CLEVELAND, Ohio -- No matter the affiliation or roster composition, the Chicago Wolves own the Lake Erie Monsters. Left winger Sergey Andronov notched a hat trick as the Wolves cruised, 4-0, in front of 10,025 at The Q. Chicago improved to 17-4-0-0 all time against Lake Erie, including 8-3 at The Q. Chicago has not lost in Cleveland in...

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- No matter the affiliation or roster composition, the Chicago Wolves own the Lake Erie Monsters.

Left winger Sergey Andronov notched a hat trick as the Wolves cruised, 4-0, in front of 10,025 at The Q.

Chicago improved to 17-4-0-0 all time against Lake Erie, including 8-3 at The Q. Chicago has not lost in Cleveland in three seasons (5-0).

The Wolves (16-12-0-2) have been the top affiliate of Atlanta, Vancouver and St. Louis in the seven seasons of the Monsters' existence. The Wolves' partnership with St. Louis began this season.

As expected, Monsters coach Dean Chynoweth was none too pleased after watching his club get out-shot 15-7 in the first period, 11-6 in the second and 11-6 in the third.

"It was horrible all the way through,'' Chynoweth said. "When you don't skate, it's tough to execute how you need to play. We never had any support around the puck because we didn't skate hard enough to get there. And it's probably the most turnovers we've had in a game this season. Play bad, you get bad results.''

The Monsters (14-12-0-3) went 0-4 against Chicago in 2012-2013. They were outscored,16-7.

The second of this season's four-game series unfolds Saturday afternoon at The Q. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. Chynoweth is happy to have such a quick turnaround against this particular opponent.

"(The Wolves) aren't going away,'' Chynoweth said. "There's blood in the water; they're hungry. A lot of our young guys don't know how hard (the league) is.''

Lake Erie's two-game winning streak and four-game points streak ended. It had won four straight at home.

Inside the first 30 seconds of the second period, longtime AHL standout Keith Aucoin controlled the puck in the right circle. Aucoin's shot bounced off body parts near the cage before ending up on the stick of Andronov, who poked the rebound past goalie Sami Aittokallio for his fifth.

The Wolves made it 2-0 at 6:42. Early on a power play, Corey Locke notched his sixth.

"Between the first and second periods, we went over the areas in which we needed to get better,'' Chynoweth said. "If it didn't get better, the lines were going to change. It didn't get better, (the words) fell on deaf ears, so we changed up the lines and sat some guys.''

Andronov's second and third goals came in the third (10:53, 18:40). He needed just four shots to achieve his hat trick.

The Wolves defeated a hot goalie. Aittokallio entered having started the past three games, during which he stopped 89 of 93 shots.

Terrel Hunt scrambled 12 yards for a touchdown with 1:14 remaining to lift Syracuse to a 21-17 win over Minnesota in the Texas Bowl on Friday night.

HOUSTON -- Terrel Hunt scrambled 12 yards for a touchdown with 1:14 remaining to lift Syracuse to a 21-17 win over Minnesota in the Texas Bowl on Friday night.

Brisly Estime set up Hunt's touchdown with a 70-yard punt return. Estime would have scored if not for a tackle by punter Peter Mortell. It was the second-longest punt return in Texas Bowl history.

Syracuse (7-6) led 14-3 entering the fourth quarter before Mitch Leidner threw two touchdown passes and a 2-point conversion to put the Golden Gophers up 17-14.

After the Orange regained the lead, Minnesota attempted two long passes to the end zone on the final plays. The first slipped through the arms of Drew Wolitarsky and the final Hail Mary as time expired was knocked down near the end zone.

Minnesota (8-5) got a boost to start the second half when coach Jerry Kill returned to the sideline for the first time since Sept. 28 before Syracuse rallied for the victory.

Hunt finished with 188 yards passing and 74 rushing with two scores.

Leidner finished with 205 yards passing, Maxx Williams had five receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown and Wolitarsky had 94 yards receiving and a score.

Kill began the Texas Bowl from the press box where he has observed his team since returning from a leave of absence because of his epilepsy. Kill has had five seizures on game day in his two-plus seasons with the Golden Gophers. He took the leave of absence in October and returned a couple of weeks later.

Syracuse attempted a 45-yard field goal with about 3 ½ minutes left, but it sailed wide right. Robert Welsh sacked Leidner on third down on the next drive to force a punt and set up the winning drive.

The Gophers took their first lead of the game when Syracuse bit on a play-action fake that left Wolitarsky wide open for a 55-yard touchdown that made it 15-14 early in the fourth quarter. Leidner then hit Mike Henry for the 2-point conversion to push the lead to 17-14.

Players and coaches on the sidelines jumped around wildly after the touchdown, while Kill smiled and stood nearly still amid the chaos.

Hunt was penalized for intentional grounding on third down of the ensuing drive by Syracuse forcing a fourth-and-25 and a punt by the Orange.

Jerome Smith rushed for 74 yards and a touchdown for Syracuse and Estime had five receptions for 47 yards.

Minnesota got within 14-9 when Williams got in front of two defenders for a 20-yard touchdown reception from Leidner on the first play of the fourth quarter. It was their first touchdown on offense for since the second quarter of a 24-10 win over Penn State on Nov. 9. The Gophers attempted a 2-point conversion, but Leidner was sacked.

The Orange used a clock-eating 15-play drive capped by a 5-yard touchdown run by Hunt to push the lead to 14-3 with about three minutes left in the third quarter. Syracuse used run after run to pound the ball on that drive and had an 18-yard run by Smith and a 17-yard scamper by George Morris to keep it going.

Syracuse took a 7-0 lead when Smith scored on a 1-yard run early in the second quarter. That drive was helped by a nifty catch by Christopher Clark, who stretched out to grab a 19-yard reception with a defender in his face just before stepping out of bounds.

Minnesota cut the lead to 7-3 with a 41-yard field goal by Chris Hawthorne as time expired in the first half.

BEREA, Ohio – Berea-Midpark girls basketball team wanted to deliver a message. No, it’s not that they’re 10-0. They like that but aren’t focused on it. And it isn’t that their Pitt commit and 6-foot-3 post-player Stasha Carey is often double- or triple-teamed.

BEREA, Ohio – Berea-Midpark girls basketball team wanted to deliver a message.

No, it’s not that they’re 10-0. They like that but aren’t focused on it. And it isn’t that their Pitt commit and 6-foot-3 post-player Stasha Carey is often double- or triple-teamed.

It’s that Ohio girls basketball teams should watch for them come time for the playoffs.

Yes, just 10 games in, the first-year Titans are focused on making a postseason statement, and they’re hoping to make it there with help from varsity player one through 14.

The Titans heard the whispers during the offseason that when Berea and Midpark combined maybe they wouldn’t gel. Maybe there would be no chemistry. Maybe, just maybe, they wouldn’t be that good.

They’re here to prove the whisperers wrong.

On Friday, No. 5 Berea-Midpark beat No. 11 Hudson in front of a nearly packed house, 90-58. That crowd was on its feet roaring with celebration in the third quarter thanks to senior guard Becca Ziska’s shot beyond the arc.

Ziska, the Titans’ leading scorer Friday with 16 points, went 3-of-4 from the arc just in the third quarter, all from the same spot on the deep left side of the arc.

“I like that spot the best I just shoot the best from there,” Ziska said. “My right hand is on the inside. Whenever I get to that spot, I’m just comfortable."

The droughts and big runs, though, started the second the clock began in the first quarter. As Berea-Midpark built a six-point lead to start the game, Hudson struggled to score, missing five shots and giving up a turnover in the first 2.5 minutes of the game.

The Explorers 6-foot-3 center Kristen Mummey broke that with a jumper from the right side, but the Titans were already comfortable on their home court and felt they needed to make their statement early. They charged to the basket with urgency. They swung passes around the arc quicker than the Explorers could regain their footing. And they won their matchups under the basket, offensively and defensively.

Then, Berea-Midpark went on a 9-0 run to end the first quarter, thanks in large part to back-to-back steals from sophomore guard Zoranne Host. Berea-Midpark grabbed six total steals in the opening quarter and lead 22-8.

“We came out and set the tone early that we were going to be the aggressor,” Berea-Midpark coach Kevin Braaten said.

The Explorers cut down on their turnovers in the second quarter, scoring 14 points to Berea-Mipark’s 16.

That sent Berea-Midpark into the half leading 38-22.

“We just got to compete more. I take responsibility for that,” Hudson coach Greg Gallagher said. “We didn’t play at the level we needed to play at. I know this group can do it.”

Within the first 12 seconds of the quarter, the Explorers forced a turnover and played until Carey drew her third foul.

That’s when Ziska knew she needed to step up.

She hit her first three of the game just 31 seconds into the third and the next one 33 seconds later. The third came at 5:41 in the third. Berea-Midpark dominated the end of the third quarter, going on an 11-0 run in a two-minute period.

