Dallas (11-6 SU, 6-11 ATS) at Chicago (4-10 SU and ATS)
The struggling Mavericks visit the United Center in Chicago to take on a Bulls team that is starting to regain its form from last season.
Going back to Nov. 23, Dallas has lost four of six (0-6 ATS), including a 112-108 setback at New Orleans on Saturday as a three-point road chalk. The Mavs have dropped three straight on the road, giving up at least 97 in each of the three defeats.
The Bulls were just brutal over the first 26 days of the season, losing 10 of 12 games, and they were in the midst of a four-game SU and ATS losing streak when they returned home after a long road trip and things started to click. First, Chicago beat Atlanta 90-78 on Tuesday as a 5½-point favorite, then crushed Charlotte 111-95 on Saturday, covering as a seven-point chalk.
The Bulls had scored 92 points or less in six straight games before tallying a season-high on Saturday. It was just the third time this year that Chicago reached triple digits and just the second time it did so in regulation.
These teams split two meetings last season, with the home team winning and covering each contest. The Bulls got a 96-85 win as a four-point underdog, while Dallas scored a 111-99 victory as a four-point chalk. Dallas has won eight of the last 10 against Chicago (5-5 ATS) dating back to 2002.
The over is 8-2 in the Mavs’ last 10 overall and 9-3 in their last 12 against Eastern Conference squads. The over is also 20-7-1 in the Bulls’ last 28 against Southwest Division teams and 7-3 in their last 10 against the Western Conference.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
gametimepicks.com
Monday's NBA matchup betting notes
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Charlotte Bobcats at Toronto Raptors
Toronto is 8-2 lifetime against the Bobcats, winning all three games last season.
Atlanta Hawks at Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia won three of four meetings against the Hawks last season, including both games at the Wachovia Center. The Sixers have won seven straight at home against Atlanta, and 15 of the last 19 meetings in Philadelphia since 1997-98.
Portland Trail Blazers at Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis lost the only previous matchup between these teams this season, 110-89 at Portland on Nov. 9. The Blazers have won three of the last four matchups in Memphis.
Dallas Mavericks at Chicago Bulls
Dallas has won 16 of the last 18 between the teams, but Chicago handed the Mavericks one of their 10 road losses in 2006-07
Miami Heat at Utah Jazz
The Jazz have not defeated Miami since a 97-85 home victory on Jan. 15, 2004. Utah has been outscored by an average of nearly 13 points in seven defeats since then.
Orlando Magic at Golden State Warriors
The Magic are 15-4 – matching the best start in the team's 19-year history. The Warriors have won nine of 10 and won their season-high sixth in a row on Sunday.
Monday's NCAAB matchup betting notes
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tennessee State at No. 15 Indiana
This will be the first meeting between the teams. Tennessee State has lost 11 straight to ranked opponents since the start of the 1996-97 season, losing by single digits on only two occasions.
Wofford at No. 20 Wisconsin
Wisconsin has never played Wofford (3-1), which has only played one other Division I opponent in 2007-08. The Terriers lost their opener 67-45 on Nov. 9 to then-No. 19 Arkansas.
NBA Today - Monday, Dec. 3
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SCOREBOARD
Monday, Dec. 3
Miami at Utah (9 p.m. EST). The Jazz are 7-1 at home this season.
STARS
Sunday
-Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets, scored 30 points and Denver pounded Miami 115-89.
-Jamaal Tinsley, Pacers, scored 29 points, including 10 in the final four minutes, to lead Indiana past the Los Angeles Clippers 101-95.
-Grant Hill and Amare Stoudemire, Suns. Hill had a season-high 28 points and Stoudemire added 28 and had 12 rebounds to help Phoenix hold off New York 115-104.
-Tony Parker, Spurs, had 27 points and eight assists in San Antonio's 100-79 rout of Portland.
WARRIORS ON FIRE
Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington had 20 points apiece to lead Golden State past Seattle 109-96 on Sunday in a game that was delayed in the first quarter when a small fire broke out on the large scoreboard above the court. The delay didn't cool off the Warriors, winners of six straight and nine of 10 following an 0-6 start. The SuperSonics' 41 points in the first half were the fewest allowed by Golden State this season.
