Allgemeine Plauderecke » ite defenses could bail it out.UP NEXTKent

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- There were a lot of lofty expectations on the Maryland basketball team at this point last season, as the Terps were ranked in the Top 10 by several outlets.That is certainly not the case this year, though No. 25 Maryland could be a factor in the Big Ten and nationally come March.The Terps open the season at home Friday at 7 p.m. against American, a member of the Patriot League whose campus in northwest Washington, D.C., is about 12 miles southwest of College Park.American coach Mike Brennan, a former assistant at Georgetown, is well aware of the Maryland program.You always want to challenge yourselves and see where you stack up at the beginning of the year, said Brennan, a former player at Princeton in his fourth season with the Eagles. It is exciting; it is good for recruiting. The guys like it; they like the challenge.Maryland was 27-9 last season and lost to Kansas in the regional semifinals in the NCAA tournament. Terps outscored opponents by an average of 75.7-66.7 last season while AU was outscored 65.7-57.6. The Terps won the battle of the boards by an average of 35.1-32.5.But Maryland lost two key players to the NBA. Freshman center Diamond Stone was drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers and senior forward Jake Layman was taken by the Portland Trail Blazers.In addition, graduate senior Rasheed Suliamon, a transfer from Duke, exhausted his eligibility while Robert Carter Jr., a transfer from Georgia Tech, left a year early to play pro ball in Italy.The good news is that Melo Trimble, an all-conference guard, decided to return for his junior year after working out for NBA teams. He is the team leader among returnees in points (14.8), assists (4.9) and rebounds (3.9).Trimble is expected to play Friday despite hurting his ankle and playing just nine minutes in a 95-61 exhibition win against Division II Catawba on Saturday.Besides Trimble, the Terps have a strong freshman class, with point guard Anthony Cowan, 6-foot-7 forward Justin Jackson and 6-7 guard Kevin Huerter. Cowan and Jackson each had 15 points against Catawba.They are three young guys who are further along than the rest of them, Maryland coach Mark Turgeon said. Theyll all be ready to help us. Theyre ready to play.Anthonys something we really havent had since weve been here, Turgeon added. Hes fast -- probably one of the fastest guys in the league. He can really defend, pick it up full court and pressure the ball. Hes fast on the break and hes a pass-first point guard, which is great for our team right now.Maryland also has graduate transfer L.G. Gill, from Duquesne, who had 13 points against Catawba, and Dion Wiley, who missed last season with a right knee injury.Trimble and Cowan are both products of Prince Georges County, Md., and played for the same club program. Both played in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC), as Trimble starred at Bishop OConnell in Virginia and Cowan played at St. Johns College High in Washington.Hes a really good passer who can shoot, Trimble said of Cowan. But hes mostly a pass-first point guard, which is something thats good for our offense. With Anthony being here, I can play off the ball, which is something I havent (done) since I was in high school.The top player for American is Delante Jones, who averaged 12 points last season as the Patriot League Rookie of the Year. The Eagles are picked to finish fifth in the 10-team Patriot League after going 12-19 last season.The teams last met in December 2008 at Maryland; the Terps won 67-51. 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Fifth place Dallas and sixth-seeded Nashville also have 26 points, but the Stars have three games in hand on Winnipeg while Nashville has two. Kevin Bieksa Jersey .4 million title. Ryan Riess emerged with the title after a session in which he started behind, but used expert skill to gather the chips to his side amid the unpredictability of no-limit Texas Hold em. Riess put his final opponent Jay Farber all-in with an Ace-King.STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Trace McSorley isnt offended when he sees defenders packing the line of scrimmage, knowing their primary goal is to stop the electric running back lined up next to or behind him on any given play.The Penn State quarterback is content to build his own reputation as a playmaker, and eventually, a downfield-passer to be reckoned with.Although