Bilder » really our ego and staying humble and hungry and gettin

Villanova is set to take its first official step in defending its national championship when it plays host to host Lafayette on Friday (6:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 2) at the Pavilion in Villanova, Pa.The Wildcats defeated North Carolina on April 4 for their first national title since 1985. They begin the 2016-17 season ranked No. 4 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll.Villanova will on campus with an expected raucous sold-out crowd to be in attendance Friday.It is a new season with a number of new faces.The challenge is really our ego and staying humble and hungry and getting better, Villanova coach Jay Wright said. No matter what you did last year, everyone is a different person this year. So we have different challenges, and we lose two outstanding leaders on the floor and three walk-ons who were great leaders. We have challenges, and if we recognize the challenges and dont concentrate on our accomplishments, we have a shot.The Wildcats will open this season without steady point guard Ryan Arcidiacono and center Daniel Ochefu, two key pieces on last seasons national championship team that finished 35-5.However, theres plenty of talent returning to the Main Line, led by senior forward Kris Jenkins, who hit the game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer of the national championship game against the Tar Heels. Jenkins averaged 13.6 points and converted a Big East-leading 100 3-point baskets last season.However, in Villanovas 94-49 exhibition win over the Indiana University of Pennsylvania last Saturday, Jenkins didnt start because he missed a targeted weight leading up to the game.Jenkins proved his mettle through the regular season and the entire NCAA Tournament, and he realizes this is a new beginning.It is already behind me, Jenkins said of last seasons championship. You know were focused and ready to go this year. We have a lot of things that were working on and continuing to get better at. We have a good team here, and we want to be the best team we can be by the end of the year. So you know were all focused on that.The Wildcats return three starters from last years team, including senior guard Josh Hart, a preseason All-American. Hart averaged 15.5 points and 6.8 rebounds last year. Sophomore guard Jalen Brunson averaged 9.6 points and earned a spot on the Big East All-Freshman Team.After reaching the NCAA Tournament in 2014-15, Lafayette lost three 1,000-point scorers and slipped to 6-24 overall and 3-15 in the Patriot League last year. The Leopards lost to Navy in the first round of the Patriot League tournament.Lafayette will be guided mostly by senior point guard Nick Lindner, a two-time captain who has scored more than 1,000 points and handed out more than 400 assists in his career.The Leopards must replace five seniors, led by Bryce Scott, who landed in the record books in a variety of offensive categories. Scott made 213 career 3-pointers and was a 40.7 percent career 3-point shooter.We can definitely put some guys on the floor that can shoot and score, but that might not equate to our best defensive unit, Lafayette coach Fran OHanlon said. Our problems have come in defense and rebounding, and it will only get better if our big guards can take advantage of matchups on the wings. Were not big inside, so that puts pressure on our guards to rebound.With a young group, the Leopards must open the season on the road against the defending national champions. Not an easy task.Villanova will be a great experience for our guys, OHanlon said. Obviously, its a formidable opponent. Its like playing Alabama in football. Playing in an environment like that will be a hot ticket. Everybody wants to see the banners raised. It will be a great night. Cheap Custom Packers Jersey . Irving scored 23 points, Tristan Thompson had 20 points and 10 rebounds and the Cavaliers beat the Denver Nuggets 117-109 on Friday night. Authentic Custom Packers Jersey . The formidable trio of Canadian receivers -- individually known as Chris Getzlaf, Rob Bagg and Andy Fantuz -- will share the field at Mosaic Stadium one more time on Sunday. http://www.custompackersjersey.com/ . -- The plastic that was taped across the lockers in Oaklands clubhouse came down and the champagne that was on ice went back into the cooler. Custom Packers Jersey China . The next step is a better finish. Bae played bogey-free Friday on another gorgeous day at Riviera for a 5-under 66, giving him a one-shot lead over Aaron Baddeley and Robert Garrigus going into the weekend. Custom Packers T-shirts . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. Texas Rangers slugger Prince Fielder is facing the prospect of season-ending surgery after an MRI revealed a herniation of disks in his neck just above an area that was repaired two years ago.Fielder and outfielder Shin-Soo Choo were put on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday by the AL West leaders.Choo received an injection to help relieve lower-back discomfort.General manager Jon Daniels said Fielder this week reported having similar symptoms to what he had before the surgery in 2014 that forced him to sit out most of his first season with the Rangers. FFielder was feeling weakness and discomfort in his neck and left arm.ddddddddddddDr. Robert Watkins, who examined both players in Los Angeles, recommended surgery for Fielder.Daniels said Fielder will return to Texas and get a further evaluation Friday from Dr. Drew Dossett, a specialist who performed Fielders previous neck surgery.Infielder Hanser Alberto and outfielder Delino DeShields were recalled from Triple-A Round Rock. ' ' '