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BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil -- Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho had become used to watching Brazil either on TV or from the bench. But after new coach Tite took over the national team in September, Coutinho has secured a key supporting role in leading Brazil to the top of its World Cup group in South American qualifiers. In the 3-0 victory over Argentina on Thursday, Coutinho had his best performance wearing yellow so far.Brazils No. 11 opened scoring with a superb strike from the edge of the box, and then floated behind Argentinas defensive midfielders to create space for Barcelona star Neymar to score his 50th goal for the home team. For the first time in a Brazil match, the 53,000 fans at the Mineirao stadium chanted Coutinhos name as he was substituted by Douglas Costa.Coutinhos natural partnership with Neymar comes from playing together in youth divisions. They are so close that, after the game, both posted on Instagram the same picture of themselves celebrating a goal. Since a long time ago, Neymars post read, with Coutinho saying much the same thing.Other players see the growing importance of their relationship.They understand each other so much that they make it all simpler for the other players, said Brazil midfielder Renato Augusto.Brazil has won all five matches since Coutinho became a vital member of the side under Tite, with the bonus of Neymars teamwork also improving. During training sessions in Belo Horizonte this week, Coutinho and Neymar -- both 24 -- were almost always together, and often with 19-year-old striker Gabriel Jesus, who will soon move to Manchester City.It is so easy to play with them, Coutinho said. And it is great because our relationship works on and off the pitch. That has given us a lot of confidence.Coach Tite also gets credit from the Liverpool midfielder.He thinks every player is important, even those that are not playing, Coutinho said. That has made a big difference.Brazil leads the South American qualifiers with 24 points from 11 matches. The top four teams qualify automatically for the World Cup in Russia in 2018.Next Tuesday Brazil visits eighth-placed Peru.Despite the convincing victory over Argentina -- at the same place where Brazil was humiliated by Germany 7-1 in the 2014 World Cup semifinals -- Coutinho believes there is still a lot to do before Russia. For now, he wants to enjoy being a supporting actor.Just to be here brings me a lot of pride, just to be in a squad like this with all these fantastic players, Coutinho said. Playing against Argentina was a big dream come true, every Brazilian child dreams to be in one of those games.Shoes UK Online Store . The Vancouver coach and an announced sellout crowd of 18,910 watched in dismay as the Canucks lost 7-4 to the New York Islanders on Monday night by squandering a 3-0 lead in the third period. Wholesale Shoes UK . 24 Baylor in a Big 12 clash between teams trending in opposite directions. Andrew Wiggins made 10-of-12 from the foul line and scored 17 for Kansas (14-4, 5-0 Big 12), which capped a stretch of four straight games against ranked opponents unscathed. https://www.shoesukonline.com/ . - Derek Wolfe says hes finally healthy after suffering a seizure in November that doctors now believe was related to the spinal cord injury he suffered in the preseason. Shoes UK From China . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . Shoes UK Online Cheap .com) - The Chicago Blackhawks aim for their third three-game winning streak of the season when they host the struggling Edmonton Oilers in Sundays battle at the United Center.IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Seton Hall no longer has star Isaiah Whitehead to lean on.The Pirates have depth and balance though -- and that was enough for them to pass their first road test of 2016-17.Myles Powell scored 26 points off the bench, Desi Rodriguez had 25 and Seton Hall beat Iowa 91-83 on Thursday night.Khadeen Carrington added 20 points for the Pirates (3-0), who shot 51 percent from the floor with eight 3s and outscored the Hawkeyes 50-24 in the paint.Our team will be much more balanced this year, said Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard after Whitehead left for the NBA.Powell buried a 3 and followed by a layup to put Seton Hall up 82-74 with 3:15 to go -- and then drilled another long 3 to make it a 10-point game a minute later. Rodriguez followed with a 3 that sent the fans to the exits.Iowa made a few late 3s to make it close before falling for the first time in 2016-17.Senior Peter Jok had 30 points and 11 rebounds for his first career double-double, and freshman Tyler Cook scored a career-high 24 points for the Hawkeyes (2-1).I would have liked to have seen us play better defense over the duration, especially in the second half. We tried defenses, we changed defenses; press, we went to zone. We just didnt perform to the level thats necessary, Iowa coach Fran McCaffery said.BIG PICTURESeton Hall: The Pirates should be a factor in the Big East. They started five upperclassmen who were unfazed by their first road game -- although a 9 p.m. ET tip-off time on a week night kept the crowd down a bit. Seton Hall forced Iowa to commit 17 turnovers.Iowa: Win or lose, a matchup against a tough, veteran team halfway through November was exactly what the Hawkeyes needed.ddddddddddddMcCaffery is still trying to find a rotation that can win in the Big Ten, using 11 players in the first half alone. But it looks like Jok has found a more than capable sidekick in Cook, who can seemingly do everything but knock down free throws.NOT-SO FREE THROWSCook was a mess at the free-throw line, going just 5 of 12. But neither team could covert its freebies, as Seton Hall was 17 of 31 and Iowa was 19 of 32.SMOKE SHOWIowa brought out two sets of pyrotechnics during its player introductions. The smoke lingered in the air for roughly half of the first half. But Iowas other new wrinkles, including a new court, lighting and a massive new scoreboard over center court, has vastly improved the game-day experience at Carver-Hawkeye Arena -- which had begun to show its age until recent renovations.HE SAID ITTheres not a time where he shoots the ball where I think its not going in. He plays with a lot of confidence. He plays like I think all kids should play, just having fun, Willard said of Powell.UP NEXTSeton Halls schedule doesnt let up much. The Pirates play Florida next Thursday and, if they win, likely Gonzaga on Thanksgiving.Iowa gets another cupcake in Texas-Rio Grande Valley on Sunday. But the Hawkeyes will face No. 8 Virginia next Friday in Florida.---More college basketball at www.collegebasketball.ap.org ' ' '