COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Sindarius Thornwell and Duane Notice know theyve got work to do to help the South Carolina mens basketball team get ready for next season.The Gamecocks seniors -- and top two returning scorers -- are prepping to break in another new group of teammates. South Carolina lost three senior starters off last seasons record-tying 25-win team, then four other backups left after disciplinary issues.It was quite unfortunate that we lost some guys last year, but I think weve brought in some guys who bring some new elements to the team, Notice said. I like what Ive seen so far.Thornwell (13.4 points a game last season) and Notice (10.8 a game as a reserve) have worked out with South Carolinas newcomers and believe the bonding process will be quick and seamless.It starts later this summer as the team prepares for a trip to Costa Rica on Aug. 6-12, where it will take on that countrys national team in two games along with hosting clinics for area basketball fans.Gamecocks coach Frank Martin said hell try and stay in the background during the NCAA-allowed 10 practice sessions and have his assistants and seniors -- Thornwell, Notice and Justin McKie -- lead the way.Its something were ready for, said Notice, helping this week at a youth basketball clinic at Brookland Baptist Church. Sindarius and I are very competitive so practices are going to be very vocal and very instructive.Thornwell wants to lead South Carolina back to the NCAA Tournament where it has not played since 2004. The Gamecocks started 15-0, tied a program record with 25 wins and went 11-7 in the Southeastern Conference, yet were left out of the 68-team field on Selection Sunday.Thornwell had thought the Gamecocks had done enough to get in, but understands its up to the team to leave no doubt about where they belong next spring.Were just getting ready for the season, thats the biggest thing, Thornwell said. Were playing against each other every day.South Carolina has stability in its program in many others aspects besides the roster. Attendance finished at 22nd nationally at 11,995 per game, almost 3,400 more on average than Martins first season in 2012-13. Martin signed a four-year contract extension through 2022.Martin had a strong group of tall, talented freshman led by McDonalds All-American PJ Dozier. But three first-year players in Chris Silva, Eric Cobb and Jamall Gregory were involved in a property damage case after firing a BB gun near campus. Cobb and Gregory were dismissed.Another first-year player, Raymond Doby, was ticketed for marijuana possession and chose to transfer.Sophomore Marcus Stroman, suspended with Cobb, Gregory, Chris Silva and TeMarcus Blanton by Martin in March, also left.Silva and Blanton are back with the Gamecocks. Martin added six players, although Delaware transfer Kory Holden will sit out this season. Tops of the group could be Sedee Keita, a 6-foot-10 freshman from Philadelphia who picked the Gamecocks over LSU, UNLV and Penn State among others.All that means for Martin is another season of breaking in newcomers. Hes confident in his guards experience to lead the Gamecocks this winter. The trip to Costa Rica will speed that process along, Martin said.Weve got to handle this summer a little differently, he said.Kyrie Irving Cavaliers Jersey .S. Open champion Justin Rose birdied the first hole with a blind shot he hit to a foot of the pin, and he stayed in front Tuesday until he completed a 4-under 67 for a two-shot lead over Jason Dufner in PGA Grand Slam of Golf. Kevin Love Cavaliers Jersey . Carey Price didnt, but he still came out on top against one of his rivals for the No. 1 job at the Sochi Games. The Anahim Lake, B.C., native was stellar in making 39 saves in his home province and Lars Eller got credit for a bizarre short-handed winner as the Canadiens defeated the Canucks 4-1. https://www.thecavalierslockerroom.com/ . Murray beat Sam Querrey 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-3 to clinch Britains opening-round victory against the United States on Sunday at Petco Park. "Im proud of the way Im playing just now, because I had to do a lot of work to get back to where I want to be," Murray said after celebrating with his teammates on the red clay court in a temporary stadium in left field of the downtown home of baseballs San Diego Padres. Rodney Hood Jersey . LOUIS -- The New Orleans Saints looked like a team playing out the string. Shaquille ONeal Jersey . Los Angeles star goalie survived those perilous gymnastics with no problem, and he eventually backstopped the Kings to a skid-snapping win. Quick stopped 27 shots in his return from a 24-game injury absence, Jeff Carter scored the tiebreaking goal with 7:55 to play, and the Kings snapped their five-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night.CINCINNATI -- The Los Angeles Dodgers have placed a National-League leading 26 players on the disabled list this season. Slowly but surely, they are getting healthy.Good news abounded on Friday. Right-handed starter Bud Norris and left-handed reliever Adam Liberatore were reinstated from the DL and ace Clayton Kershaw will take a significant step forward in his rehab from a herniated disk on Saturday when he throws 20-25 pitches off the mound inside Great American Ball Park.Im always cautiously optimistic, manager Dave Roberts said on Friday. With all the things weve incurred, we still find a way.The news wasnt as good on the field Friday as Norris allowed six earned runs in 3 2/3 innings in his return in a 9-2 loss to Cincinnati.The Dodgers had won nine straight against the Reds. Theyll be looking to start another streak when Brett Anderson takes the mound Saturday hoping to improve on his season debut on Sunday when he allowed five runs and five hits in one inning of an 11-3 loss to the Pirates.Anderson will make his third career start against Cincinnati. In his two prior starts against the Reds, Anderson went 2-0 with a 2.13 ERA with just three earned runs given up in 12 2/3 innings. Cincinnati batted .224 against him in those outings.The Reds will counter with left-hander Brandon Finnegan who will make his 25th appearance and start of the season on Saturday. Hell face the Dodgers for the second time in his career.ddddddddddddFinnegans last start at Dodger Stadium was a memorable one.On May 23, Finnegan allowed one run and five hits through eight innings of a 1-0 loss. It was the first complete game by a Reds left-hander since Lance Davis beat the Tigers on July 16, 2001, at Cinergy Field.Finnegan, who was acquired last July in the trade which sent Johnny Cueto to the Kansas City Royals, has endured some hard luck this season.He was matched up against Kershaw in the aforementioned start in May. He took a no-hitter into the seventh inning on April 11 only to have it broken up with two outs then eventually lost the game. Finnegan also was the Reds starter on April 21 when Jake Arrieta no-hit them at Great American Ball Park.Fortunes for Cincinnati have turned around. Since the All-Star break, the Reds are 20-12 and have won eight of 10 series. They own the second-best record in the major leagues since the break.I understand that it was a tough first half and now its exciting to come to the ballpark knowing you have a chance to win, said Reds manager Bryan Price. Nobody wants to be at the bottom (off the standings). The overriding feeling in the first half, besides getting the pitching together, was were just a couple of pieces short. This is the way we envisioned the second half going. ' ' '
