OKLAHOMA STATE - F Mario Boggan (disciplinary) missed last game, "?".
NC CHARLOTTE - G Leemire Goldwire (ankle) is "?".
Goldwire's status for the 49ers' game Saturday at Indiana is uncertain
after he twisted his ankle late in a loss Wednesday at Mississippi State.
He is averaging 17 points and nearly five rebounds. While battling for a
rebound, Goldwire fell to the floor under Charlotte's basket, twisting
his right ankle -- the same foot on which Goldwire had off-season surgery
to remove an extra bone. There was no sign of further damage other than
the slight sprain, team officials said.
LOYOLA MARYMOUNT - F Matthew Knight (concussion) is "?".
PORTLAND - G Darren Cooper (hamstring) downgraded to expected to miss.
WOFFORD - G Drew Gibson (hamstring) missed last game, "?".
ALABAMA - G Ronald Steele (knee) is "?".
Alabama's All-American point guard, Steele, sat out the last two games,
strictly as a precautionary measure to allow more time for the tendonitis in
his right knee to heal. He practiced on Thursday and is expected to practice
again Friday. If he does not start Saturday, junior JUCO transfer Mykal Riley
will start. Riley is averaging 11.5 points and 4.8 rebounds.
Hoops hype: Saturday`s top NCAAB matchups
Associated Press
Sat, Dec 2, 2006
Information taken from Associated Press NCAAB previews.
Kentucky at No. 6 North Carolina LINE: Tar Heels -10 1/2
Since the 2000-01 season, the team that`s been ranked lower or unranked has prevailed four times out of six.
Kentucky (4-2) won the first four meetings of the series by an average of nearly 15 points. North Carolina (5-1) has taken the last two matchups and was the underdog both times.
Kentucky has lost its two games against ranked opponents.
UNC`s Brandon Wright is shooting a team-high 63 percent from the field.
North Carolina leads the series with Kentucky 18-10.
No. 25 Texas vs. No. 21 Gonzaga LINE: Zags -2 1/2
Gonzaga has outrebounded opponents by an average of 8.6 per game.
Texas has started four freshman in each of the last two games. Freshman Kevin Durant is averaging a team-high 22.3 points per game. Gonzaga`s leading scorer is senior guard Derek Raivio with 18.9 points per game.
Gonzaga beat Texas 67-64 in the Great Alaska Shootout in 2001 in the only previous meeting between the teams.
No. 23 Georgetown at No. 10 Duke LINE: Blue Devils -7
Georgetown has topped 80 points only twice since a Jan. 21, 2006 victory over Duke and is averaging 68.2 points a game this season.
Jeff Green, the Hoyas` leading scorer last season is averaging only 7.3 points in the last four games.
The Hoyas have three starters back while the Blue Devils are starting three freshmen.
The Blue Devils` Greg Paulus is connecting on just 35.7 percent of his attempts from the field and freshman Jon Scheyer is hitting just 38.3 percent of his shots.
The Blue Devils are 0-1 against the Big East this season.
No. 22 Wichita State at No. 14 Syracuse LINE: Orange -4 1/2
Syracuse (7-0) won its first six games by an average of 18.1 points. They are facing its first ranked opponent of the year.
The Wichita State Shockers (5-0) have beaten two of last season`s Final Four teams on the road this season. They haven`t beat two ranked teams in the same season since 1977-78.
The Orange are holding opponents to 34.5 percent shooting this season, which ranks ninth-best in the nation.
Syracuse leads the all-time series 2-0, but these schools haven`t met since the Orange won 83-63 in 1991.
NBA betting news and notes 12/2
NBA Today - Dec. 2
Associated Press
Sat, Dec 2, 2006
L.A. Lakers at L.A. Clippers (10:30 p.m. EST).
Kobe Bryant, coming off a 52-point outing on Thursday, leads the Lakers against their crosstown rivals.
STARS Friday
- Gilbert Arenas, Wizards, had 33 points and 10 assists in a 121-109 win over the Bobcats.
- Chauncey Billups, Pistons, had 22 points and 16 assists to lead Detroit to a 108-100 win over the Knicks.
