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03/29/2010 -
There's a favorite in Duke, a little guy in Butler, a team returning to the big-time in West Virginia and a regular hardly anyone figured would get so far this season in Michigan State.
One of the most unpredictable NCAA tournaments in recent history served up four distinctly different stories for the Final Four.
Butler, enrollment 4,500, plays in the gym where they filmed the basketball classic ``Hoosiers'' and is making its first Final Four appearance. The Bulldogs play Michigan State on Saturday, which is making its sixth and perhaps most unexpected trip in the past 12 years.
The other game features West Virginia, making its first appearance since 1959, against the Duke Blue Devils, who hadn't made it since 2004 - a long time by their standards.
``It's not about the moments that I've been in, it's the moment that your players put you in right now,'' said Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, making his 11th Final Four appearance.
The Blue Devils (33-5), 78-71 winners over Baylor on Sunday, are the only No. 1 seed to make the Final Four, and as such, are the early 3-2 favorite to win it all.
Returning after a much longer time away are West Virginia and coach Bob Huggins, who made it in 1992 when he coached Cincinnati. Since then, he's been on a coaching odyssey that has included trouble with the NCAA, a heart attack and a one-year stop at Kansas State before he returned to his alma mater in Morgantown.
Through it all, he has done a lot of winning. The latest was Saturday's 73-66 upset over No. 1 Kentucky in the East Regional that put the Mountaineers (31-6) in the Final Four for the first time since guard Jerry West was their biggest star.
Huggins wants his team thinking about making it to Monday night's final, and winning there, as well.
``I talked to them about trying to be special,'' he said. ``If we can somehow find a way to win a couple more, that will be really special.''
Although Duke-West Virginia is a typical 1 vs. 2 matchup, the Michigan State-Butler game pits two No. 5 seeds, the first time that's ever happened.
The lopsided Final Four bracket is sure to reintroduce the long-debated idea of reseeding the teams once they reach the semifinals. But the idea of two No. 5s also reminds America of why it loves March Madness - because unexpected underdogs can make a run and have their day.
This was not considered a banner year for Michigan State (28-8), but there the Spartans were Sunday, defeating Tennessee 70-69 to win the Midwest Regional despite the loss of one of their top players, Kalin Lucas, who tore his Achilles' tendon last week.
``I talked to them this morning about separating themselves,'' Spartans coach Tom Izzo said. ``We've gone through a lot of things this year, not as bad as sometimes portrayed, and yet not as smooth as some years that we've had.''
They still have the core of the team that made the national final last year in an inspiring run that ended close to home, in Detroit, with a blowout loss to North Carolina. The Tar Heels didn't make the tournament this year.
Michigan State benefited from being in the most topsy-turvy region in a tournament that long will be remembered.
No. 1 seed Kansas, the odds-on favorite to win the title when the brackets came out, went out the first weekend, upset by No. 9 Northern Iowa. Tennessee took out No. 2 Ohio State, and No. 3 Georgetown was gone only a few hours into the tournament, upset by No. 14 Ohio.
The Spartans only had to beat one team seeded higher - No. 4 Maryland on a buzzer-beating 3-point shot by Lucious, the kind of shot that could make a team wonder if there might be something special going on.
Speaking of destiny, Butler (32-4) will bring a 24-game winning streak to Lucas Oil Stadium, a 10-minute drive from campus.
The Bulldogs are the first team since UCLA in 1972 to play a Final Four in their hometown - one of about a dozen intriguing story lines for America's favorite little guy.
They play and practice in Hinkle Fieldhouse, the gym where scenes from the ultimate hoops underdog story was filmed. In ``Hoosiers,'' a small Indiana school, Hickory High, makes an inspiring run to the state title. In real life, Butler isn't quite that kind of underdog, but the coach, Brad Stevens, said there's no way to play for his program without getting the gist.
