Haftungsausschluss » indictment of Strongs tenure.Kansas: Kansas

MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota coach Richard Pitino started this season with a rule many college coaches have used before -- no media interviews for freshmen.It didnt take long for Amir Coffey to force Pitino to change his mind.Coffey scored 30 points on just 14 shots to lead Minnesota to a 92-86 over St. Johns on Friday night.When you play like that, youve got to change that rule, Pitino said, later adding that it was as impressive a freshman performance as Ive seen.Dupree McBrayer had 18 points, five rebounds and five assists, and Nate Mason added 13 points, seven assists and five rebounds for the Golden Gophers (4-0), who only turned the ball over six times.Marcus LoVett scored 31 points on 11-for-27 shooting and Shamorie Ponds had 23 points and eight rebounds for St. Johns (2-1). The Red Storm led by 13 points midway through the first half, but shot just 37 percent to let the lead slip away.We didnt get the quality shots I would like, St. Johns coach Chris Mullin said after his team had just nine assists on 29 field goals. When you get down, guys start trying to do it themselves. I would like more ball movement with some high pick and rolls, which was working.Coffey made 9 of 14 shots and was 11 for 12 on free throws.Just trying to find myself. Its a new system, new offense, new teammates, said Coffey, the son of former Minnesota standout Richard Coffey and a star at Twin Cities prep power Hopkins. Just getting comfortable playing with these guys.St. Johns blitzed the Gophers out of the gates, leading 22-9 eight minutes into the game. But Coffey keyed the Gophers response, a 32-9 finish to the half that helped them take control.I thought we helped him a little bit. We got him going, Mullin said. But hes got nice length. Hes got a nice touch. He killed us.Bashir Ahmed added 15 points and 10 rebounds for St. Johns, which pulled within three points in the second half but couldnt get closer.BIG PICTURESt. Johns: Its back to the drawing board after falling flat in its first real test of the season. The Red Storm cruised to victories in their first two games against Bethune-Cookman and Binghamton by a combined 63 points. It only gets tougher from here for a team that went 8-24 in Chris Mullins first season last year, including 1-17 in the Big East.Minnesota: The momentum continues for a program badly in need of it. After going a disastrous 2-16 in Big Ten play last year, the Gophers are struggling to put fans in the seats at once-raucous Williams Arena in Richard Pitinos fourth season. Those who did show up on Friday night saw an entertaining and fast-paced brand of basketball with local standout Coffey trying to inspire the masses to return to the Barn.LYNCHS BULKReggie Lynch grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked nine shots for Minnesota. Seven of those swats came in the first half as the Gophers climbed back into the game. Its been a long road back for Lynch, who sat out last season after transferring and endured a knee injury that kept him from playing for most of the summer.Hes a game-changer for us in the back of the defense, Pitino said.TOUCHING MOMENTAs the crowd stood for the Star Spangled Banner, the singers microphone appeared to malfunction. So she just kept right on singing and the entire crowd joined in.UP NEXTSt. Johns stays in the Big Ten with its next opponent, facing Michigan State on Wednesday in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in the Bahamas. The Gophers host another opponent with name recognition when Arkansas comes to town on Tuesday.---More AP college basketball: http://collegebasketball.ap.org Nike Juvenate Norge . The news was first reported on Gonzalezs Twitter account and confirmed by the Rockies. Gonzalez has a six-week window before position players have their first workout at spring training in Arizona. Air Force 1 Just Do It Norge . Didier Drogba gave away the penalty that put Senegal one goal away from a major upset, but the veteran striker will get another chance -- probably his last -- at the World Cup after Salomon Kalous injury-time strike sealed the Ivorians place in Brazil next year. http://www.airforce1norge.com/ . -- Cam Newton pranced into the end zone, placed his hands over his chest and did his familiar Superman pose. Nike Blazer Norge . He said Tuesday thats a big reason why he is now the new coach of the Tennessee Titans. Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with Ruston Webster when interviewing for the job Friday night. Air Force 1 Dame Norge . Vettel was 0.168 seconds faster than Red Bull teammate Mark Webber around the Suzuka circuit. Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg was two tenths of a second off Vettel. "The car balance is decent, but I think we can still improve," Vettel said. LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Matthew Wyman may have booted Charlie Strong right out of Texas.The senior kicker for Kansas knocked through a field goal to force overtime, then drilled a 25-yarder in the extra session Saturday to send the Jayhawks to a 24-21 victory over the Longhorns -- one that just might end Strongs disappointing tenure on the 40 acres.The moment Wymans field goal went through the uprights, the Jayhawks (2-9, 1-7) poured off the sideline and into a jubilant pile with thousands of students. The win snapped a nine-game skid, a 19-game losing streak in Big 12 play and was their first over Texas since 1938.It made Strongs future bleak, but it made Kansas coach David Beatys appear just a little bit brighter.What resilient dudes those guys are, he said after his first Big 12 win. Theyve continued to work through some really, really difficult situations, and Ive said it before, I feel like we have the right kind of kids in our program. Theyve stuck it out.The Longhorns (5-6, 3-5) squandered chances down the stretch, including a fumble and failed fourth-down try in the final minutes of regulation that could have put the game away.They got the ball first in overtime, but Shane Buechele badly overthrew his intended receiver on their second play and Mike Lee was there to pick it off. After the Jayhawks marched inside the 5-yard line, their senior kicker playing in his final home game knocked through the winner.Its great to send the seniors out like this, he said. Theyve been through some struggles, some adversity, so it means a lot.Their stirring win made DOnta Foremans performance merely a footnote.The Texas running back carried a school-record 51 times for 250 yards and two touchdowns, though his two fumbles proved costly -- not only to the Longhorns season but quite possibly to Strongs future.The third-year coach has been on the hot seat all season, and the temperature is only going to rise after a loss to the lowly Jayhawks. Strong dropped to 16-20 since arriving at Texas, and not even the $10 million buyout he would be due could be enough to keep him from getting fired.We just had our opportunities there, Strong said. Not much needed to be said.Asked what it means for his future, Strong replied: No idea.The Jayhawks took advantage of four first-half turnovers, including a pick-six by Brandon Stewart, to take a 10-7 lead into tthe locker room.dddddddddddd But they committed two turnovers of their own in an ugly third quarter, which the Longhorns turned into back-to-back touchdowns for a 21-10 lead.Kansas marched downfield for a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter, and Steven Sims won the race to the pylon to convert the 2-point conversion and get within a field goal.That proved to be pivotal in the final minute of the game.The Jayhawks stuffed Texas on fourth down and regained possession with 58 seconds left. Three passes to Keaun Kinner and a targeting penalty got them within field goal range, and Wymans kick from 36 yards out with 7 seconds remaining sent the game to overtime.Set up one of the most memorable wins in recent history, too.The seniors have been through a whole lot, and we havent had too much success, Kansas safety Fish Smithson said. Just proud, proud of how hard we worked. How resilient weve been.THE TAKEAWAYTexas: Texas was shaky throughout the game, especially when Buechele left for a short period in the first half with an injury, in what might go down as the biggest indictment of Strongs tenure.Kansas: Kansas has been close to breaking through several times this season, including a 24-23 loss to TCU in early October and a 31-24 loss to Iowa State earlier this month.STRONGS FUTURETexas athletic director Mike Perrin declined to speak with reporters after the game, looking away when he approached them. Strongs wife, Victoria, was crying outside the Longhorns locker room and even Strong looked visibly shaken as he fielded questions.I love coach Strong. Thats my dog, Texas safety DeShon Elliott said. No matter what, I love him, but I said thats not our decision. We cant make that decision. Its the AD and all the men up there.SEE YAAfter police encircled the goal posts at the south end zone, students raced to the opposite end of the field and hopped on that set. It took them a while before they got them to the turf, then they carried them right out of Memorial Stadium.UP NEXTTexas heads to TCU on Saturday for what could be Strongs final game as coach.Kansas tries to make it two straight on Saturday at Kansas State.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 . ' ' '