t lead at 54-45 with 5:25 left on a Johnson 3-pointer. But the Crimson Tide answered with two 3 | Forum

MEMPHIS, Tenn. Jim Brown Youth Jersey . -- Mike Norvell got off to a fast start in his debut as Memphis coach. Now, the schedule get a little tougher.After opening his tenure with a 35-17 win over Southeast Missouri State two weeks ago, Norvell and his Tigers host Kansas from the Big 12 -- a league that eliminated Memphis from expansion consideration earlier this month.Being a member of a Power Five conference hasnt helped Kansas on the field. After going winless last season, the Jayhawks (1-1) defeated Rhode Island 55-6 in the season opener before falling to Ohio University 37-21 last week.Memphis had its open date after Norvells opener, so the Tigers have had to be patient.We have no say in when our bye week shows up, so we have to maximize it whether it was late in the year or early like it occurred, Norvell said. With us being a first-year staff, we can definitely take the positives out of it because it gives us another opportunity to continue to get to know each other, to continue to evaluate where we are early in the season.Kansas lost to Memphis 55-23 last year in the only other meeting between these schools. Much has changed for the Tigers since then. Justin Fuente has moved on to coach Virginia Tech, while quarterback Paxton Lynch became the first-round NFL draft choice for the Denver Broncos. Other key players like tight end Alan Cross and wide receiver Mose Frazier also moved on to NFL careers.The thing that sticks out to me is just the contrast in styles between their new quarterback (Riley Ferguson) and obviously Paxton Lynch, Kansas coach Dave Beaty said. Paxton, that dude was a tremendously talented guy. Their new guy is also a talented guy. .He can throw the football.Ferguson threw for 295 yards and three touchdowns in the opener for Memphis.---Some things to watch as Memphis hosts Kansas on Saturday morning:NICE START: Norvell is the first Memphis coach to win his debut since Rey Dempsey in 1984. Only one other Tiger coach -- Lester Barnard in 1922 -- won his inaugural game. But Norvell has the opportunity to be the first Memphis coach to start his career 2-0.WHO ARE YOU? Beaty hasnt determined exactly what type of offensive team will emerge after the Jayhawks ran for only 26 yards against Ohio last week. Im trying to figure out who we are right now, because I know were a lot better than what we showed Saturday in the run game, Beaty said. Were probably somewhere in the middle . to be honest with you.THE ROAD UNKIND: Kansas has not fared well on the road in recent years and come to Memphis on a 38-game road losing streak. The last road win came Sept. 12, 2009, when the Jayhawks defeated Texas-El Paso 34-7. No current player on the Kansas roster has ever won a road game.START IS IMPORTANT: Beaty noted the Jayhawks need to start the game with more success. Kansas was down to Ohio 25-0 near the 6-minute mark of the second quarter. We have to start faster, Beaty said. We didnt start fast on either side of the ball. That doesnt bode well for Kansas. Against Southeast Missouri, Memphis was up 29-0 midway through the second quarter.GRAHAM DISCIPLES: Beaty and Norvell both have coaching ties as assistants to Arizona State coach Todd Graham with Beaty in 2006 at Rice and Norvell at a couple of stops, including serving as Grahams deputy head coach for the Sun Devils before taking the helm at Memphis. Beaty even once coached at Norvells old high school.---Online:AP College Football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org and AP-Top 25 Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 Sione Takitaki Youth Jersey . -- In one brief spurt, Brazil turned a close game into a rout and proved again it will be a strong World Cup favourite. Ozzie Newsome Jersey . Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek defeated Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (4) on the indoor hard-court at Belgrade Arena. The victory improved the Czech pairs impressive cup doubles record to 14-1. http:///...Thomas-Elite-Jersey/ . -- Chicago Bears cornerback Tim Jennings was selected Monday to his second straight Pro Bowl, while guard Kyle Long made it after a solid rookie season. LAS VEGAS -- Alabama was staring at a 2/3 record with just under five minutes left against Saint Louis.Trailing by nine, Alabama didnt panic -- and the Billikens seemingly did -- on Wednesday night.Brandon Key hit two 3-pointers and a free throw in a 17-3 game-ending run and the Crimson Tide rallied for a 62-57 win at the MGM Grand Main Event consolation game.We were scrambling all game. Our shots werent falling in the first half, Alabama coach Avery Johnson said. We had so many wide open looks. That run to end the game was a byproduct of the way we played the game offensively and defensively. The ball moved. We went small. Thats a lineup we havent gone to this year.Key, who went 3 of 4 from behind the arc, led the way for Alabama (3-2).We didnt want to go home with two losses and be under .500, said Key, whose team lost to Valparaiso Monday. This was a big game for us. This shows we can comeback. A lot of guys made big plays. We never should have put ourselves in that situation.After building a 54-45 lead with just over five minutes left, the Billikens (2-3) seemed in control with their largest advantage of the game. From there, hardly anything went right.At the end of a close game, which team will make all the big plays, Saint Louis coach Travis Ford said. (Alabama) made all the big plays. Execution late was not good for us. Shots selection will be addressed. We had plays we were going to. Part of winning is how to win. We have to do it together.The Billikens had a chance to take the lead in the final 15 seconds, trailing 58-57, but Mike Crawford stepped on the right baseline just before driving to the basket.On Alabammas next possession, Corban Collins was fouled and hit two free throws, making it 60-57. Joe Thomas Youth Jersey. Then Alabamas Dazon Ingram stole the inbound pass, was fouled and converted two free throws to seal it.Ingram had 10 points and five rebounds for Alabama, while Nick King added nine points. Alabama won despite shooting 33 percent from both the field and 3-point range.Davell Roby led Saint Louis with 15 points and four assists. Reggie Agbeko had 10 points and 10 rebounds.There were seven lead changes and five ties in the first half as Saint Louis led for the majority. The Billikens had the halfs largest advantage at 27-22 before the Crimson Tide scored the next five. Saint Louis led 30-29 at halftime as Alabama shot 2 of 12 from 3-point range.With the exception of a brief one-point Alabama lead, the Billikens led for the first 15 minutes of the second half -- with its largest lead at 54-45 with 5:25 left on a Johnson 3-pointer. But the Crimson Tide answered with two 3-pointers.What a way to finish the game, Johnson said. We had a lot of fight. Our guys didnt give up. Huge plays from all of our guys. We made our free throws. Well get back to practice and the drawing board on Friday. Then cheer on our football team in the Iron Bowl on Saturday.VIVA LAS VEGASAlabama last appeared in Sin City seven years ago at the Las Vegas Classic.It was the Billikens third appearance in Las Vegas.UP NEXTAlabama: Hosts Charleston Southern on Tuesday night.Saint Louis: Returns home to play Samford on Tuesday night. ' ' '