UConn seeks first Big East win in clash with Rutgers

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01/03/2009 - Storrs, CT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The second-ranked Connecticut Huskies will attempt to avoid their first 0-2 start to Big East play since the 1989-90 season, as they welcome the Rutgers Scarlet Knights to Storrs for a conference showdown at Gampel Pavilion.

Jim Calhoun's Huskies got off to a fast start this season, winning each of their first 11 games, but finally tasted defeat in their Big East opener on Monday, falling to Georgetown at the XL Center, 74-63. With a win over the Scarlet Knights this weekend, Calhoun would move into a tie for seventh place on the all-time NCAA Division I coaching wins list with Lefty Driesell (786).

Rutgers would like nothing better than delaying that milestone, but will be fighting an uphill battle in Storrs. The Scarlet Knights are in the midst of a murderous slate of games which has already produced losses to top-five foes North Carolina (97-75) and most recently, Pittsburgh (78-72) and will conclude after this game with home dates against powerhouses Marquette and Syracuse.

UConn has won seven straight and 15 of the last 16 meetings with Rutgers to open up a huge 31-13 advantage in the all-time series.

The Scarlet Knights will struggle to match UConn's offensive firepower, as the team is averaging a rather bland 67.3 ppg. Rutgers is shooting a pedestrian .441 from the floor this year and has struggled to find consistency behind the arc (.302) as well. Mike Rosario is clearly this team's top option in terms of scoring, as the guard is netting nearly 18 points per game. While he is only shooting .336 from behind the arc, he does have a team-high 38 three-pointers to his credit. Fellow guard Anthony Farmer is the only other double-digit performer at this time with his 10.2 ppg. Freshman forward Gregory Echenique (6-9, 260) has really been impressive in the low post, averaging a near double-double with 9.1 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. Rosario, Farmer and Corey Chandler combined for 59 of the team's 72 points, but it wasn't enough to pull off the upset of Pittsburgh last time out, as the Scarlet Knights fell by six points. Rosario poured in a game-high 22 points to lead the way, followed by Farmer's 20. Chandler completed the productive trio with 17 points, but the rest of the team added a mere 13 points in the loss. Rutgers kept things close despite shooting a mere .413 from the floor, including 6- of-20 from three-point range.

The Huskies were handed their first loss of the season the last time they were on the floor, as they were held to a season-low 63 points by the Hoyas. A slow start certainly contributed to the setback, as UConn converted just 37.5 percent in the first half and trailed by nine points at the break. The team also turned the ball over a costly 17 times in the game and finished with a measly six assists. Guard A.J. Price led the team with 16 points and was followed in the scoring column by Jeff Adrien (15 pts) and Kemba Walker (14 pts). However, star center Hasheem Thabeet was completely neutralized at the offensive end by Georgetown, as the big man was limited to just four points. He did have a strong defensive game however, grabbing seven rebounds and blocking the same number of shots. On the year, UConn has been a much more potent offensive team, averaging 81.1 ppg, while converting nearly half of its total shots (49.8 percent). Adrien (14.5 ppg, 9.2 rpg) and Thabeet (13.9 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 48 blocks) have been a devastating tandem down low. Perimeter balance comes in the form of Jerome Dyson (14.5 ppg), Price (10.5 ppg), Walker (10.3 ppg) and Craig Austrie (9.3 ppg).

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Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

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Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

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