THE SPORTS REPORTER
COLLEGE HOOPS
TUESDAY, MARCH 4
*OHIO over AKRON by 4
*KENT STATE over MIAMI OHIO by 5
*TOLEDO over EASTERN MICHIGAN by 2
WAKE FOREST over *VIRGINIA TECH by 1
*BUFFALO over BOWLING GREEN by 3
*CENTRAL MICHIGAN over WESTERN MICHIGAN by 1
Splits the season series neatly, setting up a possible rubber match in the postseason tourney.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN, 68-67.
*BALL STATE over NORTHER NILLINOIS by 6
*TEXAS over NEBRASKA by 15
*SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI over UTEP by 3
*NORTH CAROLINA over FLORIDA STATE by 24
Tarheel irritant of PG Ty Lawson?s left ankle wouldn?t have come into play had it not been for just
another overly-physical play out of the rambunctious Seminoles. Revenge is best served cold,
in the context of a punishing win. NORTH CAROLINA, 92-68.
*UTAH over COLORADO STATE by 20
*NEW MEXICO over UNLV by 5
Vegas just biding its time, awaiting that sweet Mountain West tournament ? at Thomas and
Mack! NEW MEXICO, 74-69.
*MISSISSIPPI over ARKANSAS by 1
Having dug a pronounced hole for themselves thanks to their horrendous SEC road record, Rebs
will be feeling the pressure, even in this friendly spot. MISSISSIPPI, 76-75.
*KANSAS STATE over COLORADO by 18
Just the spot for the inmates in the Manhattan asylum to take out their road frustrations. KANSAS
STATE, 84-66.
BUTLER, Even
WRIGHT STATE, Minus -9
VALPARAISO, Minus -10
CLEVELAND STATE, Minus -11
ILLINOIS-CHICAGO, Minus -11
WISCONSIN GREEN BAY, Minus -11
WISCONSIN MILWAUKEE, Minus -13
LOYOLA CHICAGO, Minus -17
YOUNGSTOWN STATE, Minus -19
DETROIT, Minus -20
It took national champion Florida to beat Butler?s Bulldogs in last year?s NCAAs ? and the Dance
invited the teams out of the conference title game, in which Wright State bested Butler. It?s a
steep power dropdown from Butler, but a carbon copy of last season?s scenario wouldn?t surprise.
Appears that both Valparaiso and Cleveland State peaked in January, Wisconsin
Milwaukee?s more than a little thin, Green Bay?s lost five straight heading into this week, and
Youngstown and Detroit are at least two years away. Both of the Chicago schools are displaying
markedly-improved late-season form, though Loyola?s likely going to host a first-round game,
adding to their burden.
NBA
TUESDAY, MARCH 4
GOLDEN STATE over *ATLANTA by 7
BEST BET
*ORLANDO over TORONTO by 15
Two of the best young big men in the East meet as Chris Bosh and the Raptors visit
Orlando, the home of Disney World, the Epcot Center and Dwight Howard. The Magic
can?t help but remember their 17-point loss to the Raptors in Canada last month and will
be targeting this game as a revenge match. Look for Dwight Howard to throw his weight
around and play the way Stan Van Gundy wants him to play. ORLANDO 119-104
*DETROIT over SEATTLE by 7
*MINNESOTA over CHARLOTTE by 6
*CHICAGO over MEMPHIS by 9
*SAN ANTONIO over NEW JERSEY by 14
These two teams rematch after playing in Jersey on Sunday, but the results shouldn?t be too
different. After all, it?s not like the Nets got a lot better in two days. SAN ANTONIO 104-90
PHOENIX over *PORTLAND by 7
At this rate, the Trail Blazers will be the Western Conference team stuck on the outside looking in
? Portland keeps losing games and falling ever so closer to .500. PHOENIX 112-105
L.A. LAKERS over *SACRAMENTO by 7
A formerly great rivalry has fallen by the wayside, but at least Ron Artest will give Kobe
Bryant fits with his defense.We?re rooting for Artest to give Kobe?s broken finger a few cheap
shots in the course of his tough defense, but the Lakers rotation will ultimately prove too
much for the Kings to defend against. L.A. LAKERS 110-103