in his contract that would have guaranteed his 2017 salary if he

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Any family that celebrates the holiday likely has its own Christmas routine, an order of events governing gifts, family and feasting.So once presents are opened on Christmas morning in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, Katelynn Flaherty and her dad head to a basketball court. Even last year, when the University of Michigans basketball schedule allowed Katelynn a brief return home, she and her dad left the wrapping paper behind so that she could shoot a few hundred jump shots, almost as many off the dribble and a bundle of free throws.For a few years, Lynn Flaherty would explain to family why her husband and daughter were running late. Eventually no one needed the explanation.Forget sleigh bells. The sound of a ball swishing through a net marked the season.It was the same sound Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico heard recently as she left the practice complex at the end of a long day. In an otherwise empty gym, Flaherty worked her way through a daily routine.There are approximately 5,000 women eligible to play Division I college basketball this season. Only two of them, All-Americans Kelsey Mitchell at Ohio State and Kelsey Plum at Washington, averaged more points per game a season ago than the 22.1 Flaherty produced for the Wolverines.A person doesnt reach those heights without something driving her, especially when an unimposing 5-foot-7 frame sometimes leaves even those on her own campus skeptical that she actually plays on the basketball team, let alone she is its star. What her first two years in Ann Arbor showed Flaherty, now a junior, is that what drives her is the product of her own free will.Today, I could totally say without hesitation that its her passion, Barnes Arico said. I didnt know if I would always say that.Listen to the family history, and it is apparent that Flaherty didnt really choose basketball any more than an Alaskan grizzly bear chooses to hunt salmon. No one made her play, but she was born into basketball. Her parents, Lynn and Tom, met on a basketball court. Both played the sport in college -- Lynn at the College of New Jersey and Tom at Seton Hall. Both coached various levels of youth basketball. Their daughter grew up on sidelines and in gyms.The first time Barnes Arico heard about Flaherty was when the coachs husband told her about some third grader from a town on the shore who was supposed to be the next big thing. The die was already cast.When Michigan tempted Barnes Arico away from St. Johns after the Red Storm reached the Sweet 16 in 2012, Flaherty was one of her first recruiting priorities. She knew that Flaherty, an outstanding student, could handle Michigan. And she was convinced, having seen the small guard put up big points at the highest levels of AAU, that she could thrive on Big Ten courts.But opposing defenders who had several inches and a couple of dozen pounds on her werent the only challenges Flaherty faced as a freshman. An only child, she was on her own for the first time. Lynn wasnt there to take care of her when she was sick. Tom, who so carefully trod the ground between coach on the court and dad off it, wasnt there to be either. There were new demands and new challenges. Amid all that was new, it was difficult to figure out what to do with old routines. Was basketball her passion or a passion others assumed was hers?Sometimes I wondered was basketball something that she was continuing because it got her an education, or did she really love it? Lynn said. And in the beginning, when she was first there, I think she was definitely figuring that out, like I just want to be a normal student sometimes. But as shes become more adjusted, you definitely know that basketball -- shes doing it for her. Of course she wants to please everybody around her, she wants to be good. But she has this inner drive.That is what college should offer: the freedom to figure out who you are.I think sometimes kids get here and realize, I like it, but I dont love it. Barnes Arico said. And there is a different level. Liking it is, youre going to practice, youre going through it, youre getting a scholarship, youre having a solid career.To love it takes more of an effort, a drive, a passion.It takes not just sticking around after practice to take more shots, but wanting to do that, looking forward to that solitude, when the noise of the swish of the net replaces the noise of daily life.It used to be more of a struggle for me, especially coming to college and being so tired all the time, Flaherty said. Now I look forward to it more than dread it.So a person who plays far bigger than her frame is now the key if Michigan is to finally act its size in womens basketball. Over a span of decades, there might not be a more underachieving program in the sport. Though rarely awful, it is almost less befitting Michigans self-image that it has almost always been irrelevant.The Wolverines have been to the NCAA tournament just six times and won three tournament games.That isnt an easy identity to change. And despite at least 20 wins in each of her first four seasons, Barnes Arico is still trying to change it after three consecutive