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07.09.2019 04:27
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Newcomers dont take long to impact college basketball, not in this world of one-and-dones and transfers. Over a two-week span, we will look at the top-five newcomers in each of the 10 biggest conferences. Next up is the Atlantic 10.When conference realignment got through with shuffling teams around, folks understandably wondered if the Atlantic 10 could keep its foothold as a strong, albeit not power, conference. The answer lies in this crop of top newcomers. When a league is still good enough to not just attract top freshmen but is counted as a destination for graduate transfers looking to finish out their careers, its still pretty darn good.DeJon Jarreau, UMass MinutemenTiming is everything, and Jarreau has arrived just in the nick of time for coach Derek Kellogg. Kellogg had a good run, including two NIT appearances followed by an NCAA run in 2014, but he has struggled to keep the good times rolling in Amherst, slipping to 31-33 in the past two seasons. Jarreau is part of Kelloggs most heralded recruiting class (No. 27 nationally) and has fans hoping for a turnaround. A New Orleans native, he is a terrific shooting guard who earned the No. 63 spot in?ESPNs top 100. He averaged 16.9 points as a senior and is expected to make an immediate impact. Jarreau brought along high school teammate?Brison Gresham, who is hardly a slouch, having averaged 14 points and eight boards in high school. But Jarreau is the big prize. Hes also just the tip of the iceberg for the best recruiting class in the league.DeRiante Jenkins, VCU RamsSo much for worrying about filling big shoes. Second-year coach Will Wade has stepped in for Shaka Smart with ease, guiding the Rams to the NCAA tournament last year and also winning on the recruiting trail. Jenkins is a 6-foot-5 forward who grabbed the No. 59 spot in ESPNs top 100. Hes the perfect player for VCU: versatile, quick and fearless. Jenkins turned down multiple Power 5 schools such as Clemson, Tennessee, LSU and South Carolina to come to VCU. And thanks to the Rams summer trip to Spain, he already is figuring out where he fits in and how to create some havoc He scored 24 combined points in the Rams first two games there.Chris Baldwin, UMass MinutemenTwo Minutemen in the top five? Yes, its that sort of year for UMass, the lone Atlantic 10 team to earn a spot among the nations top 40 recruiting classes. A Springfield, Massachusetts native, Baldwin is expected to be an immediate contributor from his forward spot. Though hes able to score in the double figures, hes more of a blue-collar worker who should really be able to help defensively and on the boards. Baldwin looked at a host of other schools, including West Virginia and Pittsburgh, but his decision to stay home and play for UMass is almost as critical as Kelloggs ability to attract Jarreau to campus.Patrick Steeves, George Washington ColonialsAmid allegations and an investigation that coach Mike Lonergan verbally abused players, and with a roster that has seen 13 players transfer out in the last five years, the Colonials got some much-needed good news with the addition of Steeves. A Harvard graduate transfer, Steeves was a valuable sixth man for the Crimson last season. He suffered through a series of injuries during his Harvard career, including a broken metatarsal, torn ACL and a leftover tibial break from the torn ACL that required more surgery, but when he finally got healthy and was able to play, he delivered to the tune of 9.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. Steeves is a solid shooter, connecting on 46 percent of his field goals last year, and hell bring a jolt of experience as well as an assist to the frontcourt for George Washington. The defending NIT champions lost Patricio Garino and Kevin Larsen, the teams second- and third-leading scorers from a year ago.Emile Blackman, Duquesne DukesThe Dukes have made steady progress under fifth-year coach Jim Ferry but still havent crossed the threshold to become legitimate A-10 contenders. Blackman might help. He, along with?Kale Abrahamson, are the?first two graduate transfers in the programs history, and theyre arriving at a critical time. Duquesne loses its top-three scorers in Derrick Colter, Michah Mason and L.G. Gill and need some firepower. These two have it. Blackman scored more than 900 points in two seasons at Niagara, leading the Purple Eagles in scoring at 15.8 points per game before opting to leave after receiving his degree. Abrahamson arrives from Drake, where he averaged 11.1 points per game from his forward position. But its Blackman, who fills a vacant backcourt role, who will be especially critical as Ferry tries to improve on the Dukes 17-17 record from a year ago. Wilson Ramos Mets Jersey . The home side created most of the chances but struggled to break down Braunschweigs resilient defence, resulting in the Bundesligas 1,000th scoreless draw. Devin Mesoraco Mets Jersey . Clarke was injured while practicing on the Doha Golf Club range after the pro-am on Tuesday. The Northern Irishman arrived at the course on Wednesday hoping to start, but after hitting a few balls on the practice putting green Clarke advised officials he was not fit to play. http://www.metssale.com/mets-zack-wheeler-jersey/ . The 43-year-old closer, in his 19th and final big league season, has said hed like to play the outfield. 