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Buy Air Jordan 1 Australia . -- Theres one more hurdle in third-ranked Clemsons quest to get back to the College Football Playoff -- Saturday nights Atlantic Coast Conference championship game against No. 19 Virginia Tech.Win, and the Tigers (11-1, No. 3 CFP) are a lock for a berth in the national semifinals for the second straight season.Lose, and the dream of resolving unfinished business in January is over for Deshaun Watson and Co.Its all about the finish now, coach Dabo Swinney said Friday. The headline everybody is going to remember is the last one.For the record, Swinney was talking about his teams ACC aspirations.In reality, anything short of making it back to next months national title game -- and winning -- will be a huge disappointment for a team still drawing motivation from a six-point loss to Alabama in last seasons final.Underdog Virginia Tech (9-3, No. 23 CFP) is intent on not only showing up , but making the most of its first appearance in the ACC championship game since 2011.The Hokies, who last won the conference title in six years ago, reject the notion that all the pressure is on Clemson.Thats not where were at mentally. We know we have a tremendous challenge. We know were playing a well -coached, talented football team. But we didnt do all this work just to get here. We still have work left to do, Hokies coach Justin Fuente said.Our kids are prepared that way. And we know we have to play extremely well in order to get it close there at the end. But Ive stayed away from (saying) `youve got nothing to lose because I dont believe that, Fuente, the ACC coach of the year, added. I think weve got a great opportunity, and weve got a great group of kids that have worked incredibly hard for this opportunity.Five things to know about the first ACC title matchup between Clemson and Virginia Tech since 2010:ASK ME LATER: Swinney was asked how he feels about the prospect of second-ranked Ohio State receiving a spot in the CFP without playing in Saturdays Big Ten championship game, possibly over the winner of that game or another league champion. Ask me that on Sunday. Right now, its about beating Virginia Tech. Thats really all that matters to me. I could care less about Ohio State or any of the rest of them. Weve got to focus on what were trying to do, the Clemson coach said.When its over on Sunday, I think it would be a very clear picture. I think the committee will get it right, Swinney added. But for us, we just want to win and be there.HELLO, JUMBO: When Clemson absolutely needs to convert a short-yardage situation, it calls in the heavy offensive artillery -- namely, 310-pound defensive end Christian Wilkins and 340-pound defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. The two typically pave the way for a Tiger runner like Wayne Gallman to get through the stacked up front and into the end zone. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said the pair of defensive starters are athletic and adept at moving their feet to get in front of bull-rushing defenders. Wilkins is so agile, in fact, the Tigers have used him as an offensive weapon. He caught a fake punt pass for a first down in the College Football Playoff win over Oklahoma last season. This year, Wilkins caught a TD pass in Clemsons 30-24 win over Troy in September. He also converted a first-down on a 10-yard run on a fake punt against North Carolina State.BUCKY FACTOR: The Hokies always have a mismatch in the passing game with 6-foot-7 Bucky Hodges, who has played more wide receiver than tight end this year. Hodges is third on the Hokies with 42 receptions, but tied for the lead with seven catches for touchdowns. Hes too big for cornerbacks and safeties to cover one-on-one, too fast for most linebackers and a great attention-taker to free WRs Isaiah Ford and Cam Phillips to make things happen.WAIT FOR IT: Clemson receiver Mike Williams leads the Tigers with 79 catches for 1,114 yards and 10 touchdowns. Hes surpassed 1,000 yards in receiving yards for the second time in three full seasons, yet was not in the mix for the Biletnikoff Award given to college footballs best receiver. Dont worry too much, Swinney told Williams, hell hear his name called first when it matters most at the NFL draft. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Williams is expected to be a first-round selection at next springs draft. I think hes the most complete guy that weve had,Swinney said of a list that includes first-round picks in Deandre Hopkins (2013) and Sammy Watkins (2014).RUSH JOB: Clemsons Watson has hardly been touched this season, and Virginia Techs pass rush has not been especially effective, but defensive coordinator Bud Foster is one of the best in the country and will surely try to find ways to allow DE Ken Ekanem, DT Woody Baron and LB Tremaine Edmunds to disrupt Watson and try to force him into mistakes. Watson has thrown 14 interceptions, and turnovers in a game like this can be decisive.---AP Sports Writers Pete Iacobelli in Clemson, South Carolina; Hank Kurz in Blacksburg, Virginia; and Terrance Harris in Orlando contributed to this report.---More AP college football:
