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Cleveland Browns P.M. links: Offensive line ranks best among team's position groups; rookies on offense get notice

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Brandon Weeden has generally been given decent protection, but the run-blocking could improve. Three rookies on offense get some mid-season recognition. More Browns story links.

mack-thomas-schwartz-lauvao.jpg Offensive linemen (left to right) Alex Mack, Joe Thomas, Mitchell Schwartz and Shawn Lauvao have started every game for the Browns this season.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns are in the middle of their bye week, with their next game set for Nov. 18 in Dallas against the Cowboys.

The Browns are 2-7; the Cowboys, 3-5. Dallas plays this Sunday, at Philadephia, against the Eagles.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Browns coverage includes May Kay Cabot's exclusive interview with new Browns CEO Joe Banner; Tom Reed's story on wide receiver Greg Little; Bud Shaw's CineSport video interview, during which he says Pat Shurmur is a "longshot" to be the Browns' coach next season; a continuation of the countdown of the top 100 players in Browns history with, at No. 60, center Tom DeLeone; Branson Wright's video interview with former Browns wide receiver Regge Rucker; and more.

Seven losses in nine games means that not much has gone right for the Browns.

Bob Frantz, writing for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal, grades the Browns by position group as the bye week continues. His best grade goes to the .....

Offensive line

Joe Thomas and Alex Mack have been as solid as advertised, while guards Shawn Lauvao, Jason Pinkston, and John Greco have improved steadily. The name of rookie right tackle Mitchell Schwartz has rarely been called all season, neither for sacks allowed nor holding penalties, which means he's having an outstanding freshman season. Weeden has been given decent protection for the most part, but the run-blocking could improve in the second half, allowing Richardson to truly realize his immense potential.

Grade: B+
Browns story links

Running back Trent Richardson, offensive tackle Mitchell Schwartz and wide receiver Josh Gordon make a mid-season first-team all-rookie roster. (ESPN.com)

Confusion during Sunday's 25-15 home loss to the Baltimore Ravens may have assured that Pat Shurmur won't be back as the Browns' coach. (By Mike McLain, Warren Tribune-Chronicle)

Wide receiver Greg Little is playing better after an erratic rookie season and a slow start to this, his second season. (By Stephanie Storm, Akron Beacon Journal)

In-depth analysis, with the help of photos, of the Browns' offense red zone problems in the loss to Baltimore. (By Chris Pokorny, Dawgs By Nature)

Looking back to how the Browns and general manager Tom Heckert did in the 2010 draft. (By Steve Doerschuk, Canton Repository)

Hey, the NFL draft isn't quite a half-year from now (April 25-27, 2013)!! An AFC North draft "preview" has the Browns interested in a guard from Alabama, if they don't have a top five pick -- whether via win-loss record or trading down. (ESPN.com)

New Browns CEO Joe Banner is watching and learning as he settles into his job. (By Scott Petrak, Elyria Chronicle-Telegram and Medina County Gazette)

Comparing Brandon Weeden's first nine starts to those of four other expansion era Browns who made some starts at quarterback as rookies. (By Steve Doerschuk, Canton Repository)



Cleveland Browns CEO Joe Banner tells The Plain Dealer that team must determine if Brandon Weeden is the guy

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Browns new CEO Joe Banner sits down for a wide-ranging Q&A with The Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot.

joe-banner.JPG Browns CEO Joe Banner said Thursday that the quarterback position is "an extremely important question for this organization to get right."

BEREA, Ohio — Browns new CEO Joe Banner, in a wide-ranging interview with The Plain Dealer on Thursday, acknowledged that he and new owner Jimmy Haslam must decide by the end of the season if Brandon Weeden is their quarterback of the future.

"It's right to put Brandon on the list of important things we have to figure out and we have seven games left to do that," Banner said. "It's an extremely important question for this organization to get right."

With the Browns 2-7 at the bye, they're likely to end up with a high enough pick to draft a premier quarterback, which makes the last final seven games pivotal.

"The only reason I'm leaving he door open is, you could think he's the right answer and a year from now go, "Oh, gee, I thought he was but he isn't,' " Banner said. "So it's not like you're etching it in stone, but you certainly have to at least for your next off-season plan, make a determination as to whether in two years from now, when we're trying to be a championship-caliber team, is he good enough to lead us there?"

Banner said Weeden's age -- he'll be 30 in their first full season -- isn't as much a factor as his ability.

"In a perfect world he isn't 30, but you've got to deal with reality," Banner said. "It's not a yes or no because of his age, it's a yes or no because of how good he is or how good he's going to become."

He said he'll rely on the current staff to evaluate Weeden's potential and that they'll weigh factors such as youth at the skill positions.

"Anybody can see he throws the ball well," Banner said. "The more crucial evaluation are the other issues that drive the best quarterbacks in the league such as huddle presence, feel, intelligence, and leadership.

Banner said the quarterback decision is tied for No. 2 with general manager and behind head coach as the most important decisions a team must make.

"You can't win big without a great coach and a great quarterback," he said. "And frankly, if you have a great enough coach and quarterback, you can afford to make a few more personnel mistakes. You've got to lock them in."

Banner addressed a number of other topics including his role, his philosophy on changes, and what he's looking for from coach Pat Shurmur and General Manager Tom Heckert:

Q: Do Shurmur and Heckert need a certain number of victories to stick around?

A: No. We're not going to say, "If you win four games . . ." We want to see if they have the qualities that will lead this organization to a championship-caliber level. I know Pat [from our Eagles days] but I've never known Pat as a head coach. I've never known Pat where he was expected to demonstrate his leadership skills. You may have an opinion about some play call, but that's not what we're scrutinizing. If they have the qualities we're looking for, let's move forward.

Q: What are those qualities?

A: When we hired Andy Reid in Philadelphia we did a study on every coach who had led a team to two Super Bowls to find the common denominator. We went in looking for things like offensive philosophy, did they come from defense, did they come from college? Had they been a coordinator? We found nothing. Then we accidentally realized they were all exactly the same when we took football out of the equation -- they were all incredibly strong leaders, they all had hired great staffs, they managed them well and were all very detail-oriented.

Q: So that's how you found Reid?

A: I found Andy when he was working for [former Packers GM] Ron Wolf in Green Bay. Ron was hiring a head coach and didn't even interview Andy. I got a list of candidates based on those qualities we found. Eight teams were hiring head coaches and no one else interviewed Andy. It worked out pretty well [five NFC championship games and a Super Bowl].

Q: Do Shurmur and Heckert have a realistic shot, or will you want your own people regardless?

A: They have a realistic chance. I like them both. I do feel like I have a head start. I know a lot about Pat, so I'm not really starting from scratch. There's just elements of evaluating Pat that I need to see more and know more before I could come to a conclusion. I've always had a good rapport with Tom. I come in with a positive view of Tom and we'll see when we get to January how we feel about that. Tom left the Eagles because he wanted more input. It wasn't a negative thing.

Q: Who will have final say on the 53-man roster?

A: We'll determine that officially when we see who's in those roles. My bias is for the coach to make those decisions. Now, we may end up with somebody in personnel who's so good that I tweak that, but going in, my bias is that the coach will have the most say on the 53-man roster and the 45 who dress for games.

Q: What will your role be in football decisions such as the draft?

A: I will be one of the four or five people in that room. I'll have a voice. In some instances, it will go through me, but our goal is always to drive a consensus. That's always been my role as it related to the football part of the operations.

Q: Will Jimmy Haslam be one of those four or five people?

A: Yes, absolutely because he's smart and he has common sense. The right decisions don't necessarily come out of someone who's been a traditional football guy. Sometimes they come more from common sense than anything. He watches football and he's going to have perspectives on what's most important. Will he be the guy watching the film and writing the report? No, although I'd be surprised if he doesn't watch some film because that's the best way to kind of see what you're seeing.

Q: Speaking of football guys, you're perceived as more of a business/salary-cap guy than a football guy. Is that accurate?

A: I think that definition has properly evolved over the last five or 10 years. There's a lot of examples of smart, hardworking guys running successful teams that are not thought of as football guys. You can't hire an Andy Reid without knowing something about football.

Q: But do you watch film and do some scouting?

A: I don't think the Eagles drafted a guy that I haven't watched. I'll watch all of the top guys and any free agent we're thinking of signing. Later in the draft, they might give me five guys to watch that could be available in the sixth round. I also go to the Senior Bowl and the Indianapolis combine, but I'm also there to develop relationships with agents and people in the league.

Q: Who will report to you?

A: The coach and the GM will report directly to me. In Philadelphia, the director of player personnel reported to Andy, who was the general manager, and Andy had a direct report to [owner] Jeff Lurie and a dotted line to me. It's slightly different than what we did in Philadelphia because Jeff was more involved. But I was the one most directly working with the football people or negotiating contracts, negotiating the trades. I worked directly with and supervised the football people.

Q: Who will decided if a change at head coach/GM is necessary?

A: I will lead on all of the day-to-day type of things including if we're going to make a change and really be responsible for putting together the right list of people to consider for the change. I don't care who you are in the NFL, the owner has final say on everything. I'd put together a list of three or four people. He may say, "Who's your first choice?" Hopefully that'd carry some weight. I'll have a list of qualified candidates because of how well I know them or the people I can trust know them. Jimmy will have more ideas of who we should look into and obviously I will and then we'll kind of put that into a first list kind of thing.

Q: With your best people either already here or locked in with the Eagles, where will your list come from?

A: One of big weaknesses in the league is people's inclinations to hire people they know or they feel safe with. I know people through the league in all categories -- salesmen, marketing people, position coaches, general managers. I have good people in mind in every area and they won't be my friends or at least that's not what will drive it. It won't be driven by people I've worked with. For me, the pool of potential talent is the entire league and all the relationships I've developed over the years. I'm not just going to be plucking people out of my past. You see coaches come in and the whole staff is somebody they used to work with. They're not hiring the best of the best when they do that.

