By: Ryan "Big Mo" Mosley
To anybody who hasn't noticed yet, I'm doing a complete college football preview now on my "In The Trenches" blog @ 1033espn.com
Just go to 1033espn.com and click on the "In the Trenches" blog in the Sports Desk.
As always, feel free to send any questions and comments you might have to the comments section of my blog on 1033espn.com or to ryan_mosley99@yahooo.com
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
IT'S OFFICIAL at 1033ESPN.COM!
I just started "In the Trenches" on 1033ESPN.com yesterday. It's going to have everything and anything that is college football and hopefully it will serve every fan of every conference. Don't worry, I will keep giving you the goods right here on mosvoice. I just want to say thank you to all the followers and supporters up to this point. As long as you guys keep reading and leaving your comments, I promise to keep putting everything I have into my writing.
I will post here on mosvoice in the near future, but for the next few days or so, you can see my Top 25 for the month of June and what I have to say about each team at this early point in the summer..........
http://stations.espn.go.com/stations/espn1033/specialFeature?id=trenches
Thanks again for all the support,
Ryan Mosley of 103.3 FM ESPN
I will post here on mosvoice in the near future, but for the next few days or so, you can see my Top 25 for the month of June and what I have to say about each team at this early point in the summer..........
http://stations.espn.go.com/stations/espn1033/specialFeature?id=trenches
Thanks again for all the support,
Ryan Mosley of 103.3 FM ESPN
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
JUNE 1ST IS THE BIG DAY EVERYBODY
It's almost that time of year people!
I know I've been quiet for a minute, but I got tied up with the Mavs and their playoff run. As far as they're concerned, I told you the Spurs were tailor made for them. (A hobbled Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili in street clothes due to a stress fracture and a bench full of senior citizens, What more could the athletically challenged Mavericks ask for in a 1st round opponent?)
I know I've been quiet for a minute, but I got tied up with the Mavs and their playoff run. As far as they're concerned, I told you the Spurs were tailor made for them. (A hobbled Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili in street clothes due to a stress fracture and a bench full of senior citizens, What more could the athletically challenged Mavericks ask for in a 1st round opponent?)
The Nuggets, as we all saw in a brief 5 game series, were a different breed that the Mavs had no answer for. For the record, the Nuggets didn't beat the Mavs because they were these so called "Thugs" that everybody at my radio station keeps trying to make them out to be. (It's amazing how everybody wants the Mavs to sign the Birdman now.) It's because they were just flat out better than the Mavs and they ran their asses off the court.
I'm doing my best not to deep fry everybody who's been calling them Thugs, but I'm not sure I can hold out much longer! I know we're about to start the Conference Finals in the NBA and the Finals will follow soon after that, but we're on the verge of the most wonderful time of the year. (And I'm not talking about Jesus's Birthday!)
JUNE 1ST IS THE DAY TO REMEMBER EVERYBODY!
It will mark the start of may wall to wall coverage of the upcoming college football season. There will be interviews with some of your favorite college and pro athletes as well as some of the biggest names in college football coverage. There will be a top 25, offensive and defensive players to watch, story lines to watch for during the season, statements to live by when watching things unfold throughout the year, conference by conference breakdowns, games to watch and everything else in between.
It's college football season people. Get with the program! That's if you haven't already done so.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
My thoughts on every pick in the 1st round of the NFL Draft
1) Detroit- Mathew Stafford, QB/Georgia
- I can't wait to see him throw a deep one to Calvin Johnson. Whether or not he can play tomorrow doesn't matter because the Lions had to pick him. They could have gone with Jason Smith or Aaron Curry, but Stafford made the most sense. In a perfect world, Stafford shouldn't be seen as the savior of the franchise. Unfortunately, that's just what he's going to be seen as the second he puts his signature on that monstrous contract.
2) St.Louis- Jason Smith, OT/Baylor
- Good to see Mel Kiper Jr. live up to his bet by mentioning ESPN Radio's Jason Smith. Jokes aside, I like this pick. The easiest way to win a football game is to control the line of scrimmage with a solid offensive line and a powerful running game. The Rams, who already have a workhorse in Steven Jackson, took a major step towards doing so by drafting the top rated tackle in the draft. Hopefully Smith helps the Rams stop the game of musical chairs they've been playing on the offensive line the past few seasons.
3) Kansas City- Tyson Jackson, DL/LSU
- Timing is everything! Jackson wasn't necessarily the third best overall player in the draft, but he was the top rated prospect at the critical 3-4 DE position that every team in the AFC West seems to need all of a sudden.
4) Seattle- Aaron Curry, LB/Wake Forest
- Despite allowing Leroy Hill to become a free agent, the Seahawks should still have one of the better linebacker units in the league with Curry learning from former defensive rookie of the year, Lofa Tatupu.
5) New York Jets (from Cleveland)- Mark Sanchez, QB/USC
- I guess Eric Mangini still works for the Jets considering he gave the pick away for a steak dinner (No. 21 Alex Mack) and a couple bags of Lay's potato chips. (Brett Ratliff, Abram Elam, Kenyon Coleman and a 7th round pick) You gotta love Sanchez though if you're a Jets fan.
6) Cincinnati- Andre Smith, OT/Alabama
- Thank the lord the Bengals were smart enough to watch the tapes and put all the other things to the side! Smith might not make the next cover of Men's Health, but all you have to do is watch the films of Smith destroying people on a weekly basis in the SEC over the last three years to see why he's Carson Palmer's new bodyguard.
7) Oakland- Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR/Maryland
- Leave it to the crazy old man in the jump suit to throw a monkey wrench into things!
8) Jacksonville- Eugene Monroe, OT/Virginia
- I'm sure the Jags thought long and hard about Michael Crabtree, but you can't blame them for drafting the best player possible at the position where they obviously needed some immediate help. How is it that Al Groh keeps producing 1st round picks (D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Chris Long) but Virginia is consistently stuck in the middle of the pack in the ACC?
9) Green Bay- B.J. Raji, DT/Boston College
- It's hard to play an effective 3-4 defense without a man in the middle to occupy multiple blockers on every play. Raji, at a disruptive 6'2 and 330, fits the bill.
10) San Francisco- Michael Crabtree, WR/ Texas Tech
- I love Crabtree as a player. The problem is that Mike Singletary is going to feed the ball to Franks Gore and at last check, the 49ers don't exactly have a difference maker at quarterback to get Crabtree the ball.
11) Buffalo- Aaron Maybin, DE/Penn St.
- All of those "experts" you saw on television during the draft thought the Bills would take TE Brandon Pettigrew. All those experts were wrong.
12) Denver- Knowshon Moreno, RB/Georgia
- Some people probably think this pick was a reach, but give Josh McDaniels credit for drafting the most complete back in the draft. He's still going to have to turn Kyle Orton into a pro bowler to justify the Cutler debacle, but at least Moreno will slow down the turnstile that has become the Broncos' backfield.
13) Washington- Brian Orakpo, DE/ Texas
- Hopefully, for the Redskins' sake, this bullish pass rusher is more productive than Malcom Kelly, Devin Thomas and Fred Davis were last year. It will be interesting to see if the Redskins put him next to Albert Haynesworth.
14) New Orleans- Malcom Jenkins, CB/Ohio St.
- Considering he might be moved to safety at some point in his career, this smart player would be wise to learn everything he possibly can from free agent acquisition Darren Sharper.
15) Houston- Brian Cushing, LB/USC
- As if a defensive front seven with Mario Williams, DeMeco Ryans and former Cardinal Antonio Smith needed another aggressive and versatile defender to come into the fold.
16) San Diego- Larry English, OLB/Northern Illinois
- The Chargers got one of the better hybrid defensive players in the draft to protect themselves just in case Shawne Merriman doesn't return to form this season or they can't resign him to a long term deal in 2010
17) Tampa Bay- Josh Freeman, QB/Kansas St.
- He might not be ready right now, but he doesn't have to be with Byron Leftwich on the roster.
18) Denver- Robert Ayers, DL/Tennessee
- McDaniels drafts a guy to play in the trenches in his new 3-4 defense. It's a decent pick, but the Broncos need a lot more work to get their defense where it needs to be.
19) Philadelphia- Jeremy Maclin, WR/ Missouri
- It's a shame Donovan McNabb had to throw his weight around a little bit just to get the Eagles to get him some help at receiver.
20) Detroit- Brandon Pettigrew, TE/Oklahoma St.
- Good job Jim Schwartz! Matt Stafford has a wide out to throw deep balls to in Calvin Johnson. He's got a running back to hand it to in Kevin Smith. Now he's got a security blanket in Pettigrew, who was the most complete TE prospect in the draft.
21) Cleveland- Alex Mack, C/California
- Eric Mangini couldn't convince the Jets to let him have Nick Mangold so he drafted who he thought was the best center prospect on the board.
22) Minnesota- Percy Harvin, WR/Florida
- Brad Childress took a chance on the electric play maker who was foolish enough to burn the green stuff before he was tested at the NFL Combine. If he gets things in order he could be a steal, but if he winds up missing games because he's violated the league's substance abuse policy, he'll be a waste of a lot of money.
23) Baltimore- Michael Oher, OT/Ole Miss
- The team that consistently drafts well does it again with a solid offensive lineman.
24) Atlanta- Peria Jerry, DT/Ole Miss
- Jerry, an underrated play maker with a non stop motor, is just what Mike Smith and the Falcons were looking for.
25) Miami- Vontae Davis, CB/Illinois
- Another guy who will be a steal if plays up to the potential that his athleticism suggests he has.
26) Green Bay- Clay Matthews, OLB/USC
- The forgotten man of USC's vaunted linebacking corps is headed to the land of cheese and brawts to play on the edge in the Packers' new 3-4 defense.
