All The Latest On College Sports: November 2010

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

FanHouse Fab 40: Still Quacking

Filed under: Auburn, Oregon, TCU, Top 25

Oregon, Auburn and TCU are the remaining unbeaten teams and they top my Associated Press Top 25 ballot this week.

Oregon remains No. 1 on my ballot after blitzing Arizona, while Auburn climbs to No. 2 with its impressive come-from-behind victory at Alabama. TCU inches up to No. 3 after closing out a perfect 12-0 season by destroying New Mexico.

Boise State, after losing in overtime at Nevada, drops to No. 9, one spot ahead of Virginia Tech, which will play in the ACC championship on Saturday.

Boise State was one of four teams ranked among my top 12 teams last week that lost. Alabama, LSU and Oklahoma State also fell after losses last weekend.

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Source: http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2010/11/28/fanhouse-fab-40-still-quacking/

Missouri Houston LSU

Oklahoma to Clash With Nebraska in Big 12 Championship Game

Filed under: Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Big 12

The Oklahoma Sooners earned the right to be crowned Big 12 South champions on the football field Saturday night, but they had to wait until Sunday night's releasing of the latest BCS rankings to know they'd make their eighth appearance in the Big 12 Championship Game.

By defeating Oklahoma State 47-41 on Saturday, OU forced a three-way tie for first place in the Big 12 South with the Cowboys and Texas A&M. The criteria for breaking the three-way tie came down to best BCS ranking after all prior tiebreakers yielded no winner, and the Sooners jumped ahead of the Cowboys to No. 9 in the rankings released Sunday night.

So that means the Sooners will meet No. 13 Nebraska in a matchup of perennial powers in Saturday's Big 12 Championship Game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

It was assumed Saturday night that Oklahoma would appear in its fourth conference championship game in five years, but it wasn't official until the BCS poll came out. There was a slim chance Texas A&M might move close enough in the latest poll to actually earn the South's top spot, by virtue of defeating the Sooners in head-to-head competition this season. But the Aggies actually dropped one place in the latest BCS poll from No. 17 to No. 18 after defeating Texas on Thursday night.

Oklahoma State, which was No. 9 in last week's BCS poll, dropped to No. 14 after Saturday night's home loss that derailed its chance to play in the program's first Big 12 Championship Game.

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Source: http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2010/11/28/oklahoma-to-clash-with-nebraska-in-big-12-championship-game/

TCU Oklahoma Washington State

Source: Jon Gruden to Miami Reports 'Ridiculous'

Filed under: University of Miami, Coaching, Rumors

TAMPA, Fla. -- A close friend of Jon Gruden said Sunday night that Gruden has not accepted the job at the University of Miami and "doesn't believe it would be the right fit."

The source said he expects Gruden to remain at ESPN or eventually take an NFL head coaching job.

Gruden, an ESPN Monday Night Football color commentator who lives in Tampa with his family, is in Arizona preparing for Monday night's Cardinals-49ers game.

Lake Lewis, of the Sports Journey Broadcast Network and a former ESPN radio talk show host, reported Sunday from a "credible source that the next coach at University of Miami is John (sic) Gruden. About 3 Million a year!"

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Source: http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2010/11/28/fanhouse-source-jon-gruden-to-miami-reports-are-ridiculous/

SEC New Mexico Bowl Big 10

Tennessee Defense Sparks Preseason NIT Championship Win Over Villanova

Filed under: Tennessee, Villanova

The Tennessee Volunteers used tenacious defense to control Friday's 78-68 win over Villanova and become the 2010 Preseason NIT champions.

Both teams came into the game with unblemished records and were ranked in the top 25, Tennessee at No. 24, Villanova at No. 7. The Volunteers improved to 5-0 on the season and beat Villanova for the first time ever. The Wildcats fell to 5-1.

This game might not have been pretty for either team, but toughness played a big part in offensive struggles at both ends of the court. In fact, at some points during the game, play was somewhat ugly. and Villanova were really struggling out there, battling hard against stout defenses, and really wanting to win this contest.

The championship game of this preseason tournament had all of the feel of a March basketball game. Players left nothing out on the court and it was just as likely to see bodies diving on the ground as it was to see them flying above the rim.

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Source: http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2010/11/26/tennessee-defense-sparks-presason-nit-championship-win-over-vill/

Florida State University Autozone Liberty Bowl Fresno State

Monday, November 29, 2010

Kyle Singler Returns Home With Record Night as Duke Routs Oregon

Kyle Singler won over the crowd in his return to Oregon. Duke just won.

The Medford, Ore., local scored a career-high 30 points in a showdown with his brother, E.J., as the Blue Devils routed the Ducks 98-71 in Portland, Ore.

