Infos & Interessantes » Celtics have regressed steadily since then, tw

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Jim McElwains second season at Florida cant possibly have as many twists as his first.The Gators dealt with a costly suspension, celebrated a surprising division championship and then endured a dreadful final three games in 2015. For players and coaches, it was staggering, exhilarating and ultimately humbling.The journey also may provide some valuable lessons as Florida heads into Year 2 of McElwains tenure.This team has to understand that what they did a year ago was kind of discover, kind of discovered a little bit maybe what was possible, McElwain said. And yet (we) learned some lessons along the way about understanding, never being satisfied. And hopefully even all the older players understand that they never made it. In other words, you cant go into coast (mode).Instead, the Gators hope to learn how to finish.After unexpectedly clinching the Southeastern Conferences Eastern Division last November, Florida lost its final three games. McElwains team was exposed and overmatched against rival Florida State, against Alabama in the league title game and against Michigan in the Citrus Bowl. The Gators managed just two offensive touchdowns in those losses and were outscored 97-24.Quarterback play was among the main issues, with Treon Harris having more turnovers than touchdowns in those games and getting sacked 13 times. Harris started the final eight games after Will Grier was suspended for one year for violating the NCAAs policy on performance-enhancing drugs.Harris and Grier have since transferred, leaving Florida with a college journeyman, a graduate transfer and two freshmen at quarterback.Luke Del Rio, the son of Oakland Raiders coach Jack Del Rio, is the front-runner to win the starting job despite throwing just 18 somewhat meaningful passes at Alabama (2013), Oregon State (2014) and Florida (2015).Whether its Del Rio, former Purdue starter Austin Appleby, Feleipe Franks or fellow freshman Kyle Trask under center, McElwain expects the offense to be dramatically better this fall.The Gators ranked 100th in the nation in scoring and 112th in yards last season.Our quarterback room, their grasping of the things we are trying to accomplish and their knowledge will allow us to do maybe some different things that maybe we didnt do a year ago, offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier said.Here are some other things to know about Florida heading into the season:---DEFENSE REIGNS: Floridas defense was among the best in the SEC last season, and the Gators expect the same this year despite having to replace six starters. Jalen Tabor appears to be the programs next star cornerback while linebacker Jarrad Davis and defensive linemen CeCe Jefferson and Caleb Brantley also could make big leaps.TROUBLED RECEIVERS: Antonio Callaway, Tyrie Cleveland and Rick Wells could be suspended to start the season because of legal issues. Callaway has been accused of sexual assault, a case being handled by the university. Cleveland and Wells, both freshmen, are facing felony charges for allegedly firing BB guns into a residential hall last month.KEY GAMES: The Gators essentially play five games -- at Tennessee, against LSU, against Georgia, at Arkansas and at Florida State -- that will determine their season.PREDICTION: With one of the weakest non-conference schedules in recent history -- Florida hosts UMass, North Texas and Presbyterian, teams that combined for six wins in 2015 -- the Gators should be a lock to win nine games. And since Georgia, Missouri and South Carolina have new coaches, they also should be in the hunt in the SEC East.SEASON OPENER: Sept. 3 against UMass. It will be the teams first meeting.---AP college football website: collegefootball.ap.org Wholesale MLB Jerseys China . Giroud, who wasnt in the starting lineup for two matches after allegations about his private life and a decline in form, scored twice in the first half. Tomas Rosickys chip made it 3-0 before half time at Emirates Stadium, while defender Laurent Koscielny scored an unmarked header in the second half. Cheap Milwaukee Brewers Jerseys . Gerald Green and Miles Plumlee? Green had bounced around the NBA when he wasnt playing overseas. The Pacers gave up on Plumlee after just one season. Now Green and Plumlee are key cogs in the Suns surprising breakout season. http://www.jerseyscheapmlb.com/ .Y. -- Sabres forward Drew Stafford has witnessed plenty of turmoil during his eight seasons in Buffalo. China MLB Jerseys . For the Wild it was their first win of the season and they now have a record of 1-1-2 while the Jets fall to 2-2. Jets start a six game home stand Friday with another divisional game, home to the Dallas Stars. Cheap Jerseys From China . -- There were a lot of firsts for the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night.BOSTON -- Doc Rivers will be the next coach of the Los Angeles Clippers if the NBA approves the rare but not unprecedented trade of an active coach, a Boston Celtics official told The Associated Press on Sunday night. The deal would bring Boston a first-round draft pick in 2015, according to the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because it is pending a trade call with the NBA office. Rivers, who had three years and $21 million left on his contract with the Celtics, must also reach an agreement on a new deal with the Clippers. Celtics spokesman Jeff Twiss said the team had no announcement. The tentative agreement on Sunday wraps up weeks of haggling over the deal and frees Rivers from presiding over the dismantling of the team that won the franchises record 17th NBA title in 2008. The Celtics and Clippers have also discussed sending Kevin Garnett to Los Angeles in a package with Rivers for draft choices, centre DeAndre Jordan and point guard Eric Bledsoe. But NBA commissioner David Stern nixed those talks this week, saying teams arent allowed to trade active players for a coach. A deal for Garnett could still happen, but the teams would have to convince the league that it was a separate deal. The 37-year-old big man has a no-trade clause in the contract that will pay him 23.5 million over the next two years, but it is believed he would waive it to be reunited with Rivers on the West Coast. He has also discussed retiring. Boston could also cut ties with Paul Pierce, the longest-tenured member of the team, who is due to earn $15.3 million next season; he could be bought out for $5 million. Pierrce will be 36 by the 2013-14 opener and showed signs of slowing down this season, when he averaged the fewest minutes per game in his career.dddddddddddd Rivers took over the Celtics in 2004 in the midst of the longest title drought in franchise history and -- with thanks to the New Big Three of Garnett, Pierce and Ray Allen -- guided them to the 2008 NBA title. They returned to the NBA Finals two years later, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in seven games. But the Celtics have regressed steadily since then, twice failing to get past the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference playoffs. This year they finished third in the Atlantic Division -- they had won it five straight times -- and lost to the New York Knicks in the first round. That convinced many that it was time to rebuild -- a process Rivers was reluctant to supervise. If the Celtics unload Garnett and Pierce, that would leave them with point guard Rajon Rondo as their only established star. Rivers had the second-longest tenure of any NBA coach to San Antonios Gregg Popovich, compiling a 416-305 record in Boston that was the third-most wins in franchise history behind Red Auerbach (795) and Tommy Heinsohn (427). He also spent four-plus seasons with the Orlando Magic and is 587-473 in all. Trades for coaches have occurred about a half-dozen times in NBA history, most recently in 2007 when the Heat received compensation for allowing Stan Van Gundy to go to the Orlando Magic. In 1983, the Chicago Bulls sent a second-round draft pick to Atlanta as compensation for coach Kevin Loughery. The Hawks used that pick to take Glenn "Doc" Rivers. ' ' '