MAGICAL
Orlando downed the Los Angeles Lakers 104-97 on Sunday to improve to 15-4, matching the best start in franchise history. The Magic had the same record to begin the 1994-95 season and matched that the following season. Orlando is 11 games over .500 for the first time since finishing the strike-shortened 1998-99 season 33-17, and leads the NBA with a 10-2 road mark. The victory was Orlando's first road win over the Lakers after 10 straight losses.
HILL OF A NIGHT
Grant Hill scored 28 points on 13-for-17 shooting, his highest-scoring game in nearly two years, to help Phoenix down New York 115-104. With the Suns pulling away, Hill went to the bench midway through the fourth quarter, possibly all that prevented him from his first 30-point game since he scored 34 for Orlando against Miami on Feb. 27, 2005, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
ICY HEAT
Denver downed Miami 115-89 on Sunday to drop the Heat to 4-12, their worst start since the 2003-04 season. That team also started 4-12, but finished 42-40 and reached the Eastern Conference semifinals.
CRASH THOSE BOARDS
Marcus Camby grabbed 21 rebounds in Denver's 115-89 win over Miami on Sunday. It was his fifth 20-rebound game of the season.
STREAKS
Phoenix defeated New York 115-104 on Sunday for its 10th victory in 12 games. The Suns have won two in a row at Madison Square Garden for the first time since Jan. 2, 1990, and March 5, 1991. ... Detroit trounced New Jersey 118-95 for its sixth win in seven games. The Pistons have won five straight against the Nets. ... San Antonio beat Portland 100-79 on Sunday to win its third straight and hand the Trail Blazers their fourth consecutive loss. ... Denver beat Miami 115-89 to win its fifth straight against the Heat. The Nuggets are 6-1 against Miami since Shaquille O'Neal joined the Heat in 2004.
STRONG IN DEFEAT
Chris Kaman had 22 points and 22 rebounds in the Los Angeles Clippers' 101-95 loss to Indiana on Sunday. The Clippers, who have shot below 50 percent in every game this season, are 2-9 since a 104-89 win at Indiana on Nov. 7 that capped their 4-0 start. ... Jason Kidd had a season-best 16 assists in New Jersey's 118-95 loss to Detroit. ... Kobe Bryant had 28 points, including 19 in the first quarter, but the Los Angeles Lakers were defeated by Orlando 104-97.
SIDELINED
LeBron James missed his second straight game with a sprained left index finger when Cleveland lost to Boston 80-70 on Sunday. He was hurt in the second quarter on Wednesday in a loss to Detroit. ... Tim Duncan bruised his right knee and sprained his right ankle on Sunday in the second quarter of San Antonio's 100-70 win over Portland. The team Duncan would have an MRI exam on Monday.
SPEAKING
''There'll be no video on this game, hopefully. It was not a piece of art.'' - Boston coach Doc Rivers, after the Celtics defeated Cleveland 80-70 on Sunday to improve to an NBA-best 14-2.
Atlanta Hawks vs. Philadelphia 76ers
- The Atlanta Hawks and the Philadelphia 76ers will both be gunning for a victory on Monday when they meet at Wachovia Center.
Atlanta had 19 turnovers in Friday's 92-82 loss to New Orleans, falling as 1-point home underdogs. The 178 points scored were UNDER the posted total of 187.
Marvin Williams scored 18 points, while Joe Johnson had 17 points and nine assists for the Hawks.
Andre Igoudala led the Sixers with 24 points in their 94-92 OT loss to the New Jersey Nets on Saturday night.
The Nets couldn't cover as 8-point favorites as the teams played over the 185.5-point total sey by books.
Team records:
Atlanta: 6-9 SU, 7-8 ATS
Philadelphia: 5-11 SU, 7-9 ATS
Atlanta most recently:
When playing on Monday are 3-7
Before playing Detroit are 5-5
After playing New Orleans are 3-7
After a loss are 5-5
Philadelphia most recently:
When playing on Monday are 4-6
Before playing Boston are 3-7
After playing New Jersey are 7-3
After a loss are 5-5
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Atlanta's last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Atlanta's last 9 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Atlanta's last 7 games when playing Philadelphia
Atlanta is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Philadelphia
Philadelphia is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Atlanta
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Philadelphia's last 7 games when playing Atlanta
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Philadelphia's last 5 games at home
Philadelphia is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Atlanta
Next up:
Atlanta home to Detroit, Tuesday, December 4
Philadelphia home to Boston, Wednesday, December 5
Charlotte Bobcats vs. Toronto Raptors
- The Charlotte Bobcats and the Toronto Raptors will both be gunning for a victory on Monday when they meet at Air Canada Centre.
