Corliss Williamson takes over at Central Arkansas

NCAA Basketball Betting Lines

03/12/2010 - Conway, AR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The University of Central Arkansas has named former college and NBA standout Corliss Williamson as its next men's head basketball coach.

Williamson, who enjoyed a fruitful 12-year NBA career, played his college ball at Arkansas where he was an All-American forward. He spent the last three years as head coach of the men's team at Arkansas Baptist College in Little Rock.

"Coach Williamson made it clear from the beginning of this process that he wanted to be the head basketball coach at UCA," said UCA director of athletics Dr. Brad Teague. "Coach Williamson laid out a plan for UCA basketball with goals which align with our program and institutional goals. He made sure to absorb basketball knowledge from all the greats of the game in which he has been aligned."

Williamson takes over a program that was in the final year of a four-year transition to full NCAA Division I status. The Bears' ended their 2009-10 campaign with an overall record of 9-21, including a 3-13 mark in Southland Conference play. It led to Rand Chappell's ouster as head coach earlier this month with three years remaining on his contract.

Williamson is one of a handful of players to have won both an NCAA and NBA championship, having done so with Arkansas in 1994 and with the Detroit Pistons 10 years later. The two-time SEC Player of the Year was also named Most Outstanding Player of the 1994 NCAA Final Four.

Sporsillustrated NCAA Basketball Betting News


<< UTEP dispatches Tulsa to gain C-USA final
Tulsa, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Randy Culpepper scored 21 points and Arnett Moultrie added 18 to pace No. 25 UTEP to a 75-61 win over Tulsa in the semifinal round of the Conference USA Tournament at the BOK Center. Christian Polk

<< Tennessee moves on in SEC Tournament
Nashville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - J.P. Prince scored 17 points and Wayne Chism added 16 and 15 rebounds, as No. 15 Tennessee dismissed the Ole Miss Rebels in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament with a 76-65 victory. Cameron Tatum had fou

<< Els moves ahead at rainy CA Championship
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ernie Els fired a six-under 66 on Friday to move in front after the second round of the WGC-CA Championship at a rainy TPC Blue Monster at Doral. Els, a three-time major winner, finished 36 holes at 10-under 1

<< Auburn dismisses Lebo
Auburn, AL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Auburn University has dismissed its head men's basketball coach. The school announced on Friday that Jeff Lebo, who has helmed the program for the last six seasons, will no longer be behind the Tigers' bench.

<< Masoli, Embry the latest Ducks to enter guilty plea
Eugene, OR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - On Friday, the same day teammate LaMichael James was sentenced on a misdemeanor harassment charge, Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and wide receiver Garrett Embry pled guilty to charges of burglary. Masoli

Bucs ink LB Alston >>
Tampa, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced the signing of linebacker Jon Alston on Friday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Alston spent the last three seasons with Oakland. He recorded 23 tackles in

Redskins bring in RB Johnson >>
Ashburn, VA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Redskins signed running back Larry Johnson on Friday. Terms of the deal were not announced, but a report in the Washington Post says the contract is for three years and a total of $12 million

Blake advances at BNP Paribas Open >>
Indian Wells, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former top-five American James Blake was an easy first-round winner Friday at the $4.5 million BNP Paribas Open, an ATP World Tour Masters event. Blake cruised past Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver 6-3, 6-2

Chiefs sign veteran center Wiegmann >>
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Kansas City Chiefs have signed veteran center Casey Wiegmann. The 14-year pro spent the last two seasons with Denver and started in all 32 regular season games. He has gone the last eight

Schalke edges Stuttgart to grab first >>
Gelsenkirchen, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kevin Kuranyi scored his 14th goal of the season to lead Schalke to a 2-1 win over Stuttgart on Friday and into first place in Germany's Bundesliga. Schalke moved one point ahead of Bayern Munich

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."

Bet on NFL

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.

Bet on NFL

Mysportsbook.com online online sportsbook accepts Visa & Mastercard