Two of the most storied programs in the history of the womens game are absent from espnWs latest Bracketology projection, even though both teams were ranked among the top 15 in the preseason.They were also on opposite sides Sunday, Texas beating Tennessee 72-67 in Austin in what was an entertaining and well-played game (the second half, at least). It was a win the Longhorns desperately needed and an opportunity lost for the Lady Vols, who erased a 15-point deficit to lead at one point in the second half but still fell to 4-4.So how does a game that features two teams with a combined 13 McDonalds All Americans on the rosters fail to include at least one that is considered tournament-worthy at this point?The easy answer: record. These two nearly annual postseason participants are just a combined 7-8. The schedules the two programs play during the nonconference season are always tough -- but this season they have taken their toll more than usual, as have some injuries.In Austin, at least, there isnt too much need to worry. The current outside-looking-in status should change for the Longhorns. Texas is surely one of the 32 best teams in the country, which would normally put the team in line for an at-large berth.However, Bracketology is a snapshot of the season today. The committee doesnt offer at-large selections to teams with losing records. That would be unprecedented. So at 3-4, Texas simply cant be in the field at this point. Sure, three of those four losses are to teams in the top 10 (UConn, Mississippi State and South Carolina), but sub-.500 is sub-.500, even though Texas was considered a No. 2 seed in the preseason.With four home games -- theyll be heavily favored in each -- to finish the calendar year, the Longhorns will be well on the way to being included in our first projection of 2017. If they live up to the preseason billing as the second-best team in the Big 12 behind Baylor, the Longhorns could wind up hosting NCAA tournament games as a top-four seed. With the win over Tennessee, they also have a solid nonconference feather.The Lady Vols situation doesnt come with the same level of confidence. The fears that floated over Knoxville when Tennessees NCAA tournament prospects looked bleak at one point last spring should be returning.Even as Holly Warlicks club fought chemistry issues and stumbled through the meat of the SEC schedule in 2015-16, it still had big nonleague wins over Syracuse and Oregon State, two eventual Final Four teams, as a foundation. The Lady Vols dont have that this year -- and they wont. They lost four of their last five games, falling to every quality foe they encountered (Penn State, Virginia Tech, Baylor and Texas).Tennesees schedule wasnt even as tough this year, and with only Sundays matchup with Stanford at Thompson-Bolling and a mid-January Big Monday game against Notre Dame, the opportunity for quality wins might have to come in the SEC. If Tennessee goes 8-8 with a win at Missouri being its best -- like in 2016 -- the Lady Vols likely wont make the NCAA tournament this time. That would be a program first. (They were a No. 7 seed last season.)In Sundays loss to Texas, Diamond DeShields was efficient and Jaime Nared played what was perhaps her best game in a Tennessee uniform. But the Lady Vols really needed to finish off the comeback.That makes Sundays visit from the Cardinal as big as any mid-December game can be.Brand Shoes Cheap Online . William Carrier opened the scoring for Cape Breton (6-4-2), but Andrew Ryan tied the game and Brent Andrews put the Mooseheads (8-6-0) in front for good with a short-handed goal at 13:49 of the second period. Balenciaga Speed Trainer Cheap .C. -- Todd Fiddler scored a hat trick, including the overtime goal, as the Prince George Cougars survived an 8-7 win against the Kamloops Blazers in Western Hockey League play Sunday. http://www.brandshoescheaponline.com/wholesale-air-max-china.html . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. Air Max 270 React Cheap . The 20-year-old Pelicans big man glanced up and smiled widely at the well-wishers -- a fitting end to a day he wont soon forget. Davis responded to his selection earlier in the day as a Western Conference All-Star with 26 points and 10 rebounds, and the New Orleans Pelicans overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 98-91 on Friday night. Fake Air Force 1 For Sale . -- In one brief spurt, Brazil turned a close game into a rout and proved again it will be a strong World Cup favourite.BUFFALO, N.Y. -- For once, Buffalo Sabres coach Dan Bylsma couldnt complain about his teams lack of offense.Anders Nilsson stopped 46 shots, plus three more in the shootout, to stymie the Sidney Crosby-led Pittsburgh Penguins.And one goal in regulation, plus minor league call-up Cal OReillys shootout tally, were just enough for the offensively challenged Sabres to pull out a 2-1 victory Saturday night.Well, it doesnt really matter at this point in time who its against, Bylsma said. But its a win we desperately needed and against one of the better teams, if not the best team, in the league.William Carrier scored in regulation for Buffalo, which hasnt scored more than twice in 10 straight games, dating to a 3-1 win at Winnipeg on Oct. 30.In snapping an 0-4-2 skid, Buffalos victory came on the heels of a 4-1 loss to Tampa Bay on Friday after which Sabres forward Evander Kane expressed frustration about his teams lack of offense. He sarcastically said Buffalo had become the joke of the NHL because opponents needed only two goals to beat them.The difference on Saturday was the Penguins were unable to score twice.It took Pittsburgh 31 shots before Crosby beat Nilsson with a power-play goal to tie the game with 14:14 remaining in regulation.Its just one of those games where you leave feeling like you deserve better, said Crosby, who scored his 12th of the season and the 350th goal of his career. Ultimately, we have to find a way to bury a few chances. ... But he made some good saves. You have to give him credit.Pittsburgh has alternated losses and wins over its past five games since a 9-2-2 start, and was coming off a 3-2 overtime win at the New York Islanders on Friday night.The Penguins also lost to Buffalo for the first time in 10 meetings, since a 4-2 loss at Pittsburgh on April 23, 2013.Nilsson was solid in making just his second start in 11 games, and first since a 41-save performance in a 2-1 overtime loss to New Jersey on Nov. 11.Nilssons toughest saves came during overtime.A minute in, he kicked out his right pad to stop Phil Kessels drive from the right circle. A few seconds later, Nilsson squeezed his riight arm just in time to trap Trevor Daleys shot.ddddddddddddis best save came with 2:55 left in overtime, when he kicked out his left pad at the last moment to foil Kris Letang on a breakaway.After stopping Crosby and Evgeni Malkin on Pittsburghs first two shootout attempts, Nilsson sealed the win by stopping Letangs attempt to beat him through the legs.Obviously, they do have some very esteemed guys and some very good players in their lineup, Nilsson said. I tried to be as patient as possible and let them make the first move and try to make the save. And today I got lucky and was able to do that.OReilly scored on Buffalos third attempt by breaking up the right wing before cutting to the front of the net and beating Marc-Andre Fleury with a snap shot to the glove side.The goal came on the same day OReilly was called up from Buffalos AHL affiliate in Rochester. And it wasnt lost on Bylsma that OReilly has an established reputation for being a shootout specialist.OReilly has scored on six of 13 shootout attempts, with three of them game-deciding goals.Fleury was otherwise solid in stopping 32 shots through overtime.He was particularly sharp 2 minutes into the third period, when he got his glove up to stop Kanes shot from the left circle. Fleury then got across to his left to bat down Brian Giontas off-balance shot from the slot.Game notesCrosby has 15 goals and 50 points in 32 career games against Buffalo. ... Penguins forward Patric Hornqvist missed his second game with a concussion. Coach Mike Sullivan said Hornqvist skated on his own earlier in the day, but there was no timetable yet for his return. ... Aside from OReilly, the Sabres recalled forward Cole Schneider from Rochester. OReilly was the AHLs scoring leader with 18 points (three goals, 15 assists), and Schneider was tied for second with 17 (seven goals, 10 assists). ... Linesman Greg Devorski officiated his 1,500th NHL game.UP NEXTPenguins: Host the New York Rangers on Monday.Sabres: Host the Calgary Flames on Monday. ' ' '