Protection » Carlos Delfino, the remaining Golden Generation players

Rhode Island held an open-air fanfest prior to its Rhody Madness opening to preseason practice.We want our games to be the celebration this year at home, URI coach Dan Hurley told the Providence Journal. What we went for was a carnival-type atmosphere -- maybe some strange things happening outside where people can see some things they wouldnt normally see on a daily basis.In other words, fun -- and Rhody should be able to have plenty of it this season.The Rams start the season 23rd in the AP poll and open things up at home against Dartmouth on Friday night.The expectations are there.I think it means weve put together a strong, high-level program, Hurley told the newspaper. Obviously there are things weve got to accomplish during this season, certain markers: conference championship, an NCAA Tournament. This team has got things that we want to do this year.Last season, they lost top player E.C. Matthews to a knee injury in the first game. In March, Hassan Martin was shut down after dealing with a variety of physical troubles. Both are back. Both made the Atlantic 10s preseason second team, and Matthews was named to the preseason watch list for the Lute Olson Award that goes to the top college player who has played at least two years.The Rams, who went 17-15 last season (9-9 A-10), have a nice warmup, with games against Dartmouth, Marist and local rival Brown. But then they have an important weekend at the Mohegan Sun casino in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Nov. 19 and 20.URI, picked to finish behind only Dayton in the conference, opens that tournament against Cincinnati, which just missed the opening Top 25, before playing the winner/loser of No. 1 Duke and Penn State. That means a win over Cincinnati leads the Rams into a likely game against Duke.Jared Terrell and Jarvis Garrett, who led the team in scoring after the injuries, are back and now slip into more complementary roles.I think we check most of the boxes, Hurley said. Veteran team. We have shooting. Weve got guard play. Weve got depth. Weve got size. Great culture. Weve got leadership.Its the best team in terms of talent and depth Ive had since my second year at Wagner. Thats exciting.Dartmouth, playing for new coach David McLaughlin, was picked to finish sixth in the Ivy League. Dartmouth went 10-18 last season, 4-10 in conference play.I am very excited to be a part of this league and the tradition and history that comes with it, McLaughlin said during a preseason Ivy League conference call. Ive always prided myself as a head coach on being an expert on my team coming into the season, and thats a work in progress.While its exciting at times, it can also be frustrating. In practice, we are talking about how we want to be defined (by those) who see us play on a regular basis. We have to embrace fatigue right now, meaning we have to know how we are going to execute on back-to-back days and on the road early in the year.The Big Green host Fairfield and Marist after the opener, two of their three home games in the first 11 games. Adidas Superstar Black Mens Sale . -- Jonathan Drouin gave Halifax the boost it needed to edge host Sherbrooke Phoenix 3-2 in a shootout in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Adidas Superstar Slip On Outlet . The FA rejected Wilsheres appeal that the length of his punishment was "clearly excessive" and said Thursday his suspension begins with immediate effect. He will miss league matches against Chelsea on Monday and West Ham on Dec. http://www.wholesalefashionsuperstar.com/ .C. -- Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Bobcats got off to a fast start, and the Sacramento Kings were never quite able to catch up. Cheap Adidas Shoes China . -- Jakob Silfverberg is making himself right at home with the Anaheim Ducks, scoring four goals in his first four games. Buy Adidas Superstar . Supported by three-run homers from Jayson Werth and Wilson Ramos, the young right-hander went seven strong innings in the Washington Nationals 8-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night. RIO DE JANEIRO -- The nail-biters ended for the U.S. Olympic mens basketball team.So did a golden era of international basketball.Emphatically stopping a stretch of three straight close games, the Americans advanced to the semifinals by sprinting past Manu Ginobili and Argentina, 105-78 on Wednesday night.In front of a chanting, flag-waving crowd of Argentines who came to throw a raucous farewell party for their Golden Generation, the Americans delivered their most complete performance in Rio.What a remarkable run by Argentina and so we knew we had to match that energy tonight. I thought we did, U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski said.Turning a slow start into an early ending with a 27-2 run in the first half, the Americans put away one old rival and set up a meeting with another. They will play Spain on Friday in a rematch of the last two gold-medal games. Australia meets Serbia in the other semifinal.Kevin Durant scored 27 points for the Americans, who had played three straight close games for the first time under Krzyzewski, setting off a round of questions at home and in Rio de Janeiro about what was wrong with them.The answer might be nothing. At least there wasnt against Argentina.We wanted to come out and our whole thing was dominating, forward Carmelo Anthony said.The Americans eliminated Argentina for the third straight Olympics, this time ending not only a tournament run for the Argentines but also a couple careers.Ginobili, 39, and longtime 36-year-old teammate Andres Nocioni retired from international competition after the game, 12 years after winning gold in Athens.We had a chance to grow up together and do some good things, win some games together. It was fun. Its a lot of years, said Luis Scola, who is also 36 but plans to keep playing. We formed part of something unique we did for our country and its going to be there. Sometimes were not going to win, like today, sometimes we won but we fought together for many years.Ginobili scored 14 points in his final game in Argentinas blue and white, tearing up after receiving applause from his fans and warm wishes from his opponents.They congratulated me and Im very proud of their words, Ginobili said. They were very kind, very respectful and when legends of the game showed their respect, it has an extra value.The Americans have won 23 straight in the Olympics since Argentina beat them in the 2004 semifinals, and this was how they usually do it: too much firepower, too much defense, and way too much talent.It took a little while to get going, as Argentina opened a 10-point llead.dddddddddddd The Argentines made nine of their first 10 shots inside the arc and led 19-9 when Nocioni drilled a 3-pointer. But the Americans finished the first period with a 16-2 run, getting the final six points from DeMarcus Cousins, to take a 25-21 edge to the second.Three-point plays by Cousins and Jimmy Butler around Durants 3-pointer in an 11-0 start to the second made it 36-21 before Facundo Campazzo stopped the onslaught with a three-point play.Cousins, the normal starting center playing as a reserve, finished with 15 points.Spain beat France 92-67 earlier Wednesday, its fourth straight victory after two losses to open the Olympics. The U.S. edged Spain 118-107 in the 2008 final and 107-100 four years ago in London.The loudest crowd yet for a U.S. game, featuring boxer Floyd Mayweather and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, was treated to an explosive performance by the Americans, with devastating crossovers by Durant and Kyrie Irving that left defenders helpless and brought teammates to their feet on the bench.They opened a 25-point lead in the first half and were in control from that point, the first time since their second game in Rio they had it easy.We fed off wanting to play better than the last three games, Durant said.Ginobili, Scola, Nocioni and Carlos Delfino, the remaining Golden Generation players, checked in together for a last run with about 4 + minutes left. Argentina fans danced, cheered and completely ignored the crooked numbers on the scoreboard while saying one long goodbye.Ginobili was replaced a few minutes later, hugging teammates, coaches and after the game Krzyzewski, before returning to the court after the teams had headed to their locker rooms to be presented a game ball by an Olympic official.Even Argentinas proud veterans didnt consider themselves medal contenders, especially after the Americans blew them out 111-74 in an exhibition game last month in Las Vegas and came to Rio as the overwhelming favorite.But once play began, the U.S. rarely played up to those expectations, with one narrow victory after another as the competition toughened. The Americans held off Australia by 10, then pulled out three-point victories over Serbia and France.They were finally in top form Wednesday.Now they have to stay there two more games.Weve got to build on it, Durant said, but were not satisfied at all.---Follow Brian Mahoney on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Briancmahoney ' ' '