nst the team he grew up watching. "It never gets old,"

Last April, Nik Stauskass season at Michigan came crashing to a halt with a tough 82-76 loss to the Louisville Cardinals in the NCAA Championship game. The 66" shooting guard started all but six games in his freshman year, averaging 11 points per game and shooting .440 from the three-point line. Based on his post-game comments, it was clear that he took the championship loss hard. "We just got to move on," he said, his eyes clearly filled with tears. "I know myself, Im going to get back in the gym tomorrow to start working on my game." Stauskas wasnt giving lip service. The dozen or so shooting videos, shot from his backyard in Mississauga, Ontario in sun, rain and snow on YouTube, attest to his incredible drive. His quest for improvement was doubly as important as the top two players on the Wolverines, National Player of the Year, Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway, Jr., were both selected as first-round picks in this past Junes NBA Draft. With their departure, someone had to emerge on the team to pick up the slack and Stauskass work ethic would not allow it to be anyone else but him. "It just comes from me loving the game," he said. "I enjoy playing basketball, so its not really work for me. I enjoy getting better and anytime you go out there and see yourself being successful, it motivates you to try even more and get even better. Its kind of like a cycle for me - the better I get, the more I want to work." Already established as one of the best shooters in college basketball, Stauskas spent the summer in Ann Arbor, Michigan, rounding out his game. Working on his ball-handling to take defenders off the dribble and finish at the rim, he also added 16 pounds of muscle to his lithe frame. The result of his efforts was something no one expected him to do, by averaging 18.2 points in his first 11 games of the season. When met with stiffer competition in the Big 10 Conference, he led the Wolverines to a 9-1 record in one of the toughest conferences in the NCAA, all of which translated into Michigan moving up the national rankings and garnering the sophomore a spot on the Naismith Award Midseason Top 30 list. "Ive never really had recognition like that before," Stauskas said. "To be put in that group with those guys, its an honour. Theyre all really talented and its a prestigious award. Im happy that I can be there and that my work is paying off." Yet as Stauskass talent continues to develop with increased freedom and responsibility, opposing coaches have recognized this, as well. In some games, he has been neutralized as defences key in on Michigans primary threat. "I think the biggest challenge for me personally has just been addressing the way teams have been defending me," he said. "A lot of teams have been preparing for me, more than anyone else on our team. Getting double-teamed and being face-guarded has been an adjustment for me, cause Ive never had to deal with that before. Its made me work harder in a lot of areas I havent had to work on before." Stauskass growth, however, isnt solely physical, as he has had to make the adjustment to being a leader on his team. "Its tougher to pick up the rest of the team and stay positive and encourage everyone else while you struggle personally," Stauskas. Yet, he recognizes its a necessary adjustment to take his team and game to the next level. His focus and drive to succeed wont allow him to think otherwise. This April, Stauskas has similar visions on what another Michigan group of fabulous freshmen accomplished in consecutive seasons - back-to-back trips to the NCAA Championship game. "After the loss we had in the Final Four, obviously our goal is to get back there and win that championship game," he said. "At the same time, we came two points away from winning a Big 10 Championship. Those are both goals I want to achieve coming back this year. The way were playing right now, I think were right on pace to do that, we just have to keep working hard." Cheap Johnny Pesky Jersey . The Mercedes duo of three-time Canadian Grand Prix champion Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg has won all six races to start the season, finishing one-two in the last five. Cheap Wade Boggs Jersey . - Mathew Barzal scored 3:47 into overtime as the Seattle Thunderbirds downed the visiting Everett Silvertips 4-3 on Tuesday in Western Hockey League playoff action. http://www.cheapredsoxjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-david-ortiz-jersey . Yet coming off consecutive series losses at St. Louis and Pittsburgh, Los Angeles needed some sort of spark as August approaches. The Dodgers found it in the ballpark of their biggest rival, and left the Bay Area in first place following an emphatic three-game swing. Cheap Jim Rice Jersey . After deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the league would consider pulling out of Sochi if something "significant" happens before players arrive, those set to participate are trying not to worry about that scenario. Wholesale Red Sox Jerseys . Edwin Encarnacion carried the torch for two days at Fenway Park this week; Melky Cabrera and Jose Bautista have had their moments; lately Anthony Gose has contributed.MALABO, Equatorial Guinea - Even with all its star power, the Ivory Coast may have to depend on the luck of the draw to reach the quarterfinals at the African Cup of Nations.All four teams in Group D have two points after 1-1 draws in every match.On Wednesday, Yaya Toure and his Ivorian teammates will face Cameroon at Malabo Stadium, while Guinea takes on Mali in Mongomo.We fight like elephants to try to win this game, said veteran Ivory Coast defender Kolo Toure, referencing the national teams nickname. This game is going to be different, and I cant wait. We need to give everything to prove we are a great team.More draws on Wednesday could mean that the quarterfinalists from the group will be drawn by lots. But if both matches produce a winner, then those two teams will go through.The pre-tournament favourites from the group, Ivory Coast and Cameroon, will need a high-scoring draw in Malabo and another draw in Mongomo in order for both to advance.We go for a win, Cameroon coach Volker Finke said on Tuesday. But I know we have to work very hard against the ball. There are excellent individual players in the team of Ivory Coast.Besides Yaya Toure, who recently won his fourth African player of the year award, the Ivorians also have Wilfried Bony and veteran Salomon Kalou. But they will be missing Gervvinho, the Roma forward who will be serving the second of his two-match suspension for getting a straight red card in the opening match.ddddddddddddIn their first two matches in Malabo, the Ivorians had to come back to earn their draws. They got a late equalizer from Seydou Doumbia in the opening group match against Guinea, and Max Gradel scored an even later equalizer against Mali.For Guinea, one of the three worst-affected countries in the Ebola outbreak, the results so far have been welcome good news.Weve played two of the favourites of the competition and not lost, Guinea captain Ibrahima Traore said after the draw against Cameroon. We just have to continue the way were playing. We have what it takes to qualify.Guinea, however, will likely be playing without Florentin Pogba, the older brother of Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba. Florentin, a defender who plays for Saint-Etienne, injured his right hamstring against Cameroon.But despite injuries and suspensions, Wednesday is the final chance for all four Group D teams to ensure advancement from their play on the field, rather than luck.Its always very important to increase your pace step by step and not to start very quickly, and not be without energy after the second game, Ivory Coast coach Herve Renard said. We are in a good way. ' ' '