tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64651594895490647482024-02-20T00:58:35.700-08:00Sport footballthe latest Premier League news plusarsiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17105705080684483167noreply@blogger.comBlogger501125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465159489549064748.post-18869722124728631032015-04-26T13:56:00.001-07:002015-04-26T14:04:56.414-07:00 Fifa's World Cup graft probeFootball's world governing body Fifa released on Thursday a summary of a report into voting by its executives to decide the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, which went to Russia and Qatar respectively.<br />
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<img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjP_Es7ph_GNFErhYcWWru-AOQoH3a10662FtOgjycYcQZg5sTdWlDsuEWS1gVuC1YQg3wHYmo_jj_klFg1_9w8qAUU0DUxZM1Y7FzdisOlcb4buf5farkTSFyMoXaCRsZlGktqsPgim4zr52Sxr0GzCt8pRXT2cxVKBGxh36qdJyjMDryoW9d0XPFb3A7vsqYb9dMbaHtbupeaCvE-3X2LgU_YQmCz63me5z1Hz7pzIK7eyTcDe4yrER1d8UFmhg=" width="400" /><br />
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It had commissioned an investigative committee, led by former former United States federal prosecutor Michael Garcia, who submitted his team’s 18-month report to German judge Hans-Joachim Eckert, who runs the arm of the committee responsible for doling out punishment.<br />
While Garcia found that some bidders gave excess gifts or complied with improper requests ahead of the December 2010 vote, Eckert said the violations weren’t enough to re-open the voting process.<br />
What Fifa is accusing bid nations of<br />
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AUSTRALIA<br />
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The report highlighted potentially problematic connections between the Australian Football Association and Caribbean football confederation, Concacaf, in terms of financial and other support for football development and the bidding process.<br />
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It said the requests, and Australia’s cooperation, “helped create the appearance that benefits were conferred in exchange for a vote thus undermining the credibility of the process”.<br />
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ENGLAND<br />
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The England bid team were heavily criticised for indulging the then Fifa executive committee member and Concacaf chief, Jack Warner.<br />
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This included sponsoring a gala dinner in his native Trinidad and helping an acquaintance find part-time employment in Britain. The report claimed “three of the four Fifa executive committee members made improper requests for support or favours towards the England 2018 bid team and/or the FA during the bidding process. England 2018 accommodated, or at least attempted to satisfy, the improper requests.”<br />
JAPAN<br />
Investigations discovered that Japan distributed gifts to senior Fifa officials, members of the executive committee and some of their wives. The value varied from US$700 (S$902) to US$2,000.<br />
SOUTH KOREA<br />
The report said Chung Mong Joon, a Fifa executive committee member and honorary president of the Korean FA, had sent letters to his fellow Fifa exco members about his association’s proposal to establish a global football fund.<br />
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He said South Korea intended to raise US$777 million to aid confederations and national associations. The report concluded that “the Global Football Fund letters created at least the appearance of a conflict or an offer of benefits to Fifa executive committee members in an effort to influence their votes”.<br />
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QATAR<br />
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The report criticised a lack of transparency in the relations between the Qatar bid team and two advisors, whose conduct “raised concerns in the light of relevant Fifa ethics rules”.<br />
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The report said the financing of a friendly between Brazil and Argentina, played in Doha in 2010, raised concerns “in particular in relation to certain arrangements concerning payments intended for the Argentina FA”.<br />
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However, the relevant arrangements were not connected to the Qatar 2022 bid. The report also said that the relationship between the Qatar bid and former Fifa executive committee member Mohamed Hammam, a Qatari who was banned for life in 2011 in a cash-for-votes scandal, was “somewhat distant”.<br />
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RUSSIA<br />
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Investigators said Russia made a “limited amount” of documents available to the investigation because the computers used at the time by the Russia bid committee had been leased and then returned to their owner after the bidding process.<br />
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The owner has confirmed that the computers were destroyed in the meantime. No evidence was found of collusion between the Russia and Japan bids.<br />
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How the nations have reacted<br />
Frank Lowy, Football Federation of Australia chairman<br />
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“FFA did its best to run a competitive and compliant bid and to do it wherever possible hand-in-hand with the Australian Government, with the customary government oversight. We also involved, wherever possible, other bodies such as Unicef and Fifa itself. In addition, the financial management of the bid funds were routinely reported to Government and reviewed by independent external auditors.“I made it clear to all involved in our bid that we would run a clean campaign and I stressed this objective at every opportunity.”<br />
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Hassan Al thawadi, secretary general of Qatar 2022's Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy<br />
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Senior Qatari official Hassan Al-Thawadi (right) is seen with Spain's Carles Puyol (centre) and Qatari Football Association president Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani at the Khalifa International Stadium in the Qatari capital Doha on Feb 6, 2013.-- PHOTO: AFP<br />
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"We say the same as we’ve always said. We’ve always been confident about the integrity of our bid. We have been consistent in our view that any neutral investigation would exonerate us. Today’s report was confirmation of that throughout this whole process we’ve been transparent when it comes to the process of bidding for the 2022 World Cup.<br />
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"Our focus has been concentrating on hosting and delivering an amazing World Cup that will leave a great legacy. We bid for a summer World Cup and we’re developing the technology to make that a reality but we will host at any time."<br />
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Alexei Sorokin, CEO of Russia 2018 organising committee<br />
<img height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhhGU1Dd1gsHO4nfJ4SuA1qseMnX33U11vONxmO-rxmw_NbX9yKxgGb7zbAESfdz5glxjdGs-IhsklRtpi-y9u05okX01WglJb2tj4mmwMLgcltWaXczBENr9mh2reG0hc-sxn1xmjSjHvskPcykavlsK1OZGnbMlMR3uJwdCpIbJpR8U4qyooMczTTpw=" width="400" /><br />
-- PHOTO: AFP<br />
On destroying the computers: “We rented the equipment, we had to give it back, then it went back – we don’t even know where it went – to some sports schools, so quite naturally other people used it. Whatever we could supply, everything we could supply to the investigation we did. But we have to bear in mind that four years have passed since then, so some of the information we could just forget, naturally.”<br />
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Greg Dyke, English Football Association chairman<br />
<img height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjI3yq3et0dxkrPfXYTrs00n27z-iXcZEEqGPJS-HBDGYrnzB4zIrP8nCm6IiF7BPkHqMTyF3Fdg9yKFBl9ol5FbmBPOEOu3FNlN890JF6Z4mzG2-KHFMVTJFvCHKUoU-ySCKa3Ztx89K0l5_U4O_ScmpJnIK1Jkk9MKSwC7obC2FFk-jgW1COZQN-wBpsC=" width="400" /><br />
-- PHOTO: REUTERS<br />
"Within that report, most of the criticism is of people who co-operated the most fully. If you actually didn't co-operate, you don't get criticised, which seems very weird to me. The FA, I don't think on this, has got anything to hide. Everything that was done was cleared with the Fifa executive beforehand and was told to the Garcia report by the English FA."<br />
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How Garcia has reacted<br />
Garcia, who carried out an exhaustive investigation into the bidding, slammed an “incomplete and erroneous” version of his report and said he planned to appeal.<br />
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He issued a statement on Thursday saying: “Today’s decision by the chairman of the adjudicatory chamber contains numerous materially incomplete and erroneous representations of the facts and conclusions detailed in the investigatory chamber’s report. I intend to appeal this decision to the Fifa Appeal Committee.”<br />
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How Eckert has reacted<br />
"Usually you would first speak to each other internally if you don’t like something. I have been trying to contact him."<br />
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How the football fraternity has reacted<br />
Eric Cantona, former Manchester United star<br />
<img height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgZ6kiaFzu5REBjur7bBFLZgMs1LNK1ixvSQ0L7tHQwSkuV-WLNYBI45NguGc6eqL-v456IA7h2s4u_YZWOEjHTu_VwCPG5sowgJaUBSkqinOiB8DY3R_iB8HljpAhfmBGWxiOClxInonJ9ZOgJnur34VL6R7z8BKkx3pWXZd41th7QPb8nCO42_QWtPnQ=" width="400" /><br />
-- PHOTO: AFP<br />
"When you award the World Cup to a country, it is to develop football there. When they gave the 1994 World Cup to the United States, there was great potential there, with the Mexican and South American immigration, to develop football. But what is there that can be done in Qatar? How many people live in Qatar? When you are in a very small country, where you have to pay people to fill the stadiums, that isn’t the point of it, as far as I’m concerned. It is a very wealthy country which has bought itself a World Cup.
