ified before the Pakistan tour was we wHopefully next year will be differen

Defense continues to be Utahs strength under coach Kyle Whittingham.The No. 11 Utes, who host downtrodden Oregon on Saturday (2 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network), are second in the nation in interceptions and No. 1 in takeaways after last weeks 49-26 victory at Arizona State.Utah (8-2, 5-2 Pac-12) controls its destiny in the Pac-12 South race but has to beat the Ducks and then win at division-leading Colorado on Nov. 26 to advance to the conference championship game.All of our focus, all of our attention, is on the Ducks this week, Whittingham said.There is not a chance we will be looking past those guys. Not a chance at all. Theyre very talented on offense. I mean, theyre Oregon. They have had some struggles on defense this year, but offensively, theyre scoring points, theyre moving the ball. Theyve got firepower.Fair enough. Oregon (3-7, 1-6) does average 37.1 points per game but will not qualify for a bowl game for the first time since 2004 and it is second-to-last nationally in scoring defense, yielding 43.5 points per game.The Ducks are coming off a 52-27 loss to Stanford.Fourth-year coach Mark Helfrich, who guided the program to the national championship game in the 2014 season, acknowledged it has been a difficult season.Yeah the frustrations are different, he said.Theres always the segment of the team thats frustrated, whether thats a role or a position. Theres always something. This is different. Its not any fun. Not having a ton of fun, which is something you have to squeeze out of it at this point and play to their competitiveness and play to all those aspects of why theyre here.Utah has 25 takeaways and also leads the nation in net punting (45.3 yards per game). The Utes have picked off 17 passes. They are fifth nationally in sacks with 35, including 11 versus Arizona State.Coverage in the secondary was very good. If you can cover for that extra second, second-and-a-half, then the pass rush can show up, Whittingham said.A lot of the sacks were due to very good coverage in the back end, and a lot of them were due to the pass rush just getting on the quarterback quickly. It was a combination. That is how you play great pass defense.Utah will now take aim at Oregon freshman quarterback Justin Herbert, who took over as the starter in the sixth week. He has thrown for 1,432 yards and 15 scores while rushing for 122 yards and a touchdown, providing hope for the future.No question he cares a lot, Helfrich said.Last week, Utah defensive end Hunter Dimick rewrote some of Utahs single-game records with five sacks, 37 sack yards lost, and 6.5 tackles for loss. He also reached 27 career sacks, trying the school mark set by John Frank from 1996-99.Dimick is tied for the national lead with 12 sacks.Offensively, Utah running back Joe Williams, who retired from football for about a month at the start of the season, has made a significant mark in the past four games, rushing for 864 yards in that span, including a school-record 332 against UCLA. The Utes are third in the Pac-12 in rushing, averaging 212.9 yards a game.Quarterback Troy Williams had the best game of his career last week against Arizona States porous pass defense. Williams had a career-high 296 yards on 21-of-37 passing, with a career-best four touchdown passes.The ground or air method should work against Oregon.The Ducks rank 11th in the conference by allowing 255.9 rushing yards per game. Things might get worse as defensive lineman Austin Maloata, one of the teams top run-stoppers, was kicked off the team Sunday after an arrest.Oregon had allowed six consecutive Pac-12 teams to throw for 300 yards before Stanford, last in the league in passing, put up only 258 last week -- which was nearly double its season average.Utah enters the weekend in third place in the Pac-12 South, a game behind Colorado (6-1) and a half-game behind USC (6-2). The Utes already have a win over the Trojans. By winning out, Utah would, at worst, be in a tiebreaker situation in which it would hold the edge in all scenarios.Utah beat Oregon 62-20 last season in Eugene.All three phases seemed to click in that game, Whittingham said. It was almost flawless execution on offense from start to finish. Edmonton Oilers Pro Shop . The next step is a better finish. Bae played bogey-free Friday on another gorgeous day at Riviera for a 5-under 66, giving him a one-shot lead over Aaron Baddeley and Robert Garrigus going into the weekend. Edmonton Oilers Store . Breaking three of his own world records on his way to winning in Paris, Chan silenced the critics and left the audiences standing in appreciation and awe. https://www.cheapoilers.com/ . LOUIS -- Mike Smith is used to facing plenty of shots, so this was nothing new. Stitched Oilers Jerseys . MORITZ, Switzerland -- Fog prevented downhill racers from getting their Olympic dress rehearsal. Oilers Jerseys 2020 . Hargreaves began his career in 2008 with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and has played with the Edmonton Eskimos and last season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Pakistan captain Azhar Ali was finally able to crack a smile at the post-match presentations after his side finished the series with a morale-boosting victory to prevent a 5-0 sweep by England. Sarfraz Ahmed and Shoaib Malik laid the foundation during a fourth-wicket stand of 163, after both walked to the crease in the 14th over, as Pakistan pulled off their highest successful ODI chase outside of Asia.The victory was only Pakistans second in ODI cricket this year and ended a run of seven consecutive defeats to England in the format. Azhar admitted that there was still work to do, with the side ranked No. 9 in the world - they have slipped to their lowest-ever