The teams that finished at the bottom of college basketballs power conferences in 2016 are looking for early signs this year will be different.The number of Power Five teams with at least 15 league regular-season losses has doubled from four in 2012-13 to eight last year: Boston College and Wake Forest in the Atlantic Coast Conference; the Big 12s Oklahoma State and TCU; the Big Tens Minnesota and Rutgers; Missouri in the Southeastern Conference; and the Pac-12s Washington State.That group is off to a 29-7 start through Tuesdays games and desperate to build momentum in the seasons opening month.ESPN analyst and former Duke player Jay Bilas said more teams sliding so far back in their leagues -- whether due to a brief dip or long-running struggles -- illustrates how climbing the standings is harder now than its ever been after realignment created bigger and tougher conferences.If you dont make the (NCAA Tournament) in a certain number of years, the coach is getting fired in these big leagues, Bilas said. The next guy gets four or five years and they fire him. Then all of a sudden youve got a 14-year drought. Its hard.---A look at those teams:BOSTON COLLEGEInjuries, youth and what BC coach Jim Christian called a piecemeal roster led to an 0-18 ACC record and a 7-25 mark for a program with one winning season since firing Al Skinner in 2010. Picked last in the ACC again, the Eagles (3-1) lost their home opener to Nicholls State.It cant be done overnight, Christian said. So its going to have to be done by getting the right kind of guys, getting them in the system they believe in and letting them grow together.MINNESOTAIts been bumpy for Richard Pitino, whose Gophers slid from 25 wins to 18 and then eight in his three seasons. Off-court incidents have also led to several player departures.With six new players, the Gophers have started 5-0 amid pressure on Pitino to show progress.Last year was very, very difficult for everybody, Pitino said. Those returners, theyve got pride. They want to show people what were all about.MISSOURIMissouri is on shaky footing under third-year coach Kim Anderson, though it did take highly ranked Xavier to overtime last week.The Tigers (2-2) have finished 3-15 in the SEC for two straight years and sat out last years postseason due to a self-imposed ban for NCAA violations under Frank Haith. Several players have also left or were dismissed in the past year.OKLAHOMA STATEThe Cowboys appear to be more of a one-year outlier in this group.Injuries to Big 12 freshman of the year Jawun Evans and Phil Forte led to a 3-15 league mark after five NCAA trips in seven years.Under new coach Brad Underwood, Evans ranks among the nations best by averaging 27 points in an offense averaging nearly 99 points. Picked seventh in the Big 12, Oklahoma State started 4-0 and beat Connecticut in the Maui Invitational before losing to fourth-ranked North Carolina late Tuesday.RUTGERSThe Scarlet Knights havent been to the NCAAs since 1991 while their last winning record came in 2006. Now they have their seventh coach since the last NCAA trip in Steve Pikiell and a 3-33 two-year record in the Big Ten.The good news: Rutgers (4-0) entered Wednesdays game against North Texas with its best start since going 5-0 in 2001.TCUFormer Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon is increasing tempo and having success on the recruiting trail for his alma mater, which is off to a 4-0 start. Still, its going to be a long climb for the Horned Frogs, who havent been to the NCAAs since 1998, own an 8-64 Big 12 record in four seasons and are picked last again.WAKE FORESTThe Demon Deacons beat Indiana, UCLA, Arkansas and LSU in nonconference play, but their young roster couldnt stop a 2-16 freefall in ACC play -- most notably by blowing a 10-point late lead and losing on a banked-in buzzer shot to then-No. 11 Virginia.In its third year under Danny Manning, Wake Forest (4-1) entered Wednesdays game against Coastal Carolina averaging 86.4 points with their only loss coming to reigning NCAA champion Villanova.WASHINGTON STATEThe Cougars (3-2) were a Top 25 program under Tony Bennett, but they havent been to the NCAAs since Bennett left for Virginia in 2009. Now third-year coach Ernie Kent is coming off a 1-17 season in Pac-12 play.Its a year we need to make a positive step, and were well aware of that, Kent said during last weeks Paradise Jam tournament. Its not a make-or-break year for us. We know what were doing and we know where were going.---AP Sports Writer Jon Krawczynski in Minneapolis; and AP freelancer Bill Kiser in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands contributed to this report.---Follow Aaron Beard on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/aaronbeardap---More AP college basketball at http://collegebasketball.