WNIT trips.Now youre associated with the block M and one of the greatest universities, one of the greatest athletic departments, in the world, Barnes Arico said. But womens basketball hasnt done it. So why cant we be the first to do it?I think the players in our program believe that, Katelynn headlining that.It cant be a one-woman show. Flaherty was not only among the most prolific scorers in the country a season ago but also one of its most efficient. Given the volume of shots she took from the 3-point line, her overall field goal percentage (.449) was about as efficient as a post player who shoots 60 percent from the field. So its not as if she gets her points at the expense of the offense. All the same, Michigan may well be a better team with Flaherty scoring 18 points per game than 22, if it means 6-foot-5 sophomore Hallie Thome is a force inside and senior Siera Thompson beats Flaherty to the career record for 3-pointers.At the same time, there is no reason to make the game more complicated than it needs to be. The Wolverines will need her to shoot the ball hundreds of times this season. So Flaherty puts up hundreds of shots each day.Alone in the gym, listening to the voice in her own head that drives her to be the best.I can honestly say that I found my passion, Flaherty said. Especially just being able to get in here by myself and really enjoy it and cherish every moment knowing its not going to last forever. Wholesale Air Jordan 3 Australia . Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek defeated Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (4) on the indoor hard-court at Belgrade Arena. The victory improved the Czech pairs impressive cup doubles record to 14-1. Cheap Air Jordan 3 Wholesale . -- Bryant McKinnie came out of his stance and lowered his shoulder into a practice squad player, causing a crisp thud to reverberate in the Miami Dolphins practice bubble. http://www.cheapairjordan3australia.com/ . What general manager Dave Nonis called "short and productive" negotiations ended with Kessel signing a US$64-million, eight-year contract on Tuesday. Air Jordan 3 Retro Australia . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services. Cheap Jordan 3 Australia Sale . The 25-year-old Japanese star has officially been posted by his club team, the Rakuten Golden Eagles. (STATS) -- There probably hasnt been a more overlooked team in the FCS than Cal Poly this season.No. 6 Montana knows plenty about the Mustangs.Cal Poly, sitting two spots outside the STATS FCS Top 25 this week, knocked off Montana for the third straight season on Saturday, this time 42-41 in a back-and-forth Big Sky Conference opener in San Luis Obispo, California.Running back Kyle Lewis was wide open when quarterback Dano Graves found him for a 39-yard touchdown pass with 4:29 remaining and Casey Sublette added the extra point, lifting Cal Poly (3-1, 1-0) from a 41-35 deficit.Thats what you give up against a very good option team, Montana coach Bob Stitt said. In order to stop em, youre going to give up some one-on-one situations.Montanas Tom Semenza missed a 48-yard field goal attempt with 1:55 to play.Cal Polys Joe Protheroe entered the game with a nation-leading 437 rushing yards, but Montana held the junior in check with 90 yards on 17 carries. But Graves surprised the Grizzlies (2-1, 0-1) by completing three of his six passes for touchdowns, including a 55-yarder to Protheroe. Graves added a rushing touchdown.The Mustangs were picked ninth in the two Big Sky preseason polls, but they have won at Missouri Valley Conference power South Dakota State and against defending Pioneer Football League co-champ San Diego in addition to Montana. Their lone defeat was at Nevada in overtime.Montana quarterback Brady Gustafson completed a program-record 47 passes in 59 attempts for 418 yards and two touchdowns, although he threw an interception and lost a fumble. Jerry Louie-McGee had 21 receptions -- another Griz record -- for 155 yards and the two touchdowns.---=STATS FCS TOP 25=No. 2 Sam Houston State (3-0, 2-0 Southland) 52, Houston Baptist (2-2, 1-2), 16Jeremiah Briscoe completed 26 of 47 passes for 369 yards and three touchdowns, while Remus Bulmer (19 carries, 124 yards) and Javin Webb both scored twice on the ground.The Bearkats had a 632-370 advantage in yards.---=No. 3 Jacksonville State (3-1) 48, Liberty (1-3) 19Jacksonville State controlled the game behind All-America quarterback Eli Jenkins and running back Roc Thomas. Jenkins totaled 345 yards (224 passing, 121 rushing) and four touchdowns (two passing, two rushing), while Thomas had 180 yards from scrimmage and scored two touchdowns.Josh Barge had a 75-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter.---=No. 4 Eastern Washington (3-1, 1-0 Big Sky) 50, Northern Arizona (1-3, 0-1) 35EWU quarterback Gage Gubrud rebounded from a subpar game to go 35 of 56 for 392 yards and two touchdowns with 11 carries for 95 yards and a touchdown. Cooper Kupp (11 receptions, 111 yards) returned from a shoulder injury and joined Kendrick Bourne (six receptions, 100 yards) as 100-yard receivers.NAU quarterback Case Cookus was knocked out of the game in the fourth quarter. He passed for 245 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.