NEWS » velocity. It spoke to the fact that he had tr

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Pleased as Kentucky coach John Calipari was by last weeks performance on the national stage, he seemed more encouraged by the second-ranked Wildcats encore that figures to raise their profile even more.DeAaron Fox scored 16 points, Malik Monk added 14 and Kentucky took a step toward the nations top ranking by rolling past Duquesne 93-59 on Sunday night.Five days after beating No. 13 Michigan State in New York, the Wildcats (4-0) made their case toward supplanting Duke for No. 1 when the AP Top 25 is announced Monday. The first of several scheduled late-evening starts didnt affect Kentucky as it won by its biggest margin this season.The Wildcats controlled Duquesne (2-3) on both ends, holding the Dukes to a season-low 30 percent shooting while making 35 of 76 attempts (46 percent).One thing I was anxious to see was how would we play, would there be a letdown, Calipari said. I thought we played well and I think Isaiah (Briscoe) kind of dragged them in the first half. ... I thought we played hard. Were still learning each other.Briscoe and Mychal Mulder each had 13 points and Bam Adebayo had 12 with eight rebounds for Kentucky, which out-rebounded Duquesne 49-32 to win its second game of the Bluegrass Showcase. Mulders total was a career high and included three 3-pointers.Were coming together better as the season progresses, Adebayo said.Emile Blackmans 13 points led the Dukes, who lost their third in four games.BIG PICTUREDuquesne: Coming off a one-point loss Friday against Canisius, the Dukes were close at the start but quickly fell behind due to cold shooting. They made just 6 of 29 in the first half (21 percent) and committed 11 of their 18 turnovers as they struggled against the Wildcats disruptive defense and length. They were near even on the boards for a while but eventually beaten there as well.Nothing Kentucky did surprised Duquesne coach Jim Ferry other than its ability to sustain the effort.Its relentless, Ferry said of the Wildcats intensity. Its just so challenging, the size and the length of the guards, how quickly they attack and they play very unselfishly.Kentucky: Seeking to pick up where they left off in an impressive defensive showing against Michigan State, the Wildcats constantly contested the Dukes passes and shots to build a 50-23 lead at the break. They controlled the paint offensively (44-20) and established a season best in rebounding differential.POLL IMPLICATIONSTop-ranked Dukes loss to No. 7 Kansas at Madison Square Garden opened the door for Kentucky to assume the top spot, and the Wildcats made it a foregone conclusion with their easy victory over the Dukes.RELOADINGEarlier Sunday, Kentucky announced the signings of 2017 recruits Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Quade Green -both guards -- along with center Nick Richards and forward P.J. Washington. All are rated as four- or five-star prospects by recruiting services, which of course is a familiar story in Lexington.RUPP MILESTONECalipari improved to 122-4 at Rupp Arena and tied Joe B. Halls record for most wins at the venue. Ferry drew a laugh when he remarked, He lost four? and Calipari said Yaaaay when told of the achievement before noting what visitors face when playing there.Its a hard place to win if youre an opponent and the fans make it that way, he said. I walked in today, 9 oclock on a Sunday night, we were missing some students but other than that, the place was packed. Are you kidding me?Attendance was 21,327.UP NEXTDuquesne: The Dukes host UT Martin on Wednesday night as they continue play in the Bluegrass Showcase.Kentucky: Hosts Cleveland State in a Wednesday matinee before Thanksgiving.---More AP college basketball: www.collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 . Cheap Air Max 90 Online .J. Jefferson has been charged with assaulting his girlfriend. Air Max 90 Canada Online .Y. -- Bills receiver Stevie Johnson has a bone to pick with the NFL schedule maker. http://www.cheapairmax90canada.com/ . Third-seeded Murray had the easiest path to victory on New Years Eve, barely breaking a sweat during his 6-0, 6-0 win over 2,129th-ranked Qatari wildcard recipient Mousa Shanan Zayed. Air Max 90 Canada . -- Matt Kuchar and Harris English ran away with the Franklin Templeton Shootout, shooting a 14-under 58 on Sunday in the final-round scramble to break the tournament course record. Buy Air Max 90 Online . The 15th-ranked Canadian men lost the opening two games of their European tour: 19-15 to No. 17 Georgia and 21-20 to No. CHICAGO -- James Shields insisted career win No. 130 