COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolina guard Sindarius Thornwells prime goal this season is qualifying for the NCAA Tournament -- and hes not giving up on it because most of the guys he played with last year are gone.I think that we still have the potential to make the tournament, Thornwell said.Thornwell and the Gamecocks thought they had done enough a year ago to get there with a 15-0 start, going 11-7 in Southeastern Conference games and finishing the regular-season 24-9.But on selection Sunday South Carolina was remembered more for the text it initially -- and mistakenly -- received from the NCAA saying it was in instead of breaking 12-year tournament drought.We were older last year. We had been together last year for three years, said Thornwell, South Carolinas top returning scorer at 13.4 points a game. I was kind of easier for us last year.That team featured all-SEC first-team selection Michael Carrera, plus front court seniors in Mindaugas Kacinas and Laimonas Chatkevicius, all three who were seniors. Thornwell was picked for the league all-defensive team and Duane Notice was picked as the SEC sixth man of the year.Now, Notice joins Thornwell as the leaders of a team with only two other players in P.J. Dozier and Chris Silva with significant experience.This year, us older guys have to work harder and the team is going to move a little different and play a little different with the younger guys and us older guys being all guards, Thornwell said. I think we still have the same type of potential, its just that the game will be played a little different.Different is good, fifth-year coach Frank Martin said. The returners are players whove learned Martins approach and can share it with newcomers.Theres a confidence level about the older guys that I like a lot, but theres also a realistic approach to what they do every day, Martin said. They stay humble and they stay committed to the work. They keep the young guys on edge.---Some other things to watch for at South Carolina this season:DOZIERS RISE: Martin said sophomore point guard PJ Dozier was worn down as a freshman (he started 28 games) and needed a break from basketball last spring. Dozier has come back stronger and better prepared and Martin said hes poised to take a big step forward with the Gamecocks. The McDonalds All-American averaged 6.7. points, 3 rebounds and 2.1 assists last season.FRONT COURT CONCERNS: With the loss of four front-court players 6-foot-7 or taller, South Carolina will be in need of some gang rebounding. Martin has liked the play of Chris Silva, a 6-9 forward who he said was rebounding in practice as well as anyone hes coached. Four of the five tallest Gamecocks are first-year playes.MARTINS STAY: South Carolina took away concerns of Martin looking elsewhere with a four-year contract extension that ties him to the school through 2021-22 season. Martin has gone from 28-38 his first two seasons to 42-25 the past two years.ROSTER PROBLEMS: Martin has not had the easiest time retaining players during his stay. Just before the Gamecocks NIT opener last March, five players were suspended and three were arrested. Four expected returnees (Marcus Stroman, Jamall Gregory, Eric Cobb and Raymond Doby) left the program leaving Martin relying on untested first-year players this season.NEW FLOOR: The Gamecocks will play on a new floor at Colonial Life Arena, one designed to be shock absorbent. The flooring features power shock pads that should give players more cushioning when playing or working out. The surface replaces the one that was put in nearly a decade ago.---Online:More AP College Basketball: www.collegebasketball.ap.org Cheap Christian Sam Jersey . There are some early surprises in the race for the Hart Trophy, but two of the contenders are the leagues biggest stars over the past decade. There are many more players in contention for the awards than just the three that Ive named, and a good or bad week can easily alter the landscape, but through the first 20 or so games of the NHL season, this is how the awards races look to me. Blue Patriots Jerseys . Marincin has played in two NHL games so far this season with two penalty minutes. 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ARCADIA, Calif. -- California Chrome was made the early even-money favorite Monday in a field of 10 for the $6 million Breeders Cup Classic, in which the 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner will try to close the year with an undefeated record.Chrome is 6-0 so far in 2016 and is already the richest horse in North American history with career earnings of $13.4 million. He will break from the No. 4 post on Saturday at Santa Anita under Victor Espinoza.This horse is ready, 79-year-old trainer Art Sherman said. Hes better now than hes ever been.Arrogate drew the far outside post and is the 5-2 second choice for the 1 1/4-mile race against older horses. The late-developing 3-year-old colt stunned the racing world in August when he won the Travers at Saratoga by 13 1/2 lengths. Arrogate will try to deliver a record third straight Classic victory for trainer Bob Baffert, who won last year with Triple Crown champion American Pharoah and in 2014 with Bayern at Santa Anita.Arrogate will be ridden by Mike Smith, whose 22 victories make him the leading jockey in the 32-year history of the event.I just hope all America is watching this race because its going to be a great race, Baffert said.The Classic will be shown live in primetime on NBC.Post positions were drawn Monday for the 13 races worth $28 million to be run during the world championships on Friday and Saturday.Whitney winner Frosted was installed as the 5-1 third choice in the Classic.Effinex, last years Classic runner-up, is one of two 15-1 shots in the Classic, along with Hoppertunity, Bafferts other entry.Also in the Classic field are Keen Ice, Melatonin, Shaman Ghost, War Story and Win the Space.The $2 million Distaff highlights Fridays four Cup races. The 1 1/8-mile race for fillies and mares pits three champions against each other: undefeated Songbird, Stellar Wind and Beholder.Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Songbird is 11-0, with five of her victories coming on her home track at Santa Anita. She is the 6-5 favorite ridden by Smith. They drew the No. 1 post in the field of eight.Shes going to run well, Smith said. Shes ready for something like this.Stellar Wind is the co-second choicce at 5-2 with Beholder, who will be making the last start of her career.dddddddddddd Last year at Keeneland, Beholder was scratched because of a fever that kept her out of the Classic against male horses.Stellar Wind landed in the No. 5 post while Beholder will break from the eighth spot.Its nice to get off the rail, said Richard Mandella, who trains Beholder, but I am a bigger believer in good luck and a good post, so we are hoping for good luck.Also in the Distaff field are Argentina-bred Corona Del Inca, Curalina, Forever Unbridled, Im a Chatterbox and Land Over Sea.In the $2 million Juvenile, Not This Time drew the No. 10 post in a field of 11 and is listed as the 7-2 favorite. Trained by Dale Romans, Not This Time is 2 for 3 and a victory on Saturday would position the 2-year-old as the early favorite for next years Kentucky Derby.Last years Juvenile winner Nyquist went on to win the Derby. He was set to run in the Classic, but came up with a puffy ankle and was retired Monday.The Juvenile field includes two Todd Pletcher-trained colts: Theory and Syndergaard, named for New York Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard.In the $1 million Turf Sprint on Saturday, Pure Sensation is the 4-1 favorite. Also in the field is Undrafted, owned by former NFL star receiver Wes Welker. The 6-year-old gelding finished fifth in the race last year and third in the 2014 edition.In Fridays races, Oscar Performance is the 4-1 favorite in the $1 million Juvenile Turf; Gun Runner is the 6-5 favorite in the $1 million Dirt Mile; and Roly Poly is the 4-1 favorite in the $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf.Among Saturdays other races, the Baffert-trained Noted and Quoted is the 9-2 favorite in the $2 million Juvenile Fillies; Lady Eli is the 5-2 favorite in the $2 million Filly & Mare Turf; Masochistic is the 2-1 favorite in the $1.5 million Sprint; Britain-bred Flintshire is the 5-2 favorite in the $4 million Turf; Haveyougoneaway is the 3-1 favorite for the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint; and Tepin is the 3-1 favorite for the $2 million Mile. Cheap NFL Womens Jerseys Cheap Stitched Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping Discount NFL Jerseys Wholesale NFL Hoodies Cheap Jerseys Throwback Cheap Jerseys Throwback ' ' '