The Cleveland Cavaliers assigned shooting guard Joe Harris to the Canton Charge, the Cavaliers exclusively owned and operated NBA Development League team, but Harris is still expected to be available for the Cavs on Wednesday night against the Utah Jazz.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers assigned shooting guard Joe Harris to the Canton Charge, the Cavaliers exclusively owned and operated NBA Development League team, but Harris is still expected to be available for the Cavs on Wednesday night against the Utah Jazz.

The Charge tipped off an early morning game on Wednesday against the Delaware 87ers at the Canton Memorial Civic Center, and Harris was in the starting lineup. 

The Cavs are hoping to get Harris some on-court playing time, which has been sporadic this season and could plummet even more with the anticipated debut of Iman Shumpert on Friday night against the Charlotte Hornets. 

But Shumpert said this week he doesn't believe he'll be ready in time to play the Jazz on Wednesday so Harris may be needed. 

Since starting on Jan. 5 against the Philadelphia 76ers, playing a season-high 32 minutes and scoring a career-high 16 points, Harris has averaged 6.8 minutes in the last seven games. He has played just two combined minutes in Cleveland's last four. 

Harris, a second-round pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, has played in 33 games (one start) for the Cavs this season, averaging 2.9 points in 11.5 minutes per game.

The Mid-American Conference race is tightly bunched, but the Akron Zips can earn valuable tiebreaker advantages with a pair of road wins this week.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- This week could very well determine if the Akron Zips might be able to cruise to a Mid-American Conference basketball championship, or spend the rest of the MAC season fighting for one. Road wins tonight at Northern Illinois (7-8, 1-3) and Saturday at Western Michigan (12-5, 3-1), could put the Zips on a course few MAC teams could follow.

Akron (12-5, 3-1) is currently tied for first in the MAC East Division, but no team in the league can match Akron's quality of wins to date, over Bowling Green (11-4, 3-1), Western Michigan, and Central Michigan (12-3, 2-2). All three are not only expected to be season-long contenders, but BG has the second highest RPI in the MAC; WMU is the defending MAC champ and leading the MAC West, and CMU is arguably the most offensively dangerous team in the league.

Already Akron is guaranteed no worse than a split with two games each vs. BG and WMU, and owns the one-game tiebreaker over CMU.

Neither Akron road game is a given, considering Akron's lone MAC loss was in its lone MAC road game to date, at Toledo. But NIU has issues with injuries and depth while WMU has already lost to Akron, 72-52, in the MAC opener. Get these two wins and Akron, a historically strong homecourt team, will not face back-to-back MAC road games again until the final week of the season. By then, it may be too late for the rest of the league to catch up.

Kent State (12-5, 3-1): The Golden Flashes have a major test against the Toledo Rockets (10-7, 2-2), who may be sputtering to date in MAC play, but still remain the team most expect to finish the season atop the MAC West standings. UT is led by senior guard Juice Brown, on a Player of the Year pace averaging  15.9 points a game. Toledo is coming off a stinging loss to WMU and will not want to fall out of step with the Broncos.

Still, a convincing home win over Akron is proof enough the potent Rockets, averaging 75.4 points a game, should not be taken lightly, especially with a veteran starting five delivering a combined 60 of those points a night.

KSU has issues on offense, averaging 65.9 points a game, meaning its defense, which has been strong, must somehow make up nearly a 10-point difference. If accomplished, a win would not only keep the Flashes in step with other MAC East contenders, but show Kent could indeed be in the MAC title hunt for the long haul.

Around the MAC: With five teams sporting 3-1 MAC records and three others at 2-2, every game is a big game. The BG Falcons are home tonight as they host Eastern Michigan (12-5, 1-3). The Eagles struggled to start the season, but a road win over the Falcons could put them back in the thick of the conference race ... Buffalo (12-4, 3-1), the consensus No.1 MAC team in the RPI rankings, gets a solid road challenge at CMU ... Winless Ohio University (5-10, 0-4), is on the road at surprising Ball State (7-8, 2-2).

LeBron James is still sick but will play against Utah. Kyrie Irving also doesn't feel well but is also expected to play.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio – LeBron James is expected to play tonight against the Utah Jazz at The Q despite feeling the effects from flu-like symptoms that kept him out of practice Tuesday.

The bug is spreading. Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving missed shootaround this morning at the team's practice facility with those same flu-like symptoms, though team spokesman Tad Carper said Irving was still probable for tonight's game.

James, who scored 26 points in Cleveland's 108-94 win over Chicago Monday, said today that he was starting to feel sick two days ago. He spoke in unusually hushed tones following that game, even though he and the Cavaliers played well.

"Been better, I'm alright," James said Wednesday after shootaround, still looking and sounding sick.

The Cavaliers are hoping to even the score against Utah, following a 102-100 loss to the Jazz on Gordon Hayward's buzzer-beating shot on Nov.5.

James scored 31 points in the game, but slipped as Hayward was moving to get the ball and shoot the game winner. Days after that game, Hayward, who scored 21 points, wrote on his blog that James "can't bully me as much as he used to, and I'm able to stand my ground against him."

 "I don't believe (remember) me ever pushing him around in the past," James said Wednesday, when asked for a reaction to Hayward's comments. "I don't use a one-on-one matchup against anyone. I play the team game, I just try to win ball games.

