Meine Meinung » missed 2012 because of a knee injury

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. Chris Bassitt Athletics Jersey . Austin does not believe the game-time temperature is going to be an advantage for either side heading into the Grey Cup. "We dont think about (the cold)," said Austin. "Im not even sure how you would determine an advantage. Fake Athletics Jerseys .S. Basketball Writers Association. McDermott, who finished his career at Creighton as college basketballs fifth-leading scorer, accepted the honour from Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson at AT&T Stadium, site of the Final Four. https://www.cheapathleticsonline.com/. Finlands Kari Lehtonen made 26 saves to lead Dallas over the Phoenix Coyotes 2-1 Saturday night. He received plenty of help from the Stars defence and got goals from Ray Whitney and Russias Valeri Nichushkin. Cheap Athletics Jerseys . Louis Cardinals are one of Major League Baseballs model franchises. Oakland Athletics Pro Shop .Y. -- Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire will have less time to remain eligible for the Hall of Fame ballot under changes made Saturday. ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- A concussion that has kept quarterback Kevin Kolb sidelined since August, cost him his job with the Buffalo Bills. Without going into detail, general manager Doug Whaley announced Tuesday the team released Kolb after he failed a physical. The move came shortly after the start of the NFLs free agency period and a few days before Kolb was due a bonus as part of the two-year contract he signed with Buffalo in April. Now there are questions whether Kolbs career might be over after he sustained what was at least his third concussion in seven seasons. The latest occurred during the first quarter of a 30-7 preseason loss at Washington on Aug. 24, when Kolb was kneed in the back of the head at the end of a scramble. Diagnosed with concussion-like symptoms, Kolb was placed on injured reserve a week later and spent much of the season recovering at his home in Texas. The Bills were Kolbs third team since being selected in the second round of the 2007 draft by Philadelphia. A concussion in 2009 resulted in Kolb losing the starting job to Michael Vick in Philadelphia. He then spent two seasons in Arizona, where he failed to secure the starting job because of an assortment of injuries. Buffalo signed Kolb to provide veteran experience and leadership behind rookie starter EJ Manuel. The Bills made two moves in free agency by re-signing veteran kicker Dan Carpenter, who signed a four-year contract, and tight end Mike Caussin. Carpenter returns to Buffalo after what proved to be a successful one-year tryout as an injury replacement after rookie sixth-round draft pick Dustin Hopkins hurt his groin six days before the season opener. The sixth-year player proceeded to enjoy a career year. Carpenters 33 field goals were a career high and tied the Bills single-season record set by Steve Christie in 1998. Carpenters return leaves Hopkins future uncertain. Carpenter was so eager to re-sign with the Bills that he, his wife Kaela and son Colby arrived at the teams headquarters to complete negotiations after travelling from his home in Florida oon Tuesday.dddddddddddd Under NFL rules, Carpenter was not allowed to re-sign with Buffalo before free agency began because he had signed a one-year deal at the league veteran minimum. "I dont think we would have got on the plane if we didnt think there was a future here in Buffalo," Carpenter said. "For us, it was a no-brainer to come back to Buffalo. We were comfortable and loved it here last year." The signing ends what was a tumultuous stretch for Carpenter, who took a circuitous route to Buffalo after spending his first five seasons with the Miami Dolphins. Carpenters contract was terminated by the Dolphins in mid-August, and he failed to land a job in two brief stints with Arizona and the New York Jets. Carpenter was on his way for a tryout with Cleveland before making a detour to Buffalo. "To be able to go back somewhere and be wanted is where you would like to go," he said. "Youre very fortunate in this league for that to happen." A 2009 Pro Bowl selection, Carpenter provided Buffalo a veteran and dependable presence. He hit 33 of 36 field-goal attempts, including 29 of 30 from inside 50 yards last season. With a 91.67 per cent success rate, Carpenter fell just short of breaking Rian Lindells single-season record of 92 per cent (23 of 25) set in 2006. And Carpenters 131 points ranked third on the Bills single-season list. Overall, his 160 field goals since 2008 rank fourth among kickers during that span. Caussin returns after he was eligible to become a restricted free agent, and despite missing the past two seasons because of injuries. He was sidelined last season with a hip injury sustained early in training camp, and missed 2012 because of a knee injury. Caussin had five catches for 41 yards in six games, including two starts, with Buffalo in 2011 after being promoted off the teams practice squad. He broke into the NFL with Jacksonville in 2010 as an undrafted free agent, but did not play a game with the Jaguars. The Bills have a need at tight end, with starter Scott Chandler becoming a free agent. ' ' '