2010 Great West Conference Tournament Preview
NCAA Basketball Betting Lines
03/08/2010 -
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The inaugural Great West Conference
Tournament takes place at the McKay Center in Orem, Utah from March 10-13. The
champion of this event receives an automatic bid to the Collegeinsider.com
Tournament, as the league won't be eligible for an automatic berth to the NCAA
Tournament until 2020.
Earning the top seed by virtue of its 11-1 league record are the South Dakota
Coyotes, who finished a stellar 20-9 on the year and come into this event
riding an 11-game win streak. USD has won at least 20 games in each of the
past seven seasons. The Coyotes, who rank at the top of the GWC in scoring
offense (79.2 ppg), scoring margin (+6.8), field goal percentage (.478) and
field goal percentage defense (.408), won't see their first action in the
tournament until the semifinals on Friday. South Dakota has three double-digit
scorers in the form of Tyler Cain (15.1 ppg), Roman Gentry (13.6 ppg) and Jake
Thomas (12.6 ppg). Cain has been a monster this season, as he leads the
conference in field goal percentage (.665), rebounding (10.2 rpg) and blocked
shots (84).
Houston Baptist went 9-3 in conference during the regular season to claim the
second seed in the tourney, but the Huskies won only one other game all year
to finish a dismal 10-20. HBU, which has won four of its last five coming into
this event, boasts the top scorer in the league in Andrew Gonzalez (18.8 ppg),
and the team is averaging 70.2 ppg to rank second in the Great West.
Unfortunately, the Huskies give up a league-worst 79.1 ppg and they also rank
last in turnover margin (-3.40).
The No. 3 seed went to North Dakota after it went 5-7 in conference to match
the record achieved by fourth-seeded Utah Valley, but the Fighting Sioux won
the tie-breaker by beating the Wolverines twice during the regular season. UND
closed out the 2009-10 campaign by losing two in a row, but the team has won
four of its last seven games overall. Only two players are averaging double
figures in the scoring column, as Travis Bledsoe (14.8 ppg, league-leading
.441 three-point FG percentage) and Travis Mertens (10.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg) help
the Fighting Sioux put up 62.0 ppg, which helps explain the club's dreadful
8-22 record.
As mentioned, Utah Valley finished two games under .500 in league play, and
the team won just 12 of its 29 games on the year. The Wolverines, who are the
host team of this event, have dropped five of their last six games coming into
the postseason, with their lone win being a 65-57 decision against visiting
NJIT on March 4th. UVU is the top defensive team in the Great West, yielding
just 65.4 ppg -- a shade more than it produces (63.9 ppg). Jordan Swarbrick
leads the team at the offensive end with his modest 12.7 ppg.
The No. 5 seed was awarded to UT-Pan American, which went just 5-26 on the
year and 4-8 in conference. The Broncs have tasted victory just twice in their
last 12 games, the most recent of which came in the regular-season finale at
North Dakota on Saturday. UTPA doesn't have one double-digit scorer in the
fold, and is averaging a league-worst 61.0 ppg as a result. Defensively, the
Broncs are giving up 72.7 to rank sixth in the Great West. Foes have found it
relatively easy to hit their shots, doing so 48.7 percent of the time, while
also having their way on the glass (-7.7 rebounding margin) -- both of which
have the team ranked last in the conference.
NJIT picked up the sixth seed after going 4-8 in league play this season,
matching the conference records of both Chicago State and UTPA. The
Highlanders, who went just 1-59 the previous two seasons, limp into this event
having lost three straight and five of their last six overall, the most recent
setback coming in an 83-49 shellacking at regular-season champ South Dakota on
Sunday. Despite averaging just 61.1 ppg (sixth-worst in the Great West), the
team features three double-digit scorers in the form of Jheryl Wilson (14.6
ppg, 5.3 rpg), Chris Flores (13.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg) and Isaiah Wilkerson (12.9
ppg, 4.9 rpg). NJIT is shooting a league-worst 37.8 percent from the field,
but at 66.9 ppg allowed, the Highlanders rank second in scoring defense.
Chicago State is the No. 7 seed, earning that distinction after going a mere
9-22 on the year and as mentioned, winning just four of its 12 league bouts.
The Cougars have just two players averaging double digits in the scoring
column, with Carl Montgomery (13.3 ppg) and Christian Wall (12.8 ppg) doing
what they can to help the team achieve its goals. Unfortunately, CSU is
putting up just 62.4 ppg to rank fifth in the conference, and the team sits
sixth in field goal percentage (.381), which includes a league-worst 26.9
percent showing from three-point range. The one area the Cougars have excelled
in this year is on the glass, as they lead the GWC in rebounding margin
(+1.3).
