Hoosier Daddy?

Although the title may be cliche, Indiana basketball fans

indeed have something to cheer about this year... their 12-0 Hoosiers.

During my freshman year in high school, we took a trip to Indiana while me and my two younger brothers were on spring break.  As we were driving into the small town of Orleans, I couldn't help but noticing something a bit peculiar.  Through the back window of our car I saw a little kid, maybe eight years old, carrying a basketball.  He had no shoes, no shirt, and shorts that appeared as if they were older than Greg Oden.  For the next 30 minutes, the sight I became accustomed to seeing was simply the game of basketball being played by those who appeared to have nothing else.  To this day, I still don't know if I've ever seen a more fundamentally sound exhibition of basketball during "casual" pick-up games.  There was not a single person trying to "break someone's ankles" or "posterize  a big man", but rather cutting, setting picks, and even setting up screens away from the ball.  So, my point is that no matter how scared basketball traditionalists may be about "losing the sport to showboating and hot dogging" just try to remember that you've always got young kids from small towns in the Hoosier state who are more concerned with winning a championship for their small town than they may ever be about fancy cars, big houses, or expensive jewelery that comes with being a professional basketball players in David Stern's long reigning dictatorship. 

Now, enough rambling... how bout them Hoosiers?  Who would have thought at the beginning of the 2011-12 season that Indiana would be off to this great of a start?  We all knew that this year's team was talented... but undefeated?  I don't think that anyone outside of Tom Crean and his players could have expected this kind of start.  Christian Watford's buzzer beater to shock top ranked Kentucky has definitely been the defining moment of their season, and the crowd storming the court without a doubt embodied the passion of one of the most loyal fan bases in college sports today.  Other key victories on their schedule this year have been a 75-59 win over two time defending national runner up Butler & a hard fought win over Notre Dame at Conseco Fieldhouse. 

The youngest of the three Zeller brothers (all Indiana High Basketball phenomenons), Cody has led Indiana in scoring as well as rebounding.  Through twelve games, he has averaged 15.1 ppg & 7.3 rpg.  Bloomington product Jordan Hulls is also averaging 12.1 ppg as the Hoosiers' Junior point guard.  Victor Oladipo, Assembly Hall Hero Christrain Watford, and Will Sheehey are also scoring in double figures on the year.

The Hoosiers will need their elite play to continue if they want to make any kind of statement in what is shaping up to be their first tournament appearance since 2008.  Their last Final Four appearance came in 2002, when they fell to Juan Dixon's Maryland team in the National Championship Game. 

Time is yet to tell how Indiana will match-up with their first three Big Ten opponents, though.  Tom Izzo's Michigan State team is once again in the Top 25, Thad Matta has the Buckeyes at #2 in the country, and the 19th ranked Wolverines who possess developing talent Tim Hardaway Jr. 

The talent is there for Indiana, and from this point on their success will be determined by how they play against quality opponents.  Not getting complacent and being motivated to play teams such as Iowa, Penn State and Nebraska will be key as well.  Northwestern could also be a challenge this season with Jon Shurna & Drew Crawford leading the way. 

My early prediction for the Hoosiers is a five seed some March.  And depending on what bracket they end up in, it is very possible that they may make a run deep into the tournament. 

Nobody knows what the future holds for the Hoosiers this year, only time will tell.  However, it is refreshing to see one of basketball's original blue bloods climbing up the ranks of college basketball's elite once again. 



Off to the Races

Always a big name amongst the nation's mid-majors, the Murray State Racers

are off to a perfect start after ten games.

March 18, 2010 will be a day that no one associated with Murray State University will ever forget.  On this day, Danero Thomas sank a buzzer beater to shock the 4th seeded Vanderbilt Commodores in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.  A stunned San Jose crowd looked on as the Racers celebrated on the HP Pavilion floor.  However, Murray State, through the conference tournament, finished with a 30-4 record.  They weren't exactly a team that had showed up out of nowhere and turned heads.

The 2011-12 team is now ranked in many top 25 polls, and have gotten of to a 10-0 start this year.  One of their victims were Josh Pastner's Memphis team, a club many believed would compete for a bid in New Orleans this year.  Seven players on this year's team were also on the 2009-10 squad, including the team's top three scorers this season (Isaiah Canaan, Donte Poole, and Ivan Aska).  They also defeated Dayton, a team that many are including in this year's NCAA Tournament field.

Their schedule from this day on doesn't get much more difficult.  With no BCS conference opponents remaining on their schedule, one may actually get to wondering if the Racers can go undefeated heading into what seems to be an inevitable NCAA Tournament appearance.

Despite their lack of quality opponents (with the exception of Memphis and Dayton), this is an experienced team which consists of three seniors & six seniors.  However, we will find out how truly talented and well coached this team is once March is upon us. 

Struggling USC Attempts to Reach .500 Tonight vs UNLV

After a sluggish start, the underachieving Trojans

can silence a few of the doubter with a solid performance in

four team Las Vegas Invitational.

Their football team can't play in the postseason, but their Men's Basketball team can.  After being a team many considered an NCAA tournament lock in the preseason, Jio Fontan tore his ACL and was declared out for the year.  Fontan was expected to lead USC this season, even carry the team on his back.  Now, with his injury, the Trojans haven't found any one player who has been able to fill even somewhat of the void.

Although former Iowa Hawkeye Aaron Fuller and 5'7" sophomore Maurice Jones are both averaging double figures in scoring, junior college standout Dwayne Dedmon has failed in many people's eyes to live up to the hype.  In 24 minutes per game, Dedmon has averaged seven points and six boards.  Not exactly impressive for a man who was believed to be a dominating force down low for USC.

Things aren't getting much easier for USC tonight, as they take on a UNLV team who is 5-0, expected to win the Mountain West conference and appear in their third consecutive NCAA Tournament.  The Rebels are led by first year head coach Dave Rice, who played for Jerry Tarkanian's 1990 national championship team. 

The Trojans have to be nothing short of stellar from here on out if they expect a tournament berth this year.  While they lost to Nebraska and a declining San Diego State team, they also fell at home to Cal Poly, an opponent from the much smaller Big West Conference. 