Q: You're firmly entrenched in the West Coast family. Will this continue to be a West Coast team?

A: My criteria has nothing do with what scheme they play or that they philosophically line up with me or Jimmy or anyone. I have my personal biases, but it won't have anything to do with who we pick.

Q: Will you assume the title of president or hire one after Mike Holmgren leaves?

A: CEO is more than enough. Everybody in the building reports to me. If I do hire a president, it won't be for the football side. Will there be a president, a COO, an executive vice president? That's part of what I'm deciding. I'm really trying to stay open-minded about the organizational structure and hope to decide that in the next one to three or four weeks. Right now I'm 60-40 on not naming a president, but that could change.

Q: Jason LaCanfora of CBS Sports reported you're considering former Browns personnel executive Mike Lombardi. True?

A: Since I haven't even decided whether I'm keeping the people that are here, at best it's wild speculation and in this case it's unfounded. Somebody's taking a shot in the dark.

Q: Did you leave on good terms with Reid and would he be on your list of coaching candidates if you make a change?

A: I had a great relationship with Andy. He's still a close friend. [But] I'm not going to answer that. That's speculation of course.

Q: Your biggest strength?

A: Being able to evaluate potential hires and put together really good people regardless of what area. I think it's my greatest strength and I think my history would back it up. You won't bat 100 percent. But you pick good people , create an environment for success and keep them together for a long time.

Ohio State ready to play in Carrier Classic on USS Yorktown

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The Ohio State men and women will get a unique experience while opening their basketball seasons on an aircraft carrier.

carrierclassicpractice.jpg The Notre Dame women's basketball team practices on the deck of the USS Yorktown in Charleston, S.C., in preparation for the Carrier Classic.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- In Ohio State's first game of the season, Deshaun Thomas hopes he can rely on teammate Aaron Craft if he gets into trouble. Like, if he's headed for the water.

"If I dive on the ground, make sure I don't dive in the water. I'll leave that up to Craft. Hopefully, if he sees me diving, he'll try to catch me, and I'll do the same thing for him," Thomas said.

That's just one of the unusual thoughts on the minds of the Buckeyes as they prepare to play on the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown in Charleston, S.C, tonight, facing Marquette in the Carrier Classic.

It's the second year of college basketball teams facing off on a naval ship to benefit a nonprofit group that helps veterans' charities. The court is positioned on the deck of the Yorktown, with a 20-foot barrier that will keep basketballs -- and players -- from winding up in the ocean. About 4,000 seats are available, many of which were given to military members and their families.

The Ohio State women's team faces Notre Dame in the first game of a doubleheader, followed by the No. 4 OSU men facing the Golden Eagles, who are unranked but earned some votes in the preseason polls. It's a decent early test for the Buckeyes, who, in the previous two years, played their second game of the season against Florida, when coach Thad Matta knew he would get an early read on his team.

"Playing a team as good as Marquette, we'll get the same feeling," Matta said. "I don't know if I'll like it, but we'll get it."

After an uninspired exhibition win last week, the Buckeyes know they will need to do more tonight on both ends of the floor.

"We're definitely a better team than we were last Tuesday," Craft said. "Practices have had more of a sense of urgency. It's the start of the season, and there are no more second chances."

And the players, many of whom were eagerly posting photos from the Yorktown after practicing there Thursday, won't ever have another game quite like this one.

Sophomore center Amir Williams is another Buckeye who isn't enamored with the idea of the ocean being right there.

"I'm not a fan of big bodies of water, but I think that, once the ball tips, the whole nervousness of being on the water will be gone by then," Williams said.

But with the carrier's control tower looming above one end of the court, the Buckeyes won't forget where they are -- on a ship that served in both World War II and the Vietnam War and is now a floating museum.

"To be invited to play in front of the military, that's what it's all about," Thomas said. "It's just motivation to go out and play our best because they do so much for us."

Watch party: The OSU Alumni Club of Greater Cleveland is holding a watch party for both basketball games at the Fox and Hound Bar & Grille in Parma.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

dlesmerises@plaind.com, 216-999-4479

Ohio State basketball team to finish fourth in Big Ten -- Doug Lesmerises' predictions

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Indiana will win the Big Ten in basketball and Ohio State will finish fourth, Doug Lesmerises predicts.

thomasandcraft.jpg Ohio State's basketball hopes rest on the shoulders of Deshaun Thomas, left, and Aaron Craft.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Doug Lesmerises' projected

Big Ten order of finish

1. Indiana

(Preseason AP: No. 1)

Take five returning starters, including the preseason national player of the year in center Cody Zeller (15.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg), from a team that went 27-9 and 11-7 in the Big Ten, add a top-five recruiting class and you have the No. 1 team in the nation. Freshmen Peter Jurkin and Hanner Mosquera-Parea are suspended for the first nine games, but that shouldn't bother the Hoosiers, who are aiming for their first conference title and Final Four appearance in 11 years.

2. Michigan (AP: No. 5)

The Wolverine freshmen, led by Glenn Robinson III and Mitch McGary, could make a huge splash as well, joining All-Big Ten point guard Trey Burke (14.8 ppg, 4.6 apg) and senior scorer Tim Hardaway Jr. (14.6 ppg). Co-Big Ten champs at 24-10 and 13-5 a year ago, Michigan was bounced in the first round of the NCAA Tournament but should have the depth to do more.

3. Michigan State

(AP: No. 14)

Point guard Keith Appling (11.4 ppg, 3.9 apg) is a budding star, big men Adrien Payne ( 7 ppg, 4.2 rpg) and Derrick Nix (8.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg) are loads inside and Brenden Dawson (8.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg) is back after a knee injury against Ohio State prematurely ended his freshmen season. Big Ten player of the year Draymond Green is gone, but the Spartans, 29-8 and co-conference champs at 13-5 last year, will contend as usual.

4. Ohio State (AP: No. 4)

A Final Four team and Big Ten co-champs at 31-8 and 13-5 a year ago, the Buckeyes are filling a big hole themselves, replacing All-American Jared Sullinger with sophomore shot-blocker Amir Williams (1.7 ppg, 2.1 rpg) and a plan to run more often. Forward Deshaun Thomas (15.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg) and point guard Aaron Craft (8.8 ppg, 4.6 apg) are All-America candidates themselves, but as shown by a slow start in their exhibition game, it might take a bit for the Buckeyes to find themselves. When they do, watch out.

5. Wisconsin (AP: No. 23)

The Badgers suffered an early blow when a torn anterior cruciate ligament in preseason practice knocked guard Josh Gasser (7.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg) out for the year. Mike Bruesewitz (5.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg) is also out for the first month. But Bo Ryan's teams are always better than expected, so repeating last year's 26-10, 12-6 campaign, with balanced scoring led by senior forward Jared Berggren (10.5 ppg), sounds about right.

6. Minnesota

Senior big man Trevor Mbakwe (14 ppg, 9.1 rpg) is an All-Big Ten player when healthy, and he wrote on Twitter that he would pay back his scholarship this season if the Golden Gophers don't make the NCAA Tournament. Last year, at 23-15 and 6-12, they made the NIT final after Mbakwe tore his ACL in the seventh game. With Rodney Williams (12.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg) and Andre Hollins (8.7 ppg), Mbakwe shouldn't have to pay back anything if the Gophers stay healthy.

7. Iowa

The Hawkeyes, 18-17 and 8-10 last year, catch a break with Big Ten scheduling, playing Michigan, Ohio State and Michigan State just once, and that could help them make their first NCAA Tournament since 2006. All-Big Ten freshman team pick Aaron White (11.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg) will be joined by a solid freshmen class led by 7-1 center Adam Woodbury and point guard Mike Gesell, who will both start.

8. Purdue

Robbie Hummel isn't back for a sixth season of Boilermaker basketball. So Purdue is young and will rely on several freshmen, including projected starters Donnie Hale and Ronnie Johnson, to keep alive a shot at a seventh straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Terone Johnson (9.2 ppg) and D.J. Byrd (8.9 ppg) are the leading returning scorers from last year's 22-13, 10-8 team.

9. Northwestern

The Wildcats once again are predicted to have a chance to make their first NCAA appearance in school history. But once again, there's not much room for error. JerShon Cobb (7.1 ppg) has already been suspended for the season, but transfers Jared Swopshire (Louisville) and Nikola Cerina (TCU) and 7-foot freshman Alex Olah should team with senior Drew Crawford (16.1 ppg) to give the Wildcats, after last year's fourth straight NIT trip at 19-14, 8-10, a shot in March.

10. Penn State

All-Big Ten guard Tim Frazier (18.8 ppg, 6.2 apg) should get enough help from Southern Miss transfer and backcourt mate D.J. Newbill (9.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg) for the Nittany Lions to get out of the Big Ten basement. Last year, in the debut of coach Pat Chambers, Penn State went 12-20 and 4-14 to tie with Nebraska for last place.

11. Illinois

Former Ohio State assistant and Ohio head coach John Groce takes over for the fired Bruce Weber, and the Illini made a solid hire. There is some talent, led by Brandon Paul (14.7 ppg) and D.J. Richardson (11.6 ppg.). But there was talent last year, too, when the season fell apart and the Illini finished 17-15 and 6-12. Groce has to put it back together.

12. Nebraska

Tim Miles takes over after leading Colorado State to the NCAA Tournament last year. Center Brandon Ubel (6.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg) is the only starter back, and Miles could eventually get this turned around. But not right away.

