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SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Notre Dame is eager to show the college basketball world what its got.After back-to-back NCAA Tournament regional final appearances, the only school to accomplish that feat the past two years, expectations outside the locker room were lower this season after the Fighting Irish lost last seasons two leading scorers, Demetrius Jackson and Zach Auguste. The Irish were picked in the preseason to finish seventh in the Atlantic Coast Conference.The Irish players have been talking all along about the possibility of being even better than last season. So far, theyve looked looking pretty good as they moved into the Top 25 for the first time this season on Monday at No. 23.Weve got a little more here than everybody thought, coach Mike Brey said.The Irish are 8-0, matching their best start in 17 seasons under Brey and are averaging 89.1 points a game, also the best under Brey through eight games, and 10th in the nation overall.The Irish are playing a more wide open style, depending less on ball screens to get open shots.Now were just swinging it and cutting and things like that. I think were getting out in transition more, too. Thats one thing thats been great for us, said forward V.J. Beacham said.The Irish also are playing better defense, too, something the Irish havent been known for under Brey. Notre Dame is holding opponents to 62.6 points a game, 39th in the nation, and to 36.7 percent shooting, 17th in the country. Senior guard Steve Vasturia said he believes it could be the best team defensively hes been on.Lets see if we can continue to get better, Vasturia said.The Irish also are leading the nation in free-throw shooting at 85.8 percent.If we miss, Ill bet the crowd will just walk out of the building, Brey joked.Both Beacham and Bonzie Colson, who has had five straight double-doubles, are leading the Irish in scoring, averaging 17.1 points each. Vasturia is averaging 15.9 points and the Irish have nine players contributing regularly, which is more than Brey usually uses. Brey said he likes the intensity of Rex Plfueger, Notre Dames best defender, and T.J. Gibbs.They give you a great energy boost and defensive boost when theyre in there, Brey said.Critics will say the Irish havent played anyone yet, with Colorado (6-2) and Northwestern (6-2) the only teams theyve faced with winning records. That is about to change. The Irish host upstart IPFW (7-2) on Tuesday two weeks after the Mastodons upset Indiana, then play No. 1. Villanova at Newark, New Jersey, on Saturday and No. 18 Purdue a week later in Indianapolis.Its a great stretch for us to make a run, Beacham said.The Irish are the last unbeaten team left in the ACC and a win Tuesday night would make it the fourth-best start in school history, ranking behind 1945-46 (13-0), 1973-74 (12-0) and 1933-34 (11-0).Brey is enjoying watching the Irish.Theyre really special the way they like playing together, sharing the ball. Youve got skilled shooters with skilled passers, its just fun to watch, he said.---More AP college basketball: www.collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25. David Lee Jersey .Y. - New Orleans forward Anthony Davis was chosen Friday to replace the injured Kobe Bryant in the NBA All-Star game that will be played in his home city. Andrew Bogut Jersey . 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Jordan Siev, a lawyer for Rodriguez, wrote in a joint letter to the judge from lawyers on both sides that MLB lawyers planned to ask that the lawsuit be dismissed. LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- New Bears offensive lineman Josh Sitton swears the decision to sign with NFC North rival Chicago was not meant to get back at the Green Bay Packers, who released the three-time Pro Bowl guard over the weekend.Honestly, it didnt have anything to do with sticking it to the Packers, Sitton said Monday. Im more familiar with the division. [Chicago is] close to where I was. I like the weather up here. We had a few other teams interested. Its too damn hot in the south.With a three-year, $21.5 million contract in hand, Sitton, 30, is getting a crash course in the Bears offense with six days left until the regular-season opener. The veteran smiled when asked how quickly he expects to learn the new terminology.Ask me next Monday, Sitton said. Ill let you know. The offense is completely different. Obviously, all the plays you run are the same thing. Its just terminology. You got to learn it. That shouldnt be too terrible.But I wanted to get the decision made yesterday or today, as quickly as I can. I wanted to get to where I was going and be able to learn the offense and be able to jump in right this week. The longer it took, the harder it would have been to learn the offense. Chicago, they had me in first, and they got it done first.Fellow guard Kyle Long said Monday he actively recruited Sitton over the weekend when news broke that Green Bay wanted to move in a different direction on its offensive line.dddddddddddd Long and Sitton know each other from playing in the Pro Bowl the past three seasons.I just wouldnt let myself get out of the loop on it, Long said. I wouldnt get out of his ear. Getting him here was really big. Credit our guys upstairs for making it happen.Long continued: I think it shows that we want to win. Its an exciting time. Obviously bringing in a guy like Josh, who has done it for so long. ... At the beginning of the year, when I think about guys I got to beat out to be the guy, No. 71 is usually one of the two of three guys that I circle as guys I have to beat. Now he is on our team. Its a great thing for our group. I know Jay Cutler probably appreciates it.If Long is healthy -- he practiced Monday for the first time since suffering shoulder injury -- Sitton is slated to take over at left guard, a move that could slide rookie Cody Whitehair over to center. Whitehair played left guard the entire preseason before Chicago landed Sitton on Sunday night.I think [center is] his best position, coach John Fox said of Whitehair, the Bears 2016 second-round pick. Unfortunately, prior to the acquisition of Josh, we werent real fluid to put him there a whole lot, but he has had reps. ' ' '