arting to see an identity, Pang said. What Ive been impressed with is that it looks like players have checked their ego

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- If anyone makes jokes about Michigan aiming to win its first Big Ten title since 2004 and national championship since 1997, thats exactly the reaction Jim Harbaugh wants.If people arent making fun of you for what your dreams are and what your goals are, then you havent set those goals and dreams high enough, Harbaugh said.Michigan went 10-3 last season, doubling its wins from the previous year in coach Brady Hokes final season. The Wolverines surpassed modest expectations, but were humbled by losing to Ohio State for the 11th time in 12 years and heartbroken by a seventh setback in eight games to Michigan State.Here are some things to watch as Harbaugh begins his second season in Ann Arbor:THREE-WAY PLAYERSJabrill Peppers and Jourdan Lewis, both of whom are primarily used on defense, are expected to take some snaps on offense. And they will likely return some punts and kicks, too.While Peppers was used on offense to run, catch and throw the ball, Lewis has only been used as a kickoff returner outside of his role as a cornerback. Lewis is thankful his lobbying efforts with Harbaugh appear to have paid off.Ive been in his ear about playing on offense since he got here, Lewis said. Ive always wanted to do it here to help the team win, and Im glad it looks like Im going to get a chance to do it.NEW DCThe Wolverines relative success last season led to Maryland hiring their defensive coordinator, D.J. Durkin, to lead its program. Harbaugh hired Boston College defensive coordinator Don Brown, who helped the Eagles rank among the nations best defenses even though they won just three games last season.KEY GAMESThe Wolverines have a daunting road schedule that includes the Buckeyes, Spartans and Iowa. They do get to host five teams to open the season and play a total of eight games at the Big House. Michigan might be 7-0 on Oct. 29 when it faces Michigan State in East Lansing, where the Wolverines havent won since 2007. Michigan will close the regular season Nov. 26 at Ohio State, where the Wolverines are winless since 2000.SEASON OPENERMichigan opens the season Sept. 3 against Hawaii with Michael Jordan scheduled to be on hand as an honorary captain because the Wolverines are the first football team to wear Jordan Brand apparel.After everyone gets done looking at Jordan and Harbaugh, they will shift to the player who ends up taking snaps for the maize and blue. Harbaugh appears to have up to four choices for quarterback, but appears to choosing between John OKorn and Wilton Speight. OKorn threw 34 touchdowns and started 16 games at Houston before transferring to Michigan and sitting out last year. The 6-foot-6 Speight threw a game-winning touchdown pass late in a game last year at Minnesota in relief of injured starter Jake Rudock.Harbaugh, who played quarterback at Michigan and in the NFL, has a track record of developing signal callers in college and with the San Francisco 49ers.Hes the best quarterbacks coach around, OKorn said. Its an opportunity of a lifetime.PREDICTIONMichigan will win 11 games, surpassing last seasons total. Loses on the road to rivals Ohio State and Michigan State, though, hold Harbaugh back from having a special season in his second year.---Online: AP College football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-Top25---Follow Larry Lage at www.twitter.com/larrylage and follow his work at www.bigstory.ap.org/content/larry-lageAnthony Davis Jersey . -- Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar will be out for roughly four weeks after tearing his left hamstring. Derek Fisher Lakers Jersey . After dropping their final six games of December, the Wild opened the new calendar year with four consecutive wins. Following a loss to Colorado on Saturday, Minnesota rebounded the following night to blank Nashville 4-0, but then had the tables turned on them Tuesday. http://www.lakersbasketballshop.com/Wilt-Chamberlain-Jersey/ .Y. - Nelson Mandela will be honoured by the New York Yankees with a plaque in Monument Park. Kyle Kuzma Lakers Jersey . -- Playing time has been limited for Maxim Tissot this season, so the Montreal Impact defender made the most of his first scoring opportunity on Saturday. Kobe Bryant Lakers Jersey . "Thank you for the warm welcome," Beckham said on an 80-degree February morning. In this case, it was soccer weather. The sport moved a step closer to returning to South Florida on Wednesday, when Beckham confirmed he has exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Miami.TORONTO -- Of all the teams in the World Cup of Hockey, its fair to say that the greatest pressure falls squarely on the collective shoulders of Team USA to hit the ground running.Granted, none of the eight teams can afford to start slowly, given that the tournaments pool will be cut in half after only three preliminary games.But for an American team desperate to prove it was put together correctly, desperate to prove that its style of hockey can trump the best the