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Of course, in FBS football, this does not mean a playoff, which is what everyone wants.<br /><br />It means <a href="http://www.sportsbetting.ag/college-football-bowl-games">College Football Bowl Games</a>. There are a lot of good ones out there, but other than the national title game, the best one looks like the Fiesta Bowl, which has Oregon taking on Kansas State.<br /><br />Both teams will enter the game with one loss. Oregon fell to Stanford, while Kansas State lost to Baylor. They are both 11-1, 8-1 in their respective conferences. Oregon is coached by Chip Kelly, who is expected to become an NFL head coach next season. They play a fast-paced, run-oriented offense that has been the darling of college football the past few years. They are the most explosive offense in college football and can score from anywhere on the field. <br /><br />Kansas State's head coach is Bill Snyder, who is in his 70s and already retired once. If they win, they will need a big game from Collin Klein, who was a Heisman finalist. He is a dual threat QB in the mold of Tim Tebow. He is a power runner, and can throw just well enough to keep defenses honest. <br /><br />It should be a fascinating by two teams that employ a spread offense, but they will look a lot different than each other. I think Oregon will win a high scoring game, but it will be one of the most exciting college football games of the season.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465159489549064748.post-82579639376052398412012-10-23T12:11:00.000-07:002013-02-09T06:10:27.222-08:00Miami Heat Are the NBA Title FavoritesFor years, NBA fans have been asking the question, “When will LeBron James win an NBA championship.” He had clearly made himself into the best basketball player in the world, and had MVP trophies to back that up. However, the one glaring thing missing from his resume was that he did not have an NBA title to his name. That all changed last June, when the Miami Heat beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games to capture the championship.<br /><br />That brings us to the current year, where there are no shortage of contenders for the NBA title, which brings up interesting decisions if you are doing online betting (<a href="http://topbet.eu/">click here</a>) at TopBet. If you look at <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/standings/_/year/2012/seasontype/2">last year’s NBA standings</a>, you see that three teams – the Miami Heat, OKC Thunder, and San Antonio Spurs looked like the main contenders. This year, you can add the Los Angeles Lakers to the mix as well.<br /><br />The Heat have to be considered the favorite because they still have LeBron. He is the best and most talented player in the league, and makes everyone around him better. In addition to Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, the Heat also picked up Rashard Lewis and Ray Allen, which should make their offense even more dangerous. Now that they have embraced some small ball with James playing the four, they are tough to beat.<br /><br />The Thunder will be the top challenger, as they were a threat to win it last year, and should be even better with another year of experience. Kevin Durant is the second best player in the NBA, and he has some talented guys alongside him. The Lakers look to be their main competitors, after the addition of Dwight Howard and Steve Nash. They may have the most talented starting lineup in the league, but it will be interesting to see if they can fit all of the pieces together, and whether they will have enough depth to win it all. The Spurs are another team that people always want to count out, but they always seem to be in the thick of the race.<br /><br />It will be an exciting NBA season, with more legitimate contenders and elite teams that I can remember heading into a year. The Heat are the favorites, but it will be a great year in the NBA.<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465159489549064748.post-44738752955966894422012-09-06T16:11:00.000-07:002013-02-09T06:10:27.227-08:00Who Will Win The Super Bowl?The Super Bowl has become the biggest event in American sports, as good is the new American past time. As a result, everybody has a prediction about who is going to win the Super Bowl. But who do the oddsmakers project as most likely to win the Super Bowl? You can find some <a href="http://www.sportsbetting.ag/">odds here</a>.<br /><br />The Green Bay Packers are the Super Bowl favorites, and it is easy to understand why. They had the best record in the NFL last year, and looked like the team that was going to win the Super Bowl before their shocking defeat to the New York Giants. They have the MVP of the NFL and its best player in quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who is playing at an extremely high level. With some great receivers, the offense is explosive. The defense struggled last year, but they took steps to make that better heading into this season. That makes them the favorites.<br /><br />The New York Giants also have to be considered one of the favorites, simply because they have shown they can do it. They made a surprise run to win the Super Bowl last year, and that was the second time it had happened in the last five years. The core of their team remains, including quarterback Eli Manning and perhaps the best pass rush in the NFL. Nobody will be taking these guys lightly in the playoffs.<br /><br />New England seems to be a mainstay in the Tom Brady and Bill Belicheck Era, and this year will be no exception. They have even more weapons offensively, as they added deep threat Brandon Lloyd. Along with tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, they can hurt you in a lot of ways in the passing game. Defensively, they have invested some high draft picks, and it looks like it may pay dividends. They will be hungry after losing a close game in the Super Bowl last season.<br /><br />A popular pick this year is the Baltimore Ravens, who were so close to making it to the big game last season. Joe Flacco is a year older, and if he takes the next step and becomes an elite quarterback, the Ravens might be the most complete team in the NFL. Ray Rice is the best running back in the NFL, and the defense should again be very good. They will be an interesting team to watch.<br /><br />As always, we are in store for a great NFL season. Who do you think is going to win the Super Bowl?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465159489549064748.post-25149924115514851362012-06-05T21:50:00.000-07:002013-02-09T06:10:27.232-08:00"Stillpower" by Garret Kramer Review<i>This <b><a href="http://www.reedreads.com/2012/06/stillpower-by-garret-kramer-review-and.html">Stillpower book review</a></b> is also posted over at <a href="http://www.reedreads.com/">Reed Reads</a>. </i><br /><br />I got the chance to get an early copy of the book <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1582703884/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=luk138-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1582703884">Stillpower: Excellence with Ease in Sports and Life</a></i><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=luk138-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1582703884" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by <b>Garret Kramer</b>, and I have to say that I enjoyed it. It was not my favorite book, but I think it is worth reading for athletes and coaches on the chance that they are able to glean one or two insights from the book that will really help them out.<br /><br />The book talks all about recognizing that motivation is internal, whether it is in sports or in life, and we cannot seek external motivations. If we do that, it will be fleeting, and we will soon find ourselves performing worse. If we look to things happening to us as getting us down or up, we are not relying enough on the internal factors of performance. One story that I enjoyed from the book which talks about being motivated and satisfied by the right things was a story about former Argentinian golfer <b>Robert De Vicenzo</b>. The story from the book goes: <br /><blockquote>Robert De Vicenzo, the renowned Argentinian professional golfer, once won a tournament with a substantial cash prize. After receiving his check and smiling through interviews and photos, he went to the clubhouse and was prepared to leave. Sometime later, as he walked to his car in the parking lot, he was approached by a young woman. She offered well wishes on the victory and then told him that her baby was seriously ill and near death, but she had no money to pay the doctors' bills and hospital expenses De Vicenzo was so moved by her story that right on the spot, he took out a pen and endorsed the winning check over to the woman. "Make some good days for the child," he said as he pressed the check into her hand. </blockquote><blockquote>The following week, De Vicenzo was having lunch at the next tour stop when a PGA official approached him. "Several members of the parking lot crew told me you met a young woman after the tournament last week." </blockquote><blockquote>De Vicenzo nodded. "Well," said the official, "I hate to tell you, she's a phony. She has no sick kid. I'm sorry, my friend, but that girl fleeced you." </blockquote><blockquote> De Vixenzo responded, "You mean there's no dying baby?" </blockquote><blockquote> "That's right." </blockquote><blockquote>"That's the best news I've heard all week," De Vicenzo responded.</blockquote><a name='more'></a>I can only imagine how most people (myself included) would have responded to that situation if I was De Vicenzo, but reading about him response and his clarity (the world is better if there is no sick baby compared to if there is a sick baby), it is easy to see how he was a person with his priorities and life in order.