Call of the wild: Wolves, Grizzlies clash in Memphis
Basketball Betting Lines
02/08/2012 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The much-improved Timberwolves will aim to win for the
second time in as many nights without All-Star Kevin Love when they take on
the Grizzlies in Memphis tonight.
Love, who leads the Wolves in both scoring (25.0 ppg) and rebounding (13.7),
missed Tuesday's 86-84 win over Sacramento after being suspended two games for
stomping on Houston's Luis Scola during the third quarter of Saturday's 100-91
win.
Nikola Pekovic stepped up in Love's absence, recording a double-double with 23
points and 10 rebounds to lead Minnesota as it defeated Sacramento, 86-84, at
Target Center.
"Every time out there he brings out new moves," said Minnesota's Derrick
Williams about Pekovic's game. "I think he's the strongest player in the NBA.
He's quick off his feet, too. He's really agile and just quick. He's one of a
kind with his strength."
Michael Beasley added his own double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds for
the Wolves, who have now won three straight overall. Williams, starting in
place of Love, added 14 points and pulled down eight boards.
Minnesota hasn't won four consecutive contests since Jan. 29-Feb. 6, 2010.
The Grizzlies, meanwhile, have dropped three straight, including the opener of
a five-game homestand to San Antonio on Monday.
Marc Gasol had 22 points and nine rebounds while Mike Conley finished with 19
points, eight assists and six rebounds in the 89-84 setback for Memphis, which
is now 7-4 at FedEx Forum and will finish its residency with games against
Indiana, Utah and Houston.
"We made some shots and got some stops. Then in the fourth quarter, we just
couldn't make a shot anymore. They (Spurs) were hurting us in the pick-and-
roll and just kept getting what they needed. It was a close game. We just
couldn't get the stop and when we got the ball, we just couldn't finish on the
offensive end," Memphis head coach Lionel Hollins said.
The Grizzlies have won four straight on Beale Street over Minnesota and eight
of nine overall, including a 90-86 win in the Twin Cities back on Jan. 4.
Memphis is unbeaten in its last five contests in this series.
<< Mr. Lin goes to Washington
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Linsanity has officially hit New York.
Tonight Jeremy Lin tries to continue his amazing play when the New York Knicks
go after a third straight win against the Washington Wizards at the Verizon
Center.
After netting
<< Bulls hope to have Rose in New Orleans
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The best from the NBA's Eastern Conference meets the worst
from the West when the Chicago Bulls resume their grueling nine-game road trip
against the lowly Hornets in New Orleans.
The Bulls won their third straight con
<< Pistons and Nets kick off home-and-home set in Jersey
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Only one of Detroit's six wins this season has come on the
road and the Pistons would like to change that as early as tonight, when they
pay a visit to the New Jersey Nets in the opener of a home-and-home set.
The Pistons
<< Blue Jackets sign Prospal for another season
Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Columbus Blue Jackets signed veteran
forward Vinny Prospal to a one-year contract extension on Wednesday.
Prospal, who turns 37 later this month, leads the team with 24 assists and
ranks second w
<< Heat and Magic battle for Sunshine State bragging rights
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Since their heart-to-heart meeting among players and
coaches following a loss at Milwaukee last week, the Miami Heat haven't
suffered defeat and hope to continue that trend tonight against the Orlando
Magic in the opener of a
South Carolina State faces tough opening to 2012 schedule >>
Orangeburg, SC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - First-ever games at Arizona and Texas A&M
are part of a rugged opening month of the 2012 South Carolina State football
schedule announced Wednesday.
Coach Buddy Pough's team will play only four home game
Portland tries to bounce back at home vs. Rockets >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Portland will seek to rebound from a rare loss in Rip City
when it hosts the Houston Rockets at the Rose Garden tonight.
Russell Westbrook blocked Nicolas Batum's drive to the hoop in the closing
seconds of regulatio
Pacers seek another road win in Atlanta >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Indiana Pacers target their fourth straight win on the
road when they take on the Atlanta Hawks tonight at Philips Arena.
Indiana is 10-5 as the visitor this season and will also visit Memphis on its
quick two-game roa
Isles reward Nielsen with 4-year extension >>
Uniondale, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Islanders offically signed
center Frans Nielsen to a four-year contract extension on Wednesday.
No financial terms were disclosed, but multiple outlets reported it is worth
$11 million.
Dartmouth going prime time again >>
Hanover, NH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dartmouth College football is drawing off the
success of the first night game at Memorial Field last season with its 2012
opener against Butler.
The Big Green will host the Bulldogs from the Pioneer Football Le
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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