NBA Eastern Conference Playoff Preview

Well, it appeared the Boston Celtics threw in the white towel last night and gave the Big 4 the night off and the subs promptly lost in overtime to the lowly Washington Wizards. With that loss, and Miami's win over the Atlanta Hawks, the playoffs are now set in the Eastern Conference. Like I said yesterday, this year's playoffs are going to very hyped up and rightfully so. There are four or five contenders in the East and many questions that will be answered in the coming weeks. The Chicago Bulls have won 60 games to date and are the top seed while the Heat are second and Boston is third. Many would say one of those three teams will represent the East in the Finals but watch out for the Orlando Magic and maybe even the New York Knicks. I've broken down each first round matchup and predicted the winners starting with the Bulls vs. Pacers so let's take a look...

1. Chicago Bulls vs. 8. Indiana Pacers

Could this be the start of another Chicago Bulls dynasty? It very well could be with the defense the Bulls have under rookie head coach, Tom Thibodeau. There's also that fella named Derrick Rose who has become one of the game's best players and should receive the MVP honors this year. Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah are a great tandem in the post with Boozer providing the scoring and Noah grabbing boards and bringing energy. Luol Deng is not talked about much but he has had a great season and will be counted on this postseason to take the pressure off Rose. The Bulls bench has also been very effective this season and they will need to be ready in the first round because the Pacers are always putting fresh bodies out on the floor. As many as 12 players see good time game in-game out for Indiana but they need Darren Collison and Roy Hibbert to come up huge if they hope for a first round upset. Locking down Rose is impossible but slowing him up would be huge for this young Pacers bunch. Don't expect an upset but don't be surprised if the Pacers steal one from the Bulls in Indianapolis. Prediction: Bulls in 5

4. Orlando Magic vs. 5. Atlanta Hawks

If big, bad Dwight Howard can keep himself from getting suspended because of technical fouls then the Magic should win this series for the second year in a row. However, the Hawks did win three out of four in the regular season so maybe there is some substance to that. Atlanta has five players who average double figures with Joe Johnson leading the way at 18.5 per game. What the Hawks need is for Al Horford to play great and Zaza Pachulia to be the irritant he is and get inside Howard's head. Jameer Nelson is always steady at point guard and Atlanta's Jeff Teague is faced with the task of stopping him. Teague has started a handful of games since Mike Bibby's departure and the playoffs could be a something of a coming out party for him. Kirk Hinrich has playoff experience with the Bulls and is reliable. This series is hard to predict but I'm going to guess that Dwight Howard can go seven games without being a cry baby and take the Magic to the second round. Prediction: Magic in 7

3. Boston Celtics vs. 6. New York Knicks

This so called "rivalry" has supposedly heated up this year but until now that was a lie. Now that the two teams are meeting in the playoffs things probably will heat up and we should be treated to a great series. If the Celtics hadn't made the idiotic move of trading Kendrick Perkins then I would say Boston would win easy but that's not the case anymore. If you're looking for an upset special this could be it. The Knicks can score in bunches and the Celtics seem very vulnerable right now. They haven't been the same team since the trade and they seem to have lost their edge. By no means am I saying the Knicks are a great team, but they are capable of winning this series. Carmelo Anthony is the best closer in the game right now and that means better than Kobe for all you Laker fans. He and Amare came to New York for a reason and, while they are a few years away from the ultimate destination, they can take the first step this season. For the Celtics it's championship or bust. Prediction: Knicks in 7

2. Miami Heat vs. 7. Philadelphia 76ers

We all remember that little pow-wow the Heat had at the beginning of the season when LeBron made the claim that they would win something like 11 NBA championships together. It seemed silly then and it seems silly now. Miami won't win more than four championships and they won't win this season. That said, they won't have a problem in the first round against the 76ers. With LeBron and Dwyane Wade, the Heat have two of the best finishers in the game and that's what a team needs to advance in the playoffs. Message to Erik Spoelstra: give Wade the ball for the last shot if it's needed!!! LeBron has been awful and lost his chance!! Okay, back on topic, Chris Bosh needs to play like an All-Star in the postseason for the Heat to advance far. For the Sixers, they are a young team with a veteran coach and they have a nice story this year but they don't have a chance to beat the Heat. Kudos to Doug Collins and staff but Miami will be moving on easily in this series. Prediction: Heat in 4

If those predictions hold true I would then pick the Bulls and the Heat to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals and the Bulls would win to advance to the Finals. With a potential lockout looming, make sure to watch as much playoff basketball as possible because who knows when we will see it again. The East has made a comeback and now has several solid teams and is filled with superstars. That's a change from the past and these playoffs are where the conference can really showcase that. Four of the top candidates for MVP will be playing in the East and should all advance to the second round. Stay tuned in the coming days for the Western Conference preview once that bracket is set.