 "It's not about me and Gordon Hayward. If it made him feel better by saying that, good for him, but I don't really care about that stuff."

James is averaging nearly 32 points per game since returning from a two-week hiatus to rest nagging injuries.

The Cavs are 3-1 in that stretch and have three games remaining on a four-game homestand. They also have a totally different look from when they played the Jazz -- with Timofey Mozgov, J.R. Smith, and Iman Shumpert added to the roster.

Following shootaround, which for the second straight game was held at Cleveland Clinic Courts -- which is in Independence, near James' home in Bath Township, instead of at The Q downtown -- James shared on social media a picturesque view from his snow-covered, palatial estate with the caption "I love it!!! Home Sweet Home."

I love it!!! Home Sweet Home

A photo posted by LeBron James (@kingjames) on Jan 21, 2015 at 8:41am PST

Keep up with Bill Landis and Ari Wasserman as they make their return trip from the national championship in Dallas by writing stories about Ohio State along the way.

SOMEWHERE, USA - The Ohio State football team is fresh off a national championship season. By recruiting at an elite level and developing superior talent, Urban Meyer and his staff have built a Buckeyes program primed for further ascension.

But what impact is Ohio State's recent success is having on the South and its recruiting hotbeds?

Bill Landis and Ari Wasserman chucked their airplane tickets back from Dallas and are driving back to Ohio to pursue stories about Ohio State, its recruiting efforts and other interesting college football stories that pop up.

Just call it "Bill and Ari's Excellent Adventure."

Their trip is taking them through Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia and Kentucky. If you have ideas or suggestions on places they should go or stories they should write, leave those in the comments below.

View full size

First leg: Dallas to Wichita Falls, Texas

• Will J.T. Barrett be back at Ohio State?

Rider High School football coach Marc Bindel, who was Rider's offensive coordinator during J.T. Barrett's high school career, expects Urban Meyer is going to have to make a difficult decision next season, because Barrett anticipates that Braxton Miller will return, along with Barrett and Cardale Jones, at Ohio State next year.

"Obviously it's nothing official," Bindel said, "but right now J.T. told me that he expects both of them to be back with him."

• How a North Texas town raised a Buckeye quarterback

When it comes to football, Wichita Falls fits all of the stereotypes you've come to expect from Texas towns. There's the massive stadium — home to three high schools and Division II Midwestern State University — with a two-tiered press box overlooking the field and enough seats for 15,000 fans on a good night.

Barrett and his family moved to Wichita Falls when he was 2 years old. They didn't know they'd be moving to a place that would develop an emotional attachment to their middle son, but that's the kind of effect football can have on folks in Texas.

• Inside the Texas high school that saw Barrett recover from injury before

A day at Rider High serves as a reminder that what Barrett is going through after his injury against Michigan is actually repeated history: It comes two full years since he tore is ACL in high school.

And knowing that should give Ohio State a warm sense of security, a calmness knowing that Barrett is still the keeper of a bright future in Columbus.

"He wasn't done then," said Marc Bindel, the offensive coordinator during Barrett's senior year, "and he's definitely not done now."

• Stephen Barrett says his brother will be back better than ever

"He handled it better than the other ones he's had previously," Stephen said of J.T.'s injuries. "He bounced back from his ACL just fine and I expect him to do the same with the ankle. The only thing that bothered him when he broke his ankle is not the fact that it hurt, but the fact that he couldn't play. He was bummed out he couldn't play."

• Meet T.J. Vasher, J.T. Barrett's ex-teammate who has heard from OSU

Rated by 247Sports as a composite four-star prospect and the No. 46 wide receiver in the 2016 class, Vasher has early offers from Texas Tech and SMU. He also has basketball offers from SMU and Tulsa.

Vasher is still figuring out what sport he wants to play, but given Ohio State has reached out, there is potential in the big target at the next level.

"He is a freak. He has a ridiculous wingspan, his vertical is off the charts," Rider coach Marc Bindel said. "He has to put some muscle on, but our No. 1 red zone play was to hurry up and throw a fade and he'd go up and get it. With him, if you throw it anywhere in the vicinity, he's going to out-jump a guy. As he continues to get older, I expect his recruitment to expand."

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Second leg: Back to Dallas, then to Houston

• Rising DeSoto High School star Kadarrian Nixon would accept OSU offer

"They came last year and I met them," Nixon said of Ohio State. "If they come this year and they try to offer me, I'll be happy because that's where Dontre went and where I see myself going."

• DeSoto hallways explain why OSU should expect more from Dontre Wilson

This season, Wilson was supposed to be Ohio State's biggest offensive playmaker. But Wilson only scored three touchdowns until the Michigan State game in early November. Then Wilson broke his foot vs. the Spartans, but didn't come out of the game before scoring his fourth touchdown.

He was lost until playing sparingly in Ohio State's win over Oregon to capture a national title.

• Why OSU is still alive for '16 DeSoto QB Tristen Wallace

"I love Ohio State," Wallace said. "What they are doing with those three quarterbacks that they have and that played this year was fantastic. It kind of reminded me of how we did things here when I went down. It's a good feeling."

• Anthony Schlegel's Texas past offers insight on OSU's body-slamming assistant strength coach

Mark Howeth, the defensive coordinator at DeSoto High School in Texas, has known Ohio State strength coach Anthony Schlegel since Schlegel was in high school.

