SOUTH BEND, Ind. Colin White Jersey . -- Notre Dame is eager to show the college basketball world what its got.After back-to-back NCAA Tournament regional final appearances, the only school to accomplish that feat the past two years, expectations outside the locker room were lower this season after the Fighting Irish lost last seasons two leading scorers, Demetrius Jackson and Zach Auguste. The Irish were picked in the preseason to finish seventh in the Atlantic Coast Conference.The Irish players have been talking all along about the possibility of being even better than last season. So far, theyve looked looking pretty good as they moved into the Top 25 for the first time this season on Monday at No. 23.Weve got a little more here than everybody thought, coach Mike Brey said.The Irish are 8-0, matching their best start in 17 seasons under Brey and are averaging 89.1 points a game, also the best under Brey through eight games, and 10th in the nation overall.The Irish are playing a more wide open style, depending less on ball screens to get open shots.Now were just swinging it and cutting and things like that. I think were getting out in transition more, too. Thats one thing thats been great for us, said forward V.J. Beacham said.The Irish also are playing better defense, too, something the Irish havent been known for under Brey. Notre Dame is holding opponents to 62.6 points a game, 39th in the nation, and to 36.7 percent shooting, 17th in the country. Senior guard Steve Vasturia said he believes it could be the best team defensively hes been on.Lets see if we can continue to get better, Vasturia said.The Irish also are leading the nation in free-throw shooting at 85.8 percent.If we miss, Ill bet the crowd will just walk out of the building, Brey joked.Both Beacham and Bonzie Colson, who has had five straight double-doubles, are leading the Irish in scoring, averaging 17.1 points each. Vasturia is averaging 15.9 points and the Irish have nine players contributing regularly, which is more than Brey usually uses. Brey said he likes the intensity of Rex Plfueger, Notre Dames best defender, and T.J. Gibbs.They give you a great energy boost and defensive boost when theyre in there, Brey said.Critics will say the Irish havent played anyone yet, with Colorado (6-2) and Northwestern (6-2) the only teams theyve faced with winning records. That is about to change. The Irish host upstart IPFW (7-2) on Tuesday two weeks after the Mastodons upset Indiana, then play No. 1. Villanova at Newark, New Jersey, on Saturday and No. 18 Purdue a week later in Indianapolis.Its a great stretch for us to make a run, Beacham said.The Irish are the last unbeaten team left in the ACC and a win Tuesday night would make it the fourth-best start in school history, ranking behind 1945-46 (13-0), 1973-74 (12-0) and 1933-34 (11-0).Brey is enjoying watching the Irish.Theyre really special the way they like playing together, sharing the ball. Youve got skilled shooters with skilled passers, its just fun to watch, he said.---More AP college basketball: www.collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25. Filip Chlapik Jersey . Gerald Green and Miles Plumlee? Green had bounced around the NBA when he wasnt playing overseas. The Pacers gave up on Plumlee after just one season. Now Green and Plumlee are key cogs in the Suns surprising breakout season. Mike Condon Jersey . -- Matt Kuchar and Harris English ran away with the Franklin Templeton Shootout, shooting a 14-under 58 on Sunday in the final-round scramble to break the tournament course record. http://www.senatorsauthority.com/authent...enators-jersey/ . -- Eastern Kentucky thrives off creating havoc for others. CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry grew up competing against Cam Newton in the Atlanta area.On Sunday, Berry got the best of his better-known high school rival, intercepting the reigning league MVP and returning it 42 yards for a touchdown to help the Chiefs to a 20-17 come-from-behind win over Carolina Panthers.We always had battles back in the day from 7-on-7 camps to everything, Berry said. Its good to come out on top.The Chiefs defense has been coming out on top all season.They entered the game leading the league in takeaways with 20 and added two more on Sunday -- both of those coming at key moments in the fourth quarter while the offense was struggling.You need a little spark there and we got it, Chiefs coach Andy Reid said.Berrys fourth career interception return for a touchdown gave the Chiefs the spark they needed, cutting the lead to 17-14, and Marcus Peters stripped Kelvin Benjamin to set up Cairo Santos winning 37-yard field goal as time expired.It sounds as if Peters must have been listening to defensive coordinator Bob Sutton in practice.Hes a manic on that, about stripping the ball, Reid said. If you look at it close, (Benjamin) kind of juggled it just a bit and Marcus felt it and went for the rip.Here are a couple more things to know about the Chiefs and Panthers:CHIEFS PENALTIES A CONCERNFor the second consecutive week, penalty flags provided some anxious moments for Reid. Last week, it was tight end Travis Kelce, ejected after two unsportsmanlike penalties against Jacksonville. Against Carolina, Reid waited out the officials after Peters punted the ball in celebration following his game-changing strip and fumble recovery.He does a lot of great things. Hes a gifted guy, Reid said. But hes not a punter. Im going to go block the next one.The penalty went for 5 yards for delay of game -- not 15, for unsportsmanlike conduct. Cairo Santos kicked the game-winning field goal three plays later, from 37 yards.Youre talking about two emotional guys, Reid said of Kelce and Peters. I love them, but theyre giving me gray hair. Im too old for this. Fredrik Claesson Jersey. NEWTON BACK ON THE RUNThe struggling NFC champion Panthers unleashed Newton on Sunday, giving him his most extensive action as a runner since his concussion on Oct. 2. Newton carried 12 times for 54 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown against a defense that hadnt allowed a rushing touchdown since Week 4.Newtons first carry went for 28 yards. Kansas City limited him to 26 more on 11 carries after that. Carolina finished with 99 yards rushing total.Coach kept calling my number, Newton said. We just have to find ways to run the football more, when we have to and when we want to.SMITHS NEW SLANT ON SLIDINGChiefs quarterback Alex Smith missed last weeks game against Jacksonville after a couple of hits two weeks earlier against Indianapolis. The team says Smith wasnt concussed, but he said coming into Sundays game against Carolina that he would either slide earlier -- or not at all.(Sliding) is still a tool, said Smith, who rushed four times for 13 yards against Carolina. In traffic, you want to remain a football player. Ive been playing a long time. Remain a football player, (keep) your eyes up. Its a better way to get out of those situations. Even if you get the 15-yarder (penalty), youre still defenseless to get teed-off on.PANTHERS PUNTERCarolina could be in the market for a short-term punter after Andy Lee injured his hamstring in the first quarter. The Panthers host New Orleans on Thursday, so they might need to make a move soon.Kicker Graham Gano punted four times Sunday for a 45.0-yard average. His longest went for 54 yards, although two sailed too long and went for touchbacks.Coach (Ron) Rivera is always talking about `next man up, so I just tried to step in, catch the ball and get it off, Gano said.HOT STREAKThe Chiefs five consecutive victories are part of a 17-2 record in their past 19 games. Thats the best record in the NFL during that stretch.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL Cheap Adidas Hockey Jerseys Wholesale College Jerseys Cheap Nike Basketball Jerseys Cheap Football Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap Baseball Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap Jerseys From China Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Nike NBA Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic Cheap MLB Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Soccer Jerseys China Cheap NCAA Jerseys China Stitched NFL Jerseys Cheap Custom Jerseys China Cheap Basketball Jerseys Authentic NFL Jerseys China Cheap College Jerseys Wholesale Football Jerseys ' ' '