"I'm very proud of Kyle," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. Today was a special day for him. He is truly one of the special kids I've had the opportunity to coach at any level. He has a warrior's spirit."

The final points came at the free throw line after he was fouled by his brother. Singler made both, then exited to an ovation with 5:30 remaining in the game.

By that point, the game was long, long over.

The Blue Devils jumped out to a 7-0 lead, led by 10 less than nine minutes in, and never allowed the Ducks within double digits afterward. Oregon drew within 40-29 early in the second half, but a 24-4 Duke run ended any hopes of a competitive game and, in the words of Oregon coach Dana Altman turned the game from "respectable to not respectable pretty quick."

"I'm very pleased with how we played," Krzyzewski said. "Oregon played their hearts out. ... We turned it over too much in the last ten minutes of the first half and the beginning of the second half, but our effort was good."

Nolan Smith added 18 points and seven assists, Kyrie Irving scored 16, and Andre Dawkins chipped in 14 off the bench.

Ten Blue Devils found their way onto the score sheet, though the team's defense was even better than its offense. Duke's tall frontcourt left few clear shooting opportunities for the Ducks, who shot 33 percent for the game.

Joevan Cotron scored 18 to lead Oregon. E.J., the younger Singler brother, had 14.

"Their size gave us problems," Altman said. "There were a lot of baskets at the goal that we never finished. We also missed some free throws; it was not a good offensive performance."

But the story was Singler, whose showdown with his brother overshadowed the challenge between the nation's best team and the rebuilding Ducks, Literally. A banner in downtown Portland depicted the backs of each of the Singler brothers.

Duke's Singler was warmly welcomed by the Rose Garden crowd, though that didn't keep from getting serenaded with an "airball" chant when he whiffed on a 3-pointer late in the second half.

The warm welcome might've extended to the referees on his final bucket, the blocking call against his brother.

"It was probably a 50-50 play," the senior Singler said. " I think the ref gave me the benefit of the doubt."

His 30-point effort earned him a lengthy ovation from the crowd, but the Blue Devil rout almost certainly didn't get the team a return invitation anytime soon.

What We Liked: Duke's assertiveness. The nation's top-ranked team didn't play like they were in for an easy win. The defensive intensity forced the Ducks into 33 percent shooting and sent the Blue Devils running in transition. Meanwhile, Dana Altman's team competed to the end, which is a good sign that the club buys into their first-year head coach.

What We Didn't Like: The Blue Devils committed too many turnovers, 19, though many were while trying to push the ball upcourt. Mason Plumlee's free-throw shooting continues to slump. He hit just 1-of-4 from the charity stripe Saturday and is now shooting 40 percent for the season. Moreover, he looks tense and tentative at the line.

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Source: http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2010/11/27/kyle-singler-returns-home-with-record-night-as-duke-routs-oregon/

Orange Bowl BCS National Championship Orgeon

FanHouse Fab 40: Still Quacking

Filed under: Auburn, Oregon, TCU, Top 25

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Source: http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2010/11/28/fanhouse-fab-40-still-quacking/

Florida International Wisconsin Temple

Kentucky vs. Washington: Young Wildcats Outrun Huskies

Filed under: Kentucky, Washington

All eyes were on No. 8 Kentucky's Terrence Jones Tuesday night in Maui, but he shared the spotlight with another young Wildcat. Jones had 16 points and 17 rebounds, but fellow freshman Brandon Knight led all scorers with 24 points. Josh Harrellson added a double-double, as well, and Kentucky defeated No. 13 Washington, 74-67.

The Huskies prefer an up-tempo game, and the young Wildcats were more than happy to oblige them.

Both teams came roaring out of the gate, with Washington drawing first blood on a tough Isaiah Thomas drive and a fast-break alley-oop forcing Kentucky into a timeout only 49 seconds into the game.

Kentucky answered with a 20-2 run early in the first half. Knight scored 11 points during the spurt, but the 'Cats followed that up with a period of complete offensive ineptitude, scoring only 14 points over the final 14 minutes of the first half. This allowed Washington back into the game, with the Huskies thriving off of there defensive intensity.

Kentucky seemed clueless as to how it should attack Washington's defense, and when Knight left the game with two fouls, John Calipari had to look to his bench for a floor leader. That, as it turned out, was the wrong place to look. No one could provide a steady -- or even functional -- offensive flow, and Washington took advantage.

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Source: http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2010/11/24/kentucky-vs-washington-young-wildcats-prevail-outrun-huskies/

East Coast NCAA Basketball Little Caesars Pizza Bowl

Heisman Watch: Cam Newton's Stock Rises, Kellen Moore's Falls

Filed under: Arkansas, Auburn, Boise State, Nevada, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Stanford, TCU, Wisconsin, Heisman

Heisman Watch is a look at 2010 Heisman Trophy candidates. It is not intended to serve as an opinion piece about who should win, instead it's intended to be a gauge of how all voters across the country seem to be leaning.

