Mountaineers and Bearcats collide in quarterfinal action

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03/11/2010 - New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The third-seeded and seventh-ranked West Virginia Mountaineers begin their march towards a Big East Tournament title tonight, as they face off against the 11th-seeded Cincinnati Bearcats in the quarterfinals at Madison Square Garden. The team that comes out on top will move to the semifinals against Notre Dame or Pittsburgh.

The Mountaineers won a school-record 13 Big East games this season, including a triumph over Villanova in their finale to help secure a second-place finish. WVU was one of three teams to finish in second and after the tie-breakers, the program earned the third seed and a double-bye for this tourney. The Mountaineers have posted eight victories in their last 13 Big East Tournament games, reaching the semifinals in each of the past two events.

As for the Bearcats, they had been 0-3 in the Big East Tournament prior to this season and didn't appear as if they would make any noise after losing their last three games of the regular campaign. Cincinnati though, showed its resiliency by nipping 14th-seeded Rutgers, 69-68, in the first round before knocking off the defending champions and sixth-seeded Louisville, 69-66, last night. The Bearcats, who are the only team to win two games in this year's event so far, have enough quality wins that just reaching the finals of the tourney could land them a spot in the Big Dance.

Cincinnati leads the all-time series with WVU, 10-7, but the Mountaineers took a 74-68 decision back on February 27th.

The Bearcats' Deonta Vaughn hit two free throws with 5.9 seconds remaining before coming up with a game-saving strip in the closing moments of a 69-66 upset of Louisville last night. Vaughn finished the night with 10 points and two steals for the Cincinnati, which dominated the boards, 54-33, for the second night in a row. Yancy Gates led the way with 16 points, and Lance Stephenson tacked on 12 points and three steals. Stephenson, the Big East Freshman of the Year, made the game-winning free-throw in the first round win over Rutgers and he paces the squad with 12.0 ppg for the season. Vaughn adds 11.1 ppg and a team-high 3.4 apg, while Gates puts forth 10.7 ppg and 6.0 rpg.

The Mountaineers are a sound group, and they are outscoring opponents by 9.9 ppg and outrebounding them by 6.6 rpg. Da'Sean Butler tops the roster in scoring at 17.2 ppg and the first-team All-Big East selection also turns in 6.3 rpg and 3.3 apg. Kevin Jones ranks second on the team with 13.5 ppg and 7.4 rpg, while Devin Ebanks adds 12.4 ppg. Ebanks, a third-team all-conference pick, also rips down 8.3 rpg to pace WVU in that department. Darryl Bryan is another option and he checks in with 10.6 ppg and 3.3 apg.

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Terrell Owens could return for Cowboys next game
A bye week will allow Terrell Owens broken hand to recover just in time for the next game the Dallas Cowboys are slated to play, according to reports. MySportsbook.com, an football sportsbook, has posted football betting lines on TO playing.

Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger Sunday night and had a plate surgically attached to it Monday. Although Owens' hand was swollen and aching Wednesday, Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said he's optimistic the receiver will be back at work next week and catching passes a week from Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

MySportsbook.com online sportsbook listed Terrell Owens with odds of 7-2 (or $7 paid out for every $2 bet) to return back for the game against Tennessee.

"I certainly wouldn't rule it out now," Parcells said, referring to Terrell Owens immediate return. "Maybe five days from now I might, but I wouldn't rule it out now. ... I know we're looking to try to get him moving around pretty good in the next day or so. So we'll see where we are."

Owens did not speak with reporters Wednesday, but said Sunday he'd be out two to four weeks. A return against the Titans would be 13 days after the surgery. The Cowboys were listed as an early -7 1/2 favorite vs. the Tennessee Titans for Week 4 at MySportsbook.com

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Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

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Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

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