Jason Richardson led the Bobcats with 22 points in their 111-95 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night.
The Bulls covered as 7-point home favorites as the teams played over the 183-point total listed by books.
Jason Kapono led the Raptors with 23 points on the night as Toronto played without Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani in its 101-97 loss to the Washington Wizards on Saturday night.
The Wizards won as 2.5-point favorites as the game played just over the 195-point total set by books.
Current streak:
Charlotte has lost 5 straight games.
Team records:
Charlotte: 6-9 SU, 6-8-1 ATS
Toronto: 9-8 SU, 11-6 ATS
Charlotte most recently:
When playing on Monday are 4-3
Before playing Chicago are 5-5
After playing Chicago are 4-6
After a loss are 5-5
Toronto most recently:
When playing on Monday are 5-5
Before playing Phoenix are 4-6
After playing Washington are 6-4
After a loss are 6-4
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Charlotte's last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Charlotte's last 6 games when playing Toronto
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Charlotte's last 5 games when playing on the road against Toronto
Charlotte is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
Toronto is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing Charlotte
Toronto is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Toronto's last 6 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Toronto's last 6 games when playing Charlotte
Next up:
Charlotte home to Chicago, Wednesday, December 5
Toronto home to Phoenix, Wednesday, December 5
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Memphis Grizzlies
- The Portland Trail Blazers and the Memphis Grizzlies will both be gunning for a victory on Monday when they meet at FedExForum.
The Trail Blazers lost to San Antonio 100-79 as a 14-point underdog last time out. The combined score fell UNDER the posted over/under total (188).
Martell Webster and Travis Outlaw each scored 17 points for Portland in the loss.
Rudy Gay had 21 points to lead the Grizzlies to a 109-80 drubbing of the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.
The Grizzlies won as 9-point favorites as the teams played under the 211-point total listed by oddsmakers.
Current streak:
Portland has lost 4 straight games.
Team records:
Portland: 5-12 SU, 7-10 ATS
Memphis: 6-10 SU, 10-6 ATS
Portland most recently:
When playing on Monday are 2-8
Before playing Miami are 5-5
After playing San Antonio are 3-7
After a loss are 2-8
Memphis most recently:
When playing on Monday are 5-5
Before playing Houston are 4-6
After playing Minnesota are 4-6
After a win are 4-6
A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Portland's last 5 games
Portland is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Memphis
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Portland's last 5 games when playing Memphis
Portland is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games when playing Memphis
Memphis is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Memphis's last 5 games when playing Portland
The total has gone OVER in 14 of Memphis's last 18 games at home
Memphis is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 games
Next up:
Portland home to Miami, Thursday, December 6
Memphis at Houston, Wednesday, December 5
Dallas Mavericks vs. Chicago Bulls
- The Dallas Mavericks and the Chicago Bulls will both be trying to pick up a win on Monday when they battle at United Center.
Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard, and Jason Terry all had 19 points for the Mavs in their 112-108 overtime loss to the New Orleans Hornets on Saturday night.
The Hornets cashed as 3-point home underdogs as the teams played over the 192.5-point total set by oddsmakers.
Ben Gordon netted 34 points to lead the Bulls to an easy 111-95 win over the Charlotte Bobcats on Saturday night.
The Bulls covered as 7-point home favorites as the teams played over the 183-point total listed by books.
Current streak:
Chicago has won 2 straight games.
