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(STATS) -- Last years best conference title race in the FCS might be anyones guess again this year.The Big Sky is so deep with talented teams that Northern Arizona was installed Tuesday as the preseason favorite even though it hasnt won the conference title in 13 years, and Southern Utah, last years champ, managed only seventh place.The 13-team Big Sky -- the largest FCS conference -- has two preseason polls, and the head coaches and media agreed Northern Arizona should hold the top spot. Portland State and Montana tied for second place in the coaches poll, while Montana was second and Eastern Washington third in the media poll.Its humbling and its an honor at the same, said Northern Arizona coach Jerome Souers, now in his 19th season with the Lumberjacks. To be considered among the elite of this conference … I have that much respect for our conferences and the coaches that are in it, the teams and the players. If one team has to wear it, maybe its our turn. But its always going to be defined in the outcome of competition through the fall.Over half the Big Sky teams were in contention for the conference title or an FCS playoff bid heading into the final weekend of the regular season last November. Northern Arizonas playoff bid was derailed by a 49-41 loss to Southern Utah, which captured its first Big Sky title after being picked eighth in the preseason poll.NAU, which finished 7-4 overall and 5-3 in the conference, returns four offensive players on the Big Sky preseason team. Sophomore quarterback Case Cookus, who was the STATS FCS Freshman Player of the Year after throwing 37 touchdowns, will have to manage the expectations after being a surprise on the national scene last year.Its execute -- thats the bottom line, he said, looking ahead to the season. Conference play begins Sept. 24. We watched the film, we watched all those games where we lost. It comes down to a few plays each game.I made a few mistakes in each of those games where it could have swayed the game each way. If we can cut down on those mistakes, were right there in playoff contention.And title contention. The Lumberjacks last tied for the Big Sky title in 2003, and although they have had four straight winning seasons, only their 2013 squad has advanced to the playoffs in the last 12 seasons.Portland State (9-3, 6-2), also a surprise last season, and Montana (8-6, 6-2) represented the parity-filled Big Sky in the playoffs along with Southern Utah (8-4, 7-1), the automatic qualifier.Perhaps there is another team that people dont see coming. But the same six teams precede Southern Utah in the two polls -- NAU, Portland State, Montana, Eastern Washington, North Dakota and Weber State. Each returns its starting quarterback, while SUU is replacing its starter, Ammon Olsen, as well as key players on defense.Big games, we want em, Montana second-year coach Bob Stitt said of his perennial power. Its the team chemistry and really caring about each other thats going to get us to the top.Said Eastern Washington coach Beau Baldwin, whose team fizzled last season after winning three straight titles: It probably shook out in the end a little bit different than people thought it would. But you have to be ready knowing each week in this league is going to be a battle, and embrace the fact you are in a tough conference. We face a challenge each and every week.---=BIG SKY FOOTBALL PRESEASON POLLS=Head Coaches Poll1. Northern Arizona (8 first-place votes), 132 points2. (tie) Portland State (2), 1212. (tie) Montana, 1214. Eastern Washington (2), 1125. North Dakota (2), 1056. Weber State, 837. (tie) Southern Utah, 737. (tie) Montana State, 739. Cal Poly, 6610. Northern Colorado, 4311. Sacramento State, 3012. Idaho State, 2413. UC Davis, 23Media Poll1. Northern Arizona (8), 2872. Montana (7), 2833. Eastern Washington (5), 2694. North Dakota (2), 2625. Portland State (3), 2526. Weber State, 1747. Southern Utah, 1628. Montana State, 1579. Cal Poly, 15310. Northern Colorado, 11111. Idaho State, 5812. UC Davis, 5613. Sacramento State, 50---=BIG SKY CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PRESEASON TEAM=Offensive Player of the Year -- Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern WashingtonDefensive Player of the Year -- Caleb Kidder, DE, MontanaOffenseQB -- Case Cookus, Northern ArizonaRB -- *John Santiago, North DakotaRB -- Chad Newell, Montana StateFB -- *Joe Protheroe, Cal PolyTE -- Steven Wroblewski, Southern UtahOG -- Cameron Young, Weber StateOG -- J.P. Flynn, Montana StateC -- Blake Porter, Northern ArizonaOT -- Jacob Julian, Northern ArizonaOT -- Calvin Steyn, Weber StateWR -- *Cooper Kupp, Eastern WashingtonWR -- Mike Sharp, Southern UtahWR -- Emmanuel Butler, Northern ArizonaDefenseDE -- Caleb Kidder, MontanaDE -- Davond Dade, Portland StateDT -- Chance Bearnson, Southern UtahDT -- Chuntony Johnson, Northern ColoradoOLB -- Mike Needham, Southern UtahOLB -- Mac Bignell, Montana StateILB -- Emmett Tela, Weber StateILB -- Manoah Pearson, Sacramento StateCB -- Xavier Coleman, Portland StateCB -- Taron Johnson, Weber StateS -- Cole Reyes, North DakotaS -- Yamen Sanders, MontanaSpecial TeamsPK -- Jonathan Gonzales, Portland StateP -- Tate Lewis, Southern UtahRS -- Ellis Onic II, Northern ColoradoST -- Hakeem Diggs, Northern Colorado* -- unanimous selectionZlatan Ibrahimovic Jersey . -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was fined $15,570 by the NFL on Wednesday for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday. 