It was sold-out at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai when the Houston Rockets and the New Orleans Pelicans played their preseason game on Oct. 9, the first of the two NBA Global Games hosted in China this year. A month later, however, as the 18,000-seating stadium is hosting the Pac-12 mens hoops season opener, the turnout on Saturday (Friday 11 p.m. ET on ESPN2) might serve to gauge the success of the NCAAs campaign to gain influence in the Asian sports powerhouse.The Harvard vs Stanford matchup, a sequel to last years first Pac-12 China Game (Washington-Texas) that only sold a few hundred tickets, might enjoy a slightly better chance of exposure given the two schools academic prestige in China as well as their well-known NBA products, such as the Brooklyn Nets Jeremy Lin and Brook Lopez (known as a former teammate of Chinese star Yi Jianlian from 2008 to 2010).Lin doesnt recall any discussions of an exhibition game in China when playing at Harvard, but he thinks the game has definitely grown a lot globally.After the NBA, college sports -- college basketball [in particular] -- is going to be big.Lopez, a former Stanford center, says he still holds fresh memory of beating Lins Harvard at home a few years ago.We definitely won that game, no question. Lopez says. Its reality. Its not hypothetical.To many Harvard and Stanford alumni, Saturdays game is simply a good reason for a get-together.A sports competition is the last thing people in China expect between the two academically strong schools, says Frank Wang, one of more than 300 Stanford alumni based in Shanghai. So the outcome of the game is not really important.Amy Yang, a Harvard alumnae living in Shanghai who will be at the game, wasnt into basketball when studying in the United States.But now its different because there isnt any Harvard element around me in Shanghai except for a few other alumni, she said. So I will go to the game for memory ... I hope I will get to meet more alumni at the game.The NCAA is following in the steps of the NBA, which first introduced its Global Games to Shanghai in 2004 when the countrys biggest sports ambassador -- ex-Rockets star Yao Ming?-- was just on track to dominate the paint in the years coming. The NCAA is pushing aggressively to get its share of the pie by leveraging support from its local partner, the Federation of University Sports of China (FUSC), which operates under the Chinese government.China -- under President Xi Jinping, who is known to be an avid sports fan -- is seeing a booming sports industry exemplified by heavy grassroots campaigns to invest in developing youth sports and building a national athletic infrastructure. In the private sector, online media companies are signing big broadcasting deals at home and abroad while domestic sports leagues are in a cutthroat competition to lure ex-NBA stars (Josh Smith being the most recent) and European football managers in order to draw eyeballs their games.Its a golden opportunity for the NCAA to seize as well if they can find the next Jeremy Lin, but the road is full of challenges. Ask Ma Jian, an ex-Chinese national team forward who played for the University of Utah in the early 1990s. As the first Chinese national to play NCAA Division I basketball, Mas bold choice was seen by many as an unorthodox move. In the past two decades, he has witnessed first-hand the vast changes in the games landscape but still sees the shortcomings in the Chinese market.The system for student athletes to become professionals doesnt exist in China, says Ma, now a basketball analyst. The quality of campus-level sports league is unpromising. Im very excited to see what NCAA can show and bring to China -- can it help Chinas student athletes to find more opportunities? Can NCAA share its experiences and work with the Chinese University Basketball Association (CUBA)? Its not easy, but there is a way. You cant just come in and sell the ticket to everyone. Its a long process that requires collaboration and strategy.The NCAA has been looking at China for a few years. With an increasing number of Chinese students studying at American universities (more than 300,000 in 2014-15), schools such as Duke and Georgetown would play some summer exhibition games in the country.The Chinese fan base for the NCAA is still relatively weak, cautions Li Shuangfu, co-founder of Lanxiong Sports, a leading sports business and media company. China has had NBA China Games and Euroleague Basketball World Tour, so it is very hard for the NCAA to break the ground and grow.Li says that even as China continues to emerge as a sports power, the NCAA should have a reasonable expectation for their immediate impact in the country and be aware that their opportunity is limited.A household name in China, Lin says the key to expand the NCAAs outreach in China is to focus on the game itself.Playing games over there or bringing the game over there...just giving them the exposure to it [will be crucial]. If they have the opportunity to see these games, they will fall in love with college basketball players as well.ESPN.coms Ohm Youngmisuk contributed to this report Nike Air Max Cheap Wholesale . With the short-handed Warriors needing help from someone -- anyone -- to stop a three-game skid, ONeal returned from right knee and groin injuries that had sidelined him for four games and put up season highs with 18 points and eight rebounds. It was just enough to help lift Golden State to a 102-101 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. Cheap Wholesale Air Max Shoes . The recently retired Stern was elected Friday to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and will be enshrined with the class of 2014 on Aug. http://www.cheapairmaxforsale.us/ . Denis Coderre, the former federal MP who was elected mayor on Nov. 3, has drawn the ire of some Montreal Canadiens. During last nights game he tweeted: "Hello? 