swings like that, I feel a lot of pain, Cervelli told MLB.com. Its nor

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- The college basketball season is officially here.From North Carolinas Late Night With Roy event to Kentuckys Big Blue Madness that drew a packed crowd to Rupp Arena, Friday night featured a busy schedule of Midnight Madness-style events around the country that stand as the ceremonial kickoff to the 2016-17 season.Similar events took place at Michigan State, Arizona, Maryland, Iowa State and Connecticut among other schools.Coming off a loss in the NCAA championship game on a last-second 3-pointer to Villanova, the Tar Heels held their Late Night event featuring the mens and womens basketball teams in front of a crowd of more than 15,000 fans at the Smith Center. Hall of Fame coach Roy Williams drew a standing ovation as he walked onto the court ahead of player introductions for a veteran squad, while the players quickly commenced with a series of skills contests and dancing for fans before capping the night with an intrasquad scrimmage.I think weve had a pretty good structure out there: guys knew where to go, Tar Heels junior Theo Pinson said. It was good playing in front of a crowd, to get used to it for the freshmen and us getting the feel of it again. It was fun.In Lexington, Kentucky, the Wildcats stepped out on the blue carpet to offer the first look at John Caliparis latest heralded freshman class. The school also unveiled a new scoreboard above center court and a newly designed playing court, part of renovations at Rupp Arena for its 40th anniversary.Actors Steve Zahn and Josh Hopkins, along with former Kentucky standouts and NBA first-round draft picks John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins were also in attendance. Renowned boxing announcer Michael Buffer introduced the players with some of the newcomers displaying dance moves to the delight of those in attendance.Wow, Calipari said. You people are crazy. Look at this place. Only you, only here.The Midnight Madness tradition was based on teams holding open practices at the earliest opportunity on the first day the NCAA permitted teams to open practice. Rule changes in 2013 gave teams more flexibility on when they would start their practices, which also scattered the Midnight Madness type events -- many now being held in more family-friendly evening hours -- across the calendar.Kansas was the first of the marquee programs to hold its event on Oct. 1, while others -- including Duke, Syracuse, Indiana and Virginia -- are scheduled to hold public scrimmages or similar events next weekend.---Heres a look at some of the Midnight Madness events Friday night:UNC: Senior Isaiah Hicks scored 13 points according to unofficial statistics to lead Blue past White 40-37, though the Tar Heels needed a 1-minute overtime after the 20-minute scrimmage to decide it.KENTUCKY: Buffer played off his trademark phrase by announcing Lets get ready for roundball! ahead the Wildcats 10-minute scrimmage matching the newcomers against the veterans. Bam Adebayo had 14 points on seven dunks to help the freshmen win 25-21.UCONN: The Huskies drew about 8,000 fans to Gampel Pavilion in Storrs to catch First Night with the mens and national championship womens teams, which evenly divided both teams players for the 20-minute scrimmage featuring alternating 5-minute segments for mens and womens play.ARIZONA: Five-star freshman guard Rawle Alkins had quite a moment en route to winning the teams dunk contest, plucking the ball from coach Sean Miller as he leaped over his back and then threw it down in one motion.IOWA STATE: Senior Deonte Burton won the teams dunk contest, junior college transfer Donovan Jackson won the 3-point contest, and the mens and womens squads played a 16-minute co-ed scrimmage in Hilton Madness.---This story has been corrected to show Buffer said `roundball, not `rumble.---Freelance writer Keith Taylor in Lexington, Kentucky, contributed to this report.---Follow Aaron Beard on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/aaronbeardap and the APs college basketball site at http://collegebasketball.ap.orgWholesale Shoes Black Friday Free Shipping . The Barrie Colts defenceman, who impressed many with his play for Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship, is the top-ranked skater in the February rankings. He has 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points in 45 games with the Colts this season. Wholesale Shoes Black Friday . Still, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke thought taking him out before the fifth inning was an unusual move. "Im looking up at the board and hes got two hits given up and one run, and Im taking him out after the fourth inning," Roenicke said. https://www.cheapshoesblackfriday.com/ . After Mondays hard-fought loss, the wait seemed longer than usual. Getting set to go their separate ways for a short Christmas break, the Raptors coach credited his team for their effort on a seemingly impossible three-game road trip, urging them to build on that success when they get back to work at the end of the week. Cheap Shoes Black Friday . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. Last weekend at UFC Fight Night 32 my #TeamLynch got the best of #TeamJC by a score of 9-6. Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter. Fake Shoes Black Friday . - Blake Griffin had 30 points and 12 rebounds, J.LOS ANGELES -- With Rich Hill unable to answer the call again, rookie right-hander Ross Stripling has been cast in another leading role.Stripling (3-3, 3.79 ERA) starts Friday when the Los Angeles Dodgers host the Pittsburgh Pirates in a three-game series. On Saturday, Stripling worked five scoreless innings, allowing four hits in a 3-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox.This will be his first time facing the Pirates.Blisters on Hills middle pitching finger have kept him on the disabled list and unable to make his Dodgers debut since being acquired from the Oakland Athletics before the trading deadline. He hasnt pitched since July 17 when he was with the As.I think that if we werent winning baseball games (our frustration with Hills situation) might be a little more enhanced, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told the Orange County Register.Roberts isnt sure when Hill will pitch.Rich is doing everything he can, Roberts said. Theres only so much you can do. Its the hand hes dealt and were dealing with it.Pittsburghs Ivan Nova (8-6, 4.83 ERA) opposes Stripling. Nova struck out five, walked none and allowed three runs on six hits in seven innings in his Pirates debut, a 5-3 decision over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday. The Pirates obtained Nova from the New York Yankees on Aug.1 in a non-waiver transaction.Nova has never faced the Dodgers.The Pirates (57-55) defeated the San Diego Padres 4-0 on Thursday behind eight scoreless innings by rookie Jameson Taillon. It was Pittsburghs fourth win in six games, taking two of three from the Padres.PPirates catcher Francisco Cervelli sat out the contest after aggravating his surgically repaired left wrist injury Wednesday on a swing.dddddddddddd Cervellis availability for the Dodgers series is unclear.Its just the same thing. Sometimes with swings like that, I feel a lot of pain, Cervelli told MLB.com. Its normal because I had surgery. ... Ive been working hard to come back and put in 100 percent, and it just got numb.Los Angeles (64-50), which was off Thursday, took two of three from the Philadelphia Phillies but fell in the series finale 6-2 on Wednesday, dropping them out of first-place tie with the San Francisco Giants in the National League West.Were aware of it but you dont think about it, Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen said of the race with the Giants. Were just at the beginning of August. You start to pay attention more in the second week or the third week of September. But we all know its going to be a battle all the way to the end.Los Angeles got a scare in the Phillies loss when Corey Seager went down after being hit by a pitch on his right wrist. X-rays were negative and it appears the All-Star rookie shortstop will be ready for the Pittsburgh series.Coreys fine, its just a little bruise. Thats as quick as Ive come out of the dugout in a long time, Roberts joked.The Pirates captured three of four from the Dodgers in June at Pittsburgh and are 13-4 versus Los Angeles since the start of 2014. ' ' '