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CINCINNATI -- The highest preseason ranking in Xaviers history was met with a shrug in the locker room. These Musketeers have gotten accustomed to the breakthroughs.No. 7 Xavier put together one of the finest seasons in its history, one that ended with one of its biggest disappointments. A second-round loss to Wisconsin during the NCAA Tournament ended the run prematurely. And now, the Musketeers are back for an encore.We talked about it as a team, guard J.P. Macura said. We figured were going to come back stronger this year and kind of put it past us.Xavier returns the nucleus of a team that went 28-6, was ranked No. 5 for five weeks -- the highest ranking in school history -- and finished second behind Villanova in the Big East. The Musketeers went 6-1 against Top 25 teams and 3-0 against Top 10 teams, and got the first NCAA No. 2 seed in school history.Their burst into national prominence prepared them for more of the same.Weve already had that experience, going through it for a year, junior guard Trevon Bluiett said. Its kind of like we know what to expect rather than just running around like chickens. I think last year definitely prepared us for this year.The Musketeers return four of their top six scorers in Bluiett (15.1 points per game), Myles Davis (10.8), point guard Edmond Sumner (11) and Macura (9.4). Davis, a senior guard, is suspended indefinitely while facing misdemeanor charges alleging he damaged his former girlfriends property.Their biggest loss is on the front line. Forwards James Farr and Jalen Reynolds combined for more than 14 rebounds per game last season. Itll be more of a group effort this time around.Were going to look different, coach Chris Mack said. Thats what college basketball is all about. We may not have one or two guys like a year ago who average close to double figures.Some things to watch:QUICKER BLUIETT: The 6-foot-6 guard dropped his weight from 217 pounds to 194 in the offseason, trying to add quickness and strength. His teammates and coaches have noticed a difference in practice.Whats changed is his ability to sustain his level of play, Mack said. It does make him quicker, so Id like to see him add an ability to get to the rim more than he has in years past. If anything, it should give Trevon the ability to sustain the level of play.SUMNER GROWS UP: Sumner averaged 3.6 assists as a redshirt freshman last season. He showed an ability to dash past defenders for acrobatic moves to the hoop but too often took a difficult shot instead of passing. His charging call set up Wisconsins winning shot in the tournament. Hes more of a vocal leader in practice and showing a more rounded game.When he gets to the rim, he makes better decisions, Mack said. He doesnt force shots. Hes finding those (open) guys really, really well.GATES REHAB: The Musketeers are looking for 6-foot-8 sophomore forward Kaiser Gates to grow into a big role after averaging 10 minutes, 3.2 points and 2.6 rebounds last season. He tore cartilage in his left knee and had surgery on Oct. 21. Hes expected back on the court in about two weeks.NEWCOMERS: Senior forward RaShid Gaston sat out last season after transferring from Norfolk State. Forward Malcolm Bernard, a graduate student from Florida A&M, also will help. Freshman guards Tyrique Jones and Quentin Goodin will ease into playing time.I would say Tyrique Jones has kind of stood out because hes a freshman but hes not playing like a freshman, Bluiett said. We need him to play a big role for us. One other guy that stands out to me is Malcolm. Hes completely transformed his game.---More AP college basketball: http://collegebasketball.ap.org All Red Air Max 97 . Malkin got tangled up with Detroits Luke Glendening early in the third period and his left skate took the brunt of collision with the boards behind Pittsburghs net. Cheap Air Max 97 Grey .ca NFL Power Rankings, overtaking the Denver Broncos and remaining ahead of NFC competition San Francisco, Carolina and New Orleans. http://www.cheapairmax97.com/ . -- Teemu Selanne scored the first goal of his 22nd NHL season, and the Anaheim Ducks extended the best start in franchise history with their fifth straight victory, 3-2 over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. All White Air Max 97 .1 million pounds ($61.2 million) on Saturday, giving the beleaguered English Premier League champions a major lift. Green Air Max 97 Outlet . Takahashi, who had a 10-point lead after the short program, received 268.31 points after the free skate to finish 15 points ahead of second-place Nobunari Oda. SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Stanford vs. Notre Dame looked like a marquee game before the season began.Its not drawing much midseason interest. Not with the Fighting Irish (2-4), who started the season ranked No. 10, trying to avoid losing three straight at home for the first time since 2007, and the Cardinal (3-2), ranked No. 8 in preseason, trying to avoid their first three-game losing streak since 2007.Stanford also could be without Heisman Trophy runner-up Christian McCaffrey because of an unspecified injury . So instead of a game with playoff implications, like last year when the teams traded leads twice in the final 30 seconds, both head into Saturday struggling.I still believe were a good football team trying to find its way, Stanford coach David Shaw said. We have these things that are correctable and guys who are capable.The Cardinal have been blown out in back-to-back games, losing 44-6 to Washington and 42-16 to Washington State. Stanford, known for its dominant offensive lines, has struggled up front. The Cardinal rank 100th in the nation in rushing, averaging 140.8 yards, and 106th in sacks allowed.Shaw said the offensive line is not the only unit not playing consistently well.We have been inconsistent one through 11. It looks like the offensive line because we didnt run with any efficiency early in the game and because of the sacks. We all have a hand in it, he said.The problem for the Irish is their defense. Defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder was fired three weeks ago, and the offense hasnt been able to come up with enough big plays late. Kelly believes the Irish need a win to get things going.They just have to break through. Theyre doing all of the things I am asking them to do. Theyve just got to go win, he said.It will be the first time since 2009 the Cardinal and Irish have played where neither is ranked.Other things to know about the Stanford-Notrre Dame:SLOWING MCCAFFREY: The Irish were successful in slowing McCaffrey last season, holding him to 94 yards on 29 carries with no touchdowns.ddddddddddddIf you can control the line of scrimmage or win the match-ups up front, you can definitely slow him down, said Kelly, who expects McCaffrey to play.The Irish rank 84th in the nation in rush defense, giving up 181.2 yards a game.INJURY UPDATE: Both teams expect to get key contributors back from injuries. The Cardinal are expected to have cornerback Quentin Meeks and receiver Francis Owusu while the Irish are expected to have running back Tarean Folston, who missed the past two games.INTERCEPTION STREAK: Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer has thrown interceptions in five straight games. Overall he has completed 104 of 177 passes for an average of 270.2 yards a game with 14 touchdowns and five interceptions.HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE: The home team has won seven of the last eight games in the series, with Stanford winning in Kellys first season in South Bend in 2010. Stanford has won only three times in 15 games at Notre Dame.CLOSE GAMES: Seven of the past nine games have been decided by a touchdown or less. Two of those games were decided on final plays: in 2012, when a wall of Notre Dame defenders stopped Stepfan Taylor inches from the end zone on fourth-and-1 in overtime and last season when Conrad Ukropina kicked a 35-yard field goal 30 seconds after the Irish scored what they thought was the game-winning touchdown.TICKET SALE: People with tickets for the game, which have a face value of $125, have had trouble getting rid of them. On Wednesday a ticket was priced as low as $29.98 on StubHub and on Friday a ticket was selling for $41. Tickets together were going for as low as $54 apiece. ' ' '