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| AP Photo | Sara D. Davis In this Feb. 6 file photo, Duke’s Kyle Singler (12) watches as North Carolina’s Tyler Hansbrough (50) shoots over Lance Thomas during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Chapel Hill, N.C. Hansbrough is the only first-team All-America to return to school, and he is the first reigning player of the year to come back since Shaquille O’Neal. |
From The Associated Press
North Carolina the first unanimous preseason No. 1
As if there weren’t enough expectations for North Carolina this season, they just got bigger.
Not only are the Tar Heels No. 1 in The Associated Press’ preseason Top 25, they are the first unanimous No. 1 since the preseason poll began in 1981-82.
North Carolina has the top six scorers — including national player of the year Tyler Hansbrough — back from a team that had a school-record 36 wins and reached the Final Four.
The Tar Heels, No. 1 in the final poll last season, are the preseason No. 1 for the second straight year, joining UNLV in 1989-90 and 1990-91 as the only schools to do that. It also marks North Carolina’s record sixth time atop the preseason rankings, breaking a tie with Duke.
“We have a really good group of kids who are working very hard to get ready for a challenging season,” North Carolina coach Roy Williams said. “They’ve worked so hard because they know they have to prove it on the court. No one gives you any awards for preseason rankings. Our guys know these lofty rankings are a result of what they have done in the past and what people think could probably happen this year. But we have to earn everything out there on the floor.”
The Tar Heels faced their first test Thursday when Hansbrough was found to have a stress reaction in his right shin. He will be held out of practice indefinitely, and no timetable was set for his return.
The preseason poll turned out to be quite a prognosticator last season when the top four teams in the early rankings — North Carolina, UCLA, Memphis and Kansas — all reached the Final Four, with Kansas winning it all in San Antonio.
Connecticut, which returns four starters, was No. 2 this preseason, followed by Louisville, UCLA and Pittsburgh.
Fans roar as Phillies parade through city
PHILADELPHIA—Manager Charlie Manuel hoisted the World Series trophy Friday while players basked in a swarm of confetti, the Phanatic mascot danced and hundreds of thousands of Phillies fans roared in celebration of the city’s first major sports championship in 25 years.
Left fielder Pat Burrell led the procession, riding a horse-drawn carriage and pumping his fists. Next came eight flatbed trucks filled with waving players and other members of the Phillies organization, including the furry green mascot.
Throngs in Phillies gear packed downtown sidewalks, making them almost impassable. Fans climbed trees, hung out of windows, watched from balconies, carried stepladders and stood on roofs to get a better view.
Center fielder Shane Victorino tossed soft pretzels to the crowd while shortstop Jimmy Rollins turned his hand-held video camera on the gathering.
World Series MVP Cole Hamels tried to fist bump a fan dressed like Philly’s favorite fictional boxer, Rocky Balboa, but authorities intervened before they quite pulled it off.
The last time a Philadelphia team won a major title was in 1983, when the 76ers captured the NBA crown. The Phillies won their only other World Series in 1980. Current pitcher Jamie Moyer, who grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs, skipped school to attend it.
UConn is AP’s preseason No. 1 in women’s hoops
Connecticut is back in familiar territory — No. 1 in the preseason women’s basketball poll.
This is the first time in five seasons and the sixth time in school history the Huskies have the top preseason ranking by The Associated Press.
UConn received 44 of the 45 first-place votes Saturday from a national media panel and compiled 1,124 points. No. 2 Stanford was 106 points behind and drew the other first-place ballot.
UConn lost to Stanford in the Final Four last season. Huskies coach Geno Auriemma returns three starters, including sensational sophomore Maya Moore.
Auburn ranked No. 14 in the poll.
“For this team to have a preseason No. 1 ranking is special,” Auriemma said. “They have battled through a lot. Finally making the Final Four last year and now earning this ranking means something to them.”
Maryland is third and followed by Oklahoma, one of five Big 12 teams in the poll. Rutgers is fifth and North Carolina sixth. Two-time defending champion Tennessee, the only school with more No. 1 preseason rankings than UConn, is seventh. The Lady Vols graduated last seasons’ starting five.
Packers release DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila
GREEN BAY, Wis.—The Green Bay Packers released Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, the franchise sacks leader, on Saturday.
The defensive end had been with the team for nine seasons and appeared in 124 games, starting 74.
He had 74 sacks for Green Bay, passing Reggie White’s 68 in 2007.
General Manager Ted Thompson issued a statement Saturday, thanking Gbaja-Biamila for his contributions and wishing him well.
Gbaja-Biamila also issued a statement, saying his time with the team has been a “blessing that is beyond words.”
Nalbandian reaches Paris Masters final
PARIS—Defending champion David Nalbandian beat Nikolay Davydenko 6-1, 5-7, 6-4 Saturday to set up a Paris Masters final against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Tsonga defeated 11th-seeded James Blake 6-4, 6-3 and could become the first Frenchman to win this event since Sebastien Grosjean in 2001.
“I have never played against him,” Nalbandian said. “He’s a good player, young and powerful. So it will be tough, but I have to keep believing in my game.”
The wins also kept the eighth-seeded Nalbandian and 13th-seeded Tsonga on course for a place in the season-ending Masters Cup.
“I came onto the court like a tiger, I hit at everything that moved and that made the difference,” Tsonga said. “I had to keep going forward, be more aggressive and start better than I did against (Andy) Roddick.”
