Globale News » ive unit. Theyre physical, they move

Las Vegas, NV (SportsNetwork.com) - The third-ranked Arizona Wildcats close out a brief two-game road trip on Tuesday, as they take on the UNLV Runnin Rebels in a non-conference clash at the Thomas & Mack Center. Sean Millers Wildcats will try to wrap up their non-conference slate perfect, as they have opened the 2014-15 campaign with 12 straight victories thus far. Arizona played its first true road game of the season last Friday and edged out UTEP, 60-55 to remain unbeaten. Dave Rices Rebels are in the midst of their toughest slate of games in school history, as they will have taken on three top-15 teams in a 16-day period. The set opened on Saturday with a 59-46 loss to No. 14 Utah and will conclude with a Jan. 4 showdown with now No. 10 Kansas in Lawrence. The loss to the Utes this past weekend dropped the Rebels to 7-3 on the season, but the team is a perfect 5-0 at home thus far. UNLV holds an 11-7 lead in the all-time series with Arizona, but Arizona claimed victory in last years clash , 63-58. The Miners stayed within striking distance for much of the game, the Wildcats were able to distance themselves down the stretch and escape El Paso with their flawless record intact. Freshman Stanley Johnson was once again instrumental in the victory, netting a team-high 17 points. Gabe York added 13 points and Brandon Ashley tacked on 10 for Arizona, which shot a decent .455 from the floor and forced UTEP into 18 turnovers. The Wildcats were subdued offensively by the Miners, but that hasnt been the norm this season. In fact, the team has excelled at both ends of the court, averaging 77.1 ppg, while holding foes to just 59.4. The team also holds positive rebounding (+8.3) and turnover (+2.7) margins. The 6-foot-7 Johnson has made an immediate impact in Tucson, as he is shooting nearly 50 percent from the floor and averages a team-best 14.7 ppg. He is also second on the team in rebounding with 6.3 rpg. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is next in the scoring column at 11.9 ppg and is tops on the team in rebounding (6.5 rpg), despite coming off the bench exclusively. Ashley rounds out the double-digit averages with his 11.6 ppg, although York (9.8 ppg) isnt far off the mark. In the Rebels first-ever game on the Las Vegas Strip (MGM Grand), they gave the Utes all they could handle in the first half, as they trailed Utah by just a single point at the break (24-23). However, the Utes caught fire over the final 20 minutes of action, shooting .500 from the floor, while UNLV floundered with a .296 showing in the second stanza. Rashad Vaughn was the only Rebel to notch double digits, netting 16 points. Christian Wood added eight points and 13 rebounds in the losing effort. The 46 points against Utah were a season low for UNLV, which comes into this contest averaging 67.5 ppg on .439 shooting. The defensive effort however, has been much more consistent, with the Rebels allowing just 63.7 ppg and holding foes well under 40 percent efficiency from the floor (.369). Vaughn leads the team in scoring at a solid 17.3 ppg. Wood is the only other reliable contributor on the roster, averaging a near double-double with 12.9 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. The 6-11 sophomore is a difference maker above the rim, averaging just over three blocks per game. Clyde Drexler Rockets Jersey .Y. -- Sore nose and all, Sidney Crosby had a goal and three assists to help Pittsburgh beat Buffalo 5-3 on Friday night, snapping the Penguins mini-slump and slowing the Sabres late-season surge. Houston Rockets Jerseys .C. - Heat coach Erik Spoelstra says Danny Granger, Chris Andersen and Udonis Haslem are still not ready to play and will miss Wednesday nights game against the Charlotte Hornets. http://www.therocketsofficial.com/Authentic-Robert-Horry-Rockets-Jersey/ .com) - DAngelo Harrison posted 21 points to guide No. Charles Barkley Rockets Jersey . - Dolphins safety Louis Delmas has been carted off the field with a right knee injury against the Ravens. James Harden Rockets Jersey . According to the Red Wings Twitter feed, Zetterberg plans to practice with the team on Thursday and is aiming for a second round comeback.VANCOUVER -- Kadeisha Buchanan sometimes has to pinch herself. The 18-year-old defender with Canadas womens soccer team was always confident in her ability, but she never thought her rise would happen this fast. "I did not expect to come in at such a young age," the Toronto native said this week. "Sometimes when Im in my room I just relax (and think) Im actually here. This is a huge opportunity that Im willing to take and do my best." After scoring her first goal with the national team in a 1-1 draw with the United States last month, Buchanan will get another chance to show off her talents when Canada hosts Germany in another friendly on Wednesday night. And as Canada continues its preparations ahead of hosting next years womens World Cup, Buchanan has fit in seamlessly with the national team after impressing at lower levels. "I