points tally since the ICC rankings were introduced - and facing a struggle to qualify automatically for the World Cup, but hoped the building blocks were in place to achieve better results in future.Its a very happy camp right now because it has been a very tough tour for us in ODIs, getting a victory at the end and finishing on a high is really good, especially chasing 300 is really satisfying, Azhar said. The series was gone but credit should be given to the boys for the way they played todays game.Its a very good feeling right now. The way Sarfraz and Shoaib batted, we lost two wickets in one over and that could have been a turning point of the game but the way they built up the partnership was brilliant.Series was gone, losing 4-1 is not a result you want, but the way things were as a team we wanted to finish on a good note and thats what we achieved. There are a lot of things need to be improved, as a team we have to gel together and keep working on it.Despite a 4-1 defeat, there were areas in which Pakistan could point to improvement. Azhar had praise for Hasan Ali, who made his debut in Ireland and picked up a career-best 4 for 60 in Cardiff, as well as the spinning allrounders, Imad Wasim and Mohammad Nawaz, who could help with Pakistans balance in one-day cricket. Imad scored 153 runs without being dismissed in the series while Sarfraz, who made 90 to go with a century at Lords, was the leading run-scorer on either side with 300 runs.A few guys we have seen on this tour have really stepped up, they are young guys and if they can play good consistent cricket we are looking at a bright future, Azhar said. These are very good signs and especially the way Sarfraz batted, this whole tour hhes been exceptional.dddddddddddd Hes been positive and scoring good runs at No. 5, so weve got some good performances but we just need to bind it together and start playing consistent cricket.Another positive was Azhar ending his own run of poor form, finishing fourth on the run-scorers list with 208 runs after making 82 at the Ageas Bowl and 80 at Headingley. Its important to score runs, Im in the team as a batsman. I was missing runs, I got a few 80s so that will really help my confidence, he said. Leading by example is very important I will try and keep that form in coming series so that will help the team.Despite a first limited-overs defeat of the summer, England captain Eoin Morgan was pleased with the teams progress. With a fourth series win out of six secured after three games, England held off a Pakistan fightback at Headingley to win by four wickets after being 72 for 4 but could not go on to claim only their second 5-0 whitewash in ODIs.Weve been outstanding, Morgan said. One of the things we identified before the Pakistan tour was we want to strive to be as consistent as we can. We dont want to be the best one day and the worst another. Every game throughout the series, weve come out with a hunger and determination to perform at our best.Even after winning the series 3-0 and being pushed back chasing 250, I thought we showed a huge amount of character LONDON -- For the second time in about six months, a protégé and near doppelganger of retired German star Steffi Graf will try to prevent Serena Williams from claiming a place alongside Graf as the all-time Grand Slam singles champ with 22 titles.The hopeful spoiler in the Wimbledon final once again is 28-year-old No. 4 seed German Angelique Kerber, who plays Williams on Saturday at 9 a.m. ET on ESPN. Despite never having appeared in a Grand Slam final, Kerber foiled Williams attempt to equal Graf in Januarys Australian Open final.I made a lot of errors in that match, Williams said of the match in Melbourne. [Kerber] made little to no unforced errors. She played great. She came out swinging, ready to win. She was fearless. Thats something I learned. When I go into a final, I, too, need to be fearless like she was.Williams comment is juicy, composed of equal parts humility and warning. Call it a sequel -- and more. Its the fourth episode of The Hunt for Grafs Record and the second that features Williams and Kerber as co-stars.As much as players avoid words like grudge match, how could they not be operative? Melbourne was nothing less than an upset by a championship-match neophyte. Its time to even the score.Williams has prepared well. Shes played commanding, cant-touch-me tennis ever since Christina McHale gave her a scare in a three-set, second-round battle. But the familiar emotional outbursts and cries of desperation that marked Williams progress -- and flameouts -- in recent tournaments have yielded to quiet confidence like thunder and lightning giving way to refreshing, washed-out silence.Right now I feel like its pretty good, Williams said. I felt great in other tournaments as well. But I feel a little different. I just feel more relaxed and more at peace than I may have been in the past.Williams greatest assets are her monstrous serves and the blazing pace of her returns and groundstrokes. Williams crushed Elena Vesnina in the semifinal in under an hour. The beaten Russian spoke of Williams with awe afterward. She acknowledged she could do nothing with Williams overpowering serve but reminded the media that there was far more to the six-time champions game.Vesnina praised Williams variety of spins and said of her serve return: Its so fast, you cannot even finish your serve, then the balls already passing you with a clear winner.Kerber is feeling just as calm and centered as Williams. Serial slumps followed two or three good tournaments after her breakout. Shes restored her status here.I think that I should play my game, being aggressive, just going for it, trying to win the match, not hoping that, yeah, she will miss, Kerber said. She will not [be] missing the ball. She will