27) Indianapolis- Donald Brown, RB/UConn
- After watching them draft guys like Edgerrin James and Joseph Addai, I think it's safe to say the Colts know what they're doing when it comes to picking running backs in the 1st round.
28) Buffalo- Eric Wood, C/Louisville
- Hard to have an offense these days without a guy to snap the ball to the quarterback. Wood should fit nicely as the Bills try to rearrange their o-line after trading All Pro LT Jason Peters to the Eagles
29) New York Giants- Hakeem Nicks, WR/North Carolina
- The Giants might not have Plaxico Burress anymore, but that hasn't stopped them from trying to build one of the best group of young receivers in the league.
30) Tennessee- Kenny Brit, WR/Rutgers
- I think Brit can play, but can he impress Jeff Fisher enough in training camp to make the Titans throw the ball more than 15-20 times a game?
31) Arizona- Chris "Beanie" Wells, RB/Ohio St.
- The powerful Wells should be the perfect complement to Tim Hightower for the Cardinals' running game.
32) Pittsburgh- Evander "Ziggy"Hood, DT/Missouri
- It's amazing how the Steelers always seem to draft well. Hood is probably the eventual replacement for Casey Hampton. Besides, you've got to love a defensive lineman with named Ziggy.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Switchblades and Brass Nuckles
Can the Nuggets and Hornets and Nuggets just have a street fight and get it over with already?
The first two games of this series got a little chippy as Denver basically did anything they wanted on their way to a couple of "Mile High" beat downs. As physical as those two games were down the stretch, Game 3 turned into a PG version of one of those late 80's games involving the Detroit Pistons. There were guys getting thrown on the ground. Tyson Chandler apparently wants to be the new Rick Mahorn. Dhantay Jones' constant antagonizing of the Hornets is eerily similar to what Dennis Rodman used to do and James Posey, one of the tougher guy in the league, is constantly falling on the floor as if he's been shot by a sniper.
The Nuggets just squandered a chance to go up 3-0 in the series, but now I'm hoping it last a little longer so I can see somebody get hip tossed into the court side seats underneath one of the baskets.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Thoughts on where we're at so far in every playoff series
Eastern Conference
Cleveland vs. Detroit (Cavs lead 2-0)
*I told you before this series started that this was going to look like a flashback to '91 when MJ and his Bulls retired the Pistons and took control of the Eastern Conference. Unless Isiah, Joe D, Bill Laimbeer and the rest of the Bad Boys are suiting up for Detroit over the next week or so, the Pistons have little to no shot at beating Kings James and the Cavs.
Boston vs. Chicago (1- 1)
*The defending champs are in deep trouble! The Bulls are the equivalent of a hot and fresh steaming pile of "fertilizer" that Boston has stepped into. Unfortunately for the Celtics, they might not be able to clean Derrick Rose, Ben Gordon and the rest of the Baby Bulls off of their championship shoes before its too late. I don't know why, but the way the Bulls have been standing up to the Celtics (who have began to try to physically intimidate Chicago) is making me root for them more and more.
Orlando vs. Philadelphia (1-1)
*The Magic will never do any real damage in the playoffs until they stop relying on 3's in the clutch and Dwight Howard's free throw shooting is trustworthy enough to throw the ball to with less than two minutes to go in the game. They should have enough to pull out this series, but as I said before this series started, the athleticism of the 76ers is going to make things interesting.
Atlanta vs. Miami (1-1)
*Dwayne Wade, as great as he is, can't beat the Hawks by himself. The Heat got back in the series with a win on Wednesday, but I'm anxious to see what happens to them if Atlanta decides to show up like they did in Game 1. The Hawks' offense is definitely at its best when Josh Smith is throwing down alley oops from Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson is draining 3's from the Atlanta International Airport, but it's scary to see how good this super athletic bunch can be when they focus on the defensive end.
Western Conference
LA Lakers vs. Utah (Lakers lead 2-0)
*Can we please just call this series right now? Deron Williams(who needs to get out of Salt Lake City) is great and the Jazz have a chance to take Game 3 at home due to the momentum the created at the end of Game 2, but even Jerry Sloan knows his team has no legitimate chance at beating Kobe and his henchmen. Paging Mehmet Okur on line 1!
Denver vs. New Orleans (Denver leads 2-0)
*Call me crazy, but it might be a good idea for the Hornets to find Chauncey Billups in transition. Besides the tear "Mr. Big Shot" is currently on, you know things are going well for Denver because J.R. Smith is hitting those ridiculous step back jumpers and his personal specialty, the unnecessary 3 pointer.
What a difference a year makes? This time last year Chris Paul was camping out in the paint and raising all kinds of hell on the defensive end as the Hornets were deep frying the Mavericks in the 1st round. Isn't it amazing what happens when you have athletic big guys in the paint who can move their feet and a point guard who actually makes Paul work on the defensive end?
San Antonio vs. Dallas (Tied at 1-1)
* I doubt either of these teams are legitimate title contenders this season, but something tells me the winner of Game 3 might ultimately win this series. Memo to Erick Dampier: It's too late to be a tough guy now. You probably should have put Tony Parker on his back sometime in the first half of Game 2 while he was torching you guys for 38 points.
Portland vs. Houston (Tied at 1-1)
*What the hell was I thinking when I picked the Blazers to pick beat the Rockets? Sure Brandon Roy (42 pts) and LaMarcus Aldridge (27 &12) came up big for Blazers in Game 2, but don't you get the feeling Portland is having to give everything they have just to keep their heads above water.? Houston, on the other hand, seems to be right at home in the pressure cooker that is the NBA playoffs.
Monday, April 20, 2009
My top 10 pass rushers of all time
I know we're barely three days into the NBA Playoffs, but all the talk about this weekend's NFL Draft forced me to visit Youtube to scratch my football itch. Considering that I'm a defensive lineman myself and the game has increasingly become more about pressuring the quarterback, I put together my own list of who I think are the top 10 pass rushers of all time.
1) Lawrence Taylor- 132.5 sacks (had 9.5 in 1981, but the league didn't count sacks as a stat until 1982)
- "LT" was an unforgiving combination of strength, athleticism and relentless aggression the league had not yet seen. Taylor changed the way offensive football was played and now every team that runs the 3-4 defense wants to find the second coming of him to put at outside linebacker. Simply put, he is arguably the best defensive player of all time and is undoubtedly the most disruptive defender in NFL history.
"We had to try in some way have a special game plan just for Lawrence Taylor. Now you didn't do that very often in this league but I think he's the one person that we learned the lesson the hard way. We lost ball games"
- Joe Gibbs, former Redskins Head Coach
*Now the list gets interesting. The rest of these guys can probably be put into any order, but this is the way I see it.
2) Derrick Thomas- 126.5 sacks
- "DT", along with Taylor, probably had the best first step of all time coming off the edge. He had an NFL record seven sacks in a game against the Seahawks in 1990 and would have bested that in a game against the Raiders a few years later had defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham not called off the dogs early in the 4th qtr. Probably the first guy I saw turn that little shoulder dip to run underneath offensive tackles or what is now known as "riding the rail" into a science.
3) Reggie White- 198 sacks
- "The Minister of defense" used freakish upper body strength to throw around opposing lineman as if they were grocery bags at your local Wal-Mart. White once tossed Cowboys behemoth/human bulldozer Larry Allen to the side with one arm during one of those memorable games between the Cowboys and Packers in the mid 90's. White was every bit of 310, yet he was more athletic than people give him credit for. Raised all kinds of hell for offenses while he was a member of those devastating Eagles defensive units coordinated by defensive wizard Buddy Ryan. Probably the most complete defensive end of all time.
"Reggie was a man among boys. Reggie White was more like a dump truck with turbo chargers on it! There was nothing you could do to stop what he was doing. "
- Philadelphia Eagles DE Hugh Douglass
4) Bruce Smith- 200 sacks
- Played most of his career as a 3-4 defensive end. (Not the most optimum position for an elite pass rusher) One of the cornerstones of those Buffalo teams in the early 90's that went to four consecutive Super Bowls.
5) Kevin Greene- 160 sacks
- The guy doesn't get the respect he deserves. Epitomizes what it means to "play with your hair on fire". A guy with not necessarily blessed with all the physical tools, but he had a non stop motor and a high football IQ.
6) Michael Strahan- 141.5 sacks
- Right next to Reggie White as arguably the most complete defensive end of all time. Holds the record for most sacks in a season (22.5 in 2001) and just like Bruce Smith, he continued to produced as at a high level in his later years. Strahan played most of, if not all of his career at the left defensive end position where he usually had to deal with tight ends chip blocking him before he even got to the offensive tackles.
7) Warren Sapp- 96.5 sacks
-Just like teams that run the 3-4 defense look for clones of Lawrence Taylor, teams that run the famed "Tampa 2" defense are looking for the next Sapp to play the "3 technique" defensive tackle. Sapp was probably the most disruptive defensive tackle of his time and single handedly changed the requirements teams look for when drafting pass rushing defensive tackles.
8) Charles Haley- 100.5 sacks
- He should be in the Hall of Fame. Say what you want about his unstable mindset, the guy was a winner (the only player with 5 Super Bowl Rings) and could flat out rush the quarterback. He's probably the only guy to physically threaten Jerry Jones and get what he wanted immediately. (A new contract for Emmitt Smith who was holding out at the beginning of the '93 season for the eventual champion Dallas Cowboys) During his time with the 49ers he threatened to kick Steve Young's ass after a loss.
