Schwarzesbrett » season.DB: Can you go BarDown?

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Connecticut went down to the wire with another opponent. This time there was no clutch shot by Shabazz Napier. UConns star guard, known for heroics such as a last-second shot that beat Florida earlier this month, missed three times in the final 40 seconds and the 10th-ranked Huskies lost for the first time this season, 53-51 to Stanford. "With Shabazz, you live with that, because hes put this team on his back a lot of times," UConn coach Kevin Ollie said. "But he could have taken it to the basket a couple of times, but he settled for the long 3-ball." Chasson Randle scored 22 points and the Cardinal (8-2) beat a Top 25 team away from Palo Alto for the first time since the 2008 NCAA tournament. The Cardinals previous seven wins this season came over teams that were a combined 32-41. "I think its an important win for our conference," Stanford coach Johnny Dawkins said, referring to the Pac-12. "A number of teams have had some real signature wins, and Im just happy that we were able to have one as well." Josh Huestis added 13 points and 10 rebounds and Dwight Powell had 10 points and 15 rebounds for Stanford which overcame a 10-point halftime deficit. DeAndre Daniels had 15 points for UConn (9-1), which was 6 of 10 from behind the arc in the first half and 0 for 12 in the second. Connecticut this season already had beaten Maryland, Indiana and Florida by a point and won by two against Boston College. But the Huskies could not get a clutch basket down the stretch against Stanford. Randles jump shot with 3 1/2 minutes left gave the Cardinal a 52-49 lead. The Huskies pulled within a point when Daniels tipped in a missed 3-point attempt by Niels Giffey. Napier, who finished with 12 points and eight assists, missed two 3-pointers on a key possession with the Huskies trailing 52-51. Stanford got the ball back with 28 seconds left after a scrum underneath the basket. Napier fouled Huestis on the inbounds play and he hit one of two free throws. Napier missed another shot with 8 seconds left, forcing UConn to foul again. He got the ball back on a rebound after Huestis missed another free throw; dribbled down the court, but instead of trying a contested shot, he passed to Omar Calhoun. His long jumber from the right wing bounced off the rim. "I felt like Omar was the most open guy at the time," Napier said. "I felt like it was going to go in, and I bet he did too." UConn led by 10 points at halftime and pushed the lead to 43-30, before consecutive 3-pointers by Anthony Brown and Randle. That started a 14-0 run by the Cardinal, who used a stifling zone defence to hold the Huskies without a field goal for more than 6 minutes. The Huskies were just 5 of 31 from the field in the second half. "It was just a matter of us being aggressive on the defensive end," Randle said. "Just being active, getting our hands moving, getting our feet moving and getting our feet moving and just hustling." A driving basket and free throw by Randle gave Stanford its first lead of the second half at 44-43. The Huskies closed the first half on a 14-3 run that ended when Napier stole the ball from Randle and found Lasan Kromah ahead of the field for an easy layup just before buzzer. UConn came in shooting better than 46 per cent from beyond the arc, with five players having made 10 or more 3-pointers. The loss snapped a 54-game home winning streak against nonconference opponents that dated to 2007. Connecticut was coming off its annual hiatus for final exams. The Huskies had not played in 12 days, since a 95-68 win over Maine, a game in which UConn hit 14 3-pointers. Stanford ended a 13-day break last Saturday with a 27-point win over UC Davis. UConn plays at Washington, another Pac-12 team, on Saturday. The Huskies had dominated that conference, coming into Wednesday they were 17-2 and had won 13 straight since falling to UCLA in the 1995 NCAA West Regional championship. "Well learn from this," Daniels said. "Were not going to have all the time when (Napiers) going to be the hero of the game and knock down a shot." Wholesale Nike Shoes For Sale . The Suns termed Fridays surgery by team doctor Thomas Carter a success. No timetable was given for Bledsoes return but the team said in a news release that he "will pursue a possible return to action during the second half" of the season. Wholesale Nike Shoes Online . Walcott is available for Saturdays home match against Southampton as Arsenal looks to extend its two-point lead at the top of the Premier League. The Gunners are currently the second highest scorers in the league but Wenger insists Walcott will add something extra to his team. http://www.wholesaleshoesnike.com/ .com) - The Toronto Raptors are paying Rudy Gay a visit on Wednesday night when they head into the Sleep Train Arena to take on the Sacramento Kings. Cheap Nike Shoes China Free Shipping . Less than 24 hours after the Wolves lost at home to the Mavericks, 100-98, NBA president of basketball operations Rod Thorn announced Tuesday that Kevin Love was fouled on his right arm by Shawn Marion in the closing seconds and should have been awarded two free throws. Wholesale Nike Shoes China . Algeria led 3-0 at halftime, but withstood a stronger South Korean second half