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Everton manager Roberto Martinez says that keeping Baines at the club is a "massive boost and exciting for the future" because he brings "maturity and football knowledge in a very specialized position on the pitch" and an "infectious and positive influence to the rest of the squad.MINNEAPOLIS -- Andrew Wiggins career-best, 47-point outburst on Sunday for the Minnesota Timberwolves flashed the immense potential and the continuing growth in the third-year swingman.With Wiggins leading the charge, Minnesota has been among leagues best offensive teams. The Timberwolves are ninth in the league in scoring, averaging 107.9 points per game.The Charlotte Hornets have their own breakout star emerging in point guard Kemba Walker. Walker is a sixth-year pro whos had plenty of big moments in the NBA, but hes taken his scoring to another level by averaging a career-best 25.3 points per game.Wiggins, who begins the week as the NBAs ninth-best scorer at 26.3, and Walker (12th in the league in scoring) will lead their teams against each other Tuesday at Minnesota.With Wiggins setting career bests in points in two of the past four games, the Timberwolves (3-6) have won two of their past three games. Wiggins has asserted himself more on the offensive end this season and picked up the scoring slack in Saturdays 125-99 victory against the Los Angeles Lakers.Hes smart. Hes driven, Minnesota coach Tom Thibodeau said. I think sometimes mistakenly people take him as laid back. Hes competitive. I think hes just scratching the surface. I think he can do a lot more.Wiggins shot 14 of 21 in Sundays win, hit two 3-pointers and went to the line 22 times, knocking down 17 free throws. One of Wiggins weaknesses in the past had been his 3-point shooting, but he leads the league hitting 54.8 percent of his 3-pointers.Im finding myself; finding the things Im good at, the things I need to work at, Wiggins said. The games just kind of slowed down for me a little bit. Im able to read a lot of different defenses and how people are playing me, the defensive set.Walker isnt exactly new to his role as Charlottes go-to man. He averaged more than 20 points per game last season but hes expanded his impact this year. Walker is also averaging 5.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game, while hitting a career-best 47 percent of his 3s.The Hornets started the season 6-1 but have lost two in a row to the favorites in the Eastern Conference in Toronto annd Cleveland.dddddddddddd Walker scored a season-high 40 points in a loss to Toronto on Thursday before going extending his streak to eight games with at least 20 points with 21 in Saturdays loss to the Cavaliers.Walker was so frustrated by the loss on Saturday that he sat in front of his locker in his uniform shorts for more than 20 minutes.We just let the game get away from us, he said. They made some great plays and just found guys when they needed to. They were just making big plays down the stretch.Charlotte forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist returned to the lineup after missing a game with a strained back to notch 11 points and 10 rebounds while defending LeBron James. Kidd-Gilchrist could see much of Wiggins on the defensive end on Tuesday, but Minnesotas injury situation bears watching for matchups.Wiggins big game on Saturday came without starting shooting guard and third-leading scorer Zach LaVine, who was held out with a sore right knee. Thibodeau wasnt sure about the status of LaVine or backup swingman Shabazz Muhammad, who also missed the game with a sore right knee. With Brandon Rush also dealing with a sprained right big toe, the Timberwolves depth is being tested.The 6-foot-8 Wiggins moved to shooting guard against the Lakers with 6-10 Nemanja Bjelica getting his first start and playing small forward. Kidd-Gilchrist stands 6-7 while starting shooting guard Nicolas Batum is 6-8.Bjelica responded well to the unexpected assignment, scoring a career-high 24 with five 3s.The only thing, here everything is possible and you have to be ready every night, Bjelica said. I think I needed this game, especially for myself, because I had, last summer, many issues. First my injury, then I miss the Olympic Games, then I put lots of work. Thats it. I just played the best game so far that Im here.Charlotte will still be without guard Jeremy Lamb, but the hope is he could return by Friday against Atlanta. Center Roy Hibbert has soreness in his right knee and is expected to have his minutes limited. ' ' '