FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- If Arkansas coach Bret Bielema had a kindred spirit of sorts who he modeled the Razorbacks after when entering the Southeastern Conference, it was Alabama and coach Nick Saban.The No. 1 Crimson Tide (5-0, 2-0 SEC) might not lk like Bielemas pro-style offense quite as much anymore, but its success is still the standard by which the Razorbacks and the rest of the SEC measure themselves.Its a standard No. 16 Arkansas (4-1, 0-1 SEC) -- loser of nine straight to the Crimson Tide -- would like to meet for a change when it hosts the defending national champion on Saturday night. And it hopes to do so using the style of power offense Alabama has used less and less of in recent years.From a defensive point of view, its kind of a whole new preparation, Bielema said about Alabama. In recruiting, we used to compete with them quite a bit in pro-style offense settings and they dont lk like that now. Alabamas in the Spread market now.Regardless of the style of offense used by the Crimson Tide these days, the results have remained constant during the Saban era.This season is no different, and Alabamas 17-game winning streak is currently the longest in the nation and the second longest under Saban -- trailing only a 19-game stretch over the 2009-10 seasons. Its a streak that will be put to the test over the next three weeks with games against No. 9 Tennessee and No. 8 Texas A&M on deck, one that begins with the Razorbacks.Arkansas enters the game with the SECs most efficient quarterback in junior Austin Allen, but it has stayed true to Bielemas traditional offensive approach -- foregoing the hurry-up style that has taken over much of college ftball.Its a welcomed breather on defense for Alabama defensive end Dalvin Tomlinson.Im glad its not fast ball because as a defensive lineman, you like the slower teams so you get time to recover and just play old ftball, just like the old days, Tomlinson said.Some other things to watch as Arkansas tries to end its nine-game losing streak to the mighty Crimson Tide:STOPPING HURTS: The Razorbacks have struggled in defending the running of quarterbacks like Texas A&Ms Trevor Knight. Now, they face freshman Jalen Hurts , the Tides No. 2 rusher with 276 yards and three touchdowns. Bielema expects offensive crdinator Lane Kiffin to continue using Hurts running ability. As we all know, Lane is a very creative, very gd play caller, and I think theyre using his strengths as gd as anybody Ive witnessed this year on film, the Razorbacks coach said. Hes a very talented player thats getting used in all the right ways, and hes got some gd players around him.RAGNOWS STATUS: Arkansas starting center Frank Ragnow missed much of practice this week after flying home to Minnesota last weekend following the death of his father. However, the junior returned to the Razorbacks on Thursday night and is likely to play on Saturday night.HEALTHY AGAIN: It appears likely that Alabama will have tailback Damien Harris and wide receiver ArDarius Stewart back. Harris, the leading rusher, was limited against Kentucky with a sprained right ankle. Stewart has missed the past two games with a knee injury after totaling 203 receiving yards in the first two games. He returned to practice this week.HATCHERS HAMMY: Arkansas wide receiver Keon Hatcher missed last weeks win over Alcorn State with a hamstring injury, but Bielema is hopeful the senior will be able to return on Saturday. Hatcher missed most of last season with a broken ft, but hes returned to form this season -- with 14 catches for 281 yards and three touchdowns in four games.N-O-T AGAIN: Alabama has already scored seven non-offensive touchdowns in five games, and that knack proved huge in the Tides only other road game, against Mississippi. Thats two on interception returns, three on fumble returns and two on punt returns. Safety Eddie Jackson has returned a punt and an interception all the way.---AP Sports Writer John Zenor in Tuscalsa, Ala., contributed to this report. Nike Free Canada Sale .S. hockey team after paying his dues as an NHL general manager for more than three decades and giving up a lot of his free time to help USA Hockey. Nike Free Cheap Online . Aaron Harrison scored a 22 points for Kentucky (6-1), which has won four in a row following a Nov. 12 loss to current No. 1 Michigan State. Julius Randle overcame a scoreless first half and added his sixth double-double in as many games with 14 points and 10 rebounds. http://www.wholesalenikefreecanada.com/ . PAUL, Minn. Cheap Nike Free Canada .C. -- Calgarys Kevin Koe did it the hard way again. Nike Free Sale Canada . Bth picked up 65 caps after making her national team debut in 2002 at the age of 17. She most recently played for Sky Blue FC of the National Womens Soccer League. "It just felt like it was my time to move on," she said in a phone interview from her hometown of Burlington, Ont. HOUSTON -- Craig Sager never