Don't Overlook Them

Enjoying their longest winning streak since the 1991-92 season, don't expect "Lob City"

to show signs of slowing down anytime soon.  

Led by Danny Manning, the 1991-92 Clippers finished with a better record than their Los Angeles counterparts for the first time in franchise history.  Is this relevant to the eight game winning streak that the team is currently in the midst of?  Not necessarily, but it is an interesting piece of history, a history that Clipper fanatics and followers of the ball club would like to forget.  If you take a step back and think about it, about two decades have gone by since the team has experienced consecutive victories of this quantity.  That is a decent amount of time.

Could Danny Manning, more known for leading Kansas to a national championship in 1988, be the leader of an NBA Championship team?  Stranger things have happened in sports---wait, I can't think of anything stranger than that would have been had it occurred.  Could Chris Paul (a floor general and according to John Hollinger the most efficient Point Guard in the NBA), Blake Griffin (averaging 18.2 points and 8.9 rebounds on the season, yet has the potential to explode in any given game and is hands down one of the best Power Forwards in the NBA) lead Los Angeles to a title?  It's much more likely and highly possible.

Caron Butler may very well be the best all-around player on the Clippers not named Chris Paul, Matt Barnes is finally having his shots fall, Jamal Crawford is the front runner for sixth man of the year, in my opinion, Bledsoe continues to show flashes of potential, and DeAndre Jordan has developed a more effective post game, while continuing to reign as a defensive stopper.  If you have watched any Clipper games during the eight game hot streak, their chemistry is evident.  Everyone seems to know where the open man is at, they're communicating defensively, and never panic when things are turning in favor of the opposition.  If there is any vulnerability about this team that I've noticed, it's their inability to get back in transition defensively at times.  Several times during last night's contest with the Bobcats Michael Kidd-Gilchrist or Kemba Walker would easily get to the rim.  

To sum everything up, the Clippers on their best day can compete with any team in the NBA.  And with the Lakers struggling to even win a single game right now, the Spurs and Thunder look to be the only teams imposing any kind of threat to L.A. out west.  This team is gelling and seems to be headed in the right direction.  And when you have talent like the Clippers do, a bench that looks to be headed in the right direction in terms of producing more consistently, and a leader like Chris Paul, the only thing that will stand in their way (if things go as planned) may just be themselves... or the "Big Bad Miami Heat."  But if it matters any, the Clippers defeated Miami by seven during their first of two meetings this year.  

Oh Canada!

Are the Lakers the new elite team out West with the addition

of Two Time Most Valuable Player Steve Nash?

Just over 5 years ago, I'll be honest, I wasn't exactly Steve Nash's biggest fan.  Nash capturing the MVP in the 2005-06 season put me in anger, to say the least.  Sure Nash had a great seaon, leading a high octane Suns team to the second overall seed in the Western Conference playoffs... but did anyone forget about Kobe Bryant's 35.4 ppg campaign?  He scored 81 points against Toronto and didn't get the nod for MVP?  He took the likes of Smush Parker, Chris Mihm, Luke Walton, and Kwame Brown all to the playoffs... that deserves an award of its own.  To a 12 year old kid who bled Purple & Yellow, let's just say that I wasn't too fond of Nash... until I learned to appreciate how unique of a player he was.

An elite point guard who passes first, shoots second.  A distinction that is thrown around much too often in today's NBA.  Right now two names come to mind when I think of that label:  Rajon Rondo, Steve Nash.  These two, and it should come as no surprise, were the top two assist men in the league this past season.  While Rondo is a younger, quicker player with an incredible 6'9" wingspan, Nash, even at age 38 can still effect the game just about as much as any NBA Point Guard.  Despite his age, Nash's coordination, court awareness, and ability to execute in Pick & Roll situations make him not only an asset on any NBA roster, but a superstar on any team.  Nash being a member of the Los Angeles Lakers will be no exception.  There are a few questions that will be floating around throughout the next few weeks:

1). How will Nash & Kobe coalesce?