go out there trying to winning. I think this for me will be very important to take the match in my hands.At 5-foot-7, Kerber is an inch shorter than Graf, who played an athletic game based on speed and a punishing forehand. Kerber is mobile with a low center of gravity and a far more versatile game. She can use her wrists as effectively as flippers on a pinball machine.The two great resources Kerber hopes to draw on with grass instead of cement underfoot are her mobility and her serve. Shes not a sprinter, but shes a great mover who gets to a lot of balls and plays low ones especially well. Grass also likes left-handers; the southpaw slice is a particularly tough serve for right-handers to handle on grass.When I have not too many nerves, I can serve a little bit better, Kerber said. This makes me much more dangerous than on hard.Note the caveat about nerves that Kerber attached to the comment about her serve. In Australia, she overcame a history of growing and throwing in puffball serves under pressure. If she can reproduce that performance and resist the jitters, Williams will have to call on all her resources in her quest for No. 22.I expect, for sure, a really tough match, Kerber said. I know that she will go out and try to beat me, especially because she lost against me in Australia. Cleveland Cavaliers Gear .C. -- After a listless first half, the Washington Wizards used a big third quarter run to beat the Charlotte Bobcats Bradley Beal scored 21 points and the Wizards used a 17-0 run in the third quarter to take control of what had been a close game and beat the Bobcats 97-83 on Tuesday night. Jim Cleamons Jersey . -- In one brief spurt, Brazil turned a close game into a rout and proved again it will be a strong World Cup favourite. https://www.cheapcavaliers.com/332q-carlos-boozer-jersey-cavaliers.html . -- Ryan Getzlaf grabbed the three pucks wrapped in tape and held them up to his chest in the Anaheim Ducks dressing room for a celebration nine seasons in the making. Cedi Osman Jersey . It was the kind of score that might make everyone else wonder which course he was playing. Except that Graeme McDowell saw the whole thing. Crouched behind the 10th green at Sheshan International, McDowell looked over at the powerful American and said, "Ive probably seen 18 of the best drives Ive seen all year in the last two days. Butch Beard Jersey . With the short-handed Warriors needing help from someone -- anyone -- to stop a three-game skid, ONeal returned from right knee and groin injuries that had sidelined him for four games and put up season highs with 18 points and eight rebounds. It was just enough to help lift Golden State to a 102-101 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night.Paul Scholes says Manchester United fans want to see more entertaining football under Louis van Gaal. United could yet enjoy a successful end to the season by qualifying for the Champions League and winning the FA Cup, but some feel Van Gaals tenure at Old Trafford has been defined by the prosaic nature of the football in comparison to that played under Sir Alex Ferguson. They have scored just 44 goals in 36 league games this season, the same as Bournemouth and 26 fewer than top scorers Manchester City, who occupy the final Champions League spot in fourth. Juan Matas winner against Norwich has given United hope of a top-four finish United can leapfrog their rivals with a win at West Ham on Tuesday night, but former midfielder Scholes says fans will demand more entertainment next season, whoever is in charge.I think theres a lot of talent in the squad, its probably just the way theyve been playing that hasnt been entertaining enough, he told Sky Sports News HQ. There are players in the squad who have been at other clubs and have played different ways and can entertain. Theres a lot of talent, there are lads who have been there a year now like Memphiss and Schneiderlin and hopefully well be better next year.dddddddddddd I dont think theres major surgery needed, I think we need a striker and a centre-half and maybe a little bit of creativity in midfield and if we can find that and maybe a different style of playing football, I think United fans will be happy. Scholes says there is plenty of talent in the Manchester United squad I think theyd be happy with this season to be honest, if it was just a little bit more entertaining. Okay you dont want to be finishing fourth, you want to be fighting for the league, but thats just where were at at the minute, fighting for Champions League, for fourth spot and in with a chance of winning the FA Cup. Hopefully next year will be different.Scholes was speaking at an event to promote the TeamEllis football festival, an initiative to raise funds for Ellis Robinson, 17, who suffered a spinal injury while playing football earlier this year. Also See: Mata: Pressure on at West Ham Who gets into Europe? Sanchez tops Power Rankings Mersons predictions ' ' ' Leeds. We have shown a lot of strength throughout this series, and more to build on.England looked set to score more than the 302 for 9 that they managed in Cardiff, having been 219 for 4 with more than 12 overs to go, but lost 5 for 64 to limp through to the finish. That was consistent with their recent philosophy of going as hard as possible with the bat and Morgan was happy with the way they went about the innings after being inserted.We lost a lot of momentum by losing wickets in the fashion we did, Morgan said. We dont really worry about the consequences. We just want to be better at executing the shots we want to play so we can post 350. The fact we fell short and only got 300 isnt a bad thing.I thought Jason Roy played well, and Ben Stokes backed up his innings from Leeds again. Were disappointed to lose, but I dont think it was that bad a performance. ' ' '