<br /><br />At the end of the book, Kramer gave his ten reminders that will "point you away from external quick fixes and toward your own natural understanding" :<br /><br />1. Only when you feel a sense of cooperation with your teammates, coaches, and even your opponents will you be mentally prepared to compete to the fullest extent possible. <br /><br />2. Struggles only occur when you are not operating from a clear mind-set. So when you attempt to solve problems from this state of mind, your performance will only get worse. <br /><br />3. A coach's words are much less important than the state of mind from which the words are spoken. <br /><br />4. A coaching methodology that focuses on behaviors is mentoring after the damage has already been done. <br /><br />5. Recognize the difference between your life situations and your life. <br /><br />6. Keep goal setting in perspective. <br /><br />7. Without the free will to choose, you will lack the resources to draw upon personal insights and move through errant emotions. <br /><br />8. The opportunity always exists to move through any situation successfully, no matter how challenging it might appear. <br /><br />9. Understand that no matter what you are thinking at any moment in time, there is nothing you actually have to do. <br /><br />10. You will perform to the best of your ability from the ease, simplicity, and peacefulness of stillpower. <br /><br />----- <br /><br />Is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1582703884/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=luk138-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1582703884">Stillpower</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=luk138-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1582703884" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> worth the read? It depends. If you are an athlete or coach, I think you could get something out of this, because obviously even one insight that improves your performance will make it worthwhile. In addition, it is a quick and easy read, which should make it a relatively easy book to get through.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465159489549064748.post-78496898937084783632011-09-05T09:12:00.000-07:002013-02-09T06:10:27.238-08:00Who Is The Third Best Team in the Big Sky?This was originally posted on <a href="http://www.bigskybball.com/2011/08/who-is-third-best-team-in-big-sky.html">Big Sky Basketball</a>.<br /><br />From what I have seen, read, and know about the Big Sky, <b>Weber State</b> and <b>Montana </b>look like they will be ranked 1-2 in the conference this season, and in my mind, they look like the favorites. But the race is wide open for third. Ranking from (in my opinion and subject to change!) least likely to most likely:<br /><br />- <b>Shttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifacramento State</b> - It will be a tough season for Coach Katz. They were one of the worst offensive and defensive teams in the country last year, and I'm not sure there is a lot of reason to be more optimistic this season. <b><a href="http://www.bigskybball.com/2011/08/dylan-garrity-sacramento-state-recruit.html">Dylan Garrity</a></b> looks solid, but there are simply not a lot of impact players on the Hornets roster.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBd0cYRlOICoW5ioazaEtoDQAhCVOk1F5mXnhEn2-z4gwPTr3Pq5fZEMNXOkCyDMAPHpuAxOJEelY2qOZ69S3cS1EemhJDhkQXkhuQuj5cKQQYQVJvtftik7dYH_ejGGQb1wG2-Km4Tc/s1600/Melvin+Morgan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBd0cYRlOICoW5ioazaEtoDQAhCVOk1F5mXnhEn2-z4gwPTr3Pq5fZEMNXOkCyDMAPHpuAxOJEelY2qOZ69S3cS1EemhJDhkQXkhuQuj5cKQQYQVJvtftik7dYH_ejGGQb1wG2-Km4Tc/s200/Melvin+Morgan.jpg" /></a></div><br />- <b>Idaho State</b> - By all accounts Joe O'Brien is almost definitely on the way out after this season, so he will try to make it count. He shouldn't expect any miracles. He lost <a href="http://www.bigskybball.com/2011/07/how-will-idaho-st-replace-broderick.html">his two best players</a>, and while there are some decent players back, the cupboard is not too well stocked right now. A lot of their hopes will rest on how quickly <b><a href="http://www.bigskybball.com/2011/08/melvin-morgan.html">Melvin Morgan</a></b> can become the leader of the team.<br /><br />- <b>Northern Arizon</b>a - In my opinion, spots 3-7 are all pretty close, and things could go any direction. I wouldn't want to bet against Mike Adras, but NAU did lose some good talent off a team that finished 4th in the conference. Gone is Cameron Jones and Shane Johannsen, with <a href="http://www.bigskybball.com/2011/07/how-will-northern-arizona-replace.html">no clear</a> <a href="http://www.bigskybball.com/2011/08/where-will-northern-arizona-get.html">replacements for either</a>. Gabe Rogers will be called upon to be the star, and he does have the talent to the an All BigSky performer. Perhaps the biggest key will be the development of <a href="http://www.bigskybball.com/2011/07/danny-cheek-of-northern-arizona.html">Danny Cheek</a>, one of the top incoming recruits in the Big Sky. If he can be productive early, NAU will be very competitive.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS059wapmx_DyjE05SVma0-nvnmBUGJ9epMajRAFk4fQDuVGB7kqhGnpk39nrta0pbARLh_fM6b91LKJeCh1vRu0L8GnqqJYSDs5rQRTJOulZyOquoYFVqxN1w5iATxkhVR9-RG9LTT2s/s1600/BJ+Hill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS059wapmx_DyjE05SVma0-nvnmBUGJ9epMajRAFk4fQDuVGB7kqhGnpk39nrta0pbARLh_fM6b91LKJeCh1vRu0L8GnqqJYSDs5rQRTJOulZyOquoYFVqxN1w5iATxkhVR9-RG9LTT2s/s200/BJ+Hill.jpg" /></a></div><br />- <b>Northern Colorado</b> - It is tough predict what UNC will do this season after losing 4 key contributors, notably Devon Beitzel and Neal Kingman. They have some talent and BJ Hill put together a <a href="http://www.bigskybball.com/2011/08/northern-colorados-recruiting-class.html">nice recruiting class</a>, but it is a team that relied heavily on Beitzel last year, so there will be an adjustment period. Who will step up and be the go-to guy for the Bears? I'm guessing even the coaches are wondering at this point.<br /><br />- <b>Eastern Washington</b> - There are a lot of unknowns with a new coach, so it will be interesting to see how things play out for Jim Hayford (last year's first year coach in the Big Sky was BJ Hill, and that turned out ok). EWU has a lot of <a href="http://www.bigskybball.com/2011/07/how-will-eastern-washington-replace.html">solid returning guards</a>, and they have brought in a solid recruit in <a href="http://www.bigskybball.com/2011/07/collin-chiverton-eastern-washington.html"><b>Collin Chiverton</b></a>. If their <a href="http://www.bigskybball.com/2011/08/key-for-eastern-washington-tremayne.html">frontcourt can produce</a>, they will be dangerous.<br /><br />- <b>Montana State</b> - The Bobcats will be very interesting, as they will be bringing in a ton of talented new guys, so they will be as good as the team can learn to play together and Brad Huse can find a consistent rotation. The word is that <b>Antonio Biglow</b>, one of their most highly rated newcomers, might not play until January (if he plays this year), which is definitely a blow. Still, JUCO wings <b>Jamie Stewart</b> and <b>Xavier Johnson-Blount</b> should be a nice duo. They have the talent to be one of the best teams in the Big Sky, but it is difficult to say how quickly Huse will be able to mold the talent.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSN0SN2V_5sUTA2IhZMAu3jSGK96buk5X0ptVIXcTU6FOJglm4-Pf7ACJ_u4adG4wzj1mKsI3adsBdwBNXd2sNn_C8bgGp9z7X_L6tgFGRCM3RIeEWPjtKkNggfSDqjGAjsKktL1nsXnQ/s1600/Chehales+Tapscott.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="128" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSN0SN2V_5sUTA2IhZMAu3jSGK96buk5X0ptVIXcTU6FOJglm4-Pf7ACJ_u4adG4wzj1mKsI3adsBdwBNXd2sNn_C8bgGp9z7X_L6tgFGRCM3RIeEWPjtKkNggfSDqjGAjsKktL1nsXnQ/s200/Chehales+Tapscott.jpg" /></a></div><br />- <b>Portland State</b> - <a href="http://crawscorner.blogspot.com/">Craw's Corner</a> really opened my eyes that they could be the third best team in the Big Sky, and it seems like they now have the talent to do it. Two solid holdovers are Charles Odum and <a href="http://www.bigskybball.com/2011/08/is-chehales-tapscott-best-post-player.html">Chehales Tapscott</a>, both seniors with a year of Big Sky experience under their belt. <a href="http://www.goviks.com/news/2011/4/14/MBB_0414115607.aspx">Lateef Mcmullan</a> looks like he will be a nice contributor right away, <a href="http://www.bigskybball.com/2011/08/how-good-with-michael-harthun-be.html">Michael Harthun</a> is ready to play after sitting out a year (after a transfer from Washington State), and <b><a href="http://www.goviks.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=597&path=mbball">Brandon Cataldo</a></b> could be a big contributor if he is healthy. The Vikings are a bit of a darkhorse, but if they can find a way to improve the defense from last year, they will be dangerous.<br /><br />Would love to hear thoughts on who everyone else thinks will be the third best team in the Big Sky. I also have a poll up, so please vote, and leave your reasoning in the comments. I think it could be a pretty fun debate.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465159489549064748.post-7633813823359387882011-07-03T10:31:00.000-07:002013-02-09T06:10:27.244-08:00Time for University of North Dakota to Drop The Fighting Sioux NicknameOriginally posted on <a href="http://www.bigskybball.com/2011/07/time-for-university-of-north-dakota-to.html">Big Sky Basketball</a>.<br /><br />The University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux are <a href="http://www.bigskyconf.com/news/2010/11/1/GEN_1101105326.aspx">set to join the Big Sky officially on July 1, 2012</a>, but that may be in jeopardy.<br /><br />For as long as I can remember (I am a UND graduate), there has been an intense nickname debate raging at North Dakota. The current nickname is the Fighting Sioux, and that has drawn angst from the NCAA. They have placed sanctions on the athletic programs, forced them to change their names, and it has had some affect on scheduling.<br /><br />For a while, it looked like the issue was settled. Then the North Dakota legislature stepped in, telling the University to continue to use the nickname. It was seen as a short-term stopgap as they tried to continue to battle the NCAA on the issue.