Friday, hosts Kansas

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Long acknowledged as one of the best womens basketball leagues in the world, the WNBL is feeling the heat as season 36 tips off.With no television deal tabled for the second season running -- and at least ten local stars not appearing in the domestic competition this year -- the WNBL looks at first glance, to be on shaky ground.Newly appointed Head of the league, Sally Phillips, has barely had time to get her feet under her desk since taking up her post at the end of August but is optimistic about returning Australias longest running elite womens national competition to the top of the pile.With more than 25 years of basketball experience both on and off the court, Phillips is aware the challenge is manifold, given the rise of netball, AFL, cricket and football in the competition for womens sport sponsorship dollars, exposure, eyeballs and even playing talent.However despite off-court concerns and the retirement of drawcards such as Lauren Jackson and Penny Taylor, the competition on-court is set to be tighter than ever and the opportunity is ripe for the next generation to announce themselves.Last seasons grand final combatants Townsville Fire and Perth Lynx look to be early favourites, but while the Fire are gunning for a third consecutive title in season 2016/17, the Lynx have high hopes of bringing the trophy back to the West for the first time since a Tom Maher coached side beat Dandenong in 1992 (as the Perth Breakers) to win the Citys sole title.Andy Stewart has a classy cast at his disposal with four US born players in the ranks. Monica Wright, Ruth Hamblin, Kisha Lee and reigning club MVP Sami Whitcomb are set to light up the Bendat Basketball Centre and even with the departure of Louella Tomlinson to Spain and the loss of Tessa Lavey to injury for the opening weeks, with Olympian Nat Burton and the promising Carley Mijovic, back in Perth colours the Lynx will be hard to stop.Up north, the rookie talent in the Townsville Fire side is Head Coach Claudia Brassard who will be hoping to start her WNBL time with a title. Last seasons MVP Suzy Batkovic will be raring to go after inexplicably missing Opals selection for Rio and with the likes of Micaela Cocks, Darcee Garbin and Mia Murray suiting up once more for the Fire, joined by Washington Mystics Natasha Cloud and fellow American Amy Kame there is plenty of firepower for Brassard to work with.Brassards predecessor, Chris Lucas has shifted south to head up the Adelaide Lightning coaching staff. The return of four-time Olympian Laura Hodges from France is a boon for this side and the addition of Samantha Logic from San Antonio Stars to the roster means Lucas has strong on-court leadership with solid basketball IQs as the side starts its rebuilding campaign. This may take time and with his focus on retaining local talent, Lucas might be missing some of the biggest names of South Australian basketball such as Abby Bishop and Steph Talbot but having Lightning and Opals legend Racheal Sporn heading up the clubs new academy program the future in SA looks very bright indeed.A big loss for the Adelaide side was the departure of All-Star playmaker Leilani Mitchell. It will be new Sydney coach Cheryl Chambers who will reap the benefits that Mitchell brings to the Flames out on the floor. If the diminutive point guard is on one end of the height spectrum, the reach of 201cm import Jennifer Hamson should be easy to pick out inside the paint. Add Belinda Snell, Sarah Graham and Conneticut Suns Asia Taylor to the mix the Flames boast a wealth of experience in their hunt to break a 15 year title drought.While its more of a dry spell than a drought its hard to believe that only three years ago Bendigo Spirit completed back to back title wins in sensational fashion. MVP on both occasions was Kelsey Griffin who returns this year as an Australian. The import spots now belong to Blake Dietrich (Seattle Storm) and Canadas Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe and when combined with the talents of evergreen Bendigo legend Gabe Richards the right on-court chemistry could signal the start of another run for the Spirit.Canberra Capitals are another side hoping for brighter prospects this season and new coach Paul Gorriss will be delighted at Mariana Tolos return from the WNBA. Tolo will be an important figure in the Caps resurgence alongside imports Jazmon Gwathmey and Micaela Ruef who suits up for her 3rd WNBL franchise in 3 years (after stints at Adelaide and Sydney). The Canberra side have a host of fresh faces after the retirement of Jess Bibby, Lauren Jackson and Hanna Zavecz as well as the departure of Abby Bishop, Steph Talbot, Renee Montgomery overseas and Rosie Fadljevic to the Rangers.In contrast, Fadljevic joins a fairly settled Dandenong unit with Ally Mallot and Natalie Novosel the other additions to the roster. Steph Cumming , Sara Blicavs, , Aimee Clydesdale, Jacinta Kennedy are all back for the