Sports Betting News: NFL Team History | NFL Football Betting | College Football Betting | Baseball Betting | Basketball Betting | College Basketball Betting | Hockey Betting | Golf Betting | Tennis Betting | Auto Racing Betting | Horse Racing Betting | Soccer Betting
03/16/2010 -
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) -Devin Booker recalls the frustration of teammate and older brother, Trevor, last weekend after their highly regarded Clemson team was upset in its opening game at the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament.
Devin, a Clemson freshman, figured it best to leave big bro alone.
``I can guess how he'd be to lose'' at the NCAA tournament, Devin said of Trevor, the Tigers' star forward and the biggest reason why Clemson earned its third straight trip to the NCAAs after a decade without any.
Now, Trevor Booker's got one final chance to leave an even bigger legacy before he goes - of NCAA success when the Tigers (21-10) take on Missouri (22-10) in the East Regional at Buffalo, N.Y., on Friday.
``It'll be real big. We haven't gotten that win yet,'' Booker said. ``Just to get one win, it'll be a big chip off my shoulder.''
Booker's shoulders have carried Clemson much of the past four years.
He came to the Tigers in 2007, a young forward who instantly worked himself into the starting lineup among a group of more experienced standouts and averaged more than 10 points a game.
That group took a big surge forward in Booker's sophomore season, reaching the ACC tournament final before falling to North Carolina, and earning its first NCAA tournament berth in 10 years. Booker upped both his scoring and rebounding and established himself as one of the league's most dangerous and reliable post players.
In 2009, Booker led the ACC in rebounding and field goal percentage - the first to pull that off since NBA star Tim Duncan at Wake Forest 12 years earlier - and took Clemson to another NCAA tournament.
Each of those seasons, however, ended in disappointment. The Tigers missed the NCAAs in 2007 after a 17-0 start, settling for a run to the NIT finals. Clemson dropped its NCAA openers the past two seasons, leaving Booker knowing he and the Tigers could've done more.
``We can't really worry too much about the past,'' point guard Demontez Stitt said. ``Right now, we have to look forward.''
That's not always so easily done.
Booker took last year's NCAA first-round loss to Michigan as hard as anyone after the Tigers unraveled so badly that Terrence Oglesby was ejected for throwing a deliberate elbow.
Faced with an end-of-season choice, Booker quickly decided he wanted to return to Clemson for his senior season and a last chance to push the Tigers to that NCAA win.
``Although he probably didn't show, it made him mad,'' Devin said. ``This NCAA tournament, it means a lot to him.''
Trevor Booker's never been the rah-rah leader who uses his voice to motivate teammates. Missouri coach Mike Anderson found that out last summer when he worked with Booker in Colorado Springs, Colo., during tryouts for the United States team that competed in the World University Games. ``He's a quiet guy, but his game speaks for itself,'' Anderson said.
And it has spoken loudest in some of Clemson's biggest games of the past few years.
Booker had 21 points and eight rebounds in a 74-47 win over Duke at Littlejohn Coliseum in 2009, the Blue Devils' largest margin of defeat in nearly two decades.
This season, he had nine of his 10 points in the final seven minutes in 62-53 win over ACC power Maryland, and went for 19 points and 11 rebounds as the Tigers rallied late to win at Florida State, 53-50 - two victories that likely went a long way to ensuring Clemson's latest NCAA bid.
``He's ready to step his game up,'' Devin said.
Trevor Booker has a lethal first step and incredible body control when he gets the ball near the basket. If he gets some help from Clemson's outside shooters, Booker can be unstoppable. But if teammates can't hit jumpers, defenders can put two or three players in the way to harass Clemson's star.
Booker understands he'll have to excel against Missouri no matter how much or how little his teammates contribute.
``Hopefully, we can get this win,'' Booker said, ``and keep going from there.''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.
