Wooden Classic features Top-10 matchup

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

12/09/2006 - Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The John Wooden Classic in Anaheim will feature a top-10 matchup, as the sixth-ranked Texas A&M Aggies take on the top- ranked UCLA Bruins from the Honda Center.

The Bruins have won all seven of their games this season and have made it look easy for the most part, including a 78-54 rout of Cal State Fullerton four days ago.

The Aggies have enjoyed a great deal of success this season as well. The team opened the year with an extended seven-game homestand, winning all seven games. However, the team ventured outside of College Station on Tuesday and suffered a 64-52 loss at LSU, its first setback this season.

This is just the third all-time meeting between these two teams, with UCLA winning each of the two previous matchups. However, these programs haven't met since 1971. UCLA is making its 10th appearance in the John Wooden Classic and is 6-3 in this event, including a perfect 5-0 as a ranked team.

The Aggies are getting it done with efficient play at the offensive end of the court. The team is averaging 74.3 ppg and is converting a solid 51.9 percent of its shots. Forward Joseph Jones and center Antanas Kavaliauskas have certainly been sharp in the frontcourt. Jones is shooting .635 from the floor, trumped only by Kavaliauskas' .638 shooting percentage. Jones leads the team in scoring with 14.8 ppg, with Kavaliauskas not far behind (12.8 ppg). Veteran guard Acie Law provides adequate perimeter balance with 13.6 ppg, shooting a ridiculous .526 from behind the arc. Fellow guard Josh Carter gives the team another perimeter threat with 11.0 ppg. Efficient offensive play was not exactly what A&M brought to Baton Rouge this week, as the team scored a season-low 52 points, on just .373 shooting, which included a mere 2-of-12 from long range (.167). Kavaliauskas and Jones were the only Aggies to finish in double figures, accounting for 18 and 12 points, respectively.

It isn't hard to see why the Bruins sit atop the national polls, as they are simply getting it done in just about every phase of the game. Ben Howland's squad is shooting .502 from the floor, resulting in a hefty 79.7 ppg. Defensively, the team has shined as well, limiting the opposition to just 60.4 ppg, on .413 shooting. In addition, the team is forcing 20 turnovers per game and holds a +5.5 rebounding advantage. Four of the five starters are averaging double figures, led by All-American candidate Arron Afflalo's 17.1 ppg. Josh Shipp (13.9 ppg), Darren Collison (12.4 ppg) and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (1.7 ppg) can fill up the basket as well. Mbah a Moute is strong in the paint, shooting .660 from the floor, while pulling down just over eight rebounds per game (8.1). He is joined on the glass by center Lorenzo Mata (team-high 8.3 rpg). The Bruins actually trailed by 10 points in the win over the Titans last time out, but in the end, the team was able to distance itself to remain perfect on the season. UCLA forced a whopping 28 turnovers in the game, turning them into 30 points. Afflalo led the way with 20 points. Shipp and Collison poured in 16 and 15 points, respectively. Mata scored nine points in the win, but made his presence felt much more on the boards, hauling in a career-high 16 rebounds.

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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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Big East Conference odds

Work left to do: Villanova, Syracuse, DePaul, West Virginia, Providence

Notre Dame and Louisville appear to have done enough to make the move, so we'll make them locks. The Cardinals, despite a modest RPI, are trending way up and have clinched at least a tie for third in the Big East, which should be more than enough with their pair of big road wins. Villanova got back to .500 and gets back to more solid footing. Syracuse got a very important road win and crippled a fellow contender in the process. West Virginia's fate could be in its hands Tuesday at Pitt.

Work left to do:

Villanova [18-9 (7-7), RPI: 21, SOS: 5] Pounded Rutgers to get back to .500. If Cats can get their last two (at UConn, vs. Syracuse), that should be enough with strong computer numbers and a host of wins away from The Pavilion. The Cats have beaten Texas and swept the Big 5 (never easy in Philly), but have a couple of losses to bubble teams (Xavier, Drexel), too. I still think they'll be OK, possibly even at 8-8.

Syracuse [20-8 (9-5), RPI: 53, SOS: 62] History says 10 wins will be plenty, but it might be hard for the Orange to get that last one with a final two vs. G'town, which is trying to win the league title, and at Villanova, which will be desperate for a W. The relative lack of nonconference heft and the weak computer numbers are still concerns, but the Orange have won four in a row and got a very, very big win at Providence on Saturday.

DePaul [16-12 (8-7), RPI: 54, SOS: 18] Beat Cincy and should get past South Florida to get to 9-7, but then what? They have beaten Kansas and Cal (right after the DeVon Hardin injury) earlier this season, but also have lost to Bradley and Purdue, among others. They'll likely need a couple of BE tourney wins, too, but we'll see ...

West Virginia [19-7 (8-6), RPI: 58, SOS: 125] The game at Pitt on Tuesday night could decide the Mountaineers' fate (barring a deep tournament run). They can still get to 9-7 in the Big East without it by beating Cincinnati, but the nine wins would be against UConn, Villanova, St. John's, South Florida, DePaul, Rutgers, Seton Hall twice and the Bearcats. Beating bubble foes is fine, but where's the beef? Outside of beating PG-less UCLA in nonconference play (still a top quality win), there's not a lot to fall back on (besides maybe NC State). WVU vs. Syracuse would be an interesting debate, as the teams don't play in the Big East regular season. WVU has the best win, but Cuse has played the much better schedule.

Providence [17-10 (7-7), RPI: 70, SOS: 33] The Friars likely saw their at-large hopes die at home in the four-point loss to Syracuse, barring an unexpected run to the Big East semis or more. The RPI, bad already, won't be helped by playing St. John's and South Florida in the final two league games.

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