04/22/2008 -
Barcelona, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o has played
down reports suggesting he is keen to quit the club at the end of the season.
The Cameroon international had intimated a lack of silverware in recent years
was likely to force him out of the Camp Nou at the end of the campaign.
But the 27-year-old has denied reports that he is determined to leave the
Catalan giants.
"I am surprised by all this reaction. I want to make it clear that I never
threatened to leave Barcelona," he told Spanish radio. "What I said came at an
event with children where I answered questions relaxed and, above all,
speaking truthfully.
"This season I have the opportunity to win the Champions League, but if I do
not win it and then the coming year I don't win anything either, it will be
three years without obtaining anything. A club such as Barca cannot allow
that.
"What I said was that I would not feel comfortable playing in a team that
signed me to score goals and to win. I would not be able to look the fans in
the face."
<< Bayern striker Schlaudraff headed to Hannover
Munich, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - German international Jan Schlaudraff has
agreed to a transfer from Bayern Munich to Hannover this summer.
Schlaudraff, 24, has signed a four-year contract to say with Hannover through
2012. Terms of the
<< Cedeno powers Cubs past Mets
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ronny Cedeno belted a grand slam, and Ted
Lilly hurled six solid innings as Chicago downed New York, 8-1 , in the
finale of a brief two-game set at Wrigley Field.
Cedeno finished 2-for-5 and drove
<< Fulham's Nevland: We need to win last three
London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fulham striker Erik Nevland has conceded
the club needs to win all three of its remaining games to avoid relegation to
the Championship.
The 19th-placed Cottagers lurched closer to the trap door af
<< Geiberger and Powell win Demaret Division title
Savannah, GA Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Al Geiberger and Jimmy Powell teamed up for a
10-under 62 on Tuesday to cruise to a five-shot victory in the Demaret
Division of the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf.
The pair finished at 18-under-par
<< Redknapp may let duo leave Portsmouth
Portsmouth, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp has
admitted that he would be willing to let fringe first-team players Sean Davis
and Pedro Mendes leave Fratton Park this summer if the right offers come in
for the
Agent: Gattuso will stay at AC Milan >>
Milan, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Italy midfielder Gennaro Gattuso will remain
with AC Milan, according to his agent.
Gattuso, 30, has been linked with moves to Manchester United and Real Madrid
following the Rossoneri's disappointing seas
Struggling Valencia fires coach Koeman, four others >>
Valencia, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Valencia have sacked coach Ronald Koeman
following a disastrous six-month spell at the helm of the ailing La Liga club.
The Dutch coach led Valencia to victory in last week's Cope del Rey Final but
was
Kapler's single lifts Brewers over Cardinals in 12th inning >>
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Gabe Kapler singled home the game-winning run
in the 12th inning as the Milwaukee Brewers came away with a 9-8 victory over
the St. Louis Cardinals to split their two-game series at Miller Park.
Gabe Gross,
D.C. United signs Liberian striker Doe >>
Washington, D.C. (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - D.C. United signed Liberian national team
striker Francis Doe on Tuesday
D.C. United acquired Doe's playing rights after the forward was waived by New
York on February 21. Per team and league policy,
Kellogg to be named coach at UMass >>
Amherst, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The University of Massachusetts will unveil its
new basketball coach on Wednesday.
Numerous media sources have pegged Memphis assistant and former Minutemen
player Derek Kellogg as the choice, and he wil
Numerous College Basketball teams take final big step to March Madness betting
So, what turned on the lock spigot? Well, after what felt like weeks of teams treading water and slipping back into the bubble muck, a bunch of them finally decided to say "to heck with parity" and won games that should put them into the Big Dance.
Disagree with some of these? Then here's the challenge. Take all of the "should be ins" and make a legit case that each should be ahead of the team that's a lock. Then find 10 more teams that also should be placed in the bracket ahead of that lock team. Not so easy, is it?
If you want more evidence that these locks should be good to go, check out what our research department dug up. Since the NCAA Tournament went to 64 teams in 1985, only six teams from a "big six" conference have had a record of 10-6 or better in conference play and not been selected: Colorado (2004) and Nebraska (1999) from the Big 12, Boston College and Seton Hall (both 2003) from the Big East, Indiana (2005) from the Big Ten and UCLA, which somehow went 12-6 in the Pac-10 in 1988 and still missed out. (Note: Five teams went 11-7 and didn't get in, the latest being last season's Stanford team, which had a brutal nonconference run.)
Yes, 10 conference wins doesn't always mean what it used to because of unbalanced schedules, but this season, it should be plenty good in all but the extreme cases (see: Iowa).
In a way, this is a welcome development, because this is a bubble watch, not a lock watch. We can finally be done with teams like Maryland and Virginia Tech and start really bearing down on at-large battles such as Syracuse-West Virginia and Appalachian State-Georgia Tech.
Interestingly, all the shifting of teams into lock status appears to be more administrative than impactful. The number of remaining available at-larges didn't change one iota. The only difference is that teams on the bubble now have a clearer idea of which team(s) they are competing with for those precious bids.
As always, I've tried to be as inclusive as possible while only including teams that would have a reasonable chance of at least being discussed if this were Selection Sunday. If your team's not on here, there's probably a good reason (or three) -- start with the RPI and SOS numbers and work your way down.
(Please remember, per selection committee criteria, that records displayed are Division I only. Next update: Feb. 28)
If you have a legitimate grievance, or just like talking bubble, send an e-mail. Polite ones with fact-based arguments have a much better chance of receiving a response. I apologize in advance if I can't get back to all of you.
Atlantic Coast Conference
Work left to do: Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech
The ACC moves to six locks as BC, Va Tech and Virginia all got their 10th ACC wins, which should be more than enough this season, and Maryland rallied past North Carolina to get the final piece the Terps needed. After that? It could end there unless FSU, Ga Tech or Clemson picks things up in a hurry.
Work left to do:
Clemson [19-9 (5-9), RPI: 41, SOS: 42] The Tigers are closer to locking up the collapse of the year award (in a good battle with OK State) than they are to grabbing an at-large. Clemson's been very competitive, but there's no really positive way you can spin nine losses in 11 games. They now cannot get to .500 in ACC play and still must head to Virginia Tech in the season finale (after hosting Miami). Unless the Tigers win both and/or do some serious work in the ACC tourney, they very well could be left out. There are no great nonconference wins, but ODU, App State, Miss. State, South Carolina and Georgia are all respectable W's.
Florida State [18-11 (6-9), RPI: 48, SOS: 14] The Noles got thrashed at Maryland to run their losing streak to five, but then pounded NC State at home to set the table for what likely is an elimination game at Miami. You can at least make a case for the Seminoles at 7-9 in ACC play (and some work in the ACC tourney), but 6-10 is not going to cut it. Wins at Duke and over Florida will resonate, but the computer numbers remain questionable. Beyond Florida, FSU thrashed bubble buddy Providence, but there's not a ton beyond those two games that will help. They didn't show well in big-time opportunities against Pitt and Wisconsin (before the Florida win).
Georgia Tech [18-10 (6-8), RPI: 51, SOS: 46] The Jackets beat Wake on Wednesday but couldn't get it done at UVa on Saturday, which could be a crucial loss with UNC and BC (both at home) remaining and 8-8 almost a certain need for at-large consideration. A nonconference win over Memphis helps, but the RPI and SOS are not at-large quality right now; if you combine those with a sub-.500 ACC mark, that could spell NIT for GT.
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