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-Top25 Stephen Curry Shoes Wholesale . And when it opened, every player was at his stall. Thats a sure sign that a team is in a slump and is searching for answers. "Its embarrassing to be at home and play the way we did," said defenceman Josh Gorges. Curry 2 Shoes Cheap . After a replay, the winner will meet Sunderland in the quarterfinals. Sagbo did well to control Sone Alukos right cross and fire past Brighton goalkeeper Peter Brezovan. Aluko was making his first start in four months after recovering from an Achilles injury. http://www.curryshoesclearance.com/ua-curry-one-basketball-shoes.html .com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch. Curry 6 Cheap . James, who turned 29 on Monday, injured his groin Friday during the Heats overtime loss at Sacramento. He sat out the following game, a 108-107 win Saturday in Portland, before coming back to help send the Nuggets to their seventh consecutive loss. Curry 1 Shoes For Sale . Canada is now down to its 22-player limit, although but players wont be registered until Christmas Day. Changes could still be made as a result of a suspension or injury. OAKLAND, Calif. -- Whether its going for the win with a late 2-point conversion instead of kicking the safer extra point or passing up easy field goals for fourth-down attempts, Oakland Raiders coach Jack Del Rio has been consistent so far this season.If he has a chance to put the game in quarterback Derek Carr and the offenses hands, he will do it. So far, those bold moves have mostly paid off and are a big reason the Raiders (4-1) head into Sundays game against Kansas City (2-2) tied for first place in the AFC West, and seeking their first four-game winning streak in 14 years.Ive said this before, it just gives us confidence, Carr said. I dont know if it makes us feel any certain type of way but it definitely gives us confidence that he trusts us in fourth-and-2, fourth-and-short, backed up, 2-point conversions. He trusts us to execute.Carr has validated that trust often this season. He connected with Michael Crabtree on the game-winning 2-point conversion in the opener at New Orleans, and has thrown two more TD passes to Crabtree on fourth down.The latest of those came when Carr threw a 21-yard pass on fourth-and-3 for the go-ahead score in last weeks 34-31 win against San Diego.Its just based on what I think is best for the football team to give us the best opportunity to win, Del Rio said. Everything we do is about that.One reason for Del Rios risk taking has been that his offense has significantly outplayed the defense, which is allowing 7.0 yards per play, which would be the worst mark in the NFL since the merger.Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith downplays those struggles, pointing out that Oakland has faced quarterbacks Drew Brees, Matt Ryan and Philip Rivers.Theyve played some good offenses, Smith said. Thats kind of inflated that. Theyve been in some good battles though. Theyve been in a bunch of close games, so theyre certainly battle tested.Here are some other things to watch:CHARLES COMEBACK: The Chiefs figure to get a big boost on offense with running back Jamaal Charles expected to play a significant role for the first time since tearing the ACL in his right knee in Week 5 last season. Charles had two carries two weeks ago in Pittsburgh before the bye and expects to carry a full load against the Raiders.I feel like Im ready, he said. I told them to let the traaining wheels off me -- I know how to ride now.ddddddddddddTake them off and let me ride.REUNION GAME: After spending the previous three years in Kansas City, Raiders cornerback Sean Smith gets to match up with some of his former teammates. After a slow start to his career in Oakland that included getting pulled in the season opener, Smith has stepped it up. He has allowed nine catches on 19 targets the past three games after giving 10 on 12 targets the first two weeks, according to Sportradar. He also has already matched his career high with two interceptions.I started out kind of slow. I had to make some adjustments, some tweaks here and there, Smith said. It was nothing serious, nothing that couldnt be fixed.HOMECOMING GAME: Playing at Oakland has special meaning to Chiefs second-year cornerback Marcus Peters, who grew up in the city cheering for the Raiders. Peters, the 2015 Defensive Rookie of the Year, had an interception in his first NFL game at the Coliseum -- one of his league high 12 since entering the league last year.Hes aggressive, a playmaker, great hands, great ball skills as a DB, Carr said. Anytime a corner has great ball skills, you have to be careful with those 50-50 chance balls.SEARCHING FOR SACKS: After getting 15 sacks last season, Oaklands Khalil Mack is having a harder time bringing down quarterbacks this year. He has just one sack through five games, although he does have 14 additional quarterback pressures, according to Sportradar. The Raiders also believe Mack has been hindered by teams getting away with some holds.Thats probably the biggest thing that stands out, the number of times the opponent is just pulling him down, restricting him from getting to the quarterback, Del Rio said. At some point thats going to balance out, well start getting some of those calls.BYE SUCCESS: Kansas City coach Andy Reid always has his team ready to play after the bye. In 17 seasons as coach of the Eagles and Chiefs, Reids teams have a 15-2 record in their first game after the bye.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---AP Sports Writer Dave Skretta in Kansas City, Missouri, contributed to this report. ' ' '