Villanova is set to take its first official step in defending its national championship when it plays host to host Lafayette on Friday (6:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 2) at the Pavilion in Villanova, Pa.The Wildcats defeated North Carolina on April 4 for their first national title since 1985. They begin the 2016-17 season ranked No. 4 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll.Villanova will on campus with an expected raucous sold-out crowd to be in attendance Friday.It is a new season with a number of new faces.The challenge is really our ego and staying humble and hungry and getting better, Villanova coach Jay Wright said. No matter what you did last year, everyone is a different person this year. So we have different challenges, and we lose two outstanding leaders on the floor and three walk-ons who were great leaders. We have challenges, and if we recognize the challenges and dont concentrate on our accomplishments, we have a shot.The Wildcats will open this season without steady point guard Ryan Arcidiacono and center Daniel Ochefu, two key pieces on last seasons national championship team that finished 35-5.However, theres plenty of talent returning to the Main Line, led by senior forward Kris Jenkins, who hit the game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer of the national championship game against the Tar Heels. Jenkins averaged 13.6 points and converted a Big East-leading 100 3-point baskets last season.However, in Villanovas 94-49 exhibition win over the Indiana University of Pennsylvania last Saturday, Jenkins didnt start because he missed a targeted weight leading up to the game.Jenkins proved his mettle through the regular season and the entire NCAA Tournament, and he realizes this is a new beginning.It is already behind me, Jenkins said of last seasons championship. You know were focused and ready to go this year. We have a lot of things that were working on and continuing to get better at. We have a good team here, and we want to be the best team we can be by the end of the year. So you know were all focused on that.The Wildcats return three starters from last years team, including senior guard Josh Hart, a preseason All-American. Hart averaged 15.5 points and 6.8 rebounds last year. Sophomore guard Jalen Brunson averaged 9.6 points and earned a spot on the Big East All-Freshman Team.After reaching the NCAA Tournament in 2014-15, Lafayette lost three 1,000-point scorers and slipped to 6-24 overall and 3-15 in the Patriot League last year. The Leopards lost to Navy in the first round of the Patriot League tournament.Lafayette will be guided mostly by senior point guard Nick Lindner, a two-time captain who has scored more than 1,000 points and handed out more than 400 assists in his career.The Leopards must replace five seniors, led by Bryce Scott, who landed in the record books in a variety of offensive categories. Scott made 213 career 3-pointers and was a 40.7 percent career 3-point shooter.We can definitely put some guys on the floor that can shoot and score, but that might not equate to our best defensive unit, Lafayette coach Fran OHanlon said. Our problems have come in defense and rebounding, and it will only get better if our big guards can take advantage of matchups on the wings. Were not big inside, so that puts pressure on our guards to rebound.With a young group, the Leopards must open the season on the road against the defending national champions. Not an easy task.Villanova will be a great experience for our guys, OHanlon said. Obviously, its a formidable opponent. Its like playing Alabama in football. Playing in an environment like that will be a hot ticket. Everybody wants to see the banners raised. It will be a great night. Cheap Under Armour Basketball Shoes . John Lucas, signed as a mentor for rookie Trey Burke, showed he can score if required, scoring 12 points of his 16 points in the second quarter as Utah built an 18-point lead. Clearance Under Armour Shoes Store . -- The Sacramento Kings are set to become the first major professional sports franchise to accept Bitcoin virtual currency for ticket and merchandise purchases. http://www.cheapunderarmour.us/ . -- Jonathan Drouin gave Halifax the boost it needed to edge host Sherbrooke Phoenix 3-2 in a shootout in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Wholesale Under Armour Shoes .com) - Richie Incognito has reportedly been admitted to a psychiatric care unit in Arizona. Discount Under Armour Shoes . The Hall of Fame defenceman told Landsberg that he believes fighting still has a place in todays game, but thinks staged fighting needs be outlawed. ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Elena Delle Donne had 28 points and 11 rebounds, Courtney Vandersloot hit a game-winner with 4.6 seconds left in overtime and the Chicago Sky rallied to beat the Washington Mystics 86-84 on Friday night.Delle Donne made a steal and went coast-to-coast to tie it at 84-all with 48.5 seconds left. After a Washington miss, Vandersloot dribbled down the clock and sank a pull-up jumper. Washington had a good look before the buzzer, but Stefanie Dolsons shot was blocked Erika de Souza.Vandersloot finished with 14 points and five assists for Chicago (7-9), which is ranked No. 8 in the AP power poll. Delle Donne was 13 of 27 from the field for her fifth straight 20-plus scoring game. She also recorded her first double-double of the season.Vandersloot drove the lane and fed it to Delle Donne for an open jumper to tie it at 77-all with 36.1 seconds left in regulation. Tayler Hills runner in the lane was blocked by Imani Boyette and Delle Donne secured the rebound. Vandersloot founnd Boyette in the lane but her shot didnt fall and Washington didnt get off a shot before overtime.ddddddddddddHill scored a career-high 25 points for fourth-ranked Washington (9-9).STARS 87, FEVER 85, OTINDIANAPOLIS -- Moriah Jefferson had a game-winning putback just before the overtime buzzer as part of her career-high 31 points to help San Antonio beat the Indiana Fever 87-85 on Friday night.Monique Currie made San Antonios second 3-pointer of the game with 1:08 left in overtime to give the Stars an 83-81 lead -- their first since 33-32. Indianas Tamika Catchings tied it at 85-all with 3.3 seconds left on a jumper in the lane. 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