• Meet four-star CB Jared Mayden, an OSU prospect from Sache, Texas

"They don't have to change anything they've been doing," Mayden said of Ohio State. "Just keep talking to me, talk to my parents, get them comfortable and get me comfortable leaving the state."

• Why 'there shouldn't be a drop-off' in OSU's Texas recruiting

"Coach Beck is well respected by Texas high school coaches," said DeSoto offensive coordinator Todd Peterman. "Some guys come in and they're uncomfortable, Coach Beck isn't one of those guys."

• Inside the new Houston office of former OSU coordinator Tom Herman

Though Herman, Ohio State's former offensive coordinator, has officially been Houston's head coach for three weeks, he couldn't dive into the job until Tuesday, the day after the Buckeyes captured the national title. Here's a look at what his office looked like.

• A day at Houston powerhouse North Shore explains why not all OSU scholarship offers are equal

North Shore is out of Ohio State's primary recruiting territory despite having some of the most talented prospects in the country. Though its only a shade less than four hours away from Dallas - an area Ohio State has recruited successfully - it's a long four hours. Houston isn't ever going to be an emphasis.

It's a "Net School" for Ohio State, meaning Urban Meyer and his staff cast their net over the program with the hope of reeling in big fish like Monroe or Long. It's a riskless venture to offer an elite prospect a scholarship, and Ohio State knows fairly early if it has a catch.

• Four-star Texas WR Devin Duvernay has OSU offer, wants to visit

Devin Duvernay, a four-star prospect from the Dallas area, has an Ohio State offer and wants more contact with the Buckeyes.

• How Jim Harbaugh recruited Andrew Luck from Houston and what it could mean for Michigan's future in Texas

View full sizeAri Wasserman, Northeast Ohio Media Group

Third leg: From Houston to Baton Rouge and New Orleans

• 'I've been to the mountaintop': How Tom Herman's future at Houston will be immediately influenced by Ohio State

This stop on an Ohio State themed roadtrip through Texas and the South was supposed to be an interview about the rebranding of Houston's football program, about the awakening of a "a sleeping giant" after the Cougars hired Tom Herman, one of the fastest-rising assistants in college football, away from Ohio State.

Instead, it was clear how Ohio State is going to influence Herman at Houston.

• 'There's a blueprint at Ohio State': Success for Tom Herman means building a recruiting wall around Houston

"Certainly the goal is to make sure the kids that are gettable in the city of Houston don't leave," Herman told cleveland.com. "How do we do that? There's a really good blueprint at Ohio State. Recruiting is like shaving — if you don't do it for a couple days, you look like a jerk. You have to do it all day, every day."

View full sizeBill Landis, Northeast Ohio Media Group 

Fourth leg: From Baton Rouge/New Orleans to Tuscaloosa

• Inside John Curtis - The New Orleans powerhouse that helps explain why Ohio State doesn't recruit Louisiana: Buckeyes recruiting

Maybe you've heard of John Curtis, the small football powerhouse on the west side of New Orleans that's won 26 state championships and put out 40 or so Division I players since 2002. Would it surprise you to hear Urban Meyer has never been here? It's not that surprising when you consider Meyer has never signed a player from Louisiana in his career.

• 'The exception': How Ohio State pulled off a rare feat in getting former RB Jonathan Wells from Louisiana

The only player to ever leave John Curtis for Ohio State? Former Buckeyes RB Jonathan Wells. But as you'll see, Wells' recruitment wasn't typical, which is why he bucked the trend of top Louisiana talent staying close to home.

• What do SEC fans at LSU think about Ohio State, Big Ten after Buckeyes national championship?

Did the perception of the Big Ten change at all after Ohio State's national championship? Bill and Ari stopped on the campus of the LSU to ask SEC fans what they thought.

New contenders emerge as the season hits late January.

New contenders emerge as the season hits late January.

Kyrie Irving's steal on the fast break, J.R. Smith's volleyball tap over his head and Irving's alley-oop to Kevin Love gave the a Cavaliers a 74-48 lead over the Jazz in the third quarter got EVERYBODY watching the game -- either at the arena or at home -- out of their seats in unrestrained, fist-pumping jubilation.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- In a game that was full of spectacular plays -- no-look passes, skyhooks, touchdown passes, blocked shots -- one clearly stood out.

FINAL: CAVS WIN, 106-92, in #TheLand with some #SCtop10 help! #CavsJazz BOX: http://t.co/bTCQk9LA42 https://t.co/MDMc5oulyM

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) January 22, 2015

Kyrie Irving's steal on the fast break, J.R. Smith's volleyball tap over his head and Irving's alley-oop to Kevin Love gave the a Cavaliers a 74-48 lead over the Jazz in the third quarter got EVERYBODY watching the game -- at the arena or at home -- out of their seats in unrestrained, fist-pumping jubilation.

"Best play of the night," LeBron James said.

In the moment, though, it felt like more than that.

As the Cavaliers were well on their way to winning their fourth straight in most impressive fashion, it felt like a turning point. The launching pad for something special.

That one sequence we'll all look back on months from now as the moment we started believing again.

In that sense, it was the play of the season. 