Melo's Clutch Jumper Tops Pacers, Playoffs Looming for Both Teams

On Sunday night I had the chance to attend the New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers game at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis and, wow, was it a treat. The two teams went back and forth all game long, with no team able to extend their lead much past seven, and with four seconds to go, Carmelo Anthony drilled the go-ahead basket that proved to be the game winner. The Knicks won 110-109 for their seventh win in a row and moved up into the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference. Anthony finished with 34 points despite sitting a prolonged period of time in the second half due to foul trouble. New York was without Amare Stoudamire but Anthony and Chauncey Billups stepped up in his absence. For Indiana, it was a disappointing defeat after playing well for the majority of the game, but failing to find consistent offense down the stretch in the fourth quarter. Danny Granger scored 17 points in the first half but was held to three in the second half and his potential game-winning jumper was blocked by Anthony.

After watching Indiana play it is clear they aren't going to be a breeze for the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the playoffs. Do I think the Bulls will lose the series or that it will go seven games? No, not a chance, but the Pacers are a young, scrappy bunch and they should play the Bulls to a few tough games and, perhaps, steal one from them. They are the only Central Division team that beat Chicago this year and they match up well with the Bulls lineup. The Pacers play 11-12 guys and are a deep team, but the one thing they are lacking is that superstar and closer. Danny Granger can be that guy but last night he wasn't. A superstar can't score only three points in the second half and disappear in the final five minutes of the game. That's one thing the Bulls have going for them. Derrick Rose has been phenomenal this season and the MVP trophy is all his, no arguments. He is averaging 25 points, 4 rebounds and nearly 8 assists per game and has perfected that closer role for the Bulls this year. The Pacers use three point guards in Darren Collison, A.J. Price and T.J. Ford with Collison getting most of the minutes. There may not be a faster player in the league than him and how well he matches up with Rose will surely dictate how the series will go for Indiana. In the post the Pacers have Tyler Hansbrough and Roy Hibbert to go up against Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah. Granger and Luol Deng will be a nice matchup to watch and then Paul George will guard Keith Bogans/Ronnie Brewer. The Pacers are on the way back to success but with such a young, inexperienced team don't expect an upset over Chicago.

New York is the mystery team in the East. They can be really good, like this seven game win streak, or they can be just plain awful like their six game losing streak at the end of March. With Anthony, Billups and Stoudamire in the lineup, the Knicks can score at will but the one thing hindering them is their defense. It is their style to score 100+ points and give up the same amount and that's not good come playoff time. Sure, they can guard somebody but they don't. They will face either the Celtics or the Heat and both teams can match the Knicks point-for-point while playing solid defense. If the Knicks play the Heat they won't win. They could push the series to six or seven games but, just like Mike D'Antoni's Phoenix teams, the lack of defense will hurt them. However, if the Knicks play the Celtics then they have a realistic shot at beating them. Without Kendrick Perkins or Shaquille O'Neal in the paint, the C's have lost their identity and they no longer seem like the big, bad bully on the block. Both the Bulls and the Heat have thumped Boston in the past week and New York may be able to pull of the upset.

The Eastern Conference playoffs should be very exciting to watch. Are the Heat good enough to make it to the Finals? Are the Celtics still the same, old Celtics we have come to expect? Are the Bulls really as good as their record indicates? There are questions all around the conference as the playoffs get ready to start and it should be a wild few weeks. It's fun to see teams getting into playoff mode and games getting chippy (take a look at Jermaine O'Neal's foul on LeBron James from Sunday) and who will emerge to take on the Lakers, Thunder or Spurs out West? They say the NBA is where amazing happens and we should be treated to some amazing basketball starting in just a few days.

Photo courtesy of Darron Cummings (AP Photo)

Sox Score A Lot, Give Up A Lot

After their 4-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday afternoon, the Chicago White Sox pushed their record to 5-3. There are still plenty of questions about this year's White Sox team but one thing is for sure: they can score runs. As of now they are leading the MLB in runs scored and are third in batting average but the troubling thing is that they have given up plenty of runs as well. On Opening Day the Sox looked magnificent at the plate, jumping out to a 14-0 lead over the Cleveland Indians. Mark Buehrle cruised through five innings of shutout ball but then gave up four runs in the 6th inning. When all was said and done, the White Sox came out a winner, 15-10. That's not exactly the ideal way to win. Yet, that's the way Ozzie Guillen and his Sox are going to get the job done this year for the most part and fans are hoping it can carry them all the way to the Fall Classic.