OHSAA volleyball: Kenston falls to Massillon Jackson, 3-1, in Division I state semifinal

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   The hole was just too deep for the Kenston Bombers.      Massillon Jackson dominated the opening set, 25-9, and quickly took a two-set lead in the Division I semifinals at the state volleyball tournament at the Wright State University Nutter Center on Thursday. 

Kenston’s Stephanie Bindernagel comes up short trying to make a dig during the Bombers’ loss to Massillon Jackson in the Division I state volleyball semifinals Thursday in Fairborn, Ohio. - (Joe Mairorana, ImpactActionPhotos.com)

   The hole was just too deep for the Kenston Bombers. 

    Massillon Jackson dominated the opening set, 25-9, and quickly took a two-set lead in the Division I semifinals at the state volleyball tournament at the Wright State University Nutter Center on Thursday. 

    The Bombers battled back in a marathon third set, 33-31, but it was the Polar Bears that earned a trip to the title match with a 25-9, 25-20, 31-33, 25-11 win. 

    "They did a fantastic job of jumping all over us," Kenston coach Danny Coughlin said. "We never found a rhythm, we couldn't get things going. We were always playing from behind." 

    Despite it being their first trip to state, the Polar Bears seemed unfazed by the experience or the venue. According to Jackson coach Jeff Walck, it was a long time coming. 

    "I told these girls when they were in the 8th grade that I wanted to take them to a state championship," Walck said. "We've been talking about this for four years." 

    "These girls" were seniors Paige Hill, Kristin Cardwell and Laura Kelly, all of whom played key roles in Jackson's win. Hill, a middle hitter, led all scorers with 19 kills on the night. Cardwell, the setter, had a match leading 29 assists and Kelly, a defensive specialist, led with 22 digs. 

    While the Polar Bears were comfortable on the court, the Bombers were flustered. 

    "I'm a big advocate of composure, composure, composure and, tonight, we couldn't find it," Coughlin said. 

    But they did still have fight as Kenston posted its first lead of the night in the third set. They battled through 17 tie scores and six lead changes to take the set. But that win took a lot out of the Bombers. 

    "We were mentally tired," Coughlin said. "We have the physical ability, but playing from behind so much of the match took it out of us mentally." 

    Despite the outcome, Kenston outside hitter Jaime Kosiorek couldn't help but reflect on what she touted as the "best week of her high school volleyball career." 

    "The whole community really came together for us," said Kosiorek, who led the Bombers with 14 kills on the night. "When we drove by the middle school and the grade school on the bus, all of the kids had signs and were cheering for us. It's been great." 

    Jackson will face Ursuline in the DI final Saturday. The Lions, who won their last state championship title in 2009, toppled 2010 state champion Toledo St. Ursula Academy, 27-25, 20-25, 25-20, 25-15, in the semifinals Thursday. 

    "I don't think any of us expected to be here but they are really coming together and playing as a team," Ursuline coach Jeni Case said. 

    It is the Lions ninth trip to the state final and the Polar Bears first. 

 

 

Akron Zips soccer team sweeps MAC awards

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Akron Zips midfielder Scott Caldwell is named player of the year and Caleb Porter is named coach of the year and the soccer team sweeps the Mid-American Conference awards.

caldwellplayerofyear.jpgZips midfielder Scott Caldwell, right, was named MAC player of the year.

AKRON, Ohio -- Akron men's soccer team has swept the Mid-American Conference awards for the sixth year in a row, the league said Thursday.

Zips midfielder Scott Caldwell was named player of the year, Dillon Serna shared newcomer of the year honors and Caleb Porter was selected as coach of the year.

Caldwell is the Zips' points leader, with nine goals and six assists. He is the 10th Akron player to earn MAC MVP honors since 1993.

Caldwell is also a candidate for the Hermann Trophy, which is soccer's equivalent of college football's Heisman Trophy.

Serna, who shared the award with Bowling Green junior Anthony Grant, is the 11th UA player to earn the league's newcomer honors. He has started 17 of 18 matches and leads the team with eight assists, with a pair of goals.

Porter, who will leave Akron to become coach of the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer after this season, has led the Zips to a 15-1-2 record -- 7-0-0 in the MAC -- and the No. 1 ranking in the nation.

Zips joining Caldwell and Serna on the All-MAC first team were Chad Barson, Reinaldo Brenes, David Meves, Will Trapp and DeAndre Yedlin.

Akron will face fourth-seeded Bowling Green (8-8-3) in the second semifinal match today at 7:30 p.m. at FirstEnergy Stadium in Akron. Northern Illinois (6-9-3) will meet West Virginia (9-5-2) in the first semifinal at 4 p.m. The MAC championship game is Sunday at 4:30 p.m.

Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team will be tough, but it needs to find ways to score

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Ohio State needs offense from everyone this season, so sophomore Sam Thompson has to be more than a defender and a dunker for the Buckeyes to succeed.

sam thompson.JPG Ohio State needs sophomore Sam Thompson (12) to develop into more of an offensive threat.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Point guard Aaron Craft is defense first. The Ohio State junior has developed his reputation by annoying opposing point guards.

Center Amir Williams is defense first. The sophomore replaces Jared Sullinger in the starting lineup and is a shot blocker who will allow the Buckeyes to lock down a little tighter on the perimeter, knowing there's a safety net behind them.

Lenzelle Smith first earned his starting role last season based on defense, before developing his offensive game, and coach Thad Matta was lauding backup point guard Shannon Scott during the preseason for making eight steals in a pickup game. Defense first.

Then Deshaun Thomas is -- well, he is rounding out his game, but the preseason All-American will always be a scorer above all else.

Yet as Ohio State starts its 2012-13 season today, coming off a Final Four berth and five Big Ten titles in the past seven years, maybe defense isn't the first thing the Buckeyes are worried about. Yes, they slacked off in transition and defending the interior in their only exhibition game against Walsh last week. But in replacing the 32 points per game lost with the departures of Sullinger and William Buford, the Buckeyes have to make sure they can score.

And that's why sophomore Sam Thompson has to make sure he can do more than just defend and dunk.

While averaging 10.6 minutes and 2.1 points per game last season, Thompson earned his time with aggressive defense and his reputation with some wild slam dunks. He might earn a starting role this year, battling fellow sophomore LaQuinton Ross, due to his jump shot.

"The jump shot was a big weakness, and I sort of rediscovered my offensive game this off-season," Thompson said. "I think I did a good job playing a role last year. I think I defended well, and, obviously, the athleticism is there. So I think adding that to my offensive game will definitely help me as a player and help this team in the long run."

Two years ago, Craft was the last offensive option on the court and just needed to hit a few wide-open jumpers when absolutely ignored. Last year, especially in the first half of the season, it was Smith who saw double-teams on Sullinger, leaving him alone. An offense sometimes is only as good as its weakest link, and when Thompson is on the floor this year, he just wants to make sure he can make teams pay for not respecting him.

"I don't expect defenses to play me early on in the season, but I think, when they don't play me, I'll knock down those shots," Thompson said.

If he doesn't, Ross might.

Ross played minor minutes in just nine games last season after he missed the nonconference portion due to academic issues and then never caught on to the nuances of the college game -- especially on defense -- enough to play.

He's ready now. Ross started the Buckeyes' exhibition against Walsh, but Thompson started the second half. Matta hasn't committed to whom he will start in tonight's opener against Marquette. Both will participate. They are very different players who can help the Buckeyes in different ways. And who plays more when it matters might come down to their weaknesses -- if Thompson can be enough of an offensive threat, or if Ross can avoid being a complete liability on defense.

"I think Sam's skill set, offensively, was probably one of the things that we talked about honing in on, in terms of shooting the basketball and handling the basketball and playing multiple positions," Matta said. "You see this all the time when a light goes on in a young man's head, and I feel like it definitely went on for Sam and he took his off-season very serious, which has made him a much better basketball player, and that is great for our team."

The Buckeyes are fired up about the idea of playing fast and beating teams down the court, but that won't happen every possession. At times, they obviously struggled in their half-court offense during their exhibition. So while turning defense into offense is a great game plan, sometimes, offense has to be there on its own.

Thomas will do that, though he will have to do it with the opponent's best interior defender on him and not on Sullinger. Smith can do it, though despite a breakout NCAA Tournament, he averaged just 6.8 points per game last season. Ross can do it, if he can do enough in the other parts of the game to stay on the court.

But replacing those 32 points per game has to come from everyone. So Thompson has to do it, too.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: dlesmerises@plaind.com, 216-999-4479

Preview capsules for this weekend's local college football games

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Kent State travels to Miami for a key matchup in the Mid-American Conference.

miami zac dysert.JPGView full sizeMiami (Ohio) quarterback Zac Dysert is the No. 2 quarterback in the Mid-American Conference.
Mid-American Conference

Kent State at Miami

Kickoff: 1 p.m. at Yager Stadium, Oxford, Ohio.

TV/radio: SportsTime Ohio; WHLO AM/640.

Notable: The road to a MAC East Division title is straight and narrow for Kent State (8-1, 5-0), but it has no guardrails and a dangerous drop-off if the Golden Flashes lose to Miami (4-5, 3-2). The RedHawks will be the fourth of the MAC's four top passing teams KSU has played this season. The other three (Akron, Western Michigan, Ball State) all took the Golden Flashes to the brink, scoring 24, 24 and 43 points on Kent's defense. Miami QB Zac Dysert (2,467 yds, 18 TDs) is the No. 2 QB in the league. Kent's offense (386.4 ypg/34.0 ppg) must remain hot and its defense opportunistic (20 turnovers, plus-2).

Next for Kent: Nov. 17 at Bowling Green.

Next for Miami: Nov. 17 at Central Michigan.

Akron vs. Massachusetts

Kickoff: 2 p.m. at InfoCision Stadium, Akron.

