HONOLULU -- North Carolina coach Roy Williams did not mince words after his fifth-ranked Tar Heels struggled in the first half before pulling out their latest win.Isaiah Hicks scored 10 of his 16 points after halftime to lead five players in double-figures as North Carolina (4-0) beat Hawaii 83-68 Friday night.Its one of the ugliest games Ive ever coached in my entire life, Williams said, but we made some shots during a stretch in the second half that gave us the lead.North Carolina never trailed outside of the opening minutes and held a 35-27 lead at halftime despite shooting just 35.1 percent from the field. The Tar Heels had shot better than 50 percent from the field in each of their first three games.Hicks said Williams message to the team at halftime emphasized defense.He said that shots were going to fall, but weve got to be better on the defensive end, continue to rebound, get to the board and try to get them out of what they do early on, said Hicks, who shot 7 of 8 from the field.Kennedy Meeks and Nate Britt had 13 points apiece. Justin Jackson scored 11 and Tony Bradley contributed 10 points and 13 rebounds, including eight on the offensive end, off the bench.He really gave us a lift, Hicks said of Bradley, a freshman center. Thats what really got us through the game, especially Tony just getting to the boards, getting the rebounds and second-chance shots.North Carolina led by as many as 18 in the closing minutes. The Tar Heels shot 63.3 percent (19 of 30) in the second half and finished with a 46-23 rebounding edge.Their size created some issues, but we cant lean on that, Rainbow Warriors coach Eran Ganot said. Theyre bigger than us, theyre stronger than us -- those are facts -- but what we need to focus more on is how to get it done.Hawaii pulled to 40-37 on Jack Purchases banker with 16:27 left, but North Carolina answered with a 12-2 run that that was capped by a 3-pointer by Kenny Williams from the right wing that stretched its lead back to 64-49.Noah Allen, a UCLA transfer, led Hawaii with 22 points. Jack Purchase added 14 and Sheriff Drammeh 13 for the Rainbow Warriors (2-2).BIG PICTURENorth Carolina: Junior guard Joel Berry II entered averaging a team-high 21.3 points per game, but was held to just two. His only basket came on a 14-foot pull-up jumper with about 5 minutes left. ... The Tar Heels depth was evident as they dominated Hawaii in bench scoring, 28-12.Its not a concern; Its a good thing, Williams said of Berrys night. Ive never seen him miss and go one-for-nine. Then again, in the first half our starting one, two and three men were 1 for 16 and thats not good.Hawaii: The young Rainbow Warriors have only three active players back from last seasons squad that won an NCAA Tournament game for the first time in school history. Hawaii dropped to 19-104 against Top 25 teams, including a 2-19 mark vs. top-5 squads.KEY NUMBERSNorth Carolina took advantage of its size against the smaller Rainbow Warriors by grabbing 19 offensive rebounds and held a distinct edge in second chance points, 28-8. Hawaii had nine turnovers in the first half, but finished two below its season average of 16 for the game.We cut down the turnovers, but we made them at critical times. We just couldnt get over that hump because we couldnt execute at key points, Ganot said.UP NEXTNorth Carolina: The Tar Heels, who are 30-5 all-time in the 50th state, will face their second straight Hawaii opponent when they take on Division II Chaminade in a Maui Invitational quarterfinal Monday.Hawaii: The Rainbow Warriors will host Division II Hawaii-Hilo on Tuesday, their fifth of 13 straight games on-island to open the season, although five of them are part of two tournaments (Pearl Harbor Invitational, Diamond Head Classic). Cheap Air Max 90 Wholesale . Terms of the deal were not immediately available. The 26-year-old finished last season with Clevelands Triple-A affiliate in Columbus after signing with the Indians in August. Air Max 90 For Sale Cheap . 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The All Blacks have a world record on the line, Ireland need to establish depth and Italy need a good fly-half. We take a look at the burning issues facing each nation ahead of their autumn internationals.Argentina A Rugby Championship that started off with so much promise ended in disappointment. They should have beaten South Africa in Nelspruit in the opening game, having led with 10 minutes remaining, but the victory in the return fixture showed the talent they possess.Their error count however, cost them dearly against Australia and the Boks, while the gulf in class was on show when they took on the All Blacks. But the improvements are there to be seen for a team that up until recently didnt have regular Tests at international level.They will continue to reap the rewards of participation in the Rugby Championship and the Jaguares introduction to Super Rugby. Fixtures against Japan, Wales, Scotland and England might provide a better indication of where they stand. If they manage to cut their unforced error count, it will be an interesting month. - Killian OConnorAustralia After a poor series with England and twin Bledisloe hammerings, Australia slowly started to turn things around towards the end of the Rugby Championship. But their best period of play came in the first 45 minutes of Bledisloe III in Auckland two weeks ago.While the final scoreline blew out significantly, the Wallabies had earlier made heavy inroads through the middle of the All Blacks defence and thus created space for their backs to work in.Fly-half Bernard Foley later told ESPN at the John Eales Medal he felt as though the Wallabies were finally starting to nail their shape and that their attack wasnt too far away from clicking. If Australia can make similar ground through the middle and execute out wide, then they may be able to end a horror year on a slightly rosier note. - Sam BruceEngland While Eddie Jones tenure saw England end their Grand Slam drought, one area he is yet to solve is the openside conundrum.When he took on the job, he said hed use short-term stop-gaps to fill the No.7 berth - a role James Haskell did so well in during their June tour of Australia - but the recent injury pandemic in the England side shows they are still yet to really work out what they are doing with the openside berth.Come Nov.12, they will be without five potential opensides. Haskell, Jack Clifford, Mike Williams and Sam Jones are all sidelined and Maro Itoje was suggested as an option for the No.7 shirt but he too is injured. Teimana Harrison and Tom Wood will vie for the