Utah Valley takes on UT-Pan American in the first game of the event, and the
teams split a pair of meetings during the regular season, with each winning at
home. The winner will move on to face top-seeded South Dakota in the
semifinals on Friday.
Houston Baptist will battle Chicago State in the quarterfinals, and the
Huskies won both regular-season matchups with the Cougars, the last being an
85-83 overtime affair in early February.
North Dakota and NJIT lock horns in the third game of the quarters, and the
teams split their two games during the regular season with the home team
winning each time.
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Glasgow, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Celtic manager Tony Mowbray retains some
hope of being able to convince loan striker Robbie Keane to remain with the
club beyond the end of the season.
The 29-year-old has scored five times in sev
<< Fabregas to miss return leg against Porto
London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas will miss the
second leg of his side's Champions League Round of 16 tie against FC Porto due
to a hamstring injury.
The 22-year-old Spain international midfielder limped out
<< Di Maria continues to ponder future
Lisbon, Portugal (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Benfica winger Angel Di Maria has played
down rumors linking him with a certain exit from the Portuguese giants in the
summer.
The 22-year-old Argentina international is attracting interest from a num
<< Eagles bring back Avant; Vick next
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Eagles and wide receiver
Jason Avant have agreed to terms on a five-year contract, and it appears as
though the team will pick up the 2010 contract option on quarterback Michael
Vick.
<< Kings try to bounce back against Blue Jackets
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Kings will try to avoid a three-game losing
streak when they host the lowly Columbus Blue Jackets tonight at Staples
Center.
The Kings won their first game following the Olympic break, pounding Dallas,
5-1
Ribery close to decision on future >>
Munich, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bayern Munich's French ace Franck Ribery
has stated that he will make a decision about his future in the next few
weeks.
The 26-year-old forward is a target for most of Europe's top clubs, with h
Gonzalez sends Chile into Davis Cup QFs >>
Coquimbo, Chile (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fernando Gonzalez straight-setted Dudi
Sela on Monday, sending Chile into the 2010 Davis Cup quarterfinals. The
Chileans have an insurmountable 3-1 lead over Israel in the best-of-five
first-round affair.
2010 Big East Conference Tournament Preview >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - While there are several teams projected to
make it to the NCAA Tournament, there's only one guaranteed bid that comes out
of the massive 16-team beast that is the 31st annual Big East Conference
Tournament.
UMass to seek new women's hoops coach >>
Amherst, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The University of Massachusetts is in the
market for a new women's basketball coach after the school decided not to
retain Marnie Dacko for next season.
Dacko's contract is set to expire April 10.
Two tours, two wins for Villegas >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Before Camilo Villegas arrived at the first tee Sunday, he
called his mother in Colombia. "Tell the little bro congratulations and keep
it up," he told her.
More than 1,500 miles away, Manuel Villegas was signing his score
Chiefs' Treen Green out for Sunday's game
How long Trent Green will remain sidelined is unknown. Coach Herm Edwards said Monday he will miss a second straight start Sunday when the Chiefs host the San Francisco 49ers.
A two-time Pro Bowler, Green was going into a feet-first hook slide when he was knocked unconscious by a thunderous, head-snapping hit from Cincinnati's Robert Geathers.
Oddsmakers at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com currently have the Chiefs listed as 7-point favorites versus the 49ers.
The 49ers got beat by Philadelphia 38-24 as a 6.5-point underdog last week. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (42.5).
Alex Smith completed 27-of-46 passes for 293 yards with a touchdown. Michael Robinson rushed for 29 yards and a pair of touchdowns on five carries.
The Chiefs lost 9-6 to Denver last week as an 11-point underdog. The combined score was well UNDER the posted over/under total (38).
Larry Johnson rushed for 126 yards on 27 carries. Damon Huard completed 17-of-23 passes for 133 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.
To visit this online sports book got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.
Problem with Bears?
Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
Bet on NFL
Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
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Bonds nearly hits HR 751, SF wins
4 and drove in
a pair of runs, and Barry Bonds nearly hit homer No. 751 as San Francisco beat
1, in the middle contest of three at AT&T Park.
6) allowed five hits and one run over 6 2/3 innings, fanning
eight and walking three.
game slide.
Bonds, who came within five homers of Hank Aaron's record on Friday, went
1 with three walks, an RBI double and scored twice. The double ...
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