Radio: WARF AM/1350.

Notable: Akron (1-9, 0-6) gets a golden opportunity to get its first MAC win since 2010. UMass (0-9, 0-5) is undoubtedly looking at the game the same way, a chance for a win. The Minutemen, in their first season in the league, average 10.0 ppg, have been held scoreless in two of their past three games and scored only a touchdown in the third. UMass is also allowing a whopping 44.1 points per game, including 242.7 yards rushing per game. That should brighten the eyes of the Zips, who have not only the MAC's No. 1 passing game (331.6 ypg, 27 TDs), but also tailback Jawon Chisholm, who is healthy and coming off a 115-yard rushing game against Kent State.

Next for Akron: Nov. 20 at Toledo.

-- Elton Alexander

Division II

Lake Erie at Tiffin

Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. at Frost-Kalnow Stadium, Tiffin, Ohio.

Notable: LEC (3-7, 3-6 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) will try to bounce back after bowing at home to Ohio Dominican last week, 44-14. Tiffin is 1-8, 2-8.

Next for LEC: Season over.

Notre Dame College at No. 5 Ashland

Kickoff: 1 p.m. at Jack Miller Stadium, Ashland, Ohio.

Radio: KNR2 AM/1540.

Notable: NDC has won two games in a row in comeback fashion. The Falcons (3-7, 2-7 GLIAC) battled back from a 21-3 halftime deficit to beat Walsh last week. NDC will end its season by sending RB Pedro Powell (GLIAC rushing leader with 1,422 yards) and company against the league's No. 1 defense. The Eagles (10-0, 9-0) are one of five undefeated DII teams. They already have clinched the league title and have averaged a margin of victory of 24.7 points per game.

Next for NDC: Season over.

Division III

No. 24 Baldwin Wallace at No. 11 Heidelberg

Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. at Mayer Field, Tiffin, Ohio.

Radio: WBWC FM/88.3.

Notable: BW (7-2, 6-2 Ohio Athletic Conference) will look to ensure a second straight second-place OAC finish against the Berg (8-1, 7-1). BW is 22-7 in its past 29 games. Offensively, BW is led by senior QB Ryan O'Rourke (Avon), who has completed 112 of 195 passes for 1,555 yards and 18 TDs and has run for three scores. Junior All-OAC WR Josiah Holt (Midview) has a team-leading 38 catches for 608 yards and five TDs. Senior All-OAC RB Tyler Lohr (Kent Roosevelt) leads a deep running attack with 396 yards on 91 attempts and two TDs. Sophomore MLB Michael Stacchiotti tops BW with 72 stops. Heidelberg's only loss was 33-14 to No. 1-ranked Mount Union. Heidelberg sophomore QB Michael Mees (North Ridgeville) has completed 139 of 243 passes for 1,947 yards and 19 TDs and he has run for two other scores.

Next for BW: Season over.

John Carroll vs. No. 1 Mount Union

Kickoff: 6 p.m. at Don Shula Stadium, University Heights.

Radio: WJCU FM/88.7.

Notable: Mount Union is 9-0, 8-0 in the OAC, and has locked up at least a share of its 21st straight league title. JCU is 6-3, 5-3. The Purple Raiders are coming off a 38-7 win at No. 15 Baldwin Wallace. T.J. Lattimore (Maple Heights) ran for a career-high 131 yards, and the Mount Union defense held BW to 159 total yards. QB Kevin Burke (St. Edward) completed 17 of 22 passes for 202 yards with touchdowns to Jasper Collins and Julius Moore. JCU saw its five-game win streak end, 31-10, at No. 14 Heidelberg. Blue Streaks QB Mark Myers (St. Ignatius) threw for 228 yards and a score in the loss, and Paul Okeyo had a game-high 17 tackles and an interception.

Next for JCU: Season over.

Next for Mount Union: NCAA Division III playoffs.

Oberlin vs. No. 12 Wittenberg

Kickoff: 1 p.m. at Savage Stadium, Oberlin.

Radio: WOBL AM/1320.

Notable: Wittenberg is 8-1, 5-1 North Coast Athletic Conference. Oberlin is 4-5, 3-3 and will try to finish the season 5-5 for the first time since 2007. The Yeomen are coming off a historic 31-16 win at then-10th ranked Wabash, their first victory over the Little Giants since 1945 and their first victory against a ranked opponent since 2003. Wittenberg, which trashed Hiram, 71-7, last week, needs a win to secure the NCAC title.

Next for Oberlin: Season over.

Carnegie Mellon at Case Western Reserve

Kickoff: 2 p.m. at Case Field, Cleveland.

Notable: The Spartans (5-4, 1-1 University Athletic Association) and Tartans (6-3, 1-1) play in the 27th Annual Academic Bowl. The event is also designated as the Billy Deitmen Memorial Game, with all proceeds going to benefit an endowment in celebration of the 2011 CWRU graduate from Mentor, who died unexpectedly at age 23 on Oct. 18. The winner of the game can earn a share of the UAA title if Washington (Mo.) loses to Chicago. CWRU ranks 12th in the nation in rush defense (82 ypg). Senior defensive end Adam Watson (Mentor) leads the team with nine tackles for loss, 51/2 sacks and four blocked kicks.

Next for CWRU: Season over.

-- Compiled using information from the colleges' sports-information departments.


Cleveland Cavaliers' free-throw shooting has been foul this season

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Coach Byron Scott calls the team's foul-shooting 'embarrassing.'

byron scott.JPGView full sizeThe Cavs' free-throw shooting often has been difficult for coach Byron Scott to watch.

PHOENIX, Ariz. — Cavaliers coach Byron Scott was relaxing in a comfy recliner set up in the stands at US Airways Center on Thursday afternoon, but it really wasn't because he feared he would be waiting hours for his players to complete 100 free throws before the end of practice.

That being said, he is shocked his team is shooting just 61.2 percent from the line (74-of-121), which puts them dead last in the 30-team NBA.

"To me, that's embarrassing," said Scott, who shot 83.3 percent from the line in his 14-year NBA career. "We're a pro team. There's no way in the world we should be shooting 61 percent."

Alonzo Gee is a perfect 13-of-13 from the line, Anderson Varejao has made 6 of 7 (85.7 percent) and Kyrie Irving has hit 22 of 28 (78.6 percent.) Dion Waiters, at 54.5 percent (6-of-11) is the only other player over .500. Tristan Thompson has made 13 of 26, although it feels much worse watching him.

"It's all mental," the good-natured Thompson admitted after practice. "None of it's physical or mechanics or form. I've done form shooting or repetition of that thousands of times. It's just going out there and telling yourself you're going to knock it down.

"If you look at them, they're long misses, they're not left and right, which is always a good thing. I've just got to go and knock them down. Me and coach Scott talked about something else new. We're going to try it out. If it works, we'll tell you about it. If it doesn't, I'll go back to what I was doing. It's just go up there, simple, finish up high and knock 'em down."

Last year, Scott suggested Thompson shift over to his right a bit on the free-throw line to compensate for his left-handed shot, and Thompson's free-throw shooting improved toward the end of the season. Now he looks like he did in college, where he shot 48.7 percent from the line in his one year at Texas.

"He started inching back to his old ways," Scott said. "I watched him a little while ago and told him to move back over. Most of it is just to free up his left hand. When he's more centered, he's trying to manipulate his hand and his arm instead of being more off-centered so he can just shoot the ball. We went back and it took another second just to see he moved back to where he was last year before we made the change, so we just try to move him back. We'll just see how it works. It's not really footwork. It's an alignment more than anything."

In an effort to improve his team's performance at the line, Scott has an established protocol for each player. Those shooting under 75 percent from the line have to make 100 every day at practice before they can leave. Those shooting 85 percent have to make 50.

They got a break Thursday because there were only two baskets set up, so the 11 players who practiced were divided into two teams and each team had to make 100 free throws before practice could end.

"I said we don't have enough time for some of you guys to make 100 today," the coach said from his easy chair.

But nothing comes easy for the Cavs, especially from the free-throw line.

Last but not least: The Cavs also are last in the league in blocked shots, averaging 1.8 per game. They are last in the league in field-goal percentage defense at 50.8 percent, the only team allowing opponents to shoot better than 50 percent, and their opponents are averaging a league-high 28.6 assists per game.

In addition to free-throw shooting, Thursday's practice focused on defense.

"I don't think any of us want to be the worst defensive team in the league," Scott said. "We've got too much talent for that."

Injury report: Irving (gastroenteritis) and Varejao (bruised right knee) are listed as probable for tonight's game against the Suns, while Waiters (bruised right thigh) and C.J. Miles (gastroenteritis) are listed as questionable.

Of the four, only Varejao practiced Thursday. He declared himself ready to play after sitting out Wednesday's game at Golden State with an injury suffered at the hands -- or knee -- of ex-Cav Ryan Hollins on Monday against the Clippers.

"I didn't bump knees with him, he got me," Varejao said, laughing. "It was in the first quarter, I believe. During the game, I was fine. After the game, it was kind of bothering me, but it wasn't anything crazy. After I got on the plane and we landed in San Francisco, it was killing me. I was in a lot of pain, and the next morning it was the same way. It was kind of locking on me. It didn't feel right, so I took some strong meds. It helped me a lot but it still wasn't right. I could have played last night, but it wasn't right. It wouldn't be smart. I will be OK for [the Suns game]. It will be fine."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: mschmitt@plaind.com, 216-999-4668

Agent Scott Boras says MLB investors are thriving: GM Meetings Insider

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Boras says the recent sales of the Dodgers, Cubs and Padres have made a lot of fat cats even fatter.

scott boras.JPGView full sizeScott Boras

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Agent Scott Boras says there should be a lot of smiling baseball owners walking around these days.