The fourth quarter became much like the first, with a pair of steals for the Titans and another blocked shot by Stasha Carey.

Berea-Midpark finished the game with four scorers in double digits: Jess Barnes for 15 points, Ziska for 16 points, Host for 11 points and Carey for 14. Jackie Ulmer led the Explorers with 19 points, while Kristen Mummey also picked up 16.

“We said this was a statement game as far as the area teams,” Braaten said of what he told his team before they turned to 10-0. “Hudson is a great opponent and they were coming into our gym and we wanted to send a statement to the area teams and the tournament teams that we’re going to be a team to be reckoned with down the stretch.”

Contact high school sports reporter Stephanie Kuzydym by email (skuzydym@cleveland.com) or on Twitter (@stephkuzy). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

Sankey ran for 95 yards and two scores to tie Washington's career touchdown record.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Bishop Sankey ran for 95 yards and two scores to tie Washington's career touchdown record and the Huskies went on to beat BYU 31-16 in the Fight Hunger Bowl on Friday night.

Keith Price added a 16-yard TD pass to Austin Seferian-Jenkins, and John Ross returned a kick 100 yards for another score to help the Huskies (9-4) win their most games since going 11-1 and winning the Rose Bowl in 2000.

Taysom Hill threw for 293 yards and ran for 133 yards and a score for the Cougars (8-5), who had their four-game bowl winning streak snapped. Justin Sorensen kicked three field goals but also missed one in the third quarter after an interception by Robertson Daniel gave BYU prime field position.

The game capped a whirlwind month for the Huskies that began with coach Steve Sarkisian leaving for the same job at Southern California. Chris Petersen was hired away from Boise State to take over at Washington and quarterbacks coach Marques Tuiasosopo coached the bowl game on an interim basis. The Huskies won just their second bowl game since Tuiasosopo led them to that Rose Bowl win over Purdue 13 years ago.

The defense led the way this game, holding the Cougars to four field goal attempts and one touchdown on five drives inside the Huskies 30.

The Huskies were much more efficient on their scoring drives with Sankey scoring on a pair of 11-yard runs in the first half to give him 38 career touchdowns, tying the school record held by George Wilson (1923-25).

Price then led a touchdown drive to open the third quarter, capping it with a well-placed throw to Seferian-Jenkins on third-and-8 to make it 28-16. Price went 17 for 23 for 123 yards before leaving with an apparent rib injury in the second half.

Sankey also did not play the fourth quarter because of an injury but it did not matter. Backup quarterback Cyler Miles had a 32-yard run to set up Travis Coons' 45-yard field goal that made it 31-16 midway through the fourth.

A strong defensive effort led by Hau'oli Kikaha (three sacks) and John Timu (14 tackles, one sack and an interception) kept BYU off the scoreboard for the entire second half.

Tuiasosopo was aggressive in his first game as head coach, going for it twice in the first quarter on fourth-and-short. Sankey converted the first but was stopped for a 9-yard loss by Kyle Van Noy on the second try.

That was one of the few times the Cougars stopped Sankey, who scored on Washington's first and last possessions of the first half to give the Huskies a 21-16 lead at the break.

Ross also answered Hill's 1-yard run that tied the game early in the second quarter with his long kickoff return that gave the Huskies the lead for good.

BYU used its own fourth-down conversion to get a touchdown with Daniel Sorensen running 4 yards on fourth-and-2 from punt formation, leading to Hill's 1-yard run.

The Cougars then settled for three field goals by Justin Sorensen in the second quarter.

The game made history by being the first ever in the FBS with two female officials. Sarah Thomas was the line judge and Maia Chaka was the head linesman based on their work in Conference USA this season.

The league's first winless bowl season since 1977 isn't out of the question after Minnesota kicked things off with a loss on Friday night. Michigan takes the field against Kansas State today.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The good news for the Big Ten is that Maryland's loss doesn't count yet. The bad news is that the conference certainly appears headed for its eighth losing bowl season in the last nine years. And the one winning record, 4-3 in 2009, is officially 3-3 because Penn State's records between 1998 and 2011 were vacated by NCAA sanctions.

Ari picked the Big Ten to go 3-4 in its bowl games soon after the matchups were announced, but one of his wins was for Minnesota, and the Golden Gophers kicked things off Friday night with a 21-17 loss to Syracuse in the Texas Bowl.

Next up is the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl today, which will feature Michigan starting freshman quarterback Shane Morris against Kansas State. The Wolverines are 5 1/2-point underdogs.

The conference is favored in just two games - Ohio State by 3 over Clemson in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 3, and Wisconsin by 1 point over South Carolina on Jan. 1 in the Capital One Bowl.

Also on Jan. 1, Georgia is favored by 9 over Nebraska in the Gator Bowl, LSU is favored by 7 1/2 over Iowa in the Outback Bowl and Stanford is favored by 6 over Michigan State in the Rose Bowl. The Spartans will be without star linebacker Max Bullough, and that line, which opened at 1 1/2 points, has moved a lot.

As for the Terrapins, they lost their last bowl game as ACC members 31-20 to Marshall on Friday night in the Military Bowl. Rutgers should lose its last bowl game before joining the Big Ten to Notre Dame today in the Pinstripe Bowl.

I haven't made my decision on my Ohio State-Clemson pick yet and want to see how everyone looks and sounds at practice in South Florida, but frankly, a winless bowl season for the Big Ten isn't out of the question in my mind.

That hasn't happened since 1977, when the Big Ten was 0-3 as Michigan lost the Rose Bowl to Washington, Ohio State lost the Sugar Bowl to Alabama and Minnesota lost the Hall of Fame Bowl to Maryland.

Of course, starting next year, the Big Ten Network will probably retroactively credit the Big Ten with that Maryland win.

Our countdown of the 20 best Buckeyes of 2013 is almost over. Carlos Hyde was No. 3. If you've been paying attention at all, you should have the top two figured out. Congratulations punter Cameron Johnston!

The pass defense will have a last chance to prove itself against Clemson, but for the last three weeks, no one was around to answer about the pass defense problems against Michigan State other than senior safety C.J. Barnett, who got stuck trying to defend his unit.

Ari gave us 10 recruiting targets for 2015 to check out heading into the New Year. 

He also took in the basketball team's 40-point win over Louisiana-Monroe. 

As a reminder, our coverage from Fort Lauderdale will begin Sunday. Ohio State should land in Florida as a team around 9:30 a.m., and the Buckeyes will practice in the afternoon, and we'll have coverage from that when it's over.

We'll continue all week in South Florida up until the Orange Bowl on Friday night. It's the last Big Ten bowl game, and we'll see what the Buckeyes will be playing for when it comes to league pride. Maybe a winning record will be at stake. Or maybe Ohio State will be trying to prevent the league from getting shut out.

Kent State has surprised with its 9-2 record to date, but takes on a potent Cleveland State (7-6) team looking for a final tuneup before the start of Horizon League play begins this coming Thursday.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Of the three Division I teams in Northeast Ohio, arguably the least was expected from Kent State this season. Yet the Golden Flashes stand at 9-2 in non-conference play going into Saturday's 7 p.m. game against Cleveland State.

It is the best slate of the trio with CSU at 7-6 and Akron at 6-4, with the Zips on the road Saturday for a rematch with South Carolina. A quirk in the schedule has the two teams going against each other, at South Carolina, three days after Akron fell to the Gamecocks, 69-59, for fifth place in the Hawaii Diamond Head Classic.

It will be Akron's fourth straight game on national TV as well, 4 p.m. on ESPNU.

Kent last played on Dec. 21. where the Golden Flashes picked up a 58-54 victory, despite a woeful first half that head coach Rob Senderoff said best describes the makeup of his current team.

"This team doesn't pout, at least so far, and that is what has helped make us good,'' Senderoff said. "We were 5-for-25 with 10 turnovers and 17 points in the first half at Charleston. We couldn't have won a game like that the last 10 years. There would have been too much frustration in the locker room, and justifiably so.

"Guys would have been mad at themselves, mad at each other, mad at everybody. But halftime in the locker room at Charlotte, our guys were calm. They were positive. They supported each other. Then we scored 41 points in the second half and we get the win.

"That's rare, but that's the reason. We may play other teams with more talent, or tougher, or better, but it's fun to be around these guys. So far, nobody has been jerk.''

Kent is a team without a marquee player, but a deep enough bench to overcome its weaknesses. Kent has been solid since the start of the season, pulling off an 81-77 victory over Temple on the road, then nearly upsetting Seton Hall before losing on the road 78-76.

Kent then rolled off six straight victories before falling at home, 66-59, to Bucknell in the last of 10 games over a 23-day stretch. That coincided with a small downturn in the play of guard Kris Brewer, who was recovering from knee surgery, and was not the same after a three-day weekend tournament.

Following the 17-day break leading up to Charleston, the 6-3 junior had a chance to recover.

"I think Kris is getting better now,'' Senderoff said. "He looks healthier. He practiced really hard and really well for those 17 days (off) then he played like a really good player at Charleston, getting 10 of his 20 points down the stretch when we needed them."

