andere Teams » from a huge upset? Lose to Purdue ... PENN

SAN ANTONIO -- Spurs power forward Tim Duncan spoke for the first time on Wednesday since announcing his retirement two days prior, expounding upon his 19-year NBA career and explaining why he made the decision to leave the game.I can still do this. I could probably still play, Duncan said in a wide-ranging interview with ViVid Streaming. But when its time, its time. Its time. I started not enjoying myself. It wasnt fun at times. And I always said when that point comes when its not fun anymore then Im done.As hoops fans all over the country spent Monday and Tuesday watching highlights and tributes to Duncan among the various sports television outlets, the power forward spent the day of his retirement watching the Discovery Channel. Duncans reaction seemed typical of the man of few words, who spent an entire career leading by example, while spearheading the?San Antonios current culture of?selflessness.In the days since announcing his retirement, Duncan said he received an outpouring of support from friends and family, as well as from coaches and executives around the NBA. Included among the well-wishers was?Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who despite playing with Michael Jordan on the Chicago Bulls, once called the power forward the greatest teammate he ever has played with.He actually sent me a message and said something along those lines, said Duncan, who won a pair of NBA titles alongside Kerr during Kerrs two stints with the Spurs. And again, Ive gotten some incredible notes, messages, from so many different people that are honestly blowing me away. I didnt expect all of this; didnt expect the reaction I got. But its been amazing. Ive spent the last two days trying to respond to everybody and trying to get back to everybody to make sure Im thankful for their messages, their words. I did actually get a personal note from Steve.Spurs coach Gregg Popovich on Tuesday delivered an emotional goodbye to Duncan during a 15-minute meeting with local reporters. Duncan watched the footage of Popovichs interview on Tuesday and admitted, I about lost it on that one.Duncan also expressed appreciation for his near-universal standing as one of the NBAs all-time greats -- not just arguably the greatest power forward.I dont know how their ranking goes or anything else, and I tell people I dont really care how the rankings go. Im in the conversation, Duncan said. Im OK with that. Thats above and beyond anything I ever thought I would be. So Im in the conversation. I dont care where you rank me or what you say it is or how you want to say things go. Im in the conversation. That in itself is an honor.Having won five NBA titles with the Spurs, along with earning two NBA MVP awards in addition to making 15 All-Star Game appearances, Duncan, 40, played his final game on May 12 in the teams Game 6 loss to the?Oklahoma City Thunder?in the Western Conference semifinals.In what would be Duncans final NBA appearance, he displayed flashes of his previous All-Star form in scoring 19 points to go with five rebounds and one block in 34 minutes. Just before the fourth quarter with the Spurs trailing, Duncan asked Popovich if he could remain in the game for the final 12 minutes.As the game concluded and the confetti fell from the rafters, Duncan walked off the court in Oklahoma City waving to the crowd with one finger pointed toward the roof.Over the years, Duncan took less money in contracts from the Spurs to give the organization more ammunition to field successful teams; he explained on Wednesday that the money had not ever been a deal for me.I took a little bit less money at certain points [so] that we could stay competitive, so that we could bring players in, so that we could put pieces around, so that we could win championships, he said. Thats all it was about. I dont really care who was making what. Honest truth is I didnt really know from year to year what people were making. I think that was the best perspective to have.That approach led to championship results and back-to-back MVP awards for the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons.The good old days when the knees were really good, remember those days? Duncan said jokingly. At that point, I believed in what I could do. Being a competitor, I wanted it year after year after year. I remember being disappointed in the years after that, when I wasnt able to be an MVP. But thats just my competitive nature in that