Five takeaways from Michigan hoops vs. Creighton

Michigan moved to 2-0 in the Juwan Howard era with a 79-69 win over Creighton on Tuesday night. Five takeaways from the Wolverines win.

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Coming off a season-opening win over Appalachian State last week, Michigan welcomed Creighton to Crisler Arena on Tuesday night for their second consecutive home game to start the year.

After a back-and-forth first half saw the Bluejays take a 41-38 lead into the locker room, the Wolverines responded in the second half, taking the lead and pulling away late for a 79-69 victory. Michigan moves to 2-0 on the year, and will return to game action on Friday against Elon University.

Below are five takeaways from the Wolverines’ win over the Creighton:

1. LIVERS, TESKE LEAD THE WAY

Junior forward Isaiah Livers played phenomenally for the Wolverines, leading the way with 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting. The junior shot well from deep as well, hitting 4-of-7 shots from behind the three-point arc. After a bit of a slow start, senior center Jon Teske had a big second half to finish with 17 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 steals. The senior center asserted his will in the second half, and was a go-to player on offense as the Wolverines put the game away down the stretch.

2. BLUEJAYS DOMINATE THE GLASS

Creighton had their way on the boards, out-rebounding Michigan by a 38-to-27 margin. The Bluejays hit the offensive glass especially hard, with 18 offensive rebounds leading to 13 second chance points for Creighton. Following the game, head coach Juwan Howard said his Wolverines were out-muscled and out-hustled, particularly in the first half. Michigan will have to do a better job rebounding going forward, especially when Big Ten play begins.

3. SIMPSON RETURNS TO FORM

Zavier Simpson had a tough opener against Appalachian State, finishing with six turnovers and shooting just 2-of-8 from the field. Against Creighton, however, the senior returned to what fans have come to expect of him. Simpson finished with 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting. More importantly, the senior finished with 9 assists against 4 turnovers, a much better ratio than he had in the season-opener. The senior will need to continue to cut down on his turnovers — he’s averaging 5 per game so far — but this was a step in the right direction.

4. DAVID DEJULIUS STRONG OFF THE BENCH

Sophomore combo-guard David DeJulius played well off the bench as the Wolverines’ sixth man on Tuesday night. DeJulius had 9 points — including an impressive step-back three-pointer while defended closely — and added 7 rebounds in a gritty performance for the second-year guard. The sophomore went 4-for-4 from the free throw line, and his 28 minutes were the fifth-most for the team.

5. GOOD ADJUSTMENTS FROM HOWARD

Creighton got in the lane via the dribble drive at will in the first half, leading to 24 points in the paint, and several kick-out threes after 20 minutes. However, the Wolverines defended better in the second half, cutting down the Bluejays paint points to 18 in the second half. More impressively, Michigan limited Creighton to just 2-of-7 shooting from the three-point line after the break, after the Bluejays hit five triples in the first half. Head coach Juwan Howard and his coaching staff clearly put an emphasis on shutting down the driving lanes during halftime, and the Wolverines responded well. Michigan held Creighton to just 28 points in the second half.

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Super 25 Fall Regional Boys Soccer Rankings – Week 12

Check out the USA TODAY/United Soccer Coaches Super 25 Regional Fall High School Boys Soccer Rankings for Week 12!

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Each week USA TODAY High School Sports and National Soccer Coaches Association of America will release Super 25 Regional Boys Fall Soccer Rankings. Rankings are based on results from the 2019-20 season, quality of players and strength of schedule. Regions are determined by the NCSAA.

RANKINGS: Boys National | Girls National | Girls Regional

Records shown are through games of Nov. 10.