With a huge weekend in the books, we have a bit more clarity on the Heisman Trophy situation. If Kellen Moore was going to seriously challenge for the Trophy, his Boise State Broncos had to run the table. With the loss to Nevada, his chances plummet. And with the big Auburn comeback in the Iron Bowl, Cam Newton has definitely solidified his place atop the Heisman world.

The Front-Runner

Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
Last week: Auburn got stomped in Alabama for almost an entire half, and then came back to stun the Crimson Tide and likely catapult itself into the BCS Championship. Newton three for 216 yards and three touchdowns and added a rushing touchdown in the effort. The rushing TD gave him the Auburn school record (meaning a quarterback surpassed Bo Jackson and Cadillac Williams). He now trails Moore by just 5.2 points in efficiency rating (and no one else is within 20 of Moore) and is tied for second in rushing touchdowns.
Remaining: vs. South Carolina (SEC championship)
Chances: Let's bottom line this. If there was no off-field controversy, there wouldn't even be a need to vote. The only way someone doesn't vote for Newton is if a) a voter doesn't want to fall into a Reggie Bush situation and have the Trophy given back a few years (if that) down the line, or b) a voter is incredibly biased for a different candidate or against Newton/Auburn. I honestly don't even think his performance against South Carolina has any bearing on this.

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Source: http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2010/11/28/heisman-watch-cam-newtons-stock-rises-kellen-moores-falls/

Alabama Dallas Football Classic Northwestern

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Southern Illinois Baseball Coach Dan Callahan Dies

CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois University head baseball coach Dan Callahan died Monday at his home in Carterville, Ill.
Callahan, 52, lost a courageous battle with neurotropic melanoma, a rare form of skin cancer. He is survived by his wife, Stacy, daughters, Alexa (19) and Carly (14), and parents Ann and Gene.
Funeral arrangements [...]

Source: http://collegebaseball360.com/2010/11/16/southern-illinois-baseball-coach-dan-callahan-dies/

March Madness NCAA Division II Football NAIA Mens Basketball

USA Baseball Announces 2011 Collegiate Coaching Staff

USA Baseball has named its coaching staff for the 2011 Collegiate National Team. Missouri head coach Tim Jamieson will head the staff. The Mizzou skipper will be joined by Dave Van Horn of Arkansas, Rob Walton of Oral Roberts and Kent State’s Scott Stricklin. All three assistants are head coaches at their respective schools.
“We are [...]

Source: http://collegebaseball360.com/2010/11/18/usa-baseball-announces-2011-collegiate-coaching-staff/

South Carolina Maryland TCU

WAC Expands�But Will It Survive?

The WAC will expand.

Because, let's be honest, the MAC has no choice but to expand.

On Thursday, the deeply troubled conference announced that it will expand its football playing membership by adding the University of Texas at San Antonio and Texas State University, effective for the 2012 season. The move comes at a time of crisis for the conference, which will lose cornerstone member Boise State next year and then Fresno State and Nevada in 2012.

...

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Source: http://collegefootball.about.com/b/2010/11/11/wac-expandsbut-will-it-survive.htm

NAIA National Football NCAA Womens Division I Basketball Mississippi State

Skidmore Beats Southern Vermont in Seven Overtimes, Ties NCAA Record

If you've never heard of the Southern Vermont Mountaineers or Skidmore Thoroughbreds, you aren't alone. The two relatively obscure Division III teams did something Tuesday night that had never been done at their level -- and had happened just twice in NCAA history. The two teams battled for seven overtimes.

The previous record for Division III was five overtimes. According to a press release from Skidmore, Cincinnati and Bradley (Division I) equaled the total of seven OTs in 1981, as did Yankton and Black Hills (Division II) in 1956. No other men's college basketball games have ever lasted so long.

The final score was 128-123 with Skidmore coming out on top.

"Words are hard to describe what I just witnessed," Skidmore coach Joe Burke said to the school's website. "It was completely a battle of wills and both teams refused to give in. We won the game but really there are no losers in a game like that. Both teams played 'til complete exhaustion.

"I kept telling the guys as each overtime passed to really enjoy the moment. They will never be involved in anything like that in their lives again, I kept telling them, 'This is fun, isn't it?' But by the 6th overtime, I think that wore out."

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Source: http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2010/11/24/skidmore-beats-southern-vermont-in-seven-overtimes-ties-ncaa-re/

Ohio State West Virginia Clemson

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Oklahoma 2011 Baseball Schedule

Oklahoma has unveiled its 2011 college baseball schedule. After a trip to the 2010 College World Series, the Sooners open 2011 with a nine-game homestand. The season opens with a February 18-20 four-game series against William & Mary, followed by two games against Arkansas-Pine Bluff and ends with three games against Oakland (Michigan).
After a March [...]

