2006
NFL
Here are news and notes from OffshoreInsiders.com
private clipboard. They are compiled from hometown newspapers
and the team’s own press releases.
Buccaneers-Panthers
Houston
The Buccaneers (2-6) have scored a total of seven points
in the first quarter all season. The Panthers (4-4) have led going into the
fourth quarter in seven of eight games, only to lose three of them. They haven’t
scored a point in the second half in the last two games, both losses. While Gradkowski has thrown only one interception, the Bucs have
the second-worst offense in the league. Five times, Carnell “Cadillac” Williams
has rushed for 48 yards or less, including last week, when he managed only 39
yards on 12 carries against the Saints.On defense,
Simeon Rice has only two sacks as a sore shoulder has affected his play. He and
defensive tackle Ellis Wyms missed practice time late
in the week and may not play Monday, giving coach Jon Gruden more headaches. The Bucs rank 22nd
in the NFL in total defense. It’s
been a long two weeks for the Panthers, who had a bye last week after being
outscored 25-0 in the fourth quarter of a Sunday night loss to
a week earlier.
three turnovers in the final 10 minutes to blow a 14-10 lead. It left star
receiver Steve Smith grumbling about the play calling and for being asked to
return punts. Smith hasn’t answered football questions since, and coach John
Fox wouldn’t say if Smith will return punts against the Buccaneers.Johnson,
never shy to talk, thinks the Panthers get complacent when they get the lead.
has been outscored 77-30 in the fourth quarter.
The Ledger
As if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn’t have enough
problems, now they face a new challenge.Monday night’s
game at
of three games in 11 days. For a 2-6 team nursing some
injuries that’s not a good recipe for trying to turn a season around.
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Youngstown-Duquesne
Press Notes
Duquesne’s projected starting lineup for the Youngstown
State game consists of three freshmen (Robert Mitchell, Scott Grote & Stephen Wood), a junior college transfer
(Reggie Jackson) and a sophomore (returnee Aaron Jackson). DU
has never opened a season with three freshman in the starting five (since
freshman were granted eligibility in 1972-73). Only three players on the
opening day roster (Aaron Jackson, Kieron Achara and Almamy Thiero) have Division I playing experience Of the three, Aaron Jackson is the only one who hasn’t missed
extensive practice time due to injury. It was learned Friday that Achara will be out indefinitely with stress fractures in
his left foot .Thiero, a first-year graduate student
transfer from Memphis, is back at practice following Oct. 9 arthroscopic surgery
on his left knee. DU will have seven scholarship
players available for the YSU game. DU is coming off
a 3-24 season (ranked 308 in the final RPI). MasterLockLine.com has the top plays from the top sports service
in their highest ranked sports.
Lafayette-Indiana
Press Notes
1-0 on the season, coming off a 76-70 win at Wagner Friday evening.
also enters Monday’s game at 1-0 after defeating
83-46, Friday night.
Notre Dame-Butler
Press Notes
Here’s some of the numbers from Friday night’s win over IPFW. Notre Dame shot 61.5 percent in the first half. Notre
Dame returns three starters (
Russell Carter and Rob Kurz) and five others who
earned monograms. The strength of the Irish once again will rest with its
ability to score points. Under Mike Brey, Notre Dame teams have demonstrated the ability to score points. A year
ago, the Irish averaged 76.4 points per game and topped the 80-plus mark 12
times. Falls (13.8 ppg.), Carter (11.5 ppg.) and Kurz
(6.4 ppg.) should be Notre Dame’s top scoring threats as the Irish once again
expect to have a potent offensive attack, but hope to improve defensively and
the 70.7 points per game they yielded a year ago. With the graduations of Chris
Quinn (17.7 ppg., 6.4 aspg.),
Torin Francis (11.6 ppg., 9.4 rpg.) and Rick Cornett
(5.4 ppg., 3.6 rpg.), there will be plenty of opportunity for contributions
from a new group of individuals. Notre Dame owns an all-time record of 84-18
(.824) all-time in season openers and have won all seven of its openers under
head coach Mike Brey. Stevie Vincent’s BetOnSports360.com is pioneer in forensic
handicapping and part of OffshoreInsiders.com
Since
the opening of the Joyce Center in 1968-69, Irish teams are 33-6 (.846) in home
openers. The last time Notre Dame lost a season opener at home was to Miami of
Ohio on
Under head coach Mike Brey, the Irish are 22-2 (.917)
all-time in games played during the month of November. The two November losses
have been to Creighton 80-75 in the championship game of the Guardians Classic
on
Carolina
(61-48) at the John R. Wooden Tradition at Conseco Fieldhouse in
on Nov. 26.
Northern Arizona-Arizona State
Press Notes
Arizona State University men’s basketball team returns six
lettermen for the 2006-2007 season and opens the Herb Sendek
era on Nov. 13 against Big Sky favorite and 2006 regular season champion
Northern Arizona (21-11/12-2 in Big Sky last year) followed by a Nov. 15 game
against Cal State San Bernardino. Joe Duffy’s sports betting selections are at www.GodsTips.com With ASU
losing its top two scorers from last season in guards Kevin Kruger (15.0 ppg.)
and Bryson Krueger (12.3 ppg.), look for ASU’s three
freshmen perimeter players (Christian Polk, Jerren
Shipp and Derek Glasser) to get their chances for
quality playing time early.
Fordham-Tennessee
Press Notes
The Vols opened their 98th
season of varsity basketball with an 82-53 victory over Middle Tennessee Friday
in
last season. Chris Lofton, a preseason Wooden Award candidate, led the Vols with 17.2 points in 2005-06 while making 114
3-pointers, the second-highest total in Southeastern Conference history. Dane
Bradshaw, the lone senior on the squad, returns after averaging 7.1 points and
5.4 rebounds while leading the SEC in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.76). One of
the best sixth-men in the league last season, junior guard JaJuan
Smith averaged 9.5 points last year.