9) John Randle- 137.5 sacks
-One of my personal favorites. He would get mentioned more if it wasn't for Sapp and the fact that he played on Minnesota teams that mostly never lived up to their potential. Another one of those "undersized" defensive tackles who used his cat like quickness and non stop motor to routinely abuse lineman who had him by several inches and multiple pounds. Had 15.5 sacks in 1997 playing defensive tackle! Hard to find a more entertaining player with a microphone on him.
10) Pat Swilling- 107.5 sacks
- It's a shame the Saints could never win a playoff game while Swilling was coupling his speed with the astro turf in the Superdome to terrorize opposing quarterbacks. One of the linchpins of the "Dome Patrol", Swilling piled up 17 sacks in 1991 on his way to being named defensive player of the year.
***I know somebody out there is screaming the name Deacon Jones. By all accounts, Jones would be the all time sack leader if the league kept the stat when he played. (An estimated 226.5) Jones coined the term "sack" and forced the NFL to ban his famous move, the "head slap". I've watched him destory countless offensive lineman with the head slap and plant numerous quarterbacks like they were spring roses on multiple highlight reels. The only reason he's not on the list is because I didn't see him play with my own eyes. Jones, "The Secretary of Defense", is unquestionably one of the best defensive ends of all time.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
A look at the matchups in the 1st round of the NBA Playofs
Lebron and the Cavs are on a mission to get back to the Finals and Detroit has looked like a shadow of themselves since Joe Dumars shipped "Mr.Big Shot" to Denver in return for Allen Iverson. If the Pistons aren't careful, this series is going to look like a replay of that series in 1991 when a force of nature named Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls banished the Pistons to the realm of mediocrity and took over as the new gatekeepers of the Eastern Conference.
Prediction: Cavs in 5
2) Boston vs. 7) Chicago
The Celtics probably won't have Kevin Garnett in the playoffs, but Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo should be enough to beat a Bulls team who's still trying to come into their own. While the Celtics should advance, I can't wait to see Derrick Rose and Rondo go at it for a whole series.
Prediction: Celtics in 5 or 6
3) Orlando vs. 6) Philadelphia
The Magic have Dwight Howard. The 76ers don't. The Magic can throw the ball to Dwight Howard in a half court set. The 76ers, to put it nicely, struggle in the half court. Philly's athleticism will make it fun to watch, but the Magic advance to face the Celtics in the next round.
Prediction: Take the Magic in 5 or 6
4) Atlanta vs. 5) Miami
Who knows how this series is going to go? The Hawks took 3 out of 4 from the Heat in the regular season and I think they might have the better team overall. That said, I'm not to comfortable betting against Dwayne Wade given the tear he's been on this season. (So much for him being this generation's version of Penny Hardaway.) Michael Beasley could be the X factor in what could be a very entertaining series. At the very least it will be a red carpet event with rappers like Young Jeezy and Lil Wayne taking in the games from those expensive court side seats.
Prediction: Take the Hawks in 7. I say this knowing that D-Wade is fully capable of going on another ungodly run like he did against the Mavericks in the Finals a few years ago.
1) L.A. Lakers vs. 8) Utah
The Lakers' front line just got bigger (if that's possible) with the return of Andrew Bynum. The Jazz have been in a tailspin since the calendar turned to April. The Lakers have Kobe Bryant. The Jazz don't. I'll give the Jazz a home game before the Lakers put them out of their misery.
Prediction: Lakers in 5
2) Denver vs. 7) New Orleans
The poise and leadership of Chauncey Billups was just what the doctor ordered for the Nuggets. Injuries have caused the Hornets to fall off a little after last year's coming out party against the Mavericks. The jury is still out as to whether or not the Nuggets are for real, but I like them in this series considering they have home court advantage and the health of Tyson Chandler is shaky at best.
Prediction: Nuggets in 7
3) San Antonio vs. 6) Dallas
If the Mavericks were to draw up a first round opponent, it would be the aging Spurs. Tim Duncan, despite what he says, is starting to break down a little. Manu Ginobili (stress fracture) will be watching every game from the pine, and the Mavs are playing their best basketball of the season . The enigmatic Josh Howard will be the difference in this match up as these two bitter rivals will play another epic seven game series.
Prediction: Mavs in 7 *I know Tony Parker gives Jason Kidd fits, but if there was ever a time to get the Spurs early in the playoffs it's now.
4) Portland vs. 5) Houston
It's the team with a budding star (Brandon Roy) that nobody wants to play against the team who apparently doesn't need their star player. (Tracy McGrady) I love the Trail Blazers' depth and athleticism, but I also love the consistent defense of Yao Ming and the Rockets.
Prediction: Blazers in 6. I know the Rockets have been a little underappreciated this season, but you have to score points to win in basketball.
First thoughts on the Cowboys schedule
Finally there's something to write about! After a week full of baseball, (God bless Nick Adenhart, Harry Kalas and Mark "The Bird" Fidrych.) the feeding frenzy that is the playoff race in the Western Conference, and The Masters, I thought I was going to have to break out my college football previews a few months ahead of schedule.
However, thanks to the release of the Cowboys' schedule for 2009, there's something to discuss that is worth my time. So without further a do, here are my initial thoughts on the 2009 schedule for the enigma/soap opera known as the Dallas Cowboys.
9/13 @ Tampa Bay
- The Cowboys should start the season with a win considering the Buccaneers will still be trying to find their way in the defensive system brought in by new defensive coordinator Jim Bates. I like Tampa signing Byron Leftwich, but he's about as stationary as it gets when it comes to QB's and that's not a good thing when DeMarcus Ware is chasing you.
9/20 vs. New York Giants
- Welcome to Jerry World America! The Cowboys play their first regular season home game in Jerry's sparkling new billion dollar baby against the rival Giants. Don't be alarmed if you see a Giants receiver wearing a #17 jersey. It's just the butter fingered male model formally known as Braylon Edwards.
9/28 vs. Carolina
- Should be a great game if Julius Peppers is still a Panther and Jake Delhomme isn't still throwing passes to the other team. This game is for you if you're looking to see some of the best young running backs in the league. (DeAngelo Williams, Johnathan Stewart, Marion Barber, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice)
10/4 @ Denver
- Will the Cowboys defense speed up the clock on what could be a short tenure in Denver for new head coach Josh McDaniels?
10/11 @ Kansas City
- The Chiefs will be better under Todd Haley, but Matt Cassel isn't Tony Romo. Zach Thomas and his former teammates discuss the differences between Bar-B-Que in Kansas City and Dallas at halftime.
10/18 Bye
- It's a little early for a team that should be no worse than 4-1 at this point.
10/25 vs. Atlanta
- Matt Ryan, Michael Turner and the rest of the up and coming Falcons will scare the hell of the Cowboys before Tony Romo and company pull out a thriller at the "Jones Mahal"
11/1 vs. Seattle
- Who knows what kind of shape the Seahawks will be in by this point of the season?
11/8 @ Philadelphia
- Win or lose, I'm waiting to see what great philosopher Tony Romo tries to quote after the game.
11/15 @ Green Bay
- Thank the lord it's not a true night game! It will be interesting to see how improved Aaron Rodgers and the Packers new 3-4 defense will be when America's team comes to Lambeau Field.
11/22 vs. Washington
- The Cowboys come home to host the Redskins in their new digs for the first time.
(December is looming large for this group who has struggled down the stretch in recent years.)
11/26 vs. Oakland (Thanksgiving Day)
- The Cowboys better take advantage of what should be the last game of what has been a manageable schedule up to this point.
12/6 @ New York Giants
- Just another crucial matchup between two teams in the NFC East who don't like each other.
12/13 vs. San Diego
- Philip Rivers shows Tony Romo how to lead a football team. Shawne Merriman and DeMarcus Ware square off in a battle of 05' draft picks. LaDanian comes back to Texas just a few miles away from where he starred at TCU. Wade Phillips and Norv Turner match wits in what should be a slugfest between two of the most physically talented teams in the league.
12/19 @ New Orleans
- Strange things always seem to happen to the Cowboys in the Superdome. Anybody remember what the Saints did to the Cowboys two years ago? 42-17! Fullback Mike Karney is still open in the flats.
12/27 @ Washington
- Is Colt Brennan getting playing time by now for the Redskins? One way or the other, it's going to be a cold night in Landover for somebody.
1/3 vs. Philadelphia
-Is it me or do the Eagles always seem to be the fly in the ointment for the Cowboys late in the season?
However, thanks to the release of the Cowboys' schedule for 2009, there's something to discuss that is worth my time. So without further a do, here are my initial thoughts on the 2009 schedule for the enigma/soap opera known as the Dallas Cowboys.
9/13 @ Tampa Bay
- The Cowboys should start the season with a win considering the Buccaneers will still be trying to find their way in the defensive system brought in by new defensive coordinator Jim Bates. I like Tampa signing Byron Leftwich, but he's about as stationary as it gets when it comes to QB's and that's not a good thing when DeMarcus Ware is chasing you.
9/20 vs. New York Giants
- Welcome to Jerry World America! The Cowboys play their first regular season home game in Jerry's sparkling new billion dollar baby against the rival Giants. Don't be alarmed if you see a Giants receiver wearing a #17 jersey. It's just the butter fingered male model formally known as Braylon Edwards.
9/28 vs. Carolina
- Should be a great game if Julius Peppers is still a Panther and Jake Delhomme isn't still throwing passes to the other team. This game is for you if you're looking to see some of the best young running backs in the league. (DeAngelo Williams, Johnathan Stewart, Marion Barber, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice)
10/4 @ Denver
- Will the Cowboys defense speed up the clock on what could be a short tenure in Denver for new head coach Josh McDaniels?
10/11 @ Kansas City
- The Chiefs will be better under Todd Haley, but Matt Cassel isn't Tony Romo. Zach Thomas and his former teammates discuss the differences between Bar-B-Que in Kansas City and Dallas at halftime.