In their eight games Chicago has scored 56 runs which is first in the MLB and they rank in the top five in team batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. They are a complete team because they have players who will get on base at the top of the order, such as Juan Pierre and Gordon Beckham, and they have the power hitters to knock them in. Last year Adam Dunn, Paul Konerko and Carlos Quentin hit a combined 103 home runs. This season, after eight games, they have four home runs which puts them on pace to hit 81. Surely that number will rise and the Sox will need it to because the pitching staff and bullpen can be questionable.

If Jake Peavy can ever get healthy and pitch a significant amount of games for the White Sox they will greatly benefit from it but, for the time being, they are without the former Cy Young award winner and that means there is a drop off at the fifth spot in the rotation. With Peavy in the rotation, the Sox can have Buehrle, Peavy, John Danks, Gavin Floyd and Edwin Jackson as their five and that is pretty solid. However, Floyd has been known to struggle early in the year and after one outing his ERA is above five. Buehrle is the complete opposite because he usually starts out excellent but breaks down in the second half. They will need both pitchers to be on top of their game for the entire season if they are to win the Central and make a run in the postseason. I say all that to say this: the starters will get the job done for the White Sox a lot of the time. They will pitch a solid 5-7 innings but after that, what Ozzie needs more than anything, is his bullpen to step up and do the job. Matt Thornton's performance has already been questionable but much of that is due to the defense behind him. Keep an eye on Chris Sale because the young closer could be to the Sox what Adam Wainwright was for the Cardinals in their '06 World Series title.

Chicago has not won a Central Division title since 2008 but things look bright in 2011. They have one of the most powerful lineups in all of baseball, a pitching staff that, if healthy, can be one of the most effective in the league and they have two relievers capable of being all-stars. Will they be able to put it all together? Who knows, but early indications show that the offense is clicking and the starting pitching is there. If the bullpen can become more effective then watch out. We may see another Fall Classic on the Southside of Chicago.

Ramirez Retires Unexpectedly, It's Just Manny Being Manny

From his early years in Cleveland...

In a shocking story, Manny Ramirez has announced his retirement from the great game of baseball after he was reportedly involved in an issue with the MLB drug policy. It's not clear if Ramirez tested positive for a banned substance, but if he was then he would have to serve a 100-game suspension. Rather than face the prospects of sitting out for a good portion of the year, Ramirez informed Major League Baseball that he would retire. Manny is an interesting character and deciding if he should get the call to the Hall of Fame depends on how you viewed him as a player and person. Personally, I loved Manny. Manny being Manny. Manny crushing home runs for the Red Sox and leading the Idiots to the World Series title twice. Manny catching a fly ball and running up the wall to high five a fan. Manny disappearing into the Green Monster during a pitching change because he had to take a leak, only to reemerge moments before the next pitch. You want my opinion? Manny Ramirez was fun and he was one of the greatest hitters in the game while bringing the fans that joy and laughter. However, there is another side of Manny that may keep him out of Cooperstown and it will be interesting to see how things play out when he is eligible in 2016.

You would be hard pressed to find a hitter in the game today who will retire with an average above .300 but Manny sits comfortably at .312 with over 2,500 hits. Those numbers are very impressive and if you don't believe me consider this: Manny has a higher average than Hank Aaron, Pete Rose, Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle. All of those players, minus Rose, are in the Hall of Fame. Rose is the all-time hits leader and would surely be in the Hall of Fame if it weren't for the gambling issues. Ramirez hit for .300 or better 11 of his 18+ seasons and hit over .325 six times. He led the MLB with a .349 average in 2002 and in 2000 batted .351. His 2,574 hits put him 82nd on the all-time list which doesn't seem that impressive but he has more hits than Mantle, Eddie Mathews and Joltin' Joe Dimaggio. Frank Thomas, Sammy Sosa and Jeff Bagwell are recently retired players whose names have come up in Hall of Fame discussions and Manny has more hits than all of them. Manny Ramirez was a better hitter than Joe Dimaggio, Mike Schmidt, Mickey Mantle or Ernie Banks. All four of those players are in the Hall of Fame.

...to his World Series years in Boston...

When it comes to home runs Manny is 14th all-time, ahead of Schmidt, Mantle, Jimmie Foxx and Ted Williams. The 500 Home Run Club has become sort of watered down and lost its significance because so many players have reached it in the past few years but Ramirez is one of 14 players to have more than 550. The next player to reach that mark should be Albert Pujols and that will take him quite a few more years. Despite the loss of it's significance, that achievement cannot be overlooked. Then there are the RBIs. Ramirez ranks 18th all-time in runs batted in and had 12 seasons with 100+. Only Alex Rodriguez, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Jimmie Foxx have more 100+ seasons and they are all in, or going to be in, the Hall of Fame. In 1999 he had 165 runs batted in which led the league and that is also the most RBIs in a single season since 1938. Wrap your mind around that one. Manny is one of the greatest right-handed hitters of all-time and maybe, just maybe, that can make up for his lack of talent in the field.

Of course, other great players in the Hall of Fame couldn't play a lick of defense so Manny wouldn't be the first, but that is one of the major knocks on his career. While he may be a better hitter then most of those players mentioned above at the plate, he is definitely inferior when it comes to playing the field. And then there is the steroid issue. It's not something that I really want to go in depth with because it is such a complicated subject. Should those players be inducted into the Hall of Fame? I think so, but I do think they should have to wait awhile. For Manny, this is the third time his name has come up in steroid use but think about this: sure he may have used steroids that did, or did not, help his hitting numbers but most of the pitchers he was facing probably were too. Most people just want to pin the blame on the hitters but they fail to see that pitchers were juiced too. It wasn't an uneven playing field because both sides were doing it. So yes, Manny did do steroids and I am not saying that is okay at all, but he was facing pitchers that were doing the exact same thing.

...Manny was loved wherever he went.

Looking at his hitting numbers and his World Series titles it seems Manny must be a lock for the Hall of Fame. The lack of hustle, defense and the steroid use are blemishes on his fine career and some people will want to hold him out because of it but we should appreciate the great hitter. Whether Manny makes it to the Hall of Fame or not, we will remember him for the joy and fun he brought to the game of baseball. I'll admit it, baseball can be a boring sport, but Manny was somebody who everybody wanted to see. He was almost always smiling and was a character that was larger than life for a time. Nobody saw this retirement coming but it's just another case of Manny being Manny.

The Biggest Busts of the NBA Draft Since 2000

With the NBA Draft looming a few months away and college players already making their ill-advised decisions to enter their names, I thought it would be appropriate to look at the worst draft picks since 2000. I have compiled a list of the ten worst and, wow, some of them are horrific. Every year there are those players who come into the draft and the common fan knows they won't be good, yet a team always picks them. Also, when I say bust I am saying that because they did not live up to expectations and that doesn't mean they were bad necessarily. It could mean, in the case of Shaun Livingston and Marcus Fizer, that injuries have greatly affected their careers. Also, a player could have off the court issues that derail his time on the floor. At the time I'm sure all of these players seemed like a great pick for that team but they all failed to reach their potential and that is why I call them a bust. There have plenty of those busts since the millenium hit and here is a look at ten of the biggest busts since 2000:

1. Chicago Bulls entire draft class of 2000
Okay I cheated on the very first entry and put an entire class in the top spot but, seriously, this may be the worst draft class of all-time. It's no wonder the Bulls were terrible for the early part of the 2000s because look at who they drafted. Jerry Krause used two lottery picks on Marcus Fizer from Iowa State (4th pick) and Jamal Crawford from Michigan (8th pick) and neither of them were the answer for Chicago. Fizer lasted just four years in Chicago and averaged 10 points and 5 rebounds, which is decent but not what you would expect from the 4th pick in the draft. Crawford has taken a different path in the NBA. He also lasted just four years in Chicago but has now been a key piece for the Atlanta Hawks these past two years. For the Bulls he averaged 11 points but was never the answer for a struggling franchise. As if that's not enough, the Bulls had three second round picks and selected A.J. Guyton of Indiana and Jake Voskuhl and Khalid El-Amin from UConn. Those three put together only averaged 13.8 points and Voskuhl and El-Amin only played a year in Chicago. And to think that this was all just a prelude to the Eddy and Tyson Blunder...

2. Darius Miles, LA Clippers (3rd pick, 2000) From: East St. Louis High School in Belleville, IL

You can't really understand the hype around Darius Miles unless you are old enough to remember the months leading up to the draft. The kid came straight out of high school and appeared on a Sports Illustrated cover with Kevin Garnett for the 2000 NBA Preview issue. The cover read, "Young and Youngest: Kevin Garnett, 24, welcomes Darius Miles, 19, to the NBA" and Miles looked as if he may live up to the hype. He averaged 9 points and 6 boards his rookie season and was named to the NBA All-Rookie team, a first for a player straight from high school. However, he clashed with coaches and violated the league's substance abuse policy and is now out of the league. For his career he averaged 10 points and 5 rebounds for his seven year career, no where near what people expected from him.

3. Kwame Brown, Washington Wizards (1st pick, 2001) From: Glynn Academy in Brunswick, GA

Kwame Brown was the first pick for the Washington Wizards and was a major flop. Actually, he still is. Yet, he was chosen before Joe Johnson and Gilbert Arenas. Brown is now playing for his fifth team and his best season came in 2003-04 when he averaged 10.9 points and 7.4 rebounds. Other than that he has been consistently below five points and five rebounds while averaging 22 minutes for his career. He is another player to come straight out of high school and he was often called the best player in his class and earned a spot on the McDonald's All-American team. He has never played like the player he was supposed to be but has traveled from team to team, consistently giving them 5 points and 5 boards a night.

4. Eddy Curry, Chicago Bulls (4th pick, 2001) From: Thornwood High School in South Holland, IL

The Baby Bulls, as they were nicknamed then, were awful. Eddy Curry was labeled "Baby Shaq" in a magazine and he could not have been farther from that. The 4th pick in the draft, Curry averaged 6.7 points and 3.8 rebounds his rookie season and did make steady improvement every year for the Bulls. However, when a player enters straight from high school he has so much hype surrounding him that it is hard to live up to expectations. Curry has averaged 13 points and 5 rebounds for his career which is decent, but not what people expected from a kid nicknamed "Baby Shaq." Curry has had numerous problems off the court including an alledged sexual harrassment and a foreclosure on his house.

5. Dajuan Wagner, Cleveland Cavaliers (6th pick, 2002) From: Memphis

I read an article in Sports Illustrated recently and John Calipari was quoted as saying he encouraged Dajuan Wagner to chase his dreams and enter the NBA Draft. Yeah he did and not only did he encourage Wagner to enter, he revoked his scholarship so Wagner would be forced to enter the draft. Well, good advice Cal, the kid played only 93 games in the league before he had to quit due to health problems. A phenomenal scorer in high school, Wagner never quite found that stroke in the NBA. He averaged 9.4 points per game and is now trying to make a comeback one more time.

6. Darko Milicic, Detroit Pistons (2nd pick, 2003) From: Serbia

Alot like Miles, Darko was hyped up so much and the Pistons selected him second overall. Ahead of Carmelo Anthony. Ahead of Dwyane Wade. Ahead of Chris Bosh. Heck, they picked him ahead of Kirk Hinrich who has had a solid career. Milicic currently plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves and is having his most productive season to date, averaging 9 points and 5 rebounds. He was featured in magazines and people couldn't wait to see this Serbian import but then he failed miserably. He appeared in only 34 games as a rookie and averaged a measly 2 points and 1 rebound. He may have found a home in Minnesota but he will never be the player we were expecting to see.

7. Adam Morrison, Charlotte Bobcats (3rd Pick, 2006) From: Gonzaga
He was arguably the best player in the college game in his final season at Gonzaga and many thought he could turn out to be a solid NBA player. He had the long floppy hair, nasty trash 'stache and was playing with diabetes-- you had to love him. He averaged 28 points his junior year at Gonzaga but in the NBA he has not amounted to much and is currently a free agent. He has battled injuries but won two titles as a benchwarmer for the Lakers. He averages 7 points and 2 rebounds for his career and has only played in 161 games. The last team he played for, the Washington Wizards, waived him and he has not been picked up since.

8. Hasheem Thabeet, Memphis Grizzlies (2nd pick, 2009) From: UConn

I wrote about Thabeet in an earlier post and he was chosen specifically because of his "upside." He was a great rebounder and shot blocker and the Grizzlies made him the second overall pick which has proved to be foolish. He is now playing for Houston Rockets and for his career he has averaged 2 points, 3 boards and one block. He has played in 115 games but averages only 10.9 minutes per game. He came to an all-time low when he was demoted to the D-League for six games. This year he is averaging one point, one rebound and one block.

9. Shaun Livingston, Los Angeles Clippers (4th pick, 2004) From: Peoria Central High School in Peoria, IL
I'm seeing a trend here and it's not good. Livingston is the third player that tried to jump from high school to the pros from Illinois to appear on this list. Unlike Miles and Curry, Livingston was going to be a great player and you have to feel sorry for him. His career was derailed by a series of severe knee injuries and if you're into gruesome stuff go ahead and Youtube that. He is now on the Charlotte Bobcats, his fifth team since being drafted and he is trying to become a role player. He has shown flashes of what he was capable of but will never be the player he could have been because of the injuries. He averages 7 points and 4 assists for his career. In his rookie season he averaged 7 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists.

10. Sebastian Telfair, Portland Trail Blazers (13th pick, 2004) From: Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, NY

Okay, there are plenty of players who could round out this list but Telfair has to be included. Thank God he wasn't a top 10 pick but 13 is still pretty bad. If anybody was hyped, it was this kid. ESPN did a documentary about him and he appeared on several magazine covers. The Sports Illustrated cover shows what people thought about him. He was going to be the next big thing...until he wasn't. Telfair is playing for his fifth team and has had off the court trouble in the past. He averages 7 points and 3 assists for his career and has appeared in 37 games for the Timberwolves this season. He is averaging 7 points and 3 assists in 19 minutes per game.

There are a few common themes after looking over this list. Most of the players have become journeymen already. They have played for multiple teams, come off the bench and produce little. All of them came in with tons of hype but could not live up to the expectations. Five of the players on the list came straight out of high school and that is a testament to why the NBA needed the age limit rule. Players need to stay in school and strongly consider if they are ready for the NBA. Most of them aren't. This is a man's league where few succeed and you have to be great to be on the top. There have not been as many failures since the age limit rule went into effect and the NBA and NCAA should agree to add on to it and make players stay two or three years. These are 10 sad stories and nobody wants to see somebody fail.

March Madness Limps to the Finish Line

They are the Little Engine that Couldn't. Two years in a row the Butler Bulldogs have taken the nation by storm, advancing all the way to the National Championship game, and last night they lost again, this time to Connecticut. In what may have been the ugliest championship game of all-time, UConn and coach Jim Calhoun won the school's third title, all since 1999. It was no small feat considering that the Huskies finished ninth in the Big East and then reeled off five wins in five nights to win the conference tournament and then won six games in the NCAA Tournament. They went undefeated in tournaments and on neutral courts and featured arguably the best player in the nation, Kemba Walker, and a host of talented freshmen. Butler brought back almost every key piece from last year's run and it seemed as though they would win the big one this year. However, they struggled from start to finish and will keep the national runner-up description.

It started off bad when Shelvin Mack had a three pointer blocked and missed two easy layups and it only got worse from there. The Bulldogs shot a horrendous 19% from the field and there may as well have been a lid on the basket. Mack led the team with 13 points on 4-15 shooting. All of his field goals were from deep, where Butler managed to make nine treys. However, they finished the game 9-33 from behind the arc which is good for 27%. It was a historical shooting display for all the wrong reasons and it cost Butler the national championship. It's not that they played bad and it's not that UConn played well. Butler did what they normally do. They were scrappy, played good defense and worked the clock on offense, but they could not get a shot to fall from anywhere and that's why they lost. People cannot make a big deal of Kemba Walker because his play wasn't that great by his standards either. He had almost single-handedly carried the Huskies to the championship game but he shot 5-19 and did not have one assist last night. Butler executed their game plan but the shots didn't fall.

It's a sad ending to a fairy tale story. The Dawgs advanced to the championship game last year, in their hometown, and had a halfcourt shot just miss that would have been a game winner. This year they made a remarkable return but fell short again. However, the ending may be sad but take time to appreciate what just happened. This may never happen again but, somehow, Butler did it. They advanced to the championship game twice. Small schools don't do that. That's reserved for the UCLAs and Kentuckys of the world. It would have been nice to see Butler celebrate last night but it wasn't meant to be. Surely the will be back in the tournament next year but we shouldn't expect to see them in our Final Four brackets. If they are then it is the most impressive thing in college basketball since UCLA's winning streak.

For Jim Calhoun and UConn it was a great ending to a remarkable run. Left for dead and sitting at ninth place in the Big East tournament, Kemba and the boys went on an 11-game winning steak to capture the school's third national championship. Calhoun now joins elite company (John Wooden, Adolph Rupp, Bob Knight, Mike Krzyzewski) as one of only five coaches to win three championships with the same school. He has won them all since 99 and each time the Huskies came out of the West Region. UConn also became the first Big East school to win the championship since the conference expanded back in 2005. In 2004 the Huskies won the title and started a freshman but since then, no championship team has started a freshman. Last night this UConn team put three out on the floor to start the game. If you watched UConn from start to finish this season you could see the improvement of the players. Jeremy Lamb had a great tournament and became a force on the offensive end. Shabazz Napier, another freshman, ran the point which allowed Kemba to work off the ball and get more open shots. Alex Oriakhi was the inside prescence a team needs and he recorded a double-double last night in the championship. They started the year as a one man show but ended the year as a complete team.

It was a great win for UConn and a sad loss for Butler but the thing that people will always remember about this game is how poor it was. Neither team shot the ball well and Butler barely managed 40 points. It's a sad ending to what was a great tournament. Two mid-majors made the Final Four, no one or two seeds made it to Houston and brackets were busted early and often with plenty of upsets. This will surely be a March Madness to remember but it would have been nice to see it end in a better fashion. However, it did not and now we can start to look into next season. Stay tuned for an update of the preseason top 25 for next year and congratulations to the UConn Huskies on winning their third national championship.

(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Assembling the All-Time MLB Team

A few months ago I posted an article on the all-time NBA team which has gotten many views and no one has argued with my roster either so I'll assume I got it right! Now that Opening Day has come and gone for the 2011 MLB season, I thought it would be appropriate to compile the all-time MLB team. Now, much like the basketball team, players must be retired at least five years to be eligible for selection and I will choose a 25 man roster. The only exception to the retirement rule will be relievers because that is relatively new to the game of baseball. The team will consist of five starting pitchers, three relievers and 17 position players. The team listed for each player is the one they went into the Hall of Fame with. I would love to hear everyone's thoughts about who they would select and please leave a comment with your opinions. Here is my all-time team:

Catcher: Johnny Bench, Cincinnati Reds (1967-1983)

Bench was one of the key pieces to Cincinnati's Big Red Machine that captured a World Series title. He is one of the best hitting catchers of all time and won Rookie of the Year Award in 1968 and two MVPs in '70 and '72. Bench was also a great behind the dish, winning 10 Gold Gloves. Bench played in four World Series, batting .279 and hitting five home runs. He also led the league in runs batted in three times and home runs twice. A 14-time All-Star, Bench was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989.

Batting Average: .267     Home Runs: 389     RBI: 1,376     Hits: 2,048     Steals: 68

First Baseman: Lou Gehrig, New York Yankees (1923-1939)
The "Iron Horse" played along Babe Ruth and is the first of many Yankees to make the team. Gehrig held the record for most games played in a row for a long time before Cal Ripken, Jr. broke it in the mid-90's and he should remain second on that list for a long time. Gehrig played at the same time fellow greats, Jimmie Foxx and Hank Greenberg, were playing but he was the best of the three. Gehrig batted .340 for his career and was just seven home runs shy of 500. An RBI machine, he led the league five times in that category and was tops in home runs three times. He was a two-time MVP and played in seven World Series, winning six of them. Gehrig was inducted into the Hall of Fame by a special election in 1939.

Batting Average: .340     Home Runs: 493     RBI: 1,995     Hits: 2,721     Steals: 102

Second Baseman: Joe Morgan, Cincinnati Reds (1963-1984)

Also a member of the Cincinnati Reds during their heyday, Morgan is widely considered the best second baseman of all time. A diminuitive 5 foot 7 inches didn't stop Morgan who collected two MVP awards and racked up 10 All-Star game appearances. He also won a Silver Slugger award and five Gold Gloves. Morgan played for five different teams but his best years came with the Reds. He was a thief on the base paths and also drew plenty of walks, leading the league four times. Morgan was a part of two World Series titles and appeared in two more. Although he did not perform up to par in the postseason individually, no one can discount his rings.

Batting Average: .271     Home Runs: 268     RBI: 1,133     Hits: 2,517     Steals: 689

Third Baseman: Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia Phillies (1972-1989)

The first member of the 500 home run club to make the team, Schmidt provided the pop for Philly for two decades and shined with the glove in the hot corner. Schmidt racked up many awards and accolades in his career, including three MVPs, 10 Gold Gloves and six Silver Sluggers. He led the league in home runs eight times and RBIs four times. He appeared in two World Series, winning one of them over the Kansas City Royals in 1980. In that series he was phenomenal, batting .381, hitting two home runs and collecting eight hits. He was named the World Series MVP that year. A 12-time All Star, Schmidt was inducted into Cooperstown in 1995.

Batting Average: .267     Home Runs: 548     RBI: 1,595     Hits: 2,234     Steals: 174

Shortstop: Honus Wagner, Pittsburgh Pirates (1897-1917)

An oldtime player, Wagner never hit for power but, boy, could he hit. He is the first member of the 3,000 hit club on the team with 3,420 hits in his 21 seasons. Wagner is probably the first great player in the game of baseball and he also has the most expensive baseball card in history to his name. He was a stocky 5 foot 11, 200 pounds yet he ran well, stealing 723 bases. In 1909 he led the Pirates to a World Series victory, batting .333 with six RBIs and six stolen bases in the seven game series. "The Flying Dutchman," as he was called, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1936 as part of the original class.

Batting Average: .328     Home Runs: 101     RBI: 1,733     Hits: 3,420     Steals: 723

Leftfield: Stan Musial, St. Louis Cardinals (1941-1963)

Stan "The Man" Musial dominated in St. Louis for 22 seasons and edged out Ted Williams in the closest race for a position yet. Musial was an outstanding hitter with over 3,500 hits and came up just short of 500 home runs and 2,000 RBIs and the craziest thing is that he missed 1945 because he entered the US Navy. That could have been another MVP and World Series year for him and he definitely would have reached those two other milestones. The Cardinals won three World Series in his first four seasons and Musial has countless awards to his name including 20 All Star appearances and 3 MVPs.