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LAS VEGAS -- Brock Lesnar returned from a 4 1/2-year UFC absence with a unanimous-decision victory over Mark Hunt, and Nunes took the bantamweight title from Miesha Tate with a stunning first-round stoppage at UFC 200 on Saturday night.Jose Aldo also won a competitive decision over Frankie Edgar to claim the interim featherweight title on the UFCs star-studded landmark show.Daniel Cormier dominated a decision over Anderson Silva, who took the fight on two days notice after Jon Jones was dropped from the main event for failing a drug test.While Brazils Nunes shocked Tate in the main event, the hulking Lesnar (6-3) was the greatest curiosity on the card. The pro wrestler earned his first mixed martial arts victory since July 2010, dominating Hunt with wrestling skill and sheer mass.Im older, and when I decided to make this comeback, it was a hard decision, the 39-year-old Lesnar said. Im glad I did. This goes to show for everybody out there, if you dont stick your neck out, youll never get ahead.UFC 200 capped three fight cards over three days for the worlds dominant MMA promotion, which used a golden canvas for its first event in T-Mobile Arena, the spacious new entertainment venue just off the Las Vegas Strip.The UFC stacked the card with compelling matchups, and while every fight wasnt a classic, the underdog Nunes victory was a stunner.Everybody knows that I respect Miesha a lot, (but) Im the new champion, said Nunes, also the first openly gay champion in UFC history. For years Ive been working hard for this moment. I feel amazing.Nunes (14-4) became the fourth different fighter to hold the UFCs 135-pound belt in the last eight months since Ronda Rousey lost it to Holly Holm. Holm lost the belt to Tate in March, but Nunes dominated Tate (18-6) from the start, stunning her with multiple big shots.Tate was bloodied and unsteady by the time Nunes sunk in a rear naked choke and ended it 3:16 into the first round.When I saw she was hurt, I controlled myself, because I know she can come back, Nunes said. I made sure she couldnt come back anymore.Lesnar made a UFC-record $2.5 million guaranteed purse for his first bout since late 2011, returning to the sport where he won and lost the heavyweight title during a meteoric MMA career. Although he walked away after consecutive losses and serious health problems, he couldnt stop thinking about a return while racking up easier money in the WWE.The main-event star of UFC 100 seized the opportunity to be on another landmark show, and his performance showed that his inimitable athleticism hadnt diminished. Lesnar never wandered into trouble against the famously heavy-handed Hunt, repeatedly taking down his veteran opponent and keeping him pinned to the canvas.I wanted to finish the fight, but the guys got a coconut head, Lesnar said. My ground-and-pound, Im sure hes going to feel it tomorrow, just as Im going to feel his punch tomorroww.ddddddddddddLesnar dominated the final three minutes, punishing a prone Hunt with his cartoon-sized fists. All three judges scored the bout 29-27 for Lesnar, who sounded tentatively interested in another MMA bout -- after he performs for the WWE this summer.Its really too soon, and I have no idea (about continuing in the UFC), said Lesnar, who turns 39 on Tuesday. I believe any man can do whatever he wants to if he puts his mind to it. Ive been out of this game for five years, and I trained for six weeks. ... I think Im top 10. That puts me right back in the game.The 41-year-old Silva (33-8) stepped up to fight the UFCs light heavyweight champ after Jones was ruled out Wednesday night. Although Silva is 45 months removed from his last victory -- and seven weeks removed from gallbladder surgery -- he gamely took a shot at Cormier, who was denied a lucrative, career-defining rematch with the troubled Jones.Cormier (18-1) had little trouble with one of his heroes, largely keeping Silva pinned to the canvas on his back. Silva goaded Cormier into a few striking exchanges, and he even hurt Cormier slightly in the final minute, but the champ won 30-26 on all three cards.I appreciate the UFC for getting me this fight, said Cormier, who still made half of the guaranteed $1 million he would have earned against Jones.Aldo put on a masterclass in his return, cutting Edgar in the first round and tormenting him for four more rounds. Aldo reclaimed one version of the belt he held until his 13-second knockout loss to Conor McGregor in December -- and hes also likely to get the lucrative next shot at McGregor whenever the 145-pound champion finally returns to their division following his second bout with Nate Diaz next month.The Irish star stood amid the floor crowd at cageside when the fight began. Afterward, Aldo put on his belt and immediately made threatening gestures at McGregor, who shouted back at his most bitter rival.I have one goal left, and thats to beat this guy, Aldo said.The pay-per-view card opened with former heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez brutally stopping Travis Browne in the first round of a bout that could have headlined many other UFC cards.The oft-injured Velasquez (14-2) had fought just once since October 2013, losing his belt to Fabricio Werdum a year ago. He showed vintage form against Browne (18-4-1), who got wobbled by a spinning wheel kick and then battered to the ground repeatedly.Velasquez finished his heavyweight-record 10th knockout victory with 3 seconds left in the round.Title contenders T.J. Dillashaw, Kelvin Gastelum and Julianna Pena won clear, entertaining decisions on the undercard. The first three fights at UFC 200 ended with first-round stoppage victories for UFC veterans Joe Lauzon, Jim Miller and Gegard Mousasi. ' ' ' |
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