team that has been different for me is theres always guys in front of the n

AUBURN, Ala. -- Bruce Pearl understands if you arent sure what to expect from Auburns basketball team.Most of the roster is comprised of underclassmen and newcomers, including top recruit Mustapha Heron, redshirt freshman Danjel Purifoy and two graduate transfers.Pearl has gotten used to the mystery created by newness since taking over the Auburn program three years ago.For the third straight year, we have six or seven new guys on scholarship, so how could you possibly know as a person, as an observer, as somebody in the media or even me as a coach? he said. Part of the real challenge in building the program is just the fact that the roster has had to be reconstructed, and yet I wouldnt have done it any other way, because there really werent any other options.While it may be restructured and very new, weve got eight very, very solid freshmen and sophomores that are all good players. And so now the foundation is built and a good percentage of our team will return next year, and thats not something weve had yet.It still makes for an uncertain present even if the future seems bright. The Tigers are picked to finish 11th in the Southeastern Conference.Pearl has experienced the first two losing seasons of his 21-year head coaching career since taking over Auburns downtrodden program.The Tigers were 11-20 last season amid injury problems and the early departure of star Kareem Canty. Guard T.J. Dunans is back after averaging 11.6 points in 16 games before going down with a left knee injury.Freshman Bryce Brown also averaged double digits scoring while setting a freshman record with 78 3-pointers. While the talent infusion appears substantial, Auburn must replace starting interior players Tyler Harris and leading rebounder Cinmeon Bowers from a seemingly perpetually undersized team.Auburn also brought in graduate transfers Ronnie Johnson (Houston) and LaRon Smith, who was tied for third nationally in blocked shots last season at Bethune-Cookman. Horace Spencer returns after ranking third in the SEC in blocks as a freshman, giving Auburn a couple of shot swatters inside. The Tigers still dont have a scholarship player taller than 6-foot-8.Here are some things to watch in Auburns 2016-17 season:PURIFOYS PRESENCE: Last years top recruit sat out the season after he wasnt cleared academically by the NCAA. The 6-foot-7, 230-pounder will likely play out of position frequently at power forward but could fill some of the scoring void.Hes got a really complete offensive skill package, Pearl said. Hell be a very difficult matchup.WHOS THE POINT: Injuries and Cantys early departure left the Tigers playing power forward Bowers at point guard at times. Pearl has more options now for the position, including newcomers Johnson and freshman Jared Harper.I would say that were going to get really solid point guard play, the coach said. Ronnie and Jared, although ones a senior and ones a freshman, are both really fast and really quick offensively and defensively. We should be able to fly up and down the floor with the ball in their hands. Well be hard to press.Theyre both really good playmaking guards and they can both shoot it.TOUGH SCHEDULE: Auburn has a difficult nonconference schedule that includes games with Texas Tech, Oklahoma, UConn and UAB.BIG CROWDS? Pearls promotional efforts and recruiting have generated some excitement. Auburn has sold out season tickets in three straight years for the first time in school history, though part of that is because the Tigers play in the smaller Auburn Arena now. Before Pearls arrival, Auburn had only managed that in 1999-2000.San Francisco Giants Pro Shop .C. -- Rodney Hood connected from all over the court while freshman Jabari Parker was busy swatting shots and scoring in transition. Giants Jerseys China . Three came down to the fourth quarter while quarterbacks continued to shine in all four games; so important to the overall quality of the game. https://www.cheapjerseysgiants.us/ . How great will be revealed in the next couple of days at the board of governors meeting in Pebble Beach, Calif. Giants Jerseys 2020 . -- Devin Hester is done returning kicks in Chicago. Giants Jerseys 2019 . General manager Jarmo Kekalainen told Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch on Friday that he wants to see Gaboriks contributions go beyond the scoresheet before considering a long-term deal for the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent.NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Pekka Rinne is having a remarkable month for the Nashville Predators.P.K. Subban scored twice in the second period and Rinne made 24 saves, helping Nashville to a 3-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night.Viktor Arvidsson also scored and Ryan Ellis added three assists for the Predators, winners of two of three.Just the way we played good defense and made good decisions with the puck led to good offense and ultimately staying out of our end keeping their chances down, Nashville coach Peter Laviolette said. They are a very dangerous team, very fast, very skilled, and you really have to pay attention to what you are doing on the ice and I thought our guys were really detailed tonight.Rinne improved to 6-1-2 in November. He made 15 saves through two periods and stopped 9 of 10 in the third to earn victory.I was able to make a couple of big saves in the first and that obviously gives you good confidence, Rinne said. Ive been feeling really good as of late, just trying to keep it rolling, and try not to focus too much on how many shots Im going to get.Tyler Johnson scored and Ben Bishop made 27 saves for Tampa Bay, which got its only defeat in the final game of a five-game trip.We didnt have the puck enough, we didnt create enough offensive zone time, and when you are defending a lot, chances are you are going to get a lot of penalties called against you, Lightning forward Brian Boyle said. Its not a good recipe for success.Arvidsson scored the games first goal at 4:25 of the first.Ryan Johansen won a faceoff against Ondrej Palat in the circle to the left of Bishop. The puck came back to Ellis, who passed to Roman Josi on the right boards. Josi threw the puck toward the net and Arvidsson was able to deflect it past Bishop on the far side.ddddddddddddSubban doubled the Nashville lead at 9:55 of the second.With Nashville on a power play, Ellis had the puck atop the right circle and sent a pass to Subban above the high slot. Subbans one-timer beat Bishop between the pads.The three-point night matched a career high for Ellis.Subban scored his second of the night 2 1/2 minutes later. From the left boards, Filip Forsberg found Subban, again in the high slot. Subbans slap shot through traffic beat Bishop low to the stick side.The one thing about this team that has been different for me is theres always guys in front of the net battling, creating traffic, Subban said. As a guy who likes to shoot the puck and get it to the net, its good to know because when you get the puck, you dont even have to look. You know theres guys around the net or in front and we have success when we continue to do that.The Lightning scored with 49.7 seconds left in the third on Johnsons power-play goal with Bishop pulled for an extra attacker.Its tough to score when youre not generating too much, Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said. We just looked like a tired group. Weve got to regroup because that was a winnable hockey game for us and we let it slip.Game notesForsberg played his 200th NHL game. ... Subban has at least one point in his last five games played against Tampa Bay. ... The Lightning are 0-3-0 against Western Conference teams this season. ... Tampa Bay is 1-3-2 in its last six games against Nashville.UP NEXTLightning: Return home Wednesday night to face Philadelphia.Predators: Face Dallas at home Wednesday night. ' ' '