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Heading into Week 3, the running back position is giving a lot of fantasy owners fantasy fits!Running backs with injuries (and their back-ups you want to own):Adrian Peterson -- knee (Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata)Jonathan Stewart -- hammy (Cameron Artis-Payne and Fozzy Whittaker)Ameer Abdullah -- foot (Theo Riddick and Dwayne Washington)Doug Martin -- hammy (Charles Sims and Jacquizz Rodgers)Arian Foster -- groin (Jay Ajayi and Kenyan Drake)Thomas Rawls -- shin (Christine Michael)Time for locks (beyond the obvious), flops and sleepers. Here we go!LOCKSQB Matt Ryan @ New OrleansBrace yourself! Matty Ice leads all quarterbacks in fantasy football after 2 weeks! Now, he has a great Week 3 matchup against a Saints defense that is allowing over 340 passing yards per game to opposing gunslingers.(Others: Philip Rivers @ Indianapolis, Eli Manning vs. Washington)WR Dez Bryant vs. ChicagoBryant rebounded in Week 2 with 7 passes for 102 yards against Washington. Week 3 hes playing at home, in PRIME TIME, against Chicago. This is the week Dak to Dez becomes a hashtag!(Others: Allen Robinson vs. Baltimore, Larry Fitzgerald @ Buffalo, Jordy Nelson vs. Detroit)RB Matt Forte @ Kansas CityForte rushed for 100 yards and 3 touchdowns last week in Buffalo -- so much for a split backfield with Bilal Powell. Forte has carried the rock 52 times in 2 games. KC is a difficult matchup, but with that workload, you need Forte in your lineup.(Others: Todd Gurley @ Tampa Bay, Mark Ingram vs. Atlanta, Melvin Gordon @ Indianapolis)TE Jason Witten vs. ChicagoWitten has been Daks safety net this season. (I still believe rookie quarterbacks love tight ends more than i love wine, and thats nearly impossible.) Chicago has given up the 13th most fantasy points to tight ends this season, and they have yet to face a tight end of Wittens caliber.(Others: Delanie Walker vs. Oakland, Julius Thomas vs. Baltimore)FLOPSQB Jameis Winston vs. Los AngelesFrom 4 touchdown passes in Week 1 to 4 interceptions in Week 2, and now an LA Rams defense, which held Seattle to 3 points in a 9-3 loss, is coming to Florida. Im benching Winston on my fantasy roster.WR Sammy Watkins vs. ArizonaThere are so many reasons NOT to start Watkins this week. Hes dealing with a foot injury, hell be shadowed by top cover coorner Patrick Peterson, and the Bills made a change with their offensive coordinator this week to Anthony Lynn.ddddddddddddRB Jeremy Hill vs. DenverHill began the season with difficult matchups at the Jets and at the Steelers. It doesnt get much easier this week against the Broncos. Denvers defense allowed the fewest yards per carry last season and has given up the 11th fewest fantasy points this season to running backs.TE Gary Barnidge @ MiamiI have major concerns when it comes Barnidge. Hes been targeted on fewer than 15 percent of his routes so far. There was optimism when Josh McCown started last week, but how did that work out for you? Now rookie Cody Kessler is starting for the Browns and Barnidge is on my bench.SLEEPERSQB Ryan Tannehill vs. ClevelandTannehill began to find his rhythm in the third quarter against the Pats last week -- he passed for 387 yards and 2 touchdowns in that game. This week, hes home against the Browns, therefore Tanney becomes a QB1 in my book.(Honorable mention: Marcus Mariota vs. Oakland)WR Travis Benjamin @ IndianapolisWith the number of weapons Rivers has lost to injury, Benjamin has become the target monster in San Diego. (Antonio Gates is dealing with a hamstring injury as well.) The Chargers face the Colts, who are dealing with an injury-ravaged secondary that has allowed wideouts to have career days against them.(Honorable mentions: Tyrell Williams @ Indianapolis, Sterling Shepard vs. Washington, Tajae Sharpe vs. Oakland, Terrelle Pryor @ Miami)RB Ezekiel Elliott vs. ChicagoCould this be the week Zeke goes off? I believe so! 134 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns in two weeks is nice, but you drafted Elliot in the first round for a reason. Home, bright lights, huge stage, prime time, against the Bears -- I like it.(Honorable mentions: Isaiah Crowell @ Miami, Jay Ajayi vs. Cleveland, Theo Riddick @ Green Bay)TE Jacob Tamme @ New OrleansTamme has been targeted more than Julio Jones this season! In Week 2 he was 5-of-8 targets, with a touchdown. Week 3 he travels to the BIG Easy to try and do BIG things for your fantasy roster!(Honorable mention: Dennis Pitta @ Jacksonville)Good luck in Week 3! 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