If they are victorious tonight, they will play the winner of the #1 North Carolina/South Carolina contest. 

Maui Invitational Preview

With one of the most intriguing tournament fields in recent years,

the 2011 installment of the EA Sports Maui Invitational promises

to bring us great match-ups, all the way through the

title game on November 23rd.

Quarterfinal #1:  Michigan vs Memphis

Expect two sophomore standouts to battle it out during Maui's opening contest.  Memphis guard Will Barton is physically gifted and has a unique knack for the game of basketball.  Although his decision making can be called into question at times, he will ultimately determine how far Josh Pastner's Tigers go this season.  On the other side of the court is the son of the man with the "Killer Crossover", Tim Hardaway Jr.  With last year's leading scorer Darius Morris now having to deal with the unfortunate NBA lockout, Hardaway will be the main option this year for Michigan. 

Although both sides have shooter who can terrorize opponents from the perimeter, this game will ultimately come down to which star comes up big.  Will Barton is the overall more talented player, so Memphis wraps this one up in nail biting fashion.

Memphis def. Michigan 68-63

Quarterfinal 2#:  Duke vs Tennessee

Yes, Tennessee has a few freshman to watch out for.  The most notable is freshman Josh Richardson.  And through two games they are shooting an impressive 49 percent from beyond the arc.  However, when you look at Duke's team, and their coach, you tend to forget much of that.  Duke's Austin Rivers, in my opinion, is the best freshman in the nation, and maybe the best all-around guard in America, regardless of class.  People also tend to look past the versatility of the Blue Devils' Mason Plumlee.  The junior is averaging 11 points & 9 rebounds on the young season, and is deceptively athletic. 

And, if the talent for whatever insane reason isn't enough to beat Tennessee, then the shooting of Andre Dawkins, Ryan Kelly, Tyler Thornton, and Seth Curry will be.

Duke def. Tennessee 91-75

Quarterfinal #3:  UCLA vs Chaminade

Did anyone see the Bruins starting 0-2?  Okay, this team may have been a bit overrated in the preseason, but they shouldn't be losing to Middle Tennessee State by 20 points.  Despite all of this, and the suspension to Reeves Nelson, they're playing a Division II opponents who should produce virtually no challenge for struggling UCLA.

UCLA def. Chaminade 89-55

Quarterfinal #4:  Georgetown vs Kansas

For the first time in a long while, the Hoyas are in a rebuilding stage.  With only two seniors on the team, they don't have much in the way of talent to contend for long against Kansas.  Thomas Robinson should dominate the rebounding category early and often, while Tyshawn Taylor will hurt the Georgetown defense in a number of ways. 

Kansas def. Georgetown 79-68

Semifinal #1:  Duke vs Memphis

While Josh Pastner's team may be talented enough to defeat many other opponents, this shouldn't be the case against Coach K's program.  Mason Plumlee's length should bother the Tigers, and Austin Rivers has the ability to score at will.  Once again, Duke just has too many weapons, and has a deadly arsenal with several shooter who can fill it up from the three point line.  Don't expect this game to be a cake walk, but the Devils are just too talented for Pastner's Tigers.

Duke def. Memphis 69-62

Semifinal 2:  UCLA vs Kansas

Ben Howland's team isn't playing so-so opponents anymore.  They're playing a still talented Kansas team despite all of the Jayhawks' key losses from last season.  Although Reeves Nelson should have returned from his suspension by this time, they will most likely be outclassed by Bill Self's team.  Robinson plus Taylor simply provide too much of a dynamic duo for a team still searching for its identity to deal with. 

Although I expect UCLA to make a bit of a rally during the second half, the Jayhawks still come out on top.

Kansas def. UCLA 71-61

Championship Game:  Duke vs Kansas

Basketball fans, old school and new, will want to tune in for this match-up.  On one side there's Mike Krzyewski who is now the all-time winningest coach in Division I history.  Across the sidelines from him will be Kansas coach Bill Self, who has kept the Jayhawks amongst the nation's elite year after year since arriving on campus in 2003.  He also has an AP Coach of the Year Award (2009) and the 2008 National Championship on his resume.

This title game should go back in forth, but Duke's role players & shooters will make the difference in the end.  Expect Seth Curry to have a big night (with the defense locked in on Austin Rivers) as well as sharpshooting Tyler Thornton. 

Duke takes home the title in a hard fought overtime thriller.

Duke def. Kansas 73-70 to win 2011 EA Sports Maui Invitational

Thank you everyone for reading this, and be sure to subscribe and check out my other blogs, which cover basketball & college football.  Thank you.



  

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Can Arizona catch its stride tonight against Duqense?

After a shaky start in exhibition play, can the Wildcats

regain the mojo that they showed on Monday?

In the season opener against Valparaiso, the Arizona Wildcats looked nothing like the team that lost to Seattle Pacific in an exhibition game during the preseason.  Instead, they more so resembled the Wildcat team that made it all the way to the Elite Eight of the 2011 NCAA Tournament. 

From the tip-off Arizona proved it was more talented than the struggling Crusaders, who, with the exception of two players who had 18 points, had nobody in double figures for scoring.  The Wildcats had three players that recorded double digits.  Freshman Nick Johnson came off the bench and scored 14, while Kyle Fogg led 'Zona in scoring with 16 points.  Senior Jesse Perry poured in 14, and along the way grabbed ten rebounds.

The Duqense Dukes are competing in their first game of the season tonight.  They have lost their two leading scorers from the 2010-11 season, Damian Saunders & Bill Clark.  The Dukes finished last year with a 19-13 record, finished off with a loss to Oregon in the CBI Quarterfinals.

Also, Nick Johnson of Arizona has an upside that any coach would love for a player to have.  U of A fans hope that they can soon forget about Lamont Jones' transfer to Iona with Nick Johnson leading their back court for the years to come.

Waco State of Mind

Two seasons removed from the Elite 8, Baylor's talent filled roster looks to take

the next step forward this year.

How much will LaceDarius Dunn's departure be felt?  Through his Junior & Senior years, Dunn led the Bears in points per game.  One of the better scorers in basketball throughout his last two years in college, the 6'4" guard seemed capable of pouring it in from anywhere at times. 

