INDIANAPOLIS -- Thus far, only recent NCAA tournament champions have had enough talent to defeat Saturdays Crossroads Classic opponents No. 15 Purdue and No. 21 Notre Dame.The Boilermakers are 8-2, losing only to No. 1-ranked and reigning NCAA champion Villanova and 2013 national champion Louisville. The Fighting Irish are 9-1, losing this past Saturday to Villanova.But in Crossroads Classic head-to-head competition, it has been all Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish are 2-0 against Purdue -- an 81-68 victory in 2012 in Bankers Life Fieldhouse and a 94-63 drubbing of the Boilermakers in 2014 -- and are 3-2 overall, including 1-2 against Indiana.Purdue is 0-5 in the Crossroads Classic, including 0-3 against Butler, prompting coach Matt Painter to say this week that the one Crossroads Classic change he would make is a Boilermaker victory.Led by power forward Caleb Swanigan (15.9 points, 11.2 rebounds) and by 7-foot-2 center Isaac Haas (14.8 points, 5.3 rebounds), Painter likes his teams chances this time.Since the Louisville game, we have played a lot better and shot a lot better, Painter said. Our defense has been a lot better, and thats something we have to continue to improve. When we dont turn the basketball over and defend the way were capable, we have had some really good stretches.Notre Dame has four starters averaging in double figures, led by Steve Vasturia (16.6), Bonzie Colson (16.5), V.J. Beachem (15.5) and Matt Farrell (13.0). The Irish are averaging 86.6 points while allowing 64.7, which is Purdues exact defensive average.The Fighting Irish shoot 47.5 percent from the field and 86.4 percent from the free throw line, numbers that impress Painter.They have an experienced coach and an experienced team, Painter said. They are first in the nation in assists-to-turnover ratio and are in the top five nationally in 3-pointers made and free throw percentage. Its pretty impressive any time you are that good on offense.Thats going to help your defense also. Their guys are always getting better and are improving as a group. They are a tough team to defend and a tough team to play against.Notre Dame coach Mike Brey said he believes this team will continue to improve throughout a season that will include many challenging ACC games. He points out this past Saturdays 74-66 loss to Villanova is a great learning tool.I love our group, Brey said. Villanova is kind of a finished product. We still have room to grow. We have to keep that in mind as we practice in preparation for Purdue. We came into the Villanova game with a belief, an edge and a swagger.You can be mad that you didnt get it done, because you were good enough to get it done. We will let that drive us as we get ready to play Purdue.The Boilermakers, who average 83.7 points and who shoot 50.4 percent from the field including 44.1 percent from 3-point range, will be without fifth-year graduate transfer point guard Spike Albrecht, a valuable reserve who has been receiving treatment for a lower back injury. Stars Jerseys 2021 . The 18-year-old American had five birdies in her bogey-free round for a 17-under total of 196. Lee held the overnight lead but mixed three birdies with two bogeys for a 70. Dallas Stars Store .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. https://www.cheapstarsonline.com/ .Y. - New Orleans forward Anthony Davis was chosen Friday to replace the injured Kobe Bryant in the NBA All-Star game that will be played in his home city. Dallas Stars Pro Shop . -- Timbers coach Caleb Porter didnt stray from his business-like approach to the season even after Portland downed the two-time defending league champion Los Angeles Galaxy to gain crucial playoff position. Cheap Stars Jerseys . John Tavares, Thomas Vanek and Kyle Okposo were also being counted on to slow down sizzling Rangers forward Rick Nash. That plan didnt go so well early. SAN FRANCISCO -- The Denver Broncos expect to win plenty of games when they force four turnovers. On the other side, San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh made it clear the 49ers cant afford to cough up the ball that many times and return to the NFLs biggest stage. On this first night of the exhibition season, Denver displayed the opportunistic defence the 49ers lived by the last two years -- the very ball-hawking style that carried San Francisco back to the Super Bowl in February after a 17-year wait since its fifth championship. The NFC champion Niners? They looked sloppy in all phases in 10-6 loss Thursday night. "You have four turnovers and you win every time," said safety Mike Adams, who contributed a timely interception. "Thats what you want to do. As a defence, you want to set the tone, and give the offence a boost. When you get turnovers like that, thats the way its going to go for you." A Super Bowl preview in August? Hardly looked that way. Shaun Phillips scooped up D.J. Harpers second-quarter fumble and returned it 9 yards for the games lone touchdown. Adams read Colt McCoys eyes, and jumped in the passing lane for the interception as the Broncos began anew following that stunning double-overtime loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens back in Januarys AFC divisional playoffs. Executive John Elway has vowed the playoff disappointment will fuel his team. With the star quarterbacks on either side -- Broncos veteran Peyton Manning and third-year pro Colin Kaepernick -- playing all of one series each, it was impossible to gauge just how good their given offences will be. This truly was a typical preseason opener for what many consider the best two teams in the NFL; San Francisco and Denver are 1-2 in the AP Pro32 NFL power rankings. Now, everybody realizes that if they were to play a meaningful matchup it could really be something. "Offensively, we have work to do," Harbaugh said. "Turning the ball over four times, its pretty hard to win a game when youre doing that." Kaepernick completed all four of his passes, two to Anquan Boldin in his 49ers debut after being acquired in a trade from the Ravens. Manning was 2 for 4 for 13 yards. The 49ers kicked off their "Farewell to Candlestick" season before they move into their new stadium next to team headquarters in Santa Clara in 2014. Fittingly for nostallgias sake, sprinkled among those suddenly top-selling No.dddddddddddd 7 Kaepernick jerseys were some tributes to the old-school favourites: Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Ronnie Lott. New 49ers kicker Phil Dawson made field goals of 32 and 38 yards, but missed wide left on the final play before halftime with the flags whipping on a cool summer evening by the bay. Kaepernick begins his first full season as the starter after taking the job from Alex Smith last November and leading San Francisco to the Super Bowl. And the Niners head to Kansas City for next Fridays game -- against the Chiefs new play caller, Smith. A.J. Jenkins, one of Kaepernicks key targets, had a forgettable preseason debut. Jenkins faces high expectations after the first-round pick went without a catch in his highly scrutinized rookie season. The 49ers are depending on him to produce while top 2012 wideout Michael Crabtree spends much of the season recovering from surgery on his torn Achilles tendon, and Mario Manningham works back from knee surgery. Only two plays after Phillips scored midway through the second quarter, Jenkins caught an 11-yard pass from Scott Tolzien and fumbled. Denvers Rahim Moore recovered. A pass by McCoy intended for Jenkins late in the first half was well overthrown and strong safety Adams easily grabbed the interception against his former team. "We created a lot of turnovers last year, and its another good start from that standpoint tonight," Manning said. "Different guys, young players, making huge plays. As an offence, you always like to see the defence out there, creating turnovers. Usually thats going to mean really good field position." 49ers first-round draft pick Eric Reid had six tackles in his professional debut. Broncos backup quarterback Brock Osweiler completed his first six passes and went 13 for 18 for 105 yards. Notes: The referee and other officials tested headsets for a possible future communication system that would improve the flow of information between officials. ... Former San Francisco RB Roger Craig served as honorary captain as the 49ers began a top-10 countdown of Candlestick moments. ... New Broncos WR Wes Welker was targeted once during Denvers opening series. ... McCoy injured his right, throwing shoulder and will have an MRI exam Friday. Teammates S Bubba Ventrone hurt a hamstring and LB Nick Moody injured his knee. ' ' '