Foto-Album » cardinals shot 50 percent in the first half before cooling off

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Tyler OConnor expects it will feel different to take the field this week in Michigan States opening game.You can finally go out there like its your team, the fifth-year senior said.After three years backing up Connor Cook at quarterback, OConnor finally has his chance to lead the Spartans. Hes the starter now, and when No. 12 Michigan State hosts Furman on Friday night, hell try to take the first step toward soothing concerns Spartans fans have about a potential drop-off at that position.OConnor has attempted only 54 passes at Michigan State, so he takes over the starting job amid a fair amount of uncertainty.I think everything is in order for him. I guess my message to him is: Be yourself, understand theres going to be criticism and just if you make a mistake, go at it 100 percent and bounce back from it. Its tough being a quarterback at any level, especially at this level, coach Mark Dantonio said. Hes a competitor and hes prepared himself for this moment and hes got a great supporting cast around him.OConnor was part of an extended quarterback competition at the beginning of the 2013 season, and when Cook -- a sophomore at the time -- ultimately established himself as the starter, OConnor didnt seem to have much of a future at Michigan State. He stayed the course, though, sticking with the Spartans through the end of Cooks college career.OConnor did start one game last year -- at Ohio State when Cook was hurt. The Spartans pulled off a huge upset, and although their offensive approach was conservative that day, OConnor played a role in one of Michigan States greatest victories under Dantonio.Moments like that can help any players confidence, and OConnor has the backing of both his coach and his teammates.He leads the huddle. He does everything the right way. I believed in him when he came in last year. I believe in any quarterback that we have here at Michigan State, receiver R.J. Shelton said. With him, just be poised like you always do and go out there and have fun and get the job done -- which he will.Following on Cooks three-year run -- which included two Big Ten titles -- wont be easy. After last seasons appearance in college footballs four-team playoff, the Spartans have high hopes again. As usual, games against Michigan and Ohio State should go a long way toward defining the season in East Lansing.After facing Furman, the Spartans have an open date on the schedule before playing at Notre Dame. That will probably be the first big test for OConnor this year.I really do try to stay in the moment. Its a long season, a lot of games, a lot of important games on the road, OConnor said. You want to have a huge year, you want to come out and show everybody what you can do, but you can only play one game a week, and theres seven days between each game -- or 15 days after this first game.Unlike Cook, OConnor will only have one season as the starter to leave a legacy at Michigan State. His career as a Spartan will be judged almost entirely on what happens over the next few months. Friday is his final season opener at Spartan Stadium as a college player -- but it also feels like a new beginning for OConnor.Its no wonder hes eager to get started.Its something Ive been waiting for, for a long time, and its finally here, he said. This week cant go quick enough.---Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister Air Max 97 Vapormax Cheap . -- An ugly goal by Nick Bonino helped the Anaheim Ducks overcome the defensive-minded Phoenix Coyotes on a night when their ragged power play continued to struggle. Air Max 97 Vapormax Gold Bullet . 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LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Jeff Walzs belief his team can always play better didnt stop the Louisville coach from finding positives in a victory that welcomed another player into an exclusive club.Mariya Moore scored nine points to surpass 1,000 career and No. 4 Louisville held Chattanooga to 30 percent shooting for a 63-47 victory on Monday night to wrap up site play in the Hall of Fame Challenge.Playing their third game in as many days, the Cardinals (6-0) were never threatened in their tuneup ahead of Sundays Challenge matchup against third-ranked South Carolina. They controlled the pace, spread the ball around and held Chattanooga (3-3) to 17 of 57 shooting from the field in ending its two-game winning streak.I thought we did a lot of really good things in that first part of the game, said Walz, whose team shot 44 percent and made 18 assists on its 25 baskets. We got the pace going that we wanted, we executed well, and we passed the ball, a lot of good things.When we subbed, we kind of took a step back and thats something I talked to our bench players about. ... We should go forward. That part was a little bit of a concern for me, but overall our effort was good.Besides becoming Louisvilles 27th player to break 1,000 points, Moore had seven assists and four rebounds. Myisha Hines-Allen had 10 boards along with seven points.Moore was presented with a specially-designed ball after the game and said of her milestone, Its a blessing. It just shows hard work, I guess, but Im more happy that were 6-0.Queen Alford scored 20 points and Jasmine Joyner had 15 rebounds and seven blocks for Chattanooga. The Mocs committed 19 turnovers in its third game of the Challenge, an eight-team, round-robin competition being played at several sites. The event continues Sunday in Sprinngfield, Massachusetts.ddddddddddddPOLL IMPLICATIONSLouisville followed up its one-spot rise in the poll with an easy win ahead of Sundays showdown against third-ranked South Carolina that will affect its ranking.THE BIG PICTUREChattanooga: The Mocs 1-of-8 start from the field helped dig 25-12 first-quarter hole that they spent the rest of the game trying to climb out of. We came out tentative in a way that surprised me, coach Jim Foster said. We played with effort, but we needed 40 minutes of effort and just got 30. For the first 10 minutes, it wasnt where it needed to be.The Mocs finished even on the boards (36-36) and blocked three more shots than Louisville (8-5) thanks to Joyner, who has 29 rebounds and 16 rejections the past two games.Louisville: The Cardinals shot 50 percent in the first half before cooling off to 44 percent for the game. While their scoring total was the lowest this season, 11 of 13 players scored while playing for the third straight day. Louisville also made all 10 free throws, its best single-game percentage with double-digit attempts going back to 2000. The Cardinals entered the game averaging 65 percent from the line.UP NEXTChattanooga: The Mocs return home from their weekend in Louisville to host Wisconsin-Green Bay on Friday.Louisville: The Cardinals face their first major test this season against No. 3 South Carolina on Sunday when the Hall of Fame Challenge moves to Springfield, Massachusetts. It will mark the first game between the schools since the Cardinals won 74-47 Nov. 29, 1991, one of just four wins over the Gamecocks in 20 meetings.---More AP College Basketball: www.collegebasketball.ap.org ' ' '