Clan-Members » mention when it came to depth. The Bulldogs looked ex

MANCHESTER, England -- Pep Guardiola started the season calling Antonio Conte a master tactician. Now, hes labeling him maybe the best coach in world football.His statistics, his numbers, the way they play, are really good, Guardiola said Friday, a day before his Manchester City side takes on Contes Chelsea in a match between two of the title favorites in the English Premier League.It will be the first time that Guardiola, a serial winner in spells at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, and Conte, who won three Italian titles with Juventus, have come up against each other as managers. They vaguely recall facing each other as players when Juventus (Conte) played Brescia (Guardiola) in Serie A in 2003.You and me had hair in that time! Guardiola said, laughing. Wow, it was a long time ago.City and Chelsea sit in the top three of the Premier League after 13 games, with their coaches having contrasting starts to their first jobs in English football.City won its first 10 games in all competitions under Guardiola but has stuttered since, winning just three of its last seven matches in the Premier League.It took Conte time to get his methods across at Chelsea, but he now has the team firing after switching to his favored three-man defense. With seven straight wins in the new 3-4-3 formation, Chelsea leads the league.They were contenders to win the Premier League from the beginning but now, maybe more than before. Its a good test for us, said Guardiola, who gave his players two days off this week ahead of the game.We are going to take them on with ambition and see what we can do to win the game.Chelsea has conceded just one goal in its recent winning run that has taken in victories over Hull, Leicester, Manchester United, Southampton, Everton, Middlesbrough and Tottenham.Tomorrow is a great test for us, for our formation, to continue in this way, Conte said. We know that it wont be easy because tomorrow we face a really great team.We want to show we are working very well and we are growing. Tomorrow is another step to show us if something changed compared to the start of the season. Cheap Will Clark Jersey . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. Cheap MLB Jerseys Authentic . 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Getting set to go their separate ways for a short Christmas break, the Raptors coach credited his team for their effort on a seemingly impossible three-game road trip, urging them to build on that success when they get back to work at the end of the week. LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Despite all the rim-rattling dunks that Kansas freshman Udoka Azubuike had Friday night, the play that stood out to UNC Asheville coach Nick McDevitt was the only shot the big man missed.Got his own rebound and dunked it, McDevitt said with a shake of his head.Azubuike had seven dunks in all, finished with 17 points in his first career start and helped the fifth-ranked Jayhawks roll to a 95-57 victory over the Bulldogs in their return to Allen Fieldhouse.I tried not to think about it because I was just like, everyone told me, right before the game started, `Go out there and play your game, Azubuike said. Have fun.Just about everyone had fun for the Jayhawks (5-1): Frank Mason III led all scorers with 21 points, Josh Jackson added 14, Lagerald Vick had 12 and Devonte Graham finished with 11 assists.The result was their 42nd straight win at Allen Fieldhouse.They kind of overpowered us around the basket, doubling us up rebounding-wise, McDevitt said. We knew they had a -- pardon the pun -- a big size advantage on us, but I just didnt think we negated that size well enough by putting enough pressure on the ball.The only bummer for Kansas came in the closing minutes, when Graham banged up his right big toe on a drive to the basket. He did not return, though he said later that it wasnt anything serious.Kevin Vannatta and Ahmad Thomas led Asheville (3-3) with 12 points apiece.The Jayhawks, coming off their CBE Classic triumph in Kansas City, never had much trouble with their Big South opponent in just their second game at the Phog this season.Mason got things started with three 3-pointers in a span of a couple of minutes, but it was the way that Kansas dominated inside that put the game away early. Azubuike began pounding at the rim with some ferocious dunks while Jackson, their springy freshman phenom, kept gliding to the rack.At one point, the pair scored four straight baskets on dunks.Azubuike got the start over sophomore Carlton Bragg Jr. and senior Landen Lucas, both of whom struggled in the CBE Classic. And when the two came off the bench and eeach picked up two fouls, it gave coach Bill Self all the reason he needed to keep Azubuike in the game.ddddddddddddAsheville tried to guard the 7-foot, 280-pound behemoth with Giacomo Zilli, who checks in at 6-9, 215, with predictable results. Azubuike bullied to the basket every time he wanted the ball.Now, getting lobs and stuff, youre not going to get that against some teams, Self said, but `Doke is so good at catching above the rim -- hes about the best Ive seen at it.The Jayhawks led 58-34 at halftime before cruising over the final 20 minutes.I think were going to be a team thats unlike most teams weve had. Were going to start based on scouting report most times, Self said. We havent ever done that. If a team starts small, well go small, if a team goes with two bigs, well go two bigs. But it was nice to see Udoka have success. He can do some things that none of us can.BIG PICTUREUNC Asheville was overmatched at every position, not to mention when it came to depth. The Bulldogs looked exhausted in the second half as the Jayhawks kept getting into transition for easy baskets.Kansas used Vick and Azubuike in a new-look starting five. It sent a message to Bragg and Lucas to pick it up -- which they did in the second half -- while showcasing the Jayhawks versatility.GRAHAM-MY WINNERSure, the dunks will make the highlights, but Self thought Graham played as well as anyone. Along with 11 assists, he also had six points and two steals with only two turnovers. I thought Devonte was certainly the facilitator, Self said. He was really good.DEEP THREATEven with the big size advantage, the Jayhawks still lit it up from the arc. Mason was 5 for 5 from 3-point range, Vick was 3 for 4 and Graham and Svi Mykhailiuk also hit two 3s. The Jayhawks wound up 13 of 21 from beyond the arc.UP NEXT:UNC Asheville returns home to face Division II Brevard on Tuesday night.Kansas continues its five-game home stand against Long Beach State on Tuesday night. ' ' '