The challenge going forward for Kent is the same as it has all season; frontcourt play, if not production, has to be high, and a lot of that points to the bench where 6-9 sophomore Khaliq Spicer, 6-7 sophomore Chris Ortiz and 6-8 senior Melvin Tabb have to deliver.

"I need them to play well each night,'' Senderoff said. "I need quality minutes from the frontcourt guys. It's more energy and being active on the glass for Chris and Khaliq. If they're doing those things, it's going to help us. If Melvin is playing physical, he helps us. I need all those guys to do that stuff. Because it all adds up.''

That collective effort will be needed against Cleveland State, which has not played since a Dec. 23 victory over small college La Roche. Based on RPI the Vikings could be second only to Bucknell as the best team to play in the M.A.C. Center so far this season. They have scorers at every position and a post player in 6-8 sophomore Anton Grady who knows how to score inside.

The odd part of this annual matchup is the road team has won the last two games.

Was Braxton Miller the player player on Ohio State's team this year? According to our list, the answer is no – but not all three members of the Cleveland.com Buckeyes coverage team think that's the right answer. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Kenny Guiton made you feel secure when he was called upon to start in place of an injured Braxton Miller, and Guiton was good enough that Ohio State never missed a beat with its starting quarterback on the bench.

And because Guiton never looked vulnerable all season – not even once – he served his role as the backup quarterback perfectly. Perhaps too perfectly.

Because while Miller was gone, many forgot why Miller made this Ohio State team a national contender. To this day, there are some that think Guiton should have remained the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback.

But for me, I never forgot – which is why I voted Miller No. 1 on the list of most important Buckeyes. And it’s also why I am confused as to how my colleagues, Doug Lesmerises and Zack Meisel, didn’t also think Miller was the best Ohio State player.

We’ll get into the debate more once we reveal No. 1 tomorrow, but we continue our countdown of most important Buckeyes with Ohio State’s starting quarterback.

No. 2: Braxton Miller, junior QB

From: Huber Heights, Ohio

Height, weight: 6-foot-2, 215 pounds

View full sizeBraxton Miller accounted for 33 total touchdowns in his junior season. Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer

Recruiting rating: Miller has turned out to be a superstar in college, but that was never a surprise given his recruiting rankings. Rated by Rivals.com a four-star prospect and the No. 1 quarterback in the 2011 recruiting class, Miller chose Ohio State over offers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, Tennessee, USC, Wisconsin and many others.

2013 stats: In 11 games, Miller completed 146-of-231 pass attempts for 1,860 yards and 22 touchdowns. Miller completed 63.2 percent of his passes and threw only five interceptions. On the ground, Miller was Ohio State’s second-leading rusher with 1,033 yards and he scored 10 more touchdowns as a rusher. In all, Miller accounted for 2,893 all-purpose yards and 33 touchdowns despite missing nearly four full games with a sprained knee.

What went right: Miller again was one of the most electrifying players in college football, and he had that unique ability to spark a team’s confidence with one big play. Miller improved as a passer and was completing nearly 70 percent of his throws for much of the season, and limiting himself to only five interceptions shows he was a much better decision maker. Sometimes as athletes who play quarterback develop into better passers, their inherent ability to run begins to fade. That didn’t happen to Miller, who showed incredible athleticism while rushing for 1,000 yards – many of which were gained after making defenders look silly.

But what Miller should be most proud of is the efficiency in which he’s helped Ohio State win games. After not losing at all as a starter in 12 games last year, Miller had the Buckeyes in the thick of a national championship race as a junior. Miller has now lost only one game since his freshman season, and sometimes there’s just something to be said about a quarterback who wins games.

What went wrong: Miller was a preseason favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, but an injured knee at the beginning of the year caused him to miss nearly four full games. Though he returned to a team that was still unbeaten – thanks in large part to Guiton – Miller was sidelined for enough time where he would no longer be able to accumulate the statistics to be considered for college football’s most coveted trophy.

 Miller played well enough to start earning a little more consideration by the end of the year, but the injury paid a big toll. Which brings up the other thing that went wrong – in his second game back as Ohio State’s starter at Northwestern, Miller played poorly enough where Urban Meyer said after the game that he considered subbing Guiton in. That sparked a quarterback controversy that lasted for the following few weeks until Miller fully regained his legs.

Looking at 2014: Miller is going to be playing football next year, but it’s not quite clear whether that will be at Ohio State or in the NFL. Both Meyer and offensive coordinator Tom Herman said they think Miller will successful in the NFL eventually, they both also said he needs more seasoning. Miller grew as a passer in his junior season, but he didn’t have a meteoric rise that made him an unquestionable professional prospect. Ohio State’s Orange Bowl matchup with Clemson could go a long way in determining whether the Buckeyes will need to groom a new quarterback in 2014.

What we’ve written about Miller:

• Returning for his senior season - Why Ohio State QB Braxton Miller should stay

• Leaving for the NFL - Why Ohio State QB Braxton Miller should go

• Braxton Miller has yet to decide on his future, but Ohio State's QB says he is 'definitely' ready for the next level

• Oct. 27: Ohio State's Braxton Miller shows the confidence that makes Urban Meyer love where he is

• Nov. 23: Ohio State QB Braxton Miller proves in performance vs. Indiana that he's a great college quarterback, but is he NFL ready?

• Dec. 8: Braxton Miller revived a dead Ohio State team, but he didn't have enough magic to keep national title hopes and Heisman dreams alive

• Dec. 16: If Braxton Miller hits the NFL market, will he be a clunker or a luxury automobile? NFL Draft Stock Report

Certain traditions have become commonplace in Cleveland: the Cavs in the lottery, constantly changing quarterbacks, talking about the draft months before the NFL regular season ends, losing to the Steelers in Pittsburgh and introducing new coaches and general managers.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Certain traditions have become commonplace in Cleveland: the Cavs in the lottery, constantly changing quarterbacks, talking about the draft months before the NFL regular season ends, losing to the Steelers in Pittsburgh and introducing new coaches and general managers.

After Pat Shurmur's frustrating and oftentimes-baffling run came to a halt after two years and a 9-23 record, the Browns selected another new coach.

It was a long, tedious search. The Browns interviewed Doug Marrone, Ray Horton, Ken Whisenhunt and Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter. Cleveland was also one of the franchises that flew across the country to meet with Chip Kelly. After a drama-filled week that ended without Kelly coming to Cleveland, the Browns were forced to go in a different direction. In the end, the contingent stunningly tabbed Rob Chudzinski as the sixth head coach since 1999. They were the only team that interview him.

Along with owner Jimmy Haslam, CEO Joe Banner and Vice President of Player Personnel Michael Lombardi, Chudzinski has been asked to make the Browns relevant again.

With one game against the Steelers remaining, the Browns are 4-11. And thanks to a second-half collapse, complete with a six-game losing streak, Chud has one less win on his resume than Pat Shurmur tallied in his final season.

Other first-year coaches such as Kelly, Marc Trestman and Bruce Arians – who the Browns did not interview – are in the running for NFL Coach of the Year. 

Here's a look at this week's bowl games, including top storylines and predictions.

Here's a look at this week's bowl games, including top storylines and predictions:

The Big Buzz: When mirror images collide

Rose Bowl: Wednesday, January 1, 5 p.m. ET
No. 5 Stanford vs. No. 4 Michigan State

Typically, the Rose Bowl's institution and venue alone are potent enough to make college football traditionalists salivate. But every couple of years, the "Granddaddy of Them All" truly gives us a matchup to drool over. In 2014, in the 100th installment of college football's most celebrated bowl, we have exactly that.

The pairing of Stanford and Michigan State in the oldest bowl game just feels right. These two physical teams are mirror images of each other, built on the type of defense and toughness that garners respect from even the most ardent supporters of the pass-happy direction in which college football has turned.

Stanford has made a habit of bullying modern college offenses of late, derailing Oregon's national title plans each of the past two Novembers. Michigan State just did it to the high-powered Buckeyes in the Big Ten title game. As Stanford frontman David Shaw tells it, you'd think there was no other way to play the game: (via the Pasadena Star-News)

"People that appreciate real football are going to love this game," Shaw said. "It's going to be blocking and tackling and running the football and making big passes down the field."

"You're talking about two of the better coached teams. I think you're going to see strategy and some young men with a lot of passion to play football."

Yards will be tough to come by on Wednesday in Pasadena, and each player that is lucky enough to gain some will likely pay for it at the end of each and every positive play.

Stanford running back Tyler Gaffney (25) during the first half of the PAC-12 Championship football game against Arizona State, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

The Spartans lead the national in total defense (248.2 yards per game) and rushing defense (80.8 ypg) and are fourth in scoring defense (12.7 points per game). The Cardinal aren't far behind, ranking 14th in total defense (339 ypg), third in rushing defense (91.2 ypg) and 10th in scoring defense (18.6 ppg).

