The Charlotte Observer reports the Bobcats have brought in Brown on a one-
year, $1.3 million contract. Jordan, then part owner and president of
basketball operations for the Washington Wizards, made Brown the No. 1 pick in
2001 as the first high school player ever taken with the first selection.
Brown's career quickly spiraled into disappointment with the 10th-year pro
never topping a 10.9-point and 7.4-rebound output in 2003-04. He went on to
play for the Lakers and Grizzlies after four mediocre years in Washington and
is coming off a two-year stint with the Pistons.
The 6-foot-11 center averaged 3.3 points and 3.7 rebounds over 48 games last
season, almost primarily as a reserve. He started 30 of 58 games for Detroit a
year earlier, but managed only 4.2 points and 5.0 boards.
In 510 career games, including 217 starts, Brown has posted 6.7 points and 5.4
rebounds per game.
Blackhawks make it official with Pisani >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Blackhawks officially brought
in free-agent forward Fernando Pisani, signing him to a one-year deal on
Tuesday.
Terms of the contract were not released, but TSN of Canada reported
Portland gets first pick in expansion draft >>
Portland, OR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Portland Timbers have the first pick in
the 2011 Major League Soccer Expansion Draft, it was decided on Monday as a
result of the Expansion Priority Draft with Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
The Timbers an
Ducks' Lupul has blood infection, will miss start of season >>
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Anaheim Ducks forward Joffrey Lupul is expected
to miss all of training camp and will not be ready for the start of the
regular season due to a blood infection.
The Orange County Register reported on Tu
Wolfsburg's Friedrich needs back surgery >>
Wolfsburg, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Wolfsburg and Germany defender Arne
Friedrich will have back surgery to correct a slipped disc Thursday, at which
time it will be determined how long the 31-year-old will be sidelined.
Friedrich st
Oregon State OL Thomas arrested, dismissed from team >>
Corvallis, OR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Oregon State offensive lineman Tyler
Patrick Thomas has reportedly been dismissed from the team following an early
Sunday morning arrest.
The Gazette Times reported that Corvallis police were calle
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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