A:  It shouldn't be a problem.  "Stevie Boy" brings a positive attitude to any locker room.  Also, him being a pass first Point Guard will help... no need to worry about egos clashing here.

            2). At this stage of his career, what kind of style benefits Nash more:  a half-court, slow down game or an up tempo, 1990 Loyola Marymount type of style?

  A:  Both.  Even with his age progressing, #13 can control the tempo.  Although he can't get up and down as easily as he used to, his Basketball I.Q. will give the Lakers baskets at times when Nash's age starts to show.  In the half court, his Pick & Roll opportunities are unlimited.  Bynum, Gasol, and even Bryant will start to see the baskets come much easier.  If Nash gets into the middle of a defense... the two points (or even three) are pretty much guaranteed.  

3) What would some of the red flags be by having Steve Nash as your new point guard?  

A:  Injuries.  Any 38 year old man would laugh in your face if you ever told them to play 82 games (and most likely more with the Lakers).  Although Steve Nash is obviously in great shape, he may take a bit longer to recover from even the smallest of injuries.

Red Hot Clippers Look to Continue Success Tonight Against Hawks

Down by 1 1/2 games in the Pacific Division with two remaining, the Clippers are primed

to take first place away from their crosstown rivals.  They'll need some help from Sacramento, though.

During the month of April, Randy Foye has averaged 15.4 ppg, including 24 in Sunday night's win over New Orleans.  The former Villanova standout went 6-12 from beyond the arc, and hit three triples in a row during the fourth quarter.  His ability to step up & make big shots as we've seen recently will prove crucial in whether or not "Lob City" makes a deep playoff run.

If there was ever a right time to peak during a shortened NBA season, this may be it.  After going through locker room turmoil in the middle of March, the Clippers have stepped it up.  They've put together win streaks of six games & five games, including beating Oklahoma City in three of their four meetings this season.

In tonight's game, the Clippers will need to dictate the tempo, knock down open shots when they're available, and get soild production from their bench. 

Atlanta will need to play a half-court offense, attack the rim, and get a big game from Joe Johnson.

NCAA Tournament Wrap-Up: Day 5

March Madness just got a little bit crazier as Michigan State

becomes the first #1 seed to be ousted in this year's tournament.

Thursday's Scores

#1 Syracuse def. #4 Wisconsin 64-63

#4 Louisville def. #1 Michigan State 57-44

#2 Ohio State def. #6 Cincinnati 81-66

#7 Florida def. #3 Marquette 68-58

There's always going to be those games where the other team just won't miss.  After Wisconsin's Josh Gasser tied the game at 53 with 8:39 to go, Syracuse fans began to sweat.  However, C.J. Fair's 15 points & 7 rebounds proved to be the difference maker in this Sweet 16 match up.  This game also marked the end of the road for Badger Point Guard Jordan Taylor.  The Bloomington, Minnesota star averaged 11.1 ppg over his career & 3.4 assists.  This season he almost single handedly led Wisconsin to a 4 seed in the Big Dance.

I've made the mistake way too many times of picking against a Rick Pitino led team.  Needless to say that I got burned again on Thursday evening.  The seemingly inferior Cardinals controlled much of the game, and Michigan State never recovered.  Spartan hero Draymond Green continued his dominance, though.  His 13 points & 16 rebounds were the only bright spot for MSU in this game.  Their 5-21 three point shooting was also a heavy burden to carry all game long.





NCAA Tournament Wrap-Up: Day 4

Great teams find ways to win.  Kansas did

exactly that on Sunday night.

Sunday's Scores (3rd Round)

#11 North Carolina State def. #3 Georgetown 66-63

#1 Michigan State def. #9 Saint Louis 65-61

#1 North Carolina def. #8 Creighton 87-73

#7 Florida def. #15 Norfolk State 84-50

#13 Ohio def. #12 South Florida 62-56

#10 Xavier def. #15 Lehigh 70-58

#2 Kansas def. #10 Purdue 63-60

#6 Cincinnati def. #3 Florida State 62-56

The Sweet 16's final eight tickets were punched on Sunday.  Cinderella runs were ended, top seeds escaped, and the elite separated themselves. 

After their upset victory over Mizzou on Friday, Norfolk State was completely overmatched by a talented Florida team.  Dominating from the beginning, the Gators finished off the Spartans by 34.  The other 15 seed fell as well on Sunday.  Lehigh was simply no match for Xavier down the stretch.  Kenny Frease, mostly famous for being a victim in the Cincy/Xavier brawl, put together an impressive 25 point, 12 rebound performance.  Tu Holloway also added 21 points for the Musketeers.

Doesn't it seem like every year there's an 11 seed clinching a spot in the Sweet 16?  A team that nobody bothered to glance twice at makes an appearance in college basketball's second weekend?  That 11 seed this year will be N.C. State.  After an upset win over Georgetown, the Wolfpack are peaking, and will face second seeded Kansas in St. Louis. 

Robbie Hummel's career had to end one day.  That day was Sunday for the 5th year senior.  After two torn ACLs, Hummel led his team to this year's NCAA Tourney, and even helped deliver them to an "upset" victory over 7th seeded St. Mary's.  Unfortunately for him, his 26 points & 9 assists weren't enough on Sunday night.  Elijah Johnson's go ahead layup delivered Kansas to victory, and helped them escape a scrappy Purdue team in round three.

The team that everyone thought would crumble after the brawl only got closer together.  The Bearcats of Cincinnati are now headed to the Sweet 16 after defeating Florida State in the round of 32.



NCAA Tournament Wrap-Up: Day 3

Is Baylor a true Final Four Contender after

Saturday's victory over Colorado?

Saturday's Scores (Thrid Round)

#4 Indiana def. #12 VCU 63-61

#1 Syracuse def. #8 Kansas State 75-59

#2 Ohio State def. #7 Gonzaga 73-66

#3 Marquette def. #6 Murray State 62-53

#4 Wisconsin def. #5 Vanderbilt 60-57

#1 Kentucky def. #8 Iowa State 87-71

#3 Baylor def. #11 Colorado 80-63

#4 Louisville def. #5 New Mexico 59-56

Without star big man Fab Melo, Syracuse somehow found a way to persevere in its second round match up against a defensive minded Wildcat team.  After leading by one at the break, the Orange threw salt in Kansas State's wounds throughout the second half, busting what was a close game wide open for a sixteen point victory.  Syracuse will now face Wisconsin in the Sweet 16.  The Badgers escaped with a close win against talented Vanderbilt to punch their ticket to Boston.

In the Ohio State/Gonzaga game, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Craft made an impact on the offensive end of the floor.  His double double (17 points, 10 assists) helped Ohio state overcome several late Gonzaga rallies to hold on for the seven point win.  They'll face a surprising Cincinnati team in Boston for the right to play the Syracuse/Wisconsin winner in the regional finals. 

Jae Crowder continued his dominance to end Murray State's season Saturday.  After being the last undefeated team remaining in college hoops this season, the Racers were simply not talented enough to compete with a Marquette team that has flown a bit under the radar all season long.  While the Racers head home for the season, Marquette travels to Phoenix for their Sweet 16 match up against 7th seeded Florida.

Knowing that they could very well be on upset alert, Baylor never let their guard down against an athetic Colorado team.  Brady Heslip nailed an incredible nine three pointers to help his team blowout the Buffaloes.  They will now move on to Atlanta to meet 10th seeded Xavier.

Louisville & Kentucky also advanced by virtue of victory on Saturday.

NCAA Tournament Wrap-Up: Day 2

And just when I thought that this would be the tournament where no one 

would be upset... enters Norfolk State.

Friday's Scores (Second Round)

#15 Lehigh def. #2 Duke 75-70

#6 Cincinnati def. #11 Texas 65-59

#11 North Carolina State def. #6 San Diego State 79-65

#8 Creighton def. #9 Alabama 58-57

#7 Florida def. #10 Virginia 71-45

#3 Florida State def. #14 St. Bonaventure 66-63

#3 Georgetown def. #14 Belmont 74-59

#1 North Carolina def. #16 Vermont 77-58

#15 Norfolk State def. #2 Missouri 86-84

#9 Saint Louis def. #8 Memphis 61-54

#13 Ohio def. #4 Michigan 65-60

#10 Purdue def. #7 Saint Mary's 72-69

#1 Michigan State def. #16 LIU-Brooklyn 89-67

#12 South Florida def. #5 Temple  58-44

#10 Xavier def. #7 Notre Dame 67-63

#2 Kansas def. #15 Detroit 65-50

After a Thursday full of predictability, I don't think that anyone could have saw what happened on Friday coming.  While North Carolina State upset San Diego State, I don't think that most people truly viewed that as an upset.  Moreno Valley, California product and leading Florida State scorer Michael Snaer had an "off game."  Snaer finished w/ zero points, four rebounds, and an assist in 23 minutes of playing time.  Thankfully for him (and all die hard Seminole supporters), Bernard James picked up the slack by accounting for 19 of FSU's 66 points & 9 of their 29 total rebounds.

Alabama vs. Creighton provided some excitement as well for the fans in Greensboro.  After blowing an 11 point second half lead, the Crimson Tide simply disintegrated down the stretch.  After poor clock management left only 2.4 seconds on the game clock, Trevor Releford had his three point attempt denied by Josh Jones and Creighton was able to escape w/ a one point victory.

South Florida, one of my sleeper teams, picked up a surprise victory over Juan Fernandez & Temple.  Victor Rudd Jr. & Anthony Collins scoring 17 points respectively highlighted an athletic Bulls team victory.  They will now face 13th seeded Ohio in the round of 32.  Ohio won its second tournament game in three years last night as they upset Tim Hardaway Jr. and #4 seeded Michigan.

Missouri, one of the more popular picks to advance to the final four, was in action against 15th seeded Norfolk State.  15 vs. 2 match ups are supposed to be tune up games for second seeds.  Did Missouri play a bad game?  No.  The Spartans shot 52.7 % from the field, made 13 three pointers, and committed less than 10 turnovers.  Still, Norfolk State's Kyle O'Quinn stole the show.  The 6'10" senior from Jamaica Queens, NY grabbed 14 rebounds along with pouring in a game high 26 points.  Although he missed two clutch free throws that gave Misssouri a chance to win, his hustle, emotion, and effectiveness made all of the difference.  After Phil Pressey, or as Marv Albert would call him "Pressley" had his potential game winning shot bounce off the rim, Norfolk State celebrated in the middle of the court.  Tiger fans looked on with stunned looks on their faces.

In an upset that was anticlimactic, Lehigh defeated duke in Greensboro to become only the sixth 15 seed ever to defeat a second seed, and the second in a span of only about three hours.  Ryan Kelly's injury gave Duke less of a perimeter threat, but Lehigh deserves all of the credit in the world.  C.J. McCollum destroyed the Blue Devils for 30 points, 6 assists, and 6 rebounds.  Despite Duke rallying in the end, the Mountain Hawks held on for a hard fought and shocking 75-70 victory over Duke.

NCAA Tournament Wrap-Up: Day 1

Is your bracket busted yet?

Thursday's Scores (Second Round)

#4 Indiana def. #13 New Mexico State 79-66

#6 Murray State def. #11 Colorado State 58-41

#8 Kansas State def. #9 Southern Mississippi 70-64

#4 Louisville def. #13 Davidson 69-62

#4 Wisconsin def. #13 Montana 73-49

#3 Marquette def. #14 BYU 88-68

#1 Syracuse def. #16 UNC-Asheville 72-65

#5 New Mexico def. #12 Long Beach State 75-68

#5 Vanderbilt def. #12 Harvard 79-70

#1 Kentucky def. #16 Western Kentucky 81-66

#12 VCU def. #5 Wichita State 62-59

#7 Gonzaga def. #10 West Virginia 77-54

#3 Baylor def. #14 South Dakota State 68-60

#8 Iowa State def. #9 Connecticut 77-64

#2 Ohio State def. #15 Loyola (Maryland) 78-59

#11 Colorado def. #6 UNLV 68-64

If you were looking for a day of March Madness buzzer beaters, game winners, and "One Shining Moment" shots, then maybe you shouldn't have watched the NCAA Tournament yesterday.  Dominating the headlines were "questionable" calls by referees, blowouts, and predictable results.  Only one game was decided by three points or less, and a lower seed triumphed only twice.  About three hours into last year's tournament, there had been two game winners, including Louisville being upset when a Morehead State prayer was answered.  But, through it all, the first day of the 2012 dance brought drama nonetheless.

Let's start with the Syracuse/UNC-Asheville game.  Up at halftime by four at halftime, the Bulldogs had the city of Pittsburgh on its side, hoping to be the first ever 16 seed to upset a #1.  Once Syracuse caught up and took the lead, Asheville still wouldn't go away.  J.P. Primm's game high 18 points helped keep Asheville in it.  Then, with just over 35 seconds remaining, a ball that clearly (as proved by instant replay) went off of the Orange's Brandon Triche, was called out on Asheville.  The game was never the same after that, and the Orange went on to win by seven.  However, the Bulldogs can't completely blame their hard fought loss on the men in striped shirts.  The Orange dominated the offensive glass for numerous second chance points.  If UNC Asheville was simply able to grab a rebound when they had a chance to extend the lead, maybe the Bulldogs could have escaped with what would have been the biggest upset in college basketball history.

Just a quick piece of advice:  If you make seven brackets like I did, don't have a twelve defeating a five in five of the seven brackets.  Along with 18 & 13 for Drew Gordon, Greenwood & Wlliams made an impact in this game with two threes respectively.  They were the five seed for a reason, and evidently I forgot to acknowledge that.

UCONN is talented, so what happened?  They are well coached, so why are they making a second round exit a year after winning the title?  Iowa State is a very good team, led by Chris Allen & Royce White, but why did UCONN collapse so greatly this season?  It is still mind boggling when you think of it.  A team with two potential top ten draft picks earning a disappointing 9 seed and exiting after one game?  With no chance of playing in the NCAA Tourney next year, will Calhoun need to build from the ground up starting in 2013-14?

Colorado impressed me, and I believe that their athleticism could give an inconsistent Baylor team some trouble as well.

Lin-derella Man

In a span of  two weeks, Jeremy Lin has transformed from "Just another

D-League player filling out an NBA roster" to international phenomenon.

And what better place to do it in than New York City?

On a February 3rd game against the struggling Boston Celtics, former Harvard superstar Jeremy Lin recorded 2 points & an assist.  Little did we know at the time that this would be the final game in which Lin's performance would not be placed under a microscope.  The very next game against Deron Williams & the New Jersey Nets was Jeremy's first chance to prove himself in "The Association" since joining Golden State as an undrafted free agent in July of 2010.  How did he do?  He ended New York's two game losing streak by putting up 25 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals.  Following the victory over New Jersey, the Harvard graduate then destroyed the Wiazrds with 28 points, followed by Utah when he put up 25.

In his first game against a "real defense" in front of a sold out Madison Square Garden crowd, the Palo Alto born point guard torched the Los Angeles Lakers for 38 points, 7 assists, and 4 rebounds.  He did all of this in 39 minutes of play.  Even after New York's win streak came to a sudden end Friday against New Orleans, the Asian-American superstar wasn't finished.  "Super Lintendo" then went crazy against defending champion Dallas by putting up 28 points & 14 assists.

Jeremy Lin's sudden rise to fame has come out of seemingly nowhere.  Can anyone honestly sit there and say that they saw this "Linsanity" era approaching?  Were there any signs?  2 points against Boston, then 25 against New Jersey?  In my humble opinion, this is simply a case of a talented player who never got a shot finally recieving an oppurtunity, and making the most of it. 

Jeremy Lin may have caught the eye of many college basketball experts after his 30 point, 9 rebound, 3 assist, and 3 steal performance against Connecticut.  Lin finished his final college season (2009-10) with averages of 16.4 ppg & 4.5 apg.  He also shot 52% from the field. 

In 2005-06, as a senior in high school, Jeremy Lin's team upset basketball powerhouse Mater Dei by four points.  This helped Palo Alto capture a CIF State Championship.  Lin finished the season as the Northern California Division II player of the year and was named to first-team All-State.

As for the media attention which he has been recieving, Tim Tebow can relate to that.  During a Saturday Night Live skit, many "Lin puns" were used.  However, the 23 year old seems to be handling all of the attention, whether positive or negative, extrememly well. 

Since Lin did begin shining when nobody seemed to expect, one only knows what his ceiling may be.  Is he simply a one hit wonder or a solid point guard for years to come?  His nine turnovers against the Hornets concerned me.  Towards the end of the game he seemed like he was trying to do too much as well.  Regardless of what happens with Jeremy Lin, "Lin Mania" will most likely never be forgotten by anyone who witnessed it. 

Clippers Look to Rebound Tonight vs 7-22 Wizards

After being exposed during a loss vs. Dallas, "Lob Angeles"

will try to rebound against a team that they have already blown out this

season.

Blake Griffin, yes the high flying superstar Blake Griffin, seemed rattled towards the end of Monday night's loss to the defending champions.  After missing five of his six foul shots during the fourth quarter, Griffin threw the ball away.  One of the rare qualities in Blake Griffin may be that he is a smart basketball player for his size & athleticism.  However, BG32 allowed the free throw misses to get inside his head, passed up an open shot, and committed a turnover when Shawn Marion picked off his poor pass.

With Griffin's struggles, Paul was unable to do anything against ruthless Dallas double teams.  The Clippers put together a mini rally at the end, but Caron Butler missed a three that would have put the Clippers ahead with three seconds remaining.  Delonte West hit the ensuing foul shots to preserve a 96-92 Maverick victory at the American Airlines Center.

Tonight, the Clippers take on a Wizard team that is coming off victories over Portland & Detroit.  Although most people believe the key matchup lies in John Wall vs. Chris Paul, it isn't that simple.  For Washington, I believe it boils down to how effective Jordan Crawford can be off the bench.  In their win against Portland Tuesday, Crawford lit up the Blazers for 21 points on 9 of 16 shoting off the bench.  For Los Angeles, how well can they play help defense.  With John Wall's ability to blow by defenders, the second man will need to halt him before he puts together another 29 & 9 performance like he did yesterday.





My Final Four (2/6/12)

Can Kentucky really be this good?

Current Final Four Predictions:  Kentucky, Ohio State, Missouri, and North Carolina

Kentucky:  Like I said in the description, can UK really be this talented?  Head and shoulders the best team in America, the Wildcats should have no problem at least getting to New Orleans.  A player that could very well win Player of the Year, Anthony Davis is the defensive presence coaches dream of.  Averaging 4.6 blocks per game, opposing players often think twice before bringing the ball inside when #23 is on the court.  Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is turning heads as well.  Although he scored only one point during Saturday's win vs. LSU, the 6'7" freshman pulled down six rebounds.  To further prove my point, if you placed Terrence Jones, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Marquis Teague, Anthony Davis, and Doron Lamb individually on any team, nine times out of ten they would easily be the best player.

This team is so talented that they have almost zero negatives or downside.  As long as defense remains their main objective, they should have no problem making the final four.

Ohio State:  After Jared Sullinger's 24 & 10 performance vs Wisconsin on Saturday, the Buckeyes remain one of the more talented teams in college basketball.  Him and Fort Wayne, Indiana native Deshaun Thomas provide a formidable matchup for any frontcourt in the nation. 

To be honest, I was sold on this team after they destroyed Duke by 22 points on November 29th.  William Buford will control this team's backcourt, as well as Aaron Craft.  6'4" Sophomore Lenzelle Smith Jr. will need to step up in a big way as well.  Smith Jr. proved that he was certainly capable when he lit the Hoosiers up for 28 points during a game on January 15th.

Missouri:  Missouri may be the most tournament ready team in the nation.  With a loaded started line up, the Tigers have four players averaging double figures.  Marcus Denmon, preseason All-American choice by many, has not disappointed a tad bit during the Tigers' 2011-12 ride to national relevance.  Did you forget about Kim English?  The 6'6" senior from Baltimore has averaged double digits in three of his four collegiate campaigns thus far.  

When Phil Pressey is at his best, Missouri can beat anyone in college basketball.  He is a playmaking guard who can change the game in an instant.  My only concern about this team is their lack of size underneath.  For Frank Haith's sake, hopefully their backcourt excels to make up for their lack of size come tournament time.

North Carolina:  To say the Tar Heels confuse me would be an understatement.  Their loss in Rupp Arena is the only one of their defeats that anyone may have seen coming.  But losing 90-57 in Tallahassee?  This is the second most talented team in the country behind Calipari's Wildcats.  All of this team's problems should be solved by the time March rolls around.  UNC is much too talented to endure a surprise exit before the get to New Orleans.

Heart & Soul

Regardless of what happens with Michigan State, one thing is

certain:  the Spartans will go as far as their leader Draymond Green is able to take

them.

Draymond Green is one of the more respected players in the Big Ten for many reasons.  His scoring ability is exceptional for a Power Forward, but his defense, rebounding, and leadership set him apart from the competition.  Despite their four losses, Green has still managed to average 11 points & 12.5 rebounds in defeat.  So, the point is that even if Michigan State doesn't finish the night with a victory, it will not be due to a lack of effort by #23.

Now, Michigan State has an extremely talented team, don't get me wrong.  Branden Dawson & Keith Appling are both talented sophomores with tons of potential.  But Green stands out above all of the others on Tom Izzo's squad.  The Senior has been to the final four twice, first when they lost to North Carolina in 2009, and during their 2010 semi-final loss to Butler.

Nowhere near being the most intriguing NBA prospect, this may be his last shot at glory.  Although he can shoot from the outside better than many Power Forwards, he may be a bit of a tweener at the next level.  Playing overseas is where most believe he will be for much of his professional career.

But for the time being, he is producing for Michigan State at a high level.  What he brings to the table in terms of leadership is not something that can be taught.  Draymond Green is the primary reason why I have the Michigan State Spartans as one of my 2012 NCAA Tournament sleeper teams.

Cal State Northridge @ UC Riverside Preview

If they want to start 1-0 in conference play, the UCR Highlanders need to focus

on stopping elite level scorer Stephan Hicks of Northridge.  

Riverside hopes to get their third consecutive win tonight as the take on the Cal State Northridge Matadors.  This contest should be one of tremendous scoring outbursts from the two players who I have personally spotlighted for the game.  Forward Stephan Hicks has gone a bit under the radar this season (17 points per game, 8.3 rebounds per game).  Part of the reason may be attributed to the fact that he plays for a woeful 3-8 Matador team that last won the Big West title in the 2008-09 season.  Hicks, a freshman, is also shooting an exceptional 85% from the charity stripe.

On the other side of the court is Riverside's Phil Martin.  The senior from Staten Island has been the go-to-guy for UCR all season.  The team's leading scorer has reached the 20 point mark an impressive four times through 13 games this year.  Martin also leads the Highlanders in rebounding. 

Kareem Nitoto (UCR) and Josh Greene (CSN) are the second leading scorers for their respective teams, and can be the x-factors in their team gaining a first Big West win tonight.  Northridge is 0-1 in conference play while Riverside is yet to play a Big West game in 2011-12.

 

Prediction:  Northridge wins