<br /><br />All of this has come to a head though, as the Big Sky has told UND that continued use of the nickname <a href="http://www.ktvq.com/news/big-sky-may-dump-und/">could be an issue</a> for the school joining the conference:<br /><br /><blockquote><br />UND President Robert Kelley was told last week that continued use of the Fighting Sioux name and logo as mandated by a new state law has become a "concern" for them and could jeopardize UND's joining the conference next year.</blockquote><br />As an alum, I love the nickname, and the history and tradition that goes along with it. But it is time for it to change. At best, keeping the nickname would keep the situation contentious and would probably still cause some scheduling issues. At worst, it could keep UND out of the Big Sky, which would be disastrous for the athletic program.<br /><br />President Robert Kelley is doing what he can to change the nickname, let's hope the legislature follows suit. Otherwise, we could have one less team joining the Big Sky in July 2012.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465159489549064748.post-34395134780783200862011-06-19T13:57:00.000-07:002013-02-09T06:10:27.250-08:00The Story of Jimmy ButlerJimmy Butler is a basketball player that played at Marquette for the past few years, and he looks to be drafted in the NBA Draft in a couple of weeks. But that is not what makes him special.<br /><br />I read <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/drafhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gift2011/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=Butler-110618">this article on him</a> the other day, and it is amazing the things he has overcome.<br /><br /><blockquote>"His story," one GM said. "is one of the most remarkable I've seen in all my years of basketball. There were so many times in his life where he was set up to fail. Every time, he overcame just enormous odds. When you talk to him -- and he's hesitant to talk about his life -- you just have this feeling that this kid has greatness in him."<br /><br />Butler is fine with that interpretation. But there's another one that he fears.<br /><br />"Please, I know you're going to write something. I'm just asking you, don't write it in a way that makes people feel sorry for me," he said. "I hate that. There's nothing to feel sorry about. I love what happened to me. It made me who I am. I'm grateful for the challenges I've faced. Please, don't make them feel sorry for me."<br /><br />Pity hasn't gotten Butler anywhere in life. Courage has.</blockquote><br />Check it out and get inspired.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465159489549064748.post-4585113243385199972011-05-02T22:18:00.000-07:002013-02-09T06:10:27.254-08:00NBA Playoffs Round Two PredictionsWith the second round underway, some predictions:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Bulls over Hawks in 6 games</span><br />The Hawks won Game 1, but I think the Bulls are simply the better team. Derrick Rose is the best player in the series, and the Bulls are the better defensive team. When you have the best player and better defense, you're usually going to win.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Heat over Celtics in 5</span><br />Suddenly the Celtics are showing their age, and they seem to be lacking a true identity ever since they traded away Kendrick Perkins. The Heat are still not firing at all cylinders (maybe next year when they are more used to playing together), but they are easily playing well enough to win this series.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Thunder over Grizzlies in 7</span><br />The Grizzlies dominated game 1, but I am not sure they quite have the firepower to bea the Thunder 4 times. The interior defense of OKC is too good to get abused by Zach Randolph like that every game. The Grizz have solid perimeter defenders to slow down Kevin Durant, but he is too good to be contained.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Lakers over Mavericks in 7</span><br />Dallas was game 1 in LA, giving them an upper hand early. But I like the Lakers to win, as they are too good down low. Tyson Chandler is as good as they come defensively down low, but he needs to more help, and I am not sure he will get quite enough on the defensive end. Pau Gasol needs to be huge in this series, and I think he can.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465159489549064748.post-85832701371395184562011-04-14T20:07:00.000-07:002013-02-09T06:10:27.259-08:00NBA First Round Playoff PredictionsThe playoffs are once again among us... some predictions for the first round.<br /><br />EAST<br /><br />1 Chicago over 8 Indiana in 4 games<br />The Bulls are the more complete, talented team. They are better offensively and defensively. This should be the least interesting series in round 1.<br /><br />2 Miami over 7 Philadelphia in 5 games<br />As much as I want to see the 76ers pull one out, it is not going to happen. They don't have the firepower to hang with the star-studded Heat. Iggy can only guard LeBron or Wade.<br /><br />3 Boston over 6 New York in 7 games<br />The Celtics come limping into the playoffs, trying to find an identity again after the Kendrick Perkins trade. Funny things can happen when the Knicks get into the playoffs... Game 7 in Boston, though, gives them the advantage.<br /><br />4 Orlando over 5 Atlanta in 6 games<br />I'm not sold on the Magic as legitimate contenders, but I think they have the firepower to overtake the Hawks.<br /><br /><br />WEST<br /><br />1 San Antonio over 8 Memphis in 6 games<br />This is an intriguing game since people think the Spurs are a weak 1 and the Griz a strong 8, but reports of an upset have been greatly exaggerated. The Spurs still have the big 3, and Manu Ginobili will be the best player in this series.<br /><br />2 Los Angeles over 7 New Orleans in 5 games<br />If David West were healthy, this might be an interesting series. As it is, I don't see the Lakers faltering, even as poor as they have played down the stretch.<br /><br />6 Portland over 3 Dallas in 7 games<br />The upset of the first round, I like the more athletic Blazers to take down Dallas, even though Dirk is playing as well as anyone in the NBA. The Mavs need Tyson Chandler to be huge in this series, but I am not sure he is up to it.<br /><br />4 Oklahoma City over 5 Denver in 6 games<br />It should be the most entertaining series in the first round, as both teams get out and run. The difference is that one of these teams have Kevin Durant, and one does not. <br /><br />What are your predictions?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465159489549064748.post-59564308414746316762011-03-23T20:58:00.000-07:002013-02-09T06:10:27.264-08:00Sweet 16 PredictionsWith 2 (or 3, depending on who you ask) rounds complete, it is time to make some predictions on who will make the Final Four.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">EAST<br /><br />1 Ohio St over 4 Kentucky</span><br />The Wildcats are just as talented as the Buckeyes, but there is no making up for the experience difference. When toughness is needed, I trust guys like William Buford, David Lighty, and Jon Diebler more than I trust anyone on Kentucky.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">2 North Carolina over 11 Marquette</span><br />I think UNC caught a bit of a break when Marquette knocked off Syracuse, because UNC would have struggled with the Orange zone. Buzz Williams is one heck of a coach, so expect this to be a tight game, tighter than the talent difference would indicate. But in the end, Marquette doesn't have anyone as good as Harrison Barnes.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">1 Ohio St. over 2 North Carolina</span><br />Much like the Buckeyes previous game against Kentucky, the Heels have the talent to stick with Ohio St., but not the experience. Buckeyes will not be denied, as nobody has looked better so far in the Tourney.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">WEST<br /><br />1 Duke over 5 Arizona</span><br />Arizona is very fortunate to have gotten this far. They needed a last second block by Derrick Williams to get past Memphis (when there arguably could have been a foul called on the rebound), and they needed a 5 second call on Texas (which arguably should have been a timeout granted for the Horns) before their winning basket. Derrick Williams is the X Factor, because he is playing as well as anyone in the country, but Duke just has too many horses for Arizona to stick around.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">2 San Diego St over 3 UConn</span><br />The Aztecs won perhaps the worst March Madness double OT game in history, but don't hold it against them, they simply win. They got a bad game from their star and still beat a good Temple team. Against SDSU's big and athletic front line, Kemba Walker could find those holes to the basket closing more quickly than he is used to.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">2 San Diego St over 1 Duke</span><br />If there is anyone that Duke is susceptible to, it would be an athletic team with a talented front line. The Aztecs fit that bill. While Duke will have a decided edge in the backcourt, look for SDSU's frontcourt to take command. Also, this game will be in Anaheim, making it a virtual home game for the winner of the Mountain West.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">SOUTHWEST<br /></span><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">1 Kansas over 12 Richmond </span><br />Richmond is a great story, but they simply don't have the horses to compete against KU. The Jayhawks will be able to throw plenty of athletes at Kevin Anderson, and the Spiders need big things from him to advance. Not going to happen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">11 VCU over 10 Florida St.</span><br />The Seminoles were extremely impressive in their win over Notre Dame, but they had perhaps their best offensive game of the year, something we have not seen consistently from them. I don't think we will see it again this week. VCU is playing as well as anyone.