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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee heads into the season as the likely Southeastern Conference Eastern Division favorite thanks in part to a defense loaded with experience.Whether the Volunteers earn that first division title since 2007 depends on how much that defense has learned from last years experience.Tennessee went 9-4 last season, but led in each of its losses. In three of those defeats, Tennessee was in front by at least 13 points.Those blown leads prevented a good season from becoming great. No wonder finishing has been a point of emphasis throughout Tennessees offseason.I would say its kind of a little motivation because we know were right there, senior cornerback Cam Sutton said. Weve just got to get over the hump.Sutton, entering his fourth year as a starter, exemplifies the tested nature of Tennessees defense. The Vols return five of their top six tacklers from last season. The only defensive starters from last seasons Outback Bowl blowout of Northwestern who departed are tackle Owen Williams and safeties Brian Randolph and LaDarrell McNeil. The defenses most notable newcomer is coordinator Bob Shoop, who previously held the same positions at Vanderbilt and Penn State.Tennessees defense boasts so much experience that players occasionally help each other on the practice field or playing field by referring to situations they encountered together in games that may have taken place years before.It helps our communication a lot more, said senior linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin, who joins Sutton as one of four team captains. Sometimes it gets hard to describe things that happen, and we usually relate it to something weve seen in the past. Weve been on the same page for so long, it makes it that much easier.Reeves-Maybin doesnt mention numbers when discussing his goals for this defense because he wants to avoid placing a ceiling on this groups potential.I dont want to put any expectations or limitations on what we can do, said Reeves-Maybin, who will have earned his degree by the time he begins his senior season. I know we can be the best team in the country. I just want to be the best team in the country, the best defense in the country. I want us to have each others backs and play like I know we can play every week.That means delivering a knockout blow when it has an opponent on the ropes.Tennessee lost in overtime to Oklahoma last year after leading 17-0 in the first half and 17-3 with 9 minutes left in the fourth quarter. The Vols led 27-14 with 5 minutes left in a 28-27 loss at Florida. They had an early 14-0 lead in a 24-20 setback to Arkansas, and allowed the winning touchdown with 2:24 left in a 19-14 road loss to eventual national champion Alabama.Sutton notes that the Vols didnt let those blown leads define their season; they ended the year on a six-game winning streak. They have the pieces in place to respond better in tight situations this fall.Derek Barnett is back at defensive end after getting 10 sacks each of the last two seasons. The linebacker corps features a rising star in Darrin Kirkland Jr., who won a starting spot and ranked fourth on the team in tackles as a true freshman last fall.But the success of this defense could ultimately rest on the leadership skills of Sutton and Reeves-Maybin, who have combined for 64 career starts. They lived through the pain of going 5-7 and getting left out of a bowl as freshmen. They passed up the opportunity to enter the NFL draft to take one last shot at an SEC championship.Now they want to prove this defense can finish off games against top-level competition while producing an ideal finish to their college careers.Adversity hit my class and the rest of the guys pretty early, Sutton said. Over the years, we were able to progress and get better. Finally to get what weve been working for since we got here... to finally finish it off, complete it and get it done, that would be something special.---AP college football site: http://collegefootball.ap.org Kyrie Irving Jersey . Numbers Game examines the deal that sees Michael Del Zotto and Kevin Klein switch places. The Predators Get: D Michael Del Zotto. Jordan Clarkson Cavaliers Jersey . 4 Villanova with a 96-68 drubbing on Monday. 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PETERSBURG, Russia -- Stan Wawrinka is back on the court after winning the US Open, and hes kept up his winning ways.The Swiss world No. 3 needed just 57 minutes to win 6-3, 6-1 against Czech player Lukas Rosol in the second round of the St. Petersburg Open on Wednesday after receiving a first-round bye.Wawrinka said it was a great level from myself for the first one and that he felt really focused against Rosol, who is ranked 85th.Wawrinka nnext plays one of two Serbians, either seventh-seeded Viktor Troicki, who beat Portugals Gastao Elias 6-1, 6-2 in the first round earlier Wednesday, or the unseeded Dusan Lajovic.ddddddddddddAlso Wednesday, eighth-seeded Joao Sousa of Portugal won 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 in the first round against Moldovan qualifier Radu Albot. ' ' '