Boras, who has always claimed owners are a lot richer than they say, said the recent sales of the Dodgers, Cubs and Padres have made a lot of fat cats even fatter. He threw in Boston as well, but there have only been rumors about the Red Sox being sold.

"This last year we had a re-appraising of the baseball industry," Boras said Thursday at the general managers meetings. "We had the Cubs' sale for $750 million to $800 million. Then when the Padres sold for $800 million and the Dodgers for over $2 billion, the range of evaluation has changed.

"Now we have owners who have become instant billionaires, or have made over a billion dollars by this re-evaluation. Those top-level franchises that were worth $700 million in the early 2000s, are worth well over $2 [billion] or $3 billion based on appropriate evaluation of the industry.

"I don't think we need Forbes [magazine] anymore to tell us what franchises are worth . . . I think there are a lot of smiling faces by the people who invested in this industry in the early 2000s."

Boras turned his attention to MLB's new TV contracts with FOX, Turner Sports and ESPN. The eight-year deals begin in 2014.

"The new TV contracts will bring each club $25 million to $26 million annually to each team," Boras said.

All of which means a lot more money for Boras and his clients.

Still searching: The Blue Jays are the only team without a manager. The Rockies hired Walt Weiss on Wednesday. Weiss, coaching his son's high school baseball team, received only a one-year contract.

It appears the Blue Jays are looking for an experienced manager, which would eliminate Tribe bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr.

Invitation for two: The Indians re-signed right-hander Hector Rondon and invited him to spring training with the big-league club.

General Manager Chris Antonetti said Wednesday that switch-hitting infielder Luis Hernandez had been invited to camp as well. Hernandez, who signed a minor-league deal, played two games with Texas last season.

Rondon, 24, was one of the Indians' top pitching prospects before two elbow injuries all but shut him down over the past three years. He had Tommy John surgery and then fractured the same elbow pitching winter ball.

He's currently pitching for Caracas in Venezuela where he has made six straight scoreless appearances.

Hernandez, 28, hit .262 (136-for-519) with 23 doubles, six triples, eight homers and 70 RBI in 129 games for Class AAA Round Rock (Texas) last year. He appeared in two games with the Rangers when Michael Young went on the paternity list.

He's free: Right-hander Kevin Slowey, acquired last off-season by the Indians from the Rockies, refused his outright assignment and has become a free agent. There's still a chance the Indians will try to re-sign him.

The Indians acquired Slowey to protect the rotation after Roberto Hernandez was arrested in the Dominican Republic for identity fraud. They sent Zach Putnam to the Rockies in exchange for Slowey and $1.25 million to help pay his one-year $2.75 million contract.

Unfortunately, Slowey opened the year at Class AAA Columbus and suffered a rib injury while pitching. It sidelined him for the season.

Second-time around: The Indians recently lost Scott Maine on waivers to Toronto. Well, the left-hander is available.

The Blue Jays signed infielder Maicer Izturis and traded for reliever Jeremy Jeffress on Wednesday. Maine was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.

Finally: Boston has interest in free agent Grady Sizemore. How far the interest extends depends on Sizemore's health.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158

On Twitter: @hoynsie

Off the Ice With ... Michael Sgarbossa, Lake Erie Monsters center

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The 20-year-old Sgarbossa is amazed by the speed of the pro game.

lake erie monsters logoView full size

Born: July 25, 1992, Campbellville, Ontario.

Shoots: Left.

Ht./Wt.: 5-11/171.

Acquired: Trade with San Jose, Feb. 27, 2012.

PD: As a member of the Sudbury Wolves in the Ontario Hockey League last season, you had 47 goals and 55 assists for 102 points. How would you summarize that season?

MS: Exciting. I got off to a bit of a slow start, then picked it up. A lot of credit goes to my teammates because they helped me through the ups and downs. They helped me stay focused when I was trying to win the scoring race.

PD: You did, in fact, win the scoring title.

MS: It came down to the last day. The guy I ended up beating out had a game that night, too. My teammates were into it. I was fortunate to score four points and win by two, I think.

PD: Best hockey advice you have received?

MS: Be consistent. Not everyone will have a perfect game every time, but if you don't stray too far from a consistent level, you can do well for your team. It comes down to how much you can focus on doing the same thing, night in and night out.

PD: You have been a pro for several months. What has the transition been like?

MS: There's a lot of freedom, and you're playing with men. The game's a lot faster -- you don't have as much time as you think you do. Guys close in on you. But I expected it to be this way.

PD: On Oct. 27 against Abbotsford, you used a ridiculous move to beat Abbotsford goalie Leland Irving in a shootout. How often had you practiced that move?

MS: Not much. I'd done it in junior a couple of times and at the end of practice a few times. But it's not like we're in practice every day and say, "Hey, let's line up and do a shootout."

PD: What was the key to out-foxing Irving, a quality AHL veteran?

MS: I noticed some things he was doing against the previous shooters, so I thought the move could work. But I was only going to use it if he reacted a certain way, initially.

PD: Not only did you beat Irving, you went five hole.

MS: My teammates thought I would roof it because that's usually the shot off the move. They said I put icing on the cake by going five hole. I wasn't trying to show up anybody. It's just that the opening happened to be there.

PD: Toughest part of taking a shootout?

MS: Trusting yourself. I think guys will go in and say, 'I'm going to do this no matter what.' I think you need to read the goalie and work off him. Another tough part is keeping up the speed. You don't want to go in too slow.

PD: Favorite things to do away from the ice?

MS: Watch TV, PlayStation, stay home and relax, hang out with my teammates. During the season, I want to make sure I rest enough for practices and games.

PD: What should we know about Campbellville, Ontario?

MS: Small town, close-knit. Country-style. It's where I first learned to play hockey.

PD: If not a hockey player, what?

MS: Baseball player.

PD: Favorite baseball player?

MS: Derek Jeter. I'm a Blue Jays fan, so it's kind of difficult to like Jeter. But Jeter's a great player, and I like how he carries himself.

PD: Favorite venue in which you've played?

MS: For a playoff game with Sudbury (in 2010-11), we played the Ottawa 67s in the Senators' rink. They were the second seed, we were the seventh, but we won in triple overtime. The atmosphere was awesome. The crowd was going (wild) against us, but we used that as motivation. And I've also got to say The Q, for my pro debut. Monsters fans are the best.

-- Dennis Manoloff

Preview capsules for today's men's and women's college basketball games

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Ohio State plays Marquette tonight in the Carrier Classic in Charleston, S.C.

thad matta.JPGView full sizeOhio State men's basketball coach Thad Matta.

Men

No. 4 Ohio State vs. Marquette

Tipoff: 7 p.m., on the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, Charleston, S.C.

TV/radio: NBC Sports Network; WKRK FM/92.3, WKNR 850/AM.

Notable: Marquette was picked to finish seventh in the 15-team Big East in a preseason poll of league coaches. The Golden Eagles lost two starters to the NBA Draft but return Junior Cadougan (6.3 ppg, 5.4 apg), Vander Blue (8.4 ppg) and Jamil Wilson (7.1 ppg) from a Sweet 16 team. Projected starter Trent Lockett is a transfer from Arizona State and averaged 13 points per game last season. Thad Matta is 8-0 in season openers at Ohio State.

Next for OSU: Sunday vs. Albany, 2.

Doug Lesmerises' prediction: Ohio State 74, Marquette 68.

-- Doug Lesmerises

Cleveland State vs. Grambling

Tipoff: 7:30 p.m. at Wolstein Center, Cleveland.

Radio: WHK AM/1420.

Notable: CSU begins a new season and era after finishing 21-11 last season with a senior-dominated lineup. Only one senior is in the lineup now: Strongsville native Tim Kamczyc, who returns after averaging 9.1 points and shooting 58.5 percent overall and 46.0 percent on 3-pointers last season. The 6-7 forward also averaged 3.9 rebounds a game. Sophomores Anton Grady, Charlie Lee, Sebastian Douglas and Marlin Mason give the Vik-

ings a new look as starters. Grambling, also playing its opener, was 4-24 season last season and is looking to rebuild.

Next for CSU: Monday vs. Bowling Green, 6, in the NIT Preseason Tournament in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Akron at Coastal Carolina

Tipoff: 7:30 p.m. at HTC Center, Conway, S.C.

Radio: WARF AM/1350.

Notable: What's expected to be an elite season for Akron begins against the Chanticleers, who finished 19-12 last season. The Zips, the defending Mid-American Conference regular-season champs, finished 22-12 last season and return all but one starter and eight of their top 10 players. PG Alex Abreu is considered questionable with a sprained ankle, and there are growing questions about possible administrative issues with two other Zips, which may possibly cut into coach Keith Dambrot's bench strength.

Next for Akron: Monday vs. John Carroll, 7.

Kent State vs. Drexel

Tipoff: 7 p.m. at M.A.C. Center, Kent.

Radio: WHLO AM/640.

Notable: Only one senior with more than a year of experience, Randal Holt, returns for Kent State, a team that opens a season for the first time this century when it's not expected to be a MAC contender. Drexel (0-0) isn't only considered a Colonial Athletic Association favorite but also a potential Sweet 16 team. KSU's junior-college newcomers in forward Darren Goodson and center Melvin Tabb must become major contributors immediately if the Golden Flashes are to be competitive during a very challenging nonconference schedule.

Next for Kent: Tuesday vs. Temple, noon.

-- Elton Alexander

Division II

Notre Dame College vs. Westminster

Tipoff: 7 p.m. at Murphy Gymnasium, South Euclid.

