Both Michigan State and St. Johns have to be thrilled about spending their respective Thanksgivings in the Bahamas, but the trip will have an entirely different level of euphoria for Spartans junior guard Lourawls Nairn.It will be special homecoming for Nairn, who was raised in Nassau before moving to the United States when he was 13 in order to pursue opportunities to play basketball.During the three-day Battle 4 Atlantis on Paradise Island, this will be the first and likely only opportunity some family members and friends of Nairns have or ever will see him play basketball in person.Its kind of amazing to be home, Nairn said. Just going back to the school today brought back memories when I was a kid of all the dreams I had of playing basketball in America.Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo called it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Nairn, a player he has praised constantly since he arrived on campus, saying hes got wings following Sundays win over Florida Gulf Coast.Today we got a chance to go out in the community and visit his school and that was educational for our guys, Izzo said during a press conference on Tuesday. Hopefully we get a little basketball, a little enjoyment and a little education. I think its important for us to grow as a team while we are here.The first step for No. 24 Michigan State enjoying its basketball experience over the next three days will come at 7 p.m. on Wednesday against St. Johns in the first round of the tournament.St. Johns is 2-1 in the second season under Chris Mullin, the former star in the 1980s for the Red Storm who is back coaching his alma mater.Coming off a 92-86 loss at Minnesota on Friday, the Red Storm have so far relied heavily on the freshman backcourt combination of Marcus LoVett and Shamorie Ponds.LoVett is averaging 24.3 points a game for the first three games, while Ponds is averaging 17.3 points a game.Michigan State (2-2) has won two straight following season-opening losses to top-10 opponents Arizona and Kentucky, although it barely squeaked by Florida Gulf Coast at home on Sunday, winning 78-77.The Spartans have been led by freshman Miles Bridges (16.0 ppg), but the play of senior Eron Harris was a nice sight on Sunday against Florida Gulf Coast.With Florida Gulf Coast placing a lot of emphasis on containing Bridges, Harris stepped up with 31 points, going a perfect 6-for-6 from 3-point range.The winner will face either Baylor or Virginia Commonwealth in a semifinal on Thanksgiving Day.This will be the first appearance for both teams at the Battle 4 Atlantis, which is now in its sixth year of existence.Its tournaments like this that give you a chance to do a little bonding as a team, Izzo said. It gives you a chance to compare three days in a row, which is more like the NCAA tournament. It gives you a chance to face different kinds of teams. Win, lose or draw, its going to be a good experience for us. Air Max 90 Canada Sale . Thousands of fans at Mosaic Stadium will be cozying up to each other in an effort to stay warm in chilly temperatures and block the Prairie wind that locals say can knock your socks off. Nike Air Max Canada Sale . In Europe, top teams seem to be largely happy with their squads after spending nearly $1 billion in the off-season. And although English league clubs are unlikely to splash cash in January, Arsenal and Chelsea could be tempted to strengthen their squads with new strikers. http://www.clearanceairmaxcanada.com/ . There are surprises among the Vezina candidates, but most of the others are standard top-tier performers, even if the two Hart Trophy runners-ups have never been quite as good as they have been through the first half of the season. Air Max 98 Canada . -- Jonathan Drouin gave Halifax the boost it needed to edge host Sherbrooke Phoenix 3-2 in a shootout in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Cheap Nike Air Max Canada . Bjorn, who had a 36-hole total of 8-under 134, made a testing six-foot putt to save par on the 16th and a birdie on the 17th before bogeying the final hole after a misjudged approach shot. American Kevin Streelman was in second place after shooting a 69. LOS ANGELES -- The Clippers have signed forward Brandon Bass, who joins them after playing last season for the Lakers.Bass averaged 7.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 66 games off the bench for the other NBA team that shares Staples Center with the Clippers. The deal announced Tuesday reunites him with coach Doc Rivers after they spent two seasons together in Boston.The 31-yearr-old has also played for the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets, Dallas and Orlando in his 11-year NBA career.dddddddddddd Hes averaged 8.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 0.8 assists since being drafted by the Hornets with the 33rd overall pick in 2005 out of LSU. ' ' '
