D'Antoni OK with Isiah role, Coach K would pass

Basketball Betting Lines

08/10/2010 -

NEW YORK (AP) -Mike D'Antoni sounds OK with it. Mike Krzyzewski wouldn't do it.

Isiah Thomas' return to the New York Knicks as a consultant while still coaching a college team has raised plenty of questions - starting with whether it's even legal.

D'Antoni, who became the Knicks' coach after Thomas was fired two years ago, says his predecessor could provide an advantage for the organization. Krzyzewski, the Hall of Fame coach of Duke and the U.S. national team, would decline a similar position because he believes college and NBA jobs should be separate.

The NBA is reviewing the agreement to see if it violates league rules, which prevent team officials from having contact with players who aren't yet eligible for the draft.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

Wwwvisitalk Basketball Betting News

<< Aging 'El Duque' aims for one more shot in majors
VIERA, Fla. (AP) -Orlando Hernandez isn't ready to give up baseball.The four-time World Series champion is now a 44-year-old pitching for the Washington Nationals' affiliate in the Gulf Coast League for rookies. Known as ``El Duque,'' he's now just

<< Zenyatta returns to Hollywood Park home
Inglewood, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Undefeated champion mare Zenyatta has been safely returned to her home base at Hollywood Park. The six-year-old was vanned from Del Mar three days after recording her 18th consecutive victory on Saturda

<< Blue Jackets re-sign Blunden
Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Columbus Blue Jackets have re-signed right wing Mike Blunden to a one-year contract. The 23-year-old native of Toronto totaled two goals and two assists in 40 games last season. Blunden was o

<< New-look Heat open in Boston as full NBA schedule is released
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The new-look Miami Heat and two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers will both be in action on the first day of the 2010-11 NBA season, October 26. The Heat will open the season in Boston aga

<< Phillies recall P Bastardo
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Phillies recalled pitcher Antonio Bastardo from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday. The 24-year-old, who is expected to be used as a situational lefty out of the bullpen, has made

Celtics sign F Harangody >>
BOSTON (AP) -The Boston Celtics have signed Luke Harangody, their second-round draft pick.The deal is for two years. Terms were not disclosed.The 6-foot-8 forward was the 52nd pick in this year's draft.At Notre Dame, Harangody finished as the No. 3

Pa. coach Paterno nominated for Medal of Freedom >>
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -Penn State football coach Joe Paterno has been nominated for the highest civilian award in the country.Congressmen including Glenn Thompson, Mark Critz and Tim Holden say the Hall of Fame coach deserves a Presidential Medal

Bruins: Savard deal investigated like Kovalchuk's >>
BOSTON (AP) -The Boston Bruins say they're cooperating with the NHL in its investigation of Marc Savard's contract.The league is looking into Savard's contract after voiding one with a similar structure that went to Ilya Kovalchuk. The Devils had ag

Another purse boost for Louisiana Derby >>
New Orleans, LA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - For the second straight year the Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds will receive an increase in purse money. The 1 1/8- mile race for three-year-olds will be worth $1 million an increase of $250,00

Major schedule changes have come, but does there need to be more >>
Sparta, KY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With the 2011 schedule for all three of its national touring series expected to be released within the next couple of weeks, NASCAR is making some significant revisions to its Sprint Cup schedule, in hop

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.

The Bubble Breakdown
CONFERENCE LOCKS SHOULD BE INS AT-LARGES TAKEN
(assuming no auto bid outlier)
ACC Betting Odds 6 0 5
Big East Betting Odds 5 0 4
Big Ten Betting Odds 2 2 3
Big 12 Betting Odds 3 0 2
Pac-10 Betting Odds 5 1 5
SEC Betting Odds 4 0 3
MVC Betting Odds 1 1 1
MWC Betting Odds 2 1 2
TOTAL 28 5 25

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.

For more College Basketball betting lines go to MySportsbook.com

Additional basketball lines can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.