Thursday News and Notes

Thursday, January 25, 2007

 

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

Weber State-Idaho State

Press Notes

Idaho State University’s men’s basketball will look to get back on the winning track by starting a four-game homestand on Thursday night in a huge game, as the first place Bengals take on the tied-for-second Weber State Wildcats.The game is the second of the season between the two schools, as Idaho State won the opener 58-55 in Ogden on January 4. Idaho State is 10-9 on the season, and 5-1 in the Big Sky Conference, good enough for first place, one game up on both Weber State and Northern Arizona, and two up in the loss column on four teams, including Montana and Montana State. The Bengals had their five game winning streak snapped with a 58-57 loss at Montana State, missing a three to win with 0.9 left. The Wildcats are 12-9 overall, and their 5-3 record has them tied for second in the Big Sky, and they would move into a virtual tie for first with ISU with a win on Thursday. The Wildcats have lost two straight, dropping a 90-86 overtime decision to the Montana Grizzlies after losing 63-48 to Montana State on Thursday.

Oregon-Washington

Press Notes

In the wake of a tough road stretch, the Washington Huskies (11-7, 1-6 Pac-10) eagerly return to the friendly confines of Bank of America Arena to host seventh-ranked Oregon (18-1, 6-1) on Thursday, Jan. 25 at 8 p.m. Washington won in each of the Ducks’ last five visits to Seattle. The Huskies have an 11-1 home record this season and are 0-6 in road contests. Thursday’s game begins a stretch when UW will play five of its next seven games at home. That’s the opposite of the way the Huskies opened Pac-10 play, with five of seven on the road. On Saturday, Jan. 27, UW entertains Oregon State (9-11, 1-6). Oregon will be without the services of leading scorer (18.4 ppg) Aaron Brooks, a product of Seattle’s Franklin High School. He is suspended for Thursday’s game due to an incident during the last meeting between the Ducks and Huskies, This Season’s Record vs. Ranked Opponents: 1-3. All-Time Record vs. Ranked Opponents: 75-199 (won 7 of last 8 games in Seattle vs. ranked foes). Last Win Over a Ranked Opponent: UW 88, #12 LSU 72 (12/20/06, Seattle)

Stanford-USC

Press Notes

The Stanford men’s basketball team (12-5, 4-3 Pac-10) return home to face #25 USC (15-5, 5-2 Pac-10). USC enters Thursday contest with a 15-5 overall record, 5-2 in league play and are on a two-game winning streak.  The Trojans have held 16 opponents under 40 percent shooting from the field and lead the league allowing a low of 35.4 percent for the year. Over the last five games, the Trojans are shooting 39-of-80 (.488) from three-point range. The Cardinal are 7-3 in the friendly confines of Maples this year, shooting .456 from the floor. They are averaging 69.2 ppg and 39.1 rebounds . The Cardinal are winning by an average of 5.1 points and shooting .622 from the free throw line. With a 5-1 record in games decided by five points or less, the Cardinal have proven themselves to be a tough foe in the close game.

Denver-Troy

Press Notes

The University of Denver (3-16, 2-7) men’s basketball team heads to Troy, Ala., to face the Troy Trojans (8-12, 3-6) on Thursday. Troy enters Thursday’s contest tied for fifth in the Sun Belt’s Eastern Division after losing to New Orleans at home and Louisiana-Lafayette on the road last week.

Wisconsin Milwaukee-Detroit

Press Notes

UWM now holds a 14-13 edge in the series with Detroit thanks to its win earlier this year. The Panthers have now won 10 of the last 11 meetings in the series, including a number of memorable games. UWM pulled out a 59-58 win in the 2005 league title game, while last year’s meeting in Detroit saw the Panthers overcome a 10-point deficit in the final four minutes. Milwaukee has also won four-straight games in Detroit after losing in its first seven contests Swiggett had started 12 of the first 17 games of this season, averaging 5.2 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. A true freshman from Chester, Pa., and Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburg, Mass., Swiggett was the first true freshman to start a game for the Panthers since the 2001-02 season.at Calihan Hall. Thursday’s trip to Detroit comes right in the midst of a decent stretch of home games for the Panthers, who will be spending much of the month of February on the road. Milwaukee has played its last two games at home and will return home for games Saturday with UW-Green Bay and Monday against Cleveland State. But, after that, UWM has just one more home game remaining - a Feb. 14 contest with Loyola. In the meantime, the Panthers will continue to try to find their stride on the road, where they are just 1-9 this season. But, trouble on the road is nothing new for teams in the Horizon League. In league play, the road team is just 10-22 this season. Meanwhile, Horizon League teams overall have compiled a 19-64 road record. Charlie Swiggett tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee at practice Jan. 8 and is scheduled for surgery to repair the injury Thursday.

Samford-Tennessee Martin

Press Notes

Samford (11-8, 8-2 OVC) heads into Thursday’s contest as the second-place team in the conference standings. The Bulldogs are in the midst of a two-game winning streak and are coming off a pair of key home victories over Morehead State, 66-53, and Eastern Kentucky, 55-46. The Bulldogs take their winning ways on the road this week against Tennessee-Martin and Austin Peay. Samford owns a 3-2 OVC road record this season, but has a 4-8 mark in games played away from Birmingham. Tennessee-Martin (5-16, 3-8 OVC) enters Thursday’s matchup in the midst of a three-game losing streak. The Skyhawks have been defeated in nine of their previous 11 contests and are currently the 10^th-place team in the OVC. Tennessee-Martin’s three conference wins this season have occurred in games against Jacksonville State, 70-69, Tennessee State, 73-65, and Eastern Illinois, 67-43. The Skyhawks are currently the last-place team in the OVC in 3-point field goal percentage (30.7), turnover margin (-2.14), blocked shots (1.14 pg) and assist/turnover ratio (0.7). Samford owns a 6-1 all-time record against Tennessee-Martin.

The Bulldogs have been victorious in their previous six games of the rivalry, including a 55-41 win earlier this season (Jan. 4). In the victory, Samford limited the Skyhawks to their lowest scoring total of the 2006-07 campaign. Samford’s lone loss in the all-time series was a 75-59 defeat in Martin, Tenn., on Dec. 5, 1992. The Bulldogs are 2-1 when playing on the road against the Skyhawks. The Bulldogs are currently ranked among the top-10 teams in the nation in two statistical categories and are ranked in the top-50 in an additional two categories. This week, Samford is listed as the No. 4 team in the country in fewest turnovers per game (10.7) and is also No. 5 in fewest personal fouls per game (14.2). Additionally, the Bulldogs are ranked No. 36 in scoring defense (61.0 ppg) and No. 50 in 3-point field goals per game (7.9).