The architect of the vaunted Michigan State unit, defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi, has no problem conceding that the Rose Bowl result will ultimately define the Spartan's 2013 legacy: (via MLive.com)

"You know, is it an 'A' legacy or is it a 'B' legacy?'' Narduzzi said, asked what the game means to the Michigan State program. "It's the first time since 1988 they got here. We didn't come here to just play in the game; we came to win. And to me, we told our guys in practice in East Lansing, you're going to be remembered for what you do in your last game."

These two physical run defenses are so dominant, it is hard to imagine the game not being decided through the air, where the unspectacular but solid tandem of MSU's Connor Cook and Stanford's Kevin Hogan will duke it out. In what is certain to be a low-scoring, air-tight affair, which signal caller will step up and make the play that turns the game?

In the Big Ten title game, it was Cook who did just that to hand Ohio State its first loss in almost two years. The sophomore quarterback hung 34 on the Buckeyes en route to being named MVP, throwing for 304 yards and three scores to send the Spartans to the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1988.

This is the first BCS bowl appearance for emerging head coach Mark Dantonio and the Spartans, who were passed over in 2010 despite being BCS eligible and just missed out in 2011. This game is their chance to prove they deserved it all along: (via MLive.com)

"We want to show that we deserve to be up there, so it's very important,'' said Dantonio. "You're on a big stage, you get to the (Big Ten) championship, and you're on a big stage. While we took care of business there (in Indianapolis, beating Ohio State 34-24) and we showed that we belonged on that stage, now it's important to show that we belong on this national stage."

It hasn't been nearly that long for Stanford, which defeated Wisconsin 20-14 in Pasadena last year with Hogan under center. Hogan threw only 19 passes in that Rose Bowl win, but still expects the experience to help him come game time on Wednesday: (via the Los Angeles Times)

"I was happy with myself. Obviously, there were throws that I would have liked to have made."

"Certainly near the end of the game I remember we could have put it out of reach, but that's stuff that you can learn from and it's going to be so nice to be on that same field this year and be able to hit those throws again and kind of get a second chance."

It is a shock to see Stanford as nearly a touchdown favorite. Yes, the Pac-12 was superior to the Big Ten this year, but Michigan State rides into Pasadena on a nine-game winning streak and has disposed of 12 of 13 opponents by double digits. Meanwhile, six of Stanford's 13 games have been decided by one score, which could give them a leg up in what figures to be a bruising chess match.

Watch Jill Arrington and Petros Papadakis of Fox Sports tackle the Rose Bowl in their Fearless Predictions segment:

Top games

Here's a look at some of this week's other can't-miss bowl matchups:

Today

• New Era Pinstripe Bowl: Rutgers vs. Notre Dame, 12 p.m. ET

• Russell Athletic Bowl: Miami vs. No. 18 Louisville, 6:45 p.m. ET

Monday, December 30

• Valero Alamo Bowl: No. 10 Oregon vs. Texas, 6:45 p.m. ET

• NU Holiday Bowl: No. 14 Arizona State vs. Texas Tech, 10:15 p.m. ET

Tuesday, December 31

• Hyundai Sun Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. No. 17 UCLA, 2 p.m. ET

• Chick-fil-A Bowl: No. 24 Duke vs. No. 21 Texas A&M, 8 p.m. ET

Wednesday, January 1

• TAXSLAYER.com Gator Bowl: Nebraska vs. No. 22 Georgia, 12 p.m. ET

• Capital One Bowl: No. 19 Wisconsin vs. No. 9 South Carolina, 1 p.m. ET

• Outback Bowl: Iowa vs. No. 16 LSU, 1 p.m. ET

• Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: No. 15 UCF vs. No. 6 Baylor, 8:30 p.m. ET

Thursday, January 2

• Allstate Sugar Bowl: No. 11 Oklahoma vs. No. 3 Alabama, 8:30 p.m. ET

Friday, January 3

• AT&T Cotton Bowl: No. 13 Oklahoma State vs. No. 8 Missouri, 7:30 p.m. ET

• Discover Orange Bowl: No. 12 Clemson vs. No. 7 Ohio State, 8:30 p.m. ET

Headlines

• Lefthanded freshman Shane Morris will start at quarterback for Michigan tonight against Kansas State in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl in place of the injured Devin Gardner, head coach Brady Hoke announced on Thursday. (via MLive.com)

• Jadeveon Clowney's bizarre junior season continued this week, as the South Carolina defensive end was pulled over again, this time for going nearly 30 miles over the speed limit en route to Williams-Brice Stadium. (via ESPN.com)

In this Nov. 16, 2013, photo, Michigan State linebacker Max Bullough (40) runs in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb. Michigan State has suspended senior linebacker Bullough for violating team rules, making him ineligible to play in the Rose Bowl. In a news release sent early Thursday, Dec. 26, Spartans coach Mark Dantonio said Bullough had been suspended for the rest of the season. He did not say what rules the two-time team captain violated. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

• Despite being listed as the starter on Louisville's postseason depth chart, linebacker George Durant will not play against Miami in tonight's Russell Athletic Bowl, head coach Charlie Strong confirmed on Friday. (via CollegeFootballTalk.com)

• Monday's Alamo Bowl will be the last time Nick Aliotti patrols the Oregon sideline, as the school announced on Friday that the defensive coordinator will retire after his 35th season with the Ducks. (via OregonLive.com)

• Stopping a physical Stanford attack in the Rose Bowl got a bit harder this week for the Spartans, as Michigan State announced the suspension of senior captain and middle linebacker Max Bullough for the remainder of the season. (via MLive.com)

• Already down one offensive lineman, Cincinnati will also be without left guard Austen Bujnoch today against North Carolina. Bujnoch underwent surgery on his foot, which cost the senior three games earlier this year. (via CollegeFootballTalk.com)

Who they're picking

• CBSSports.com college football writer Tom Fornelli expects Michigan State's stellar late-season play to continue, predicting that the Spartans will capture the fourth Rose Bowl victory in program history.

• Neither team has played in a BCS Bowl before, but that doesn't mean Baylor and UCF are evenly matched, writes Pat Forde of Yahoo! Sports, who prognosticates a Bears' romp in the Fiesta Bowl.

• Stewart Mandel of SI.com has faith that AJ McCarron will have Alabama focused in his final game, which should lead to a relatively easy Sugar Bowl win over Oklahoma for the loaded Crimson Tide.

• In a game that features a battle between great quarterbacks, ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach foresees Clemson avenging last year's postseason embarrassment in the 2013 version of the Orange Bowl, this time against Ohio State.

• The USA Today panel favors Missouri over Oklahoma State in the Cotton Bowl by a vote of 4-2 in a matchup of former Big 12 rivals. Meanwhile, the panelists unanimously expect wins this week for Notre Dame, Arizona State, Arizona, UCLA, Texas A&M and Baylor.

What they're saying

• The on-and-off nature of bowl season represents a big change for the regimented college football player, but Alabama's always-reliable senior WR Kevin Norwood seems ready to go after some pre-Sugar Bowl time at home for the holidays: (via AL.com)

"Oh man, I've always been the type of person that thinks about what I have to do to get better and what I have to do to play great in this game," Norwood said. "So when I went home, I enjoyed my family. That's one thing I do for sure, but at the same time in the back of my head, I still had the game in my head. There's all these types of plays I want to make, everything I want to do and how I want to finish as a person and player for this team."

In this Nov. 30, 2013 file photo, Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd rushes upfield during the first half of an NCAA college football game against South Carolina in Columbia, S.C. The last month of the season was pretty much a nightmare for Ohio State's defense. Now the Buckeyes must find a way to try to put the clamps on Boyd, wide receiver Sammy Watkins and one of the nation's most dangerous passing attacks to have a chance in the Orange Bowl. (AP Photo/ Richard Shiro, File)

• After getting torched through the air in two consecutive games, Ohio State's defense must play considerably better in the Orange Bowl against Tajh Boyd and a lethal Clemson passing attack, and coach Urban Meyer knows it: (via Cleveland.com)

"It's too many, (not just) one thing," Meyer said. "It's not man coverage, it's not zone coverage. It's all of the above. Then, the pass rush, the timing to call the blitzes and making sure the blitzes match the coverage. We just have to play better."

• Faced with the reality of playing his last game at LSU in Wednesday's Outback Bowl, Tigers linebacker Lamin Barrow is satisfied with an excellent career yet still hungry to finish strong: (via NOLA.com)

"We've accomplished a lot since I've been here, a lot to be proud of," Barrow said. "But we didn't play the way this season that I wanted us to in my last year. So it's important to me that we finish this thing right."

"As a veteran, I've been preaching to these guys since we started practicing for the bowl game that we need to finish this season on the right foot so they can go into next season with a head of steam."