Notable: The Falcons tip off their first season as a full-fledged Division II program against Westminster (Pa.), which was 6-20 last year. The Falcons went 10-17 in 2011-12, 7-5 at home. NDC's roster is dotted with youth: nine of 15 players are underclassmen. NDC will look to a veteran presence inside, however: returning after a medical redshirt season is power forward Eric Dummermuth, who has scored 1,898 points over his college career.

Next for NDC: Thursday at Malone, 7:30.

Women

No. 19 Ohio State vs. No. 7 Notre Dame

Tipoff: 4 p.m. on the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, Charleston, S.C.

TV: NBC Sports Network.

Notable: Led by Big Ten preseason player of the year Tayler Hill, the Buckeyes will get a test right away against Notre Dame in just the third meeting ever between the programs, with the series at 1-1. The Buckeyes lost sophomore and former Westlake star Kalpana Beach for the season with a preseason knee injury. Center Ashley Adams (7.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg) and Big Ten defensive player of the year Amber Stokes both return.

Next for OSU: Wednesday vs. Cincinnati, 8.

-- Doug Lesmerises

Cleveland State vs. South Dakota

Tipoff: 5 p.m. at Wolstein Center.

Notable: South Dakota was 23-8 last season; CSU 12-19. The Vikings won both their exhibition games, handling Walsh (83-67) and Ursuline (66-33). CSU returns eight letter winners and three starters from last year's squad, including preseason Horizon League first-team honoree Shalonda Winton, a senior. South Dakota debuts under new coach Amy Williams. Alexis Yackley led the Summit League in assists per game last year (4.8). The first 2,000 fans will receive a free CSU T-shirt and a voucher for a free hot dog and small drink.

Next for CSU: Tuesday at Ohio, 7.

-- From staff reports

It's only a matter of when Shin-Soo Choo becomes a former Cleveland Indian

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Shin-Soo Choo won't be an Indian after the 2013 season. GM Chris Antonetti most likely will trade him depending on what kind of deal he can make.

shin-soo choo.JPGView full sizeShin-Soo Choo, who has one year left on his contract, will not be with the Tribe after the 2013 season. If he isn't traded this off-season, he will most likely get dealt in July or August.

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — One way or the other, Shin-Soo Choo is gone.

The Indians can trade him this off-season. They can trade him at the non-waiver or waiver deadlines in July or August.

Or they can keep him the entire 2013 season and make him a qualifying offer after he becomes a free agent so they can be compensated through the draft. The qualifying offer this off-season for players who spent their final year before free agency with one team was $13 million for a one-year deal.

Choo's agent is Scott Boras. The Indians have tried to extend Choo's contract at least twice.

Boras does not believe in negotiating extensions with players in their final season before free agency.

Boston is facing the same situation with center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury. The Braves are seeing it unfold right now with center fielder Michael Bourn, who received their qualifying offer, but is expected to reject it.

Ellsbury and Bourn are Boras clients.

So what is the market for Choo, 30, and how can General Manager Chris Antonetti make it work to his advantage?

Boras, not surprisingly, sees a bright horizon for Choo.

"We all know he's one of the best young outfielders in the game," Boras said. "There is really a demand for a guy who gives you offense and defense. He's shown the ability to lead off and hit in the middle of the lineup.

"He's really a valued player."

Choo made $4.9 million this year. He's eligible for arbitration in January and mlbtraderumors.com estimates his salary could climb to $7.9 million for 2013.

Antonetti said the door is still open for an extension. He added there has to be interest on both sides to get a deal done.

Boras, talking to reporters Thursday at the general managers meetings, said he will continue to negotiate for Choo on an "annual basis" in regard to 2013. He also fired a shot across the bow of owners Larry and Paul Dolan.

"Choo's let it be known that he has a desire to win," Boras said. "I think the ownership in Cleveland, foundationally, they're going to have to illustrate some dynamics with new revenues and where they stand about what they do to show their fan base and their players who they are in competing.

"That's a new calling that they are going to have to bring forth to give players, and everybody involved, [an idea] about what their intentions are in their ownership."

If Choo is traded, his new team will have him for only the 2013 season. Then he's a free agent. That won't help Antonetti max out Choo's value when dealing with teams that have small to mid-range payrolls. For those teams, the more control they have over a player in terms of years, the better they like it and the more they are willing to part with in a trade.

There are exceptions.

GM Brian Sabean, whose Giants won their second World Series in the past three years last month, took a chance on Carlos Beltran in 2011. He acquired him midway through the season from the Mets even though Beltran was eligible for free agency at the end of the year.

"We were coming off the World Series [2010]," Sabean said. "We'd just lost Buster Posey and really had no offense to speak of. If we wanted to survive, which we almost did, and get back to the postseason, you have to cross that bridge.

"The fans demand it. The organization and the players expect it. To get a good player, you have to give somebody up, even though you know it could be a rental. If Beltran doesn't get hurt, it might have been different. But he did and the rest is history."

The Indians are coming off a 94-loss season. In terms of trading his top players such as Choo, Asdrubal Cabrera, Chris Perez and Justin Masterson, Antonetti has an "open mind."

"If there is the right deal, and it makes sense, we'll move on it," he said. "But we like a lot of the players we're bringing back. We still have a lot of good major-league players. We need to find a way to build a championship team around them."

It's believed Boston and the Yankees have an interest in Choo. Other teams in need of outfield help include Texas, Atlanta, Baltimore, Tampa Bay, Detroit and Seattle.

Choo hit .283 (169-for-598) with 43 doubles, two triples, 16 homers and 67 RBI. He scored 88 runs and stole 21 bases.

He hit just .199 (41-for-206) with two homers and 13 RBI against lefties. Against righties, he hit .327 (128-for-392) with 14 homers and 54 RBI.

Defensively, he was a finalist for a Gold Glove award.

One scout said there has been a slight drop in Choo's overall ability simply because of age. He added that Choo is still a good major-league player with a strong left-handed bat.

Now it's up to Antonetti to turn that into something that can help the Indians in 2013 and beyond.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158

On Twitter: @hoynsie

Kent State Golden Flashes hope to take another step toward MAC East title against Miami RedHawks

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Kent State needs to be wary of Miami QB Zac Dysert, who has thrown for nearly 2,500 yards this season.

kent-zacdysert.JPGView full sizeZac Dysert and the Miami RedHawks will take their shot at handing Kent State its first MAC defeat on Saturday.

KENT, Ohio -- The challenge now falls to the Miami RedHawks to derail Kent State's run to a Mid-American Conference East Division title.

Before the season, most expected the RedHawks (4-5, 3-2 MAC) to sit in this position with three games left. But it's the Golden Flashes (8-1, 5-0) who are on a roll heading into Saturday's game at Yager Stadium in Oxford.

"They have proven this season they are hard to beat," Miami coach Don Treadwell said. "What stands out to me is, they are playing well on both sides of the ball."

By no means are the Flashes dominant in anything, short of creating turnovers. But they are solid in just about everything. They rank fourth in the league in scoring (34.0 points a game), third in rushing (217.6 yards per game), fourth in scoring defense (24.4 points allowed) and third in rushing defense (148.4 yards allowed).

Overall, Kent trends toward mid-pack offensively and defensively as it ranks eighth in total offense (386.4 yards per game with 34 TDs) and sixth in total defense (408.6 yards with 28 TDs allowed).

"The thing they have done, in the bigger picture, is they have been opportunistic," Treadwell said. "They create a lot of turnovers (plus-20). They've made enough plays at the right time to make a difference."

The challenge for Miami will be to get a stellar game from quarterback Zac Dysert. The senior NFL prospect has passed for 2,467 yards and 18 touchdowns this season. And he has his full arsenal of receivers healthy, including the speedy and elusive Nick Harwell, who has six TD receptions in the six games he has played.

Ohio State men's basketball game on aircraft carrier canceled because of wet court

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After waiting an hour and trying unsuccessfully to dry the court, the game between the Buckeyes and Marquette was called off in South Carolina.

mosu-yorktown.JPG Military personnel try to dry the court before the men's basketball game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Marquette Golden Eagles on Friday. The court remained too wet and the game was called off.

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. -- The game between No. 4 Ohio State and Marquette aboard the USS Yorktown at the Carrier Classic on Friday night was canceled because of moisture on the court.

After a wait of about an hour, referee John Cahill said the condensation on the converted flight deck could not be dried. He said it was in the best interest of the teams to call off the game.

The game was part of the second Carrier Classic. Earlier in the day, the No. 7 Notre Dame women defeated No. 19 Ohio State 57-51. There was no problem with the court during that game.

The contest raises money for several groups that help troops and veterans. It was a showcase for Veterans Day weekend.

Cahill said the decision was made in agreement with both coaches and athletic directors.

Players on both teams saw wet spots on the court during pregame warmups. Officials met with Ohio State coach Thad Matta and Marquette coach Buzz Williams several times as workers and volunteers grabbed anything they could to dry the surface.

After about a half-hour delay, Cahill and his crew put 20 more minutes back on the clock and players warmed up again. Still, the hardwood was moist and wet and all sides agreed it would be too dangerous to play.

Most of the 4,000 seats at the makeshift arena were full, many of them servicemen and women who received donated tickets. Ohio State's players put on a dunk contest, guard Aaron Craft skying high for a jam as spectators snapped pictures on their cellphones.

After the game was canceled, the Buckeyes and the Golden Eagles came out to sign autographs and greet fans.

The contest was supposed to be one of the marquee events of college basketball's opening weekend. Ohio State reached the Final Four last season while Marquette advanced to the NCAA's round of 16 before losing to Florida.

Williams came to the court in Army style combat boots and both sides wore uniforms to honor the military and those who've served their country.

"It is disappointing," Williams said. "But the health of our players is monumental."