The University of Washington product made 16.5 tackles for loss last season. Watch video

MOBILE, Alabama – His calves are plump. His thighs are sequoia thick.

When Danny Shelton ambles down the aisle of an airplane aboard legs shaped like a pair of South American continents you're hoping he's in the emergency-exit row. So is he.

"Oh, yeah, I'm looking for that seat," the University of Washington defensive lineman said. "God has blessed me with this body and sometimes it's a blessing and sometimes it's a hassle. Trying to lift these heavy legs when you're tired is tough. So, is finding jeans."

Browns general manager Ray Farmer might have the single-best, one-word description of the 6-foot-2, 343-pound Shelton, who's playing in the Reese's Senior Bowl on Saturday.

"He's girthy, a big man," Farmer said.

It's not only his width, but his depth of character that makes Shelton a first-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft and a good option for the Browns.

He is powerful, disruptive and surprisingly agile -- someone who would be a welcomed addition to a defense that finished dead last against the run (141.6 yards per game) in 2014.

While quarterback remains the greatest need, Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston might be attending post-draft parties by the time the Browns select with the Nos. 12 and 19 picks. A lot can change between now and April 30, but this much seems certain: No Senior-Bowl prospect looks like a better fit than the husky Husky.

View full sizeWashington defensive lineman Danny Shelton, left, runs drills with Florida offensive lineman Maz Garcia during practice for the Senior Bowl. Brynn Anderson, Associated Press 

Shelton registered 16.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks and five fumble recoveries a season ago. Although it's easy to get fixated on his size, his footwork and quickness are impressive. He plays like a safety trapped in a larger man's frame. CBSSports.com draft analyst Dane Brugler said he's not sure he's scouted a nose tackle who makes more plays outside the hashmarks.

Senior Bowl coaches have experimented with him this week at defensive end. The game's executive director and former Browns general manager Phil Savage said his old team might need to trade up to ensure they get Shelton.

"He's probably the best prospect here in terms of where he will be drafted," Savage said. "If he continues to perform the way he did (Tuesday in practice) he's going to be a top-10 pick because 340-pound men who can move like that are just not available."

Shelton, who handled one- and two-gap responsibilities at Washington, grew up a big fan of Ravens' run stopper Haloti Ngata. Many Browns fans recall that Savage made the 2006 trade with the Ravens that enabled their AFC North rival to move up and select the five-time Pro Bowler.

The Browns appear to have an interest in Shelton, and team personnel has spoken with him in Mobile, the All American said. Asked if he were aware of the club's deficiencies against the run, the lineman smiled broadly and nodded his head.

"Yes, if I get picked up by them I'd try my best to help them out," he said.

Five years ago, the Auburn, Wash., native wasn't sure he even wanted to continue playing football.

He witnessed a gunman kill his older brother, Shennon, in a dispute that involved other family members at an apartment complex. Shelton reportedly wrested the gun from the shooter only to see authorities not file criminal charges. Prosecutors contended they couldn't prove "beyond a reasonable doubt" the shooter's actions were unjustified because he faced "imminent risk of being assaulted by the six men," according to a report in the Daily Herald of Everett, Wash.

Consumed by anger and grief, Shelton contemplated leaving college, but friends, coaches and family members helped him cope with the tragedy.

The first-team, All-Academic All-American has excelled in the classroom and community. The anthropology major has studied abroad in Tahiti and worked as a mentor to high-school-age Polynesian students.

His mother is Samoan and he's quite proud of his heritage. Shelton modeled a black-and-gold lava-lava – a traditional Polynesian garment worn like a skirt -- at Senior Bowl media night. He owes his powerful build, Shelton said, to his mother's side of the family. (His father is of Peruvian and Puerto Rican descent.)

The lava-lava certainly offers more legroom than his jeans (size 50 waist) or other pants.

"I want to be all about my culture and represent," he said. "Back in the day this is what they wore at home and at work."

Shelton admittedly has been winded at the end of practices this week. He ballooned to 360 pounds after the Huskies (8-5) completed their season, but shed 17 pounds in time for Tuesday's weigh-in, which he celebrated with a fist pump.

What's also a bit inflated are his pass-rush numbers. He was part of a Huskies' defense that might see three players – outside linebackers Shaq Thompson and Hau'oli Kikaha are the others – drafted in the first two rounds.

But nobody doubts his ability as a run stopper or a player willing to give effort. With Ahtyba Rubin likely headed to free agency and Phil Taylor entering the final year of his rookie deal, the Browns need help on the defensive line. The full-bodied Shelton could provide it.

No matter where he's drafted in the first round Shelton's days of flying economy class probably are at an end.

Wadsworth girls basketball won its 68th straight Suburban League game when it defeated Revere, 49-37, on Wednesday.

Wadsworth girls basketball won its 68th straight Suburban League game when it defeated Revere, 49-37, on Wednesday.

The Cavs are 18-4 when they score 100 points -- time to keep the offense running at high speed.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- In the five games since LeBron James has returned, the Cavaliers are averaging 110 points.

The James of reverse slams dunks and the James leading the Cavs fast break like the reincarnation of Magic Johnson...

The James that has taken over the role as spiritual leader of the Cavs and the James that is making everyone feel involved in the offense...