Source: http://collegebaseball360.com/2010/11/16/oklahoma-2011-baseball-schedule/

Outback Bowl ESPN2 Big 12 Sports

Skidmore Beats Southern Vermont in Seven Overtimes, Ties NCAA Record

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Source: http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2010/11/24/skidmore-beats-southern-vermont-in-seven-overtimes-ties-ncaa-re/

University of Miami Pepperdine Sheraton Hawaii Bowl

IU Head Coach Tracy Smith With Scott Rolen

Indiana head coach Tracy Smith talks with Cincinnati Reds star (and Jasper, IN native) Scott Rolen. Video is courtesy IUhoosiers.com.

Source: http://collegebaseball360.com/2010/11/20/iu-head-coach-tracy-smith-with-scott-rolen/

Dallas Football Classic Northwestern NAIA Womens Basketball

Where Was Little E. Gordon When Ohio State's President Needed Him?

Filed under: Boise State, Ohio State, TCU

Ohio State president E. Gordon Gee probably needed a filter Wednesday. A little E. Gordon sitting on his shoulder, flicking his ear every time comments about non-automatic qualifying schools or the United Association of the Little Sisters of the Poor began to surface in his brain.

Gee went on what has become one of the most ridiculous rants any president has voiced since talk of weapons of mass destruction.

"Well, I don't know enough about the X's and O's of college football," Gee proclaimed while probably standing on a soapbox in front of a large mirror. "I do know, having been both a Southeastern Conference president and a Big Ten president, that it's like murderer's row every week for these schools. We do not play the Little Sisters of the Poor. We play very fine schools on any given day.

"So I think until a university runs through that gauntlet that there's some reason to believe that they not be the best teams to [be] in the big ballgame."

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Source: http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2010/11/25/where-was-little-e-gordon-when-ohio-states-president-needed-hi/

NAIA Baseball World Series Hyundai Sun Bowl Boise State

Paterno Plans to Coach Again in 2011

At some point, the reporters of the college football world are going to wake up, learn their lesson and stop asking Joe Paterno when he's going to retire.

Because--and I'm being serious here--I honestly don't think the guy is ever going to voluntarily step down.

...

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Source: http://collegefootball.about.com/b/2010/11/23/paterno-plans-to-coach-again-in-2011.htm

East Coast NCAA Basketball Little Caesars Pizza Bowl

Friday, November 26, 2010

Kansas State vs. Gonzaga: Wildcats Rout Bulldogs, Set Showdown With Duke

Filed under: Gonzaga, Kansas State

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas State guard Jacob Pullen broke out of a bit of a slump and forward Curtis Kelly finally got out of Frank Martin's doghouse to help the No.4 Wildcats overwhelm No. 22 Gonzaga, 81-64, in the second game of the semifinals of CBE Classic on Monday night at the Sprint Center.

Pullen led three Wildcats in double figures with 18 points on 6 of 12 shooting from the field. Kelly scored three points in his season debut.

The Wildcats win sets up a showdown with No.1 Duke in Tuesday's CBE Championship at the Sprint Arena.

It will be a much anticipated matchup for the home crowd favorite Wildcats, who improved to 4-0.

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Source: http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2010/11/23/kansas-state-vs-gonzaga-wildcats-rout-bulldogs-set-showdown-w/

Arkansas University of Michigan Georgia Tech

Kansas State 2011 Baseball Schedule

Kansas State has released its 2011 college baseball schedule. The Wildcats open their season February 18-20 in Stockton, CA against Pacific. They face the Tigers the following weekend as well at the Caravelle Resort’s Baseball at the Beach Tournament in Myrtle Beach, SC. KSU’s other three opponents in the tournament are Coastal Carolina, Western Kentucky [...]

Source: http://collegebaseball360.com/2010/11/16/kansas-state-2011-baseball-schedule/

Oklahoma State Central Michigan Champs Sports Bowl

Sunday Morning Observations: Week 11

It was a week of accusations and allegations, rumors and speculation.

But in the end, and when it mattered most, Cam Newton and his Auburn teammates proved themselves to be completely unfazed by the controversy swirling all around them. As a result, they're just two wins away from playing for the national championship.

...

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Source: http://collegefootball.about.com/b/2010/11/14/sunday-morning-observations-week-11.htm

Florida International Wisconsin Temple

FanHouse TV: LeCharles Bentley Takes on Rivalry Games South and West

Filed under: Video

It's rivalry week in college football, and one big rivalry game could shake up the BCS. Then there is that other rivalry game out west, in the state where potatoes grow. LeCharles Bentley discusses it all on Fanhouse TV.

