HURRICANES BEGIN
Hurricanes begin Peters’ 1st training camp
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) β It didn’t take long during Carolina’s first practice of training camp for the Hurricanes to figure out what new coach Bill Peters wants.
The pace was faster than under previous regimes. There was more attention to detail, an almost rigid adherence to a plan.
Captain Eric Staal said after Friday’s workout that Peters “comes in with a presence, a plan … and that’s what you want.”
The biggest offseason changes for Carolina came not on the roster but in the front office and behind the bench.
Ron Francis was promoted to general manager in the spring and his first major moves were to fire third-year coach Kirk Muller and plucking Peters from Detroit’s staff to replace him.
Staal says his first practice was “up-tempo, detailed … a good first day.”
TULANE-DUKE
Duke not looking past Tulane with Miami ahead
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) β Duke insists it won’t get caught looking past Tulane.
There won’t be any peeking ahead to next week’s game at Miami because coach David Cutcliffe says his Blue Devils have improved but aren’t yet good enough to overlook anyone.
Duke (3-0) expects to have its full focus on the Green Wave (1-2) on Saturday in its final nonconference game before taking on the Hurricanes in their Atlantic Coast Conference opener.
The Blue Devils have barely been tested so far, winning each of their first three games by an average of 42-11.
They’re getting a visit from a Tulane team that has intercepted a pass in every game this season and ranks sixth nationally with five picks.
PRESBYTERIAN-NC STATE
NC State eyes 4-0 start against Presbyterian
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) β North Carolina State has already matched its win total for last season and has a big home game looming against the reigning national champion.
For now, though, coach Dave Doeren wants his team focused on a strong finish to its nonconference schedule against Presbyterian on Saturday. Doeren says it’s a week for his team to “look inside” instead of looking forward to next week’s game against No. 1 Florida State.
N.C. State is off to its first 3-0 start since starting 4-0 in 2010. The Wolfpack went just 3-9 last year and had the program’s first winless Atlantic Coast Conference record since 1959.
Presbyterian (2-1) is coming off a 10-7 win against Furman in the championship subdivision ranks.
CHAPMAN-SHOPLIFTING ARREST
Ex-NBA player Rex Chapman accused of shoplifting
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) β Former NBA guard Rex Chapman has been arrested for allegedly shoplifting $14,000 worth of merchandise from an Apple store in Scottsdale and then selling the items at a pawn shop.
Police took the 46-year-old Chapman into custody Friday afternoon after officers stopped his vehicle in northeast Scottsdale.
They say he’s being held on suspicion of nine counts of organized retail theft and five counts of trafficking in stolen property.
Police say Chapman made it appear he was using the store’s self-checkout, but left without paying.
He allegedly stole from the store seven times and sold the items for cash.
Chapman, a former Kentucky star, was a first-round draft pick of Charlotte in 1988. He also played for Washington, Miami and Phoenix in a 12-year NBA career that ended in 2000.
NASCAR-QUALIFYING
Keselowski wins pole at New Hampshire
LOUDON, N.H. (AP) β Brad Keselowski turned a track-record lap of 140.598 mph to win the pole at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Keselowski is coming off consecutive victories at Richmond and the Chase for the Sprint Cup opener last week at Chicagoland. He swept the Cup and Nationwide races at New Hampshire in July.
The Team Penske driver has five poles this season and leads the series with five victories.
Jamie McMurray, a non-Chase driver, was second. Chase drivers took the next seven spots. Kevin Harvick was third, followed by Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Joey Logano, Carl Edwards and Ryan Newman.
PANTHERS-RUNNING GAME
Panthers’ Rivera expects Williams, Tolbert to play
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β Panthers coach Ron Rivera says running back DeAngelo Williams and fullback Mike Tolbert practiced and are expected to start Sunday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The coach isn’t so sure about starting wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery.
Williams returned to work Friday after sitting out last week’s game against Detroit with a hamstring injury. Tolbert was also back after taking a shot to his sternum in Week 2.
Williams, who ran for 72 yards in the team’s season opener against Tampa Bay, is listed as questionable on the injury report while Tolbert is probable. Jonathan Stewart started in place of Williams on Sunday and finished with 37 yards rushing and a touchdown.
Cotchery (hamstring) didn’t practice Friday and is listed as questionable along with fellow wide receiver Jason Avant.
