-- the team will be in good shape heading into Big Ten play.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Spending a lot of money to sign free agents is never a guarantee that it will turn a losing team around. Sometimes, the new people just dont work out. Sometimes, the chemistry never develops.Two games into the NFL season, the New York Giants decision to sink more than $100 million into the NFLs worst defense is working out just fine.The Giants are off to their first 2-0 start since 2009, and the defense has played a major role, allowing a combined 32 points in wins over Dallas and New Orleans (0-2).Steve Spagnuolos unit was outstanding Sunday in limiting Drew Brees and the Saints high-scoring offense to 288 yards in a 16-13 decision that was decided when Victor Cruz hauled in a 34-yard pass to set up Josh Browns winning 23-yard field goal as time expired.I didnt really know what to expect to be honest, said cornerback Janoris Jenkins, who was signed as a free agent, along with defensive end Olivier Vernon and defensive tackle Damon Harrison. But as spring went on, I started working with guys like DRC (Dominique Rodger-Cromartie) and Eli Apple and the linebackers and we realized that we could have something special.The last time the Giants faced the Saints, Brees threw for 511 yards and tied a single-game NFL record with seven touchdown passes in a 52-49 win. His longest pass Sunday was 23 yards and New Orleans was limited to 3 of 13 on third down.Defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul says the defense is a lot better than a year ago.It wasnt fifty-plus points, he said. Thats a good quarterback out there and everybody knows that. He was getting rid of the ball quickly and I was getting frustrated out there and those guys, too, were frustrated but we just had to keep our composure and got the job done.The Saints blamed themselves for a second straight close loss. Their defense forced three turnovers and did not allow a touchdown.Dont get me wrong, thats a good defense over there, but they didnt do anything special to stop us, Saints receiver Brandin Cooks said. We felt like we bit ourselves in the foot so many times, we stopped ourselves on the offensive side.Things we learned as the Giants improve to 2-0 under new coach Ben McAdoo with a win over the Saints:THE BIG THREE: There was talk throughout training camp that Eli Manning was going to have a big year if Odell Beckham Jr., rookie Sterling Shepard and Cruz could play together.The three came through against the Saints, combining for 20 catches for 294 yards. Beckham had eight catches for 86 and drew a pass interference on the final drive. Shepard had eight catches for 117 and caught a third-down pass for 6 yards to keep the final drive alive. Cruzs 34-yard catch came on a third-and-8 on the final drive.As long as we continue to understand what each others best roles are and what our best attributes are, and continue to do them, said Cruz, who had four catches for 91 yards, with his longest of 40 yards, ending in a lost fumble, I think the sky is the limit for us.NOT OUT OF IT:Despite their 0-2 start, the Saints are far from out of it. They have lost two games by a total of four points.We know what we can do, we know the type of performance we had on defense today kind of showed that, cornerback Sterling Moore said. We can go out there with anybody, no matter what talent level they have, no matter how young we are on defense. So were going to get frustrated, were going to go back to work and keep grinding.DONT GET TOO EXCITED:While the Giants are winning, they have outscored their two opponents by a total of four points. They need to improve to get back to the playoffs for the first time since the 2011 season.And that 2009 team, it won its first five games. It finished 8-8.INJURIES:Saints coach Sean Payton did not have an update on cornerback P.J. Williams after the game. The second-year player was taken off the field on a stretcher after hitting his head against tight end Larry Donnells knee and seconds later being hit in the back of the helmet by a helmet.New Orleans also had right tackle Zach Strief leave with a chest injury.Giants RT Marshall Newhouse left with a calf injury and S Mykkele Thompson had a knee injury.BROWN BACK:Brown kicked field goals of 48, 19 and 23 yards in his return after serving a one-game suspension for violating the NFLs personal conduct policy.Its good to be back, said Brown who spent the week at home with his daughter. Long week last week. It was hard to watch the game. It was great to be out there and be able to kick again.Brown refused to answer questions about his former wifes allegations that he subjected her to domestic violence more than 20 times. No charges were filed relating to his arrest in that May 2015 incident.