Perry Jones, a projected lottery pick in the 2012 draft, decided to stay at Baylor.  One has to believe that his decision had much to do with the uncertainty of the NBA actually playing any games in the 2011-12 season.  Chicago native Quincy Miller will be his running mate in the Baylor frontcourt.  His versatility should definitely help out Baylor, as well as give Perry Jones more isolation opportunities in the low post.  Pro Scouts have also been extremely impressed with Miller's Basketball I.Q.  When you have a player who's 6'8" and knows the game like Miller does, it can be extremely dangerous for the opposition.  Expect the Baylor frontcourt to dominate virtually all opponents this upcoming season.

If you go on YouTube, you can find a plethora of Duece Bello highlights films.  Almost unanimously considered the best dunker amongst freshman this year, Duece should somewhat be able to fill the void left in the Baylor backcourt by LaceDarius Dunn.  Although his jumpshot tends to be a bit spotty, his athleticism and ability to drive at will has head coach Scott Drew referring to him as "the most athletic player I've ever recruited." 

Depending on where they are placed during March, the Bears are very capable of making a run at the final four this year.  All of their pieces simply need to gel together.  If Jones and Miller show out they way that they're capable of this year, and the others can excel in their roles, the Bears will without a doubt compete for a date in New Orleans this year.





NBA 2K12 First Impressions

No rookies?  No problem.  NBA 2K12. will give basketball gamers all that they

 need during the duration of the NBA lockout.

No Kyrie. No Derrick Williams. Nobody will be taught how to Jimmer for the better part of two months since the release of the game. The lockout has left a number of NBA fans depressed, and maybe even drove a larger number away from watching the pro game. However, if you are a basketball junkie like myself, then NBA 2K12 will give you more than you need to stay entertained before the 2011-12 NBA season begins (whenever that may be). 

For the better part of an hour I navigated the menus, in absolute awe of a video game of all things. The 1964-65 Lakers vs the 1964-65 Celtics consumed the majority of my attention on October 4th. The black and white display, announcers' voices sounding 1960-ish, and no three point line were all among the amazing features that had my jaw dropped. Bill Russell, like he did in his playing days, changed the game like no one else. John Havlicek, with the ability to score from anywhere on the floor, bailed me out on numerous occasions. However, if the game came down to the closing minutes, Jerry West or high flying Elgin Baylor would stick a dagger in my heart with a spectacular play that they seemed to come up with on every single possession in the game's final quarter or overtime. Nonetheless, the NBA's Greatest Mode is extremely authentic, and even the casual basketball fan will be able to appreciate its accurate representation of the game in the "good ol' days."

The pregame pump up video is insane. Not only does the music coincidentally seem to fit whatever kind of game that you're playing, but one song even has a special effect when it is played during the pregame promo. If the song "Awesome" comes on, the word AWESOME will even pop up during the promo. After the short clip, the starting lineups look even more realistic than ever before. The back court players come up on the screen, dribbling the ball or even twirling it around their head while it displays their stats and percentages. The same happens with the three front court players. Like last year, the pregame rituals (such as Dwayne Wade's chin-ups on the rim, LeBron's Powder Toss, Tim Duncan's caressing the ball, etc.) all remain on one of the top selling franchises in sports video games. 

I have not seen it for myself, but from what I've heard, shots at the buzzer are reviewed on this year's game. It has been told to me that the referees go to the monitor after the shot, and even review the play in slow motion, so that one can tell much easier whether or not the shot was released on time. While the celebrations for winning shots are still a bit generic, the atmosphere in the arena definitely gets magnified by 100 when the game is close in the final seconds. Another thing that had me constantly viewing to the replay was the animated first row of the crowd. If the ball is heading towards the people who paid Donald Trump like money for their floor seats, they sometimes actually flinch to get out of the way. Other times, it seems like they also gravitate towards the ball. Some fan will be going home with a lucky souvenir. 

A thing that went remarkably unnoticed during Miami's 2006 Title run was the "White Out" by Heat fans. When you look around the crowd and see nothing but white, you know that the crowd is behind their team, and the stakes couldn't be higher. Now, when you play with certain teams on NBA 2K12, the local faithful will wear their battle colors. Whether it may be the blue for Oklahoma City, all red for the Windy City, or green in Beantown, you definitely know where you're playing during the postseason.

Now, unfortunately, come some of the negatives.  Despite 2K's servers being a major issue the last few years, they still have not been fixed.  On the game's release day, when I first played online, once I finally did find an opponent poor connection wouldn't even allow us to play.  Also, there were a few instances when the game froze after a defensive three second violation.  But, even with these few flaws found in this game, it without a doubt deserves the 9.5 rating that it received from IGN.com.

If you appreciate throwback basketball at its finest, do not hesitate to purchase the latest installment of 2K Basketball.  If you're a graphics person, then you may want to take a trip to your local Wal-Mart and pick up this game.  The faces look unbelievably real.  All in all, the pros outweigh the cons by a long shot.  Those who say "With no rookies, it's just like play NBA 2K11 all over again" couldn't be further from the truth.  In my opinion, this is the biggest leap that i've ever seen a sports game make over the span of just one year.

Team That Impressed Me (Week 4)

Although they faced adversity throughout, Oklahoma State persevered to win

a top-10 match-up in College Station.

For the past two weeks, Texas A&M has been all over ESPN and sporting networks everywhere.  The topic of realignment has been a subject that consumed the majority of our attention throughout the recent weeks.  However, today's Aggie/Cowboy game consisted of two teams in the top 10 of most major college football polls.  Remember, Kyle Field is home of the "12th Man" and one of the most hostile atmospheres in the college game.  The home field advantage worked for about 32 minutes on Saturday, then Brandon Weeden and the Cowboys began playing as if they were possessed. 

Along with throwing for a school record 438 yards and two scores, Weeden played extremely efficient as well.  47 for 60 passing, 7.3 yards per completion, and no interceptions were among his astronomical stats on the afternoon.  After Tracy Moore's four yard touchdown reception, the Cowboys gained a lead that they never relinquished.  Although A&M had a chance on its last drive, James Thomas dashed their hopes for winning on the last drive by intercepting a Ryan Tannehill pass with 1:31 remaining.  Justin Blackmon intentionally got a safety at the end of the game to secure a 30-29 win for the Cowboys, their first of the year against a ranked opponent. 

In a losing effort, Ryan Tannehill was stellar, throwing for 309 yards and two touchdowns, despite throwing three interceptions.  Josh Cooper led the way for OSU with 123 yards on 11 catches, while Blackmon caught 11 balls for 121 yards and a score.  

***This is my first football blog, please offer constructive criticism.  Thank you***  

Alabama Plays Basketball?

After being snubbed from the 2011 Big Dance, Alabama

heads into this season with a chip on its shoulder,

and more dangerous than ever.

On Selection Sunday 2011, the reality set in for JaMychal Green, Tony Mitchell, and 21-11 Alabama. Despite finishing first in the SEC's west division in 2010-11, the Tide were denied an opportunity at glory by failing to qualify for the 2011 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. However, Alabama bounced back and finished second in the Postseason NIT, losing to a talented Wichita State team in the Finals. This year, Alabama has enough talent & experience to not only make the tournament, but win a game or two along the way.

While I could sit here and criticize the NCAA selection committee for controversially denying Anthony Grant's team a chance to go dancing this past season, the potential of an exciting team from Tuscaloosa makes me bite my tongue. If you had the pleasant opportunity to observe this team last year, you know exactly what I am talking about.    They have scary athletes on their team, most notably Tony Mitchell and JaMychal Green.  And, considering the experience that Green gained over the summer from playing for Team USA in the World University Games, expect him to improve drastically in 2011-12.  I know, that's a scary thought.  Green was a force last season for the Tide.  Anyone that watched him play noticed how he single-handedly Now, with even more experience under his belt, consider him to make a legitimate push for SEC Player of the Year, or at least make one of the all-conference teams if nothing else.  Another reason to be excited for Crimson Tide Basketball this year is Tony Mitchell.  The 6'6" forward from Swainsboro, Georgia was 'Bama's second leading scorer last year, and often wowed fans with his athleticism and rim-rattling dunks.  Don't forget about Trevor Releford, who played the role of leader as a freshman and displayed talent & poise at the point guard position last year.

Then, you have the recruiting class.  Levi Randolph & Trevor Lacey are just two of the six players that signed with the Crimson Tide this past summer.  While both Randolph and Lacey are shooting guards, their skill sets compliment each other quite well.  Randolph is more of an all-around threat, a leader.  Trevor Lacey on the other hand can be quite the scorer when the Tide need a big time basket late in a close game.  It should be interesting to see the types of minutes both players will receive. 

Alabama's non-conference schedule is one that should not be taken lightly however, as they play in a very tough field in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off tournament to begin the year.  They start off the tournament with a quarterfinal match up against Maryland, a team that many college basketball fans will be paying attention to because of Gary Williams' recent retirement.  If they get past that test, there is a possibility that we will see a rematch of last year's NIT Championship Game, as the Crimson Tide would take on Wichita State in the Semi-Finals.  Although they are picked to win the Tip-Off  tournament, the tests don't stop there.  As a matter of fact, they get much harder.  They face off against last year's Cinderella team VCU and their exuberant young head coach Shaka Smart on November 27th, followed by a match up at Coleman Coliseum against John Thompson's Georgetown Hoyas.  Freshman phenom Lebryan Nash comes to town, and the Yellow Jackets host the Crimson Tide on 1/3 to tip off 2012.  In conference play, the Tide must also go on the road to Kentucky, a team that they defeated at Coleman last year. 


Despite their tough schedule, Alabama has the talent, and now the experience to win against the nation's top college teams.  Anthony Grant is an underrated coach, the 1-2 punch of Mitchell/Green should be exciting to watch, and the "new guys on campus" should make an immediate impact.  This is a team that, not only will make the tournament, but should win quite a few games.  Expect a 4 or 5 seed from Alabama. 

Was Kyrie Irving the Right Choice?

Did the Cavaliers make a mistake by not picking Arizona sophmore Derrick Williams

second overall in the 2011 NBA Draft?

Chris Paul. Comparisons to CP3 are already being drawn for Cavalier guard Kyrie Irving. Before he was injured, Irving was hands down the best guard in the country. You're looking at a 6'2" point guard who can shoot BETTER than CP3 could entering his rookie year, he's quick, controls the tempo of the game, and has a very high basketball I.Q. However, is he too injury prone to be taken over a 6'9" Forward whose upside may be the biggest that anyone has had in years?


Now, do not get me wrong. If all goes well for Kyrie, he will be an all-star, and one of the better guards in the NBA. However, Derrick Williams has an NBA body, and is much too athletic to NOT be a success in the league. His instincts and shot blocking ability will be a plus for him as well. If I was Dan Gilbert, I might have actually taken Williams with the first pick. Williams led Arizona to the Elite 8, even beating Irving's duke squad along the way. Late in the game, Williams has proved able to get his team a block or a rebound, whatever they may need. Built from the Blake Griffin/Kenyon Martin (with a jump shot) mold, he is a freak athlete, and maybe the only STAR that will come from the draft class of 2011.


Although he is an undersized Power Forward, Williams can play the three at the NBA Level, largely due to his ability to shoot from the perimeter.  Oh, and don't for a second forget about his speed.  His quick first step makes his explosiveness even more deadly.  When you have a body like his, with the versatility and athleticism he possesses, your upside is astronomical.


Now, Kyrie Irving is one of the best point guard prospects in years.  He will definitely find his place among the better point guards in the league.  However, D-Will is a rare find and should be an extremely special player.

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Not Quite: Finland Falls to Croatia 84-79 on Exciting First Day of EuroBasket

Despite a valiant effort, simple mistakes cost Finland a nail biter against

the Croatians.



Out of the five teams in Group C, Greece may be the only superior to a cool, calm, and collected Croatian club.  Before this game, Finland did not appear as if they would pose any sort of threat to Croatia.  However, if you can sink your three pointers, anything is possible.  Although they only shot 40.7% from distance, they still made 11 three pointers, led by Gerald Lee Jr. who hit three from beyond the arc for the 'Fins.  And even though Croatia decisively won the rebounding battle 43-28, it was still any one's game heading into the final few minutes.  This is a time where you need to execute and make plays down the stretch.

On offense, Croatia continued to find Bojan Bogdanovic open for shots.  He scored 26 points on 9 for 13 shooting from the floor and 6 for 8 from deep.   For Finland, free throws proved to be the difference maker in my mind.  With 1:13 to play and Croatia up four, Salin missed two foul shots that would have shifted momentum and made this opening day contest a one possession game.  And finally, with three seconds remaining, Gerald Lee missed two foul shots that would have cut the lead to three points.  Croatia rebounded the second miss and let the clock run.  While Croatia found a go-to-guy in the closing minutes of a game that most believed should have been a blowout, Finland's failure to simply convert towards the end cost them greatly.

For Finland, things will only get rougher tomorrow as they take on a Greece team that many expect to win the 2011 EuroBasket tournament, and are ranked 4th in the Fiba Rankings.  Croatia should have somewhat of an easier game tomorrow, as they take on 0-1 Macedonia. 

Next Game:     Croatia (1-0) vs F.Y.R. of Macedonia (0-1)

                       Finland (0-1) vs Greece (1-0)

Dominican Republic Rolls Past Cuba 90-60

On the first day of the Fiba Americas from Argentina,

the D.R. blew past the Cubans, taking advantage of their talent &

experience to collect a 30 point opening game victory.

Now, when you think of the Dominican Republic, you typically think of baseball.  It is one of, if not the biggest international crop of talent on the globe.  Then, you have their basketball program.  Although they have never qualified for the Olympics, I personally believe that this may be the year.  With Kentucky Wildcat head coach John Calipari at the helm, gameplan should never be an issue for the Dominicans, especially since Calipari's dribble drive motion offense suits the international game so well.  So let's talk about the talent on this team:  You have NBA All-Star Al Horford, the Kings' Francisco Garcia, Detroit Piston Power Forward Cahrlie Villanueva, as well as former Lousivlle standout Edgar Sosa at the point. 

This game was no contest form beginning to end.  The Dominican Republic led 18-8 after the first period, and never looked back from there.  For those who watched this game, Cuba was simply outclassed.  The quicker & more experienced Dominicans forced bad shots, and the majority of the time made the Cubans go one and done offensively, with Jack Michael Martinez grabbing a game high 10 boards.  Horford poured in a game high 24 points and nine rebounds in 29 minutes of play. 

This Dominican team can play with any team in this year's field, while Cuba's young talent needs to gain better chemistry amongst themselves and make better decisions with and without the basketball.  Too many times in this game poor help defense by Cuba would lead to open shots for the D.R. 

Next Game:  Dominican Republic (1-0) vs Venezuela [8/31]

                     Cuba (0-1) vs Venezuela [9/1]

Team Preview: #1 North Carolina



After appearing out of virtually nowhere to win the ACC outright in 2010-11,

a final four berth for the Tar Heels in 2012 is all but locked up.

Okay, I'm just going to ask it.  How is North Carolina this good?  You're looking at a team that was one win away from reaching the final four last season returning its top four scorers.  Harrison Barnes, a man who is being compared to Kobe is primed to have a breakout year.  In my opinion, he is the early front runner for the Naismith award.  With a cast of players that proved they can win games, Roy Williams is primed to coach yet another national champion, if all goes right.

The Talent

If you look at Kendall Marshall's final stats from last season, nothing in particular may jump off the page and grab your attention.  However, for anyone that watched him play throughout the second half of the season, ACC, and NCAA Tournaments know that he just may be the glue that holds the Roy Williams project together.  With his unselfish play and ability to facilitate on the offensive end of things, Marshall's assist total should go up substantially with Carolina's offensive talent.

Somewhat of a tweener as a 6'3" shooting guard, Dexter Strickland may struggle early on as part of a talented Carolina backcourt.  While he does have the ability to control the pace of the game, he will most likely be the weakest link on this team.

Harrison Barnes is being compared to Kobe.  Enough said.

John Henson is one of the more intriguing prospects in the 2012 draft class.  The reigning ACC defensive Player of the Year, Henson is a versatile player as well, averaging 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks last season.  He should give this Carolina team all the balance that they need between offense & defense.

While he still has room for improvement, Tyler Zeller is still one of the more talented big men in America.  Standing at an even seven feet, Zeller will provide another rebounding presence along with John Henson.  Also, second chance opportunities will go through the roof with the blue collar Zeller attacking the boards hard.

Contributors

Everyone who has watched James McAdoo play realizes how NBA ready he is, so there is no need to talk about his ability to change the game with his overall explosiveness and high basketball i.q.  What people do need to realize, however, is how truly talented the bench players are for UNC.  While Leslie McDonald is out indefinitely, people are anxious to see 6'7" guard Reggie after his freshman season was cut short by injury.  Also, P.J. Hairston should be a reliable three point specialist in his freshman year for the Heels. 

All in all, if everything goes well for North Carolina this season, there should be reason to celebrate in the beginning of April in Chapel Hill.

How Long Has It Been?

16 seasons removed from its last championship, UCLA fans can only reminisce on the "Glory Days."

 

In Pauley Pavilion, they don't hang final four banners, but only those of the teams that triumph over all competitors and win national championships.  In the late 1960's and early 1970's, UCLA Basketball set the standard for the rest of the nation to follow.  Led by a supreme coach and a few hall of famers, the Bruins won like no other collegiate team in history.  However, nearly 50 years since their first title, the Bruins are trying desperately to rebuild a true contender in college hoops. 

When Ben Howland led UCLA to three straight final fours from 2006-2008, it seemed as if a new era of UCLA basketball had been ushered in.  However, since then, UCLA has not advanced past the second round, and is yet to have a team that can truly contend for a title amongst college basketball's elite.  So, why is a team with such a talented coach struggling out get out of mediocrity?  Maybe players don't want to play out west, not enough exposure?  Could it be that there may be more competition in the Big East, Big Ten, ACC, etc.?  To be honest with you, I don't know the answer to that question.  One thing that has me scratching my head, however, is UCLA's struggle to gather at least a somewhat solid recruiting class.  And, without a talented team, UCLA fans will only be able to have memories of the "good ol' days'".

Front Page Funnies

"LeBron's cell phone only vibrares because he doesn't have any rings." "Why didn't LeBron James go to college? Because he didn't want to show up for the finals." "I asked LeBron can I borrow a dollar and he gave me 75 cents. I asked where the other 25 cents were and he said 'Sorry, I don't have a fourth quarter.'" In the eyes of the general population, LeBron James is the enemy. To the outside world, he may come off as an underachieving and overrated "superstar". Can you blame people for feelings this way, though? I mean, here's a guy who has all of the physical abilities any man could ever wish for. A 6'8" Small Forward who can get to the basket like Jordan, run like a gazelle, has a crossover like Iverson, can pass like Magic, and has the defensive prowess of a Dennis Rodman. So, why is this two-time MVP award winner so often criticized? Part of the blame is deserved, but a decent amount of it is unnecessary as well.




 LeBron James' fourth quarter stats are comical. Plain and simple. My three pound chihuahua has more of a killer instinct that "King James". If you're the MVP, you have to be exactly that, valuable to your team. I understand that Derrick Rose was the Most Valuable Player this year, but LeBron by no means had an off year. For goodness sakes, the guy averaged 26.7 points and 7 assists, along with having the highest PER (Player Efficiency Rating) in the NBA. If you put up numbers like that, you can't suddenly vanish in the fourth quarter. You have to be the player that everyone looks to, and has faith in to make the big time shots. If it wasn't for LeBron, however, Miami doesn't go to the finals. They don't completely dominate the top seeded Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals. While "The Decision" and the Three Kings of Miami Parade may have been a bit much, LeBron is also one of the most poised players in the league, along with being one of the more mature. Before this year, can you ever remember LeBron James having an outburst during a press conference? Has he ever swore on camera? Even this year, he never said anything that was out of line. Even if you watch his interviews during his high school days at SVSM, he was always very professional. I personally Believe that type of attitude is admirable and demands respect. It sets an example for how high school athletes are supposed to act. In 2009, when the Cavaliers visited the Lakers, Cleveland dominated from start to finish. So, when the Los Angeles fans starting cursing and throwing foam fingers onto the Staples Center floor, LeBron didn't egg them on or respond. He was the consumate professional, gathered his team, and settled the players' moods down. Whoever says LeBron isn't a leader is fooling themselves. The intensity he brings and example that he sets pushes other players to levels they may not have ever known they were capable of reaching. I think LeBron frustrates the media because he won't give in, if anything. Maybe that's why they try to put a spin on everything he says and magnify it by three thousand. Although his fourth quater struggles are evident, his value to a team is unmatched, and he doesn't deserve this "overrated" tag because he is the best player in the world, bottomline.

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Spanish Hype

Will Ricky Rubio be able to live up to the
hype?

It is rare that a player can make the transition from Europe to the NBA.  It can be extremely difficult for a point guard to make the transition to the NBA.  So, just imagine the pressure put on Ricky Rubio.  I mean, look at some of the point guards that Rubio will have to compete against in his rookie year:  Reigning MVP Derrick Rose, Rajon Rondo, second year player John Wall, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Russell Westbrook... just to name a few.  Not only are these guys quick and talented point guards, but they have a high basketball i.q., and are extremely athletic.  Rubio's lack of explosiveness and athleticism may hinder him from becoming an all-star.  However, he also has a lot right about his game.

Rubio is a true pass first point guard.  Not only that, but is a pure team player.  While he only averaged 4.8 points and 4 assists in his final season playing for Barcelona in the Spanish ACB League, Ricky did all of the little things  He is a kid who wants to win, which in my opinion may be the difference in Minnesota's rise into playoff contention over the course of the next three NBA seasons.  With tremendous court vision, ball handling skills, and solid decision making, Rubio is also very tall for being a pure point guard, measuring at 6'4".  His mid-range game needs to improve, and yes he needs to work on his explosiveness and strength, but there is no doubt that Rubio is a big-time player who should make an impact realtively quickly as a member of the Timberwolves.

2011 NBA Draft Preview



Although this may not be the deepest draft ever, there are still extremely talented players on the board.

This draft, in my opinion, has the potential to go down as one of the better drafts in the last 20 years. While Derrick Williams and Kyrie Irving are the standouts in this year's class, there are many players with tremendous upsides, all of whom could become all-stars in their own right. With a draft class as unique as this one, every detail needs to be evaluated, right down to the last attribute.

Draft Sleepers

Jimmer Fredette: While people focus on the negatives, let's look at some of the postives, and the huge upside that this man has. Although his decision making, speed, and lack of defense often have scouts turning the other shoulder, his jumpshot is exceptional, and he is deceptively quick. Finally, before you criticize the former Brigham Young guard, take a look at Stephen Curry's numbers while at Davidson. He also averaged, as Fredette did, around 4 assists and 3 turnovers in his final seaon as a Wildcat. I think it's safe to say that Curry is doing just fine in the pros. Which leads me to my point, Jimmer has growing room, but he deinitely can do more right than he does wrong.


Alec Burks: A 6'5" athletic shooting guard who can get to the basket and has a decent jumpshot is all the down at #13 on ESPN's Mock Draft? Behind Bismarck Biyombo and Chris Singleton? I must say that i'm a bit taken back by that projection. How in the world are Singleton and Biyombo ahead of this guy? Burks has all-star potential, and if he can ever develop a consistent outside tocuh, he will be a force to be reckoned with amongst the NBA's elite in 3-4 years.


Kemba Walker: While he got more attention than he bargained for at Connecticut, I don't think that he is getting nearly enough attention in this year's draft. Yes, I know his height. Yes, I understand that at times he couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat. But Walker is extremely quick, can get to the basket, and most importantly, he's a winner. He will be able to control the offense of whatever team he is selected by, as he has a very high basketball I.Q. as well, and controls the tempo of a game.

Possible NBA Draft Busts

Brandon Knight: I understand that he became the leader of the Wildcats as the 2010-11 college season progressed, but in my mind he is not a legitimate pro prospect. If anybody on that Wildcat team was ready to come out, it was Terrence Jones. Brandon Knight? What's his best attribute? While he is extremely quick, his jumpshot tends to be a bit inconsistent from three point land. Also, he shoots way too much, rather than looking to run a set offense. Knight may get better as his career rolls on, but he's not ready just yet. And without a doubt not worthy of Utah's third overall pick.



Jeremy Tyler: While i've heard people praising his name, I believe in this particular situation that the bad may actually outweigh the good. Immature, not a high Basketball I.Q., and has a very limited game. He's simply a big guy who can jump, maybe a JaVale McGee type at his best throughout the course of his NBA Journey.




I know that I left a lot of guys out on this list, but I wanted to get my point across plain and simple. As for my opinion on who I think will be the first overall pick, Kyrie Irving takes the cake on this one. Now, I am a firm believer that Derrick Williams will have a fantastic NBA career... in which I expect him to make multiple all-star games. However, the Cavaliers have the first and fourh picks. This way you can pick up Irving, a point guard who controls the tempo, all the while maintaining a stable rebounding game, considering Jonas Valanciunas' length, as I think they will take him fourth.

So, all in all, this should be a very good draft which I believe may produce the future stars of tomorrow. Thank you for reading, stay tuned.

The Season That Was

This year had to be, by far, the most anticipated NBA season in the last 20 years.  With superstars moving teams, rookies taking center stage, and the balance of power shifting throughout the league, it's no surprise that this season inspired imaginations and sparked even the casual fan's interest.

As a kid, it's what you dream about.  On national television, just seconds away from having your name immortalized, and securing a spot in basketball folklore.  Then, the clock hits zero.  The game is over, there will be no comeback, your team has just made history.  For a player, all of the hard work flashes before your eyes.  Getting up before the crack of dawn to run wind sprints, in the weight room trying to gain an competitive over your adversary, and the late nights in the gym fine tuning your all around game.  For basketball junkies like myself, the remaining seconds may be a time for a brief celebration, but also sorrow.  You greive because there will be no more basketball until late October.  You spend the next day wondering what to do, watching the same highlights of mid-season baseball games over and over.  An early end to 2011 finals inparticular may even throw a bit more salt in the wound.  This is largely due to the fact that this was one of the greatest seasons of all-time, in my opinion.  History unfolded before our very eyes, as we saw Kevin Love record 31 points and 31 rebounds against the Knicks.  We watched in awe as Blake Griffin made Clipper Basketball must see television.  So no matter how you may remember this past pro basketball season, one thing is for sure:  night in and night out, we were entertained to the highest level.

                                                                          The Blake Show

In the final game of the 2009 NBA Preseason, Blake Griffin was injured and forced to sit out the entire 2009-10 NBA season.  After using the first overall pick on Blake, the Clipper franchise ran across another black cat.  This was the guy that was supposed to bring them to the promiseland, and now he's hurt?  A frustrated Blake Griffin could only look on as his team stumbled to a 29-53 record, which led to the firing of head coach Mike Dunleavy.  Even with all of this, fans rejoiced with the signing of former Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro, as well as the return of the former Oklahoma Sooner standout.  I think you all know what happened from there.  He started jumping over players from the Knicks, fighting the Lamar Odoms of the world, and jumping over cars.  He stole the show so much that you almost forgot the Clippers only won 32 games, easily missing the playoffs for the fifth straight season.  But, anybody that watched them knows they will be a force to be reckoned with if they stay healthy.  If Blake can have half the season he did this year, L.A. may have another team participating in the NBA Playoffs.  Which makes you wonder, will Jack Nicholson show up?

Derrick Rose wins MVP

Derrick Rose lacks the basic fundamentals of team basketball and will never be a winner.  He'll never be an MVP because he has no value, he's just a selfish punk from the inner city.  Where's the passing skills?  Doesn't a point guard have to be able to pass the ball for his team to win?  The critics were silenced even easier than LeBron was when his team lost to Dallas in six games (but we'll get to that a bit later).  How is a guy with no concept of team basketball going to average seven assists, all the while netting 27.7 points per night, while facing constant double teams?  After they accquired Boozer, I told people to watch out for them, but nobody listened.  Especially after the starting power forward was sidelined with an injury before the season could even tip off yet.  Even with all that, Derrick Rose kept his team competing for the top spot all year long.  Although the top seeded Bulls lost to Miami in the Eastern Conference Finals, there is a lot of promise in the point guard, who, just recently in the 2008 national championship game couldn't make clutch free throws as Memphis lost to a Mario Chalmers and Brandon Rush led Kansas Jayhawk team.  With the explosiveness, speed, quickness, and now a developed jump shot, look for Derrick Rose to have his name in the MVP conversation once again come next spring.

LeBron James makes the decision to join the Miami Heat.

Love him or hate him, this man is must see television.  His presence, swagger, and overall talent alone make it close to impossible to turn off TNT when the Heat are playing.  However, has there ever been a more hated figure in sports?  One year ago sure, LeBron James had "haters", but I don't think anyone could have speculated that it would come to this.  Making an hour long choice to decide where you're going to play basketball, not to mention dragging your hometown that has been so loyal to you through the mud is, quite frankly, disrespectful.  If you want to make your decision in private go ahead, sure people will resent you, that's life.  But the way he went about it, I think rubbed a lot of people, most notably natives of Cleveland the wrong way.  But Lebron just wanted to win, and unfortunately for him and his Miami Heat teammtes, they weren't able to get more than an Eastern Conference Championship trophy and becoming the laughing stock of America.  However, look for James and Miami to bounce back next year.  They are much too talented to be a middle of the pack team.  They'll be in this position again.  As for LeBron's hour television special, I think that it helped draw more fans to the NBA, which is always good for us basketball fanatics. 

Yes, I know Dallas won the championship, but I think that deserves to be in a class of its own.  I am extremely excited for the ecstatic Maverick fans, and would like to extend a congratulatory hand to them, after all the hard times their franchise has endured.  As for other exciting moments, here are some that didn't quite make my top three:

Kevin Love scores 31 points & grabs 31 rebounds vs. Knicks

Carmelo Anthony traded to Knicks

Pacers score franchise record 54 points in win vs. Nuggets

Phil Jackson retires

Deron Williams traded to Nets

Lone Star Championship

With everyone wondering "What's wrong with the Heat?", the world needs to take

a step back and realize that there is a lot right about the Dallas Mavericks.

