chance to move on after Hansen and Nilsson each miss

STORRS, Conn. -- Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma didnt expect his young Huskies to be undefeated six games into the season and says he has no idea what to expect this month when they face four ranked teams.The No. 2 Huskies (6-0), who returned just two starters from the team that won the programs fourth straight national title last spring, have extended the second-longest winning streak in program and womens basketball history to 81 games. And in the process, theyve already beaten three Top 25 opponents this season, including then-No. 2-ranked Baylor.UConn faces four more ranked teams before January 1, including No. 14 Texas on Sunday and No. 1 Notre Dame on Wednesday in South Bend. The Huskies also play No. 9 Ohio State and No. 5 Maryland before January.We dont have that kind of talent that just blows you away like weve had in the past, Auriemma said this week. That means that every single minute of every day, every practice at every game, theyve got to be tough, hard-nosed and really tough.UConn proved that on Thursday, dismantling No. 15 DePaul 91-46 after taking a 22-1 lead in what was supposed to be a serious test against a high-scoring offense. The Huskies defense held DePaul to 25 percent shooting.Forward Kia Nurse said she and her teammates were aware pundits thought theyd be more vulnerable this season after the graduation of stars Breanna Stewart, Morgan Tuck and Moriah Jefferson. She said Auriemma has challenged this group to maintain the programs tradition of excellence.For him to hold us to that standard and remind us that this is how UConn basketball is played, it lights a fire under us, she said. So when we get out in the next practices, the next games, shoot-arounds, we understand that is the expectation here and that is where we need to be.Sophomore Katie Lou Samuelson said the team is still learning chemistry on the court and once the players figure it out, theyll only get better.Last year we understood the three of them (Stewart, Tuck and Jefferson) would go and do what they do every game, she said. Now we have to figure out, OK, who is going to step up and take shots tonight? Who is going step up and make those passes? Its going to be different every night. So thats always difficult, but its also a great thing for our versatility.Auriemma said he doesnt know if the team will keep playing the way it did against Baylor and DePaul, and hes still not quite sure about the caliber of this group. But, he said thats normal for this time of year.And he expects to know a lot more after the run against ranked teams in December.Theres no guarantee like the past couple years that, yeah we got this, Auriemma said. Its a wait and see. Its a process. I just dont want to take any steps back. I dont know how many steps forward were going to take. I just dont want to take any steps back. Cheap Authentic Air Max 95 .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. Cheap Air Max 720 ., and Rudi Swiegers of Kipling, Sask., took sixth spot on Saturday in pairs at the NHK Trophy ISU Grand Prix figure skating competition. http://www.airmaxsneakersonsale.com/cheap-air-max-720.html . Duchene scored two goals and had an assist, helping the Colorado Avalanche beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Friday night to match the best 10-game start in team history. Air Max Plus Tn Fake .com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch. Cheap Air Max 200 . Brad Jacobs and his Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., team took control of the game early. RIO DE JANEIRO -- Gabriele Rossetti made a golden addition to the familys medal collection.The Mustache stole the show, however.Rossetti was perfect while capturing gold in mens skeet, 24 years after his father took bronze in the same event. But it was mustachioed independent athlete Abdullah Al-Rashidi earned bronze and the fans hearts Saturday at the Rio de Janeiro Games.I am happy. I dont know why they help me, but thank you, Al-Rashidi said.First, Rossettis story.The 21-year-old Italian prodigy with deep-rooted skeet genes was the favorite heading into Rio, and he lived up to expectations -- after surviving a shoot-off to get into the finals.Needing to make up ground heading into the final day, Rossetti didnt miss a shot: 25 straight targets in the second qualifying stage, 12 more in the four-person shoot-off.He hit all 16 semifinal targets and matched that against Swedens Marcus Svensson in the gold medal match. Rossetti earned the gold when Svensson missed his final shot, giving the Italian a brighter medal than the bronze his father, Bruno, earned at the 1992 Barcelona Games.I didnt think about my fathers medal before the competition, but now I have added to the family medal collection, Rossetti said.Now, Al-Rashidi.The 52-year-old, who trains falcons when hes not shooting, has a long shooting history.Al-Rashidis Olympic debut came at the 1996 Atlanta Games and Rio was his sixth time on sports biggest stage. A three-time world champion, he had never earned an Olympic medal, though; Rio was his first final.Al-Rashidi was unable to compete for his country after Kuwaits national Olympic committee was suspended by the IOC for government interference. He and the other Kuwaiti athletes who qualified -- double trap gold medalist Fehaid Al-Deehani among them -- were allowed to compete as an independent team under the IOC flag.Al-Rashidi tied as the top qualifier in Rio and became an instant fan favorite once the finals begin.ddddddddddddThe capacity crowd, most of it Brazilian, latched on to the underdog in the Arsenal jersey -- he liked the way it looked and felt -- and cheered wildly when he was introduced and with every target he shattered.Al-Rashidi played up to the adulation, waving his arms and pumping his fists to their cheers during introductions, spurring the fans even more.Al-Rashidi ended the semifinals in a three-way tie with Denmarks Jesper Hansen and Stefan Nilsson, forcing a shoot-off for a spot in the bronze medal match. Al-Rashidi shot last in the threesome and the crowd knew he had a chance to move on after Hansen and Nilsson each missed one, screaming and waving flags before the Kuwaitis turn.Playing the showman again, he raised his gun in the air and flashed a thumbs up as the cheers continued. An official at Al-Rashidis station tried to urge the Kuwaiti shooter to take his turn, but he shrugged and pointed at the crowd as if to say, What am I supposed to do?He hit both shots, setting off another round of cheers and a shot at the bronze against Ukraines Mikola Milchev.Al-Rashidi was perfect in the bronze medal match.Al-Rashidi raised his arms in the air, dropped to his knees and kissed the ground. He rose and threw his hat in the air as the crowd chanted in Portuguese: Ole, ole, ole, Mustache!We like his mustache, so we start to chant, one Brazilian fan said.The man with the mustache -- he actually trimmed it recently -- soaked in the adulation, again raising his arms after receiving his bronze medal as another chant about his facial hair rang out across the Olympic Shooting Centre.I am Brazilian, Al-Rashidi said. I am from Brazil. ' ' '