REGION I (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI and VT)

Rank School W-L-T
1 Nauset Regional (Eastham, Mass.) 16-0-2
2 Hanover (Hanover, N.H.) 17-2-1
3 Fairfield Warde (Fairfield, Conn.) 13-0-3
4 Lincoln-Sudbury Regional (Sudbury, Mass,) 15-1-2
5 Yarmouth (Yarmouth, Maine) 15-0-3
6 Glastonbury (Glastonbury, Conn.) 14-1-1
7 Champlain Valley Union (Hinesburg, Vt.) 16-0-1
8 ConVal (Peterborough, N.H.) 16-1-2
9 LaSalle Academy (Providence, R.I.) 12-3-3
10 Stowe (Stowe, Vt.) 17-0-1

REGION II (NY)

Rank School W-L-T
1 Brentwood (Brentwood, N.Y.) 20-0-0
2 Jericho (Jericho, N.Y.) 18-1-1
3 Shenendehowa (Clifton Park, N.Y.) 16-3-1
4 Ossining (Ossining, N.Y.) 19-2-1
5 St. Anthony’s (Melville, N.Y.) 13-4-3
6 Rye (Rye, N.Y.) 21-1-0
7 Commack (Commack, N.Y.) 17-0-2
8 Massapequa (Massapequa, N.Y.) 15-3-1
9 Beacon (New York, N.Y.) 11-3-3
10 Fairport (Fairport, N.Y.) 15-3-2

REGION III (PA, NJ)

Rank School W-L-T
1 St. Benedict’s Prep (Newark, N.J.) 19-0-1
2 North Penn (Lansdale, Pa.) 23-1-0
3 Elizabeth (Elizabeth, N.J.) 20-0-4
4 Franklin Regional (Murrysville, Pa.) 21-0-1
5 Seton Hall Prep (West Orange, N.J.) 21-1-1
6 Clifton (Clifton, N.J.) 20-0-0
7 Boyertown (Boyertown, Pa.) 20-2-2
8 La Salle College (Wyndmoor, Pa.) 20-2-0
9 Delbarton School (Morristown, N.J.) 19-1-1
10 Holmdel (Holmdel, N.J.) 16-0-2
11 Lower Dauphin (Hummelstown, Pa.) 20-3-1
12 Hunterdon Central Regional (Flemington, N.J.) 17-4-0
13 Lower Merion (Ardmore, Pa.) 21-1-1
14 Palmyra (Palmyra, Pa.) 18-2-2
15 Gill St. Bernards School (Gladstone, N.J.) 18-3-0

REGION IV (DE, D.C., MD, NC, VA, WV)

Rank School W-L-T
1 Salesianum School (Wilmington, Del.) 15-1-0
2 George Washington (Charleston, W.Va.) 23-2-0
3 Cape Henry Collegiate (Virginia Beach, Va.) 19-2-1
4 Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.) 17-2-0
5 Sidwell Friends School (Washington, D.C.) 17-2-2
6 Wilde Lake (Columbia, Md.) 11-3-1
7 Walt Whitman (Bethesda, Md.) 16-1-0
8 Myers Park (Raleigh, N.C.) 16-0-0
9 Appoquinimink (Bear, Del.) 13-2-0
10 St. Christopher’s School (Richmond, Va.) 17-3-2

REGION V (IN, KY, OH)

Rank School W-L-T
1 St. Ignatius (Cleveland, Ohio) 21-0-2
2 Zionsville (Zionsville, Ind.) 21-0-0
3 Henry Clay (Lexington, Ky.) 25-1-3
4 Olentangy Liberty (Powell, Ohio) 19-3-1
5 Reitz Memorial (Evansville, Ind.) 17-3-2
6 Medina (Medina, Ohio) 20-1-1
7 Tippecanoe (Tipp City, Ohio) 23-0-1
8 Daviess County (Owensboro, Ky.) 21-3-2
9 Argos Community (Argos, Ind.) 18-4-0
10 Wellington School (Columbus, Ohio) 18-2-3
11 Lake Central (St. John, Ind.) 12-6-3
12 Oldham (LaGrange, Ky.) 16-6-1
13 Columbus East (Indianapolis, Ind.) 17-1-3
14 East Carter (Grayson, Ky.) 19-4-1
15 Collegiate (Louisville, Ky.) 23-4-1

REGION VI (MI, MN, WI)

Rank School W-L-T
1 Edina (Edina, Minn.) 22-0-0
2 Athens (Troy, Mich.) 20-2-1
3 Verona (Verona, Wis.) 21-1-2
4 Traverse City West (Traverse City, Mich.) 16-4-2
5 Holy Angels (Bloomington, Minn.) 21-0-1
6 Okemos (Okemos, Mich.) 19-2-0
7 Neenah (Neenah, Wis.) 18-2-3
8 Marquette University High (Milwaukee, Wis.) 19-2-1
9 Eastridge (Woodbury, Minn.) 18-3-1
10 Novi (Novi, Mich.) 18-2-1
11 St. Paul Central (St. Paul, Minn.) 20-2-0
12 Brookfield East (Brookfield, Wis.) 17-2-3
13 Forest Hills Northern (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 22-0-1
14 Brookfield Central (Brookfield, Wis.) 14-6-2
15 Minneapolis Washburn (Minneapolis, Minn.) 16-5-1

REGION VII (IL, KS, MO, MT, ND, SD)

Rank School W-L-T
1 Lee’s Summit (Lee’s Summit, Mo.) 19-0-0
2 Olathe West (Olathe, Kan.) 20-1-0
3 West Chicago (Chicago, Ill.) 24-2-3
4 Rockwood Summit (Fenton, Mo.) 16-2-0
5 Benet Academy (Cicero, Ill.) 20-1-2
6 Morton (Cicero, Ill.) 20-3-2
7 Blue Valley Southwest (Overland Park, Kan.) 15-4-1
8 Fort Zumwalt South (St. Peters, Mo.) 25-1-0
9 Saint Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park, Kan.) 16-3-0
10 Peoria Notre Dame (Peoria, Ill.) 22-2-0
11 Naperville North (Naperville, Ill.) 24-2-3
12 Gateway Legacy Christian Academy (Glen Carbon, Ill.) 13-3-0
13 Blue Valley West (Overland Park, Kan.) 15-5-1
14 Bismarck (Bismarck, N.D.) 15-1-3
15 Roosevelt (Sioux Falls, S.D.) 12-1-2

REGION VIII (CA, CO, ID, NV, NM, OR)

Rank School W-L-T
1 Albuquerque (Albuquerque, N.M.) 21-0-0
2 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) 24-0-1
3 Regis Jesuit (Aurora, Colo.) 15-1-2
4 Cleveland (Portland, Ore.) 14-1-2
5 Boulder (Boulder, Colo.) 15-3-0
6 Eagle (Eagle, Idaho) 12-7-2
7 Summit (Bend, Ore.) 12-2-3
8 Eldorado (Las Vegas, Nev.) 18-2-4
9 Mayfield (Las Cruces, N.M.) 19-2-0
10 Broomfield (Broomfield, Colo.) 15-2-1
11 Boise (Boise, Idaho) 18-3-0
12 Las Vegas (Las Vegas, Nev.) 22-2-1
13 Jesuit (Portland, Ore.) 14-1-2
14 Hobbs (Hobbs, N.M.) 17-6-1
15 Rampart (Colorado Springs, Colo.) 16-1-1

Records shown are through games of Nov. 10

WATCH: Quandre Diggs gets first interception with Seahawks

Watch as Seattle Seahawks defensive back Quandre Diggs gets his first interception with his new team

A few weeks ago, former Texas Longhorn defensive back Quandre Diggs was traded from the Detroit Lions to the Seattle Seahawks. Last night, Diggs saw his first action with Seattle in a clash between the San Francisco 49ers.

The 49ers went into this Monday Night Football matchup as the only remaining undefeated team in the NFL. The Seahawks were able to stun the 49ers in San Francisco, winning in overtime by a score of 27-24.

About midway through the 3rd quarter, Diggs was able to intercept 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo with the score being 10-7 in favor of San Francisco. This interception led to a Seahawks touchdown, giving them the lead.

On the night, Diggs was able to tally two tackles, one of which was solo, a pass defense, and this interception.

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Notre Dame Football: Cole Kmet Says He’s Staying

the Irish appear to have landed the highly-coveted “Six Star Recruit” for the 2020 season.

Not many players around the nation have seen their NFL Draft stock rise quite like Notre Dame tight end Cole Kmet this season.

