MOSCOW -- Two more stadiums for the 2018 World Cup in Russia have fallen behind schedule, this time in the cities of Volgograd and Nizhny Novgorod.An amendment to spending plans published on a Russian government website has changed to 2018 the dates when both stadiums will be ready for use. They had previously been listed for completion in December 2017.The new document did not specify exactly when in 2018 the two stadiums, which will each hold 45,000 fans, would be completed.The delays at the Nizhny Novgorod and Volgograd stadiums follow earlier troubles at other arenas, most notably the 68,000-seat stadium in St. Petersburg, which has endured repeated delays and cost increases in a decade-long construction project.World Cup organizers have not commented on the latest delays, but have previously said they expect all stadiums to be ready for the tournament. . The 25-year-old Japanese star has officially been posted by his club team, the Rakuten Golden Eagles. . Down by seven with 90 seconds left in regulation, thats where they looked comfortable. . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. Last weekend at UFC Fight Night 32 my #TeamLynch got the best of #TeamJC by a score of 9-6. Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter. . The home side created most of the chances but struggled to break down Braunschweigs resilient defence, resulting in the Bundesligas 1,000th scoreless draw. .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Belmonts Rick Byrd is defensive about preseason polls and his Bruins in general.He doesnt like polls or the way Belmont played defense last season.That didnt matter to his fellow coaches in the Ohio Valley Conference. Byrds Belmont Bruins received 16 of 24 first-place votes from the leagues coaches and sports information directors in a poll released Wednesday with the leagues media day.I dont like preseason polls at all, I dont like preseason all-conference teams, Byrd said. Nobodys earned anything. If we dont get better defensively, were not going to get where we need to get.Belmont ranked 312th out of 346 Division I teams allowing 78.4 points per game last season when the Bruins (20-12) lost to Georgia in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament.Byrd, going into his 31st season with 731 career wins, describes himself as an offensive-minded coach but plans to base playing time more on defense than in years past.One Bruin who will log a lot of minutes is reigning OVC Player of the Year Evan Bradds, also the preseason player of the year.The 6-foot-7 forward averaged 17.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game last season. The senior led Division I in field goal percentage the past two years, including 71.4 percent last season.Evan, maybe more than any other player weve ever had at Belmont, has this gift and knack for scoring the basketball inside, Byrd said. He has great touch scoring it around the basket, over bigger guys, under bigger guys, through bigger guys. So all we do is throw it to him and get out of the way.Belmont returns 12 players, including senior guard Taylor Barnette, junior forward Amanze Egekeze and junior guard Austin Lake.While the Bruins are favored to winn the East Division, Murray State is picked to win the West.dddddddddddd The Racers have won the West the past four seasons, including a 17-14 mark last season when they lost in the OVC tournament quarterfinals.I really like our team, Racers coach Matt McMahon said. We have three seniors back who played huge role for us last season. All three have gotten much better as players and as leaders in the offseason, so I think all three are ready to take a step forward.Senior guards Bryce Jones (12.7 points and 4.2 assists), Damarcus Croaker (9.6 points, 4.5 rebounds) and Gee McGhee (9 points, 4.7 rebounds) give Murray State an explosive backcourt.Austin Peay was the leagues surprise last season as the first No. 8 seed to win the OVC tournament, upsetting four teams in four days.Our guys have got to understand that theyve got a target on their back, Austin Peay coach Dave Loos said. They also need to understand that we need to put that in the rear-view mirror.OVC tournament MVP Chris Horton graduated, but the Governors return 10 players, including three starters. Guards Josh Robinson (16.9 points) and Jared Savage (record 19 3-pointers in tournament) will lead the way for Loos, who returns for his 27th season.Tennessee State is picked to finish second in the East under Dana Ford, last seasons OVC Coach of the Year.If we compete as a unit consistently from the start of the game to the end and we stay healthy, I like our chances to play anybody in the league, said Ford, whose Tigers improved by 15 wins to 20-11 last year.Online:More AP College Basketball:
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