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">1 Kansas over 11 VCU</span><br />Don't feel bad for Shaka Smart though, he appears ready to cash in on a big payday. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">SOUTHEAST<br /><br />4 Wisconsin over 8 Butler</span><br />Everyone (including myself) underrated the Badgers for their miserable Big 10 performance, but this is a very quality team. They don't turn the ball over, are efficient on offense, and have two studs in Jordan Taylor and Jon Leuer. This will be a slow game and won't be one to tell the grandkids about, but I like Wisconsin. First to 50 wins.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">3 BYU over 2 Florida</span><br />Don't underestimate Jimmer. Not sure how BYU will be able to slow down Florida inside, but I like them to get up and down, and for Jimmer to score just enough. Hopefully we get another game like their first round battle last season.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />4 Wisconsin over 3 BYU</span><br />The Badgers become the second Big Ten team in the Final Four, as Bo Ryan shows his genius by controlling tempo and frustrating Jimmer.<br /><br />What are your picks?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465159489549064748.post-56643041260007155202011-03-06T00:29:00.000-08:002013-02-09T06:10:27.272-08:00Early Conference TournamentsOn Saturday, three conference tournaments played their championship game, meaning 3 teams clinched their spot in The Big Dance. A quick look at all of them.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Big South - UNC-Asheville</span><br />They took care of top seeded Coastal Carolina, who was decimated by injuries and suspensions (they had 8 active players). UNC-Asheville was the 3 seed out of the Big South, and they took out 6th seed Charleston Southern and 7th seed High Point before taking down Coastal Carolina. Despite being a 19 win team, look for them to potentially be in the play-in game. They could win that, but their chances of winning a Tourney game are minimal.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Atlantic-Sun - Belmont</span><br />The Bruins are about to become very popular in America. That is because they are a 30 win team that has lost to Tennessee twice, Vanderbilt, and one fluky conference loss to Lipscomb. Other than that, they are unblemished on the season, and won their conference championship by 41 points over North Florida (who was the 6 seed in the conference). Look for Belmont to a be about a 13 seed and a popular upset choice in the first round.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ohio Valley - Morehead St.</span><br />The Eagles are led by Kenneth Faried, one of the best big men in college basketball and one of the best rebounders in recent college basketball history. Though the much anticipated rematch with Murray St. did not happen, it was still an entertaining game in their win over Tennessee Tech. While I am not sure if they have the guard play to spring an upset (Demonte Harper notwithstanding), I don't think any team is going to be eager to take on Kenneth Faried in the first round of the Tournament. It is fitting for the OVC Player of the Year to end his career playing in the Tourney.<br /><br />Do any of these teams have a chance to win a game in The Big Dance?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465159489549064748.post-19000989081746809022011-02-19T10:17:00.000-08:002013-02-09T06:10:27.361-08:00Book Review: ScorecastingI was fortunate to get a copy of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307591794?ie=UTF8&tag=luk138-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0307591794">Scorecasting: The Hidden Influences Behind How Sports Are Played and Games Are Won</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=luk138-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0307591794" alt="" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" border="0" height="1" />, and it is a book that I have been enjoying immensely.<br /><br />The book is like the freakonomics of the sports world... it looks at common assumptions in sports (homefield advantage, does defense win championships?, why coaches don't go for it on 4th down, etc) and why they are correct or incorrect. It gives strong statistical backup for all of their beliefs.<br /><br />As a sports fan that also loves numbers (I am an accountant by trade), it has been a fascinating read. I have learned a lot about these commonly held beliefs, and certainly it will provide at least subtle changes to how I view sports and how I think about them. <br /><br />If you like sports and like numbers, then I am confident in saying that you will enjoy this book.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465159489549064748.post-29388958156744630162011-02-03T16:14:00.000-08:002013-02-09T06:10:27.450-08:00Super Bowl PredictionsOn paper, you couldn't really ask for a better Super Bowl.<br /><br />We have star power, storied franchises, and rabid fan bases. Both teams are very good, and they are very complete teams.<br /><br />The Packers are led by Aaron Rodgers, who is one of the most talented QBs in the NFL. He has a strong, accurate arm, and is sneakily one of the most athletic QBs in the League. They have a strong defense led by Clay Matthews, one of the best pass rushers out there. He is quick, fast, and has an attitude about him, leading their defense.<br /><br />The Steelers are led by Ben Roethlisberger, one of the best playoff QBs you will find. He doesn't put up gaudy numbers, but he has a knack for making big plays when they are needed the most. He is a Super Bowl veteran and will be looking to add another to his trophy case. He is helped defensive by a strong LB corps, with James Harrison and Lamar Woodley, two hard-hitters and athletic defenenders.<br /><br />In the end, I think Roethlisberger will make one more play than Rodgers. I like Mike Tomlin and the Steelers to be Super Bowl champions once again.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Steelers 27, Packers 24</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465159489549064748.post-89084015110984853192011-01-28T16:23:00.000-08:002013-02-09T06:10:27.539-08:00Who should be the college basketball player of the year?As we make our way into February, the POY race in college basketball seems to be down to three players: Kemba Walker, Jimmer Fredette, and JJ Sullinger.<br /><br />Sullinger is probably in third right now, but that says more about the other two guys than it does about him. He is averaging about 18 and 10, and is the biggest reason why Ohio St is undefeated and ranked #1 even after losing Evan Turner, last year's POY. He is a force down low, and is the most skilled big man in college basketball. He is the best player on perhaps the best team in America.<br /><br />Kemba Walker was the leader out of the gate, and he has done it all for Connecticut, who has been one of the big surprises of the country so far. He is averaging around 25 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals per game, which are ridiculous numbers on the college level. He has been one of the most clutch players in America, and has guided a young UConn team into the top 5.<br /><br />Jimmer Fredette, though, is likely the leader in the clubhouse after his 43 point performance against 4th ranked San Diego St. He averages over 27 PPG, and has scored over 40 multiple times this year, even though he gets all of the attention from opposing defenses. He has BYU in the top 10 and looking like a potential Final Four team.<br /><br />Who do you think the winner should be?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465159489549064748.post-76623125917186461612010-12-07T23:08:00.000-08:002013-02-09T06:10:27.628-08:00Kenneth Faried the best big man in college basketball?This was originally posted over at <a href="http://www.veteranleadership.com/2010/12/kenneth-faried-is-best-big-man-in.html">Veteran Leadership</a>.<br /><br />If I had to choose one big man for my college basketball team this season, I would take Kenneth Faried of Morehead St. He is not the most well-known player (how many people even know where Morehead St. is?), and he's not the guy with the most pro potential, but he just so happens to be the best big man in college basketball.<br /><br />Physically, he is like a man among boys in the post. This is obviously especially true against mid and low-majors, but he has also been excellent against some of the top teams in college basketball. He is very strong, and very quick for a man of his size. He just looks bigger.<br /><br />He is the best rebounder in college basketball (he is tied for the rebounding lead right now with over 14 per game, he was second in the NCAA last year with 13 per game, and third 2 years ago with 13). He is very, very good at using his body to seal the defender to get into position, and he certainly has a nose for the ball. Also, it doesn't show up in the stat sheet, but he is great at tipping the ball to keep it alive for his team. He certainly projects, in my mind, to be an elite rebounder at the pro level.<br /><br />As of today he is 6th in offensive rebounding percentage and 2nd in defensive rebounding percentage in the country.<br /><br />He is also very good defensively, using that quickness and athleticism to erase shots at the rim. He is the reigning OVC Defensive Player of the Year (and Player of the Year, for that matter) and he looks poised to defend his crown. The Eagles often use him as the base man in a 2-3 zone, and he really takes away a lot of opportunities for driving to the hoop and finishing at the rim. I have noticed that sometimes he relies a little too much on his athleticism, and does not get into proper position because he thinks he can recover, but overall, there is very little to complain about defensively. So far this year he is averaging over 2 blocks and 2 steals per game. That is Hakeem Olajuwon-esque.