No. 15 Villanova opens Big East slate at Marquette
NCAA Basketball Betting Lines
01/01/2009 - Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 15th-ranked Villanova Wildcats and the Marquette Golden Eagles are set to collide in what should be a tremendous Big East Conference opener.
Villanova owns a stellar 12-1 record and has won four straight decisions since suffering its only loss to a strong Texas squad. The Wildcats are fresh off a 62-45 victory over city rival Temple on Monday, and while most of the wins thus far have come over mediocre competition, the league slate will present plenty of stiff tests.
As for Marquette, it has fallen out of the national rankings, but the team would likely regain a spot with a victory over Villanova. The Golden Eagles are currently riding a three-game win streak that includes an 84-45 romp over Presbyterian on Sunday. They are 11-2 overall, including a perfect 9-0 at home.
Villanova owns a 6-5 lead in the all-time series with Marquette, but the Golden Eagles have won the last two meetings.
Four players are averaging double figures in scoring for Villanova, which is generating 74.2 ppg. The Wildcats have played tremendous defense, limiting foes to 57.6 ppg on 37.9 percent shooting from the floor. They are outrebounding their opponents by nearly seven boards per contest and are shooting a healthy 76.4 percent from the foul line. Dante Cunningham is netting 16.9 ppg for coach Jay Wright's team while pulling down 7.5 rpg. He also leads the squad with 23 steals and 16 blocks while shooting 56.3 percent. Scottie Reynolds checks in with 14.2 ppg, but his 37.4 percent shooting is poor. On a positive note, Reynolds is dishing out 4.4 apg. Corey Stokes (11.4 ppg) and Corey Fisher (10.0 ppg) round out the foursome. Outstanding defense was key to the recent win over Temple, as 'Nova held its rival to 31.3 percent shooting from the field while earning a 36-29 rebounding advantage. Fisher was tremendous in that tilt, as he poured in 23 points off the bench on the strength of a 4-of-4 showing from three-point range.
Wesley Matthews continues to lead a balanced Marquette attack with 19.2 ppg on 50.4 percent shooting from the floor, and there are three other double-digit scorers in the fold to help carry the load. Lazar Hayward, the club's best frontcourt performer, provides 17.2 ppg and 9.5 rpg, while Jerel McNeal checks in with 17.1 ppg. As for Dominic James, he adds 10.9 ppg to go along with team highs of 68 assists and 25 steals. Marquette is posting 81.5 ppg while allowing only 67.2 ppg. Hayward was tremendous in the victory over Presbyterian on Sunday, as he scored 22 points on the strength of a 5-of-9 effort from behind the arc, and he also ripped down 11 boards. As for Matthews, he added 21 points for Marquette, which finished with 23 assists against eight turnovers. Maurice Acker played only 16 minutes off the bench but finished with 10 assists.
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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."
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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