CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- The college basketball season is officially here.From North Carolinas Late Night With Roy event to Kentuckys Big Blue Madness that drew a packed crowd to Rupp Arena, Friday night featured a busy schedule of Midnight Madness-style events around the country that stand as the ceremonial kickoff to the 2016-17 season.Similar events took place at Michigan State, Arizona, Maryland, Iowa State and Connecticut, among other schools.Coming off a loss in the NCAA championship game on a last-second 3-pointer to Villanova, the Tar Heels held their Late Night event featuring the mens and womens basketball teams in front of a crowd of more than 15,000 fans at the Smith Center. Hall of Fame coach Roy Williams drew a standing ovation as he walked onto the court ahead of player introductions for a veteran squad, while the players quickly commenced with a series of skills contests and danced for fans before capping the night with an intrasquad scrimmage.I think weve had a pretty good structure out there; guys knew where to go, Tar Heels junior Theo Pinson said. It was good playing in front of a crowd, to get used to it for the freshmen and us getting the feel of it again. It was fun.In Lexington, Kentucky, the Wildcats stepped out on the blue carpet to offer the first look at John Caliparis latest heralded freshman class. The school also unveiled a new scoreboard above center court and a newly designed playing court, part of renovations at Rupp Arena for its 40th anniversary.Actors Steve Zahn and Josh Hopkins, along with former Kentucky standouts John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins, were in attendance. Renowned boxing announcer Michael Buffer introduced the players with some of the newcomers displaying dance moves to the delight of those in attendance.Wow, Calipari said. You people are crazy. Look at this place. Only you, only here.The Midnight Madness tradition was based on teams holding open practices at the earliest opportunity on the first day the NCAA permitted teams to open practice. Rule changes in 2013 gave teams more flexibility on when they would start their practices, which also scattered the Midnight Madness-type events -- many now being held in more family-friendly evening hours -- across the calendar.Kansas was the first of the marquee programs to hold its event on Oct. 1, while others -- including Duke, Syracuse, Indiana and Virginia -- are scheduled to hold public scrimmages or similar events next weekend.---Heres a look at some of the Midnight Madness events Friday night:UNC: Senior Isaiah Hicks scored 13 points, according to unofficial statistics, to lead Blue past White 40-37, though the Tar Heels needed a one-minute overtime after the 20-minute scrimmage to decide the game.KENTUCKY: Buffer played off his trademark phrase by announcing Lets get ready for roundball! ahead the Wildcats 10-minute scrimmage matching the newcomers against the veterans. Bam Adebayo had 14 points on seven dunks to help the freshmen win 25-21.UCONN: The Huskies drew about 8,000 fans to Gampel Pavilion in Storrs to catch First Night with the mens and national championship womens teams, which evenly divided both teams players for the 20-minute scrimmage featuring alternating five-minute segments for mens and womens play.ARIZONA: Five-star freshman guard Rawle Alkins had quite a moment en route to winning the teams dunk contest, plucking the ball from coach Sean Miller as he leaped over his back and then threw it down in one motion.IOWA STATE: Senior Deonte Burton won the teams dunk contest, junior college transfer Donovan Jackson won the 3-point contest, and the mens and womens squads played a 16-minute co-ed scrimmage in Hilton Madness. Nike Air Vapormax Plus Cheap . - Chris Tierney snapped a tie with a power-play goal late in the third period as the London Knights rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Erie Otters 5-3 in Ontario Hockey League action on Wednesday. Nike Air Vapormax Plus Australia . Oaklands loss to Seattle clinched the ALs best record for the Red Sox with one day to spare in the regular season. "I think everybody was kind of watching," catcher David Ross said. "Demp (Ryan Dempster) came out before he went to the bullpen and was just yelling that they lost. http://www.vapormaxaustraliashoes.com/air-vapormax-flyknit-3-australia.html . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014. Nike Air Vapormax Plus Womens Cheap .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have placed centre Cody Hodgson on injured reserve and recalled two players from their AHL affiliate in Rochester. Nike Tns Wholesale Australia . If ever they start actually putting pictures beside words in the dictionary, the Blue Jays left-handers mug will appear beside “Consistency. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay bullpen came through on a day when the Rays strong rotation had a hiccup. Wil Myers homered and four relievers allowed one hit over 4 1-3 scoreless innings to help the Rays beat the San Francisco Giants 4-3 on Sunday. "Our offensive has been struggling a little bit lately, but I just think as a team our pitching has held us in the game," Myers said. "It gives a lot of confidence." Alex Torres (4-0) started the bullpen parade by replacing Roberto Hernandez with two outs in the fifth and struck out two over 1 1-3 innings. Jake McGee worked a perfect seventh and Joel Peralta left Hunter Pence stranded at second after a two-out double in the eighth before Fernando Rodney pitched the ninth for his 27th save. "The guys are fantastic," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. "The bullpen, theyre going to be the best in the American League. I think theyre close to that right now. A lot of good stuff out of the bullpen." Tampa Bay took a 4-3 lead in the sixth on Sam Fulds hit against Jose Mijares (0-3) to help the Rays win for the 25th in 31 games. The Rays took 2 of 3 from the defending World Series champion Giants and improved to 11-0-2 in their last 13 series. San Francisco, last in the NL West, has lost 10 of 14. Manager Bruce Bochy said lineup changes are likely forthcoming, with Pence or Marco Scutaro possibly moving to the leadoff spot. "Were not getting any production from our leadoff hitters," Bochy said. "Were definitely going through a tough time and were going to change thingss up here a little bit.ddddddddddddWeve talked about Pence going there. (Pence) says hes done it before, and Scutaro has experience there, and hes done a good job of it." Brandon Crawford drove in two with a triple off Hernandez as the Giants grabbed a 3-2 lead in the fourth. Evan Longoria, mired in an 0 for 19 slide, pulled the Rays even at 3 on a run-scoring single during the fifth. Tampa Bay went up 2-1 when Myers hit a two-run shot off Guillermo Moscoso in the first. Buster Posey had put the Giants up 1-0 on an RBI single during the top of the inning. Myers has been the Rays most potent bat since the All-Star break, hitting .417 with five homers and 15 RBIs. It was Moscosos initial start this season, taking the place of Barry Zito, who was moved to the bullpen, and first since last Aug. 15 while with Colorado. The right-hander allowed three runs, four hits and four walks over 4 2-3 innings. Hernandez gave up three runs and eight hits in 4 2-3 innings. NOTES: Rays CF Desmond Jenn