Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament Recaps

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

03/09/2010 - Charlotte, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ricky Harris scored a game-high 24 points as he led the Massachusetts Minutemen to a 59-56 win over the Charlotte 49ers in the first round of the 34th annual Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament.

Harris finished the night shooting 5-of-13 from the field and 11-of-12 at the free-throw line for 11th-seeded UMass (12-19).

The sixth-seeded 49ers (19-12) were paced by An'Juan Wilderness who tallied 11 points, followed by Ian Andersen with 10 off the bench. Derrio Green and Dijuan Harris combined to make just 3-of-15 shots from the field and missed all nine chances beyond the arc in the setback.

The Minutemen shot a mere 31.3 percent from the field in the first half, yet the squad led by as many as seven points in the period and held a 31-29 advantage at the break.

In the second half UMass again had trouble finding the mark from the floor, converting a woeful 33.3 percent and 1-of-11 behind the three-point line, but with 13-of-16 shooting at the free-throw line the visitors were able to secure the three-point win.

The difference in the game came at the charity stripe where Charlotte, which made just 5-of-26 beyond the arc, was outscored 18-5.

With the victory the Minutemen move on to the quarterfinal round on Friday and will face off against the third-seeded Richmond Spiders in Atlantic City.

Final Score: St. Bonaventure 83, Duquesne 71

St. Bonaventure, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chris Matthews converted 6-of-8 behind the three-point line and finished with a game-high 28 points as he led St. Bonaventure to an 83-71 win over the Duquesne Dukes in the first round of the 34th annual Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament.

Also scoring in double figures for the eighth-seeded Bonnies (15-15) were Andrew Nicholson and Jonathan Hall with 25 and 10 points, respectively, with each clearing seven rebounds as well.

The ninth-seeded Dukes (16-15) were paced by Damian Saunders who registered a double-double with 18 points and a game-high 10 rebounds in the losing cause. B.J. Monteiro contributed 13 points and five boards off the bench and Jason Duty accounted for 11 points.

Duquesne suffered just 1-of-12 shooting behind the three-point line in the first half, taking the squad down to 40.6 percent from the floor overall, en route to a 34-30 deficit at the break.

In the second half the Bonnies not only made 53.8 percent from the floor, but also 6-of-8 beyond the arc and 15-of-18 at the charity stripe, cruising to the 12-point home win.

St. Bonaventure won the game at the free-throw line where it outscored the Dukes by a margin of 24-8.

With the win the Bonnies now head to Atlantic City and the quarterfinals of the tourney where they will face off against top-seeded Temple on Friday afternoon.

Final Score: Dayton 70, George Washington 60

Dayton, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Marcus Johnson scored 16 points, leading four players in double figures, as the Dayton Flyers posted a 70-60 win over the George Washington Colonials in the first round of the 34th annual Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament.

Also scoring in double figures for the seventh-seeded Flyers (20-11) were Rob Lowery and Chris Johnson with 11 points apiece and Paul Williams 10 points as he made 7-of-8 at the free-throw line.

The 10th-seeded Colonials (16-14) were paced by Damian Hollis who dropped in a game-high 19 points. The starting five for George Washington combined to make just 9-of-26 from the floor in the setback.

The Colonials ran out to a quick nine-point advantage in the first half, but the home team fought back, hit on 6-of-14 behind the three-point line in the period and registered a 37-33 lead at the break.

In the second half the Flyers pushed their lead as high as 13 points, securing the 10-point victory with 17-of-21 shooting at the free-throw line.

Dayton, which will now take on second-seeded Xavier in the quarterfinals on Friday evening in Atlantic City, outscored the visitors at the free-throw line by a 26-10 margin.

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Numerous College Basketball teams take final big step to March Madness betting

So, what turned on the lock spigot? Well, after what felt like weeks of teams treading water and slipping back into the bubble muck, a bunch of them finally decided to say "to heck with parity" and won games that should put them into the Big Dance.

Disagree with some of these? Then here's the challenge. Take all of the "should be ins" and make a legit case that each should be ahead of the team that's a lock. Then find 10 more teams that also should be placed in the bracket ahead of that lock team. Not so easy, is it?