<< Jankovic moves on; Azarenka, Clijsters exit at Indian Wells
Indian Wells, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sixth-seeded Jelena Jankovic snuck into
the fourth round, while third-seeded Victoria Azarenka and 14th-seeded Kim
Clijsters were third-round losers Monday at the $4.5 million BNP Paribas Open
tennis
<< Thornton keys late spurt as Hornets beat Clippers
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Marcus Thornton hit a pair of three-
pointers during a big New Orleans run in the fourth quarter, and David West
led all scorers with 24 points, as the Hornets pulled away late to beat the
Los Ang
<< Quinn diplomatic about chance at earning No. 1 QB role
Englewood, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brady Quinn officially became a member of the
Denver Broncos on Monday after passing his physical and was immediately
inundated with questions if he'll go into training camp trying to wrestle the
startin
<< Red Wings gain three-point edge on Flames
Calgary, AB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tomas Holmstrom scored the game-winning goal
late in the third period, as the Detroit Red Wings edged the Calgary Flames,
2-1, in a battle between two playoff-hopeful teams at Pengrowth Saddledome.
Pavel
Bobcats aim for franchise-record 7th straight win in Indy vs. Pacers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The surging Charlotte Bobcats will try to stretch their
winning streak to a franchise-high seven straight games tonight, when they
take on the Indiana Pacers on the road at Conseco Fieldhouse.
Charlotte has won six in a ro
Hawks visit lowly Nets >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Atlanta Hawks will hit the road for two straight games
starting with tonight's showdown against the lowly New Jersey Nets at the IZOD
Center.
Atlanta will visit Toronto as well and is 16-16 as the guest this season. It
Cavs closing in on Central title; visit Pistons >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The NBA's best road team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, will pay
a visit to the Detroit Pistons Tuesday night at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
The playoff-bound Cavs have won 14 of their last 19 road games and are 23-11
away from
Heat resume homestand vs. Spurs >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two teams battling for playoff positioning get together
tonight in south Florida, as the Miami Heat continue a six-game homestand
versus the San Antonio Spurs at AmericanAirlines Arena.
The Heat have won the first three te
Sportsbook betting odds favor Europe in Ryder Cup
September 19, – Despite holding a decided edge in the all-time series, with 24 wins, 2 ties and 10 losses, Team USA is the underdog again heading into the Ryder Cup in Kidare, Ireland this weekend, according to MySportsbook.com. The Europeans have captured four of the past five editions, including their largest victory ever, an 18 ½ to 9 ½ thumping in Michigan in 2004. Current Ryder Cup betting odds favor the Europeans to continue their winning ways; they are a 4-5 bet to take the title, compared to 6-5 for the Americans.
Despite being knocked out in the first round of World Match play by Shaun Micheel, Tiger Woods is predicted to lead the US charge and be their highest point scorer for the week, with odds listed at 9-4 that he outpoints all other American players, including Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco to name a few. Team USA has four relatively unknown players on the roster but all four are 2007 tournament winners and have posted some of season’s best performances, each earning over $1.5 million on the PGA TOUR. They include Zach Johnson, Vaughan Taylor, JJ Henry and Brett Wetterich.
The experienced European squad includes the likes of Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington, Jose Maria Olazabal and Darren Clarke, who’s emotions will be tested after the passing of his wife to a battle with cancer. Donald and Garcia are in particularly good form and each is a 5-1 bet to lead the European squad in the points race. Donald has proven he can go head to head with Woods at a major event after a run for the $1.2 million purse at the PGA Championship. Garcia’s Ryder Cup credentials prove he’s ready for battle too.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your golf sportsbook needs.
Ryder Cup Odds| Europe Tie USA |
4-5 10-1 6-5 |
| Tiger Woods Jim Furyk Phil Mickelson Chris DiMarco David Toms Stewart Cink Chad Campbell Scott Verplank Zach Johnson Vaughan Taylor JJ Henry Brett Wetterich |
9-4 4-1 5-1 7-1 8-1 12-1 15-1 15-1 25-1 30-1 30-1 50-1 |
| Sergio Garcia Luke Donald Padraig Harrington Colin Montgomerie Darren Clarke David Howell Lee Westwood Paul Casey Henrik Stenson Jose Maria Olazabal Paul McGinley Robert Karlsson |
5-1 5-1 6-1 13-2 8-1 9-1 9-1 11-1 12-1 12-1 20-1 25-1 |
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com
El Duque expected to throw Tuesday
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.
Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.
El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.
MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds.
Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.
New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.
Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''
Additional baseball lines and World Series odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
Sports Betting News: NFL Team History | NFL Football Betting | College Football Betting | Baseball Betting | Basketball Betting | College Basketball Betting | Hockey Betting | Golf Betting | Tennis Betting | Auto Racing Betting | Horse Racing Betting | Soccer Betting