openside spot but even if the above had all been fit, there is no clear second choice option behind Haskell.?One perspective would be to see this as depth but another could argue there are a lack of contenders hammering on the No.7 door trying to replace Haskell. It is something on Jones radar and he will be keeping a close eye on the spot throughout the November Tests. - Tom HamiltonFrance The same question which hangs over French clubs in Europe, hangs over their national team. The question of which team will decide to show up.Will it be the one which dominated and beat Argentina to nil towards the end of June or the one which looked lethargic in defeat to Argentina a week earlier? Guy Noves hasnt had the best of starts as French coach with defeats to Wales, Scotland and England preceding the summer defeat to Argentina.The immense talents of Wesley Fofana, Gael Fickou and Maxime Medard have barely been seen at international level while the often erratic kicking of Sebastien Bezy, Jules Plisson and Baptiste Serin is an area that needs to be addressed.Noves will need to get his players to be consistent against Samoa, New Zealand and Australia to build towards the Six Nations. - KOCIreland The disappointment of a 2-1 series defeat to South Africa in the summer remains firmly in the mind of Joe Schmidt. A winnable series slipped away and ending a winless streak against the All Blacks that stretches back to 1905 is now on the horizon.With autumn Tests (New Zealand twice, Canada and Australia), for a team used to three, it could provide Schmidt with a chance to blood new players. Their vulnerability in key positions was evident in the Rugby World Cup and since, when injuries to the likes of Johnny Sexton left a void.The inability to drop players comes from the same problem, that there has been little competition for places, with the tried and tested given precedence over building competition in the squad.ddddddddddddhat said, the introduction of Garry Ringrose and Joey Carbery at Test level is an exciting prospect. Sextons fitness will be once more crucial to their chances of upsetting the All Blacks and Australia. A start for Carbery against Canada could answer his ability to play at a higher level. - KOCItaly The fly-half question forever dogs Italy as they continue their annual search for Diego Dominguezs successor at No.10.Carlo Canna has the potential to step up but that Italy were looking at Alex Lozowski - now part of the England set up - suggests they are trying to establish a couple of options with Tommaso Allan another with eyes for the fly-half jersey.They have lacked consistency and class in that area and another box to tick on Conor OSheas to-do list will be to establish the next generation of leaders when Sergio Parisse eventually retires from Test duty. They need to build that experience in the younger group of players so they have a continuity plan building to the 2019 World Cup. - THNew Zealand With the all-time Tier One Test winning streak safely tucked away, its about staying perfect now for Steve Hansens all-conquering All Blacks. It looks an attainable mission, too, with the second Test against Ireland surely their toughest challenge on tour.They have a host of players capable of doing the job over the four Tests, but Hansen will also look to broaden his playing base - a task already underway with the selection of Scott Barrett for this weekends Test in Chicago - and get some further experience into those whove already made the step up this season.Hansen prepared for the transition post McCaw and Carter long before they departed, he has already begun the process to negotiate another changeover in a few years time. - SBScotland The Scottish Rugby Union may have avoided disaster in their dispute with Premiership Rugby - ensuring that their English-based players have been made available this autumn - but there remains a question mark over how the players involved in Vern Cotters squad will handle their coachs impending departure.Will knowing that the Kiwi is to be replaced with Gregor Townsend next summer liberate those in dark blue, or lead them to down tools? Cotters reign has not been a failure by any stretch - they have beaten Argentina, France and Japan and came within a questionable refereeing decision of the World Cup semifinal.However, it has not quite hit the heights that were expected when he was appointed amid much effort and expense. It would be a shame if the positive momentum generated around the World Cup was allowed to ebb away. - Martyn ThomasSouth Africa The problems within South African rugby extend well beyond how horribly the Springboks have performed this season, but it is up to the players and coaches now to at least inspire some positivity back in the Republic.After beginning his tenure with the brief to play attacking rugby, Allister Coetzee quickly discovered his personnel dont possess the skills to do so and was forced to revert back to the tried and tested bash-and-barge approach.If that is to be the plan going forward, then the Springboks require far more from a pack that has been outperformed on just about every occasion this season. Only once the Springboks have achieved something close to parity up front can they consider overhauling their attack, as that challenge will take far more time than the month they have up north. - SB.Wales Autumn has often been a time of frustration for Wales under Warren Gatland, but with their head coach away on British & Irish Lions duty, this month could provide a glimpse into what the future holds.Gatland is due to step down following the 2019 Rugby World Cup, and succession planning will only become a bigger issue between now and Japan. Interim head coach Rob Howley will be one name in the frame, and will therefore be keen to stake his claim with a successful November.With senior players such as Sam Warburton and Taulupe Faletau currently sidelined, there is also an opportunity for younger members of the squad to cement their place on the road to Japan, and beyond. The Welsh Rugby Union has not made things easy in that regard, though, with Australia, Argentina, Japan and South Africa all visiting Cardiff this month. - MT cheap falcons jerseys cheap ravens jerseys cheap bills jerseys cheap bears jerseys cheap bengals jerseys cheap cowboys jerseys cheap lions jerseys cheap texans jerseys cheap colts jerseys cheap jaguars jerseys cheap chiefs jerseys cheap rams jerseys cheap dolphins jerseys cheap vikings jerseys cheap saints jerseys cheap giants jerseys cheap jets jerseys cheap eagles jerseys cheap steelers jerseys cheap 49ers jerseys ' ' '