Florida won back-to-back national titles a decade ago, and since that time no defending champion has even made it to the Elite Eight, much less the Final Four. Can Villanova break that streak and cut down the nets in 2017? Absolutely.Of course, the most likely outcome next April is that one of the 350 other teams in Division I will win it all. Nevertheless, its unusual to see a reigning champion this well-positioned to defend its title. Josh Hart, Kris Jenkins, Mikal Bridges, Jalen Brunson, Phil Bth and Darryl Reynolds are all still in uniform, and that gives coach Jay Wright what he needs to make a real run at a second consecutive championship.Just how rare is Villanovas favorable -- though far from dominant -- situation? Fake Pirates Jerseys . NBA officials ruled the court unplayable in the Bucks final exhibition game on Oct. 25 because players were slipping, and the game was cancelled midway through the first period. Pittsburgh Pirates Store . Nigeria beat surprise package Ethiopia 2-0 in the second leg of their playoff for a comfortable 4-1 aggregate victory. Victor Moses converted a 20th-minute penalty after an Ethiopian handball, and Victor Obinna made certain of Nigerias place in Brazil with his powerful free kick in the 82nd at UJ Esuene Stadium. https://www.cheappiratesjerseys.us/ . Kozun faked to the forehand and beat Monsters starter, Calvin Pickard, pad side in the second round for the winner. Spencer Abbott also scored in the shtout for the Marlies (25-13-4). Pittsburgh Pirates Pro Shop . Brad Jacobs and his Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., team tk control of the game early. Custom Pittsburgh Pirates Jerseys . The (11-11-4) Jets are seventh in the Central Division with 26 points. Fifth place Dallas and sixth-seeded Nashville also have 26 points, but the Stars have three games in hand on Winnipeg while Nashville has two. RIO DE JANEIRO -- Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti acknowledged Saturday that the results of Novembers U.S. presidential election could weigh heavily on his citys chances of hosting the 2024 Olympics, saying that a victory by Donald Trump could turn off IOC voters.In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, Garcetti also said Los Angeles could offer the last best hope for the United States to host the Summer Olympics again before the American people begin tuning out from the games.Garcetti, a 45-year-old Democrat and supporter of Hillary Clinton, is in Brazil to observe the Rio de Janeiro Games and pitch his citys bid to members of the International Olympic Committee. One of the main topics of conversation with IOC delegates has been the U.S. election -- and the prospects of a Trump presidency.I think for some of the IOC members they would say, `Wait a second, can we go to a country like that, where weve heard things that we take offense to? Garcetti said. But I think that gives us even more urgency globally, where we can say, `This is something that is a different strength maybe than the things that youve heard or the things you believe. I think we continue no matter what the outcome of the election is.A new U.S. president will be in office when the IOC selects the 2024 host city in September 2017. Los Angeles, which hosted the Olympics in 1932 and 1984, is competing with Paris, Rome and Budapest, Hungary.Everything that were going through right now in the United States politically, I dont want us to be a country that turns into itself, said Garcetti, who spoke at the Democratic convention in Philadelphia last month. I think we have to lk outward to the world.The IOCs 98 members come from all over the world, and Trumps comments on Mexicans, Muslims and other issues wont encourage them to vote for a U.S. city.They wonder, `Is America going to take this strange turn? Garcetti said. Were there to be an election result that is less international, more inward focused, maybe theres even greater urgency to a bid like this.But even if that doesnt happen, even the threat of that, the talk of that, the idea that we exclude people based on who they are at our borders, gives us urgency to having things like the Olympics underscore who we are and what were about.Los Angeles bid chairman Casey Wasserman said the city will continue to push the bid on its own technical merits.I dont think you can judge a country by who runs for president, he said. I think you should judge a country on who is the president and their beliefs and their policies. And clearly thats something the members will take into account. But thats something I cant control.Los Angeles is seeking to bring the Summer Olympics back to the U.S. for the first time since Atlanta hosted the 1996 Games. The bid follows failed attempts by New York and Chicago for the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, respectively.I dont know if this is the last best hope, but I do think that after a few bids, after a while, there will be real feeliing of people tuning out in America, a new generation that isnt connected with the legacy sports, said Garcetti, who attended Rios opening ceremony on Friday night, 32 years after going to the close of the 84 Games as a 13-year-old.ddddddddddddRecent American bids have suffered from anti-U.S. sentiment among some members in the European-dominated IOC, and Garcetti said he is working to change that.There may be a general anti-Americanism but once you create a relationship with somebody, it becomes a relationship with Eric and that person, he said. As we get to know each other over time, they realize you cant slap a title, just like `American and a caricature of what that means on anybody.I want to listen, Garcetti said. I dont want to just come in and say, `Were the Americans, we get the most medals, we bring in the sponsorships. That turns people off.He acknowledged there could be a backlash among some IOC members to what they consider U.S. meddling in global sports affairs, including the Justice Department investigation of world soccer body FIFA and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agencys call for a total ban on Russias Olympic team over state-sponsored doping.Ive been very careful to say, `Lk, what prosecutors or anti-doping officials do, at least in our country, is completely separate from what a mayor or a city government is about. Were not involved at all.On other issues, Garcetti:- encouraged Rome to remain in the 2024 race despite current opposition from new mayor Virginia Raggi, who says the city has bigger priorities at the moment. Garcetti said he has been in touch with Raggis office to urge Rome to stay in.You can fix your problems first, but that doesnt mean you have to exclude great opportunities like the Olympics, he said.- embraced the five new sports approved by the IOC for the 2020 Tokyo Games -- baseball/softball, surfing, skateboarding, karate and sport climbing. While they have been added for Tokyo only, Garcetti said he would hope they could also be included in Los Angeles.Skateboarding and surfing, those are synonymous with LA, he said. If were lucky enough to win, I would absolutely see us continuing those sports.- confirmed that the new NFL stadium being built for the Los Angeles Rams would be used for the Olympics if the city wins the bid. Rams owner Stan Kroenke is helping to build a new $2.6 billion retractable rf stadium in Inglewd, California, scheduled to be completed in 2019.The new stadium could be considered for hosting the opening and closing ceremonies. The Coliseum would host the track and field competition.Weve not yet defined how well use the stadium but were very excited to use the stadium, Garcetti said. Stand by, but were talking with the Rams, Stan Kroenke, about the best way.--Follow Stephen Wilson on Twitter: www.twitter.com/stevewilsonap. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/stephen-wilson ' ' '