Rangers and will be the experienced heads the coach Larissa Anderson hopes will take this side one better than last seasons semi- final finish.For the Melbourne Boomers anything would be better than last seasons finish. After a year destroyed by injuries in 15-16, Guy Molloy should certainly feel that things can only get better. New American import Chante Black will be a strong presence in the key, Bec Cole is back from injury, the influential Alice Kunek suits up again while Maddie Garrick was a beneficiary of the injury list last season, gaining important experience. Young gun Monique Conti debuts for a Rangers outfit looking to build a once more mighty franchise.As with each new season, before a ball is bounced its anyones to win. However if the league can continue to be entertaining as well as competitive and continue to draw increasing live spectator support as they have in the last two years, surely a return to the small screen must follow -- and that would be a win for everyone. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! . The phone hearing is scheduled for 4:30pm et/1:30pm pt. Winchester, who was not penalized for the hit, appeared to make contact with Kellys head early in the first period of Thursdays game in Boston. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! . LOUIS -- Attorneys for the St. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! . Halifax beat the Saint John Sea Dogs 7-5 on the strength of two goals apiece from Nikolaj Ehlers, Matt Murphy and Brent Andrews. Jonathan Drouin also scored and had three assists while Zachary Fucale made 17 saves for the Mooseheads (16-8-0), who led 6-1 after two periods. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! . Defencemen Drew Doughty, Shea Weber and forward Ryan Getzlaf also scored for the Canadians, who started their gold-medal defence 2-0. Goalie Roberto Luongo, getting the call in place of Game 1 starter Carey Price, was solid when needed in making 23 saves for the shutout. Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! . -- Ryan Blaney provided more evidence that Penske Racings No. Heres some good news for all those teams that might finish 5-7 in the regular season: A few of them will probably play on.For a second straight season, it looks like sub-.500 teams will be needed to fill all the bowl slots.There are 64 teams that are now bowl eligible, leaving 16 more spots to fill. But only 18 bubble teams are left, so unless a very high number of them reach six wins, bowls will have to look at 5-7 teams. Those teams are prioritized according to the most recent Academic Progress Report scores.Kentucky (6-5) is one of a handful of teams that become bowl eligible this past week. The Wildcats beat Austin Peay 49-13 to become bowl eligible for the first time since the 2010 season.Army (6-5) routed Morgan State 60-3, but the Black Knights arent bowl eligible yet because one of their wins over an FCS opponent doesnt count for eligibility purposes. Army has one more regular-season game, Dec. 10 against Navy, but by then, bowl matchups will likely be set. So for now, the Black Knights are in a situation similar to what 5-7 teams will face -- theyre waiting to see if there are any open spots.The road ahead for the 18 teams -- not counting Army -- that can still become bowl eligible:Akron (5-6): At Ohio on Tuesday.Arizona State (5-6): At Arizona on Friday.Boston College (5-6): At Wake Forest on Saturday.Indiana (5-6): Hosts Purdue on Saturday.Louisiana-Lafayette (4-6): Hosts Arkansas State on Saturday, at Louisiana-Monroe on Dec. 3.Maryland (5-6): HHosts Rutgers on Saturday.ddddddddddddMiami (Ohio) (5-6): Hosts Ball State on Tuesday. (Miami started the season 0-6 but has won five straight in a remarkable turnaround.)Mississippi (5-6): Hosts Mississippi State on Saturday.N.C. State (5-6): At North Carolina on Friday.North Texas (5-6): At Texas-El Paso on Saturday.Northwestern (5-6): Hosts Illinois on Saturday.SMU (5-6): Hosts Navy on Saturday.South Alabama (5-5): At Idaho on Saturday, hosts New Mexico State on Dec. 3. (The Jaguars have two victories over FCS teams. The second of those wins -- against Presbyterian on Saturday -- was scheduled because South Alabamas game against LSU that day was canceled when LSU needed to reschedule its game against Florida. South Alabama has received a waiver to count both FCS wins toward bowl eligibility. If the Jaguars finish 6-6, they would be placed ahead of the 5-7 teams on the priority list -- but behind teams that achieved bowl eligibility by reaching six victories.)Southern Miss (5-6): Hosts Louisiana Tech on Friday.TCU (5-5): At Texas on Friday, hosts Kansas State on Dec. 3.Texas (5-6): Hosts TCU on Friday.UTSA (5-6): Hosts Charlotte on Saturday.Vanderbilt (5-6): Hosts Tennessee on Saturday.---More AP college football: Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! and Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! .---Follow Noah Trister at Зарегистрируйтесь, чтобы увидеть ссылку! ' ' '