Team records:
Dallas: 11-6 SU, 6-11 ATS
Chicago: 4-10 SU, 4-10 ATS
Dallas most recently:
When playing on Monday are 8-2
Before playing San Antonio are 6-4
After playing New Orleans are 9-1
After a loss are 7-3
Chicago most recently:
When playing on Monday are 2-8
Before playing Charlotte are 6-4
After playing Charlotte are 4-6
After a win are 5-5
A few trends to consider:
Dallas is 16-2 SU in its last 18 games when playing Chicago
Dallas is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Chicago
Dallas is 10-2 ATS in its last 12 games when playing on the road against Chicago
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Dallas's last 12 games when playing on the road against Chicago
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Chicago's last 12 games when playing at home against Dallas
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Chicago's last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Chicago's last 7 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 16 of Chicago's last 23 games when playing Dallas
Next up:
Dallas at San Antonio, Wednesday, December 5
Chicago at Charlotte, Wednesday, December 5
Miami Heat vs. Utah Jazz
- The Miami Heat and the Utah Jazz will both be gunning for a victory on Monday when they meet at EnergySolutions Arena.
The Heat lost to Denver 115-89 as a 5-point underdog last time out. The combined score fell UNDER the posted over/under total (207).
Dwyane Wade led the Heat with 13 points, while Ricky Davis and Daequan Cook each had 11 points.
Utah took advantage of 20 Los Angeles turnovers in Friday's 120-96 win, covering the 7-point home spread. The 216 points scored were OVER the posted total of 210.5.
Andrei Kirilenko racked up 20 points, 11 assists, 11 boards, six steals and four blocks for the Jazz.
Current streak:
Miami has lost 2 straight games.
Utah has won 2 straight games.
Team records:
Miami: 4-12 SU, 8-8 ATS
Utah: 12-5 SU, 10-7 ATS
Miami most recently:
When playing on Monday are 6-4
Before playing Portland are 6-4
After playing Denver are 4-6
After a loss are 4-6
Utah most recently:
When playing on Monday are 9-1
Before playing Sacramento are 6-4
After playing LA Lakers are 5-5
After a win are 7-3
A few trends to consider:
Miami is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Utah
Miami is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Utah
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Miami's last 8 games when playing Utah
The total has gone UNDER in 14 of Miami's last 21 games on the road
Utah is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Utah is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Utah's last 8 games when playing Miami
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Utah's last 6 games when playing at home against Miami
Next up:
Miami at Portland, Thursday, December 6
Utah at Sacramento, Tuesday, December 4
Orlando Magic vs. Golden State Warriors
- The Orlando Magic and the Golden State Warriors will both be gunning for a victory on Monday when they meet at Oracle Arena.
The Magic defeated the Lakers 104-97 as a pick'em last time out. The combined score fell UNDER the posted over/under total (211).
Rashard Lewis scored 18 points for Orlando and Dwight Howard added 17 points in the win.
The Warriors defeated Seattle 109-96 as a 6-point favorite last time out. The combined score fell UNDER the posted over/under total (219).
Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington each netted 20 points for the Warriors in the win.
Current streak:
Golden State has won 6 straight games.
Team records:
Orlando: 15-4 SU, 16-3 ATS
Golden State: 9-7 SU, 9-7 ATS
Orlando most recently:
When playing on Monday are 1-9
Before playing Indiana are 5-5
After playing LA Lakers are 2-8
After a win are 7-3
Golden State most recently:
When playing on Monday are 3-7
Before playing Milwaukee are 6-4
After playing Seattle are 4-6
After a win are 7-3
A few trends to consider:
Orlando is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
Orlando is 11-1 ATS in its last 12 games on the road
Orlando is 10-2 SU in its last 12 games on the road
Orlando is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
Golden State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Golden State is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Golden State's last 6 games at home
Golden State is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Next up:
Orlando home to Indiana, Friday, December 7
Golden State home to Milwaukee, Wednesday, December 5
Arkansas State suspends Banks after gun arrest
Associated Press
JONESBORO, Ark. -- Arkansas State leading scorer Adrian Banks has been suspended indefinitely from the Indians basketball team following his arrest early Sunday for firing a gun within Jonesboro city limits.
Banks, 21, did not accompany the team to Evanston, Ill., for Monday night's game against Northwestern. He has averaged 21.7 points per game this season for the Indians (2-4) and, last Thursday, Banks hit a 17-foot jumper as time expired for a 71-69 victory over Tennessee-Martin.
Jonesboro police said Banks was arrested at 2:35 a.m. Sunday after he allegedly fired several shots from a handgun into the air. Two officers nearby heard the shots and made a traffic stop, pulling over a vehicle with five Arkansas State athletes inside. None of the other athletes were named in the police report.