• The effect of Mack Brown's resignation on this year's Alamo Bowl is palpable, says Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich, who has tried to combat the Longhorns' potential for added motivation by stressing preparation: (via OregonLive.com)

"Our guys are excited to play," said Helfrich. "I think if there were any evidence (to the contrary) it would have shown up already in our preparation. ... We want to finish right, they want to finish right, there's the added motivation with coach Brown retiring and that will add a little juice of motivation but our guys will be excited to play."

• He's attempted a grand total of nine passes this season at Michigan, but Wolverines freshman Shane Morris, who will start in tonight's Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, has impressed some of his teammates with how far he has come in his first year in Ann Arbor: (via MLive.com)

"It's almost been day and night," Michigan fifth-year senior left tackle Taylor Lewan noted. "(It feels like) he's been committed to the university (since I was a freshman).

"I've gotten the opportunity to be around him (a lot), and (watched him change from) this guy that's worried about Twitter followers, to a guy who could truly care less."

Steelers picked to close with victory over Browns.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Staff predictions for Sunday's Browns vs. Steelers game at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.

The line: Steelers by 7.

Mary Kay Cabot (8-7) / Steelers 30, Browns 17: The new and improved Browns finish with a worse record than Holmgren's crew.

Bill Livingston (8-7) / Steelers 38, Browns 9: Maybe it will be closer. Maybe it won't. At least it and Brandon Weeden will be over.

Dennis Manoloff (10-5) / Steelers 24, Browns 17: Browns make it interesting for a half, then defense caves.

Terry Pluto (9-6) / Steelers 24, Browns 13: Final record, 4-12.

Tom Reed (8-7) / Steelers 21, Browns 10: Browns complete dreadful second half by losing to rivals.

Bud Shaw (7-8) / Steelers 23, Browns 17: It's never too early to start talking about the draft.

Branson Wright (10-5) / Steelers 38, Browns 17: Will real life turn out better than the upcoming "Draft Day" movie?

Browns blew a chance in rare down season for both the Steelers and Ravens.

BEREA, Ohio – The Browns had a 13-point lead, the ball and potential control of the AFC North in their possession on Nov. 17 at windswept Paul Brown Stadium.

Ironically, it was an aging, longtime divisional nemesis of the Browns who swung momentum that day. Cincinnati linebacker James Harrison intercepted a Jason Campbell pass and sparked a 31-point second quarter, leading the Bengals to 41-20 victory over the stunned Browns.

Seven days later, Harrison’s former team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, hammered them again, 27-11, essentially eliminating the Browns from playoff contention and extending a losing streak that’s reached six heading into the season finale at Heinz Field.

While other setbacks were more maddening and dramatic, the defeat in Cincinnati was representative of the Browns’ missed opportunity in a weakened AFC North.

“That was the time of the year where everything was right there in front of us,” said cornerback Joe Haden, recalling the Browns’ chance to enter the divisional driver’s seat with a win that would have boosted their record to 5-5.

“We didn't step up and win that game like we should've and I mean I don't know if it was the turning point, but the key point for this whole team, every position, is just to finish. When we've got a lead, we've got to know how to close it out.”

Despite a freefalling 4-11 record, the Browns still have an opportunity to make franchise history by beating Baltimore, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh in the same season with a win Sunday against the Steelers. That possibility says as much about the state of the AFC North as any improvement by the Browns. If the gap is narrowing, it’s largely due to the traditional powers falling back to the pack.

Unless either the Ravens (8-7) or Steelers (7-8) can earn the final wild-card berth – neither controls their destiny – they both will miss postseason in the same year for the first time since 1999.

The Ravens and Steelers find themselves transitioning from rosters that helped make the AFC North one of the NFL’s power divisions over the last decade.

The Browns, who placed more players (five) in the Pro Bowl than any of their divisional rivals, believe the window of opportunity remains open.

“I think it will be that way for a little while,” left tackle Joe Thomas said. “Pittsburgh and Baltimore have traditionally dominated this division . . . They are losing a lot of their star players because they are getting older and they are having to replace them with younger players and that takes some time to get back to where they were. So I think the AFC North is going to be a toss up for awhile.”

Outside linebacker Paul Kruger, who won a Super Bowl with the Ravens last season, agrees with that assessment, but added the Browns must understand why they fell apart with victory so often in reach.

“I think our division is pretty open right now,” he said. “Next year, we have to capitalize on that. It’s a matter of coming together and figuring things out and making the right adjustments to be successful. We’ve got to get over that hump.”

The Browns squandered leads and lost confidence over the season’s second half after beating the Ravens, 24-18, on Nov. 3. Meanwhile, the Steelers and Ravens clawed back into the playoff race by demonstrating the resiliency in the face of adversity that the Browns lacked.

The team’s defense, so stout and cocksure early in the season, played a pivotal role in the collapse, an issue addressed by coordinator Ray Horton on Thursday.

“You look back at the season and right now, sitting here today, eight wins would get you into the playoffs,” Horton said. “Miami is at 8-7 and Pittsburgh is at 7-8 with a chance . . . I’m disappointed that I didn’t get our guys, my guys better equipped to finish, whether it’s the fourth quarter or however that comes out because we didn’t finish, and that falls on my shoulders.”

View full sizeBrowns offensive tackle Joe Thomas is impressed with the Bengals' commitment to continuity and building through the draft. "Blowing it up every couple years doesn't work." Lonnie Timmons III, The Plain Dealer

What remains a glaring difference between the Browns and their division rivals is a lack of stability. The Bengals used to share that trait with the Browns. Not anymore.

General manager Mike Brown opted to stick with coach Marvin Lewis after a four-win season in 2010. They weeded out the talented but troubled miscreants and restocked the lineup with high-character players. A franchise that had matched the Browns in failed draft picks started hitting on the likes of Carlos Dunlap, Geno Atkins, Jermaine Greshman, A.J. Green, Andy Dalton and Gio Bernard.

The Bengals (10-5) have reached the playoffs the past three seasons and this year won the division.

“It’s impressive with what they have been doing,” Thomas said. “They have found some talented players in the draft – a quarterback and a stud receiver. Geno Atkins was not on a lot of people’s radar, a fourth round pick, and he turned into one of the best defensive tackles in the league. Those are kind of the breaks you need.”

The Bengals have established the continuity that has sustained the Steelers and Ravens and eluded the Browns.

“That is the best strategy for any NFL franchise because blowing it up every couple years doesn’t work,” Thomas added.

Getting five players to the Pro Bowl validates claims of Browns’ veterans who said this is their most talent-laden team despite the record.

They’re hoping a second year in the same offensive and defensive systems, plus an influx of talent from the draft, allows them to gain traction within the division and conference.

“In the AFC there are a lot of middle teams I guess,” Thomas said. “In the NFC, it’s kind of barbell shaped with a few teams that are really good and a few that are really bad and a couple in the middle.”

Although they rue missed opportunities like the one in the season-shaping loss in Cincinnati, many Browns still want to upset the Steelers to close the year. It’s not only about playing spoiler, but finishing 3-3 in the division and getting a win over each opponent.

“It’s a good start,” defensive captain D’Qwell Jackson said. “With everything that’s happened throughout this season if we can go out and prove we can beat every team in our division . . . it’s a great step in moving forward.”

The Cavaliers' performance in the next couple of months will determine whether they buy or sell at the trading deadline -- but they may not wait that long.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Got a question about the Cavs? Send it in. Submit your question at cleveland.com/heymary and Plain Dealer Cavs beat writer Mary Schmitt Boyer will choose at least one to answer each week.

Hey, Mary: The Cavs looked really good for a stretch of games and after the Bulls and Pistons games, they looked really bad. Part of this is due to not having Dion to create off the bench, and part of it is just poor execution and effort. Do you think how we play over the course of the next two months will determine if we are buyers or sellers at the deadline? -- Anthony, Cleveland

Hey, Anthony: Absolutely, although they may not wait until the deadline. The Cavs will do anything to make their team better, and they like to made trades.

Hey, Mary: If the Cavs starters played the Cavs bench, who do you think would win? Also do you think Draymond Green would be a good fit with the Cavs? Perhaps Jarrett Jack for Draymond Green and Toney Douglas? -- Chris Smith, Cleveland

Hey, Chris: I'm pretty sure the starters play the bench every day at practice, and I'm guessing they each win their share of games. Personally, I like Draymond Green's versatility, but he and Douglas make about $2.5 million together, compared to Jack's $6.3 million, so it doesn't work from a financial standpoint. That's the reason the Warriors had to let Jack go. They couldn't afford to keep him, so they couldn't afford to trade to get him back.

Hey, Mary: Do you think that the Cavs might fire Mike Brown when the season ends? -- Steve Williams, Cleveland

Hey, Steve: I would be very surprised if that happened.

Hey, Mary: Your best guess, what would the Cavs record be if they had hired George Karl or Jerry Sloan instead of Mike Brown? Any chance the Cavs pull off a Trent Richardson-type trade with Irving -- one where they get a lotto pick for an overrated Irving? -- Joe Carter, Findlay

Hey, Joe: I'm sure Karl would be 20-9 and Sloan would be 9-20. Seriously? How can you expect an answer to that question? As far as trading Irving, you do realize he WAS a lottery pick, right? The No. 1 lottery pick? And an All-Star? There's no way Trent Richardson can be mentioned in the same breath.