This is the James that I expected to watch when he announced his return home in the summer of 2014. It's the James who has the ball moving, as the Cavs have had all five starters score at least 15 points in the last two games -- a first in franchise history.

Suddenly, the Cavs are on a four-game winning streak.

"You see it, you feel it," Coach David Blatt told reporters after Wednesday's 106-92 victory over Utah. "We're not there yet, but we're beginning to jell."

It took two months of soul-searching for Blatt and his players, as they lost 10-of-12 games at one point. "It was a very dark place," said the coach.

It took more than two weeks of resting and rehabilitating his sore back and knee for James. He has already missed a career-high nine games this season. "It was the hardest thing I've gone through (in basketball)," said James.

It took two huge trades in three days by David Griffin, after the general manager gave a strong verbal backing to his coach.

And it took about three seconds for Cavs fans to start speaking Russian ... as in "I love Mozgov!"

That's Timofey Mozgov, the Russian import by way of the Denver Nuggets. The 7-foot-1 center has already been called the "best big man that I've played with since Z," by James.

James was referring to Zydrunas Ilgauskas, and he was discussing teammates who measure at least 7-foot.

THE BIG DIFFERENCE

The first reason the Cavs are a different team is that James is a different player -- a healthy player.

Timofey Mozgov has immediately become a favorite of his new Cavs teammates and fans. Thomas Ondrey / The Plain Dealer 

In the five games since he returned, James is averaging 30.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and shooting 52 percent. He also may be leading the NBA with encouraging comments and smiles for his teammates.

As I wrote earlier, that was not the case early in the season when he was discouraged by his injuries. He also was frustrated with a rookie NBA head coach and discouraged by young teammates who didn't know how to defend and play the type of basketball that leads to success in the NBA.

James has come back as a mature 30-year-old ready to make the best of his situation.

And the situation changed, as Griffin turned Dion Waiters and a future Memphis first-round draft pick into J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert and Mozgov.

It's as if James looked at the new guys and thought, "This is more like it!" The Cavs star knew his team needed another big guy after center Anderson Varejao blew out his Achilles tendon on December 23, ending his season.

Blatt mentioned how most people don't realize how that injury impacted the Cavs, "We were without a starting center."

Until the arrival of Mozgov, Tristan Thompson was the only big man who can defend. Yes, Kevin Love is 6-foot-10, but he's a scorer and rebounder. His defense is mediocre on a good day. He also has dealt with a very grumpy back much of the season.

Enter Mozgov, a trade target of Griffin's for 11 months -- ever since he took over as general manager. And Mozgov also played for Blatt on the Russian Olympic team, which even intensified Griffin's mission to bring the center to Cleveland.

Facing the Bulls and star center Pau Gasol, Mozgov delivered 15 points and 15 rebounds. Gasol scored an ugly 11 points (4-of-14 shooting) and had 11 rebounds. The Cavs were dominating in Monday's 108-94 victory. The Cavs out-rebounded Chicago 54-40 in that game.

Wednesday, the Cavs dismantled Utah, 106-92. Mozgov had 16 points and 11 rebounds -- and you can see how James takes delight in passing to the big man, rewarding his center for all the work on defense.

THERE WAS ANOTHER STREAK

The Cavs staggered through the first 12 games of the season with a 5-7 record.

Then they had an eight-game winning streak. James was not hurting as much. Varejao was healthy. Kyrie Irving was emerging as an asset on defense. They outscored the opposition 106-92 in that span.

Then came injuries and doubt -- losing 10-of-12.

So yes, it can fall apart again -- but I doubt it.

Shooting guard J.R. Smith is averaging 14.6 points since joining the Cavs three weeks ago. His long-range shooting has been a spark. Soon, defensive-specialist Iman Shumpert will be ready -- possibly for Friday's home game with Charlotte.

Does Blatt decide to start Shumpert, or does he stick with Smith at shooting guard? Smith has blended so well with the starters.

When that happens, the Cavs will have added two starters (Mozgov and Shumpert) and a former NBA sixth man of the year (Smith) in the last three weeks. And the only player they lost in those two deals was Waiters.

The Cavs have the makings of a powerful scoring team, as the 110-point average since the return of James demonstrates. That's especially true when they concentrate on running.

James said it's up to him and Irving to "keep pushing the ball."

The Cavs have internal stats showing that they are the NBA's "most efficient offensive team" when they take a shot in the first 10 seconds of the 24-second clock. You can see that simply by watching the game. The stats show the Cavs are 18-4 when scoring at least 100 points.

"But I also think that (faster) pace starts with defense," said Blatt. "You get more stops, you get more rebounds and steals ... it's easier to run."

The Cavs had 14 steals against Utah, five for Irving and four for James -- and both were battling the flu.

The combination of Mozgov, Thompson and Love has raised the level of rebounding.

The Cavs record remains a modest 23-20, but all of that is changing -- and changing fast as James and the rest pick up the pace of play.

As the end of the high school hockey season approaches, many teams are still vying for position within their respective leagues. Read more in this week's Best of the beat.

As the end of the high school hockey season approaches, many teams are still vying for position within their respective leagues. Read more in this week's Best of the beat.

Alarm bells regularly sound about the demise of Mid-American Conference football just about every time a study is done on how to make an athletic department more financially efficient.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It is the never ending story. The (fill in the blank) Mid-American Conference team is either (a) considering dropping football completely, or (b) looking to drop down one division from Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) to Football Championship (FCS) Subdivision.

