Monday News and Notes

Monday, November 13, 2006

 

NFL

Here are news and notes from OffshoreInsiders.com  private clipboard.  They are compiled from hometown newspapers and the team’s own press releases.

Buccaneers-Panthers

Houston Chronicle

The Buccaneers (2-6) have scored a total of seven points in the first quarter all season. The Panthers (4-4) have led going into the fourth quarter in seven of eight games, only to lose three of them. They haven’t scored a point in the second half in the last two games, both losses. While Gradkowski has thrown only one interception, the Bucs have the second-worst offense in the league. Five times, Carnell “Cadillac” Williams has rushed for 48 yards or less, including last week, when he managed only 39 yards on 12 carries against the Saints.On defense, Simeon Rice has only two sacks as a sore shoulder has affected his play. He and defensive tackle Ellis Wyms missed practice time late in the week and may not play Monday, giving coach Jon Gruden more headaches. The Bucs rank 22^nd in the NFL in total defense.  It’s been a long two weeks for the Panthers, who had a bye last week after being outscored 25-0 in the fourth quarter of a Sunday night loss to Dallas a week earlier. Carolina committed three turnovers in the final 10 minutes to blow a 14-10 lead. It left star receiver Steve Smith grumbling about the play calling and for being asked to return punts. Smith hasn’t answered football questions since, and coach John Fox wouldn’t say if Smith will return punts against the Buccaneers.Johnson, never shy to talk, thinks the Panthers get complacent when they get the lead. Carolina has been outscored 77-30 in the fourth quarter.

The Ledger

As if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn’t have enough problems, now they face a new challenge.Monday night’s game at Carolina will be the first of three games in 11 days. For a 2-6 team nursing some injuries that’s not a good recipe for trying to turn a season around. Check out timeless articles on sports gaming strategy at OffshoreInsiders.com   

CBB

Youngstown-Duquesne

Press Notes

Duquesne’s projected starting lineup for the Youngstown State game consists of three freshmen (Robert Mitchell, Scott Grote & Stephen Wood), a junior college transfer (Reggie Jackson) and a sophomore (returnee Aaron Jackson). DU has never opened a season with three freshman in the starting five (since freshman were granted eligibility in 1972-73). Only three players on the opening day roster (Aaron Jackson, Kieron Achara and Almamy Thiero) have Division I playing experience Of the three, Aaron Jackson is the only one who hasn’t missed extensive practice time due to injury. It was learned Friday that Achara will be out indefinitely with stress fractures in his left foot .Thiero, a first-year graduate student transfer from Memphis, is back at practice following Oct. 9 arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. DU will have seven scholarship players available for the YSU game. DU is coming off a 3-24 season (ranked 308 in the final RPI). MasterLockLine.com has the top plays from the top sports service in their highest ranked sports.    

Lafayette-Indiana

Press Notes

Lafayette is 1-0 on the season, coming off a 76-70 win at Wagner Friday evening. Indiana also enters Monday’s game at 1-0 after defeating Indianapolis, 83-46, Friday night.

Notre Dame-Butler

Press Notes

Here’s some of the numbers from Friday night’s win over IPFW. Notre Dame shot 61.5 percent in the first half. Notre Dame returns three starters (Colin Falls, Russell Carter and Rob Kurz) and five others who earned monograms. The strength of the Irish once again will rest with its ability to score points. Under Mike Brey, Notre Dame teams have demonstrated the ability to score points. A year ago, the Irish averaged 76.4 points per game and topped the 80-plus mark 12 times. Falls (13.8 ppg.), Carter (11.5 ppg.) and Kurz (6.4 ppg.) should be Notre Dame’s top scoring threats as the Irish once again expect to have a potent offensive attack, but hope to improve defensively and the 70.7 points per game they yielded a year ago. With the graduations of Chris Quinn (17.7 ppg., 6.4 aspg.), Torin Francis (11.6 ppg., 9.4 rpg.) and Rick Cornett (5.4 ppg., 3.6 rpg.), there will be plenty of opportunity for contributions from a new group of individuals. Notre Dame owns an all-time record of 84-18 (.824) all-time in season openers and have won all seven of its openers under head coach Mike Brey. Stevie Vincent’s BetOnSports360.com is pioneer in forensic handicapping and part of OffshoreInsiders.com     Since the opening of the Joyce Center in 1968-69, Irish teams are 33-6 (.846) in home openers. The last time Notre Dame lost a season opener at home was to Miami of Ohio on November 13, 1998. Under head coach Mike Brey, the Irish are 22-2 (.917) all-time in games played during the month of November. The two November losses have been to Creighton 80-75 in the championship game of the Guardians Classic on Nov. 26, 2002 and to North Carolina State (61-48) at the John R. Wooden Tradition at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Nov. 26.

Northern Arizona-Arizona State

Press Notes

Arizona State University men’s basketball team returns six lettermen for the 2006-2007 season and opens the Herb Sendek era on Nov. 13 against Big Sky favorite and 2006 regular season champion Northern Arizona (21-11/12-2 in Big Sky last year) followed by a Nov. 15 game against Cal State San Bernardino. Joe Duffy’s sports betting selections are at www.GodsTips.com With ASU losing its top two scorers from last season in guards Kevin Kruger (15.0 ppg.) and Bryson Krueger (12.3 ppg.), look for ASU’s three freshmen perimeter players (Christian Polk, Jerren Shipp and Derek Glasser) to get their chances for quality playing time early.

Fordham-Tennessee

Press Notes

The Vols opened their 98^th season of varsity basketball with an 82-53 victory over Middle Tennessee Friday in Knoxville. The Vols return two starters, including their top scorer from last season. Chris Lofton, a preseason Wooden Award candidate, led the Vols with 17.2 points in 2005-06 while making 114 3-pointers, the second-highest total in Southeastern Conference history. Dane Bradshaw, the lone senior on the squad, returns after averaging 7.1 points and 5.4 rebounds while leading the SEC in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.76). One of the best sixth-men in the league last season, junior guard JaJuan Smith averaged 9.5 points last year.