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/AP-NFL Nike Air Huarache Cheap . Its 1987 and a Brazilian playmaker, known as Mirandinha, is being paraded around St James Park to the passionate Newcastle fans. Nike Air Huarache Womens Sale . As he recorded his 23rd and 24th points of the evening, a segment of the sellout Air Canada Centre crowd expressed their appreciation for the Raptors point guard with a smattering of MVP chants. http://www.huarachesshoescheap.com/ .C. United of Major League Soccer. United chose the defender in the second round of the 2013 MLS re-entry draft. Nike Air Trainer Huarache Sale . Collaros, 25, was solid last season, posting a 5-2 record as the starter while incumbent Ricky Ray was injured. Collaros also started Torontos 23-20 regular-season finale loss to Montreal — Ray didnt dress because the Argos had already clinched first in the East Division — but was one of three quarterbacks to play that day. Nike Air Huarache White Mens . 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. CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Malcolm Hill made sure Illinois didnt repeat past mistakes in the final minutes of the teams 85-77 win over IUPUI on Tuesday night.When the Jaguars Darell Combs banked in a 3-point shot with 2:24 left in the game, Hill had a flashback to Illinois 84-80 loss to Winthrop. Hill took charge and scored 32 points -- 23 in the second half -- to help the Illini hold off the Jaguars.Put the ball in his hands, Tracy Abrams said. Hes a great player, one of the best in the country, and we have to give him the ball.Illinois (7-3) shot 55 percent from the field and 7 of 16 from 3-point range.The Illini opened with a 10-0 run but committed eight turnovers, allowing IUPUI to rally to a 42-41 halftime lead.Mike Thorne Jr. hit a jumper, Hill dunked and Illinois pulled ahead in the second half by shooting 60 percent from the field.Leron Black scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds. He was a presence throughout the game, including a key rebound with 23 seconds left, despite battling foul trouble.Although Illinois won, coach John Groce said he wasnt pleased with his teams effort.I feel fortunate we were able to get out of there with a win, Groce said. We didnt have the same edge we have on Saturday . we made too many mistakes.Matt OLeary led IUPUI (3-6) with 25 points, shooting 7 of 15 from the field and 4 of 9 from beyond the arc.The Jaguars also kept the battle at the board close, losing 29-28.CIUPUI coach Jason Gardner said he wasnt happy with the end result but was proud of the way his team fought back after falling to a 10-0 Illini start.We gave ourselves a chance to be right there, Gaardner said.dddddddddddd You never want to be excited about losses, but I think its one of those deals where I was pleased with their performance and how they played tonight.BIG PICTUREIllinois: The Illini have rebounded well after a week where they went 0-3. If Illinois can win out the rest of its nonconference schedule -- Central Michigan, BYU and Missouri -- the team will be in good shape heading into Big Ten play.IUPUI: The Jaguars will try to salvage a difficult road trip. They face a few challenging games, including one against Northwestern, before returning to equal competition.ROLE PLAYERD.J. Williams played eight minutes and scored five points off the bench. The sophomore has recently found it hard to get some playing time, but he provided some energy when the Illini lacked some.TURNING POINTMike Thorne brought in an offensive rebound and was fouled when he scored on a layup with 5:22 left in the game and the score tied at 68. He made the free throw and the Illini followed that up with a Hill breakaway layup to take a 73-68 lead.HE SAID ITEvery good team has that one crazy person and (Leron Black) is our crazy person. Malcolm Hill.UP NEXTIllinois: The fighting Illini have the next few days off before entering the final stretch of their nonconference season when they play Central Michigan on Saturday afternoon.IUPUI: The Jaguars finishes their six-game road trip against Miami (Ohio) on Saturday.---More AP college basketball: http://collegebasketball.ap.org ' ' '