It's a headline grabber, click bait that is regurgitated each time it becomes public that a MAC team has had a "study" to look at its athletic department operations with an eye toward becoming more cost effective.

The fire bell is currently ringing at Kent State. But there is no smoke in the building, no flames. This is business as usual for most new college presidents or young athletic directors to get a handle on the most visible department at most universities.

"One of the things that (KSU Director of Athletics) Joel Nielsen and I agreed upon was that this would be a perfect year to do an assessment of our athletics programs,'' first-year KSU president Beverly Warren told the Kent Record Courier in December.

"We brought in consultants who are working with us. That was the idea, for me to learn a little more not only about what I personally enjoy in terms of the sports programs, but where should we go and how could we help Kent State University's athletic programs achieve their best result.

"I don't have a handle on all of that yet. I think it's really going to be important that Joel and I work together to just do this assessment this year, to help me learn."

The fact is, Kent anually ranks as one of the top sports departments in the conference with an almost miserly budget. The last time KSU dropped a sport was in 1988, hockey, and that was generated by a program-wide hazing incident.

For all football costs, MAC teams actually "need" football for the money it brings into each program, just by being a member of the FBS.

That figure is well into the millions of dollars per school, per year, which is not available to FCS teams. That's also why the NCAA continues to make it harder and harder for FCS teams to move "up" to the FBS ranks. The smaller the pool, the larger the bucks.

The challenge, which most MAC teams have answered, is not to get caught in an arms race with coaching salaries and mounting facilities to match the Ohio States and Alabamas, but remain financially prudent and responsible across the board.

Still, the fire drill alarms sound almost annually, particularly if the school involved has not had much football success. Akron, Eastern Michigan and Buffalo are some of the programs that have recently had a comparable study or review.

"They're doing that across the board,'' MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher said of his membership, after returning from the recent NCAA Convention. "I think any time we go through a review like this we (athletics/football) regularly prove our value to that institution."

Follow along live this afternoon as the Browns introduce JOhn DeFilippo as their new offensive coordinator.

BEREA, Ohio - The Browns have a new offensive coordinator. John DeFilippo will be introduced this afternoon in Berea at 1 p.m. in a press conference.

DeFilippo comes to the Browns from Oakland. He was the quarterbacks coach for the Raiders.

Northeast Ohio Media Group Browns reporters Mary Kay Cabot and Tom Reed will be in Berea all afternoon and posting the latest news in the comments below. Stay updated and join in the conversation below.

Potter and Teske are now part of the same family.

Potter and Teske are now part of the same family.

Cornerstone Christian will play at Dunk 4 Diabetes for the second year in a row.

Cornerstone Christian will play at Dunk 4 Diabetes for the second year in a row.

Jeff Gordon, the wildly popular four-time NASCAR champion, said Thursday he will retire as a full-time driver after the 2015 season. The 43-year-old Gordon is coming off one of his best seasons in years. He won four times in 2014, including the Brickyard 400. Gordon did not officially call his decision a retirement because there is "always the possibility...

Jeff Gordon, the wildly popular four-time NASCAR champion, said Thursday he will retire as a full-time driver after the 2015 season.

The 43-year-old Gordon is coming off one of his best seasons in years. He won four times in 2014, including the Brickyard 400.

Gordon did not officially call his decision a retirement because there is "always the possibility I'll compete in selected events, although I currently have no plans to do that." He has spent his entire 23-year career in the No. 24 car with Hendrick Motorsports, and he delivered the news to his team at the shop.

"As a race car driver, much of what I've done throughout my life has been based on following my instincts and trying to make good decisions," Gordon said. "I thought long and hard about my future this past year and during the offseason, and I've decided 2015 will be the last time I compete for a championship."

Gordon won all the big races, collected four championships in seven years and had 58 victories before his 30th birthday. He brought the southern sport to Madison Avenue and became such a household name that he even hosted "Saturday Night Live." And he was the "Rainbow Warrior" who racked up wins at a record pace.

Gordon has 92 career Sprint Cup wins and championships in 1995, 1997, 1998 and 2001. Gordon is third in career victories, trailing Hall of Fame drivers Richard Petty (200) and David Pearson (105). He has three Daytona 500 victories and a record five Brickyard 400 wins. Gordon made his debut in the final race of the 1992 season, a race made more symbolic because it was the final one for Petty.

Gordon suffered serious issues years ago in his back, specifically his lower spine, and needed anti-inflammatory medication and workouts with a trainer to return to full strength. He drove in pain during a winless 2008 season and briefly contemplated retirement.

Leading up to last year's Daytona 500, Gordon said he would retire if he won a fifth championship. Now, he's made it official.

"I'll explore opportunities for the next phase of my career, but my primary focus now and throughout 2015 will be my performance in the No. 24 Chevrolet," he said. "I'm going to pour everything I have into this season and look forward to the challenge of competing for one last championship."

Gordon earned the nickname "Four-Time" because of the Cup titles early in his career, though wins have been harder to get for Gordon as his career stretched into its second decade. He posted winless seasons in 2008 and 2010 and, even in the years he qualified for the Chase in Sprint Cup championship, was never a true threat to bring home the title. Last season he missed the championship round by one point.

