NEU » e. Barkley led a fourth-quarter comeb

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Virginia coach Tony Bennett didnt know exactly what to expect in the eighth-ranked Cavaliers season opener, between being down two forwards to losing so much from the team that made a deep NCAA Tournament push.When it was over, he saw the Cavaliers have some balance and depth to work with, along with a defense that looked ready from the tip.Marial Shayok scored 15 points to lead the offense in Virginias 76-51 win against UNC Greensboro on Friday night. Meanwhile, the defense -- the bedrock of Bennetts program -- held the Spartans scoreless for more than 11 minutes spanning halftime as the game turned into a methodical rout.With this team and us this year, I think theres even more unknowns because of the amount of newcomers, the lack of experienced guys, Bennett said. So we just didnt know what to expect. I just want them to battle and play hard each possession. It was a welcome first step for a team that lost a lot of production from its first trip to the NCAA Tournaments Elite Eight since 1995. London Perrantes was the only returning player to average at least five points per game, but Virginia had four players hit double figures Friday night.Virginia ran off a 22-0 run to blow the game open, shot 52 percent and made 8 of 16 3-point attempts with a juggled rotation with the absences of Memphis transfer Austin Nichols and Mamadi Diakite inside.Honestly I didnt know what to think coming in (defensively), said Isaiah Wilkins, who had 10 points and nine rebounds. Well take this as a marker and try to improve it on Tuesday.Francis Alonso scored 14 points for UNCG, which shot 37 percent. It marked the first time the program has hosted a ranked opponent in a season opener, though the Spartans ended up falling to 2-55 all-time against Atlantic Coast Conference teams.We just ran into a buzzsaw tonight, sixth-year UNCG coach Wes Miller said. I think its something we can learn from and grow from.BIG PICTUREVIRGINIA: The Cavaliers were thin inside with Nichols out due to a violation of team rules, and Diakite sitting due to an NCAA review of his amateur status. That gave Bennett an extended look at some players who have spent time developing within Virginias program. Of note: 6-foot-11 redshirt sophomore Jack Salt got the start and had seven points in 27 minutes as he tries to earn steady rotation minutes and provide interior depth this season.UNCG: Picked to finish fifth in the Southern Conference, the Spartans quickly fell behind by double figures and made what amounted to only a 2-minute flurry of resistance. Hardly the start that Miller wanted from a team with four returning starters.My biggest disappointment was I think when it got away from us ... we were frustrated and disappointed and we let that affect us in the next possession, Miller said, adding: Were too mature, we have too much experience to let being down 15 points affect who we are on the next possession.POLL IMPLICATIONSBennett has described preseason rankings as more of a compliment for what the program has done in recent years as opposed to a measure of the current teams standing. But Miller was sold on the No. 8 team in the AP Top 25 , noting, We can talk for days about their defense.WING OPTIONSBehind Shayok, Darius Thompson scored 12 points with three 3-pointers, while Perrantes had 10 and freshman guard Kyle Guy scored seven on 3-for-5 shooting in his college debut.Guard-wise, I feel like we dont have certain starters every night, Thompson said. Anybody can come in and contribute ... so really it shows how deep we can be.UP NEXTVIRGINIA: The Cavaliers should get their first chance to integrate Nichols into the lineup Tuesday against St. Francis Brooklyn.UNCG: The Spartans play at home Monday against Presbyterian.---Follow Aaron Beard on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/aaronbeardap---More AP college basketball at http://collegebasketball.ap.org or http://www.twitter.com/AP-Top25 Adidas España Outlet .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Adidas Baratas España . Houston won 3-0 to advance to face New York in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Last in the game, Di Vaio and Romero got into a shoving match with several Houston players. Romero appeared to elbow and kick Houston defender Kofi Sarkodie. http://www.zapatillasadidasbaratas.es/ . LOUIS -- Mike Smith is used to facing plenty of shots, so this was nothing new. Zapatillas Adidas Outlet España . Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. That came on the heels of Bryan Murray taking the unusual step of going into the locker room at the Prudential Center and addressing the players himself. Adidas Baratos España . The recently retired Stern was elected Friday to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and will be enshrined with the class of 2014 on Aug. Tom Savage is the quarterback the Houston Texans needed all along.Savage came off the bench to rally the Texans from a 13-0 deficit against woeful Jacksonville and keep Houston in first place in the AFC South. He had thrown 19 passes in his NFL career before going 23 of 36 for 260 yards after Brock Osweiler was benched.So what if Savage has never started a game and the Texans gave Osweiler a $72 million contract with $37 million guaranteed after he went 5-2 with Denver last year? Savage showed he has what it takes to win big games and deserves an opportunity to lead Houston into the playoffs, right?After all, he engineered four field goal drives and one TD drive against one of the worst teams in the NFL.OK, maybe we havent seen the last of Osweiler in Houston.---Here are other overreactions following Week 15:OVERREACTION: The Browns will beat the Chargers next week and avoid an 0-16 season. San Diego has nothing to play for and has to deal with flying in from the West Coast on a holiday weekend.REALISTIC REACTION: Cant bet on an 0-14 team.---OVERREACTION: Dak Prescott silenced all the critics with a stellar performance in Dallas win over Tampa Bay.REALISTIC REACTION: Yeah right. It only takes one interception next game for a clueless observer to call for Tony Romo.---OVERREACTION: Andy Reid still hasnt figured out how to use timeouts. He cost the Chiefs a win by icing the kicker, giving Ryan Succop a second chance to kick a 53-yard field goal to give Tennessee a win.REALISTIC REACTION: Until the NFL changes the silly rule and stops allowing coaches to call these timeouts, they will continue to do it. Reids just following the pack.dddddddddddd.---OVERREACTION: Leading Oakland to the playoffs clinched the Coach of the Year award for Jack Del Rio.REALISTIC REACTION: Tennessees Mike Mularkey and Tampa Bays Dirk Koetter belong in the conversation if their teams get in.---OVERREACTION: Ty Montgomery would be a Pro Bowl running back if he didnt waste time playing wide receiver most of the season.REALISTIC REACTION: He had 162 yards rushing and two TDs, but it was against the woeful Bears (3-11).---OVERREACTION: Matt Barkley is Chicagos quarterback of the future. Barkley led a fourth-quarter comeback from a 27-10 deficit and completed 30 of 42 for 362 yards with two touchdowns vs. the Packers.REALISTIC REACTION: He had three interceptions and they lost.---OVERREACTION: The Vikings are better without Adrian Peterson. He came back and they were routed at home by the struggling Colts.REALISTIC REACTION: Peterson will be in the Hall of Fame one day. Always take the Hall of Famer.---OVERREACTION: The Dolphins dont need Ryan Tannehill. Matt Moore threw a career-high four touchdown passes in his first start since 2011.REALISTIC REACTION: Moore did it against the Jets (4-10).---OVERREACTION: The Redskins are cooked. They lost control of their playoff hopes by losing to Carolina.REALISTIC REACTION: If they win out, they still could get in.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP-RobMaaddi ' ' '