MILWAUKEE -- Coach Steve Wojciechowski looks at his deep roster at Marquette and sees strength in numbers.Depth and up-tempo basketball will have to make up for a lack of height for the Golden Eagles this season.One-and-done forward Henry Ellenson is now in the NBA. The rebounding and defensive slack must be picked up by a rotation that could go 11 players deep.Were going to have to try to do some things defensively in terms of maybe extending the floor, being disruptive on the defensive end of the ball, Wojciechowski said. In order to do that ... we need to have fresh bodies out there to maintain a certain pace of play, a certain energy level from your group.The 6-foot-11 Ellenson averaged team-highs of 17.0 points and 9.7 rebounds a game. He was a focal point of the offense, and combined with 6-11 center Luke Fischer to give Marquette two rim-protectors.Ellenson is now with the Detroit Pistons, but Fischer is back for his senior season, ready to anchor the middle.After 6-10 sophomore Matt Heldt, a backup center, the roster is filled with guards and swingmen. Six-foot-7 freshman Sam Hauser is the next tallest player on the roster.Marquette finished 20-13 (8-10 Big East) last season but missed the NCAA Tournament. Theyll miss Ellenson, but can compensate in other areas.It goes both ways. Were going to miss him for his rebounding, senior guard Jajuan Johnson said. But now the ball is going to get moved a little bit more. He will be missed, surely.Marquette was picked to finish in the Big East in the preseason coaches poll. Other notes on the Golden Eagles, who open their season on Friday against Vanderbilt in the Veterans Classic in Annapolis, Maryland:BIG LUKEFischer (12.1 points, 6.2 rebounds) is getting ready to run more with all the guards on the roster. Hell need to play more than the 28.2 minutes a game that he averaged last season and stay out of foul trouble.Obviously, we have to be in good shape, running-wise, Fischer said. Well be able to push the ball up really fast. I think that plays to our advantage, being smaller than most teams.LITTLE GUYSAfter Fischer, the rest of the starting lineup in the preseason game against Rockhurst last week featured Johnson, along with guards Markus Howard, Katin Reinhardt and Haanif Cheatham. Howard, 5-foot-11 freshman, played on the under-17 team for USA Basketball this summer.Six players off the bench played at least 16 minutes against Rockhurst.Were going to have a lot of lineups that mix four perimeter guys with one post guy, Wojciechowski said. In todays day and age in college basketball, when you can do that, it can work to your advantage.THE `NOVA WAYTheres a model in the Big East for winning with a small lineup after Villanova won the NCAA title. The Golden Eagles hope to be able to get to that level one day, though the Wildcats at least provide a blueprint.The great thing we will be able to do is pressure guard Traci Carter said. Were going to be able to pressure a lot. Fun.COUNTING ON CHEATHAMEllensons NBA potential overshadowed Cheathams solid freshman campaign last season. The 6-foot-5 guard (11.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists) started all 33 games, with turnovers being his biggest problem. Wojciechowski hopes Cheatham can continue to play aggressively while taking better care of the ball.STEADY REINHARDTThe 6-6 guard will provide experience and outside shooting after coming to Marquette as a graduate transfer. As a junior, Reinhardt averaged 11.4 points at Southern California last season. He is a career 36.9 percent shooter from the 3-point arc.---For more college basketball: http://collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25---Follow Genaro Armas at: https://twitter.com/GArmasAP http://www.officialraidersgear.com/Raiders-Al-Davis-Draft-Jersey/ . They reached the 100-point plateau for the fourth time in five games, bested the visiting Trail Blazers by 34 in the paint and scored 19 of the final 25 points in regulation. http://www.officialraidersgear.com/Raiders-Kolton-Miller-Draft-Jersey/ . Their 38th instalment is arguably their biggest fight card to date, including three-title fights and a main event which was selected by the fans. The promotion boasts 14-straight years of business and is operated by MFC president Mark Pavelich, who is often overlooked in this country for the foundation hes established for MMA in Canada. http://www.officialraidersgear.com/Raiders-Giorgio-Tavecchio-Draft-Jersey/ . NBA officials ruled the court unplayable in the Bucks final exhibition game on Oct. 25 because players were slipping, and the game was cancelled midway through the first period. http://www.officialraidersgear.com/Raiders-John-Matuszak-Draft-Jersey/ . The Celtics closed out their first preseason under Stevens on Wednesday night with a 101-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who rested a lot of their lineup including former Celtics Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. http://www.officialraidersgear.com/Raiders-Bruce-Irvin-Draft-Jersey/ . -- The Sacramento Kings are set to become the first major professional sports franchise to accept Bitcoin virtual currency for ticket and merchandise purchases. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- There is an argument to be made that the AFC West is the best division in the NFL.There is little argument to be made that the Chiefs are the class of it.After dispatching the Raiders on a frigid night at Arrowhead Stadium, the Chiefs are tied with them for the lead at 10-3 with three games left in the regular season. But they hold the tiebreaker thanks to two head-to-head wins over Oakland, which could loom large down the stretch.For the division title, sure. But also for a first-round bye in the playoffs.Every division game has got to be a playoff game. Its going to be something more, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce said after the 21-13 victory on Thursday night, especially with a team like Oakland thats at the top of the charts on offense and defense.Well, they had been at the top of the charts heading into the showdown.The Chiefs knocked them down a peg.It was their fifth straight win against the Raiders and their ninth consecutive victory over division foes, the third-longest streak in franchise history. Along the way are not only the two wins over Oakland this year, but also a win in Denver -- the other divisional team in the thick of the postseason hunt heading into the Broncos game Sunday at Tennessee.The Broncos visit Arrowhead Stadium on Christmas night.Its all about us. Its not about who we play, said star pass rusher Justin Houston, whose return from offseason knee surgery has given the Kansas City defense a big midseason lift.We just need to stay focused, he said. This win means a lot to us, but the seasons not over. We need to put this game behind us, stay focused, and finish the rest of the season strong.Thats because there is still plenty on the horizon.The Chiefs havent won the AFC West since 2010, when they finished 10-6 in a division that it seemed nobody wanted to win. Their many deficiencies showed when they were routed 30-7 by Baltimore in their first playoff game, which they hosted because of their division title.Their last two playoff trips have started on the road as wild cards.Three years ago, they went to Indianapolis and built a big early lead before their defense melted down in the second half. And last year, they went to Houston and came away with their first playoff victory in moore than two decades, only to lose at New England the following week.ddddddddddddSo to say that a first-round bye and a home playoff game in the second round are crucial would be an understatement. They are more like necessities for a team dreaming of a Super Bowl.Its good right now, Chiefs running back Spencer Ware said, but we cant get comfortable. Weve got to keep our eyes on the prize and stay focused on the main goal.That goal became a little more challenging when the Chiefs lost Derrick Johnson, their veteran linebacker, to a ruptured Achilles tendon in his left leg. Johnson went down untouched late in the first half Sunday and, it seemed, knew right away his season was over.Still, the Chiefs rallied around their fallen leader. Their defense repelled Oakland throughout the second half, even when their own offense was stumbling, and did enough to keep Derek Carr and Co. out of the end zone late in the game to preserve the critical victory.The result? The Chiefs assured themselves a second straight 10-win season, something the club has only accomplished two other times in franchise history. And that nine-game win streak of division foes is currently the best in the NFL, though Houston can match it with a win over Indianapolis on Sunday.But the Texans are only 6-6 overall. The Chiefs are 10-3 and barreling toward bigger things, their future looking the brightest it has all season after their Thursday night win over Oakland.Were trying to get to our ultimate goal, Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters said, so we have to win, individually, each game. So were going to prepare for our next opponent and just keep moving on.Game notes Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Friday that general manager John Dorsey is poring through options to replace Johnson, but no decisions have been made. We know we have a few guys that can play, Reid said. We havent made any decisions, dont have anybody coming in as of yet. ... Reid didnt have any update on DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches, who left with back spasms, or DE Kendall Reyes, who sprained his wrist.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Wholesale Jerseys 2018 Cheap Jerseys Online Wholesale Jerseys Cheap NFL Hoodies Wholesale NFL Jerseys Stitched Jerseys Wholesale NFL Womens Jerseys Cheap NFL T-shirts China Jerseys Wholesale Youth NFL Jerseys China Stitched NFL Jerseys NFL Jerseys Outlet White NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys NFL China Cheap NFL Jerseys Camo ' ' '