TORONTO - Although Wednesdays overtime loss was one that Jonas Valanciunas would sooner forget than relive, his coach hopes its something the Raptors sophomore centre will learn from. In what promised to be a tricky matchup for the 21-year-old, Valanciunas held his own against the crafty Al Jefferson offensively but was taught a lesson or two on the other end. One of those moments occurred at the end of the extra period. Jefferson set a hard screen that freed up Kemba Walker, forcing Valanciunas to switch off and close out on the Bobcats guard. Walker would drain the game-winner over Valanciunas as time expired. "Weve watched film with him [and] work on it with him individually," Dwane Casey said after practice Thursday afternoon. "In the NBA, a lot depends on game experience and hes seeing every different post-up situation." Valanciunas scored 10 points and added six rebounds in 22 minutes of action Wednesday however, Jefferson poured in 24 to go along with 11 boards, leading the Bobcats with five points in overtime. "Hes still in the process, hes still learning the league, learning the speed of the game and again, hes [getting] better," Casey said, commending Valanciunas growth on the offensive end. "I thought he did an excellent job offensively when he got his catches in the post. Hes really grown from that standpoint." His biggest challenge continues to come on the defensive end, where hes still being exposed by quicker, versatile and more experienced big men. Jefferson is a nightmare assignment for any player, let alone a young and developing big. "My whole career, to this day, people always ask who the hardest [players] are to guard and I surprise them every time when I tell them Al Jefferson and Zach Randolph," said veteran forward and new teammate Chuck Hayes, who participated in his first full practice with the Raptors Wednesday. "For their size - theyre so wide - theyre light on their feet and theyve got great footwork and their shooting touch is just as good as any guard in the league." "It sucks that [Valanciunas] went through that torture chamber in a game that we needed before this road trip but its a learning process," Hayes continued. "Well see them again, Im sure and hell remember that overtime where Al got the best of him." Although Valanciunas shares the blame for what went wrong in overtime, theres plenty of it to go around. The Raptors, as a team, missed their first six field goal attempts while DeMar DeRozan shot 1-of-4. You can also cut the seven-footer some slack, given the amount of time he had spent on the bench. Valanciunas sat for over 17 minutes of game time, including the entire fourth quarter, before coming back in to start overtime. Facing Charlottes unconventional frontcourt of Jefferson and Josh McRoberts, a stretch four, Valanciunas became a late-game afterthought once again, sitting out in favour of Amir Johnson, Tyler Hansbrough, and the newly acquired Patrick Patterson. As Casey notes, it is sometimes a give-and-take with Valanciunas on the floor, certainly in a matchup like Wednesdays. Whatever advantage is gained on the offensive end, assuming the team is utilizing it, is often given right back on defence. With the game on the line, Casey - like he has done in past - opted to play it safe with more experienced and versatile defenders at the position. "Thats why its hard to win consistently with young players in the NBA," said the Raptors coach. "Jonas is going to be okay but thats the patience you have to have with a young player; take the good with the bad." While those who expected the world from Valanciunas in his second NBA season may be disappointed in the early returns, Casey is just as realistic as he is optimistic. It wont happen overnight, Casey reiterates regularly. It didnt with Tyson Chandler, it didnt with Roy Hibbert or Joakim Noah and it wont with Valanciunas. Inevitably, developing Valanciunas will become more of a priority now that Rudy Gay has been dealt. The challenge for Casey - who is trying to win first and foremost, as you would expect - centres on finding that balance between competing and nurturing the future of the franchise, a future he may not even be a part of. "I love the challenge of coaching young players, I enjoy that. I enjoy winning more," he said, half-jokingly. "But I understand where we are and what were about." Valanciunas represents the future of this team more than anyone else that is currently on the roster. The expectations, at least internally, have not changed. The word Casey continues to stress is patience. "Its a process," he insists. "Were patient [but] hes our guy, hes our starting centre for a long time and were just going to have to roll with it." Jerry Rice Womens Jersey . -- The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Cuban shortstop Erisbel Arruebarrena to a $25 million, five-year contract Saturday. Deebo Samuel 49ers Jersey .Y. -- The Buffalo Bills will head into the regular season short on experience at quarterback after trimming the roster on Friday. http://www.49ersrookiestore.com/49ers-Jerry-Rice-Jersey/. Casey Janssen was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday due to a strain in his left abdominal area and lower back. Dwight Clark Jersey . The group of Slava Fetisov, Igor Larionov, Vladimir Konstantinov, Sergei Fedorov, & Slava Kozlov were a dominant force for The Wings at one point in the 90s. Dante Pettis Womens Jersey .J. Barea during a three-game shooting slump that was getting him booed off his home court with regularity.TORONTO - First a spot in the UFC rankings. Now a date with former champion Renan Barao. Its been a good month for Canadian bantamweight Mitch Gagnon.The 30-year-old from Sudbury, Ont., moved into the UFC rankings at No. 15 among 135-pound contenders after his Oct. 4 first-round stoppage of Roman Salazar in Halifax.It was his fourth straight win in the UFC. It was also his 10th first-round finish and 11th win by submission.The victory earned him a Dec. 20 matchup with Barao in the co-main event of a televised UFC Fight Night card in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The main event features middleweights Lyoto (The Dragon) Machida and C.B. (The Doberman) Dollaway.I didnt expect it was going to be Renan Barao but I knew I was going to get a top-10 fighter like I asked, Gagnon (12-2) said in an interview Thursday.Im up for it, man. I cant wait to get in there and prove a lot of these fans wrong.Barao (34-2 with one no contest) is ranked No. 1 among bantamweight contenders.For the 27-year Barao, its his first outing since May when he lost the 135-pound title to T.J. Dillashaw. The Brazilian was slated to face Dillashaw in an August rematch, but was pulled from the bout on the day of the weigh-in after falling and hitting his head while trying to cut weight.The Dillashaw loss ended a 33-fight, nine-year win streak for the Brazilian.Im not delusional. Hes one of the pound-for-pound greats in the world, said Gagnon.I know Ive got my work cut out for me but these are the types of fights I want ... this is where I want to test myself, he added.Gagnon, who has never fought outside of Caanada, is looking forward to seeing Brazil.dddddddddddd He will get his first taste of it in two weeks to help hype the fight.I always wanted to travel to fight. This is my opportunity to do so, so Im super-excited for it.Gagnon said he took a week off after the Halifax win, ate some turkey, relaxed with his fiancee and now is looking forward to resuming training. He has won 10 of his last 11 bouts.Gagnon lost his UFC debut to Bryan Caraway in July 2012 but still earned a US$65,000 fight of the night bonus.The five-foot-five 135-pounder subsequently scored first-round submissions of Walel Watson and Dustin Kimura before winning a decision over Tim Gorman. Gagnons guillotine choke win over Kimura at UFC 165 in Toronto earned him a $50,000 bonus for submission of the night.That fight showed Gagnons heart. He survived a painful Kimura body shot and rallied for the win when Kimura passed out from a guillotine choke after Gagnon stuffed a takedown attempt.He gave up six inches in height to Watson but floored him with a left and then locked in a rear-naked choke for a 69-second win at UFC 152. Gagnon sat out a year after the Watson fight due to knee surgery.Gagnons cauliflower ears attest to an extensive grappling background.You dont get that ear playing tennis, UFC commentator Joe Rogan said dryly prior to the Kimura fight.Gagnon, a former wrestler who took up MMA training some seven years ago, trains for his fights in the Toronto area.He walks around at about 155 pounds, hitting 165 if I let myself go a little bit.———Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter ' ' '