with making life difficult for ball-handlers.W

(STATS) -- A case can be made that North Dakota State and James Madison, who square off Friday night in an FCS national semifinal, have the most complete teams in the subdivision.Offense, defense, special teams, they have all been wrapped up into superb seasons.The two are champions from the strongest conferences in the FCS, JMU out of CAA Football and NDSU from the Missouri Valley Football Conference.NDSU has won a record five straight FCS national titles and this season has weathered the toughest schedule in the FCS. But while the Bison (12-1) have been invincible inside the Fargodome during the FCS playoffs this decade, JMU feels strong enough to halt what may be the greatest dynasty in college football history. During the regular season, the Dukes (12-1) beat the CAAs second-through fifth-place teams on the road.Fargodome, here they come.Well use a combination of different noise during practice, doing some things inside for communication-wise, try to replicate what were gonna see, JMU coach Mike Houston said. Fortunately, we have staff members that have played there before, so their knowledge is valuable to us. It should be an exciting environment on Friday night. Certainly they have enthusiastic fan support there and it makes a great home field for them. We look forward to having the opportunity to go up there and compete.---=FCS Playoffs SemifinalThe Matchup -- No. 4 seed James Madison (12-1) at No. 1 seed North Dakota State (12-1)Kickoff -- 7 p.m. ET Friday at the Fargodome (18,700) in Fargo, North DakotaCoverage -- ESPN2Series -- North Dakota State leads 1-0 (NDSU won 26-14 in 2011 FCS first round)Coaches -- James Madison: Mike Houston (12-1, first season; 55-20 overall); North Dakota State: Chris Klieman (40-4, three seasons; 43-11 overall)Players to Watch -- James Madison: QB Bryan Schor (199 of 267, 2,648 yards, 24 TDs, 5 INTs; 103 carries, 534 yards, 10 TDs), RB Khalid Abdullah (249 carries, 1,528 yards, 20 TDs; 2 receiving TDs), WR/KR Brandon Ravenel (44 receptions, 708 yards, 5 TDs), LB Brandon Hereford (96 TT, 7.5 TFL, 4 PBU), LB Gage Steele (87 TT, 3.5 TFL, 1 INT, 2 PBU); North Dakota State: QB Easton Stick (150 of 250, 2,115 yards, 19 TDs, 9 INTs; 104 carries, 664 yards, 7 TDs), RB King Frazier (171 carries, 835 yards, 10 TDs), DE Greg Menard (57 TT, 15 TFL, 10.5 sacks, 2 FR, 2 FF), LB MJ Stumpf (79 TT, 12 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 2 INTs), FS Tre Dempsey (48 TT, 4.5 TFL, 6 INTs, 6 PBU)What to Know -- The first of North Dakota States five consecutive FCS titles began with a win over James Madison in the 2011 second round. This year, NDSU earned a share of its sixth straight Missouri Valley title and JMU won its first outright CAA title since 2008. The visiting Dukes average an FCS-leading 49.6 points per game and surrender an average of 22.1. They rolled up 607 yards -- the programs playoff record -- in their 65-7 rout of Sam Houston State in the quarterfinals, which was the second-largest margin in FCS playoff history. Schor, the CAA offensive player of the year, runs the offense with a balanced mix of the run and pass. The Dukes keep drives alive on third and fourth downs as theyve converted a combined 53.2 percent. Their offense has lost RB Cardon Johnson to an Achilles injury, but Trai Sharpe has performed well in the No. 2 role behind Abdullah. Against Sam Houston, Abdullah and Sharpe combined for 285 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. The offensive line is physical, and two players, Mitch Kirsch and Aaron Stinnie, were All-CAA first-team selections and another, Matt Frank, made the second team. The defense has intercepted 20 passes, which has led to a plus-16 turnover margin and 125 points off the takeaways. The secondarys shutdown ways helped key the win over Sam Houston State and features CB Taylor Reynolds and FS Raven Greene. The Dukes return game has been the most dangerous in the FCS, combining for seven touchdowns, including Rashard Davis four on punts. North Dakota State is on a 22-game winning streak in the FCS playoffs, with 17 of the wins coming inside the loud Fargodome. Since 2010, the Bison are 55-5 at home. They have faced the nations toughest schedule, with JMU being their 10th ranked opponent. Controlling the game clock is a staple with the FCS dynasty and the Bison had nearly 41 minutes of time of possession during their 36-10 victory over South Dakota State in the quarterfinals. They have scored 30.1 points on average and allowed 15.8, which is third-best in the FCS. The heady Stick, 20-1 as a starter, is the offensive leader. Hes part of a deep running game with Frazier and Lance Dunn (940 yards, 6 TDs). They have followed a great offensive line, anchored by LG Zack Johnson, to an average of 249.2 rushing yards per game, but 278.3 over the last six games. The defense is fierce, having totaled 34 sacks and 25 takeaways. It has lost several key players to injuries, but the Bison never dwell on whos not in the lineup. They hope to get back LB Pierre Gee-Tucker from an MCL sprain. Opponents are just under 100 rushing yards per game, and Menard comes from the edge on passing downs. Stumpf has likely been their defensive MVP, while Dempsey