<br /><br />On the offensive side of the ball, he certainly does not project to be a dominant low-post scorer in the NBA, but he is not without skill. He is surprisingly adept with his left and right hand, and is a solid ballhandler for a true post man. He is also a solid passer, and finds the open guys on the perimeter. Putbacks are a big part of the game, as it is perfect for his elite rebounding skills, and his ability to finish with power at the rim. Free throw shooting is a definite chink in his armor, but on the college level he can simply overpower a lot of guys.<br /><br />Kenneth Faried is not a perfect player, and he will not be the top pick in the NBA Draft come next June... but for my money, I'd take him as the best big man in college basketball right now. He is one of the top rebounders and defenders down low in the land, and he's more than capable of putting 20 points per night on the board. You can't ask for too much more than that from your big man. He averaged 17 PPG last year on 56% shooting, and both of those numbers have improved this year.<br /><br />What are your thoughts? Would you rather have another big man instead of Faried?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465159489549064748.post-46863581778044940742010-10-26T20:53:00.000-07:002013-02-09T06:10:27.717-08:00NBA 2010-2011 PredictionsEASTERN CONFERENCE<br /><br />1. Miami Heat, 64 wins<br />Yes, they will be hurt by big men, but how many teams actually have the talent to exploit that? Maybe a couple. They'll run around everyone during the regular season. Nobody will be able to come close to matching their wings. LeBron will be supremely motivated after an offseason in which everyone suddenly decided he was no longer the best player in the NBA. He might still have something to say about that.<br /><br />2. Orlando Magic, 57 wins<br />The best chance that the East has to knock off Miami. If Dwight Howard asserts himself and takes his offensive game to the next level, nobody has the talent to stop him.<br /><br />3. Chicago Bulls, 52 wins<br />Rose and Boozer seems like a perfect fit together, and Noah does all of the little things very well. I think Rose takes a leap to be one of the top 10 players in the NBA and the Bulls move up to a 3 seed.<br /><br />4. Boston Celtics, 51 wins<br />Basically, we know what we have with them. They're a solid team that will be a tough out in the postseason. However, a year older for all of the big 3 players means 4th place.<br /><br />5. Atlanta Hawks, 48 wins<br />They won 53 games when most things went right for them... hard to see them going anywhere except a little bit backwards after the only real change was to the head coach.<br /><br />6. Milwaukee Bucks, 46 wins<br />I thought they played a little above their heads last year at times, but they are a very solid team that could have won a playoff series if Andrew Bogut had been healthy. Things depend on if Brandon Jennings is ready to take another step.<br /><br />7. New York Knicks, 40 wins<br />Finally, some excitement in MSG! Amare has plenty of limitations, but he should put up big number under the bright lights and under Mike D'Antoni. Raymond Felton was a nice pickup.<br /><br />8. Philadelphia 76ers, 38 wins<br />They do have a bunch of young talent (Young, Speights, Iguodala, Williams, Turner, Holiday), it's just completely mismatched and there is no logic to the roster assembly. Still, Doug Collins can mold an 8 seed out of this group.<br /><br />9. Indiana Pacers, 37 wins<br />The pickup of Darren Collison solved some PG woes (he was very good in relief last season), but opened up a hole down low. Granger is a stud but there is still not enough help to make the postseason.<br /><br />10. Charlotte Bobcats, 35 wins<br />I think last season was the peak for this group.<br /><br />11. Detroit Pistons, 35 wins<br />Another team that has talented players but no logic to the roster assembly. They will be able to put points on the board, but I'm not sure if they can stop anyone.<br /><br />12. Cleveland Cavaliers, 31 wins<br />Not a lot positive to say, the Cavs will stink and it will obviously be a terrible season without LeBron. They have the talent to avoid last place in the conference, and they should be highly motivated to prove they aren't a bunch of nobodies, but they don't have too much of a chance here.<br /><br />13. Washington Wizards, 30 wins<br />John Wall is here, and that means there is hope for the future of the franchise. However, the present still doesn't look that promising.<br /><br />14. New Jersey Nets, 27 wins<br />The good news is that not many teams will be able to double their win total. The bad news is that they are still a big-name aquisition away from being a threat to make the playoffs. Still, a core with Brook Lopez, Derrick Favors, and Devin Harris is exciting.<br /><br />15. Toronto Raptors, 24 wins<br />Yuck.<br /><br /><br />WESTERN CONFERENCE<br /><br />1. Los Angeles Lakers, 57 wins<br />Still easily the best in the West, as long as Kobe is healthy. I believe they are the only team that has the horses to challenge the Heat in the postseason.<br /><br />2. San Antonio Spurs, 53 wins<br />Parker should be healthier, Ginobili should be healthy (stop me if you have heard that before), and Duncan is still there. The addition of Tiago Splitter should help in the wide open race for the 2 seed.<br /><br />3. Portland Trailblazers, 52 wins<br />Greg Oden being healthy would be a big boost, as he is sneakily one of the best rebounders in the NBA. However, that doesn't seem likely to happen for a full season.<br /><br />4. Oklahoma City Thunder, 51 wins<br />Everything went right health wise for the Thunder last season. I predict things won't go quite as well this year. However, their core should keep improving as Kevin Durant wins the MVP award.<br /><br />5. Dallas Mavericks, 51 wins<br />It seems like they never go away... another 50 win season awaits.<br /><br />6. Houston Rockets, 49 wins<br />One of my favorite teams. Will everyone be happy with their minutes? They have a lot of good players, and it will be tough to keep to a rotation. Having Yao back will be a big boost.<br /><br />7. Utah Jazz, 49 wins<br />If Al Jefferson is healthy, the Jazz shouldn't miss a beat. However, I'm assuming there will be a little transition.<br /><br />8. Phoenix Suns, 46 wins<br />The feel good story of last season, they won't be quite as good, but Nash can still navigate them to the playoffs, maybe for the last time.<br /><br />9. Denver Nuggets, 44 wins<br />No depth up front, drama around Carmelo, not a lot of defense... smells like just missing the postseason for the Nugs.<br /><br />10. New Orleans Hornets, 41 wins<br />If Chris Paul is healthy, he could easily lead them to the postseason even with a mediocre roster. Remember, the guy had one of the best seasons we have ever seen from a PG... New Orleans will be doing everything possible to convince Paul to want to stay in the Big Easy.<br /><br />11. Los Angeles Clippers, 38 wins<br />On paper, they should challenge for a playoff spot, especially with Blake Griffin. However, we know that these games aren't played on paper, but by the little men in our TV sets, which usually means things don't go well for the Clips.<br /><br />12. Memphis Grizzlies, 36 wins<br />They have a solid pieces, but no depth. Still, they should be able to semi-maintain the feel good play of last season. Still not enough to get back to the postseason, but it will be fun to watch Grizz games.<br /><br />13. Sacramento Kings, 31 wins<br />Tyreke Evans was very good as a rookie last season, and he will have DeMarcus Cousins down low with him. They are starting to build some young talent, but they are still a year at least away from competing.<br /><br />14. Golden State Warriors, 31 wins<br />They will at least be fun to watch with Stephen Curry, Monta Ellis, and David Lee. Unfortunately, with their defense, they will also be fun to play against.<br /><br />15. Minnesota Timberwolves, 20 wins<br />They have some nice young pieces (Kevin Love could win a rebounding title sooner rather than later), but there is not enough to avoid the cellar.<br /><br /><br />PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS<br />Heat over 76ers in 4<br />Magic over Knicks in 6<br />Bucks over Bulls in 7<br />Celtics over Hawks in 6<br /><br />Heat over Celtics in 6<br />Magic over Bucks in 5<br /><br />Heat over Magic in 6<br /><br /><br />Lakers over Suns in 5<br />Spurs over Jazz in 7<br />Rockets over Blazers in 7<br />Thunder over Mavs in 5<br /><br />Lakers over Thunder in 7<br />Spurs over Rockets in 6<br /><br />Lakers over Spurs in 5<br /><br />Heat over Lakers in 7Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465159489549064748.post-61545278051491236142010-10-20T20:31:00.000-07:002013-02-09T06:10:27.807-08:00NFL Picks Against the Spread: Week 7Pittsburgh (-3) over Miami<br />I think Pittsburgh is the best team in the NFL, especially with Ben Roethlisberger back, making their offense balanced again. Miami has some nice wins this season, but I'm not sure Chad Henne is going to be very effective against this defense. I like Pittsburgh to win a low-scoring game in Miami, with Roethlisberger making the difference.<br /><br />Cincinnati (+3.5) over Atlanta<br />Atlanta looked like it might have a chance to be the class of the NFC, and then they got beat easily by Philly. Cincy started off well before tailing off, but they know they need a win to try and salvage their season. Look for a good gameplan from Mike Zimmer, and just enough plays out of the Cincy offense to pull off an upset.<br /><br />St. Louis (+2.5) over Tampa Bay<br />After last week's win over the Chargers, I believe in the Rams in the NFC West. The defensive front is getting after people just like Spagnulo's Giants' teams used to do. The offense, thanks to Sam Bradford, is showing more signs of life than they have in years. Something is brewing in St. Louis, and I think it will be enough to beat the Bucs.<br /><br />San Francisco (-3) over Carolina<br />2-5 an the Niners will start to believe. The musical chairs of Carolina quarterback goes back to Matt Moore. Won't make a difference for this punchless offense, as teams will just load the box. Carolina's receivers aren't good enough to beat anyone.<br /><br />Washington (+3) over Chicago<br />The Bears correction continues, as the Redskins are showing signs of being solid. Donovan McNabb is playing better than Jay Cutler right now, which is why I will take the Skins. The Bears need to get Matt Forte the ball in the running game, because teams will be going after Cutler with the way the offensive line has performed this season.<br /><br />New Orleans (-13.5) over Cleveland<br />The Saints appear to have some of their mojo back, particularly if they can continue a strong rushing attack. Colt McCoy looked surprisingly good in his first game starting in his career, but there is not enough firepower in Cleveland to compete with the Saints.<br /><br />Buffalo (+13) over Baltimore<br />Baltimore should win the game easily, but I think the Bills will be able to make the final score respectable. Fred Jackson should get more touches after the trade of Marshawn Lynch, and that could be a good thing. It will also be interesting to see if they have anything new for CJ Spiller. Ryan Fitzgerald is not anyone's answer to a long-term solution at QB, but he is serviceable, which is more than you could say about Trent Edwards. <br /><br />Philadelphia (+2.5) over Tennessee<br />I believe in Kevin Kolb. He looked great against Atlanta, and he appears to have the timing of the offense down. The only thing that concerns me is that Desean Jackson will be out of the game, which is a big blow to the offense. Still, I have more faith in Philly's run game than Tennessee's pass game, which is why I will take the Eagles here.<br /><br />Seattle (-5.5) over Arizona<br />Nice win by Seattle last week, showing that they could win a road game, which was in question for me before that game. At home, I think they will overwhelm Arizona, who is better with Max Hall than they were with Derek Anderson (or Matt Leinart), but not good enough to be a serious contender.<br /><br />Denver (-7) over Oakland<br />The Broncos have played well, just are struggling to get over the hump. The Raiders, meanwhile, looked awful last week, and Kyle Boller could be getting the start this week. I think Denver's offense is a lot more explosive than the Raiders, even with the lack of a running game.<br /><br />New England (+3) over San Diego<br />New England looks like the Patriots of old... a bunch of scrappy guys just going out there and playing. I can't put my finger on what is different after essentially trading Randy Moss for Deion Branch, but SOMETHING is. And it's clear that as great as Moss is, things were not working out this season. The Patriots look like a force the rest of the way to me.<br /><br />Minnesota (+3) over Green Bay<br />The game that is full of storylines. Favre comes back to Lambeau again, and this time the Packers are reeling. The Packers know that if they lose this game, the Vikings have all of the momentum in the division. Still, I like the Vikings D (which has quietly been excellent) to get after Aaron Rodgers like they did last year, and for Favre to hit Moss on a deep ball that will make the difference.<br /><br />Dallas (-3) over New York<br />The NFC East seems to always have these types of games... one team is struggling, the other team is playing well... but talent-wise, they are close to even, and there is one team that really needs the game more than the other team. Dallas will be in desperation mode. At home in Big D, I'll take Dallas to prolong the death of their season for another week.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465159489549064748.post-73220823041678569342010-08-24T09:57:00.000-07:002013-02-09T06:10:27.896-08:00NFL Power RankingsEach NFL season seems to bring a lot of turnover among the best teams in the NFL, as free agency and the draft can cause a lot of attrition in the League. However, it's always fun to try and predict which teams will be at the top of the heap once the season ends.<br /><br />At the top of any power rankings should be the New Orleans Saints, simply because they are the defending Super Bowl champions. They did not experience a whole lot of roster turnover, and so there will be a lot of the same faces. The offense should again be very explosive, as they will be quarterbacked by Drew Brees, the MVP of the League. Sean Payton is also in place, as he makes all of the pieces of the puzzle fit together. If Gregg Williams can captain the defense to be as opportunistic as they were last season, the Saints will be strong contenders for the Super Bowl once again.<br /><br />The Indianapolis Colts will be one of the best teams in the NFL as long as they still have Peyton Manning. He is one of the best QBs in the history of the game, and always seems to be make everyone around him perform at a higher level. They had two rookie WRs last year and an inconsistent running game, and still they were among the best teams in the NFL and almost won the Super Bowl. With the continuity that he provides for the offense, the Colts will be a great team once again.<br /><br />Now that Brett Favre has returned from retirement, the Minnesota Vikings should again be among the top teams in the NFL. They have a lot of playmakers on offense, which will make them very difficult to gameplan against. If the Offensive Line can adequately protect Favre, they will put up a ton of points. The defense is getting older, but they are still among the best units in the League. They will be very hungry to get over the hump after just falling short last season.<br /><br />It is shaping up to be a great NFL season, as there are a lot of great teams. The Saints, Colts, and Vikings were three of the best last season, and they look like three of the best heading into this season. It will be interesting to see who emerges as the best teams this year.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465159489549064748.post-6681124488459867192010-06-21T18:05:00.000-07:002013-02-09T06:10:27.985-08:00NBA Draft: Point Guard PreviewThe point guard class of the 2010 NBA Draft class is not super deepn, but it is strong at the top. The top pick in the draft will be John Wall, a PG from Kentucky, one of the best prospects to enter the draft from the college game in a while.<br /><br />Wall only played one season at Kentucky, but he mad the most of it. He is a dynamic athlete, and could eventually be the most athletic PG in the NBA at 6'4''. He is not a great shooter yet, but he has all of the other skills necessary to be a great PG in the Association. He is unselfish with the ball, extremely quick (he is lethal in transition, and can get to the rim almost any time he wants), and he steps up his game in big moments. He hit the game-winner in his first collegiate game. As a hyped freshman, he was among the nation's leaders in assists on a 3-loss team that was very young. He will be a great player, and will be excellent from day one.<br /><br />The next best PG in the draft might be one of Wall's teammates, Eric Bledsoe. Even though he was largely overshadowed by Wall, pro scouts love his potential, and he is the only other true PG that has a chance to be drafted in the lottery. He can play on the ball or off the ball, has a good handle and jump shot, and should be a solid contributor in the NBA. He is not as ready as Wall to contribute in the NBA, but he should be a solid pro.<br /><br />Terrico White out of Mississippi is not a true PG, but he should be able to play the position in the pros, kind of like Tyreke Evans (though he doesn't have that type of talent). He is very athletic, and can score in a variety of ways. He will be a solid player if he gets to go to a fast paced club.He can fill it up and make plays above the rim, which is vital for success as an athletic guard in the NBA. He has a chance to get drafted in the first round.<br /><br />The PG position is not very deep at all, as likely only one point guard will get drafted in the lottery, and there will be very few true point guards in the draft. However it is strong at the top, as John Wall will be the top pick and the best player of this class, representing the point guard position well.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465159489549064748.post-4070281104934443952010-06-10T14:10:00.000-07:002013-02-09T06:10:28.073-08:00World Cup and NBA FinalsLike many people, I am not much of a soccer fan, but I do love the World Cup, which starts on Friday morning. <br /><br />Perhaps the greatest sporting event in United States history is the Miracle on Ice in 1980. As I'm sure you remember, a team of U.S. Amateurs shocked the powerful Soviet Union team, going on to win the Olympic Gold Medal at Lake Placid.<br /><br />Really, the World Cup is the best chance for something like that to ever be duplicated for the United States. It is our last popular sport in which we are extreme underdogs. If the USA were to win the World Cup, it would be even more shocking than the Miracle on Ice, indeed, the goal really is to get out of group play. It will be a fairly successful World Cup if that is all that we accomplish.<br /><br />The United States is a team without an international star, hoping to get by on superior teammwork and unity. We won't win anything on talent alone (which is not to say that the talent level is terrible, it is not, but it is nowhere near other country powerhouses). It is very exciting... to root for your country in the biggest sporting even in the world, with the extra thrill of them being an underdog. <br /><br />I wouldn't make any <a href="http://www.gamblingdeposits.com/">gambling deposits</a> on them at a <a href="http://www.gamblingdeposits.com/en/moneybookers/casino">Moneybookers Casino</a>, but it sure will be fun to watch them play and try to advance. They look as ready as they have been, as the team is playing well (second in the Confederations Cup last year), and Coach Bob Bradley has them playing as one unit.