Texas tops men's poll for the first time
NCAA Basketball Betting Lines
01/11/2010 - New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Texas is the top-ranked men's basketball team in the nation for the first time, as the Associated Press released its latest poll on Monday.
The Longhorns (15-0) are one of just two unbeaten teams in the county after both Kansas and Purdue lost over the weekend. Texas moved up from No. 2 after Kansas lost on Sunday to Tennessee. The Jayhawks had been No. 1 since the preseason.
With 56 first-place votes and a total of 1,616 points from a nationwide media panel, Texas is just 47 points ahead of fellow unbeaten Kentucky. The Wildcats (16-0) received the other nine first-place votes and 1,569 points to move up from third to second.
Kansas' 76-68 setback in Knoxville dropped the Jayhawks two spots into third, ahead of three other one-loss teams. Villanova moved up two places into fourth, followed by Syracuse and Purdue. The Boilermakers dropped two spots to sixth after their loss at Wisconsin on Saturday.
Michigan State, Duke, Tennessee and West Virginia round out this week's top 10. Michigan State moved up three spots thanks to wins last week over Wisconsin and Iowa, while Duke dropped three places from fifth after Saturday's loss at Georgia Tech. Tennessee, meanwhile, vaulted seven spots after its big win, while West Virginia fell only two places after a two-point setback at Notre Dame on Saturday.
The second 10 consists of Georgetown, North Carolina, Kansas State, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Pittsburgh, Gonzaga, BYU, Temple and Georgia Tech. Six of those 10 teams each lost once last week.
Ole Miss, Baylor, Miami-Florida, Clemson and Florida State are the last five teams ranked this week. Ole Miss and Florida State each dropped seven places but managed to hold on to poll spots despite losses over the weekend -- the Rebels to Mississippi State and the Seminoles to Maryland.
Baylor, Miami and Clemson are this week's newcomers, replacing New Mexico, Texas Tech and Washington. Baylor and Miami are ranked for the first time this season, while Clemson has been in and out of the poll all season.
New Mexico was 15th last week before losses at San Diego State and at home against UNLV. Texas Tech was 22nd before an 81-52 loss at Oklahoma State and Washington, 24th last week, has dropped its last three games.
This week's matchups of ranked teams includes Wednesday's Big East battle between Pitt and UConn in Hartford and an ACC tussle featuring North Carolina and Clemson in South Carolina. On Saturday, Syracuse visits West Virginia, Tennessee hosts Ole Miss and North Carolina welcomes Georgia Tech. Another Big East tilt on Sunday pits Georgetown and Villanova in Philadelphia.
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Vancouver's Burrows leads NHL's Three Stars list >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Vancouver forward Alex Burrows, Anaheim
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the NHL's 'Three Stars' for the week ending January 10.
Burrows garnered the Firs
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New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Connecticut remained a unanimous choice as the
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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.''
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