Hey, Mary: I was excited about Jarrett Jack coming to the Cavs having watched him on TV last year with the Warriors here on the West Coast. However, his shooting percentage is down this year and he is not bashful about getting his shots. He had a great playoff run last spring and yet he has not really positively impacted the Cavs in their close games this year. I would label him a disappointment YTD. Do you agree? -- Tim Corbett, Ladera Ranch, Calif.

Hey, Tim: I thought the Cavs got the steal of the off-season when they signed Jack, but at this point, he has not played as well in Cleveland as he did in Golden State. To be fair, though, the Warriors are a better team. Other than Irving lately, none of the Cavs is really playing very well, so Jack isn't getting much help.

Hey, Mary: You have stated before that the Cavs didn't acquire Rudy Gay because they were not interested in him and he would hurt the salary cap for the off-season. So are you guaranteeing that the Cavs are finally going to make a big off-season splash after four horrible seasons? -- Chris Taylor, Columbus

Hey, Chris: I cannot guarantee anything. I do know they will be trying to improve their team. But it takes two to tango. The Cavs were interested in Andre Iguodala last summer. He chose Golden State. Not everything is in their control.

This might be a good time for the Cavaliers to make some New Year's resolutions about recommitting to defense.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Perhaps the Cavaliers will make some New Year's resolutions regarding their commitment to defense or effort on the road. They will have several chances to test both this week.

They open the week by hosting the Golden State Warriors at 6 p.m. on Sunday at The Q, Jarrett Jack's first game against the team he played with last season. Last summer, Warriors coach Mark Jackson said it was ''torture'' to lose the veteran free agent to free agency.

The Cavs will spend New Year's Eve in Indianapolis -- or at least part of it -- as they face the Pacers in a 3 p.m. contest. In their last visit to Bankers Life Fieldhouse, the Cavs fell, 89-74, on Nov. 2.

Cleveland hosts Orlando on Thursday and then travels to Brooklyn for the first time this season on Saturday. The Cavs actually won their last matchups against those teams, taking a 109-100 victory at Orlando on Dec. 13 and beating the Nets, 98-94, on opening night, Oct. 30, at The Q.

The Clippers Blake Griffin was not too impressed by the NBA saying he should not have been ejected from the Clippers 105-103 loss at Golden State on Christmas Day.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers got no consolation after the league announced the referees erred in giving him a second technical foul -- and thus an ejection -- in the fourth quarter of the Clippers 105-103 loss at Golden State on Christmas Day. "At the end of the day, it’s about the wins and losses,'' he said. "And we got a loss in our column as a result of that. So it doesn’t really change anything for me.'' Griffin accused the Warriors of playing ''cowardly basketball.''

Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook became just the fifth player in NBA history to record a triple double on Christmas.

5

Number of players who have scored a triple double on Christmas.

Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook became the latest, registering 14 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in the 123-94 victory over the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. He joined Oscar Robertson (four times), Billy Cunningham, John Havlicek and LeBron James.

Five Browns made the Pro Bowl, including Josh Gordon, Joe Haden, Joe Thomas, Jordan Cameron.

CLEVELAND -- Browns receiver Josh Gordon and cornerback Joe Haden sat on Haden's couch Friday night as their names and faces flashed across the NFL Network screen announcing they had both been voted to the 2014 Pro Bowl.

After a few tense moments of anticipation, both of them broke out into wide grins, congratulated each other and then Gordon exhaled and said, "man, that's crazy.''

A little while later on a conference call, Gordon admitted how bizarre it was to watch himself earn the honor.

"It definitely hit me a few minutes ago when I saw my face T.V.,'' he said. "It's almost a surreal event for me seeing as though exactly how this happened. I think of the turnaround, how things went for my life, but I'm definitely blessed and honored to have had this happen to me so early in my career. I can't wait to get out there and show what I can do.''

Haden and Gordon -- both first-timers -- were two of five Browns that made the Pro Bowl this year -- the most for the team since they had six at the end of 2007 when they went 10-6. The others are tight end Jordan Cameron -- also a first-year honoree -- left tackle Joe Thomas and center Alex Mack. Safety T.J. Ward is an alternate.

Thomas is making his seventh straight trip -- one of only 11 players in the NFL to make it their first seven seasons. Ten of the 11 have gone on to make the Hall of Fame, meaning Thomas is well on his way to Canton. Mack, who's set to be a free agent in March, is going for the second time the second coming after the 2010 season.

The five were the most in the AFC North this season despite the Browns last-place 4-11 record. The 10-5 Bengals had two, the 8-7 Ravens four and the 7-8 Steelers two players (but Antonio Brown made it as a receiver and punt returner).

But the Browns' division-leading total might bode well for the future. The Chiefs had six Pro Bowlers last year despite their 2-14 record, and are 11-4 this season.

"I'’m just excited that we have players on our team -- this shows that they’'re the best at their position and we’re not far away at all,'' said Haden, the No. 7 overall pick in 2010. "We'’ve got to find a way to get all this talent -- we’'re missing a couple of pieces -- but when we get everybody working together, we should be really, really good.”''

Gordon, who leads the NFL with a club-record 1,564 yards, joins Braylon Edwards (2008) and Webster Slaughter (1990) as the only Browns wide receivers selected to the Pro Bowl since 1971.

During a season in which he has worked with three starting quarterbacks, Gordon leads the NFL in receiving yards (1,564) and yards per catch (19.6), while playing in just 13 games. He is also first in the NFL with an average of 120.3 receiving yards per game and fourth in the league in yards from scrimmage with 1,652 (1,564 receiving and 88 rushing). His seven 100-yard games are also a club record and are tied for most in the NFL this season. He is leading the club with 80 receptions, tied for the sixth-most in a season by a Brown. What's more, Gordon on Nov. 24 and Dec. 1 became the only player in NFL history to top 200 receiving yards in back-to-back games.

A season that began with a two-game substance abuse suspension is ending on a bright note.

"Honestly the Pro Bowl was not on my mind at the beginning of it all,'' said Gordon, who had back-to-back 200 yard game. "I just wanted to go out and make a name for myself and put to rest a lot of rumors and negativity surrounding my name. I just wanted to go out there and play my heart out and I guess the hard work paid off.''

Gordon joins a star-studded cast of receivers that includes Detroit's Calvin Johnson, Cincinnati's A.J. Green, Chicago's Brandon Marshall and Houston's Andre Johnson

"It's really huge,'' said Gordon. "Those are top-tier players and to be thrown into that group of guys this early in my career, I couldn't be more blessed and humbled just from the standpoint of trying to do the right thing, work hard, and eventually it will pay off and everything will show itself and come to fruition. ''

Haden, tied for the team lead with four interceptions, is the first Browns cornerback selected to the Pro Bowl since Frank Minnifield in 1990. According to STATS LLC, his 20 passes defensed are tied for second in the NFL and his 67 since joining the Browns as the seventh overall pick in the 2010 draft are second in the league during that span. Coaches film has credited Haden with 21 passes defensed this season. He registered his first career multiple-interception game (2) and his first defensive score following a 29-yard interception return at Cincinnati on Nov. 17.

"“I was just excited,'' said Haden, who had a map of Hawaii in his locker to remind him of his Pro Bowl goal. "This is something that [I wanted] since I was young. Being recognized by the coaches and your peers as being a Pro Bowl player, this is just big for me.”''

He acknowledged that practicing against his good friend Gordon every day made both of them better.

"Just going up like somebody in him in practice to get ready for the season is just big,'' said Haden. "Every time you go against JG, you’'ve got to be on the top of our game or you’'re going to burnt up. My thing is even in practice, you don’'t ever want nobody getting off on you. Having somebody like him making you want to come to practice every day. I just tried to follow JG in practice. Whatever side he goes to, I go to just to make sure you stay locked in.''

With Pro Bowl teams no longer divided along conference lines, it's conceivable the two can go against each other in the game.

"It'll be a great opportunity,'' Gordon said. "I'm all for it, and I know he's all for it because we're competitors. If we end up on the same team, that would be great too.''

Haden stressed that the Pro Bowl is great, but that he'd trade it in for a championship.

"I'’m so blessed and humbled to be a part of the Pro Bowl, but I’'d give this up any day,'' he said. "If we were playing in the Super Bowl and I couldn’'t play in the Pro Bowl, it’'d be perfect. This is special for me, so I feel like I’'ll be able to accept it and be happy about it. But at the end of the day, I want to let you all know for sure it’'s not the ultimate, ending goal.”''

