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GREENVILLE, N.C. -- First-year ECU coach Scottie Montgomery isnt trying to turn the Pirates into Duke East.The Pirates hired Montgomery from the Blue Devils staff after last season and want him to rebuild the program his own way, and not necessarily by duplicating what his Duke teams did.The 38-year-old Montgomery, brought in to replace the fired Ruffin McNeill, spent two seasons as Dukes offensive coordinator and was on his alma maters staff from 2013-15 after a three-year run coaching the Pittsburgh Steelers receivers.People (said) when I left Pittsburgh to come back to Duke that we were going to look like (the Steelers), Montgomery said. The problem was, we didnt have (star receivers) Antonio Brown or Mike Wallace. ... Its different. Our fundamental beliefs about doing things the right way and serving our community will be similar, the way that we hold our kids accountable will be similar. But thats where a lot of the similarities will stop.The key difference might be this: While Montgomerys most recent Duke team ran its quarterback often, that probably wont be the formula with the Pirates. So dont expect transfer Philip Nelson to lead East Carolina in rushing like Thomas Sirk did with the Blue Devils.Nelson threw for 2,179 yards and 17 touchdowns in 16 starts for Minnesota from 2012-13, transferred to Rutgers with the hope of playing in a pass-friendly system but was dismissed from the team days after his involvement in a nightclub fight that left another man with a serious brain injury.The 22-year-old walked on at East Carolina before last season, earned a scholarship from Montgomery, won the job during spring ball and saw some of his competitors leave the program.Ive had some really good quarterbacks, offensive coordinator Tony Petersen said. Theres not a negative (in his game). Hes just going to keep getting better and better.KEY TARGETSKeep an eye on two players that the Pirates figure to feature: WR Zay Jones and jack-of-all-trades James Summers. Jones enters the season at No. 3 on the schools career lists for receptions (241) and yards receiving (2,553). Summers has played receiver and quarterback -- making four starts in 2015, and rushing for 169 yards in a victory over Virginia Tech -- and also practiced at running back and tight end. We think that he has position flexibility, Montgomery said before reeling off a list of the spots he could play. Ive never been able to say that about any kid that Ive ever coached. Ever. In any situation.SEASON OPENERMontgomerys debut, and Nelsons first start in three years, comes Sept. 3 when the Pirates play host to Western Carolina of the FCS.KEY GAMESThe chip-on-the-shoulder Pirates always get fired up to take on Power 5 opponents, and they face three in a row before beginning American Athletic Conference play. East Carolina plays host to North Carolina State on Sept. 10, followed by trips to South Carolina and Virginia Tech. The Pirates have won two straight in their series with both the Wolfpack and Hokies.PREDICTIONThe Pirates were picked fifth in the Americans six-team East Division. With that brutal nonconference schedule and in an improved league, a second straight 5-7 finish might be considered a good year as they continue their transition from McNeill to Montgomery. Cheap USA Soccer Jerseys . -- In one brief spurt, Brazil turned a close game into a rout and proved again it will be a strong World Cup favourite. USA Soccer Store . Halladay signed a one-day contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday that allowed the veteran right-hander to retire as a member of team with which he broke into the majors and spent the bulk of his distinguished 16-year career. https://www.cheapusasoccer.com/ . -- The Sacramento Kings are set to become the first major professional sports franchise to accept Bitcoin virtual currency for ticket and merchandise purchases. USA Soccer Jerseys China . Ibaka equaled a career high with 20 rebounds, adding four blocked shots and 15 points as the Thunder smothered the Milwaukee Bucks offence in a 92-79 victory Saturday night. Fake USA Soccer Jerseys . Burke is expected to miss two to three months after breaking a finger in the teams third preseason game. Tinsley, a 10-year veteran, spent the last two seasons in Utah, where the point guard averaged 3. EAST LANSING, Mich. -- By the time Alex Hornibrooks first start was over, there wasnt much question about whether he could handle one of the toughest road tests in the Big Ten.Hornibrook threw for 195 yards and a touchdown, and 11th-ranked Wisconsin turned its early-season showdown with No. 8 Michigan State into a rout, beating the Spartans 30-6 on Saturday.Youve got to have respect for a guy whose first start is against a Michigan State defense, Wisconsin running back Corey Clement said.Hes going to come out the next game and do even better. I think hes just getting his feet wet.The freshman quarterback outplayed fifth-year senior Tyler OConnor, his Michigan State counterpart. The Badgers (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) were the better team in the first half and then outscored the Spartans 17-0 in the third quarter.Michigan State (2-1, 0-1) was down 13-6 early in the third and had the ball in Wisconsin territory when LJ Scotts fumble bounced to Wisconsins Leo Musso in the secondary. OConnor was the only player with a decent shot at him on the return, and Musso spun past the quarterback and went all the way to the end zone for a 66-yard touchdown.OConnor finished 18 of 38 for 224 yards with three interceptions.People have been saying a lot of good things about us lately, Spartans coach Mark Dantonio said. And now well take some shots.Clement ran for two touchdowns for Wisconsin, which went with Hornibrook at quarterback after Bart Houston started the first three games. Hornibrook wasnt spectacular, but he kept his cool.Thats something that I take pride in, just staying the same level, not going too far up or too far down, he said.TAKEAWAYSWISCONSIN: Some were skeptical about the Badgers after their season-opening win over LSU, since it wasnt clear if LSU would be as tough as advertised this season. But Wisconsin has now gone on the road and pounded the defending Big Ten champions. Even before the Badgers took total control in the third quarter, they were pressuring OConnor and preventing Michigan State from doing anythinng significant with its running game.ddddddddddddICHIGAN STATE: A win at Notre Dame last weekend looked like business as usual for the Spartans, but their outlook changes considerably now. This was their most lopsided defeat at Spartan Stadium since falling 42-14 to Penn State in 2009.POLL IMPLICATIONSWISCONSIN: There should be no denying the Badgers a spot in the top 10 after this victory. There were four Big Ten teams in the top 11 before this game.MICHIGAN STATE: The Spartans have been ranked in the AP poll for a school-record 45 consecutive weeks. Theyre unlikely to fall all the way out after this lopsided loss, but another performance like this would put that streak in some jeopardy.KEY NUMBERSDantonio ran down the list of categories in which his team came up short: Possession time, turnovers, running the football, sacks, third-down conversions, combined with fourth-down conversions. Its all right there. Thats why you dont win a football game.Wisconsin had the ball for 32:48, forced four turnovers, outrushed Michigan State 122-75 and went 7 of 16 on third down. The Spartans were sacked four times.This was a rare blowout in the recent history of this series. The previous seven meetings were decided by an average of 4.9 points.INJURY REPORTWISCONSIN: K Rafael Gaglianone missed the game because of a back problem. Andrew Endicott missed an extra point but made his first career field goal, from 41 yards in the third.MICHIGAN STATE: LB Riley Bullough missed the game with an unspecified injury.UP NEXTWisconsin: This was the start of a brutal five-game stretch for the Badgers. Next up is a trip to play Michigan in Ann Arbor next weekend, followed by games against Ohio State, Iowa and Nebraska.Michigan State: The Spartans will have to change gears when they play on the road against an Indiana team that likes to move fast on offense.---Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister ' ' '