"There's simply no way to quantify Jeff's impact," team owner Rick Hendrick said. "He's one of the biggest sports stars of a generation, and his contributions to the success and growth of NASCAR are unsurpassed. There's been no better ambassador for stock car racing and no greater representation of what a champion should be. I will never be able to properly express the respect and admiration I have for Jeff and how meaningful our relationship is to me."

Hendrick, who also fields cars for Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne, did not name a replacement. Hendrick developmental driver and reigning Xfinity Series champion Chase Elliot could be in the mix to take over in the No. 24 Chevrolet.

"Hard to imagine this is (Gordon's) last full season," Earnhardt tweeted. "Tons of respect for him and what he's accomplished thus far. A total professional."

Gordon, married with two children, has thrust himself into charity work and said he will remain committed to his foundation.

''Outside the race car, my passion is pediatric cancer research, and my efforts will remain focused there when I'm no longer driving," he said.

The Akron Zips go from possibly putting a stranglehold on the MAC basketball race to facing a near must-win game to stay among the top contenders in the conference in less than 24 hours. Such is life in the MAC.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Nothing seems to change as fast as the basketball fortunes in the Mid-American Conference. Just ask the Akron Zips and the Toledo Rockets.

Less than 24 hours ago the Zips seemed poised for a big week playing on the road at struggling Northern Illinois on Wednesday night, then a big road game at Western Michigan, a team Akron defeated by 20 to open MAC play, on Saturday.

Instead, the Zips (12-6, 3-2) stumbled to a loss in DeKalb, Illinois. Should they do the same on Saturday at Western Michigan, they will be looking at a .500 MAC record instead of leading the MAC's East Division.

But the Akron setback is not as surprising as it might seem. NIU (8-8, 2-3), even without its starting point guard (knee) and small forward (shoulder), has only lost one home game this season, and won 13 of 14 home games dating back to last season. And Akron has lost eight straight true road games dating back to last season.

Western (13-5, 4-1) has not lost a game since Akron dropped the Broncos, 72-52, on January 6.

The positive for Akron is that coach Keith Dambrot has been through 10 years of championship MAC battles and is well aware fortunes can be reversed again, dramatically, after the next game.

Kent State (13-5, 4-1): It is quickly becoming evident that you can't judge Kent State by the numbers beyond its win-loss record. It's 67-60 victory over the Toledo Rockets (10-8, 2-3) is Exhibit A.

UT might be having its challenges wearing the target of favorite on its back. But the fact is the Rockets got their average number of shots (54) against Kent, shot even a tad better than their average at 48.1 for the game, and effectively matched KSU on the boards.

But Kent's defense still stood tall, holding Toledo well under its nightly scoring average of 74.6 points a game. Kent did not let any one of several explosive UT players score more than 12 points, including leading scorer Juice Brown (15.9 points) with nine points. And while KSU continues its season long struggles from the line, going 10-of-19 for the game and 61.4 percent for the season, those numbers are misleading too.

During Kent's three-game homestand and four-game win streak, in the final two minutes against Northern Illinois, Eastern Michigan, Ohio University and Toled, the Flashes closed out those games going 4-of-4, 5-of-7,  3-of-4 and 6-of-8 from the line.

Around the MAC: Bowling Green (12-4, 4-1) continues to roll, picking up a dominating 74-58 victory over Eastern Michigan on Wednesday. The Falcons next game, Saturday at Toledo, could well be the turning point for both teams in league play. BG already has one road win, at Kent, so another would force other MAC East contenders to keep pace at home and on the road.

UT has already lost two games at home and absolutely can't afford another Savage Hall setback.

While the MAC Tournament is six weeks away, UT title hopes aren't the only thing fading. Another home loss, with road games at Western Michigan, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Akron and Northern Illinois still to play, would put the Rockets hopes for a top four tournament seed in question.

Buffalo (12-5, 3-2) got caught trading baskets with lethal Central Michigan at CMU and paid for it with an 84-73 loss. The Bulls gave up a whopping 46 points to the Chippewas in the final 20 minutes.

Final numbers: 64.7, 61.5, 59.1, 57.9, 53.3, 52.6, 47.1 and 38.5. Those are the free throw shooting percentages from eight MAC teams in games Wednesday.

First came the return of LeBron James. Then came the return of Kevin Love's lengthy outlet passes.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- First came the return of LeBron James. Then came the return of Kevin Love's lengthy outlet passes.

Love's outlets, which have led to easy baskets since his days at UCLA, were notably absent with James out of the lineup. He didn't have his star receiver. Now he does. And the Cavaliers are turning into one of the league's most exciting teams. 

"I try to tell them," Love said following Wednesday night's game. "I get a lot of defensive rebounds. It's been there in the last few games with LeBron back because he kind of cuts up the middle of the floor and gets on a 3-on-2 or 2-on-1 situation and plays downhill but I've been mentioning it to J.R. and also Iman, that's going to be there for them because they're guys with size who can make an athletic play on the ball.

"If I see the back of a guy's head like I did tonight with Hayward I'm going to throw it and try to make a play. Hopefully we see more of those because it's deflating for the team and helps us get easy buckets."

That wasn't the only highlight during a 14-point rout against the Utah Jazz, 106-92, a game where the final score wasn't indicative of Cleveland's domination throughout.