10/18 Bye
- It's a little early for a team that should be no worse than 4-1 at this point.
10/25 vs. Atlanta
- Matt Ryan, Michael Turner and the rest of the up and coming Falcons will scare the hell of the Cowboys before Tony Romo and company pull out a thriller at the "Jones Mahal"
11/1 vs. Seattle
- Who knows what kind of shape the Seahawks will be in by this point of the season?
11/8 @ Philadelphia
- Win or lose, I'm waiting to see what great philosopher Tony Romo tries to quote after the game.
11/15 @ Green Bay
- Thank the lord it's not a true night game! It will be interesting to see how improved Aaron Rodgers and the Packers new 3-4 defense will be when America's team comes to Lambeau Field.
11/22 vs. Washington
- The Cowboys come home to host the Redskins in their new digs for the first time.
(December is looming large for this group who has struggled down the stretch in recent years.)
11/26 vs. Oakland (Thanksgiving Day)
- The Cowboys better take advantage of what should be the last game of what has been a manageable schedule up to this point.
12/6 @ New York Giants
- Just another crucial matchup between two teams in the NFC East who don't like each other.
12/13 vs. San Diego
- Philip Rivers shows Tony Romo how to lead a football team. Shawne Merriman and DeMarcus Ware square off in a battle of 05' draft picks. LaDanian comes back to Texas just a few miles away from where he starred at TCU. Wade Phillips and Norv Turner match wits in what should be a slugfest between two of the most physically talented teams in the league.
12/19 @ New Orleans
- Strange things always seem to happen to the Cowboys in the Superdome. Anybody remember what the Saints did to the Cowboys two years ago? 42-17! Fullback Mike Karney is still open in the flats.
12/27 @ Washington
- Is Colt Brennan getting playing time by now for the Redskins? One way or the other, it's going to be a cold night in Landover for somebody.
1/3 vs. Philadelphia
-Is it me or do the Eagles always seem to be the fly in the ointment for the Cowboys late in the season?
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Initial thoughts on Monday's happenings in the world of sports
Yesterday definitely wasn't your average Monday in the world of sports. The National Championship game between Michigan St. and North Carolina turned out to be a real snooze fest ( I actually took a nap midway through the 1st half until about six minutes to go in the game), but it was still a pretty busy day in the sports world.
* Opening Day in Majors
-I don't think the Yankees are paying CC Sabathia to put all those extra runners on base, and they sure aren't paying Mark Teixeira to leave a total of five runners on base. Relax Yankees fans! They'll figure it out.
-How 'bout those Texas Rangers! I love those red uniforms. Maybe they'll actually be around come August and September if they can get pitching like they did from Kevin Millwood yesterday.
-Ken Griffey Jr. went deep yesterday in his first game back with the Mariners. I can only imagine what would have been had he and A-Rod stayed in the great northwest
-K-Rod saved his first game as a member of the Mets. Somebody put the Mets in the World Series right now!
* The NBA
-There were no games yesterday, but some team got an early Christmas present when word came down that Manu Ginobili would miss the rest of the regular season and the playoffs due to that troublesome right ankle. I can see teams scrambling now to draw the Spurs in the 1st round.
-Can somebody please give the number to the nearest taxi service in L.A. to Clippers F Zach Randolph? http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4046405
-Congrats to his airness and the rest of the newly minted Hall of Famers
*The NFL
-Apparently Reggie Williams is trying to model his lukewarm career after former teammate Matt Jones. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4047846
-I'm not going to knock the Buccaneers for giving Kellen Winslow Jr. that fat contract, but I sure would like to know who's going to be throwing the ball to him.
-Jeff Garcia must really love the game to go play for the Raiders.
-I could be wrong, but I thought Samari Rolle said he wanted out of Baltimore. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4047426
Plaxico Burress wins a grievance against his former employer (the Giants) for a million dollars, but he had a little run in with a police officer in Florida last month. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4045389
Larry Johnson wasn't so lucky when it came to his grievance against the Chiefs. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4046548
Earth to L.J.: Be thankful Scott Peoli and Todd Haley haven't sent you packing already and pray that another team takes a chance on you and your excess baggage if they do.
* Opening Day in Majors
-I don't think the Yankees are paying CC Sabathia to put all those extra runners on base, and they sure aren't paying Mark Teixeira to leave a total of five runners on base. Relax Yankees fans! They'll figure it out.
-How 'bout those Texas Rangers! I love those red uniforms. Maybe they'll actually be around come August and September if they can get pitching like they did from Kevin Millwood yesterday.
-Ken Griffey Jr. went deep yesterday in his first game back with the Mariners. I can only imagine what would have been had he and A-Rod stayed in the great northwest
-K-Rod saved his first game as a member of the Mets. Somebody put the Mets in the World Series right now!
* The NBA
-There were no games yesterday, but some team got an early Christmas present when word came down that Manu Ginobili would miss the rest of the regular season and the playoffs due to that troublesome right ankle. I can see teams scrambling now to draw the Spurs in the 1st round.
-Can somebody please give the number to the nearest taxi service in L.A. to Clippers F Zach Randolph? http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4046405
-Congrats to his airness and the rest of the newly minted Hall of Famers
*The NFL
-Apparently Reggie Williams is trying to model his lukewarm career after former teammate Matt Jones. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4047846
-I'm not going to knock the Buccaneers for giving Kellen Winslow Jr. that fat contract, but I sure would like to know who's going to be throwing the ball to him.
-Jeff Garcia must really love the game to go play for the Raiders.
-I could be wrong, but I thought Samari Rolle said he wanted out of Baltimore. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4047426
Plaxico Burress wins a grievance against his former employer (the Giants) for a million dollars, but he had a little run in with a police officer in Florida last month. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4045389
Larry Johnson wasn't so lucky when it came to his grievance against the Chiefs. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4046548
Earth to L.J.: Be thankful Scott Peoli and Todd Haley haven't sent you packing already and pray that another team takes a chance on you and your excess baggage if they do.
Monday, April 6, 2009
McDaniels' time might run out before he really gets started
The sound you hear coming from the Rocky Mountains is the clock ticking on what could be a very short tenure in Denver for new head coach Josh McDaniels.
If that clock hadn't started when Pat Bowlen hired him, it certainly started when he decided he could win more games with Matt Cassel than he could with Jay Cutler. Throw in the recent trade that sent Cutler to Chicago for a pair of first round picks and that clock might actually be ticking a little faster than normal.
Most head coaches worth anything in the NFL do everything they can to make sure they have a franchise type quarterback to hitch their wagon to when they take over a team. They do not run off the 25 year old Pro Bowler who is on the verge of becoming one of the elite signal callers in the league.
When it comes to describing how McDaniels and the Broncos handled this fiasco, stupid doesn't even begin to do it justice.
I know Mark Schlereth and Trent Dilfer keep telling you how Jay Cutler is nothing more than a big baby with a sense of entitlement, but the bottom line is McDaniels screwed the pooch on this one. He didn't pick one of those players from that wet paper bag disguised as the Broncos defense to get rid of. (I hope he uses those picks on some defensive players.)He picked the the guy who's thrown for more than 9,000 yards and 54 TD's in just two and a half years as a starter.
Schlereth can say what he wants about Cutler, (he basically been calling him a snotty nose punk) but how would he have felt if the Broncos would have attempted to trade his beloved John Elway for Sean Salisbury during his playing days? I'm not saying Cutler is John Elway, but he sure looked like the Broncos best hope under center since Elway decided to hang it up.
Dilfer, who couldn't be Cutler if he was playing the latest edition of Madden, keeps preaching the importance of having a "team". He, of all people, should know the importance of the other 52 guys in uniform when the guy under center is nothing more than a glorified ball boy.
While they both have been using Cutler as target practice since this whole thing started, it doesn't hide the fact McDaniels basically said no to the steak dinner at Ruth's Chris (Cutler) so he could grab a value meal from the drive thru at your favorite fast food chain. (Cassel, Orton and Chris Simms)
As far as Cutler's role in this situation goes, it's understandable he didn't want to speak with his new head coach once the trust between the two of them was broken. That said, he should have answered the phone when the guy who's been signing his hefty paychecks the past three years wanted to talk to him. It doesn't matter at what point Bowlen did or did not get involved, Cutler owed him that much.
The ticking from that clock is getting louder by the minute.
McDaniels, despite the mess he's created, has an unquestionable pedigree as far as X's and O's go. His people skills on the other hand, are going to be up for debate before his time is long in the Mile High City.
Do you think Pat Bowlen asked his new head coach if he actually liked Cutler as his quarterback before he hired him? I'd like to think he did and I imagine McDaniels gave Bowlen some speech about how he would have never left New England if he wasn't for the opportunity to coach Cutler. That all may be true, (Which it probably is.) but Bowlen's spider sense should've kicked in the moment his new coach even floated the idea of sending Cutler to Tampa Bay in a three team deal that would have brought Cassel to Denver.
When the story first broke, McDaniels claimed Denver didn't put Cutler on the trading block. That' s about as truthful as Pacman Jones telling Roger Goodell he went to that strip club just to get something to eat.
The bottom line is, for whatever reason, McDaniels didn't want Cutler and he jumped at the chance to ship him out of town in order to bring in Cassel. Dumb as it might have been, it was even dumber of him to lie to Cutler about it.
Think about it for a second. Do you ever hear of a team with a "franchise" quarterback in this day and age fielding calls for their trigger man if he's not available?
Didn't think so.
If that was the norm in the NFL, we'd hear Tom Brady and Peyton Manning's name being mentioned in trade talks every off season because teams like the Lions and 49ers would forever be trying to get them.
That clock is on full display in the middle of downtown Denver for every Bronco fan to see at this point.