One and done. Too old. Overrated. These were all used to describe the Dallas Mavericks heading into the 2010-2011 NBA Season. In 2010, they had earned the second overall seed in the playoffs, and seemed to be on their way to the finals once again, especially after the additions of Shawn Marion, and former Wizards Brendan Haywood and Caron Butler. However, a place at the top of the pro basketball mountain was not to be as they were ousted in the first round by an experienced San Antonio Spurs team. And with that, the labels started to arrive.

 However, at the beginning of the 2010-11 NBA season, the Mavericks acquired Tyson Chandler, a 7'0" Center that is a defensive stopper in the purest sense of the word. A team without the firepower of Miami's Big Three, the History of the Lakers and Celtics, or even the eye candy of being a young, exciting team like the Thunder, the Mavs were a team that wasn't going to draw the casual fan to watch them on a nightly basis. Name one person that says "I want to see Dirk and Jason Terry play tonight." Down the home stretch of the regular season, I often eluded to Dallas as the team to look out for come playoff time, a true sleeper team that had one very good, maybe great player, and a group of solid role players who could knock down shots and make plays when called upon.

Even with all that being said however, I did not think that they would even make it past Portland. "Who can contain LaMarcus Aldridge?" "Can Jason Terry guard Brandon Roy?" "Gerald Wallace is too much for Brandon Roy." I must admit that I was very surprised that Dallas, not only won, but won easily in six games, only losing on a miracle comeback by Portland in Game 4, and the game two nights earlier, when Dallas dropped a close one to the Blazers when they simply could not convert in the final minutes on open opportunities.





Okay, you beat the Blazers, a young talented team, but now you play the two time defending champion Lakers.  After going 1-2 against Los Angeles during the regular season, Dallas a Texas sized list of excuses to lose in the Conference Semi-Fianls:  They have two All-Stars, the Sixth Man of the Year, arguably the greatest coach of all time, we don't have Caron Butler, they have Home court Advantage.  Even after a game one shocker, many people assumed that the Lakers would eventually take control and win the series.  However, after a game three nail biting win and a game four laugher, the Mavs had caught the proverbial eye of the NBA nation.  Dallas was definitely not a team to sleep on anymore.

And then you have the Thunder.  With all-stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, many people thought that Oklahoma City's time may be now.  Serge Ibaka, who has turned into one of the league's best shot blockers, and Kendrick Perkins, a former world champion in his own right as a member of the 2008 Celtics, controlled the Oklahoma City front court.  Mix that in with an improving shooting guard in James Harden, and you have a young team that may be ready to take the next step.  But, unfortunately for people that wanted to "Thunder Up" all the way to the finals, Dirk decided to make history.  If you average 32 points per game on a stage like the Conference Finals and shoot 96% from the charity stripe, something positive will usually happen.  The Thunder showed signs that they will be a great team in the future, but this was simply not their time.  The Mavericks have a big time player who stepped up in a big time situation.  Now, for the second time in franchise history, they would advance to play LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and the Miami Heat for the Larry O' Brien trophy.

Miami in five.  That was my personal prediction of how the series would unfold.  Okay, Dallas has Dirk, but Miami is simply too talented, and LeBron too driven to let this championship opportunity slip away.  In game one, all signs pointed to an easy Miami championship, as the Heat rolled to a 92-84 win, as Wade and James connected on a spectacular alley-oop with under a minute to play.  Game two seemed like it may be getting ugly as the fourth quarter began.  With Miami going up 88-73 after a Dwayne Wade three pointer, Americans may have started to turn off the television.  Can you blame them, though?  The Heat have the best team assembled in years, two of the best three players in the world, and they're up by double digits with 7:13 to go, and, one more thing:  they're at home.  However, the comeback was on, and Dallas fought their way back to within four with 3:11 to play in the fourth quarter.  And, while Dirk eventually gave Dallas the lead with a dagger three pointer, Mario Chalmers managed to navigate his way to the right corner on an inbound play, hit an open three with 24 seconds remaining and tie the game.  When the game is on the line, you have to demand the ball, which is exactly what Dirk Nowitzki did.  And after Dirk scored, LeBron James passed up a shot from half-court to give D. Wade an opportunity to put them up 2-0 with a 28 foot jumper.  Wade's shot clanked off the back iron, and Dallas had tied the NBA Finals with one of the most improbable comebacks in NBA history in front of a stunned crowd at Miami's American Airlines Arena. 

Although game three went to Miami after Dirk missed a buzzer beating jump shot from the free throw line, the Mavericks survived a game four in Dallas which saw Dwayne Wade drop the ball and Mike Miller hit nothing but air on the Heat's final possession.  As history shows, the winner of game five traditionally goes on and closes out the series, the majority of the time in game six.  Although James rebounded from his terrible 8 point performance in the fourth game, it was not enough, as Jason Terry and future Hall of Famer Jason Kidd broke Pat Riley's back with clutch outside jump shots.  Now, just one win away from a championship, all Dallas had to do was win another game in Miami and they would be able to call themselves world champions, but that was a feat easier said than done.

I don't think I need to go into it very much.  Dirk and Jason Kidd got their rings after a game six victory.  LeBron James and the Miami Heat had to eat their words, and to say that their passionate owner Mark Cuban has been ecstatic ever since Sunday would be an understatement.  Unfortunately, even with Dallas being the ones who have their names in the record books as champions, the focus remains on what the Heat couldn't do rather than what the Mavericks were able to accomplish.  The Heat will be back, but let's focus this win on Dallas.  After Mark Cuban presented the Trophy to the team's founder, Dirk received his Finals MVP award, after averaging 26 points per game in the finals, and shot 96 percent from the line.  Jason Terry's tattoo of the Larry O' Brien trophy was a risky move, but I believe that he can breathe a little bti easier now.

I would like to mention - O & B - -, the guy who brought me to this website, has been so supportive of my work, and gave me the idea for this particular blog.  Thank you to everyone else as well.