practice field. "Its a long season," Bell said. "I w

Each week, Ill write about the sport I love: college basketball.The ACC has had its share of quality big men, but this season, most of the returning stars are either guards or wing players. Grayson Allen of Duke, Jaron Blossomgame of Clemson, Joel Berry II of North Carolina, London Perrantes of Virginia, Tyler Lydon of Syracuse. Wow, there is a lot of talent coming back.Wishing a speedy recovery to Austin Peay coach Dave Loos, who had surgery to remove a tumor from his colon. Loos, who led his team to the NCAA tournament last season, is expected to be ready for the regular season.Im happy to see former Wichita State guard Fred VanVleet going to training camp with the Toronto Raptors. I loved watching him play for Gregg Marshall and the Shockers.Politics played a part as Albany had to cancel a game at Duke. New North Carolina laws in place were a factor, and New York governor Andrew Cuomo told Albany, a state school, to remove the game from its schedule.Congratulations to Virginia Tech coach Buzz Williams on his contract extension. He will be in Blacksburg until 2022-23. The Hokies had a winning ACC record (10-8) last season.A number of matchups for early-season tournaments are out. Pittsburgh faces SMU and Michigan meets Marquette at the 2K Sports Classic. Notre Dame faces Colorado and Texas meets Northwestern at the Legends Classic. The Battle 4 Atlantis features Wichita State vs. LSU, Old Dominion vs. Louisville, Baylor against VCU and Michigan State vs. St. Johns. Cheap Air Max Outlet . During the athletes parade, the 23-strong Ukrainian team was represented by a lone flagbearer in an apparent protest at the presence of Russian troops in Ukraines Crimean peninsula. Cheap Air Max Free Shipping . -- Bobby Ryan helped the U. http://www.cheapairmaxshoesfreeshipping.com/ . What general manager Dave Nonis called "short and productive" negotiations ended with Kessel signing a US$64-million, eight-year contract on Tuesday. Cheap Air Max China . The Vancouver coach and an announced sellout crowd of 18,910 watched in dismay as the Canucks lost 7-4 to the New York Islanders on Monday night by squandering a 3-0 lead in the third period. Discount Air Max . -- Brandon Jennings made the most of his first game with the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night.PITTSBURGH -- LeVeon Bells rehab from a sprained foot includes an exercise that requires the Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back to pick up marbles with his toes. "Nothing crazy," Bell said with a laugh. And, apparently, nothing serious either. While Bell will sit out Saturday nights exhibition game against the Kansas City Chiefs with a sprained right foot, the second-round pick isnt worried about the injury extending well into the regular season. "Ive already been healing real quick," Bell said Thursday. "As long as the process keeps going the way it is, I should be back pretty quick." Coach Mike Tomlin declined to put an exact timetable on Bells return but pointed to the fact surgery will not be required as an encouraging sign. Less than 72 hours after going down in the first quarter of a 24-13 loss to Washington, Bell can already put weight on it, though he did wear a walking boot into the locker room as a precaution. It beats the cast being worn by tight end Matt Spaeth, who is dealing with a more significant version of the same injury. Spaeth is out at least two months after tearing the Lisfranc ligament in his left foot. There are no such concerns for Bell, though the 48th overall pick in the draft is a bit mystified about his bumpy training camp. The 21-year-old was a workhorse last fall at Michigan State, leading the nation with 383 carries. His durability is one of the main reasons the Steelers drafted him as the heir apparent to replace departed Rashard Mendenhall. Instead hell watch from the sidelines for the second time in three weeks while Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman attempt to hold onto the starting job, at least temporarily. "It gets a little frustrating at times," Bell said. "Its something Im faced with. Ill fight through it." Just dont expect him to race through it. Though Tomlin called all signs around Bells prognosis "positive" hes not going to rush Bell out onto the field just to do it. "We dont have a long-range schedule," Tomlin said. "At this point, well treat it conservatively with rehabilitation." Its the correct diagnosis, even if its not one Bell wants to hear. He averaged more than 30 touches a game during his last two seasons at Michigan State, touching the ball an average of 23 times a game. Outside of the usual aches and pains, hhes never had so much as an ingrown toenail.dddddddddddd Now hes dealing with his third issues in as many weeks. He skipped the preseason opener against the New York Giants as a precaution after tweaking his left knee in practice. He aggravated the injury in practice but recovered in time to make his professional debut. It was one that turned into little more than an extended cameo. Bell carried four times for nine yards while working with the first team, his night ending shortly after he felt an opponent fall onto his leg while he was trying to push the pile forward. Bell remained in for one more play before heading to the sideline. When he took his cleats off, he couldnt even put his foot on the ground. An MRI revealed the sprain, though the Steelers sought out a second opinion to confirm that he wouldnt need surgery. "It was great news," Bell said. And a blessing of sorts. While stressing the knee was good enough to play against the Redskins, the downtime required by the sprained foot means the knee will be "100 per cent" whenever Bell is back on the practice field. "Its a long season," Bell said. "I would like to come back to where I can actually be able to play and not think about it. I want to make sure everythings comfortable so I can play the way I want to play." Dwyer, who ran for 68 yards on Monday night, will likely start against the Chiefs. Tomlin also held out hope that Isaac Redman will be ready to go after missing a week due to a stinger. The same goes for LaRod Stephens-Howling and the mild knee sprain that kept him out versus Washington. Whoever is in the backfield will be charged with getting the first team into the end zone. It hasnt happened yet, though Tomlin expects the starters to play a half -- if not more -- when Kansas City visits. ---- NOTES: Tight end Heath Miller, rehabbing from left knee surgery, remained noncommittal about when hell be able to return. Miller is currently on the physically unable to perform list but has shown significant progress during camp. ... CB Cortez Allen practiced on Thursday as he recovers from minor knee surgery. Allen said he remains "day to day," and isnt sure hell play on Saturday. Allen, slated to be the starting cornerback across from Ike Taylor, said his focus is being ready for the season opener against Tennessee Sept. 8. ' ' '