to the Heisman Trophy many had expecte

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Mark Cuban has been opposed to NBA players competing in the Olympics, but the Dallas Mavericks owner gave Andrew Bogut the clearance he needed to play for Australia after injuring his left knee in the NBA Finals.And Cuban is pulling for his new center, who scored 18 points to lead the Aussies to an 87-66 victory over France on Saturday in the opening game of the tournament.We obviously were nervous and Im still not a fan of NBA players in the Olympics, but Andrew was going to have to go through a process to get back on the court anyway, Cuban wrote Sunday in an email to The Associated Press. Our staff has communicated with him and we knew he would be cautious in his approach to returning.Bogut suffered bone bruises in Game 5 while playing for Golden State. Players need a release from their NBA teams to compete internationally if they have a pre-existing injury, and Bogut said he was a little worried he might not get it from the Mavs, who acquired him last month in a trade.But he said Cuban and the team have been first class in their dealings with him.They were very, very nervous obviously because my prognosis was six to eight weeks and this is right on six weeks right now, but I was open with them and honest, Bogut said. I said, Look, if I know Im not ready and the knees swelling up, Im pulling the pin. And they said fine, we trust you.Bogut said he even received an email from Cuban before the Olympic opener.I told him make sure he has his green-and-gold jersey on watching the game, and he threw a couple of other words I cant repeat and said lets go, Bogut said. So its been a good relationship by email so far.Cuban said he plans to don a rugby jersey in support of Bogut when he returns from a family vacation.But with or without it, Ill be watching and cheering him on, Cuban said. Custom Soccer Jerseys Sale . Pierce was ejected in the third quarter of Indianas 103-86 win Monday. George Hill stole a bad pass and was going in for a layup, and Pierce hustled back and appeared to be trying to wrap him up. Discount Custom Soccer Jerseys . -- Bryant McKinnie came out of his stance and lowered his shoulder into a practice squad player, causing a crisp thud to reverberate in the Miami Dolphins practice bubble. http://www.customjerseyssoccer.com/ .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. Custom Soccer Jerseys China . Any real chance at payback wont come until the playoff. Still, Pittsburgh knows its taut 3-2 win over the Bruins on Wednesday night is a pretty good place to start laying the groundwork. "They are a very good defensive team," Penguins forward Brandon Sutter said. Custom Soccer Jerseys Store . "I dont know that were close," said general manager Alex Anthopoulos. "I just think, right now, the acquisition cost just doesnt work for us right now. I dont know if I can quantify how far off or things like that that they might be but I would say we continue to have dialogue. TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Danny Etling has figured it out in his relatively short time in the Southeastern Conference.In order to beat Alabama, the LSU quarterback said, you cant be one-dimensional.Same goes for beating LSU. The top-ranked Crimson Tide brings the nations best run defense into Saturday nights showdown with the 15th-ranked Tigers, who arent much kinder to opposing runners.In a game featuring an impressive collection of running backs led by LSUs Leonard Fournette, the quarterbacks and wide receivers are going to have to produce, too.Brandon Harris and LSU couldnt do it consistently last season against `Bama, and Fournette found scant running room against a defense that was able to load up for the run. This famously physical game wont all be about muscle.Neither team has a receiver ranked among the Top 10 in the SEC, but NFL prospects abound like LSUs Travin Dural and Malachi Dupre and Alabamas Calvin Ridley, ArDarius Stewart and tight end O.J. Howard.The quarterbacks are both making their debuts in the SEC West rivalry.Etling has had more passing success since interim coach Ed Orgeron took over in late September and brought in offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger. The Purdue transfer has had three straight 200-yard games and helped LSU set a school record for an SEC game with 634 total yards against Missouri.Its no coincidence that Tide coach Nick Saban believes the Tigers play action and vertical passing game have been more effective lately.And theyve made a lot more explosive plays, Saban said.Alabama freshman Jalen Hurts has made his share, too, both running and passing. While hes shown remarkable poise for an 18-year-old, Hurts has had some downfield misfires.Saban said worrking on the timing for the passing game was a priority during the open date before this game.dddddddddddd He figures LSUs secondary is as athletic as any Alabama has faced.Ridley said Hurts throws at least five deep balls to receivers after practice, whatever routes he wants to work on. Ridleys numbers are down from a huge freshman season, but he still has 39 catches for 477 yards and four touchdowns.I catch a lot of balls after every practice, Ridley said. I guess thats going to help us.The game certainly will feature an abundance of handoffs. Fournette and Derrius Guice are two of the SECs top runners. Alabama counters with a deep stable of tailbacks led by Damien Harris and Hurts, the teams No. 2 rusher.Neither team topped 200 passing yards in Alabamas victory last season , but the Tides Jake Coker was far more efficient than Harris. Derrick Henry ran for 210 yards on his way to the Heisman Trophy many had expected Fournette to run away with before his 31-yard performance.Etlings emergence since replacing Harris as starter and the Tigers offensive changes have generated more of a passing threat. The quarterbacks will also have to contend with several of the SECs best pass rushers in LSUs Arden Key and Alabamas Jonathan Allen and Tim Williams.We think we can get some receivers down the field, Orgeron said. But weve got to be able to protect him long enough to be able to ... get those plays down the field. Thats going to be the key to the game.---AP Sports Writer Brett Martel contributed to this report---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '