Stay...Just a Little Bit Longer

Even under Pat Ewing's tutelage Orton has struggled to
adjust to NBA life

It's that time of year when several NCAA basketball players will start declaring for the NBA draft early. They will decide that, instead of play there next 1-3 years of basketball on campus, they will head to the draft and try to make millions a few years faster than expected. For some, this works out great but for others it turns out to be a nightmare. You need an example? How about former Connecticut shot-blocker Hasheem Thabeet. After dominating in the Big East on the defensive end for three years he decided to leave for the league and was drafted second by the Memphis Grizzlies. Since then, he has gone back and forth from the NBA to the D-League and has been virtually unproductive. Every now and then talk comes up about changing the age limit rule that David Stern implemented a few years ago and I am in favor of extending the limit so that players have to stay in school for at least two years, but preferrably three.

The NBA is so watered down in talent and it's because there are too many mediocre players polluting the talent pool. It takes a special kind of player to make the jump from high school to the pros and many have tried but failed. Kwame Brown and Eddy Curry are two prime examples. We have seen too many players who could have been very successful, throw their career away because they chased the riches too quickly. After the age limit rule went into effect we have seen the one-and-done players come and go and if you blink you might miss their career (think Kyrie Irving if he leaves). Think about how successful some of these college teams could be if they could keep players in school for more than one year. Daniel Orton, who left Kentucky after just one season, hasn't even sniffed the court for the Orlando Magic this year but he could have played a major role in the Final Four team this year. There are so many players with the same story as Orton and sure they may end up successful but it takes years to get there. Tyson Chandler was drafted high by the Bulls but suffered through many years of mediocre play and immaturity before becoming the player that he is today. Had Chandler gone to college he may have entered the league a much more seasoned player and wouldn't have had to go through the long process of maturing.

Players who do decide to stay usually reap the benefits. Kyle Singler stayed one more year at Duke and was able to experience one more year of college and the Blue Devils were ranked number one for a large chunk of the season. It is my hope that more guys will that approach this year when trying to decide on their future. Tyler Honeycutt from UCLA has already declared for the draft but in the last post I detailed how good the Bruins could be because everybody returns. Why wouldn't someone want to be on a successful team and have another shot at a national championship? It boggles my mind how these guys, who will eventually get drafted, want to speed up their careers. It's college basketball and there is nothing better than that.

Curry never panned out and it took
Chandler years before he figured
everything out

I propose that Commissioner Stern extends the age limit so that players have to go to college for at least two years. That helps players mature and it gives college coaches the security of knowing they have a player for at least two years. A team can be built in that span, but it is very hard for a team to come together for 35 games and win it all. We saw a very talented Kentucky team fall short of the Final Four last year and it was simply because they were too young and West Virginia was a veteran team who had been together. This year the Cats feature another great group of freshmen but some of the key figures in their tournament run have been upperclassmen, Josh Harrellson, Darius Miller and DeAndre Liggins. If Stern could get this rule passed then the college game would benefit and the NBA would definitely be helped out.

Sure, every year there is that one player who comes out early, like John Wall, and the world knows he is going to be a star. But there are more stories of failure then of triumph when it comes to early exits. Go back and take a look at some of the old recruiting classes of the 2000s and you will find names high up on those lists that you have never heard of. They decided college wasn't needed and then flopped in the NBA. It's sad to see players throw their careers away and it can easily be fixed. For the sake of the game let's hope they do.

Photos courtesy of orlandosentinel.com and photobucket.com

2011-12 College Basketball Preseason Top 25*

Hey, why not? This five day break from March Madness is killing me and I need to fill up my time doing something. Now, I made this poll assuming everyone stays in school and doesn't exit early for the draft but, of course, that wouldn't happen. This is all in fun. However, I do think a lot of players may decide to stay in school because, number one: they aren't NBA-ready and, number two: the NBA has a potential lockout next year so why not stay in school and try to win a championship? Jared Sullinger has already come out and said he is going back to Ohio State and we will see if he holds true to that. I think that he will and I think there are probably only three or four big name freshmen who may test the NBA waters. Harrison Barnes and Kyrie Irving most likely will and don't be surprised if Josh Selby and Perry Jones do as well. Also, Kemba Walker will probably dip out early and head to the league as will the at least one of the Morris brothers, Derrick Williams and either John Henson or Tyler Zeller may consider it strongly. Nobody really knows yet but right now I'm going to say everybody is staying and just have some fun. So, without further ado, here is The World of Wadley top 25 for 2011-2012.

1. North Carolina Tar Heels- ACC

The Heels made a nice tournament run to the Elite 8 and a cupboard full of talented players. Harrison Barnes (15.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg) figured things out in the second half of the season and played excellent while his freshmen mate, Kendall Marshall, thrived once he was given control of the point guard position, averaging six points and six assists. John Henson and Tyler Zeller are phenomenal and add up all that returning talent with two McDonald's All-Americans coming in and you have the recipe for a national championship.

2. Kansas Jayhawks- Big 12

They just have problems with those mid-majors in March don't they? The poor Jayhawks had

a clear path to the Final Four, or so it seemed, until VCU upset them in the Elite 8. If everyone does stay in Lawrence then 2011-12 could be a magical year. The Morris twins and Thomas Robinson are unstoppable in the paint and Tyshawn Taylor continues to improve. Josh Selby had an up and down freshman campaign but he is a great player and we should see his full talents in his sophomore season.

3. Kentucky Wildcats- SEC

Unlike the mass exodus we saw last season when five Kentucky players left for the NBA, I

think most of them will stay this year. Brandon Knight, Doron Lamb and Terrence Jones were

a freshmen three-headed monster and don't look now, but John Calipari has the number one recruiting class coming in. Marquis Teague, Anthony Davis and Mike Gilchrist will all put on the Cats uniform and the only question is: Does UK have too much talent for one roster?

4. Duke Blue Devils- ACC

No more Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith, but what a career they had. Now, there will be a Plumlee invasion in Durham as Marshall joins the team to make three Plumlees on one team. Austin Rivers, the top recruit in the nation, is on his way to be the starting shooting guard and if Irving stays then that would be the best backcourt in the nation hands down. Seth Curry, Andre Dawkins, Ryan Kelly and new recruit Quinn Cook will all help off the bench.

5. Syracuse Orange- Big East

The Big East may actually have a down year by their standards but not the Orange. Jim Boeheim will have his team right back near the top of the polls with every starter, but one, able to come back. Scoop Jardine can dish to Kris Joseph and Brandon Triche who will provide the scoring. Hopefully Fab Melo plays like he has a clue next season because, if he doesn't, the 'Cuse may struggle. Dion Waiters will also be improved with one year of experience under his belt.

6. Texas Longhorns- Big 12

Like their Big 12 buddies up in Lawrence, the Horns have a habit of playing great until March. Rick Barnes will have a loaded squad again this year with plenty of pieces returning and the 5th rated recruiting class coming in. Myck Kabongo is a speedy point guard who will share the backcourt with J'Covan Brown and Cory Joseph. Jordan Hamilton can fill it up and Tristan Thompson was outstanding as a freshman. Texas will no doubt be great, but they need to be great in March.

7. Arizona Wildcats- Pac 10

Derrick Williams was a beast, posting numbers of 20 points and 8 boards this past season and, if he chooses to stay, he holds the key to Arizona's postseason dreams. The Wildcats are freakishly athletic and the nation saw what they can do when they blew out Duke in the Sweet 16. MoMo Jones is a great guard and the Cats have a top 10 recruiting class coming in. Jesse Perry, Kyle Fogg and Solomon Hill all return.

8. Connecticut Huskies- Big East

It's doubtful that we will get to see the Kemba show one more year in college basketball but we can hope. The 6'2" guard has carried the Huskies this season but next year the freshmen trio of Jeremy Lamb, Shabazz Napier and Roscoe Smith will all pitch. Alex Oriakhi is a post prescence and Jamal Coombs-McDaniel is an athletic forward. A return trip to the Final Four wouldn't be out of the question if Walker decides to stay.

9. Louisville Cardinals- Big East

Preston Knowles is the only player leaving Rick Pitino's Cardinals which means they should be very good next year. Losing Knowles hurts but plenty of talent returns. Peyton Siva is a steady point guard while Kyle Kuric and Rakeem Buckles's production should go up with each year of experience. Terrence Jennings and George Goode will also be seniors that should contribute. The Cardinals have three players they can count on with others that need to step up production.

10. Illinois Fighting Illini- Big Ten

This is a very risky pick because four of the Illini's key players are graduating and they didn't

look very good at times this past season. However, Bruce Weber has put together three great recruiting classes in a row (this year's is ranked 11th) and those young players should mesh together. Jereme Richmond is the best returning player and he will have frontcourt help from incoming freshmen and fellow soph Meyers Leonard. Brandon Paul, D.J. Richardson and Crandall Head form a very good backcourt. It's time for these young Illini to live up to expectations.

11. UCLA Bruins- Pac 10

The Pac-10 is back after suffering through a few years of mediocre play because of early draft exits. The Bruins were especially hurt by players leaving early but next year they shouldn't have to worry about any of that. Nobody is leaving the program. Malcolm Lee will run the point and the rest of the lineup will be filled out by sophomore sensation, Joshua Smith, and a bevy of juniors. Reeves Nelson, Lazeric Jones, Tyler Honeycutt and the Wear twins, who transferred from North Carolina, will be major factors in UCLA's success.

12. Ohio State Buckeyes- Big Ten

Jon Diebler, David Lighty and Dallas Lauderdale are all graduating but the good news in Columbus is that diaper dandy, Jared Sullinger, wants to stay in school. That would be huge for Ohio State who will also have sophomores DeShaun Thomas and Aaron Craft in the starting lineup. William Buford will be the wise, old sage on this young team that has another top 5 recruiting class coming in. Thad Matta just knows how to get them to Columbus.

13. Missouri Tigers- Big 12

Another risky pick here because the Tigers don't even have a coach right now. Whoever gets the job will inherit a roster stocked with talent, assuming nobody transfers. Marcus Denmon had a breakout year, averaging 17 points per game. Ricardo Ratliffe is a double-double waiting to happen and Laurence Bowers and Michael Dixon are both good role players. Kim English can score big on any given night. No matter who the coach, the Tigers will be stingy on defense and very efficient on offense.

14. Michigan Wolverines- Big Ten

I can't do it just yet. I can't pick the Wolverines to win the Big Ten next year even though everybody returns but don't be surprised if they win the conference. Tim Hardaway Jr. is deadly from deep and is that guy opponents should fear at the end of games. Darius Morris is a good point guard that will only improve. Stu Douglass and Zack Novak can also stroke it from deep. The Wolverines will still be a young team but they were playing great at the end of the year.

15. Memphis Tigers- Conference USA

People kind of forgot about Memphis until they almost upset Arizona in the first round. The problem for them this year was youth but all those young freshmen should be ready next season. The Barton brothers, Will and Antonio will lead the team along with senior, Wesley Witherspoon. Joe Jackson and Charles Carmouche chipped in nicely from the point guard position this year and that same production will be expected from them next year.

16. Florida State Seminoles- ACC

It may be tough to keep Chris Singleton on campus for his senior year but if he does come back to Tallahassee then watch out. FSU advanced to the Sweet 16 this year and they might be in for a repeat performance. Singleton is a defensive stopper who can score and rebound on the offensive end. Derwin Kitchen is graduating but Bernard James and Michael Snaer return. Leonard Hamilton also made some noise on the recruiting trail, bringing in a top 20 class.

17. Cincinnati Bearcats- Big East

The Bearcats return their top four scorers from a team that advanced to the second round in this year's NCAA Tournament. Yancy Gates is a beast on the boards and he and Dion Dixon each averaged 12 points a game. Cashmere Wright and Sean Kilpatrick both added in 9 points. Cincinnati was a very balanced team last year and they should be again this year. Lance Stephenson is probably wishing he would have stayed a few more years right about now.

18. Baylor Bears- Big 12

This is just wishful thinking right here of what could be. The Bears will never achieve a ranking this high because LaceDarius Dunn is graduating and Perry Jones will surely head to the NBA but if he does stay and Baylor can avoid suspensions, recruiting trouble, etc. then they can compete for the Big 12 title perhaps. That front line of Perry Jones, Anthony Jones and Quincy Acy is scary. Plus they bring in two McDonald's All-Americans. Hopefully they can stay out of recruiting trouble.

19. Butler Bulldogs- Horizon League

I believe in the Butler Bulldogs and so should everybody else. Sure, they lose Matt Howard and Shawn Vanzant and Zach Hahn but people wrote them off when Gordon Hayward declared for the draft last year. Shelvin Mack should come back and he could be an All-American if he does. Chase Stigall can only improve and we got a taste of how good Khyle Marshall and Chrishawn Hopkins can be. Andrew Smith has been solid in the middle and will also be improved. Maybe not the Final Four but definitely Sweet 16. It's the Butler Way.

20. Florida Gators- SEC

The Gators will have a hard time duplicating their success from this season without Chandler Parsons, Alex Tyus and Vernon Macklin but all is not lost. A top 25 recruiting class is on the way to join Kenny Boynton, Erving Walker and a talented group of sophomores. Perimeter play will be a strength for Florida but PatricYoung looked like a formidable post prescence. The Gators are on the return to greatness and hopefully they don't decline too much.

21. Washington Huskies- Pac 10

The Huskies have one of the best backcourts in the nation with Abdul Gaddy and Isaiah Thomas and now you can throw freshman point guard, Tony Wroten Jr., into the mix. Guard play has always been Washington's strength and they will rely on it even more with the departure of Matthew Bryan-Amaning. Aziz N'Diaye is a 7 footer who could prove to be very valuable.

22. San Diego State Aztecs- Mountain West

Maybe this is a little bit low for a team that advanced to the Sweet 16 and should win their conference but they do lose D.J. Gay and Billy White. Kawhi Leonard is a future NBA player and he does it all for the Aztecs. Chase Tapley and James Rahon also return for Steve Fisher's team and, although they may not have the same magic, they should be in the top 25 again.

23. Gonzaga Bulldogs- West Coast

Steven Gray is a huge loss for the Zags but everybody else returns to a team that always finds their way into March Madness. They are no longer considered a Cinderella but a powerhouse. Elias Harris is a dynamic player with NBA potential and Robert Sacre is a threat inside. The Zags have earned high expectations and they usually live up to them. Next year will be no different.

24. Pittsburgh Panthers- Big East

Pitt loses a ton of players in Brad Wanamaker, Gary McGhee and Gilbert Brown and they may struggle at times next season. Nasir Robinson, Ashton Gibbs and Dante Taylor will be back and they lead a Panther attack that is always at the top of the Big East. They also bring in a top recruiting class and Jamie Dixon shouldn't slow down on piling up the wins.

25. Xavier Musketeers- Atlantic 10

Plenty of candidates for the final top 25 spot but I'll go with Xavier. The Musketeers were upset in the first round against Marquette but return quite a bit of talent. Tu Holloway is a name you should know because the dynamite little guard can fill it up. He's next in line of good Xavier guards. Kenny Frease is a 7 footer in the middle and, like always, expect to see the Musketeers come March.

Wouldn't you know it, as I was writing this blog Tyler Honeycutt from UCLA and Darius Morris from Michigan came out and said they are going to test the NBA waters. That's what happens but here is a potential top 25 for next season. There will be plenty of great freshmen and traditional powers will rule but until then let's get pumped up for the 2011 Final Four Saturday night. Stay tuned for another Top 25 in a few weeks!

Final Four Promises to Be Wild

Shaka Smart and VCU

With Kentucky's victory over North Carolina, the 2011 Final Four has been set and, boy, is it a wild one. There has never been a field like this, without a 1 or 2 seed, and the overall seed number is 26. Two mid-majors will play each other and the other game will feature two traditional powers. The Final Four will be filled with great players and, if the first four rounds have proved anything, the remaining three games should be crazy. Connecticut is entering their third Final Four since 1999 while Kentucky is in their first since 98, the longest draught in school history. Everyone knows the story of Butler from 2010 and here they are again for the second year in a row, something a mid-major hasn't done since UNLV in the early 90's. Perhaps even more surprising than Butler's story is the unbelievable run of VCU. The Rams were blasted when they got an at-large bid because people thought they shouldn't even have made the tournament but, five games later, they have punched their ticket to Houston.

It's an odd bracket because one game is two powerhouse schools who are no stranger to the Final Four. The other game is two mid-majors who have beaten teams from power conferences and proved the talking heads wrong game after game. Kentucky and Connecticut is a game of two very athletic teams with point guards that are playing great at the moment. Kemba Walker has been Top Dog all year for UConn and in tourney time he has flourished, averaging 27 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists. You can go ahead and hand him the Player of the Year award now. Kentucky's point guard is making his name known as well though. Freshman, Brandon Knight, has knocked down two game-winners and dropped 30 points in the Cats win over West Virginia. That will definitely be a matchup to watch. For UConn they will need to keep going to their bread and butter of Walker and freshman, Jeremy Lamb. Those two have combined to score 70 points of the team's points in the last three games. Nobody has stopped them yet but UK has plenty of time to gameplan for them. For Kentucky, they need Knight to have one of his better scoring games and Josh Harrellson to keep playing at the high level he is. The senior had 12 points and 8 rebounds against North Carolina in the Elite 8 and he brings the energy to a young Cat attack.

Butler celebrates

Raise your hand if you had VCU and Butler playing in the Final Four...that's what I thought-not a soul. Who could have predicted this? Both schools took down a number one seed and now they will meet in Houston for the right to go to the championship game. For once, people may pick Butler to win the game but not so fast. Shaka Smart and the Rams aren't just beating people, they are killing them. Every single one of VCU's victories is by double digits except for one. They have won five games so far and have beaten teams from the Pac-10, Big East, Big Ten, ACC and Big 12. Were they to beat Butler and then defeat Kentucky in the championship game that would be seven schools from seven different conferences that they defeated. Yet, the bright lights of the Final Four may be the death of them. It's a hard setting to play in and for a team new to it all it can be hard to compete in that big of an environment. Butler has been there, done that and Matt Howard and Shelvin Mack are playing great at the moment. It's almost strange that Butler isn't the underdog in an NCAA Tournament game. They have been plowing through bigger and better teams for two years now but now they face a team seeded 11th. They have mastered the role of David but how will they be when they have play Goliath?

Can Walker continue his magic?

The best moment caught on camera for this tournament has to be the face of VCU's Jamie Skeen after the final buzzer in the Elite 8 victory over number one Kansas. Skeen is standing there awestruck and can only offer a smile for the camera as he stands there probably pinching himself to make sure it was real. The Rams are the second 11th seed and second Colonial Athletic Association team to qualify for the Final Four since 2006 when George Mason had their incredible run. What's amazing about VCU's path to Houston is that they have looked so dominant. They took it right at Kansas and the Jayhawks played from behind most of the game. Even when KU made a run the Rams didn't falter. They always found a way to pull ahead again and that's the mark of a great team. Their full court press has been deadly for opponents, causing 69 turnovers in five games. Fans may not like that two mid-majors are playing each other in the Final Four but the game promises to be a good one.

Knight and Harrellson

Everyone knew going in that this tournament was going to be unpredictable and if you want proof of how unpredictable it really was then go the NCAA Tournament home page on ESPN.com. Of all the "experts" only Jay Bilas and Jay Williams got a Final Four pick right. Both of them picked UConn. Other than that there were no correct picks. That is why March Madness is, and always will be, the greatest thing sports has. An 11 seed, 8 seed, 4 seed and 3 seed will make their way down to Houston to play in the craziest Final Four in a long time. I'm not going to even attempt to predict who will win these final three games because so far it is just too unpredictable to even make a prediction. However, this much is true, it has been one wild tournament up to this point so the ending should be the wildest of them all.

Cheers and Tears: Blue Devils Destroyed in Anaheim

There are certain teams in American sports that people love to hate. The New York Yankees of baseball, Notre Dame college football and Duke basketball are the three that just about any sports fan will testify they have a great amount of hate for. Why is this? Because they win and they win often. They are painted as the evil villain in sports and people say those teams have an arrogance, cockiness and that special recipe of something that makes you hate them. Hate is a strong word but it is the proper word for the Duke Blue Devils mens basketball team. On Thursday night in Anaheim the Arizona Wildcats dominated Duke for the last 20 minutes and whupped the Blue Devils 93-77. In the most impressive half of the tournament, the 'Cats put up 55 points in the second half and seemingly grabbed every rebound. It was almost sad to see at the end as Duke seniors Nolan Smith and Kyle Singler walked off the floor for the final time with a little more than 30 seconds remaining. Cameras showed Smith crying into a towel, knowing his career as a Dookie was over but instead of condolences or congratulations, the nation delighted in watching the Blue Devils lose.

Truth is, going into the game the general public opinion was that Duke would win the game and move on to the Elite 8 to face Kemba Walker and the Connecticut Huskies. The Blue Devils had all the talent for a repeat, something that if accomplished would make Mike Krzyzewski only the second coach (along with John Wooden) to win back-to-back titles twice with the same team. A win Thursday night would also give Coach K 901 wins and set up a chance for him to tie Bobby Knight's record in the Elite 8. All signs at halftime pointed to the Blue Devils winning. Going into the locker room down six, 'Zona came out and went on a 19-2 run in which sophomore stud, Derrick Williams, only scored two points. Now in control, the Cats never looked back, turning up the pressure and outrebounding the Blue Devils. Smith committed six turnovers while only scoring eight points. Williams looked like a number one draft pick, leading Arizona with 32 points and 13 rebounds. Kyrie Irving dropped 28 points and now Duke fans can only hope he returns to campus for at least another year.

Immediately following the game social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook were clogged with tweets/statuses celebrating and even thanking God that Arizona had won the game. That raised the question, "Why is Duke hated so much by so many people?" That's not that hard to answer. People hate a winner. Nobody likes a team that constantly wins and the Blue Devils have been one of the winningest teams since the 90s. People also don't like a team with players that are labeled as punks and Duke has had it's fair share recently. Former point guard Greg Paulus, Singler and Ryan Kelly are all players who have been known to throw an elbow or two but get away with it. Duke has an image and it's one that most of America doesn't like. This has never been clearer after the debut of ESPN's "Fab 5" documentary in which the players from Michigan discussed why they had so much hate for Duke. Jalen Rose said that Duke only recruits certain types of players and it's not kids from underpriveliged families who have maybe gotten in trouble or had a rough life. It's a stereotype but one that seems to be very true.

In Durham, North Carolina there is an extreme love for Duke but outside of that more people dislike them and those who hate Duke can't stand to see Duke fans in every state who have no connection with the university at all and have no reason to like them other than that they are successful. That may be why, before the final buzzer sounded, people all over the nation were celebrating Duke's defeat. And really, that's what they were celebrating--Duke's defeat. Most people could have cared less that Arizona won, but the fact the Blue Devils lost brought many great pleasure. Things won't change anytime soon for Duke because they have that image and just that special something that makes people want to see them fail. However, that may not be a bad thing. To Duke it seems they are just fine with being a winner that is hated, rather than a loser who is loved. One thing is for sure though, Arizona suddenly got thousands of more fans on Thursday night.

Photo courtesy of espn.com (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Jayhawks Look to Rock-Chalk Their Way to Houston

Choke artists. If there were two words to describe the Kansas Jayhawks under coach Bill Self those two may be it. The Jayhawks have ruined many brackets through the years from their first round losses to Bucknell and Bradley to their did-that-really-just-happen second round exit to Northern Iowa last year. That’s why, when Kansas only led by four at halftime against 16th-seeded Boston University, people everywhere held their breath. KU, with the exception of 2008, has been known to choke in tourney time and what’s scary for those Jayhawk fans is that the Regional matchups look like the perfect trap games. Starting with their Friday night game against the Atlantic-10 postseason champions, Richmond, Kansas could get to Houston by playing two Regional games against double-digit seeds. No number one seed has anything close to that easy but that’s not to say that Richmond is totally incapable of winning the game.

The Spiders are riding a nine game winning streak into San Antonio and are winners of 13 of their last 15 games. Being hot at the right time is a key to success in March and Richmond definitely is hot but so are the Jayhawks. Kansas ended up beating Boston by 19 and then plowed through Illinois, Bill Self’s former employer, to get to San Antonio. Kansas is in the midst of a 10-game winning streak. Which hot team should win then? Surprisingly, Richmond matches up well with Kansas’s height but their big men will need to play exceptionally well to stop the Morris brothers and Thomas Robinson. The three of them may prove to be too much for Richmond’s Justin Harper and Dan Geriot. In the backcourt Kansas features two dead-eye shooters in Tyrel Reed and Brady Morningstar and Tyshawn Taylor has scored in double figures the past four games while dishing out five assists per game in that span. Kansas is the definition of a complete team.

Keep an eye on the Spiders’ point guard, Kevin Anderson. The junior averaged a shade under 17 points this season and shoots 42% from 3-point land. He was sensational against Vanderbilt in their opening round upset, pouring in 25 points while playing all 40 minutes. Harper has been solid averaging 17.5 points and 8 boards but his defense may be his most valuable contribution on Friday night. Between the Morris twins and Robinson they average 39 points and 22 rebounds and if Harper and Geriot can hold those three to 25 points then Richmond will win the game. It’s a longshot but definitely possible.

The Jayhawks are vulnerable and they are prone to cough one up in March but this season it seems their path to Houston is tailor-made. Were they to make the Final Four they would never play any team seeded higher than 9th and they could potentially face three mid-majors if they meet VCU in the Elite 8. However, with their recent history in the tournament, one cannot count out Richmond. The Spiders will be playing in their first Sweet 16 since 1988 and, if they both win their semi-final games, could face crosstown rival, VCU with a chance for the Final Four on the line. If somebody would have said that the city of Richmond would have as many teams as the Big East in the Sweet 16 they would have been considered a fool.

Here they are though, Richmond and VCU in the Sweet 16 and both will play Friday night. The Spiders have their hands full with the number two team in the nation standing in their way but of the number one seeds Kansas is the most vulnerable. If Richmond can take away some of the Jayhawks post play they have a shot to win. If not, then it’s likely Bill Self and the Jayhawks will dance their way across the state of Texas to Houston.
This article first appeared on http://www.thesportsbank.net/

Jimmer-Mania Hits New Orleans

He started out as an unknown his freshman and sophomore year, then people began to recognize his name after a clutch performance in the NCAA first round last season and now he is the hottest topic in college basketball. Jimmer Fredette, the 6'2" shooting guard for Brigham Young University, has wowed the crowds all year long with his 30-foot three pointers and night in, night out he makes plays that leave opposing players shaking their heads in disbelief. Now, he leads BYU into the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1981 where they will meet the Florida Gators, a team they defeated last year in the first round of the tournament in double overtime. The Cougars have relied on Fredette more and more since the dismissal of forward, Brandon Davies, but he has responded with some of his best games (hope nobody missed that 52-point outburst in the MWC Tournament). However, rarely does one man carry a team all the way to the Final Four and Jimmer will need to find help against a loaded Gators squad.

If defending Fredette is a problem, and let's face it, it has been for every single team this year, then Florida is in deep trouble. Here’s why: point guard, Kenny Boynton, sprained his ankle in the second round victory over UCLA but hopes to be 100% come Thursday. He better be if he is going to try and stop college basketball's leading scorer and Florida coach, Billy Donovan, will no doubt throw several different looks at Fredette. However, the game plan for Florida is really this simple: try to contain Jimmer but keep everyone else below their average. BYU has lost four games this season and in every loss, but one, Fredette has scored at least 30 points. Holding him below 25 is going to be very hard, but what Florida needs to focus on is stopping BYU's role players, most notably, Jackson Emery and Noah Hartsock. In almost every loss both players were below their average in points and Fredette, despite his efforts, could not shoulder the burden alone. If Florida is to move on to the Elite 8 that is how they will most likely have to attack the Cougars on the defensive end.

Offensively, the Gators have a serious advantage in the post with Alex Tyus and Vernon Macklin. Hartsock will have to be amazing on the defensive end to stop those two and, as stated before, must chip in on offense. After a strong finish to the regular season, Chandler Parsons has cooled off and only scored 17 points in Florida’s two tournament games. An all-around effort from him will also give the Gators an edge over BYU. They are more athletic than their Mountain West counterpart and have the advantage of playing much closer to home but, then again, they don’t have the kid named Jimmer.

What Fredette has done in this tournament so far is something special and if a man calls himself a college basketball fan then he should make time in his schedule to watch the BYU-Florida game at 7:27 ET on Thursday night. There have been few players who have come through the NCAA Tournament and performed so magnificently that they carry their mid-major team to new heights. In 2009 Stephen Curry did the unthinkable when he led Davidson to the Elite 8 after upsets over 7th-seeded Gonzaga, 2nd-seeded Georgetown and 3rd-seeded Wisconsin. Last year Gordon Hayward took Butler where no mid-major had been since Utah in 1998, the national championship game. Both of those players went on to be lottery picks the year after. A similar fate may await Fredette should he impress in the Big Easy.

What is the Best Sporting Event to Attend?

Yesterday at lunch my friends and I got in one of those sports arguments just for fun and we started debating on what was the best sport to watch on television and which was the best to actually attend in person. We came up with several different opinions on both topics but we each had a valid reason for our answers. In my opinion basketball is the best sport to watch on television and baseball is the best to buy a ticket to. Football is a popular answer for both but I've never been that big of a football guy. I enjoy college football but I have never been that big of an NFL fan. I have been to college football games and I attended an NFL game but the sport is not as interesting to me as the others. This blog post is totally opinion based and here are the reasons to why I love watching basketball and going to baseball games.

Turner Field: Home of the Atlanta Braves

It's pretty hard to argue against watching basketball at this time of year but I love it from start to finish. The NBA has been exceptionally good this year with an abundance of great teams that always give us fans must-see games. College basketball has experienced somewhat of a down year but the games are always fun to watch because of the upsets and the buzzer beaters. Lately, Butler and VCU have captured the nation's attention with their Cinderella stories. What really sets basketball apart from other sports though, is the speed of the game. Baseball is slow and on television we lose interest in the middle innings. Football, for me at least, is a slow game with all the stoppages and timeouts and it takes some of the suspense away. Basketball is up and down action, constant scoring and big shots throughout the game. Those are ingredients to keeping me glued to the television. Plus, with the best playoff system in sports, how can one not watch March Madness. Everything I just said is multiplied by three when it comes to the Big Dance.

 

Camden Yards: Home of the Baltimore Orioles

When it comes to buying a ticket for a game there is nothing better than going to a Major League Baseball game. There is something magical about going to a game, walking in the ballpark and buying some food. After finding your seats, the first pitch comes in and there are no greater sounds than the crack of the bat and the pop of the glove. A ballpark is so different from any other sports stadium. All NBA arenas look basically the same and all the NFL stadiums are the same. However, a ballpark is something special. They are all different and unique to each city. On top of that, being at a baseball game is awesome in it's own right. The games can take a while and that's perfectly fine because who would really want to leave a game when they are there? Baseball games are also usually close and that keeps fans on the edge of your seat and there are all the traditions of the game. I don't know, maybe it's because baseball is my favorite sport but going to the game is the best thing in the world to me.

Iconic scoreboard at Wrigley Field

  

All sports entertain us in different ways and they all have superstars that we pay money to go see. Basketball will take the spotlight here for a few weeks and then the MLB will regn supreme for awhile until the NBA and NHL playoffs take over. If at all possible, watch as many games as you can this spring and summer season because they promise to be amazing. To me, the basketball will be the best to watch and baseball will be the best game to attend in person. This is opinion based though so comment below and let me hear your take.

Truly a Weekend of Madness

How is that bracket looking for everybody? Mine started off bad and only got worse, but I'm not complaining. That was perhaps the best opening weekend of March Madness I have ever seen. Thursday's morning games were four games of heart stopping action, from Matt Howard's buzzer-beater layup to send Butler to the second round or Temple's Juan Fernandez hitting a leaner as time to expired to beat Penn State. Year after year the tournament shows why it is the best thing in sports. 68 teams were allowed in this year and the drama started right away, as many people felt the committee did a bad job of selecting and seeding teams. However, VCU has silenced those critics, winning three games over BCS conference schools and earning a trip to San Antonio for the Sweet 16. Upsets are what we love in March Madness and this year we got a hearty helping of them.

Filling out brackets is all in fun and, while we hate to see it busted, March Madness is all about great basketball games for us to watch. 11 of the first round games were decided by five points or less and three of the first four games on Thursday were decided by two points or less. Talk about a great start. The Sweet 16 will start on Thursday and four double-digit seeds will be playing, a number higher than most years. It's that surprise and uncertainty of what will happen that keeps us tuned in like madmen. For four days we wake up and turn on the television and watch basketball until we fall asleep. Life doesn't get much better.

Mack nearly cost his team the game...

That's what the Butler Bulldogs are thinking right now also, "Life doesn't get much better." Last year's tournament darlings, the Dawgs finished as national runner-up and nearly defeated Duke to win a title, and now are back in the Sweet 16 with two of the most thrilling wins in recent history. In their first round game against fellow mid-major, Old Dominion, the contest went back and forth literally the entire game and with seconds remaining, Butler had a shot to win. After a Shawn Vanzant shot was way off target, Andrew Smith tapped the ball over to the other side of the hoop where it fell in Matt Howard's hands and he laid it in just before the clock expired. It was a two point victory in typical Butler fashion. No flair, just get the job done. In the second round Butler may have won in an even more suspenseful fashion, if that is possible. Leading by one and playing the number one seed, Pitt, Cinderella was about to pull off an upset like the many from 2010. Pitt had to go length of the floor in under five seconds and hope that a prayer would be answered. Gilbert Brown took the inbounds pass and dribbled to halfcourt where he was fouled by Shelvin Mack. Mack's foul quite possibly could have gone down as one of the stupidest fouls in basketball history. Brown went to the line with his team trailing by one and sank the first free throw to tie the game. He then missed the second and Matt Howard grabbed the rebound for Butler with just one second remaining. That is when Pitt's Nasir Robinson over took Mack for the winner of the "stupidest foul award" when he grabbed Howard's arm and was whistled for a foul. With under a second to go, Howard walked to the other end of the floor and hit the game winning free throw. There may never have been a team so lucky in two games but in March, that's what you need.

VCU is quite a different story up in the Southwest bracket. They didn't use any luck, but instead pounded major conference teams in three straight games. After beating USC in a play-in game by 13 the Rams defeated Georgetown and Purdue by 18 apiece. Now, VCU will meet 10th seeded Florida State in San Antonio at 9:57 eastern on Friday. The winner will take on either Kansas or 12th seeded Richmond for a right to go to the Final Four in Houston.

...but Howard saved them with his
game winning free throw

Kansas has been the best choke artist of the 2000s but it is almost impossible to see them choking this year. They have dominated in both their games and now must face two more double digit seeds to make the Final Four. Bill Self recruits the best players and, with the exception of 2008, they haven't gotten the job done. This year it would be perhaps the biggest bust to date if they did not make the championship game. Still, it is March Madness and we can't count out anybody. VCU has proven that for sure.

Three of the four brackets have a clear cut favorite (Ohio State in the East, Duke in the West, Kansas in the Southwest) but the Southeast bracket has proven to be the toughest one to predict. No real contender has shown themselves and with the number one seed losing in the second round it is even more up in the air. Butler, Wisconsin, BYU and Florida remain and what a night that will be when those two games take place. Butler-Wisconsin is sure to be a grind-it-out basketball game and BYU-Florida is a rematch from one of the best games of last year's tournament. Jimmer Fredette has performed great on the national stage and so far nobody has been able to stop him. Florida was not worthy of that 2 seed they received but have looked good in their two games.

My bracket looks awful with lots of red scratches on it but I do have all my Final Four teams left. Therefore, I will keep my Final Four picks the same of Ohio State, Duke, Kansas and Florida but I think the Gators are vulnerable. Also, Kemba Walker seems like Superman so who knows how high he can take the Huskies. Ohio State could face a tough squad in Marquette or a young, talented team in North Carolina. A lot can happen in these Regional games and they always seem to be the best games of the tournament. The brackets may be busted but the games keep us on the edge of our seats and this tournament is proving to be one of the best ever. Stay tuned...

This post also appeared on The Talking Heads at http://www.datalkingheads.blogspot.com/

Should College Athletes Be Paid?

Sunday night after the NCAA Selection Show and Bracketology, ESPN aired it's newest documentary following their critically acclaimed 30 for 30 series titled "The Fab 5." The film chronicled the well-known Michigan teams of the early 90s that had five freshmen in the starting lineup. They started out as just hype but quickly became a force in the college basketball world, playing in two national title games. Despite losing them both they left their mark in college basketball by wearing baggy shorts, black shoes and black socks. Four of the five played in the NBA and the film was truly gripping, especially during the scene when Chris Webber called the timeout that cost the Wolverines the 1993 championship game. There are several times in the movie that the players mention that they should be paid. They are from rough backgrounds in Detroit and Chicago and don't have enough money at times to eat or fill their car with gas. This brings up the question in the long debate of should college athletes be paid?

Chris Webber walked by a store in Ann Arbor and saw a number 4 Michigan jersey hanging in the window for 75 dollars. Somebody was going to make 75 dollars of that jersey but he wasn't going to receive any of it. Nike was selling "Fab 5" shoes and socks but the Fab 5 wasn't getting a cut of that. Think about how you would feel if somebody was basically using you to make money. That's how these five individuals felt and many probably still do today. Hundreds if not thousands of people probably own a number 4 Duke jersey from a few years ago but J.J. Redick never saw any of that money. I used to say that college athletes shouldn't get paid because they should have to work their way to the big time in the pros but my stance has changed. I played college basketball this year so I know what the lifestyle is like a little bit. People say that these kids don't need to be paid because they will have millions of dollars thrown at them when they are older but they can't worry about that in college. They have to worry about the now.

Pay the athletes at least a small sum for their time. Factor in all the travel time and practice time and they give the university a ton of of their personal time. That cuts in to studies, eating and social time. They deserve something especially if they are being used like the Fab 5 were. If somebody is selling something with a person's name on it they should get a cut of that. That doesn't happen and it is unfair. Some of these guys won't make the NBA. Look at Jimmer Fredette. People are making money off of him like crazy and he's not getting any of that and he may not make it in the NBA. He will never have that money.

It's time to start paying these athletes because they invest loads of time and people use them to make money. They are basically professional athletes yet get nothing for their skills or time. College sports is not a hobby, it is a profession. Pay the kids something. Even if it is 30 dollars a week that is good enough for them to get some food and gas. Minimum wage may be too much money but anything is good for them. It's time to start paying up and it's been far too long.

Weekend in Review: Volunteering at the Big Ten Tournament

I don't like to use this blog to talk about myself or anything like that and I like to stay away from using the pronouns "me" and "I" but for this next post I would like to write about my weekend in Indianapolis. Earlier in the year I contacted a woman from the Big Ten conference and asked for a media volunteer job for the Big Ten Men's conference tournament at Conseco Fieldhouse. I was then contacted by the head of Conseco Fieldhouse operations and he said that I had a job and from there I went through a few minor things before traveling down to Indy on Friday to work the Quarterfinal games. I worked Friday through Sunday and, in all, was able to see seven games, including the championship.

David Lighty cuts down the net

I learned quite a bit in my time at Conseco and number one was this: the media live a hard life but a good life. You want to know why some media guys are fat? Because there is free snack food everywhere for them. Down in the bowels of Conseco the hallways were buzzing with people from security guards manning every door to media people sprinting to get back in the arena before the second half started. The band and cheer teams for the schools playing next warmed up and stat runners (that's what I was) scurried around to deliver box scores to their assigned stations. Just outside the arena is a restaurant/sports bar with televisions showing the game inside and the various other college basketball games. There were refridgerators filled with pop and water and snacks on every table. Once or twice a day, depending on how many games there were, the Conseco food service would cook a meal for all the media and we would be able to eat between games. The meals were top of line with food such as meat loaf, corn, mashed potatoes and gravy and rolls. It was always a priority to eat the meals because they not only were they delicious but that was when I knew all the big name broadcasters and writers would be in the restaurant.

Over the weekend I was lucky enough to meet several former players and a number of broadcasters/writers. Larry Bird, Joe Dumars, Tim Hardaway, Ralph Sampson, Clark Kellogg and Jim Jackson were all in the arena for the games and I had the privelige of speaking to Kellogg, Hardaway and Jackson. What is awesome about these guys, especially Clark Kellogg, is that they take the time to speak with anybody. They seem like stars or celebrities but they are just normal guys who like to have a good talk about college basketball. I also had a few conversations with members of the Big Ten Network and we ragged on Bruce Weber and the Illini. One worker said that Weber should be fired because he hasn't been able to blend talent together the way many thought he should have. It was fun to just sit there and talk basketball with guys that were going to be on television five minutes later.

My job was to be a stat runner and that consisted of three short shifts. Before the game I needed to distribute pre-game notes on the two teams to an assigned two rows of media then delivered halftime and postgame box scores. When I wasn't working I was allowed to sit down at an open seat on press row and watch the game. That's when I was able to strike up a conversation with some of the guys working and exchange business cards and talk to them about what they do. The crazy thing is that some of them were just sitting there and tweeting about the game. That was their only job. Pretty sweet.

Big Ten commissioner Jim Delaney presents OSU with
the Big Ten championship trophy

Sitting behind the bench for all the games, I was exposed to different aspects of the game that fans in the seats can't hear. During the Purdue-Michigan State game I was able to listen in on Purdue coach Matt Painter's conversation with referee Ted Valentine. Painter and Valentine went back and forth for a few plays and then Valentine started warning Painter, "Keep talking and I'll do it [give you a technical foul] and I wouldn't hesitate to do it Matt!" Painter looked at Valentine and said, "Go ahead then and do it!" Valentine responded by putting his hand up, blocking Painter's face from view as if to say, "talk to the hand." I also was able to listen in to Ed DeChellis who, I determined, the dirtiest mouth of the Big Ten coaches. The Penn State coach repeatedly dropped F-bombs and wondered aloud what his players were thinking when they made a mistake. Thad Matta, coach of Ohio State, was all about toughness and begged his players to not give in and be tough down the stretch. The assistant coaches also do a lot of coaching and they are very knowledgeable on the scouting reports. The head coach takes care of the timeouts but the assistants do a ton of coaching during the game.

It was a nice inside look into what the media life is like and it was an experience I will never forget. I spoke to Tim Hardaway Jr., gave knucks to Aaron Craft and Jared Sullinger and high fived Talor Battle. I know that I definitely want to work in the media when I am older. I saw seven games and watched Ohio State cut down the nets. I feel like I've learned a lot about all the Big Ten teams but that doesn't mean I'm more confident in picking my bracket.

These pictures are pictures I took after the championship game on Sunday

Also, please check out another sports blog at http://www.datalkingheads.blogspot.com/

Breaking Down the Brackets

How late were you up last night? The NCAA bracket was announced and, more than ever, this one will be hard to pick. Much has been said about the selection committee and their logic in letting Virginia Commonwealth and UAB in and keeping Virginia Tech and Colorado. To me, if I could pick one word to describe this tournament it would be mediocre. There are so many mediocre teams and teams with the same talent level that the tournament doesn't have nearly the same star power that it normally boasts. Is that bad? No, not in my mind, because the teams are so evenly matched that there could be more instant classics than ever and people better have some upsets picked because these so-called "big schools" aren't head and shoulders above the mid-majors. Also, there are so many schools from power conferences with low seeds that they may be able to turn it on and win a few games. But, let's take a look at the bracket and I'll tell you what games to watch for, players to keep an eye on, who to pick and who to avoid picking.

Games to Watch

East Region: (6) Xavier vs. (11) Marquette

Marquette comes from the powerful Big East but they barely squeaked in. Xavier has been a power from the Atlantic-10 and despite not winning the conference tournament comes in with a 24-7 record. Marquette is 20-14 but has played a loaded Big East schedule. Both teams play solid defense and we shouldn't expect a high scoring game. Jimmy Butler (16.0 ppg, 6.1 rpg) is superb for the Golden Eagles and Tu Holloway (20.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 5.5 apg) is a dynamite little guard. You can pick either team here and feel good about it because both are solid teams.

East Region: (8) George Mason vs. (9) Villanova

Two teams going in opposite directions in this game. George Mason won 16 of their last 17 games while Villanova lost 10 of their last 15. We all remember George Mason's magical run to the Final Four in 2006 and no one is counting them out this year. Definitely pick them to win this game but it should be a thriller. Nova has had time to practice and coach Jay Wright says they have had good practices and they're ready to go. They better be because Mason is for real.

West Region: (4) Texas vs. (13) Oakland

Texas is playing great basketball right now and I wouldn't expect many people to pick against them. I'm not but I will say this game could be a good one. A scary one too for those who have Texas going deep into the tournament. The Horns are young with several talented players. Tristan Thompson and Jordan Hamilton are hard to stop and Texas has four players who average double figures. For Oakland, keep your eye on Keith Benson who averages a double-double. Three other players are in double figures and this could be a possible upset.

Southwest Region: (8) UNLV vs. (9) Illinois

The Illini limped into the NCAA Tournament and should feel fortunate to be a nine seed. Many were expecting a much lower seed but they do have a very tough opponent in UNLV. Lon Kruger will face his former team and the Runnin' Rebels are favored in this game. They have wins over Wisconsin, Virginia Tech and Kansas State this year and Illinois comes into the game losing four of their last six. Demetri McCamey will have to play well for the Illini to move on, but that's not always a given.

Southeast Region: (5) Kansas State vs. (12) Utah State

Utah State should feel cheated by the seed they received after posting a 30-3 record and winning the WAC but it is what it is and they must prepare for a Kansas State team who, after struggling in the middle of the season, has turned it around and is playing their best basketball. This is probably one of the hardest games to pick but Utah State could be that Cinderella team that every bracket has. Frank Martin will have Jacob Pullen and the Wildcats ready to go and we should be treated to a great game.

Players to Watch

Kemba Walker, guard, Connecticut: We all know about Kemba and there is not a hotter player in the nation right now than him. He led the Huskies through the Big East conference tournament, winning five games in five days. He averaged 38 minutes in the five games and for the year he put up 23 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists.

Jimmer Fredette, guard, BYU: Jimmer-mania could take over March and it will have to if BYU is going to advance past the first weekend. Without Brandon Davies the Cougars rely even more heavily on Fredette but the man just keeps producing. He dropped 52 points in the mountain West semi-finals and in the second round he will need a big effort against either Gonzaga or St. John's.

Jon Diebler, guard, Ohio State: The overall number one seed is the most complete team and Diebler is a big reason why they are winning and winning big. He is such a deadly three point shooter, shooting nearly 50% from deep. His shooting stretches out the defense and allows Jared Sullinger to go to work down low.

Like I said before, this bracket is not a good one. It is filled with bad teams and resembles an NIT bracket but the games should be highly competitive. As always, expect upsets and there really isn't a lock for four Final Four teams. The four number one seeds seem good enough but remember, only one time has that happened. Also, some teams that people would want to pick are not hot at the moment such as Villanova or Illinois. Mid-majors are stronger than ever and this March should be excited. Here are some stats that you may want to know while you pick your bracket. All stats are since 2005 when the Big East expanded

Final Four teams by conference/National Champions by conference

ACC 4/3

Big East 5

Big Ten 5

Big 12 1/1

Pac 10 3

SEC 3/2

Colonial 1

C-USA 1

Horizon 1

Final Four by Seeds

1. 11 teams

2. 5 teams

3. 2 teams

4. 2 teams

5. 3 teams

11. 1 team

3/14 Upsets--3 times  4/13 Upsets--6 times  5/12 Upsets--9 times  6/11 Upsets--9 times

As you can see, people talk a lot about the 5/12 upset but there have been just as many 6/11 upsets. If there were to be any 5/12 upsets this year I would look at Richmond beating Vanderbilt, Clemson over West Virginia or Utah State over Kansas State. Missouri is an 11 seed that could upset Cincinnati at the six spot and be careful of picking Georgetown. USC or VCU could be primed for an upset. We have already mentioned Marquette and Xavier's matchup as well.

As always, it will be an exciting time starting Thursday and people will be mad because their bracket is busted but, hey, this is March Madness and it is the most fun time of the sports year. For my Final Four I have settled in on Ohio State, Texas, Kansas and Pittsburgh but that will probably change before Thursday. That's the fun of it, trying to figure out who to pick. No matter who you do pick though you will always second guess yourself and that's when we say, "Let the Madness begin!"