Not So Hard: Syracuse advances to Sweet 16

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

03/22/2009 - Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Eric Devendorf scored 21 points and Andy Rautins added 17, as Syracuse advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament with a 78-67 victory over Arizona State at American Airlines Arena.

Rick Jackson chipped in 13 points and Jonny Flynn contributed 11 points with seven assists for the Orange (28-9), who are seeded third in the South Region and will play Oklahoma in the regional semifinals on Friday in Memphis. The second-seeded Sooners advanced Saturday with a victory over Michigan.

Syracuse was just 2-of-16 from three-point range in its 59-44 win against Stephen F. Austin in the first round on Friday, but Devendorf hit a pair from beyond the arc in the first five minutes on Sunday and quelled an Arizona State rally with consecutive treys late in the second half.

Rihards Kuksiks helped keep Arizona State in the game with six three-pointers on the way to 20 points. Ty Abbott also finished with 20 points for the Sun Devils (25-10), who haven't reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament since 1995.

James Harden, the Pac-10 Player of the Year, was just 2-of-10 from the field for Arizona State and scored only 10 points on the heels of a nine-point effort on Friday in the first round against Temple. He missed his first six shots on Sunday and didn't score from the field until a dunk with 9 1/2 minutes to play.

Arizona State trailed by as many as 15 in the second half, but Abbott hit a pair of three-pointers to fuel a 15-4 run. The second of those pulled the Sun Devils within 61-57 with 6 1/2 minutes remaining.

Rautins answered with a three-pointer for the Orange and, after two ASU free throws, Devendorf drained two from beyond the arc to give Syracuse a 70-59 edge with just over four minutes to play.

The Sun Devils got only as close as nine from there, as Syracuse defended the three-point line and made its free throws down the stretch.

Arinze Onuaku gave the Orange five players in double figures with 12 points. Rautins, who did not score in Friday's game, was 3-of-7 from long range to help Syracuse's 9-of-20 three-point production. The Orange connected on 55.3 percent from the field overall also finished an impressive 17-of-21 from the free throw line.

Arizona State, meanwhile, was just 14-of-22 from the stripe and hit 13-of-35 from beyond the arc.

Syracuse broke open a close game early with a 15-5 run. Devendorf ignited the burst with a three-pointer for a 14-10 edge and Rautins canned a pair from outside the arc to cap the surge, giving the Orange a 26-15 lead with 6:42 remaining in the half.

The Sun Devils closed the gap to 32-24 a couple of minutes later before Syracuse scored seven in a row to extend to a 15-point cushion with 2:43 to play before the break. Arizona State, however, ended the half with an 8-2 run -- six coming on a pair of three-pointers by Kuksiks -- to trail 41-32.

Kuksiks made 5-of-9 from beyond the arc in the opening 20 minutes and led the Sun Devils with 15 points. Devendorf scored 11 for the Orange.

Two free throws from Harden to start the second half pulled Arizona State within seven, but a three by Flynn a few moments later had the Orange back up by 12 and two free throws by the Big East Tournament MVP with just over 14 minutes to play gave Syracuse a 55-41 advantage. A Rautins jumper soon after gave the Orange 57-42 lead.

Game Notes

Syracuse is in the regional semifinals for the first time since losing to Alabama in 2004...Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim earned his 799th career victory -- all with the Orange...After committing 21 turnovers against Stephen F. Austin, the Orange committed just 10 on Sunday...Syracuse held a 33-24 advantage on the boards...Kristof Ongenaet returned to the floor for Syracuse after missing Friday's game with flu-like symptoms. He had five rebounds and did not score in 10 minutes...Syracuse played a Pac-10 team in the NCAA Tournament for the first time...Syracuse went virtually an entire game without shooting a free throw, as the Orange did not attempt one in the second half of Friday's game or the first half on Sunday.

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Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl Odds

Will he or won't he?  Now that the Dallas Cowboys have a new head coach in Wade Phillips, the big question will be: Does Terrell Owens stay with the team.

Jerry Jones continues to suggest that Terrell Owens will remain with the team.

"I've said that he's back, he's here, he's under contract," Jones said. "In the interviews I've just been through (to hire a new coach), it was very clear to me how highly he's thought of and how much of an impact he had on our offensive success."

Just to be sure though, Terrell Owens cleared out his locker and removed his name plate.

Terrell Owens was among the Cowboys most productive players this past season, catching 85 passes for 1,180 yards and a league-best 13 touchdowns.

But T.O. is due a $3 million roster bonus in June, then a $5 million salary this season. Cutting him before then would save a lot of money and headaches.

Aside from the questions surrounding Terrell Owens, the oddsmakers at MySportsbook.com have concerns over starting quarterback Tony Romo's state of mind and whether he will remain a starting quarterback.  It is also not known how players will adjust to new head coach, Wade Phillips.

Here are the football odds as seen at MySportsbook.com and subject to change after February 10, 2007 if not locked in prior to that date.
Arizona Cardinals 60-1


Atlanta Falcons 50-1


Baltimore Ravens 15-1


Buffalo Bills 50-1


Carolina Panthers 18-1


Chicago Bears 10-1


Cincinnati Bengals 15-1


Cleveland Browns 100-1


Dallas Cowboys 15-1


Denver Broncos 15-1


Detroit Lions 100-1


Green Bay Packers 50-1


Houston Texans 100-1


Indianapolis Colts 6-1


Jacksonville Jaguars 30-1


Kansas City Chiefs 30-1


Miami Dolphins 40-1


Minnesota Vikings 75-1


New England Patriots 10-1


New Orleans Saints 18-1


New York Giants 20-1


New York Jets 30-1


Oakland Raiders 100-1


Philadelphia Eagles 18-1


Pittsburgh Steelers 10-1


Saint Louis Rams 60-1


San Diego Chargers 6-1


San Francisco 49ers 75-1


Seattle Seahawks 20-1


Tampa Bay Buccanneers 75-1


Tennessee Titans 40-1


Washington Redskins 50-1

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook credit cards needs.