Kmet went from pretty much being a “great idea” to a star performer this season, making an immediate splash upon returning from a collar bone injury sustained at the start of fall camp. Despite missing the first three games of 2019 due to injury Kmet has been able to pull in 29 receptions for 327 yards and five touchdowns.

Earlier this fall I sat down with Yahoo Sports draft expert Eric Edholm and discussed what Kmet’s draft stock looked like. Eric declared him a very-possible lte first round pick.

Today Kmet was asked about if he’s made a decision for the 2020 NFL Draft.

We’ve heard this before and minds have been changed (Will Fuller) so it’s not necessarily a guarantee still, but it’s great news nonetheless that he was that adamant on returning.

As Brian Kelly once called Michael Floyd returning for the 2011 season, the Irish appear to have landed the highly-coveted “Six Star Recruit” for the 2020 season.

Jaguars vs. Colts: 3 causes for concern against Indianapolis

The Jags way be coming off their bye, but there are still some things to be concerned about as they take on the Colts.

Most fans would agree that it’s go time for the Jacksonville Jaguars, who will enter Week 11 one game away from .500. Up next for them is their longtime divisional rivals in the Indianapolis Colts, who will be viewing things in the same light with them being on a two-game losing streak. It goes without saying the Colts and Jags know each other well enough to where fans on both ends are concerned heading into Sunday. Here are three concerns of our own as the Cardiac Cats travel up north to Lucas Oil Stadium:

Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Nick Foles showing rust 

Nick Foles will be taking back his starting position Sunday after being cleared to play from the broken collarbone he sustained Week 1. With the Jags having a 4-5 record, however, he’ll need to be instantly productive for the Jags Sunday, as the game is a must-win with the Colts (who are the No. 8 seed) being ahead of the Jags (No. 10 seed) in the wild-card race.

While the Colts aren’t quite what they used to be on offense, their passing defense is ninth in the league (223.2 YPG average) and their defense as a whole is ranked tenth in terms of total yards allowed (327.6 YPG average). Simply put, this could lead to struggles in the passing game for the Jags, especially for Foles who will be playing in his first game in months.

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‘It don’t have to be a close game’ if Michigan plays up to expectations vs. MSU

Why one Wolverine doesn’t think the margin between the rivals has to be a closer affair.

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — One of the biggest concerns before the 2019 season was how Michigan would play down the stretch, with a road game at Penn State preceding a rivalry game against Notre Dame. Then, the Wolverines would have to wait a few weeks to take on in-state rival Michigan State, a preseason Top 25 team.

All of this would need to be done while breaking in a new offense.

The early season growing pains on that side of the ball created a series of concerns, naturally, and though the maize and blue lost on the road to the Nittany Lions, that game was seen as a turning point for the Wolverines.

It was the week before when Michigan finally got its running game going, and it did it again against PSU and the top-ranked run defense, in terms of yards-per-carry allowed. It’s a credit to the offensive line and to the tailbacks who have really got things going up front.

But Saturday presents another challenge, as stopping the run is part of Michigan State’s modus operandi.

Michigan right guard Michael Onwenu acknowledges that the biggest thing for the maize and blue on Saturday is to play their game, or as he notes: ‘just sticking to the script.’ But also, having familiarity with some of the MSU players helps, he says.

“I think I know two of the D-linemen, and a few through the secondary,” Onwenu said. “Last year, it was a dogfight. And it doesn’t have to be that way.”

But what does he mean when he says it doesn’t have to be a dogfight?

Again, if Michigan plays its game, despite the Spartans coming to town with the nation’s No. 24 defense, then the Wolverines should cruise to victory.

Call it confidence, call it bravado — whatever you will. But with the way that Michigan has played as of late compared to the Spartans, coupled with an extra week to prepare due to the bye week, Onwenu is sure that the Wolverines can get their first home win over MSU since 2012.

“It don’t have to be a close game,” Onwenu said. “(If) we come out and play like we did the last few weeks.

“I think the bye week did fall on a good week for us. We’ve been playing well these last few weeks, and now we can play even better with a few days of rest.”

The battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy is set to begin on Saturday at noon EST in Ann Arbor. The game will be broadcast nationally on FOX.

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Jason Dufner signs equipment deal with Cobra Golf

The winner of the 2013 PGA Championship, Jason Dufner, will be using Cobra clubs and bags starting this week at the Mayakoba Championship.

Jason Dufner, the winner of the 2013 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, N.Y., has signed an endorsement contract with Cobra Golf. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but Dufner will be using Cobra clubs and start using a Cobra bag this week at the Mayakoba Championship.

While the deal was officially announced on Tuesday, Dufner, 42, recently attended a Cobra event at Drive Shack in West Palm Beach, Fla., with Greg Norman, instructor Claude Harmon and Rickie Fowler.

At that event, the former Auburn University standout explained that his friendship with Fowler played a large role in developing his relationship with Cobra. Dufner said that he and Fowler are close friends, that they have played a lot of practice rounds together and he frequently stays in Fowler’s guest house when he is in South Florida.

During one of those practice rounds, he tried Fowler’s Cobra driver and liked it so much he put one into his bag. After that, he started tinkering with muscleback blades and cavity-back irons made by the Carlsbad, Calif.-based company.

“I sat down and thought that I was going to play (Cobra’s) stuff next year,” he said. “I talked with them and tried to see what they were going to do with marketing and branding and if they were going to add any new players. It just kind of worked out that they were ready to take a step with another new player.”

Among the clubs that are in Dufner’s bag this week are a Cobra King F9 Speedback driver (10.5 degrees) with an LAGP Olyss 6X shaft, a King Driving iron (4), and King Forged CB irons (5-PW) and King V Grind wedges (52, 56, 62 degrees), all with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue AMT S400 shafts.

“Another great thing about Cobra, and this isn’t a knock on any other brand, is that they don’t have a huge staff,” Dufner said. On the PGA Tour, Fowler and Bryson DeChambeau are the only other full-time Tour players. “So they have more time to spend with you, more time to be around you and really dig into what your equipment needs might be.”

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‘Tank for Tua’ Week 10

Week 10 of the NFL regular season not only shook football fans, but the ‘Tank for Tua’ rankings as well. The Dolphins are on a win streak, the Bengals are still winless, the Patriots haven’t won a game in November and the 49ers lost their first game …

Week 10 of the NFL regular season not only shook football fans, but the ‘Tank for Tua’ rankings as well.

The Dolphins are on a win streak, the Bengals are still winless, the Patriots haven’t won a game in November and the 49ers lost their first game of the season.

All of the aforementioned events have changed the overall landscape of the NFL, let’s dive in and see how this crazy week affected the worst of the worst and if their chances of landing Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa have been hindered.

3. New York Jets

Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Jets in Week 10 were able to capture yet another win, this time over their in-state rival, the New York Football Giants.

They are tied for last place in the AFC East, tied with the Miami Dolphins at 2-7, and it seems as if the win column may stay stuck at two for the remainder of the regular season.

The NFL Power Rankings currently has them listed at No. 29, one of the worst teams in the league.

With an inconsistent quarterback, such as Sam Darnold, that ranking may fluctuate higher or lower.

In the Jets’ win over the Giants, Darnold had an impressive outing. He amassed 230 yards, one passing touchdown and a lone rushing touchdown.

While a win must feel nice for the team, it’s still clear a winning culture has not been spread throughout the locker room.

With a team full of talent, there’s only one position on the field to turn to and potentially point the finger. The quarterback.

Whether Darnold is the future of the franchise is still to be determined, but with a lot of elite collegiate talent at the quarterback position in this draft class, it would be hard to believe that the Jets’ front office hasn’t thought about the possibility of bringing in a fresh, and even younger, face, such as Tagovailoa.

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What the committee got right, wrong in the second College Football Playoff ranking

SportsPulse: Georgia at No. 4? Really? According to Dan Wolken the committee missed the mark with their second College Football Playoff ranking.

SportsPulse: Georgia at No. 4? Really? According to Dan Wolken the committee missed the mark with their second College Football Playoff ranking.