PANTHERS-DISAPPEARING OFFENSE
Panthers offense looking for answers after defeat
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) The Panthers are trying to figure out what caused their high-flying offense to crash and burn in their season-opening 16-10 loss at Tampa Bay.
They’d better do it soon to avoid falling into a big early season hole.
The Panthers host NFC powers New Orleans and the New York Giants in the next 10 days, teams with quarterbacks who know a thing or two about putting points on the board.
Coach Ron Rivera remains upbeat, saying “it’s not time to panic.”
But there is a lot to work on.
The Panthers had the fifth-highest scoring offense and the third-best running game in the NFL in 2011, but Cam Newton and the Panthers were dreadful against Bucs managing just 10 points while matching a franchise-low with 10 yards rushing.
DUKE-MEADOWLANDS
Duke will face Temple at Izod Center in New Jersey
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) Mike Krzyzewski will bring Duke to the Izod Center.
The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority announced Monday that Duke will play Temple at the arena Dec. 8 as the second game of a college basketball doubleheader that also will have St. Peter’s facing Loyola, Md.
Duke beat Butler at the Izod Center in December 2010 in a rematch of the NCAA championship game earlier that year. Prior to that, it played Xavier here in 2008. The Blue Devils have a 19-1 record at the Izod Center, winning five NCAA East Region finals.
Coached by Fran Dunphy, Temple has won 79 games the past three seasons. It is one of 13 schools to make the last five NCAA Tournaments.
“Coach Dunphy is a longtime friend and a terrific coach,” Krzyzewski said. “He has built a tremendous program at Temple and it should be a very competitive game.
EAST CAROLINA-CARDEN
ECU to start Carden at QB against Southern Miss
GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) Turnover-prone East Carolina says sophomore Shane Carden will start at quarterback this week at Southern Mississippi.
Coach Ruffin McNeill made the announcement Monday.
Junior Rio Johnson won a four-man battle that lasted through preseason camp and started the first two games, but threw three interceptions last week in a 48-10 loss at then-No. 9 South Carolina.
Carden replaced him in the third quarter, and after his first throw was picked off, he finished 12 of 18 for 140 yards with the team’s lone touchdown.
McNeill says he has always considered Carden a starter and says he’s a slightly better runner than Johnson is.
Johnson was 18 of 29 for 193 yards against the Gamecocks.
T25-LOUISVILLE’S FIRST TEST
No. 19 Louisville prepares for North Carolina
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) After opening with two dominant victories, No. 19 Louisville expects a tougher test from North Carolina.
The Cardinals seek their first 3-0 start since 2006, a season that culminated in their only Bowl Championship Series victory against Wake Forest in the Orange Bowl. That postseason scenario is a long way off. Louisville first wants to make sure victories against in-state rival Kentucky and FCS-member Missouri State are true indicators of how good the Cardinals can be.
Not only are the Tar Heels (1-1) a good measuring stick, they’re the Cardinal’s last home game before a three-game road stretch at FIU, Southern Mississippi and Pittsburgh.
So Louisville coach Charlie Strong has more than enough to motivate his team for the Big East-Atlantic Coast Conference matchup.
Article source: http://www2.counton2.com/sports/2012/sep/11/latest-north-carolina-sports-ar-335051/