<br /><br />---------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />The Lakers have a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals after taking out Boston in a weird Game 3, and the series stays in Boston for games 4 and 5. Boston obviously needs a better effort from Ray Allen, who was as awful in Game 3 as he was brilliant in Game 2.<br /><br />The bright spot for Boston was Kevin Garnett, who looked like he would provide very little in the series after games 1 and 2. However, he had a brilliant game 3, and put up numbers reminiscent of KG of old. If he can do that again this series, Boston should have a great chance, especially if Pierce and Allen step up.<br /><br />If I was check out <a href="http://www.gamblingdeposits.com/en/">casino deposit options</a> at something like the <a href="http://www.gamblingdeposits.com/en/casino/roxy_palace_casino">Roxy Palace Casino</a>, my money would still be on the Lakers in this series. They have the best player in this series, and they might have the second best player as well (depending on whether you prefer Pau Gasol or Rajon Rondo. <br /><br />It seems clear that home court does not matter that much anymore, as both teams have one on the opponents home court. This is a series that seems ready to go 7 games, and I'll take the Lakers at home in that one, giving Kobe a 5th title and firmly planting him as one of the 10 best players in NBA history.<br /><br />All in all, it's a good time to be a sports fan!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465159489549064748.post-36172587076618865142010-06-04T13:39:00.000-07:002013-02-09T06:10:28.162-08:00Minnesota Vikings Draft AnalysisThe Minnesota Vikings are coming off of a disappointing end to the 2010 season. Despite a great record and a high-powered offense, they came up just short in the NFC Championship game, losing to the New Orleans Saints in OT. They played well enough to win, but just made a few crucial mistakes that caused them to lose.<br /><br />Heading into the offseason, there were a few different holes that they needed to address. One was depth at CB, especially with Cedric Griffin and Antoine Winfield going through injury problems. Another was depth at RB, as Chester Taylor was not resigned, and instead went to the Chicago Bears. Last, they needed to look at the offensive line, and get more depth to challenge the starters for playing time.<br /><br />They traded down out of the first round, but then were able to add Chris Cook out of Virginia to try to beef up the secondary. He projects to be a cornerback, but he can likely also play a little of bit of safety if they need him to. They hope he will challenge for a nickel role, and has the size to eventually be a starting cornerback in the NFL. They should be able to give him time to develop, and perhaps contribute on special teams.<br /><br />Their second round pick was much more well known and accomplished in college, and that was Toby Gerhart, a RB out of Stanford. He is very versatile, and should be a nice complement to Adrian Peterson, as they hope that he can fill the void left by Chester Taylor. They would like him to be a solid pass catcher out of the backfield, good blocker on third down, and give Peterson the occasional rest by getting some carries. He seems to know his role well, and looks like he will be a nice extra piece of the offense for the Vikings.<br /><br />Their next pick was Everson Griffen, a DE from USC. This was not a position of need, but he fell a lot farther than expected, and so the Vikings simply saw him as the best player available, and thought he would provide nice value for them, The rest of their draft was not filled with many big names, but simply guys they hope can compete for roster spots at WR, OL, and LB. It will be interesting to see if any of them stick. However, this draft will be measured by how well Toby Gerhart and Chris Cook play for the Vikings.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6465159489549064748.post-91250612161654079982010-04-18T21:52:00.000-07:002013-02-09T06:10:28.251-08:00NBA Award SelectionsOn another blog, I gave my selections for the <a href="http://www.veteranleadership.com/2010/04/2010-nba-mvp-award.html">NBA MVP Award</a>, and today it is time to take a look at some of the other awards.<br /><br />Most Improved Player: Aaron Brooks, Houston Rockets<br />With Yao Ming out for the year, it was expected the Rockets would take a step back. They did, but not a huge one, as they still finished above .500. This was due in large part to Aaron Brooks... I'm not sure a ton was expected of him out of college, as he seemed to be a small point guard with shooting guard skills. He has become a very good starter, averaging almost 20 PPG and over 5 assists per game this year. The Rockets know their stuff.<br /><br />6th Man of the Year: Jamal Crawford, Atlanta Hawks<br />He is the best bench scorer in the NBA, and seems to often have the ball in his hands late in the game. He still takes a lot of ill-advised shots, but he is a great sparkplug for Atlanta, and they will need him to come up big if they are going to have any chance in the postseason.<br /><br />Coach of the Year: Scott Brooks, Oklahoma City Thunder<br />He took the youngest team in the NBA and has brought them to the playoffs (where they will take on the Lakers). He has done great work meshing in all of the young talent and getting them to play together.<br /><br />Rookie of the Year: Tyreke Evans, Sacramento Kings<br />There are still legitimate concerns about whether or not Evans will be a great PG, but there are no doubts about his ability to be a big-time, impact player. He can get anywhere on the floor, and is great scorer, averaging over 20 per game as a rookie. Also, on a bad team he had almost 6 assists per game and over 5 rebounds. He is the complete package at the guard spot, and looks poised to be someone the Kings can build around.<br /><br />What are your picks? <br /><br />Another thing to keep in mind... 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They are also very good passers, and their center, Greg Monroe, is the best passer on the team. They will obviously be a very tough out come Tournament time.<br /><br />- Georgia Tech did everything they could to throw the game against Maryland away in the second half, but they hang on for a 5 point win. That will officially get them off of the bubble and into the NCAA Tournament.<br /><br />- Dayton looked like they were going to inject some life in their Tournament hopes, as they built up a nice lead over Xavier. But the Musketeers show they are still an A-10 power, as they advanced past Dayton with a comeback win. If Richmond beats Massachussetts it will be a very competitive end to the A-10 Tournament, with Temple, Xavier, Rhode Island, and Richmond.<br /><br />- Kansas definitely got a scare from Texas A&M, but their superior talent took over in the 2nd half.<br /><br />- Underrated exciting conference tournament of the night: Mountain West Conference. All eyes are on the Big conferences, but this features some very good teams. San Diego State is playing for their tournament hopes against New Mexico in what has been a highly entertaining first half. The nightcap will feature BYU and Jimmer Fredette, fresh off of his 45 point effort last night.<br /><br />- Florida falls up short against Mississippi State in a game that will definitely hurt their Tourney hopes. They are likely still in, but that won't help their seeding any. For Mississippi State, one more win in the SEC Tournament and they might have an argument for an at-large berth.<br /><br />- Just heard a stat that New Mexico is 7-0 against top 25 teams... wow! That Steve Alford guy can coach a little bit, huh?<br /><br />- New Mexico leads San Diego St. 39-38 at the half... most entertaining game I've seen so far tonight. Two teams that are just getting after it, and both could be capable of doing some damage in the Tournament (if the Aztecs are able to make it in).<br /><br />- You're killing me FSN by showing the end of a hockey game instead of the UCLA game.... go Bruins!!<br /><br />- Darington Hobson is quickly becoming one of my favorite players to watch... not hard to see why he was the MWC Player of the Year. He is very athletically gifted, averaging over 9 boards a game. He has a good handle and is a good passer as well. Even though he is shooting poorly right now, he is still in control of this game and having a big impact. 50-50 midway through the 2nd half.<br /><br />- Yesterday was a very bad day for bubble teams, but Friday has been very good for them. Illinois got a huge win, Rhode Island got a nice win, Georgia Tech punched their ticket, and Minnesota leads in the 2nd half against Michigan St, though there is still plenty of time left in the game there.<br /><br />- The 2nd half was not kind for the Bruins... Cal's better talent simply dominated the game. They seemed to be able to get any shot they wanted in the second half, turning a competitive game into a game that was not all that close.<br /><br />- In an extremely entertaining game from start to finish San Diego State appears to have punched their ticket to the Big Dance with a 72-69 victory over a top 10 team in New Mexico. Billy White was especially excellent for the Aztecs, with 28 very efficient points.<br /><br />- After a pretty boring start to the 2nd half, the Notre Dame-West Virginia game has definitely picked up. The Mountaineers lead a low-scoring affair by 3 points with about 3 minutes to play.<br /><br />- Minnesota hangs on to take out the Spartans in OT... once again, this has been a great day for the bubble teams.<br /><br />- West Virginia hangs on for a 53-51 victory over Notre Dame... the Irish got the ball with about 10 seconds left to go to the length of the court, and Tory Jackson decided to take up a pull-up three with 5 seconds left... not sure I agree with that decision, I thought they could have gone for a better shot, but it was a pretty clear look. At the end of the day we will have West Virginia taking on Georgetown for the Big East Championship on Saturday night.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com