was just like every other one. He offered no sign of relief or satisfaction. There was just praise for his defense and a big smile.It was simply time to move on.Shields broke out of a slump with 6 2/3 innings against one of baseballs worst lineups, helping the Chicago White Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 9-6 on Wednesday night.It was coming out of his hand better and he was finishing, White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. Locating better as well. Just the way it was out of his hand, it was getting better and better.Shields (3-9) allowed one run and eight hits in his first win since he tossed seven scoreless innings for San Diego at Milwaukee on May 12. The right-hander got hit hard after he was acquired by Chicago in a trade June 4, going 0-2 with a 15.80 ERA in his first four starts.It was a tough stretch, he said. Its nice to get off the schneid there and get a win, but I dont really focus on that kind of stuff. Ive been around this game for a long time, but my main focus is to win games for this team right now.Todd Frazier, Brett Lawrie and Tyler Saladino homered for the White Sox, who improved to 7-1 against the Twins after losing 4-0 in the series opener on Tuesday. Saladino and Tim Anderson each had two hits and two RBI.Chicago carried a 9-1 lead into the ninth, but Max Keplers two-run double got Minnesota within three with two out. Nate Jones then came in with runners on second and third and retired Eduardo Escobar on a fly ball to left for his second save.Somehow we got the tying run to the plate there in the ninth inning, manager Paul Molitor. But it was too big of a deficit.Eduardo Nunez homered on Shields second pitch of the game, but it was a mostly frustrating night for Minnesota at the plate. The Twins, who rank near the bottom of the majors in several offensive categories, went 2 for 14 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base.Nunez finished with three hits and Brian Dozier extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a double in the sixth. Dozier also has at least one extra-base hit in a franchise-record 10 straight games.Minnesota had a chance to tie it at 2 in the fifth, but Kurt Suzuki was cut down by Adam Eatons major league-best 11th assist when he tried to score on Nunezs double to the wall in right. Suzuki was basically forced to head home when Nunez nearly ran him over near third.ddddddddddddKurt has to be somewhat protective of the catch, Molitor said. Nunies focus was more on where the ball was rolling than the runner in front of him and we got into a tough spot there. We ended up losing an opportunity.Saladino belted a solo shot against Ricky Nolasco in the bottom half, and the White Sox broke it open with five runs in the sixth. Frazier led off with his 22nd homer and Anderson contributed a two-run single.Nolasco (3-6) was charged with seven runs and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings in his second straight loss.I felt fine, a lot better than the last start, Nolasco said. Good enough that I thought we could salvage the game there for the last few innings, but it just didnt work out.MISSING MELKYWhite Sox outfielder Melky Cabrera had an MRI on his ailing right wrist and will miss a couple of days with a mild sprain.Its difficult because I want to play, but the doctors said the best for me right now is just to take a rest for a couple of days because I have inflammation there, Cabrera said through a translator.WORTH NOTINGThe White Sox optioned left-hander Matt Purke to Triple-A Charlotte after the win. They said they will make a corresponding move before the series finale.TRAINERS ROOMTwins: Molitor said RHP Phil Hughes has peace of mind after learning he needs season-ending shoulder surgery, explaining his fatigue and loss of velocity. It spoke to the fact that he had trouble sustaining himself and stiffening, Molitor said. Hughes, already sidelined with a knee injury, is scheduled for surgery next Wednesday.White Sox: RHP Zach Putnam is working out while he rests his ailing right elbow. Season-ending surgery is a possibility. Obviously the goal is to avoid that if possible, he said. I think we are going to give it the old college try and try to see if we can get through the rest of the season without having to do a procedure.UP NEXTLeft-handers Tommy Milone of the Twins and Carlos Rodon of the White Sox face off in the series finale on Thursday. Milone (0-2, 5.33 ERA) is 4-1 with a 2.02 ERA in his career against the White Sox. Rodon (2-6, 4.09 ERA) is winless in his last five starts despite a 3.41 ERA for that stretch.---Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap ' ' '