McDaniels run as the new head man in Denver has definitely gotten off to a rocky start, but like any new regime or administration, you have to give it time to see if things are going to work out.
Unfortunately for McDaniels, time might not be on his side.
If that clock hadn't started when Pat Bowlen hired him, it certainly started when he decided he could win more games with Matt Cassel than he could with Jay Cutler. Throw in the recent trade that sent Cutler to Chicago for a pair of first round picks and that clock might actually be ticking a little faster than normal.
Most head coaches worth anything in the NFL do everything they can to make sure they have a franchise type quarterback to hitch their wagon to when they take over a team. They do not run off the 25 year old Pro Bowler who is on the verge of becoming one of the elite signal callers in the league.
When it comes to describing how McDaniels and the Broncos handled this fiasco, stupid doesn't even begin to do it justice.
I know Mark Schlereth and Trent Dilfer keep telling you how Jay Cutler is nothing more than a big baby with a sense of entitlement, but the bottom line is McDaniels screwed the pooch on this one. He didn't pick one of those players from that wet paper bag disguised as the Broncos defense to get rid of. (I hope he uses those picks on some defensive players.)He picked the the guy who's thrown for more than 9,000 yards and 54 TD's in just two and a half years as a starter.
Schlereth can say what he wants about Cutler, (he basically been calling him a snotty nose punk) but how would he have felt if the Broncos would have attempted to trade his beloved John Elway for Sean Salisbury during his playing days? I'm not saying Cutler is John Elway, but he sure looked like the Broncos best hope under center since Elway decided to hang it up.
Dilfer, who couldn't be Cutler if he was playing the latest edition of Madden, keeps preaching the importance of having a "team". He, of all people, should know the importance of the other 52 guys in uniform when the guy under center is nothing more than a glorified ball boy.
While they both have been using Cutler as target practice since this whole thing started, it doesn't hide the fact McDaniels basically said no to the steak dinner at Ruth's Chris (Cutler) so he could grab a value meal from the drive thru at your favorite fast food chain. (Cassel, Orton and Chris Simms)
As far as Cutler's role in this situation goes, it's understandable he didn't want to speak with his new head coach once the trust between the two of them was broken. That said, he should have answered the phone when the guy who's been signing his hefty paychecks the past three years wanted to talk to him. It doesn't matter at what point Bowlen did or did not get involved, Cutler owed him that much.
The ticking from that clock is getting louder by the minute.
McDaniels, despite the mess he's created, has an unquestionable pedigree as far as X's and O's go. His people skills on the other hand, are going to be up for debate before his time is long in the Mile High City.
Do you think Pat Bowlen asked his new head coach if he actually liked Cutler as his quarterback before he hired him? I'd like to think he did and I imagine McDaniels gave Bowlen some speech about how he would have never left New England if he wasn't for the opportunity to coach Cutler. That all may be true, (Which it probably is.) but Bowlen's spider sense should've kicked in the moment his new coach even floated the idea of sending Cutler to Tampa Bay in a three team deal that would have brought Cassel to Denver.
When the story first broke, McDaniels claimed Denver didn't put Cutler on the trading block. That' s about as truthful as Pacman Jones telling Roger Goodell he went to that strip club just to get something to eat.
The bottom line is, for whatever reason, McDaniels didn't want Cutler and he jumped at the chance to ship him out of town in order to bring in Cassel. Dumb as it might have been, it was even dumber of him to lie to Cutler about it.
Think about it for a second. Do you ever hear of a team with a "franchise" quarterback in this day and age fielding calls for their trigger man if he's not available?
Didn't think so.
If that was the norm in the NFL, we'd hear Tom Brady and Peyton Manning's name being mentioned in trade talks every off season because teams like the Lions and 49ers would forever be trying to get them.
That clock is on full display in the middle of downtown Denver for every Bronco fan to see at this point.
McDaniels run as the new head man in Denver has definitely gotten off to a rocky start, but like any new regime or administration, you have to give it time to see if things are going to work out.
Unfortunately for McDaniels, time might not be on his side.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
This Tebow thing has got to stop
Can we please pump the breaks on the run away car that is the love affair with the prophet formally known as Florida Quarterback Tim Tebow?
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His accomplishments on the field (2 National Championships, 1 Heisman, 110 total TD's) are undeniable, but things have officially gone too far.
Earlier last week, Urban Meyer had a plaque engraved with the so called speech Tebow gave after last year's 31-30 home loss to Ole Miss placed outside the front entrance of the Gators' new football complex.
(I can see the t-shirts, coffee mugs, mouse pads, wall posters, coasters and other nick nacks being ordered by the campus bookstore right now.)
I have nothing against Tim Tebow, but this is going to turn the public lip lock the media is currently having with him into a full blow and unprotected orgy. It's bad enough FOX dedicated part of its coverage during the BCS National Championship Game to showing and telling us how spending 15 minutes in the presence of Tebow can "make your life better". Now Urban Meyer has gone and put Tebow's "speech" on display as if it was the Gators' version of the Ten Commandments.
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Is there anthing in "The Promise" that hasn't been said before? I'm sure somebody stood up in Ohio State's lockeroom and said something to the effect of what Tebow said after the Buckeyes got buswacked by USC last season. I'd be willing to bet a nice chunk of change somebody made a similar proclamation in USC's lockeroom after they finished sleepwalking their way to a 27-21 loss at Oregon State nearly two weeks later. I was in the post game news conference after Oklahoma lost to what at the time was an underrated Texas squad and I sure do remember Bob Stoops or Sam Bradford saying the basically the same things Tebow did as they were answering questions. (That same Oklahoma team destroyed everybody the rest of the season on their way to the BCS National Title Game.)
To be honest, Tebow didn't say anything special. It was just deemed special by everybody because Tim Tebow said it. I know Tebow is the unquestioned leader of the Gators but was "The Promise" really worthy of being etched in stone and mounted as if it came from the big man upstairs?
"The Promise" wasn't more monumental or influential than Bo Schembechler's "The Team". It definitely wasn't as anger filled as Kellen Winslow's "I'm a soldier!" rant, and when it comes to sheer entertainment value, it pales in comparison to Oklahoma State's Mike Gundy and the YouTube sensation, "I'm a man! I'm 40!" tirade.
In this day and age where every coach preaches the word "TEAM" at nausea and the importance of not having any single player feel as thought they are above the rest of their teammates, isn't it funny Meyer, a noted acquaintance of Bill Belichick, has all but put Tebow on a pedestal above and beyond his teammates?
Again, Tebow's accomplishments on the field speak for themselves. However, the mounting of his post game comments after the Ole Miss loss is just too much.
We already have to see the countless pieces on Tebow and his dedication to missionary work over seas. (Why don't the players at BYU get the same recognition?) Now we're going to be forced to sit through a season full of pieces dedicated to the "man love" between Tebow and Urban Meyer like the one ESPN just ran this past weekend for their weekly addition of Sunday Conversation.
With virtually everybody but Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy coming back, the Gators are probably going to start the season ranked at or near the top of every pre season poll.
(Cue the soundbites of Urban Meyer with that stern look on his face as he talks about competing and going after another title.)
With that said, it's a given ESPN and CBS will spend more than their fair share of time talking to the quarterback of the defending national champs.
If the hoards of media that will undoubtedly flock to the swamp ask questions about the upcoming season and the death march that is the SEC, that's fine. I'm just not sure though if myself or any other college football fan outside of Gainsville has the stomach to watch a season full of interviews dedicated to "The Promise".
Urban Meyer is a great coach, but this latest act in the name of Tebow is going to move his quarterback out of the realm of cult hero and into a category for which I have no name for yet.
I'm a former college football player myself who's had the dubious experience of being in lockeroom after an unexpected and heartbreaking loss. Trust me people, I've seen a lot of guys make the same pledge Tebow made and nobody on the coaching staff, let alone the head coach, thought is worthy of being mounted on the front entrance of the football complex.
Urban Meyer has done a lot in his short time as the head man at Florida. He's won a couple of National Titles. He's produced a couple of first round draft picks in Reggie Nelson and Derrick Harvey. (It'll be three after some team in the middle to late part of the first round puts Harvin's name on the card they hand to Roger Goodell on April 25th.) He's even managed to draw the ire of new Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin for blowing up a recruits cell phone while he was visiting in Knoxville.
I'm sorry, but it's impossible to do a story nowadays about anything related to the Gators without mentioning Lane Kiffin.
All that said though, the mounting of "The Promise" is just a little too much much mustard on the hot dog. It's too much salt on the french fries. To put a spin on Denzel Washington's line in Remember the Titans, Urban Meyer has over cooked the Tebow grits.
To put the top back on the can of worms this will ultimately turn into, I'll leave you with this.
"I'm not sure how the Gators will do this season, but I promise you one thing. A lot of ill humored signs and off colored chants will come out of this. You will never see any player in the entire conference get booed as much as Tim Tebow will get booed this coming season. You will never see a player be supported by his team as much as Tim Tebow will be supported by his team this coming season. You will never see a team thrive off getting booed as much as the Gators will thrive off getting booed this season. God Bless."
Friday, March 27, 2009
The million dollar quetions for Friday night's game
South
Oklahoma vs. Syracuse
*Blake Griffin will find a way to get his, but can Syracuse's big men make him work on the defensive end?
*Blake Griffin will find a way to get his, but can the Sooner's guards make enough shots from deep to offset Syracuse's 2-3 zone?
*Can Oklahoma keep Johnny Flynn out of the paint?
North Carolina vs. Gonzaga
*Can Gonzaga's backcourt slow down Ty Lawson?
*Can Josh Heytvelt take advantage of Tyler Hansbrough in the paint?
*What happens to Carolina when Gonzaga refuses to go away?
Midwest
Louisville vs. Arizona
*Can Arizona's big three (Nic Wise, Jordan Hill and Chase Budinger) keep this hot streak going?
*Will Louisville's depth and athleticism eventually overwhelm Arizona?
*Does Jordan Hill guard Earl Clark or Samardo Samuels?
*Can Nic Wise handle Louisville's pressure for 40 minutes?
Michigan St. vs. Kansas
*Can Michigan St. beat the same team twice in the same season?
*Can Cole Aldrich outlast the wave of players Tom Izzo will send at him?
*Who wins the match up between Sherron Collins and Kalin Lucas?
*What under the radar player will come out of nowhere to be tonight's J.T. Tiller?
Oklahoma vs. Syracuse
*Blake Griffin will find a way to get his, but can Syracuse's big men make him work on the defensive end?
*Blake Griffin will find a way to get his, but can the Sooner's guards make enough shots from deep to offset Syracuse's 2-3 zone?
*Can Oklahoma keep Johnny Flynn out of the paint?
North Carolina vs. Gonzaga
*Can Gonzaga's backcourt slow down Ty Lawson?
*Can Josh Heytvelt take advantage of Tyler Hansbrough in the paint?
*What happens to Carolina when Gonzaga refuses to go away?
Midwest
Louisville vs. Arizona
*Can Arizona's big three (Nic Wise, Jordan Hill and Chase Budinger) keep this hot streak going?
*Will Louisville's depth and athleticism eventually overwhelm Arizona?
*Does Jordan Hill guard Earl Clark or Samardo Samuels?
*Can Nic Wise handle Louisville's pressure for 40 minutes?
Michigan St. vs. Kansas
*Can Michigan St. beat the same team twice in the same season?
*Can Cole Aldrich outlast the wave of players Tom Izzo will send at him?
*Who wins the match up between Sherron Collins and Kalin Lucas?
*What under the radar player will come out of nowhere to be tonight's J.T. Tiller?
Thursday, March 26, 2009
My reaction from the games on Thursday night
What a night!
UConn toyed with Purdue just for kicks and giggles. Pittsburgh and Xavier went down to the wire just like I said they would. Mike Anderson and Missouri brought life back to the phrase "40 minutes of hell", and Villanova exposed Duke for the frauds they truly are.
Pitt 60 vs. Xavier 55
Pitt looks like they have been sleep walking the whole tournament, but I just think this is the way they play. When they need to get a stop, DeJuan Blair makes a deflection on a pick and roll that turns into a layup. When they need a bucket, Levance Fields hits 3 pointers from mid court. When they miss a shot, DeJuan Blair and Sam Young crash the offensive boards.
They're like the old man you see on television who's lived through multiple hurricanes in the same house without a scratch. Quite frankly, there is no such thing as a Terror Dome for the Panthers because they live in the Terror Dome.
UConn 72 , Purdue 60
Purdue had a great year, but watching them against UConn was like watching a house cat play with a dying rat for its own amusement before deciding to put the rodent out of its misery.
Missouri 102 , Memphis 91
Who turned the clock back to the mid 90's? When did Nolan Richardson's Razorbacks start wearing that mystery shade of gold? Those were the questions that came to mind as I watched Mike Anderson's underrated Missouri squad go after the vaunted Memphis Tigers for 40 minutes.
Missouri didn't sneak up on Memphis people. They beat Memphis at their own game. It's been a long time since one of John Calipari's teams have been put on their heels for an extended period of time, but that's just what Missouri did to them. Granted, Memphis showed how talented they are by staging a comeback to get back to within six points, but they were out of gas by that point.
Villanova 77 , Duke 54
Can we please stop letting Dick Vitale throw ridiculous amounts of gas on the Blue Devils every year as possible title contenders. Duke isn't quite as overrated as Notre Dame is in football, but their image is growing bigger in the Golden Domers' rear view mirror by the second.
It's funny what happens to the Blue Devils every year when the officials aren't calling charges on obvious flops. It's amazing to see what happens to them when they play against teams with real athletes in the post. You saw the game just like I did. They were no match for Villanova! Texas, for all of their faults, would have put up a better showing than Duke.
I know there's a Duke fan out there saying things aren't that bad, but it's pretty hard to make that argument when you realize Thursday's loss was the most lopsided for Duke in the tournament since UNLV was beating their heads in during that horror movie known as the 1990 National Championship Game.
What part of rebounding and post presence does Coach K not understand? Duke will never be a threat to do anything serious in the tournament again until they get a guy who can actually control the paint. If you're a Duke fan, you should start writing letters to Coach K right now telling him how the Josh McRoberts, the Shavlik Randolphs and the Brian Zoubeks of the world will no longer fly in Durham.
If the recruiting doesn't change and they don't get a better big man coach than "Wojo", (Yes, that Wojo!) all they can do is call Elton Brand or Carlos Boozer to see if they're interested in using the rest of their eligibility.
UConn toyed with Purdue just for kicks and giggles. Pittsburgh and Xavier went down to the wire just like I said they would. Mike Anderson and Missouri brought life back to the phrase "40 minutes of hell", and Villanova exposed Duke for the frauds they truly are.
Pitt 60 vs. Xavier 55
Pitt looks like they have been sleep walking the whole tournament, but I just think this is the way they play. When they need to get a stop, DeJuan Blair makes a deflection on a pick and roll that turns into a layup. When they need a bucket, Levance Fields hits 3 pointers from mid court. When they miss a shot, DeJuan Blair and Sam Young crash the offensive boards.
They're like the old man you see on television who's lived through multiple hurricanes in the same house without a scratch. Quite frankly, there is no such thing as a Terror Dome for the Panthers because they live in the Terror Dome.
UConn 72 , Purdue 60
Purdue had a great year, but watching them against UConn was like watching a house cat play with a dying rat for its own amusement before deciding to put the rodent out of its misery.
Missouri 102 , Memphis 91
Who turned the clock back to the mid 90's? When did Nolan Richardson's Razorbacks start wearing that mystery shade of gold? Those were the questions that came to mind as I watched Mike Anderson's underrated Missouri squad go after the vaunted Memphis Tigers for 40 minutes.
Missouri didn't sneak up on Memphis people. They beat Memphis at their own game. It's been a long time since one of John Calipari's teams have been put on their heels for an extended period of time, but that's just what Missouri did to them. Granted, Memphis showed how talented they are by staging a comeback to get back to within six points, but they were out of gas by that point.
Villanova 77 , Duke 54
Can we please stop letting Dick Vitale throw ridiculous amounts of gas on the Blue Devils every year as possible title contenders. Duke isn't quite as overrated as Notre Dame is in football, but their image is growing bigger in the Golden Domers' rear view mirror by the second.
It's funny what happens to the Blue Devils every year when the officials aren't calling charges on obvious flops. It's amazing to see what happens to them when they play against teams with real athletes in the post. You saw the game just like I did. They were no match for Villanova! Texas, for all of their faults, would have put up a better showing than Duke.
I know there's a Duke fan out there saying things aren't that bad, but it's pretty hard to make that argument when you realize Thursday's loss was the most lopsided for Duke in the tournament since UNLV was beating their heads in during that horror movie known as the 1990 National Championship Game.
What part of rebounding and post presence does Coach K not understand? Duke will never be a threat to do anything serious in the tournament again until they get a guy who can actually control the paint. If you're a Duke fan, you should start writing letters to Coach K right now telling him how the Josh McRoberts, the Shavlik Randolphs and the Brian Zoubeks of the world will no longer fly in Durham.
If the recruiting doesn't change and they don't get a better big man coach than "Wojo", (Yes, that Wojo!) all they can do is call Elton Brand or Carlos Boozer to see if they're interested in using the rest of their eligibility.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
My thoughts on what's going to happen today in the Sweet 16
Just a week ago, there were 64 teams with a chance to win the National Championship. Now there are 16. By the end of tonight there will be just 12. So who's still going to have a chance at being the team on CBS's "One shinning moment"? Here are my thoughts on tonight's match ups in the East and West regional semi finals.
East
Pittsburgh vs Xavier: I know the Musketeers have a talented roster that undoubtedly will cause problems for Pitt. However, everybody knows that guards win in the tournament and I don't know if they have anybody who can slow down Levance Fields enough to disrupt the Panthers' offense. Xavier will send multiple players at DeJuan Blair, but just as he did against Oklahoma St., Blair will find a way to get on track down the stretch. I know they've been living on the edge lately, but the real Panthers will finally show up as they pull out a thriller and finally get to the Elite Eight
Duke vs Villanova: Simply put, I think the Blue Devils could be in trouble against the Wildcats. Duke and Villanova play similar styles, but Villanova clearly has the better personnel. If I'm Jay Wright, I tell Scottie Reynolds and the rest of my super athletic guards to attack the Blue Devils man to man pressure all night until Coach K uses all of his timeouts out of sheer frustration. I tell Dante Cunningham to crash the boards like a mad man because Brian Zoubek and Lance Thomas can't stop him. If Coach K puts Greg Paulus in the game, I would spread the floor and tell the guy who's being guarded by Paulus to go to the rack every possession until Coach K has to take him back out of the game. Duke will probably hit enough 3's to make things interesting, but I think Villanova has too much athleticism for Duke to stay with them for a full 40 minutes.
Keep in mind this is all based on the notion the officiating doesn't mysteriously lean in the favor of the Blue Devils. Call me a "Duke Hater" all you want, but it's become painfully obvious the Blue Devils have been the beneficiary of some "questionable" calls the past few years.