he and the rest of Penn States new-look offense started slowly in a 33-13 win over Kent State on Saturday, McSorley believes he made positive first steps toward that goal.When youve got Saquon (Barkley) in the backfield, teams are going to try to stop him, McSorley said. The first two drives we kind of got stalled out. The third drive we were able to get some first downs, push the ball down the field a little bit to our receivers to loosen them up a little bit and let Saquon get loose a couple of times.Barkley finished with 105 yards rushing, and Tyler Davis chipped in two field goals for the Nittany Lions. A 29-yard field goal in the second quarter gave Penn State a 16-13 halftime lead that grew as an opportunistic defense settled in and McSorley found receivers down the field.After hitting DaeSean Hamilton for a short touchdown pass in the first, McSorley slung a ball to Mike Gesicki for 30 yards to cap the scoring with less than two minutes to go. It was a satisfying finish for the quarterback whod tried to stretch Kent States underrated front seven early with deep throws to Saeed Blacknall and Gesicki that just missed.In the process, McSorley showed off own grittiness as a runner, chipping in 47 yards on the ground and lowering his head to finish off tacklers.I thought his composure was really good, Penn State coach James Franklin said. Thats just kind of who he is.Amani Oruwariye returned an interception for a score in the third quarter for the Nittany Lions who battered a trio of Kent State quarterbacks, sacking them seven times and forcing two more turnovers.Shane Hynes kicked two field goals for Kent State, and Elcee Refuge returned a McSorley fumble for a touchdown in the second quarter.ALL OR NOTHING FRONTPenn State safety Marcus Allen said earlier this week he and his defensive teammates had something to prove even after being ranked among the best defenses in college football each of the past two years.He understands losing three defensive linemen to the NFL will generate questions of the new guys. After Saturdays sack-filled performance, they have plenty to be proud of. But scrambling quarterbackss are still a problem.ddddddddddddKent States threesome of Justin Agner, Mylik Mitchell and George Bollas combined for 50 first-half yards on in scrambles or designed quarterbacks runs. Many came up the middle where defensive tackles Parker Cothren and Kevin Givens made their first career starts.It was either a sack or it was a scramble for a first down, Franklin said. Weve got to do a better job with our rush lanes on that side of the ball.INTERCHANGEABLE PARTSPerhaps Penn States greatest strength is the versatility it has among its back seven.The Nittany Lions showed a multitude of nickel looks with different linebacker and corner combinations. Penn State deployed a total of eight defensive backs and five linebackers to limit 129 yards on just 14-of-28 passing.Weve always been underrated since weve been here, Oruwariye said.THE TAKEAWAYKENT STATE: The Golden Flashes havent had much going for them offensively in quite a while, but their defense remains stout enough to give them hope.Kent States front seven kept the game within reach by limiting Barkleys running room early. Vaunted pass-rusher Terence Waugh killed a big wave of Penn State momentum midway through the second quarter when he hammered McSorley from his blindside, forcing a fumble that Refuge returned for a touchdown to tie the game 13-13. If Waugh can keep making plays, the Golden Flashes will have chances to turn games around.PENN STATE: A coordinator change doesnt guarantee immediate success. Saturdays sluggish start and uneven performance shows Joe Moorheads offense will need more time for all its parts to get on the same page.And the sooner the better as games loom against No. 7 Michigan, No. 6 Ohio State, and Maryland, teams that hung at least 52 points on its opponents in their openers. A bunch of missed tackles against Kent State is further evidence that Penn States offense will have to pull more weight than it has in the two previous years when elite defenses could bail it out.UP NEXTKent State will try to snap its six-game losing streak when it hosts FCS foe North Carolina A&T next Saturday.Penn State and Pittsburgh will renew a long-dormant rivalry when the Nittany Lions travel to Heinz Field next Saturday for the first game in a home-and-home series. Penn State leads the series 50-42-4 and has won seven of the last eight. Pittsburgh won the last meeting 12-0 in 2000. ' ' '