Athletic directors from both schools said they'd continue discussions about making up the game down the road, though not likely this season. Ohio State returns home to play Albany on Sunday while Marquette begins its home season the same day with Colgate.

Last year's Carrier Classic took place on the USS Carl Vinson outside San Diego, President Barack Obama attending the contest between North Carolina and Michigan State. That game was under threat of bad weather, yet conditions held.

Morale Entertainment's Michael Whalen said the Notre Dame women's practice on Thursday morning was moved to warmer afternoon conditions because of condensation. But Thursday night, organizers found little wrong with the court and thought things would be fine.

"We were trying to do something good," Whalen said. "This time, it didn't work out."

Matta took a different view. He said his players were exposed to troops who made sacrifices and warriors wounded in battle.

"Yeah, we didn't get to play," he said. "But maybe the purpose was served."


Cleveland Browns' driven 'Tank' Carder knocks down life's obstacles one by one

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Browns backup linebacker Tank Carder has overcome big obstacles to earn his shot in the NFL.

tank carder.JPG Browns backup linebacker Ricky "Tank" Carder (94) clears the way for teammate Joshua Cribbs during a punt return against the Bengals on Oct. 14 at Cleveland Browns Stadium.

BEREA, Ohio — Ricky and Marti Carder could barely stand when the paramedic told them to say goodbye to their son as he was loaded into a helicopter bound for a hospital in Houston.

They knew it could be the last time they would see him alive.

"It was the most horrible thing I've ever had to deal with," Marti said. "I can't even imagine the magnitude of losing a child, but we made the hour drive to the hospital trying to prepare ourselves if he didn't make it. Thank God he did."

The Carders' 13-year-old son, also named Ricky, had been thrown from a car driven by a friend's sister near his hometown of Sweeny, Texas. The car flipped when the driver lost control trying to avoid something in the road. The young boy was ejected, and the car rolled over him. He suffered a broken back in two places, several broken ribs, a punctured diaphragm and a punctured lung.

"When we arrived at the hospital, he was going in and out of consciousness," Marti said.

As doctors nursed the teen back to health, they warned the couple that their son might not walk again. Marti insisted on giving him the dire prognosis herself.

"I asked him what would he do if he had to use a wheelchair," Marti said. "And without hesitation, he said he'd join the wheelchair Olympics. He's always had that mind-set."

'I always had to be first'

Carder survived the life-threatening injuries and went on to become the Houston area's high school Defensive Player of the Year, the Defensive Player of the Game in Texas Christian University's 2011 Rose Bowl victory, a fifth-round draft pick of the Buffalo Bills, and, finally, a rookie linebacker with the Browns who has played in eight of nine games this season on special teams.

Much of Carder's story involves overcoming obstacles, but it also includes a chapter where he grew out of being a 33-pound, 18-month-old toddler to a precocious six-time bicycle motocross world champion.

"My time as a BMX champion probably had something to do with my drive," Carder said. The competitive nature brought on by my BMX training was instilled at a young age. I always had to be first at the finish line."

Ricky Jr. is the Carders' second child. He is so far removed from his given name, however, that he has never answered to that title. He only used "Ricky" when he signed his college letter of intent and for this week's presidential election.

"When I signed my absentee ballot, it looks like two different signatures," Carder said. " 'Ricky' looks like a fourth-grader signed it, and 'Carder' looks like a John Hancock."

Carder will legally change his name to Tank in a few months.

The moniker developed due to Carder's size as a baby. He was initially called "Little Man" and "Man-Man." But the son of his babysitter tagged him with Tank because of his size and how he pushed things over as a rough and tumble toddler.

tank carder 2.JPG Friends of Ricky "Tank" Carder visit him in a Houston hospital after he was seriously injured in a car accident when he was 13 years old.

Carder's size wasn't the only thing that set him apart from other toddlers his age. He started riding a bicycle without training wheels when he was 26 months old. The owner of a local bicycle motocross track noticed Carder racing up and down the street with ease. So he asked Marti if her "4-year-old" son would like to ride at his track.

"He couldn't believe [Tank] was only 2," Marti said. "We wouldn't let him race until he was 3."

At 3, Carder won the first race he entered -- against 5-year-olds. Soon after, he had sponsors and spent weekends and summers competing around the world. As part of his tours, he also made trips to Chesterland, in Geauga County, his mother's hometown.

Carder won the first of his six BMX world championships at age 9.

"I loved riding," he said.

But the grind of racing wore on Carder. He wanted to compete in team sports with his friends, but motocross training conflicted with baseball and football practice, to the point where coaches wouldn't even allow him to start the season because he missed so much time. It drove him nuts.

So he quit bicycle motocross in fifth grade.

"Once I quit, I never raced again," Carder said. "I often wondered what my life would be like if I continued. But I like to compete, and I'm still competing. That chapter in my life is long passed."

When asked if he could still ride competitively, he said, "It's just like riding a bike."

Back on his feet

The most trying chapter of his life began shortly after that horrific car accident. Carder didn't fight just to survive, he also fought to get back on the field against all odds. When Tank left the hospital after six weeks, he was wearing a fiberglass body brace and was on blood thinners for a year. But he refused to give in and worked his body back into shape.

As he recovered, he was allowed to return to football, but only as a kicker at first. His parents wouldn't allow him to play a position that required contact. It was not until his senior year that Carder was allowed to hit and be hit.

Carder became a high school All-American linebacker. He also played running back, tight end and quarterback.

He accepted his only Division I offer when he signed with TCU. He enjoyed a solid career that included being a two-time conference defensive player of the year, ending with that victory in the 2011 Rose Bowl.

The Buffalo Bills selected Carder in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL Draft, but released him after training camp. The Browns then claimed him off waivers in September.

It was a dream come true for mom Marti.

"I cried when I received a text from Tank about getting cut from the Bills," Marti said. "But hours later, he says he got picked up by the Cleveland Browns and that was surreal, because I grew up a Browns fan.

"I know his mind-set is to prove himself and be an asset with the Browns, because he felt the Bills never gave him a chance. If the Browns give Tank a chance, they'll never be sorry."

An opportunity with the Browns is only half of what Carder wants to accomplish in the NFL. His purpose goes far beyond the playing field.

"I want to start a charity for kids who have been in critical accidents," said Carder, who is married with a 2-year-old son. "I know the things I've been through, and the things I've accomplished, from BMX racing, to the car accident, to college, to the NFL.

"This is a work in progress."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: bwright@plaind.com, 216-999-4671

Kent State men's basketball team opens season with overtime win vs. Drexel

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Kent State wins season opener behind Randal Holt's 17 points.

kent state logoView full size

KENT, Ohio — Pedigree overcame inexperience as Kent State pulled a 66-62 overtime stunner against highly regarded Drexel Friday night , in the season opener in the MAC Center before a surprisingly lively crowd of 2,650.

A 3-pointer from senior guard Randal Holt set the stage for overtime, and Holt's four straight free throws in the final 17.7 seconds sealed it for a program that has won 20 games 13 of the last 14 years, but is expected to struggle now. Just after Drexel tied the score, 62-62, on a bad-luck play for the Golden Flashes with 20.5 seconds to go, Drexel's Derrick Thomas suddenly reached out and fouled Holt on the inbounds pass.

"He just grabbed him," Drexel coach Bruiser Flint said. "He didn't know time and score. That happens."

Holt knocked down both free throws to give Kent the lead, 64-62. On Drexel's next possession guard Frantz Massenat was caught in the air and threw a wild pass right into Flint's lap with four seconds to play. Again, Holt was immediately fouled, and the career 79.6 percent free throw shooter made two more to start the celebration.

"A great win for us," Holt said. "We came to play and didn't back down. We knew a lot of people wrote us off."

Senior forward Chris Evans led the Golden Flashes with 21 points, displaying a developing midpost arsenal, while junior Mark Henniger battled inside for a career-high eight boards, as the undersized Flashes held their own in the rebound battle against the physically bruising Dragons, trailing just 44-42. Add in 12 Kent turnovers to 16 for Drexel, with just two of those miscues coming in the second half, and Kent clearly had the better effort over heavily favored Drexel.

"They came to play," Flint said. "It was a big game for them and they showed. They out-hustled us. We got nipped in the bud."

Collectively, the new kids on the block, 10 with one year of experience or less, picked up on KSU's trademark defense to hold the Dragons to 36.7 percent shooting while not allowing Drexel's apparent inside advantage to show itself more that a moment or two.

A few early telling signs included Kent's two junior college transfers, 6-9 Melvin Tabb and 6-4 Darren Goodsen, who will be getting instant major college education on quality shots and defensive tenacity. But Tulsa transfer Bryson Pope, a 6-7 junior, showed his major college game experience nicely and was the "X" factor for KSU with 10 points and five rebounds off the bench.

Kent never flinched in a game tied three times and with 13 lead changes, even when misfortune showed on several occasions.

"It's not like every break went our way, that's for sure," Kent coach Rob Senderoff said.

Down the stretch, with Kent leading 53-52, Holt slipped on a Drexel inbounds play, leaving Chris Fouch (24 points) with an uncontested 3-pointer for a 55-53 lead. Kent came back to tie on an Evans basket and send the game into overtime with a defensive stop. After taking a 60-59 lead, a loose-ball tieup with 1:30 to go would have gone to Kent, but the Dragons were rewarded with a timeout instead.

Kent then got a defensive stop. After two Evans free throws made it 62-59 with 34.5-seconds to play. Evans came flying in for a block that seemed to lock it up for Kent. But the ball went right to Fouch in the corner who hit a 3-pointer to tie.

Then Thomas fouled Holt, and Holt closed the door at the line.