Cameron joins Milt Morin (1969, 1972), Ozzie Newsome (1982, 1985-86) and Kellen Winslow (2008) as the only Browns tight ends selected to the Pro Bowl. Cameron ranks second among NFL tight ends in receptions (75) and receiving yards (848). His 75 receptions are the eighth-most by a Brown and his seven receiving touchdowns are the second-most by a Browns tight end, trailing only Newsome’s nine in 1979. Cameron became the first Browns player to catch a touchdown from four passers in season and the first NFL player to accomplish that feat since Carolina’s Steve Smith in 2007. A fourth-round pick in 2011, Cameron tied a Browns record with three touchdown receptions at Minnesota on Sept. 22.

“Individually it’s awesome for those guys in the conversation but there’s a quote up there talking about superstars – we don’t have any superstars on our team, it’s a huge team effort,'' Cameron said Friday afternoon before the teams were announced. "I wouldn’t be good if it wasn’t for Josh (Gordon) or the line or quarterback so it’s not a lot about… you can get caught up in thinking you did it all by yourself; all the work you put in; all the work you put in definitely helps but your teammates really make it. As a whole we’re going in the right direction. It’s important that guys...it’s cool  we do well individually but as a team we’re going in the right place and we believe where these coaches are taking us.”

Mack, who scored a touchdown in the 2011 Pro Bowl, becomes the third Browns center to earn multiple Pro Bowl honors, joining John Morrow (1962, 1964) and Tom DeLeone (1980, 1981). Since being chosen by Cleveland with the 21st overall pick of the 2009 draft, Mack has started all 79 career games and has not missed an offensive snap, a streak of 4,934 consecutive plays.

“I was pretty fired up,'' said Mack. "I was really excited. It’s a great honor. You put a lot of work into this sport, and it’s good to get recognized.”

 He knows that Sunday's game in Pittsburgh could be his last as Brown, but he's hoping it's not.

"I was thinking about that and you really don't know ever when your last game is going to be,'' said Mack. "It could be any given day you have your last game because of an injury or who knows what happens? So to take every game one at a time is really how I've approached it, is that this could be the last time I'm on the field. The last time you can showcase your talent."

   Mack re-iterated that he wants to be back back in Cleveland, where the Browns drafted him No. 21 overall in 2009. He's the second straight Browns player headed to free agency to make the Pro Bowl. Last year, it was Phil Dawson, who signed with San Francisco.

   "Cleveland is a very easy place to come back to. I like the coaches. I like the players. I have a house here. So without a doubt it would be very easy to come back.

Thomas joins Hall of Famer Jim Brown as the only two Browns to make the Pro Bowl in their first seven seasons.

The list of other players who have done it and gone on to make the Hall of Fame includes Dick Butkus, Joe Greene, Franco Harris, Merlin Olsen, Mel Renfro, Barry Sanders, Lawrence Taylor and Derrick Thomas.

With Mack and Thomas competing in their second Pro Bowl together, it marks the first time a pair of Browns offensive linemen have participated in multiple All-Star games since Pro Football Hall of Fame guard Gene Hickerson and tackle Dick Schafrath accomplished the feat in four consecutive years (1966-69).

“It’s a great honor (to go with Thomas),'' said Mack. "Offensive line is a team position. You really depend heavily on the people next to you, and it’s a cohesive unit. I owe a lot to my coaches and my teammates.”

Fatigue could be hitting a couple of players for Akron and Cleveland State basketball.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- If you hear a collective 'ugh' coming from the respective camps of Akron and Cleveland State basketball, it's the sound of a couple of players hitting the wall.

The Akron Zips (8-5) were able to escape with a 59-58 victory over Marshall Thursday night as Demetrius Treadwell may have hit bottom in his recent skid, while Cleveland State came up short at Green Bay, as what head coach Gary Waters has feared since the start of the season for Bryn Forbes, has come to fruition.

A relentless worker, Forbes' multiple daily shooting sessions in the gym have apparently taken their toll. Waters has tried to get Forbes to cut back on his workouts, fearing this was coming. Now it has.

The dead-eye 3-point shooter was just 2-of-10 overall and 1-of-7 on 3-pointers in CSU's 66-55 road setback at Green Bay. It marked only the second time this season the 6-3 guard was held under double-digits scoring. A 44-percent 3-point shooter on the season, Forbes' 14.3-percent night in Green Bay was, by far, his worst of the season.

With CSU (8-7) playing without Jon Harris (concussion) a normally potent perimeter attack was watered down considerably.

At Akron, the bench rescued the Zips, particularly 6-10, 285-pound freshman Isaiah Johnson, who delivered a game-high 12 points and seven rebounds, six offensive, as Akron survived for the slim win.

"Big Dog saved us,'' head coach Keith Dambrot said of the big native of Cincinnati. "Big dog is a load, and he will only get better."

The challenge is getting Treadwell, plus other struggling Zips, back to peak efficiency.

"Our role players aren't our issue,'' Dambrot said. "Our better players have to play better."

For much of the early season Treadwell carried the Zips, culminating with a three-game stretch when he posted double-doubles, averaging 21.3 points and 11.3 rebounds. Since then he hasn't scored more than 12 points in a game and grabbed more than seven rebounds just once.

It could well be fatigue as the 6-7 product of Euclid was whistled for three fouls in four minutes of the first half against Marshall, and ultimately finished with just four points and three boards.

Get your questions ready and join Dennis Manoloff today at 12:30 p.m. as he talks Cleveland sports.

Talk Cleveland sports with Dennis Manoloff during his weekly podcast today at 12:30 p.m.Allison Carey/The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Get your questions ready and join Dennis Manoloff today at 12:30 p.m. as he talks Cleveland sports.

DMan will talk with cleveland.com's Chris Fedor about the Browns coaching search, what he thinks about the possibility of the Browns hiring a college coach, if he believes Josh McDaniels would be better his second time as a head coach and what he thinks of some of the college quarterbacks.

You can jump in the chat room and ask your questions as well as interact with other users and respond to DMan's remarks, or you can just listen. The chat will also be made available shortly after its completion in MP3 format.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Welcome to 2014 as we begin the second full month of the high school boys basketball season. The action heats up quickly this weekend. Saturday and Sunday brings together many of the top teams in the area for the Scholastic Play-By-Play Classic at Garfield Heights (Saturday) and Baldwin Wallace University (Sunday). Check out reporter Bill Landis'...

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Welcome to 2014 as we begin the second full month of the high school boys basketball season. The action heats up quickly this weekend.

Saturday and Sunday brings together many of the top teams in the area for the Scholastic Play-By-Play Classic at Garfield Heights (Saturday) and Baldwin Wallace University (Sunday). Check out reporter Bill Landis' extensive preview of the event shortly, including a look at two matchups featuring teams in the top six of the cleveland.com Top 25 boys basketball poll.

Every Tuesday and Friday, we'll be setting up the night's action in boys basketball on cleveland.com. And on Wednesday and Saturday, we'll have a rundown of big developments to complement the box scores and recaps with how the games all played out. Look for those posts every week.

Here's a look at what you need to know heading into tonight's games:

GAME OF THE NIGHT

No. 12 Garfield Heights at No. 5 Shaker Heights, 7:30 p.m.

Friday night is just another night in the Northeast Ohio Conference. Two of the top teams in the area meet in the first of two big showdowns in the NOC.

This matchup of top-15 teams features an enticing matchup of post players in Garfield Heights' Dave Bell and Shaker Heights' Esa Ahmad. It also includes a pair of electrifying guards with Shaker Heights' TJ Steele facing off with Willie Jackson of Garfield Heights.

The teams split their meetings last season, each winning on the road.

(Reporter David Cassilo will be at tonight's game. Follow him on Twitter for live updates from the game and come back to cleveland.com for a full report, including photos and video.)

VASJ PLAYS ON ESPNU TONIGHT AT 7

No. 2 Villa Angela-St. Joseph vs. Bishop Gorman (Nev.)

After suffering its first loss of the season last week against Columbus Bishop Watterson, Villa Angela-St. Joseph (5-1) will have a chance to bounce back when it faces Nevada power Bishop Gorman in the Cancer Research Classic at Wheeling Jesuit University (W.Va.).

The 7 p.m. game, which will be televised live on ESPNU, features several star junior prospects, including VASJ's Carlton Bragg and Bishop Gorman's Stephen Zimmerman and Chase Jeter. This will be the first of three consecutive games the Vikings will play against out-of-state teams.

WEATHER IMPACTING SCHEDULE

Check out a story listing some game postponements due to weather, as well as some game times adjusted so fans can get home earlier to watch Ohio State football in the Orange Bowl.  

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

University of Detroit Jesuit at No. 4 St. Ignatius

The Cubs are off to a 3-1 start this season, with their only loss coming in overtime against Toledo St. John's. In its three wins, University of Detroit Jesuit has held its opponents to less than 50 points.

Led by Eric Black, St. Ignatius passed its first big test of the young season with its win against St. Vincent-St. Mary on Tuesday.

No. 6 Mentor at Brunswick

The Cardinals are back from Tennessee and fully healthy thanks to the return of senior Conner Krizancic. Friday they venture southwest to Brunswick, where they suffered their last loss of their state-championship season.