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Source: http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2010/11/24/fanhouse-tv-lecharles-bentley-takes-on-rivalry-games-south-and/

Big East Chick-fil-A Bowl Stanford

Paterno Plans to Coach Again in 2011

At some point, the reporters of the college football world are going to wake up, learn their lesson and stop asking Joe Paterno when he's going to retire.

Because--and I'm being serious here--I honestly don't think the guy is ever going to voluntarily step down.

...

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Source: http://collegefootball.about.com/b/2010/11/23/paterno-plans-to-coach-again-in-2011.htm

Orange Bowl BCS National Championship Orgeon

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Kemba Walker, Red-Hot UConn Top Kentucky to Win Maui Invitational

Filed under: Kentucky, Big East, SEC

This was billed as the Kemba Walker-Terrence Jones showdown. It ended up being a commercial for University of Connecticut basketball. A dominant first half carried UConn, which smoked No. 8 Kentucky, 84-67, to win the Maui Invitational.

Walker led all scorers with 29 points and looked completely unstoppable throughout. Jones tried valiantly to rally Kentucky, but his 24-point effort came up well short.

Jones showed up early, scoring Kentucky's first 10 points, including a monstrous dunk over a couple UConn defenders. However, that would be all of his early output. Foul trouble sent him to the bench midway through the first half.

Walker, who had scored 103 points combined in his previous three games, continued his amazing hot streak and he was able to get his teammates involved as well. Alex Oriakhi added 18 points and 11 boards.

Doron Lamb's runner with just over seven minutes remaining in the first half made it 29-27, but Kentucky would not get that close again. The Huskies exploded, ending the half on a 21-2 run en route to a 50-29 lead at the break.

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Source: http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2010/11/25/kemba-walker-red-hot-uconn-top-kentucky-to-win-maui-invitationa/

Sweet 16 Final Four University of Florida

SEC Projections: Alabama Will End Auburn's National Title Chances

Filed under: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, BCS Championship Game

There is no rivalry game in America more intense than the Iron Bowl. None. That's because most rivalry games are experienced across state lines. It's rare that two fan bases are so enmeshed in every day interaction. Pass the collection plate at church on Sunday and your mortal football foe is waiting to mutter under his breath, "War Eagle," or "Roll Tide." It's a cliché to say that other rivalries exist for 365 days a year. In Alabama, it's no cliché. It's life. That's why it's going to be so crushing for Auburn to have its national title hopes ruined by Alabama on Friday.

The very day after Thanksgiving. The very day after countless Auburn fans have included a prayer for Cam Newton to remain eligible at their Thanksgiving table. (Seriously, this is happening a ton). How cruel can the football fates be? At the hand of your most hated rival? After you've been building up your hopes all season long? The only solace that will remain for Auburn fans will come next week, in the SEC Championship Game. But Thanksgiving weekend is going to begin the long and dispiriting march toward football obsolescence. But it won't be completed until next week when South Carolina wins the SEC title.

After an entire season of battling my way through every SEC game against the spread I'm now sitting at 32-36-2, squarely beneath the betting Mendoza line. The past few weeks, the games featuring outlandish spreads haven't been kind to me. Really, Alabama, you covered 52.5 last week? Really? Anyway, the final week of the regular season offers one last chance for redemptive picks glory. Especially with all of these SEC vs. ACC showdowns. Nothing cures what ails an SEC picker like the woeful ACC. Right?

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Source: http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2010/11/24/sec-projections-alabama-will-end-auburns-national-title-chance/

Pac 10 ACC Kansas

IU Head Coach Tracy Smith With Scott Rolen

Indiana head coach Tracy Smith talks with Cincinnati Reds star (and Jasper, IN native) Scott Rolen. Video is courtesy IUhoosiers.com.

Source: http://collegebaseball360.com/2010/11/20/iu-head-coach-tracy-smith-with-scott-rolen/

Pac-10 Big East Chick-fil-A Bowl

Southern Illinois Baseball Coach Dan Callahan Dies

Source: http://collegebaseball360.com/2010/11/16/southern-illinois-baseball-coach-dan-callahan-dies/

Wake Forest NCAA Division I Football Tulane

Three Things to Watch: Week 11

As of this writing--as of 12:28 p.m. on Friday afternoon--the college football world knows absolutely nothing about the Cameron Newton situation.

Yes, allegations have been made. But so far as we know, none of them have been proven. So I'm not even going to go there--not even going to speculate about how this whole thing is going to end for college football's best player.

...

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Source: http://collegefootball.about.com/b/2010/11/12/three-things-to-watch-week-11.htm

University of Florida March Madness NCAA Division II Football

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Southern Illinois Baseball Coach Dan Callahan Dies

Source: http://collegebaseball360.com/2010/11/16/southern-illinois-baseball-coach-dan-callahan-dies/

Konica Minolta Gator Bowl Sun Belt South Dakota State

Jason Benetti Is Voice of Hope in Face of Cerebral Palsy

The voice is polished and professional, seamless and smooth. So much so that you might never imagine the person behind it.

Frankly, for most of his career as a sports play-by-play announcer, that's the way Jason Benetti preferred it. He wanted to be just a voice. Not a face or a body for others to question and judge.

"I started to do this on radio because the inhibitions are gone,'' Benetti said. "Everybody meets me for the first time on radio without having seen me.

"You hear a voice, he's telling you what's going on, you don't know that person from the butcher or the milkman or your dog.''

Without seeing, without knowing, Benetti could be like everyone else. No one would stare at the bobbing gait of his walk and the lazy eye that cerebral palsy had left him with as a child. As long as he sounded the part on the air, that was all that was necessary. And he did.

Here's what Sean McDonough, the longtime play-by-play broadcaster for ESPN, had to say when he listened to a tape of Benetti's work: "I think he's better than some guys who are in the major leagues right now.''

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Source: http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2010/11/23/jason-benetti-is-voice-of-hope-in-face-of-cerebral-palsy/

Chick-fil-A Bowl Stanford Purdue

No. 1 Duke Overcomes First Challenge, Holds Off Marquette

Filed under: Duke, Marquette, ACC

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - All the signs have been there that the No.1 Duke Blue Devils are good.

It was just hard to gauge how good the defending national champions are this season with blowout victories against Princeton, Miami of Ohio and Colgate to start. Not exactly the who's who of college basketball.

But finally Monday night, the Blue Devils ran into a respectable Marquette team that was talented enough to challenge them during in the semi-final round of the CBE Classic. After breezing in their first three games, the Blue Devils found themselves tied with the Golden Eagles about midway through the second half.

First it was 53-53, then it was 55-55 and finally it was 57-57 before Duke woke up.

That is when we saw our first real glimpse of the potential toughness of Duke as sophomore post player Mason Plumlee muscled his way inside by scoring 14 of his career-high 25 points to push the Devils back out to a comfortable lead that eventually led to a 82-77 win over Marquette here at the Sprint Center.

Finally, Duke had reason to wipe its collective and untested brow this season.

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Source: http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2010/11/23/no-1-duke-overcomes-first-challenge-holds-off-marquette/

Orgeon Rose Bowl Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl

UConn Still No. 1 in Women's Poll

Filed under: Connecticut, Women's Basketball

(AP) -- Connecticut survived its first challenge of the season and remained No. 1 in women's college basketball for the 46th straight week.

The Huskies, winners of a record-tying 81 straight games, received 39 of the 40 first-place votes in The Associated Press Top 25 poll Monday. Connecticut held off No. 2 Baylor last Tuesday by one point, rallying from an eight-point deficit in the final few minutes. UConn hosts its own tournament later this week.

The Lady Bears stayed second in the poll. Stanford, Tennessee, and Xavier rounded out the first five.

Duke picked up the other first place vote and remained in sixth. The Blue Devils begin a four-game road trip in Pittsburgh on Wednesday. Ohio State was seventh with Texas A&M, Kentucky, and West Virginia finishing out the first 10. Oklahoma stayed 11th as the top 11 teams in the poll remained the same.

With a 71-51 rout of Georgia Tech on Sunday, UConn (3-0) tied Washington University, an NCAA Division III school, for the most consecutive wins by a woman's program at any level.

For the second straight week, no new teams came into the poll. It wasn't a huge surprise since the Top 25 teams had another strong showing, going 42-0 against non-ranked teams.

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Source: http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2010/11/22/uconn-still-no-1-in-womens-poll/

Utah Mountain West Bowling Green

Joe Paterno Plans to Return in 2011

Filed under: Penn State

Joe Paterno announced Tuesday that he expects to return to the Penn State sidelines in 2011 for his 46th season as coach of the Nittany Lions.

"I'm looking forward to it," he said. "We've struggled a little bit this year, the youth and the injuries and the whole bit. But I think with a good spring and preseason practice ... We're going to be a good football team, and I'd like to [be] part of it."

The Lions are a young team, and Paterno wants to see them through development. Next year is the last on his current contract, a three-year deal.

Like Brett Favre, the 83-year-old Paterno's potential retirement is discussed every year. Paterno dealt with an intestinal illness this summer that forced him to cancel appearances, only fueling speculation.