world has to offer, a matinee matchup against Team Europe on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2) to kick off the 2016 World Cup of Hockey looms large.Is it a must-win?Lets call it what it is. So, yes, its a must-win.Team USA coach John Tortorella was asked Friday whether the mantra for this veteran, hard-nosed team might be, If not now, then when?He replied by refining it to, simply, Its time.That time is Saturday afternoon. Not Tuesday night against Canada, not later on against the Czech Republic.Im sure guys are going to have nerves, Team USA defenseman Jack Johnson?said. You love to get that rush of competing, thats what makes tournaments like this so great. Its the rush of nerves and the emotions and everything that goes into it. But we know how important these games are. I think, going into Saturday, its [about] that game and that game only. Were not thinking ahead because youve got to win that game before you can win the next game.If you figure two wins gets you out of the preliminary round, and if you figure Canada, Team USAs opponent in the second game of the preliminary round Tuesday night (8 p.m., ESPN), represents the biggest challenge, then beating both Team Europe and the Czechs is imperative for the Americans.Team Europe represents something of an unknown. After looking slow and disconnected in pretournament losses to Team North America, the Euros bounced back with a strong effort in their final tuneup match against Sweden, which is considered one of the tournament favorites.Everythings great, but then you play the first two games and the results were definitely not great, said Team Europe captain Anze Kopitar. Then you almost have a little bit of doubt. You dont know exactly how youre going. I think [beating Sweden] was a great confidence booster for us.The pretournament win was huge for Team Europe and serves as a kind of cautionary lesson for Team USA, reminding the Americans not to assume that they can come with anything less than their A-game on Saturday and expect to collect a victory.Finding that emotional balance will be key for Team USA. It must bring the same speed and physicality it showed against Canada in pretournament play, but not provide power-play opportunities to a Team Europe squad that figures to struggle offensively.There really is no easing into it, Team USA veteran?Zach Parise?said. With a three-game round-robin, and only taking two teams, you cant really afford to have a slipup.dddddddddddd You cant afford to really have an off-game early or else youll need a little luck [to move on]. But I think were going to be ready to play.Team USA started the pretournament schedule with an emotional, physical effort against Canada. The Americans won that game 4-2, but Canada rebounded to take the rematch the next night in Ottawa 5-2 and outplayed Team USA in both meetings.Team USA looked much better in its final tuneup against Finland, a 3-2 victory, and the feeling among the American players is that they are finding their rhythm under head coach John Tortorella.I think were in a good spot right now, but theres definitely going to be things to clean up, forward T.J. Oshie?said. I think were heading in the right direction.It is hard, because if you get off to a bad start, you might be going home in a week. I think our teams got enough experience, weve got enough veteran guys, to where well probably stay pretty level-headed and not get overanxious or nervous or anything like that. It definitely could get to you, worrying about that. But I think this group is experienced enough to where we wont let it.Longtime NHL analyst and former NHL goalie Darren Pang wouldnt go as far as saying the U.S. absolutely must win Saturday, but he did say its crucial for the Americans to set the right tone.I think its about how they play, said Pang, who is providing analysis for ESPN during the tournament. How they want to play and how they set the tone, because I think they are a tone-setter for this tournament.Pang said he has been impressed with how players have accepted their roles as set out by the coaching staff.Youre starting to see an identity, Pang said. What Ive been impressed with is that it looks like players have checked their egos completely at the door and theyre going to play the way the coach says.Although Tortorella would not reveal his lineup Friday, he confirmed Jonathan Quick would start in goal and line rushes during practice on Friday suggested that Justin Abdelkader would be the extra forward.The coach admitted that some players have rounded into game shape more quickly than others. I looked at some guys early on and said, Theyre just not ready to give here, Tortorella said. You have talks along the way, and you see guys step up. I wont give away names, but I was really worried about a couple of guys, and then they came right to the forefront. Theyre going to be in the lineup.Some other guys have played themselves out of it. Nothing is fair with [only] five days of practice in determining a lineup, but thats the world that we live in this tournament, and thats the way weve gone about it.In other words, its time. ' ' '