If you want more evidence that these locks should be good to go, check out what our research department dug up. Since the NCAA Tournament went to 64 teams in 1985, only six teams from a "big six" conference have had a record of 10-6 or better in conference play and not been selected: Colorado (2004) and Nebraska (1999) from the Big 12, Boston College and Seton Hall (both 2003) from the Big East, Indiana (2005) from the Big Ten and UCLA, which somehow went 12-6 in the Pac-10 in 1988 and still missed out. (Note: Five teams went 11-7 and didn't get in, the latest being last season's Stanford team, which had a brutal nonconference run.)

Yes, 10 conference wins doesn't always mean what it used to because of unbalanced schedules, but this season, it should be plenty good in all but the extreme cases (see: Iowa).

In a way, this is a welcome development, because this is a bubble watch, not a lock watch. We can finally be done with teams like Maryland and Virginia Tech and start really bearing down on at-large battles such as Syracuse-West Virginia and Appalachian State-Georgia Tech.

Interestingly, all the shifting of teams into lock status appears to be more administrative than impactful. The number of remaining available at-larges didn't change one iota. The only difference is that teams on the bubble now have a clearer idea of which team(s) they are competing with for those precious bids.

The Bubble Breakdown
CONFERENCE LOCKS SHOULD BE INS AT-LARGES TAKEN
(assuming no auto bid outlier)
ACC Betting Odds 6 0 5
Big East Betting Odds 5 0 4
Big Ten Betting Odds 2 2 3
Big 12 Betting Odds 3 0 2
Pac-10 Betting Odds 5 1 5
SEC Betting Odds 4 0 3
MVC Betting Odds 1 1 1
MWC Betting Odds 2 1 2
TOTAL 28 5 25

As always, I've tried to be as inclusive as possible while only including teams that would have a reasonable chance of at least being discussed if this were Selection Sunday. If your team's not on here, there's probably a good reason (or three) -- start with the RPI and SOS numbers and work your way down.

(Please remember, per selection committee criteria, that records displayed are Division I only. Next update: Feb. 28)

If you have a legitimate grievance, or just like talking bubble, send an e-mail. Polite ones with fact-based arguments have a much better chance of receiving a response. I apologize in advance if I can't get back to all of you.

Atlantic Coast Conference

Work left to do: Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech

The ACC moves to six locks as BC, Va Tech and Virginia all got their 10th ACC wins, which should be more than enough this season, and Maryland rallied past North Carolina to get the final piece the Terps needed. After that? It could end there unless FSU, Ga Tech or Clemson picks things up in a hurry.

 

Work left to do:

Clemson [19-9 (5-9), RPI: 41, SOS: 42] The Tigers are closer to locking up the collapse of the year award (in a good battle with OK State) than they are to grabbing an at-large. Clemson's been very competitive, but there's no really positive way you can spin nine losses in 11 games. They now cannot get to .500 in ACC play and still must head to Virginia Tech in the season finale (after hosting Miami). Unless the Tigers win both and/or do some serious work in the ACC tourney, they very well could be left out. There are no great nonconference wins, but ODU, App State, Miss. State, South Carolina and Georgia are all respectable W's.

Florida State [18-11 (6-9), RPI: 48, SOS: 14] The Noles got thrashed at Maryland to run their losing streak to five, but then pounded NC State at home to set the table for what likely is an elimination game at Miami. You can at least make a case for the Seminoles at 7-9 in ACC play (and some work in the ACC tourney), but 6-10 is not going to cut it. Wins at Duke and over Florida will resonate, but the computer numbers remain questionable. Beyond Florida, FSU thrashed bubble buddy Providence, but there's not a ton beyond those two games that will help. They didn't show well in big-time opportunities against Pitt and Wisconsin (before the Florida win).

Georgia Tech [18-10 (6-8), RPI: 51, SOS: 46] The Jackets beat Wake on Wednesday but couldn't get it done at UVa on Saturday, which could be a crucial loss with UNC and BC (both at home) remaining and 8-8 almost a certain need for at-large consideration. A nonconference win over Memphis helps, but the RPI and SOS are not at-large quality right now; if you combine those with a sub-.500 ACC mark, that could spell NIT for GT.

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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."

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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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