respect. But I believed in what I was. I didnt know that was gonna translate in ending up in five championships or anything else. But I knew that I could affect the game. I knew that I could control the game in ways. I knew how to do it.It was just about being in the right situation with the right bunch of guys and getting it done.Duncan also explained his competitive nature, which he always displayed in a stoic manner, without any hit of boisterousness.I think Ive always approached it in a different way. I think competitiveness is taken in a different way by different people, Duncan said. So Im not a yeller and a screamer, a jumper and a pusher. Im not gonna do all that stuff with my teammates or opponents. But Ive been competitive from Day 1. Whether people recognize that or not, I dont know how they cant. Im not gonna go out there and try to hurt somebody or win at all means. But if its up in the air, Im gonna try harder than you to get it done.Duncan and teammates?Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili rank as the winningest trio in NBA history in the regular season (575 wins) and postseason (126). Duncan and Popovich have combined for the most regular-season victories by any player-coach duo in NBA history (1,001). And the forward ends his career as just one of three players in league annals, along with John Stockton and Kobe Bryant, to spend 19 seasons with one franchise.Duncan said playing alongside Parker and Ginobili meant a great deal to him.We took pride in representing where we came from, took pride in being from small places, and places all around the world and being able to come together and make ourselves into a team, into a group of guys with one goal and get that done, said Duncan, who was born and raised on Saint Croix. A kid from the islands, a kid from somewhere in France, a kid from somewhere in Argentina, and we find ways to get things done. But Pop on top of that, and him having the vision to put us all together to see what we could be. You look back and thats just an amazing feat: to have all these kids from all these different places come together and be what we were.In the end, Duncan made sure to thank the San Antonio fan base for its support.Duncan is the only player in NBA history to play over 9,000 career minutes in the playoffs, and he ranks No. 1 all time in postseason double-doubles (164) and blocks (568), third in rebounds (2,859) and sixth in points (5,172). Duncan played in 251 postseason games (second all time) and averaged 20.6 points, 11.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 37.3 minutes, in addition to shooting .501 (1,975-3,939) from the field.Just thank-you. I dont think theres anything better to say than thank-you, Duncan said. Over the years, weve been blessed. Weve been great about winning games and everything else. Weve lost some big ones, lost a couple of chances at championships. But the fans here have just been so awesome in their support and their love for the team. Everybodys always shown such appreciation and love for myself and the team. We have some of the best fans in the NBA -- in sports, in general. Im so appreciative of that. People come out, people support, people love the Spurs. Thats special. Thats not everywhere. Michael Raffl Jersey .C. -- Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Bobcats got off to a fast start, and the Sacramento Kings were never quite able to catch up. Dave Schultz Jersey . Sgt. Eric ONeal says most of the arrests at Monday nights game were for public drunkenness, though one person was taken into custody on suspicion of trying to steal a seat from the stadium. http://www.nhlflyersproauthentic.com/samuel-morin-hockey-jersey/ . -- New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis is retiring after a 16-year career to become the goalie coach for the Los Angeles Galaxy. Claude Giroux Flyers Jersey . -- Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Alrdridge were again the go-to duo for the Trail Blazers against the Kings. Travis Konecny Jersey . He says so-called TRT is only one problem and he wants to go even further than the ban. "Its about time," St-Pierre told reporters at a promotional event in Montreal on Friday. "I think its a good thing. Ohio State fans need to root for Michigan. Seriously.The Buckeyes loss last Saturday to Penn State has created this somewhat uncomfortable situation, where their fans have to pull for their hated rival. Heres why: The sixth-ranked Buckeyes can win a three-way tiebreaker in the Big Ten East among themselves, Michigan and Penn State if all finish 8-1 in the conference, which would mean the Buckeyes beating the Wolverines in the regular-season finale.If Michigan were to lose before Nov. 26, Ohio State would need another Penn State loss to win the division and move on to play for the Big Ten title with an 8-1 record.Of course, the Buckeyes still need to take care of their own business, and that starts Saturday at home against Northwestern. As for No. 2 Michigan, a short road trip to Michigan State is up next. The Spartans have owned the rivalry lately, but they also currently own a five-game losing streak.Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio built a Big Ten power on a foundation of victories against Michigan. Seven in the last eight meetings to be exact. The Spartans have also won two of the last three Big ten titles, beating Ohio State along the way each time.It is a long shot, but nothing would be more Michigan State than beating Michigan and in the process helping to eliminate Ohio State.The picks:(hash)GOACCNo. 25 Virginia Tech (minus 4+) at PittsburghThe Hokies would be tough to catch in the ACC Coastal with victories against North Carolina, Miami and Pitt ... VIRGINIA TECH 27-24.FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTSNo. 22 Navy (plus 8) at South FloridaThe Bulls allowed nearly 300 yards rushing to Temple last Friday night ... USF 38-32.MARQUEE MATCHUPSNo. 3 Clemson (minus 5) at No. 12 Florida StateThe Tigers only victory in Tallahassee since the Seminoles joined the ACC in 1992 came in 2006 ... FLORIDA STATE 35-31.No. 4 Washington (minus 10) at No. 17 UtahA somewhat unexpected Pac-12 game of the year ... WASHINGTON 28-20.B1G GAMESNo. 2 Michigan (minus 23) at Michigan StateBig brother strikes back; the Wolverines havent been favored by this much against the Spartans since 1992 ... MICHIGAN 35-14.Northwestern (plus 27) at No. 6 Ohio StateThe Wildcats last victory in Columbus was in 1971; Northwestern has beaten the Buckeyes once since ... OHIO STATE 35-24.No. 7 Nebraska (plus 8+) at No. 11 WisconsinThe Huskers are 1-5 on the road against ranked teams since joining the Big Ten in 2011 ... NEBRASKAA 23-20.ddddddddddddROAD TESTSNo. 8 Baylor (minus 3) at TexasNo. 10 West Virginia (minus 3+) at Oklahoma StateThere will be one less Big 12 unbeaten after this weekend ... TEXAS 38-31; WEST VIRGINIA 27-26.No. 13 Boise State (minus 13+) at WyomingThe Broncos are 10-0 all-time against the Cowboys ... BOISE STATE 31-23.No. 15 Auburn (minus 4+) at MississippiThis will be the sixth ranked opponent the Rebels have faced, though two no longer are ... AUBURN 33-28.CONFERENCE CALLSNo. 5 Louisville (minus 31+) at VirginiaAnother chance for Lamar Jackson to do fun stuff ... LOUISVILLE 45-21.No. 14 Florida (minus 7+) vs. Georgia at Jacksonville, FloridaTennessee needs a Gators loss; the Vols can send a thank-you card to the Bulldogs ... GEORGIA 21-17, UPSET SPECIAL.Kansas (plus 40) at No. 16 OklahomaFrom 1995-97, the Jayhawks won three straight against the Sooners; Kansas has not beaten Oklahoma and lost the last two meetings by a combined 106-14 ... OKLAHOMA 53-7.No. 18 Tennessee (minus 13) at South CarolinaPart I of the Volunteers schedule was about surviving; Part II is about not screwing up ... TENNESSEE 28-10.No. 24 Penn State (minus 11+) at PurdueWant to throw away all that positive momentum from a huge upset? Lose to Purdue ... PENN STATE 35-14.TWITTER REQUESTSMiami (minus 2+) at Notre Dame -- (at)nashman92The Hurricanes have lost three straight and the Irish are off to their worst start since 2007. Not exactly the way to revive rivalry ... NOTRE DAME 28-24.Maryland (plus 5) at Indiana -- (at)TheDudeBecksThe Terps are a victory away from bowl eligibility under new coach DJ Durkin, a season after winning three games ... INDIANA 27-24.UCF (plus 9) at Houston -- (at)brianmctaggartMaybe the bright side of Houston losing two of its last three is the Cougars might be able to keep their coach another year? Nah, probably not ... HOUSTON 37-24, BEST BET.Texas Tech (plus 8) at TCU- (at)iamDougWarrenFirst to 50 wins? Not so fast. The Red Raiders have lost four games in the last two seasons in which they have scored 50 points ... TCU 62-45.---Record: Last week 13-9 straight; 3-19 vs. points.Season: 116-45; 68-88-3.Upset specials: 2-6.Best bets: 1-7.---Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP---APs college football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '