A report from the Washington Post earlier Wednesday put the timetable on
Haywood's return at four-to-six months, putting his entire season in jeopardy.
The Wizards will not report on a timeline for recovery until after surgery,
which is yet to be scheduled.
The surgery will repair a torn dorsal scapho-lunate ligament in his right
wrist. Haywood visited two hand specialists earlier Wednesday, both of whom
concluded that surgery was necessary. He suffered the injury during
training camp last week.
Haywood averaged a career-high 10.6 points and 7.2 rebounds last season for
Washington and matched a career-mark with 1.7 blocks per contest. The UNC
product also set a new career-high for average minutes played with 27.9 per
game and competed in 80 of 82 games.
The news comes one day after Washington forward Antawn Jamison hurt his
right knee in the first quarter of Tuesday's preseason opener against the
Dallas Mavericks.
An MRI performed Wednesday revealed no further damage beyond a contusion.
Although Washington has no timetable for his return, the two-time All-Star is
expected to be ready for the team's regular-season opener.
Jamison averaged 21.4 points and 10.2 rebounds in 79 contests last season.
During the offseason, Jamison re-upped with the Wizards in a
four-year extension worth $50 million.
The Wizards are already without guard Gilbert Arenas likely for the next
several months because of a knee injury.
<< Oden solid in preseason debut
Portland, OR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - More than a year after being selected first
overall in the NBA draft, Greg Oden had a smashing debut with the Portland
Trail Blazers, scoring 13 points, pulling down five rebounds and blocking a
pair of
<< Jamison hurts knee in preseason opener
Dallas, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Washington Wizards forward Antawn Jamison
strained his right knee in the first quarter of Tuesday's preseason opener
against the Dallas Mavericks.
Jamison was on the defensive side trying to guard Dir
<< Troy QB Hampton hurts leg
Boca Raton, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Troy quarterback Jamie Hampton suffered what
appeared to be a devastating left leg injury during Tuesday's 30-17 win over
Florida Atlantic.
Hampton was injured in the final minute of the third quarter on
<< Wallace, Allmendinger replace Carpentier at GEM
Statesville, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Canadian Patrick Carpentier has been
released from his driving duties of the No.10 Dodge in the Sprint Cup Series,
Gillett Evernham Motorsports officials announced Tuesday. Mike Wallace will
drive
<< NFC West: Cardinals show there's no place like home
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Much has been made of Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken
Whisenhunt's decision to keep his team on the East Coast following its road
loss to the Washington Redskins in Week 3. Needless to say, the second-year
sideline boss lear
Panthers activate three from IR >>
Sunrise, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Florida Panthers activated forwards
David Booth, Radek Dvorak and Stephen Weiss from injured reserve on Thursday.
Booth recorded 22 goals and 40 points in 73 games last season, his second full
NHL c
Hatcher, Parent placed on IR by Flyers >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Flyers placed
defensemen Derian Hatcher and Ryan Parent on the injured reserve list
Thursday.
Hatcher is out indefinitely with a right knee injury that could possibl
Cowboys say Jones will play Sunday; NFL gathering information >>
Dallas, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Dallas Cowboys won't discipline cornerback
Adam Jones after he was involved in an altercation with a personal security
guard at a Dallas hotel early Wednesday morning.
Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips s
Saints' Shockey, Colston back at practice >>
New Orleans, LA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New Orleans tight end Jeremy Shockey and
star wide receiver Marques Colston appear close to returning to the playing
field as each participated in practice during the week.
Shockey, who underwent spo
Eagles' Westbrook misses practice again >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian
Westbrook missed practice again on Thursday in preparation for the upcoming
game against San Francisco.
Westbrook, who has been hampered by a sprained ankle he
Numerous College Basketball teams take final big step to March Madness betting
So, what turned on the lock spigot? Well, after what felt like weeks of teams treading water and slipping back into the bubble muck, a bunch of them finally decided to say "to heck with parity" and won games that should put them into the Big Dance.
Disagree with some of these? Then here's the challenge. Take all of the "should be ins" and make a legit case that each should be ahead of the team that's a lock. Then find 10 more teams that also should be placed in the bracket ahead of that lock team. Not so easy, is it?
If you want more evidence that these locks should be good to go, check out what our research department dug up. Since the NCAA Tournament went to 64 teams in 1985, only six teams from a "big six" conference have had a record of 10-6 or better in conference play and not been selected: Colorado (2004) and Nebraska (1999) from the Big 12, Boston College and Seton Hall (both 2003) from the Big East, Indiana (2005) from the Big Ten and UCLA, which somehow went 12-6 in the Pac-10 in 1988 and still missed out. (Note: Five teams went 11-7 and didn't get in, the latest being last season's Stanford team, which had a brutal nonconference run.)
Yes, 10 conference wins doesn't always mean what it used to because of unbalanced schedules, but this season, it should be plenty good in all but the extreme cases (see: Iowa).
In a way, this is a welcome development, because this is a bubble watch, not a lock watch. We can finally be done with teams like Maryland and Virginia Tech and start really bearing down on at-large battles such as Syracuse-West Virginia and Appalachian State-Georgia Tech.
Interestingly, all the shifting of teams into lock status appears to be more administrative than impactful. The number of remaining available at-larges didn't change one iota. The only difference is that teams on the bubble now have a clearer idea of which team(s) they are competing with for those precious bids.
As always, I've tried to be as inclusive as possible while only including teams that would have a reasonable chance of at least being discussed if this were Selection Sunday. If your team's not on here, there's probably a good reason (or three) -- start with the RPI and SOS numbers and work your way down.
(Please remember, per selection committee criteria, that records displayed are Division I only. Next update: Feb. 28)
If you have a legitimate grievance, or just like talking bubble, send an e-mail. Polite ones with fact-based arguments have a much better chance of receiving a response. I apologize in advance if I can't get back to all of you.
Atlantic Coast Conference
Work left to do: Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech
The ACC moves to six locks as BC, Va Tech and Virginia all got their 10th ACC wins, which should be more than enough this season, and Maryland rallied past North Carolina to get the final piece the Terps needed. After that? It could end there unless FSU, Ga Tech or Clemson picks things up in a hurry.
Work left to do:
Clemson [19-9 (5-9), RPI: 41, SOS: 42] The Tigers are closer to locking up the collapse of the year award (in a good battle with OK State) than they are to grabbing an at-large. Clemson's been very competitive, but there's no really positive way you can spin nine losses in 11 games. They now cannot get to .500 in ACC play and still must head to Virginia Tech in the season finale (after hosting Miami). Unless the Tigers win both and/or do some serious work in the ACC tourney, they very well could be left out. There are no great nonconference wins, but ODU, App State, Miss. State, South Carolina and Georgia are all respectable W's.
Florida State [18-11 (6-9), RPI: 48, SOS: 14] The Noles got thrashed at Maryland to run their losing streak to five, but then pounded NC State at home to set the table for what likely is an elimination game at Miami. You can at least make a case for the Seminoles at 7-9 in ACC play (and some work in the ACC tourney), but 6-10 is not going to cut it. Wins at Duke and over Florida will resonate, but the computer numbers remain questionable. Beyond Florida, FSU thrashed bubble buddy Providence, but there's not a ton beyond those two games that will help. They didn't show well in big-time opportunities against Pitt and Wisconsin (before the Florida win).
Georgia Tech [18-10 (6-8), RPI: 51, SOS: 46] The Jackets beat Wake on Wednesday but couldn't get it done at UVa on Saturday, which could be a crucial loss with UNC and BC (both at home) remaining and 8-8 almost a certain need for at-large consideration. A nonconference win over Memphis helps, but the RPI and SOS are not at-large quality right now; if you combine those with a sub-.500 ACC mark, that could spell NIT for GT.
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