The people in the car denied there was a handgun in the vehicle, but a police search turned up a firearm in the back seat. Banks then told officers the gun "nothing to do with the other occupants," according to the report.
Banks told police that he found the gun at a nightclub where a fight was breaking out.
"I found the gun on the ground and didn't want anyone to get shot, so I shot the gun until it was empty," Banks said, according to the police report.
Banks told The Jonesboro Sun he was sorry about the incident and that he exercised poor judgment.
"I just really want to say that what happened last night was a stupid incident, it was a mistake," Banks said. "It was nothing like I was out there shooting at someone or anything. It wasn't my weapon or anything. I just found the gun, and I was really trying to protect my teammates from anything happening. It wasn't like I was shooting at someone or was involved in anything. That's pretty much the way it was. I just want to apologize to my school, my coaches and my parents and everyone involved."
Jonesboro police Officer Adam Williams said he believes Banks wasn't shooting at anyone.
In a statement Sunday night, Arkansas State said Banks is suspended indefinitely.
"Our policies concerning violations of team rules have never changed, regardless of a player's role on our team or how good they are," coach Dickey Nutt said in a news release. "We have team rules in place that apply to everyone on the team, and if those rules are broken we will gather all the facts surrounding the violation and then move forward accordingly, which is what we are doing here."
Banks is to appear before Craighead County District Judge Keith Blackman at 1 p.m. on Dec. 10. Banks posted bond and was released from custody.
Duncan probably OK: Star's knee, ankle injuries overshadow Spurs' victory
The Franchise collapsed in a heap on the floor, writhing in pain and clutching his knee. Instinctively, Spurs center Francisco Elson knew that this was no good at all.
"Anybody going down is scary," Elson said. "But especially if it's Tim Duncan."
Indeed, the sight of Duncan in a heaving, crumpled pile on the floor during the first half of the Spurs' 100-79 victory over Portland on Sunday was enough to suck the oxygen out of the AT&T Center.
The preliminary diagnosis — bruised right knee, sprained right ankle but no apparent ligament damage — should serve as a defibrillator to restart the hearts of Spurs fans everywhere.
Duncan, injured when he got tangled up with Portland's James Jones with 7:40 left in the second quarter, likely will sit out Wednesday's game against Dallas and possibly more.
X-rays taken at the arena were negative, though the Spurs will await the results of an MRI today before breathing a full sigh of relief.
"It's more scary than anything else," coach Gregg Popovich said. "I hope he won't be out for long, but he will probably miss a little bit of time."
As the Spurs left the arena Sunday evening, however, they knew the news could have been so much worse. At first gruesome glance, given the manner in which Duncan's knee crumbled beneath him, ligament damage appeared to be inevitable.
"It looked bad," Tony Parker admitted.
With Duncan out of sight, but never out of mind, Parker and a hyperactive bench picked up the slack to smack the Trail Blazers, sending the Spurs to 10-0 at home for the first time in club history.
Parker scored 27 points to go with eight assists, and Brent Barry led a list of three Spurs reserves in double figures with 17. The Spurs (15-3) responded to Duncan's departure with a 17-6 run that helped give them a 13-point halftime lead.
Even without Duncan, their defensive middleman, the Spurs were able to hold Portland (5-12) to 40 percent shooting (30 of 75). LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy, Portland's top two scorers, combined for 12 points and missed 14 of 17 field goals.
"They turned it up," Roy said. "They got better after Tim went down."
At the precise moment Duncan fell, however, the Spurs saw their hopes of defending their title flash before their eyes.
Duncan and Jones were locked into each other in the high post when both players went jostling for a high lob pass.
As Duncan prepared to go airborne, Jones appeared to give him a slight bump. As he fell to the floor, Duncan's right leg buckled beneath him like a cheap accordion.
Panic and pandemonium ensued.
Michael Finley, thinking Jones was lingering over a prone Duncan a bit too long, gave him a quick shove — and picked up a technical foul
"It was a little bit of frustration, a little bit of seeing my teammate and good friend down and defenseless," Finley said. "I just took it upon myself to get (Jones) out of the way. He wasn't helping the situation, so get him out of the way."
