Dein erstes Forum » Hendrick and Tyshay Britten, both

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The Notre Dame defense is about to find out just how much it has improved since its dismal start.Statistically, the Irish look much better since Brian VanGorder was fired as defensive coordinator on Sept. 25, the day after 38-35 loss to Duke. The Irish were ranked 103rd out of 128 teams in total defense, giving up 456 yards a game, when they fell to 1-3.Heading into their final two games against Virginia Tech (7-3) and USC, Notre Dame (4-6) ranks 39th in the nation in total defense, giving up an average of 371 yards a game. Take away those first four games and the Irish are surrendering 315 yards a game, which would place them 14th in the nation in total defense.The Irish, though, are about to face two of the three best offenses theyve faced all season. The Hokies rank 43rd in the nation in total offense at 444 yards a game and USC (7-3) ranks No. 29 at 469 yards a game.The only team the Irish have faced with a higher-rated offense is Texas at No. 14 at 503 yards a game. The Longhorns beat the Irish 50-47 in double overtime in the season opener.Coach Brian Kelly said while the Irish could become bowl eligible with two victories and improve their image with wins over Virginia Tech, which was ranked No. 18 before being upset by Georgia Tech last week, and No. 15 Southern California, which has won six straight after a 1/3 start, his focus is building on Notre Dames best all-around performance in a 44-6 win over Army on Saturday.You want all of the things that you worked so hard on all year to come together in these last two games, he said. That is, for us, finishing games, playing the game for us with a mental and physical toughness that at times was not at its best. Its now coming together. And I think that regardless of how were perceived, I think the most important thing is to play the way were capable of playing. Thats what Im looking at more than anything else.Kelly said hes not losing sleep over whether the Irish will get to a bowl. Kelly was asked whether he would want to play in a bowl with a 5-7 record. Last season three 5-7 teams went to bowl games because there werent enough teams with records above .500.I havent given it much thought, to be honest with you. I think those scenarios I would address at the end of the year, he said.---More AP college football at www.collegefootball.ap.org Cheap Cardinals Jerseys .Y. -- Syracuse has turned up the defence at the right time all season, and when High Point threatened to pull off a monumental upset the second-ranked Orange did what they do best with their quick hands and savvy play. Authentic Custom Cardinals Jersey . The 26-year-old Ireland striker, who has four goals this season, has signed a three-and-a-half year contract with his new club. http://www.customcardinalsjersey.com/ .B. - Sebastien Auger made 44 saves as the Saint John Sea Dogs edged the visiting Acadie-Bathurst Titan 2-1 on Saturday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Custom Cardinals Jerseys .ca! Kerry, Two nights after the Scott-Eriksson incident in Buffalo, the Bruins returned home to play San Jose. In that game, Zdeno Chara put a check on Tommy Wingels that clearly targeted his head. Wholesale Custom Cardinals Shirts . Arsenal failed to take full advantage of its main rivals stumbles on Saturday as substitute Gerard Deulofeu levelled with a hard shot from a tight angle in the 84th minute to give Everton a deserved point. Ahead of a crucial fortnight that will see them play against Napoli in the Champions League, Manchester City and Chelsea, Arsenal leads by five points ahead of Liverpool and Chelsea. COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Moments after raising the banner for their second consecutive Big Ten championship, the No. 6 Maryland Terrapins flexed their muscles as the favorites for another title.Freshman Destiny Slocum scored 15 points, Shatori Walker-Kimbrough had 14 points and Maryland breezed by UMass-Lowell 100-44 in its opener Sunday.The Terrapins entered the season with the nations top recruiting class, a group that shined in its debut. Freshman Kaila Charles started alongside Slocum and finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds in 21 minutes.We talked about in pregame what kind of work had to go into unveiling that banner, Maryland coach Brenda Frese said. I know in our locker room we have even bigger goals of how we want to finish this season.Brianna Fraser had 14 points and Ieshia Small scored 12 for Maryland, which outrebounded UMass-Lowell 52-30. The Terrapins scored 48 points off 34 UMass-Lowell turnovers.Maryland, which finished 31-4 last season, was in sync from the opening tip and started the game on a 17-3 run. Walker-Kimbrough led the way with six points over that stretch.We wanted to come out and set the tone early, Walker-Kimbrough said. One of goals today was just to play Maryland basketball: defend, rebound and run. I thought we did a good job early speeding them up, but we have to make sure we sustain that for 40 minutes.The Terrapins remained dominant at both ends of the court and continued to pull away from the outmatched River Hawks. The Terps had 11 steals over an 11-minute span in the first half.Maryland was 23 of 38 (60.5 percent) from the field and led 57-16 at the break. The Terrapins were just as dominant in the second half, and a jumper by Small increased the margin to 89-32 with 7:45 left in the game.Itss a good test, River Hawks coach Jenerrie Harris said about playing Maryland.ddddddddddddIts nice to be able to go against one of the best teams in the country. Maybe where we cant make each other pay in practice, that can make us pay in a situation like this so that we can make the improvement for later in the season.Nicole Hayner led UMass-Lowell (0-2) with 17 points.BIG PICTUREUMass-Lowell: The River Hawks are looking to improve from last season, when they went 4-24 overall and 1-15 in the America East. UMass-Lowell is expected to get a boost from freshmen Megan Hendrick and Tyshay Britten, both of whom are pushing for spots in the starting lineup.Maryland: The Terrapins are poised for another big season, with one of the best front courts in the nation and a deep bench. Maryland is expected to contend for a second national championship under Frese.DEEP BENCHMaryland has talent up and down its roster and got points from 12 players in the opener. The Terrapins bench outscored UMass-Lowell 50-15. No player on Maryland played more than 25 minutes. We have a lot more speed this year and depth, Frese said. We definitely want to be able to change up and give a lot of different looks on the defensive end.BETTER PROTECTIONAfter committing 34 turnovers in the first half, UMass-Lowell did a much better job protecting the ball after the break. The River Hawks turned the ball over just four times in the third quarter.UP NEXTUMass-Lowell: The River Hawks open at home against Fairfield on Thursday.Maryland: The Terrapins play their second of three consecutive home games against Maryland-Eastern Shore on Wednesday. ' ' '