West
UConn vs Purdue: If you designed the perfect team to beat UConn it would look absolutely nothing like Purdue. Matt Painter has quietly restored the Boilers Makers to where they once were in the Big 10, but UConn is the type of team the Boilers have yet to come across this season. I love Robbie Hummel, JaJuan Johnson, and E'Twaun Moore. I just like Hasheem Thabeet, A.J. Price, Jeff Adrien and the human pogo stick known as Stanley Robinson a lot more.
Last week Jim Calhoun missed the first game of the tournament due to dehydration. What was the result? Tennessee Chattanooga found themselves on the business end of a 103-47 pasting at the hand of the Huskies. Purdue isn't Chattanooga, but the last thing they needed to happen was another incident to come up that will ultimately bring the Huskies closer together and make them want to give Jim Calhoun another championship that much more.
I hate to break it to you Purdue fans but you better enjoy your trip to the valley of home foreclosures because it's going to a short one.
Memphis vs Missouri: Who's going to break first? Can Tyreke Evans handle the relentless pressure Missouri will bring at him? Can Missouri keep Memphis off the offensive boards?
I know Missouri was left for dead after Quin Snyder was finished running the program into the ground, but Mike Anderson has brought respectability back to the university's basketball program. That said, it's hard to believe Missouri has faced the caliber of talent they will against Memphis. The Tigers aren't quite as explosive on offense as they were last year with Derrick Rose at the point and Chris Douglas-Roberts slashing from the wing, but they have more than made up for it with their play on the defensive end. (They're allowing just 57 points a game)
Missouri is a good team, but I'm not sure how they will handle Memphis' duo of Shawn Taggart and Robert Dozier in the paint. They'll to try to use their full court pressure to wear down Memphis, but that might play right into the Tigers' hands. If Memphis can keep sharp shooter Kim English from going crazy from 3 point range and cut down on the big plays DeMarre Carroll and Leo Lyons make for Mizzou, the Tigers depth and over grown back court should have them playing against UConn in the Elite Eight for a shot at their second straight Final Four.
East
Pittsburgh vs Xavier: I know the Musketeers have a talented roster that undoubtedly will cause problems for Pitt. However, everybody knows that guards win in the tournament and I don't know if they have anybody who can slow down Levance Fields enough to disrupt the Panthers' offense. Xavier will send multiple players at DeJuan Blair, but just as he did against Oklahoma St., Blair will find a way to get on track down the stretch. I know they've been living on the edge lately, but the real Panthers will finally show up as they pull out a thriller and finally get to the Elite Eight
Duke vs Villanova: Simply put, I think the Blue Devils could be in trouble against the Wildcats. Duke and Villanova play similar styles, but Villanova clearly has the better personnel. If I'm Jay Wright, I tell Scottie Reynolds and the rest of my super athletic guards to attack the Blue Devils man to man pressure all night until Coach K uses all of his timeouts out of sheer frustration. I tell Dante Cunningham to crash the boards like a mad man because Brian Zoubek and Lance Thomas can't stop him. If Coach K puts Greg Paulus in the game, I would spread the floor and tell the guy who's being guarded by Paulus to go to the rack every possession until Coach K has to take him back out of the game. Duke will probably hit enough 3's to make things interesting, but I think Villanova has too much athleticism for Duke to stay with them for a full 40 minutes.
Keep in mind this is all based on the notion the officiating doesn't mysteriously lean in the favor of the Blue Devils. Call me a "Duke Hater" all you want, but it's become painfully obvious the Blue Devils have been the beneficiary of some "questionable" calls the past few years.
West
UConn vs Purdue: If you designed the perfect team to beat UConn it would look absolutely nothing like Purdue. Matt Painter has quietly restored the Boilers Makers to where they once were in the Big 10, but UConn is the type of team the Boilers have yet to come across this season. I love Robbie Hummel, JaJuan Johnson, and E'Twaun Moore. I just like Hasheem Thabeet, A.J. Price, Jeff Adrien and the human pogo stick known as Stanley Robinson a lot more.
Last week Jim Calhoun missed the first game of the tournament due to dehydration. What was the result? Tennessee Chattanooga found themselves on the business end of a 103-47 pasting at the hand of the Huskies. Purdue isn't Chattanooga, but the last thing they needed to happen was another incident to come up that will ultimately bring the Huskies closer together and make them want to give Jim Calhoun another championship that much more.
I hate to break it to you Purdue fans but you better enjoy your trip to the valley of home foreclosures because it's going to a short one.
Memphis vs Missouri: Who's going to break first? Can Tyreke Evans handle the relentless pressure Missouri will bring at him? Can Missouri keep Memphis off the offensive boards?
I know Missouri was left for dead after Quin Snyder was finished running the program into the ground, but Mike Anderson has brought respectability back to the university's basketball program. That said, it's hard to believe Missouri has faced the caliber of talent they will against Memphis. The Tigers aren't quite as explosive on offense as they were last year with Derrick Rose at the point and Chris Douglas-Roberts slashing from the wing, but they have more than made up for it with their play on the defensive end. (They're allowing just 57 points a game)
Missouri is a good team, but I'm not sure how they will handle Memphis' duo of Shawn Taggart and Robert Dozier in the paint. They'll to try to use their full court pressure to wear down Memphis, but that might play right into the Tigers' hands. If Memphis can keep sharp shooter Kim English from going crazy from 3 point range and cut down on the big plays DeMarre Carroll and Leo Lyons make for Mizzou, the Tigers depth and over grown back court should have them playing against UConn in the Elite Eight for a shot at their second straight Final Four.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Friday in the NCAA Tournament: Let the brackets begin to burn
It was bound to happen people. After the first day of the tournament went off without any major upsets, you had to know Friday would make up for it in a big way.
*Is there a more talented team that shoots more untimely 3 pointers than Tennessee? Can they please get a true point guard who can get them organized in clutch situations?
*Quiet as kept, Byron Eaton has finally come into his own and started to live up to the expectations he had coming out of high school. Imagine how good Oklahoma St. would be if Gerald Green would have decided to come to Stillwater instead jumping to the NBA. (Imagine where Gerald Green's career would be if he had gone to Oklahoma St.)
*I don't see them beating Missouri on Sunday, but I dare somebody to find a team with more guts than Marquette.
*Beware of the Kansas Jayhawks. Yes, Sherron Collins went off for 32, but they're going to be trouble if they keep getting 23 and 13 from Cole Aldrich on a consistent basis.
*Who is Ben Woodside? He's the guy who just dropped 37 on Kansas.
*DeJuan Blair (27 pts, 16 rebs) channeled his inner Corliss Williamson against ETSU.
*World say hello to Dayton's Chris Wright. Chris Wright say hello to the world.
*Morehead St had no chance once Andre McGee decided to stop letting them get the ball past half court.
*Like a lot of people, I didn't think Arizona deserved to be in the tournament, but I sure did pick them to beat Utah though. Now they're a win over Cleveland St. away from being in the Sweet 16.
* "Strike first! Strike hard! No Mercy!" That's what I thought every time I saw the scores and highlights of Cleveland St taking apart Wake Forest.
*Xavier just has too many veterans to not be around next weekend.
*USC 72- Boston College 55: NBA caliber athletes against a bunch of guys who look like leasing agents is bound to get ugly
*Siena 74- Ohio st. 72 2OT: If you keep letting guys shoot uncontested 3's they will eventually knock them down
*Wisconsin 61-Florida St. 59: How in the world did those cheese heads pull that off?
*The Pac-10 is 5-1 and the ACC is 3-4. He who laughs last laughs the loudest!
*Michigan St actually broke the 70 point barrier.
*Good to hear that Jim Calhoun is doing better.
*Is there a more talented team that shoots more untimely 3 pointers than Tennessee? Can they please get a true point guard who can get them organized in clutch situations?
*Quiet as kept, Byron Eaton has finally come into his own and started to live up to the expectations he had coming out of high school. Imagine how good Oklahoma St. would be if Gerald Green would have decided to come to Stillwater instead jumping to the NBA. (Imagine where Gerald Green's career would be if he had gone to Oklahoma St.)
*I don't see them beating Missouri on Sunday, but I dare somebody to find a team with more guts than Marquette.
*Beware of the Kansas Jayhawks. Yes, Sherron Collins went off for 32, but they're going to be trouble if they keep getting 23 and 13 from Cole Aldrich on a consistent basis.
*Who is Ben Woodside? He's the guy who just dropped 37 on Kansas.
*DeJuan Blair (27 pts, 16 rebs) channeled his inner Corliss Williamson against ETSU.
*World say hello to Dayton's Chris Wright. Chris Wright say hello to the world.
*Morehead St had no chance once Andre McGee decided to stop letting them get the ball past half court.
*Like a lot of people, I didn't think Arizona deserved to be in the tournament, but I sure did pick them to beat Utah though. Now they're a win over Cleveland St. away from being in the Sweet 16.
* "Strike first! Strike hard! No Mercy!" That's what I thought every time I saw the scores and highlights of Cleveland St taking apart Wake Forest.
*Xavier just has too many veterans to not be around next weekend.
*USC 72- Boston College 55: NBA caliber athletes against a bunch of guys who look like leasing agents is bound to get ugly
*Siena 74- Ohio st. 72 2OT: If you keep letting guys shoot uncontested 3's they will eventually knock them down
*Wisconsin 61-Florida St. 59: How in the world did those cheese heads pull that off?
*The Pac-10 is 5-1 and the ACC is 3-4. He who laughs last laughs the loudest!
*Michigan St actually broke the 70 point barrier.
*Good to hear that Jim Calhoun is doing better.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Initial thoughts on Thursday night's games
There weren't many upsets tonight, but things are shaping up for a great weekend of games if this pattern holds up on Friday. That said, here are some of my thoughts on Thursday night's games.