has a Missouri Valley-best six interceptions. Cam Pederson is 14 of 20 on field goals, making seven of his last eight attempts.Up Next -- The winner will play either Youngstown State (11-3) or No. 2 seed Eastern Washington (12-1) in the FCS championship game Jan. 7 in Frisco, Texas.Prediction -- If North Dakota State gets back to Frisco for the championship game, it probably isnt losing following three weeks of preparation. So if the Bisons championship run is going to end, this would be the night. Its a great matchup. North Dakota State, 27-26. Bud Norris Jersey .J. -- Pitcher Carl Pavano is retiring after 14 major league seasons. Jack Morris Jersey . It was the second consecutive win for the Pacers (2-5), who lost their first five preseason games. Jeff Teague led the Hawks (1-5) with 17 points and eight assists and Al Horford had 12 points and seven rebounds. Mike Scott scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half. http://www.bluejaysonline.com/blue-jays-jesse-barfield-jersey/ . 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LOUISVILLE, Ken. -- Its out of the frying pan and into the fire for No. 14 Louisville.Just days after taking on a challenging slate in one of the toughest in-season tournaments in the country at the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas, the Cardinals (5-1) return to the KFC Yum! Center Wednesday night for a showdown vs. No. 15 Purdue during the annual ACC-Big Ten Challenge.Louisville coach Rick Pitino knows the Boilermakers (5-1) will be a tall test for his team.We are going to play two teams from the Big Ten and I think Purdue is one of the favorites to win it, Pitino said. They have a veteran team and they have tremendous size. ... They also shoot it really well from the one, two and three spots. They have a good inside attack and a good outside attack, and they have always been a good man-to-man defensive team.Purdues front line includes 7-foot-2, 290-pound center Isaac Haas, 6-9 Caleb Swanigan and 6-8 Vincent Edwards. Pitino said Purdues strength is more than just height.We have a couple of 7-footers as well, but Anas (Mahmoud) is 7-foot, 220. Haas is 7-foot-2, 290, Pitino explained. Thats a big difference. And Swanigan, hes 6-9 and 260 and uses his size well. We are likely going to have to play (7-1, 245-pound reserve) Matz (Stockman) more to counter their size.Purdue started the season with a 109-65 win over McNeese State before taking on Top 5 Villanova in a 79-76 loss that went down to the final possession. The Boilermakers have rebounded with wins over Georgia State, Utah State, Auburn and NJIT.Purdue coach Matt Painter said hes looking forward to the challenge at Louisville.Their overall length and athleticism is what stands out, Painter said. Theres times when you have to swallow your pride when they have two or three people on the basketball. Ive been shocked ... at the times people keep trying to challenge them when they swarm the basketball, and been impressed with their ability to defend and their ability to use their length -- not just at the rim, but contesting shots.Louisville started the season with three straight blowout wins over Evansville, William & Mary and Long Beach State, before heading to thhe Bahamas for the Battle 4 Atlantis.dddddddddddd. After beating Old Dominion 68-62 in overtime to start the tournament, Louisville beat Wichita State 62-52 and had a 22-point lead on No. 9 Baylor before falling 66-63 in the title game.This is the first team I have had in a while where the players dislike losing as much as the coaches do, Pitino said. They were very disappointed in losing to Baylor...but they got back to work this week.Swarming defenses like Louisvilles have been an issue for Purdue in the past. Villanova certainly used pressure defense to frustrate the Boilermakers, and Purdue fell victim to the University of Arkansas -- Little Rock in the NCAA Tournament last season due, in large part, to not handling UALRs full-court pressure.To combat that issue, Painter has been getting grad assistants involved wearing white shirts in practice. Those extra defenders are immune from fouls and are tasked with making life difficult for ball-handlers.We cant have the (turnover) numbers we have and expect to beat good people -- we just cant, Painter said. I like our matchup against anyone if we give ourselves a chance. If were constantly in transition because we try to take on two or three guys and are turning it over, I dont like that matchup. I dont like our matchup against anybody in transition.The Boilermakers are learning.If you show youre going to struggle with it and be careless with the ball, youre going to get pressed, point guard P.J. Thompson said. But the first few times they press you, if you really show them youre good and its not going to bother us and you get the ball in the frontcourt, it lays off a little bit.Painter said scheduling games against teams like Louisville or Villanova isnt easy, but they will provide long-term benefits for his team.Its hard to schedule games of this nature, Painter said. Everyones going to play in the Big 10-ACC Challenge, the Crossroads Classic, things of that nature. Not everyone wants to play on the road, even if you do a home and home. ' ' '