Bryant faces tall task in clash with No. 2 UConn

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11/29/2008 - Hartford, CT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Following a successful trip to the Caribbean, the second-ranked Connecticut Huskies return home this weekend, as they welcome the Bryant Bulldogs to Hartford for a non-league matchup at the XL Center.

Jim Calhoun's Huskies have certainly looked like their lofty ranking is well deserved, as the team has won all five games on the docket thus far, including earning the Paradise Jam title, with wins over nationally-ranked foes in Miami-Florida (76-63) and Wisconsin (76-57) in the semifinals and championship game, respectively.

The Bulldogs are participating in their first season at the Division I level as an Independent. The team opened the year with a pair of losses to Albany and Columbia, but finally found the win column last time out, beating Quinnipiac, 59-50.

These two teams have played each other in each of the last four years in exhibition games, but this is the first meeting during the regular season.

It was Cecil Gresham's game-high 21 points that led the Bulldogs to a 59-50 victory over Quinnipiac in the consolation game of the Columbia Classic last time out, marking Bryant's first win in Division I play. Gresham was on fire from the floor, converting 7-of-8 shots overall, including 5-of-6 from behind the arc. He was named to the All-Tournament team after averaging 23.0 ppg during the event. Chris Birrell had a solid all-around game to complement Gresham against Quinnipiac, finishing with 10 points, four rebounds and six assists. The Bulldogs lack overall scoring depth, with Gresham's 19.3 ppg accounting for over 30 percent of the total offense (60.0 ppg). He is joined in double figures by Birrell and Barry Latham, who chip in with 10.0 ppg each. The scoring pool however, dries up quickly after that, with the next closest contributor being Jerrann Wright at just 6.0 ppg.

The Huskies have played extremely well at both ends of the floor thus far and are currently enjoying a +21.8 scoring advantage over the opposition. The team is shooting a steady .505 from the floor, leading to 84.2 ppg. Opponents are netting a mere 62.4 ppg, and being held under 40 percent shooting overall (.386). The team has plenty of scoring depth both inside and out, with five players currently boasting double-digit averages, led by junior guard Jerome Dyson's 18.2 ppg. Freshman Kemba Walker has done a a nice job mostly off the bench, adding 15.0 ppg. Senior guards Craig Austrie (10.6 ppg) and A.J. Price (8.5 ppg) provide unparalleled perimeter depth, but the real strength of this team comes down low with center Hasheem Thabeet and forward Jeff Adrien, who are both averaging a double-double. Thabeet is putting up 13.8 points and 10.6 rebounds per game and already has 22 blocks on the season. Adrien adds 13.6 points and 10.2 rebounds per outing. In the championship game of the Paradise Jam, Dyson led the way to the title with 21 points. Adrien added 14 points and eight rebounds to the cause, while Walker tallied 12 points and eight boards off the bench.

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FOOTBALL BETTING : Cassel Signs Contract

Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.

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After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."

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