Batting Average: .331     Home Runs: 475     RBI: 1.951     Hits: 3.630     Steals: 78

Centerfield: Willie Mays, New York/San Francisco Giants (1951-1973)

Mays is the definition of a five-tool player and for that reason, along with his eye-popping stats, give him the slight edge over other centerfield greats such as Cobb, Dimaggio and Mantle. He patrolled centerfield for 22 seasons and 21 of those came with the Giants. He played center in New York at the same time Mickey Mantle played for the Yankees and Duke Snider played for the Dodgers. Neither of them shined as bright as the Say Hey Kid. He is a member of the 3,000 hit club and the 600 home run club. He won Rookie of the Year, two MVPs, 12 Gold Gloves and was a 20-time All Star. He also won a World Series.

Batting Average: .302     Home Runs: 660     RBI: 1,903     Hits: 3,283     Steals: 338

Rightfield: Babe Ruth, New York Yankees (1914-1945)

When it comes down to just numbers, Hank Aaron may have the Babe beat but what Aaron doesn't have is the seven World Series rings that Ruth have or the legend the Babe owns. He is the Sultan of Swat, the Great Bambino. He is Babe Ruth--the most well known player ever in the game of baseball. He ranks third all time on the home run list behind Barry Bonds* and Aaron and was a lifetime .342 hitter. He has an MVP to his name and led the league in home runs 12 times. He also led the league in RBIs six times and was named to two All-Star teams.

Batting Average: .342     Home Runs: 714     RBI: 2,213     Hits: 2,873     Steals: 123

Pitching Ace: Walter Johnson, Washington Senators (1907-1927)

The game of baseball has changed since the eras of Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson and Cy Young and for that reason there may be a few of them left off the roster. It's unlikely they could pitch as successfully against today's hitters. However, the Big Train was said to have a fastball that could compete with today's pitchers when it comes to speed. He piled up 417 wins in his career, something that is unthinkable today. He struck out over 3500 hitters and led Washington to a World Series title in 1924. He was then inducted into the original class of the Hall of Fame in 1936. 

Win-Loss: 417-279     Strikeouts: 3,509     ERA: 2.17     Innings Pitched: 5914.1

Rest of the Pitching Rotation
Nolan Ryan, Texas Rangers (1966-1993)
Win-Loss: 324-292     Strikeouts: 5,714     ERA: 3.19     Innings Pitched: 5,386

Randy Johnson, Arizona Diamondbacks (1988-2009)
Win-Loss: 303-166     Strikeouts: 4,875     ERA: 3.29     Innings Pitched: 4,135.1

Tom Seaver, New York Mets (1967-1986)
Win-Loss: 311-205     Strikeouts: 3,640     ERA: 2.86     Innings Pitched: 4,783

Bob Gibson, St. Louis Cardinals (1959-1975)
Win-Loss: 271-174     Strikeouts: 3,117     ERA: 2.91     Innings Pitched: 3,884.1

Rest of Position Players
Catcher: Yogi Berra, New York Yankees (1946-1965)
Batting Average: .285     Home Runs: 358     RBI: 1,430     Hits: 2,150     Steals: 30

First Baseman: Jimmie Foxx, Boston Red Sox (1925-1945)
Batting Average: .325     Home Runs: 534     RBI: 1.922     Hits: 2,646     Steals: 87

Second Baseman: Rogers Hornsby, St. Louis Cardinals (1915-1937)
Batting Average: .358     Home Runs: 301     RBI: 1,584     Hits: 2,930     Steals: 195

Shortstop: Ernie Banks, Chicago Cubs (1953-1971)
Batting Average: .274     Home Runs: 512     RBI: 1,636     Hits: 2,583     Steals: 50

Third Baseman: Eddie Mathews, Milwaukee Braves (1952-1968)
Batting Average: .271    Home Runs: 512     RBI: 1,453     Hits: 2,315     Steals: 68

Outfield: Ted Williams, Boston Red Sox (1939-1960)
Batting Average: .344     Home Runs: 521     RBI: 1,839     Hits: 2,654     Steals: 24

Outfield: Hank Aaron, Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves (1954-1976)
Batting Average: .305     Home Runs: 755     RBI: 2,295     Hits: 3,771     Steals: 240

Outfield: Ty Cobb, Detroit Tigers (1905-1928)
Batting Average: .366     Home Runs: 117     RBI: 1,938     Hits: 4,189     Steals: 897

Outfield: Joe DiMaggio, New York Yankees (1936-1951)
Batting Average: .325     Home Runs: 361     RBI: 1,537     Hits: 2,214     Steals: 30

Relievers
Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman, Dennis Eckersley

As you can see, there are some significant snubs from the team. Mickey Mantle sticks out the most in my mind. Yet, that's the way it goes when there are only 25 players on the team. I would love to hear readers' own takes on this because there are so many great players that would make great combinations. There are also plenty of players in the game now that could easily work their way onto a roster like this. Let the debating begin...

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!