*Apparently Minnesota didn't get the scouting report on UT's A.J. Abrams. (8 for 15 on 3 pointers on his way to 26 points) Call me crazy, but I think it would be smart for somebody to find him in transition and put a hand in his face!
*Leave it to Villanova, the team who lives and dies with guard play, to struggle with American University. ( A team that lives and dies with guard play)
*I will never trust the Clemson Tigers again! There ability to continually waist their considerable athleticism is starting to mirror the university's underachieving football team.
*Is it just me or did every player from Gonzaga try to posterize somebody from Akron tonight? The game was a potential upset in the making and suddenly morphed into a low budget dunk contest with the Zips serving as human props.
*I wish Western Kentucky would have executed better down the stretch so I didn't have to sweat during the final minute of their game.
*Did the guy from Morgan St. really just throw Blake Griffin over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes?
*Memo to UCLA: Since nobody else seems interested in scoring in the clutch, just give the ball to Jrue Holliday and get out of the way!
*VCU's Eric Maynor is one of the smartest players I've seen in a long time.
*VCU's Larry Sanders is a freak of nature! What laboratory did Anthony Grant get him from?
*I'm happy to hear that UConn's Jim Calhoun is going to be alright.
*Friday will be a big day for the office pools. There are a lot of "swing" games that could go a long way in determining who still has a chance at winning the pot.
*Apparently Minnesota didn't get the scouting report on UT's A.J. Abrams. (8 for 15 on 3 pointers on his way to 26 points) Call me crazy, but I think it would be smart for somebody to find him in transition and put a hand in his face!
*Leave it to Villanova, the team who lives and dies with guard play, to struggle with American University. ( A team that lives and dies with guard play)
*I will never trust the Clemson Tigers again! There ability to continually waist their considerable athleticism is starting to mirror the university's underachieving football team.
*Is it just me or did every player from Gonzaga try to posterize somebody from Akron tonight? The game was a potential upset in the making and suddenly morphed into a low budget dunk contest with the Zips serving as human props.
*I wish Western Kentucky would have executed better down the stretch so I didn't have to sweat during the final minute of their game.
*Did the guy from Morgan St. really just throw Blake Griffin over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes?
*Memo to UCLA: Since nobody else seems interested in scoring in the clutch, just give the ball to Jrue Holliday and get out of the way!
*VCU's Eric Maynor is one of the smartest players I've seen in a long time.
*VCU's Larry Sanders is a freak of nature! What laboratory did Anthony Grant get him from?
*I'm happy to hear that UConn's Jim Calhoun is going to be alright.
*Friday will be a big day for the office pools. There are a lot of "swing" games that could go a long way in determining who still has a chance at winning the pot.
Thank you Roburt Sallie!
I know Memphis just held off a tough Cal St. Northridge team, but I didn't realize it was a one man show until I checked the box score.
Roburt Sallie (Who?) knocked down 10 of 15 from behind the line on his way to 35 points
Thank you Roburt for saving my bracket.
I hope that's how your name is spelled by the way.
Roburt Sallie (Who?) knocked down 10 of 15 from behind the line on his way to 35 points
Thank you Roburt for saving my bracket.
I hope that's how your name is spelled by the way.
Reaction from the morning session of the tournament
Butler's Matt Howard has some McHale like footwork in the post.
*If Ty Lawson doesn't play on Saturday (I'd be shocked if he doesn't!), LSU's athleticism might simultaneously destroy brackets around the country and trigger a mass suicide in Greensboro.
*Where was this Texas A&M team hiding at all season? I know everybody has UConn playing Memphis in the Elite Eight, but the Aggies have all the necessary tools to beat the Huskies.
*Speaking of the Huskies, I sure hope everything is alright with Jim Calhoun.
*Thank you Memphis for finally getting it together down the stretch! I think everybody who filled out a bracket, myself included, was on the verge of having a massive stroke when you guys were trailing with less than 10 minutes to play.
*If Ty Lawson doesn't play on Saturday (I'd be shocked if he doesn't!), LSU's athleticism might simultaneously destroy brackets around the country and trigger a mass suicide in Greensboro.
*Where was this Texas A&M team hiding at all season? I know everybody has UConn playing Memphis in the Elite Eight, but the Aggies have all the necessary tools to beat the Huskies.
*Speaking of the Huskies, I sure hope everything is alright with Jim Calhoun.
*Thank you Memphis for finally getting it together down the stretch! I think everybody who filled out a bracket, myself included, was on the verge of having a massive stroke when you guys were trailing with less than 10 minutes to play.
My Final Four
With all the top seeds advancing, this will be one of the most entertaining second weekends of the tournament in recent memory. When all is said and done though, these four teams will be in the "Motor City" for the first weekend in April.
*Midwest
Louisville- They will eventually expose the youth of the super athletic Demon Deacons and take care of the overachieving Jayhawks in the Elite Eight. I just hope Pitino brings that all white suit to Detroit.
*West
Memphis- they have a few more horses to run with than Missouri does and they're size on the perimeter is the perfect answer for a UConn team that still hasn't recovered from losing Jerome Dyson. Look for Pierre Henderson-Niles to play the poor man's version of DeJuan Blair against Hasheem Thabeet while Shawn Taggart and Robert Dozier go crazy.
*East
Pittsburgh- They're a little too physical for Xavier and Villanova just doesn't have enough in the front court to stay with them for 40 minutes. Just like Kansas got over the hump last year and finally got to the Final Four, you've got to figure the Panthers are going to be there.
*South
North Carolina- Of course the fate of the Tar Heels rests on the big toe of Ty Lawson, but he's gotta play at some point. If he can't drive the car for the college basketball's version of the Phoenix Suns, look for Syracuse to bring a little more of that Big East flavor to Detroit.
*Midwest
Louisville- They will eventually expose the youth of the super athletic Demon Deacons and take care of the overachieving Jayhawks in the Elite Eight. I just hope Pitino brings that all white suit to Detroit.
*West
Memphis- they have a few more horses to run with than Missouri does and they're size on the perimeter is the perfect answer for a UConn team that still hasn't recovered from losing Jerome Dyson. Look for Pierre Henderson-Niles to play the poor man's version of DeJuan Blair against Hasheem Thabeet while Shawn Taggart and Robert Dozier go crazy.
*East
Pittsburgh- They're a little too physical for Xavier and Villanova just doesn't have enough in the front court to stay with them for 40 minutes. Just like Kansas got over the hump last year and finally got to the Final Four, you've got to figure the Panthers are going to be there.
*South
North Carolina- Of course the fate of the Tar Heels rests on the big toe of Ty Lawson, but he's gotta play at some point. If he can't drive the car for the college basketball's version of the Phoenix Suns, look for Syracuse to bring a little more of that Big East flavor to Detroit.
My picks for the NCAA Tournament
Here it is people. I'm not saying I'm 100% right, but I think I'm pretty close.
My Sweet 16
*Midwest
Louisville- playing the best of anybody in the country right now
Wake Forest- might be young, but I can't see a team with so much talent going out the 1st weekend
Kansas- something tells me West Virginia is going to knock them out, but maybe Sherron Collins saves the day
Michigan St.- I don't trust the Big 10 much these days, but there's no excuse for the Spartans not to be playing in the second weekend of this tournament
*West
UConn- the Aggies will scare the hell out of the Huskies in the 2nd round, but they'll be in Glendale
Purdue- the only team in the Big 10 that's trustworthy
Missouri- somehow DeMarre Carroll and company will pull out a thriller over Marquette
Memphis- Maryland's guards are going to struggle against the Tigers super sized back court
*East
Pittsburgh- just a little too consistent for a scrappy Tennessee
Xavier- experienced group will find a way to weather the storm that is Tony Douglas
Villanova- tournament dark horse will keep the Bruins from going to their fourth straight Final Four
Duke- I don't like them at all, but the bracket is set up quite nicely for Dick Vitale's secret employer
*South
North Carolina- Ty Lawson saves the day just before Butler ends the 'Heels season
Gonzaga- nobody is paying attention to them, but I can't wait to see how many problems Josh Heytvelt causes in the post for "Psycho T" (Hansbrough)
Syracuse- they just keep playing
Clemson- helter skelter style of play causes just enough problems for OU's guards as the Tigers athletic front court holds Blake Griffin to only 20 and 10 in what should be the last game he plays without getting a paycheck
My Sweet 16
*Midwest
Louisville- playing the best of anybody in the country right now
Wake Forest- might be young, but I can't see a team with so much talent going out the 1st weekend
Kansas- something tells me West Virginia is going to knock them out, but maybe Sherron Collins saves the day
Michigan St.- I don't trust the Big 10 much these days, but there's no excuse for the Spartans not to be playing in the second weekend of this tournament
*West
UConn- the Aggies will scare the hell out of the Huskies in the 2nd round, but they'll be in Glendale
Purdue- the only team in the Big 10 that's trustworthy
Missouri- somehow DeMarre Carroll and company will pull out a thriller over Marquette
Memphis- Maryland's guards are going to struggle against the Tigers super sized back court
*East
Pittsburgh- just a little too consistent for a scrappy Tennessee
Xavier- experienced group will find a way to weather the storm that is Tony Douglas
Villanova- tournament dark horse will keep the Bruins from going to their fourth straight Final Four
Duke- I don't like them at all, but the bracket is set up quite nicely for Dick Vitale's secret employer
*South
North Carolina- Ty Lawson saves the day just before Butler ends the 'Heels season
Gonzaga- nobody is paying attention to them, but I can't wait to see how many problems Josh Heytvelt causes in the post for "Psycho T" (Hansbrough)
Syracuse- they just keep playing
Clemson- helter skelter style of play causes just enough problems for OU's guards as the Tigers athletic front court holds Blake Griffin to only 20 and 10 in what should be the last game he plays without getting a paycheck
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