"A really good win to start the season," Senderoff said. "I just hope this isn't the highlight of our year."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: ealexand@plaind.com, 216-999-4253

Cleveland Browns' 100 best all-time players: No. 59, Dub Jones (video)

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Jones, with his running and receiving, helped the Browns to the championship game in each of his eight seasons.

dub-jones.jpg The Browns' Dub Jones running with the football during Cleveland's 16-7 win over the Giants at New York's Polo Grounds on Nov. 28, 1954.


CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A countdown of the top 100 players in Cleveland
Browns history. Players must have spent at least four seasons with the
Browns. The ranking is based only on players' careers with the Browns.



No. 59, Dub Jones, running back, 1948-55



The Browns traded the draft rights to Michigan All-American running back Bob Chappuis to the Brooklyn Dodgers for defensive back-running back William "Dub" Jones prior to the 1948 All-America Football Conference season.



Jones, from Tulane, had been selected in the first round with the second overall pick by the Chicago Cardinals in the 1946 NFL draft. He opted, though, to play in the AAFC.



Cleveland coach Paul Brown acquired Jones with the intention of playing him on defense. Instead, Jones would become a mainstay on the great Browns' offense directed by quarterback Otto Graham.



Jones, besides his versatility, was fast and athletic. His teammates called him "Six-o-Clock" -- picture the hands on a clock -- because of his lanky, 6-4, 200-pound frame.



Jones is one of three players (Ernie Nevers in 1929; Gale Sayers in 1965) to score six touchdowns in an NFL game. During the Browns' 42-21 win over the Chicago Bears on Nov. 25, 1951 at Cleveland Stadium, Jones scored on runs of 2, 12, 27 and 43 yards and on passes of 34 and 43 yards from Graham. The last three runs and the two receptions came on Jones' final five touches of the game. He finished with nine carries for 116 yards and three catches for 80 yards.



In the three-year span from 1950-52, Jones scored more touchdowns, 29, than any player in the NFL. During each of those seasons, Jones finished among the league's top eight in combined rushing and receiving yardage. He made the 1951 and 1952 Pro Bowl teams, and was first-team all-pro in 1951.



The Browns played in league championship games in each of their first 10 seasons as a franchise. They won all four AAFC title contests (1946-49) before the league folded, then played in championship games in each of their first six NFL seasons (1950-55), winning in 1950, 1954 and 1955. Jones' Browns career spanned the final eight years of the remarkable 10-year stretch.



Cleveland teams of the era featured an abundance of playmakers, so individual statistics weren't always a true measure of a player's excellence. And, teams played 12-game schedules. Jones rushed for 1,910 yards and 20 touchdowns in 454 regular season carries (4.2 yards per attempt) and caught 171 passes for 2,874 yards and 20 more touchdowns. His average of 16.8 yards a catch indicated his big-play capability.



Jones also scored four touchdowns in playoff games. The AAFC, as did the NFL in those days, featured only a championship game between division winners -- except in 1949, the league's final year, when four teams made the postseason. Jones tallied one of the most critical touchdowns in the Browns' amazing AAFC history, when he scored on a 49-yard pass from Graham, giving the Browns a 24-21 third quarter lead and setting up their 31-21 playoff win over the Buffalo Bills on Dec. 4, 1949 at Cleveland Stadium. Seven days later, the Browns won the final game in AAFC history and the championship, 21-7, over the San Francisco 49ers in Cleveland.



Jones was an assistant coach for the Browns from 1963-67, including their last championship campaign in 1964. His son, Bert, was the NFL MVP in 1976 as the Baltimore Colts' quarterback.



(The Browns' all-time top 100 players so far)



Video: Four of the NFL record-tying six touchdowns scored by Dub Jones (86) during the Browns' 42-21 win over the Chicago Bears on Nov. 25, 1951 at Cleveland Stadium -- on the second, third, fourth and sixth plays, respectively, on the film: a 12-yard run; a 34-yard pass from Otto Graham; a 27-yard run; a 43-yard pass from Graham:



Cleveland State University men's basketball team romps over Grambling State

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Charlie Lee and Anton Grady lead the Vikings to a season-opening 92-49 victory over Grambling State University at the Wolstein Center.

cleveland state logoView full size

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Last year, Charlie Lee and Anton Grady were the top recruits for the Cleveland State Vikings, but they had to take a backseat to the team's many veterans.

This year is a different story. There's only one senior on the roster, and nine of the 13 players are either freshmen or sophomores.

Both Lee and Grady were on full display Friday as CSU romped its way to a season-opening 92-49 victory over Grambling State University in front of 4,127 at the Wolstein Center.

"We're young, but Anton and I are the veterans on the team right now," said Lee, the team's point guard. "We lost a lot of seniors last year."

Grady, a Cleveland Central Catholic graduate, was picked to the preseason All-Horizon League second team and has been mentioned on several national websites as a player who could have a breakout season.

"Coming in this year I knew that I was going to have a much bigger role than last year," Grady said. "Last year I was more of a role player, and this year coach is looking for me to be more of a key player on this team."

Lee controlled the game each and every one of his 22 minutes on the floor, leading six Vikings in double figures with 20 points and seven assists, and constantly hounding the Grambling point guards as CSU forced 16 turnovers that led to 18 points.

"I'm the leader of this team," Lee said. "It started off with me. I had to pressure the point guard and then everybody else just bought in to what I was doing. (On offense) we were able to make shots today. It started off with me again. I was able to make a couple of shots early and then we got things going and started getting out in transition."

Lee hit 7 of 10 shots, including 2 of 3 three-pointers. He had five of the team's first seven points when they jumped out to a 7-0 lead. CSU employed a full-court man-to-man defense with traps, and the Tigers turned the ball over on their first four possessions. With Lee setting the tone, the Vikings were off to the races.

"I wanted Charlie to really feel more comfortable doing more than just being a distributor," CSU coach Gary Waters said. "I told him I wanted him to shoot the ball. Go out and be free, because we need some other threats out there."

Grady had a solid all-around game with 14 points, nine rebounds, three assists, three blocks and three steals. Freshman Bryn Forbes came off the bench to score 14 points in the second half, and Strongsville's Tim Kamczyc added 12 points and six rebounds. Marlon Mason and Sebastian Douglas each added 10 points for the Vikings, who face Bowling Green on Monday at Michigan in a Preseason NIT matchup.

Joe Magill, Special to The Plain Dealer

OHSAA football: Chardon defeats Kenston in Division II regional semifinal

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MENTOR, Ohio — Now, it can be said. Chardon is back.

Chardon quarterback T.J. Benenati runs for a first down on a keeper in the third quarter. - (John Kuntz, PD)

MENTOR, Ohio — Now, it can be said.

Chardon is back.

Getting to the playoffs is one thing. Being a regional finalist is quite another, and the Hilltoppers are exactly that after running over Kenston, 34-15, in a Division II regional semifinal Friday night at Mentor.

"We've got bunch of kids that are tough and have been through a lot the last eight months," Chardon coach Mitch Hewitt said, referencing a fatal shooting at the school in February that claimed three lives. "I'm so proud of them.

"There are eight teams left. Anything can happen."

The Hilltoppers (10-2) play defending Region 5 champion Aurora (11-1) next Friday at a site to be announced Sunday.

Chardon, in the playoffs for the first time since 2006, was Division II powerhouse in the 1990s and early 2000s.

"There was something we've never felt before tonight," center Sam Wilkes said. "It's a new era, a magical feeling. I had never seen a playoff game in Chardon before last week. I was in the sixth grade the last time this happened. It feels like the excitement of Week 1, honestly."

Said tailback Matt Bolden, "We're bringing the program back."

Kenston (7-5) also made significant strides under first-year coach Jeff Grubich, including last week's upset of No. 1 seed Tallmadge. Grubich choked up when referring to his 24 seniors.

"I wish I had more time with them," he said. "They bought into the program, they battled their butts off, and now they're gone."

Kenston lost to Chardon by a point in September and didn't find defending Chardon's wing-T ground attack any easier the second time around.

Chardon quarterback T.J. Benenati rushed for 155 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries, and he completed one of his two passes for a 31-yard TD to Andrew Gray (the other pass was a spike).

Bolden gained 115 yards on 26 carries as seven backs combined to rush for 342 yards and a five-yard average behind a senior-laden offensive line that achieved a big push on virtually every snap.

"I was seeing big holes," Bolden said.

With tailback Nick Lombardy ineffective with two sprained ankles, Kenston relied heavily on two-way quarterback Darryl Richards. He responded with 141 yards and a touchdown rushing. He completed 10 of 18 passes for 161 yards, including a 73-yard touchdown strike to Brian Brezovec in the third quarter.

Trailing 27-15 early in the fourth, Kenston's last best chance followed a four-yard Chardon punt, putting the Bombers at the Chardon 27. Kenston unleashed its five-wide receiver offense that Grubich brought from his days as Mentor's offensive coordinator, but on second down, Richards" pass was picked by Joe Connick in the end zone.

The Hilltoppers drove 80 yards and Benenati's 10-yard TD run off a sweep put the Hilltoppers up, 34-15.

After a scoreless first quarter, Chardon scored first and pulled away for good with an unlikely series in the second quarter. It faced second-and-10 at the Kenston 26 and called its first pass play. Benenati was sacked by linebacker Christopher Tarrance at the 31. Undaunted, the Hilltoppers called another pass and Benenati got off a perfect, backside screen to junior tight end Andrew Gray, who scored easily for a 14-7 lead.

Chardon picked up a gift field goal before halftime. It passed from the Kenston 34 and a Kenston was whistled for pass interference as time expired. With a free play, Bobby Bukovec kicked a 35-yard field goal for a 17-7 Chardon lead.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:twarsinskey@plaind.com, 216-999-6177

On Twitter:@TimsTakePD

 

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