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http://www.airjordan1australia.com/ . The Nashville Predators were glad their captain was still on their side. Weber had a goal and two assists, and Roman Josi scored the shootout winner to lift the Predators to a 4-3 win over the Flyers on Thursday night. MINNEAPOLIS -- Andrew Wiggins career-best, 47-point outburst on Sunday for the Minnesota Timberwolves flashed the immense potential and the continuing growth in the third-year swingman.With Wiggins leading the charge, Minnesota has been among leagues best offensive teams. The Timberwolves are ninth in the league in scoring, averaging 107.9 points per game.The Charlotte Hornets have their own breakout star emerging in point guard Kemba Walker. Walker is a sixth-year pro whos had plenty of big moments in the NBA, but hes taken his scoring to another level by averaging a career-best 25.3 points per game.Wiggins, who begins the week as the NBAs ninth-best scorer at 26.3, and Walker (12th in the league in scoring) will lead their teams against each other Tuesday at Minnesota.With Wiggins setting career bests in points in two of the past four games, the Timberwolves (3-6) have won two of their past three games. Wiggins has asserted himself more on the offensive end this season and picked up the scoring slack in Saturdays 125-99 victory against the Los Angeles Lakers.Hes smart. Hes driven, Minnesota coach Tom Thibodeau said. I think sometimes mistakenly people take him as laid back. Hes competitive. I think hes just scratching the surface. I think he can do a lot more.Wiggins shot 14 of 21 in Sundays win, hit two 3-pointers and went to the line 22 times, knocking down 17 free throws. One of Wiggins weaknesses in the past had been his 3-point shooting, but he leads the league hitting 54.8 percent of his 3-pointers.Im finding myself; finding the things Im good at, the things I need to work at, Wiggins said. The games just kind of slowed down for me a little bit. Im able to read a lot of different defenses and how people are playing me, the defensive set.Walker isnt exactly new to his role as Charlottes go-to man. He averaged more than 20 points per game last season but hes expanded his impact this year. Walker is also averaging 5.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game, while hitting a career-best 47 percent of his 3s.The Hornets started the season 6-1 but have lost two in a row to the favorites in the Eastern Conference in Toronto annd Cleveland.
Wholesale Air Jordan 1 Australia. Walker scored a season-high 40 points in a loss to Toronto on Thursday before going extending his streak to eight games with at least 20 points with 21 in Saturdays loss to the Cavaliers.Walker was so frustrated by the loss on Saturday that he sat in front of his locker in his uniform shorts for more than 20 minutes.We just let the game get away from us, he said. They made some great plays and just found guys when they needed to. They were just making big plays down the stretch.Charlotte forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist returned to the lineup after missing a game with a strained back to notch 11 points and 10 rebounds while defending LeBron James. Kidd-Gilchrist could see much of Wiggins on the defensive end on Tuesday, but Minnesotas injury situation bears watching for matchups.Wiggins big game on Saturday came without starting shooting guard and third-leading scorer Zach LaVine, who was held out with a sore right knee. Thibodeau wasnt sure about the status of LaVine or backup swingman Shabazz Muhammad, who also missed the game with a sore right knee. With Brandon Rush also dealing with a sprained right big toe, the Timberwolves depth is being tested.The 6-foot-8 Wiggins moved to shooting guard against the Lakers with 6-10 Nemanja Bjelica getting his first start and playing small forward. Kidd-Gilchrist stands 6-7 while starting shooting guard Nicolas Batum is 6-8.Bjelica responded well to the unexpected assignment, scoring a career-high 24 with five 3s.The only thing, here everything is possible and you have to be ready every night, Bjelica said. I think I needed this game, especially for myself, because I had, last summer, many issues. First my injury, then I miss the Olympic Games, then I put lots of work. Thats it. I just played the best game so far that Im here.Charlotte will still be without guard Jeremy Lamb, but the hope is he could return by Friday against Atlanta. Center Roy Hibbert has soreness in his right knee and is expected to have his minutes limited. ' ' '
