championship?I may make the `W a tattoo, said chairman Tom Ricketts , who once lived across the street and met his wife in the bleachers.Deemed World Series favorites since opening day, the Cubs topped the majors with 103 wins to win the NL Central, then beat the Giants and Dodgers in the playoffs.The Cubs overcame a 2-1 deficit against the Dodgers and won their 17th pennant. They had not earned a World Series trip since winning a doubleheader opener 4-3 at Pittsburgh on Sept. 29, 1945, to clinch the pennant on the next-to-last day of the season.The eternal wait till next year is over. No more dwelling on a history of failure -- the future is now.Were too young. We dont care about it, star slugger Kris Bryant said. We dont look into it. This is a new team, this is a completely different time of our lives. Were enjoying it and our works just getting started.Hendricks pitched two-hit ball for 7 1/3 inninngs .dddddddddddd Chapman took over and closed with hitless relief, then threw both arms in the air as he was mobbed by teammates and coaches.The Dodgers sent the minimum 27 batters to the plate and no one got past first base.The Cubs shook off back-to-back shutout losses earlier in this series by pounding the Dodgers for 23 runs to win the final three games.And they were in no way overwhelmed by the moment on Saturday, putting aside previous frustration.In the 1945 Series, the Billy Goat Curse supposedly began when a tavern owner wasnt allowed to bring his goat to Wrigley. In 2003, the Cubs lost the final three games of the NLCS to Florida, punctuated with a Game 6 defeat when fan Steve Bartman deflected a foul ball.Even as recently as 2012, the Cubs lost 101 times.This time, no such ill luck.Bryant had an RBI single and scored in a two-run first . Dexter Fowler added two hits, drove in a run and scored one.Contreras led off the fourth with a homer.Rizzo continued his resurgence with a solo drive in the fifth.That was plenty for Hendricks, the major league ERA leader.Hendricks left to a standing ovation after Josh Reddick singled with one out in the eighth. The only other hit Hendricks allowed was a single by Andrew Toles on the games first pitch.Kershaw, dominant in Game 2, gave up five runs and seven hits before being lifted for a pinch hitter in the sixth. He fell to 4-7 in the postseason.This day is never fun, the ending of a season, Kershaw said.The Dodgers havent been to the World Series since winning in 1988.Pitching on five days rest, Kershaw needed 30 pitches to get through the first. Fowler led off with a double against the three-time NL Cy Young Award winner, and Bryants single had the crowd shaking the 102-year-old ballpark.Fans had more to cheer when left fielder Andrew Toles dropped Rizzos fly, putting runners on second and third, and Ben Zobrist made it 2-0 a sacrifice fly.The Cubs added a run in the second when Addison Russell doubled to deep left and scored on a two-out single by Fowler.LINEUP SHUFFLEMaddon benched slumping right fielder Jason Heyward in favor of Albert Almora Jr.Kershaws pitching, so I wanted to get one more right-handed bat in the lineup, and also with Albert I dont feel like were losing anything on defense, Maddon said. I know Jasons a Gold Glover, but I think Albert, given an opportunity to play often enough would be considered a Gold Glove-caliber outfielder, too.Heyward was 2 for 28 in the playoffs -- 1 for 16 in the NLCS.SEENKerry Wood, wearing a Ron Santo jersey, threw out the first pitch and actor Jim Belushi delivered the Play Ball! call before the game. Pearl Jam front man Eddie Vedder and actor John Cusack were also in attendance. And Bulls great Scottie Pippen led the seventh-inning stretch. ' ' '