dont think its difficult because my teammates just encourage me to bring what I bring to the team," said Buchanan. "Theyre very accepting to what I bring." Canada head coach John Herdman said Buchanan -- who will play at this summers under-20 womens World Cup on home soil -- has impressed him ever since he first saw her at an under-17 camp in 2011. "She was just streets ahead of anything Id seen before," said the Englishman. "We didnt fancy taking her to the (2012) Olympics because she was 15. She probably could have handled it, to be honest. Shes that good." Herdman said Buchanans versatility is what has made her such an effective player in 13 appearances for her country, including 11 starts. "Weve challenged all the senior players to start showing the DNA of a modern centre back, and a modern centre back can play like a midfielder," he said. "They can disguise their passes, they have a range of different types of passes and they can defend. These younger players have been able to do that. Kadeishas never given her shirt back." Canada comes into Wednesdays game at B.C. Place Stadium ranked seventh in the world by FIFA, while the Germans sit No. 2 behind only the Americans. Herdmans team lost 1-0 in Germany last year in game that saw Canada defend well, but fail to get much going offensively. With less than a year until the World Cup, he wants to see more positive play as the team continues to build towards the showcase tournament. "We have to shift forward pretty quickly on how we attack the game. I think thats been a big emphasis over the last couple of days," said Herdman. "Last time we played against Germany we defended well, we hung on for 90 minutes, kept it within one goal. But we definitely didnt threaten them in a way that, if youre going to win a World Cup, you have to. "Im hoping that were a bit more lively. The game might be a bit more open and they might get a few more chances to score because were trying to change a few things in the way we go about how we play. Judge us on the amount of shots, crosses we have in the game and that will give an idea of how weve progressed against Germany." Canadian captain Christine Sinclair said Wednesdays game is crucial as the team looks to see where it stacks up against the worlds best on the field that will host next years final.dddddddddddd. "This is a huge preparation game for us," said the veteran striker. "Obviously a World Cup venue and were playing the second-ranked team in the world. I dont think many people understand that. They just see the Americans. Germany is a quality side. "Its a completely different test for us." Herdman has tried to implement a more free-flowing system since Canadas bronze-medal performance at the London Olympics two years ago, and despite that 1-1 draw with the U.S. in May, Sinclair said the players still have a ways to go. "I think consistency for us right now is very important. Were coming off a decent result against the Americans," she said. "Its important for us to be able to put together another one against another top side because thats whats going to be expected in the World Cup." While Canada has continued to produce good young talent in defence and midfield, the country still relies heavily on the 31-year-old Sinclair for goal scoring. Herdman said the national team is constantly trying to identify and develop talent in the attacking third, but it has not come easy. "You have to be ready to have a talent system where you have a profile, you know what that profile is and players then develop from the age of 13 on to fit that profile," he said. "I think thats not what weve done in the past. We havent had a very clear profile. "Its going to take time, but with the talent weve got, another (Sinclair) is going to pop up soon." Herdman said he expects Germany to present its usual well-organized defence on Wednesday, adding that his side will have to be clever in attack if its going to defeat the European giants for the first time. "Its got to be a high-tempo, possession game and weve got to have players with the technical capacity to work against that German block," he said. "There isnt a better defensive unit. Theyre physical, they move collectively together on every blade of grass, theyre so hard to break down. Its a huge challenge. "Youre going to see one of the best teams in the world here -- a huge challenge ahead of us." A year out from the World Cup, another huge challenge will be how Canada deals with the pressure that is already starting to mount as tournament hosts. But its something Herdman said both he and the players will relish. "When you come into a job like this, at the end of the day my role is to help these girls fulfil their dreams," said Herdman. "They want to win a World Cup here. I think collectively we all feel a bit of pressure that we dont want to let the country down, but were just going towards it, embracing it. "Its what gets us out of bed in the morning. We look it as our opportunity and not a curse. As soon as it becomes a curse, then you lose sight of why you come to work." ' ' '