``Not a week goes by where somebody who hasn't seen the fieldhouse doesn't walk into the fieldhouse and at least mouth the word, 'Hickory,''' Stevens said.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
<< Athletics come to terms with Gaudin
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Oakland Athletics came to terms with
right-hander Chad Gaudin on Sunday, just three days after he was let go by the
New York Yankees.
New York is still on the hook for 25-percent of his $2.95 million salary
<< Boston College, Miami-Ohio advance to Frozen Four
Worcester, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Boston College and Miami-Ohio advanced to the
Frozen Four by winning their regional final contests Sunday as part of the
NCAA hockey tournament.
The Eagles and RedHawks will battle April 8 at Ford Field in De
<< Seton Hall to name Donovan women's hoops coach
South Orange, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Anne Donovan is reportedly going to depart
as head coach of the New York Liberty in the WNBA to take over the helm at
Seton Hall.
Several media sources, including the Newark Star Ledger, are reporting
<< Warriors snap long road skid; Nelson inches closer to Wilkens
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Reggie Williams poured in 25 points and Don
Nelson inched closer to becoming No. 1 on the all-time NBA coaching victory
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The
Billikens battle Rams in first game of CBI finals >>
Richmond, VA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Virginia Commonwealth Rams host the Saint
Louis Billikens tonight in the championship round of the 2010 College
Basketball Invitational at the Siegel Center in Richmond. The CBI finals is a
best-of-three seri
Kings try to gain momentum in battle with Wild >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Although Los Angeles still stands a good chance of making
the playoffs, the club isn't generating a whole lot of momentum in preparation
for the NHL's second season.
The slumping Kings will try to stop a three-game losing
Stars, Ducks hope to keep fading playoff hopes alive >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of Pacific Division members currently on the outside
looking in of the Western Conference playoff picture face off tonight at the
Honda Center, where the Dallas Stars conclude a make-or-break road trip by
taking on the
Hard-charging Thrashers go for home-and-home sweep of 'Canes >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With a tough April on the horizon, the Atlanta Thrashers
know they need to collect as many points as possible if they hope to make the
postseason.
So far, so good as Atlanta seeks a sweep of its home-and-home series with t
NFL betting action is back! At MySportsbook, all of the pro football odds are posted for the NFC North. Check out how we see the four teams in this cloudy division stacking up this year in the chase for the playoffs! Green Bay Packers (+125) - With QB Aaron Rodgers leading the offense and DC Dom Capers working his magic on defense, the Packers are a real force to be reckoned with.
Virtually nothing changed on this offense for Green Bay from last year to this year, save for the addition of rookie OT Brian Bulaga to the bunch. Expect more huge numbers from the Pack, and a relatively favorable schedule should get them over the hump and into the playoffs once again this season. My NFL Betting Predictions: 11-5, 1st place in NFC North Minnesota Vikings (+130) - There are still too many unknowns about the Vikes this year. There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not.
There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.
Chicago Bears (+350) - The Bears are probably a bit of an overhyped team once again this year.No, we don't think it is plausible for QB Jay Cutler to have as bad of a season as he did last year, and we do think the additions of RB Chester Taylor and DE Julius Peppers are going to help immensely, but there's still something in the water in the Windy City that we aren't so sure about. Maybe Chicago finds its way to .500... but then again, maybe it doesn't. If Favre comes back, Cutler might be the worst quarterback in this division this year.
Detroit Lions (+1500) - The Lions are probably once again going to be the whipping boys for the rest of the teams in the NFC North, but they aren't just going to roll over and die once again. There is some real talent amassing on this team offensively, as the combination of QB Matt Stafford, RB Jahvid Best, WR Calvin Johnson, and TE Brandon Pettigrew should put a bunch of points on the board if the offensive line can even remotely hold up. The questions really lie on defense, where it feels like DT Ndamukong Suh is going to be trying to stop opposing teams all by himself. This year should show some marked improvement in the Motor City.
The Patriots will make NFL betting fans a lot of money this season, get in early and enjoy the cash.
To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.
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