Duncan stayed down for several minutes, in obvious pain, and eventually required assistance to get to the locker room. He did not return to the bench.
Afterward, Jones said he didn't mean Duncan harm. He said he thought Duncan had slipped on his own.
Whatever the cause, Duncan's injury felt like a punch in the gut to the rest of the Spurs. It took the wind out of them, but only for a couple possessions.
"We knew we had to stay focused," Parker said. "We had to keep playing, and then whatever happened, happened."
To the Spurs, what happened in the training room was infinitely more significant than what happened on the scoreboard.
They won the game. More importantly, it appears they were also able to avoid a devastating loss.
mysanantonio.com
UNC still No. 1; Texas moves into top five
December 3rd, 2007
New York, NY (Sports Network) - North Carolina strengthened its hold atop the Associated Press men's college basketball poll, while Texas' victory over UCLA on Sunday moved the Longhorns into the top five.
The Tar Heels (7-0), coming off road victories against Ohio State and Kentucky, earned 45 first-place votes -- 17 more than last week -- and a total of 1,769 points from a nationwide media panel.
UCLA had been the No. 2 team, but Texas (7-0) went into Pauley Pavilion on Sunday and pulled out a 63-61 victory. The Longhorns moved up four spots from eighth to fourth with the help of two first-place votes, while the Bruins dropped five places to seventh following their first loss of the season.
Memphis (6-0) and Kansas (7-0) each moved up a spot to second and third, respectively, thanks to UCLA's setback. The Tigers received 22 first-place votes and the Jayhawks picked up a pair.
Georgetown (5-0) again garnered one first-place vote and remained fifth. Duke, UCLA, Washington State, Michigan State and Tennessee round out this week's top 10.
The second 10 consists of Marquette, Pittsburgh, Butler, Louisville, Indiana, Texas A&M, Gonzaga, Clemson, Oregon and BYU.
Xavier, Arizona, Vanderbilt, Southern California and Villanova are the last five teams ranked.
Arizona, Vanderbilt and Villanova are this week's newcomers, replacing Wisconsin, North Carolina State and Kansas State.
Vandy (7-0) is ranked for the first time this season, while Villanova is back after a one-week absence. Arizona was ranked to start the season, but lost to Virginia and Kansas in consecutive weeks and returns thanks to a 78-67 win over previously unbeaten Texas A&M.
A&M had the biggest fall within the poll after the Sunday setback, dropping seven places from ninth to 16th.
Wisconsin's 82-58 loss to Duke knocked the Badgers out after a one-week stay at No. 20, while NC State dropped out from 24th after an 81-58 drubbing by Michigan State. Kansas State was 25th, but lost its lone game last week, 80-77 to Oregon in overtime.
Southern California remained in the poll despite a 59-55 loss to Kansas.
This week's games involving a pair of ranked teams features a matchup between USC and Memphis at the Jimmy V Classic on Tuesday in New York. On Wednesday, Washington State visits Gonzaga and Saturday pits Michigan State against BYU in Salt Lake City.
Boozer, Okur to play tonight vs. Heat
Jazz forward Carlos Boozer and center Mehmet Okur both took part in the pregame shootaround and will play in Monday night's game against the Miami Heat at EnergySolutions Arena.
"It was good to be back out there, my ankle felt terrific and I'm looking forward to tonight's game," said Boozer, who sat out Friday's victory over the Los Angeles Lakers with a sprained right ankle.
Terrific?
"Terrific," Boozer said. "I mean, while having a sprained ankle." The swelling, though, has subsided and the pain is manageable, Boozer added.
Bothered by back spasms, Okur also couldn't play against the Lakers. He estimated he was about 80 to 85 percent better, but couldn't say whether his back issues eventually would go away or would trouble him all season.
Okur was asked whether the prospect of playing Shaquille O'Neal in Monday's game made his back feel better or worse. "Obviously, he's big guy," Okur said, "so he's good player, so it's going to be tough for me and my teammates."
Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said he hadn't decided whether he would keep rookie center Kyrylo Fesenko on the active roster in case he was needed against O'Neal. Fesenko made his NBA debut Friday, finishing with six points and seven rebounds against the Lakers.
sltrib.com