once thought about giving up as he battled cancer for more than two years.Man, life is t beautiful, t wonderful, theres just t many things, he said in late August. Its not just you. Its your family and kids and all. Fight. Fight until the end. Fight as hard as you can.The end for the beloved TNT broadcaster came Thursday when the man known as much for his outrageous wardrobe as his relationships with the NBAs elite succumbed to the disease he fought so hard to overcome. Turner Sports announced his death without disclosing details. He was 65 and had worked basketball games for TNT for nearly a quarter-century.Craig Sager was a beloved member of the Turner family for more than three decades and he has been a true inspiration to all of us, Turner President David Levy said. There will never be another Craig Sager. His incredible talent, tireless work ethic and commitment to his craft tk him all over the world covering sports.His son, Craig Jr., posted a loving video tribute to his father, tweeting: We packed a lifetime and then some into these 28 years together.Sagers passing brought out condolences from every corner of the NBA and Hall of Famer Larry Bird expressed what many were feeling.He was as identifiable with the NBA as any player or coach, Bird said. The league will not be the same without him.Magic Johnson echoed those sentiments on Twitter.The NBA family lost a legend who changed the way sideline reporters did their job. RIP Craig Sager, Johnson said.It wasnt just the NBA community that mourned his passing, with Vice President Joe Biden and Drake expressing sadness at the loss.Sager had two bone marrow transplants with his son as the donor before undergoing a third one from an anonymous donor at the end of August in Houston to fight an aggressive form of leukemia. To no ones surprise, he was characteristically cheerful .It really isnt all that painful, not physically, he said then. I think the hardest toll is mentally and emotionally. I have this thing of positive thinking. I think if you think something is going to be right and you think positive then you feel that way and if you feel that way youll act that way. I try not to get down.Sager announced in April 2014 that he had been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, and he missed the playoffs and much of the following season as he underwent the first two transplants. Sager revealed in March 2016 that his leukemia was no longer in remission. He said doctors told him the typical prognosis was three to six months to live, but I am receiving the best treatment in the world and I remain fully confident I will win this battle.He was overwhelmed by how news of his fight spread and people across the world started talking about the Sager Strong campaign.At first was our familys fight, Sager said. Then because of TV and TNT and people seeing me in the stands and I talk to people and then it got bigger and then that inner circle became an endless world to tell you the truth.Sager then started gaining inspiration from everyone who shared their story or reached out to show support.They saw that I refused to give up and I refused to give in and that Im still fighting it and they saw a lot of inspiration in what I was doing, he said. Now I feel Im not only fighting for what I want and what my family wants, but for everybody out there who has cancer or will.His battle brought out the soft side of Gregg Popovich, the prickly San Antonio Spurs coach with whom he had many memorable exchanges during in-game interviews.Sager never faulted Popovich for his gruff attitude during those interviews, saying hes trying to win a game. He doesnt want to talk to some reporter. But he said they had a great relationship.Later, he said, `Youre still going to be media on the court, but off the court can I call you and see how youre doing? I said: `Heck yes, Sager recalled in August. Just keep treating me the way on the court you always do. He said: `I wouldnt want it any other way.Popovich didnt take questions from reporters prior to Thursday nights game in Phoenix. Instead, he walked out of the visiting locker rm and, with a somber tone, spoke only of Sager for close to two minutes.A day like this, basketball has to take a back seat, as we all think about somebody who was very unique, very special, Popovich said. Whether you really knew Craig or not, you got the feeling that he was a very special person in a lot of different ways, and right now I just feel for his family.He was a way better person than he was a worker, even though he was amazing in that regard. He loved all the people around him and everybody felt that, he said. The most amazing part of him is his courage ... if any of us can display half the courage he has to stay on this planet, to live every life as if its his last, wed be well off.Sager sported suits in every color of the rainbow and plenty of shades not found in nature, from teal to fuchsia to magenta. He would