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Source: http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2010/11/23/joe-paterno-plans-to-return-in-2011/

University of Michigan Georgia Tech Utah

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Starting 11: It Will Be Oregon vs. TCU by Saturday Night

Filed under: Alabama, Auburn, Boise State, LSU, Michigan, Nebraska, Oregon, TCU, BCS Championship Game

The oddsmakers have installed Alabama as four-point favorites over Auburn for Friday's Iron Bowl. That's the right call because Alabama is going to win by at least a touchdown, and much of the Cam Newton brouhaha will be dialed down a level in the wake of that Tiger defeat.

Sure, there will still be people who are aware that Newton is going to eventually be declared ineligible so that Auburn's SEC title, it if wins -- as well as the Heisman, if Newton wins -- will eventually be ruled invalid, but the major national implications of Newton's eligibility will dwindle.

And the end result of Auburn's Iron Bowl loss to Alabama will be that your national title game matchup will shift: Oregon will be slotted to play TCU. Will that remain the title game? Who knows? Just for fun, I've decided to play around with the matchups in alternating slots here in the Starting 11 this week. (Primarily because there were so many crap games last week and nothing that interesting happened).

The one lesson to take away from everything is that TCU is the only team guaranteed to go 12-0. That's because TCU is already 11-0 and faces one of the weakest teams in the country, New Mexico, to complete its season. How weak is New Mexico? TCU is a 43 1/2-point road favorite.

Sitting at No. 3 in the latest BCS standings, TCU has the clearest path of any contender to the title game. In fact, it's fair to say that TCU will take one of the spots if either Oregon or Auburn stumbles. So as we play BCS Championship Game dominoes, the one consistent opponent if Oregon vs. Auburn doesn't happen is TCU.

Let's roll.

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Source: http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2010/11/22/starting-11-it-will-be-oregon-vs-tcu-by-saturday-night/

South Carolina Maryland TCU

After Win Over Portland, It's Clear Kentucky Really Has a Shot (Literally)

Filed under: Kentucky

Though only two games into the season -- and using East Tennessee State and Portland as a barometer is hardly prudent -- Kentucky appears to be a team with a new identity that may take them a long way this year.

"New" is used relatively, as John Calipari has written this script before. Starting two freshmen and no legitimate center, Kentucky is a far cry from last year's team which featured four first-round picks in its starting five. Long and defensive-minded, this team features an element that was sorely missed a year ago: shooting.

A team with reliable shooters is much more suitable for the college game than a team full of NBA talent, as evidenced by Duke's title run. Last year, teams would pack the middle against Kentucky, forcing guards Eric Bledsoe and John Wall into long jumpers they'd rather not hoist. Obviously, the Cats managed, winning their first 19 games and reaching the Elite 8. Still, early in the season they were vulnerable (lest we forget the Miami of Ohio barn-burner, in which they needed a Wall fade-away at the buzzer to win).

This year, or so it appears thus far, not only will Kentucky have the ability to bury 3-pointers, but it will be a weapon. Each starter last night, and extending to Doron Lamb and Jon Hood off the bench, is a confident shooter that can be a viable outside threat. Last night on the road against Portland, Kentucky was 8-18 from deep, a solid follow-up to their 13-26 performance in their opener. Both of which are a far cry from the season-ending loss to West Virginia last year in which Kentucky missed its first 20 shots from long range, albeit against much less stout defensive pressure. Then again, a year ago (with the full small sample size warning in effect), Kentucky shot 21 percent from 3 in its opener and 25 percent in its fourth game .

Though demonstrably less talented than a season ago, Kentucky still has the tools to make a run this year. Rather than the ball dying on the perimeter, as it often did a year ago against packed-in zone defenses, the Cats have a dynamic that is reason for optimism in Lexington.

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Source: http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2010/11/20/after-win-over-portland-its-clear-kentucky-really-has-a-shot/

Chick-fil-A Bowl Stanford Purdue

Heisman Watch: Cam Newton's Company

Filed under: Auburn, Boise State, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Stanford, Heisman

Heisman Watch is a look at 2010 Heisman Trophy candidates. It is not intended to serve as an opinion piece about who should win, instead it's intended to be a gauge of how all voters across the country seem to be leaning.

The Front-Runner

Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
Last week: Auburn was idle.
Remaining: at Alabama, vs. South Carolina (SEC championship)
Chances: As I've said the past several weeks, if voters go simply with on-field performance, Newton is your clear-cut winner. It's not even close right now. And he has the toughest remaining schedule of the competition (though Justin Blackmon's could be very tough as well). If Auburn wins two more games with Newton playing well, the only way he doesn't win the Heisman is if the voters go on morals.

