fan experiences to go along with the games.Itll never approa | Forum

MONTPELLIER, France -- Defending champion Paris Saint-Germain came from behind to draw 1-1 against 10-man Montpellier on Friday in the opening match of the French season. Bouchon Hydro Flask . Remy Cabella gave Montpellier a controversial 10th-minute lead as Zlatan Ibrahimovic appeared to be fouled in the buildup to the goal. Maxwell levelled on the hour mark to ensure new PSG coach Laurent Blanc avoided defeat in his first competitive game in charge. "We would have hoped for a better result," Blanc said. "But PSG had too little of the game in the first half for my taste. There was a lack of simplicity, with doubtlessly too much of a desire to touch the ball. "Theres a lot to say about what we did in midfield and in attack in the first 45 minutes. We tried complicated things against a well-grouped Montpellier team." Montpellier was reduced to 10 men when defender Abdelhamid El Kaoutari was sent off for a second yellow card 18 minutes from time. That incident came moments after PSG had introduced new signing Edinson Cavani. The Uruguayan, who was top scorer in Italy last season, almost netted his first PSG goal two minutes later but his header was blocked by a defender. Cavani was signed from Napoli for 64 million euros ($84 million). "It was an emotional night for me," Cavani said. "It was my debut in this shirt and I am very motivated and ambitious for this season. My aim is to gain playing time in order to carve out my place in the team." PSG almost took an early lead but Ezequiel Lavezzi headed Lucas Mouras free kick into the arms of Montpellier goalkeeper Geoffrey Jourdren. Montpellier stunned the French champion by going ahead two minutes later. Cabella dispossessed Ibrahimovic by the centre circle but appeared to clip the Sweden strikers ankle as he slotted the ball through to Emanuel Herrera. The Argentine raced down the centre of the pitch and saw his shot deflected into the path of Cabella, who lifted it across the onrushing goalkeeper and into the top left corner. Ibrahimovic could have levelled on the half hour mark during a good period of pressure for PSG but Jourdren got down well to tip a powerful long-range effort around the left post. Cabella almost doubled his tally five minutes from halftime but toe poked his effort just past the right upright after doing well to dispossess Marco Verratti and race downfield. PSG twice went close to equalizing with well-taken free kicks. But Ibrahimovics 30-meter effort was inches wide of the right upright before Lucas saw his effort land on top of the net. The capital club was back on level terms on the hour mark. Ibrahimovic nodded down a long pass from Javier Pastore in the six-yard box and Maxwell blasted it into the roof of the net. The moment PSG fans had been waiting for came in the 71st minute when Cavani replaced former Napoli teammate Lavezzi. Cavani almost had a perfect debut as he went close to scoring the winner but his header from a tight angle came off Siaka Tienes outstretched boot. Montpellier had a chance to win the match despite the numerical disadvantage when Cabellas chip flew just over the crossbar. However, it was PSG who looked the likelier to score a late winner and Pastore fired wide of the left post before substitute Adrien Rabiot saw his header cleared off the line by Jourdren in injury time. Bouchon Hydro Flask France . They were putting most of their energy into a record-setting offensive display. Bouteille Hydro Flask Pas Cher . "Hes going to have hip surgery on Jan. 7, and hell be expected to rehabilitate for four to six months beyond that," Canucks general manager Mike Gillis said Friday in an interview. http://www.hydroflaskbouteille.fr/ . The defence is doing its part, too. Drew Brees threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first half and the guys on the other side made sure that was enough, sending the Saints to a 17-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. PHOENIX -- The NCAA Tournament has gone through some massive changes in recent years, the biggest being an expansion to 68 teams.Dont expect any more big changes anytime soon.Though there are annual quibbles about which teams should make the field, the format for one of the biggest spectacles in sports works and the NCAA has no interest in messing with it.Over the past many, many decades, the core is really solid, so its what can we do to enhance it without taking away from that core, Mark Hollis, chair of the NCAAs Division I mens basketball committee, said Monday.Because of the intricacies of the NCAA Tournament, I would challenge thats something you wouldnt want to touch. We live in a society where we want to change, improve everything, but the core of it is pretty good.The NCAA Tournament field expanded from 53 to 64 teams in 1985, a format that remained in place until a play-in game was added in 2001 and expanded the bracket to 65 teams.A big change came in 2011, when the NCAA Tournament expanded the field to 68 teams, with the last four to get into the tournament playing in the First Four.The larger field has helped increase the chances for upsets, which have come fast and furious over the past several seasons.The audience has expanded with the field; the 2015 NCAA Tournament was the most-watched in 22 years, averaging 11.3 million viewers.Is it (expansion) possible in the future? Sure, anythings possible, but I dont see that in the short term, said Dan Gavitt, NCAA vice president of mens basketball championships. The core of it and the thing that makes it so incredibly popular is whats protected by this committee, so by and large the traditions that make March Madness the way it is will stay.The NCAA has discussed moving the First Four from Dayton, Ohio, or at least expanding it to two sites, but has had a hard time justifying it.Since becomingg the First Four site in 2011, Dayton has been a perfect host. Bouteille dEau Hydro Flask. The teams are selected on Sunday and the games are Tuesday night, but the city is always ready and the games usually sell out despite the short turnaround.Playing games at a second site would make it easier for teams in the West travel-wise, but it may come under the category of why fix whats not broken.Thats the X factor: If we you move it, consider another location, can they deliver that incredible college basketball feel and experience? Gavitt said. Its a risk because you dont know. Some of the other places where we have first and second rounds somewhat depend on what teams are playing there. Thats always going to be the trick when it comes to First Four.The NCAA is looking at changes to the regional rounds of the NCAA Tournament.The tournaments first weekend is exciting, the games spread across the country and upsets coming at every turn. The Final Four has its own vibe with a national championship on the line and so many other activities surrounding the games.The regional rounds determine which teams will play in the Final Four, but often dont get the hype of the tournaments first and third weekends.To enhance the regionals, the NCAA is looking at making those games more of a stand-alone event like the Final Four by adding concerts and fan experiences to go along with the games.Itll never approach the size and scope of the Final Four, but for those fans, those four teams in those three days are arguably as good as the Final Four the following weekend, depending on who the teams are, Gavitt said. So to make it a bigger and more exciting event for that locality would make it special.---More AP college basketball at http://collegebasketball.ap.org ' ' '