9.DOUBLE CHALLENGEThe third inning included a 4-min

While No. 2 Ohio State and No. 4 Michigan are among the nations top five scoring teams, the Big Ten Conference is just as good on defense.After the first month of the season, the league has seven of the nations top 25 defensive teams in terms of scoring defense, led by No. 8 Wisconsin. The Badgers are seventh, giving up an average of 11.8 points.Ohio State (12.3 points) is ninth, Iowa (13.5) is tied for 11th, Michigan (13.8) is 13th, Maryland and Northwestern are tied for 22nd at 17 points and Nebraska (18.0) is tied for 25th.Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald said the conference was in a similar position halfway through last season.The defensive coaches in this league are very sound, he said. You dont see typically a lot of guys running uncovered on plays that go for 60, 70 or 80 yards. Most of the defenses have become very sound, team orientated and very athletic, talented and physical.Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst said that many coaches have long adhered to the practice of putting their best recruits on defense.Looking at Michigans defense for this weekend, Chryst said there isnt one player to stop. There are a lot of playmakers.You take those good players and you coach them up, so with a good scheme and good players who understand what they are doing, that makes for good defense, Chryst said.Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh sees the same thing on Wisconsin, which is giving up just 80.5 yards rushing and 277 yards in total.I had the pleasure of coaching (former Badger linebacker) Chris Borland in San Francisco, and I say this as the highest form of compliment, it looks like 11 Chris Borlands out there, the way they play, said Harbaugh, whose team is giving up an average 269.8 yards.If there is a common link between the better defenses, its their ability to force turnovers. All seven teams have a plus figure in the turnover differential, with Ohio State being plus-9.Surprisingly, the Buckeyes retooled their defense this season after seeing defensive end Joey Bosa and cornerback Eli Apple taken in the first 10 picks of the NFL draft.Rutgers coach Chris Ash, who was the Ohio State co-defensive coordinator last year, is not surprised the Buckeyes have made the transition.Ohio State recruits at a high level, its just really reload, the next man in, he said. When someone goes to the NFL or their career is over, there is another talented player waiting to burst on the scene and became another Ohio State legend.Other notes from around the Big Ten:PROMISING PURDUEPurdue (2-1) has its first winning record entering October since 2012.I think we are work in progress, said Purdue coach Darrell Hazell, who won six games in his first three seasons. I think they are starting to understand all the things it takes to win games. They are playing hard and fast and with confidence. I am sitting here feeling good about the team but we have a long way to go.HARBAUGH-CHRYST FRIENDSHIPMichigan coach Jim Harbaugh and Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst have been friends for almost three decades, when Chrysts father, George, was the head coach at Wisconsin-Platteville.Its been a family friendship, the Chrysts and the Harbaughs going back to 1987, said Harbaugh, whose No. 4 Wolverines host the No. 8 Badgers on Saturday. Our dads were friends, the sons were friends, and its been a 30-year friendship.Chryst was a San Diego Chargers tight ends coach when Harbaugh was finishing his NFL career. Chrysts brother, Geep, was the offensive teams offensive coordinator. Geep Chryst also served as an assistant coach under Harbaugh when he coached the San Francisco 49ers.BALL CONTROLMaryland (3-0) has not turned the ball over under new coach DJ Durkin. It is the only Power Five program and one of just three in the FBS that have not committed a turnover this season.FRUSTRATED FERENTZIowa coach Kirk Ferentz is a little frustrated with the inconsistency of the calls regarding cut blocks by offensive linemen.In four games, he said, he has seen four different interpretations. He lost a 75-yard touchdown run last weekend against Rutgers on a cut-block penalty and voiced his concern after the game.Once we start conference (play), I think there will be an effort made to get everyone on the same page, Ferentz said. Hopefully, thats coaches, players and the guys working the game. Clarity is always a good thing on any issue. Adidas Superstar Australia Cheap .2 billion agreement with Rogers Communications for the leagues broadcast and multimedia rights. Adidas Superstar Online Australia . -- Arizona raced out to a big lead and did not back off, hitting the accelerator instead. http://www.superstaraustraliacheap.com/ . Haas said he "felt a lot of pain" in his right shoulder when he slammed his racket to the ground in frustration after losing his serve at 3-3 in the first set. Adidas Superstar Australia Sale . William Carrier opened the scoring for Cape Breton (6-4-2), but Andrew Ryan tied the game and Brent Andrews put the Mooseheads (8-6-0) in front for good with a short-handed goal at 13:49 of the second period. Adidas Superstar Shoes Australia . LeBron James and Chris Bosh didnt need any more. Williams scored 11 points in 10 minutes, Alan Anderson scored 17 points, and the Brooklyn Nets finished the exhibition season with a 108-87 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kendrys Morales started the season scuffling to get his average above .200. Hes finishing up a lot better.Morales homered for his 1,000th career hit and drove in four runs, Danny Duffy pitched effectively into the eighth inning and the Kansas City Royals beat the Chicago White Sox 10-3 Sunday.First and foremost, I didnt even know I had 999 hits, Morales said with catching coach Pedro Grifol as his translator.Morales was hitting .191 on June 5, but in his past 20 games he is hitting .359 with a .705 slugging percentage, bringing his season total to .261 with 38 home runs and 85 RBI.Obviously, I didnt have a good start, but the season is a very long season, Morales said. I was able to get back on track and finish strong.Duffy (12-2) picked up his first victory since Aug. 21. He struck out eight and gave up three runs.Again, it sounds boring, but its a simple mindset, Duffy said. I trust my fastball and everything else plays off of it. Thats probably why I dont try to nibble with it.Morales homered in the sixth with Paulo Orlando aboard. Orlando reached base four times -- two doubles, a walk and hit by pitch -- and scored three runs.Morales contributed a RBI single in the first and doubled home Eric Hosmer in the fourth.Hosmer drove in three runs, giving him a career-best 95 RBI. Whit Merrifield had three hits and two RBI.Alex Gordon ended an 0-for-21 drought with his 16th home run, which splashed into the upper right-field fountain.Todd Frazier hit his 37th homer, a White Sox record for a third baseman.Jose Quintana (12-11) was removed after four innings. He faced 24 batters, giving up 10 hits and three walks.It wasnt the normal stuff, the sttuff you expect from him, White Sox manager Robin Ventura said.dddddddddddd They hit him pretty hard, too. He just wasnt locating the way he usually does. It was just an off day for him. We didnt do much offensively against Duffy. He was throwing it pretty good. But, you know, just a rare one for Q.Quintanas career record against the Royals dropped to 1-9.DOUBLE CHALLENGEThe third inning included a 4-minute, 25-second review that included both managers making a challenge on the same play. Ned Yost of the Royals claimed shortstop Tim Anderson did not touch second base before throwing to first on Hosmers grounder. White Sox manager Robin Ventura challenged that Orlando violated the slide rule. After the review, the call on the field was overturned with Orlando ruled safe and the slide was legal.We felt like when you slide and you cant reach the bag thats enough for me to feel like its not a real slide or a bona fide slide, Ventura said. Again, that stuff is written in a way that it could go either way.TRAINERS ROOMWhite Sox: INF Tyler Saladino was out for the second straight game with a left calf issue. Hes getting better, Ventura said. Theres nothing mechanically wrong in there. Hes just sore and you just have to treat it. ... DH Justin Morneau missed his sixth straight game with neck discomfort.UP NEXTWhite Sox: LHP Carlos Rodon, who is 5-1 with a 2.77 ERA in his past eight starts, will start the series finale.Royals: RHP Yordano Ventura has allowed at least 11 baserunners in each of his past three starts with 12 walks and 23 hits. ' ' '