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Source: http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2010/11/22/heisman-watch-cam-newtons-company/

UGA NAIA National Football NCAA Womens Division I Basketball

Minnesota Continues Resurrection, Ready for Finale in Puerto Rico

Filed under: Minnesota, Big Ten

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - At first glance, the Minnesota Golden Gophers appear to be a team riddled with bad karma. The list of who's out at times has overshadowed the list of who's in.

The team's best player, Devoe Joseph, was suspended indefinitely for violating team rules last week and did not make the trip to this Caribbean destination for the Puerto Rico Tip-Off Tournament.

Starters Colton Iverson and Rodney Williams were disciplined for team violations and have had to work their way back into the good graces of coach Tubby Smith.

And, last February, prized freshman forward Royce White, the state's Mr. Basketball, left without ever playing a game following two brushes with the law.

Despite the chaos, Minnesota has remained steady and focused. It opened this eight-team tourney just outside the AP Top 25 and is considered a contender in the Big Ten. That's not enough.

The Gophers believe they're one of the top programs in the country, and now have the opportunity to win this tournament against West Virginia, a Final Four squad last season, in Sunday's title game.

With a first-round victory over Western Kentucky on Thursday and a signature victory over No. 8 North Carolina on Friday, the Gophers are clicking and digging in for the long haul.

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Source: http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2010/11/21/minnesota-continues-resurrection-ready-for-finale-in-puerto-ric/

University of North Carolina Nebraska Duke

Monday, November 22, 2010

It's Deja Blue for Roy Williams, Tar Heels in Puerto Rico

Filed under: Minnesota, UNC, ACC, Big Ten

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- Roy Williams was a solitary figure near the end of a hallway outside of North Carolina's locker room, engulfed in his own thoughts.

A few minutes earlier Williams shared those thoughts and repeatedly explained that last year's struggles should not negatively impact this year's Tar Heels.

Williams further explained he doesn't think about last year, period, instead focusing on what this year's team can do, what it needs to do - and what it didn't do in Friday's 72-67 defeat to Minnesota in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off Tournament.

UNC's performance at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico, while disappointing, also expects to be an early test for a coach and team that failed to handle adversity last season en route to 17 defeats. The No. 8 Tar Heels showed the Gophers they are a work in progress, a team with talent but one with deficiencies, too.

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Source: http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2010/11/20/its-deja-blue-for-roy-williams-tar-heels-in-puerto-rico/

Iowa Missouri Houston

Harrison Barnes Misfires as Minnesota Stuns North Carolina

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Roy Williams was right. Everything does look better when the ball goes in the basket.

A night after scoring in triple digits and setting a tournament record for points scored, No. 8 North Carolina couldn't handle a defensive tussle against Minnesota on Friday night at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off Tournament.

The Tar Heels' 72-67 defeat the Coliseo de Puerto Rico, while disappointing, also expects to be an early test for a team that failed to handle adversity last season.

More Coverage: Deja Blue, Heels Need to Toughen Up After Loss

While the Tar Heels set or tied eight tournament records in their 107-63 opening victory over Hofstra on Thursday, the game against Minnesota figured to be much more blue collar. It was.

Despite the distractions, Minnesota opened the tourney just outside the AP Top 25 and is expected to be a player in the Big Ten.

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Source: http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2010/11/19/harrison-barnes-misfires-as-minnesota-stuns-north-carolina/

Chick-fil-A Bowl Stanford Purdue

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Jamie Dixon, Pitt Sow Seeds of Final Four in Garden Victory

Filed under: Pittsburgh, Texas

NEW YORK -- Twenty-five basketball seasons ago, Jamie Dixon beat Texas by dribbling up court and launching a last-second shot from about 35 feet for -- Swish! -- a one-point victory.

Dixon then played for TCU. Now, he coaches the Pittsburgh Panthers, who needed a different ending to a similar play Friday night to secure a 68-66 victory over the Longhorns at Madison Square Garden.

They got it when Cory Joseph of Texas dribbled up court after a missed Panthers' free throw with 11.3 seconds left. Guarded by Pitt's Travon Woodall, Joseph hurried a long, one-handed scoop shot while off balance with about five seconds to go.

A three-point field goal would have given Texas the win and a two-pointer would have meant a tie, but the ball soared nowhere near the rim. After a scramble, it was taken by the Panthers, who clinched the 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches against Cancer. Pitt is 5-0 and ranked fifth.

"He was kind of frustrated the whole game," Woodall said of Joseph. "I know he's a freshman. I was trying to get him out of control."

Woodall said there was contact on the play but not enough for a foul against him. Woodall is only a sophomore but, like most of his teammates, plays with savvy.

Joseph said "the ball was in my hand, and it just didn't happen. It's just a learning experience."

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Source: http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2010/11/20/jamie-dixon-pitt-hope-final-four-season-can-grow-from-garden-vi/

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl Mississippi State ACC