Graves leads No. 16 Butler past Evansville
NCAA Basketball Betting Lines
12/23/2006 - Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A.J. Graves scored a game-high 22 points to lead the 16th-ranked Butler Bulldogs over Evansville, 76-65, at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
Brandon Crone added 15 points and eight rebounds and Mike Green had 16 points and eight assists for the Bulldogs (12-1), who have won two in a row since suffering their lone setback of the season.
Jason Holsinger had 17 points for the Purple Aces (8-4), who had a four-game win streak halted. Shy Ely and Matt Webster each had 13 points for Evansville, which has dropped four straight and eight of nine to the Bulldogs.
Butler took the lead courtesy of a 13-2 run in the early stages. Down 11-8, Graves began the surge with a three-pointer at the 12:54 mark, while Crone's bucket with 8:08 left ended it, giving the Bulldogs a 21-13 cushion.
The lead later increased to 32-23 on a Drew Streicher dunk with 2:30 left and Butler cruised into the locker room with a 37-30 lead.
In the second half, after Evansville trimmed the deficit to 37-32, an 8-1 run gave Butler a 12-point lead. Graves drained a three-pointer to start the burst, which saw Mike Green score the final five points for a 45-33 lead with under three minutes elapsed in the stanza.
Graves later gave the Bulldogs a 59-45 advantage with a three-pointer with nine minutes left.
The Purple Aces made it interesting down the stretch, drawing within 66-61 on a Kyle Anslinger free throw with 2:21 left, but that was as close as Evansville could get as Butler won going away.
Game Notes
Anslinger had 10 points for Evansville...Streicher ended with eight points...Butler hit 46 percent of its shots, while Evansville hit 51 percent of its attempts...The Bulldogs also scored 18 points off 10 turnovers...Butler has won 15 straight at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
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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."
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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