If the 6-3 Blue Devils plan on upsetting Mentor for the second time in two meetings, they will need a big night from senior Ryan Badowski, who is averaging 18.8 points per game.

Strongsville at No. 9 Medina

Medina has not been on the court since before Christmas. Now it begins a stretch of three games in three days with Northeast Ohio Conference rival Strongsville visiting first.

The Mustangs will have to figure out how to slow down Medina's one-two combination of Craig Randall and Brandon Wilkens.

No. 15 North Royalton at Elyria

This Northeast Ohio Conference showdown could boast one of the best perimeter matchups of the night, with North Royalton super sophomore Omari Spellman facing off against Elyria senior Isaiah Walton.

No. 23 Maple Heights at No. 16 Warrensville Heights

This game has been moved to Friday. LaQuan Taylor and Maple Heights made their poll debut this week at No. 23. Their first game as a ranked team is against Lake Erie League foe Warrensville Heights, which is desperate to end a three-game losing streak.

The Tigers play two ranked teams in three days, with No. 9 Medina waiting for them on Sunday at the Scholastic Play-By-Play. Needless to say this weekend could be a big turning point for Warrensville Heights.

AMHERST TO HONOR STAR ALUMNI

The Amherst Comets will take time during halftime of their game tonight against Avon Lake to honor two of their alumni who have had outstanding seasons at their respective colleges.

Former Amherst soccer star Connor Klekota helped lead his Notre Dame's soccer team to the national championship. Deme Morales led Wisconsin's volleyball team to the national championship game last month where it fell to Penn State.

Amherst will also honor senior basketball player Garrett Klekota, who not only became the school's all-time leading scorer, but also a 1,000-point scorer. He accomplished both feats last week at the DiFranco Memorial Tournament at Midview.

LOOKING BACK

St. Edward vaulted to No. 1 in the cleveland.com Top 25 thanks to its fifth-place finish in the MaxPreps Holiday Classic in Palm Springs, Calif., last week.

The Eagles went 3-1 in the tournament, including wins over talented teams from the West Coast in Sunnyslope (Ariz.) and Etiwanda (Calif.).

Reporter Mark Kern caught up with St. Edward coach Eric Flannery, who talked about the team's successful trip out West. The Eagles face a Sunday showdown against No. 6 Mentor at the Scholastic Play-By-Play Classic.

Contact sports reporter Tim Bielik by email (tbielik@cleveland.com) or on Twitter (@bielik_tim). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The boys basketball Scholastic Play-By-Play Classic takes place Saturday and Sunday at Garfield Heights and Baldwin Wallace University. The two-day, nine-game showcase features 11 teams ranked in the cleveland.com boys basketball Top 25. Action tips off Saturday with three games at Garfield Heights, and concludes Sunday with a six-game slate, including four cleveland.com top 25 matchups at...

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The boys basketball Scholastic Play-By-Play Classic takes place Saturday and Sunday at Garfield Heights and Baldwin Wallace University. The two-day, nine-game showcase features 11 teams ranked in the cleveland.com boys basketball Top 25.

Action tips off Saturday with three games at Garfield Heights, and concludes Sunday with a six-game slate, including four cleveland.com top 25 matchups at Baldwin Wallace's Ursprung Gymnasium.

Tickets are available for $10 at the door both days.

Here is a breakdown of what to look for:

THE SCHEDULE

Saturday at Garfield Heights

No. 10 Glenville vs. Olmsted Falls, 4:15.

No. 22 Buchtel vs. John Hay, 6.

No. 12 Garfield Heights vs. Cleveland John F. Kennedy, 7:30.

Sunday at Baldwin Wallace University

Richmond Heights vs. Brunswick, 11:30 a.m.

No. 4 St. Ignatius vs. No. 3 Cleveland Central Catholic, 12:45.

No. 5 Shaker Heights vs. No. 14 Cleveland Heights, 2:30.

No. 6 Mentor vs. No. 1 St. Edward, 4:15.

No. 9 Medina vs. No. 16 Warrensville Heights, 6.

John Hay vs. Massillon Jackson, 7:30.

TOP GAMES TO WATCH (Records through Thursday)

No. 4 St. Ignatius (6-0) vs. No. 3 Cleveland Central Catholic (8-0)

Both teams have games scheduled before Sunday’s tilt, so it’s possible this could not be a battle of unbeatens. But this one should still be a dandy, and a great test for both teams.

The Wildcats have scored 75 points per game entering Friday, while the Ironmen have played solid defense this season.

Coach’s take: “Defensively, I think we’re playing much better than I thought we would. Guys are really picking up the concepts. This early, I won’t say it’s a surprise how well we’ve played, but then again it is. We’ve got two sophomores, two juniors and a senior on the floor and they’re jelling really well.

“(St. Ignatius) defends really well. They play a tough brand of basketball. They’re tough inside, they’re tough on the perimeter. They can play a game in the 70s, they can play a game in the 40s. They’re versatile. To that point, I’d say this is our toughest test of the season to this point. Going to St. V wasn’t easy, but we weathered the storm there.”

-- Jonathan Harris, Cleveland Central Catholic coach

No. 6 Mentor (3-3) vs. No. 1 St. Edward (6-1)

The Eagles took over the top spot in the cleveland.com Top 25 boys basketball poll after winning three of four games at the MaxPreps Holiday Classic in Palm Springs, Calif. Mentor did not fare as well at the Arby’s Classic in Bristol, Tenn., going 1-2. But the defending Division I state champs are just now getting back to full strength.

Both teams have been tested early in the season and should be primed to earn local bragging rights in this one.

Coach’s take: “We haven’t had one real practice with everybody yet. We need, starting next week, full practices with the full team. We’ve got some deficiencies. There’s some good spots, I just don’t think we’re going to be where we want to be as a team for three or four weeks.

“I thought before the season started that (St. Edward) was one of the top three teams in the state. They’ve got great size, great coaching. They’ve got everything you need to make a championship run. It’s a great game for us to compete and tell us where we’re at.”

-- Bob Krizancic, Mentor coach

No. 5 Shaker Heights (8-2) vs. No. 14 Cleveland Heights (5-1)

After a strong showing at the King of the Bluegrass Holiday Classic in Fairdale, Ky., Shaker fell to St. Vincent-St. Mary. The Raiders will look to get back on track after starting the season 6-0.

Cleveland Heights bounced back from a loss to Glenville with a resounding win over Shaw. Sunday will mark a chance for the Tigers to make a statement against their former Lake Erie League rival.

Coach’s take: “We’re successful when we’re getting the game up and down. We’ve gone on big runs in every game we’ve played, and that’s the way we need to play. It needs to be a game of spurts. We’re very small, so we need to make up for that by creating turnovers.

"Not only does (Shaker) have size, but they shoot the ball well too. It starts with Esa (Ahmad) and we need to do a good job on him and try to limit his touches, while at the same time try to pressure everyone else and create opportunities for ourselves."

-- Andy Suttell, Cleveland Heights coach

No. 9 Medina (6-1) vs. No. 16 Warrensville Heights (3-3)

The Bees have won four straight, but haven’t played in two weeks. They’ll get thrown right back into the fire with three games in three days starting Friday.

The Tigers have lost three straight and will look the right things Friday against No. 23 Maple Heights before Sunday’s matchup with Medina.

TEN PLAYERS TO WATCH

Esa Ahmad, F, Shaker Heights: Ahmad has been a force all season for the Raiders, and provides matchup nightmares with his ability to float outside and play around the rim.

Ryan Badowski, G, Brunswick: An experienced player in the Blue Devils backcourt, Badoswki is averaging better than 20 points per game this season.

Tervell Beck, F, Cleveland Central Catholic: Beck, just a sophomore, is one of the more dynamic players in the area and has shown the ability to take over games.

Eric Black, F, St. Ignatius: A 6-foot-7 presence in the Wildcats frontcourt, Black is coming off his strongest performance of the season, a 24-point effort against St. Vincent-St. Mary.

Jimond Ivey, G, Glenville: Ivey started the season with a pair of 30-point games and has been a leader for the Tarblooders this season.

Chelvonte Montgomery, G, Garfield Heights: Montgomery, a transfer from Central Catholic, has fit right in with his new team, scoring at least 20 points in his last three games.

Kipper Nichols, F, St. Edward: Part of a talented frontcourt, Nichols has picked up where he left off last year, when he led the Eagles in scoring.

Caleb Potter, G, Mentor: Potter can be deadly from 3-point range, and is one of a few weapons at the Cardinals’ disposal.

Craig Randall, G, Medina: A newcomer to the Bees this season, the junior has made an immediate impact, scoring better than 18 points per game.

Deric Rucker, F, Buchtel: The junior is the sparkplug for a scrappy Buchtel team that gets it done with speed and swarming defense.

Contact high school sports reporter Bill Landis by email (blandis@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@blandis25). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.