The winner of Sunday’s final will go to Shanghai with Juan Martin del Potro, who clinched a spot because of Blake’s loss.
North Carolina the first unanimous preseason No. 1
As if there weren’t enough expectations for North Carolina this season, they just got bigger.
Not only are the Tar Heels No. 1 in The Associated Press’ preseason Top 25, they are the first unanimous No. 1 since the preseason poll began in 1981-82.
North Carolina has the top six scorers — including national player of the year Tyler Hansbrough — back from a team that had a school-record 36 wins and reached the Final Four.
The Tar Heels, No. 1 in the final poll last season, are the preseason No. 1 for the second straight year, joining UNLV in 1989-90 and 1990-91 as the only schools to do that. It also marks North Carolina’s record sixth time atop the preseason rankings, breaking a tie with Duke.
“We have a really good group of kids who are working very hard to get ready for a challenging season,” North Carolina coach Roy Williams said. “They’ve worked so hard because they know they have to prove it on the court. No one gives you any awards for preseason rankings. Our guys know these lofty rankings are a result of what they have done in the past and what people think could probably happen this year. But we have to earn everything out there on the floor.”
The Tar Heels faced their first test Thursday when Hansbrough was found to have a stress reaction in his right shin. He will be held out of practice indefinitely, and no timetable was set for his return.
The preseason poll turned out to be quite a prognosticator last season when the top four teams in the early rankings — North Carolina, UCLA, Memphis and Kansas — all reached the Final Four, with Kansas winning it all in San Antonio.
Connecticut, which returns four starters, was No. 2 this preseason, followed by Louisville, UCLA and Pittsburgh.
Fans roar as Phillies parade through city
PHILADELPHIA—Manager Charlie Manuel hoisted the World Series trophy Friday while players basked in a swarm of confetti, the Phanatic mascot danced and hundreds of thousands of Phillies fans roared in celebration of the city’s first major sports championship in 25 years.
Left fielder Pat Burrell led the procession, riding a horse-drawn carriage and pumping his fists. Next came eight flatbed trucks filled with waving players and other members of the Phillies organization, including the furry green mascot.
Throngs in Phillies gear packed downtown sidewalks, making them almost impassable. Fans climbed trees, hung out of windows, watched from balconies, carried stepladders and stood on roofs to get a better view.
Center fielder Shane Victorino tossed soft pretzels to the crowd while shortstop Jimmy Rollins turned his hand-held video camera on the gathering.
World Series MVP Cole Hamels tried to fist bump a fan dressed like Philly’s favorite fictional boxer, Rocky Balboa, but authorities intervened before they quite pulled it off.
The last time a Philadelphia team won a major title was in 1983, when the 76ers captured the NBA crown. The Phillies won their only other World Series in 1980. Current pitcher Jamie Moyer, who grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs, skipped school to attend it.
UConn is AP’s preseason No. 1 in women’s hoops
Connecticut is back in familiar territory — No. 1 in the preseason women’s basketball poll.
This is the first time in five seasons and the sixth time in school history the Huskies have the top preseason ranking by The Associated Press.
UConn received 44 of the 45 first-place votes Saturday from a national media panel and compiled 1,124 points. No. 2 Stanford was 106 points behind and drew the other first-place ballot.
UConn lost to Stanford in the Final Four last season. Huskies coach Geno Auriemma returns three starters, including sensational sophomore Maya Moore.
Auburn ranked No. 14 in the poll.
“For this team to have a preseason No. 1 ranking is special,” Auriemma said. “They have battled through a lot. Finally making the Final Four last year and now earning this ranking means something to them.”
Maryland is third and followed by Oklahoma, one of five Big 12 teams in the poll. Rutgers is fifth and North Carolina sixth. Two-time defending champion Tennessee, the only school with more No. 1 preseason rankings than UConn, is seventh. The Lady Vols graduated last seasons’ starting five.
Packers release DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila
GREEN BAY, Wis.—The Green Bay Packers released Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, the franchise sacks leader, on Saturday.
The defensive end had been with the team for nine seasons and appeared in 124 games, starting 74.
He had 74 sacks for Green Bay, passing Reggie White’s 68 in 2007.
General Manager Ted Thompson issued a statement Saturday, thanking Gbaja-Biamila for his contributions and wishing him well.
Gbaja-Biamila also issued a statement, saying his time with the team has been a “blessing that is beyond words.”
Nalbandian reaches Paris Masters final
PARIS—Defending champion David Nalbandian beat Nikolay Davydenko 6-1, 5-7, 6-4 Saturday to set up a Paris Masters final against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Tsonga defeated 11th-seeded James Blake 6-4, 6-3 and could become the first Frenchman to win this event since Sebastien Grosjean in 2001.
“I have never played against him,” Nalbandian said. “He’s a good player, young and powerful. So it will be tough, but I have to keep believing in my game.”
The wins also kept the eighth-seeded Nalbandian and 13th-seeded Tsonga on course for a place in the season-ending Masters Cup.
“I came onto the court like a tiger, I hit at everything that moved and that made the difference,” Tsonga said. “I had to keep going forward, be more aggressive and start better than I did against (Andy) Roddick.”
The winner of Sunday’s final will go to Shanghai with Juan Martin del Potro, who clinched a spot because of Blake’s loss.
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