A release from the team indicated Andersen broke the finger March 13 at
Memphis but played through the injury for the remainder of the regular season
and playoffs.
In May, Andersen had a procedure done to repair a partial tear of the patella
tendon in his right knee. Andersen, who suffered that injury in Game 2 of the
Nuggets' first-round playoff series against Utah, is expected to be fully
recovered from both procedures by the start of next season.
The "Birdman" averaged 5.9 points and a career-high 6.4 rebounds in 76 games
during the 2009-10 campaign. Andersen also ranked sixth in the NBA with 1.88
blocks per game.
<< Del 'Cap features six top females
Stanton, DE (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Saturday's $750,000 Delaware Handicap has
attracted six of the leading female thoroughbreds in the nation. The winner of
the 1 1/4-mile race gains automatic entry into this year's Breeders' Cup
Ladies'
<< Johnson resigns as Vandy football coach
Nashville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Vanderbilt's athletic department has called a
press conference for 2 p.m. (et) at which time head football coach Bobby
Johnson is expected to announce his resignation.
The Tennessean first reported the decisi
<< Nets name Billy King general manager
East Rutherford, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New Jersey Nets have named Billy
King as their next general manager.
King takes the reins from Rod Thorn, who is stepping down as team president
and general manager after 10 years on the job
<< Braves get Gonzalez from Jays in five-player deal
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Atlanta Braves acquired shortstop Alex
Gonzalez from the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday in a five-player trade.
The Braves sent shortstop Yunel Escobar and pitcher Jo-Jo Reyes to Toronto and
also acqu
<< Safarova pulls out in Prague
Prague, Czech Republic (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Top-seeded heavy Czech crowd
favorite Lucie Safarova pulled out of her scheduled second-round match
Wednesday at the $220,000 Prague Open tennis event.
Safarova was slated to meet Swe
Sportswriter headlines Meadowlands Pace >>
East Rutherford, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sportswriter, winner of the North
America Cup, will take on nine rivals in Saturday's $1 million Meadowlands
Pace at The Meadowlands. The field of 10 three-year-old pacers will leave the
startin
Johnson retires as Vandy football coach >>
Nashville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Vanderbilt head football coach Bobby
Johnson announced his abrupt retirement Wednesday after eight years guiding
the program.
A press conference was called for Wednesday afternoon at which time
Rockets ready to match Cavs offer sheet to Lowry >>
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Rockets plan to match the offer
sheet extended Wednesday to restricted free-agent guard Kyle Lowry.
Houston general Manager Daryl Morey said on his Twitter account
Wednesday afte
Melzer into Stuttgart QFs >>
Stuttgart, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - French Open semifinalist Jurgen Melzer
was a second-round victor Wednesday at the Mercedes Cup tennis event.
The second-seeded Melzer got past Germany's own Mischa Zverev, a wild card
this week, 7-
Pennetta eases into Palermo quarters >>
Palermo, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Defending champion and top seed Flavia
Pennetta of Italy was an easy second-round winner Wednesday at the $220,000
Palermo International tennis tournament.
Pennetta handled Czech Renata Voracova 6-
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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