match plaid blazers with paislley ties or striped shirts -- all in bold hues.ddddddddddddevin Garnett once told him to burn an entire outfit. In a 2016 interview with HBOs Real Sports, Sager recalled how Popovich reproached him for trying to stand out. Sager explained to him: Coach, you dont understand. If Im not wearing bright colors and if I dont feel lively, its not me.Sometimes lost in the glare of his wardrobe was Sagers relentless nature as a reporter. Every time Popovich would give a terse non-answer, an unfazed Sager would pepper him with another question.During the 2016 NBA All-Star Weekend, Popovich described Sager as an iconic figure in the NBA.He does a great job, the coach added. His sense of humor is obvious. We have a lot of fun going back and forth with that.Sagers persistence was on display at the start of his career, when the 22-year-old found himself in the middle of one of the most famous moments in sports history. Making $95 a week in 1974 as the news director at WSPB -- a Braves-affiliated AM radio station in Sarasota, Florida -- Sager risked getting fired by deciding to hop a flight to Atlanta for a game with Hank Aaron a home run away from breaking Babe Ruths career record.With a last-minute credential, Sager was stuck in the third-base photographers well. As the historic homer sailed out of the park, Sager, without thinking, sprinted onto the field and wound up chasing Aaron down the third-base line. When Aarons teammates mobbed him at home plate, Sager can be seen in his trench coat in the middle of the scrum.The next day, Sager caught a 5 a.m. flight to Sarasota to be back for his morning drive responsibilities, and his tapes from the game wound up in Cperstown.Sager worked as a reporter on the Olympics, Major League Baseball playoffs, the NFL and the NCAA Tournament, among other sports. But he was indelibly connected to the NBA.Craig was as vital to the NBA as the players and coaches, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. A true original and an essential voice on Turner Sports NBA coverage for 26 seasons, Craig chronicled some of the most memorable moments in league history and was a ubiquitous presence with his splashy suits and equally colorful personality. Craig earned widespread respect for his insightful reporting and inspired so many most recently with his courage.His popularity around the sport was evident as he went through his cancer treatments. Bulls star Dwyane Wade also sold paisley ties during the 2016 playoffs to raise money to combat bld cancers.Sager got to cover his first NBA Finals in 2016 through an unusual arrangement between TNT and ESPN, which invited him to join its coverage. He marked the occasion by wearing a blazer with a royal blue floral print. In an interview with LeBron James after Game 6, the Cavaliers star turned the tables to giddily ask Sager a question: How in the hell do you go 30-plus years without getting a Finals game?He was self-deprecating when asked what the outpouring of support from across the NBA meant to him.It means that Im not just the nuisance that they see on the court when Im trying to talk to them when they want to be somewhere else, he said in August.And Sager loved everything about his job.I try to get there three hours before the game, talk with the ushers and the security guards, the coaches and the fans, Sager said in 2015.A native of Batavia, Illinois, Sager attended Northwestern, where he walked onto the ftball and basketball teams, and served as the schls Willie the Wildcat mascot for three years.He worked at several TV and radio stations in Florida after college before spending two years in Kansas City. Sager joined CNN in 1981 after handling the networks first live remote report during the 1980 baseball playoffs.Sager was in Dallas for a game in April 2014 when he felt ill and sought treatment from Mavericks team physician Dr. Tarek Souryal, who had previously performed Sagers knee surgery. With a dangerously low hemoglobin count, Sager had six bld transfusions over a 24-hour period before returning to Atlanta. After that came the treatments and his public battle with leukemia.Earlier this year, Sager was involved in the television coverage of the NCAA Final Four and had a memorable postgame interview with Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim.Im proud of you, Boeheim told Sager on air after the Orange lost in the national semifinals. Im really proud of you and what youre doing. Youre a fighter and thats something we all should really aspire to be. Youre setting an example that we all should be really happy to try to follow.Sager replied, Well, thank you very much.And then the professional broadcaster did what professional broadcasters do -- he went to his next question, one about Syracuses famed 2/3 zone, without missing a beat.---AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds and AP freelance writer Jose M. Romero contributed to this report. ' ' '