performance to claim its first World Cup win since 1982 and move into second place in Group H with one match left to play. Defeat for South Korea means it must now beat already-qualified Belgium to stand a chance of progressing to the knockout stages.Daniel Bruno: Favourite sports jersey you always wore as a kid?Nick Jonas: Oh yeah, Im a big Yankees fan and Jeter was my guy. So, I always wore my Jeter jersey and when I started playing sone sports I always wore the number 2.DB: Nice. Did you get a chance to go to Yankee Stadium this year to watch him play in his last year?NJ: I couldnt make it out! I was shooting this show Kingdom that I did and every opportunity I had when he was in New York, something would come up and I couldnt go. So, I was bummed that I missed that.DB: So, speaking of Kingdom, you play an MMA fighter in that show. Whos your favourite fictional fighting character? You have Rocky Balboa, Jake La Motta from Raging Bull, lots of options.NJ: Well, since I play an MMA fighter, I think the best representation of the world that were in - MMA and UFC and all of that - is probably the movie Warrior.DB: Oh ya, great movie!NJ: Exactly. I think Tom Hardys character is great in that. #456605843 / gettyimages.com DB: You play in a lot of these charity games, whether it be baseball games or whatever. Do you feel a chip on your shoulder in those games because other celebrities are like “Ah, its just the guy from the Jonas Brothers, he cant be that good.”NJ: Oh, of course! I definitely feel the need to give it a little extra. I played in a pigskin pro-am football game and I actually won MVP.DB: Actually, I think I saw the highlights of that on YouTube. You got pretty fired up after your touchdown.NJ: I had five that day (Says in a serious face, smirks and then laughs).DB: (laughs) Oh, nice!NJ: But its easy when Donovan McNabb is your quarterback.DB: So, youre going solo now. Do you feel like LeBron James leaving your old teammates you had all that success with and taking on new challenges?NJ: (Thinking) Well, I dunno. LeBron James is kind of a very specific refrence to basketball. I feel like in a way I feel really fortunate to have the support that LeBron has coming back home, like all of my fans who have supported me thus far, but also I have the opportunity to make new fans as well. That feels good.DB: So, lets a do a whos who of the Jonas brothers. If youre LeBron James, whos Bosh and whos Wade?NJ: Id say probably Kevin is Bosh because Id say that Bosh was kind of the glue for that trio, he held it together, but very under the radar. And Joes probably Dwyane Wade. Joe can take some really... bold choices in the fashion game, much like Dwyane Wade, but they always pull it off. And, you know, Im fine being LeBron.DB: Most recent album youve reallly enjoyed listening to front to back?NJ: Hmm, (thinking).dddddddddddd Taylors album. I think she made a great record, I bought it and I listened to it all and I was like, "Wow, this is really impressive."DB: Last concert you actually bought tickets for and went to go see like a fan.NJ: Switchfoot.DB: Wow ya, long time ago.NJ: That was a long time ago. It was probably (thinking)... around 2006.DB: Why is this partnership with Duracell important to you and why is it an important cause to get behind this holiday season?NJ: My history with Childrens Miracle Network goes back pretty far. My brothers and I have all gone through different stages in our career, but we always found it pretty inspiring to do what we can to bring some smiles to these kids faces. Especially when theyre going through such tough stuff. And Duracell came to me with the opportunity to partner with them, I was over the moon. And also seeing how simple it would be to get other people involved. All it takes is going to Wal Mart, buying a pack of batteries and some of the moey from that purchase will go to the Childrens Miracle Network. And thats incredible because I can say first hand - I was diagnosed with diabetes 9 years ago - Ive spent some time in the hospital and I know how tough that can be. For these kids its a whole other level and they need that encouragement, especially during the holiday season.DB: Can you go BarDown?NJ: No, never.DB: Ever played ice hockey?NJ: I have once before and Im actually not bad on the skates. So, thats the first step.DB: Amazing, thats half the game.NJ: Im actually okay on skates, the only problem is, for me, I cant really (gesturing holding a golf club) because I play a lot of golf. I cant really get a feel for the stick and the wrist shots.DB: Ahhh, that makes sense, golfs a little more tight wristed than hockey.NJ: Yeah, its just a different thing. #482981359 / gettyimages.com For the eighth year in a row, Duracells ‘Powering Holiday Smiles campaign will donate a years supply of batteries to hospitals across Canada in order to power lifesaving medical devices and the thousands of playroom toys and games that children and their families will be using this holiday season and beyond. In addition, for every pack of Duracell Quantum and CopperTop batteries that Canadians purchase at Walmart from December 1st to December 31st, 2014, Duracell will donate 20 cents to Childrens Miracle Network, with the goal to raise $150,000. To learn more about the campaign follow @Duracell on Twitter. ' ' '