Clan-Members » Mercedes team changes arent to blam

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- Virginia fans looking for assurances that they could still have high expectations despite the dismissal from the team of expected offensive stalwart Austin Nichols got plenty to feel good about Sunday in the No. 8 Cavaliers 62-38 victory against Yale.Marial Shayok scored 15 points, freshman Kyle Guy had 12 and Darius Thompson 11 in a balanced offensive display that complemented a Virginia staple: defense. The Cavaliers (3-0) held Yale scoreless for a stretch of nearly nine minutes in the second half, making it look easy.To be able to have them coming off the bench for us is huge, senior London Perrantes said of Shayok and Guy, who scored all but two points in a 16-0 run that turned a 37-33 lead into a runaway.Guy, former Mr. Basketball in Indiana, scored eight in the blitz, hitting a pair of catch-and-shoot 3-pointers that drew roars.It was surreal when the crowd erupted after we hit a shot or got a stop, he said.Blake Reynolds led Yale (2-1) with 10 points. The Bulldogs arrived averaging 93.5 points, had an early 8-0 burst and then never found any rhythm again. They made only 16 of 48 field goal tries (33 percent).Virginia had a lot to do with that. The Cavaliers had scoring runs of 22-0 in their opener against UNCG and 20-0 against St. Francis Brooklyn, and nearly matched that after Shayok scored off a feed from Perrantes to make it 39-33 and start the run with 15 minutes left.And while pulling away on offense, they never lost sight of their need to attend to the defensive side.They did a great job limited opportunities tonight, Bulldogs coach James Jones said.BIG PICTUREYale: The Bulldogs, who won their first NCAA Tournament game last season, will win plenty because they can score. They arrived at John Paul Jones Arena with five players averaging 12 points or better, including Downey (19.5 after averaging 5.7 last year) and Copeland (17 after averaging 2.3 last year). They also had 41 assists and just 17 turnovers coming in, but finished with 14 miscues and seven assists.Averaging 94 points a game, thats not us, Jones said.Virginia: The Cavaliers were somewhat stagnant early on offensively, which probably was to be expected after Nichols was kicked off the team on Friday for an unspecified violation of team rules . Nichols was with the team all last season as a transfer and much of the offense was expected to be inside-out. The adjustment may take several games, making a game against Iowa on Friday night loom as a stiffer test.That was something we thought we had, and now we dont, Bennett said of Nichols offense. We just have to adjust.WHERED THEY GO?Downey finished with just four points on 2-for-10 shooting, and Miye Oni, averaging 18.5 coming in, had three on 1-for-8 shooting.BLOCK PARTYRedshirt freshman is another Cavaliers player that will look to pick up the slack left by Nichols absence, and he is already becoming a fan favorite for his shot-blocking ability and incredible athleticism, which Perrantes compared to former Virginia star Justin Anderson, now making highlight reel plays for the NBAs Dallas Mavericks. Diakite had four blocks against the Bulldogs, giving him five in two games.STRUGGLING HALLDevon Hall has started all three games for Virginia as an off-guard, and off also has described his shot thus far.Through three games, hes just 3-for-14 from the field, including 1-for-6 from 3-point territory.UP NEXTThe Bulldogs stay on the road, and against ACC competition, as they play at Pittsburgh on Tuesday night.The Cavaliers face Grambling State in the second round of the Emerald Coast Classic before moving to Florida for Round 3 against Iowa.---More AP college basketball: http://collegebasketball.ap.org---Follow Hank on Twitter: www.twitter.com/hankkurzjr Francisco Liriano Jersey Bill Mazeroski Jersey . The CFLs leading rusher kept adding to his gaudy numbers this season and scored the winning touchdown with just over two minutes to play. The New Westminster, B.C., native plowed three yards into the end zone for the last score of a heated, see-saw battle between the two teams with the best records in the CFL. http://www.pittsburghpiratesprostore.us/Melky-Cabrera-pirates-jersey/ . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. Chris Archer Jersey . Jeff Green scored 13 points and Kris Humphries 12 for the Celtics, who nearly blew an 18-point, second-half lead. Sullingers 20-20 was the first by a Celtics player since Kevin Garnetts first game in Boston in 2007. Garnett was dealt -- along with Paul Pierce -- to Brooklyn during the off-season. Willie Stargell Pirates Jersey . 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.Lewis Hamilton has accepted he is likely to receive a grid penalty this season after receiving his second reprimand of 2016. During Russian GP qualifying, the world champion rejoined the track incorrectly after running wide at Turn Two and was called to see officials following the session.That reprimand followed an incident in Bahrain when he was cautioned for reversing in the pitlane after securing pole. Nico: Means less without LewisDrivers are only allowed three reprimands during the season before receiving a 10-place grid penalty and Hamilton branded his latest rap ridiculous after the race in Sochi, where he finished second behind Nico Rosberg. Hamilton defends Merc issues Brit has defended Mercedes despite more reliability issues Im just aware that theres most likely going to be at least one 10-place penalty in the future because Ive got one more reprimand to go, the world champion said. The last one was bloody ridiculous.Its quite funny. When I was in karting there was one steward, he was just there to make everyones weekend a bad weekend. And Im starting to have reminiscent experiences.Hamilton defends Merc despite reliability issuesFamilies would turn up and spend so much money to be there for weekend. There was one guy - complete a***hole this guy was, I heard hes still there - he was just there to ruin peoples weekend. Im starting to see signs of him.When asked which reprimand he was talking about, Hamilton replied he couldnt remember what the last one was.On being reminded of the two incidents, the Mercedes driver responded: Both of them! Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes team changes arent to blame for poor fortune.dddddddddddd Rosberg has started the year with four straight victories to take his winning streak to seven, and has also enjoyed a reliable start to 2016, whereas Hamilton has been dogged by engine issues and first-corner mishaps.In Russia, another failure meant he missed the final phase of qualifying and Mercedes had to fly parts out overnight to ensure he did not start from the pitlane.Drivers have five power units each to last a season, and exceeding that allocation incurs automatic penalties. With 17 grands prix remaining this season, Hamilton is aware of the consequences.Weve got a long way to go with not so many engines, he told Sky F1. So we just need to do a better job.Dont miss the F1 Report for all the analysis of the Russian GP at 8:30pm on Wednesday on Sky Sports F1. Natalie Pinkham is joined in the studio by Sky Sports F1s David Croft and Marc Priestley. Every race live in 2016 Sky Sports F1 brings you every race live in 2016. Fast and easy online upgrade - click here. Also See: Nico: Means less without Lewis How unlucky has Lewis been? ' ' '