Duke, Big East highlight South

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03/15/2010 - Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hours after winning their record 18th ACC Tournament title on Sunday, the Duke Blue Devils were awarded the No. 1 seed in the South Region in the 2010 NCAA Tournament.

Duke (29-5), backed by the triumvirate of Jon Scheyer, Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith, is the top seed for an 11th time and will face the winner of the opening-round game between Big South champion Winthrop and SWAC winner Arkansas-Pine Bluff, which had started its season with 11 straight losses. Those two teams will tangle in Dayton on Tuesday for the right to advance to Jacksonville.

"For our senior class I am so happy," said Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski. "Not many teams in my 30 years in the ACC have won both the regular season and the [ACC] Tournament, and I think because they did it, and we played such a tough schedule, these kids were rewarded with a No. 1 seed."

The Blue Devils, whose only loss in the past 13 games came at Maryland on March 3rd, may face one of the three Big East teams slated in their portion of the bracket if they get past Friday's first-round matchup, as either Louisville or California will be waiting in the round of 32.

Also on Friday, the Cardinals (20-12), the No. 9 seed and the only team that defeated Big East regular season champion Syracuse twice this season, will face the Pac-10's Golden Bears (23-10), who were given the No. 8 seed after falling to Washington in the conference finale.

Villanova (24-7), despite losing five of its last seven games, is seeded second in the South thanks to a strong showing in Big East play and a veteran club that reached last year's Final Four. In the first round on Thursday, the Wildcats meet Northeast Conference champion Robert Morris (23-11), which is seeded 15th in the Big Dance for a second straight year.

The third seed was given to Baylor (25-7), which fell short of appearing in its first Big 12 title game with a loss to Kansas State in the semis of the conference tourney. Nevertheless, the Bears, led by LaceDarius Dunn (19.4 ppg), were given a high seed and will face No. 14 Sam Houston State (25-7), the Southland Conference champion.

"Sam Houston is very well coached. They have done very well against Big 12 schools teams in the past few years and we know we will have our hands full," Baylor head coach Scott Drew said after learning of Thursday's first-round matchup.

Purdue (27-5) picked up a No. 4 seed after there was speculation it might steal a coveted No. 1 slot just three weeks ago. The Boilermakers have dropped just two games since, but they more importantly lost the services of star forward Robbie Hummel to a knee injury.

"I felt we would be a 1-3 [seed]. Our resume says we're a two or three," proclaimed Purdue head coach Matt Painter, who admitted Hummel's injury caused his team's stock to slip. "I don't begrudge the committee for putting us as a four seed. They did what they felt was best. I think it can serve as motivation for our guys to play better."

On the heels of its 69-42 loss to Minnesota in the Big Ten semifinals, which included an embarrassing 11-point first half, Purdue gets a stiff first-round test on Friday against No. 13 seed Siena (27-6), fresh of its third consecutive Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title. The Saints have advanced to the second round in each of the past two seasons, including an upset of Vanderbilt as a No. 13 seed in 2008.

The always interesting 5-12 matchup on Friday pits Aggies vs. Aggies, as Texas A&M (23-9), the ninth seed, battles Utah State (27-7). Texas A&M ended its season on a nice run, winning nine of its last 12 games, though two loses came against Kansas, the current No. 1 team in the nation. Utah State, meanwhile, had won 17 in a row before being upset by New Mexico State in the Western Athletic Conference title game on Saturday.

The final Big East team in this part of the bracket is Notre Dame (23-11), which used a late-season run to earn the No. 6 seed. The Fighting Irish changed up their style of play to win six straight before losing a heartbreaking decision to eventual tourney champ West Virginia in the semis.

Waiting for the Irish in the first round on Thursday is No. 11 seed and Colonial Athletic Association champion Old Dominion (26-8), making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2005.

Rounding out the South Regional is a battle between schools in mid-major conferences, as No. 7 Richmond takes on No. 10 Saint Mary's on Thursday. The Spiders (26-8) held their own in a surprisingly competitive Atlantic 10 Conference, winning 12 of 13 games before losing a 56-52 decision to Temple in the title game on Sunday. The Gaels (26-5) also made the finale in their conference but toppled nationally-ranked Gonzaga to win the West Coast Conference.

The region's Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games will be played at Houston's Reliant Stadium on Friday and Sunday, March 26 and 28.

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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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