James was a part of many of the memorable moments with slick passes and thunderous throwdowns. He finished with a game-high 26 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. 

Watch out for Kam Williams. The Buckeyes were designed to shoot, and the redshirt freshman may be ready to get more aggressive with his offensive game after going 0 for 7 on 3-pointers in the last five games. Watch video

COLUMBUS -- Where is Ohio State? 

Thursday night, the Buckeyes (14-5, 3-3 Big Ten) will be at Northwestern (10-8, 1-4) for a 7 p.m. tip.

But in the arc of the season, Ohio State still could be on the way up. We've seen some February bumps in the past. This, losing two of the last three during a 3-3 Big Ten start, isn't that. 

This looks like the Buckeyes, 19 games into a 31-game regular season, still trying to figure it out.

• Why Thad Matta hates the floater

"I think that our best basketball, hopefully, is ahead of us," coach Thad Matta said Wednesday. "In our five losses we've had, we've shown moments of playing really good basketball. Not perfect basketball, but just in terms of the cohesiveness, the energy, going in the right direction. The problem has been we haven't had it the length of time we need it in games."

So senior Shannon Scott said the game at Northwestern is a must-win, and it may be. The slow starts have to vanish. So Matta said he'd consider a lineup switch, swapping out Marc Loving's offense for Jae'Sean Tate's energy. But he's also talked a lot about lineup changes over the years and he seldom does it.

No matter who starts against the Wildcats, here are five reasons why all of what has happened may be normal and why there may be reason for optimism about this team.

1. At 14-5, the Buckeyes are far from a perfect team. But there's a certain kind of matchup that will give Ohio State the biggest problem, and that's a team with an athletic, aggressive, skilled inside presence at power forward.

North Carolina's Brice Johnson scored 18 points with nine rebounds, Louisville's Montrezl Harrell had 13 and 10 and Iowa's Aaron White, while beating the Buckeyes twice, had 18 and 9 and then 22 and 6.

That's four of the five losses for Ohio State. That's kind of a broad area in which to have a problem, but not every team will be able to attack the Buckeyes like those players did.

2. This team is designed to shoot, and it's probably going to make more shots than it has so far. Last year's team clearly had shooting issues. This roster, with players like Kam Williams and Marc Loving and D'Angelo Russell, has the ability to make outside shots.

The Buckeyes were 3 for 21 from 3-point range in their loss to Indiana. That is likely more of an aberration than a trend. 

Keep an eye on Williams. He's been searching for his game in Big Ten play, just 0 for 7 on 3-pointers in the last five games. He needs to be more aggressive in looking to shoot, and that may be coming.

3. Thursday is the Buckeyes' fourth road game in their last five tipoffs. A win and they'll be 2-2 on that road stretch. That's not what Matta said the Buckeyes wanted, but they'd take it. And the one road win, at Minnesota in overtime, is the game Scott cited as the Buckeyes playing well and knowing they'd find a way to win.

Next are two home games with ranked teams, Indiana and Maryland, and wins there could shift the entire season.

4. Four Big Ten teams are currently ranked, and Ohio State's three losses are to those teams, with Indiana at No. 23 and Iowa at No. 25. And the nonconference losses were to No. 10 Louisville and No. 15 North Carolina.

That means the Buckeyes could use a big win - 0-5 against the current top 25 is nothing to brag about. That also means with games against Northwestern, Purdue, Rutgers and Penn State in the next three weeks, there will be chances at some easier wins.

5. Ohio State still has D'Angelo Russell.

LeBron James met with Ray Allen in Miami and talked about why he should sign with the Cavaliers.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – LeBron James met with free-agent sharpshooter Ray Allen while James was recovering from knee and back pain in Miami, a league source confirmed.

The source described their contact as "two friends just getting together," but it is widely known that James has been pursuing Allen for some time to persuade him to sign with Cleveland.

ESPN first reported that the two met.

The meeting took place before the Cavaliers made the deal to bring in guards J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert, a source said. Cleveland still has interest in Allen should he elect to continue playing, I'm told.

According to a source close to Allen, the future Hall-of-Famer still hasn't decided if he will extend his career or call it quits after 18 years.

James and Allen had tremendous chemistry in their two years playing together with the Miami Heat. Allen and James won the NBA Finals together in 2013.

Cleveland has 14 players on its roster, which leaves room for one addition. The organization wanted to fill the last roster spot by adding a backup point guard, but I'm told they plan to see how the ball-handling duties shake out once Shumpert makes his debut with the team as early as Friday against Charlotte.

The wing position is certainly crowded, to say the least. Smith, Shumpert, Mike Miller, James Jones and Joe Harris are the players who have played some time at the two-guard spot this year, as well as Shawn Marion.

Allen is also being courted by San Antonio, Chicago, Memphis, Washington and the Los Angeles Clippers.

National champion Cardale Jones chats at the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards 2015. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones stopped by on Thursday at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel for the 15th Annual Greater Cleveland Sports Awards.

Jones recently announced that he would return to play at Ohio State after starting three games including the National Championship for the Buckeyes.

Watch what he had to say backstage of the awards show.

Contact sports reporter Nathaniel Cline on Twitter, by email (ncline@cleveland.com) or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.