Monday News and Notes

Monday, January 22, 2006

 

The founder and pioneer in the science of forensic handicapping Stevie Vincent has his plays exclusively at BetOnSports360.com  

CBB

St. Mary’s-San Diego

Press Notes

The Gaels entered week 11 of the season with a 10-9 overall record following wins over Portland (73-57) and Gonzaga (80-75) last week. Saint Mary’s opened this week with a 71-64 overtime win over San Francisco to move to 11-9 overall and 3-1 in West Coast Conference play. The win over the Dons marked the first road win of the season for SMC and moved the Gaels into a four-way tie for first place in the WCC standings with Santa Clara, Gonzaga and San Francisco. San Diego enters Monday’s game with a 12-7 overall record following a 61-67 loss to Santa Clara on Saturday night The loss to the Broncos dropped the Toreros to 2-2 in West Coast Conference play USD is currently tied for fifth place in the WCC standings. As a team, the Toreros 72.7 points per game while allowing their opponents 69.5 points per contest. USD is shooting 44.4 percent from the floor, 32.9 percent from 3-point land, and 69.0 percent from the free throw line. San Diego opponents are shooting 44.0 percent from the floor, 33.4 percent from three and 78.8 percent from the foul line.

Gonzaga-Portland

Press Notes

Gonzaga University, coming off its first West Coast Conference loss in nearly two years, will try to get back on the winning track Monday. The Bulldogs find themselves at 3-1 in the WCC trailing undefeated University of San Francisco, which entered the weekend with a 3-0 WCC slate. The Pilots dropped both games last weekend in the Bay Area to even their WCC record to 2-2. Seven teams on the Bulldogs schedule were ranked heading into the weekend in one of the two major polls (new rankings are due out Monday). The University of North Carolina was ranked fourth in both polls after dropping from the top rung. Other ranked teams were Duke University, University of Nevada, University of Memphis, Butler University, Washington State University and the University of Texas. The seven teams had a combined record of 106-18 through games of Jan. 18. In addition, Stanford University and the University of Washington were also receiving votes in at least one of the two major polls.

Spokesman Review

Darren Cooper, a sixth-year senior guard and UP’s leading returning scorer, has missed nine games with an assortment of injuries ranging from knee problems to a strained hamstring, and is listed as questionable for tonight’s WCC game against Gonzaga (12-7, 3-1) in the Chiles Center because of turf toe. In addition, freshman point guard Taishi Ito has missed seven games while dealing with family health problems; two promising sophomores, point guard Brian McTear and forward Alex Tiefenthaler, have left the team because of academic and disciplinary issues, and freshman forward Robin Smeulders has been ruled ineligible for the 2006-07 season because of his previous association with a German club team that reportedly compensated some of its players with money. All of which leaves the Pilots dreadfully short of able bodies heading into tonight’s nationally televised matchup (on ESPN) against a Gonzaga team that is still looking to establish an identity, particularly on the road, where the Bulldogs are 1-3. Still, GU coach Mark Few is well aware of the dangers that await in another sold-out, hostile arena where Portland has posted all six of its wins. Few also suggested the Pilots’ record is a bit deceiving, considering the prolonged absences of Cooper, a returning WCC honorable mention selection, who is averaging a team-high 12.2 points per game since overcoming his early season health problems, and Ito, a bug-quick perimeter sniper, who is averaging 5.2 points and 3.2 assists despite making only five starts.

 

Connecticut-Louisville

Associated Press

Injuries to guards Brandon Jenkins and Andre McGee and forward Juan Palacios have prevented the Cardinals (13-6, 3-2 Big East) from developing any real sense of rhythm. Throw in the ongoing saga of freshman center Derrick Caracter - who will sit out a second straight game for undisclosed violation of team rules - and chemistry has been an issue too. “I think it’s probably been the most difficult year that I’ve had as a coach,” Pitino admitted. Yet the Cardinals enter Monday’s game against Connecticut (13-5, 2-3) the healthiest they’ve been all season. Palacios, who was limited the last three weeks with a neck and shoulder injury, poured in a season-high 21 points against DePaul and McGee came off the bench in the final minutes to provide a steadying influence when the Cardinals needed it most. McGee knocked down four free throws in the last five minutes and helped Louisville withstand constant pressure by the Blue Demons as the Cardinals finished the game with a season-low tying eight turnovers. The Cardinals have never beaten the Huskies, and Connecticut swept the season series last year on the strength of their inside play. But like the Cardinals, the Huskies are young. And like the Cardinals, they’ve been plagued by inconsistent play. Connecticut won its first 11 games to start the season, but have dropped five of seven and are just 1-3 on the road.

Oklahoma-Oklahoma State

Press Notes

The Cowboys are 16-3 overall and 2-2 in Big 12 Conference action after falling at Texas A&M 67-49 on Saturday night. Okahoma is 11-6 overall and 3-2 in league play following a 91-51 win over Baylor Saturday in Norman.

Tulsa World

Oklahoma State is on a continuing mission to re-establish Gallagher-Iba Arena as a place where opponents leave without smiles on their faces. OSU lost five home games last season. The last time the Cowboys lost more home games was during the 1972-73 season, when they were dealt seven home defeats. OSU was 4-4 in Big 12 games at Gallagher-Iba last season. It marked the first time since the 1987-88 season that the Cowboys failed to muster a winning record in league home games. Players apparently got tired of watching opponents celebrate at Gallagher-Iba Arena and decided to do something about it. OSU, 11-0 at home this season, has won 14 consecutive home games dating to last year. Eaton also said OU players were “talking noise” when they won at Gallagher-Iba last season. “So when they come in here Monday, it’s like, man, it’s revenge and it’s like the battle of Oklahoma. It’s like a whole bunch of things together that we’ve got to do just to win.” OU beat OSU 73-65 in Gallagher-Iba Arena last season, winning in Stillwater for the first time since 2000. Afterward, Sutton accused the Cowboys of being soft.