---=No. 5 Chattanooga (4-0, 2-0 Southern) 41, Samford (2-1, 0-1) 21Chattanooga held the ball for 39 minutes, 18 seconds thanks to senior Derrick Craine rushing for 222 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries. The Mocs defense limited Samford to 2 of 14 on third downs.---=No. 7 Richmond (3-1) 38, No. 23 Colgate (1-2) 31Richmonds Kyle Lauletta threw for four touchdowns and the Spiders picked off Colgates Jake Melville three times.Spiders freshman Xavier Goodall carried the ball 20 times for 127 yards and a touchdown, and Brian Brown had seven receptions for 148 yards and two touchdowns. He set the schools all-time receiving yardage mark with 3,178 in his four-year career.---=Elon (2-2, 1-0 CAA) 27, No. 8 William & Mary (2-2, 0-1) 10William & Marys seven-game home winning streak ended as quarterback Steve Cluley threw three interceptions. Elons Malcolm Summers rushed for 120 yards and two touchdowns.---=Indiana State (3-1, 1-0 Missouri Valley) 34, No. 9 Illinois State (2-2, 0-1) 31Illinois State lost for the second straight week as Indiana States Isaac Harker threw for two touchdowns and Roland Genesy rushed for a pair.It helped overcome Jake Kolbes three touchdown passes in the loss. All-America wide receiver Anthony Warrum (10 receptions, 151 yards) caught two of the touchdowns.dddddddddddd---=No. 11 James Madison (3-1, 1-0 CAA) 31, Maine (0-3, 0-1) 20Khladi Abdullah carried the ball 22 times for a career-high 172 yards and two touchdowns, including an 85-yarder, and Cardon Johnson finished with 110 yards on 13 carries, including a 52-yard TD. Johnsons score came on the fourth-quarter play following a Raven Greene interception -- JMUs third of the second half against Maine quarterback Dan Collins.---=No. 12 Charleston Southern (2-2, 1-0 Big South) 35, Monmouth (2-2, 0-1) 7Running back Mike Holloway scored on two long touchdowns to spark the visiting Buccaneers as they began defense of last years Big South title. He scored on a 75-yard run and finished with 151 yards on 11 carries, and caught a 63-yard touchdown from Steve Bucenell.---=No. 13 Western Illinois (3-0) 28, Northern Illinois (0-4) 23Western Illinois built a 28-7 lead after three quarters and held on to end a 15-game losing streak against FBS opponents. Five of the Leathernecks seven all-time FBS wins are against Northern Illinois.Leathernecks quarterback Sean McGuire passed for 315 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for a score.The win marked the fourth straight week in which a Missouri Valley Conference team defeated an FBS opponent, joining Northern Iowa (Iowa State), Illinois State (Northwestern) and North Dakota State (Iowa). Thats a single-season record for the MVFC.---=No. 17 Coastal Carolina (3-1) 41, Furman (0-4) 14Coastal scored touchdowns off a blocked field goal (Kenneth Daniels, 60 yards), a punt return (KyJon Tyler, 80 yards) and an interception (Alex Scearce, 31 yards).Running back DeAngelo Henderson (20 carries, 185 yards) scored on an 8-yard reception to extend his Division I record for consecutive games with a touchdown to 30.---=No. 18 Eastern Illinois (3-1, 1-0 OVC) 56, Austin Peay (0-3, 0-2) 35Eastern Illinois racked up 641 yards of offense as Devin Church and Christopher Anderson rushed for 139 and 129 yards, respectively, and scored two touchdowns each. Austin Green completed passes to 11 different receivers and was 24 of 30 for 263 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.---=No. 19 Villanova (3-1) 31, Lafayette (1-3) 14Villanova forced four turnovers, with defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon scoring off a 25-yard fumble return on the games first play and linebacker Jeff Steeb off a 45-yard interception return.---=Sacred Heart (4-0) 38, No. 20 Stony Brook (2-2) 10Northeast Conference member Sacred Heart earned a surprising win just one week after Stony Brook beat then-No. 2 Richmond 42-14.Three Stony Brook turnovers led to 17 Sacred Heart points. Pioneers quarterback R.J Noel had 260 total yards and three total touchdowns.---=No. 22 Albany (4-0) 20, Saint Francis (1-3) 9Albany scored 20 unanswered points in the second half after falling behind 9-0 on Saint Francis place-kicker Lance Geeseys three second-quarter field goals. Great Danes running back Elijah Ibitokun-Hanks worked to get 90 yards on 22 carries.The Great Danes are plus-13 in turnover margin after forcing four more against the Red Flash.---=No. 24 McNeese (2-2, 1-1 Southland) 42, Incarnate Word (1-3, 1-2) 35Defending Southland Conference champion McNeese built a 42-14 lead through three quarters in ending a two-game losing streak.Quarterback James Tabary set a school record with his fourth straight 200-yard passing game to start a season. He completed 14 of 20 passes for 223 yards and two touchdowns.---=Southern Utah (2-1, 1-0 Big Sky) 45, No. 25 Portland State (1-3, 0-1) 31Portland State continued to unravel as its loss to defending Big Sky champion Southern Utah was its third straight.SUU forced five turnovers, including four interceptions of Vikings quarterback Alex Kuresa. Malik Brown rushed for 173 yards and a touchdown in the win.---=IDLE=No. 1 North Dakota State, No. 10 The Citadel, No. 14 Northern Iowa, No. 15 South Dakota State, No. 16 Youngstown State and No. 21 North Carolina A&T ' ' '