- Luke Ridnour, Sonics, scored at the buzzer to give Seattle a 105-103 victory over Indiana.
- LeBron James, Cavaliers, had 31 points and eight assists in a 106-95 win over the Hawks.
- Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets, scored 35 points in a 106-92 win over the Timberwolves.
- Andres Nocioni, Bulls, scored 31 points with 13 rebounds in a 111-108 victory over New Orleans.
- Shawn Marion, Suns, had 27 points and 14 rebounds in a 122-116 win over the Bucks.
GRIEVANCE FILED
The players` association filed two unfair labor practice charges Friday against the NBA over issues with the new ball and the league`s crackdown on player complaints. A number of players publicly have complained about the change in the ball from leather to microfiber composite. But the crackdown on complaints after the whistle, often referred to as a ``zero-tolerance policy,`` might be the bigger problem.
STREAKS
The Detroit Pistons beat the New York Knicks 108-100 Friday night for their eighth straight victory. The Pistons haven`t lost since a 100-99 home defeat to New Orleans dropped them to 3-5 on Nov. 15.
TRIPLE-DOUBLE
New Orleans` Chris Paul had his third career triple-double with 25 points, a career-high 18 assists and 11 rebounds in a 111-108 loss to the Bulls on Friday night.
STRONG IN DEFEAT
Michael Redd scored 37 points in Milwaukee`s 122-116 loss to the Suns on Friday night. ... New Orleans` Rasual Butler scored 33 points in a 111-108 loss to Chicago. ... Atlanta`s Joe Johnson scored 31 points in a 106-95 loss to Cleveland. ... Zach Randolph had 28 points and 13 rebounds in Portland`s 91-89 loss to Orlando.
SPEAKING
``Our obligation to represent our membership dictates the filing of these actions. There is virtual unanimity amongst the players about their concerns and intense dislike for the new synthetic ball and the `zero-tolerance` policy.`` - Statement issued by players` union director Billy Hunter after the players` association filed two unfair labor practice charges Friday against the NBA over issues with the new ball and the league`s crackdown on player complaints.
Childress out 4 weeks with hairline fracture
Associated Press
Fri, Dec 1, 2006
ATLANTA -- Atlanta Hawks guard Josh Childress could miss another four weeks with a broken bone in his left foot.
Childress missed his seventh straight game Friday night when the Hawks lost to the Cavs 106-95 as 3 1/2-point dogs. He had been listed as day to day, but coach Mike Woodson said X-rays showed a hairline fracture that could keep Childress out for another month.
Childress averaged 13.3 points and 6.4 rebounds in seven games before he was hurt.
Meanwhile, Hawks forward Marvin Williams is likely to miss at least two more weeks with a broken left hand, Woodson said.
Williams, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2005 draft, was hurt during training camp and has yet to play this season.
The Hawks next play the Blazers on Sunday.
PHILADELPHIA - G Allen Iverson (knee) injured in practice, "?"
Allen Iverson (bruised left knee) and Kyle Korver (sprained left ankle)
were injured in practice. Iverson hopes to play tonight in New Jersey,
while Korver's availability will be determined later today.
SACRAMENTO - F Ron Artest (back) is "?".
Ron Artest didn't start Friday because of a flare-up of an ongoing back
problem, but led the Kings with 15 points.
INDIANA - F Jermaine O'Neal (hamstring) is probable, but not 100% healthy.
O'Neal left the game for the second time in the past three games Friday. He
went to the locker room in the first quarter with a sore left hamstring. He sat
out the rest of the first half, but played 21 minutes in the second half. O'Neal
said it's the same hamstring that caused him to miss time in the preseason.
"He felt something in there where it was bothering him enough in the first half
that he felt like it might tear," HC Carlisle said. "He got it worked on in
the first half, warmed up and was able to go in the second half.
GOLDEN STATE - G Jason Richardson (knee) is "?".
Richardson (sore left knee) did not practice Friday and will be a
game-time decision tonight against Milwaukee. HC Nelson, who held
Richardson out of the second half of Wednesday's game, said the decision
will be left to Richardson, provided he's cleared to play. "Can you play
or can't you? Yes or no? That's all I'll ask a guy," said Nelson.